Ask the Teacher

    

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

11 June 2023

 

First Reading: Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

Second Reading: 1 Cor 10;16-17

Gospel: Jn 6:51-58

 

Reflection

By: Grace B. Madrinan

 

"I a the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever." - John 6:51

I have to admit that I will be as shocked as the Jews in today's Gospel reading. It is really hard to understand this teaching. At that time, they still do not have the Eucharist to relate to the body and blood of Christ. I believe this teaching is what divided Jesus' followers at the time. Some followers left while the apostles stayed with Jesus.

What made the difference is that the other Jews quarreled among themselves, while the apostles asked Jesus to clarify what He meant in the teachings. The other Jews relied on their own understanding and when they did not understand, they gave up and left. Meanwhile, the apostles approached Jesus and sought for more guidance and understanding.

I believe it is human nature to go about asking other people instead of asking the source of information. I recalled one instance during our college days when we, instead of asking our professor, we went about asking among each other what the assignment was and how to go about it. And when I asked, "Why don't we ask our teacher?" They will go about saying, "You should be the one to ask. You're the closest to the teacher!"

I think that is the answer, "we are not that close to the Teacher!" We tend to ask among ourselves, even dispute about the correct interpretation of the teaching, when we should be asking the Source of the teaching. Why? Because we are not that close to Jesus. We have not been with Him enough to know His ways. We have not spent enough time to understand what He meant. We have not established that kind of relationship to ask Him directly, "What are You teaching us, Lord?"

The apostles stayed and asked the Lord because they knew Him well enough to know He will not lead them astray. And because they believed in Him, their hearts were opened and gained more understanding.

Prayer

Father God, a lot of things are beyond our understanding. When we are in doubt, may we seek answers from You instead and lean not on the dictates of the world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ika-12 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ika-20 ng Hunyo 2021 

 

First Reading (Unang Pagbasa): JB 38:1, 8-11

Responsorial Psalm (Salmong Tugunan): 107: 23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31

Second Reading (Ikalawang Pagbasa): 2 COR 5:14-17

Gospel (Mabuting Balita): MK 4:35-41

 

Repleskyon

Ni: Nats Vibiesca

 

Bilang tao, mabilis tayong nadadala ng takot kapag may biglaang pagsubok sa ating buhay. Ang iba sa atin ay natataranta agad. Hindi makapag-isip nang maayos. Hindi makakilos. Ang tanging magagawa natin ay sumuko agad at maghanap ng makakaramay o makakatulong sa atin. Ganito ang nangyari sa kuwento ng ating Ebanghelyo ngayon, habang patawid sa kabilang ibayo sina Jesus kasama ang Kanyang mga alagad, nang biglang dumating ang unos at matinding hampas ng alon ang kanilang sinagupa.

Pero ito'y isang pangyayari lamang sa buhay ni Jesus at ng mga alagad, hindi naman ito araw araw na nararanasan nila. Ang nakakagulat lang ay biglaan ito at hindi inaasahan, na kung tutuusin ay matutugunan sana ng ilang mangingisdang alagad ni Jesus kung delikadong maglayag dahil may parating na bagyo. Ito ang halimbawa ng pagtutulad sa buhay natin bilang mga Kristiyano na may mga araw na talagang dumarating ang biglaang bagyo ng buhay o sinusubok ang ating katatagan at kung minsan pa ay hindi tayo nakahanda. Pero parang sinasabi ni Jesus sa panahon natin na chillax lang tayo, chill lang tayo, no worries dapat. Una, hindi naman araw araw ang bagyo sa ating buhay, kaya't hindi dapat mag-alala nang labis, kumbaga'y huwag nating hayaang tumambay ang problema, palipasin lang natin; pangalawa, hindi naman nawawala sa paningin natin si Jesus, lagi natin Siyang kasama sa anumang paglalayag upang mahingan natin ng tulong. Kahit pa nga magsama-sama ang mga eksperto sa dagat na mga mangingisdang mga alagad ni Jesus ay wala silang magagawa kapag may malakas na unos na dumating, pero kung kasama natin ang Diyos sa bangka, hindi tayo dapat matakot tulad ng sinabi ni Jesus na kailangan lang na magkaroon tayo ng malaking pananampalataya sa Diyos.

Ang isa pang nakaantig sa akin sa pangyayaring ito ay nang gisingin ng mga alagad si Jesus dahil nag-aalala na nga sila nang lubos at sinabi nila: "Guro", anila, "di ba ninyo alintana? Lulubog na tayo!" Bigla kong naalala ang isa sa mga alituntunin ng mga guro na-dapat makinig sa kanilang mga estudiyante sa panahon na sila ay natatakot dahil sa kanilang mga problema, at tumulong sa abot ng kanilang makakaya. Para sa mga kapwa ko guro, lalo na ang mga matatagal na sa serbisyo (mahigit isang dekada na rin ako sa bokasyon ng pagtuturo) madalas na sila ang nakakakita sa mga kalagayan ng kanilang mga estudiyante; naririnig nila ang mga hinaing nito sa buhay; kung hindi makapagtapat ng problema sa mga magulang o kaibigan, ang mga estudiyante'y sa guro nila nilalabas ito, kumbaga'y nagiging shock absorber ang mga guro ng samu't saring unos sa buhay ng mga bata. Sapagkat likas na yata sa mga guro ang laging mahinahon sa panahong binabayo tayo ng unos; nakikinig nang mabuti sa mga sinasabi at sa mga gustong sabihin na hindi masabi-sabi; sa madaling salita'y napakasensitibo sa damdamin ng mga estudiyante na madaling napapasuko ng pagsubok; at ginagawan ng paraan kung anuman ang maitutulong kahit kung minsan ay napakahirap, o kahit pa nga dumaraan din sa iba't ibang pagsubok o bagyo ng buhay ang mga guro, tulad ni Jesus ay mananatiling kalmado, matatag ang pananampalataya upang mapatahimik ang hangin sa dagat.

