Holy Family

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/123117.cfm) reminds me that I should do my best to have my own Holy Family. 

The basic unit of society is the family. It is very important, although nowadays there are a lot of things and forces that threaten the family. Unfortunately, some (or a lot) of people now give more importance to the self rather than family. Self first - If things are not doing well between spouses, instead of working together to improve things, they just opt to separate – which affects the children. Some people love themselves too much, that sex is done outside marriage or even if they feel they’re not ready to have a baby, and when something happens, they choose themselves and let go of the baby. 

Family is important, and God wants us not only to remember that, but to live that.

The fourth commandment, the first pertaining to human beings, tells us to honor our parents. In the first reading we see again how important respecting parents are. Aside from it being a commandment of God, doing it has a lot of promised rewards. Indeed, no matter how imperfect our parents may be, God wants us to honor, respect, serve and love them. Looking at our lives, they were the first to show us unconditional love. They were the first to make us feel what love is. They were the first Jesus in our lives, and this is the least we can do to thank them and to show them how much we appreciate and love them.

God sets a father in honor over his children;

a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.

Whoever honors his father atones for sins,

and preserves himself from them.

When he prays, he is heard;

he stores up riches who reveres his mother.

Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,

and, when he prays, is heard.

Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;

he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;

grieve him not as long as he lives.

Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;

revile him not all the days of his life;

kindness to a father will not be forgotten,

firmly planted against the debt of your sins

—a house raised in justice to you.

The gospel shows us that Jesus, God’s only Son, had an earthly family. He had earthly parents. This shows us how important family is to God, that he gave his Son an earthly family. And God continued to take care of Jesus and his earthly family as we see in the gospel. 

Am I thankful for my family? What things have I realized today? How can I improve my family? How can I love my parents more? Am I willing to raise a family like the Holy Family – founded on God? 

May we always be thankful for the gift of family. May we always see the importance of family and always look at our parents with high respect and authority.  And for those of us who already have their own family, may we work harder to make God’s love real and alive in our own family, and aspire to emulate Jesus and his holy earthly family.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder and inspiration. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for the gift of family. Thank you for using my family to make me feel your love. I am sorry for the times I take my family for granted. I am sorry for the times I fail to treat my parents the way you want me to. I pray that you help me be a better person, to be a better child or parent to my family.  May I be able to show to my parents, my children, and my family how important they are and how much I love them. May I love you through my family. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 31, 2017

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Lectionary: 17

Reading 1 Sir 3:2-6, 12-14

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you.

Or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying:
"Fear not, Abram!
I am your shield;
I will make your reward very great."
But Abram said,
"O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,
if I keep on being childless
and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?"
Abram continued,
"See, you have given me no offspring,
and so one of my servants will be my heir."
Then the word of the LORD came to him:
"No, that one shall not be your heir;
your own issue shall be your heir."
The Lord took Abram outside and said,
"Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
Just so," he added, "shall your descendants be."
Abram put his faith in the LORD,
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would;
he did for her as he had promised.
Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age,
at the set time that God had stated.
Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his
whom Sarah bore him.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (cf. 1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

or Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (7a , 8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
constantly seek his face.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations
which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Reading 2 Col 3:12-21

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives,
and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children,
so they may not become discouraged.

Or Col 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Or Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19

Brothers and sisters:
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance;
he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
By faith he received power to generate,
even though he was past the normal age
—and Sarah herself was sterile—
for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from one man,
himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises was ready to offer
his only son,
of whom it was said,
"Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name."
He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,
and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

Alleluia Col 3:15a, 16a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the peace of Christ control your hearts;
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or Heb 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
They took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
"Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel."
The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

Or Lk 2:22, 39-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
they took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

It Takes Time

  

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/123017.cfm) reminds me that great things takes time. 

Nothing great happens overnight. 

Athletes train for years to reach their full potential. A tree takes years growing its roots to become a strong and mighty tree. No tree grows overnight, and no athlete gets to top condition in an hour. It takes time, effort, hard work and patience to get to their full potential. This is what God wants us to remember.

If we want God’s best, we have to learn how to wait.

In the gospel, the prophetess Anna never left the temple and prayed day and night. Wild! Solid! Imagine her love for God.  It took time, effort and patience to be where she is – spiritually. It did not happen overnight, but when she saw Jesus, it was well worth it. Also, we see that Jesus did not become a wise man overnight. It took him 30 years of growing, learning, waiting, before God told him to start his ministry. That time is necessary to grow, improve, and build a strong foundation. But when God’s plans come into fruition, it will be all worth it.

God’s best takes time.

We all have prayers we want to happen. There are still unanswered prayers until now. We are waiting for different things – promotion at work, break in our career or business, or that prayer we have been asking God. It is very hard to wait, we want things done right away. We want God’s plans to happen right away. We feel we are ready. And looking at others makes it worse – we feel envious that they seem to have more than us, or that God’s best is given them already. We don’t know God’s reason, but we just need to trust his wisdom.

