Gospel for July 9, 2015 (Thursday)

Mt 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles, "As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.  Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.  Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick.  The laborer deserves his keep.  Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave.  As you enter a house, wish it peace.  Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words - go outside the house or town and shake the dust from your feet.  Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than that for that town."

The Word in other words

Jesus was very clear in the instructions that his followers were to follow as they went to proclaim the kingdom.  They were to have complete trust in the Lord as they shared God's healing power.  As missionaries of peace, they were to be generous having received so freely from the Lord.

Once a group of us, priests and religious sisters and brothers, were sent incognito to "smokey mountain", the garbage dump in Cebu City, to give witness to our brothers and sisters living there  We were instructed not to wear any sign that we were priests or religious; even the sisters were to go without their habit.  We were to wear T-shirts or sports shirts with rubber slippers or rubber shoes.  Much as we tried to be like the people of smokey mountain, our shirts were simply too white and clean, and even our rubber slippers too neat to fit their culture.  Still we were thrilled that we were able to present ourselves in disguise.  The sound of so many flies flying and the pungent smell of the burning waste hit us strongly, but the simplicity of the people and their warm welcome made up for our feeling of discomfort.  There were without pretense, so considerate and natural were they, apologizing for having no seats to offer to us.  Then one of them told us how happy there were that we came because early that morning a priest told them that priests, sisters, and brothers were coming to visit them.  What a bombshell! We all had a big laugh about our disguise.

We went to smokey mountain to bring Christ along, but we discovered Christ with the people.  In their simplicity we could feel the joy in the midst of poverty.  We learned from them how to trust the Lord always in whatever situation we are in life

            - Fr. Carlos Lariosa, SVD (Radio Veritas Asia, QC)

Gospel for July 8, 2015 (Wednesday)

Mt 10:1-7

Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out to cure every disease and every illness.  The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.  Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.  Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  As you go, make this proclamation: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

The Word in other words

Jesus called His twelve disciples, gave them authority over unclean spirits and all manner of diseases and commanded them to go out and proclaim the Good News: "The Kingdom of God is at hand."

During His time on earth, Jesus gradually revealed the vision and demands of the Kingdom of God.  God's Kingdom brings transformation, especially the transformation of human relationships.  It grows gradually as people learn to love, forgive, and serve one another.  With the outpouring of the Spirit at baptism, we are empowered to proclaim and witness the Good News of God's Kingdom.

Another important aspect of God's Kingdom is its universality.  It is everyone's concern- individuals, communities, parishes, families and society.  Working to establish God's Kingdom means acknowledging  and promoting God's activity in everyday life.  As we say in the Our Father, it is about forgiving one another and working for liberation from all forms of evil.

We are called through baptism to be disciples of Christ.  Being a disciple of Jesus is about the values we live by, the attitudes we have as we go about raising a family, earning a living, or being involved in church or community activities.  The transformation of society doesn't just take place in the church.  It happens also in the marketplace where people are meeting, doing business, debating, and even relaxing.  We can ask ourselves if we, as believing followers of Jesus, are putting into practice our commitment to the Gospel or if we have an impact on any sphere of life.

All of us have been given a share in the same Spirit, at baptism and confirmation, to enable us to be disciples, announcing the Good News, in our day, time, and place.  The context of each one's life is unique but it contains the opportunities for living out the faith, witnessing to the presence of Jesus in our lives an in our hearts and, as a result, influencing whatever sphere of life we are in.

                                  - Fr. Alex Muana, SVD ( South Africa)

Gospel for July 7, 2015 (Tuesday)

Mt 9:32-38

As [Jesus and his disciples] were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him, and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke.  The crowd were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has even been seen in Israel."  But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons."

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.  At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, " The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

The Word in other words

The central message of the public ministry of Jesus Christ is the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus did it in some definitive ways.  One, by preaching with authority; second, by forgiving sins; third, by healing the sick; fourth, by raising the dead to life; and fifth, by driving out demons.  Added to these are other miracles He performed.  All of these, no doubt brought amazement to the people.  Jesus then was a raising star, the center of attraction, the apple people's eyes. However, while gaining the attention and affection of the people, Jesus also gained opposition from the Pharisees.  Jesus for them was not a blessing but a great threat, a threat to their identity, to their religious traditions, including their fame.  Here was somebody who had the guts to challenge traditions and practices.

Sometimes, we are like the Pharisees in a way.  We are not happy about the achievements of others, we speak ill things about them and instead of affirming what is good in other people, we tend to condemn them.  Such attitude destroys the grace of God working in our midst.  The challenge then of the Gospel is that, first, let us not underestimate other people; second, let us mot overestimate ourselves. If we say God is with us, then it is also possible and true that God is also with other people.  With that, we also proclaim the Kingdom of God in our own little ways! Jesus our Lord finally teaches us to be compassionate in dealing with others especially the sick and the poor.  With compassion, we can be instruments of healing, not instruments of brokenness.

