“At Christmas, the question is this: “Do I allow myself to be loved by God? Do I abandon myself to his love that comes to save me?” So great a gift deserves immense gratitude. To accept this grace means being ready to give thanks in return. Often we live our lives with such little gratitude. Today is the right day to draw near to the tabernacle, the crèche, the manger, and to say thank you. Let us receive the gift that is Jesus, in order then to become gift  like Jesus. To become gift is to give meaning to life. And it is the best way to change the world: we change, the Church changes, history changes, once we stop trying to change others but try to change ourselves and to make of our life a gift.” (Pope Francis)

 

The best way to thank God for his many graces that we have received throughout our life is to become the best person we can become. This requires change on our part. For he came to free us from the bondage of sin and death. He redeemed, adopted and sanctified us in the waters of Baptism. Since then he has continually poured his love upon us in the Eucharist, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in Confirmation and every day in many ways.  How do we respond? We choose in gratitude and love to change those things in our life which do not reflect the best person we can be. 

 

Homily: Feast of the Epiphany Year B

 

Reading 1: What is the purpose of light? It gives clarity and dispels the darkness around us. It enables us to see when we travel. The light in the first reading refers to the revelation that leads to Jesus the Messiah. This light, we will come to learn, is Christ the light of the world, who came to dispel the darkness of sin and to fill us with the light and life of his grace.

 

Jesus is the glory of the Father revealing the plan of the Father to us. At the same time, we are to become the light, as Jerusalem was to become that light for the world. The riches spoken of are not only material riches, but spiritual riches that come to us from sharing in the light and life of Christ personally and with others.

 

The people of Israel as they heard this prophetic message anticipated the coming of the Messiah. They had just returned from their seventy-year exile in Babylon because they had broken their covenant with God, in spite of many calls from various prophets to return to the Lord. When they returned to Jerusalem, it was in shambles, its former glory destroyed, beginning with the Temple.

 

To this disheartened people Isaiah speaks a word of hope. He reminds them that what God has planned for them is something greater than their former glory.

 

As the early Church heard this prophesy, the realized that the Messiah had come and the prophesy had been fulfilled. But they also realized that Jesus will come again in glory.  As we begin this year 2021, having experienced the devastation of the past year, we are reminded by the Lord that has given us something greater than physical existence in a physical world. God has sent his Son, who has redeemed us and shared his own divine life so that we may live forever in God’s glory. In other words, as real as human life with its ups and downs is, we are to remember the Lord shines upon us and calls us to something greater.

 

Gospel: The visitation of the wise men was the fulfillment of the prophets and a revelation of God’s plan and promises in each of our lives. Life is a journey, not just from birth to death, not only from the dependency of a child to the maturity of the adult. It is a journey to a personal, transforming, and life-changing encounter with Jesus, the Lord and Savior.

 

The journey of the wise men is one of the many journeys in the Gospel narrative. The purpose of the journey is the same: an encounter with the Beginning and End of our life, the One our heart yearns for. The wise men began searching in their own world of learning. Nature provides the initial spark and openness to something new. They follow their initial lead not knowing more than a new king has been born and this one was special. Nature itself was not sufficient in itself. God’s revelation in the scriptures was necessary. They needed to hear the word of God, which, like a light, indicated the place they were to go. 

 

They continued their journey of faith and encountered the Christ child, the newborn King. They offered him their gifts. Gold to recognize his royal dignity; frankincense, his divinity and myrrh, his humanity.  Isaiah had so prophesied in our first reading.

 

Their encounter changed their lives. They returned home a different way, not retracing the past, but moving into a new future because of their encounter.

 

Today, we have seen the wonders of God in nature; we have heard the word of God and now we are about to once more encounter the person of Jesus Christ in the breaking of the bread and in communion with him. Will our lives change as a result? Will we live differently this week because of him? Or will we be like those in world who saw the same phenomena of nature and didn’t do anything about it? Will we be like the people of Jerusalem? We hear the word of God pointing us to the direction we should take, but do not go.  Will we be like the wise men and continue or journey so that we can encounter in a fresh new way the Light of the world, the One who can make a difference in our lives?

 

Reading 2: Paul affirms the true meaning of this Feast. The visitation of the wise men from the East was not an isolated coincidence but the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan. It was partially made known by the prophets of the Old Testament. But it was further taught by Christ in his short life.

