Friday, September 20, 2013

Gospel Reflection



September 20, 2013
Friday – Year of Faith – Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and
Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
by Rev. Fr. Kris Habal, Parochial Vicar, St. John the Baptist Church, Pinaglabanan, San Juan
12:15PM Mass, Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord (SM Megamall Chapel)

Reading 1 1 Tm 6:2c-12

Beloved:
Teach and urge these things. Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain. Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Responsorial Psalm PS 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
“They will praise you for doing well for yourself,”
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Gospel Lk 8:1-3

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

HOMILY

In our First Reading - St. Paul's letter to Timothy - he advised Timothy to be sober, to have contentment in life, to avoid all forms of greed.

St. Paul said,

"For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires,
which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith
and have pierced themselves with many pains."


This is the invitation to live simply. This is the invitation to have contentment in life. This is quite difficult in the world we live today. The tendency of the world today is to grab. Everything is mine. The tendency of the world today is to grow rich in material possessions, but poor, lacking in the true treasures of life.

The invitation of St. Paul to Timothy is also his invitation to all of us. We must guard our heart from all forms of greed. Running after material possessions is like a chase in the wind. If we base our happiness only on material things, we will end up unhappy. St. Paul says, 'with many pains'.

So, how are we going to guard our hearts from greed, from the desire to possess, to grab many things? We have the example of the women disciples in the Gospel. The example of Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and the many others who provided for the needs of Jesus, who helped Jesus in His ministry, who gave in generosity to support the proclamation of the Kingdom.

One way of curing greed, one way of guarding our hearts from greed, is to be generous. One way of resisting the temptation to grab is to give - to give generously, joyfully, especially for the Kingdom, especially to assist our needy brothers and sisters, and, therefore, showing the love of Christ. It is making concrete the love of Christ, by assisting in the proclamation of the Kingdom.

As we continue in this Holy Mass, my dear brothers and sisters, let us examine our hearts. Are there traces of greed? Is our love of money more than our love for God? Does our desire to possess many things hinder us from giving, from being generous, from assisting in the proclamation of the Kingdom, and from assisting our needy brothers and sisters?

My dear brothers and sisters, if greed, in the end, will make us unhappy, generosity will give us true joy. Generosity will give us peace and contentment, not only in this world, but even more, in the life to come.

And so let us implore the intercession of the holy martyrs, Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn and his companions. We learned from the martyrs the detachment from material possessions, even detachment from the desire to live in this world and being ready to give everything to Jesus. And Jesus, in turn, gave them eternal life. Let us learn from their example, let us ask for prayers. Amen.