December 22, 2011
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
Today we have heard from our Gospel that Mary sang her Magnificat. Magnificat means to magnify, to make God bigger in one's life. One would realize how big God is only when he/she has recognized how God works in his/her life. No matter how difficult it is to understand how life has been, yet one could feel the invisible hands of God giving meaning into his/her life. This was the experience of Mary. She did not know why God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. She never even aspired that such privilege of motherhood be given to her. But this act of God made her happy and she glorified the Lord.
My dear friends, sometimes we miss to understand how God works in our lives. We forget that God's ways are different from man's ways. We want things to go the way we plan them out and sometimes we become frustrated when our plan is not working. In times of distress, we question if God really cares about us. We think our frustration is bigger than God that we try to live on our own. Little do we know that if we only see the whole picture of our life, God is doing great things for us.
Let me end with a story.
A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For
many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's
showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told
him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited
signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the
morning of his graduation his father called him into his private
study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine
son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son
a beautiful wrapped gift box.
Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man
opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily,
he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you
give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy
book.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in
business.
He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his
father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He
had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make
arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had
passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He
needed to come home immediately and take care things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and
regret filled his heart.
He began to search his father's important papers and
saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With
tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he
read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope
taped behind the Bible.
It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the
sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation,
and the words...PAID IN FULL.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
6th Day of Simbang Gabi 2011
December 21, 2011
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
It was month of July, when a man proposed marriage to a woman but the parents of the latter did not like him. They said he had many vices -smoking, drinking, gambling and womanizing. The man told her parents that he was willing to change himself. First, he was given a month to quit smoking. In August, he did quit. Then he was given another month to stop drinking liquor. In September, he also did stop. This was a good news for the woman and her parents. The woman began to love him more. Then the man was given again another month to avoid gambling and it was in October that he did avoid it. This was another good news for the woman. The only vice he left was womanizing. So the woman's parents gave him a month to prove his love by refraining from wooing other women. Finally, November came and he also did refrain. When he now asked the woman to accept him as her husband, the woman asked him to visit the church and pray from December 1 to December 25 and on Christmas day she would gladly accept him as her husband. So this news spread all over the town. The man indeed went to the church early in the morning, attended the mass and prayed privately. He was almost in the church the whole day. Now December 25 came and people who knew about the matter where standing outside the church while the man was still praying inside it. The woman and her parents arrived and waited for the man to finish his prayers outside the church. Everybody was excited. Then the man went out of the church and approached the woman. Everybody became silent as they waited to hear his proposal to the woman. The man finally said to the woman, "Sorry, I can't marry you. I now want to become a priest."
My dear friends, today we are reminded that Christmas is about good news. News is good only when we can appreciate God in every information that we get. If we can't find God in any report of events, it is not good news.
Look at what happened in CDO City and Iligan City. It was a bad news that many died because of the flood. If we look at the pictures and videos taken from those places, some would ask if God really exists and why God allowed bad things to happen during this supposedly joyful season. It is a bad news because it seems we can't find God. But as the days went by, we learn that many people try to help those victims by donating cash or kinds. There are many good things that other people do for the victims to help them cope with their situations. In every good thing being reported, we can find that it is the love of God that impels more people to help the victims of calamity. Because of the goodness of some people, we find God working through them. This is good news.
In our gospel, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. Mary in her visit to Elizabeth was carrying the good news. The good news she was carrying is Jesus -the image of the invisible God. Mary was announcing that God is with us! Nothing can separate us from God now that he is with us. Nothing can stop our celebration of Christmas. This made Elizabeth happy. There was happiness in her as she found God working through and in Mary the bearer of good news.
Today, we are giving gifts not to make a good impression that we are generous. Rather, by giving gifts, people will find God in our words and works. What is the use of the gifts if we also keep an ill-feeling against the one who receives the gift. Today, we invite people to eat and drink with us to share our blessings from God. What is the use of inviting one to dine with us if he can't find God because he knows we criticize him. In everything we do, may people find God. Let us reflect on this and more.
