HALT before you Act

 First Sunday of Lent

06 March 2022

 

First Reading: DT 26:4-10

Responsorial Psalm: PS 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15

Second Reading: ROM 10:8-13

Gospel: LK 4:1-13

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

 

Have you ever had a hard time when in only an instant, you utter some words you can ever get back? When we are visibly typing a paper we have been working to finish and we see a friend approach us with a glass of coffee placed insecurely in hand, there could be a jolt on us to say, "Don't come any nearer, you'd spill that coffee on my laptop!" The instant surge of energy could make it just as easy to deliver the rest of the piece: "You are always like this. How many times do I have to tell you not to do this over and over again?!" In our mind, we are only being reasonable. The friend has really spilled coffee on our laptop at least two times last month, and it is not at all bad to tell others what to avoid doing; but we soon wonder why our friend has been noticeably coming over less frequently. Days turn to months until we do not see them coming over anymore. There was nothing else that happened before or after the encounter that we could trace to this change in behavior, so we reckon, it must have been our sharp admonition that made our friend wary of being with us again. This exchange can happen in different forms at varying levels in many places: in school, in the workplace, or even at our dining tables.

There is great temptation to let others know what wrong things they do, and a greater temptation to hold back when what we are to deliver would make a lasting impact. When we are at the receiving end, it could take just as much energy to snap back, regardless of whether we are guilty of the charge or not. As it is, temptation can be tricky to deal with. It only needs to find a host in our agitation to be properly put into damaging action.

The story of Christ's temptation gives us something comparable. The temptation Jesus weathered could have been so compelling to let Him give in. After all, He was hungry. Forty days – a month and ten days over – is not a short time to abstain from eating. If we could only remember how much we become irate after a day with no proper meal, not even cheat-eats in between, we would understand how convincing the devil could have been. The hungry Jesus could have been mentally tired on top of this; imagine – over a month's worth of deep reflection. Furthermore, with a sudden entity making entry, with charges that could have made Jesus restate His place as the Son of God, it was all the more impressive how Jesus held His own and not let the devil's leading dictate His demeanor. The devil knew scripture, but more so did He –fully, and in proper context.

As troubled creatures we truly are, we are not deprived of the chance to be led to a better moral stature. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus, made human, was like us in many things: "tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin."  Jesus gives us a stellar Example of how to properly deal with temptation. He knows our human weaknesses – the gaps we have between who we are and what we strive to become – and how would He not know any better? The first part of the same verse would say: "we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses." In this, we have confidence that we can come to a Father who states primarily how we should conduct ourselves in a context with others, but nevertheless understands the failings that bar us from its perfect delivery. We can make our earnest efforts to be exemplary Christians to each other, and in prayer and genuine intiimate confession with the Lord, recount candidly what it is that hinders us from properly handling temptation. The forgiveness and the providence of the Father could make us better Christians in each progression so we can make "perfection" more a stage of refinement instead of a constant state by which our accomplishment, though worldly impossible, would leave us no room anymore to grow. Furthermore, this constant state is so far from human character that in each failed attempt, it could discourage us into despondency – the dispirited feeling not to perform any good anymore because we just can't... we just can't be "perfect" in this world. The relationship we have with temptation, particularly the negativity so readily ascribed to it would be attenuated by the teachings of the Church that say: it is not temptation itself that makes us sin, but our conscious decisions to succumb to it. May we come to Jesus in hopes that we can handle temptation better and become better Christians to each other as we refine ourselves always in His instruction and help, even to the people outside of our faith. After all, as the first reading for today would point out "there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon Him" (Deuteronomy 26:4-10).