 

Not only the Jews were the chosen people to whom the Messiah was sent to redeem and reconcile to God, but the non-Jews, the Gentiles were also saved by Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Jews were heirs of the promise and the Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body and co-partners in the promise of God. This is the plan of universal salvation.

“The grace of God has appeared. Grace is a synonym of beauty. Tonight, in the beauty of God’s love, we also discover our own beauty, for we are beloved of God. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, whether happy or sad, in his eyes we are beautiful, not for what we do but for what we are. Deep within us, there is an indelible and intangible beauty, an irrepressible beauty, which is the core of our being. Today God reminds us of this. He lovingly takes upon himself our humanity and makes it his own, “espousing” it forever.” (Pope Francis)

 

Contrary to human understanding, beauty is not so much a physical thing but an internal quality. How much time we spend to maintain our physical appearance in contrast to how much time we spend enhancing our real beauty, our inner self? But our real beauty is the person we are in the eyes of God.  He confers true beauty upon us. In being and knowing that we are the beloved of God is more important than all the efforts we expend to stay young and physically beautiful. For one day we will grow old and die. Where is the physical beauty then? But if I die aware that I am the beloved of God, then my true beauty will last forever in glory. This is the mystery which the coming of Jesus seeks to convey to us in a fresh new way. 

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY: GOSPEL 

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." 

· King Herod: Herod reigned from 37 to 4 BC

· It was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler's birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that "A star shall advance from Jacob" (Num 24:17 ), though there the star means not an astral phenomenon but the king himself.

· How attentive are we to the signs God gives us?

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" 

· Mt refers to Micah 5: 1-3 and 2 Sam 5:2

· Notice that it was the Word of God that gave meaning to the appearance of the star. How often do we go to the Word of God for guidance and direction in our life?

Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage."  

· Why do you think that those who knew the scriptures about the coming of the new king did not themselves go with the Magi to worship him? Knowing the scriptures is not enough if we don’t act on the Word of God.

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. 

· Bethlehem is six miles south of Jerusalem.

· Why do you think Joseph is not mentioned?

They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

· Gold: He is a King; Frankincense: He is God; Myrrh: in anticipation of his future death.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. 

· How have you experienced God’s guidance in your life?  In what ways have your journey reflected that of the magi? How obedient have you been when you didn’t understand?

· Can one ever go back to the past if they want to grow in holiness?

· What application in your life do you take from this passage? 

“Saint Paul tells us: “The grace of God has appeared”. The grace of God, “bringing salvation to all” (Tit 2:11), has shone on our world this night. But what is this grace? It is divine love, the love that changes lives, renews history, liberates from evil, fills hearts with peace and joy. Tonight the love of God has been revealed to us: it is Jesus. In Jesus, the Most High made himself tiny, so that we might love him. But we can still ask ourselves: why does Saint Paul describe the coming of God into our world as “grace”? To tell us that it is utterly free. Whereas on earth everything seems to be about giving in order to get, God comes down freely. His love is non-negotiable: we did nothing to deserve it and we will never be able to repay it.” (Pope Francis)

 

Simple but mysterious! What is it that we need the most? Is it not love? Love for love’s sake is God’s love for us. This is hard for us to fully grasp. Many may not have had anyone in their life who loved them unconditionally, without any strings attached. God became man in order to reveal God’s love for us in a human way. Just the act of becoming one like us in all things but sin should be enough. “God so love the world that he gave us his only begotten Son.”  But to ensure that this love would be unquestionable, he gave his life for us. “Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends.” Love is responded to with love. And responded love brings a state of oneness with God, which benefits us. Simple but mysterious! 

“A charming legend relates that at the birth of Jesus the shepherds hurried to the stable with different gifts. Each brought what he had; some brought the fruits of their labour, others some precious item. But as they were all presenting their gifts, there was one shepherd who had nothing to give. He was extremely poor; he had no gift to present. As the others were competing to offer their gifts, he stood apart, embarrassed. At a certain point, Saint Joseph and Our Lady found it hard to receive all those gifts, especially Mary, who had to hold the baby. Seeing that shepherd with empty hands, she asked him to draw near. And she put the baby Jesus in his arms. That shepherd, in accepting him, became aware of having received what he did not deserve, of holding in his arms the greatest gift of all time. He looked at his hands, those hands that seemed to him always empty; they had become the cradle of God. He felt himself loved and, overcoming his embarrassment, began to show Jesus to the others, for he could not keep for himself the gift of gifts.” (Pope Francis)

 

Mary wants to do the same for each of us. As we come with empty hands, she lovingly places the Gift of gift, the Lord of lords, the Beginning and the End in our hands. It has nothing to do with our worthiness or unworthiness. He is God’s gift to us. Will we receive him humbly and gratefully, not to be kept for ourselves in a selfish way, but to be an instrument in his hands? Christmas is not one day of the year. It is really every day in our lives. God comes to us to give himself to us so that we may give him to others by the way we live.

