GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 8, 2021 

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Jn 6:41-51 

41Then the Jews began to complain about Jesus because he said, “I am  the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They were saying, “Is not  this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How  can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered  them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44No one can come to me  unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person  up on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all  be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the  Father comes to me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except  the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I tell  you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your  ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the  bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not  die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever  eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for  the life of the world is my flesh.” Jesus’ mission of revealing the Father’s gift of eternal life is like describing colors to a person born blind. Eternity is inconceivable because it lies beyond the scope of human  experience. To make it understandable, Jesus uses bread, the staple  food of the Jews, as the instrument of revelation. But when it is time  to cross the linguistic barrier, the Jews cannot. They remain fixated  on material bread, looking to Jesus for an unlimited supply of it. As  Jesus speaks of himself as the “Bread of life,” they become suspicious  and begin to question his origins. Their distrust of the Revealer closes  their hearts to the revelation. Jesus interprets their reaction in the  light of his Father’s will, for no one can come to him unless drawn  by his Father. Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of faith, which enables us to perceive  your presence in the material form of bread, and trust your promise of eternal life. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | AGOSTO 8, 2021

Ika -19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: JUAN 6:44-51

Sinabi ni Hesus sa mga tao: “Walang puwedeng lumapit sa akin kung hindi siya ihahatid ng Amang nagsugo sa akin. At ako ang magbabangon sa kanya sa huling araw. Nasusulat sa mga Propeta, ‘Tuturuan nga silang lahat ng Diyos’, kaya ang bawat nakikinig sa Ama at natututo ay lumalapit sa akin. Wala ngang nakakita sa Ama liban sa kanya na galing sa Diyos, siya ang nakakita sa Diyos. Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, may buhay na walang hanggan ang naniniwala sa akin. Ako ang tinapay ng buhay. Kumain nga ng mana sa ilang ang mga ninuno at nangamatay pa rin. Narito naman ang tinapay na pumapanaog mula sa Langit, upang huwag mamatay ang kumain nito. Ako ang tinapay na buhay, na pumanaog mula sa Langit. Kung may kakain ng tinapay na ito, mabubuhay siya magpakailanman. At ang tinapay na aking ibibigay ay ang aking laman, alang-alang sa ikabubuhay ng mundo.”

PAGNINILAY:

Sinasabing “we are what we eat.”  Anumang kinukunsumo natin, nagiging kabahagi ito ng ating katawan, sistema at karakter. Maaaring tumutukoy ang pagkain sa anumang pagkain, impormasyon, idea at mga imahe na ating kinukunsumo araw-araw. Mula sa ating nakikita sa social media, sa ating mga binabasa at pinapakinggan, maging ang ating pinapanood sa telebisyon. Ito ang mga uri ng pagkain na humuhubog sa ating kamalayan – pag-iisip, pananaw at pag-uugali. At bilang pagkain, ito ang mga bagay na nagsusustena at nagbibigay kalakasan sa atin. At dito, dito natin nakukuha ang ating imahe bilang ako, bilang tayo. Sa ating Mabuting Balita, sinasabi ni Hesus na sya ang pagkain na nagmula sa langit. At ang pagkain na ito ay nagbibigay ng buhay na walang hanggan. Bilang pagkain, inaanyayahan tayo ni Hesus na hubugin ang ating sarili ayon sa wangis nya, kawangis niya bilang anak ng Diyos. At katulad nya na pagkaing nagbibigay buhay, tayo rin ay hinihikayat na magbigay buhay sa ating kapwa. Hindi tulad ng pagkain na nakakalason at nakakasama sa katawan at kaluluwa. Kundi pagkain, kalakasan at inspirasyon para sa ating mga kapatid sa pananampalataya, bilang mga anak ng Diyos. Kapanalig, nawa’y maging kawangis tayo ni Hesus.

- Fr. Keiv Aires Dimatatac, SSP | Society of St. Paul

PANALANGIN: Panginoon, bigyan mo kami ng kakanin sa araw-araw. Matagpuan nawa namin si Kristo sa pang araw-araw naming pamumuhay. At siya nawa ang pagmulan ng aming inspirasyon at kalakasan sa aming pag-gawa. At sa aming pagsasalu-salo sa hapag ng pag-aalay ng iyong Anak, bilang aming pagkain, kami nawa’y maging kaisa at kawangis niya sa pagbibigay buhay sa aming kapwa. Amen.

