A Family Without You

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

28 December 2025

 

First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21

Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

One Christmas Eve, just a few minutes before the Midnight Mass I noticed that the statue of Saint Joseph was missing in the Nativity Scene in church. In his stead was a bald old shepherd. I asked the sacristan mayor, but he could not give me a clear explanation. The Midnight Mass commenced and ended without a trace of the missing statue. The following day, I texted our parish priest to ask if he knew. He suggested that I go to the storeroom in the hope that the statue might be there. The next day, feast of the Holy Family, I went earlier to church to go to the storeroom. My wife and I looked at each other as I brought the statue of my patron saint to the Nativity Scene.

Imagine the Nativity Scene and, in a larger scale, Salvation History without Saint Joseph. It would be unthinkable, wouldn’t it? The Gospels last Sunday and today featured this holy man. In the former, he was the bewildered groom who initially had thoughts of silently breaking up with her fiancée. In the latter, he was the father woken up from sleep as he needed to bring his family to a foreign country to escape Herod’s wrath. In both cases, he showed obedience and cooperated with God’s plan.

Christmas is a season to be reunited with family. If you do have the opportunity, try to look at some of your family pictures. You are part of that family for a reason. We may not like this or that relative, but we have been entrusted with a unique mission in our family. Joseph, his wife Mary and their child Jesus did their part in making their family holy. We too are called to do the same.

Prayer

O Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we entrust our families to your powerful intercession and protection. Help us to realize and fulfil the role we need to play in God’s wonderful plan of salvation. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we give you our hearts and our souls.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist us in our last agony.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may we breathe forth our souls in peace with you. Amen.

Service

    

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

20 October 2024

 

First Reading: Is 53:10-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

Second Reading: Heb 4:14-16

Gospel: Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

 

Reflection

By: Fely C. Santiago

 

"For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve."

Jesus is truly our role model of service and He exemplified selflessness by consistently placing the needs of others before His own. Imagine He is the Son of God but He came to the world to be like us, who understands our humanity. And we see Him serving the poor, going around healing the sick, driving out demons, giving life to the dead, teaching the disciples.

If we want to be great, we really have to serve first. I started serving the Lord in my college days. I was part of the Legion of Mary in our parish and we would go around doing the block rosary from house to house, I would also go to depressed areas as part of our outreach programs. I also became a member of the Ministry of Lectors and Commentators and other ministries in the church. And when I got married, my husband and I continued serving our parish and there was even a time we would serve the 5AM, 6AM, 7AM, and 8AM Sunday Masses! We also became members of the Magis Deo Marriage Encounter Community serving as Shepherds to ME Classes, helping couples as they journey in their spiritual life. And when we had children, we would also bring them to church and eventually my son became an altar boy/sacristan. Thinking about it right now, I couldn't imagine how we were able to do it with our full-time job and raising four children! But truly when you just say YES to the calling of the Lord, He will equip you so you can do your mission.

My other children also started serving at The Feast of the Light of Jesus Community in the Youth and Worship Ministry and led worship singing to the Lord. Today, my youngest daughter and her husband are full time Youth Missionaries. They gave up their careers in the corporate to serve the Lord. My two children who are already married and have migrated to Sydney, Australia continue to serve at The Feast in Sydney.

It's a joy to serve the Lord as an answer to His calling. He loved us so much unconditionally and we want to share that love to others by serving them. And I truly believe that graces and blessings abound when we serve.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for the opportunities to serve You.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15

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.

