13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

June 30, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: 1 King 19: 16b, 19-21

Psalm: 16 “You are my inheritance, O Lord.”

Second Reading: Galatians 5: 1, 13-18

Gospel reading according to Luke 9: 51-62

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Homily:

Jesus accepted his fate, and he was ready to offer his life for the ransom of many.  So, he decided to go to his final destination, Jerusalem.  “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, . . .” (Luke 9: 51).   Jesus is on the way for our salvation.  For, in Jerusalem, he will fulfill what God, his Father, planned long time ago.  In Jerusalem, he will offer himself by facing rejection from the elders and leaders in the Temple, suffer his passion, and put to death by crucifying him on the cross, but on the third day he will rise from the dead.

Though the disciples did not know what will happen to Jesus in Jerusalem, still they followed and obeyed him whom he was sent.  “. . . and he sent messengers ahead of him” (Luke 9: 52). They went ahead and pronounced the passing of Jesus.  Since it takes days to arrive in Jerusalem, he needed a stop-over where he and his disciples can stay and rest.  They told those people and towns and villages they went through that Jesus is coming and passing to their places to go to Jerusalem.  This is also their opportunity to see Jesus, and maybe to hear from him good news and healing for their sicknesses and diseases, especially for those who were possessed by the evil spirits.       

One of the places they went to announce and prepare the coming of Jesus was Samaria (northern part of Israel).  The Samaritans were called by the Jewish people (in the south of Israel) as half-Jews or impure Jews for they intermarried with pagans and did not go to Jerusalem Temple to worship but rather they built they own Temple in Gerizim.  So the Jews in the south (Judea) and the Jews in the north (Samaria) have a long history of dissension and opposition.  “On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem” (Luke 9: 51-53).  The Samaritans knew Jesus, a truly Jew, a prophet and good teacher, miracle worker, and preacher.  They also believed in him as the Messiah whom God sent for all.  They also knew that Jesus had many enemies in the Temple in Jerusalem.  But when they heard from the messengers that Jesus is going to Jerusalem, they had a second thought if they will accept Jesus in their village or not.  They have no business (“walang pakialam”) with the Judean people of the south.  The Samaritans also were afraid that something might happen to Jesus if he goes to Jerusalem. So, the Samaritans decided not to allow Jesus and his companions to pass in their village, as if they were holding up Jesus and as if they were not allowing Jesus to go to the den of his enemies, to avoid suffering and death.   

The two brothers, James and John who were with Jesus, who did not know what’s really going on, only heard the reports of the messengers.  They became indignant against the attitude of the Samaritans.  “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’” (Luke 9: 54).  The two brothers, also called “sons of thunder,” showed their pride and violent reactions.  They would like to retaliate against the Samaritans for not accepting their presence in their community. They would like to destroy and consume the Samaritan village by calling down fire and brimstone from heaven, a total extinction and annihilation.  “Jesus turned and rebuked them . . .” (Luke 9: 55).  When Jesus heard what the two brothers were suggesting, he became sensitive to the situation with urgent correction and rebuked, for what they were thinking against the Samaritans was against his teaching of humility, mercy and compassion, understanding, forgiveness and love.  We can put it into our present context the spirit of dialogue and reconciliation, and human fraternities of brotherhood and sisterhood. Nowadays, the movement for reconciliation and dialogue to other religions in the world, e.g., Islam, Judaism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and animism, is alive and animated.   There is a need of understanding of one’s faith and acceptance to another’s culture and beliefs; otherwise peace and justice will not happen and attain but rather religious wars continue.  “. . . and they journeyed to another village” (Luke 9: 56). And to avoid conflict with the Samaritans, Jesus decided to use another road/route for Jerusalem.

Jesus calls anyone (us) whom he thinks and feels can help him to propagate the Reign-Kingdom of God and repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  But he also demands our response.      

Jesus called disciples to follow him.  To the first one who responded to his call, while they continued their journey to Jerusalem, an unnamed disciple who volunteered in answering his call with eagerness and excitement, and with full conviction, “As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’  Jesus answered him, ‘Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” (Luke 9: 57-58). He has confidence to Jesus, but Jesus guaranteed him not a smooth, easy life rather unassured and unsecured life, as he said to him, “. . . the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”  He told him the reality of his life and ministry.  He will live a poor, humble, difficult life when he followed him.  If Jesus goes to Jerusalem, which means death on the cross, that disciple too will follow wherever he goes.  

To the second unknown disciple whom he called, but responded with reservation.  “And to another he said, ‘Follow me.’  But he replied, ‘Lord, let me go first and bury my father.’  But he answered him ‘Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God”(Luke 9: 59-60).  He wanted to wait until his father’s death before he followed Jesus.  It was presumed that he has many brothers and sisters and even relatives (dead to sin) who can take care of his father until he died. The urgency of proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God cannot wait.

