Family is Forever

   

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

29 December 2024

 

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

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

Second Reading: Col 3:12-21

Gospel: Lk 2:4

 

Reflection

By: Grace B. Madriñan

 

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I believe the readings for today are one of the most beautiful sets for families with full instruction and guidance on how to live according to the will of God.

"Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,

as is proper to the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives,

and avoid any bitterness toward them.

Children, obey your parents in everything,

for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke your children,

so they may not become discouraged (Colossians 3:18-21)."

But even these teachings get misinterpreted. Wives are forced to follow their husbands leaving the women without the voice in decision making. Husbands define love differently. Children sometimes obey their parents even when it is wronf or against their will. And fathers provoke their children and call it discipline.

But there is yet another instruction and it says, "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 (Colossians 3:12-13). "

God probably knew that families are not perfect so we need to be guided with humility and forgiveness.

It is also fitting that we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Family this Christmas as it is the season for families to be together. Looking back, the moments that I took for granted when I was younger are the best memories after all. Because today, no matter how festive or extravagant our celebrations get, there will always be empty chairs. My brother and father can no longer be with us.

This is why it is always best to celebrate each moment and be grateful for our family's presence. Let us be more forgiving and loving because this is what God wills for us.

Prayer

Father God thank You for giving us the Holy Family to emulate, abundant wirh humility, compassion and love. May we be grateful and more loving to our own families as we follow Your will for us. These we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

I Want To See Jesus!

The Holy Family

27 December 2020

 

First Reading 3:2-6, 12-14

 

God sets a father in honor over his children;

a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.

Whoever honors his father atones his sins,

and preserves himself from them.

When he prays, he is heard;

he stores up riches who reveres his mother.

Whoever honors his father will live a long life;

he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

 

My son, take care of your father when he is old;

grieve him not as long as he lives.

Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;

revile him not all the days of his life;

kindness to a father will not be forgotten,

firmly planted against the debt of your sins

--a house raised in justice to you.

 

Second Reading COL 3:12-21

 

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 the Father through him.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,

as is proper in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives,

and avoid any bitterness toward them.

Children, obey your parents in everything,

for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children,

so they may not become discouraged.

 

Gospel LK 2:22-40

 

When the days were completed for their purification

according to the law of Moses,

They took him up to Jerusalem

to present him to the Lord,

just as it is written in the law of the Lord,

Every male that  opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,

and to offer the sacrifice of

a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,

in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

This man was righteous and devout,

awaiting the consolation of Israel,

and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit

that he should not see death

before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

He came in the Spirit into the temple;

and when the parents brought in the child Jesus

to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,

He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace,

according to your word,

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory for your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed

at what was said about him;

and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

"Behold, this child is destined

for the fall and rise of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be contradicted

--and you yourself a sword will pierce--

so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

There was also a prophetess, Anna,

the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

She was advanced in years,

having lived seven years with her husband after marriage,

and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.

She never left the temple,

but worshiped  night and day with fasting and prayer.

And coming forward at that very time,

she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child

to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions

of the law of the Lord,

they returned to Galilee,

to their town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;

and the favor of God was upon him.

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle Payod-Balla

 

Is this possible?

 

Would you like to see Jesus?

 

I was passing through the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel of St. Joseph Parish in Gagalangin, when I felt the tug to go inside and gaze upon the Eucharist.

I just came back from the Youth Encounter seminar at that time and I thought it would be nice to spend time with the Lord and thank Him for the opportunity given.

However, the moment I knelt down and closed my eyes, I immediately felt His strong presence that I burst into tears and sobbed openly. It felt like He was hugging me tight, embracing me close to Him. It felt good. It was at that time that I felt my connection with Him was real, that He is real, that He is physically present with me.

Every time I relive that encounter, I feel reconnected to God's embrace. I feel joy, I feel an overwhelming sense of lightness. I want to experience it again. I want to see God, I want to see Jesus.

 

I may not be able to fathom how Simeon and Ana felt when they saw Jesus but I am sure, they were overjoyed and filled with grace.

 

May you seek and see Jesus, and feel His loving embrace This Christmas season.

Merry Christmas!