As a last note, a contemporary tool we have learned from our training, courtesy of the Emmaus Center for Psycho-spiritual Formation, could help us better hold our tongues before dealing others a fatal blow. We should halt when we are HALT (hungry, angry, lusting, or tired). When any of these feelings makes us sensitive to even slight disturbances, it is best to first acknowledge that we are in such state so we can distance ourselves from damaging others or maneuver the negative energy into a positive or non-damaging expression. In the end, it is not so bad to tell others where we could change, and there is only so much coffee our laptops could take but always deliver in a tone, spirit, message, and degree that we, ourselves, would appreciate; in a space and time that would not devalue anyone's dignity. The potentiality to maintain friendship in good faith outweighs the vindication to always keep right but let others fall way, but should there be prompting to put our foot down in a situation and properly admonish, always discern if there is need to confront and to what extent, and maintain instruction from the right loving and humble Spirit of God, so that if others misunderstand us no matter our positive delivery, we can ascertain that we come from the right place. On our part, this is sternly not an invitation to militantly keep right in areas that necessitate to aggression, as a scrupulous mind can do that more than a truly moral and spiritual disposition. This is only consolation in times when we must rebuke others and they unattributed our positive intentions. Overall, it is harmony with the Christian spirit to commune with all, and to strengthen conviction when there is need: in standing with the Lord, in standing for truth, and in standing for the values of a higher level than withstanding a norm that disadvantages the last, the least, and the lost. In discerning everything, it is the Lord who knows. It is Him we must ask always for proper direction.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being our good Father and for all the graces You give us. Please still our hearts in moments of temptation and make iron of our wills to overcome them; but in moments when we cannot withstand them still, we would like to request You forgive us and reconcile us to You again, that in each time You admit us back into Your love, we would be energized in living Christlike lives again. These we ask in Jesus' Most Holy Name, Amen.

 

God So Loved Us

The Most Holy Trinity

11 June 2017

First reading                                                                                                          Exodus 34:4-6,8-9

With the two tablets of stone in his hands, Moses went up the mountain of Sinai in the early morning as the Lord had commanded him. And the Lord descended in the form of a cloud, and Moses stood with him there.
  He called on the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger rich in kindness and faithfulness.’ And Moses bowed down to the ground at once and worshipped. ‘If I have indeed won your favour, Lord,’ he said ‘let my Lord come with us, I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.’

---

Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:52-55

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Second reading	2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Brothers, we wish you happiness; try to grow perfect; help one another. Be united; live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
  Greet one another with the holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings.
  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
the God who is, who was, and who is to come.
Alleluia!

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Gospel	John 3:16-18

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,
because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son.’

Reflection

by Benj Santiago

"God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send His Son to the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

The Jerusalem of the olden times has been long waiting for the Messiah. Jesus came and dwell with them about 2000 years ago. He healed the sick, performed miracles, brought Lazarus back to life, died on the cross, buried, and rose again to life. Yet, it is a sad reality that even up to present days, a lot of Jews still do not believe that Christ was God’s only Son!

Blessed are we Catholic Christians for we have not seen Him but believed. We have the promise of an everlasting life. However, sometimes our actions and ways do not conform with our beliefs. We stray away from His teachings and ways. We only carry the name Christian in word but not in deeds. But, we have a consolation that God’s immense love for us enables us to repent and return to Him. He does not give His final judgement and condemnation every time we sin. He is always present through the Holy Spirit to take care of us, bless us and love us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise You and glorify You Lord for sending us Your only begotten Son. We believe He is our Messiah, our Savior, our Gate to Eternal Life. We ask You Father to strengthen our faith so that we can be a light for others to find and believe Jesus in their hearts and minds. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus and through the most holy intercession of Mama Mary. Amen.

Glorifying Jesus in the Saints

Solemnity of All the Saints

November 1, 2015

First reading
Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14 ©

I, John, saw another angel rising where the sun rises, carrying the seal of the living God; he called in a powerful voice to the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea, ‘Wait before you do any damage on land or at sea or to the trees, until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard how many were sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.

  After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted aloud, ‘Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels who were standing in a circle round the throne, surrounding the elders and the four animals, prostrated themselves before the throne, and touched the ground with their foreheads, worshipping God with these words, ‘Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.’

  One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.’

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Psalm	Psalm 23:1-6 ©

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,

  the world and all its peoples.

It is he who set it on the seas;

  on the waters he made it firm.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?

  Who shall stand in his holy place?

The man with clean hands and pure heart,

  who desires not worthless things.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

He shall receive blessings from the Lord

  and reward from the God who saves him.

Such are the men who seek him,

  seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

---

Second reading	1 John 3:1-3 ©

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,

  by letting us be called God’s children;

  and that is what we are.

Because the world refused to acknowledge him,

  therefore it does not acknowledge us.

My dear people, we are already the children of God

  but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;

all we know is, that when it is revealed

  we shall be like him

  because we shall see him as he really is.

Surely everyone who entertains this hope

  must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.

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Gospel Acclamation	Mt11:28

Alleluia, alleluia!

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened

and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

Alleluia!

