“DOMINE, NON NISI TE.

”
Dt 18:15-20 | Ps 95 | 1 Cor 7:32-35 | Mk 1:21-28
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
26.I.2024

Isa sa mga hindi ko makakalimutang karanasan bilang pari ay noong lumipat ako sa isang
parokya at kinahapunan ay bigla akong kinatok sa kwarto at ang sabi ng parish secretary:
"Father, may sinasapian daw po." Sa aking pagkagulat, ang nasabi ko na lang: "Anong gagawin
ko?" Sa isip-isip ko, nasabi ko naman, jusko naman, si Satanas pa talaga ang unang
magwewelcome sa akin sa parokyang ito.

For sure, you have already watched movies or documentaries about exorcism or demonic
possessions. Just last year, the film "The Pope's Exorcist" was released. It was about the life of
Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the chief Vatican exorcist for 30 years. Kaya kapag may mga kaibigan
akong sinasabihan sila na panoorin ang pelikulang iyon, at pagkatapos nilang manood, simple
lang ang tanong nila: "Saan makakabili ng St. Benedict's medal?" Kaya naman, biyaya din ang
mga ganitong pelikula na nagpapa-alala sa atin na totoo ang demonyo, na totoo ang kanyang
panunukso, at higit sa lahat na totoo na pwede tayong apihin at pahirapan ng masasamang
espiritu.

That is why, my dear friends, during this 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are reminded that we
all need God's mighty protection, we all need God's grace to deliver us from all evil, and we all
need a life of prayer as our basic protection from all the temptations being made by evil one.

Kaya mga kapatid, maganda sigurong pagnilayan na tayo din ang taong sinapian ng masamang
espiritu. Before pointing our fingers to others for their evil deeds or bad behavior, we have to
realize that it is us first who needs to be exorcised from all that is unholy and un-Godly in us.

Isipin ninyo ang taong ito na sinasapian, ang lakas ng loob niya na pumasok sa sinagoga at
hamunin si Jesus. Siguro yun talaga ang nagagawa kapag masamang espiritu ang sumapi sa atin,
ang lakas ng loob nating magmataas sa Diyos, na akala mo feeling natin ay Diyos na din tayo.
Ngunit, tingnan niyo ang pagmamalasakit ni Jesus para sa taong may sapi, hindi niya
pinarusahan ang tao kundi alam niya na nagnanais ang taong iyon na makalaya mula sa
masamang espiritu.

In some way, each one of us can relate to that situation. Let us imagine ourselves like this man
with an unclean spirit. We are not possessed, but we all have our sufferings and temptations,
often hidden, that seem to have a mysterious power over us, just as the devil had power over this
man—until Jesus came along.

And I hope that we also have this kind of disposition in our relationship with God; that no matter
how unclean, how unworthy, and how stubborn we are in committing our favorite sins or vices,
let us drag our feet to enter the Church and ask for God's mercy and pardon. Pope Francis was
right when he said: "The Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners."
Mga kapatid, si Jesus na nagpalaya sa taong sinapian ng masamang espiritu ay hindi lang tao na
sa kasaysayan lang buhay. Hanggang sa ngayon, patuloy na nagpapalaya si Kristo sa kung
anumang espiritu ang sumapi sa atin. He is just as real, alive, and present today as he was in that
synagogue almost two thousand years ago.

My dear friends, our Blessed Lord Jesus is here in this Eucharistic celebration, in the Tabernacle,
every day and every night, as the sanctuary lamp reminds us. Whenever we need to let the power
of his grace fortify our tired and weak souls, we can do so right here. And Jesus is present in the
Confessional, through the ministry of his priest. Whenever we need to be cleansed, forgiven, and
healed by his grace, we can find him there, the very same Jesus who expelled demons and
astonished the crowds.

Alam niyo po, sa araw ding ito ipinagdiriwang din naman natin ang kapistahan ng dakilang
santo, si Santo Tomas de Aquino, isang paring Dominikano. At alam niyo naman kung gaano
kahalaga si St. Thomas sa ating pagnanais na maintindihan at makilala ang Diyos. Sumulat siya
ng libro na magiging basehan ng ating mga doktrina na ang tawag ay "Summa Theologica" or
the Highest Theology.

And so, one night while St. Thomas Aquinas was praying in the chapel of his priory, one of his
Dominican brothers, Br. Dominic Caserta, hid in the chapel to watch the saintly man pray. One
can imagine his astonishment when the crucifix began to speak to Thomas! Our Lord asked St.
Thomas, who was lying prostrate on the floor, “You have written well of me, Thomas. What
reward will you receive from me for your labor?” St. Thomas’ response was simply, “Domine,
non nisi Te. (Lord, nothing except you.)”

"Lord, nothing except you."—sana ito din ang maging dasal natin sa mga panahon na tayo ang
ayaw bumitaw sa ating mga bisyo o kasamaang taglay. Minsan, iniisip natin na ang ibang tao,
"sila" ang masama. But, what if, ikaw pala ang dapat munang magpalaya sa iyong masamang
espiritu. We pray today to have the courage to allow ourselves be exorcised from all our evil
thoughts and actions.

We can only begin in doing good works when we put a stop to whatever evil is in us.
From all sin and danger, deliver us, O Lord.
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us. Amen.