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
It was month of July, when a man proposed marriage to a woman but the parents of the latter did not like him. They said he had many vices -smoking, drinking, gambling and womanizing. The man told her parents that he was willing to change himself. First, he was given a month to quit smoking. In August, he did quit. Then he was given another month to stop drinking liquor. In September, he also did stop. This was a good news for the woman and her parents. The woman began to love him more. Then the man was given again another month to avoid gambling and it was in October that he did avoid it. This was another good news for the woman. The only vice he left was womanizing. So the woman's parents gave him a month to prove his love by refraining from wooing other women. Finally, November came and he also did refrain. When he now asked the woman to accept him as her husband, the woman asked him to visit the church and pray from December 1 to December 25 and on Christmas day she would gladly accept him as her husband. So this news spread all over the town. The man indeed went to the church early in the morning, attended the mass and prayed privately. He was almost in the church the whole day. Now December 25 came and people who knew about the matter where standing outside the church while the man was still praying inside it. The woman and her parents arrived and waited for the man to finish his prayers outside the church. Everybody was excited. Then the man went out of the church and approached the woman. Everybody became silent as they waited to hear his proposal to the woman. The man finally said to the woman, "Sorry, I can't marry you. I now want to become a priest."
My dear friends, today we are reminded that Christmas is about good news. News is good only when we can appreciate God in every information that we get. If we can't find God in any report of events, it is not good news.
Look at what happened in CDO City and Iligan City. It was a bad news that many died because of the flood. If we look at the pictures and videos taken from those places, some would ask if God really exists and why God allowed bad things to happen during this supposedly joyful season. It is a bad news because it seems we can't find God. But as the days went by, we learn that many people try to help those victims by donating cash or kinds. There are many good things that other people do for the victims to help them cope with their situations. In every good thing being reported, we can find that it is the love of God that impels more people to help the victims of calamity. Because of the goodness of some people, we find God working through them. This is good news.
In our gospel, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. Mary in her visit to Elizabeth was carrying the good news. The good news she was carrying is Jesus -the image of the invisible God. Mary was announcing that God is with us! Nothing can separate us from God now that he is with us. Nothing can stop our celebration of Christmas. This made Elizabeth happy. There was happiness in her as she found God working through and in Mary the bearer of good news.
Today, we are giving gifts not to make a good impression that we are generous. Rather, by giving gifts, people will find God in our words and works. What is the use of the gifts if we also keep an ill-feeling against the one who receives the gift. Today, we invite people to eat and drink with us to share our blessings from God. What is the use of inviting one to dine with us if he can't find God because he knows we criticize him. In everything we do, may people find God. Let us reflect on this and more.
5th Day of Simbang Gabi 2011
December 20, 2011
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Today, we are reminded of the beauty of visiting someone. Visiting itself is of great value for both the visitor and the one visited. On the part of the visitor, he/she exerted some effort just to do the visit. On the part of the one visited, it is flattering to be given importance. Now, in our Gospel, it reveals to us that there is a greater value or the greatest value in visiting. This happens when Jesus is brought by the visitor to the home of the one who is visited, and the latter also welcomes his/her visitor as he/she welcomes Jesus. During this season, we have to understand that our caroling is a form of visiting homes. Choristers sing Christmas carols to bring Jesus in the consciousness of people. People in their homes listen to the carols as a sign of welcoming Jesus in their hearts. Christmas is not an opportunity to beg or solicit some money through singing Christmas carols. This is not a mere social activity but an act of Christianity: to bring Jesus to others and accept Jesus with others.
To end, I remember a sick couple who was in the hospital. I was asked by the parishioners to join them in visiting this couple on Christmas day. So, I brought my anointing kit and two sacred hosts. When we arrived at the hospital, I prayed over them and gave them communion. I saw how the tears fell from their eyes. After some months, both husband and wife died. But their children were so happy that they received Jesus as we visited them with Jesus.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Today, we are reminded of the beauty of visiting someone. Visiting itself is of great value for both the visitor and the one visited. On the part of the visitor, he/she exerted some effort just to do the visit. On the part of the one visited, it is flattering to be given importance. Now, in our Gospel, it reveals to us that there is a greater value or the greatest value in visiting. This happens when Jesus is brought by the visitor to the home of the one who is visited, and the latter also welcomes his/her visitor as he/she welcomes Jesus. During this season, we have to understand that our caroling is a form of visiting homes. Choristers sing Christmas carols to bring Jesus in the consciousness of people. People in their homes listen to the carols as a sign of welcoming Jesus in their hearts. Christmas is not an opportunity to beg or solicit some money through singing Christmas carols. This is not a mere social activity but an act of Christianity: to bring Jesus to others and accept Jesus with others.
