In or Out

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 September 2018

First reading                                                                  Numbers 11:25-29
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again. Two men stayed in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”

Second reading                                                     James 5:1-6

Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day, slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.

Gospel                                                                     Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.”

Reflection

By Art B. Reyes

Jesus speaks about humility, tolerance, and love for our fellowmen. He is teaching us to embrace and welcome each other regardless of our race, denomination, and status in life.

In our gospel for this Sunday there is another lesson for all of us. The disciples complain to Jesus because they saw someone casting out devils in Jesus’ name. They tried to stop him “because he was not one of us”. When John told Jesus that there were group of people driving out demons in His name, he perhaps was expecting that Jesus would condemn them. Instead, He says “Do not prevent them, there is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

This is a strong message that we need to reflect on. No denomination, race, or status in life has the exclusivity of God’s saving grace. Several religions claim that no good can be done in the world except through their ways and beliefs. They are so close-minded that they cannot imagine on working on any other pattern other than what they believe on.

Have you noticed how the beggars in the street bow their heads, as if they wouldn't like their faces seen by the people passing by? In contrast, I am certain that you observe that most people in power are overflowing with ego, their heads up high. It is so tempting to distance ourselves from people that don’t belong to our circle, people that are not on our “level”.

We need to embrace everyone for God’s love has no boundary. He doesn't look at how we pray, how we do good deeds, or how big of a money we give to the Church. God examines our hearts. Humility is a way to reshape our hearts that are deformed by our egocentric and selfish ways.

Let us all slowdown and pause. When everything is rushed, we don't take notice of the people surrounding us. We don't see the goodness in them. By slowing down, we can find time to selflessly look outside of ourselves. And by taking a pause, we can find opportunity to love.

Prayer

Lord, grant us the virtue of true humility. Allow us to not be filled with pride, jealousy, or boastful gestures toward our brothers and sisters. Fill our hearts with love, joy, peace and happiness to the praise of Your glory. Amen.

Pagtanggap

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

02 July 2017

First reading                                                                                               2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16

One day as Elisha was on his way to Shunem, a woman of rank who lived there pressed him to stay and eat there. After this he always broke his journey for a meal when he passed that way. She said to her husband, ‘Look, I am sure the man wno is constantly passing our way must be a holy man of God. Let us build him a small room on the roof, and put him a bed in it, and a table and chair and lamp; whenever he comes to us he can rest there.’ One day when he came, he retired to the upper room and lay down. He said to his servant Gehazi, ‘Call our Shunammitess. Tell her this: “Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us, what can we do for you? Is there anything you would like said for you to the king or to the commander of the army?”’ But she replied, ‘I live with my own people about me.’ ‘What can be done for her then?’ he asked. Gehazi answered, ‘Well, she has no son and her husband is old.’ Elisha said, ‘Call her.’ The servant called her and she stood at the door. This time next year,’ he said ‘you will hold a son in your arms.’

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Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 88(89):2-3,16-19

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Second reading                                                                                                      Romans 6:3-4,8-11

When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life.
  But we believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him: Christ, as we know, having been raised from the dead will never die again. Death has no power over him any more. When he died, he died, once for all, to sin, so his life now is life with God; and in that way, you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!

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Gospel	Matthew 10:37-42

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
  ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.
  ‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.
  ‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’

Reflection

by Nats Vibiesca

Kalilipat ko lang ng opisina. Inuna kong linisin at ayusin ang aking bagong kwarto. Bukod dito, sinigurado kong may nakahandang kape at biskwit para may maiaalok ako kung sakaling may bumisita.   Hindi ba’t lagi tayong naghahanda kahit papaano para sa bisita? Maging sa tahanan nati’y lagi’t laging nandoon ang kagustuhang mapasaya ang sinumang tatanggaping bisita. Kaya nga sinasabing ang pagiging hospitable ay ang isa sa pinakamagandang ugali natin. Eh, bakit nga ba napaka-hospitable nating mga Filipino? Parang natural lang sa ating pagkatao ang magiliw na pagtanggap sa kapwa.

