Gospel and Readings for July 12, 2015 (Sunday) 15th Week of Ordinary Time

First Reading
Am 7:12-15

To Amos, Amaziah said: "Off with your, seer, flee to the land of Judah and there earn your bread by prophesying! But never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple."  Amos answered Amaziah, "I am not a prophet, nor do I belong to a company of prophets.  I am a herdsman and a dresser of sycamores, but the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lords said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'"

Second Reading
Eph 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ, with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.  In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he garnered us in the beloved.  Fulfillment thought Christ.

In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.  In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the misery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.  Inheritance through the Spirit.

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.  In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption of God's possession, to the praise of his glory.

Gospel Reading
Mk:6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick- no food, no sack, no money in their belts.  They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.  He said to them,  "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until  you leave from there.  Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them."  So they went off and preached repentance.  They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

The Word in other words

As I was preparing this reflection, I read the sharing of Fr. Sisoy Cellan in Sambuhay.  Fr Sisoy is an SVD missionary who is presently assigned in Kenya.  I would like to relate to you some of his thoughts on mission which is just about the theme of today's gospel.  By the way, Fr. Sisoy used to be my student in philosophy when I was the regent of Christ the King Mission Seminary, our college-seminary at E. Rodriguez, Q.C.

Fr. Sisoy shared a story where an old woman approached an SVD missionary stationed at a remote mission area in Kenya.  Among other things, this woman was asking for food.  Our SVD confrere handed her some unga (ground maize), and told her it was all he could give her.  Then woman thn replied: "If you missionaries cannot give us what we need, then why are you here?" For Fr. Sisoy it was a biting and even unfair remark.  However, it was worth reflecting on.  Once again the remark of the woman led him to examine his reason for doing mission in Kenya.  He thus posed the question: "If we missionaries cannot give what people ask of us, then what are we to them?"

In today's gospel, Jesus sent his apostles to minister to people and to their needs.  He also instructed them how mission must be conducted in simplicity and with single-mindedness.  In particular, he sent them in pairs.  There is wisdom in this mission strategy- to do mission as a team.  Today, in the Church, pastoral ministry has to be a team ministry if it has to be efficient.  Gone are the days of the rugged individualistic type of missionaries.  Team ministry is not just a pastoral strategy; it is also an effective aspect of witnessing.

Fr. Sisoy speaks of team ministry in doing mission on another front.  This team ministry is in the form of partnership between the Filipino missionaries sent abroad and the Philippine Church He writes:

We represent the Philippine Church in our mission here in Africa.  We carry with us our identities as Filipino Christians into the mission field.  We become the living expression of the Philippine Church's commitment to mission.  Hence, we wish to see our brothers and sisters in our motherland taking concrete stand for us missionaries, supporting and giving assistance to Filipino missionaries who are away from home.  If such concrete assistance is pursued vigorously, then the question of the old woman will have been answered already.

We thank GOd that the Philippines has become the mission-sending Church and we thank in a special way our courageous Filipino missionaries who have braved the difficult and challenging mission in all parts of the glob.  St. Joseph Freinademetz, the first SVD missionary to China, was sustained in his difficult mission among the Chinese by the conviction that, despite differences in culture, languages and ways of life, there is one language that everybody speaks and understands: it is the language of love, the language of God's love.

                 - Fr. Raul Caga, SVD (DWS, Tagaytay City)

Gospel for June 24, 2015 (Wednesday) Birth of St. John the Baptist

Lk 1:57-66.80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.  When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zachariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No.  He will be called John".

But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name".  So they made signs, asking the father what he wished him to be called.  He asked for tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.  Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing to God.  Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.  All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?"  For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.  The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

The Word in other words

With the exception of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist is the only saint whose birthday we celebrate.  The importance of John's nativity gave a signal to the coming of the Messiah, Our Lord Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist was considered to be the last prophet before the coming of the Song of God.  His birth came under "mysterious" circumstance- barren wife gave birth to a child in her old age.  Neighbors asked, " What, then, will this child be?" They asked this question because it was clear that God was with him.

John the Baptist, whose name means "God is gracious", consecrated his life to the Lord and became the precursor of the Messiah.  He was the voice crying out in the wilderness, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand".  He prepared the way for the Lord, and like the other prophets he was given the opportunity to offer his ultimate act of obedience to the will of the Father by shedding his blood.

God chose John to prepare the way for the coming of the Savior and arrange everything for him.  His parents waited for his coming and they were filled with joy upon seeing him.  He grew in righteousness "until the day of his manifestation to the people of Israel."

Like John, our existence in this world might be short but it will not be futile if we do the will of God, if we do what is supposed to be God's plan for us.  Our mission is to be a witness to what is right and true, to bring joy to the world by living out the gospel values.  John did not wish to become powerful; humbling himself before the Lord, he declared,  "He must increase, I must decrease".

To live is not to possess power, glory, and riches, but to live the life in joyful humility, simplicity, righteousness, and love.