Faithful Endurance

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

29 June 2025

 

First Reading: Acts 12:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

 

Reflection

By: Bernard M. Borja

 

In the regress and movement of our lives, hardship often feels like a weight too heavy to bear. But for Saints Peter and Paul, suffering became the fire in which their faith was strengthened, the foundation from which the Church’s mission would flourish. Their life reminds us of that faithful endurance and trust in God are not just virtues to be admired but living realities that we also experience through our own struggles. Today, as we commemorate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, we are reminded that God’s providence meets us not by taking away our trials, but by inviting us into a deeper solidarity with Christ’s passion and resurrection.

When Peter was imprisoned by Herod and bound by chains, he still slept peacefully between two soldiers. I imagine if I’m in that same situation, my whole body would not be able to rest. How could I rest when there’s a high possibility that before the sun rises, I would be executed? But Peter sleeping peacefully reveals a strong conviction of trust in the Lord. Peter’s deliverance was like a modern cinematic scene – chains falling away, doors locked opening without keys – and it stands as a powerful image of how God often sets us free. It is not by dodging our imprisonment, but by being present within it and shattering its walls.

Like Peter, Paul also faced execution with remarkable peacefulness. He did not desire for escape but entrusts himself wholly to God’s care. Here, deliverance takes on a different form – not chains falling away, but with a proclamation of completion or accomplishment of mission that glorifies God. Paul’s faithful endurance becomes our guide for evangelical mission that our sufferings are woven into Christ’s own offering, strengthening the Church as we share in his cross.

Peter’s reply to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, is both gift and commission. Jesus words to him, “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father” tells us that divine revelation does not flow from human understanding, but from relationship with the Father. In his commissioning, the keys of the kingdom are entrusted to Peter, which started an authority rooted in faithful witness more than earthly power. In his chains and in his sleep, Peter models a shepherd whose strength lies in unshakeable trust, teaching us that the Church’s stability springs from the obedience of faith.

Paul illustrates another side of that same mission. As “apostle to the Gentiles,” his heart beats for the unreached and the unworthy, tirelessly proclaiming Christ even at the point of death. His evangelization is not fueled by ambition but by a deep compassion born of his own conversion and trials. Each wreckage, imprisonment, and thorn in the flesh reminds us that witnessing to Christ demands courage in hardship. Paul’s gaze never left the mission of the Gospel. He measures his life by souls won for Christ’s kingdom, not by comfort or passive service.

Through Peter and Paul, we also learn that our personal hardships – griefs, sicknesses, betrayals, and doubts, are not distractions from mission, but its essence. When we allow our suffering to unite with Christ’s suffering, we become living sacraments of ascending hope, whispering to a broken world that God is here with us, and that there is resurrection. We bear witness in compassion for those suffering and displaced by war and conflict, with those who are still holding on to hope while lying sickly in hospital beds, in our own hopelessness but faithful enduring prayers, and in moments of silent surrender when we look forward to saying, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sends his angel and rescued us.”

In our own trials in life, we can ask ourselves “How has God delivered me? By breaking the chains or by holding me gently in His presence? In what ways has my faithful endurance drawn others to Christ?” Like Peter and Paul at the brink of death, may our hearts rest in God’s promise that every trial endured in faith and love becomes a testament to His infinite mercy. May our own lives, wounded but not broken, be the living stones upon which Christ builds his Church, both persistent and unshakeable.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, grant us faithful endurance in our trials, that our sufferings may unite us to Your passion and bear witness to resurrection. Pour out Your mercy on the innocent families in the war-torn region of the Middle East, healing their deeper wounds, comforting the displaced, and granting peace to their hearts. Transform our own hardships into living stones of Your Church, unshakeable and bright with hope. May we, like Your apostles, trust Your providence despite persecution and conflict. Through Your grace, may we also become peace-builders and console the oppressed, and bring Your presence to those suffering alone. With the intercession of Mary, our dear mother, may we remain in Your gentle loving peace. AMEN.

