Restorer

    

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 June 2024

 

First Reading: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

Second Reading: 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15

Gospel: Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

During the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our parish church on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, there was a white cloth placed on the altar from the monstrance down to the steps of the sanctuary. Before bringing the Blessed Sacrament back into the tabernacle, the leader invited us to approach the altar and touch the cloth while gazing at the Blessed Sacrament. It was a powerful experience kneeling together with my family on the steps of the sanctuary. Touching the cloth “connected” us with our Eucharistic Lord. 

Such experience gave us a glimpse of what the woman in today’s Gospel experienced when she touched Jesus’ clothes. A healing experience! “If things created are so full of loveliness, how resplendent with beauty must be the One who made them”, St. Anthony of Padua once said. However, this state of loveliness became obscured “by the envy of the devil, death entered the world” (Ws 2:24). Sickness and death, then and now, show us the effect of sin. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 6:23). Restoring humanity to God’s image (Gn 1:27) cannot be done by any creature though. Only Jesus, who is both God and man, can do it. In fact, He has already achieved it.

“Dying, you destroyed our death. Rising, you restored our life”, goes an old version when we proclaim the mystery of our faith after Consecration. We can experience Jesus’ restorative action through the sacraments. As sinners, we need healing through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. Reconciled and healed, we need nourishment through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. St. John Bosco once said, “The devil is deadly afraid of fervent Communions and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.” How often have we received the sacraments? When was the last time we spent moments adoring our Lord in the tabernacle? Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are in a spiritual battle, which we can only win if Jesus is on our side. Remember, “Though he (Christ) was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we praise You for You have rescued us. Through our frequent reception of the sacraments, especially receiving Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion, and our devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, may we conquer the enemy so that we may share in Your glory. Amen.

Hearts on Fire

    

Third Sunday of Easter

23 April 2023

 

First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-23

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

Second Reading: 1 Pt 1:17-21

Gospel: Lk 24:13-35

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us? (Lk 24:32)

Fr. Anthony Dolan, a retired priest who lives next to our parish church, once encouraged us to listen to God's Word as though it was our first time hearing it. Indeed, there is  a temptation to take God's Word for granted especially if we have been so familiar with it.

In today's Gospel, the two disciples experienced hearing the Scriptures with fresh pair of ears on their way to Emmaus. Their being downcast at the apparent 'failure' of Jesus' death prevented them from recognizing Him. Out of His love, Jesus made the move to help them recall the Scriptures, realize its fulfillment in Him, and recognize their Master in the breaking of the bread.

Such action of Jesus is repeated every time the Mass is celebrated through the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. That is why it is really important that we come to church on time, otherwise we will be missing out either of these liturgies, the Liturgy of the Word especially. And if we do miss it out, we won't be able to appreciate the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Worse, we may not be able to receive Holy Communion.

Another suggestion is to read and reflect on the Mass readings beforehand. As a lector and as a worshipper, I find these practices really helpful in my service and in my spiritual growth. Preparing for Mass through God's Word fans the flame of love in our proud, fearful, or downcast hearts and makes us better witnesses of the Risen Lord. As the Responsorial Psallm goes "Lord, you will show us the path of life" (cf. Ps 16:11).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Make our hearts burn as we listen to Your Word so that we too may always recognize You in the breaking of the bread, and proclaim the Good News of Your  Resurrection to all. Amen.

Blessed are We!

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ 

18 June 2017

First reading                                                                                               Deuteronomy 8:2-3,14-16

Moses said to the people: ‘Remember how the Lord your God led you for forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, to test you and know your inmost heart – whether you would keep his commandments or not. He humbled you, he made you feel hunger, he fed you with manna which neither you nor your fathers had known, to make you understand that man does not live on bread alone but that man lives on everything that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
  ‘Do not become proud of heart. Do not forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery: who guided you through this vast and dreadful wilderness, a land of fiery serpents, scorpions, thirst; who in this waterless place brought you water from the hardest rock; who in this wilderness fed you with manna that your fathers had not known.’

---

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 147:12-15,19-20

---

Second reading	1 Corinthians 10:16-17

The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. The fact that there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one loaf.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven,
says the Lord.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.
Alleluia!

