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.

The One We Should Put Our Hope and Trust In

   

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

26 January 2025

 

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

 

Reflection

By: Anton B. Ocampo

 

"Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in Your hearing” (Luke 4:21)". With these words that He states at the end of the Gospel reading, Jesus confidently introduces Himself to the people in Nazareth, His hometown, as the promised Messiah and Savior that God has promised to send. In doing so, Jesus stresses that everyone should place their trust and hope in Him.

As the promised Messiah and Savior, Jesus brings hope to all people. In spite of our unworthiness, He willingly came into the world to show all of us who we could place our trust and hope in - Him. This is what is being discussed in the Readings for this Sunday. Because of Jesus, we are all filled with hope. Without Him, there is no hope.

In the First Reading, Nehemiah and Ezra remind the Israelites that God brings joy and hope to all. He turns sadness and sorrow to joy and hope. God does not bring sadness and sorrow. Rather, He brings joy and hope to all. In the Second Reading, the Apostle Saint Paul reminds us that we, as Christians, are all part of the body of Jesus Christ. Therefore, just as how Christ brought hope to all, we must bring hope to all. The hope that we bring to all does not come from us. Rather, it comes from Christ. It is our duty and responsibility as Christians to spread the hope that Christ freely gives to all of us.

Just as stated in the Responsorial Psalm, God brings joy to the heart of those who hope and trust in Him wholeheartedly through His Word and precepts (Psalm 19:9). Those who truly hope and trust in the Lord God will continually receive the gift of joy from Him. Despite all the sufferings in life, they will still be able to find joy because they have wholeheartedly made the decision to put their hope and trust in Him.

Christ Jesus reminds us today and in each moment of our earthly lives that it is He that we should wholeheartedly put our hope and trust. As Christians, let us offer our wholehearted hope and trust to Him as a response to Him reminding us about the main reason why He came into the world as the promised Messiah and Savior.

Prayer

Merciful Lord Jesus Christ, You continue to stress to each and every one of us that it is You that we should hope and trust wholeheartedly. Despite the numerous frailties and shortcomings of each and every single one of us due to our human nature, You nevertheless continue to do so out of love and mercy for all of us. For this, we humbly thank You. Accept our hope and trust which we wholeheartedly offer to You. Amen.

Hope Came Through A Child

   

Feast of the Sto. Nino

19 January 2025

 

First Reading: Is 9:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98

Second Reading: Eph 1:3-6

Gospel: Lk 2:41-52

 

Reflection

By: Anton B. Ocampo

“Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) These are the words of the Child Jesus in response to His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, once He was found by both Mary and Joseph in the Temple of Jerusalem after three days. With these words, the Child Jesus exhibits awareness and knowledge of the mission as the promised Messiah and Savior sent from heaven. 

For the entire Catholic Church in the Philippines, this Sunday is a very special one as it is dedicated to solemn celebration of the Feast of Jesus as the Most Holy Child, also known as the Santo Niño. This special solemn celebration which is held every year on the third Sunday of January is a reminder for all of us about the very reason why the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world. The Lord Jesus Christ wholeheartedly and willingly decided to take upon our humanity, even the stage of childhood, for our sake. The only thing that Jesus did not assume when He took upon Himself our own human nature was the sinful nature of humanity. 

The Readings for this Sunday focus on the mission of the Lord Jesus as the bearer of true hope which comes from heaven. By wholeheartedly deciding to come into this world as the promised Messiah and Savior, He has brought hope to humanity. A prophecy concerning the arrival of the promised Messiah is featured in the First Reading. It is clearly stated in the prophecy featured in the First Reading that God will give us a Child who will be born for all of humanity. This Child is the promised Messiah. Saint Paul the Apostle stresses this fact in the Second Reading. Out of love and mercy for all of us, God has decided to send Christ Jesus to the world to save humanity. 

The Responsorial Psalm says: “All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God” (Psalm 98:3c). Through the Holy Child Jesus, God has shown the power of the gift of salvation He brings to all. By doing so, He has given us hope. 

