Mabuting Balita | Hunyo 30, 2022

Huwebes sa Ika - 13 ng Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Mt 9: 1-8

Sumakay sa bangka si Hesus, tumawid sa lawa at bumalik sa sariling bayan. Dinala sa kanya roon ang isang paralitikong nakahiga sa papag. Nang makita ni Hesus ang kanilang pananalig, sinabi niya sa paralitiko: “Lakasan mo ang iyong loob, anak! Pinatawad na ang iyong mga kasalanan.” Noo’y inisip ng ilang guro ng Batas: “Iniinsulto ng taong ito ang Diyos.” Alam ni Hesus ang kanilang mga niloloob, at sinabi niya: “Bakit kayo nag-iisip ng masama? Ano ba ang mas madaling sabihin: ‘Pinatawad na ang iyong mga kasalanan’ o ‘Tumayo ka at lumakad’? Dapat ninyong malaman na may kapangyarihan sa lupa ang Anak ng Tao na magpatawad ng kasalanan.” At sinabi niya sa paralitiko: “Bumangon ka, dalhin mo ang iyong higaan at umuwi.” At bumangon ang tao at umuwi. Nang makita naman ito ng mga tao, napuno sila ng pagkamangha at nagpuri sa Diyos sa pagbibigay ng gayong kapangyarihan sa mga tao.

Pagninilay:

Pagbati sa mga kapatid kong Paolino at Paolina sa buong mundo na nagdiriwang ng kanilang Religious Profession sa araw na ito. Kapangyarihan, Kapatawaran at Katapangan. Ito ang ipinamalas ni Hesus sa Ebangelyo ngayong araw. Kapangyarihan at Kapatawaran sa taong paralitiko at Katapangan sa harap ng mga taong palaging may napupuna sa Kanyang mga ginagawa.  Ang kapangyarihang magpagaling at magpaKapangyarihan, Kapatawaran at Katapangan. Ito ang ipinamalas ni Hesus sa Ebangelyo ngayong araw. Kapangyarihan at Kapatawaran sa taong paralitiko at Katapangan sa harap ng mga taong palaging may napupuna sa Kanyang mga ginagawa.  Ang kapangyarihang magpagaling  at magpatawad ng kasalanan na ipinakita ni Hesus ay di nya ginawa upang sya ay sumikat, ginawa nya ito dahil nakita nya ang pananampalataya ng mga tumulong sa taong paralitiko upang ito’y mailapit sa kanya at mapagaling. No man is an Island  ‘ika nga! Walang taong nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang. Bilang tao, kailangan natin ang tulong ng iba. Kailangan din natin na tumulong sa iba. Sa ating pagdarasal at buhay pananampalataya ay mas mainam din  kung di lang sariling pangangailangan natin ang ating dinadala sa Panginoon kundi ang pangangailangan din ng iba. Sa panahon ngayon napakataas na ng mga bilihin, maraming naghihirap, maraming naghihingi ng tulong, sana makabahagi din tayo sa kanila sa paraang kaya natin. Si Hesus laging naninindigan kung ano ang tama, kung ano ang naaayon sa kalooban ng Diyos Ama. Di sya natatakot O natitinag sa kanilang mga paratang sa kanya. Sa panahon ngayon na talamak ang fake news sa social media minsan di na natin alam ano ang katotohanan at kasinungalingan. Tayo din ay nalilito, tayo ay natatakot sumalungat sa mga sinasabi ng iba kasi takot tayo ma bash o masira ang ating reputasyon. Mga kapatid, kung tayo’y namumuhay ng tama at naayon sa kalooban ng Diyos ay napakadaling makita kung ano ang totoo at kasinungalingan. Kung tayo’y namumuhay ng tama at naayon sa kalooban ng Diyos ay di tayo natatakot na bumatikos sa kawalan ng hustisya at katiwalian. Kung tayo’y namumuhay ng tama at naayon sa kalooban ng Diyos sisikapin nating tularan si Hesus sa kanyang mga salita at gawa, Amen!

