A Sacrament of Christ

Thirty-third Sunday in

Ordinary Time

14 November 2021 

 

First Reading: DN 12:1-3

Responsorial Psalm: PS 16:5, 8. 9-10, 11

Second Reading: HEB 10:11-14, 18

Gospel: MK 13:24-32

 

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

 

Know that he is near.

Jesus spoke to His disciples about His second coming. There is a sense of fear that one would feel as Jesus mentioned the destruction of the sun, moon, and stars. After this scene, Jesus will come in glory and will send His angels to gather those who remained faithful to Him until the end. 

In his message on the Fifth World Day of the Poor, which we celebrate today, Pope Francis wrote:  “The face of God revealed by Jesus is that of a Father concerned for and close to the poor. In everything, Jesus teaches that poverty is not the result of fate, but a concrete sign pointing to His presence among us. We do not find Him when and where we want, but see Him in the lives of the poor, in their sufferings and needs, in the often inhuman conditions in which they are forced to live….[B]elievers, when they want to see Jesus in person and touch him with their hands, know where to turn. The poor are a sacrament of Christ; they represent his person and point to him.” We do not know the day or hour of Jesus’ Second Coming. However, we can prepare for it by reaching out to His least brothers and sisters, the poor in our midst. The Holy Father warns us: “Today, in fact, in the more economically developed areas of the world, people are less willing than in the past to confront poverty. The state of relative affluence to which we have become accustomed makes it more difficult to accept sacrifices and deprivation. People are ready to do anything rather than to be  deprived of the fruits of easy gain. As a result, they fall into forms of resentment, spasmodic nervousness and demands that lead to fear, anxiety and, in some cases, violence.  This is no way to build our future; those attitudes are themselves forms of poverty which we cannot disregard. We need to be open to reading the signs of the times that ask us to find new ways of being evangelizers in the contemporary world. Immediate assistance in responding to the needs of the poor must not prevent us from showing foresight in implementing new signs of Christian love and charity as a response to the new forms of poverty experienced by humanity today.”

• What new signs of Christian love and charity must the Church implement to address poverty?
• How can the poor help you get ready for the Lord’s Coming?

• What is the difference between almsgiving and mutual sharing?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Help us realize that we too are poor because only in this way will we truly be able to recognize them, to make them part of our lives and an instrument of our salvation. Amen.

 

Imago Dei

Holy Trinity Sunday

07 June 2020

First reading                                                                        Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9
With the two tablets of stone in his hands, Moses went up the mountain of Sinai in the early morning as the Lord had commanded him. And the Lord descended in the form of a cloud, and Moses stood with him there.
He called on the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness.’ And Moses bowed down to the ground at once and worshipped. ‘If I have indeed won your favour, Lord,’ he said ‘let my Lord come with us, I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.’

Second reading                                                        2 Corinthians 13:11-13

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Brothers, we wish you happiness; try to grow perfect; help one another. Be united; live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with the holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with you all.

Gospel                                                                     John 3: 16-18

Jesus said to Nicodemus,
‘God loved the world so much
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him
may not be lost but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,
because he has refused to believe
in the name of God’s only Son.’

Reflection

By Carlo Alexis R. Malaluan

In the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Pope Francis told a beautiful anecdote when a child asked him a rather tough question: “Father, what did God do before creating the world?” The Holy Father, however finding it very difficult to respond, answered: “Before creating the world, God loved because God is love. But it was such a love that he had in himself, that love between the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. It was so big, so overflowing, that he was so big that he could not be selfish. It had to get out of himself – to have someone to love out of oneself and then God created the world.”

God is love. Love is the essence of God. It is the very love that created the world and for the world, it is the reason why he gave up himself on the Cross. The Scriptures paints for us a beautiful image of God. In the First Reading taken from the Book of Exodus, we can see the face of a loving Father who is the “Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity” (Exodus 34:6) He remains faithful to His promise of love and compassion for His people and accepts us as His own despite of our wickedness and sins (Exodus 34:9). 

