“ Do not be afraid to become the saints of the new millennium!”
Saint John Paul the Great
First Reading: IS 8:23—9:3
First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land west of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles.
Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 27:1, 4, 13-14
Second Reading : 1 COR 1:10-13, 17
I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe's people, that there are rivalries among you. I mean that each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.
Gospel: MT 4:12-23
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen. From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.
He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.
Reflection
By Pietro S. Albano
It's almost 25 years since Mike Flores, Cha Leyson, and I formed a "triumvirate" in the parish. We were (still are!) affiliated with Anluwage: Mike was then the Editor-in-Chief of Ang Pahayagang Anluwage (the parish newsletter), Cha was the President of Tanghalang Anluwage (the parish theater group), and I was a writer for the newsletter. Apart from this ministry, all three of us were lectors/commentators during Mass.
In our involvement in the parish, we have developed friendship and brotherhood. Elders and youth alike in the parish would describe us as inseparable. I can't fail to remember those times when our elder colleagues in the Lectors/Commentators group would keep on testing us - we were new to the ministry then - by assigning us to assist in the 5:30am weekday Masses! If one of us is unable to serve in the Mass (weekday or weekend), someone in our "triumvirate" would surely provide cover. There were also occasions when fellow parishioners would ask us for help. This time we have involved other members of Anluwage. Singing with the Sto. Nino Choir (a singing group of lovely and lively matured ladies) every 5:30am Sunday Mass comes to mind. Others were our involvement in organizing an exhibit of Marian statues and images and singing contests in selected areas in the parish.
Fr Benedict Ashley, OP once wrote: "The preaching of the Reign of God becomes credible only when persons who speak have themselves experienced that life of love in a community. Jesus preached to the crowds out of love in a community." I guess our service to the parish grew out of that "life of love" that we experienced in our "triumvirate" (and in Anluwage as a whole). And even when Anluwage was disbanded, we continued to be in touch. Cha and I served as lectors/commentators in the Manila Cathedral. Later on, we left Gagalangin. Cha and Mike migrated to the Middle East and I to the UK. (Mike has returned to Manila.) In spite of this separation, God seemed to be calling not only the three of us, but others (old and new members alike) to continue where we have left. We recognize this web ministry as God's work and, like the fishermen in today's Gospel, we leave that darkness of separation behind, rekindle our love for Christ and one another, and follow the Light!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You came not to call the qualified, but to qualify those You call. Unite us in love so that we may continue to spread the Good News of salvation to all. Amen.
By Pietro S. Albano
It's almost 25 years since Mike Flores, Cha Leyson, and I formed a "triumvirate" in the parish. We were (still are!) affiliated with Anluwage: Mike was then the Editor-in-Chief of Ang Pahayagang Anluwage (the parish newsletter), Cha was the President of Tanghalang Anluwage (the parish theater group), and I was a writer for the newsletter. Apart from this ministry, all three of us were lectors/commentators during Mass.
In our involvement in the parish, we have developed friendship and brotherhood. Elders and youth alike in the parish would describe us as inseparable. I can't fail to remember those times when our elder colleagues in the Lectors/Commentators group would keep on testing us - we were new to the ministry then - by assigning us to assist in the 5:30am weekday Masses! If one of us is unable to serve in the Mass (weekday or weekend), someone in our "triumvirate" would surely provide cover. There were also occasions when fellow parishioners would ask us for help. This time we have involved other members of Anluwage. Singing with the Sto. Nino Choir (a singing group of lovely and lively matured ladies) every 5:30am Sunday Mass comes to mind. Others were our involvement in organizing an exhibit of Marian statues and images and singing contests in selected areas in the parish.
Fr Benedict Ashley, OP once wrote: "The preaching of the Reign of God becomes credible only when persons who speak have themselves experienced that life of love in a community. Jesus preached to the crowds out of love in a community." I guess our service to the parish grew out of that "life of love" that we experienced in our "triumvirate" (and in Anluwage as a whole). And even when Anluwage was disbanded, we continued to be in touch. Cha and I served as lectors/commentators in the Manila Cathedral. Later on, we left Gagalangin. Cha and Mike migrated to the Middle East and I to the UK. (Mike has returned to Manila.) In spite of this separation, God seemed to be calling not only the three of us, but others (old and new members alike) to continue where we have left. We recognize this web ministry as God's work and, like the fishermen in today's Gospel, we leave that darkness of separation behind, rekindle our love for Christ and one another, and follow the Light!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You came not to call the qualified, but to qualify those You call. Unite us in love so that we may continue to spread the Good News of salvation to all. Amen.
