Veritas PH

The WORD. The TRUTH.

 284 total views

Homily for Wed of the 5th Wk of Easter, 10 May 2023, Jn 15,1-8

Today’s first reading is about the very first council convened by the apostles in order to address a conflict within the Church. I told you the other day about a misunderstanding that led to the defection of Mark from Paul and Barnabas. Luke does not explain what it was that had caused the misunderstanding but he gives us a hint. When Mark left the mission team in the town of Pamphylia, he proceeded, not to their home base in Antioch, but to Jerusalem, to the mother Church.

I suspect that Mark did so in order to consult the leadership body in Jerusalem about something he did not feel comfortable about. Well, today’s first reading tells us about it. It looks like the ones Mark had consulted in Jerusalem were the group that regarded James, not Peter, as the head of the Jerusalem community.

This James, by the way, was not really one of the twelve. Paul mentions him in Gal 1,19. He was known only as a “brother or relative of the Lord”, maybe a cousin, who seemed to be more assertive of his leadership role in Jerusalem than Peter. I also suspect that this James led the group that insisted on requiring Gentile converts to become Jews first, before becoming Christian—meaning, to follow the strict regulations of the Law of Moses, including circumcision, food regulations and Sabbath observance.

But these guys were surprised that when Paul and Barnabas were called to report to Jerusalem for some questioning, they were welcomed warmly by the other apostles and elders who expressed their approval of what Paul and Barnabas had reported—namely, that many Gentiles had been converted and baptized to the Christian faith.

The issue divided the community. Some were for it; some were against it. Was the Christian faith to be restricted to Jewish converts, or should they welcome non-Jewish converts too without having to require them to abide by strict Jewish laws? In the midst of this division, the good thing was that whether for or against, the apostles and elders chose to remain open to dialogue. They submitted the issue to a process of consultation, open discussion and communal discernment—what they called a “Council” in western tradition (from the Latin concilium), which basically meant the same thing as “Synod” in the eastern tradition (from the Greek Synodos). In this process, the voice of sobriety and conciliation eventually came from Peter, and was later only affirmed by “James”.

I have a feeling that John, who was close to Peter, had contributed to the resolution of the conflict. Of course it was not until later that he wrote his reflection on the vine and the branches in today’s Gospel. While it was true that Jesus wanted his disciples to focus first on the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” in their mission, what were they to do if Gentiles were also being drawn to Gospel of Jesus Christ and were also experiencing an anointing by the Holy Spirit? They were becoming like new branches being grafted into the vine, and the vine is Christ himself.

Whether Jew or Greek or belonging to any other culture, what mattered most was their attachment to the vine. It was by the kind of fruit that they bore that they could discern whether or not they were really connected to Christ, the true vine.

Today’s Office of the Readings in the breviary has an interesting 2nd century letter to Diognetus that epresses clearly how Christians eventually learned to distinguish between the essentials and non-essentials of the faith. The writer says,

“Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs…. Unlike some other people, they do not espouse purely human precepts. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign. And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country… They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.”

ads
2
3
4
previous arrow
next arrow

Veritas Editorial

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

President of Radio Veritas

Bagong mapa ng bansa

 18,508 total views

 18,508 total views Mga Kapanalig, may bagong opisyal na mapa ang Pilipinas. Dahil iyan sa pinirmahang batas ni Pangulong BBM na pinamagatang Philippine Maritime Zones Act. Ang mapang pinagtitibay ng batas na ito ay nakabatay sa mga pamantayan o standards na itinakda ng United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (o UNCLOS). Ang UNCLOS

Read More »

Damay tayo sa eleksyon sa Amerika

 33,164 total views

 33,164 total views Mga Kapanalig, makasaysayan ang muling pagkakaluklok ni President-elect Donald Trump bilang pangulo ng Estados Unidos. Makasaysayan ito dahil maliban sa muli siyang inihalal, siya ang unang pangulo ng Amerika na may mahigit tatlumpung kaso; nahatulan siya sa isa sa mga ito. Siya rin ang presidenteng humarap sa dalawang impeachment cases noong una niyang

Read More »