To the third unnamed disciple, who wanted to go back home to his family first to bid farewell, though he already proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God.  “And another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.’ To him Jesus said, ‘No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 61-62). He who follows him cannot look back to his former (sinful) life, to his belongings, to his loved ones, family, and friends while he does proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God.  With this, he has divided heart and mind; he cannot perform well the task given to him which demanded full attention and devotion.    

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (C)

June 23, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Genesis 14: 18-20

Psalm: 8 “You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.”

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

Gospel reading according to Luke 9: 11b-17

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Homily: Corpus Christi

This special Feast of Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ known as Corpus Christi  is celebrated in remembrance of Jesus who gave his life (body and blood) for our salvation from sin.  It is a Feast in remembrance of Jesus’ command to celebrate the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist during Last Supper in the Upper Room (or Cenacle), (cf. Mt. 26:26: Mk. 14:22; Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:24; Mt. 26:28; Mk. 14:24; Lk. 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:25).

In today’s gospel, Jesus told the crowd about the Kingdom of God, but it was not clear whether or not the people undertook it.  It was not also expounded by the evangelist Luke what Jesus said about it, and he left it open-ended. “Jesus spoke to the crowds about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured” (Luke 9: 11b). The Kingdom of God reigns love and justice, of giving and sharing, of offering oneself to others.  As a sign of the presence of the Kingdom of God, Jesus associated in his teaching of the Reign-kingdom of God by his curing of different sicknesses and diseases as part of Kingdom of God.  He let the people ask his healing power, if they needed it, in order to cure them.  Unless otherwise the people ask for healing, he does not do it right away.  He waited them to ask for healing, and the people heeded him to cure them.

When the day is turning to night, “magtatakip silim na,” and the Twelve Apostles were worrying of the people, where they are to sleep, where they are to eat, for they are many, and they are far from the city, or town, or villages.  “As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, ‘Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here’.” (Luke 9: 12).  So, the Twelve approached Jesus and wanted him to let leave the people so that they (the people) can find places to stay and eat, while they (the Twelve Apostles) are satisfied with what they bring, their “baon,” to what they have.

Jesus was worrying too within his heart and moved to pity on the conditions of people who followed him.  They are like orphaned children without parents, and he did not want to let them go hungry and astray like a lost sheep in that uninhabited place.  “He said to them, ‘Give them some food yourselves’.” (Luke 9: 13).  He let his disciples to share the food they have.  By sharing what they have, Jesus is also teaching his disciples to become generous givers and open-hearted servants.  Jesus knew that his disciples brought with them some provisions, and he wanted that his disciples will share also what they have, for in sharing we are not losing or lessening whatever we have, (sa pusong mapagbigay, hndi ka magkukulang), but rather we increase and receive plenty.

Though they wanted to give, but being practical for they knew what they have was not enough, so they told Jesus about their conditions and problems. “They replied, ‘Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people’.” (Luke 9: 13).  They told him that they brought only five loaves of bread and two fish.  They are not enough even to themselves.  “Now the men there numbered about five thousand” (Luke 9: 14).  Besides, there were five thousand men, excluding women and children. How can you expect to feed these crowds with just five loaves of bread and two fish? They even suggested that even they buy for these many people, it is impossible to gather that much in a village, or town, or city.  They have to find a bakery that bakes that much or more to feed these people.

But Jesus full of trust and confidence to his merciful and provident God his Father, and that is not impossible to feed that numbers of people.  “Then he said to his disciples, ‘Have them sit down in groups of about fifty’.” (Luke 9: 14).  He told his disciples to group these men into fifty persons in one group, separated the women and their children.  So there are 100 groups of 50 persons scattered in the open field.  He also told his disciples to let them sit down on the grass for it was spring time; there are lots of grasses around the area.  “They did so and they made them all sit down” (Luke 9: 15).  The Apostles obeyed what they were told them to do, while the people followed the instructions of the Twelve. 

Jesus asked for the bread and fish, and the disciple handed them over to Jesus.  “Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd” (Luke 9: 16).  Jesus did what the priests of old, in the line of the priesthood of Melchizedek in offering sacrifices to the God Most High (first reading, Genesis 14: 18).  He took the five loaves of bread and two fish, looked up to heaven where the God the Father is, he said the blessing by thanking God for these gifts, he divided the bread as well as the fish into pieces, gave them to his disciples; and the disciples distributed the broken pieces of bread and fish to the crowds.  “They all ate and were satisfied” (Luke 9: 17).  This is the Eucharistic celebration of the Holy Mass, where Jesus’ body and blood was given and eaten in his memory. Every time we eat his body and drink his blood we recall his death until he comes in glory.

