No Gift is Too Small

   

  Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

02 October 2022 

 

First Reading: Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14

Gospel: Lk 17:5-10

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo

 

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” How many times have we asked this from the Lord? How many times have we doubted our own abilities to face an obstacle? Was there even a time we asked the Lord in prayers, “I cannot do this anymore. When will this end?”

Back then, as a young professional still serving the Parish, I asked God, why is He allowing unfortunate events and heartbreaks to happen in my life. Haven’t I had enough? At a young age, my parents brought me to the Church to serve as they do. I thought it was a privilege, that things in my life will be easier and happier. That I will be meeting and getting along well with Godly persons. Growing up in the Church is an assurance of growing up with real faith. Yet, in my experience this wasn’t the case – at first.

In the Gospel this Sunday, it appeared to me it was more of a guided reflection than a parable, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus’ answer them with an insightful instruction, “If you have the faith the size of the mustard seed…”, He’s telling them “great faith” is not a requirement, not even a necessity. Just with little faith, a size of a mustard seed, God with all His loving power can already do great things through them. God fills us, works on what we have, meets us where we are, so we can still pay forward to others and share who God really is.

When the disciples asked for more faith, Jesus replied to look closely in their roles as servants on the table. This is a lesson on obedience and humility. When the going gets tough, seemingly impossible to understand and even continue to do our tasks, we are supposed to focus on doing our duty as servants of the Lord, no matter how small and seemingly irrelevant our actions may be. At times when we are hurt and wounded, we would stay home and wobble in a corner, Jesus reminded us that our Master, our God is with us. It is the time where we are called to fully trust in Him. “Come here immediately

and take your place at the table?

Obedience is derived from the Latin word, “obedire”, which is translated as “to listen”. Attentive listening is needed for us to fully understand the Lord’s command and plan in our life. Humility is giving back to God all the glory He deserves and accepting that we are merely His “stewards”. Looking back at my younger self, all the disappointments and heartbreaks, led me to be fully dependent on God. To understand the reason for all unfortunate events that happened was to be with Him in prayers, to cry to Him, to just sit with Him in moments of great desolation. Now, I guess, my stories have more depth and meaning because I also allowed Him to work in me so I can share how wonderful this life is when you have a very loving God. At the end of this, only Him can move the mulberry tree and plant it in the sea.

Prayer

Dear Lord,thank You for staying with us in moments of desolation. Thank You for making us feel not alone and for consoling us. Teach us to be obedient as Jesus who went through sufferings yet remained trusting in Your plans. Allow us to be vulnerable in Your presence and take all the pride in our hearts so we can be more loving to ourselves and to others. We lift to You all the glory and honor. Amen.

The Receiver's Reflection

 The Epiphany of the Lord

02 January 2022

 

First Reading: IS 60:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

Second Reading: EPH 3:2-3a, 5-6

Gospel: MT 2:1-12

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

With the three wise men's arrival, our Nativity Scene is complete! In today's Gospel, the magi offered our Infant Lord "gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh". What do these gifts mean? The lyrics of "We Three Kings" by John Henry Hopkins Jr. offer us an explanation:

Born a King on Bethlehem plain,

Gold I bring to crown Him again,

King forever,

Ceasing never

Over us all to reign.

Frankincense to offer have I,

Incense owns a Deity nigh:

Prayer and praising

All men raising,

Worship Him God on High.

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume

Breathes a life of gathering gloom; --

Sorrowing, sighing,

Bleeding, dying,

Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

Whenever we give a gift to someone, it reflects the receiver of that gift. A suitor gives flowers to a girl because she is as lovely as those flowers. Parents provide a good education for their children because that would be the key to their bright future. The magi gave those gifts because these reflect who the Christ Child is: King, God, and Sacrifice. What was your gift to Jesus this Christmas? What does it tell of Jesus' value in your life?

Prayer

Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your word today. Through the prayers and example of the Three Wise Men, grant us a generous and grateful heart that we too may offer You the gift that You truly deserve and walk in this life by a different way, Your way. Amen.

