In Praise of the Trinity

The Most Holy Trinity   22 May 2016  

First reading
Proverbs 8:22-31

The Wisdom of God cries aloud:

The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded,

  before the oldest of his works.

From everlasting I was firmly set,

  from the beginning, before earth came into being.

The deep was not, when I was born,

  there were no springs to gush with water.

Before the mountains were settled,

  before the hills, I came to birth;

before he made the earth, the countryside,

  or the first grains of the world’s dust.

When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,

  when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep,

when he thickened the clouds above,

  when he fixed fast the springs of the deep,

when he assigned the sea its boundaries

 – and the waters will not invade the shore –

  when he laid down the foundations of the earth,

I was by his side, a master craftsman,

  delighting him day after day,

  ever at play in his presence,

at play everywhere in his world,

  delighting to be with the sons of men

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 8:4-9

Second reading
Romans 5:1-5

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory. But that is not all we can boast about; we can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.  

Gospel	John 16:12-15

Jesus said:

‘I still have many things to say to you

but they would be too much for you now.

But when the Spirit of truth comes

he will lead you to the complete truth,

since he will not be speaking as from himself

but will say only what he has learnt;

and he will tell you of the things to come.

He will glorify me,

since all he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.

Everything the Father has is mine;

that is why I said:

All he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.’

  Reflection
By Benj Santiago  

“Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us."

Today in the history of our country is the first time we have the presumptive President has been clearly and beyond doubt given a mandate by majority of Filipinos. All of the non-winning candidates had early on conceded just a week after the election. This blessing of a peaceful and orderly election after the campaign that was truly gruelling and many times hurting. An election that is for the first time in the history of our country pushed 55 million voters to fight for their chosen candidates. So much affliction of hate. Family member against another. Community of believers against another group of believers. We are one body, one nation but we suffered so much division and hate. But the good thing is that we had endured and our true character as Filipinos who are God fearing and loving triumphed above all!

Prayers really make wonders. I am sure all the candidates and the voting public prayed. The Holy Spirit enveloped our hearts and the entire nation allowing us to endure the political process that is generally peaceful, credible, and orderly. Thank You Lord! Thank You Holy Spirit! Thank You Father in Heaven!

Prayer

O Most Holy Trinity, we thank You for covering our nation with your mantle of protection and love. We thank You for giving us the most efficient, the swiftest, the most credible and peaceful election! We praise your Name forever. Amen!

      

Power and Authority For Servant Leaders

First Reading: Is 53:10-11

The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

Second Reading: Heb 4:14-16

Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Gospel: Mk 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared."

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection

By: Marky Vertido

Election season is coming not only in the Philippines but also in the United States. As Democrat Obama and Republican Romney battle for the world’s most powerful position, the Philippines will also stage once more the most colorful election in the world. And the color never fades as politicians once more forget the past and ally with enemies. Gradually, the television is starting to show early campaign advertisements by the so called “epal” politicians and soon we will see and hear their jingles everywhere.

Even during the time of Jesus, politics and power were already a dividing factor in Israel. While Romans were ruling over the Israelites, the Israelites themselves rule over other Israelites. And these “rulers” seek self-righteousness and self-satisfaction only. It is one of the reasons why Jesus, the Messiah, was incarnated so that Israelites and all the nations be united not for power and riches but for God.

James and John, sons of Zebedee, show how politics and the aim of power have blinded them to recognize the real purpose of the Messiah. They wanted to have power as the right and left hand of Jesus. It shows then that they have never really understood Jesus. In a time when Israelites are being enslaved by Romans, they have seen the Messiah as one who will revolt to remove the Romans and rule the land soon. So Jesus challenged the two and told them that He is not the one to give either the left or the right position to anyone for it was already prepared by the Father to those who were chosen.

Jesus took the opportunity to teach the disciples the meaning of authority. Clearly, those who wish to be great will be the servant of all. And those who wish to be the first will be the slave of all. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give life as a ransom of many.”

The readings this Sunday all pertain to the true meaning of leadership and authority. It provides us the qualifications needed as we select those who will lead our nation soon. First, a true leader must be God’s “servant who shall justify many, and he will bear their guilt.” Second, we are looking for a leader who is able “to sympathize with our weaknesses” and who was “tested in every way, yet without sin.”

These are very ideal but God will give us the person who shall possess the following. We only need to be very sensitive to recognize that person. The Church in the Philippines would call a true leader as a “servant-leader.” This is the advocacy of the Church  and achieving it is still far from reality.  We can say today that we have good government but when will this last? How about our religious leaders and the laity, have they really realized what it meant to be a servant-leader already?

As we renew our faith this Year of Faith, let us find the real meaning of serving and leading the people who were entrusted to us. Today, we also celebrate World Mission Sunday, let us recognize our mission as heirs of the Kingdom of God to live the Gospel in every way and to evangelize through our examples.

This kind of missionary life was exemplified to us by our very own St. Pedro Calungsod whom the Church through Pope Benedict, raises him to the altars today. Giving us an example of giving one’s life to save others. Let everyone who seeks power and authority be driven in accordance to the Word of God. And let this start with our young generation so that the transformation of our society will continue.

Commitment: Serve faithfully and enthusiastically in any situation we are in.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for the gift of having St. Pedro Calungsod as our second Filipino Saint. Give us also the virtues that he possessed as Your servant. Let the missionary zeal ablaze in our hearts also that we may respond to our brothers and sisters who are need. Guided by the Holy Spirit, help us in rebuilding our nation. With Mary our Mother, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.