Resilience at matibay na pananampalataya sa Panginoon

 43,279 total views

 43,279 total views Kapanalig, taglay at nanalaytay sa mga ugat nating Pilipino ang katangian ng pagiging resilience at may matatag na pananampalataya sa Panginoon. Ito ang nagbibigay ng pag-asa, bumubuhay sa ating mga Pilipino na tumayo at bumangon kahit dapang-dapa na, kahit lugmok na lugmok na. Nilugmok tayo ng husto ng bagyong Yolanda, 7.2 magnitude na

Read More »

Phishing, Smishing, Vishing

 52,856 total views

 52,856 total views Kapanalig, ikaw ba ay naghahanap ng “love online”? mag-ingat po sa paghahanap ng “wrong love” sa mga cybercriminal. Lumabas sa pag-aaral ng global information and insight company na TRANSUNION na ang Pilipinas po ang top targets ng online love scams. Ang PHISHING ay uri ng scam sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng emails at

Read More »

Veritas Editorial Writer Writes 30

 72,845 total views

 72,845 total views Kapanalig, sumakabilang buhay na ang isa sa “longtime”(matagal) na Radio Veritas editorial writer na si Lourdes “Didith” Mendoza Rivera noong ika-9 ng Nobyembre 2024. Tuluyang iginupo si “Didith” ng sakit na breast sa edad na 48-taong gulang. Naulila ni Mam Didith ang asawang si Florencio Rivera Jr., at dalawang anak na babae. Nagtapos

Read More »
catholink
Shadow
truthshop
Shadow

Related Story

Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

“IGLESIA SIN FRONTERAS”

 7,087 total views

 7,087 total views (CHURCH WITHOUT BORDERS/ BOUNDARIES) Homily for the 26th Sun in Ordinary Time (B), 29 September 2024, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 In today’s Gospel, Jesus is telling us something that we may find disturbing. Perhaps as disturbing as the words Pope Francis said when he visited Singapore recently, about other religions as “paths to

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

ANG PAG-IISIP NG DIYOS

 9,217 total views

 9,217 total views Homily for 24th Sun in Ordinary Time, 15 September 2024, Mk 8:27-35 Napagsabihan si Pedro sa ebanghelyo ngayon. Hindi daw ayon sa pag-iisip ng Diyos ang pag-iisip niya kundi ayon sa pag-iisip ng tao. Kung ako si Pedro baka nakasagot ako ng ganito: “with all due respect, Lord, paano akong mag-iisip na katulad

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

ANG KRUS NA SALAMIN

 9,216 total views

 9,216 total views Homiliya para sa Novena ng Santa Cruz, Ika-13 ng Setyembre 2024, Lk 6:39-42 Ewan kung narinig na ninyo ang kuwento tungkol sa isang taong mayaman ngunit makasarili. Dahil guwapo siya, matipuno at malusog ang katawan bukod sa successful sa career, mahilig daw siyang tumingin sa salamin para hangaan ang sarili. Minsan isang gabi,

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

LAW OF MOTION

 9,218 total views

 9,218 total views Homiliya para sa Huwebes sa Ika-23 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon, 12 Setyembre 2024, Lukas 6:27-38 Ang ebanghelyo natin ngayon ang siya na yatang pinakamahirap na doktrina ng pananampalatayang Kristiyano: MAHALIN ANG KAAWAY. Ito ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit nasasabi natin na MAS RADIKAL ANG MAGMAHAL. Mahirap kasing totohanin. Mas madali ang gumanti,

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

OPIUM OF THE PEOPLE

 9,214 total views

 9,214 total views Homily for Wed of the 23rd Wk in OT, 11Sept 2024, Lk 6:20-26 “It’s ok to suffer poverty and humiliation now. Anyway you will enjoy plenty and satisfaction in the hereafter…” Some Christians hold on to this kind of doctrine about a heavenly reward awaiting those who have suffered hell on earth. Is

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

NAPAPANAHON

 10,086 total views

 10,086 total views Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 08 September 2024, Mark 7:31-37 Isang kasabihan sa Bibliya, ang chapter 3 ng Ecclesiastes ang pagkukuhanan natin ng inspirasyon para sa ating pagninilay sa ebanghelyo ngayon. “May tamang panahon para sa lahat ng bagay, panahon para sa bawat gawain sa mundong ibabaw…May panahon daw para