 

Sorpresang Biyaya - Corpus Christi

Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kabanal-banalang Katawan at Dugo ng Panginoon

Ika-6 ng Hunyo 2021 

 

First Reading (Unang Pagbasa):  EX 24:3-8

Responsorial Psalm (Salmong Tugunan):  116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18

Second Reading (Ikalawang Pagbasa):  HEB 9:11-15

Gospel (Mabuting Balita):  MK 14:12-16, 22-26

 

Repleksyon

Ni: Nats Vibiesca

 

Masaya nating ipinagdiriwang ang araw na ito ng Kapistahan ng Kabanal-banalang Katawan at Dugo ng Panginoong Jesus  dahil ito ay pag-alaala, pagdakila, at matimyas na pagpapasalamat natin sa kabutihang ginawa ng ating Diyos upang tayo ay matubos sa kasalanan. May personal na kahulugan sa akin ang taon-taon nating pagdiriwang na ito bukod sa pag-aalaala ng buhay ni Jesus na dapat ngang ipagpasalamat dahil ito ang sinasabi nating "Bagong Paskuwa" nang ialay mismo ni Jesus and Kanyang katawan at dugo. Dalawang malapit sa puso ang kahulugan ng kapistahang ito para sa akin: una, ito ay tuloy-tuloy na sorpresang biyaya para sa atin, at ang pangalawa ay ang pagkakataon para ihandog natin sa Diyos and anumang pasakit, hirap, suliranin, o alalahanin natin sa buhay.

Kung ang buhay natin bilang Kristiyano ay laging masaya, hindi naman maiiwasan na dumarating din ang mga araw na tayo ay nalulungkot. Kung minsan ay tinatanong natin ang ating mga sarili kung nakahanda nga ba tayo sa mga pinakamalulungkot na pangyayari ng ating buhay? Halimbawa'y and epekto ng pandemya sa ating panahon. Binulaga tayong lahat ng malungkot na pangyayaring ito sa ating pamayanan at litong-lito tayo, natataranta, natatakot, nangangamba sa kung kailan matatapos ang masalimuot na kaganapang ito sa mundo. Subalit sa pag-aalay ng ating Panginoon ng Kanyang sariling katawan at dugo sa tuwing nakikibahagi tayo sa Banal na Misa, nahihiwagaan tayo sa kabutihan ng Diyos dahil dumarating ang sorpresang biyaya sa ating buhay. Kaya't sa sorpresang biyayang handog ng Diyos sa ati'y nawawalan ng bisa ang kalungkutan, naiibsan ang pagdurusa natin, at napapawi ang anumang pagdadalamhati. Hindi ba't karamihan sa atin ay pagod na pagod na sa panahong ito ng pandemya at patuloy na dumarami ang kumakalam ang sikmura't halos magpalimos ang mga walang-wala? Pero dahil sa patuloy nating pananalangin at tulad ng pag-aalay ng Diyos ng Kanyang sarili, mahimalang natutugunan ang kagutuman sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaisa ng mga mamamayan sa pagbabahagi ng anumang makakayanan nila at parang kabuting nagsulputan ang sorpresang biyaya ng Diyos na tinatawag nating "Community Pantry".

Bukod sa handog na sorpresang materyal na pangangailangan ng ating katawan, nagliliwanag ang ating kaisipan, diwa, at damdamin sa anumang kinakaharap natin. Mas nagiging kalmado tayo sa sitwasyong gumugulo sa atin. Unti-unting sinasakop ng liwanag ng Diyos ang bawat sulok ng ating kaluluwa na binalot na ng kadiliman dahil sa traumang nararanasan natin sa paligid. Hindi papayag ang Diyos na malugmok tayo sa paghihirap at mauwi sa pagkakasala dahil patuloy Niyang inaalay ang sarili para sa atin upang makayanan natin ang lahat ng paghihirap sa ating buhay. Ang lahat ng ispiritwal na biyaya ay ibinubuhos ng Diyos para sa atin sa tuwing tinatanggap nating ang Kanyang Katawan at Dugo sa Banal na Misa.

Hindi natatapos ang mga biyaya sa pagtanggap natin sa Katawan at Dugo ng ating Diyos, at dahil sa sorpresa nga ito, kadalasa'y hindi natin alam kung ano ang magagandang biyayang naghihintay sa atin. Basta't ang sigurado'y napakalaking biyaya nito na hindi natin inaasahan, mas malaki pa sa biyayang ipinagdarasal nating makamit, maging materyal man o ispiritwal na sorpresa.

Sa kabila ng kasabikang matanggap ang sorpresang biyaya ng Diyos, perpektong pagkakataon din ang Banal na Misa na ilapit sa Diyos ang mga problema natin sa buhay. Kailangang maging alerto tayo sa bahagi ng Misa ng pag-aalay ng Kanyang Katawan at Dugo dahil ito nga ang perpektong pagkakataon na ibigay sa Diyos ang ating buhay. Napakalapit ng Diyos sa atin sa pagkakataong inaalay ang Eukaristiya sa Banal na Misa at kung kaya't mapagpakumbabang ibigay natin ang lahat sa Diyos ang anumang pasakit, pasanin, pagdurusa, kalungkutan, kasalanan, at kawalan ng kapayapaan ng ating buhay. Kung naihain na natin sa Diyos ang lahat ng ito, tiyak na papalitan naman ng Diyos ng sorpresang biyaya na magpapatibay sa ating pagiging mabuting tao, pagiging mabuting Kristiyano, pagiging mabuting lingkod, para sa sariling pamilya natin at para na rin sa bayan natin.

 

Panalangin

 

Panginoong Jesus, labis ang aming kasiyahan sa lahat ng sorpresang biyaya na aming natatanggap sa bawat Misa na aming dinadaluhan. Lubos ang aming pasasalamat sa pag-aalay ng Iyong Kabanal-banalang Katawan at Dugo para sa kaligtasan namin. Dalangin naming maranasan din ng aming mga mahal sa buhay at lahat ng higit na nangangailangan ang grasya ng kapayapaan sa buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap namin sa Iyo sa Banal na Komunyon. Amen.

 

 

 

God-with-us

Nativity of Our Lord
25 December 2018

First reading                                                                  Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Second reading                                                    Hebrews 1:1-6

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Gospel                                                                      John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John . He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'”)

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known

Reflection

By Fely Santiago

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas everyone!

This is a time of rejoicing! This is the time of explosive and contagious joy!

I really love Christmas. What makes it joyous is the family. It’s the time for family celebration, gift-giving, family reunions, lots of picture taking . And family time is always the best time. It’s always a treasured moment. Nothing can really compare for time with the family. A lot of unforgettable memories are built. Everyone is happy. And we really ought to celebrate it because this day a King is Born to redeem us, to be with us, to love us. Jesus came to our family. Let us rejoice!

And our family is excited this Christmas because we are celebrating it with the whole family. My son and his family migrated to Australia last year and we missed them in last year’s Christmas celebration that’s why the family started planning that we spend it together in Australia this year. And we are grateful because by God’s grace we are now here in Australia spending Christmas and the coming New Year together. What a joy!

May God dwell in each and every family this Christmas amidst all their challenges in life. We know there are also many families who are suffering today. Christmas may have been the most painful season in their lives because of a loss of a loved one, or families who are separated for economic reasons. Either the father or mother is working abroad and won’t be able to spend Christmas with their families. There is pain of loneliness or sadness. May Jesus born this day, also dwell in their hearts to bring joy amidst their sorrows. May they find strength in the loving arms of Jesus who gave His all for love.

Wherever we are, in the table with our family or alone to celebrate Christmas let us meet our Savior, our Lord Jesus. He is the reason for this season. Let us reflect on what gifts we can offer to Him in return for the many blessings He has given us this year – our loved ones, our family, all the material blessings, our good health, our job, our business, our faith. 

What gift can we give back to Jesus? Can we give back to Him our complete trust and surrender? Can we say Yes to Him that His will be done in our lives?

Prayer

Dear Jesus. Happy birthday! Thank you for coming to our lives to experience Your goodness and Your Love. Dwell in our hearts and give us peace amidst the many challenges in our families, in our communities, in our country and the whole world. Let peace reign in our hearts this Christmas and rejoice in your birth. Thank you Jesus. Amen.
 

The Gift

“ O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.” – St. Augustine

First Reading Acts 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?

Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome,both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."

Resp. Psalm: Psalms 104:1, 24, 19-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: 1Cor. 12:3-7, 12-13

Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, "Jesus be accursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Gospel: John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I and when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Reflection:

By Ana Balla

A friend of mine helped me and asked, what do I know about the Holy Spirit? Since she is a dear friend so I honestly shared myself. The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Holy Trinity. He was given to us after Jesus ascended to heaven. The Solemnity of Pentecost is also the birthday of the Church. Instead of us giving our gifts to the celebrant, we were the ones receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  I believe in His existence because I am feeling His presence in my life and I talk to Him in prayers. I ask the Holy Spirit's guidance in moments of uncertainty, in making big decisions, and pray for strength to keep on doing the right thing even in moments when it does not feel right.

 Prayer

Come Holy Spirit

You bring consolation when the human heart grieves & is tempted to despair.

Come Holy  Spirit  

In order to restore what is good in man and in the world.

Come and renewed the face of the earth.

Come Holy Spirit

You change the interior dryness of souls.

Transforming them into fertile fields of grace and holiness.

 Come Holy Spirit

You purify all that is unclean & all the disfigures man.

You heal even the deepest wounds of human existence.

Come Holy Spirit

What is hard you soften, what is frozen you warm.

What is wayward you set a new on the paths of salvation.

Come Holy Spirit 

To you the Church implore for all the gifts of love.

She unceasingly implores the peace and consolation

You alone can bring, by coming down in people's hearts.

She implores from you the happiness

which finds its complete realization only in God

The joy that no one will be able to take away.