13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

June 28, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: 2 Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16a

Psalm 89 “Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.”

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

Gospel reading according to Matthew 10: 37-42

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Homily:

Before Jesus send his twelve chosen disciples, as we continue the discourse on mission sending of his apostle, he reminded them what priority they should have in order to become successful in their missionary activities.  First, with regards to their family relationship.  There is nothing wrong when we love our parents.  But if we love our parents (our fathers and mothers) more than Jesus and we love them first among many, we are not worthy to be called his disciples, because they will become hindrance in following Jesus’s commands. There is also nothing wrong when you love your wives and children, but if you love very much your wives and children, the same effect, you are not worthy to be his disciples, because your wives and children are your priorities.  For Jesus is a jealous God.  He wants to be the first and the last (no in-between; walang nakasingit), in our affection with him.  “Jesus said to his apostles: ‵Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me′ . . .” (Matthew 10: 37).  He does not want to be the second or third in the hierarchy of our love and relationship, and of priority.  He is always the first in our love of him.  He is our priority.  Because, his love for us is always first and last also, no in-between.

Second, the same in following him who took up his cross for our sake, he wanted us also to imitate him for the love of him and of others by carrying our crosses everyday of our lives.   “. . . ‵and whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me′.” (Matthew 10: 38).  We cannot love him and follow him if we do not carry our crosses daily in imitation of him.  By carrying our crosses we show to him how much we love him and obey his commands.

Third, when we avoid in carrying our crosses, on the one hand, and putting them down, and protecting ourselves from such harm of suffering, pain, problems, struggles, calamities in life, even death, we escape all the challenges of the cross, rather we choose pleasures in life, then we lose the meaning of love and living.  “‵Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it′.” (Matthew 10: 39).  On the other hand, when we endure all hardships in life, all challenges, all problems, all struggles, the sufferings, pains, even losing one’s life, we gain and regain our lives.  When we keep our lives, sooner or later we will lose it; but if we give our lives to others, especially to Jesus Christ, we have it to the fullest.

Then, he regarded his disciples to be like prophets, righteous men, and the little ones.  As prophets, the disciples bring glad tidings to all who need to heat the good news.  As a righteous men, they bring justice to the unjust society, and as little ones,, they become servants of all they meet.   “‵Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.  Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward.  And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward′.” (Matthew 10: 40-42).  Like their Teacher, Master and Leader who went first one mission, for he was sent by God, His Father, he brought good news to all starting from Galilee to Jerusalem, ad he received mixed acceptance, others were cold, if not dead, some were lukewarm, and others were warm.  Anybody who receives them, it is sure that they are receiving the one who send them, and the one who seed them receives also the one who sent him.  The one who receives them also receives a recompense for his or her generosity.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

June 21, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 10-13

Psalm 69 “Lord, in your great love, answer me.”

Second Reading: Romans 5: 12-15

Gospel reading according to Matthew 10: 26-33

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Homily: Jesus sends out the Twelve

Jesus is about to send his chosen twelve disciples, sometimes called Apostle(s), meaning “one who is sent, to be sent,” to the pagan and Samaritan territories.  Before he sends them, as a good leader, he gives them instructions on what to do and to say when they are already in the pagan places.  Pagans here are either those people who have many gods and goddesses to serve and worship or none (nothing) at all.   “Jesus said to the twelve: ‵Fear no one.  Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known′.” (Matthew 10: 26).  Jesus also informs his disciples that the people they will meet in the pagan territories are different as compared to the Jewish people, either they are hot or cold, either virtuous or ruthless.  Virtues because they have many gods and goddesses who teach them good living; and/or ruthless, evil for they do not have gods and goddesses who teach them moral life.  These pagan people are fearsome and frightening, too when you meet them.  But Jesus said to his disciples that there is nothing to fear, still they are human beings, created in the image and likeness of the same God and Father of our Lord Jesus.  He knows that their still goodness in every heart of these people.  If they are strong in appearance outside of themselves, still they have weaknesses inside of themselves.  They, too, have hidden secrets and these are their weaknesses that need to be opened up, to be brought out to light and forgiven and purified through repentance.    

