All Things Are Possible

   

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 October 2024

 

First Reading: Wis 7:7-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

Second Reading: Heb 4:12-13

Gospel: Mk 10:17-30

 

Reflection

By: Fely C. Santiago

 

"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God."

Our family has experienced real tests of faith. These experiences "elevated" our faith to the highest level. My third apo was born a blue baby and was not breathing for 10 minutes. It was during CoVid time in 2022. And if that wasn't enough, three weeks after he was born he was positive for CoVid and had to be confined in the hospital again. Today he is 1 year and 10 months old and a very strong and healthy baby. Our fifth apo was born in October 2023 and was revived for 40 minutes. She lived only for four days and didn't make it. It was the saddest moment for our family. We stormed heaven with prayers but she was destined to become our angel in heaven. Our sixth apo was born premature 32 weeks because her mother was having hypertension and we had fear she might have pre-eclampsia and either the baby or the mother will not make it. We surrender everything to God. Now that premature baby is 8 months old, strong and healthy. Our seventh apo from the mother who lost our fifth apo developed PTSD and we were anxious throughout her pregnancy. The  last two weeks prior to her delivery seemed to be the longest time for our family as we await the birth of her baby. Finally on September 15 of this year, she had a smooth Caesarian section to a healthy and strong baby boy, our sixth living apo.

Our grandchildren are the joys of our heart and they are testimony of God's mercy and faithfulness. They are all our miracle babies and we are thankful to the Lord that we have been entrusted with these beautiful grandchildren. Really nothing is impossible with the Lord. Our faith is our only weapon. If we have faith as small as a mustard that is more than enough. Jesus, I trust in You.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, as I spend time with You, I am aware of how blessed I truly am. I think of Your love and Your mercy and how it has helped us overcome all the challenges in life. Thank You for always being there for me Lord and to find peace in the midst of trials and difficulties. Give me the grace to always have a childlike trust in You. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Dreamer, the Mover

4th Sunday In Advent
19 December 2010





Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.


First reading Isaiah 7:10-14


The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’
Then Isaiah said:
‘Listen now, House of David:
are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men
without trying the patience of my God, too?
The Lord himself, therefore,
will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child
and will soon give birth to a son
whom she will call Immanuel,
a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’

Psalm 23:1-6

Second reading Romans 1:1-7

From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures.
This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took was a descendant of David: it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ. To you all, then, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.

Gospel Matthew 1:18-24

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,
a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.


Reflection
By Pietro S. Albano

During my early teens I had a dream of talking with the late Cardinal Jaime Sin, former Archbishop of Manila. When I woke up and told my aunt about it, she only dismissed it. A few years later, during a convention of our religious organization, I was assigned together with other youth members to arrange the stage right after the Mass presided by Cardinal Sin. As my colleagues and I approached the stage, we were surprised to see the Cardinal still there. One by one we approached him to kiss his ring. When it was my turn, I introduced myself as the grandson of Dr. Paulino Albano whom he knew very well. "Oh yeah?" was his only reply with a smile on his face, but for me it was a moment I never thought would have happened. A dream has come true!

In the last leg of our preparation for Christmas, we are presented with a great dreamer: Joseph of Nazareth. A few nights ago, we watched "The Nativity Story" on DVD. It was a movie produced in 2006 which, as the title suggests, tells the story of Christ's birth. Joseph was portrayed as an industrious young carpenter who had feelings for Mary although this was not reciprocated at once by his beloved. He came to Joachim (Mary's father) when the latter did not have enough money to pay taxes which resulted in Joachim's donkey to be confiscated as a collateral. Joseph and Mary were later engaged. However, something happened which almost destroyed the future of this two people. Mary, as what we are told in the Gospel, conceived a child but not of Joseph's. Yet we witnessed how a dream made a U-turn!

Some commentaries stated that although the angel quoted Sacred Scriptures in the dream, the devil may have disguised himself to trick Joseph. But why did Joseph believe? Some said that is because he was a "son of David". He was aware that this Saviour would be born in the "house of David" to which he belonged.

Like Mary, Joseph was one of those who longed for the Coming Messiah. Perhaps this longing may have subconsciously worked its way into Joseph's dream. To obey the angel's instructions in the dream would then be his way of welcoming the Messiah into his family. Hence, Jesus would become known too as the "Son of David".

By his obedience, Joseph the dreamer of salvation became a mover in that salvation. His faithful obedience made that dream come true! Indeed, throughout that movie that we watched, Joseph truly conducted himself as a mature and responsible husband and father, a hero if you like for those in need: the Virgin and the Child in her womb.

We may not be as blessed as Joseph, but we too are called to make that salvation take place in our midst. During the first Christmas, Jesus came to offer Himself on the cross so that you and me would regain our place in heaven. Thus, by baptism we became children of God! As such, we are now called to be the new Josephs who will make dreams into realities. This coming Christmas, there are many out there who dream of a decent meal or dress or any other gift. They may perhaps only wish for someone to be with them this season. Reach out to them!

And if, at times you are hesitant to do so lest others would ridicule you, think of this mantra which I took from what the angel said:

(Your name), son/daughter of God, do not be afraid!

Prayer

Lord, You chose St Joseph to be the father of Your only Son on earth. By his prayers and examples may we take courage in Your promises and plans for us and cooperate in Your works as we prepare ourselves for the Saviour's Birth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Next week on God-speak

No One Left Out

Caught In The Act Of Faith

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
8 August 2010


Come, let us rejoice in the Lord: let us acclaim God our salvation, alleluia.

First reading Wisdom 18:6-9
That night had been foretold to our ancestors,
so that, once they saw what kind of oaths they had put their trust in, they would joyfully take courage.
This was the expectation of your people,
the saving of the virtuous and the ruin of their enemies;
for by the same act with which you took vengeance on our foes
you made us glorious by calling us to you.
The devout children of worthy men offered sacrifice in secret
and this divine pact they struck with one accord:
that the saints would share the same blessings and dangers alike;
and forthwith they had begun to chant the hymns of the fathers.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 32:1,12,18-20,22

Second reading Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19
Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended.
It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out for a country that was the inheritance given to him and his descendants, and that he set out without knowing where he was going. By faith he arrived, as a foreigner, in the Promised Land, and lived there as if in a strange country, with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. They lived there in tents while he looked forward to a city founded, designed and built by God.
It was equally by faith that Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive, because she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful to it. Because of this, there came from one man, and one who was already as good as dead himself, more descendants than could be counted, as many as the stars of heaven or the grains of sand on the seashore.
All these died in faith, before receiving any of the things that had been promised, but they saw them in the far distance and welcomed them, recognising that they were only strangers and nomads on earth. People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of their real homeland. They can hardly have meant the country they came from, since they had the opportunity to go back to it; but in fact they were longing for a better homeland, their heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has founded the city for them.
It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He offered to sacrifice his only son even though the promises had been made to him and he had been told: It is through Isaac that your name will be carried on. He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead; and so, figuratively speaking, he was given back Isaac from the dead.

Gospel Luke 12:32-48
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.
‘Sell your possessions and give alms. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming,” and sets about beating the menservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’

Reflection
By Anabelle Payod-Balla

I’ve been reading a lot about people who devoted their lives to the Lord. Most of them are missionaries and are enjoying family life at the same time. They committed their lives to service and in proclaiming God’s love while entrusting fully their daily needs to Lord. Like Abraham, they modified their living condition, turned away from conventional way of living, in order to live a life following the Lord’s will. They seek to please the Lord, only the Lord. This is faithfulness.

There are times when I would think what my life look like if I have chosen a missionary life. Living and serving in a certain community full time. I imagine it to be very fulfilling for the soul. I was actually thinking if I can do this once all of my kids are already settled. But then, I don’t really have to wait for that time just to live a faithful life for the Lord, right?

I believe God has put me where He wants me to be, where I can serve Him best as His faithful servant through my family and the community around me. I can be as faithful as those serving full time in the community as missionaries, if I seek only to please the Lord in everything I do. This means doing what is good in the eyes of the Lord no matter what other people say, all the time, even if nobody is looking… being caught doing good for the Lord. This means doing the right things because I want to honor God with my being, with the goodness of my heart. This is how I define being faithful.

Father, we thank you for the gift of faith. Help us to enrich our faithfulness to You through the fruits of our labor and the everyday miracles You unfold in our lives. Amen.

Be caught doing good and you’ll surely enjoy God’s generous favors!

Next on God-speak
She Did Well!