---

Gospel	Matthew 5:1-12 ©

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

‘How happy are the poor in spirit;

  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy the gentle:

  they shall have the earth for their heritage.

Happy those who mourn:

  they shall be comforted.

Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:

  they shall be satisfied.

Happy the merciful:

  they shall have mercy shown them.

Happy the pure in heart:

  they shall see God.

Happy the peacemakers:

  they shall be called sons of God.

Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:

  theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

Reflection

By Edgardo Tulabut

I was to hail a bus in Cavite on my way to my home province of Pampanga when I decided to drop by a DVD sale. This was the All Saints’ Day break many years ago and I extended my vacation leave to a whole week. Although I know it will only be what it is called now as “staycation” because I was only using up my unused leaves and I just wanted to rest. Therefore, there might be some time for a DVD or two; or maybe a movie marathon. As I was busy browsing through the titles, the sales lady offered me their special “horror” packages.

I told her, “Are you kidding me? Every channel on TV is screening horror films nowadays and you offer me horror films?” Of course we are already “suki” that’s why I can say those things to her directly.

Yes, everything on TV was horrifying, glorifying the dark side instead of what the occasion is supposed to be.

There are several write ups one can read on the origins of Halloween, may it be it is Christian origin, Celtic, pagan, or something else…. And I am not going to discuss them here. What I know is that as far as Christians are concerned, Halloween is supposed to be the eve of All Hallows’ Day or All Saints’ Day—The Feast of All Saints.

We should be celebrating the lives of saints and how they can lead us to lives pleasing to God;  not giving glory to the prince of darkness through horror films, trick or treat, and monstrous outfits.

Though little by little, many groups are now doing things differently to counter the western Halloween celebrations. One of them is the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City where every year they sponsor a parade for children dressed up as their favorite saints. I know there are also many organizations advocating this. I hope there will be more.

Today’s second reading says “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”

Let us tell the world about Jesus. Let us tell the world that we do not glorifying the evil one. A simple denouncing  of the distorted image/celebration of Halloween can be a good start. I know it may be hard, especially for those with kids. But for sure there will be ways.

Or maybe a simple social media greeting of “HAPPY FEAST of ALL SAINTS” will do for now. This is for everyone to know that before the western influence, before commercialization, and before this becoming a social activity and a family reunion, it was first of all a CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN celebration of the FEAST OF ALL THE SAINTS.

Prayer

Father God, We glorify You and You alone are our God.  Help us denounce all evil deeds even in simple acts. In Jesus' name, Amen.

All the Saints in heaven, pray for us!

Choose the Path to Humility

Christ the King Nov 23
First reading                                       Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17

The Lord says this: I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view. As a shepherd keeps all his flock in view when he stands up in the middle of his scattered sheep, so shall I keep my sheep in view. I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered during the mist and darkness. I myself will pasture my sheep, I myself will show them where to rest–it is the Lord who speaks. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them.

  As for you, my sheep, the Lord says this: I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and he-goats.

Psalm                                               Psalm 22:1-3,5-6
Second reading                               1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet. And when everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subject in his turn to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all.

Gospel                                         Matthew 25: 31-46

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
  ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
  ‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”
  ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’

Reflection

By Gary T.

Politics, unhealthy competition, envy, gossips and intrigues, back-biting, and all sorts of negativity – you will not find them in religious communities, right?

Wrong! Because the evil one uses these very tools to destroy the Church that is why they will always be around like airborne virus ready to infect the vulnerable ones. Double the triumph for Satan if the victims are supposed to be those promoting Christian values. Sometimes even just mere misunderstandings will be used by the devil to destroy our good relationships with our brethren.

Because of clashes in personalities involved, my friends’ newly formed community was not spared from these issues. Just as they started to be very active in service, doing what they were supposed to do a long time ago, there were misunderstanding among them, questioning each other’s motives.

The good thing is, when they were about to confront one another, each one loaded with his ammo of attacking and defensive words against one another, cool heads prevailed. The Holy Spirit intervened. And each one chose the path of humility even though he might not admit that he is the one in the wrong. Each one just asked for forgiveness and everything went back according to how God wanted His children to be.

Christ is the King of the universe, yet He was born in a manger, was a carpenter, and came from a place no one believed good would come from. He is king, yet He served the poor, the oppressed. He is king but He washed and kissed the feet of His disciples. He is king yet His throne was a cross and His crown made of thorns.

