The Ultimate Remedy

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 23 February 2020
First reading Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.

Second reading                                                          1 Corinthians 3:16-23

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy and that temple you are.

Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

So let no one boast of men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apol’los or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future, all are yours; and you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 5:38-48

Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Reflection

By Benj Santiago

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.”

I believe that each one of us has learned early in life through catechism that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  But undeniably one time or in many occasions we had violated someone, or even our own body. 

Drug abuse, murder, rape, and many other forms of violence against the temple of the Holy Spirit abound around us, in our country, in the community we live in, and even in our own families.  In spite of the fact that we know that God’s Spirit dwells in each one of us. 

Greed, lust, materialism, and hatred are most common cause that push one to destroy the other. 

But all is not lost. There is still hope.In Leviticus 19:18 it says “you shall love your neighbor as yourself”. The ultimate remedy is LOVE. As we enter the season of Lent, it is a great reminder to repent and turn away from our sins. It won’t be an easy battle. Thus, we need to invoke the Holy Spirit that dwells in us to make love to reign in our hearts. 

Prayer


Come Holy Spirit and change our ways of sinfulness. Let love reign in our hearts for ourselves and for all the people we meet and interface with. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Humbling, Yet Saving Moments

First Reading:  Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

For the Lord is a judge who is utterly impartial. He never shows partiality to the detriment of the poor, he listens to the plea of the injured party. He does not ignore the orphan's supplication, nor the widow's as she pours out her complaint. Whoever wholeheartedly serves God will be accepted, his petitions will carry to the clouds. The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds: and until it does, he is not to be consoled, nor will he desist until the Most High takes notice of him, acquits the upright and delivers judgement.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to depart.  I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing. First time I had to present my defence, no one came into court to support me. Every one of them deserted me -- may they not be held accountable for it.

But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed for all the gentiles to hear; and so I was saved from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 Gospel:  Luke 18:9-14

He spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being upright and despised everyone else, 'Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, "I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like everyone else, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get." The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." This man, I tell you, went home again justified; the other did not. For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, but anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.'

Reflection 
By Rosalinda Markell

I remember when I left the Philippines 13 long years ago. I left with a heavy heart. I was depressed, I could not bear it anymore. I remember how much disappointment, resentment, and hatred I had in my heart. I hated the world!

I was just like the Pharisee in the Gospel reading today.  Asking the Lord, questioning Him for all my failures and heartaches, asking Him why these things have to happen to me. I have prayed all day, went to mass almost everyday, paying my tithes, helping the needy, and many more and yet, I still suffered.

I just could not understand why all the people I loved and trusted seem to went against me!  Confusing me, making it difficult to know if I am in the right or wrong path. I even came to the point of daring the Lord, (which I know was the worst thing for me to do, and I did regret it after!) that I will turn my back from the profession He gave me, turn my back from everything and start life anew. I asked for any new task, no matter how hard it will be I will not complain, just as long as I get out of the mess I was in!  And believe me, I received what I asked for!

I was given the hardest job. A job that I never thought  I would be doing. I was a care giver of sick old people with dementia and some of them already bedridden. I clean them, feed them, carry them. I was even accidentally or intentionally hit by them, called me you names.  I would walk for 12 blocks from the train station to the place where I worked in the middle of a storm and heavy snow!

Yes, I did cry at night, but  I still did not complain. Through all of these, I felt the Lord was with me all the time, not once did He leave me, and I was always safe!

I learned a great deal in all those trials. God put me to work with these people who are sick to open my eyes. Compared to what the patients are going through, my problem was only a tiny dot.  Seeing and caring for all of them, took away all my hatred. It made me more compassionate, more understanding, more patient and most of all,  more loving. I have more love in my heart and no more hatred!

My dear brothers and sisters, indeed the prayers of the lonely and heart broken pierce the clouds and it does not rest until it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw until God the Most High, responds, judges justly and affirms the right. And the Lord never delays!

Things do happen for a reason, and God has plans for all of us.

Now, I am where I think I really should be until my time comes. I am at peace knowing that all my love ones (children and grandchildren)  are doing quite well and will not need my guidance anymore. I am calmer and ready for my next destination, and that is my true "Home"!

Prayer

My loving Father, Ruler of the World and the Universe, the greatest and the humblest rest their lives in Your hands.