God cannot give us what we cannot handle – be it problems or blessings. Some people get things right away because they do it their way, they do it the world’s way which sometimes result to problems since they’re not ready. We need to wait for God’s perfect timing. And while we do, we just need to do our part, to be patient and do our best to prepare for great blessings will send our way.

What things am I praying for? Why do I want them so much? What is God telling me? What should be my reaction while I still don’t have them? How should I prepare myself while waiting for God’s time?

May we always remember that great things take time, and learn to trust God and his timing. 

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 the reminder. Thank you for the weekend. Lord, I pray that you help me be patient. It’s hard, Lord, because I want things to happen my way. It’s hard because I sometimes feel that I am ready. It’s hard because I feel I should be given it. Sorry for being impatient Lord. Sorry for feeling that my timing is better than yours. Help me just trust in you. Help me have faith in you. I surrender and let you have control of my life. While I wait, I will do my best to prepare, work hard, and be faithful to you. And I have faith that in your perfect time, your best will come. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 30, 2017

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Lectionary: 203

Reading 1 1 Jn 2:12-17

I am writing to you, children,
because your sins have been forgiven for his name's sake.

I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,
because you have conquered the Evil One.

I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,
because you are strong and the word of God remains in you,
and you have conquered the Evil One.

Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,
is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10

R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts;
worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

In The Light

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122917.cfm) reminds me that I should always live in God's light. 

Whenever there are bazaars where Tshirts are sold, it is not unusual for stores to use UV lights or the violet / light blue bulbs. When I was a kid, I asked my parents to buy a shirt because I really liked it on display under that kind of light. However, when we got home, I was disappointed because under the normal bulb, it looked different! I eventually found out that those lights make things looks better. And the real light, the white lights, really expose the real nature, the real appearance of things. This is what the light of God does.

God’s light exposes the truth.

The first reading reminds us that if we want to really be in and stay in the light, we need to live a life consistent to God’s ways. It is not a one-time decision or once a year action. We cannot say we love Jesus and are followers of Him if we do not always live like it. Being a true Christian is more than just saying it. We need to live it every day, in little and big things. This is what it takes to live in the light of Christ. We need to choose Christ in the little and big decisions that we make every day.

In the gospel, we see a man living this. Simeon was a righteous and devout man, and we see that the Spirit was with him. We can tell that he was living a life consistent with Christ’s values, since he felt and obeyed the Spirit, and as shown when he recognized Jesus in the temple. If we live right, if we live in the light, then we will recognize God visiting us. We will recognize God when he comes to us, no matter what form he takes – be it as a helpless child, a person in need, or an annoying person who needs comfort and understanding.

Christmas day is over, and for some, today is another working day. The last one for the year. However, may we never forget the essence of Christmas. Though Christmas day is over, may we continue to live the values of Christmas. It is easy to profess our faith. What’s more challenging is actually living it day by day. 

May we be inspired and challenged by the Word today to strive to live a life of faith, to live a life in the light of Christ - always. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this last working day of the year. Thank you for being patient with me. Lord, sorry for not always living in your light. Sorry for being moody in doing your work. Sorry for not consistently living in the way you want me to. Lord, I ask that you help me live and stay in the light. There are a lot of things that distract me in living a life you want me to. Give me the grace and the strength to remain consistent with your word, to live a life pleasing to you, to live and stay in the light and shine with you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 29, 2017

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Lectionary: 202

Reading 1 1 Jn 2:3-11

Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6

R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia Lk 2:32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

God Knows

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122817.cfm) reminds me that God's wisdom is infinite and he knows what is going to happen in our lives. 

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents. The gospel tells us what happened. When Herod realized he has been deceived, he ordered the massacre of all the boys two years and below. How horrible, right?

Bad news – bad things will happen in life. The powerful people in the world have power in this world!

Even though God is all powerful and is in control, he is not the ruler of this world we live in. Satan is, and as such, he has power in this temporary, earthly world. and in the gospel, we see that in action.

Good news - God is still in control, even if we do not understand what is happening!

We do not know why those innocent children died. We feel it is unfair and evil. We do not know why God let that happen. We do not know how the parents of those children coped up with what happened. They did not do anything wrong! Does not seem to make sense. But what we do know is that everything is still in accordance with God’s perfect plan. It was written that this would happen, and salvation still happened when Jesus rose from the dead to save us, so this incident is not enough to destroy God’s perfect plan. God knows what he is doing and what he is allowing to happen - like what he did with Job. 

In our lives, we do not understand a lot of things. If we’re blessed, we will eventually understand things. However, time is not a guarantee. Some things are left for God’s wisdom to know and understand. We simply have to surrender and trust Him. no matter what we are going through right now, no matter how tough things may be, we just need to have faith that God is totally in control, and that as long as we stick to Him, nothing could get in the way of his perfect plan for us.

What previously unclear things before do I understand now? What things in my life do I still not understand? What is my reaction to it?  Do I get mad at God, or do I continue to trust in him?

