Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    

Ika-17 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

28 Hulyo 2024

 

Unang Pagbasa: 2 Hari 4, 42-44

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 144, 10-11. 15-16. 17-18

Ikalawang Pagbasa: Efeso 4, 1-6

Ebanghelyo: Juan 6, 1-15

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

Kapag nahaharap tayo sa matinding pagsubok sa buhay o nawawalan na talaga ng pag-asa, madalas na kumakapit tayo Diyos upang humiling ng milagro o himala. Alam kasi nating hindi lahat ng bagay ay kayang lunasan o ipaliwanag ng kinikilalang batas na siyentipiko. Halimbawa ang problema natin sa pagkakasakit, na kahit na napakaingat natin sa kalusugan ng ating katawan ay dinadapuan pa rin tayo ng karamdaman na hindi kayang pagalingin ng mga duktor at gamot na nirereseta maging sa pinakamamahaling ospital pa ang puntahan.  Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit sinusundan at dinudumog si Hesus ng mga tao: “…. sapagkat nakita nila ang mga kababalaghang ginawa niya sa pagpapagaling sa mga maysakit.”

Kung tutuusin, tuloy-tuloy ang himala ni Hesus sa tuwing tayo’y nakikiisa sa Banal na Misa; sa pamamagitan ng paghahati-hati at pagtanggap ng Katawan ni Hesus sa Banal na Eukaristiya, patuloy din nating tinatanggap ang katangi-tanging grasya mula sa himalang ito. Ngunit hindi natatapos ang himala sa pagtanggap natin kay Hesus sa Eukaristiya at dahil nananatili ang biyaya ng Diyos sa atin, patuloy nating pinadadaloy ang himala sa pamumuhay natin pagkatapos ng Misa. Hindi ba’t kahanga-hanga ang himalang nangyayari ngayon sa ating bayan pagkatapos bayuhin ng matinding pagsubok dulot ng pagbaha? Pagkaraan ng isa’t kalahating dekada ay naulit ang mala-Ondoy na delubyo ng pagbaha at maraming hikahos sa buhay ang nangailangan ng tulong upang maisalba ang buhay. Kaliwa’t kanan sa ngayon ang nagnanais na tumulong sa mga nasalanta, maging ang walang-wala ay gusto ring mag-ambag ng kanilang munting makakaya upang makaagapay sa higit na nangangailangan. Hindi natin alintana ang hirap na pinagdaraanan dahil nakatuon tayo sa pagtulong sa ating kapwa upang makaahon muli, bayanihan ika nga ang pinaiiral.

Hangga’t patuloy ang pagtanggap natin ng biyaya mula sa himala ng Eukaristiya sa Banal na Misa, nag-uumapaw rin ang himala ng pagbabahagi natin sa ating kapwa na naghihintay sa ating awa at tulong.

Panalangin:

Panginoong Hesus, salamat po sa patuloy na pagdaloy ng Iyong biyaya sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap namin sa Iyo sa Banal na Eukaristiya. Itulot Mo Hesus ang pagpapadaloy din namin ng biyayang ito sa aming kapwa na nangangailangan din ng himala mula sa Iyong kabutihan. Amen.

A Healing Story

    

Fourth Sunday of Lent

19 March 2023

 

First Reading: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Second Reading: Eph 5:8-14

Gospel: Jn 9:1-41

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

Our Gospel this Sunday narrates how Jesus healed a man, blind from birth. It was written that when Jesus saw the man, he did not think twice of healing him, saying "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him."

Regaining sight, the man, even if questioned many times by the Pharisees, ridiculed until he was thrown out, the man has sticked to his belief that the one who healed him is a good man. So grateful for the gift of healing, when Jesus introduced Himself to the man, he undoubtedly believed and worshiped Jesus in return.

How many times did we hear stories of healing miracles? Isn't it that those who experienced healing miracles have actually become followers and promoters of Jesus? In their gratefulness for their regained health, they sing praise to the Lord and promise to love Him with all their hearts.

I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy last year. It was sudden and it happened two days after my 32nd birthday, on August 19, 2022 at 11AM. What a gift from God, getting sick after my birthday, huh. I was just scrolling on my phone when I felt that the right side of my upper lip weakened. Feeling that something was not right, I tried to drink water and there, it was dripping. I didn't have full control of my drinking and eating when we had our lunch. I looked at myself in the mirror and the right side of my face from right eyebrow down to the right side of my lips had difficulty moving. My symptoms also worsened overnight.

