Do not worry

Saturday of the 11th Week A
Mt 6:1– 6, 16–18
June 21, 2008

Do not worry

In today’s Gospel our Lord wants us to remember and keep in mind that God created us to be happy and enjoy this life. If there is an enemy in our lives to pleasure and enjoyment, it would have to be worry. It is amazing how much we worry in this life, even when we know that it accomplishes nothing. We still keep on worrying.

I would like to read a little poem that I guess summarizes the way most of us go through life. But it describes how futile it is to worry. It says:

Worry never climbed a hill,
Worry never paid a bill,
Worry never dried a tear,
Worry never calmed a fear.

Worry never fixed a heel,
Worry never cooked a meal,
Worry never composed a song to sing,
Actually, worry never did a worthwhile thing.

Another word of being worry is “being anxious”. Anxiousness weakness our confidence that we have God who is provident cares so much about us. We have a God – who’s all-powerful, infinitely wise, and full of mercy.

St. Paul wrote to the people of Phillipi from his jail cell not to worry but Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. (Phil 4:6).

In the two thousand years since Christ walked the earth, the Church has continued to echo this sentiment. Over and over again we hear the words Jesus in the four Gospels “Be not afraid.”

Likewise, every time we go to Mass, we hear these words. "Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin, and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ." This is an ancient prayer of the Church that reminds us that the Lord desires to "Protect us from all anxiety."

God wants us to enjoy the gift of life he gave us. Let us not worry rather let’s be grateful for every graces we receive from God in every single moment and minute of our life. We are in God's hands. God loves us and cares for us and knows what we need.



source: http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/index.html

Follow Me

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Hosea 6:3-6; Psalms 50:1, 8, 12-13, 14-15
Romans 4:18-25; Matthew 9:9-13
June 8, 2008

The Call of St. Matthew

SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT WITHOUT Jesus, the seven days of the week would be “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.” *

There is something moving about today’s Gospel. It is a story of Matthew’s conversion when “he got up” as soon as he heard the words of Jesus, “Follow me.”

We can say that the Gospel passage today is the day when Matthew said goodbye to his “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

When Matthew realised how important he is to Jesus his whole life dramatically changed. Instantly his eyes were open and discovered his true self.

Reflection
Let us see briefly the profile of each character in today’s Gospel and hopefully learn something from them. We have Matthew, the Pharisees and Jesus, as the main characters in today’s Gospel story.

Matthew
Matthew as clearly mentioned in the Gospel was a tax collector. In the Jewish society during the time of Jesus tax collectors were considered ‘unclean people’, public sinners and traitors to their own country because they collaborated with the Roman occupying power in the gathering of taxes. Their profession was often marked with corruption and dishonesty.

Jewish people hated them, particularly the religious leaders, so much so that they were forbidden to join them in public worship in the synagogues or to act as witnesses in court. Matthew couldn’t care less; he loved money enough to have defied all that. But not until when Jesus called him up.

Matthew is a person who doesn’t procrastinate. He answers Jesus’ call at once; he didn’t think twice or Hemake any excuses. He leaves everything and follows with great joy and gratitude. And this is a remarkable character of Matthew who is considered notorious by his own people.

To celebrate his personal conversion, he instantly organized a farewell dinner with his friends, his fellow tax collectors, and all his gang who were considered public outcasts.


The Pharisees
It was on this occasion when the Pharisees, the second character of today’s Gospel story, entered the scene. The Pharisees were group of pious religious leaders during that time. They were extremely shocked (probably they nearly had a heart attack!) when they saw Jesus partying with Matthew and with all his friends (or mates).

It was a general custom for the Jewish people not to eat with public sinners such as tax collectors. Any association with them will make you ‘unclean.’ The Pharisees complained to the disciples “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”


Jesus
Jesus, overhearing their complaint answers back the Pharisees with the core message of today’s Gospel: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do;” “I desire mercy, not sacrifice;” “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

In three simple sentences Jesus expresses the true image of God – a compassionate, a forgiving, and most of all a loving God.

Jesus is not interested in preserving his social status but he is more interested in helping sinners. Jesus hates sin but loves sinners and wishes to set them free. Jesus hates our sinfulness but not our being as a person. No matter how grievous our sins or how long our list of sins may be Jesus loves us just the same. We are important and precious ones before his eyes. He loves us individually as if we are the only person on earth.

Reflection
No matter how sinful we are, you and I, all of us are candidate to be saints.

Who would have think that a tax collector like Matthew, would be become one of the gospel writers (in fact he himself is the author of today’s Gospel)?

There is a saying: “Every Saint Has a Past, Every Sinner a Future.”

We pray today that we may imitate St. Matthew who promptly left his past and joyfully followed our Lord.