As Mary rode the donkey, she would look at Joseph. She knew he loved her and she loved him.  She heard his comforting words as they moved forward toward their destination and the divine appointment awaiting them. She again pondered on the words of the Angel. Why did God choose her to be the Mother of the Lord? She was a young simple teenager from an insignificant village. And yet God gave her the greatest privilege that many women longed for. It was a mystery to Mary which she chose to embrace without understanding.  What else will God reveal to her in her role as the Mother of the Savior? What will the future hold for her and Joseph as they form this special child of God? Will they be ready? Only with God’s help, she acknowledged.  God would not have chosen her, unless he has and will gift her for her new responsibilities as Mother and wife. 

 “And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.” (Lk 2:4-5)

What were Joseph’s thoughts? When God made it clear to him through an Angel that Mary was with child, not by the action of another man, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, he obediently did what God asked him to do. He took Mary into his house. It was God’s will and he loved Mary. He was called to provide and protect Mary and to father the child that is the Son of God. His plans once again have to change to fit into God’s plan. According to the sacred scriptures, the child was to born in Bethlehem. In obedience to God, he accompanies Mary to the City of David, not so much because of a census, but because of God’s plan. All along the journey, he kept his eye on Mary and her condition as he prayed for God’s guidance and strength to make the right decisions. He didn’t know what laid ahead, but he did know that God will show him the way.

Mary and Joseph are on the road to Bethlehem. It Is about ninety miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem.     As they traveled south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, before arriving at Bethlehem. What were their thoughts during that treacherous journey?

What were Mary’s thoughts? She was pregnant, due any day. When she said yes to God’s plan for her, she didn’t know it would mean giving birth to her child away from the security and comfort of her family.  But this census, though called for by the Roman authorities, meant she and Joseph had to go to their ancestral town to register. But in reality this was to fulfill God’s prophetic word that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. They knew no one in the City of David, but she trusted in the providential care of God for her, Joseph and the child. This trust sustained her throughout the many difficulties of the journey. She also trusted in Joseph to make the right decisions, especially when it came time for the birth of this child of God. She reflected over and over on the words of the Angel to her and over her own response. “Be it done to me according to your word. I am the servant of the Lord.” 

 "Act in a way that all those who come in contact with you will go away joyful. Sow happiness about  you because you have received much from God." (St Faustina)

Are we a joyful person in the midst of the sorrow around us? Are we a light in the darkness of despair? Do we have a reason to be joyful, in response to St. Paul's exhortation: "Rejoice always."? The answer to the last question is found in the above quotation. "You have received much from God." When we think about  our many sufferings, difficulties, struggles, we tend to be sad and empty. But when we think about the many blessings we have and are receiving from God throughout each day, joy should be the fruit of those thoughts. Joy is a choice just as sadness is. We can't control the events and experiences around us, but we can control our inner reaction. Remember your blessings and rejoice in the goodness and love of God to one who, though unworthy, is the beloved of the Lord.

"We who are Christians  have a further cause for joy: like Jesus, we know that we are loved by God our Father. This love transforms our lives and fills us with joy. It makes us see that Jesus did not come to lay burdens upon us. He came to teach us what it means to be fully happy and fully human. Therefore, we discover joy when we discover truth--the truth about God our Father, the truth about Jesus our Savior, the truth about the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts." (Pope Saint John Paul II)

Maybe this truth is what escapes many people. the truth is we are loved by God. But because some people did not perceived they were loved by their parents, they have a hard time believing that God loves them. Some people feel they had to earn love, whether from their parents  or from God. Both are lies. If love is a cause of joy, no wonder they lack joy in their lives.  Yet, all is not hopeless. God continues to pursue us with his love, with the desire that one day we will accept and embrace his love as a free gift. That day will be the beginning of a new existence. We will know that true inner joy that each longs for. 