We are created in the image and likeness of God. For God is love, we too are called to love. As we have received the tremendous love of God, we are invited to become bearers of love. In the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, we are reminded to remain true to our identity as Christians. As I have loved you, so you must love others! Saint Paul offers simple yet practical ways: Mend your ways. Love transforms our wicked ways so that we may be able to love purely and freely. Encourage one another. Love inspires the soul of the beloved. Through compassion, we feel the security of the Divine. Agree with one another. Love is not angry nor despises others. Love promotes understanding and mutual respect. Live in Peace In the world of division, confusion and hatred, we are called to the fellowship of love. And if we have followed this advice, Saint Paul assures us that the God of love and peace will be with you. 


In the Gospel, we can see the outpouring love of God for the world. A love that is not selfish nor greedy but a love that is willing to give himself without any conditions. A love that doesn’t condemn, but a love that finds no fault of the beloved. A love that amidst the pain and suffering continues to give one’s life selflessly. May this image of love be our example as we trod the daily walk of life. We are the Imago Dei – the images of God. May other people see the very love of the Triune God in our lives. 

Prayer

O DIVINE LOVE! Teach us to love like You. In the ordinariness of life, may we preach Your love in our simple words and actions. May our lives become living witnesses of the same love You have given on the cross.  Amen.

Listen

Fourth Sunday of Easter

17 April 2016  

First reading
Acts 13:14,43-52

Paul and Barnabas carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the Sabbath and took their seats.
  When the meeting broke up many Jews and devout converts joined Paul and Barnabas, and in their talks with them Paul and Barnabas urged them to remain faithful to the grace God had given them.
  The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:
I have made you a light for the nations,
so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’
It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.
  But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 99:1-3,5

Second reading
Apocalypse 7:9,14-17

I, John, saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. One of the elders said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and because they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb, they now stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his sanctuary; and the One who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. They will never hunger or thirst again; neither the sun nor scorching wind will ever plague them, because the Lamb who is at the throne will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.’

Gospel	John 10:27-30

Jesus said:

‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;
I know them and they follow me.
I give them eternal life;
they will never be lost
and no one will ever steal them from me.
The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,
and no one can steal from the Father.
The Father and I are one.’

 

Reflection
By Fely C. Santiago

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me”

We would hear many people say, “God did not answer my prayers.” But have we really learned to LISTEN to God? Normally when we pray we do all the talking. Lord give me this, give me that. We feel uncomfortable in silence. We get used to all the talking because we want to be in control. Let go. The Lord is asking us to be STILL. Let us spend time with the Lord in SILENCE. Be aware of His presence. Be conscious of the outpouring of His limitless LOVE for us.

“Jesus’ voice is unique,” Pope Francis says. “If we learn to distinguish it, He guides us on the path of life, a path that goes beyond even the abyss of death.” It is that path that my heart longs to follow, to listen to the voice of Jesus calling to me. And when I finally realize I have lost my way and wandered off the path, I can follow that voice to be safe and secure.

Robert H. Schuller wrote a book, “Positive Prayers for Power-filled Living, where he talked about the different ways God answers our prayers. He said that when you are not right, God says, “NO”. When the time is not right, God says, “SLOW”. When you are not right, God says, “GROW”. And when everything is all right, God says, “GO”

When you grow in intimacy with the Lord, you will learn to be still at all circumstances knowing that God has the BEST for you. He has never, never forsaken us. He loved us so much that He even died on the cross out of His great love for us. Allow Him to care for you. “Slow down” and do not to rush through life. TRUST Him. Listen to Him. If we hear His voice, let us follow Him..

At any time of the day or night we can call on Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He is always waiting, listening for our call. What a wonderful blessing. No phone needed, no e-mails, just a whisper.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for helping me to listen to Your voice. When I am too busy and distracted, I cannot hear You calling me to come home to the warmth of Your love. Whether I pay attention or not, I know You are waiting there for me, always, with Your open arms and Your endlessly loving gaze. Help me to take time each morning to sit in the quiet with You and to thank for this great gift of Your love. Help me recognize Your voice and to recognize that Your guidance and comfort are all that I need. Open my heart at all times to listen to You. All this I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen .

Mother of Mercy

Immaculate Conception

December 8, 2015

First reading                                                                                             Genesis 3:9-15,20

After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’
  Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,
‘Be accursed beyond all cattle,
all wild beasts.
You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust
every day of your life.
I will make you enemies of each other:
you and the woman,
your offspring and her offspring.
It will crush your head
and you will strike its heel.’
The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.

Psalm                                                                                               Psalm 97:1-4

Second reading                                                                           Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12 Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ for his own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved, And it is in him that we were claimed as God’s own, chosen from the beginning, under the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things as he decides by his own will; chosen to be, for his greater glory, the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.

Gospel	Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

Coinciding with today's feast, Pope Francis will be opening the Jubilee of Mercy.  In our Catechism, we have been taught the seven corporal and seven spiritual works of mercy. Some would sound very easy such as to feed the hungry and to clothe the naked.  But how about to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive offences willingly, or to instruct the ignorant? Nowadays, when you're wrong or happen to be on the 'wrong' side (though no fault of your own), you get the brunt of other's hatred.  Hatred that could be as violent as causing physical harm or even death or as viral such as a nasty post in Facebook or Twitter.  

A few years back, I was invited to speak before a group of college students and I asked them whose conception it was we celebrate during the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Was it Mary's (through her mother St Ann) or was it Jesus' (through His mother Mary). While most raised their hands for the first choice, there were a few who thought it was the second choice.  I made a small detour from what I was supposed to talk just to clarify this dogma. There are also others who thought that today is Mary's birthday. Are we going to simply ignore others' ignorance instead of bringing them to the truth?

In the midst of our follies, Mary comes into the fore.  Mary, the only human being to whom God showed mercy by preserving her from original sin, is presented to us as "the beacon to draw sinners to her Son" (Fr James Sullivan, OP). 

In the Salve Regina, we call Our Lady as Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy).  In the few episodes in the Bible, we notice how merciful she was and, most importantly, how she brought forth Jesus, "the face of the Father's mercy" (Misericordiae Vultus). United with her, let us take time this Year of Mercy to recall God as the Merciful Savior, to reflect on the works of mercy, and to identify the many gaps in our lives where we need His mercy.

Prayer

Merciful Father, You have preserved Mary from original sin so she could become the worthy mother of Your Son.  Through her prayers and example, may we be open to Your mercy and share this with others especially those who need it most. In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Live Good

 

“ Repent, and believe in the gospel ”

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15

God said to Noah and to his sons with him:  “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you  and your descendants after you  and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals  that were with you and came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you,  that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood;  there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.”

God added: “This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you:  I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth,  and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the covenant I have made between me and you and all living beings,  so that the waters shall never again become a flood  to destroy all mortal beings.”

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Beloved:

Christ suffered for sins once,  the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh,  he was brought to life in the Spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.

It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Reflection
By Grace B. Madriñan

I fear this would happen.  Barely a week after the bliss we experienced from Pope Francis’ visit last January 17 to 19, we were bombarded by the bad news left and right as if trying to snatch us back to the negative pit we used to be in. The evil one has been working double time to erase every hope; every faith restored and reclaim the souls he has lost during the Pope’s visit. 

And who would not be crushed by the death of 44 SAFs (Special Action Force members of the Philippine National Police)? I could not even look at the face of the fallen heroes, all the more look at the families left behind. If it pains me this much, how much more for the people who knew them -- for the sons and daughters who looked up to them, for the wives who have loved them, for the mothers who have nursed them in their arms?

For a moment, it seemed fitting to be angry, to curse and to point fingers. If I were in their shoes, I could have burned bridges with my wrath. I could have summoned all the forces of nature to strike lightning to where the enemies are.  But that would not change anything. Much worse, I would be giving the evil one a fair chance to win.

Jesus is no different from us.  Jesus wept (John 11:35), He also felt anger when He “entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying (Matthew 21:12)” and even tempted by the demon in the desert (Matthew 4:1). He could have given in and chosen the easy, painless route. But Jesus demonstrated how to live good in this world without avoiding the bad, and rise above the temptations.

Prayer

Father, in this world where injustice seems to dominate the media, there is a greater temptation to be angry and on the finger-pointing mode.  Please teach us to judge fairly and not to be hasty with our actions. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.  