Please help us learn to be humble and not to look down on others.To be more understanding in whatever situation, not to be mean and be a bully. To learn to be more loving and compassionate to others. To pray for peace and harmony for our very troubled world. In our weakness, please speak to us and make us strong again. Most of all, may we learn to always listen and obey you with trust, hope and courage. This we pray in Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Indifference, The Saddest of All!

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
11 July 2010


Come, let us rejoice in the Lord: let us acclaim God our salvation, alleluia.

First reading Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Moses said to the people: ‘Obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping those commandments and laws of his that are written in the Book of this Law, and you shall return to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
‘For this Law that I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, so that you need to wonder, “Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to wonder, “Who will cross the seas for us and bring it back to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” No, the Word is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 68:14,17,30-31,33-34,36-37

Second reading Colossians 1:15-20
Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God
and the first-born of all creation,
for in him were created
all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers –
all things were created through him and for him.
Before anything was created, he existed,
and he holds all things in unity.
Now the Church is his body,
he is its head.
As he is the Beginning,
he was first to be born from the dead,
so that he should be first in every way;
because God wanted all perfection
to be found in him
and all things to be reconciled through him and for him,
everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when he made peace
by his death on the cross.

Gospel Luke 10:25-37
There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus ‘do this and life is yours.’
But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’

Reflection
By Patty De la Rosa-Paat

Jesus emphasized the two great commandments of God and these are “ Love God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength and mind, and “ Love your neighbor as thy self “. This sums up the ten commandments according to the Law of God.

When the Scholar of the Law asked Jesus how he could inherit the kingdom of God and who is his neighbor, the story of Good Samaritan came out. This parable tell us the true meaning of “ Love thy neighbor as thy self “. Three personalities are described in this parable. Two of them are well known figures in the society, the Priest and the Levite and the other one is the Samaritan. But who amongst them pleased God? Is it the Priest and the Levite who neglected the wounded man? Or the Samaritan who acted kindly upon seeing the wounded man?

To please God, we must do works of mercy to our so called “ NEIGHBOR “. And who is this “ NEIGHBOR “ Jesus is referring to? This “ NEIGHBOR “ is someone who is nearby wherever we are. They could be our love ones, friends, enemies, people in our community or to be specific, the children of God are our neighbors.

This passage of the Scripture teaches us not only the importance of the two great commandments but likewise, teaches us the value of the word 'Love'. Sad to say, and I must admit that it is an error in our times to accept the fallacy that the opposite of Love is Hate!

In the parable of the good Samaritan, I learned to understand the in-depth meaning of love. In the Scriptures there is no indication as to which tribe the wounded man belonged to but I would like to believe that he is Jew. And that Samaritan is considered an enemy of the Jewish people. The Samaritan indeed, did something extraordinary! He went out of his way just to save a stranger, an enemy!

Obviously the two men, the priest and Levite, who first saw the wounded man didn’t have the care in the world to come to his aid! From this, I learned that THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE is not HATRED but INDIFFERENCE! If a person hates, he is affected, he is annoyed! Therefore, he cares! I personally believe that hatred is another manifestation of love in a different way. The saddest of all, is the word INDIFFERENCE! When we are not affected! When we don’t have the care in the world!

Another thing that is worth pointing out from this parable is that the Samaritan did not just offer financial aid but also his TIME. A precious gift that anyone can give to someone in need.

In every special occasion like birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries etc, we often give gifts that may only give temporary happiness. How about giving something different this time by giving more quality time with those around us during special occasions?

Lastly, let us do more Works of Mercy based on the teachings of Jesus Christ below:

The Corporal Works of Mercy:

1. To feed the hungry
2. To give drink to the thirsty
3. To clothe the naked
4. To visit and ransom the captives
5. To shelter the homeless
6. To visit the sick
7. To bury the dead

The Spiritual Works of Mercy:

1. Instruct the ignorant
2. Counsel the doubtful
3. Admonish sinners
4. Bear wrongs patiently
5. Forgive offences willingly
6. Comfort the afflicted
7. Pray for the living and the dead

Heavenly Father, we are so blessed of Your gift of love and life. May we always share the gifts that comes from You. Help me believe in myself so I may use my life to help others.

May You increase our patience, understanding, knowledge,perseverance, strength, and our faith to love You nd others unconditionally.Make ourselves an inspiration to others and help us to bring You in their life.

Hear our prayer O Lord. For we believe in You. You are our GOD, forever and ever. Amen.

Next on God-speak
Building A Relationship With God