Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    

Ika-16 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

21 Hulyo 2024

 

Unang Pagbasa: Jeremias 23, 1-6

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 22, 1-3a. 3b-4. 5. 6

Ikalawang Pagbasa: Efeso 2, 13-18

Ebanghelyo: Marcos 6, 30-34

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

 

Kung papansinin natin, maraming pari at layko na mahusay mangaral sa ating panahon. Siguradong namamangha tayo sa maraming bagay na kanilang nagagawa bilang mga lider. Laging nahihikayat at napapagaya tayo sa kanilang mabubuting halimbawa ng pagiging tunay na Kristiyano. Malaking tulong din ang lunduyang medyang pang-madla para sa ebanghelisasyon, lalo na ang “online” o “social media” na higit na lumaganap noong panahon ng pandemya. Kaya katulad ng mga apostol sa Ebanghelyo, madali nating makilala ang mga “preacher” dahil parang mga artista na rin sila sa kasikatan. Kahit hindi naman nila tayo kilalang personal, madalas na nilalapitan natin sila upang humingi ng tulong.  Kung minsan ay hindi lang panalangin o tulong ispirituwal ang hinihingi natin, samu’t saring problema ng buhay ang idinudulog natin sa kanila at iniisip na para bang mga Santo silang hindi makatatanggi. Kaya nga alam ng Panginoong Hesus na napapagod din ang kanilang katawan o isipan at kinakailangan din nilang magpahinga, mag-relaks, mag-retreat, na kadalasan ay sa malayong lugar, sa bundok na wala sanang iistorbo sa kanilang pamamahinga.

Ilang dekada na ang nakararaan, madalas na sa Baguio ako nakakasama noon sa mga Retreat kasama ng ilang pari at mga katekista.  Noong araw kasi’y kakaunti pa ang tao sa Baguio, wala pang mga malls, wala pang SM, wala pang traffic, wala pang mga night market, wala pang mga bar, at wala pang kung anu-anong mga establisiyamento. Ngayon ay sobrang dami na ng tao sa Baguio. Ang mga tao ay mula sa maraming siyudad ng Kamaynilaan at iba’t ibang bayan sa ating bansa. Karamihan sa kanila ay dala-dala ang maraming pasanin sa buhay kung kaya’t nais nilang mag-relaks at makatagpo ng kapayapaan sa malalamig na kabundukan na siyudad ng Baguio. Tulad ng sa Ebanghelyo, nauna na ang mga tao sa Baguio upang abangan ang dulot na lunas sa kanilang mga hinaing sa buhay mula sa tulong ng mga alagad ni Hesus. Tuwing araw ng Linggo bukod sa dami ng taong nagsisimba sa Baguio Cathedral ay isinasara ang kahabaan ng Session Road upang magbigay daan sa iba’t ibang palabas para sa kultura, turismo at negosyo. Mas marami pang tao sa Session Road kaysa sa loob ng Cathedral dahil aaliwin ka talaga ng mga presentasyong pangkomersiyo na mapapanood sa kalsada.  Hindi naman masama ang pagnenegosyo at ang pagbibigay serbisyo sa tao na nakakaaliw. Ngunit kung nakapako na lamang ang ating atensiyon sa kayamanan ng mundo at ibinuhos ang buong buhay natin dito, nabubulagan tayo’t hindi na makita ang ating kapwa sa ating harapan na higit na nangangailangan. Sa kabila ng sinasabing pag-unlad ng negosyo sa Baguio, hindi nabibigyang-pansin ang maraming tao na namamalimos sa kalsada, mga taong may karamdaman at hindi makapagpagamot sa ospital, mga matatandang pakalat-kalat sa lansangan, nagkalat din ang mga mandurukot na sinasamantala ang siksikan ng mga tao, at patuloy ang mga krimen at korapsiyon sa pamahalaan sa buong bansa.  Kaya’t hanggang ngayon ay nahahabag sa atin ang Panginoong Hesus dahil para tayong mga tupang walang pastol.

Panalangin:

Panginoong Hesus, patuloy mo Kaming kahabagan at turuan upang manatili kaming sumusunod sa Iyo na aming Mabuting Pastol. Patnubayan nawa ng Espiritu Santo ang mga naglilingkod sa Iyo para sa pagpapatuloy ng Ebanghelisasyon sa aming kasalukuyang henerasyon. Amen.

Preach In Any Way You Can

“ Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.”

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

Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling? 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 told off for 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.

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

Second Reading: 1^st Cor. 9:16-19, 22-23

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 He 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 Benj Santiago

“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….” (1Cor 9:16)

“He told them, ““let us go on nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”” (Mk 1:38)

I’ve been with preachers who use the pulpit and the multimedia to preach the gospel to many people. Some people I’ve met in the community I was in preach the gospel by their examples, and by how they put their time, treasures, and talent to spread the good news. Some uses both, and one of them is my father-in-law who is an incessant preacher. He takes all opportunity to preach the gospel. He can rattle off verses in the bible like an automatic glossary. He has spent his retirement years reaching out to people through his ministry and went to spreading the gospel on TV.

He lives what he preaches. He does not boast about it, and he does not get paid doing it. In fact he has spent his own retirement money to spread the gospel. He has taken it as an obligation imposed on him and is following the same example and purpose that Christ has come.

He inspires me to do the same as I am called for the same purpose, to spread the gospel of the Lord. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the inspiration, and the wisdom to see a clear purpose in our existence. We ask You to pour down on us Your spirit of zeal that we maybe like Jesus to others in preaching and living Your gospel. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ!. Amen.

Action

This day, do something to spread the gospel of the Lord by reading the gospel reading for the day and picking up one verse that struck you, then write up your reflection. You can either post it in your FB page or get together with friends and share to them your reflection. Or simply live out the message you receive from your reflections.

Pray also for your priests and preachers. Pray that they may continue to have a healthy and upright life worthy to spread the gospel of the Lord.