Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

November 11, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: 1 Kings 17: 10-16

Psalm: 146

Second Reading: Hebrew 9: 24-28

Gospel reading according to Mark 12: 38-44 (or 12: 41-44)

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Homily:

The scribes, experts of the Law of Moses and the prophets’ teachings, as distinguished professionals who would exercise functions in the synagogues and in the Temple, though noble yet become abusive to the illiterate and the poor, especially the vulnerable widows.  Despite their knowledge and familiarity of the whole Scriptures, they did not apply them properly so that the unlearned, no read no write Jewish people may know and understand better their religion, their relationship with God and the way they should live with their neighbors.  Rather they used their knowledge of Scripture to manipulate the unlettered and unread ordinary people for their own benefits.  Jesus observed very well these attitudes of the scribes. “In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets’.” (Mk. 12: 38-39).  The scribes, as what Jesus taught the crowds to become aware, “Beware,” a warning, for their hypocrisy.  They loved to wear long robes as a sign of their status in the society, their learnings, of what they have and who they are, roaming around the streets so that their presence and importance might be felt and the people should greeted them so that they might feel and receive importance and highest honor.  Because of these conditions they preferred also to seat where they can easily be seen and noticed their presence especially in the synagogues and in the banquets so that they established honors.    

Jesus continued his teachings, “. . . ’They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers.  They will receive a very severe condemnation’.” (Mk. 12: 40).  Jesus saw how these scribes robbed and deprived the widows on their property rights by their false teachings. They corrupted the minds and hearts of the poor widows to get their little wealth. The scribes were the ones consuming the properties of the widows who are vulnerable and easy prey, afterwards, in their alleged reason that they needed long prayers for them.  Sometimes they used lengthy prayers as an excuse not to extend their hands in helping the needy and the poor widows and orphans but as an escape.  But, Jesus said that they will receive severe condemnation and punishment for what they were doing against the Law, of God and of their neighbors.    

To prove his accusations to the scribes, he sat down near the treasury of the Temple and observed the mannerism of the rich scribes.  Then he called his disciples. “He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.  Many rich people put in large sums.  A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.  Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood’.”     (Mk. 12: 41-44).  All the people, rich and poor alike, put their support and donations in the Temple’s treasury.  There is no limit in giving alms by the many rich, they almost pour out up, “itaktak ang laman ng kanilang bag,” to the bottom of their wallets and bags as their contributions.  But, these are just excesses of their over flowing moneys that they do not need anymore.  Still they have more moneys in their coffers, in their banks, and in their houses.  While the poor widow, she has only two small coins in her pocket, and that is all she has for a living.  Nevertheless, she gave all these two cents in the treasury box as her total support in the Temple.  Despite of her poverty, she gave all what she has for she trusts in the Lord God, the Giver of all good things.  She did not mind what she is going to eat after this generosity, of her nothingness.  She put everything in the hands of God, and she believed that God will reward her for her total surrender, generosity and kindness toward Him.  The widow is also teaching us to become generous to God and to our neighbors, without limit, and no reservation, for God is also generous to us in giving what we need.  The widow’s mite is an example of the kindness and generosity of God in us. For as “the jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth” (1 Kgs. 17: 14). We have to trust in God all the days of our life.

Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

November 4, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Deuteronomy 6: 2-6

Psalm: 18

Second Reading: Hebrew 7: 23-28

Gospel reading according to Mark 12: 28b-34

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Homily:

As early as the 11th century BCE, scribes in Ancient Israel, were distinguished professionals who would exercise functions which today could be associated with lawyers, journalists, government ministers, judges, or financiers. Some scribes also copied documents, but this was not necessarily part of their job (en.wikipedia.org).  The scribes studied the Law of Moses; called the Torah or the Five Books of Moses, the history of Israel and the books of the prophets. That is why they are familiar with the Books of Moses, especially on the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  “One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’” (Mk. 12: 28).  This scribe wanted to test Jesus if he was familiar and knowledgeable with the Ten Commandments and the 636 other Jewish laws that surround the Ten Commandments.  Or he has other intention why he was asking Jesus about the greatest commandment, for he did not understand very well this Law and he wanted to be sure that what he knew about it was right.  He wanted to be enlightened by Jesus, whom he called teacher.

Jesus who was so open-minded answered the question of that scribe with fervent love and understanding.  He gave instead of one but two greatest commandments that cannot separated the one from the other, as if they are one coin with two faces.  “The Great Commandment (or Greatest Commandment) is a name used in the New Testament to describe the first of two commandments cited by Jesus (in Mark 12:28–34). These two commandments are paraphrases taken from the Old Testament and are commonly seen as important to Jewish and Christian ethics.  “Jesus replied, ‘The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’.” (Mk. 12: 29-30; cf. Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13-21, Numbers 15:37–41), before also referring to a second commandment, "The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these’.” (Mk. 12: 31; cf. Leviticus 19:18).  Most Christian denominations consider these two commandments to be the core of correct Christian lifestyle (en.wikipedia.org/wiki).

Now, after what Jesus taught him, the scribe learned from Jesus the true meaning of the first and greatest commandment.  “The scribe said to him, ‘Well said, teacher.  You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he.  And to love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices’.” (Mk. 12: 32-33). It made it clear to him the importance of that commandment to be lived in and only by copying or uttering by mere words. 