Jesus also recalled the many incidence that he taught his disciples many things during the night, for very often he cannot teach them during the day because of the crowds following them.  The darkness of the night that covers and hides them from the gossipers and observers (usyoosero at usyosera), is only their chance to talk seriously about heavenly and earthly things.. “‵What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim in the top house′.” (Matthew 10: 27).  He said to his disciples that whatever they heard from him during the night’s instructions and trainings, in their private meetings and discussions, let them speak to share and let other people know them in the brightness of the day.  Whatever he whispered so that only they can hear what Jesus was saying to them, it is now the time to speak louder at the top of their voices, even “in the top of the roof,” as a saying goes. 

When they go to the pagan and Samaritan territories, they are expected to meet different personalities with different positions and authorities, powerful men who can drive them away if not reprove them or accept them as guests and let them preach and roam around in their communities.  These men in positions, some of them are local councils, governors and kings, police and soldiers, “‵And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna′.” (Matthew 10: 28).  When they go to the pagan territories, they might be tortured, punished and even killed for what they believed the apostles wanted to correct.  The people in that territory can bring to the court a complaint against the disciples for they are bringing new teaching about Jesus the Nazorean.

Jesus gives encouragement to his disciples whom he is going to send.  As if he is saying to them, “do not worry.” Bahala ang Diyos sa inyo, “God will protect you.”  “‵Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?  Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father′s knowledge.  Even all the hairs of our head are counted.  So do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows′.” (Matthew 10: 29-31).  He gave an example to them to boast their spirit, like small birds sold to be burnt offerings in the temple.  Another example is the hair on the head, even those hairs are counted by God.  How much more our life, so precious and important to the Lord God.  We are more important than the small birds and hairs in our heads.

The disciples must be convinced that they know what they have to say or proclaim to the pagans and the Samaritan.  They are convinced to what they are saying.   “‵Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.  But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father′.” (Matthew 10: 32-33).  It is important that they are the first to acknowledge Jesus in times of trouble or even in times of acceptance.  Because the will become convincing to the peoples they will meet in the different places and/or territories.  When they acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, they too will be acknowledged of Jesus in front of God, his Father.  Thus, the twelve disciples are set and ready to go mission.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus (A)

Corpus Christi

June 14, 2020

Readings:

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

Psalm 147 “Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.”

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17

Gospel reading according to John 6: 51-58

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Homily: I am the living bread

Today we celebrate the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ also known as Corpus Christi.  We receive him in the Holy Eucharist of the Mass in the form of Bread and Wine.  Due to Transubstantiation, this Bread and this Wine becomes the living Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist.  Every time we eat his Body and drink his Blood we remember that during the Last Supper he said “. . . do this in remembrance of me,” before his passion, death and resurrection.

Like any other food, such as cooked rich, viands like fish, chicken, beef and pork, vegetables and fruits, bread like pandesal and sliced bread (tasty), noodles, burger, chippies and others that give strength and energy to the body to survive and live, but does not give satisfaction and eternal life, still we hunger and thirst for food.  Unlike the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that gives satisfaction and eternal life to our soul and body.  The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is true food for soul and body, and it gives eternal, joyful life.  “Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: ‵I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world′.”  (John 6: 51).  Jesus is saying the truth, he is not telling a lie (Totoo ang sinasabi ni Jesus, hindi siya nagsisinungaling).  Jesus himself said: “I am the living bread . . .,” no other persons in the whole world, either prophets, or kings, religious founders, emperors, the enlightened ones, seers, magicians, and others who dare to say that he or she is the “bread of life that came down from heaven.”  The bread unknown to anyone or “manna” is given by God the Father.   Only Jesus said that he is the bread that came down from heaven.  And whoever eats this bread (Jesus) will have eternal life and live forever.  This bread is his flesh that he will give to many who believe in him.  This bread gives life to the world.

