Gospel for September 4, 2015 (Friday)

Lk 5:33-39

The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink."  Jesus answered them, "Can you make the wedding guess fast while the bridegroom is with them?  But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days."  And he also told them a parable.  "No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.  Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak,  Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.  Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.  Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.  (And) no  one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, "The old is good."

The Word in other words

Mismatch and incompatible are the words by which we usually describe couples who don't share the same color, height, intellectual level and economic status.  However, we can't deny that we have seen couples whose differences, incompatible gestures and mismatched faces have been dramatically transformed and eventually look similar as they live together for a longer period of time.  Incompatibility is gradually transformed into similarity and they become truly one and the same.

Incompatibility and transformation are the first two words that come to my mind as I read the readings of today.  In the first reading, Paul's letter to the Colossians show the image Christ as the image of the invisible God.  Paul wants to emphasize this reality to those who deny and consider Christ as the incompatible image of God.  But Christ, who co-exist with the Father, insists that "I and my Father are one."  "Whoever sees me sees my Father."

In the Gospel, we discover the incompatible outlooks of Jesus and the Pharisees.  The Pharisees are quick to notice the faults of Jesus' disciples.  For his part, Jesus is quick to defend what his disciples have done saying, "No one tears a piece from a new cloak and patch an old one" and "No one pours new wine into old wineskin."  Christ's message, as the new wine, is incompatible with and cannot be put into the old worldview of the Pharisees who consider sinners as outcasts.  But Jesus sees sinners as potentials for transformation.  That's why Jesus deals with sinners with compassion.  What Christ does reminds us of the basic Christian tenet: hate the sin but love the sinner.

A Costa Rican bishop once said :"La espiritualidad no se ensena sino se contagia."  Roughly translated, spirituality ought not to teach but to infect.  Christ deals with sinners so that people will slowly get infected with his conviction and spirituality.  May Christ's contagious spirituality continue to infect those who are considered by many as spiritually incompatible so that sinners and righteous alike will someday share in the same banquet prepared by Christ.


            - Fr. Semei Rebayla, SVD (Veruela, Agusan del Sur)

Gospel for September 3, 2015 (Thursday) Feast of St. Gregory the Great

Lk 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.  He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.  Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, Jesus asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.  Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.  After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."  Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets."  When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.  They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."  For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John; the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon.  Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."  When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

The Word in other words

There are good days, and there are bad days.  For Simon, it was one of those bad days for fishing.  We probably have days like that when we can also say, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing."  Things are not going the way we want them to.  We are let down by discouraging results.  People, circumstances, and even nature seem to be conspiring to bring us down.  We can call it quits.  But then, for Simon, an amazing thing was about to happen that would change his life more than he planned or imagined.  The miracle in his life happened because he met and welcomed Jesus; and then he said "Yes" to Him, not once, but twice.

More often than not, God uses our lowest moment to lift us up.  St. Ignatius of Loyola had the call of conversion that provided the see for his founding of the Jesuit order while nursing a wound from battle, probably feeling useless and desperate at that time.  St. Arnold Janssen founded the SVD during the Kultur Kampf in Germany when the suppression of the church made it impossible to do anything for the church, much less to start a missionary congregation.  So, before you despair and give up, first, wait on the Lord and see how He will show you great opportunities disguised as impossible situations.

Secondly, Peter humbly obeyed Jesus with a "yes".  "At your command, I will lower the nets."  Why would a fisherman listen to a carpenter about catching fish in the middle of the day?  When we heed God's commandment and follow His will, He will honor our obedience with opportunities and blessing.

Thirdly, Peter also responded "yes" to the call to follow Jesus and became fisher of men.  Life changes for us when the awareness of our sins leads us to surrender everything to Jesus and follow Him in a new path of life.

               -  Fr. Emil Lim, SVD (Hongkong)

Gospel for September 2, 2015 (Tuesday)

Lk 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogues, he entered the house of Simon, Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her.  He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.  She got up immediately and waited on them.  At sunset, all people who had been sick with various diseases were brought to him.  He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.  And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God."  But he rebuked and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.  The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them.  But he said to them, "To the other towns I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent."  And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

The Word in other words

An eminent baby specialist (pediatrician) had a standard treatment for frail newborn babies who failed to gain weight.  When he came to see the baby during his rounds in the hospital, he would invariably scrawl on the baby's chart and give the nurse the following prescription: "This baby should be loved (fondled, hugged, massaged) every three hours.

Francis McNutt, in  New York University study of nurses, found out how effective are those nurses who lay their hands lovingly on patients with the intention of healing them.  These patients are found to recover more rapidly.  McNutt surmises that loving, caring people communicate life-giving power to sick bodies through the healing touch of their hands.

            - Fr. Fred Mislang, SVD (Villa Cristo Rey, CKMS, QC)

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.