May we learn to trust and have faith in God's plan, goodness, and infinite wisdom - especially when we do not understand the things that are happening. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know you more. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I question you when I do not understand things. Sorry for doubting you, your plans, and your wisdom. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Lord, I ask that as we commemorate the feast of the holy innocents, I may learn to surrender to you completely. There are a lot of things I do not understand now, probably things that I will never understand, and I ask that you give me faith and a heart that would just totally surrender to you. I know that you are in control, and that there is nothing that will get in the way of your perfect plan for us, as long as we remain close to you as long as we remain faithful. May we always remember this, and live this. Amen

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 28, 2017

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
Lectionary: 698

Reading 1 1 Jn 1:5—2:2

Beloved:
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ
and proclaim to you:
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
If we say, "We have fellowship with him,"
while we continue to walk in darkness,
we lie and do not act in truth.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,
then we have fellowship with one another,
and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, "We are without sin,"
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.

My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8

R. (7) Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Had not the LORD been with us—
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.

Alleluia See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the white robed army of martyrs praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 2:13-18

When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.

Share His Love

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122717.cfm) reminds me that I should always share God's love to others. 

They say it is better to give than to receive – and in a lot of ways, this is true. Members of our community generally feel more blessed in giving and in serving others, especially as they serve as sponsors in a retreat, than participating in one. In giving to others, in serving others, we allow God to use us to spread his love to others. The more love we receive from God, the more we want to spread and share it to others.

As we celebrate the Feast of St John, the apostle and evangelist, we see this in action. John probably felt this way. In the gospel, we see him regarded as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Some say he is the favorite. Of course, Jesus loved them all, in a way that he loves us all, but probably John was special. He was one who probably felt Christ’s love the most, but this feeling, this being special, did not make him act like a spoiled, selfish person. Instead, this made him love others more, this made him spread God’s love to others, as seen in the first reading. He wanted to share God to others “so that our joy may be complete”

We should share God to others and not keep him for ourselves. 

Knowing God is not for one's gain and appreciation only. Knowing God brings joy, but sharing God to others would bring even greater joy. That is why we are called to share God to others too - to share our stories, our encounters and our faith with others.

Sharing the love, sharing Jesus, is not through preaching only. They say actions speak louder than words. When we do good and help others; when we are constantly trying to do good and be honest; when we continue to be happy and peaceful despite all the challenges we encounter - then that's when we really share God. Why? because That's when people will wonder - what God is this person serving? Why is he so happy and peaceful? Why is she genuinely good? I want to be like him. I want to know his God.

What are my blessings for this year? What are my greatly undeserved blessings? What am I sharing with others? Am I spreading God’s love to others? How can I concretely share God to others?

May we be inspired by John and spread God’s love to others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings, both evident and in disguise, that you continue to give to me. Lord, sorry for the times I do not recognize them. And sorry for not acting like John, sorry for not sharing you to others. Sorry for being too lazy to move and act.  Disturb me. Make me like John. Lord, may I always feel your love and blessings, and as I do, help me spread your love to others. Help me share you to others. Use me to make your love more alive and more real in this world. May my life remind people how great and loving you are. May you be glorified through my life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 27, 2017

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
Lectionary: 697

Reading 1 1 Jn 1:1-4

Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life —
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

R. (12) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Alleluia See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia. We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 20:1a and 2-8

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him."
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.

Back To Reality

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122617.cfm) reminds me to get back to reality and proclaim God. 

Christmas day is over. After months of preparation and anticipation, it is over. To add to it, Chrismas is on a Monday, so today, the next day after Christmas, is a working day! Back to reality indeed. No long holiday. Holiday's over! Even though the holiday season is not over, and there are still a lot of decors and get togethers, Christmas day itself is over, just like that. However, the spirit of Christmas should not go away after December 25.

We should live Christmas everyday. 

It is by no accident that the day after Christmas, we commemorate the feast day of St Stephen, the first martyr. Like what Jesus told Peter, James and John in the mountain after transfiguration, he too is telling us to go down the mountain, back to reality, back to our daily lives, and continue to live the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of love – and continue to proclaim God.

God loves us so much, and as we feel that love, we should be moved to love him back.

Stephen died for his faith. He was not forced to. He probably could have run away from the people, but he chose not to. He chose to stand up for his faith. He chose to proclaim God to others, even if it cost him his life. In the same way, we are called to be like Stephen. We do not need to be martyrs to show God we love him, that we appreciate his coming to save us, and that we are grateful. We should, little by little, everyday, make a decision to proclaim him - to honor him and live for him.

May we be challenged and inspired to live our faith, to go back to reality and stand up for our faith, and proclaim the love and greatness of God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the weekend. Thank you for another week. Thank you for bringing me back to reality. Thank you for all the gifts which you, the Celebrant, continue to give me. Lord I pray that I have faith like Stephen. May I focus on you and your glory, instead of focusing on and complaining about my pains and difficulties. Help me stand up for and proclaim you everyday. Help me live for you and die of myself, so that you may live in me, and through me. May I make you more real and more alive through my life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 26, 2017

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
Lectionary: 696

Reading 1 Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said,
"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17

R. (6) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Alleluia Ps 118:26a, 27a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD:
the LORD is God and has given us light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved."