The WORD today reminds me that this is going to be a great year in the Lord.
It’s
a new day! It’s a new year! And as we start this year, we are reminded that it
is going to be another great year of the Lord! The first reading and psalm
gives us a very beautiful blessing and prayer. And I believe that just as God
asked Moses to bless the Israelites with this, he is also reminding us that
this blessing is for us as well. As we start the year, it is good to be reminded
of this blessing from God:
The
LORD bless you and keep you!
The
LORD let his face shine upon
you,
and be gracious to you!
The
LORD look upon you kindly and
give
you peace!
What
a very beautiful and powerful blessing!
God
has concretized this blessing in the second reading. The reason for this
season. God sent his only Son to save us from our sins, because he loves us.
Because of this, we too can call God our loving and almighty father.
God
sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying
out, “Abba, Father!”
So
you are no longer a slave but a son,
and
if a son then also an heir, through God
Just
as we start the year, we also celebrate the Solemnity of Mama Mary, Mother of
God. This is one of the three Holy Days of Obligation in our country (Aside
from Dec 8 Immaculate Conception and Dec 25 Christmas). It is fitting that as
we start the year, we remember Mama Mary, a loyal
and humble servant of God. We again see a glimpse of her in the
gospel. After saying Yes to God, she bore a Son and named him Jesus. At this
point, she did not understand yet God’s
plans as she kept all
things in her heart, but still she continued to be faithful to
God and did her part as the earthly mother
of Christ. It is a good reminder for us, that as we start the year,
even if we do not know and understand yet God’s plans, we just have to be like
Mary and submit to God and do what he asks us to do. God has great plans
for us, and we should just wait and cooperate, even if we do not understand and
things are looking different from what we expected. (See related story)
What
is God telling me today as I start the year? What are my fears and worries as I
enter another year? Career concerns? Financial concerns? Health issues? Family
matters? What can I learn from Mama Mary?
May
we always remember that God will always bless us, and may this lead us to be
like Mama Mary, who trusts and surrenders to God, despite not knowing his plans
for us yet.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live!
Thank you for another year! Thank you for all the great blessings of 2019!
Thank you for all the challenges of 2019! Thank you for everything. As I start
the year, I look forward to receiving more love, blessings, and challenges from
you. Lord, I do not know what this year would bring, but I do hope that
it would bring me closer to you. I do not know what will happen, but you
do. I do not know what this year holds, but I know who holds everything in his
hand. Lord, I trust in you. May the challenges and hardships, as well as the
blessings and triumphs this year bring me to loving you more and may they
strengthen my faith in you. I ask Lord that you hold my hand every step of the
way. Never let go of me, and make me more and more like you. As you do, may I
radiate you to others I encounter. Amen.
Blessed
2019!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
This
story reminds me that even if God’s ways are not our ways, it is still the
best, it is still better than what we have imagined, better than what we want
for ourselves.
The
Parable of the Three Trees
Once
upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what
they wanted to become when they grew up.
The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"
The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"
The
second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on
it's way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters
and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the
world!"
The
third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men
and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the
mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to
look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God.
I will be the tallest tree in the world."
Years
passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew
tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The
first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree
is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his
shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a
beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first
tree said.
The
second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This
tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his
shining axe, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty
waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship
for mighty kings!"
The
third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her
way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to
heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any
kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of
his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The
first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's
shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for
animals.
The
once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure.
She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm
animals.
The
second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but
no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong
tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small
and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river;
instead she was taken to a little lake.
The
third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong
beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The
once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the
mountain top and point to God..."
Many
many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their
dreams.
But
one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young
woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.
"I
wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered. The
mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the
smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful" she
said.
And
suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in
the world.
One
evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old
fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly
sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm
arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the
strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and
the rain.
The
tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said,
"Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had
begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying
the king of heaven and earth.
One
Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beam were
yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried
through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a
man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But
on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy
beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed
everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time
people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That
was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
So
next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want,
just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of
something better to give you
...........
Author Unkown
January 1 2020
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31 | January
2 »
The Octave Day of Christmas
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
Lectionary: 18
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
Lectionary: 18
Reading
1 NM 6:22-27
The LORD said to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them."
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them."
Responsorial
Psalm PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
Reading
2 GAL 4:4-7
Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.
Alleluia 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.
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
2:16-21
The
shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
When eight
days were completed for his circumcision,and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb
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