The disciples were told to gather the leftover pieces of bread and fish; and they were able to collect twelve baskets of bread and fish symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel – the whole community of God, of which we also belong.  “And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets” (Luke 9: 17).  Nothing is thrown or left behind or rejected in his Kingdom whom he started to teach and explain; but we do not know, if they listened – for what they expected were what they can get – healing and eating bread and fish.   In Jesus we can find the Kingdom of God, where no one is thrown out, left behind or rejected but instead he gathers us into his community and/or one family of brotherhood and sisterhood, in his own body and blood.

Kahit ano

Kahit ano . . .

Kahit ano, isusulat ko,
ang nilalaman ng puso ko, at
pati na rin ang nilalaman ng isip ko.

Kahit ano, ang mahalaga
ay maisiwalat ko
ang niilalaman ng puso't isipan ko.

Maibulalas, maipahayag
masabi kung ano
ang nararapat.

Walang pili, walang pagsasala
hiidi kailangan ang malalim
na nilalaman.

Ang mahalaga
ay mabatid ko rin sana
ang nilalaman at mensahe.

Ang iiiisip ko
ay nilalaman ng puso ko
punung-puno

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (C)

June 16, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Proverbs 8: 22-31

Psalm: 8 “O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth.”

Second Reading: Romans 5: 1-5

Gospel reading according to John 16: 12-15

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Homily: Trinity Sunday

Today we are celebrating the Most Blessed Holy Trinity Sunday; it is the first Sunday after Pentecost in our liturgical calendar.  On this Sunday we recall the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the Three Persons in One God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus, the Second Person in the Holy Blessed Trinity, has many things to say to his disciples, even to explain to them his sudden passion, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, though he taught them already about the Law and the Prophets, when he said: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophet.  I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. . . . Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. . . .” (Mt. 5: 17-19).  He was not able to clarify himself about his teaching on the Reign-Kingdom of God and expound about the things in heaven; and many more things about himself for he is about to ascend into heaven.  “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now’.” (John 16: 12).  He wanted to say and instruct his disciples about heaven, earth, and hell; about learning good and evil (the tree of knowledge) and of life (tree of life) (cf. Book of Genesis, chapters 1 and 2); about heavenly things, about the ranks of angels and saints, and a lot more, even ordinary things (tree the fruits that can be eaten), because he is going back to his Father.  Although they received enough things the disciples needed to hear and learn from him whatever, but for Jesus it was not enough, it is not enough.  The disciples needed to hear more, learn more about him.  Nevertheless, Jesus knew the capacity of his disciples in grasping whatever he has shared to them.  They cannot contain them, for they are many and hard to understand. The disciples cannot bear them, for now.

Nevertheless, he introduced to his disciples the other Advocate, the Third Person in the Holy Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who would help them to carry all things about Jesus, about the truth of his teachings and the words he has spoken, and about God, the loving and merciful Father, the First Person in the Holy Blessed Trinity.  Jesus said, “’But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth’.” (John 16: 13).  Whatever Jesus was not able to say to his disciples, the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, will guide them, as well as we, his followers also, to know more and love more Jesus, the Christ. 

Though the Holy Spirit will not speak about himself, but rather he will speak on behalf of Jesus Christ.  “’He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming’.” (John 16: 13). He will tell his disciples all the things he heard from and about Jesus, and more about the things to come. When the Holy Spirit comes he will teach us, according to what he knew, heard and learned from Jesus, the Lord.  He will even give glory to him.  “’He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you’.” (John 16: 14).  By revealing to his disciples and to us what Jesus has, the Holy Spirit will declare and share to them and to us.  Jesus said to his disciples by enlightening them what the Father has, all is his.  “’Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you’.”  (John 16: 15).  Whatever the Father has, Jesus has it, too.  So, also, Jesus, God the Son, shared all that he received from God the Father to God the Holy Spirit; and God the Holy Spirit will share all that he received from Jesus to his disciples and to us.

What follows, is an excerpt of a Letter written by St. Athanasius to Serapion of Thmuis:

“It will not be out of place to consider the ancient tradition, teaching and faith of the Catholic Church, which was revealed by the Lord, proclaimed by the apostles and guarded by the fathers. For upon this faith the Church is built, and if anyone were to lapse from it, he would no longer be a Christian either in fact or in name.

We acknowledge the Trinity, holy and perfect, to consist of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In this Trinity there is no intrusion of any alien element or of anything from outside, nor is the Trinity a blend of creative and created being. It is a wholly creative and energizing reality, self-consistent and undivided in its active power, for the Father makes all things through the Word and in the Holy Spirit, and in this way the unity of the holy Trinity is preserved. Accordingly, in the Church, one God is preached, one God who is above all things and through all things and in all things. God is above all things as Father, for he is principle and source; he is through all things through the Word; and he is in all things in the Holy Spirit.

Writing to the Corinthians about spiritual matters, Paul traces all reality back to one God, the Father, saying: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of service but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone.