Huwag Basta Magpapadala

Epiphany of the Lord   5 January 2020

First reading

Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

                

Second reading

Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

Surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Gospel

Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Reflection

by Nats Vibiesca

Hindi na yata nasasabik ang mga tao sa ngayon tuwing sasapit ang “Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon” o mas alam natin sa tawag na pista ng “Tatlong Hari" o "3 Kings”. O napagod na siguro ang mga tao sa nagdaang mga araw dahil sa sobra-sobrang komersiyalismo ng Kapaskuhan. Papaano'y Setyembre pa lang ay Pasko na agad ang feeling ng karamihan; pinipilit sabihing  “Ber na, malamig na ang simoy ng hangin, Pasko na talaga,” kahit dumaranas ng init at tagtuyot dahil sa El Niño at kinailangan pa ang Oratio Imperata para sa ulan dahil sa sobrang baba na ng lebel ng mga dam ng tubig. 

Sa panahon nga ng mga “ber months” ay bumibilis ang mga araw dahil sobrang abala ang lahat sa preparasyon sa Pasko. Todo-todo na ang selebrasyon hanggang Bagong Taon at halos hindi na rin napansin na dapat ipagdiwang ang role ni Mama Mary sa unang araw ng taon. Kaya naman bago pa sumapit ng unang Linggo ng Enero'y, tapos na sa karamihan ang Kapaskuhan at nakalimutan na nga ang Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon. Mas mahalaga na ang mga planong balik-alindog, pagkakaroon ng mga kalendaryo at planner na masusulatan, balik trabaho na agad, o ika nila'y “back to normal” na.

Pero teka muna! Hindi pa tapos ang pagninilay natin sa Kapaskuhan. Kung ang tingin nati'y nauumay na tayo sa mga regalo at ayaw na nating isipin pa ang mga regalo ng tatlong hari o tatlong pantas o mga haring mago, dumako tayo sa pagninilay ng gustong sabihin sa atin ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng kanyang rebelasyon o pagpapakita ng sarili sa ating lahat. Hindi ba't ang paghahanap sa Diyos at pagkilala sa Diyos ang marubdob na hangarin ng ating buhay? Sapagkat kung matagpuan at makilala na natin ang Diyos ay saka natin Siya mamahalin at sasambahin. Para tayong mga tatlong hari na naghahanap sa Diyos mula pa sa malalayong lugar at dumadanas ng hirap sa paglalakbay makita lamang Siya, samantalang binigyan tayo ng biyayang kaalaman kung papaano matatagpuan ang Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa tala. Sa daan patungong sabsaban kung nasaan nakahimlay ang mapagpakumbabang Panginoong Diyos, hahamunin tayo ng mga pagsubok upang hindi siya marating, na sa una'y hindi pa natin maunawaan agad ang mga pagsubok sa buhay, pero sa huli'y ang Diyos mismo ang magpapaalam sa atin ng kahulugan nito. 

Hindi ba't ganito ang nangyari sa tatlong hari nang ihayag sa kanila ang tunay na intensiyon ni Haring Herodes? Sapagkat naging palalo at sakim ang mga naghahariharian sa ating mundo kaya't hindi matanggap ang totoong Hari, bagkus ninais na patayin agad habang sanggol pa ito. Ganito rin ang dinaranas natin sa ating panahon, na ang mga dapat na totoong lingkod ng bayan ay naghahariharian at mistulang napakaaamong tupa dahil pilit na itinatago ang tunay na intensiyong makasarili upang malihis ang ating tuon sa totoong Diyos. 

Tulad ng mga Pantas, maging mapanuri tayo at huwag basta magpapadala sa mga idinidikta ng mga nasa kapangyarihan sa ating bayan na sa una'y akala mo'y sa ikabubuti natin ang intensiyon pero nakatago pala ang masasamang balak at sa huli'y tayo rin ang nagdurusa. Bagkus, makinig tayo sa Diyos na magsasabi sa atin ng dapat nating gawing kabutihan para sa ating sarili at kapwa. 