Before Bell's Palsy hit me, I was never hospitalized and fever was the severe sickness I had. The cause of Bell's Palsy is unknown but may be triggered by viral infection, lack of sleep, weakened immunity, or stress. My case was due to weakened immunity, therefore, I was told to constantly boost my immune system, avoid stressors, sleep well, and limit screen time to prevent the possibility of Bell's Palsy to recur.

Because of my health condition, I was not able to serve as a lector and commentator for one month as I had difficulty speaking too. I could not clearly pronounce the words with letters P, B, and F. While still recovering from Bell's Palsy, another unfortunate incident happened to me. My bag with Php15,000.00 and all IDs got snatched. I was already sick Lord, and then the money I could use for my medication was taken just like that. I got depressed to the point that I questioned God why those things happened to me.

Four doctors (family medicine, neuro-surgeon, neurologist, rehabilitation) and four Physical Therapists have helped me to recover. I was declared Bell's Palsy resolved in less than two months of seeking medical attention. Thanks be to God and to the people He used as instruments as my recovery was way faster than the usual cases. Yes, I got sick but God did not let me wait any longer to be healed.

A month after my diagnosis, having noticed my fast recovery, I immediately went back to serving the Lord, as it is my little way to show Him my sincerest thanks and appreciation for His gift of healing.

Being sick and having been healed, I always wanted to share how God has touched me with His healing hand, that I appreciate Him more now, because at my lowest, He was there, He did not let me down, but instead, He has lifted me up.

Grace after grace, I was also assigned during Special Masses presided over by His Eminence, Jose F. Cardinal Advincula last December 8 and 24, 2022 and this January 6, 2023 after my Bell's Palsy Journey. See how faithful is Our Lord, Our Savior, Jesus. I was once had difficulty speaking but it is also through speech that He redeemed me and I serve Him.

It is when we are blind that we see clearly, when mute that we can speak well, when deaf that we can listen carefully, when numb that we actually feel God's presence.

Prayer

Thank You Lord for the gift of healing, for not leaving us alone during the challeging times, and for showing Your faithfulness toward us. May we sing forever of Your Love, O Lord and celebrate the wonder of Your Name, to the ends of the earth. Amen.

Baon

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 26, 2015

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the God who saves us, alleluia.

First reading                                      2 Kings 4:42-44

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear.’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’, Elisha said. But his servant replied, ‘How can I serve this to a hundred men?’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’ he insisted ‘for the Lord says this, “They will eat and have some left over.”’ He served them; they ate and had some left over, as the Lord had said.

Psalm                                              Psalm 144:10-11,15-18

Second reading                              Ephesians 4: 1-6

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

Gospel                                               John 6:1-15

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

  Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

Reflection

By Benj Santiago

“When they had their fill, he said to the disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.”

Elisha on the First Reading performs the miracle of feeding a hundred people with twenty loaves of bread. And when these hundred people have eaten there were some leftovers. A miracle of the same kind happened several hundred years later this time with 5 loaves of bread for more than five thousand people and with more than twelve wicker baskets of leftovers.

The scene on this Sunday’s Gospel reading shows several thousands of men, and the count as indicated in the Bible is about five thousand, not counting the women and the children. They were happily listening and were fed by the Word of God. They were in a deserted place for the intention of Jesus to be there was to give the disciples their much needed rest after their mission.

It was getting late and their physical bodies are already in need of food. So Jesus told the disciples to feed all of them. Philip calculated that it will cost them 200 days of wages!  On top of that, they are in an isolated place, so he said, “Where do we buy the food?” Andrew, the brother of Peter saw a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two fish. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed the food. And the miracle happened! They all ate to their fill and there were even so much more in excess afterwards.

These miracles tell me that Jesus do care so much for us. He wants us to have everything to the fullest, with so much excess overflowing. He does not only care about our spiritual needs but is also concerned on our physical bodies that need nourishment.

Bible scholars believe that the five loaves did not actually multiply. It was the generosity of the little boy that got replicated to all the families who were there. The people who were seated simply brought out their own “baon” and started to share.

We are called to be that little boy to offer what we have. To be generous so we can impact others and create an avalanche of generosity which will be able to help and feed thousands of people. And, because we cannot outdo God in His generosity, we will not run out of food. We shall have leftovers more than what we have given.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, we ask You to make us more generous with our gifts. To be more open to give what we have. We pray that You will make us instruments of Your miracle like that little boy with five loaves of bread. Empower us with Your love that we may love and be generous to all people we meet. One with Mary we make this prayer. Amen!

Do Not Fear, Only Believe

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 28, 2015

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the God who saves us, alleluia.