Jesus became a Child to bring hope to us. Let us spread this gift of hope that He brings to all of us. 

Prayer

O Most Holy Child Jesus, You came into this world to bring hope to all of us as the promised Messiah and Savior. We humbly thank You for doing so. Give us the strength to spread the hope that You bring to all of us. Amen.

Partial Following

    

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

15 September 2024

 

First Reading: Is 50:5-9a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Second Reading: Jas 2:14-18

Gospel: Mk 8:27-35

 

Reflection

By: Bernard C. Borja

 

Most of us today are familiar with following people and being followed by people in social media. We may know few or plenty of things about a person through what they post or share online. Getting to know people and being updated with them is not that hard today even if we have not met personally. We have our own reasons why we follow people on social media. Those people who have similar values and principles to us may be one of those reasons why we want to be updated about them. This following can go on until a post or something that the person says is not anymore aligned with the follower’s values and principles. For instance, we have seen many people unfollow celebrities who posted or commented about a certain issue which is against what their followers believe or stand for. In the past years, I have seen people unfollow their friends in social media because of issues such as politics and different views about justice. Someone I know was confronted by her longtime friend because of sharing a post by a human rights activist about the ceasefire against Israel’s attack on Gaza. Her friend says that she is siding with the terrorist when she shared that post. They unfollowed each other before even trying to understand and delve deeper into their points. Sometimes, differing points of view and principles can sever a relationship more than being wronged. However, what people share on social media becomes their full self and the basis for judgement. If we ask ourselves, “Who do people say that I am?”, answers can vary depending on what we post and share online, not even considering what we do offline.

If we ask our friends, “Who do you say I am?”, what will they say? I believe they will say a lot about us from a deeper perspective. When Jesus asked the disciples, Peter replied “You are the Christ.” His reply was like he knew Jesus from a deeper perspective. But things go differently when Jesus spoke about how He must suffer greatly. If I were to hear it first, like Peter, I would also react the same way. But in this way, I would only be looking at Jesus as the savior without seeing one of the most important journeys of salvation. We can ask ourselves again, “Who do I say Jesus is?” Do I think of Jesus at all, in trouble times or in joy? Because it greatly matters about the way we direct our lives through Him, the way we worship Him, and the way we live.

Peter did not realize at that time that suffering is part of the divine plan of salvation. Today, we can easily say that suffering is part of human condition but not see it through the eyes of Jesus. There is a difference between suffering and sacrifice. Through Him, suffering has a purpose, which becomes a sacrifice. A mother who suffers physical exhaustion to give her child a better sleep is a sacrifice. A father who endures the time being away from his family to work is a sacrifice. Sacrifice will always be a self-giving act, an act of love, no matter how big or small that deed is. To give a friend a chance to talk about his or her belief and be open to understand his or her principles, is an act of self-giving. I believe that sacrifice is also a “denial of self” which can be achieved only in terms of self-giving and in terms of love.

In everything that we do and decide, we can also ask ourselves, “Where is the following of Christ in this?” Our choices in life and the way we live somehow determines if we follow Christ as our whole self, or just a partial following. We can never separate our views or opinion about justice from the justice that Jesus stands for. Like when someone says that their political views are separate from their religious views. It’s like saying “I am following Christ, but I am letting Him take my cross.” Today, we pray to God to grant us the grace to allow ourselves to be whole in reaching out to Jesus, with all the inconveniences and even pain, for us to be reminded not to look away from the inconvenient part of the divine plan of salvation.

Prayer

Dearest Lord, teach us to look at our lives through Jesus. May we transform our suffering by giving it purpose and do it as a selfless act of love. We pray for the people around us that we may share the sufferings in terms of self-giving and love for each other. In Jesus' Name we pray, AMEN.