---

Gospel	John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the crowd:
‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,
for the life of the world.’
Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said. Jesus replied:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you will not have life in you.
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood
has eternal life,
and I shall raise him up on the last day.
For my flesh is real food
and my blood is real drink.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me
and I live in him.
As I, who am sent by the living Father,
myself draw life from the Father,
so whoever eats me will draw life from me.
This is the bread come down from heaven;
not like the bread our ancestors ate:
they are dead,
but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

Reflection

by Benj Santiago

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

In the Last supper, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and instructed the Apostles to do it over and over in remembrance of Him. This event makes it more clear how the apostles (and their successors) will execute the teaching Jesus spoke to the Jews in today's Gospel.

Imagine if we were part of the crowd whom Jesus spoke to. Telling us that salvation and eternal life can only be attained by drinking His Blood and eating His Flesh! I guess we would react the same way as the Jews who were present. But I believe that Jesus wants to show how much He loves us that He is willing to give His life for all of us. He wants to show us that God cares for all of us.

And we are so blessed as Catholics for the institution of the Holy Eucharist. It allows us to perpetually commemorate the Last  Supper where we are able to eat the Body and drink the Blood of Christ in the form of Bread and Wine. We are so blessed that we can partake of His Body and Blood every time we go to Mass. An opportunity for us to receive the love of the Lord that will bring us to eternal life.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for coming down from heaven to offer Your Body and Blood as our food and drink so that we can have an everlasting life. We thank You for Your presence in the Holy Eucharist as a manifestation of Your Father’s Love for all of us. We pray that with Your Holy Blood you will cleanse away all our sins, and by Your Holy Body, we can all be united in peace. We ask this through the most holy intercession of our Mother Mary . Amen.

Ang Bawang ni Jesus

Corpus Christi  June 22

First reading Deuteronomy 8:2-3,14-16

Moses said to the people: ‘Remember how the Lord your God led you for forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, to test you and know your inmost heart – whether you would keep his commandments or not. He humbled you, he made you feel hunger, he fed you with manna which neither you nor your fathers had known, to make you understand that man does not live on bread alone but that man lives on everything that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

  ‘Do not become proud of heart. Do not forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery: who guided you through this vast and dreadful wilderness, a land of fiery serpents, scorpions, thirst; who in this waterless place brought you water from the hardest rock; who in this wilderness fed you with manna that your fathers had not known.’

Psalm                                                                          Psalm 147:12-15,19-20

Second reading                                                      1 Corinthians 10:16-17

The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we 
break is a communion with the body of Christ. The fact that there is only one loaf means that,
though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one
loaf.

Gospel                                                                     John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the Jews:

‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.

Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;

and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,

for the life of the world.’

Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said. Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,

you will not have life in you.

Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood

has eternal life,

and I shall raise him up on the last day.

For my flesh is real food

and my blood is real drink.

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood

lives in me

and I live in him.

As I, who am sent by the living Father,

myself draw life from the Father,

so whoever eats me will draw life from me.

This is the bread come down from heaven;

not like the bread our ancestors ate:

they are dead,

but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

Reflection by Nats Vibiesca

Mabuti’t naturuan tayo ng mga Kastila noon na magluto sa paraan ng paggigisa o sa panimula ng maraming putahe ay igigisa muna ang bawang, sibuyas, kamatis at iba pang gustong rekado at saka ihahalo ang iba pang mga sahog para maging swak sa panlasa ang ating ulam. Kaya lang, nitong mga nakaraang araw, hindi ko magawang maggisa o kahit mag-adobo dahil mas mataas pa sa baboy o manok ang halaga ng kilo ng bawang. Nagkalat na nga siguro ang mga aswang sa paligid kung kaya’t in-demand at sobrang taas ang presyo ng bawang. May kartel daw ang sabi nila. Ang sabi ko naman, pero hindi lang naman bawang ang tumaas ang presyo, pati na rin luya, sibuyas, at ang mga gulay na binabanggit sa kantang Bahay Kubo. Siyempre pati presyo ng bigas tumaas din. Wala na ngang dahilan pa para maniwala sa mga pambobola ng mga nakaupo sa puwesto ng ating pamahalaan dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pagkain. Mas nagkakatotoo pa ang mga hula sa horoscope kaysa mga buladas ng mga pulitikong puro dakdak at wala namang magandang resulta para sa mamamayan.

