The Astonishing Joy of Humility | Word and Songs

with Sr. Lines Salazar

The first experience of humility happens when we open our hearts and contentedly say yes to our Creator. We then see in God’s inexhaustible love the source of our being and the benevolent decision about who and what we are. This yes lays the foundation of mature discernment, which cannot go on without it. It is a very concrete yes. We accept the place where God has put us, the time in which God creates us (which we did not exist to choose. We accept the real skills and qualities in our character (which I did not create but God is creating; we accept our parents (whom we did not select but God selected); we live content in the world’s current (which we cannot govern but God governs). In this mindset and heart set, I put God before all else—before all pleasure, profits, successes, and anything else in this world.

Our failures and sins also lead us to an occasion for discovering the humility which is one of God’s essential features, and which is part of God’s DNA. This is an astonishing thing to say and it brings us up short. Who thinks of God as humble? But what else can we call a God who loves his chosen people, decade after decade and century after century- even when we do not love him back? Doesn’t “Humble” describe a God who has loved us into existence although we barely return his passionate personal love? A God who creates any, many hearts who willfully ignore him or proudly deny him? And a God who keeps on loving us. Friends, this is the humility of love. A person without spiritual maturity cannot comprehend this. The sinful will reject it as absurd. Humility clears the way for Jesus’ disciples to learn to love, as we mature and our love grows to be like his in its deepest reality. We accept who we are, not envious or jealous of anyone else. We recognize the gifts given us our intelligence, talent, and opportunity, and we enact those gifts. We will face trials and failures- even the ones that threaten who we are. If we have humility like Jesus’, we will embrace those trials and failures, humbly acknowledging that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love had been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

The way of humility shapes our hearts to put things in perspective and proper order. As we endure in love, we find ourselves having to yield, to re-order, to let go. A humble person is as content after yielding and letting go as when she gets what she preferred. Sometimes, we can be proud, insisting our own way, willfully. Pride always costs us. Clinging to what we have achieved when we are invited to move beyond it, is one way to refuse the humility that will make us more Christ like. As a humble believer, we claim that God always enters clothed in poverty, in littleness”. So when we decide to admit our offenses to the Lord, he will forgive the humbled heart. This is the astonishing joy of humility. - Script Writer:  Sr. Niña Lorilla, FSP

GOSPEL POWER l SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 l FRIDAY

25th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Lk 9:18-22 18Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near  him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19They  answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that  one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20He said to them, “But who  do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” 21He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be  rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on  the third day be raised.” 

The coming of the Christ — the Jewish Messiah — is  associated with great expectations, made more intense by  Israel’s experience of oppressive Roman rule. For the Christ  is looked up to as the liberator from bondage at all levels of life —  socio-political, economic, religious.… But Jesus has been sent for  a more immense project — the accomplishment of God’s purposes  for the entire creation; not only for the sake of Israel, nor simply of  human beings, but of everything that came forth from God’s creative  hands. Jesus cautions the disciples not to tell others that he is the  Christ, because such a premature announcement is bound to arouse  excitement. But the right moment has not yet come. God’s timing is  perfect, but it must be awaited with patience and sobriety. 

Lord Jesus, only the Paschal events of Calvary can provide us with the  lens for the correct reading of your mission as the Christ of God. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | SETYEMBRE 24, 2021

Biyernes sa ika -25 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: LUCAS 9:18-22

Minsan, mag-isang nagdarasal si Hesus at naroon din ang mga alagad. Tinanong niya sila: “Sino raw ako ayon sa sabi ng mga tao?” “Si Juan Bautista raw. May iba namang nagsasabing ikaw si Elias. At may iba pang nagsasabi na isang propeta noong una ang nabuhay.” “Ano naman ang sinasabi ninyo kung sino ako?” Sumagot si Pedro: “Ang Mesiyas ng Diyos.” At inutusan sila ni Hesus na huwag sabihin ito kanino man. Sinabi nga ni Hesus: “Kailangang magtiis ng marami ang Anak ng Tao. Itatakwil nga siya ng mga Matatanda ng bayan, ng mga Punong-pari at ng mga guro ng Batas. Papatayin siya at muling babangon sa ikatlong araw.”