Tulad ng pagkakakita ng tatlong hari sa pagsilang ng sanggol na Panginoong Jesus natin sa Betlehem at muling pagkakakita ng mga disipulo sa muling pagkabuhay ng Panginoon pagkatapos ng mahabang paglalakbay sa Emaus, na sa pamamagitan ng paghati ng tinapay sa hapag, matatagpuan at siguradong makikita rin natin ang ating Panginoong Jesus sa paghahati ng tinapay sa bawat Misang ating dinadaluhan. Kung buong pamilya ang laging nakikisalo sa piging ng ating Panginoon, ang buong Banal na Pamilya rin ang ating nakakasama sa hapag ng Panginoon.

Prayer

Panginoon, laging kasama ang tukso at paghihirap sa landas na aming tinatahak patungo sa Iyo, ngunit nagsusumaamo kami na ipadalang lagi ang Iyong grasya at patnubay upang makita Ka at makasama ng aming buong pamilya. Amen.

Focus on Jesus

First Sunday of Advent
01 December 2019

First reading                                                                  Isaiah 2:1-5
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Second reading                                                    Romans 13:11-14

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Gospel                                                                     Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples, “For as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an least expected hour.”

Reflection

By Theresa Ballo

When I was a child, I would always look forward to Christmas season because of the tremendous joy the season brings. My mom will start to bring out all the Christmas decors and place most of the Christmas lights as façade of our house. She would usually invite me to go shopping for gifts and giveaways and placed it at the bottom of our Christmas tree. As an active member of a parish youth organization in Gagalangin back then, this is a happy season where we gather in the Church after school to practice for Advent songs, Christmas carols and presentations for our annual gift giving activity for street kids.

It was a routine I anticipate but last December was unique for our entire family. June of last year, with just a week notice, we were asked to vacate our house because we lost the demolition case filed by the so-called “landowners”. Seriously, that was the longest week I had in my entire life. That time we had to pack everything inside our house. Some things were given away to our neighbors. Some were sold. The rest was transferred to Bulacan, in my mother’s hometown. I was there to help ease my parents’ anxiety along with my brothers and some friends of the family working together to segregate things and put them inside the boxes. My parents were tight-lipped as the house they built, raised a family and lived for more than 40 years has taken down, brick by brick.

That house was the only house I lived in for 30 years. Here comes Advent season, the boxes with all the Christmas decors went along with other boxes of clothes that were sent to a charitable institution. We had nothing except for the house lights we have at our new simple house in Bulacan. I was not able to join and serve any Advent and Christmas liturgies at St. Joseph Parish. The neighbourhood, that community and that Parish were my comfort zones. Since both of my elder brothers have their own families already, I was left with my parents on Christmas eve last year. I can still recall that night, when I hugged and kissed my parents for Christmas, I knew they were trying their best to be happy but their eyes showed otherwise. I remembered telling them, “Focus on the child Jesus”.  Focus. Jesus. Focus.  

As I was telling it to them, I realized I was actually telling it aloud to myself. Inside my mind were doubts and fear of all the uncertainties. Focus. Jesus. Focus. Focus on the child Jesus. Once again, I get to realize that apart from the material and visible preparations we do this Advent season, our relationship with our loved ones matter even more. Jesus is not asking us to stay awake all night, but to live in the present, so we can recognize the movements of our Lord when he appears in our lives. He shows himself in the unrehearsed moments, the preoccupations and accidents that can throw us off balance. Our Gospel today is teaching us about salvation and the need to remain faithful. It serves to reinforce the necessity for us to re-evaluate our relationships with God and those around us. Will we put today’s reading into action and seek reconciliation with that person or with our God? When our relationships become our primary focus, especially our relationship with Jesus, we will never go wrong. He provided us with everything we need. Our family has a new simple beautiful house in Bulacan right now. This weekend, lights, candles and a tree will be put into place. But more importantly, our experience last year placed a very important lesson in each of the member of our family.

On the First Sunday of Advent, we light the first candle, traditionally a Candle of Hope to remind us to hopefully look for the coming of Jesus. This year as we all start Advent season, let us fill our thoughts with hope. Let us believe that whatever struggles you are facing right now, that too shall pass. Believe and focus on Jesus. 

