Present Miracles

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

24 June 2025

 

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-b3, 13-14ab, 14c-15

Second Reading: Acts 13:22-26

Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

 

Reflection

By: Bernard M. Borja

Two years ago, I wrote a reflection based on the same Gospel about the Nativity of John the Baptist. During that time, my son was only 2 weeks old, and I shared some of the things that made me asked, “What, then, will this child be?” Fast forward to today, I want to share some insights that I was able to gain after I continue to witness “partial miracles” and why I think I will keep asking the same question that the neighbors and relatives of Zechariah asked after his mouth opened, and his tongue freed.

My son is now a “terrific” two. I don’t want to say “terrible”, a common label referring to a toddler, because I that may also reflect how I am doing as a parent (at least in words and thought). Just like he was so busy inside his mother’s belly, he became a very active toddler running around at every chance he gets. His cries are louder now, and he can now tell what he wants and insists on it. He sleeps well now but getting him to sleep has become one of the greatest challenges for me and my wife. Everything I thought about him has evolved from an overwhelming emotional and mental rollercoaster, into a gigantic, humongous volcano with its own weather system constantly erupting and thundering inside my head. But he will always be one of our greatest miracles and we will always believe that “the hand of the Lord is always with him.” Seeing only a part of a miracle may help us hold on to faith. However, there are times seeing most of the miracle, if not all, being laid before us may add to those uncertainties that we were already thinking about. I still worry about being a good father; I still worry about guiding him properly in life; I still worry if I’ll be able to take care of him and keep him away from harm all the time. But I continue to learn that these worries are also part of the miracles that push me forward to face every obstacle head on. Because the other part of that miracle is doing my best to be a good father; one part of that miracle is learning how to guide him properly; and another part of that miracle is accepting that my son will experience hurt and pain, but I can choose to be with him as he goes through it.  Being part of a miracle may sometimes take our gaze away from its benefits. Fear came upon the neighbors of Zechariah maybe because they were overwhelmed with emotions thinking about the future that must come – especially the duties and responsibilities they will have. Like them, when we get overwhelmed by the wonderful things, we tend to focus only on the uncertainties and forget that God has always been working His miracles in us. It is also in those moments of being overwhelmed that we need to remember how God calms our hearts and remind us that we are all part of His Divine plan.

The words of the prophet Isaiah – “The LORD called me from birth…from my mother’s womb he gave me my name” – has struck me by the tender certainty of a Father’s voice speaking from the beginning. As a father guiding my little one down life’s path, I know what it feels like to carry dreams for someone who is yet to learn more about life. One of my prayers for my son, as I likely thought Zechariah also whispered to John was: “May your life shine, may your strength be well spent, may your calling be clear.” Sometimes I cannot help but think that like Isaiah’s words, “I thought I had toiled in vain” when I feel I am not giving what my son needs and deserves. Yet I marvel that every distressed effort and every uncertain step has already been intertwined into a recompense only God could plan.

The calling of John the Baptist also recounts to this Divine Plan. Chosen from the womb to prepare the way of the Lord, he lived as a father’s vision of faithfulness manifested. He did not appear on center stage for applause, but stood in the wilderness, a light of conviction, pointing beyond himself. I imagine Zechariah praising God each time his son’s voice echoed across the Jordan river, confident that every prayer of preparation, every offering of guidance, had not been wasted.

While I still ask, “What will my son be?”, I pray that I keep my eyes fixed on the present miracles: the joy of learning and discovery, the tears and comforts during hurts, and the thrill of being part of every precious moment no matter how small it is. Without seeking an answer to my question, I pray that these miracles would keep reminding me that despite fear of uncertainties, I can redirect back my gaze of partaking in the greatest miracle of God, who journeys with His children and help us grow to become strong in spirit.

Prayer

Dearest Lord, in Your perfect timing You granted Elizabeth the miracle of a son. You showed great mercy, and all who heard rejoiced. By Your providence through Zechariah, John’s name was proclaimed, defying expectation and revealing Your wonderful plan. Graciously fill our hearts with the same wonder and amazement that we may praise and glorify you despite our fears. May we, like John, grow strong in spirit, carrying Your eternal light into the desert of our lives until Your presence is revealed. AMEN.

Ang Paskong Pinagdaanan

   

  The Nativity of the Lord

25 December 2022 

 

First Reading: Is 52:7-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Heb 1:1-6

Gospel: Jn 1:1-18

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko! Mapa-English o Tagalog man, inaanyayahan tayong magsaya sa pagdating ng Panginoon.

Natapos na ang countdown, ang siyam na araw ng simbang gabi, ang salo salo sa noche buena, nagsasaya na ngayon, namamasko, ngunit hindi lahat.

Sa pagdiriwang nawa natin ng Pasko, alalahanin natin ang mga taong hirap maging masaya dahil sila ay may sakit, hiniwalayan, nawalan ng mahal sa buhay, nawalan ng trabaho, walang masilungan, walang pamilya, hindi pa nabibigyan ng hustisya, hindi pa makaahon sa nananatiling pandemya. Madaling sabihin na ipagsawalang bahala ang kanilang pinagdaraanan upang maging maligaya kahit na isang araw lang, kahit sa araw na ito lang ng Pasko, subalit mali na hingin natin sa kanila ang magpanggap na masaya.