Be the Good News

First Reading: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch which appears to be the sore of leprosy, he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests among his descendants. If the man is leprous and unclean, the priest shall declare him unclean by reason of the sore on his head.

“The one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean. He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 11

Second Reading :  1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1

Brothers and sisters,

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or  the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Gospel:  Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him,  “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning the him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest  and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Reflection

By Grace B. Madriñan

When you are overwhelmed with so much happiness, you will really find it hard to contain it. You will shout it out to the whole world. And I am just talking about normal happiness.  What if it is the Holy Spirit that it is in you? All the more that you will leap for joy, bounce up and down until you spread the contagious fire!

This is how it felt when I attended the Holy Mass in Luneta, one with the people, rich and poor, through dry and wet grounds. Joy overflows as Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ, entered in our presence. People hang on to every word he said like torched land waiting for a drop of rain. After the event, no heart is left untouched. And every person has a story of hope to tell.

This is why I cannot blame the leper in today’s Gospel if he was unable to contain his joy despite being warned sternly by Jesus not to tell anyone. He may have been overwhelmed by the gift of salvation he received that he wanted to give credit to his Redeemer or he wanted others to experience the same gift he received.

But I believe we must not dwell on the bliss of the moment. The real challenge now is how to use this new found faith and hope to action. We must not stop at just being the bearer of Good News, we must also be the Good News.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the insurmountable blessings which serve as reminders of Your immense love for us. May we use every opportunity to use these gifts to serve others. Amen.

Transcendence

First Reading: Job 7:1-4, 6-7

Job spoke, saying: Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted to me. If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?” then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

Brothers and sisters:

If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.

The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left  and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Reflection

By Grace B. Madriñan

I was first introduced to the word “transcendence” during the talk of Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas about the Filipino laity of today.  He defined transcendence as “recognizing that someone is more superior than you”. The second time I heard this was during Pope Francis' homily in Manila Cathedral addressing the priests and religious. But in both instances, it all summarizes one thing -- humility is manifested in transcendence.

As I begin to reflect on my experience of transcendence, I realized that it is not at all easy. For most cases, there is a point of struggle and denial. “No, this cannot happen to me!” or “God will not allow this to happen!” All of which seemingly pre-empting the Lord’s will, as if twisting His arm to get what I want. The recent instance I felt this was during my certification exam for CBAP® (Certified Business Analysis Professional™) In the middle of taking the exam, there is this thought of not getting through… there were a lot of questions which seem vague to me. There is this vision of disappointment and having to go through the toil of doing the reviews all over again. It is then that I felt that I can only do as much but it is up to God’s hands to bring it to completion. A few moments before hitting the “submit” button, I raised my hands in surrender.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus did what He had to do. He preached and healed many from one place to another. He is sought by everyone. It would seem that He already knew what He had to do. He is in control.  But as if He had enough rest, He still “went off to a deserted place, where He prayed (Mark 1:35)”.  He seeks the Father and listened to His next bidding. If Jesus who is of God’s equal seeks the Father, who are we to do otherwise?

“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '? " (Isaiah 45:9)

Prayer

Father, we surrender to Your will. Create in me a humble heart which listens and abides to Your plans. Amen.

Compassion and Integrity

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Moses spoke to all the people, saying: “A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen. This is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’ And the LORD said to me, ‘This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Brothers and sisters:

I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.  I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.

Gospel:  Mark 1:21-28

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority.  He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Reflection

By Grace B. Madriñan

When we say “authority”, what comes first into your mind? Someone who has power? Someone to be feared? In today’s Gospel, Jesus demonstrated a different kind of authority, something that they did not see in the Pharisees. When Jesus speaks, He drives out demons, He heals the incurable and His words are sharp enough it can expel the egoistic one.

On Pope Francis’ homily during his first Mass in Manila Cathedral, he spoke with so much authority and integrity, it moved me to tears. And to think I was just watching the television. His mere aura as he passes by the streets on his pope mobile was enough to move people to tears. That’s the kind of authority that Jesus wants us to have --the kind that moves people to be blessed and be changed forever; not the kind that brings fear and anxiety.