Noong nagsasaliksik ako tungkol sa kultura ng mga taga-Cordillera, partikular sa Kalinga, napansin ko na kape rin ang unang iniaalok sa mga bisita. At kahit hirap magsalita ng Tagalog, pipilitin nilang makipag-usap para estimahin nang mabuti ang bisita. Kaya’t kadalasang Ingles ang gamit nila kung hindi marunong mag-Tagalog. Ang pinakamahuhusay na buto ng kape ang itinatabi nila at hindi ipinagbibili, ito’y upang magamit ng kanilang pamilya at ng mga bisita.

Nang nakapunta naman ako sa Palawan, walang humpay din ang pag-asikaso nila sa mga bisita. Papaano’y sa paliparan pa lang ay masayang sinalubong agad kami ng mga tumanggap sa amin. Dalawang taon na ang nakalipas nang maranasan ko ang kakaibang pagtanggap ng mga kapatid nating Muslim na mga taga-Marawi sa aming mga Kristiyano bilang bisita nila. Ang sabi ko nga sa FB post ko ilang araw pagkatapos pumutok ang kaguluhan sa Marawi: Higit sa tanawin, nagulat kami sa pambihirang pag-asikaso sa amin ng mga taga-Marawi, walang ibang akmang salita para sa kanila kundi mababait at masayahin habang buhos kung umistima ng bisita. Napawi ang bahid ng takot sa amin nang maramdaman namin ang sinsero’t tapat na pagtanggap nila sa amin  at payapa kaming nakisalamuha sa kanila. Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit napaka-hospitable natin: laging nararamdaman ang kapayapaan sa tuwing magiliw tayong tumatanggap ng bisita.

Ngunit kung hindi naman kapayapaan ang dala ng bisita, malamang na mahirap silang tanggapin at patuluyin sa ating tahanan. Hindi nga ba’t walang nakakapasok na Kastilang mananakop noon sa mga tribu sa Cordillera o maging sa pamayanan ng mga Moro sa Mindanao? Ang mga Amerikanong misyonero’t relihiyoso na ang tinanggap ng mga taga-tribu dahil ang dala nilang pananampalataya kay Jesus ay nagdudulot ng kapayapaan, at saka lamang sila nakapagpahayag ng ebanghelyo.

Ang pagtanggap kay Jesus ay hindi lang nangangahulugan ng pagtanggap ng mga biyayang masaya o mapayapang kalagayan, sapagka’t maging ang bagabag sa buhay, kalungkutan o mga suliranin ay bahagi rin ng pananampalataya. Kadalasan nga’y kaakibat ng pagtanggap kay Jesus ang mga pagsubok sa buhay na kalauna’y biyaya pa rin para pala na ating ikabubuti.

Kung matibay ang pananampalataya sa Diyos, umuusbong naman ang pag-asa na dulot rin ng pagtanggap. Kung tinatanggap natin si Jesus, niyayakap din natin ang pag-asa na Kanyang handog bilang bisita nga natin.  Kaya nga kung minsan kapag may mga estudiyante akong laging lumiliban sa klase dahil problemado sa pera, madalas na walang pamasahe o hindi makakain dahil walang baon, inuunawa ko na lang at tinatanggap pa rin sa klase upang mabigyang pag-asa.  Ang madalas kong sabihin sa kanila’y kung ako nga’y nakapagtiyaga kahit mahigit dalawang dekada bago naka-graduate sa kolehiyo dahil wala rin kaming pera noon, pero hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa kaya’t duktor na ako ngayon, kayo pa kaya.