PAGNINILAY:

Naranasan mo na bang tanungin ang iba kung sino ka para sa kanila? Ganito inilalarawan si Hesus sa ating Mabuting Balita ngayon. Tinanong niya ang mga alagad, “Kayo naman, ano ang sabi nyo? Ang Mesiyas ng Diyos, sagot ni Pedro.” Makikita natin sa pahayag ni Pedro na hindi lamang ito isang opinion, kundi isang personal na pagkakilala at pagtanggap sa kanya. Bunga ito ng malalim na pundasyon ng ugnayan at karanasan niya kay Hesus. Naalala ko ang huling araw ng check-upng aking tatay sa doctor. Pagkatapos siyang suriin, sinabi na maayos naman at sa huling pahayag, sinabi niya na “Mabait si Tatay.” Napangiti ako dahil may katandaan na rin at may dementiasiya. Ito’y isang pahayag na may paniniwala at pagmamahal. Kilala na ng doctor ang tatay ko, dahil mahigit 30 yrs din niya siyang ginagamot, hanggang sa pumanaw ito, may anim na buwan pa lamang ang nakalilipas. Masakit man ang kanyang pagpanaw, pero nag-iwan naman siya ng magandang alaala sa akin at sa aking pamilya. Mga kapanalig, sa ating buhay, ano man ang ating trabaho, estado o misyon; masasabi ba natin na kilala na natin si Hesus? Sino nga ba siya sa buhay natin? At anong uri ng relasyon meron tayo sa kanya sa ngayon? Saan man tayo ngayon, ano man ang pinagdadaanaan natin sa buhay; humingi tayo sa Diyos ng biyaya na magkaroon ng malalim na pagkakakilala sa Kanya. Nang sa gayon maipahayag din natin kung sino siya, nang may paniniwala, hindi dahil sa opinyon ng iba kundi dahil naranasan natin siya sa ating buhay bilang Mesiyas ng Diyos – Ang Diyos na sumasaatin.

- Sr. Gemma Gamab, FSP | Daughters of St. Paul

GOSPEL POWER l SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 l THURSDAY

25th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Lk 9:7-9 7

 Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was  perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised  from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others  that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. 9 Herod said, “John I  beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he  tried to see him.

 Herod was interested to see Jesus because he was curious  about the wondrous things he had been hearing about  him. Most certainly, the news had to do with the miracles,  exorcisms and powerful preaching of Jesus. Herod’s attempts to  see Jesus would not be realized until Jesus was about to be put to  death. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod as a captive, bound and helpless.  Not seeing any of the marvels he expected to see, Herod sent Jesus  back unimpressed and disillusioned. Unknown to Herod, it was at  this moment, when Jesus appeared weak and helpless, that he would  accomplish the most powerful deed in history — to bring salvation to  the world. Without faith, seeing remains superficial. 

Lord Jesus, help us to see everything with the eyes of faith. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | SETYEMBRE 23, 2021

Huwebes sa ika -25 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: LUCAS 9:7-9

Nabalitaan ng tetrarkang si Herodes ang lahat ng pangyayari at litung-lito siya dahil may nagsasabing nabuhay mula sa mga patay si Juan. Sinabi naman ng iba na nagpakita si Elias, at nang iba pa na isa sa Mga Propeta noon ang bumangon. At sinabi ni Herodes: “Pinapugutan ko si Juan; sino nga kaya itong nababalitaan kong gumagawa ng mga iyon?” Kaya sinikap niyang makita si s’ya.

PAGNINILAY:

Nabalisa si Herodes. Noong bata pa ako, kapag galit na galit ang lola ko, naririnig kong tinatawag niyang Herodes ang kinagagalitan niya. Noon kasi, para tawagin kang Herodes, napakalaki nang pagkakasala mo. Kilala natin si Herodes bilang makapangyarihang pinuno, na pinakasalan si Herodias, na asawa ng kapatid niyang si Felipe. Alam niyang mali ito, pero lantarang ginawa pa rin niya, kahit na harap-harapang pinagsasabihan siya ni Juan Bautista. Siya din ang nagpapapatay kay Juan Bautista, dahil sa takot niyang makita ng mga nakapaligid sa kanya ang kanyang kahinaan. Ang pagkabalisa niya sa Mabuting Balita ay masasabi nating nag-uugat sa takot. Paano kung totoong nabuhay nga si Juan Bautista upang maghiganti sa kanya? Kaya ninais niyang makita si Hesus upang makapaghandang ipagtanggol ang kanyang sarili. Mga kapanalig, ang pagkabalisa ay isang uri nang emosyon na nag-uugat sa takot sa nakaambang panganib o sa   sitwasyong wala tayong kontrol. Tayo man ay nababalisa din lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya. Hindi tayo mapakali hangga’t di natin nahahawakan ang resulta ng ating swab test... Hindi tayo mapanatag hangga’t hindi nakakauwi ang ating mga mahal sa buhay, lalo na kung malakas ang ulan o may kaguluhan sa daan. Hindi tayo makatulog kapag may nagawa tayong mali; hindi pa man ay nag-iisip na tayo nang mga “palusot” upang makaiwas sa kahihiyan. Alam ng Panginoong Hesus na marami tayong kinakaharap na pagsubok sa buhay kaya nga makailang ulit niyang sinabi:  Pumanatag kayo. Huwag kayong mabalisa… huwag matakot, Ako ito!  Panghawakan natin ito mga kapanalig... kumapit tayo sa Kanya lalo na sa harap ng nag-aambang panganib, o mga suliraning di natin kayang pasaning mag-isa o mga kaganapang hindi natin makokontrol.

