A Blessed New Year to All!

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

01 January 2026

 

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

Happy New Year God-Speak readers!

As we welcome 2026, we, the Tanghalang Anluwage Ministry wants to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support over the years. Thank you for being part of this online community as we work together to share God’s good news through our Sunday Gospel reflections and special features.

Last midnight, as 2025 transitioned into 2026, I kept my tradition of jumping, not in hopes of still growing taller, but with anticipation for the blessings the new year will bring.

The fireworks that lit up the sky echoed the joy that the shepherds experienced in Bethlehem when they found the newborn King in the manger, just as the angels had announced to them.

When the angels proclaimed the birth of the Savior in the city of David, the shepherds, despite their fear, hurried to see Him, trusting in God's will. Their trust was richly rewarded as they saw Jesus face to face, the Savior and Messiah, the joy of all people.

This is our invitation as we begin the new year. While we don’t yet know what lies ahead, we continue to trust in our faithful God, the Emmanuel born at Christmas, will walk with us throughout the year.

Like Mary, who pondered in her heart the things she could not fully understand, may uncertainties lead us closer to God and deepen our faith.

 

Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, we thank You for all the blessings and challenges of the past year. As we welcome the new year, we entrust what lies ahead into Your hands, through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

A New Year to Continue Hoping in the Lord

   

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

01 January 2025

 

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

 

Reflection

By: Anton B. Ocampo

The theme of the Jubilee Year 2025 is "Pilgrims of Hope." In the secular calendar, January 1 is  the start of a brand new year. The said date in the Liturgical Calendar, which is the calendar of the Holy Mother Church, is dedicated to the celebration of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Our Blessed Mother is a perfect example of someone who continued to hope in the Lord. Throughout the course of her earthly life, the Blessed Mother always made the choice to hope in God, no matter the situation. She did not let any circumstance become a reason to not hope in the Lord. The time and years may have changed, yet our Blessed Mother still hoped in the Lord.

Usually, whenever a new year is about to start, many people prepare a list which everyone knows as “New Year’s Resolution(s). In this list, they state which aspects of their lives they plan to change or improve on. This is a very good thing for various reasons, especially if it is for the better of people. However, the celebration of the Church reminds us that there is one thing that we should never change - hope in the Lord. No matter how many years pass by, we should always choose to hope in the Lord. This is the lesson that our Blessed Mother Mary Ever-Virgin teaches us.

In the First Reading, God provides Moses with the prescribed formula that must be used by Aaron and his sons whenever the Israelites are to be blessed by them. The formula clearly emphasizes why everyone must always hope in the Lord. God will always bless and protect all those who hope in Him with all their hearts and minds. The Responsorial Psalm even provides a brief summary of why everyone must hope in the Lord God no matter what happens. As stated in the Responsorial Psalm for this celebration: “May the Lord bless us in His mercy.” The Lord God never stops blessing us out of His everlasting mercy for us. Because of this, we should always continue to hope in Him. The Second Reading focuses on the greatest gift God freely gave to us - the promised Messiah who is none other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Child who was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a manger the night of the First Christmas in the city of Bethlehem. By sending His only Begotten Son who is also the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, God showed us why we should all hope in Him all the time. No other deity would do this except the one true God who has showed us His grace, mercy, and love through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Gospel talks about the visit of the shepherds and the circumcision of the Savior. After visiting the Baby Jesus, the shepherd praised and glorified God for choosing to give hope to humanity through the Holy Child. In fact, this is implied by the Holy Name of Jesus, which was mentioned in the second part of the Gospel. Jesus came to save us all. By doing so, God brought hope to all.

We are reminded at the start of the New Year that we should always continue to hope in the Lord. No matter the situations we face in the coming year or in years to come, no matter how many years pass by, as Christians, we should always continue to hope in the Lord God. Let us ask Our Lady to help us in hoping in God throughout the days of our life.