   

Prayer

Father, thank You for allowing us to feel Your presence through Jesus. We want Your loving embrace. We want to see Jesus. Amen.

 

 

Come and See Jesus!

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time 03 November 2019
First reading Wisdom 11:22-12:2

In your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales, like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable sprit is in all. Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you Lord.

Second reading                                                          2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2

We always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

Gospel                                                                          Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Reflection

By Anabelle P. Balla

“Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus.”

Jesus, allow us to be in your presence and see your face.

What is your favorite picture of Jesus?

How do you imagine His face when you talk to Him in prayers?

What do you see in His eyes when He looks at you?

Deep within, I can feel eagerness to see the face of Jesus, to talk to Him. My heart yearns to be with Him, to be in His presence. I set aside time to pray every day, in the morning and in the evening. However, I often caught myself distracted, losing the intimacy of prayers. I can’t seem to reach deep enough into my soul to experience that same feeling of complete peace and overwhelming wonder. I am unable to fully focus and be truly present - mind, body and soul, when talking to the Lord. Something is missing. There’s just too many clutter in my mind, I get distracted with so many things. I seem to be always “running” out of time for prayers, I hurry and most of the time, have to do multi-tasking. Doing or thinking of something while praying.

But I know I can change this. I can choose and decide to make quality time with God. If I can make time to browse Facebook or watch Netflix then I should be able to spend uninterrupted time for praying. I have to set the place and the time. Take a deep breath and prepare myself each time before drawing close to the presence of our Almighty and ever loving God. I have to let my family know as well so they will respect that time and maybe even join me, aside from our prayer time at night.

Prayer

Father, we want to see Jesus. Help us to really see His face and experience His presence in our life, everyday! In His mighty name, we pray.  Amen.

Presence

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 21 July 2019
First reading Genesis 18:1-10

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”

Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

Second reading                                                          Colossians 1:24-28

I am happy in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to the divine commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Reflection

By Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

Today’s Gospel shows us how we can lose track of what is important in place of something we think is more expected of us. Like how our sister in faith, Martha of Bethany, acted when Jesus stopped over at their home. We sometimes forget to be like her sister, Mary.

At work, it may be difficult to listen to a colleague when we are too concerned with what we need to do next. 

In school, it may be difficult to participate actively in class when our attention is diverted to what the outline and the content of a certain paper should be.

With our friends, it may be difficult to engage when we are busy to thinking of what to say, even when our friends only want our company.

Sometimes we choose to do what seems most important even when what is needed from us is simply our presence, our attention.

To make a situation work is not bad on its own. After all, preparations help make an event a more delightful experience. However, the fixation becomes a problem when it takes the place of what we should be prioritizing which is listening and being really present at the moment.

We can get lost in the preparations, but we can also be as distracted when we are not in charge of the preparations anymore—when at an event, we come as spectators.

How many times do we catch ourselves swept by how realistic the special effects are in a movie, how fluid the animations are, how masterful the sequencing of events to make a majestic story, but remembering only so little about the lines of the key characters and the lessons from their experiences?

How many times have we heard someone—or even ourselves—lost in the motif, the songs, the layout, the adornments, the entire preparation in a wedding, but could recall only little from his friend—the groom’s message for the bride during the Mass, or the bridesmaid’s heartfelt dedication at the reception?

When someone visits our homes, when someone vents out a negative encounter, when someone recounts a positive experience they treasure… what they could be expecting from us is not how we set the table or  how we organize the furniture or the elaborate intricacies with which we prepare the meal, but simply a listening ear,  someone who is really present.
We nab from ourselves the chance to enjoy someone’s company when we fixate on activities in the sideline. 

We rob from ourselves the privilege to grace somebody else’s presence when we focus too much on the preparations, on the details, on the mechanics. When we do not realize what is most appreciated from us which is to simply be with our visitor, to listen to our friend, and to engage with them attentively.

When was the last time we listened to someone actively as Mary did? Have we listened to someone intently today?

Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your message to us today.

Thank You for the liberty we find in Your call for us to come as we are, to listen to You and not mind other things when we are in Your company. 

May You grant us the grace to listen to You intimately and for us to find a confidant in You whom we can freely share our thoughts and daily activities.