Prayer

Teach me, Lord, to recognize Your face wherever I encounter You. Inspire me to live in the present and to see You in everything. Keep me to stay focused on You this season despite all the gatherings, distractions, and busyness that season brings. At the end of the day, remind me Lord, that my relationship with You is what truly matters. Amen.  

Reconnected by Love

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

31 May 2019

First reading                                                                        Zephaniah 3:14-18
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.

Gospel                                                                     Luke 1:39-56

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

I visited two elderly aunts in the Philippines last Christmas, Tita Lilia and Tita Laling. Both were already feeble. Tita Lilia could no longer remember me, while Tita Laling, unable to talk, just stared at me. Back in the day, I was so close to them. Now, it felt as though I was losing them, until I heard Tita Lilia told me that I inherited my receding hairline from my grandfather (her father)!

Mary and Elizabeth were two extraordinary women. One bore a son, being a virgin. The other bore a son, in spite of being barren. When Mary greeted her cousin, Elizabeth's baby leapt for joy and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Full of the Spirit, she exclaimed what is now part of our prayer: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus". Both women were reunited by the Lord. Both were reconnected by Jesus who is coming to save the world.

I may have become a 'stranger' to my two beloved aunts. What really matters though is what brings us together: love. Perhaps Tita Lilia's remarks were an affirmation of that! So be it.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You came to bring the Father's mercy to all. As we continue to receive You in Word and Sacrament, may we also bring You to others especially to the sick and other people in need. Amen.

Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us.

Unwelcoming

Fourth Sunday of Lent 31 March 2019
First reading Joshua 5:9-12

The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

Second reading                                                         2 Corinthians 5:17-21

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.

When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and nobody gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”‘ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe ” the best one-and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'”

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

I have a friend who is now happily serving at a church he longed to belong to. But before he was able to serve, he went through a lot of challenges and ridicule. During his younger years, he spent his time with vices such as womanizing and health abuse. At 19 years old, having a wife and two kids did not stop him from continuing his vices. His family experienced emotional and physical abuse from him and after several years, his family left him. Few years past and he became worse that even his friends went to distance themselves from him. Feeling all alone and depressed, he then realized he was so tired. A simple prayer came out from him as he whispered, "Lord, I want to go home." He got so tired of all the things he pursued for his own satisfaction. He got tired of abusing the people around him especially those closest to him. He got tired of being alone and left out. There were only two ways that he was thinking on how we wants to go home. One is to take his own life and end it all so he can be home to wherever he thinks he might belong. He chose the other way which is to go back to the church where his family and friends belong. But when his former friends saw him there, they said many things to him such as "You don't belong here." and "Baka masunog ka dito (You might get burned here.)"

How easy it is for us to "excommunicate" people who we think have no hope of turning away from their wicked ways. And it is even easier for us to judge people who wanted to come home to God who are in the same family as we are in.

Jesus' message of repentance is still clear in our Gospel. The tax collectors and sinners draw near to listen to Jesus and this may be considered as their first step toward repentance. But those who are "serving" at the temple did not like how Jesus welcomes these people. Just like in the parable, when the elder son spoke to his father and said, "This son of yours...", he is somehow forgetting his relationship as his brother. He forgot that even though the younger son spent all his inheritance, he once belonged to the same house he is in. If we look closely in our society today, this is similar to what is happening. My friend who chose to come home almost gave up and thought of going back to his vices because of those people who were unwelcoming. Sometimes the very people who are always with God, and who has God's everything, are the ones who dissipate the blessings that were always meant for everyone. People think that the greater blessings are only meant for those who are in the house of God. This is somehow true because God has longed for us all to be part of His family. But to think that the riches of the Kingdom of God will only be inherited by the rich in spirit alone is dire. Worse is when we also think that we have always been doing the righteous things, not realizing that we also sin because of the things we did not do for our brother or sister.

