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.

Childlike Humility

    

  Feast of the Santo Niño

15 January 2023

 

First Reading: Is 9:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: 96:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Eph 1:3-6, 15-18

Gospel: Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle Balla

 

Despite the angry voice and stern look from his mother, a crying child with outstretched hand is trying to draw closer to his mother. Upon reaching, the child immediately hugged and kissed her mother as if trying to defuse her mother's anger. He stopped crying then and contently laid his head on his mother's shoulder.

I guess this is what "childlike" is. In meekness, reach out to bridge the distance with love, hope, and trust that you will be welcomed and forgiven. Nothing unpleasant in the heart. No retaliation, no inhibitions, no doubts, no sense of entitlement, no expectations. Only the desire to reconcile and draw closer to the people you love. There's humility, childlike humility-pure, honest, simple, spontaneous. It can lead us to inner peace, forgiveness, healing and ultimately, joy.

Happe Feast of SANTO NIÑO!

May this celebration brinf out and affirm the humble "child" in us.

Prayer

DAILY PRAYER TO SANTO NIÑO

(HOLY CHILD JESUS)

Taken from: catholicsstrivingforholiness.org

Holy Child Jesus, You shed Your blessings on whoever invokes Your name, look kindly on us who kneel humbly before Your holy Image, and hear our prayers. We commend to Your mercy the many poor and needy people who trust in Your Divine Heart. Lay Your all powerful hand upon them and help them in their needs.

Lay Your hand upon the sick, to cure them and sanctify their suffering; upon those in distress, to console them; upon sinners, to draw them into the light of Your divine grace; upon all those who, sticken with grief and suffering, turn trustingly to You for loving help.

Lay Your hand also upon all of us and give us Your blessing. O littke King, grant the treasures of Your divine mercy to all the world, and keep us now and always in the grace of Your love! Amen.

We Are Each Other's Blessing!

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

08 July 2018

First reading                                                                      Ezekiel 2:2-5
When he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. He said to me, “Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. Their descendants are impudent and stubborn.
I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.”

Second reading                                                     2 Corinthians 12:7-10

In order to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Gospel                                                                     Mark 6:1-6

Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Reflection

By Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

Do you feel proud whenever Manny Pacquiao wins over his opponent on the boxing ring? How about when Pia Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe 2015? Do you look up to the achievements of Lea Salonga in Miss Saigon and Lisa Macuja in ballet? Yes, of course! We, Filipinos take pride and celebrate the successes of our “kababayan” worldwide.

Unfortunately, Filipino pride is contrary to today’s gospel reading as Jesus was bluntly dishonored in His hometown. His credibility and family history were questioned by those who heard Him teach in the synagogue. They looked  down on Him and took offense at Him. As a result, He was not able to perform any mighty deed in His native place, apart from curing a few sick people by laying His hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Faith, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church is our adequate response to God. We are called to completely submit our intellect and will to God the Revealer. Of all the wonderful things that God has made, the salvation that Jesus has offered, and the guidance given by the Holy Spirit, the only way to repay His goodness is to have faith and believe in Him.

Through faith, miracles happen. I bet you already heard testimonials of healing, conversion, and answered prayers. These beautiful stories were fulfilled because of people's unshakeable faith. They never doubted that Jesus can help them in their adversities and petitions. They have given their full confidence and relied heavily on God’s power. Faithful as ever, God did not disappoint them. He allowed them to experience His overflowing love and generosity. If only the people believed in Jesus at that time, they could have experienced more and great miracles compare to other towns in Israel.

On the other hand, as people come and go in our daily lives, we are challenged whether to look at them as blessings or threats. If we let envy win our hearts, chances are we fall like the doubting fellows of Jesus Christ. Because of envy, they could not accept that someone like Jesus Who is also a native of their place will rise up as a good and righteous man, an eloquent preacher, and a wonderful healer.

As we continue to reflect on today’s gospel, may we learn to always have faith in God and believe in His immeasurable capacity. Let us consider each other as blessings so that we may help one another towards our salvation journey. May we take pride in everyone’s achievements. And instead of getting envious, let us be grateful for what they achieved and see them as inspirations.

Prayer

Lord, open my mind, my heart, and my soul to You and to Your people. Strengthen my faith in You and show me the goodness of those around me. I ask this through Your Son, Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

God Has a Plan

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary   8 December 2017

First reading

Genesis 3:9-15, 20

But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living.                

Second reading

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.

He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us.

With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel as sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, you relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection

by Jessa Janelle Padilla

How obedient are we? How do we handle temptations?

Temptations are all around us and they test our obedience. Sometimes we fall into temptations just like Adam and Eve in our first reading from the Book of Genesis. They have fallen into the temptation of the serpent and ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. They have disobeyed God and have been punished.  And because of what happened, Eve became the mother of all the living.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, our Principal Patroness here in the Philippines. The mother of our Savior and Son of God, Jesus Christ. Eve and Mary differ from each other. Eve disobeyed God and committed sin but Mary obeyed God’s will and conceived Jesus in her womb. She is free from sin.