SR. CARMEL, FSP

GOSPEL POWER l JUNE 29, 2022 - WEDNESDAY

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Gospel: Mt 16:13-19

13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

 We celebrate today the faith-witness of two contrasting biblical figures — an ordinary fisherman and an elite scripture scholar. The celebration reminds us, first, that God chooses people from all walks of life and involves them in the accomplishment of his design. None of those called is qualified, because the task is to be accomplished, not by human excellence, but by divine grace… by God’s power that operates in weakness. Secondly, the celebration reminds us that saints are forgiven sinners — people who struggled with their human defects and triumphed only because of grace. Peter and Paul are the most telling examples. Peter denied and abandoned Jesus in the greatest moment of crisis, and Paul tried to destroy the messianic community. But God chose these sinners and transformed them into pillar-apostles and leaders in the faith. Their life-stories converge to demonstrate a single truth — that all is grace!

 Lord Jesus, grant that your grace may accomplish in our lives, too, the good work it has begun. Amen.

Mabuting Balita | Hunyo 29, 2022

Miyerkules sa Ika-13 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Mt 16:13–19

Pumunta  si Hesus sa may dakong Cesarea ni Filipo. Tinanong niya ang kanyang mga alagad: “Ano ang Anak ng Tao para sa mga tao? “May nagsasabing si Juan Bautista ka; may iba pang nagsasabing si Elias ka o si Jeremias o isa sa mga propeta kaya.” “Ngunit sino ako para sa inyo?” “Ikaw ang Mesiyas, ang Anak ng Diyos na Buhay.” “Mapalad ka, Simon Bar-Yona, hindi nga laman at dugo ang nagbunyag nito sa iyo kundi ang aking Amang nasa Langit. At ngayon sinasabi ko sa iyo: Ikaw si Pedro at sa batong ito ko itatayo ang aking Iglesya; at hinding-hindi ito madadaig ng kapangyarihan ng kamatayan. Ibibigay ko sa iyo ang mga susi ng kaharian ng Langit: ang itali mo dito sa lupa ay itatali rin sa Langit, at ang kalagan mo dito sa lupa ay kakalagan din sa Langit.”

Pagninilay:

Nasa mahigit dalawang libo na ang simbahang Katolika pero hanggang ngayon nanatili itong nakatayo at matibay. Marami narin ang mga emperador na nagtangkang ipatigil ito kaya iniutos nila na ipapatay ang mga sina unang mga kristyano. Ngunit sa halip na matakot sila mas lalo pa naging matatag ang kanilang pananamplataya kay Hesus. Tunay ngang ang kanilang mga dugo ang nagsilbing mga binhi sa ating pananampalatayng kristyano. Matatag at patuloy tumitindig ang simbahan hindi dahil ang mga itinilaga ng ating Panginoong HesuKristo ay may angking galing at talino upang mamuno sa ating simbahan.  Sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon, itinilaga ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo si Pedro upang mamuno sa ating simbhan. Si Pedro ang ating kauna unahang Santo Papa. Alam naman natin ang istorya ni Pedro. Siya ang nagtakwil sa ating Panginoong Hesukristo ng ikatlong beses. Sa kabila ng kanyang karupukan pinili parin siya ni Hesus na maging lider. Sa kabilang banda, Si Pablo bago siya naging masugid na tagapagbalita ng mabuting balita ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo siya ay isang taga usig ng ating Panginoon. Pero sa kabila ng lahat siya ay pinili parin ni Hesus ipahayag ang mabuting balita sa mga hentil.  Mga kapatid, ang simbahan ay binubuo ng mga taong may kahinaan pero ang nagpapabanal at nagpapatatag sa simbahan ay ang presensya ni Hesus sa simbahan at ang kanyang presensya ang nagpapa banal nito. Kagaya nila Pedro at Pablo, tayong lahat na binyagan ay itinalaga ni Hesus na maging misyonaryo. Ang ating misyon ay palaganapin ang mabuting balita ni Hesus saan mang sulok ng mundo.