Kung anuman ang maitutulong ay kailangang gawin upang makintal sa kanila ang pag-asa. Kung tinanggap mo ‘yung tao, kailanga’y handa mo siyang tulungan hangga’t makakaya mo. Kung mayroon kang maitutulong o kahit pa nga walang-wala ka na, kung minsan inuuna mo pa ang pagtulong. Pag-ibig na nga ang tawag doon kung hindi ang sariling kapakanan ang inuuna bagkus, ang pangangailangan muna ng kapwa ang iniintindi. Tulad ng pagtanggap sa kanila at pagpapadama ng pagtulong, asahang ganoon din ang kanilang gagawin sa iba namang nangangailangan balang-araw. Hindi nga natatapos ang pag-ibig sa simpleng pagtanggap. Hindi ba’t kaysarap tanggapin ng mga nangangailangan ng tulong dahil laging paglaganap ng pag-ibig ang kahulugan nito?

Kung mabait, matuwid, matapat, at mapagmahal na disipulo ng Diyos ang ating bisita’y walang kaabog-abog na tatanggapin agad natin. Ngunit madalas na mahirap tanggapin ang iba’t ibang tao, palibhasa’y iba’t ibang ugali. Kayhirap tanggapin lalo na ‘yung mga masungit, ‘yung mga taong laging parang sinakluban ng mundo dahil may bagaheng dinadala, maging mga boss na lagi kang binubulyawan, ang mga nagwawalang drayber sa kalsada, ang mga balasubas na kapitbahay, mga adik na ka-baranggay, mga palaboy sa kalsada, kahit sa loob ng pamilya’y mayroon din itim na tupa. Sila ang nakakasalamuha natin sa araw-araw, mga taong kinapitan na ng samu’t saring taliptip sa bangka sa kanilang paglalakbay at bigat na bigat na nga sa pagpasan kaya’t halos ipasa na sa atin ang mga ito kung sila’y bumibisita. Ang mga taong may mabigat na suliranin o sinumang nangangailangan ng tulong, higit sa lahat ang mga lingkod ng Diyos, ang siyang mukha ng ating Panginoong Jesus. Sa madaling salita, kung minamahal natin ang kapwa nati’y minamahal nga nating tunay ang Panginoong Diyos.

Prayer

Panginoon, nawa’y ang pagtanggap namin sa Iyo ang magbigay daan sa pagtanggap namin sa aming kapwa nang may pagmamahal, pang-unawa, pagpapatawad, at pag-aaruga na walang sinisino, kaibigan man o kaaway, mabait man o makasalanan, mahirap man o mayaman para sa ikaluluwalhati ng Iyong Pangalan. Amen

What Comes After Fear

First Reading: First Kings 17:17-24

Sometime later the son of the mistress of the house fell sick, and his sickness grew more severe until he stopped breathing.So she said to Elijah, "Why have you done this to me, O man of God? Have you come to me to call attention to my guilt and to kill my son?" " Give me your son," Elijah said to her. Taking him from her lap, he carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. He called out to the LORD: "O LORD, my God, will you afflict even the widow with whom I am staying by killing her son?"

Then he stretched himself out upon the child three times and called out to the LORD: "O LORD, my God, let the life breath return to the body of this child." The LORD heard the prayer of Elijah; the life breath returned to the child's body and he revived. Taking the child, Elijah brought him down into the house from the upper room and gave him to his mother. "See!" Elijah said to her, "your son is alive."

"Now indeed I know that you are a man of God," the woman replied to Elijah. "The word of the LORD comes truly from your mouth."

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

Second Reading: Galatians 1:11-19

Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it,

and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among

But when (God), who from my mother's womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleasedto reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia 5 and then returned to Damascus.Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord.

Gospel: Luke 7:11-17

Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.

When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited his people." This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

Reflection
By Fidji Rivera-Sarmiento

In Psychology, fear is a vital human response to physical and emotional danger. Without fear, we cannot have the instinct to protect ourselves from true, legitimate threats. But some days, we fear irrationally, and when we do not understand some facets, we become fearful. That was how the people reacted when a dead man got up upon Jesus’ command. “Fear seized them all.” And who would not be afraid? I imagine it happening today, and I am sure that it would be something pulled out from a Walking Dead series. But what is beautiful in this text is what comes after fear. They all glorified God!