Christmas Novena Prayers

Opening Prayer

O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the womb. Your love for us and humility is unsurpassed and brings us to our knees in prayer and worship.

Your incarnation forever changed the world.

All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

December 17

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

December 18

O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!

December 19

O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!

December 20

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

December 21

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.

December 22

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

December 23

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

Concluding Prayer every Day

Let us pray:

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin, at a stable at midnight in Bethlehem. I implore you, Lord, to hear my prayers and grant my desires.

(Mention request(s) here)

We offer this prayer to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the intercession of Mary and St. Joseph. Amen. 

"The closer the Lord is to us, the more joy we feel; the farther away he is, the more sadness we feel." (Pope Francis)

Why is that so true? When our relationship with Jesus is authentic, then his presence brings peace, love and joy. But when we are far away from him, there is an emptiness, a loneliness, a sense of sadness that borders on depression. Mary, the sister of Martha, had great joy just sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him.  On the other hand, Martha was full of anxiety for she was away from Jesus preparing a meal. When was the last time you experienced authentic joy? When was the last time you experienced deep sadness? Where were in relationship with Jesus at those times? Pope Francis also said, "This is the first condition of Christian joy: to decentralize from oneself and place Jesus at the center." 

"Joy doesn't simply happen to us. We must choose joy and keep choosing it every day." (Henri Nouwen)

How can we choose joy, when there is so much negativity all around us? Paul tells us in Thessalonians, "Rejoice always!" He says to us in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice." What we are choosing is to rejoice in the Lord's love and presence in our lives even in the midst of the darkness. As Isaiah tells us, "I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in m God is  the joy of my soul." to rejoice in the Lord is a choice that bears fruit. The alternative is not to rejoice and let the heaviness of life overwhelm us. One is life-giving. The other is not. Your choice. 

"Though the fig tree does  not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, thought the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, thought there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:17-18) 

This is one of my favorite passages in the Old Testament. The author was faced with one of the bleakest times in the history of the Chosen People. But in spite of so much of his comfort zone falling apart, he still knew his source of strength was the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and not  in things. Today, because of the pandemic, lives are being lost, the economy is threatened, unemployment is high, fear is rampant, isolation from loved ones  is harder to endure. How easy for despair and depression to invade our hearts and dampen our  spirit. But like the prophet Habakkuk, we are called to say and believe: "I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior." We do this not to impress the Lord, but to remind ourselves that we are not alone. God is with us.

"The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see,   you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord." (Henri Nouwen)

Advent is a liturgical season, but it is also meant to be a lifetime attitude and journey. Jesus' coming is not limited to four weeks each year. The liturgical season involves the three comings of Jesus with a special focus on his coming in time as God made flesh.  But the remembrance of that coming is to prepare us to be attentive to his coming in the present moment throughout the rest of the year, so that when he comes in glory, we may be expecting him and ready to go with him. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

" To predispose our mind to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the Creed, one day will come to judge the living and the dead, we must learn to recognize min as  present in the events of daily life. Therefore, Advent is, so to speak, an intense training that directs us decisively toward him who already came, who will come, and who comes continuously." (Pope St. John Paul II) 

How have we entered this Advent season so far? We are half way through the four weeks of preparation. We may have already thought of some of the Christmas gifts we want to give this year. We may have already ordered or purchased some. Since it is Christ's birthday we are planning to celebrate, have we also thought of what gift we will give Jesus? Oops! Is that out of order or is that the more important question? What can we give to the One who is the Creator of everything? Have we thought of ourselves, the gift that would please the Lord? He came to give himself to us. He waits for the gift of ourselves in return.

Homily: Third Sunday of Advent Year B

 

Reading 1: The call of the first Sunday of Advent was: Be watchful!  Be alert! For the Lord is coming in the present moment in preparation for his final coming in glory. Last Sunday we were urged to prepare the way for his coming by conducting ourselves in holiness and devotion, namely by removing sin from our lives. This Sunday, we are encouraged to rejoice and have an attitude of joy. True joy is a sign of the Lord’s presence. As the first reading proclaimed: “I rejoice heartily in the Lord; in my god is the joy of my soul.”

 

In the first part of the first reading, Isaiah prophesies that the spirit of the Lord will anoint the promised Messiah and empower him with the mission of preaching the good news of God: love, to heal the sick and to set free those captive in the bonds of sin. All will be done as an external manifestation of God’s favor and mercy.