Jesus continues to proclaim the Kingdom of God through the parable of the prodigal son. God always runs toward us to welcome us back when we repent. God also pleads with us to forgive each other and celebrate how we are found after being lost. Before Jesus died on the cross, he pleaded to Our Father saying, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." What if Jesus would plead to us with the same words, like the father in the parable, whenever our hearts are hardened to forgive our brother or sister? Should we open our hearts and welcome them if Jesus would say to us, "Please forgive him/her because he/she does not know what he/she was doing."? Or would we behave like the elder brother in the parable?

We must remember that when God calls us to repent, he also calls us to feast and to rejoice. God awaits for us and always sees us from afar when we come home. He also wants us to see from afar our brothers and sisters who wants to come home, for us to welcome them and celebrate because they have been found after getting lost. 

Prayer

Dear God Our Father, we thank You for Your generosity as You continue to give us every blessings and riches in Your kingdom. Open our hearts to share these graces to our brothers and sisters especially to those who want to come home to You. We also pray for the grace to ask forgiveness to those whom we have offended because of committed and omitted mistakes. May we welcome You in our hearts as we commemorate the passion of Your Son this Lent. We also ask Mama Mary for her guidance and intercession as we look up to her, overflowing with God's inspiration, to repent and amend our life. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
30 December 2018

First reading                                                                1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28
In those days Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him. The next time her husband Elkanah was going up with the rest of his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows, Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband, “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the LORD and to remain there forever; I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite.”
Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah brought him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” Hannah left Samuel there.

Second reading                                                    Collosians 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Gospel                                                                      Luke 2:41-52

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast
of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man.

Reflection

By Fely Santiago

He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.

On this Feast of the Holy Family, I’d like to focus on the first and fourth commandments related to people, our “neighbor”. I believe this is the secret to a healthy family. Jesus demonstrated it Himself when He returned to His family after He was “lost” in the temple also doing the ‘WILL” of His Father in Heaven. Jesus is the model of obedience. In the gospel reading today He said “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them..” He was obedient to God the Father and to His foster parents here on earth Mama Mary and St Joseph.

  

Growing up, I also remembers the words of my Papa – Trust and Obey there’s no other way. I see my parents as the first representation of Jesus here on earth. They were the ones who first showed me God’s love. And I believe this is the reason why God asks us to honor them, and why it carries a great promise. The fourth commandment carries a promise – having a long life on earth. (Exodus 20:12). Thus we can see how important, serious, and rewarding this commandment is. I grow up in my spiritual life carrying these words and it has blessed me beyond my wildest imagination.

Today this is one of the biggest challenges in families. Parents do not teach this to their children so children do not understand and become rebellious. We should teach our children that honoring our parents is more than just physical respect. It starts from the inside. We should obey our parents even if sometimes we do not agree with them. That’s where communication comes in. Parents should also have healthy relationship with their children so they can guide them and mold them. Then the children can have a healthy relationship with the parents. Age, experience, and accomplishments do not give us permission to argue with our parents, thinking we know more, we are better persons than them or we are more updated. When God says we honor our parents, we just obey this commandment, period. This is also obedience to God our Father.

How is my relationship with my father and mother? Do I honor them? How do I show my love to them? What can I do today to show my love to them and obey them?

Prayer

Father God, Thank You for today. Thank You for reminding me how important it is to honor my parents. Lord, I know they are not perfect, and they don’t always act the way we would want them to, or they don’t always meet our expectations of “ideal” parents, but Lord, You gave them to me. Help me to always humble myself and show my respect and love for them, just as You did Your earthly parents. You used them mightily to take care of me and to show me and make me feel how much You love me, even if oftentimes I do not properly appreciate them. Lord, You know deep inside how much I love my parents. Help me to become more expressive of that love, and help me to love them back, and to honor them, no matter what. This is my prayer, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.