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 7, 2021

18th Week in Ordinary Time

 Mt 17:14-20 

14A man came to Jesus, knelt before him, 15and said, “Lord, have  mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he  often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16And I brought him  to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17Jesus answered,  “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be  with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him  here to me.” 18And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him,  and the boy was cured instantly. 19Then the disciples came to Jesus  privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20He said to them,  “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the  size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here  to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” 

Before Jesus sends his apostles as his representatives in Mt  10:1, he gives them authority to drive out unclean spirits.  Thus, the apostles’ power-over-demons does not emanate  from themselves. It is delegated power, and to activate it, they must  stay connected with Jesus. This is the sense of performing powerful  deeds in the name of Jesus. Knowing the apostles’ obsession with  greatness (cf. Mt 18:1-5; 20:20-28), we can surmise that in today’s  Gospel, when asked to exorcise the lunatic boy, their enthusiasm to  show what they could do, made them overlook the most important  thing — that is, to invoke the name of Jesus, the source of their authority.  The faith that Jesus speaks of entails constant, unbroken connection  with him and reliance on him. Lord Jesus, keep us constantly aware that, like branches on the vine, we can bear fruit only because of our vital connection with you. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | AGOSTO 7, 2021

Sabado sa ika -18 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Lumapit kay Hesus ang isang lalaki, lumuhod sa harap niya at nagsabi: “Ginoo, maawa ka sa aking anak na lalaki na may epilepsi at lubhang nahihirapan. Madalas siyang mahulog sa apoy at kung minsan nama’y sa tubig. Dinala ko na siya sa mga alagad mo pero hindi nila siya napagaling.” Sumagot si Hesus: “Mga walang pananampalataya at ligaw na tao kayo! Gaano pa katagal na panahon ako mananatili sa piling n’yo? Hanggang kailan ako magtitiis sa inyo? Dalhin siya rito sa akin.” At inutusan ito ni Hesus, at umalis sa kanya ang masamang espiritu. At gumaling ang bata sa sandaling iyon. Pagkatapos ay nilapitan ng mga alagad si Hesus, at tinanong nang sarilinan: “Bakit hindi namin napalayas ang espiritu?” Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila: “Sapagkat kakaunti ang inyong pananampalataya. Kung may pananampalataya kayong sinlaki ng buto ng mustasa, masasabi n’yo sana sa bundok na ito na gumalaw mula rito at gagalaw ito. At walang imposible para sa inyo.”

PAGNINILAY:

Kilala tayong mga Filipino sa maraming pinaniniwalaang mga pamahiin. Halimbawa, kapag may patay, marami akong nakikitang pinuputol ang rosaryo para raw walang sumunod na mamatay na kaanak. O kaya madalas tayong nagsasabi, “Tabi, tabi po.” O kaya mahilig tayong maniwala sa mga swerte at malas. Halimbawa, marami ang nagpapahula, nagsasabi na malas daw ang Friday the 13th.  Ilan lamang ito sa mga pamahiin na walang kinalaman sa ating pananampalatayang Kristiyano. At ang mas nakalulungkot na reyalidad, marami sa mga naniniwala dito ay mga Katolikong Kristiyano. Bakit? Dahil marami ang naniniguro na maliligtas sila. Sigurista kumbaga! Kaya ginagawa nila ang lahat para maitaboy lang ang mga masasamang espiritu, mga malas at pumasok ang swerte, o para mas humaba at magkaroon ng masaganang buhay. Sabi pa nga ng iba, “Wala namang mawawala kung maniniwala.” Pero dahil sa labis na pagiging sigurista, mas lalo tayong hindi nagiging sigurado. Sa labis nating paniniwala sa mga ito, mas lalong maraming nawawala sa ating buhay, nawawala ang dalisay na pananampalataya sa iisang Diyos. Mga kapanalig, ang paniniwala sa mga pamahiin o sa iba’t ibat diyus-diyusan ay tanda ng isang mahinang pananampalataya sa Diyos. Tanda ng maliit na pananampalataya sa Diyos. Sa Mabuting Balita ngayon, binigyang-diin ni Hesus ang kahalagahan ng pananampalataya. Ang pananampalataya sa Diyos lamang ang tiyak na makapagpapaalis ng demonyo doon sa bata at wala ng iba pa. Pero hindi nagawang palayasin ng mga disipulo, dahil minaliit nila ang kanilang pananampalataya. Hinayaan nila ang takot o maaaring naniniwala lang sila sa sarili nilang kakayahan o kayabangan. Kaya anong sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila? Dapat maging tulad ng isang buto ng mustasa ang kanilang pananampalataya. Kahit maliit basta’t ito’y mula sa paniniwala nila sa Diyos, maaari itong magligtas sa kanila. Ang pagiging maliit ng buto ng mustasa ay simbolo ng kababaang-loob. Kung nais natin makasiguradong maligtas tayo mula sa mga demonyo, mga masasamang elemento o mga kapahamakan, aminin natin ang ating pagiging maliit. Maging mapagkumbaba tayo dahil sa buhay pananampalataya hindi lang tayo ang gumagalaw, kundi higit sa lahat ito ay galaw ng Diyos. Higit sa lahat, huwag maliitin ang pananampalatayang Kristiyano. Kung kasama natin ang Diyos, tiyak na walang imposible sa ating buhay.