Even the gifts that the Spirit dispenses to individuals are given by the Father through the Word. For all that belongs to the Father belongs also to the Son, and so the graces given by the Son in the Spirit are true gifts of the Father. Similarly, when the Spirit dwells in us, the Word who bestows the Spirit is in us too, and the Father is present in the Word. This is the meaning of the text: My Father and I will come to him and make our home with him. For where the light is, there also is the radiance; and where the radiance is, there too are its power and its resplendent grace.

This is also Paul’s teaching in his Second Letter to the Corinthians (13:13): The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. For grace and the gift of the Trinity are given by the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. Just as grace is given from the Father through the Son, so there could be no communication of the gift to us except in the Holy Spirit. But when we share in the Spirit, we possess the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the fellowship of the Spirit himself” (https://dominicanfriars.org/the-solemnity-of-the-most-holy-trinity/).

Solemnity of Pentecost (C)

June 9, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 2: 1-11

Psalm: 104 “Lord send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”

Second Reading: Romans 8: 8-17

Gospel reading according to John 14: 15-16, 23b-26

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Homily

When we loved someone, we kept her or his memory.  All about her/him we treasured, we gave values; we gave importance to anything related to her or him that reminded us once in our lives we loved her/him.  This only shows how much we love her/him.  This is a human love, an exclusive love.  But, there is another kind of love, an inclusive love, the love Jesus shared to us all, the love he showed us until his death on the Tree of the Cross up to his resurrection and ascension to heaven that saved us and gave us new life, new hope, new opportunity to amend our lives and our relationship to one another.  “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments’.” (John 14: 15).  The same with our Lord Jesus Christ, when the time we loved him and still loving him we keep his memories in our lives.  When we obey his commands, we show how much we love him. Also, in doing his command, we continue what he started and also continue propagate it to our fellow men and women who do not know him.  We extended to them the commandment of love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of this love, of keeping his commandment, we believe without doubt that Jesus fulfilled what he said or promised.  He interceded for us to his Father.  “’And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always’.” (John 14: 16).  And the Father who loves his Son listens to the request and/or petition of his Son on our behalf.  God the Father will send and give us another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will also show us the way, the truth and the life – like our Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person in the Holy Trinity.  Whatever Jesus said and done about God the Father, the First Person in One God, the Advocate, the Third Person in the Holy Trinity, he will lead us and introduce us also to him.  This Advocate will not leave us alone but rather accompany us until the end of time, until the time comes when Jesus comes back and brings us all from where he is.

Keep in mind what Jesus Christ told us and done to us. “’Whoever loves me will keep my word, . . .’.” (John 14: 23).  He once again said these words to give more emphasis on the importance of his word.  It is necessary that his words stay in our minds, “tumimo” in our hearts, in our whole being, and we carry them in to our lives.

The Father does not only send another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, he also loves us and comes to us and lives with us.  “’. . . and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him’.” (John 14: 23). In all the days of our lives, God loves us.  God is always with us.  He never leaves us but stays with us, as Jesus promised to us.

It is also very clear to the one who does not love Jesus.  Maybe he or she listened and heard the words of Jesus but he/she did not keep them in his/her heart and mind.  He/she is just mere listener and not a lover, not a follower, and even not a disciple of him.  Because he/she does not love him, he/she cannot even recall what Jesus said and done to him/her for there is no love in him/her. “’Whoever does not love me does not keep my words . . .’.” (John 14: 24).  He/she does not love Jesus Christ despite the many good works he did in his/her life.  The mere fact that he/she is alive, the word of God that gives life is basically with him/her but he/she does not recognize it, for his/her heart and mind is occupied with earthly, material things.

Jesus, who sent by God his Father to us, received authority over all the people to give eternal life to all who would listen to him, obey his commands and love him.  By doing these, Jesus gave glory to the Father and God the Father in return glorified his Son.  “’. . .. yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me’.” (John 14: 24). Jesus did what God said and wanted him to do.  The best thing to do by the Son is to make known the One who sent him – God the Father, and who taught him what to say, everything about God has given to him.  Whatever God told him, in a way, he also told us, and we accepted his words are true.

Jesus reiterated his words to us to make us believe in his word coming from the Father.  ’I have told you this while I am with you’.” (John 14: 25).  While he was still around and with his disciples, he told them what God the Father told him to say, so that they will anticipate whatever may come. Jesus anticipated by announcing the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Paraclete soon; so that when He, the Holy Spirit, the another Advocate comes, the disciples know already what will happen.  “’The Advocate, the Holly Spirit that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you’.” (John 14: 26).  All the things the disciples should know, everything about Jesus and all he told, will make known by the Holy Spirit.  With the Holy Spirit, He will guide us in believing to God the Father and to the Son in His word and in His love.