 

Panalangin

 

Panginoong Jesus, hindi kami magsasawang humingi ng tulong sa Iyo kung humaharap kami sa mga bagyo ng buhay. Bagama't napakaliit ng aming pananampalataya at napakadaling mawalan ng pag asa, patuloy kaming nagsusumamo sa Diyos upang mailigtas ang aming kaluluwa sa kapahamakan. Amen.

 

 

 

Best Love Letter (B.L.L.)

6th Sunday of Easter

10 May 2015

Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard; proclaim to the ends of the earth: the Lord has freed his people, alleluia.

First reading                                      Acts 2:1-11

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

  Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

Psalm                                               Psalm 103:1,24,29-31,34

Second reading                               1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13

No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

  There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.

  Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.

Gospel                                         John 20:19-23

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me,

so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit.

For those whose sins you forgive,

they are forgiven;

for those whose sins you retain,

they are retained.’

Reflection

By Theresa Ballo

The Gospel for this Sunday is a beautiful love letter for me. The writer expresses His commitment to consistently put another person’s welfare and happiness before His very own.  Each line speaks of faithfulness and loyalty. Each word was crafted with a sincere understanding of my well-being, as if He is really in my situation. The message talks about trust and confidence that I am capable of something great, bigger than I think of myself. Yet, this love is not self-seeking. It asks for my “YES” also. He respects that I have a choice and saying “Yes” to His invitation promises abundant grace and lasting peace. Who else could better write this love letter but the person who embodied all these qualities? None other than our brother, our best friend and our saviour, the ONE who laid down His life for all of us - - Jesus.

One afternoon, while I am walking in the school corridor, a grade four student approached and asked me if I can call her for counselling ASAP. When I asked what happened, she answered this, “Ms., my BFF and I are already FO!” In my head, here we go again, these little girls language, B-F-F means Best Friends Forever, but FO? What is FO?!  I smiled and politely asked her, “What do you mean by F-O?” Then she replied, “Friendship Over po” I really have high regards for people who are working in the school setting. Simply because they have greater chances to show love to cute, developing, and exploring young minds.They have opportunities to either tolerate or get annoyed with their “own” language that develops on an hourly basis. Good thing if you’re dealing with just one kid but when you’re dealing with a hundred of them, you better fall head-over-heels in love with reading using social media just so you can enter their world. And for me this is LOVE.

This is also the love of a spouse to his/her partner when he/she puts the other spouse’s needs and desires before one’s own. It’s the love that focuses on good qualities than mistakes done and one that forgives and keeps no record of wrong. It’s the love parents have for their children when they still play with their child even though they’re too tired from work. It’s when they choose to attend Parents’ Meeting or a bonding activity in school than to finish a pile of work.  This is the willingness to lay down one’s life for another person, to take a taste of pain just to protect someone from it.

For some reasons, there are times it becomes difficult to love. When students are too noisy, kids are whiny, spouses are irritating or even parents that are hard-headed. With acquaintances and strangers, it can be even more difficult. Sad but true, it is often hard to see God in them, especially when they are rude and do not think the way we do.

“It is not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” He picked me! He picked me! He picked you!

How do we respond to this wonderful calling? How do we bear fruit that will remain? By teaching in the streets? By going to the mountains and preach? By feeding a hundred? If you have that desire in your heart, why not go that extent? Moreso, I think that Mother Teresa truly understood and lived this Gospel. Her way of life, her goal, was just to do everything with love– to see the face of Jesus with whom she interacted. How could Mother Teresa cared so much for the dying, the wretched, and the poorest of the poor? I read in one of her interviews, she obtained this grace, to love like Jesus through prayer.

Prayer is our private conversation with Him. Spend some time with Him so we will learn the great “How tos” in loving our loved ones and the strange brothers and sisters around us. I love this beautiful analogy I read somewhere, God wants to pour graces upon us, to quench our thirst for Him but we must come to the well to drink – to fill up. Prayer time is when we meet Him at the well!

Prayer

Father, in Your perfect love You have offered me the opportunity to have a closer relationship with You. Thank You for giving me the best of friends in the universe. Thank You for giving me the grace not to get tired from loving. Enlightened my hazy understanding at times, especially towards strangers. Bless my spirit to be open and accepting to others. May I be able to see You in them so I can respond even more. Through Your Spirit transform me into the person I was created to be, the reflected image of Your love. Amen.