In the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians it states that “In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intentions of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ’. The verse confirms that we are not born for nothing but we are born to fulfill and accomplish what God destined us to become. We all have our purpose and mission in this world. Let us be obedient to fulfill it and pray to overcome temptations.

Mary was prepared by God from the moment she was conceived in her mother’s womb, Anne. She was conceived immaculately and born free from any sin, worthy to be the mother of Jesus.

We may not have been immaculately conceived like Mary, but God has plan for us and His plan is better than our plan. We should trust Him and never lose hope. Hope will light a fire in our hearts to continue persevering and keep moving forward to achieve a better version of ourselves. We should also be like Mary who said Yes to God’s plan for her. In today’s situation, I admit that it is not easy to answer Yes to any call but let us discern, pray, and put our trust to God so that answering Yes to a call will become easy for us. Let us imitate Mary’s example as an obedient servant of God, with full of grace, and a good mother.  Let us make her our role model. Let us follow the will of God, leading us to holiness, leading us to Jesus who will come to save us!

Prayer

Oh most blessed Lady of the Immaculate Conception, you are full of grace. In you we lift up all our desires. You are the best example of being an obedient servant of God, may we become more like you. Shower us, your children, with your grace.  Light our way towards the crib of Bethlehem.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you. Amen.

The Lord of the World

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time 
22 October 2017

First reading

Isaiah 45:1,4-6

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whom he has taken by his right hand
to subdue nations before him
and strip the loins of kings,
to force gateways before him
that their gates be closed no more:
‘It is for the sake of my servant Jacob,
of Israel my chosen one,
that I have called you by your name,
conferring a title though you do not know me.
I am the Lord, unrivalled;
there is no other God besides me.
Though you do not know me, I arm you
that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun

that, apart from me, all is nothing.’

                

Second reading

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace.
  We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction.

Gospel

Matthew 22:15-21

The Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap Jesus in what he said. And they sent their disciples to him, together with the Herodians, to say, ‘Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in an honest way, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you. Tell us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, ‘You hypocrites! Why do you set this trap for me? Let me see the money you pay the tax with.’ They handed him a denarius, and he said, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’ ‘Caesar’s’ they replied. He then said to them, ‘Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’

Reflection

by Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

Today’s gospel is the situation of the Filipinos now. As we face the problems on drugs, killing people become rampant. Is it just or not?

It seems that we are the Pharisees in the gospel who tried to entrap Jesus in speech, hoping Him to answer wrongly so that we will have the reason to condemn Him and go on with our sins. But like how Jesus intelligently answered the question about census tax, the sixth commandment of God that says “Thou shall not kill” remains unbreakable. As He reiterated the duty of paying to Caesar what is due to Caesar and give to the Lord what belongs to Him, let us be reminded of what is worldly and godly. It is God who gave our life, not the police nor the government leaders; therefore we should always cherish it and safeguard it from harm including the government orders that cause danger to it. We belong to the Father, not to anybody else.

On the other hand, to give what belongs to God is not only seen by obeying the Ten Commandments, but also by following the laws of our world. Throwing our garbage properly, obeying the traffic lights, paying the proper tax are only few ways of becoming good citizens which the Lord does not hinder us to do. In fact, He always encourages us to behave properly on earth and use our talents for everyone’s good. Where can you see someone who is more supportive than Jesus? He never asks us to choose between the world and Him. Instead, He guides us in our undertakings. Because He is the Lord of the world, everything we do here also belongs to Him. As we comply with the laws of our land, may we always keep in mind that our actions affect our Lord. Let’s give glory to God with every just and good deed we make.

Prayer

Oh my Jesus, You are the Lord of the world we live in. May our everyday actions here give delight and bring You glory now and forever. Amen.

To Us

Santo Niño January 15, 2017

First reading Isaiah 9:1-6

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in

blood, will be burned as fuel for flames. For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God- Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful. He will rule as David’s successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!

Responsorial Psalm                                                    Psalm 28:1-4,9-10
Second reading                                                          Ephesians 1: 3-6; 15-18 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and with- out blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to
himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones.

Gospel                                                                         Matthew 18:1-5; 10

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

Reflection by Pietro S. Albano
Looking at a baby or a little child would often make one’s day. The mere sight or sound of one’s child after a busy day lifts up our often wearied spirit. The simple thought of that little one looking up to us keeps us going in spite of how uncertain life could be. Most of us would have already taken down our Christmas decors. When I was about to put our Nativity scene in the box, I looked at the statue of the Baby Jesus and kissed it. Like our children, we feel that same comfort beholding our Lord as a little, helpless, and innocent child. I always use to think that the Christmas season in the Philippines does not end on the feast of the Lord’s Baptism, but on this feast of the Sto. Niño.  And so, across the country (as well as in other parts of the world) devotees bring their various statues of the Holy Child to what is a colourful and vibrant procession.  This celebration brings to mind that “… a child is born to us” (emphasis mine), as written by the Prophet Isaiah. Jesus comes as a humble child to us arrogant people. He comes as an innocent baby to us muddled in sin. He comes as a gentle baby to us who are burdened.  He comes as a frail child to us who are weak. Going back to Isaiah's prophecy, the Sto. Niño comes to us, to our wounded and divided nation as a "Wonder-Counselor, God- Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace".  That’s how special we are!

