Daily Reflection

December 26, 2017 Tuesday

FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR
Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 & 8ab, 16bc & 17
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

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

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Some persons then came forward, who belonged to the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen. But they could not match the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this reproach, they were enraged; and they gnashed their teeth against Stephen. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus at God‘s right hand; so he declared: “I see the heavens open, and the Son of Man at the right hand of God.“

But they shouted and covered their ears with their hands, and rushed together upon him. They brought him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed saying: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.“

Gospel: Mt 10:17-22

Be on your guard with people, for they will hand you over to their courts, and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, so that you may witness to them and the pagans.

But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say, or how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father, speaking through you.

Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.

REFLECTION:

We have just celebrated yesterday with joy Christmas. Yesterday‘s celebration commemorated the birth of the Son of God into the world. No doubt the beauty of Christmas still floats peacefully in the air. But now, we suddenly shifted to a dramatic and sad death of St. Stephen. Why this sudden shift? What‘s the purpose of presenting two contrasting events: birth and death; gladness and sadness.

The contrasting events remind us of the two realities of life: birth and death, of dying and rising, of happiness and sadness that we all experience. They remind us that while on earth we experience the cycle of dying and rising. In fact, it is a series of death and birth experiences, of dying and new life. They tell us that in this world not everything is happiness; neither is it pure sadness. It is a mixture of happiness and sadness.

What is important in all these contrasting realities is the presence of Christ. Obviously, Christmas is Christ made man to be present in us while the martyrdom of St. Stephen is his entrance into everlasting presence of God. Whether in moments of joy and sadness, of birth and death, if Jesus is there, any moment becomes a “kairos,“ a salvific event. May every moment of our life, joyful or sad, be filled with Christ‘s presence so that it becomes a moment of grace for us.

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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

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Readings and Reflections
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December 25, 2017 Monday

CHRISTMAS, THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

1^st Reading: Is 52:7-10

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who herald peace and happiness, who proclaim salvation and announce to Zion: “Your God is King!“

Together your watchmen raise their voices in praise and song; they see Yahweh face to face returning to Zion.

Break into shouts of joy, O ruins of Jerusalem, for Yahweh consoles his people and redeems Jerusalem.

Yahweh has bared his holy arm in the eyes of the nations; all the ends of the earth, in alarm, will witness God‘s salvation.

2^nd Reading: Heb 1:1-6

Gospel: Jn 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God; he was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him, and without him nothing came to be. Whatever has come to be, found life in him; life, which for human beings, was also light, light that shines in darkness, light that darkness could not overcome.

A man came, sent by God; his name was John.

He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light, so that all might believe through him.

He was not the Light, but a witness to introduce the Light;

for the Light was coming into the world, the true Light that enlightens everyone.

He was in the world, and through him the world was made, the very world that did not know him.

He came to his own, yet his own people did not receive him; but to all who received him, he empowers to become children of God, for they believe in his name.

These are born, but not by seed, or carnal desire, nor by the will of man: they are born of God.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father: fullness of truth and loving-kindness.

John bore witness to him openly, saying, “This is the one who comes after me, but he is already ahead of me, for he was before me.“

From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor.

For God had given us the law through Moses, but Truth and Loving-kindness came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God, but God-the-only-Son made him known: the one, who is in and with the Father.

REFLECTION:

Part of our Christmas decoration is the nativity scene or the Belen based on Luke‘s narrative, the gospel this midnight mass. The gospel narrated: “While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her first born son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.“ To explain why there was no place for the baby Jesus in the inn, people imagined the innkeeper‘s refusal of Joseph and Mary who was heavy with child. This recalls God‘s complaint about his people Israel as narrated in the Book of Isaiah: “an ox knows it‘s owner, and an ass, it‘s master‘s manger; but Israel does not know, my people has not understood.“ And this is also what we find in the gospel of St. John that we have just heard:

“He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.“ In a way, the gospel of John shows us that the greatest Gift God has given, his son Jesus, was not received by many. From the beginning, such has been the response to the Son of God: “There was no room for them in the inn; and there was no room in the hearts of the people for Jesus.“

This reality of “no vacancy“ or “no admittance“ for Jesus in the hearts of people is not a thing of the past. It is still happening even as we celebrate Christmas today. Still many people overlook the main point of Christmas-celebrating the birth of Christ; that it is a special time in the church that invites us to welcome Jesus anew into our hearts. It is to welcome anew the One who has already been given to us, the one who “has made His dwelling among us“.

“There was no room for them in the inn. “There was only a space on a manger for Jesus. Indeed, all that is needed is a simple and small but open and receptive space on which Jesus can truly pitch his tent and stay. Let us then make room for Jesus in our lives. Amen.

