Gospel for September 1, 2015 (Tuesday)

Lk 4:31-37

Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.  He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, "Ha!  What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are- the Holy One of God!"  Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"  Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing any harm.  They were all amazed and said to one another, "What is there about his word?  For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."  And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

The Word in other words

My first encounter with exorcism happened in my parish when a young girl came with an amulet which had been handed down from generation to generation.  She was shouting, cursing and had extraordinary strength.  When the smoke of the incense touched against her skin, she shrieked and her voice changed.  When the Church bells signaled for the Angelus, she screamed in pain so that she elevated one meter above the Church floor.  As the prayer ended, she also slowly relaxed and all those who were around marveled at the power of prayer.

Jesus in the gospel today deals with demons to show he possesses the key to life.  This authority shows the presence and concern of the rule of God on behalf of those who turn to God in time of need.  Jesus meets the challenge and removes the presence and power of evil from the man without destroying the man himself.  What a picture of Jesus' power!  Indeed, the power of the demon is no match to the power of God.

The story of this healing closes with a profound impact on those who witnessed it.  They saw that Jesus approached the evil forces with authority and power.  We might picture the asking one another:  "What could it mean?  Where does such power come from?  Luke leaves the miracle as an event to ponder on.  The demon's confession suggests the answer:  Jesus is the Holy One of God, and his power exceeds that of the forces of evil.

Jesus conquered evil 2000 years ago, and is still conquering evil today.  Let Him do it in your life and pray that He will do it in the lives of your loved ones as well.
               

               -  Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD (WBC, Cebu City)

Readings and Gospel for August 30, 2015 (Sunday)

First Reading
Dt 4:2.6-8

Now therefore, Israel, hear the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your ancestor, is giving you.  In your observance of the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I am commanding you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.

Observe them carefully, for this is your wisdom and discernment in the slight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, "This great nation is truly a wise and discerning people." For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?  Or what great nation has statutes and ordinances that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

Second Reading
Jas 1:17-18, 21-22.27

All good giving an every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.  He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Be doers of the word and not hearer only, deluding yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.  He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like.  But the one who peers into the perfect law* of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.  If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue*  but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Gospel
Mk 7:1-8.14-15.21-23

Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of this disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is unwashed hands.  For the Pharisees and in fact all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders.  And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves.  And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"  He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.'  You disregard God's commandment but cling to human condition."

He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.  Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile."  From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy arrogance, folly.  All these evils come from within and they defile.

The Word in other words

You think that I don't even mean/ A single word I say/ It's only words and words are all I have/ To take your heart away.

Even if one means them or not, spoken words are always potent.  They can break one's heart or mend it or win it over.

Philosophers are always fascinated with spoken words,  The intelligible sounds uttered by a human mouth are invisible, immaterial, and mysterious.  You cannot see them coming; you cannot touch and feel them, or taste them, or smell them.

You can only hear them.

Spoken words are intangible yet real, familiar yet strange.  When released by a spiteful mouth, words are like invisible poisoned arrows that sting and injure a soul.

But when uttered by a kind mouth, words are like a beautiful melody winging in the air to touch and lift one's heart.

The materialists--- i.e. those who believe that the ultimate reality is matter- will be hardy-pressed if they are asked whether spoken words exist or not, or whether they are real or unreal. For spoken sounds are not material stuff.  Yet, they move you, touch you, hurt you, excite you, console you, disappoint you, strengthen you, etc.

And once expressed, words are irretrievable.

What is most intriguing about spoken words is that they only mean something when uttered by humans.  If a parrot asks me, "Have you eaten?", the sounds do not bear weight and significance.  But if asked by my mother, they are intelligible and merit response.

But why?  Do the words uttered by parrot travel in time unaccompanied by thoughts, while human words carry meanings?

But what are thoughts and meanings but intangibles?

Actually, words are thoughts and thoughts are words, and they are one and the same.  They convey essence of one's personhood and character.

And it is in this context that we can perhaps understand what Jesus said in the Gospel: "Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within (words) are that defile."  From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts (words), unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.  All these evils (words) come from within and they defile."

It is great deal better to hold one's tongue than to utter unkindly words about others. Remember General Ulysses Grant?  He was said to be able to keep his mouth shut in seven languages!  What a feat!

