with
Gospel Reflections by Sr. Bernardita D. Dianzon, FSP
PHILIPPINES
GOSPEL POWER 2018 [Scripture quotations are] from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Š 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Copyright Š 2017 by the Daughters of St. Paul Published and distributed by Paulines Publishing House 2650 F. B. Harrison Street 1302 Pasay City, Philippines E-mail: edpph@paulines.ph Website: www.paulines.ph Cover design: Ann Marie Nemenzo, FSP Layout design: Dennis Ortojan Layout artist: Belen Liboon Illustrations: Rexie San Luis All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher. 1st Printing 2017 ISSN 2350-7217
at the service of the Gospel and culture
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God white
1st Reading: Nm 6:22-27
JANUARY
01
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23“Speak to monday Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, 24The LORD bless you and keep you; 25the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace’. 27So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” 22
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67
May God bless us in his mercy.
2nd Reading: Gal 4:4-7
Brothers and sisters: 4When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Gospel: Lk 2:16-21
16 The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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ife’s mysteries are to be lived rather than solved. The events of life will just fall into their designated places in God’s overall design. But we need to train our eyes-of-faith to perceive this marvel. This is the first lesson that Mary teaches us at the beginning of the new year— to treasure all things and reflect on them in our hearts. From this treasury, Mary drew the wisdom to accompany her Son through the joys, trials and difficulties of being human, all the way to the shame of Calvary and the glory of Easter.
Lord, we want to begin the new year just as you yourself began your earthly life under the guidance of the woman-of-faith, the woman-of-the-Spirit, your Mother and ours. Amen.
3rd Week in Ordinary Time Saint Vincent of Saragossa, deacon and martyr
1st Reading: 2 Sm 5:1-7,10 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89
green/ red
My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.
JANUARY
22 monday
Gospel: Mk 3:22-30
22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” 23 And Jesus called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. 28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
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orgiveness of sins is possible only through the Holy Spirit. And Jesus is “the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit” (cf. Mk 1:8). To reject the saving work of Jesus by attributing his activity of exorcising unclean spirits to the influence of the prince of demons is to deliberately close one’s life off from the action of the Holy Spirit. This is precisely what the scribes from Jerusalem are doing when they claim that, “Jesus is possessed by Beelzebul.” To say such a thing about God’s agent of salvation, in whom God’s Spirit dwells in its fullness, is an “unpardonable sin,” not because pardon will be withheld from the sinner, but because this act of blaspheming the Holy Spirit further hardens the person’s heart to the point that it willfully blocks the Spirit’s offer of forgiveness. Lord, deliver us from ever closing ourselves off from the action of your Holy Spirit and choosing our spiritual death. Amen.
JANUARY
23
3rd Week in Ordinary Time green
tuesday
1st Reading: 2 Sm 6:12b-15, 17-19 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24
Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Gospel: Mk 3:31-35
31 The mother of Jesus and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. 32A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ 33And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ 34And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’
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esus entered human history to be the firstborn of God’s new family, whose food is to do the will of the heavenly Father. His mission is to repair and heal the connection with God that was wounded by human disobedience. In today’s Gospel episode, Jesus does not mean to belittle his mother and other relatives but simply to clarify that his mission takes precedence over blood ties. God’s true family is formed no longer through biological procreation but through submission to God’s will. The true children of God are those who take to heart the prayer, “…Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Lord, help us to walk the path of obedience that we may be generated into God’s new family. Amen.
MARCH
27 tuesday
Tuesday in Holy Week violet
1st Reading: Is 49:1-6 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 71 I will sing of your salvation.
Gospel: Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
21 After saying this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples– the one whom Jesus loved– was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” 37Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.
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he dialogue and gestures that take place at table between Jesus and Judas Iscariot are loaded with meaning and are crucial for the events that will follow. To dip a morsel and give it to somebody is a gesture of love, friendship and trust. It is Jesus’ final and silent appeal to Judas not to cut himself off from the company of his disciples, to remain in the light and to reject the darkness that is about to swallow him up. But duplicity has already overcome Judas so that while he accepts the morsel, he rejects what it symbolizes. As Judas leaves the table, the evangelist notes that it was night… darkness swallows up Judas completely.