The Church is the People

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time 23 August 2020
First reading Isaiah 22:19-23

Thus says the Lord to Shebna, the master of the palace: “I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your post. On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open. I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honour to his ancestral house.

Second reading                                                          Romans 11:33-36

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” “Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 16:13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

Almost six months after the community quarantine was enforced, churches remain to celebrate The Eucharist, with very few people who attend physically, but continue to extend through online media. During the first weeks of the quarantine, the faithful have been longing to receive the sacraments especially The Holy Eucharist. But because of the quarantine and to slow the spread of the virus, churches have temporarily closed their doors to the people. Since then, the hunger and thirst for spiritual consolation has grown for many people.

After more than a month, many parishes still held Masses especially the commemoration of The Passion and Resurrection of Christ during Holy Week. Many people wanted to go back to

church insisting that the church should also be reopened along with business establishments.

Some even pointed out that the decision of the bishops and clergy to remain close is not acceptable because the faithful need to receive The Eucharist physically. They also went on saying that it is the very foundation of our Catholic faith. While this desire is valid and true because of our longing for Christ, sometimes people forget how Jesus built the Church through Peter and the apostles. Jesus built not just a physical house of prayer but a spiritual home in each of us. Jesus continues to desire to live in our hearts and make it our home, if only we realize that and welcome Him. Sometimes, we become blinded by our pride of knowing more about our faith. Our understanding of the Church is hindered by thinking for our own selves and being entitled to being served. We forget that most of the time, God reveals Himself to us when we are outside of the house of prayer. This is evident during this pandemic and even continues today through the efforts of helping those in need. When the Church closed its doors during the quarantine, it is because the Church has been deployed, and God opened many more churches at homes.

In the Gospel today, Peter, without a doubt, acknowledged who Jesus is. Even though there

were times when Peter has doubts, especially during difficult situations like the storm, he would always remind himself that Jesus is The Son of The Living God. It is our human frailty that reminds us that we need God in our life and through this weakness, we are able to see clearly the power of God through us.

Everything that God has revealed to us is enough for our human mind to take and understand.

There are things that have been revealed to us but could not fathom what it really means, so we interpret in our own human ways (like the different interpretation of the Bible verses). But in these interpretations, it will never be enough to understand the whole of God’s wisdom. This is a limitation of our humanness. But this limitation is a reminder for us to open our hearts in faith. It is because of our humanness that we long to see more of the wonders of the Lord in extraordinary ways. But it is because of our limited understanding that our faith is strengthened. Just as how God’s power is mostly revealed in our weakness, God entrusts the key to the gates of heaven to a human being who also became the foundation of the very Church that God continues to build on earth. The Church is the people. For in this Church that God continues to reveal Himself through each of us, to let His kingdom be brought from heaven to earth.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

We know in our hearts and we proclaim to the world that You are The Son of The Living God. We open our hearts to welcome You as we continue to be the church and serve You as we should. We ask You to free us from any binding of spiritual pride which hinders us from thinking and caring for others. We beg for Your grace of patient heart to continuously receive You spiritually, and in the near future physically through The Eucharist. We ask all these with dear Mother Mary’s intercession as we also commemorate her coronation. Amen.

On the Same Sea

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9 August 2020
First reading 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13

At that place Elijah came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. ” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Second reading                                                          Romans 9:1-5

I am speaking the truth in Christ-I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 14:23-33

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.

Immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid. ” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. ” He said, “Come. ” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

Let me share a story about a fisherman and his son:

One late evening, a fisherman took his 13-year old son with him on a boat and went fishing. They threw their nets out when they were at the middle of the sea and waited. As the hours passed by, the weather was becoming rough. The wind blew stronger and the waves started crashing to both sides of their boat. The fisherman was afraid but not because of the storm. He was used to this kind of weather ever since he was a young fisherman. This time, he was afraid for his son. This was his son’s first fishing at the middle of the sea. He was being tossed from both ends of the boat as the wind got stronger and the waves got bigger. But the look on the boy’s face made him curious and somehow enough to calm the fear of the fisherman. His face shows as if everything will be fine.