First reading                                      Wisdom 1:13-15,2:23-24

Death was not God’s doing,

he takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living.

To be – for this he created all;

the world’s created things have health in them,

in them no fatal poison can be found,

and Hades holds no power on earth;

for virtue is undying.

Yet God did make man imperishable,

he made him in the image of his own nature;

it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world,

as those who are his partners will discover.

Psalm                                              Psalm 29:2,4-6,11-13

Second reading                              2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15 

You always have the most of everything – of faith, of eloquence, of understanding, of keenness for any cause, and the biggest share of our affection – so we expect you to put the most into this work of mercy too. Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to make you rich out of his poverty. This does not mean that to give relief to others you ought to make things difficult for yourselves: it is a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need, and one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need. That is how we strike a balance: as scripture says: The man who gathered much had none too much, the man who gathered little did not go short.

Gospel                                               Mark 5:21-43 

When Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lakeside. Then one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’ Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him.

  Now there was a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years; after long and painful treatment under various doctors, she spent all she had without being any the better for it, in fact, she was getting worse. She had heard about Jesus, and she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his cloak. ‘If I can touch even his clothes,’ she had told herself ‘I shall be well again.’ And the source of the bleeding dried up instantly, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. Immediately aware that power had gone out from him, Jesus turned round in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ His disciples said to him, ‘You see how the crowd is pressing round you and yet you say, “Who touched me?”’ But he continued to look all round to see who had done it. Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, and she fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. ‘My daughter,’ he said ‘your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint.’

  While he was still speaking some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say, ‘Your daughter is dead: why put the Master to any further trouble?’ But Jesus had overheard this remark of theirs and he said to the official, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith.’ And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the official’s house and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. So he turned them all out and, taking with him the child’s father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha, kum!’ which means, ‘Little girl, I tell you to get up.’ The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At this they were overcome with astonishment, and he ordered them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

Reflection

By Fely C Santiago

“Daughter your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease”

I have had so many instances how the Lord healed me through faith. There was one time when I remembered it right, I was scheduled for minor operation to remove a cyst. I was already given anesthesia and was groggy. I was already in the operating table to start the procedure. But the doctor could not find the cyst anymore. There is nothing to operate on anymore. So I was advised to dress up and just allow the anesthesia to subside and then to check out of the hospital. Amazing isn’t it? I consider it a miracle.

Another instance is when I was scheduled to leave for the U.S. for a  3-month assignment. I suddenly felt intense stomach pain. I went to the doctor for check up and he advised me to have a urinalysis. The results revealed that I probably had kidney stones that may need operation. I prayed so hard. I do not want to be operated on as I am leaving for the U.S. The doctor gave me some medication. After a few days I had another urinalysis, and guess what? Everything was normal! Amazing indeed! Truly God heals!

This year, two weeks before our company’s amazing incentive trip to UAE and Europe, I was experiencing chest pains. Although I have a strong faith but somehow I also got scared. What if I am going to have a heart attack. But I play badminton, I can climb stairs, walk far, have healthy lifestyle and so I said to myself it cannot be. Then, I also started thinking what if it is breast cancer as I am also feeling pain in my breasts. I started researching in the Internet what could this pain be. I found out the symptoms is very similar to Costochondritis. I am a person who does not take medicines even for headache, fever, or other pains. I just do deep breathing and relaxation exercises. So in this case, I just did hot compress which is a home therapy for this condition.

I also prayed for healing. And I also talked to the pain in Jesus’ name to get out of my body. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can move mountains. I believe in that. All the while I was at peace. I just offered my pain for my sins and for the conversion of sinners and peace in the whole world. The following day the pain was gone! I was able to enjoy our trip in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Paris and Rome and afterwards, attend the family reunion in Bohol and CDO. Next week, we are leaving for Australia! God is great!

I have learned to really surrender my life to God. He owns my life. But I also do take care of my physical health by eating a lot of fruits and vegetables regularly.  We do not eat meat at home on a daily basis. I exercise. And everyday, I always declare I am strong and healthy and getting better and better everyday!

But the most important health is the health of our soul. Stay connected with God all the time. Remove anger, resentments, regrets.  Be forgiving. Let go of negative emotions. Stay positive. Stay in faith. Live a simple life  and enjoy each moment. Always have a grateful heart. Everyday count your  blessing and focus on what you have not on what you do not have. Build relationships. Give love.

Let me share an excerpt from the book of Bo Sanchez’ Awaken The Healer in You –

“4 Prescriptions to Heal Your Body by the Power of Love, let me go to specific ways of healing.