Please grant us the grace to listen to You first before we take our turn to speak, because Your message is more important than ours, and for us to listen first to our brothers and sisters too so that we can show them that their message is important to us. 

May You give us the grace to know when to speak and carry out Your Word, so that our listening bears fruit. 

May we never lose sight of what’s most important in our daily situations.

Thank You so much, Father. May Your Name—Your Glory, be adored forever.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Meal and Movement

Third

 Sunday of Easter

30 April 2017

First reading	Acts 2:14,22-33

On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: ‘Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified by men outside the Law. You killed him, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him:
I saw the Lord before me always,
for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.
So my heart was glad
and my tongue cried out with joy;
my body, too, will rest in the hope
that you will not abandon my soul to Hades
nor allow your holy one to experience corruption.
You have made known the way of life to me,
you will fill me with gladness through your presence.
‘Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not experience corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God’s right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.’

---

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-11

---

Second reading	1 Peter 1:17-21

If you are acknowledging as your Father one who has no favourites and judges everyone according to what he has done, you must be scrupulously careful as long as you are living away from your home. Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ; who, though known since before the world was made, has been revealed only in our time, the end of the ages, for your sake. Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for that very reason – so that you would have faith and hope in God.

Gospel Acclamation	cf.Lk24:32

Alleluia, alleluia!
Lord Jesus, explain the Scriptures to us.
Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us.
Alleluia!

---

Gospel	Luke 24:13-35

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.
  Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’
  Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.
  When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’
  They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

Reflection

by Carlo Alexis Malaluan

Friends, we are in the third Sunday of Easter.

Easter is a movement. The resurrection of Jesus moves from the bitter passion of Christ towards the glory of everlasting life. As Jesus moves on, his followers move on. But this Easter gets us out of our comfort zones and calls us to the open road of life – towards our mission.

It is a good practice to walk every morning and have a good breakfast. It is not only good for the body but also for the soul – a walk and a meal. In the gospel, Jesus encountered his two disciples in a walk and in a meal. Two confused disciples were walking down the road to Emmaus. Their world has been turned upside down by the twists and turns of events of the past days. When suddenly, they were joined by a third man – stranger he may seem but he knows them very well.

Geographically speaking, they have to walk seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Engulfed in grief and sorrow, it is a long road to take. Their pain and hurt turned into joy and relief when they have entered into a strange encounter with their unexpected sojourner, who unfolds the story of resurrection and salvation. Their eyes may be blinded and prevented from seeing Our Lord, they have reached out for him and invited him into a supper. Their walk and meal leads to theophany, the encounter with the Resurrected Lord who made himself known in the breaking of the bread.

Movement and meal lead to revelation. The Lord through this encounter renewed their spirits, filled their hearts with warmth and rekindled their mission which lead them not only to seven miles away but to the four corners of the world to bring the good news.

In the closing stages of the gospel, Jesus vanishes before their very eyes. They have seen the Lord but he still needs to move on as well. God is not static. God is moving. God is not imprisoned by yesterday’s revelations, by the bitter events of the past, by our human weakness. God is alive and is on the move, doing great things and making things anew. God is always meeting us in our pilgrims, in our journey.

Let us find our own road of Emmaus. Emmaus is everywhere.

Wherever we are on the road and at every mealtime, Jesus comes to us, filled with new hope and glory and the joy of resurrection.

We can have a new life. Let us open our eyes to the Lord, so as to our hearts may see Him. Let us keep moving, like the two disciples towards Emmaus, because Jesus walks beside us on the road.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, remove from our life what hinders us from recognizing You.  Ignited with Your Word and nourished by Your Body and Blood, may we become signs of Your living presence to all. Amen.

Listen First!

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
 17 July 2016    

First reading
Genesis 18:1-10

The Lord appeared to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, and bowed to the ground. ‘My lord,’ he said ‘I beg you, if I find favour with you, kindly do not pass your servant by. A little water shall be brought; you shall wash your feet and lie down under the tree. Let me fetch a little bread and you shall refresh yourselves before going further. That is why you have come in your servant’s direction.’ They replied, ‘Do as you say.’