To end, I remember a sick couple who was in the hospital. I was asked by the parishioners to join them in visiting this couple on Christmas day. So, I brought my anointing kit and two sacred hosts. When we arrived at the hospital, I prayed over them and gave them communion. I saw how the tears fell from their eyes. After some months, both husband and wife died. But their children were so happy that they received Jesus as we visited them with Jesus.
Monday, December 19, 2011
4th Day of Simbang Gabi 2011
December 19, 2011
St. Peter/Holy Cross
Scripture: Luke 1:5-25
And there appeared to Zechariah an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechari'ah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechari'ah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Eli'jah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." And Zechari'ah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." And the people were waiting for Zechari'ah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."
Our Gospel can give us three points to ponder upon today.
1st, God works in a mysterious way. Zechariah, in the ordinariness of his life, did not expect that something extra-ordinary would happen. An angel appeared to him and announced that God heard his prayer. Though he and his wife were already old to have a child, yet their age could not hinder God to give them a child of their own.
2nd, man has greater doubts than his trust in the Lord. Zechariah was a godly man. He was a priest! He was privileged to be chosen to enter the inner court of the temple to offer sacrifice to God. Yet his role or office did not assure him of a total trust in God. He questioned what good God could do to him. Here, it shows man really wants to have what he desires according to how it has to happen that he fails to consider that God knows best on how things should happen.
3rd, in every good thing one receives, God's name must be praised. Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." Good things happen not because people deserve it but because God is good. And it is but proper to praise Him for the many blessings one has received from God.
These three points can help us reflect that we celebrate Christmas because we believe that God will continue to do great things for us in a mysterious way. We therefore have to be open-minded and open-hearted to the leadings of God's spirit working in us. And in this season, we have more reasons to remember the workings of God in us and praise Him with all our heart, mind and soul.
Let me end with a story.
In a certain locality, there is one huge bamboo. It stands tall compared to other standing tress. When people pass by, they are impressed by it's magnificence but other trees are envious of her grandeur.
One day the owner of the land went to the place where the bamboo is located. He approached the bamboo and asked her, "Bamboo, do you love me?" The bamboo replied, "Yes, I do love you." The man said, "Since you Love me, can I possibly cut you down?" The bamboo was so stunned and yet because of her love she said, "Yes." The envious trees were laughing altogether because there would be no more reason for them to get envious because the bamboo is already cut down and the passers-by would no longer behold her grandeur.
The man cut the bamboo into two pieces afterwards. At the time, it was summer. It was hot and humid. And the man made the bamboo into a drainage in which water from the river would flow to supply water to people in the village. It brought a great relief to all.
St. Peter/Holy Cross
Scripture: Luke 1:5-25
And there appeared to Zechariah an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechari'ah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechari'ah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Eli'jah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." And Zechari'ah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." And the people were waiting for Zechari'ah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."
Our Gospel can give us three points to ponder upon today.
1st, God works in a mysterious way. Zechariah, in the ordinariness of his life, did not expect that something extra-ordinary would happen. An angel appeared to him and announced that God heard his prayer. Though he and his wife were already old to have a child, yet their age could not hinder God to give them a child of their own.
2nd, man has greater doubts than his trust in the Lord. Zechariah was a godly man. He was a priest! He was privileged to be chosen to enter the inner court of the temple to offer sacrifice to God. Yet his role or office did not assure him of a total trust in God. He questioned what good God could do to him. Here, it shows man really wants to have what he desires according to how it has to happen that he fails to consider that God knows best on how things should happen.
3rd, in every good thing one receives, God's name must be praised. Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men." Good things happen not because people deserve it but because God is good. And it is but proper to praise Him for the many blessings one has received from God.
These three points can help us reflect that we celebrate Christmas because we believe that God will continue to do great things for us in a mysterious way. We therefore have to be open-minded and open-hearted to the leadings of God's spirit working in us. And in this season, we have more reasons to remember the workings of God in us and praise Him with all our heart, mind and soul.
Let me end with a story.
In a certain locality, there is one huge bamboo. It stands tall compared to other standing tress. When people pass by, they are impressed by it's magnificence but other trees are envious of her grandeur.
One day the owner of the land went to the place where the bamboo is located. He approached the bamboo and asked her, "Bamboo, do you love me?" The bamboo replied, "Yes, I do love you." The man said, "Since you Love me, can I possibly cut you down?" The bamboo was so stunned and yet because of her love she said, "Yes." The envious trees were laughing altogether because there would be no more reason for them to get envious because the bamboo is already cut down and the passers-by would no longer behold her grandeur.
The man cut the bamboo into two pieces afterwards. At the time, it was summer. It was hot and humid. And the man made the bamboo into a drainage in which water from the river would flow to supply water to people in the village. It brought a great relief to all.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
3rd Day of Simbang Gabi 2011
December 18, 2011
Pook
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Our Gospel can give us three points to ponder upon today.
1st, life is sacred as it is from God. When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, this affirms that there is no such thing as unwanted pregnancy in God 's vocabulary. Every life is created with the will of God. God has always a plan for one's life. And as long as you live, God has a beautiful plan for you.
2nd, though it is at times difficult to understand the reason why we are alive and live with many difficulties, we can appreciate and find meaning in our life only when we are aware of God's grace working in us. Angel Gabriel said it himself that there is nothing impossible with God. No matter how we experience difficulties in our finances, or work, or family, life itself remains to be a grace of God and God will do everything for us to appreciate life. God will make a way.
3rd, a life with God is a life worth living. Mary declared that she accepted the will of God for her to be the mother of Jesus. Mary could have her own plans but she gave priority to God's plan for her. God's ways are not man's ways is true all of the times.
Let me end with a story.
Alphonsus Liguori was born in 1696. He was educated in the best school of the city, and took a Doctorate in Law at the age of 16. In 1723, he lost the first and only case of his career and feel into deep crisis. Then he heard an interior voice, saying: leave the world, and give yourself to me. Alphonsus eventually became a priest in 1726 and became popular because of his plain and simple preaching. He once said, the penitents should be treated as souls to be saved rather than as criminals to be punished. He died in 1787 and later was declared a saint of our Catholic Church. Here we can see that in life, man's failure is God's success. A life with God is indeed a life worth living.
Pook
“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Our Gospel can give us three points to ponder upon today.
1st, life is sacred as it is from God. When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, this affirms that there is no such thing as unwanted pregnancy in God 's vocabulary. Every life is created with the will of God. God has always a plan for one's life. And as long as you live, God has a beautiful plan for you.
2nd, though it is at times difficult to understand the reason why we are alive and live with many difficulties, we can appreciate and find meaning in our life only when we are aware of God's grace working in us. Angel Gabriel said it himself that there is nothing impossible with God. No matter how we experience difficulties in our finances, or work, or family, life itself remains to be a grace of God and God will do everything for us to appreciate life. God will make a way.
3rd, a life with God is a life worth living. Mary declared that she accepted the will of God for her to be the mother of Jesus. Mary could have her own plans but she gave priority to God's plan for her. God's ways are not man's ways is true all of the times.
Let me end with a story.
Alphonsus Liguori was born in 1696. He was educated in the best school of the city, and took a Doctorate in Law at the age of 16. In 1723, he lost the first and only case of his career and feel into deep crisis. Then he heard an interior voice, saying: leave the world, and give yourself to me. Alphonsus eventually became a priest in 1726 and became popular because of his plain and simple preaching. He once said, the penitents should be treated as souls to be saved rather than as criminals to be punished. He died in 1787 and later was declared a saint of our Catholic Church. Here we can see that in life, man's failure is God's success. A life with God is indeed a life worth living.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
2nd Day of Simbang Gabi 2011
December 17, 2011
Pook Interior
In the olden times before electricity, the streets were lighted with gas lamps. Each evening a lamplighter would go around with a little flame and light one lamp after another. One evening a person was sitting in his house looking out the window. Across the valley was a street on the hillside. There he could see one lamp after another being lighted by the lamplighter as he went along. Because of the darkness, the man could not see the lamplighter, only his burning torch and the trail of lights he left behind.