“Don’t worry, father. All is well with us. The storm will pass in a while.” said the boy with such an assuring look in his eyes. As they both tried to pull the nets, they saw another boat not far from where they are. It was full of people trying to hold on for their lives. But the fisherman and his son were stunned when a white figure appeared near where the struggling men are.

“Father, look!” said the boy pointing at the white figure. “I think I know that man!” The fisherman was astounded not because he also recognized the man, but they were seeing him walking on the water and unfazed by the strong winds. Suddenly, they saw one man going out of the other boat and tried to get near the man in white. The fisherman and his son were amazed to see that the man who came from the boat can also walk on water. But after a few steps from the boat, the man began to sink and was crying out for help. The man in white reached out his hand to pull the sinking man and they both got back into the boat. Suddenly, the storm passed and the sea became calm as if nothing happened.

The fisherman asked his son, “How did you find the courage and believe that the storm will not take us? I was afraid that you might despair and cry out when we were getting hit by the waves. But it was you who assured me that everything is well.” The boy said to him, “Because you are with me. I know that any father would not mean harm to his child especially if he wants to teach his good ways. I am the son of a fisherman who still insists on fishing in spite of the rough weather and even if his family does not want him to go.

But most of all, before we even got into the boat, our supper made me trust someone who I know will take care of us even if he is not near. It was you who wanted to go and listen to that man before we go fishing. We only have five loaves and two fish which are enough to sustain us in the middle of the sea while fishing. But when I offered these to that man, he multiplied it and shared the food to everyone who was also there. We still have more when we return home. That moment, I knew that all will be well if we trust that God will take care of our needs.”

The fisherman smiles as he says, “You’re right, son. I am somehow ashamed to have forgotten the grace we have received yesterday. But seeing that same man who we listened to, walking on the water while the storm got terrible, I had a feeling that he will save not just that boat full of men, but also all the other boats in this sea.”

Of course this story is not in the Bible, but somehow this alternate story may remind us that the saving grace of God will always be for all. As St. Paul said, even the Jews and Gentiles in spite of their unbelief, are included in the divine plan of eternal salvation. The apostle was even willing to be excluded from this salvation if it will help his fellow Jews understand and believe that Christ is the Messiah.

Trusting is one big part of the whole plan. But being aware of the presence of God is as important as trusting and believing. Today, we are invited to become aware of God’s presence as He continues to reveal Himself to us in this difficult time. Just like how God revealed Himself to Elijah through a light whispering sound (a sound like silence), we need to constantly seek God through silence and be able to dwell in His presence. Though in the middle of this storm, we might have doubts arising like the disciples in the sea. But we must remember how Jesus revealed himself saying, “It is I. Take courage.”

The disciples,especially Peter, did not immediately recognize Jesus. Peter still insisted for Jesus to reveal Himself again through something extraordinary. Jesus responded to Peter’s request, and Peter was able to walk on water. But even in walking, Peter may not still be aware of the presence of Jesus. Only because of the strong winds, and as he started to sink, did he acknowledge that Jesus is with them.

Maybe we are like Peter. After all the extraordinary things we have witnessed in our life, we still seek more of it. Maybe because we are used to being aware of the presence of God in the grander events in our life. God is inviting us to find Him in all things, most especially in ordinary things. Today, we may be in the middle of the sea being tossed by the waves because of a violent storm, but looking at how the men and women in white (our healthcare workers) extend their reach to the needy may remind us of how Jesus pulled Peter out of the water. God also reveals Himself today through simple things like a prayer that we came across social media, which also moved us to pray; or a phone call from a loved one who really wants to see and embrace us but are not able to, which remind us that all will be well in time; or the provisions that we have which enables us to give a portion to the needy, but still have enough for our own household.