"Testi"

    

Third Sunday of Advent

17 December 2023

 

First Reading: Is 61:1-2A, 10-11

Responsorial Psalm: Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54

Second Reading: 1 Thes 5:16-24

Gospel: Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

 

Reflection

By: Bernard C. Borja

Friendster, anyone? Yes, I am probably one of those “people growing in wisdom” who once enjoyed reading testimonials in one of the first social media ever existed. “Pa-testi naman dyan!” A friend asked me to write something about him on his online profile where people in his friends list can read it. Not thinking much about it, I only wrote “Mabuting kaibigan.” I told him that I already wrote and posted a testimonial and asked him to also write one for me. The next day, his post came up. It was something more like a short biography. He wrote things that I used to do from our elementary days that I could barely remember especially weird things like, “Kumakain ng chalk”. Okay, I do remember munching on a piece of chalk during third grade, but I could have chosen the blackboard eraser for a soft chewy texture, right? Anyway, from the weird things during elementary, to dreams of being a rockstar musician that I once dreamed of during high school, my friend wrote like a five-page life-excerpt-thesis Friendster testimonial. It is obvious that he really enjoys writing testimonials for his friends. Most of my friends during college who read it laughed and somehow had an idea of how weird I can be. But some of them read through on how passionate and eager I was to dream of something that does not reflect my quiet and timid image. I did not even realize that, and I only looked at how weird I was and how I looked like a lizard because of being too skinny. Today, I remember how in that moment my old friend somehow shed light for me to glance at something I rarely see about myself.

Testimonials are based on truth. If it is not, then it’s just hearsay or “tsismis”. It can also be known as Feedback or Review in today’s term. Feedback or Reviews, like the ones in products being sold online, can help other people have an idea of something if it is good or bad. In short, it can make or break a person as some of his or her character is revealed. In today’s Gospel, we are reintroduced on John the Baptist’s humility, and his gladness in having the honor to testify to Jesus.

John knew that he was sent to prepare the way of the Lord. He was not the light, but somehow shed light to those who are preparing the way by repentance and baptism. The Gospel tells us how curious the people are about John that they sent Priests and Pharisees just to know more about him. Maybe they already heard some testimony from those who were baptized, but they still want to ask him themselves. Throughout his ministry, he redirects their curiosity and constantly points to the Messiah who is to come after him. All his life, I believe he never felt inferior for being a “shadow”, but he rejoices for testifying for the Lord. He knew he was not worthy, but he gladly proclaimed that the Lord God has anointed him.

If anyone today can read the Friendster testimonials I have written for my friends, they would probably just read it plainly, or scroll to the next, because it’s very short and generic. I realize now that giving testimony to someone, especially a friend, is an honor. My old friend somehow taught me about it as I reflect on those times. He took the opportunity to shed light on people’s hopeful trait despite the weirdness, and really enjoyed writing about it. Like John the Baptist, my old friend knew his assignment when giving testimonials – to take delight in having the honor to testify and shed light for others to see the good about the person he is testifying to. Today, let us rejoice in our testimony to Jesus as we prepare to share in God’s mission of bringing His light this Christmas.

Prayer

Dearest Lord, we thank You for granting us the grace of Your light for us to see ourselves in Your image. We take delight in sharing to the world all the blessings that You continue to pour unto us. We pray that in honor of being anointed to testify, may we remain humble in being generous to others and rejoice in knowing that we do Your holy will. In Jesus’ Name we pray, AMEN.

Dear Lord Jesus, as we prepare for Your birth,

Jesus: Who am I?

    

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

27 August 2023

 

First Reading: Is 22:19-23

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8

Second Reading: Rom 11:33-36

Gospel: Mt 16:13-20

 

Reflection

By: Bro. Emerson C. Maala

Pastoral Year Formation

Diocese of Imus

Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol

 

When I was in my first year of seminary formation, my spiritual director would always ask me, "How am I doing in the seminary?" I would answer him by recounting all my experiences in the four pillars of formation: community, academics, spirituality, and apostolate. Then my spiritual director would have a follow-up question, "How do you see or recognize Jesus in all these experiences?" At first, I did not know how to respond deeply to that question, but I answered him, "It was just a typical experience of routine daily life in the seminary." With this answer, he told me, "To follow Jesus is to see and recognize Him in our daily living." And so, I was awakened. I saw how important it is to see and recognize Jesus through the daily activities we do, through the different people we encounter, and through other things.