Our Lord assures us today that we can be saints and joyful people. This possible only when we follow him everyday, this means – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.





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*joke from Fr Gerry Orbos inquirer.net; larawan kuha sa bukid sa Pagkabuhay at ilog sa Lumbac, Pulilan.

The Call of St. Matthew

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Hosea 6:3-6; Psalms 50:1, 8, 12-13, 14-15
Romans 4:18-25; Matthew 9:9-13
June 8, 2008

The Call of St. Matthew

SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT WITHOUT Jesus, the seven days of the week would be “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

There is something moving about today’s Gospel. It is a story of Matthew’s conversion when he got up as soon as he heard the words of Jesus, Follow me.

We can say that the Gospel passage today is the day when Matthew said goodbye to his “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

When Matthew realised how important he is to Jesus his whole life dramatically changed. Instantly his eyes were open and discovered his true self.

Reflection
Let us see briefly the profile of each character in today’s Gospel and hopefully learn something from them. We have Matthew, the Pharisees and Jesus, as the main characters in today’s Gospel story.

Matthew as clearly mentioned in the Gospel was a tax collector. In the Jewish society during the time of Jesus tax collectors were considered ‘unclean people’, public sinners and traitors to their own country because they collaborated with the Roman occupying power in the gathering of taxes. Their profession was often marked with corruption and dishonesty.

Jewish people hated them, particularly the religious leaders, so much so that they were forbidden to join them in public worship in the synagogues or to act as witnesses in court. Matthew couldn’t care less; he loved money enough to have defied all that. But not until when Jesus called him up.

Matthew is a person who doesn’t procrastinate. He answers Jesus’ call at once; he didn’t think twice or make any excuses. He leaves everything and follows with great joy and gratitude. And this is a remarkable character of Matthew who is considered notorious by his own people.

To celebrate his personal conversion, he instantly organized a farewell dinner with his friends, his fellow tax collectors, and all his gang who were considered public outcasts.

It was on this occasion when the Pharisees, the second character of today’s Gospel story, entered the scene. The Pharisees were group of pious religious leaders during that time. They were extremely shocked (probably they nearly had a heart attack!) when they saw Jesus partying with Matthew and with all his friends (or mates).

It was a general custom for the Jewish people not to eat with public sinners such as tax collectors. Any association with them will make you ‘unclean.’ The Pharisees complained to the disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?

JESUS, overhearing their complaint answers back the Pharisees with the core message of today’s Gospel: Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do; I desire mercy, not sacrifice; I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. In three simple sentences Jesus expresses the true image of God – a compassionate, a forgiving, and most of all a loving God.

Jesus is not interested in preserving his social status but he is more interested in helping sinners. Jesus hates sin but loves sinners and wishes to set them free. Jesus hates our sinfulness but not our being as a person. No matter how grievous our sins or how long our list of sins may be Jesus loves us just the same. We are important and precious ones before his eyes. He loves us individually as if we are the only person on earth.

Saints in the making
No matter how sinful we are, you and I, all of us are candidate to be saints.

Who would have think that a tax collector like Matthew, would be become one of the gospel writers (in fact he himself is the author of today’s Gospel)?

There is a saying: “Every Saint Has a Past, Every Sinner a Future.”

We pray today that we may imitate St. Matthew who promptly left his past and joyfully followed our Lord.

Our Lord assures us today that we can be saints and joyful people. This possible only when we follow him everyday, this means – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fundraising for World Youth Day

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*image designed by rikka

Minsan lang sila bata

Nakatanggap ako ngayong umaga ng newsletter ng Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Poress na ipinadala ni Fr Boyet Concepcion. Si Fr Boyet ay pari sa Bulacan na kilalang-kilala sa kanyang kabanalan. Tagapaglingkod siya ng mga mahihirap, mahihina, matatanda at mga batang lansangan sa Bulacan at maging sa Metro Manila. Itinayo ni Fr Boyet ang Emmaus House sa Malolos, para sa matatanda; Galilee Rehabilitation Center sa DRT; Ephesus Home para sa mga "abused children"; at ang Bethlehem House of Bread, sa Baliuag, na nagkakalinga sa batang iskwater.

Ang kasalakuyang proyekto ni Fr Boyet ay ang St Martin de Porres sa Bustos, Bulacan, na kumakalinga sa 70 batang paslit na walang pamilya o tahanang matutuluyan. Nuong isang taon ay nagkapagmisa ako kasama ni Fr Boyet sa Pulilan. "Hindi ako nag-asawa" sabi niya sa homilya, "ngunit tignan ninyo ang daming kong anak na inaalagaan."