If the King of heaven and earth chooses the path to humility, I don’t see any reason why we cannot do the same in doing God’s business on earth.

As defined by one of the speakers in this year’s Kerygma Conference, humility or meekness is not weakness, but rather it is strength under control!

Prayer

Father, grant us the wisdom to always choose humility in dealing with our brethren especially if we are leaders of your communities so that we may become good examples to those who we are discipling. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

THE LAW OF THE HARVEST

 

“ God will not hear our prayers unless we acknowledge ourselves to be sinners. We do this when we ponder on our own sins alone, and not on those of our neighbor. “ - St. Moses the Ethiopian

First Reading: Ezekiel 17: 22 – 24

Thus says the Lord GOD: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it out; I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain;

on the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar; and under it will dwell all kinds of beasts; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.

And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it."

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 92:2-3, 13-16

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6 - 10

So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

Gospel: Mark 4: 26 – 34

And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

Reflection

By: Gharri Tulabut

Have you ever been in a situation when you were so helpless you cannot defend your beliefs against detractors from other faiths? I did. And it was very frustrating!

We can cite many reasons why we Catholics lack deep understanding of our faith. I used to blame the clergy for not exerting extra time to really engage us in study of the Bible. A twenty-minute homily per week seemed to be enough for them and leave everything up to catechists and religion teachers. Oh, how I used to envy born-again Christians who have their regular Bible studies and Sunday school. Some blame their parents for not bringing them to Church early in their lives. Some even blame the Bible itself for being not so straight forward and open to many different interpretations.

But because of the many frustrations I had in not being able to defend my faith, I started to search. I read many devotional and apologist books, joined fellowship groups and Bible studies, subscribed to Catholic magazine, attended seminars, conventions, and conferences, and optimized the use of internet to improve my knowledge of our faith. Most of all, I stopped blaming others but myself. And that was the for me to make efforts to improve my knowledge about our faith, little by little each time.

Now, though I am still very far from being an apologist or expert, there are times that I am surprised when I am able to explain certain things about our faith to my nephews and nieces and even to some of my friends. I know that with the desire to improve, God will intervene and help us increase our wisdom. As mentioned in Wis 6:12, “by those who love wisdom, it is readily seen, by those who seek wisdom, it is readily found.”

I think this is also true in other aspects of life, may it be our finances, our profession or our relationships. We cannot change things over night. But with the little consistent efforts we can accomplish our goals. Some call this the law of the harvest. Whatever you plant no matter how small, you will have harvest in the future.  Even our faith, though as small as a mustard seed, may become the largest of trees.

Prayer

Thank you Holy Spirit for the gift of wisdom! May we continue to improve our understanding of our faith so that we may be able to spread the branches of Good News to the world, Amen!

Stay Awake, Be Ready

1st Sunday of Advent
28 November 2010


Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

First reading Isaiah 2:1-5

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come
the mountain of the Temple of the Lord
shall tower above the mountains
and be lifted higher than the hills.
All the nations will stream to it,
peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the Temple of the God of Jacob
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths;
since the Law will go out from Zion,
and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem.’
He will wield authority over the nations
and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war.
O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 121:1-2,4-5,6-9

Second reading Romans 13:11-14

You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.
‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

Reflection
By Jeanne Therese Hilario-Andres

As the new liturgical year begins, temperatures have started falling in the Philippines and, more so, in the northern hemisphere. And everybody knows that the colder it is, the harder it is to wake up in the mornings, or to stay awake when it’s freezing cold outside. Hibernation seems to be the most natural thing to do. And yet, in today’s Gospel, we are told to stay awake!

Advent is a particularly grace-filled season where we anticipate the coming of our Saviour, and we prepare our hearts to receive Him. But the onset of Advent and Christmas and all the other liturgical seasons are known and “calendared,” occurring with reassuring, steady regularity.

Many people plan for Christmas, for instance, months in advance. We anticipate the coming of Jesus in both practical and spiritual ways. We plan our Noche Buena menu, our shopping list for ingredients and gifts, our office parties, our reunions, our holiday travels, activities to keep the children busy during the school break, when to set up the Christmas tree, decor and lights. We may organise our charity work, our Advent retreats, our Simbang Gabi schedule, when to go to confession.

But in today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that we really do not know when He comes again, and therefore we need to be ready, prepared, good to go. All the time.