Is it possible that we praise God while we feel fear? Certainly. But is it easy? Of course not. When illness strikes a family member, can we effortlessly exclaim, ‘Praise God for this cancer’? When after all your sacrifices, your efforts went nowhere and you failed, can we go around and spread the goodness of the Lord? Definitely not. When we lose from the recent election after all the physical, emotional, and monetary resources that we gave out, and still the people did not see the sincerity of your heart to serve, do we say ‘Thank you Lord for this loss’? Obviously not. Because we fear when we do not understand. But in our heart of hearts, when acceptance has finally enveloped us, we will realize that God’s hand is evident in every single happenstance. He HAS a reason and a purpose for everything. If and only if we understand God’s purpose can fear be extinguished.

Prayer

Dear Holy Spirit,

Fear has consumed me and I am getting weary living under anxiety. I hate being a worry-wart; it takes me nowhere. I don’t like being afraid, but I can’t seem to be brave enough to let go. I fear rejection, failure, and so I build walls around me instead of living the life you have prepared for me. Fear is the cancer that eats up my spirit, but I offer it all to You. Fill me, Holy Spirit. Search my heart and replace fear with trust, with love, with hope, and with an understanding that You are the director of my life and that my life script has already been written down on the palm of Your Hands. Inundate me with Your holy peace that surpasses all understanding. Calm my troubled heart. And I raise my hands in surrender to Your Will. Amen.

Three Yeses

" Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

First Reading: 2Sam. 7:1-5, 8-11, 16

When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!" Nathan answered the king, "Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you." But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:

" Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?  " Now then, speak thus to my servant David, 'The LORD of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance.

Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.' 

Res. Psalm: Psalms 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27

Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, " Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection

by Pietro S Albano

Do you still remember the moments when you said ‘Yes’ to God? Looking back, I remember three dates when Nidz and I said our ‘Yes’ to Him. The first was when we tied the knot on December 18, 2002. Getting married isn’t to be taken lightly for it requires a lifelong commitment through thick and thin, a daily offering of one’s self to the other without any reservations, a constant battle between ‘we’ and ‘I’, ‘ours’ and ‘mine’, ‘us’ and ‘me’. Even before settling down, like many other couples, we felt we’re inadequate in a number of aspects. Questions like “How can we raise children?”, “Can we cope with balancing career and family?”, “Will we live in the Philippines or the UK?” etc. come to mind.

The second was when Chiara was born on September 13, 2008. When I first discovered those 2 blue lines in the pregnancy test kit, I was teary eyed. I kissed my wife’s tummy and said my first “I love you” to the baby. From that moment on, we were not only a couple, but parents who have accepted the responsibility of bringing a new life into the world. Nine months later, I carried her in my arms and thanked God for entrusting to us such a precious gift.

The third was when we had Chiara baptized on December 21, 2008. By this sacrament, we gave her one of the best Christmas gifts parents could give their children: the Christian faith. By having her welcomed into God’s big family, we received the responsibility of raising her to be a good follower of Jesus.

Like Mary, in today’s Gospel, we humbly and faithfully accepted God’s invitation to perform certain roles in His family. Carrying out these (and other) responsibilities by ourselves would be futile, but if we believe that whatever He entrusts us is His work and not ours, if we keep ourselves open to His grace then we’re sure that He will be with us through and through. Christ’s incarnation will continue in us!

Prayer

Lord, we have our mission. We are a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. You have not created us for naught. We shall do good, we shall do Your work; we shall be angels of peace, preachers of truth in our own place...if we do but keep Your commandments and serve You in our calling. (cf. Blessed John Henry Newman)

O Mary, Virgin full of grace, help us, especially all married couples, in always saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call to be part of His saving plan. Amen.