Prayer

Lord, You know everything about us. Despite that, You continue to invite us to hope in You. We want to hope in You always. Please help ud make the correct choice of always hoping in You. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Hope, pray for us.

Faith and Trust go hand in hand

    

  Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

01 January 2023

 

First Reading: Nm 6:22-27

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Gal 4:4-7

Gospel: Lk 2:16-21

 

Reflection

By: Cristine Aye Balla

 

We may often hear the phrases: "Have Faith." "Trust in the Lord." As I was starting to write this reflection, I found it hard to clearly differentiate the two, but at the top of my head, I thought there was a subtle difference there, but I just couldn't clearly express them. So, I explored it further and the easiest way I could think of to distinguish them from each other is by the phrase: "having faith and giving trust."

From my perspective, Faith stems in oneself –your belief system – and is closely related to spiritual concepts and not based on proof. While Trust, leads to action and is an important concept in relationships that may be based on past experiences and credibility.

Faith in God is something you possess. It is your confident belief in God without conditions. To trust  is the willful choice to act that stems from the faith. I found a story on the net about people having faith that a tight rope walker can complete his travel from one end to the other carrying heavy load; but they do not trust him ro carry them if given the chance to be carried on the tight rope walker's shoulder from one end to the other.

The shepherds trusted the words that have been told to them by the Lord's angel who appeared to them, which led them to act. They then had faith on the words told to them about the child – who He was – a Saviour, is Christ the Lord.

Mary had faith in God, even before the angel informed her that she would be the Mother of God. She trusted God which allowed her to accept and live into her role. Similarly, she also had faith on what the shepherds told them about her child and treasured their words.

The name Jesus itself means that God is salvation. As what the angel told the shepherds, Jesus is our Saviour. He is God's only Son, the Saviour who was promised to us.

Like the shepherds and Mary, our Mother, let us keep the faith and trust that Jesus is truly our Saviour. And we must also remember that being Christians or followers of Christ, we shouldn't stop by just believing because from the start to the end of days, nasa tao pa rin ang gawa.

Prayer

Lord, You are mighty and gracious. Please let us stand strong in our faith in You and keep our hearts open in trusting You as we walk our ways in our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Cristine, is an IC Physical Design Engineer working at Analog Devices, Inc. Her name actually means 'follower of Christ.' It probably reflects what her parents want her ro be and their wishes for her. She is thankful for her name.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

First Reading:  NM 6:22-27

Second Reading:  GAL 4:4-7

Gospel:  LK 2:16-21

 

Reflection

By: Carlo Malaluan

 

In the Gospel, we see a very intimate scene of God-experience. The shepherds tending their flock went in haste to the place where Jesus is born. They find his parents and told them the story of apparition of the angels whom he brought them the good news of Salvation. The shepherds seemingly curious and filled with joy upon receiving the good news, saw the God-child with His mother. In the tradition of the Church, Mary is the Theotokos – the God-bearer.

 

Each Christmas season, I would like to reflect on the beautiful image of Mary cradling the infant Jesus. This tender image of a mother and her son points us to the divine peace that the Divine child has brought to the world. It is also timely, as we join in prayers for peace, let us also look at another image of the Blessed Mother at the foot of the cross caressing the lifeless body of her Son. The same arms that held the Child in a humble stable of Bethlehem received the body of the Savior. In the arms of the Blessed Mother is the true source of peace.

 

In the beginning, God desired peace and harmony among all creation but sin entered and violence follows. It was God's will to restore that peace in our hearts by coming forth through a mother.

Allow me to recall the words of the Holy Father Francis, "Jesus himself lived in violent times. Yet, he taught that the true battlefield, where violence and peace meet, is the human heart." In the scriptures, we see Mary pondering everything in her heart. Though she cannot understand and her heart seems to be a silent battlefield of emotions and questions, she remained trusting in the ways of the Divine.