Daily Reflection

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

December 24, 2017 Sunday

4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Psalter: Week 4 / (Violet)

Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

1^st Reading: 2 S 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When the king had settled in his palace and Yahweh had rid him of all his surrounding enemies, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I live in a house of cedar but the Ark of God is housed in a tent.“ Nathan replied, “Do as it seems fit to you for Yahweh is with you.“

But that very night, Yahweh‘s word came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh says: Are you able to build a house for me to live in?

Now you will tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to make you commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, cutting down all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name great, as the name of the great ones on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them that they may live there in peace. They shall no longer be harassed, nor shall wicked men oppress them as before. From the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel it is only to you that I have given rest from all your enemies. Yahweh also tells you that he will build you a house.

When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you; and I will make his reign secure.

I will be a father to him and he shall be my son. If he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod, as men do. But I will not withdraw my kindness from him as I did from Saul when I removed him out of your way. Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be forever firm.“

2^ndReading: Rom 16:25-27

Glory be to God! He is able to give you strength, according to the Good News I proclaim, announcing Christ Jesus. Now is revealed the mysterious plan, kept hidden for long ages in the past. By the will of the eternal God it is brought to light, through the prophetic books, and all nations shall believe the faith proclaimed to them. Glory to God, who alone is wise, through Christ Jesus, forever! Amen.

Gospel: Lk 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God, to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a virgin, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin‘s name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!“ Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son; and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever; and his reign shall have no end.“

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?“ 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 holy child to be born of you shall be called Son of God. Even your relative, Elizabeth, is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child; and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.“

Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.“ And the angel left her.

REFLECTION:

Read: In his nobility of heart, David desires to build a house for Yahweh, but Yahweh in turn promises a dwelling for the entire people. At the Annunciation, Mary humbly accepts God‘s desire to house within her. Paul praises the mysterious plan of God, hidden for ages, but revealed now.

Reflect: Mary‘s response is the perfect merging of the active and the passive–the personal agency and the willingness to be worked on. Mary actively submits herself–out of her own free will–as the handmaid of the Lord. But her willingness is a desire to be willed by God: “let it be done to me according to your word.“ This is the perfect virginity of the soul–a soul that is completely open to God, and where God can pitch His tent. It is no wonder Mary is addressed the one “full of grace.“ She indeed is.

Pray: Ask Mother Mary to be your spiritual guide and mother in following God‘s will.

Act: Pray the joyful mystery of Annunciation in the Marian Rosary.

Daily Reflection

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

December 23, 2017 Saturday

3RD WEEK OF ADVENT
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet/White)
St. John of Kanty, priest

Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 & 14
Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

1^st Reading: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24

Now I am sending my messenger ahead of me, to clear the way; then, suddenly, the Lord, for whom you long, will enter the Sanctuary. The envoy of the Covenant which you so greatly desire, already comes, says Yahweh of hosts. Who can bear the day of his coming and remain standing when he appears? For he will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye used for bleaching.

He will be as a refiner or a fuller. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them, like gold and silver. So Yahweh will have priests who will present the offering as it should be. Then Yahweh will accept with pleasure the offering of Judah and Jerusalem, as in former days.

I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the day of Yahweh comes, for it will be a great and terrible day. He will reconcile parents with their children, and the children with their parents, so that I may not have to curse this land when I come.“

Gospel: Lk 1:57-66

When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her, and they rejoiced with her.

When, on the eighth day, they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.“ They said to her, “But no one in your family has that name!“ and they made signs to his father for the name he wanted to give him. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet, and wrote on it, “His name is John;“ and they were very surprised. Immediately, Zechariah could speak again, and his first words were in praise of God.

A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the hill country of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it, pondered in their minds, and wondered, “What will this child be?“ For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.

REFLECTION:

Luke often ends a story in his gospel with a question. St. Luke, far from just narrating the events that he remembered about Jesus, wrote his gospel to evoke faith in his audience. He wanted that his stories would trigger their minds and make them aware of God‘s presence in their lives, move their hearts and to profess faith in God. In fact, his methodology is to lead his listeners to prayer.

Going back to the gospel narrative, when Luke poses the questions “What will this child be,“ he wants his listeners to realize that God was present in what they saw; that God is present and working in the life of St. John. The unusual circumstances surrounding his birth made it clear that the hand of the Lord was upon him.

This brings us to the main point of today‘s gospel. To question then is not something that we should avoid or refrain from doing. Questioning is something to be encouraged because it is the beginning of one‘s awareness of things around him, of self discovery and of things outside him. But more than that, questioning our faith, that is, questioning God, is in fact a form of prayer.

Cardinal Tagle, in a recent interview clarified this when he said, there is nothing wrong about questioning God, there is nothing bad about questioning him why this happened to us? Why my son died, why him? Because when done with love, it can be a form of prayer. Let us learn from what the people in today‘s gospel did after they asked the question “what will this child be?“-“They keep everything in their hearts. “May we also keep the message of Christmas in our heart..

Daily Reflection

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

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