Finding God today may be difficult if we can only see the pain and suffering. But these pain and suffering may help us cry out to God, Who helps us see and feel His consolation through the people who continue to give without counting the cost, the people who work hard but do not seek rest, and through the people who continue to serve even without receiving any reward.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for staying with us always to assure us that everything will be well. Help us to trust in You always and be aware of Your presence in all things. In moments of doubts, we ask You not to turn away but pull us out from the water as we sink. May we strengthen our faith as we continue to seek You in each other. Please continue to protect us especially our healthcare workers as they risk their lives in saving the lives of the sick. This we ask through the intercession of our dear Mother Mary. Amen.

Are You Leaving Too?

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

26 August 2018

First reading                                                                   Joshua 24:1-2
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors-Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor-lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.

Second reading                                                     Ephesians 5:21-32

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind-yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church.

Gospel                                                                     John  6:60-69

Many of the disciples of Jesus remarked, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.”

For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”

Reflection

By Jessa Janelle Padilla

Who are we going to serve?  To whom would we commit? These are the questions that we need to ask ourselves based on our readings for today.

In our current situation, most people opt to serve those who are in power in order to obtain a little power. They disregard their morality and dignity just to serve them. The term ‘yes-person’ is so much used nowadays. But is it worth it? Are they happy and fulfilled? I think no, because only by serving the Lord can grant us happiness and make us fulfilled.

In my own perspective, I am not in favor of serving other gods other than our Savior Jesus Christ. I am not fond serving those in power. I don’t want to be a yes-person in order to gain power and popularity. I don’t want to disregard my morality and dignity to serve them. I am willing to serve those who are incapable and powerless since they are the representation of God here on earth. They are the ones who are most in need of our service. As a government employee, I took an oath to serve the people and their welfare.

                

In terms of commitment, I am now committed to serving the Church regardless of how busy my schedule is. I am devoting my day-off to serve Him as long as He permits me to do so.  He is my top priority and I am willing to cancel my schedule when He calls me. Just like one Sunday afternoon, my mother, my best friend, and I were hanging out in Ocean Park and I received a text message from my co-lector that they are in need of my help since the one who is scheduled to serve the last mass in the Cathedral is not available. I responded yes immediately since I believed that wherever I am or whatever I do, when He calls me I must respond yes to Him.

In our Second reading for today it reminds us especially those were joined by Him in marriage to be submissive to one another: to love and cherish each other as how God does to the Church. He reminds us that the two persons that He bond through marriage will become one flesh. Two persons as one just like Him and the Church. A great mystery that only those with a deep faith believes. Once we commit ourselves to somebody, we should be aware that we are being one with them.

In our Gospel reading, Jesus asks His twelve disciples if they also want to leave Him just like the other disciples who returned to their former way of life after hearing His words. If Jesus would ask us the same question, what would be our response to Him? Are we going to abandon Him or keep on following Him? Nowadays, some Christians are abandoning the Church because of lack of faith, influence of peers or some untoward incident such as the clerical sexual abuse and cover-ups in various parts of the world. Who would we blame that such incident happened? Is it God or ourselves? As Christians we should look after our fellow Christians and be responsible to keep their faith to God burning in their hearts, leading them in the right path and continue nourishing each other’s spiritual life. Let us not abandon each other so that we will all together serve, follow, and preach His words. Like Peter, let's affirm in our daily lives that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. Let our lives tell others that we have come to believe and are convinced that He is the Holy One of God.

Prayer

Lord, Jesus Christ, we thank You most sincerely on giving us the chance to serve You. Humble our hearts to serve those who are badly in need of our help. May You guide us in choosing whom we will commit and serve. And may we serve You with utmost loyalty and sincerity. United with the Blessed Virgin Mary we make this prayer. Amen.