Prayer

Sto. Niño, we praise and thank You for Your love and mercy to us. As we celebrate Your feast day, help us to realize how precious we are in Your sight. Make our hearts like Yours so that we may be a person to others. United with Mary and Joseph we make this prayer. Amen.

In Praise of the Trinity

The Most Holy Trinity   22 May 2016  

First reading
Proverbs 8:22-31

The Wisdom of God cries aloud:

The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded,

  before the oldest of his works.

From everlasting I was firmly set,

  from the beginning, before earth came into being.

The deep was not, when I was born,

  there were no springs to gush with water.

Before the mountains were settled,

  before the hills, I came to birth;

before he made the earth, the countryside,

  or the first grains of the world’s dust.

When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,

  when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep,

when he thickened the clouds above,

  when he fixed fast the springs of the deep,

when he assigned the sea its boundaries

 – and the waters will not invade the shore –

  when he laid down the foundations of the earth,

I was by his side, a master craftsman,

  delighting him day after day,

  ever at play in his presence,

at play everywhere in his world,

  delighting to be with the sons of men

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 8:4-9

Second reading
Romans 5:1-5

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory. But that is not all we can boast about; we can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.  

Gospel	John 16:12-15

Jesus said:

‘I still have many things to say to you

but they would be too much for you now.

But when the Spirit of truth comes

he will lead you to the complete truth,

since he will not be speaking as from himself

but will say only what he has learnt;

and he will tell you of the things to come.

He will glorify me,

since all he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.

Everything the Father has is mine;

that is why I said:

All he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.’

  Reflection
By Benj Santiago  

“Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us."

Today in the history of our country is the first time we have the presumptive President has been clearly and beyond doubt given a mandate by majority of Filipinos. All of the non-winning candidates had early on conceded just a week after the election. This blessing of a peaceful and orderly election after the campaign that was truly gruelling and many times hurting. An election that is for the first time in the history of our country pushed 55 million voters to fight for their chosen candidates. So much affliction of hate. Family member against another. Community of believers against another group of believers. We are one body, one nation but we suffered so much division and hate. But the good thing is that we had endured and our true character as Filipinos who are God fearing and loving triumphed above all!

Prayers really make wonders. I am sure all the candidates and the voting public prayed. The Holy Spirit enveloped our hearts and the entire nation allowing us to endure the political process that is generally peaceful, credible, and orderly. Thank You Lord! Thank You Holy Spirit! Thank You Father in Heaven!

Prayer

O Most Holy Trinity, we thank You for covering our nation with your mantle of protection and love. We thank You for giving us the most efficient, the swiftest, the most credible and peaceful election! We praise your Name forever. Amen!

      

Descended to Unite Us

Pentecost  15 May 2016  

First reading
Acts 2:1-11

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

  Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

 

 

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 103:1,24,29-31,34

Second reading
1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13

No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

  There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose.

  Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.

 

Gospel	John 20:19-23

In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me,

so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit.

For those whose sins you forgive,

they are forgiven;

for those whose sins you retain,

they are retained.’

  Reflection
By Benj Santiago  

“And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim...but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in an amazement they asked,  how does each of us hear them in his native language?"

Today is the first Sunday after our National Elections. More importantly, today is Pentecost Sunday which is a Sunday after the Ascension of the Lord to heaven. In the First Reading according to Acts of the Apostles, today the Lord's promise  was delivered: The Holy Spirit came down to all the Apostles, disciples, and believers that were gathered together. And as Christ's followers received the Holy Spirit, the crowd that gathered to listen to them were all astonished - the Apostles and disciples were able to speak in various languages.

In the most recent political process we just had, we were like those people in the Old Testament who were building their Tower at Babel. We were very busy building up our idols, our candidates. And so many families went up against each other. So many friendships were broken. So many hurting words and invectives thrown at each other. Such event got us into confusion, division, hate, and misunderstanding. We speak the same language but it is quite obvious we don't understand each other. This reflects what happened in Babel. The exact opposite transpired on that first Pentecost Sunday!

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit that descended to the believers about 2000 years ago would descend upon all of us to unite us, and gather us towards our healing process. I believe in the true nature of Filipinos. And may the healing process start within me. O come oh Holy Spirit!

 Prayer

 

Heavenly Father we thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit be with all of us to unite us, to enable us to understand each other, and to heal the wounds of division brought about by the most recent political exercise our country  had. May the Holy Spirit bring peace and love to all of us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!