The readings for today speak of our faith in God. How do we recognize God in our life? In the first reading, God appointed Eliakim son of Hilkiah because God saw Shebna as unworthy. Here we might understand that God is just. However, St. Paul reminds us of the depth of God’s wisdom and knowledge. He is more than just. This acknowledges the incomprehensibility of God's ways and His unsearchable judgments.  This proves that, as human beings, we are limited in our understanding of God's grand design, and yet we are called to trust in His providence. It teaches us humility, reminding us that while we may not always comprehend God's plan, we can always place our faith in His infinite wisdom.

In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus asks His disciples how the people see Him. The disciples answer that some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. However, Jesus asks His disciples again but in a more personal way, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter, in a moment of inspiration and grace, declares, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

In part, Jesus is also asking us personally, "But who do you say that I am?" As we reflect on these readings, we are called to examine our own faith journey and to deepen our understanding of who Jesus is in our lives. For He is not merely a historical figure or a wise teacher. He is a friend and a brother whom we can encounter in our daily life. Amen.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, open our hearts and minds to see and recognize You in our daily life, through the different people we encounter. Grant that we may increase our faith in You and be a true missionary disciple of Yours. You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Our Persecution and Jesus in our Homes

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

28 March 2021 

 

At the Procession of Palms - Gospel: MK 11:1-10

First Reading:  IS 50:4-7

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Second Reading:  PHIL 2:6-11

Gospel:  MK 15:1-39

 

Reflection

By: Emerson C. Maala

 

Holy Week observance is one of the solemnly celebrated Christian traditions observed by Filipino Catholics. It starts with the celebration of Jesus' entry into the City of Jerusalem which is popularly called Palm Sunday. Filipino Catholics bring some coconut fronds or "palaspas" and wave them as a sign of their faith acclaiming Jesus. However, due to the CoVid-19 pandemic, for two years now, Filipinos were and will not be able to wave their "palaspas"  in the Churches due to the restrictions by the government's community quarantine.

Jesus' glorious entry to the city of Jerusalem was the start that He was to suffer from passion and death. People acclaim Him as a messiah shouting "Hosanna!", which means "Save us!". On the contrary, this cry alarmed the Jewish High Priest of the danger that Jesus would create an uprising with the people. However, Jesus enters the City as a meek and humble person not creating violence but peace.

In our current situations, we may not be given the chance to celebrate in the Churches to acclaim Jesus with our "palaspas". But in this way, this may be a cross to accept. We may experience suffering given the restriction to celebrate in the Churches to acclaim Jesus. Nevertheless, it is our chance that maybe, we let Jesus enter our Homes just like how Jesus enters the City of Jerusalem by accepting every opportunity to give charity to the members of the family or the others. And in this way, that amid our suffering, we may experience the meek and humble heart of Jesus.

 

Prayer

 

Jesus, Thank You for entering into Jerusalem to bring salvation to us. May we always welcome You in our homes and in our hearts each day. We pray for courage to carry our cross passionately as we reflect in Your loving sacrifice forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

Feast of the Epiphany

 

First Reading:  IS 60:1-6

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

Second Reading:  EPH 3:2-3a, 5-6

Gospel:  MT 2:1-12

 

Reflection

By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan

 

Last Christmas season, I watched a 1985 classic movie entitled "The Fourth Wise Man". It was Martin Sheen who played the role of Artaban, the Fourth Magus whom like the other three Magi, knew about the upcoming birth of the Messiah. However, unlike the other three who did make their way to see Child Jesus, he missed the caravan but still continued to search for the Holy One. Years have passed and Artaban spent much of his remaining wealth to help the poor and the unfortunate he met along the way until at the end of his life, he met Jesus, the foretold Messiah, at his trial!

 

Oftentimes, we seek Jesus. We are on a long journey to look for Jesus only to find disappointments. Instead of Jesus, we met people who are not Jesus or even Jesus-like! We meet the poor, the hungry, the weary, the tired, and the unfortunate. They are not the images of Jesus we have in mind, but unknowingly, Jesus reveals himself to us in ways we cannot imagine and in people we do not expect. Of course, practically, we can no longer see Jesus in the household of Joseph but the experience of the Epiphany is always inviting to experience God.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, let us thank the Lord for the Epiphanies in our lives. In our daily encounter with our neighbor and friends, in answered prayers, in our unexpected conversations with strangers we met along the commute, in storms and trials, and in subtle experiences of life, Jesus reveals Himself to us tenderly. And these are indeed life-changing.

Every encounter with God is life-changing just like as how the Magi in the Gospel changed their ways back home, never to return back to Herod. But we are also being challenged, how can we become Epiphanies to other people? Do our words and actions lead people to the encounter of God? Does our presence make other people feel God's dwelling? Let us strive to become bearers of God's love to others.

 

Let me share with you this beautiful prayer.

 

Prayer

 

Lord of All Nations, we longed to see Your face, to hear Your voice. We kept the faith and reached You in our prayer but too often, we failed to find You. And then, one day in time You placed Yourself within reach in the person of a child as vulnerable as any of us. King and peasant beheld You -- man and woman, slave and free, Jew and Gentile for You had come for all. "Epiphany" we called it --  a living manifestation of the God we call upon. We have since known other Epiphanies: we have met you in the faces of our brother, the grace of our sisters, the hand that reaches out, the heart that weeps for the other, in the strength of one who protects, in the gentleness of one who forgives. We have seen Your face. We have heard Your voice. As broken as we are, as scared and hollowed and sinful, may other see something of You in us, may they hear the sound of Your voice. May You be revealed to all nations, all peoples on earth and may Epiphanies abound. Be born in us, O Lord. Amen.

(Prayer of the Catholic Relief Services)

 

 

 

Who do you say I am?

    12th Sunday in Ordinary Time 19 June 2016

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.’

 

Responsorial Psalm
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 Bernard M. Borja  

Sometime 6 years ago, I had an experience in a beach where I got drowned trying to save two people from drowning. I was with my friends swimming at the beach, when I heard someone nearby trying to shout for help but could not because the waters keep on filling her mouth everytime she does. The beach was said to be unstable because a shallow part can lead to deeper waters in one step but no one knows where that part could be in any day. The people were only advised not to go beyond 2 meters from the shore.

For me, I thought it would never be a problem because I know how to swim and some basics of surviving in the water. So, when I came near the two people who looked exhausted from trying to keep their heads up, I reached out my arm for them to take. My plan was to guide them to the shallow part. But out of panic, they put their arms on my neck trying to get up my back. Their weight pushed me down deep and I was not able to breathe. They released me as I got deeper so I was able to go up again to get some air. But as I ascend, they once again got up my back trying to save themselves without thinking that I, too, was almost drowning because of what they were doing. I was shouting to them, “Wag kayo magpanic! Wag nyo ako sampahan! (Don’t panic! Get off my back!)” But to no avail, I went down again. Then, I passed out. The next thing I remember, I was on the sand coughing out sea water while I was lying on my side at the shore.

I was wondering what else were they thinking when I decided to come near them and try to save them from drowning. Maybe they’re thinking (no judgements. Just assuming this), “Oh there is our savior! We don’t need to do anything. We’ll just get up his back and let him take care of us going to the shore. We don’t need to worry because he knows how to swim.” I was asking myself, “Do I really need to drown myself just to save some people from drowning?” 

Reading the Gospel today, I realized that Jesus was telling His disciples to also do something for them to be saved. As He tells them about His coming suffering, He’s giving the disciples a heads up to take their sufferings as well and join them with Jesus’ suffering to save mankind.

When I was drowning, I remember I almost gave up trying to save the two strangers. I can actually choose to swim away, and let the others who heard us, save them from drowning. But then, I realized that people cannot think straight at the moment of their suffering. Sometimes, people trust too much and give up all their troubles to God without trying to do anything. Relying on everything that will happen. But Jesus reminds us to take up our cross. Of course we must not lose our trust in God, but we have to make our contribution to be saved. It’s about working with Jesus, not just Jesus alone working.