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

PANININDIGAN

 12,288 total views

 12,288 total views Homiliya para sa Ika-21 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon, 25 Agosto 2024, Juan 6: 60-69 Sa Misang ito ng ating Paggunita kay Santa Clara ng Assisi pagninilayan ang pagiging huwaran niya sa SAMA-SAMANG PAGLALAKBAY TUNGO SA KAGANAPAN NG BUHAY. Isa siya sa mga unang nagpahayag ng suporta kay Saint Francis nang talikuran nito ang

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

NAKITA KITA

 12,321 total views

 12,321 total views Homiliya para sa Kapistahan ni San Bartolome, 24 Agosto 2024, Jn 1:45–51 “Bago ka tinawag ni Felipe NAKITA KITA sa ilalim ng puno ng igos.” Iyun lang ang sinabi ni Hesus. Hanggang ngayon hinuhulaan pa ng mga Bible scholars kung bakit napakatindi ng epekto ng sinabing iyon ni Hesus kay Nataniel o Bartolome.

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

DAMAY-DAMAY

 13,675 total views

 13,675 total views Homily for the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, 22 August 2024, Lk 1,26-38 Isa sa paborito kong kanta sa blockbuster comedy film “Sister Act” ni Whoopi Goldberg ay ang “Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above”. Hindi alam ng marami na ang kantang iyon ay isa sa pinakamatandang panalangin tungkol kay Mama Mary. Kilala

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

BAON SA BIYAHE

 14,771 total views

 14,771 total views Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 18 August 2024, John 6: 51-58 Sa ating mga Katoliko, ang huling basbas sa mga malapit nang pumanaw ay hindi lamang sinasamahan ng kumpisal at pagpapahid ng langis. Kapag kaya pa ng maysakit, binibigyan siya ng komunyon at ang tawag dito sa wikang Latin ay

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

MALASAKIT

 18,979 total views

 18,979 total views Homiliya sa Pyestang San Roque, 16 Agosto 2924, Mateo 25: 31-40 Isang art work ang tumawag-pansin sa akin minsan. Gawa ito sa brass o tanso, hugis-taong nakaupo sa isang park bench, dinadaan-daanan ng mga tao. Minsan tinatabihan siya ng mga gustong magselfie kasama siya. Malungkot ang dating ng sculpture na ito—anyo ng isang

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

PAGKAIN NG BUHAY

 14,698 total views

 14,698 total views Homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 11 August 2024, John 6:41-51 Kung minsan, may mga taong ayaw kumain, hindi dahil hindi sila nagugutom o wala silang ganang kumain kundi dahil wala na silang ganang mabuhay. Ganito ang sitwasyon ng propeta sa ating unang pagbasa ngayon. Nawalan na ng ganang mabuhay si

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

HANAPBUHAY

 16,067 total views

 16,067 total views Homiliya para sa ika-18 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon, 4 Agosto 2024, Juan 6:24-35 Sa Tagalog, “hanapbuhay” ang tawag natin sa trabahong pinagkakakitaan ng pera. Pero kung pera pala ang hinahanap, bakit hindi na lang tinawag na “hanap-pera” ang trabaho? Narinig ko ang sagot sa isang kargador sa palengke. Kaya daw hanapbuhay ang tawag

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

MISSIONARY

 16,329 total views

 16,329 total views Homily for the Ordination of Hien Van Do, MJ and Dao Minh Pham MJ to the Presbyteral Ministry, 03 August 2024, Jn 15:9-17 87 MJ is your nomenclature for your identity as consecrated persons. Missionaries of Jesus. Let me share some thoughts on what, basically it means to be Missionaries of Jesus. It

Read More »
Bishop Ambo Homilies
Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D.

NAKATATANDA

 25,022 total views

 25,022 total views Homiliya para sa World Day for Grandparents, 27 Hulyo 2024, Ika-17 Linggo ng Karaniwang Panahon, Juan 6:1-15 Ipinagdiriwang natin ngayon ang World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Ano sa Tagalog ang ELDERLY? NAKATATANDA. Kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit ina-associate ang pagiging matanda sa pagiging ulyanin o makakalimutin, gayong eksaktong kabaligtaran ang ibig

Read More »

Latest Blogs

Scroll to Top