Silang mga may pinagdaraanan nga ang tunay na larawan ng Pasko. Tulad sila ng banal na pamilya na walang karamay at masilungan noon sa Betlehem. Bagaman hirap ay puno ng pag asa sa dumating na liwanag, ang hari ng sanlibutan, ang ating tagapagligtas. Hindi man masaya ngayon ang mga may bitbit na problema, siguradong ang panalangin nila ay puno ng pag asa na sawi man sila ngayon, sa pagsapit ng susunod na Pasko nawa ay hindi na. Ipanalangin natin sila.

Lampas sampung taon na ang nakalipas pero naaalala ko pa rin ang Paskong pinagdaanan namin noon, nilalagnat ang nanay at kuya ko, wala pang padalang pera ang tatay kong OFW, ilang oras na lang noche buena na, pumunta ako sa palengke, bumili ng mga sangkap para sa champorado. Niluto ko 'yun at 'yun na ang noche buena namin. Pinakasimple pero doon ko pinakanaramdaman ang Pasko, ang pagdating ni Hesus sa buhay namin, na tiyak nakisalo rin sa aming champorado.

Dumaan ang mga taon, simple pa rin naman ang Pasko namin, nagsisimba sa Midnight Mass at sa mismong araw ng Pasko, minsan nagluluto para sa noche buena, minsan take out na lang sa fast food chain, ang mahalaga naman ay hindi ang handa bagkus si Hesus na nawa ay nasa puso natin, hindi lang kapag Pasko kundi araw araw sana.

Prayer

Hesus, Emanuel namin, nawa palagi Kang maghari sa aming buhay. Makita ka nawa namin sa bawat tao na aming nakakasalamuha. Maging daluyan din nawa kami ng biyaya sa Iyong sambayanan. Amen.

A fragile gift

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) 

- December 25

First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”

Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
for they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.

Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Hebrew 1:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways 
to our ancestors through the prophets; 
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son, 
whom he made heir of all things 
and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me?
And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him..

Gospel: John 1:1-5, 9-14

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. 
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God, 
to those who believe in his name, 
who were born not by natural generation 
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision 
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.

Reflection

By  Bernard M. Borja

In a very cold night, when hearts were captivated by misery, a helpless, vulnerable, fragile infant was born. The angel of the Lord proclaimed, “I am here with Good News for you, which will bring great joy to all the people.”

The birth of a little child, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, was the sign that salvation has come upon us. But how can a helpless, dependent infant can bring salvation to us? If we already know the context of how this child came to be the Messiah and sacrifice Himself for us when He grows up, it will be easy to believe that we are already saved from our sins. But during times of misery and despair, if someone tells us that one fragile infant will turn our misery into great joy; would we be more afraid knowing that this child cannot do anything yet? Or if we do believe, we are also left with a great responsibility to take care of the child and wait for Him to save us.

The helplessness, vulnerability, and frailty of the newborn child are a sign for us to recognize that God is with us, and that He became the Son of Man. During the old times (Old Testament), God revealed Himself to the people as a powerful judge who smite the oppressors with His wonders in order for His people to recognize Him. But this time, He has become one of us. He has “changed His course” to become human, which is vulnerable to temptation, misery, and despair.

We rarely look at things, or people, beyond their appearance, status, and ability. This hinders us to appreciate the Good News expressed by the birth of our saviour, which is to know that we no longer live in fear or believing that His wrath will be brought down upon us and the sinners, but to show His great love for us. We are created in the image and likeness of God, which also means that a man’s dignity is not defined by appearance, status, ability, or influence.

Have we ever thought about how the poor, the needy, the unfortunate, or the people with hearts captivated in despair, celebrate Christmas? Are the people whose hearts have been filled with wickedness in the past would still be worthy to celebrate the Good News? Christmas also reminds us that our frailty and brokenness are one of the reasons why God has sent His only Son. He loves us so much that He wanted to “personally” turn our life around from misery and despair. We may feel that we have nothing to offer Him or unworthy of His sacrifice, but a brokenness offered to Jesus, as a fragile gift, by a sincere heart is accepted by Him and will use it to prepare us for a greater purpose of bringing the Good News of great joy to the people.

Today, we celebrate the opening of our hearts to receive the Good News and proclaim God’s great love for us. May we see Jesus in each other and be grateful that He came to bring us healing, wholeness, and holiness, so that the hymn of praise “Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people of good will”, will  no longer be on our lips only, but also in our hearts.

Prayer

Lord, we celebrate today Your presence as we receive the Good News of great joy that You have promised us. May we see beyond the hearts of the people we meet so that we may be able to realize that your coming is for us all, saints and sinners alike. Grant us compassion that we may reach out to the people who are desperate to receive Your love. May we be able to offer You our brokenness wholeheartedly and accept the healing that You alone can give.
All these we ask in the name of Jesus Christ,
AMEN.