The Jews were familiar with the saying “bread came down from heaven,” for it was told and retold in every generation from Moses down to the present Jews (see 1^st Reading, Dt. 8:3).  During the time of Moses and when the Jewish people were still wandering in the desert, he admonished the Jews with him and said, “Remember how for forty years now the Lord, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments.” (Dt. 8: 2).  He continued saying, “He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord” (Dt. 8: 3).  This the present Jews understood it very well, but what Jesus acclaimed to himself and told them “and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world,” was a heavy saying which they cannot accept.   “The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, ‵How can this man give us his flesh to eat′?” (John 6: 52).  The Jews were divided among themselves and quarreled to each other, for some of them accepted the saying of Jesus, while others were totally rejected his claim.  For some Jews what Jesus was commanding “to eat his flesh” is taboo, inhuman, ungodly and cannibalism, for they took it literally instead of spiritually.  They were wondering as well as doubting how Jesus can give himself (his flesh) to the Jewish people.

Jesus repeated what he said to give more emphasis to what he commanded to do by the Jews.  “Jesus said to them, ‵Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you′.” (John 6: 53).  With double “Amen,” he is saying and even giving highlight to what he was telling them to do was true and real.  To have life within us, we have to believe in Jesus’s words and to obey his commands, to eat his flesh and drink his blood in the Eucharist of the Mass, which he instituted during the Last Supper.  The Jews anticipated and did not wait until the offering of the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ, in the altar of the Calvary, where he offered his self on the Cross.  They anticipated that what he said was imminent and urgent, right here, right now.

Some other Jews, including the Apostles and disciples of Jesus understood very well what he meant when he said “eat my flesh and drink my blood.”  “‵Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day′.” (John 6: 54).  They do it in the breaking of the bread and sharing of cup filled with wine in their small group and communities.  They eat the Body and drink the blood of Jesus in the form of bread and wine.  “‵For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink′.” (John 6: 55).  In the eyes of faith, what they saw when they ate the bread was the real presence of Jesus’s Body and when they drunk the wine what they tasted was the real Blood of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist.  

Again he reiterated his command not only to the Jewish people but extended even to us.  “‵Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him′.” (John 6: 56).  He encouraged those listeners to eat his flesh and drink his blood so that they will always remain in him.  We become one with Jesus every time we eat his flesh (bread) and drink his blood (wine).  In the 2^nd Reading, St. Paul said to the people of Corinth, “‵The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?  The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?  Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf′.” (1 Cor. 10: 16-17).  Every time we eat this bread and drink this wine, we participate in the offering of Jesus’s body and blood to God the Father on the altar of Calvary.  

The God the Father who sent his only begotten Son, Jesus, to the world to become food for all, to give life to the world, is the same God who brought down from heaven the bread that saved the Jews in their exodus in the desert.  Jesus said, “‵Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me′.” (John 6: 57).  Thus, Jesus who received life from his Father in doing the will and command of God the Father, we too must also obey the will and command of Jesus to have life received in him.

Jesus, the real bread (manna) that came down from heaven, is the same bread he will share to us.  As Moses said, “Do not forget the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery, who guided you through the vast and terrible desert with its saraph serpents and scorpions, its parched and waterless ground; who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock, and fed you in the desert with manna, a food unknown to your fathers” (Dt. 8:14b-16a). “‵This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever′.” (John 6: 58).  The bread from heaven that the ancient Jewish people ate and brought life until they reached the Promised Land, is the same bread we share and participate in the Holy Eucharist of the Mass that gives life and joy to the hearts.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (A)

June 7, 2020

Note:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Peace and all good!

Sorry, for I was not able to send you the Homily last Sunday, May 31, Feast of the Pentecost, the birth of the Church and new found faith in Jesus Christ, because I was brought to the hospital last May 26 due to low blood and weak body.  I have to have a blood transfusion, 6 plastic bags of blood to e injected to my body to regain my strength.  I was only discharged last June 3.  Thanks be to God, He still gives me chances to serve you through though this Sunday Homily – the Word of God during Sunday Mass!!

