Mom's Powers

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010717.cfm) reminds me how powerful and close to Jesus Mama Mary is. 

We Filipinos give much importance to family. And usually, our mother holds a very special place in our lives. Usually mothers are the very affectionate and caring in the family, and as we get older and mature, we realize the sacrifices of our mother. This is the reason why we give them the best we can. We find ourselves doing things for them that we usually would not do. This is similar to what Mama Mary asked Jesus in the gospel. 

Jesus told Mary that his time has not yet come. But Mary would have none of it. Makulit sya. She knew Jesus could do something about it, though she did not know the specifics. She had faith in Jesus. And eventually Jesus did as his mother asked. This reminds us how powerful and close to Jesus his mother is. This is why we should also remain close to Mama Mary. 

We should remain close to Mama Mary so we would remain close to Jesus. 

They say that when Jesus was crucified, all of his disciples were away because they were afraid. All but one - John. And they say that John was there because he held on to Mary. That is why Jesus entrusted Mama Mary to her. We should hold on to Mama Mary as well so we will not go far away from Jesus.

We have a special devotion to Mama Mary, and we are again reminded today why. Mama Mary is human like us, but she had great faith and love for Jesus. She had great faith in God. And we should ask her to help us how to serve God, and how to remain close to Jesus. 

May we rekindle that special love and devotion for Mama Mary, and ask her to help us be like her and teach us how to love and serve God the best way we can. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for sharing your earthly mother with us. Sorry for the times I do not give her due importance. Sorry for running away from her as well. Help me be close and remain close to Mama Mary. Rekindle in me the devotion and love for her. May I have her faith and love for you. Make me more like her so i can also serve you with abandon, with pure and great love just like her. Amen. 

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 7, 2017
Christmas Weekday
Lectionary: 210

Reading 1 1 Jn 5:14-21

Beloved:
We have this confidence in God,
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,
we know that what we have asked him for is ours.
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

We know that no one begotten by God sins;
but the one begotten by God he protects,
and the Evil One cannot touch him.
We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.
We also know that the Son of God has come
and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.
And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life.
Children, be on your guard against idols.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5 and 6a and 9b

R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Lk 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
"They have no wine."
And Jesus said to her,
"Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come."
His mother said to the servers,
"Do whatever he tells you."
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
"Fill the jars with water."
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
"Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter."
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
(although the servers who had drawn the water knew),
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
"Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now."
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,

and his disciples began to believe in him.