And don't forget the old adage: "Even a fool is counted wise when he holdeth his peace."

          -Fr. Raymun J. Festin, SVD (CKMS, QC)

Gospel for August 29, 2015 (Saturday) Beheading of John the Baptist

Jn 14:1-6

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.  John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."  Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.  Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody.  When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.  She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.  Herodias' own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.  The king said to the girl, "I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom."  She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?"  She replied,  "The head of John the Baptist."  The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request, "I want you to give me a once on a platter the head of John the Baptist."  The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.  So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head.  He went off and beheaded him in the prison.  He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.  The girl in turn gave it to her mother.  When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

The Word in other words

During my college days, I worked in a non-governmental organization which fought for the rights of poor farmers.  I wrote the press releases and joined others on street rallies.  We put up barricade-tents in front of contested farm lands.  We were harassed by private armies and well-known political families.  Guns were aimed at our faces.  I was then very idealistic and willing to put my life in danger.  When my father heard this, he was more concerned with his son's life.  He told me, "Fighting for justice is good.  But there are more victims than victors in our country, where life is disposable.  Who is going to fight for you when those criminals shoot you?  It will be your parents."

As the church celebrates today the beheading of John the Baptist as a feast, it is not about the morbid delight of getting oneself killed.  It is about the martyrdom of John who gave witness to the truth.  He was not silent before the evil surrounding him.  He went against the mainstream who's rather play safe.  The prophet John said the right thing, even if it was at the wrong time and place.

Being prophetic is dangerous to one's health.  That is why there is a saying: "Play it safe."  Nobody wants to rock the boat.  It is better to shut up, so that nobody will bother you.  This survival instinct can, however, be dangerous in a situation of injustice.  Ninoy Aquino bravely went home to the Philippines despite repeated warnings that his life was in danger.  He said, "The Filipino is worth dying for."  Many less-known political prisoners in our country have the same conviction.  Nelson Mandela, also an ex-political prisoner, said: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it."  He triumphed like John the Baptist, who may have lost his head, but won his soul for standing for the truth.

Gospel for August 28, 2015 (Friday) Feast of St. Augustine

Mt 25:1-13

Jesus said to his disciples, "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.  Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!'  Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.  Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'

While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready wen into the wedding feast with him.  Then the door was locked.  Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'  But he said in reply. 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'  Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

The Word in other words

Being prepared is not only standing in attention to wait for the command, but also to make provision for any eventuality that one needs to respond to.  Christianity considers earthly life as a journey and a pilgrimage.  While belonging to this world, a Christian focuses also on the life to come, where the eternal banquet is being prepared.  The journey towards that promised reality means daily practice and constant stimulation, using current contexts and human conditions, so that when the time comes for the door to open, we could come in, ready and prepared to celebrate and to live.

It took many years of searching and questioning before St. Augustine found the answer to his heart's desires.  The realization and declaration,  "Late have I loved you...," referring to his "discovery" of God, came after many detours in the crooked path which the young, restless Augustine had taken in his journey towards God.  Unlike the foolish virgins in today's gospel, he did not sleep while waiting for the master to come.  He was wrestling with life's issues and concerns.  What brought him through those painful and chaotic life experiences was his great desire to find peace and rest in his heart.  He discovered faith and learned to surrender.  And so when the bridegroom finally arrived, St. Augustine was ready to welcome him into his life.

          - Fr. Anthony Salas, SVD ( USC, Cebu City)

St. Augustine's Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

Gospel for August 27, 2015 (Thursday) Feast of St. Monica

Mt 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore, stay awake!  For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.  Be sure of this:  if the master of the house had knowledge the hour of the night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.  So to, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

"Who, then,  is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time?  Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.  Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.  But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is long delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

The Word in other words

So Deus sabe! (Only God knows!)  This is a popular Portuguese expression referring to the uncertain result of a future event or in reference to some mystery only an omniscient being would know.  Indeed, it is only the Lord who knows as to when He is coming.  That is why the gospel of today urges us strongly to stay awake, to be vigilant, to be prepared and to be ready always for we do not know when final coming of Jesus will happen.

But what do we do to remain awake and vigilant?  The call of the gospel for us to keep in constant watch should not be lax, complacent or boring; we need to have a faith that is truly alive and active.  We should not fall prey to routine which is our greatest enemy in spiritual warfare;  it dulls our sense and makes us complacent.  To have a faith that is active and alive means living it out through a life of righteousness, putting into practice the teachings of Christ, recognizing Him in our brothers and sisters, especially the underpreviliged, and serving Him through our needy brethren.