- Ms. Lulu Pechuela, APC | Association of Pauline Cooperators – Pasay City

PANALANGIN:

Panginoon, tulungan mo po kami. Hawakan mo ang aming mga kamay   upang hindi kami madala ng agos ng buhay at maging alipin ng pagkabalisa, pangamba o takot.  Lagi nawa kaming tumahak sa tamang landas sa lilim ng pangkalinga ng Banal na Espiritu upang mabuhay kaming panatag at karapatdapat sa pagpapala mo. Amen.

GOSPEL POWER l SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 l WEDNESDAY

25th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Lk 9:1-6 

1 Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority  over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to  proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 He said to them, “Take  nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money —  not even an extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and  leave from there. 5 Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are  leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against  them.” 6 They departed and went through the villages, bringing the  good news and curing diseases everywhere. 

The missionary mandate of the Twelve is framed in the  paradox of power in weakness. Jesus delegates to them  his very own power and authority as Son of God. Yet they  are to exercise them in total dependence on the heavenly Father’s  providence. In that way, they themselves and the people they minister  to will not confuse those powers with worldly might. By their  poverty, the Twelve will give proof that they exercise those powers in  the name of God and not out of some worldly, self-serving interests.

 Lord Jesus, may we never detest the weakness of voluntary renunciation  but discover it, as all saints have done, as a storehouse of divine power.  Amen

MABUTING BALITA | SETYEMBRE 22, 2021

Miyerkules sa ika -25 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: LUCAS 9:1-6

Tinawag ni Hesus ang Labindalawa at binigyan sila ng lakas - kapangyarihan para supilin ang lahat ng demonyo at magpagaling ng mga sakit. Sinugo niya sila para ipahayag ang Kaharian ng Diyos at magbigay-lunas. Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Huwag kayong magdala ng anuman sa inyong paglakad, ni tungkod, ni supot, ni tinapay, ni salapi; huwag kayong magkaroon ng tigalawang bihisan. Sa alinmang bahay kayo makituloy, doon kayo tumigil hanggang sa pag-alis ninyo. Kung may hindi tatanggap sa inyo, umalis kayo sa bayang iyon at ipagpag ang alikabok sa inyong mga paa bilang sakdal laban sa kanila.” Kaya nga lumabas sila at dumaan sa lahat ng bayan na nangangaral at nagpapagaling saanman.

PAGNINILAY:

Ang malawakang panawagan po ng ating Santo Papa Francisco ay ang Encounter at Dialogue. Ang dalawang gawaing ito ay mahalaga sa pagmimisyon. Sa narinig nating Mabuting Balita, isinugo ni Hesus ang kanyang mga disipulo upang magmisyon. Pero, ang mahigpit niyang bilin ay TRAVEL LIGHT. Huwag na kayong magdala ng kung anu-ano pa sa misyon, dalhin lamang ang sarili at mga bagay na talagang kailangan. Magandang balikan ang Mabuting Balitang ito bilang paalala po sa atin lalong-lalo na ngayong panahon ng Konsumerismo— Add to cart doon, Add to cartdito…Dalawang bagay marahil ang gustong bigyang diin ni Hesus: Una: Bago ang lahat, marapat lamang na bitbit natin si Hesus. Sa buhay natin, kailangan madama at makita siya bago mapansin ang mararangya nating kasuotan at anik-anik sa buhay. Hindi naman nakakapogi o nakakaganda ang brand ng damit o dami ng pulseras nating suot—kung tayo naman ay nakasimangot at galit sa mundo. Sana masalamin natin sa ating pagkatao si Hesus. Ikalawa: Ibahagi walang iba kundi si Hesus. Sa gawain ng Encounter at Dialogue, hindi natin ibibida ang sarili, si Hesus dapat—ang kanyang mga gawa at salita. Wala naman po tayong dadalhin pag tayo’y tumawid na sa kabila. Sana lang po, kung ang tingin natin sa ating buong buhay dito sa mundo ay pagmimisyon—huwag nating kalimutan na dalhin at ibahagi si Hesus sa lahat nating gagawin.

- Cl. Vinz Aurellano, SSP | Society of St. Paul

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GOSPEL POWER l SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 l TUESDAY

St. Matthew, Apostle  and Evangelist

Gospel: Mt 9:9-13  

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at  the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and  followed him. 10And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and  sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11When the  Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher  eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12But when he heard this, he  said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who  are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’  For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” 

Jesus equates being a sinner with being sick. That must be  why we ought to be merciful to one another, for all of us,  being sinners, are sick. Sick people are not to be condemned,  but to be given care. Jesus, in freely associating with sinners and  sitting in table-fellowship with them, shows that God does not take  offense at them, but rather desires to offer them mercy. Jesus has come  precisely for this, and he can do this only by getting close to sinners,  touching them and letting himself be touched by them. Those who  believe themselves to be righteous will see Jesus as irrelevant, having  nothing to add to their imagined “secure” status before God. But they  are living a dangerous lie, for only God can make a person righteous,  and God has willed to do this through his Son Jesus.

Lord Jesus, you are God the Father’s face of mercy. Make us channels  of your mercy toward our fellow-sinners, that divine mercy may abound  on earth. Amen

MABUTING BALITA | SETYEMBRE 21, 2021

Martes sa ika -25 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Kapistahan ni San Mateo, apostol at ebanghelista

EBANGHELYO: MATEO 9:9-13

Sa paglalakad ni Hesus, nakita niya ang isang lalaking nagngangalang Mateo na nakaupo sa singilan ng buwis at sinabi niya rito: “Sumunod ka sa akin.” At tumayo si Mateo at sinundan s’ya. At habang nasa hapag si Hesus sa bahay ni Mateo, maraming taga-singil ng buwis at iba pang makasalanan ang lumapit at nakisalo kay Hesus at sa kanyang mga alagad. Nang makita ito ng mga Pariseo, tinanong nila ang kanyang mga alagad: “Bakit kumakaing kasama ng mga makasalanan at maninigil ng buwis ang inyong guro?” Nang marinig ito ni Hesus, sinabi niya: “Hindi ang malulusog ang nangangailangan ng doktor kundi ang mga may sakit! Sige, matutunan sana ninyo ang kahulugan ng ‘Awa ang gusto ko, hindi handog.’ Hindi ako pumarito para tawagin ang mabubuti kundi ang mga makasalanan.”

PAGNINILAY:

Ipinagdiriwang natin sa araw na ito ang kapistahan ni San Mateo. Isa sa apat na Ebanghelista at isa rin sa labindalawang alagad ni Hesus. Narinig natin sa Mabuting Balita ang pagtawag ni Hesus kay Mateo. Mula sa kanyang propesyon na paniningil ng buwis patungo sa panibagong buhay. Nang marinig ni Mateo ang tinig ni Hesus agad niyang iniwan ang kanyang gawain at walang pagdududang tumugon sa panawagan Nya. Mga kapanalig, tayo din ay katulad ni Mateo na makasalanan, pero binibigyan ng Panginoon ng pagkakataon na magbago. Kabilang tayo sa mga maysakit na tinutukoy sa Mabuting Balita ngayon na nangangailangan ng manggagamot. Sa kabila ng ating pagiging makasalanan, tinatawag tayo ng Diyos na sumunod sa kanya sa ibat-ibang pamamaraan at pagkakataon. Kaya sana huwag natin itong sasayangin. Ang mga salita ni Hesus ay mukha ng kanyang awa at pagpapatawad. Pinatunayan nya ito habang Sya’y nakabayubay sa krus, nang kanyang sabihin: “Ama patawarin mo sila, sapagkat hindi nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa”. (Lucas 23:24) Mga Salita ng pagtitiwala at walang panghuhusga! Nagtitiwala sa atin ang Diyos sa kabila ng ating mga kahinaan at kasalanan, dahil tinitingnan nya hindi ang ating nakaraan, kundi ang ating kinabukasan. Ang pagsunod at pagtitiwala sa pangako ng Diyos ang susi sa mga pagpapalang ninanais natin. Ang Diyos lamang ang nakakaalam, kung ano ang mabuti para sa atin. Tatanggi ka pa ba sa kanyang pagtawag? Baka hindi mo na marinig pang muli ang kanyang tinig at maging huli na ang lahat.

- Ms. Ruth Suarez, IOLA | Institute of our Lady of Annunciation

GOSPEL POWER l SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 l MONDAY

25th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Lk 8:16-18 Jesus said, 16“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts  it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter  may see the light. 17For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed,  nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.  18Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more  will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem  to have will be taken away.”

 It is the Word of God, heard and put into action, that lights  up the life of a person, making it a source of illumination  for others. That person’s life, in all its dimensions, becomes  a contextualized interpretation of the Word of God, giving visibility  to the heavenly Kingdom that is already in our midst but not yet fully  revealed.

 Lord Jesus, we thank you for those persons whose witness-of-life unveils  for us the hidden meaning of Scriptures and kindles our hope for the full  manifestation of the Kingdom in our midst. Amen