 

Jesus experienced the fulfillment of this prophetic promise at the moment of his baptism in the Jordan. Both he and John rejoiced. Later, Jesus shared his awareness of God’s favor upon him, when he proclaimed this same passage in the synagogue in Nazareth. But instead of rejoicing the people turned against him, refusing to accept that he was the promised One. Regardless, Jesus went about preaching, healing and setting captives free from the power of Satan. Those who accept him, rejoiced. Those who did not remained in their darkness.

 

Gospel: John, even in his austere life and mission, rejoice to prepare the way and to testify to the light of the world that was already among the people, but as yet had not been recognized. John rejoiced to be able to call people to repent as a way of preparing their hearts to recognizing and accepting the Messiah.

 

John acknowledged that he himself was not the Messiah. He said that his baptism was only a preparation sign of the saving baptism the Messiah will offer. Later, john sent some of his disciples to Jesus to confirm that John was right in pointing Jesus as the Lamb of God, the One to come.  Jesus again used signs and wonders he was doing—preaching, healing, setting captives free—as his response. John dis what God had sent him to do, namely, prepare the way, point the Messiah out, be faithful even in death

 

Reading 2: Paul picks up and continues the theme of rejoicing in the Lord. What he states sounds impossible. “Rejoice always.” As difficult as we may think this is, it is not impossible, not if the Lord is the source and end of our joy. But Paul is practical. Joy is also a result of a life being lived in Christ. He says, “Pray without ceasing—again this seems impractical. Not so, if we realize that prayer is a reflection of one’s relationship with God. Prayer is being aware of God’s presence and being in his presence and seeking to live the present moment in and for the Lord. Not impossible is our prayer is one of gratitude for God’s leading us in the present moment. Not impossible if we are attentive to the grace moment of the Holy Spirit in different situati0ons of our daily life, helping us to refrain from what is sinful.  Not impossible if we realize that it is God who is helping us to grow in holiness as we prepare to receive Christ now in the present moment as well as when he comes in glory.

 

Are we a joyful person for the most part or we a disgruntled, sad, angry person? When we are a joyful person in the Lord, what is different in our life and when we are not? What happens within us?

 

As we are watchful and preparing our hearts to welcome the present coming of Christ into our live, be joyful in anticipation and in celebration. Mary and Joseph anticipated the birth of Jesus and rejoiced. The shepherds on hearing the message of the angels hastened to find the new born Messiah and rejoiced. The Magi rejoiced. Simon and Anna rejoiced. Jesus brings joy to those who are ready to receive and respond to him in a fresh new way into their lives. His joy is contagious and so should our joy be. Someone has said: “The joy of God is man fully alive.” 

 "The season of Advent is like a springtime in nature, when everything is renewed and so is fresh and healthy. Advent is also meant to do this to us--to refresh us and make us healthy, to be able to receive Christ in whatever from He may come to us." (St Teresa of Calcutta)

How do we become refreshed during this Advent season? What is the grace God most want to give us to refresh us? It is spiritual eyes to recognize him when and as he comes to us individually and as a community. But the gift of spiritual eyes depends on the depth we are consciously expecting Jesus' coming. It is the expectancy of a child, whose excitement awaiting Christmas is obvious/ There is nothing more important for the child. Do we have that childlike expectancy as we away the coming of Christ?

 Third Sunday of Advent: Gospel B

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 

· John the Baptist was sent from God to give witness about Jesus, the Light of the world. In John’s case, this testimony was not only by words. He gave his life as well.

· To what extent are we the reflection of Jesus to others, testifying to the Light?

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?" he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah." 

· The people for centuries had been waiting for the Messiah. When John begins to preach and attract people to himself, some of them began to speak of him as the Messiah.

· John knew who he was and who he was not. He embraced his true identity

So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?"  

· There was some speculation that Elijah would come back before the Messiah. Even though he denies this, Jesus later on will affirm that John came in the spirit of Elijah.

· Jesus also was compared to Elijah in Matt 16.

And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." 

· This refers to the prophet promised by Moses in Deut 18:15, 18.

· Jesus also was compared to the prophet in Matt 16.

So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" He said: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord,"' as Isaiah the prophet said." 

· John sees himself as the forerunner or precursor of the Messiah.  His self-identity was clear.

· Is our self-identity in Christ likewise clear?

Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

· How often do you give witness about Jesus to others?

· What concrete actions do you feel that this gospel is asking you to do in your life?

"Advent, this powerful liturgical season that we (have) begun, invites us to pause in silence to understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are hints that God is giving us, signs of the attention he has for each one of us." ({Pope Benedict XVI)

Many of us have a  hard time "to pause in silence". Our lives are cluttered with one thing after another. It is like we never catch us. But in that whirlwind style of life we often miss the grace of the moment that God desires to give us. What are the spiritual roses that we fail to see on our daily rush from one thing to the next? What will happen if we began to deliberately pause for a moment or two before the next thing? What would a sincere prayer do for us? Will we really lose much if we took a moment "to pause in silence"?

 

"The first thing we often discover in solitude is our own restlessness, our drivenness, and compulsiveness, our urge to act quickly, to make an impact, and to have influence; and often we find it very hard to withstand the temptation to return as quickly as possible to the world of "relevance."  But when we persevere with the help of a gentle discipline, we slowly come to hear the still, small voice and to feel the gentle breeze, and so come to know the Lord of our heart, soul, and mind, the Lord who makes us see who we really are." (Henri Nouwen)

Do we sometimes feel we are running around in circles, spending an enormous amount of energy and feeling that we are not really better off? We say we don't have time for quiet and solitude. Is it that or are we afraid to be still for a period of time, just to regroup? We wonder where God is at times. We feel that he has abandoned us or left us to our own. God is always present to us. We are not always present to God. It is these times of solitude that we learn to enter into his presence, be still, and listen for that quiet, inner voice. Advent is a time for this grace. We can rush frantically towards Christmas and maybe miss the true coming of Christ. Or we can take time of quiet and solitude to prepare ourselves to be open for the grace of the moment, his presence.

 "Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we let ourselves be drawn by the light of God mad man.' (Pope Francis"

This journey is a spiritual one. It requires a conscious decision not to arrive on Christmas without a preparation for the reason we are celebrating. There were many who journeyed to Bethlehem that year as we do to Christmas. They wanted to get something over with as little unpleasantries as possible.  Only Mary and Joseph were preparing for the real purpose of their journey. They were spiritually prepared and they received the Christ Child. What spiritual preparations will we make so that we can receive the Gift of gifts?

"It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope>" (Pope Benedict XVI)

The hope of the prophetic word of the Old Testament is fulfilled by the One, who came in the past and comes again in the present. His coming is the greatest sign of the Father's love. God became man so that w might become the children of God, sharing his own divine life. Jesus brings us the hope that death is not the end, but life continues. Jesus brings us the hope that He who is within us is greater than he who is outside. Life in Jesus is worth living. He is our hope for in him we can put our trust with assurance.

Homily: Second Sunday of Advent Year B

 

Reading 1: Isaiah the prophet speaks to those in exile in Babylon and those who were left in Jerusalem and surrounding areas. God’s words through Isaiah are meant to give them comfort and hope. The prophet announces that the time of chastisement for breaking their covenant with God is about to come to an end.

 

To the exiles, God will lead them back to the promised Land through the desert as he did when he freed their ancestors from bondage in Egypt centuries before. But this time it will be a smoother journey, not forty years. As God revealed his glory to their ancestors, so he will reveal his glory to them. Just as the exiles from Egypt saw the glory of God but still rebelled, the exiles from Babylon will see the glory of God and rejoice.

 

Then to the remnant in Jerusalem, he urges them to prepare to welcome their kinsmen on their return. For as a shepherd leads and feeds his flock, so God will do the same.

 

The Church applies this to us today as we recall the coming of the Messiah to save us. We are to likewise cry out and be heralds of glad tidings. Here is our God, who comes with power to free u and save us. Here is the Shepherd, who carries us, leading us with care and feeding us.

 

Prepare the way of the Lord.  Last Sunday we heard, “be watchful and alert.” Today, we are to make ready in our lives for the new coming of Christ in the present moment. St. John Paul II said: “Advent was a time of watchfulness, prayer and deeper conversion.

