Magnify

 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

15 August 2021 

 

First Reading: RV 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab

Responsorial Psalm: PS 45:10, 11, 12 16

Second Reading: 1 COR 15:20-7

Gospel: LK 1:39-56

 

Reflection

By: Gary Tulabut

 

Last month, our worship team at the Light of Jesus (LOJ) Pampanga was invited to represent the whole LOJ North and Central Luzon for a live worship concert organized by the LOJ Provincial. We were one of only two bands who will be leading worship live at the venue. The rest had their worship songs pre-recorded.

Despite all my issues in singing (timing and memorizing lyrics which I attribute to karaoke singing, hehe), I was selected to be the only male among four vocalists.

Because of those issues, I could easily say no to the one who chose me. But how could I? For just a month earlier, in one business boot camp activity, we were asked to make a dream board. And in the "spiritual" part of my dream board, I pasted a photo of me leading worship.

So, I accepted with the hope and prayer that with ample practice, I would be able to overcome those issues. And yes, after two weeks of practice, I was ready to be the lead vocalist for one of the songs.

But on the night before the band travelled to the venue in Bulacan, I found out that someone I had contact with was experiencing CoVid symptoms. I decided that night that I will not go with the band. Anyway, one very good singer from another province will be there to substitute me. He did not need to practice anyway.

Thank God, the one with symptoms, who I had contact with, and I were not infected, the worship concert went well, and our band was amazing leading in worshipping God.

A few days after the event, while I as telling the story to another group, I used the word "perform" instead of "lead worship".

I paused for a while and thought, "Maybe that is why I wasn't able to join them." I normally watch my motives in service and even ask the Lord to purify them. Maybe this time I failed. That in my subconscious, I was still thinking the whole thing as a performance instead of a service leading people to worship God.

I love the song I was assigned to lead. And I was confident that I could render it very well after that two-week practice. Maybe, subconsciously, I was already imagining how I would be praised in Facebook and Instagram with all those likes, hearts, and shares.

In our Gospel for this Sunday, Elizabeth praised her cousin, Mama Mary, for being blessed by carrying the Lord in her womb. Immediately, Mama Mary sent her praises to God through what we know as the Magnificat.

May every praise we receive for our success, blessings, talents, and good deeds be diverted to God.

May our goal in service be to glorify God rather than ourselves.

And may everything we do bear fruits that magnify the Lord!

 

Prayer

 

Mama Mary, pray for us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Reconnected by Love

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

31 May 2019

First reading                                                                        Zephaniah 3:14-18
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.

Gospel                                                                     Luke 1:39-56

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

I visited two elderly aunts in the Philippines last Christmas, Tita Lilia and Tita Laling. Both were already feeble. Tita Lilia could no longer remember me, while Tita Laling, unable to talk, just stared at me. Back in the day, I was so close to them. Now, it felt as though I was losing them, until I heard Tita Lilia told me that I inherited my receding hairline from my grandfather (her father)!

Mary and Elizabeth were two extraordinary women. One bore a son, being a virgin. The other bore a son, in spite of being barren. When Mary greeted her cousin, Elizabeth's baby leapt for joy and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Full of the Spirit, she exclaimed what is now part of our prayer: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus". Both women were reunited by the Lord. Both were reconnected by Jesus who is coming to save the world.

I may have become a 'stranger' to my two beloved aunts. What really matters though is what brings us together: love. Perhaps Tita Lilia's remarks were an affirmation of that! So be it.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You came to bring the Father's mercy to all. As we continue to receive You in Word and Sacrament, may we also bring You to others especially to the sick and other people in need. Amen.

Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us.

Laying His Hands On Us

Birthday of St John the Baptist

24 June 2018

First reading                                                                      Isaiah 49:1-6
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength– he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Second reading                                                     Acts 13:22-26

In those days, Paul said: God made David king of our ancestors.. In his testimony about him he said, “I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.” Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as he promised; before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, “What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.” “My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.

Gospel                                                                    Luke 1:57-66, 80

The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

It always amazes me when I remember stories I’ve heard about the childhood days of my father. At a very young age, he did not go much into playing games. He had to work and help his mother earn a living by repairing broken umbrellas and sometimes selling it. They needed to walk far from their home, shouting what they offer, just to find customers. Some of his spare time are spent in thinking of other ways to earn. What’s more amazing is how he was able to think like adults do during his time. At a very young age, I believe he already earned the title “entrepreneur”. There was a time when he was able to sell homemade ice cream on sticks without a supplier, and without a refrigerator. He bought ingredients using a part of his earnings, made the ice cream at their home, and then he went to his friend’s house who has a refrigerator. He made a deal with his friend to rent a part of their refrigerator, in which the payment will come from the ice cream’s sales. In simple things, he was able to achieve more than a person can imagine. 

Not long ago, I was able to hear conversations from my father and one of his long time friends who came back from abroad. As they were reminiscing their younger days where they grew up, I realized that my father did not only go through the challenges of working at a young age just to help his family and finance his own education. He has also inspired the people around him to work hard for their dreams and loved ones. I believe his mother felt God’s favor every time my father pours his heart into everything he does. Because surely, the hand of the Lord was with him. 

John the Baptist came in to the world to prepare the way of our Lord Jesus. God took care of him through Elizabeth and Zechariah until the day he started his ministry. God’s hand continued to touch him to reveal the good message of the coming of the Messiah. I believe that God also does this to us. He continues to touch our earthly fathers and entrust a mission that they are bonded to for the rest of their life. Before our earthly fathers bore the life mission of raising a family, they were also once a child who grew up  and became strong in spirit. 