Here are four things you can do to increase healing in your body by the power of love.

1. Open up More.

2. Touch More.

3. Volunteer More.

4. Accept More.

Live life to the full and celebrate it everyday! By doing so we give glory and honor to God our creator!

Prayer

Abba Father, I praise and honor You. Thank You for the gift of life. Everyday is a miracle. Use me Lord to be a blessing to everyone I come in contact with. May they see Jesus in me. Help me to become a miracle worker and give hope especially to the afflicted. I pray for healing especially to those who are sick. Let me live my purpose here on earth and find meaning in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Experiencing His Enormous Gifts

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Aug 3

First reading                                            Isaiah 55:1-3                                       

Thus says the Lord:

Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty;

though you have no money, come!

Buy corn without money, and eat,

and, at no cost, wine and milk.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

your wages on what fails to satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat

and rich food to enjoy.

Pay attention, come to me;

listen, and your soul will live.

With you I will make an everlasting covenant

out of the favours promised to David.

Psalm                                                 Psalm 144:8-9,15-18

You open wide your hand, O Lord; you grant our desires

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

How good is the Lord to all,

compassionate to all his creatures. 

You open wide your hand, O Lord; you grant our desires.

The eyes of all creatures look to you

 and you give them their food in due time.

You open wide your hand,

grant the desires of all who live.

You open wide your hand, O Lord; you grant our desires.

The Lord is just in all his ways

and loving in all his deeds.

He is close to all who call him,

who call on him from their hearts.

You open wide your hand, O Lord; you grant our desires.

.

Second reading                                    Romans 8:35,37-39

Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us.

For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord

.

Gospel                                           Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.

  When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.

Reflection

by Bernard Borja

God has always shown us His great love in many ways we never expect. Most of us believe that it is because of His power that we are blessed. In today’s Gospel, the scene started with Jesus withdrawing to a deserted place when He heard the news about the death of John the Baptist. The destructive power that the Roman Empire used in governing demonstrated a hierarchical social structure which brings inequalities with the people. But Jesus demonstrated a different use of power in this scene.

The people were deprived of quality food which was also one of the reasons why many people are sick. Jesus’ initial response when He saw the crowd was a compassionate power. A power best expressed in the midst of injustices that the people has been experiencing for a long time. After healing the sick, Jesus enacts God’s will to feed the hungry and share the abundant blessings meant for all.

The feeding of the five thousand was considered a miracle but its message was more about discipleship. Jesus teaches us on how to experience God’s enormous gifts through this miracle. First, when His disciples were concerned on how the people will eat, He asked them to bring to Him the five loaves and two fish. Jesus wanted His disciples to have trust in God just as He invites us to surrender to Him what we have and believe that He can multiply these. It also reminds us of the saying, “Give your best to God and He will do the rest.” Then, when Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and blessed the food. In the same way that Jesus prayed, He reminds us that we need to thank God for all the blessings He gave to us. Finally, when everyone ate and were filled, they gathered what was left so that it could be shared with others. Jesus calls us to serve with the gifts that God has given to us. A gentle reminder that our gifts must also be shared with others to fully experience the abundance of God.

The Gospel also reminds us that we cannot do things alone. But with God’s blessing, just as He blessed the loaves and fish, we can share a life-giving feast that represents the gracious abundance of God. And when we live a life of abundance, we share with other people believing that there will always be more blessings through Christ our Lord

Christmas in Our Hearts

Christmas Day
25 December 2012

Readings for the daytime Mass on Christmas Day:

First reading  
Isaiah 52:7-10 

How beautiful on the mountains,
are the feet of one who brings good news,
who heralds peace, brings happiness,
proclaims salvation,
and tells Zion,
‘Your God is king!’
Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices,
they shout for joy together,
for they see the Lord face to face,
as he returns to Zion.
Break into shouts of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord is consoling his people,
redeeming Jerusalem.
The Lord bares his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

Psalm   
Psalm 97:1-6

Second reading  
Hebrews 1:1-6

At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is. He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command; and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Majesty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name.
  God has never said to any angel: You are my Son, today I have become your father; or: I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Again, when he brings the First-born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
A hallowed day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, worship the Lord,
for today a great light has shone down upon the earth.
Alleluia!

