Sunday, January 20, 2019

Powerful Mary


The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012019.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, almost 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. 


How do I see Mama Mary? Do I have a personal relationship with her as well? Do I pray the rosary? What is God telling me today?


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 Sunday. 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 Sunday!



In Christ,

-g-






January 20 2019

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 66

Reading 1IS 62:1-5

For Zion's sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you "Forsaken, "
or your land "Desolate, "
but you shall be called "My Delight, "
and your land "Espoused."
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.


Responsorial PsalmPS 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10 

R. (3) Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
 among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
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. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.


Reading 2 1 COR 12:4-11

Brothers and sisters:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.


Alleluia CF. 2 THES 2:14


R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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 the 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.


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