Everyone is Looking for You

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time   4 February 2018

First reading: Job 7: 1-4, 6-7 “Do not human beings have a hard service on earth, and are not their days like the days of a laborer? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like laborers who look for their wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I rise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing until dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and come to their end without hope. “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good. Second reading:  1 Corinthians 9:16ff  For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under the law I became as one under the law-though not being myself under the law-that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law – not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ-that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Gospel: Mark 1: 29-39 Jesus and his friends left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Reflection

by Carlo Alexis Malaluan

One day, a priest was on his way to Christ the King Parish to celebrate Mass. Unfamiliar with the directions, he got lost. He asked the by-standers where to find the Christ the King Parish. Unfortunately, the by-standers pointed him to Chowking and Burger King which are both fast-food franchises!

Our gospel today invites to reflect: Who are we looking for? 

Sickness, torments, dryness, these are part of our human experience.  Suffering is inevitable but amidst these things, who are we looking for? We might seek help from the best doctors and look for the world’s greatest experts but sooner or later we would realize that their efforts would also fall short for we are in endless search. We are never satisfied. As Saint Augustine puts it into words, our hearts are restless! 

Our gospel draws our search not to what, but to whom. We are not looking for an object, an idea, a concept but for a person, for someone! As Saint Peter approaches Jesus saying, "Everyone is looking for You!" Saint Peter speaks for us all. We are in constant search for God, for His mercy and compassion! 

This is our movement and it is not surprising! But what is surprising is that Jesus never hesitates to come to us. He never refuses our invitation affirming that this is why He came. 

In our lives, we experience such tribulations wherein we cannot find hope. We fall into despair and exhaustion. We are restless. But God comes to us, offering His compassion. He cures our “sickness” and expels the “evil” within us. We find comfort and solace in Him. We find our answers in Him.

Prayer

Lord, help us to see Your face everyday. Help us to seek You and find You for our hearts are restless until it rest in You. Amen.

How Prepared Are You?

Second Sunday of Advent  10 December 2017

First reading

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
“In the desert prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”

See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.

                

Second reading

Second Epistle of St. Peter 3:8-14

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish.

Gospel

Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John the baptizer appeared in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Reflection

by Jessa Janelle Padilla

Today’s readings are all about waiting and preparing for the coming of the Messiah. How do we prepare when we expect someone to come and visit us?

In times when we are expecting a visitor to come to our home, we oftentimes do general house cleaning, prepare good meals, put new curtains in our windows, and pull out those antique or nice utensils, even new towels, bed sheets, pillowcases, and blankets to be used by our guest. It is how we show our hospitality, welcoming them wholeheartedly. In factories, if there is a scheduled inspection, they clean the entire surroundings and machines, put things in order, and gather their staff for a meeting in order to pass the inspection.

In the First Reading, Isaiah foretells a voice crying out in the desert to prepare the way of God. Such preparation is necessary to to see and reveal the glory of God.

In the Second Reading, Peter said that the Lord does not wish anyone to perish but would welcome all who will come in repentance when He comes back again at a time unknown to everyone. The message is for us to live each day like our last day. We should be thankful, helpful to those in need and repent of our sins so that we are always ready for the coming of the Lord and His judgement.

Our Gospel is all about John the Baptist who prepared the way of Jesus and baptized the people of Jerusalem with water. He encouraged them to acknowledge their sins and be baptized as as sign of their repentance, as a sign of getting ready for Jesus. He also told them that Jesus is mightier than him and will baptize them with the Holy Spirit. John is a perfect example of being humble, lifting up Jesus as someone above him.  

In our daily lives, how do we prepare the way for Jesus? How do we introduce Jesus to other people? My brothers and sisters, as we are now in the second Sunday of Advent,  let us be like St. John the Baptist who is humble and a good servant of God. Let us prepare ourselves for the Lord's Coming, introduce Him to one another, and encourage them to be watchful too.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, guide us in preparing Your way and teach us to be like St. John the Baptist, a humble witness proclaiming Your Coming. May this season of Advent help us to learn our purpose in life and be prepared for Your coming. This we ask through Christ Our Lord. Amen.