As I remember how hard it was for my father to work at a young age, I become more grateful that God sent a wonderful being to be not just a pillar of the home, but also of strength, hope, courage, and love. And I am honored to receive a life mission similar to his, which God continues to lay His hands on everything that I do for me to be a channel of His wonderful blessings to others

Prayer

Dear Lord, we thank You for continuing to lay hands on us as we go on our mission in life. Thank You for giving us a role model, in the person of our earthly fathers, to inspire us to believe that Your miracles and blessings are always with us in everything that we do. We pray for more of Your miracles to help people grow and become strong in Your spirit.In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Advance Thanksgiving

First Reading:  2 Kings 5:14-17

So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became clean once more like the flesh of a little child. Returning to Elisha with his whole escort, he went in and, presenting himself, said, 'Now I know that there is no God anywhere on earth except in Israel. Now, please, accept a present from your servant.'

But Elisha replied, 'As Yahweh lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing.' Naaman pressed him to accept, but he refused. Then Naaman said, 'Since your answer is "No," allow your servant to be given as much earth as two mules may carry, since your servant will no longer make burnt offerings or sacrifice to any god except Yahweh.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13

Remember the gospel that I carry, 'Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David'; it is on account of this that I have to put up with suffering, even to being chained like a criminal. But God's message cannot be chained up. So I persevere for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they, too, may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Here is a saying that you can rely on: If we have died with him, then we shall live with him. If we persevere, then we shall reign with him. If we disown him, then he will disown us. If we are faithless, he is faithful still, for he cannot disown his own self.

Gospel:  Luke 17:11-19

Now it happened that on the way to Jerusalem he was travelling in the borderlands of Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten men suffering from a virulent skin-disease came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, 'Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.'

When he saw them he said, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself prostrate at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This led Jesus to say, 'Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they?

It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.' And he said to the man, 'Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.'

Reflection

By Rosalinda N. Markell

Have we thought of the wondrous power of giving thanks to God? When you open the golden pages of the Bible,  you will read God's wonderful words. There, it says,  "In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made unto God." (Philippians 4:6).

Notice that the Bible does not say that we are just to thank God for what He has given us, but with thanksgiving, let our request made unto God.  Without doubt, we should thank God in advance for providing us our needs.

As most of us may know, giving praise and saying thank you for the gifts received, big or small, seem to boost the giver's spirit and power. People seem to grow and blossom when they are praised and thanked for. God may feel the same way. We make Him happy, when we give Him praise and offer thanksgiving. When was the last time we thanked God? Thanked those around us? It is unfortunate that the words "Thank you" is no longer often heard at home or elsewhere as though everything done by parents to their children is obligation, as though everything done by cleaners or security guards is just part of their job.

When we give thanks, it makes our own spirit jump for joy too.  Look at the Blessed Virgin Mary when she visited Elizabeth. Didn't she burst into her now famous Magnificat? Look at that Samaritan leper who was cured of his disease. Didn't he praise God on the top of his voice and prostrated himself to Jesus? Giving thanks is good for us! And surely, God will be happy to bring life and health and also peace to us in a greater abundance.

Let us be thankful to God for whatever He gives us, but also be gracious, brave, and strong enough to share it with others.

Prayer

Dear loving Father, this is the time when we come to You, not with a wish or plea, but with a song of thanksgiving. Yes, we know how many times we have come to You with questions and fears.  But we truly are so thankful that You calm our fears and answer our questions in Your time.  Please help us, dear Father, to be thankful for all our blessings, whether big or small. Thank you for the blessings of love, health, protection for our love ones, happy true friends and for a wonderful home. Thank you for the privilege of praying to You, our dear Father. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Cheerfulness

4th Sunday of Advent 
23 December 2012
First reading   Micah 5:1-4
The Lord says this: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.
Psalm   Psalm 79:2-3,15-16,18-19   Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. O shepherd of Israel, hear us,   shine forth from your cherubim throne. O Lord, rouse up your might,   O Lord, come to our help. Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. God of hosts, turn again, we implore,   look down from heaven and see. Visit this vine and protect it,   the vine your right hand has planted. Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. May your hand be on the man you have chosen,   the man you have given your strength. And we shall never forsake you again;   give us life that we may call upon your name. Lord of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. Second reading Hebrews 10:5-10 © This is what Christ said, on coming into the world: You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, prepared a body for me. You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin; then I said, just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book, ‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’ Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.
Gospel Acclamation   Lk1:38 Alleluia, alleluia! I am the handmaid of the Lord: let what you have said be done to me. Alleluia! 
Gospel   Luke 1:39-44
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
Reflection Cheerfulness by Nats Vibiesca
Can you imagine the happiness of Mama Mary when she traveled to the hill country “in haste” to share her joy with Elizabeth? Mama Mary shines out cheerfulness from God’s love of humanity. The German word for cheerful is ‘heiter’ which means clear, bright, cloudless, shining. A light so bright shines from Mama Mary upon visiting her cousin. I know many times I am not a cheerful person as it is not just a disposition we are born with. Many people are obsessed with negative things which they discover everywhere. We look at everything gloomily if we are with depressing people.  But we can shine cheerfulness when we let God’s light penetrate into our hearts. The love of God will make us feel lighter and feel brighter inside so that we become cheerful to everyone we meet. Have you worked with some cheerful people? Cheerful people are infectious. When you are with them, you also see everything from a different perspective, the positive side.  Although you can also see the negative side, you do not dwell on them because you manage to rise above it holding on to God’s light. Despite all the hardships, you regard everything with inner cheerfulness. Mama Mary’s great joy enlivens us and fills us with spirit. We are transformed to give joy for the people we meet. We can be sure that the people we meet will also become cheerful and bright, shining the love of God around the world.   Prayer
Lord, help us to be always cheerful like Mama Mary. Let us show concern to those in need by reaching out to them in their most difficult times. Let your love shines to everyone we meet as we welcome our Emmanuel in our life.  Amen.