  Abraham hastened to the tent to find Sarah.’ ‘Hurry,’ he said ‘knead three bushels of flour and make loaves.’ Then running to the cattle Abraham took a fine and tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then taking cream, milk and the calf he had prepared, he laid all before them, and they ate while he remained standing near them under the tree.

  ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him. ‘She is in the tent’ he replied. Then his guest said, ‘I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.’

 

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 14:2-5

Second reading
Colossians 1:24-28

It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints. It was God’s purpose to reveal it to them and to show all the rich glory of this mystery to pagans. The mystery is Christ among you, your hope of glory: this is the Christ we proclaim, this is the wisdom in which we thoroughly train everyone and instruct everyone, to make them all perfect in Christ.

Gospel	Luke 10:38-42

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

  Reflection
By Arthur B. Reyes

Last week, we were all invited to “think outside the box”. That is, to do the unconventional, the uncommon. Jesus wants us to reach out regardless of our social standing, religion, ideology, race, and class. Service is not just for the missionaries like the men in church and the officials in the government alone. We too can be a servant, a good one in our own ways.

The gospel today tells us how to balance our lives amidst the many things and worries we may have. Listening is indeed an important aspect of living in relationships with others, more than money or material things. The story of Martha and Mary gives us an opportunity to realize that our presence to other people is significant and necessary as it allows openness of our heart.



I remember a story about a father and son. A man came home from work late, tired and irritated finding his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door. The young son asks his dad how much he earns an hour. The man said angrily he makes Php50. "Daddy, may I please borrow Php20?", asked the son.



The father was furious. The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that Php20 and he really didn’t ask for money very often. He went to his son’s room.
 

Reaching under his pillow the young boy pulled out some crumpled up bills.“Why do you want more money if you already have some?” the father grumbled. “Daddy, I have Php50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”



If only the man had “listened” to his son’s longing for his physical presence he would not become so absorbed on worldly things to the neglect of people waiting for his love, care, and attention.
 

There is a “Martha” and a “Mary” within each of us. While part of ourselves is active and busy, another part listens and trusts in the Lord. We need to be active to accomplish His will but listening is more important. It’s good to serve the Lord, but it’s even better to first listen to Him.

Prayer

Teach me to listen, O God, to those nearest me, my family, my friends, my co-workers. Teach me to listen, my caring God, to those who are hopeless, forgotten, and oppressed. Teach me to listen for your voice, in busyness and in boredom, in certainty and doubt, in noise and in silence.

Teach me, Lord, to listen. Amen.

Here For You

"And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." - Isaiah 40:5

First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!”

Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the LORD restoring Zion. Break out together in song, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD comforts his people, he redeems Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6

Brothers and sisters:

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways  to our ancestors through the prophets;  in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son,  whom he made heir of all things  and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the 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; this day I have begotten you? Or again: I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me? And again, when he leads the firstborn into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God 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 to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but 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 to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,  who were born not by natural generation  nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision  but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said,  ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me  because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses,  grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

During the first week of Advent, our family started to spruce up our new home for Christmas.  The tree stood majestically in one corner, complete with lights, balls, and other ornaments. A garland with bells and poinsettias hangs at the entrance of the living and dining room. Christmas cards given by family and friends are displayed in one corner of the house. It's looking festive! Suddenly, we asked ourselves, "Where should we put the Belen (Nativity Scene)?".

Unlike in our old home, our new living room didn't have much space. One idea was to place the Belen on the window sill, but at night it will be covered by the drapes. Placing it next to the TV won't help either. We decided to place it on one side of our dining table, on the side next to the wall. 

And so, as we have our meal or do Chiara's homework or do some paperwork, every time the family would gather around the table our attention is caught by the Nativity scene, especially that baby lying on the manger. As we gaze at that lovely infant with hands outstretched He seems to tell us "I'm here for you and with you, all time".

Prayer

Happy birthday, Lord Jesus! Thank You for living among us. O Word-made-Flesh, as we celebrate Your birth, as we enjoy the food on our table and the company of loved ones, may we remember that Your abiding presence in our lives. Inspired by this, may we remember the plight of those around us especially the weak, the oppressed, the least of

Your people. Through our solidarity with them, may they also see Your glory "as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth" (cf. John 1:14). Amen.