Kadalasan, nangingiti ang mga estudiyante ko sa kolehiyo sa tuwing magdarasal kami bago magsimula ang klase. Maikli lang kasi ang aming panalangin, ganito: “Lord, kailangan po namin ng pera, bigyan mo po kami ng pera. Amen.”  Nangingiti sila dahil alam nilang totoo ito ngunit karamihan sa ibang guro ay pagkahaba-haba ang mga panalangin bago magsimula ang klase.  Ipinapaliwanag ko sa kanila na kailangang sincere at walang paliguy-ligoy ang pagdarasal. Direct to the point ika nga. Kailangan natin ng pera dahil patuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pagkain, at kung hindi tayo makakakain nang husto, imposible na matuto ng mga leksiyon sa paaralan. Naaalala ko tuloy ang aking Lola Celing na nagtitinda noon ng mani. Kailangang kumain daw kami ng mani dahil pampatalino ito, pero mas gusto ko ang malutong na bawang na nakahalo sa mani. Dati’y hinihingi lang ang malutong na bawang kapag bumili ng mani. Ngayon, dahil sa taas ng presyo nito, hindi na nagbibigay ng bawang sa mani o kahit pa sa kornik na Boy Bawang ay wala na ring bawang. Kaya nga ang pagkain ng bawang ngayon ay nakaka-high-blood na rin.

Teka, bakit ba kasi lagi na lang pinoproblema ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain? Lagi na lang natutuon ang ating pansin sa pagkain para sa ating katawang lupa. Nakakalimutan natin na may buhay pa pagkaraan ng atin panahon sa mundong ito. Kaya nga ang Panginoong Jesus mismo ang nagbigay ng sarili Niya bilang pagkain natin upang mabuhay tayo ng habang panahon.  Hindi naman Niya sinabi na huwag na tayo kumain ng anumang pagkain. Ang sinasabi ni Jesus ay huwag nating problemahin ang pagkain ng ating katawan, kahit umabot sa ulap ang taas ng presyo ng bawang, kung magsisipag at magiging tapat lang sa hanapbuhay, ang Diyos ang gagawa ng paraan at tiyak na hindi tayo magugutom. Ang nais lamang ng Panginoong Jesus ay higit na mahalin natin ang pagkain na ibinibigay Niya, ito ang pagkain na higit pa sa halaga ng bawang, ito nga ay ibang klaseng bawang ni Jesus— ito ang Kanyang sarili, ang pagkain na magbibigay ng lubos na kaligayahan at walang katapusang buhay kapiling Niya. Ang ibig sabihin lamang nito ay magsimba tayong lagi, makibahagi sa Banal na Misa upang tanggapin si Jesus sa Banal na Komunyon at dalhin Siya sa ating kapwa saan man tayo magpunta. 

Prayer

Panginoong Jesus, salamat po sa pagbibigay Mo ng Iyong sarili sa amin upang maging ganap ang aming kaligayahan at mabuhay na kapiling Ka magpakailanman. Manatili Ka sa aming puso upang kami rin ay maging instrumento ng kaligayahan at buhay para sa aming kapwa.  Amen.

I Even Forgot to Pray For Eight Points

“ Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.”

- Voltaire

First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17

So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him; and he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant." But he said, "As the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. Then Na'aman said, "If not, I pray you, let there be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth; for henceforth your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD.

Psalm: Psalm 98:1-4

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny himself.

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama'ria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

Reflection

This happened in October, three years ago when I was still attending my graduate school classes in Angeles City.

I did not attend the first day of our six-Saturday class in Marketing due to lack of sleep the prior night after finishing piles of paper work.

On the second meeting, I showed up just to assess the class and decide whether to drop the subject or not. This was because aside from already being one (of six) week behind in lectures, there were also so much requirements to pass the subject. These were two case studies, one article presentation, two interrogations (panelists for other reporters), a term paper, and 22 chapters to read for the mid-terms and finals. But so as not to let down the group who already selected me to be part of their team, I decided to hang on and not drop the subject.

On the fourth meeting, we had our midterms covering 14 chapters, 5 articles and 3 cases. After the two-hour test in the morning, our group presented a critique of an article. In the afternoon, our group is the assigned interrogators of another group presenting a case. And also on the same day, we had to submit the preliminary drafts of our term papers.  The week prior this fateful day was dedicated for all the preparations. But due to all other activities aside from schooling, I had to prioritize things. And guess what at the bottom of my list was.

It’s the midterm exams.

Since I completely understood all of my professor's lectures, and in fact was actively participating in class, I was confident that at the very least I would pass the exam even if I wouldn't read all the 14 chapters and the other reading materials. On top of that, the test would be an open-notes objective type, so probably, I would not just pass but get 75% or even higher.

But then after the test, I counted all those answers which I was sure of and guess how many I got.

Just twelve.

Yes, those were the only ones I was confident of having answered correctly. And I was vocal about it. I told my classmates that I needed to pray for eight more correct answers just to pass.

The next week, we got the test results.