 

Gospel: John the Baptist picks us the theme of Isaiah: Prepare the way of the Lord. First of all, it tells us that the Lord was near. Second, it shows people how to prepare through repentance of sin. Thirdly, manifesting that desire by being baptized as an external sign of the internal desire. Fourth, pointing to the greater reality of who the Lord is. Fifth, acknowledging that he will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

 

The message of John is just as relevant today as it was then. We are called to prepare the way as the Lord comes to us in a fresh new way at this time. How do we truly prepare? Repentance of sins, namely through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  This was the same inaugural message of Jesus: Repent. The Kingdom of God is at hand. This was the message of Peter to the crowds on Pentecost. Repent. Turn away from your sins. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the external sign of the interior reality of repentance.

 

We were baptized with water in the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of regeneration, Baptism. We were anointed with the fire of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. Jesus comes once more to stir into flame the life of the Holy Spirit within us so that there is a greater desire for union with God through holiness. He also comes to stir in us a greater desire to witness to others in the power of the Holy Spirit the good news of God’s love. We are to take up the prophetic mantle of Isaiah, John the Baptist, Jesus and Peter and continue the work of God by first preparing the way of the Lord in our own hearts and then preparing the way of the Lord in the hearts of others.

 

Reading 2: As the people of the Old Covenant cried out for centuries for the Messiah to come, we too, the people of the New Covenant, have been anticipating his coming again for over 2000 years. The Messiah came in the fullness of time, when all was ready.  He will come again when we least expect him. Why the delay? Peter says: “not wishing that any shall perish, but that all should come to repentance.” This is a time of mercy.

 

But that he will come is certain. What sort of persons should we be? Peter says: “Conduct yourselves in holiness, devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God…Be found without spot or blemish before him.”

 

Advent is that annual time of grace in our spiritual journey for us to renew our longing for Christ in the present moment and at the end of time. It is a time for us to turn back to the Lord and of responding to his grace to grow in love and in relationship with him. 

"The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord." (Henri Nouwen)

How attentive are we to the coming of the Lord in the present moment? Do we have the spiritual eyes to see and the spiritual ears to hear the Lord in one another? Remember when Jesus said: "What you did to the least one of these, you did to me." Who was he referring to? The poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the homeless, the refugee, the imprisoned, the marginalized among us. To greet him when  he comes at Christmas, we need to be attentive to his coming in the present moment.

Second Sunday of Advent: Gospel B

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  

· From the beginning Mark summarizes his whole gospel with these titles: Jesus is the  “Christ” (Messiah) and the Son of God.  The fact of this faith revelation is what he will attempt to show.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:  "Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.  A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'"

· To emphasize the first title, Messiah, Mark begins with the prophetic message of Isaiah about the one who would come before the Messiah.

 John (the) Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

· Notice that unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark does not begin with the early life of Jesus, but with the public ministry of John the Baptist which leads to Jesus’ public ministry.

· John is seen as the bridge between the Old and New Testaments.

· He invites the people to prepare for the coming of the Messiah by repentance for their sins, showing a change of heart and a readiness to receive the Messiah. Through this act they will be renewing the Covenant.

· As you prepare to celebrate the memorial of Jesus’ birth, how are you preparing to receive him in a new way?

· What are you doing to renew your covenant relationship with God?

People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. 

· At first, people looked to John as the “Messiah.” This John rejects.

· When was the last time we received the Sacrament of Reconciliation to acknowledge our sins?

John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. 

· John’s dress and diet links him to another prophet, Elijah. Jesus will remind people of this connection later on in his own ministry.

He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit." 

· John’s baptism was a penitential rite that reflected the person’s decision to repent of sin and expect the Messiah.

· Jesus’ baptism brings about a radical transformation by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Sin is forgiven and the person is a new creation as a child of God.

· What does it mean to you personally that Jesus, the Son of God, came into this world? How has your life been changed within the past year because of Jesus?

· What areas of repentance of sins are needed in your life now?

· What does it mean to be baptized in the Holy Spirit? When were you? How conscious of the lead of the Holy Spirit are  you?

 

"Christmas isn't just a temporal celebration or the memory of a beautiful (event); Christmas is more...Christmas is an encounter!"(Pope Fraancis)

It is an encounter with the Savior of the world, Jesus, Our Lord! Jesus comes to bring hope to a world racked with many unanswered questions from politics to pandemics, from terrorism to multiple natural disasters, from financial corruption to sexual addictions and from economic woes to unfulfilled promises.  Jesus meets us where we are. He knocks at the door of our hearts, calling us be name. He waits for us to open and invite him in, so that he can share his life with  us. Let this Christmas be different. Respond to the encounter.