FR. BASTE, SSP

GOSPEL POWER l JUNE 28, 2022 - Tuesday of 13th Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyr

Gospel: Mt 8:23-27 

23When Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” 

The first storm that Jesus pacifies with an authoritative rebuke is the one that batters the panic-stricken hearts of his disciples – “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Terror distorts our view of reality and magnifies the danger out of all proportion. Like Jesus’ disciples, the first thing that we pray for when we get panic attacks is a divine intervention that will change the situation. But Jesus knows better how to deal with that — it is the human heart that needs to be changed first, so that faith can operate and prevent the winds and waves of depression and hopelessness from swamping and submerging the boat of our life. Faith does not only tranquilize the heart but gives it new eyes to see that all threatening forces are under God’s dominion, and God will never permit us to perish. The situation paradoxically changes when viewed through eyes of faith.

Lord Jesus, calm the storm in our hearts, so that we can face with faith the storms that rage in our lives. Amen.

Mabuting Balita | Hunyo 28, 2022

Martes sa Ika-12 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Mt 8:23-27

Sumakay si Hesus sa bangka at sumunod sa kanya ang mga alagad niya. Walang ano-ano’y nag karoon ng malakas na bagyo sa lawa. At parang matatabunan na ng mga alon ang bangka. Ngunit tulog si Hesus. Ginising siya nila na sumisigaw. “Panginoon, saklolo! Mamamatay tayo!” At sinabi ni Hesus, “Bakit kayo natatakot? Kayong napakaliit ng paniniwala!” Bumangon siya, at inutusan ang mga alon, at hangin, at tumahimik ang lahat. Nagulat ang mga tao at sinabi nila, “Anong klasing tao ito? Sumusunod sa kanya pati ang hangin at dagat!”

Pagninilay:

Mga kapatid, sa Ebanghelyong nakita natin na natakot ang mga alagad ni Hesus dahil biglang bumugso ang isang malakas na unos at halos matabunan ng mga alon ang kanilang bangka. Humaharap din tayo sa mga problema at pagsubok sa buhay.

Pero hindi rin natin maitatago na marami na din tayong napaglampasan at napagtagumapayan na mga pagsubok na syang tanda na kasa- kasama natin ang Diyos sa lahat oras. Kaya sa ating Ebanghelyo medyo nadismaya si Hesus. Mas pinili pa nila na manatili sa kanilang takot kaysa manalangin. Kung tutuosin, matagal na nilang kasa-kasama si Hesus pero hindi pa rin silang natutong magtiwala.

Kung babalikan natin ang ating karanasan sa panahon ng pandemnya at kahit sa panahon ng eleksyon marami sa ating mga kapatid na nangamba dahil parang hindi sinagot ang kanilang mga dasal. May mga tao rin na nawalan ng tiwala sa Diyos dahil mas umasa sa agarang sagot mula sa ating Panginoon.

Mga kapatid pinapaalalahanan tayo ni Hesus sa araw na ito na huwag mangamba. Magtiwala sa kanya na malalampasan din natin ang ano mang mga pagsubok o unos sa ating buhay. Kaya ang kailangan lang natin magtiwala at manalig sa kanya.

- Sr. Ana Maria Casayas,fsp | Daughters of St. Paul

GOSPEL POWER l JUNE 27, 2022 - 13th Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and doctor of the Church

Gospel: Mt 8:18-22 

18When Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19A scribe then approached and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” 

At the time of Jesus, teachers were chosen by their would be disciples. But Jesus was unique because he called his own. His sole criterion was the heavenly Father’s choice, for no one could come to him unless drawn by the Father (cf. Jn 6:44). In today’s Gospel, a scribe volunteers to be Jesus’ disciple. The response of Jesus is neither encouragement nor outright rejection, but a subtle invitation to examine his own heart and discover his real motivation. Being a disciple of Jesus is a commitment that offers no worldly securities. Jesus is driven by passion for the heavenly Father’s will; everything else in life is subordinated to that. No one can be associated with Jesus’ mission unless the person shares that passion and is willing to leave all other concerns behind. One cannot establish a genuine commitment on mere fascination with discipleship and infatuation with mission.