When our hearts are overwhelmed with anger, confusion, doubt, questions – may we learn from the example of the Blessed Mother to remain in the silent contemplation of God's workings. There, we will find the true meaning of peace. As we joyfully celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, let us ask God for the grace of peace that Mary has experienced in that lowly stable in Bethlehem.

Prayer

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen. (Aaronic Blessing).

 

 

 

Inang Maria, gabayan mo kami

Mary, the Holy Mother of God   1 January 2020

First reading

Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,

‘The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.'”

                

Second reading

Galatians 4:4-7

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Gospel

Luke 2:16-21

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflection
By Nats Vibiesca

Napansin ninyo ba na ang laging pambungad na pagninilay natin sa unang araw ng bagong taon ay ang selebrasyon ng pagiging Dakilang Ina ng Diyos ni Maria? Hindi lang ang pagpapalit ng numero ng taon ang sumasalubong sa atin dahil nagpaparamdam agad ang nanay ng Diyos na maging bahagi siya ng ating pagsalubong sa panibagong buhay. Bakit kaya? Hindi ba't sa mga nanay natin tayo unang natututo ng mga dapat nating malaman sa buhay? Bukod sa mga pisikal na pangangailangan natin, nalaman natin sa kanila ang mga unang kuwento ng buhay at kung papaano natin dapat harapin ito. Alam nating mahirap ang role ng isang ina ngunit buong tiyaga pa rin tayong pinalalaki ng ating mga nanay. Masunurin naman tayo sa mga utos ng ating mga nanay noong bata pa tayo; lagi nating nadarama ang pagmamahal nila at ipinadarama rin natin ang ating pagmamahal sa kanila, pero kung tayo'y tumatanda na't minsan pa'y naliligaw ng landas, nahihirapan tayong bumalik sa ating nanay dahil sa kahihiyan. Subalit laging handang magpatawad at bukas ang puso ng ating mga ina sa kanyang mga anak na lumalapit. 

Tulad ni Maria, dumanas man ng sobrang paghihirap mula sa pagdadalang-tao kay Hesus hanggang sa kalbaryo ng kanyang daan ng krus patungong hapis ng kamatayan, buong pagmamahal na niyayakap tayo ng ating mga ina anuman ang mangyari sa ating buhay. Kaya nga higit na dapat nating pasalamatan ang Diyos sa kanyang kabutihang pagbibigay sa atin ng tulad ni Maria bilang Ina ng Diyos at maging Ina na rin nating lahat na nagsisilbing gabay at modelo ng sangkatauhan. Ang pagiging Ina ng Diyos ni Maria at gampanin na maging Ina rin nating lahat ay pagbubunyag ng kalooban mismo ng Diyos, at paglalantad ng kanyang pagka-Diyos sa ating lahat. Kaya't tunay tayong nagagalak dahil mas nakikilala natin ang Diyos sa simula pa lang ng taon.  

Iniisip ko, papaano kaya kung naging Lola si Maria? Siguradong magandang Lola si Maria; bagay ba ang tawag na Lola Maria? Teka, imposible 'yun, kaya ko lang naman naisip 'yun dahil naoobserbahan ko ang mga Lola na parang tunay nilang mga anak kung ituring ang kanilang mga apo. Madalas na hindi nalalayo sa pagiging ina ang ginagampanan ng mga Lola sa kanilang mga mahal na apo, kaya naman parang hindi sila tumatanda dahil hindi natatapos ang pagiging ina nila sa atin. Ito rin ang turing ni Maria sa ating lahat kaya't hindi nga siya tumatanda at walang katapusan ang kanyang pagpapadama ng kanyang pagmamahal sa atin kaya't hindi na rin kailangan pang maging Lola.

Panalangin

Samahan mo kami aming Inang Maria sa anumang tunguhin ng aming buhay upang lalong mabunyag ang kadakilaan ng iyong anak na aming Panginoong Hesus. Hayaan mong maipadama rin namin ang aming pagmamahal sa iyo at sa aming Diyos sa anumang pagkakataon ng aming buhay. Amen.