Gospel for July 6, 2015 (Monday) Feast of St. Maria Goretti

Mt 9:18-26

While (Jesus was speaking to the crowd), an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, "My daughter had just died.  But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live."  Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.  A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak.  She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured."  Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter!  Your faith has saved you."  And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping."  And they ridiculed him.  When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose.  And news of this spread throughout all that land.

The Word in other words

Today's Gospel text has parallel accounts in Mark 5:21-43 and in Luke 8:40-56.  I take all three together in meditation as well as the reading from Genesis 28:10-22.  They serve as the guide for my path today and the whole of my life.

I note that the number 12 is mentioned or alluded to.  Twelve years is the age of the little girl who was sick and then died.  Twelve years is how long the woman who touched the cloak or the hem of the cloak of Jesus has been suffering hemorrhages.  And Jacob who is the main character in the first reading from Genesis would be famous, among other things, for having twelve sons- who would eventually become the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Twelve, Biblical scholars tell us, is considered a perfect number, symbolizing God's power and authority.  In the Gospel, Jesus, Son of God, exercise this power and authority over sickness (of the woman with hemorrhage) and death (of the daughter of the official).  The healing that comes from Jesus is in His touching (taking the hand of the dead girl) and in His being touched (by the woman in the crowd).

Today, I invite the Lord Jesus to come to me and conquer whatever sickness I may have, and whatever death I may experience.  Today, I invite Him to be and continue to be the Master of my life.  Today, I ask You, Lord, to help me realize the grounds and places where You are, just as Jacob did, to touch with love and healing whoever and whatever You send my way.  I pray that when I am touched by anything or anyone, Your grace and love in me is passed on.  Today, I ask for a similar sensitivity to persons and things around me that You exhibited when the little girl arose from her death bed.  Mark and Luke say that the very first thing You said to the parents of the girl was to give her something to eat. Ah, what sensitivity.  Ah, what grace.  Today, through me, may such grace, love, and healing take place in my part of the world.

               - Fr. Roderick C. Salazar, SVD (CKMS, QC)

Gospel and Readings for July 5, 2015 (Sunday)

First Reading
Ex 2:2-5

As he spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me:  Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.  Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart- to them I am sending you.  You shall say to them:  Thus says the Lord God.  And whether they hear or resist- they are a rebellious house- they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Second Reading
2 Cor 12:7-10

Because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.  Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."  I will rather boast gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Gospel
Mk 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.  When the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogues, and many who heard him were astonished.  They said, "Where did this man get all this?  What kind of wisdom has been given him?  What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!  Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joset and Judas and Simon?  And are not his sisters here with us?"  And they took offense at him.  Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house."  So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.  He was amazed at their lack  of faith.  He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching.

The Word in other words

I find it hard to understand the Gospel today, probably today because of cultural differences between the thinking if the Jews and the Filipino mind.  Among us for example, when someone successful or famous comes back and visits his/her hometown, the whole town will prepare and give that person a joyous welcome.  The people feel proud to be part of that person's success and fame.

With Jesus, it was the opposite.  He was met with murmuring and great prejudice.  Instead of pride Jesus encountered suspicions and disbelief.  "Where did his wisdom come from?  Is he not the carpenter?"

Like jealous and hatred, prejudice could lead to murder.  So strong could prejudice be that a prejudiced person can choose to remain blind in front of glaring facts.  Somebody calls it "self-inflicting blindness."  Being blinded, he or she strikes like a serpent to an unknowing suspect.

Jesus could not let his healing touch flow into unbelieving hearts.  He waits with enduring patience for a change of heart.  Meanwhile he moves on and seeks more fertile grounds to scatter the seeds of his kingdom.

                   - Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD (DWST, Tagaytay City)

Gospel for July 4, 2015 (Saturday) Feast of St. Elizabeth of Portugal

Mt 9:14-17

Then the disciples of John approached him and said,  "Why do we and the Pharisees fast (much), but your disciples do not fast?"  Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?  The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.  No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.  People do not put new wine into old wineskins.  Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.  Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved."

The Word in other words

"Are you a KJ (kill joy)?"  Jesus must have asked John's disciples.  Fasting is done for varied reasons including health, discipline, atonement for sins, and even to "coerce" others.  However, when one is in and with Jesus, the only meaningful act of fasting would that of fasting from work.  When one is with Jesus, work is a feast where one has so much to do- for others and His Kingdom.  Didn't He say "I have food no one knows about" (Jn 4:32)?  Hence, eating is necessary to replenish the energy spent for others.  Fasting (from work, that is, or simply RESTING) becomes inevitable for the sake of the next round of service in and out for the Lord!  Didn't Jesus advise His disciples "to come away from work to a distant place to rest" (Mk 6:31)?  Even machines have to be stopped to keep from overheating.  This fasting from work thus has consequences to one's health.  Without rest one suffers from burnout.  Work will always be there, but rest and prayer are essential for us to be able to sustain our zeal for the work.  But we know that the disciples of John did not fast like that.

