archdiocesan shrine and parish of st. jude thaddeus, naga city | v.4, n.35 | issn 2599-5030 | 29 september to 5 october 2019
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The great abyss
here’s an old saying, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” It’s another way of saying simply wishing for something isn’t going to make it happen. The fairy tales that we all love as children are full of spells that bring instant happiness and charms to make dreams come true. But they are fantasy, not reality. The reason why such stories have had much appeal through the ages is because they promise glowing rewards without effort. Life isn’t like that, most especially Christian life. How often we hear people say that they all your heart, and love your neighbor as will get to heaven because they haven't yourself. committed any heinous crimes. The rich man in this parable was not "I'm a good guy," they say, "I haven't an axe-murderer, mafia boss, or a murdered anyone or I haven’t stolen terrorist. He had no particularly millions of money." This attitude is damaging "sins of commission" on his not Christian at all. résumé. He was a pretty good guy. And As Jesus teaches us in the yet, he failed to enter into SUNDAY parable of Lazarus and the rich REFLECTION eternal life. man, salvation and eternal life The rich man does not have are not just about avoiding a name because God does not know the so-called "big" sins. That's a negative and rich man. He suffices for himself. He does passive approach to life. not need God. He is firmly indifferent and But Christ is not passive. He is active. he keeps himself duly away from his He became like us to save us. He took the interiority. And God respects this distance. initiative. He came to seek out the lost The point of the parable is not the sheep. He came to light the fire of faith in a vengeance of God that reverses the dark world. situation between the rich and the poor, Being a Christian means following in like a sort of penalty of retaliation. The key those footsteps. It means much more than word to understand the parable is: abyss. simply avoiding gruesome crimes. Being a There is an abyss between the rich and Christian means living like Christ, living Lazarus. There is an unbridgeable ravine. for his Kingdom, living for others. The rich man was not condemned because Isn't it interesting that when Jesus he was rich but because he is indifferent. was asked which were the most important His own life is an abyss: an attitude that commandments, he didn't choose the describes a heart that is content to negative ones; the "thou shall not" ones. stagnate, without crossing the distance to Instead, he listed two active, positive, meet its brother. It is an abyss that not creative commandments: love God with even God can fill. 7 fr. francis a. tordilla
Para sa Domingo 27c, Ord. Panahon “Mayong pakinabang na mga uripon kami; katungdan ming gibohon an ginibo niamo.” babasahon i: hab 1:2-3;2:2-14 Mababasa nyato an inagrangay sa Kagurangnan kan Propetang si Habakkuk manungod sa byolensyang sinasapò kan banwaan na Israel. Ipinapaabot nya kun pàno MGA BANHI binaliktad nin KAN TATARAMON Dyos an kahusayan kan kinaban sa inabtan kan saiyang banwaan. An Kagurangnan nagsimbag na mayo dapat ikahadit nin huli ta igwang syang plano para sainda. An tawong mapaabaw-abaw dai makakapaghalat. An matanos magigin maimbod asin panô nin pagláom. babasahon 2: 2tim 1:6-8,13-14 An duwang surat ni Pablo ki Timoteo inaapod na mga surat pastoral huli sa mga hulit ni Pablo bilang pastor. Pinapagirumdom ni Pablo na dai sinda tinawan kan Dyos nin espiritu nin katalsutan. Pinapatanidan ni Pablo si Timoteo na dai masupog sa pagsaksi manungod sa pagtubod. Si Pablo sarong buháy na saksi kun pàno magin pusog an sarong pastor sa tahaw nin kadipisilan. ebanghelyo: lk 17:5-10 Sa saindang pagbaklay kaiba si Jesus, nabuklat an mga mata kan mga apostol manungod sa kadakulaan kan misyon kun sain sinda isinusubol. Hinagad ninda na magtalubo an saindang pagtubod. Si Jesus tinukduan sinda na an disipulong may pagtubod, ini tataong maglingkod. Bilang mga suruguon kan Kagurangnan, an mga Kristyano gigibuhon kun ano an pinapagibo sainda kan Maestro. An saindang serbisyo iyo man sana an saindang premyo, an burabod kan saindang kaugmahan. Banhi / third page