Lord, may we hear and recognize your appeals to our freedom and have the courage to say “no” to the lures of sin. Amen.
10th Week in Ordinary Time green
1st Reading: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-16 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27
JUNE
15 FRIDAY
I long to see your face, O Lord.
Gospel: Mt 5:27-32
Jesus said to his disciples, 27”You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. 31“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
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urity of the heart begins with guarding the senses. For, our senses are the gates where we must conduct careful screening of things that seek entry into our inmost being. If only we understand the sacredness of our inner space, we would never allow malicious intruders to sneak in. For, the quality of our sense perceptions is what gives rise to thoughts and desires which can either preserve or defile the purity of the heart. Jesus uses the strong language of mutilating body parts to speak of how corrupting habits, acquired through the use of the senses, should be dealt with foundationally. Renouncing those habits, though painful, is necessary, if we want to live fullness of life.
Lord, give us the courage to root out habits that lead us to sin. Amen.
JUNE
16
10th Week in Ordinary Time green
SATURDAY 1st Reading: 1 Kgs 19:19-21 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 16 You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Gospel: Mt 5:33-37
33 Jesus said, ‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” 34But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’
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he kind of attitude that has given rise to the unhappy saying that, “Promises are made to be broken,” is already prevalent in biblical times and underlies Jesus’ reaction to the accepted practice of taking oaths in the society of his time. Jesus simplifies the matter of personal integrity by calling people to say only what they mean and to mean what they say, nothing more and nothing less. A sincere “yes” or “no” is the mark of personal genuineness and renders the taking of oaths unnecessary.
Lord, give us the courage to say a simple “yes” or “no” and not to have recourse to some vague middle ground to protect ourselves or our own interests. Amen.
OCTOBER
21
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (World Mission Sunday) green
sunday
1st Reading: Is 53:10-11
10 It was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. 11Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
2nd Reading: Heb 4:14-16
14 Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Gospel: Mk 10:35-45
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ 36And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ 37And they said to him,
‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ 38 But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ 39They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ 41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’
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he Kingdom-language of Jesus has been misunderstood even by his own disciples. For them, it evoked images of power and positions of prestige which only fed their ego and aroused their aspiration to greatness. In today’s Gospel episode, Zebedee’s sons unembarrassedly express their ambition, thus making the other disciples feel slighted and resentful. Jesus reorients their ambition by saying that the way of the servant is the true way to greatness. In fact, the Kingdom will be inaugurated by him as the Suffering Servant (cf. First Reading) who will die at the hands of those who believe themselves to be great because of their authority and status in society.
Lord, may we never shun humble service but discover in it the greatness of belonging to God’s Kingdom. Amen.
DECEMBER
21 friday
Late Advent Weekdays violet/ white
Saint Peter Canisius, priest and doctor
1st Reading: Sg 2:8-14 (or Zep 3:14-18a) Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33
Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Gospel: Lk 1:39-45
39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
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person who submits to God’s will, in total obedience, is not deprived of liberty. Rather, the person is liberated for a greater love and becomes capable of self-donation to others. Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation spontaneously gives way to the Visitation. For the life of God that begins to throb in her womb gently pushes her to go out of herself and reach out in love and compassion to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary, having experienced the workings of grace in her own womb, begins to understand that she alone can empathize with Elizabeth in the elderly woman’s experience of an irregular pregnancy.
Lord, incline our will to obey, for it is only in obedience to God that we will attain true freedom. Amen.
6th Day of the Christmas Octave Saint Sylvester I, pope
white
DECEMBER
31 monday
1st Reading: 1 Jn 2:18-21 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Gospel: Jn 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
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he First Letter of John tells us that, “God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all” (cf. I Jn 1:5). The Word that became flesh is God, therefore, now that he dwells among us, darkness is forever vanquished. Sin, which operates in darkness, no longer holds any power over us, if we remain in fellowship with the Word. No experience of loss, sadness, pain and desolation can ever crush us, if we choose to dwell in this inextinguishable light. Yes, if we choose to. Responding to God’s gift of salvation is about making choices. God has chosen to dwell with us; we too must choose to remain in him... remain in the light and become as he is—light for the world.
Lord Jesus, Light from on high, shine upon us, shine within us and banish the darkness from our lives. Amen