Nakaraang buwan sa aking pag-uwi sa Pulilan napansin ko ang mga batang ito na namumulot ng mga karton sa tapat ng simbahan. Hanggang tenga ang kanilang mga ngiti. Parang hindi nila dama ang kahirapan at mga bagay na ipinagkait sa kanila ng lipunan - ang pagkakataong mag-aral, mag-laro, kalinga ng magulang, at maging mga bata. Naalala ko si Fr Boyet. Kung nakita nya siguro ang mga batang ito baka isinama na nya sa kanyang tahanan.

Watch this video to learn more about the work of St. Martin de Poress

and the children who live there.

Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porress
Claro Santos St.,
Bonga MenorBustos,
Bulacan, 3007Philippines
For Correspondence: P.O. Box 6231, Bustos, Bulacan
website: http://www.stmartinproject.org/
Fr. Boyet's email: boyetcon@yahoo.com

House of Rock

9th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32
Psalms 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25
Romans 3:21-25, 28
Matthew 7:21-27

"House on Rock"

Commonsense will tell us that building a house built on loose foundation is lack of commonsense. Any house without good foundation is naturally vulnerable to natural disaster. One need not be an architect or structural engineer to know this basic principle of building.

During the time Jesus, everyone knew that it was foolish to build your house on sand at the bottom of the valley rather than on the rock high above. After every heavy rain a torrent of water forms almost immediately that sweeps away everything in its path.

Our Lord uses this observation to create today’s parable about the two houses that, as a parable, has two meanings.

These two houses in the parable describe two groups of humanity, specifically we Christians who are trying to follow the footstep of our Lord.

Jesus classified the first of group of his disciples as wise people:

Thus, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
 But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

Changing only a few words, Jesus presents the second group of his followers, the foolish ones:

And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined (Matthew 7:26-27).

Are You Stable?
Which group can we find ourselves? Naturally, our Lord wants all of us to be his wise followers with a strong foundation in life.

We all know that our life on earth is not always easy. Like our Melbourne weather, our own life can be unpredictable and at times without any warning it can turn to a powerful storm. Likewise life unfortunately can be devastating.

Storms in our life may appear as financial setbacks, health problems, marital difficulties, depression, personal crisis, or the death of a loved one. Are stable enough to face such 'storms' in life?

Today our Lord Jesus shares with us his divine wisdom and reminds us all “to build our house not on sand but on rock.” In order to survive we need to cling on to something stable, strong and permanent.

Building your house on sand means placing your hopes and certainties in unstable and unpredictable things that cannot stand the whips and scorns of time. Money, success and personal health are such things. They are all good but they are one of those things that will not last forever.

Building your house on rock means, on the contrary, to stake your life and hopes on that which “thieves cannot steal nor rust corrode,” on that which does not pass away. “Heaven and earth will pass away,” Jesus said, “but my words shall not pass away.”

Building your house on rock means quite simply building on God. We try our best to commit our life and trust in God as our Rock. In the Old Testament rock is one of the Bible’s favourite symbols for God: “Our God is an eternal rock” (Isaiah 26:4); “He is the rock, his works are perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Our response to the Psalm today “Lord, be my rock of safety.”

God is our rock. He is our sure foundation and our ultimate security in life. God alone is our stronghold when waves of trials and disaster threaten us. As long we cling firmly to our Rock no big storms can ever blow us away.

Church: House Built on Rock
God loves us, that he himself had built a house on rock for us, through his Son Jesus. All we have to do is to go inside his house built on rock, it is the Church. The house built upon the rock is the one about which Jesus spoke to Simon: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18).

When we say Church we don’t talk about its physical structure. It is not the one built of bricks and mortar but that made up of “living stones.” These living stones are we who are built upon the cornerstone, who is Christ Jesus.

We are the Church, everything that Jesus has told and revealed, his teachings and miracles and including the stories of his first disciples, they all belong to us.

So to build one’s life upon rock therefore means to live in the Church in unity, not staying outside forever pointing our fingers at the inconsistency and defects of the human side of the Church.

To build one’s life upon rock most of all is when devoutly practice what we believe as Christians. When we are not only familiar to the Church's teaching but also faithfully obeying its provisions, we are building our life on God. For our faith and belief must be consistent to our lifestyles.


May Christ’s words and wisdom today abide in us, so as to become in us principles of life… If our life conforms to the teaching of Christ, we shall be like the wise man who with his mind and will built upon Christ as upon a firm foundation.

Prayer
"Lord Jesus, you are the only foundation that can hold us up when trials and disaster threaten us. Give me the wisdom, foresight, and strength of character I need to do what is right and good and to reject whatever is false and contrary to your will. May I be a doer of your word and not a hearer only."



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Quasi-Parish of Our Lady of MiraculousVirgin, Balatong, Pulilan, Bulacan. Readings Fr Cantalamessa's homily www.zenit.org; daily reflection at www.rc.net