Fr. Micha Miguel Competente, SSP |Society of St. Paul

Are you a baptized Catholic, a Christian? If you are, you have a mission to fulfill. Christ is calling you to be a messenger of His love. Find out your mission in life, that God has entrusted to you!

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 6, 2021

Our Lord’s Transfiguration

 Gospel: Mk 9:2-10 

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and  led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was  transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white,  such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared  to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then  Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make  three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud  overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This  is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked  around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to  tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man  had risen from the dead. 10So they kept the matter to themselves,  questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. I n the person of Jesus, heaven has come down on earth  to establish God’s reign among earthly creatures and to  make human beings God’s children who participate in the  divine life. When Jesus embraced our earthiness, his solidarity with  us was complete, his divine splendor veiled in our mortal flesh. The  transfiguration is a momentary lifting up of the veil to give us a brief  glimpse of that splendor which the Beloved Son possesses in his union  with his Father, and which is at the same time a preview of the future  life to which Jesus will give us access. The transfiguration is a necessary  prelude to the drama on Calvary, for glory is inseparable from the cross.  Jesus will share with us his divine sonship by subjecting himself to  the human experience of suffering and death which will permanently  remove the veil that conceals his divine splendor. Lord Jesus, may we never fall for the illusion of seeking glory apart from the cross. Amen

MABUTING BALITA | AGOSTO 6, 2021

Biyernes sa ika -18 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Isinama ni Jesus si Pedro, Jaime at si Juan, at umakyat na sila lamang ang kasama sa isang mataas na bundok. At nagbago ang anyo ni Hesus sa harap nila at kuminang ng puting puti ang kanyang damit, na walang makapaglalabang sing puti nyon sa lupa. At napakita sa kanila si Elias at Moises na nakipag-usap kay Hesus. Kaya nagsalita si Pedro at kanyang sinabi. Panginoon mabuti at naririto tayo. Gagawa kami ng tatlong kubol isa para sayo, isa naman para kay Moises, at isa para kay Elias. Nasindak sila kaya hindi niya malaman kung ano ang sasabihin. At may ulap na lumililim sa kanila. At narinig mula sa ulap ang salitang ito. “Ito ang aking anak ang minamahal, pakinggan nyo siya.” At biglang bigla pag tingala, wala silang nakita maliban kay Hesus kasama nila, at pagbaba nila mula sa bundok inutusan nila sila wag sabihin kanino man ang nakita nila hanggang makabangon ang anak ng tao mula sa mga patay. Iningatan nila ang mga bagay na to sa kanilang sarili. Pero nagtanungan sila kung ano ang pagbangon mula sa mga patay.