Your humble servant,

Fr. Eufrosino (Yosi) Solibar, OFM

Readings:

First Reading: Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9

Daniel 3 “Glory and praise forever!”

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13

Gospel reading according to John 3: 16-18

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Homily: God′s love to the world

Today we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; One God in Three Persons.  Without the Others, it is not complete God, or if He is alone still He is incomplete; The One and the Others though they are three, it remains One God.  To complete the Holy Trinity they must be Three in Persons, but untied as One God.  

The love of God the Father given to the world was reflected in his love to his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and shared by the Holy Spirit. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3: 16).  The world is the center of the activities of God.  He created the world and everything that was in it for the love of Jesus.  On the one hand, He created us, humans, and placed in this world to give glory and honor to the Son of God and to God the Father.  Although, we, humans, are not for this world yet we are here as pilgrims and strangers in this world.  On the other hand, Jesus loved us, his own. So, also God the Father loved and still loves us as well.  Therefore, He loves the world because Jesus loved the world and all creatures in it; he was ready to suffer and to die for the sake of the world.  He knows the world and he knows us.  Because of this knowledge, God the Father gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the world.  The world must know also Jesus Christ as its Savior and Redeemer.  It must give its allegiance to Jesus, and in order to live in this world and have eternal life, the world must believe in him.

The love of God to the world is measured by sending his only Son, the humility of incarnation, to the world to save the world covered with darkness and be brought to light and life, for He is Light and Life.  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him” (John 3: 17).  After creating the world good, man and woman and animal serpent committed disobedience to God′s will.  They violated God′s command.  But God the Father is patient.  He waited long and hard if his creatures will change and go back to its original nature, which is good, very good.  But the human creatures and the animal serpent remained stupor and continued doing sins in front of the loving God the Father.  In the end, in the fullness of time, God the Father sent his only begotten Son not to punish the world but to save the world from sins, because God loved the world.  The God the Son came not to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.  And He did, he endured suffering, passion, crucifixion, death on the Cross to save us all, a love of the passion.

Furthermore, he made promised even before he endured pain and suffering and after his resurrection and before he ascended into heaven, to send God the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to guide us and strengthen us and to teach us about what Jesus said and did.  “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3: 18).  Anyone who believe and have faith in him will not be condemned, but be given eternal life, life to the fullest.  The opposite of this, which is unbelief, anyone who does not believe in his name has already been condemned for he or she is worldly, who loves the world rather than the One who created the world, the Most Holy Trinity.

Solemnity of Pentecost (A)

May 31, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 2: 1-11

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

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7, 12-13

Gospel reading according to John 20: 19-23

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Homily:

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the dimples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came ad stood in their midst and said to them, ‵Peace be with you′.” (John 20: 19).

“When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20: 20).

“Jesus said to them again, ‵Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send yon′.”  (John 20: 21).

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‵Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and who sins you retain are retained′.” (John 20: 22-23).

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

O Holy Spirit, most merciful Comforter: You proceed from the Father in a manner beyond our understanding. Come, I beseech You, and take up your abode in my heart. Purify and cleanse me from all sin, and sanctify my soul. Cleanse it from every impurity, water its dryness, melt its coldness, and save it from its sinful ways. Make me truly humble and resigned, that I may be pleasing to You, and that You might abide with me forever. Most Blessed Light, most Amiable Light, enlighten me. O Rapturous Joy of Paradise, Fount of Purest Delight, My God, give yourself to me and kindle in my innermost soul the fire of Your love. My Lord, instruct, direct, and defend me in all things. Give me strength against all immoderate fears and against despondency. Bestow upon me a true faith, a firm hope, and a sincere and a perfect love. Grant that I always do Thy Most Gracious Will. Amen. (By Saint Antiochus)