Jesus also reminds us on how to deal with difficulties we encounter today. Like one priest was saying, let your suffering be one with the cross of Jesus Christ. We may not see a miracle immediately but it will make a difference on how we look at our hardships. That we are not alone and that Jesus is always with us.

PRAYER:

Dear God, we pray that as we put our trust in You, we let the suffering of Jesus Christ Your Son be ours too. We join whatever suffering we have to the cross of Christ to pray for those who suffer more than us. We pray for hope for those who are almost giving up. We pray for those who are trying to find meaning and worth as they give their all for the sake of less fortunate people. We also pray for fathers for their love and inspiration to our families. May You bless them more as they give their all to us and make us feel that Jesus is with them in working for our families.

In Jesus’ Name we pray,

AMEN.

 

False Messiahs

3rd Sunday of Advent

December 13, 2015

First reading                                                                                            Zephaniah 3:14-18

Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,
Israel, shout aloud!
Rejoice, exult with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has repealed your sentence;
he has driven your enemies away.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you have no more evil to fear.
When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:
Zion, have no fear,
do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival.

Psalm                                                                                              Isaiah 12

Second reading                                                                           Philippians 4:4-7 I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near.   There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.

Gospel	Luke  3:10-18

When all the people asked John, ‘What must we do?’ he answered, ‘If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.’ There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him, ‘Master, what must we do?’ He said to them, ‘Exact no more than your rate.’ Some soldiers asked him in their turn, ‘What about us? What must we do?’ He said to them, ‘No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!’
  A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’ As well as this, there were many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News to them.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

The political stage in the Philippines has gone full swing these past few months.  By this time, politicians vying for the presidency (or other elective posts) would have made speeches, promises, appearances, etc.  One of the things that voters should be cautious though is when candidates present themselves as the only person who could save the country from all the evils that beset her.  Looking back at our history, we have witnessed how previous politicians who made such an assertion AND failed to deliver.

In today's Gospel, the people were starting to think that John the Baptist was the Messiah. John could have taken advantage of his popularity and claimed to be the One.  And yet, this humble and honest man told them that they were talking to the wrong guy.  

"Salvation belongs to our God" (Revelations 7:10).  We've seen this when Noah and his brood were saved in the Great Flood, in Israel's liberation from Egypt, in Mary's Immaculate Conception. Ultimately, we've seen this in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Instead of posing as (false) messiahs, candidates for the forthcoming elections should take heed of this truth and rally behind people working together, under the guidance of God, for the betterment of our country. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You came to baptise us with the Holy Spirit and fire. Fill us with Your Spirit so we may remain humble and open to Your grace. Purify us - our families, our country, our Church - by Your fire so that we may truly make room for Your coming.  With Mary Immaculate and John the Baptist we pray. Amen.

How Do You Live Your Faith?

First Reading: Is 50:5-9a

The Lord GOD opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let that man confront me. See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong?

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Second Reading: Jas 2:14-18

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, " but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

Gospel: Mk 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."

Reflection
By Cris Balla

How Do You Live Your Faith?

                   

The Gospel tells the story of Saint Peter correctly identifying Jesus as the Messiah… Or was he correct? We later see in the Gospel that apparently Saint Peter has had different understanding of Jesus the Messiah vs. the definition of Jesus.

Fast forward to the future. Today, I think many of us Christians probably define Jesus the  Messiah no different than Saint Peter's. While on one hand, we now know and believe that Jesus, the Son of Man, suffered and killed (and rose again), I think we fail to follow the other guideline of Jesus pertaining our faith in Him - "to take up our cross".

And so, that got me thinking along the lines of how to take up our cross and follow Him? In some parts of the country, there is this annual spectacle of literally carrying a cross. But I personally believe that is not what it is about that Jesus wanted. I believe He meant far more than the superficial.

I believe that Jesus meant that we must not only have faith in Him, but also live that faith through our actions. And that means, living a life following His examples, living a total Christian life.

So how do you live your faith?

Prayer

Father, please grant us the faith and the strength to carry our cross everyday so we give glory to Your name in the way we live life.

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."