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah, and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi'ah, and Uzzi'ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah, and Hezeki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josi'ah, and Josi'ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of She-al'ti-el, and She-al'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel, and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli'ud, and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
In our Gospel, we have the list of the ancestors of Jesus. Some of the names are familiar to us though many are not. However, this does not matter (whether we know them or not) because what is important is that we know Jesus -the light of the world who entered into our human history through them. We may never have known them, we never have seen them, but we know they passed through this world by the trail of light that they left behind them. And let us therefore not allow to miss the opportunity of seeing the light who is Jesus. Amen.
Pook Interior
In the olden times before electricity, the streets were lighted with gas lamps. Each evening a lamplighter would go around with a little flame and light one lamp after another. One evening a person was sitting in his house looking out the window. Across the valley was a street on the hillside. There he could see one lamp after another being lighted by the lamplighter as he went along. Because of the darkness, the man could not see the lamplighter, only his burning torch and the trail of lights he left behind.
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah, and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi'ah, and Uzzi'ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah, and Hezeki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josi'ah, and Josi'ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of She-al'ti-el, and She-al'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel, and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli'ud, and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
In our Gospel, we have the list of the ancestors of Jesus. Some of the names are familiar to us though many are not. However, this does not matter (whether we know them or not) because what is important is that we know Jesus -the light of the world who entered into our human history through them. We may never have known them, we never have seen them, but we know they passed through this world by the trail of light that they left behind them. And let us therefore not allow to miss the opportunity of seeing the light who is Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
1st Day of Simbang Gabi 2011
December 16, 2011
ARC/Mabilo
A blind man visited a friend in another village. His friend was so happy to see him as they had not met for so long a time. They began to talk about how their lives had been since they last met. They never noticed that it was already dusk and they had to end their conversation. So the blind man had to go home. But before he went out, he asked his friend if he could give him a lantern or a torch. His friend asked why does he need a light because he is blind and he cannot even use it for his sake. The blind man replied, "It is true I am blind but it does not mean I do not need the light. I need it so as to give other people a clear chance to see me and thus prevent our collision."
Jesus said to the Jews:
“You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept testimony from a human being,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
John was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John’s.
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,
these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.”
In our Gospel, Jesus describes John the Baptist as a "burning and shining lamp" who gave light to those around him. His light is not for himself but for others so that they can see God's only son -Jesus. John's light gave warmth because it was the fire of God's love and truth. Just as natural light dispels the darkness and makes the way clear, so John''s light dispelled the spiritual darkness in people's lives and opened the way to freedom and joy in God's kingdom.
Now we ask ourselves if we do make use of John's light to see Jesus and believe in Him as the son of God?
ARC/Mabilo
A blind man visited a friend in another village. His friend was so happy to see him as they had not met for so long a time. They began to talk about how their lives had been since they last met. They never noticed that it was already dusk and they had to end their conversation. So the blind man had to go home. But before he went out, he asked his friend if he could give him a lantern or a torch. His friend asked why does he need a light because he is blind and he cannot even use it for his sake. The blind man replied, "It is true I am blind but it does not mean I do not need the light. I need it so as to give other people a clear chance to see me and thus prevent our collision."
Jesus said to the Jews:
“You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept testimony from a human being,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
John was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John’s.
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,
these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.”
In our Gospel, Jesus describes John the Baptist as a "burning and shining lamp" who gave light to those around him. His light is not for himself but for others so that they can see God's only son -Jesus. John's light gave warmth because it was the fire of God's love and truth. Just as natural light dispels the darkness and makes the way clear, so John''s light dispelled the spiritual darkness in people's lives and opened the way to freedom and joy in God's kingdom.
Now we ask ourselves if we do make use of John's light to see Jesus and believe in Him as the son of God?
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