I was sure of twelve and was hoping to get eight more, right?  But guess how many of the twelve I answered correctly.

Only eleven.

But the good news is, of the eight I said I should be praying for, I got 27! So I got a total of 38 out of 40.

I was so surprised and thankful I could not believe my eyes. Actually, I totally forgot to pray about them as I said. Maybe because there were a lot more important things to pray about. But maybe God already heard me bragging that He would give me eight more :)

If I did not have any meetings to attend to with the Light Of Jesus Family (my community in Angeles) after my Saturday classes, I usually attend the Anticipated Mass at the nearby Holy Rosary Parish Church right after school. But on that Saturday, I was totally not planning to attend Mass because it was not an Anticipated Mass for Sunday. It was the ninth day Novena Mass in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of La Naval (which we are also celebrating today).

But after seeing my totally unexpected test score, the first thing I thought of was to attend Mass, anticipated or not. This may be a small matter as compared to many other things in life, but it is definitely something to be thankful for.

Today in the Gospel, ten lepers received God’s blessings and were healed by Jesus. Only one went back to give thanks.

Well, first, I hope that I was not the only one who was so happy to receive a surprise blessing on that day whether it was about our exams or about other more important things.

Second, I hope I was not the only one who went back to thank Him.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the answered exams… err… prayers! Thank You that You always answer our prayers not in our ways, but in Yours. Amen!

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval, pray for us!

Household

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-2, 3-8

In the year that King Uzzi'ah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven." And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

Psalm: Psalm 138:1-5, 7-8

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11

Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennes'aret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Reflection
By Grace Madriñan

I miss our “household” sessions. I miss it not only for our weekly prayer gatherings, but also for that kind of friendship we have developed through the years. Apart from the different kind of bonding, it became like a support group which is a source of strength for our daily hurdles. But after most of my friends have gone working overseas, I did not get to experience that same “household” anymore.


And when I moved to a new working environment, I hoped for that same kind of “household” to evolve. But I knew that same formula does not apply to all, and I cannot expect to establish the same kind overnight.

It had been difficult adjusting to the new culture, and I have to keep up with the pace. There are a few times when I had to bottle up my emotions for fear of being judged as weak. In order to satisfy my hunger for the Holy Spirit to console me, I attended Mass every Wednesday during lunch time. I used to have 2 officemates as company but sooner, we became 4, and now, there are 6 of us who are regularly attending Mass every Wednesday. After which, we will have our late lunch where we exchange thoughts about the Gospel and the homily. When faced with tough deliverables at work, we’d find ourselves gathering in a prayer. Although it’s not a regular event, it’s the closest to what I had in my previous household. And for that, I’m very thankful.

“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets. (Luke 5:5)”

This verse from today’s Gospel reminded me of my previous struggles. At first, all toils seem to be in vain. But in obedience, I carried on with day to day challenges, kept the faith and persevered. It was not a perfect journey but God makes every opportunity perfect. At His command, I continued on. Not long enough, He supplied me with what I hoped for, a similar refuge I can rely on. And everything else falls into place.

  Prayer
Father, we have worked all day and night and oftentimes, faced with failure. But at Your command, we will carry on and persevere as we pursue the mission You have asked of us. Amen.

The Word Alive

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithi'ah, Shema, Anai'ah, Uri'ah, Hilki'ah, and Ma-asei'ah on his right hand; and Pedai'ah, Mish'a-el, Malchi'jah, Hashum, Hash-bad'danah, Zechari'ah, and Meshul'lam on his left hand.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemi'ah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm: Psalm 19:8-10, 15

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Reflection
By Pietro S Albano

The Mass is divided into 2 important parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  In the Liturgy of the Word,  the Word of God (as contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible) is proclaimed (First/Second Readings and Gospel), explained (Homily), and given assent to (Profession of Faith).  In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the bread and wine are offered, consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Jesus, and distributed in Holy Communion.

Sunday after Sunday, holyday after holyday, special occasion after special occasion we may have often found ourselves in church gathered with our family and other believers to listen to God's Word proclaimed in the Mass.  Are we as attentive and devout as the Israelites were in the First Reading?  When we are in church, do our celebration give us a sense of belongingness to one body - as envisioned in the Second Reading - even if we don't really know the person sat next to us?