This need to be in a constant state of readiness is especially highlighted in Advent, but when we think about it, it is a call which applies throughout the year, no matter what the season, in all circumstances and periods of our lives. Advent gives us the chance to start anew, to commit to remaining in this state of attention, not just until Christmas, but throughout the year.

Jesus’ call to stay awake and be ready is a long-term instruction. We have to be ready for the long haul.

How do we stay spiritually awake when our souls are sluggish and tired? How can our hearts remain alert and ready when they are bruised and broken? How can tired hands keep on serving while burdened with heavy loads? How can weary feet continue to run and spread the Good News? How, as mentioned in Heb 12:12, may we then “strengthen our drooping hands and our weak knees?” How can we sustain this level of being on high alert, of being ready for the final days, without burning out?

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. Spend more time in prayer this Advent. Jesus is the source of our strength and our hope. He renews us when we come to Him with our tired hearts. “They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” (Is 40:31)

Let us stand ready with others. Let us inspire one another, encourage one another, cheer each other on. We are part of one body, and we can and should depend on each other for strength, and for gentle reminders whenever we slacken or become spiritually unprepared. If you have not yet found this support, join a community of Christians who will accompany you and help you to stay ready.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit for power and grace to persevere. Let us be open to the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, our Comforter, our Counselor, who forms our character and helps us in our weakness, whom Jesus has sent to strengthen us until His return. Let the Holy Spirit fill us this Advent, and let us open our hearts to whatever changes God asks of us.

In what other ways can you keep your heart awake and ready for the coming of Christ?

Lord, awaken my sluggish spirit with a fresh desire to be ready, on call, on guard, at all times. Give me your strength and renew me. Let me encourage others and inspire them towards readiness with my actions and with my words. Fill me with eager longing for Your Spirit, that at the beginning of Advent, I may submit my whole self to Your transforming power. Jesus, I await Your coming. Help me to prepare my heart as your dwelling place, that I may abide in You throughout the year, throughout my life. Amen.

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Sealed With Hope

Rich or Poor, We Are All Welcome in God's Presence

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
20 June 2010


We are God’s people, the sheep of his flock: come, let us worship him, alleluia.

First reading Zechariah 12:10-11,13:1
It is the Lord who speaks: ‘Over the House of David and the citizens of Jerusalem I will pour out a spirit of kindness and prayer. They will look on the one whom they have pierced; they will mourn for him as for an only son, and weep for him as people weep for a first-born child. When that day comes, there will be great mourning in Judah, like the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. When that day comes, a fountain will be opened for the House of David and the citizens of Jerusalem, for sin and impurity.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 62:2-6,8-9

Second reading Galatians 3:26-29
You are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Merely by belonging to Christ you are the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he was promised.

Gospel Luke 9:18-24
One day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ And they answered, ‘John the Baptist; others Elijah; and others say one of the ancient prophets come back to life.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ It was Peter who spoke up. ‘The Christ of God’ he said. But he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone anything about this.
‘The Son of Man’ he said ‘is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’
Then to all he said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it.’

Reflection
By Rose Guevarra Markell

After a few years of being here in the United States, I attended a seminar for care-givers as I was a care-giver for elderly people. In that seminar, there were different sects such as Christians and others and it happened to be a Lent season. I was one of the Catholic attendees, but the only Filipina in the group.

The topic was about the elders, most specially those in wheelchairs. It was also discussed where these people should be and someone said that they should have their own pathway in church as not to be on the way of other parishioners or rather they should just stay at home. There was also a debate about the poor not being properly dressed when they come to church.

When it was my time to speak, I told them that from the country where I came from which is the Philippines, anybody can come to church at anytime, as our church is always open. And it is open for everyone, rich or poor. We believe that our God is a God who doesn't look at what we are or how we are dressed (as long as decently when in church). And if some of our parishioners can't come to church for some reasons like too weak and sick, or ashamed to come as they have nothing good to wear, our church goes to them, talks to them. We have deacons who go out to communities to give communion to the people who are very sick and can't make it to church.

We are all children of God through faith and baptism. We are not so different from each other. All of us are one in Christ Jesus. And because we all belong to Christ, we all are to inherit God's promise no matter if we are poor or rich, bound to a wheelchair or have strong legs.

Lord, please enlighten us with Your Holy Spirit. Help us to be more compassionate, most specially to the aged and the children. May we be of good example to them. Please forgive our tresspasses and may we be a light to others, in Jesus' name, Amen.

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Destroy Not