We are certain that the Lord will return.  But so Deus sabe when that will be.  But when He finally arrives, may He pronounce us "blesses" and fit to be partakers in His kingdom because He finds truly awake and prepared for His coming.

               - Fr. Jovito Osalvo, SVD (Lisbon, Portugal)


Today we also remember St. Monica...

PRAYER TO ST. MONICA

Dear St. Monica, 
troubled wife and mother, 
many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. 
Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. 
With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, 
you prayed daily for the conversion 
of your beloved husband, Patricius,
and your beloved son, Augustine; 
your prayers were answered. 
Grant me that same fortitude, patience, 
and trust in the Lord. 
Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, 
that God may favorably hear my plea for 

(Mention your intention here.)

and grant me the grace to accept His Will in all things, 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Gospel for August 26, 2015 (Wednesday)

Mt 23:27-32

Jesus said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are of full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth.  Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but outside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood'.  Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murmured the prophets; not fill up what your ancestors measured out!"

The Word in other words

Out of laziness I usually do not do regular full-blown room cleaning.  I am very proud of this but I usually just kind of hide the dust and all those unsavory tiny trashes under my bed, only to suffer later on when all that dirt burst out in full force.  Then, I will tel myself that it is good immediately to vacuum away all those tiny devils... this is House Work 101.

In the Gospel today Jesus lambasts the scribes and Pharisees for what He says is their hypocrisy.  They build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous maybe to hide the sins of their fathers and to cover up for their own inequities.  An evil that is tucked away would soon rear it ugly head when they would conspire to have Jesus killed.

We are supposedly very good Catholics.  We donate images of saints to the Church, volunteer to have the dress of the Madonna made, or pull the carts of holy images during fiestas.  The scribes and Pharisees whiten tombstones and burial monuments, yet Jesus castigates them, for they are dirty and rotten within.

The scribes and Pharisees could not hide behind stones.  Nor can we hide behind the skirt of the blessed mother.  If there is dirt within us, then we better vacuum it away, for "when sin reaches maturity if gives birth to death." (Jas 1.12-18).

The sacrament of reconciliation, the church's ready vacuum cleaner, is just around the corner.

             - Fr.  Dante Barril, SVD (Rome, Italy)

Gospel for August 25, 2015 (Tuesday) Feast of St. Joseph Calasanz

Mt 23:23-26

Jesus said: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity.  (But) these you should have done, without neglecting the others.  Blind guides. who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean."

The Word in other words

I have been in the priestly ministry long enough, 27 years in all and I have accumulated many different kinds of experiences, bad and good, wholesome and undesirable.  I have seen how the church and all its members carry on the task of bringing the gospel message to the poor, the task we all vowed to do when we accepted baptism as Christians.  But it seems that in many instances this sense of commitment is hard to come by, beginning with me and all the way up to the church hierarchy.  Undeniably, save in the case of the few who are truthful to their calling to serve, the church and its members are, in fact, more at the receiving than at the giving end of service.  Many are living protected and comfortable lives, blessed with good food, driving their personal vehicles, wearing signature clothes and traveling more than even before. In urban settings, one cant;s fail to notice the right in the vicinity of majestic cathedrals are street families that eke out a living a selling devotional candles, acting as informal park attendants and begging.  The contrast between the rich and the poor is stark.

Hypocrisy is defined as claiming to have possessed virtues that one lacks.  And since it involves deception, it can be categorized as a form of lie.  Christ in the gospel for today is harsh and strong against the scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites for they were only liars by preaching virtues they did not have; they were also making the life of the people unbearable in the name of their religion and laws.

Many of us are guilty of the same Pharasaical attitude.  We can only beat our breasts and say, "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa."  We have much cleansing to do with ourselves.  But isnt't that the God we have is the God of mercy and compassion, slow to judge and quick to forgive and understand? I believe it boils down to our sincerity to learn, to internalize the gospel message, to be open to self-formation, to have the humility to accept our own weaknesses and to trust n the healing power of the divine intervention.

       -  Fr. Eugene Docoy, SVD (USC, Cebu City)