We have often equated our attendance in the Mass as obligation.  Sometimes, this kind of mindset gives us and others (the young especially) the wrong notion of going to church.  Going to church becomes sapilitan (by force).  Instead of obligation, why not see the Mass as an act of love? Isn't it that if you love someone (in this case, Jesus), you would do everything to know more and be with your beloved?  If we foster this kind of thinking, I believe we can become more open to the Holy Spirit who will empower us like Jesus "...to preach good news to the poor...to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord". Eventually, God's Word would no longer be confined in a thick book, but come alive in us!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us the grace we need to humbly receive and ponder Your Word.  Gather us as one body working together to bring Your Word to those in need of its healing and power.  Grant this through Jesus, Your Word-made-Flesh and our Lord. Amen.

A Date with the Lord

“ I hunger for the bread of God, the flesh of Jesus Christ … I long to drink of his blood, the gift of unending love. ” - St. Ignatius of Antioch

First Reading: Ex 24:3-8

When Moses came to the people

and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,

they all answered with one voice,

"We will do everything that the LORD has told us."

Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and,

rising early the next day,

he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar

and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites

to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls

as peace offerings to the LORD,

Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls;

the other half he splashed on the altar.

Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,

who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do."

Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,

"This is the blood of the covenant

that the LORD has made with you

in accordance with all these words of his."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18

Second Reading: Heb 9:11-15

Brothers and sisters:

When Christ came as high priest

of the good things that have come to be,

passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle

not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,

he entered once for all into the sanctuary,

not with the blood of goats and calves

but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

For if the blood of goats and bulls

and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes

can sanctify those who are defiled

so that their flesh is cleansed,

how much more will the blood of Christ,

who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,

cleanse our consciences from dead works

to worship the living God.

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant:

since a death has taken place for deliverance

from transgressions under the first covenant,

those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

Gospel: Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,

Jesus' disciples said to him,

"Where do you want us to go

and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

He sent two of his disciples and said to them,

"Go into the city and a man will meet you,

carrying a jar of water.

Follow him.

Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,

'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room

where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'

Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.

Make the preparations for us there."

The disciples then went off, entered the city,

and found it just as he had told them;

and they prepared the Passover.

While they were eating,

he took bread, said the blessing,

broke it, gave it to them, and said,

"Take it; this is my body."

Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,

and they all drank from it.

He said to them,

"This is my blood of the covenant,

which will be shed for many.

Amen, I say to you,

I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine

until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Then, after singing a hymn,

they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Reflection:

By Gharri Tulabut

A religion teacher once told her first graders that kids should observe silence whenever they attend Mass. She followed it up by asking why they should do so.  The classroom was filled with silence as nobody dared to answer. Soon the brightest student raised her hand and answered “Teacher, it is because the elders are asleep and we do not want to wake them up.”

Of course, this is just an exaggeration… well, physically. But spiritually, often there is truth to what the kid in the story said. Many of us are physically present during the Mass but spiritually missing.

I was once told a story that a certain Protestant once said that he did not believe in the physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Neither was he convinced that we Catholics believed in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.

Why? Because of our actions at Mass.

Well, yes we may not all fall asleep inside the Church but many times others are busy doing other things or looking at other things or other people. Even when we sing our praise songs, whether it is the “Papuri”  or the Grand Amen or the Hosanna, we do not act the way we should. We sing happy praise songs, yet we are so gloomy as if it is always a Good Friday. We do not have the enthusiasm, the excitement, the joy of being in the physical presence of Christ. Isn’t Christ whom we are waiting for all our lives? And there He is present in flesh and blood in Mass. But why are we not excited about it?

If we really believe in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, then we leave everything just to attend the Mass. We should be singing and dancing and rejoicing from start to finish! Yes, I know our Mass still maintains a solemn atmosphere, but when we sing the happy songs, we should be all smiles, not to mention when we give the greetings of peace. Imagine saying “Peace be with you” to your seat mate while frowning!!! I guess what I’m really trying to say is that the energy level during the Mass should be at its highest as it is a glimpse of heaven on earth!

Sometimes I can’t help but compare the Holy Mass with that of a romantic date. I dress my best for a date. I do not arrive late at a date and keep my date waiting. I spend a lot for a date, and sometimes bring gifts for my date.  Given the chance to sing and dance for my lady, I will do it. And yes, I usually am very excited a week before a date! And I am always at my highest energy during the date. And yes, I always look forward to the next one.

Much more should I do or be before, during, or after the Mass. Because this is my date with the One who’s love is beyond compare. And Christ is there during the Mass not only in Spirit, but in flesh and blood!

 Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I know my excitement for meeting you at Mass is nothing compared to Your excitement meeting me. May this fire keep burning in anticipation, during, and even after our Sunday dates! Amen!