I believe this kind of authority can only be achieved if we demonstrate compassion and integrity. If we teach someone about simplicity and yet we are living a lavish lifestyle, I doubt if they would even listen to what we say. If we force someone to follow our orders, it would not be fulfilling if we know they only heeded out of fear. It would be good if people are drawn to us and are moved to action because they respect us and trust our good judgment.

Prayer

Father, make us a good example of authority. Further enhance our faith so that we may be able to draw more people closer to You, and not away from You, through our imitation of Your life. Amen.

Fishers of Men

  “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’S bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;

it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed, “ when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 7:29-31

I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning,  those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

Reflection
By Nicola S. Albano

I am so happy, blessed, humbled, and honored to see and hear about His Holiness, Pope Francis in the news during his visit to my country. This brings back memories from when I was 15 years old, and an active member of Anluwage at St. Joseph Parish in my hometown at Manila. Twenty years ago, Anluwage participated in the festivities when Saint Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines for World Youth Day.

Twenty-two months ago, the Jesuit Cardinal, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis. He chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. I have admired Pope Francis as a humble servant and leader of our Church since then. Saint Francis of Assisi is also one of my favorite saints.

Eleven months ago, my family and I were blessed to celebrate the Consistory of the 16 new cardinals selected by Pope Francis. We went to the Vatican City primarily to celebrate our relative, His Eminence, Orlando Cardinal Quevedo. I felt so blessed and humbled during my first visit to St. Peter’s Basilica to witness history happening before us. I saw the Holy Father, and listened to him for the first time in person. My Italian is so poor, but with the help of translation and simply being present there, made me feel as though the Holy Spirit gave me the Spirit of Understanding. This helped me come home to New York with a stronger faith and a better, lighter, more positive outlook in life in general.

The image of Pope Francis on a Pope mobile designed after the jeepney, the minibus for the common Filipino people, did not surprise me at all. We have known the Holy Father to be humble. Jeepneys symbolize Filipino ingenuity for they were made from surplus United States military jeeps post World War II.  I am so grateful for having the Holy Father visit Tacloban to pray with the families of those affected by Typhoon Haiyan; my hometown, Manila, to meet families and the poor people; and my Alma Mater, University of Santo Tomas, to meet the youth. He encourages us to remain faithful in spite of the difficult, sometimes impossible situations.

Like Jesus, Pope Francis calls us to love. Pope Francis said, “Real love is about loving and letting yourself be loved. It’s harder to let yourself be loved than to love. That is why it is so difficult to come to the perfect love of God. We can love Him but we must let ourselves be loved by Him. Real love is being open to the love that comes to you. The love that surprises us. If you only have information, you are not surprised. Love surprises because it opens a dialogue of loving and being loved. God is a God of surprise because He loved us first. God awaits us to surprise us. Let us allow ourselves to be surprised by God. Let us not have a computer psychology that makes us think we know it all. All answers are on computers - but no surprises. The challenge of love. God reveals himself through surprises.”

In our Gospel today, Jesus came to Galilee to proclaim the gospel (good news) that the kingdom of God is at hand and that we are called to repent, and believe in the Gospel. And just like Simon, Andrew, James, and John, we are all called to become “fishers of men.” The kingdom of God is at hand for those who are ready to receive it.

As a New Yorker who experienced NYC pre and post 9/11, some days I still struggle thinking about the evil things that continue to happen in the world and their repercussions. Gradually, my faith grew stronger with the grace of God; and being raised in Tondo and as a New Yorker most of my adult life, I have grown stronger after all the adversities that have happened in my life. Historically, people from Tondo, Manila and New York City are brave and tough as nails. I’m blessed to have lived and experienced both lifestyles and this has helped me to become as hardy as I can ever imagine myself to be.


I refuse to question why things happen the way they do and just believe that God is Almighty and merciful. When things are difficult for me to understand; 9/11, Typhoon Haiyan, terrorism, war, poverty, etc., I try to remember what I do know and understand… that God loves us and He is our Father. Let us continue to repent for our sins and believe in the good news of our salvation. God promised us that, “His kingdom is bigger and more powerful than anything we can imagine because it is universal and everlasting" (Daniel 4:3).

Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.
(Prayer of Saint Francis)