Lord Jesus, ignite our hearts with your consuming passion for the Father’s will. Amen.

GOSPEL POWER l JUNE 25, 2022

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Gospel: Lk 2:41-51 

41Now every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50But they did not understand what he said to them. 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Mysteries are not to be explained, but to be lived. This is what Mary learns and tries to teach us in this last story of Jesus’ childhood. Upon hearing her Son’s strange reply to her expression of maternal concern, Mary stops probing her Son’s motive for acting as he did. His words are a resounding reminder of who she is in relation to him. Though she is his mother, she will always be the handmaid of the Lord. Mary conserves in her heart the memory of this painful episode and, from it, draws the wisdom to strike the delicate balance between exercising her maternal authority over her Son and worshiping in him her Lord and Maker. Mary enters fully the mystery and renews again and again her first “yes”: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Lord Jesus, like your mother, we too want to treat every experience with reverence and allow it to reveal its wisdom to us in due time. Amen.

GOSPEL POWER l JUNE 24, 2022

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Gospel: Lk 15:3-7 

3 Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

 Throughout the Gospel, we witness Jesus’ receptive attitude toward sinners, with whom he freely and deliberately sits in table-fellowship. It is not human sinfulness that bothers him, but the pretense to be righteous. Biblical “righteousness” is a covenant-related term, which means being in a right relationship with God. It is a status that no one can attain for oneself. It can only be conferred by God on those who recognize and admit their helpless state of sinfulness. The lost sheep is the image of a sinner that longs to be sought, found, and restored to the fold. God does not frustrate that deep longing. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus speaks to us of God coming gently to meet the sinner and encompass that person in an embrace that restores him/her to a right relationship with him. This intimate meeting place is none other than the heart of his Son, the place of greatest tenderness

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us, sinners! Amen

GOSPEL POWER l JUNE 23, 2022 

Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist

Gospel: Lk 1:57-66, 80 

57The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” 61They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. …80The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. 

The beginning of the Lucan Gospel is like a bridge that provides a gradual transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The Old is not discarded, and the New does not render the Old irrelevant. Rather, the New is born out of the Old, and its meaning can only be understood in the light of the Old. The story of John the Baptist’s birth to an elderly couple can be read from this perspective. This marvelous event is the work of the same God, who is both the God of promises (Old Testament) and of fulfillment (New Testament). Elizabeth’s relatives and neighbors, having no idea of the newness God is bringing about, want to impose the accepted tradition of giving the child an old name — his father’s name. Elizabeth protests, so they turn to Zechariah for approval. But Zechariah’s nine months of silence have taught him the wisdom of welcoming God’s surprises. He, too, surprises everyone as he writes: “John is his name,” at which he regains his speech.

 Lord Jesus, help us to trust the newness that God wants to bring about whenever we are thrown into crisis. May the experience lead us to a new discovery of the graciousness of God. Amen

GOSPEL POWER l JUNE 26, 2022  

 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Lk 9:51-62 

51When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village. 57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” 

Zebedee’s sons, aptly called “sons of thunder,” think that Jesus will endorse their violent proposal to punish the Samaritans for refusing him passage. Since they feel offended, they think that Jesus, too, is offended. All religious intolerance that leaves a trail of violence in human history is fueled by this mentality — that God is offended and needs to be avenged. Jesus, who is God incarnate, shows that this mentality cannot be farther from the truth. The Gospel portrays him on his way to Jerusalem to meet violence head on and to unmask its pretense to be the solution to conflicts in the world. Only patience, tolerance, self-sacrificing love, and forgiveness can resolve conflicts. This is what Jesus demonstrates as he rebukes the hot-headed brothers and takes another route to go to Jerusalem, where he will fulfill his messianic destiny by confronting violence with nonviolence. 

Lord Jesus, let not violence gain a foothold in our hearts. Grant that we may follow your path of peace. Amen.