Jesus saw also the sincerity of this scribe. “And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’  And no one dared to ask any more questions” (Mk. 12: 34).

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

All Souls Day

November 2, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Wisdom 3: 1-9

Psalm: 23

Second Reading: Romans 6: 3-9

Gospel reading according to Matthew 25: 31-46

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Homily:

It will come a time that Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, come back on this earth with his glory and with the angels as his companions, after his passion, death and resurrection to judge all the living and dead creatures.  “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘When the Son of Man comes in glory and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him’.” (Mt. 25: 31-32).  He guaranteed his disciples that he will be coming back in the fullness of time, and like a judge or a king he will sit in his throne and all the peoples of all the nations, “which no one could count from every nation, race, people and tongue, color, language, etc.” (cf. Rev. 7: 9), will come and assemble to be judged and/or mediated. 

As a king or a judge, first he will separate the good peoples and nations from the bad people or nations, like the good shepherd separating his sheep from goats.  “And he will separate them one from the other, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left” (Mt. 25: 32-33).  He will put all the good peoples and/or nations (the sheep) to his right side while the bad peoples and/or nations (the goats) to his left side to see clearly the separations and demarcations between the two groups.

Afterwards, after the segregations, the king or judge will give him his verdict.  Since the king or judge or Jesus Christ himself experienced the goodness and the badness of different peoples in different nations he can truly and honestly pointed out who made good things to his neighbors or bad things against the other persons.  “Walang makakalusot sa huling paghuhukom,” nobody can escape and be free from the scrutiny of Jesus.  “Then the king will say on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave  me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Mt. 25: 34-36).  The people he put in his right Jesus will welcome them who made good things to their neighbors and rewarding them the kingdom prepared long time ago since the foundation of the world.  He will narrate one by one to them the goodness they have done to their neighbors, from the smallest to the grandest, even the minute details he will recount.  The food we share, the water we give, the welcome we have shown, the clothes we provide, the medicine we contribute, the visit we have made, and many others, all these are recorded in the Book of Deeds and the Acts of Deeds we have performed.       

Those who are put to the right will response for them these simple gestures of being neighbors to others are out of their generosity and kindness, their being compassionate and merciful.  “Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  When did we see you stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” (Mt. 25: 37-39).  They do not realize that the small kindness and generosity they have shown to those who are in need count a lot for the salvation of their souls.  “And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’.” (Mt. 25: 40).  To Aling Solly, Lelang Emerenciana and Lola Prescila whom you have shared you food, to Mang Eppie, Lelong Pascual and Lolo Agapito to whom you have given a drink, to Aling Serya whom you welcomed in your house, to Mang Sixto whom you clothed, to Erwin and Pogie you visited in prison, to Cecille, Erlinda, Peng, Manuel, Anastacio, Jessie, Rosa and Totong whom you offered care and medicine, and to other ordinary, simple, poor neighbors, and to the least of your brothers and sisters in your community, to all of them whom you shared your kindness, generosity, compassion and mercy, you did it to Jesus, the King and Judge of all.  “And these will go off . . . to eternal life” (Mt. 25: 46).  Heaven will not forget the goodness you have done and shared to the least, the last and the lost of your brothers and sisters whoever they maybe.

Solemnity of All Saints

November 1, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Revelation 7: 24, 9-14

Psalm: 24

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-3

Gospel reading according to Matthew 5: 1-12a

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Homily:

Jesus who is a compassionate and merciful leader can sense and feel the needs and the situations of the people.  “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him” (Mt. 5: 1).  Jesus saw the predicaments of his followers so he climbed to a higher place where everyone can see him and can listen to his teaching as he sat down, making him a true rabbi (teacher).  He taught them the beatitudes.

“He began to teach them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5: 2-3).  He did not say because you are poor, and it is okay to become poor you are blessed.  But rather, because the Kingdom of heaven is yours who are poor in spirit that is why you are blessed.

“Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Mt. 5: 4).  He did not say you mourn and you are blessed, but because you will be comforted in your mourning that is why you are blessed.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land” (Mt. 5: 5).  He did not mean to say that you make yourself meek and trample underfoot and you will be blessed, but because you will inherit the land in your meekness and humility and simplicity, that is why you are blessed.

    

“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied” (Mt. 5: 6).  He did not say it is alright to become hungry and thirsty and die of hunger and thirst you are blessed, but rather he was saying that you will be satisfied for because you hunger and thirst for righteousness.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Mt. 5: 7).  He was not saying in a narrow sense of the word of merciful and for being merciful that you are blessed, but he was saying you will be shown mercy and receive mercy that is why you are blessed.

“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God” (Mt. 5: 8).  He was not saying because you have clean heart you are blessed, but because you will see God when you have a clean heart, no grudges, no hatred, no malice, etc. in your heart but rather full of love, compassion and mercy like the heart of God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt. 5: 9).  They are not blessed for making themselves peacemakers, but rather they will be called children of God for being peacemakers.

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt, 5: 10).  Jesus meant that truly you are blessed for the Kingdom of heaven is yours for the sacrifices you made in times of persecution for the sake of righteousness.

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” (Mt. 5: 11-12a).  He, Jesus, even said not because you were insulted and persecuted and uttered every kind of evil against you falsely, but because you endured all this things on behalf of him that’s why you have to rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven.