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Category: New Year

  • Blessed to Bless

    Blessed to Bless

    January 1, 2023 – New Year; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010123.cfm)

    God bless. GBU. God bless you. In our world of social media, easy for us to hear & say, to send & receive these words. God bless you. But what does it mean? How do we understand it?

    Usually, we use these words to express what we really mean as “May God bless you” – which implies that God is the one who gives blessings, at the same time we  do hope that God will grant you & me the blessings you & I need or expect from Him now.

    God indeed grants us His blessings. However, we must never forget that His blessings are given TO us but also THROUGH us. When Jesus gave his blessings to the people, he does not only assure them of God’s blessing but preach to them that God’s glory and blessing may be fulfilled through them. The poor, hungry, weeping, hated, rejected, insulted are fortunate & blessed  – not only because they receive but also they reveal & share God’s blessings and graces to others. Meaning, God grants everyone his blessings by making you, me, us and others not only receivers but also sharer and giver of blessings. In as much as God is the author of our blessings, by our words and actions, we can also be agents of God’s blessings to others. In other words, we are BLESSED to also bless others.

    Our readings today are all about blessings. St. Paul describes how blessed we are for thru Jesus we have now come to recognize God as Abba, our Father. And in our gospel today, Mary recognizes not only how blessed she is and we are through her child Jesus, but she cherishes all these graces as she “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” in order to share this very blessings to others. And lastly in the first reading, the Lord teaches us how to bless others.

    Meaning, we should be grateful, for we are blessed, and should cherished, savor, and ponder our blessings in our hearts. At the same we must learn how to give and share our blessings to others. Blessings are ours to joyfully receive and celebrate, at the same time blessings are ours to give & share with others.

    Here also we must remember that God’s blessings are not only “yet to come” but are “here and now”. It is not only a promise but a reality. It is His gift to us now, not only the reward that we expect, wish and need from him, for what we receive from Him is more than just what we need and expect from Him. And usually, it comes as a surprised Gift – beyond our expectations. As a text message I once received say:

    God’s blessings may come as a surprise and how much we receive depends on how much our heart can believe. May you be blessed beyond what you expect.

    As we begin a new year in our life with the Lord, We must then be a sacrament of God’s graces – an instrument and sharer of God’s blessings to others by our good words and deeds, and be more concern as to how we can be instruments of His blessings for this year to be.

    Another year of Blessing is about to begin (has begun). We greet each other not only with a Happy New Year but a Blessed Year ahead. May God bless me. God bless You. God bless us, as He has already blessed us always now & forever.

    Nawa’y pagpalain kayo at tayo ng Panginoong Dios. Kabay na bendisyonan kamo kag kita sa Dios sa gihapon. Amen.

  • Prudence and Right Attitude

    Prudence and Right Attitude

    November 4, 2022 – Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110422.cfm)

    The master in today’s parable praised his dishonest steward, whom he trusted to manage his material resources. However, the steward was not praised for his dishonesty, of course not, but for “acting prudently.” This steward after hearing that he will be fired, secured his future by dropping out his corrupt practices. Well, not for the benefit of those who owed his paster but for his own benefit. Indeed, it is “prudence” and the “right attitude” at the present moment that Jesus calls us today.

    “Prudence” as defined by Meriam-Webster Online Dictionary, is a skill and good judgment in the use of resources or the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. So, by being prudent, we don’t do things, decide or act out of our impulses and mere capriciousness, or compulsions or feelings but in having a good judgment by using our reason or mind.

    Thus, prudence allows us to be “discerning,” that is, to see and recognize what is God’s and what is not God’s desire.

    “Right attitude of the present” is our way of life. This creates positive impacts in the lives of others. Right attitude is neither manipulative nor deceiving nor oppressive. Rather, it has something to do with gratitude and contentment. Therefore, by being grateful and contented of what we have and don’t have, make our heart generous, fair and honest unlike the dishonest steward. He may be prudent but lacking in right attitude.

    This is what Paul also reminds us in his letter to the Philippians. Paul strongly exhorted the community of the attitude of those who turned corrupt, oppressive and deceptive of others. In his words, he said, “Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their ‘shame.’ Their minds are occupied with earthly things.”

    This is a sign that these people were acting out of impulse and selfish desires as long as they feel satisfied. Yet, their end is destruction, not freedom, not contentment, not life. Certainly, such way of life does not lead to freedom and peace. This attitude also affects others negatively because such desire when translated into action can become vicious, oppressive and corrupt. This causes suffering to others.

    Thus, as children of the light, the Lord has two invitations for us today. First, to be prudent in our decisions and actions, so be discerning. Second, to learn the right attitude in our dealings with people and in using our material resources. May our thoughts and actions and very person inspire others to be truly generous, fair and honest. Kabay pa.

  • Time of Letting Go. Time of Letting God. Time of Welcoming

    Time of Letting Go. Time of Letting God. Time of Welcoming

    December 31, 2020 – 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas and the Last Day of the Year

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123120.cfm)

    We have reached the last day of the year of 2020. We have been through a lot this year. There are too many to mention them. Not just to few of us but to most of us living on this planet. 2020 has given us many blows of fear and anxiety. In addition, our personal struggles with our families, with our work, studies and other aspects of our life are also there. And perhaps, they are still with us until this last day of the year.

    One can just imagine the overwhelming trials that brought life-changing moments into our life. Yet, despite all those things that bombarded us personally and as a community, there are still so much to be grateful for. This is very essential as we go forward today and welcome a new day that is about to unfold before us.

    With all of these, it is just proper for us to allow everything to touch us. We can do this by giving a time of silence for us to listen and to feel. St. John’s Gospel tells us that before God spoke to create the world, there was only the silence of God. It was from that silence of God also, that God speaks. We are reminded that “in the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God.” And this Word became flesh who made his dwelling among us.

    And so, for all that has been, I would like to invite you now that we observe a minute of silence and close our eyes to thank the Lord for his grace and favor upon us.

    Please observe a minute of silence now.

    There are also three invitations that I would like you to dwell on this last day of the year. These three invitations will hopefully help us to look ahead with hope, to be grateful at present and to be reconciled with our past.

    The first is the invitation of letting go. There must have been painful, hurtful and traumatic events that happened this year. They could have created sad memories in us. We could have been filled guilt and shame, or with sorrow and grief, or with disappointment and hopelessness. However, when we do not learn to let them go then, we will only be unnecessarily dragging past burdens into our present life. We will only feel being burdened and tired in the next coming days. Then, we will surely lose the opportunities to enjoy the day and enjoy life in its fullness. Hence, this is a time of letting go. Let go what must be surrendered. It might not be easy. But for the sake  of our sanity and the good of those people around you, let go. Nevertheless, be assured also that as we let go those that burdens us, the Gospel of John reminds us, “From his (Jesus) fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace.” We are graced and be confident in that.

    The second is the invitation of letting God. Once we let go, we also let God to heal us, to renew us and to transform us. St. John tells us in his Gospel that God is a light that shines in our darkness. To let God shine in us means not allowing darkness to overcome us. We allow God to be our God and not our selfish desires and tendencies. Hence, this is a time of Letting God.

    The third is the invitation of welcoming. Allowing God to be God opens opportunities for us to be surprised. The days ahead are not certain, yet, if we make our hearts filled with anxiety because of uncertainties, then we also lose the spirit of being childlike. To be childlike is a constant invitation of the Lord to us. To be welcoming is to develop an attitude joy and cheerfulness in us. This makes our day lighter despite the demands that we may have. St. John reminds us again in the Gospel, the true light (Jesus) enlightens everyone. Thus, let us never lose the chance to be enlightened by Jesus by being welcoming of the light. To be enlightened by the light of the Lord is to welcome others into our life and to welcome opportunities for growth without our biases and prejudices. This day, indeed, is a time of welcoming.

    May this last day of the year bring us now new hope and a renewed spirit that does only look what is ahead but also rejoices what we have now. Hinaut pa.

  • God bless you

    God bless you

    January 1, 2020 – Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010120.cfm

    Reflection by Fr. Mar Masangcay, CSsR

    God bless. God bless you.

    In our world today of texting, almost everyday we read, hear and say those words: God bless, God bless you. But what does it mean? How do we understand it?

    Sometimes we use those words to express what we really refer to mean as “May God bless you”. With this, we imply that it is God who is to give you blessings at the same time we hope that God will grant you the blessings you need or expect from him. 

    Truly, it is really God who grants us his blessings, but we must not forget that his blessings are given to us but also through us. When Jesus gave his blessings to the people our gospel, he does not only assure them of God’s blessing but preach to them that God’s glory and blessing may be revealed through them. The poor, hungry, weeping, hated, rejected, insulted are fortunate not only they receive but make manifest God’s blessings and graces. Meaning, God grants everyone his blessings by making you, me, us and others not only receivers but also sharer and giver of blessings. In as much as God is the author of our blessings, by our words and actions, we can also agents of God’s blessings to others. 

    Our readings today are all about blessings. St. Paul describes how blessed we are for thru Jesus we have now come to acknowledge God as Abba, our Father. And in our gospel today, Mary recognizes not only how blessed she is and we are through her child Jesus, but she cherishes all these graces as she “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. And lastly in the first reading, the Lord teaches us how to bless others. Meaning, we should be grateful for we are blessed, and should cherished, savor, and ponder our blessings in our hearts at the same we must learn how to give and share our blessings to others. Blessings are ours to joyfully receive and celebrate, at the same time blessings are ours to share with others. As we begin a new year in our life with the Lord. We must then be a sacrament of God’s, an instrument and sharer of God’s blessings to others by our good words and deeds.

    Here, we must also never forget that God’s blessings are not only “yet to come” but are “here and now”. It is not only a promise but a reality. It is His gift to us now, not only the reward that we expect and need from him, for what we receive from Him is more than just what we need and expect from Him. Usually it comes as a surprised Gift which is beyond our expectations. As a text message I received this morning say: 

    God’s blessings may come as a surprise and how much we receive depends on how much our heart can believe. May you be blessed beyond what you expect.

    Another year of Blessing has begun. We greet each other not only with a Happy New Year but a Blessed Year ahead. May God bless me. God bless You. God bless us. Nawa’y pagpalain kayo at tayo ng Panginoong Dios.

  • God blesses you as God blesses me

    Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: January 1, 2020

    Click here for the readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010120.cfm

    Homily

    Can you please look at the persons near you and say to that person, “God bless you!” The words “TO BLESS AND BLESSING” are mentioned in the Old Testament 552 times and 65 times in the New Testament. From the very beginning God blessed all his creatures. This is an evidence that God has blessed every day and every moment of our lives.

    As we gathered today, we thank the Lord for the many blessings we have received. We also celebrate January 1 and begin a new year, we are filled with hope, new aspirations, and resolutions for the new year that has come that it may be favorable and bring more blessings to us. 

    For many centuries our Church designated the 1st day of the year with the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Today’s solemnity invites us to capture the real hope and the great blessing that has come upon us, to each of us.

    The Book of Numbers reminds us of God’s blessing being invoked upon his people. Moses is told by the Lord to convey to Aaron and his sons that the Lord blesses and protects them. This is God’s promise that shall never be forgotten.

    God never forgets his promises. God is always true to his words. God’s great blessing is manifested in the birth of the Son of Mary. He is the promised savior of the world who brings peace in our hearts and homes. His name is Jesus, which means “Yahweh Saves.”

    This blessing is brought to us through Mary. Her “Yes” to God makes it possible for us despite her many hardships. Mary from Nazareth knows no riches or privileges in her lifetime. Nobody has ever lived, suffered and died in greater simplicity, marked by a strong and simple faith. And amidst of these, she is the Theotokos¸ the mother and bearer of God to the world and to each of us.

    What is also interesting in our Gospel is that, this great blessing was first received by people who were not so important in the Jewish society. They were at the lowest class, deprived of social recognition and poor. They were the shepherds yet have been blessed with the revelation from an angel. That revelation gave them the joy to knock every door in Bethlehem until they found the baby with Mary and Joseph. They have captured in their hearts the hope of salvation for they have seen the face of God. 

    With joy, the shepherds brought the blessing to others they met on the road. They became preachers and witnesses of God’s blessing.

    It is only rightful also that as we hope for more blessings to come to us in this New Year, let this Solemnity of Mary’s motherhood be a reminder to each of us. God has already blessed us with good things and plenty. Count them!

    As Mary is able to bring Jesus to us and the shepherd able to preach the blessing that they have received, we too are called to bring Jesus to others. To bring blessing and not curse. To hope for blessing not just for ourselves but especially for those who are most needy, to those whom we dislike and our enemies. So that in the days to come and in this whole year of 2020, we may always become a blessing to everyone. Hinaut pa. 

    Jom Baring, CSsR