Secondly, fasting comes easy when "the bridegroom" dies.  That's what we call grieving, when one's energies go so slow that either one just wants to cry and the appetite seems to have left us too.  Besides, when the reason for the fast is gone, as in death, the reason for all the celebration dissipates into thin air; one really needs to sit down and feel "the blow" of the loss.  We may even feel like we have worked for nothing!  Hence, our fasting on Good Friday.

And of course, we know why the Church maintains fasting on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, one of the only two days in our church calendar in which we are required to fast.  This one seems to be the only acceptable reason: atonement and conversion from our sins.  Even Scriptures attest to this "powerful" coercive act of man which God looks so mercifully upon, remember the experience of the Ninevites in the book of Jonah?  We can never force God, by fasting, to do things our way.  Hence, when we fast so that we understand God's will for us, God is not coerced.  In fact, we go by the ways of God!

                       - Fr. Bernardo R. Collera, SVD (DWC, Legazpi, Albay)

Gospel for July 3, 2015 (Friday) Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle

Jn 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord,"  But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks again put my hand into his side, I will not believe."  Now a week later his disciples were again and inside and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said,  "Peace be with you."

Then he said to Thomas,  "Put your fingers here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe."  Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have blessed."

The Word in other words

Dear Thomas,

Allow me to send you this letter across the centuries because I have some points to clarify and sentiments to express.

You were absent when the Lord appeared to your fellow disciples gathered together behind locked doors on the very day he rose from the dead.  When you came back to the Group and they told you exultantly, "We have seen the Lord!" were you not feeling sorry for having been away from your community just at that glorious moment?  Did you not perhaps come to realize that there is indeed a blessing in being with one's community even (or, especially?) when there is cause for grief?

"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."  That was your (proud?) retort, Thomas.  So for you to see is to believe, right?  But if one sees already, one does not have to believe anymore, right also?  Take  your fellow disciples, for instance.  Their word to you was not,  "We believe in the Risen Lord,"but, "We have seen the Lord!" Is it not so that there in heaven where you are now, there is no need for faith anymore, nor for hope?  Because what you believed in and hoped for you now possess.  Yes, you now enjoy the Beatific Vision!  Truly then what remains is Love, the greatest of the Three.

But really, Thomas, from my vantage point, I find it truly amazing why you were so incredulous of your Rabbi's resurrection, and why this Easter event should have caught all of you in the group by surprise.  My reason?  Simply this: On the least three different occasions Jesus made a rather solemn statement that he would be killed but that on the third day he would rise again.  Were you not listening to him- you his disciples?  His enemies remembered that statement and so they ran to Pilate to get him to station guards at his tomb lest his followers steal his body and make people believe that he, indeed, rose from the dead.  Yes, Jesus' important declaration registered in the minds of his enemies but not in the minds of his friends!  Isn't that truly amazing?

Like the good friend that he was to you, Jesus obliged:  he appeared to your group again a week later, this time with you, Thomas, present.  He utters the same greeting: "Peace be with you!"  And now he confronts you, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving." I wonder, did you still bother to put your finger into the nail marks and your hand into his side?  I suppose not anymore, there was no need for that anymore.  Here is the objective evidence at its purest!  Yes, objective evidence- isn't that the criterion of truth?  The bastion of unbelief that you were should now have really crumbled.  And so , out of the depths of your heart, you cried ou: "My Lord and my God!" I am touched to the core of my being with your heartfelt cry.  I see it as the total surrender of unbelief, of pride, of arrogance on your part.  It was both an act of faith and an act of humility.

Than you, Thomas, for your profession of faith, "My Lord and my God!"  Should I not say also, thank you for bot being so quick to believe?  For you, by that very fact, provided a firmer foundation to our faith in the resurrection, based as it is now not only on the testimony of several who readily believed, but also on the testimony of one who did not readily believe.  Yes, I believe in the resurrection on the word of trustworthy witnesses.  Isn't that what faith is?  As the Risen One told you yourself, "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

You know what?  I have made your "My Lord and my God!" my own profession of faith.  Each time I visit the Blessed Sacrament, looking at the tabernacle, I would say, "My Lord and my God!"  At eah elevation of the Sacred Species at Mass I would say, "My Lord and my God!"  On receiving Holy Communion, and believing that the Real Presence is now in my heart, I would say , "My Lord and my God!"

Thank you, my Friend!  I honor you not as the "Doubting Thomas", as you are often referred to, but as the Firm Believer in the Resurrection of the God-man.  Please pray for me!

Gratefully yours,
Dong Alpuerto, SVD

                    -  Fr. Dong Alpuerto, SVD (USC, Talamban, Cebu City)