PAGNINILAY:

Ang pagbabagong-anyo ni Hesus sa bundok na nasaksihan nina Pedro, Juan at Santiago, isang perfect moment. Na kung saan, ang tunay na kaluwalhatian ni Hesus ay inihayag ng Diyos Ama at nasilayan naman ito ng mga piling alagad. Inihayag ng Diyos na si Hesus ang kanyang bugtong na anak, nang Kanyang sabihin: “Ito ang pinakamamahal kong Anak. Pakinggan ninyo Siya.” Kapanalig, makinig tayo kay Hesus, dahil buhay na walang hanggan ang ibibigay Niya sa atin.” Marahil itatanong nyo: Papaanong makagagawa ng perfect moment? Matuto tayong makinig. Nakakalungkot isipin na sa panahon natin ngayon, hindi na tayo marunong makinig. Lahat gustong mapakinggan! Lahat gustong magsalita!  Ang mga magulang busy sa pagtatrabaho, walang panahon, para pakinggan ang mga anak. Lahat distracted sa mga gadgets. Kaya naman kapag may iniutos, dahil sa hindi nakikinig, mali ang nadadalang gamit.  Mga kapanalig, marunong makinig si Hesus sa kanyang Ama. Sa lahat ng pagkakataong siya’y nagdarasal, pinakikinggan niya ang kanyang Ama. Kaya naman nasambit niya, my food is the will of my heavenly Father and not my will but yours be done. Kaya ang kanyang pagbabagong anyo ay nangyari sa pagkakataong siya ay magdarasal. Sa Pagdarasal natin, huwag lang puro tayo ang nagsasalita, matutong makinig sa Diyos upang mabago tayo, mabago ang ating buhay.

Fr. Brian Tayag, SSP | Society of St. Paul

ST. PETER JULIAN EYMARD | APOSTLE OF THE EUCHARIST

Feast Day: AUGUST 2

Today, we bring to you the life story of St. Peter Julian Eymard, the saint whose driving passion in life was Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. He is the Founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. He was born in Le Mure, Isere, France on February 4, 1811. His family was a devout Catholic and immediately he learned about Jesus in the Eucharist. Even as a child he used to enter the church by himself and kneel before the Tabernacle. It is related that when he was five years old, he did not go home after playing. His sister looked for him and found him in the church, standing on a stool close to the Tabernacle. When asked what he was doing, his answer was “I am listening to Jesus.”

As a young boy, he expressed his desire to become a priest, but his father opposed his vocation. He, however, entered a seminary, but he got seriously ill and went out. When he got well, he tried another and was successful. He was ordained on July 20, 1834 at the age of 23. He was assigned in a parish at the Diocese of Grenoble. Peter Julian’s spirituality was influenced by Jansenism, a heresy which focusses on the sinfulness of man and on predestination that was why he lived a life of penance and reparation, avoiding sin at all cost.

Already a diocesan priest, he joined the Society of Mary (Marists) and professed the three vows on August 20, 1839. He visited Marian shrines and made contacts with Eucharistic movements. He was drawn more to a contemplative life despite the many administrative duties given to him, and worked hard notwithstanding his fragile health. His favorite homilies were about the Eucharist and he had an intense attraction to the Eucharistic Jesus. When he was tasked to write a new rule for the Third Order of the Society of Mary, he suggested a Eucharistic rule, but that was not the charism of the Marists. A little later, still desirous to dedicate himself more to the exaltation of the Eucharist, he made a painful decision to leave the Marists and worked to establish an institute with a Eucharistic orientation.

Fr. Eymard found support in Archbishop Marie Dominique Auguste, who understood his desire to emphasize not only the Holy Mass, Eucharistic adoration, but also to evangelize and serve those who were far from the Church. Young men joined him, the institute grew and the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS – Societa Sanctissimi Sacramenti) was approved on May 13, 1856. He also founded a congregation for women called Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, whose main work is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Besides preaching he also wrote books about the Eucharist. Three years before his death in 1865, he made a retreat in Rome. He related that he discovered the great love of Jesus for him and in response he desired to make a gift of himself to Jesus. Being always fragile in health, he died of a complication from a stroke on August 1st, 1868 at age 57. He was beatified on July 12, 1925 and was canonized on December 9, 1962. His incorrupt body lies at the Blessed Sacrament Fathers’ Chapel in Paris.  “St. Peter Julian, you discovered in the Eucharist the great love of Jesus for you and the world. Help us to love Jesus in the Eucharist and receive Him worthily in Holy Communion.”