Gospel  
John 1:1-18 

In the beginning was the Word:
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be,
not one thing had its being but through him.
All that came to be had life in him
and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness could not overpower.
A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
only a witness to speak for the light.
The Word was the true light
that enlightens all men;
and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had its being through him,
and the world did not know him.
He came to his own domain
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to all who believe in the name of him
who was born not out of human stock
or urge of the flesh
or will of man
but of God himself.
The Word was made flesh,
he lived among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
John appears as his witness. He proclaims:
‘This is the one of whom I said:
He who comes after me ranks before me
because he existed before me.’
Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received –
yes, grace in return for grace,
since, though the Law was given through Moses,
grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God;
it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart,
who has made him known.

Reflection
By Nats Vibiesca

Just around the corner, many groups or sects predicted the end of the world before Christmas day this year.  They are proven wrong for the simple reason that they are not God for Whom thousand years are like one day.  In fact, God is timeless and makes every human prediction sound hollow.
God’s schedule goes way beyond our understanding. That’s why God sent a baby boy to earth to touch us personally, fingertip to fingertip, and experience divine mercy in our midst. It is a stupendous moment that the Son of God, invisible, becomes the Son of Man, visible.  The impossible becomes possible and we witness the greatest miracle, the source of all miracles. Our liberation from our sins started with one baby boy and our days will end when we see Him again in eternal heavenly glory.
Our Emmanuel is the source of pure joy and lasting peace—the real Christmas meaning in our hearts.  The joy and peace not related to glitter and gifts but to something more liberating, lasting, saving and redeeming rooted in faith because Christmas reveals New Life, and not the end of the world.
The secret of new life is not angels singing praises in the sky but all of us sharing the goodness received from God on this day and all days of our life. Let us share the blessings of Christmas to all people especially those in need of love and peace. Merry Christmas to all!

Prayer
Loving God, today we enjoy the abundance of your love as we embrace new life with Jesus. Make us generous to share the joy and peace we received to express how we truly care to those in need.  Amen.

Easy For Him

 First Reading: Is 35:4-7a

Thus says the LORD:

Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

Second Reading: Jas 2:1-5

My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here, please, " while you say to the poor one, "Stand there, " or "Sit at my feet, " have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?

Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

Gospel: Mk 7:31-37

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!"-- that is, "Be opened!" -- And immediately the man's ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.

He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, "He has done all things well.

He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Reflection

By Cris Balla

The passage from Isaiah is a narration of the future; after all, he was a prophet. He asks those whose hearts are frightened to be strong for a Savior is coming. "Thus says the LORD: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, He comes with vindication; with divine recompense He comes to save you." Then the Gospel reading tells of the miracle Jesus performed on a deaf-mute. This miracle is a very specific confirmation of what Isaiah foretold many hundreds of years before the time of Jesus.

The story starts with Jesus traveling to Decapolis. (I did some wiki-reading about the Decapolis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decapolis - and it was apparently a 10-city federation around the Sea of Galilee). There in Decapolis, He was asked to heal a deaf-mute, and so He performed a miracle.

I think there are a number of learning for me in this Gospel reading.  First, I think that God listens and responds appropriately when we ask Him for something. In the Gospel, Jesus obliges when He was asked by the people. He did not deny them the healing of the deaf-mute when they "begged Him to lay His hand on him"... So, let's ask Him. And let's not be abashed for He is our Father after all. And am sure He will answer our prayers. It is easy for Him to grant our prayers.

Imagine how apparently easy for Jesus to perform the miracle. "He took Him off by Himself away from the crowd. He put His finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched His tongue; then He looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to Him, "Ephphatha!", that is, "Be opened!".

Apparently easy, but if we put some emphasis on (1) His act of taking the man away from the crowd and then (2) His gesture of looking up to heaven, I think we can also deduce that He was probably praying to God when He looked up to heaven, and so He took the man away from the noise of the crowd so He can pray and talk to His Father in a more conducive setting.

So my second learning is that we should pray. And when we pray, we must concentrate, away from distraction, away from the "noise" and the clutters of our lives. After all, even the Son of God has to pray to the Father, and when He prayed, He wanted an environment that did not interfere to His praying.

My third learning is from this same snippet: We need assistance of God. When Jesus prayed, He was probably asking for His Father's assistance. I believe that He can do it alone, but He chose to ask assistance. By this gesture, I think He is teaching us to recognize that we need assistance from the Father too. That our own abilities and all our education are insufficient to face the challenges in our lives.

So, let's go ahead and ask; we shall receive :) And then "He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it"… Good deeds cannot forever go unnoticed, and so the people themselves proclaimed His deeds. And so my last take-away is a reminder that "Actions speak louder than words".

Have a great day!

Prayer:

Father, like Jesus, please make it easy for us to pay attention to people who needs our healing touch. Help us in bringing more people closer to Your embrace as we try to nurture an intimate relationship with You.