Do I have time to visit Jesus in the Tabernacle or at least make a Spiritual Communion whenever I pass by a church? Do I receive Jesus often in Holy Communion?

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 5, 2021

18th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mt 16:13-23

13When 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.” 20Then he sternly  ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he  must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of  the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the  third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke  him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”  23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a  stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine  things but on human things.” 5 thursday 18th Week in Ordinary Time T he invisible powers opposed to God operate in human  thoughts and decisions and become manifest in actions  that contradict and attempt to block the will of God. Jesus,  in today’s Gospel, exposes the subtle working of the forces of evil  by strongly calling Peter’s attention to how Satan is personalized in  his well-meaning attempt to divert him from the manner by which  he is to fulfill his messianic mission — that is, through suffering  and death. Sowing fear of pain and death is the devil’s best tactic  to make people avoid the pursuit of the maximum good. But this  maximum good, which is his Father’s will, is what Jesus has come  to accomplish. By embracing pain and death, instead of fleeing from  them, Jesus will bestow on us the power to recognize, unmask and  reject the devil’s clever tactics. Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to  refuse the devil’s persuasions to turn aside from the maximum good. Amen

MABUTING BALITA | AGOSTO 5, 2021

Huwebes sa ika -18 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Pumunta si Hesus sa may dakong Cesarea ni Filipo. Tinanong niya ang kanyang mga alagad: “Ano ang Anak ng Tao para sa mga tao? Sino ako para sa kanila?” “May nagsasabing pong si Juan Bautista kayo; may iba pang nagsasabing si Elias ka o si Jeremias o isa sa mga propeta kaya.” “Ngunit sino ako para sa inyo?” At sumagot si Simon Pedro: “Ikaw ang Mesiyas, ang Anak ng Diyos na Buhay.” “Mapalad ka, Simon Bar-Yona, hindi nga laman at dugo ang nagbunyag sa iyo nito 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.” At inutusan niya ang kanyang mga alagad na huwag sabihin kanino man na siya ang Mesiyas. Mula sa araw na iyon ipinaalam ni Hesukristo sa kanyang mga alagad na kailangan siyang pumunta sa Jerusalem; pahihirapan siya ng mga matatanda ng mga Judio, ng mga Punong-pari, at ng mga guro ng Batas. Papatayin siya at muling babangon sa ikatlong-araw. Dinala naman siya ni Pedro sa isang tabi at sinumulang pagsabihan: “Huwag sana, Panginoon. Hindi ito puwede!” Ngunit hinarap ni Jesus si Pedro at sinabi sa kanya: "Sa likod ko Satanas! At baka mo pa ako tisurin. Hindi sa Diyos galing ang iyong iniisip kundi mula sa tao.”

PAGNINILAY:

Shout out!  ang madalas nating marinig ngayon sa mga live performances sa social media.  Masaya tayong marinig ang ating pangalan, ipagmalaki ang ating ginawa at napagtagumpayan. Sa Mabuting Balita ngayon tinanong ni Hesus ang kanyang mga alagad. Sino raw ako ayon sa mga tao.  Sumagot si Simon Pedro, kayo po ang Kristo, ang Anak ng Diyos na buhay. Mga kapanalig, ang ating tagumpay, kakayahan, talino at  mga pangarap na nakamit  ay mga biyayang kaloob ng Diyos.  Ipinagkaloob ito ng Diyos sa atin dahil mahal niya tayo at may tiwala siyang gagamitin natin ang mga biyayang ito upang pangalagaan ang kanyang sambayanan. Katulad ni Simon Pedro, na ating unang Santo Papa, na binigyan ng Diyos ng tungkuling pangalagaan ang kanyang simbahan, tayo din, bilang mga binyagang Kristiyano ay tumanggap ng kaloob na ipagpatuloy ang misyong sinimulan ng Panginoong Hesus. Kaya buong pananalig nating I-SHOUT OUT sa ating salita at gawa na “AKO’Y KRISTIYANO, NA MAHAL NI KRISTO!

Ms. Emelita Tuazon, IOLA | Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation