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Category: Season of Advent

  • Reasons to Rejoice

    Reasons to Rejoice

    December 13, 2020 – Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Sunday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121320.cfm)

    Homily

    A friend once shared to me how he found it difficult to enjoy life and to live life truly. He found it hard not to give in to despair and sadness. The deaths in his family, the broken relationship he recently have, the financial crisis and the depressive environment because of the anxiety and fear brought by the pandemic have caused so much stress. He might just give up if these will continue. Indeed, he found it very difficult to find reasons to be joyful. Listening to my friend, it challenged me also to dwell deeper on this essential aspect of life, to find reason to rejoice. There must be more than what I believe, reasons to rejoice and be thankful for.

    This is the invitation today as we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent. We are halfway towards Christmas and it is important that we become confident that there are indeed, reasons to be joyful in this life. Hence, let us discover our beautiful readings today and see how God invites us to find reasons to rejoice.

    In the Book of Prophet Isaiah, the prophet reminds the people of the reasons to rejoice. The people were back in Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon yet life back at home was still filled with injustice and difficulties. Returning home did not solve all their problems. They still found themselves at the brink of giving up. Thus, Isaiah proclaimed to the people, “a year of favor from the Lord.” This favor from the Lord invites the people to recognize the blessings of God even when life seemed not to be favorable. To arrive in this kind of consciousness with God requires the people to be more aware of God’s spirit dwelling in them. This kind of consciousness brought the prophet to a deeper realization and recognized that “God is the joy of my soul.” Thus, the prophet tells us now to also find in our heart that God indeed, is the joy of our soul.

    Such realization is an attitude that allows us to become more confident in God’s promise of salvation and freedom. That is why, the prophet also anticipated the joy and the blessing of God’s arrival. On that day, the Lord shall bring glad tidings to the poor, healing to the brokenhearted, freedom to the captives and prisoners.

    Finding God as the joy of our soul is what has been proclaimed to us also in the Responsorial Psalm which was taken from the Gospel of Luke. The Magnificat of Mary tells us how she rejoices in God her savior. In this song, Mary recounted how good is the Lord and how God brought so much transformation in her life and in the lives of many. God brings blessings and graces to us with His presence. If we would only realize this and will always rest our confidence in God, we shall always rejoice as well even if what lies outside our life is not favorable. Mary reminds us now that God remembers his promise of mercy. God, indeed, remembers us and will never forget us.

    That is why, Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians also reminded them to rejoice always and in all circumstances give thanks. When our spirit is filled with gratitude, we look at things and look at life at the perspective of grace and blessing. Yet, when our spirit is filled with bitterness, then we look at the world and our life at the perspective of sin and curse. 

    For this reason, for us to keep our mind and heart filled with gratitude and at the perspective of grace and blessing, Paul reminds us today, to “pray without ceasing.” This is an invitation to always have the consciousness of God’s Spirit dwelling in us which will bring us into a deeper confidence that God is the joy of our soul. This was what Isaiah told us.

    In the same way, the concrete example given to us today who have become a person of joy and gratitude was John the Baptist. John who was filled with God’s Spirit even when he was still in the womb of her mother, was overflowing with joy. This must be the reason why John could not stop proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. As John’s response to what he felt, John became a witness. Because John experienced so much grace and so did became a grace to the people. Because he experienced the light of God, he too became a witness to that light.

    John could have claimed that he was the Messiah so that people will worship him. People were already looking up to him. Yet, he did not because the joy in John’s heart made him honest and truthful. Thus, a person who is indeed, filled with joy and grace of God would always point the source of such blessing. Becoming a witness of that grace and blessing is what makes us to rejoice truly in the Lord.

    Our invitations for today are these.

    First. Recognize your blessings even in the midst of your difficulties. There must be more reasons to rejoice than what we think and believe. As we recognize every blessing and grace, let God fill our heart with joy today.

    Second. Pray without ceasing that we may always become conscious of God’s Spirit dwelling in us. Never stop even if it becomes dry. Pray always that we find God always too.

    Third. Be a witness by becoming a joyful and generous giver to those who are in need of your presence, talents and resources. Joy is like corona virus, it is infectious. Rather than infecting others of our bitterness, anger and hatred, infect others with your joy, with your heart that is filled with God’s presence.

    Hinaut pa.

  • Sound Check. Mic-Test

    Sound Check. Mic-Test

    December 13, 2020 – Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121320.cfm)

    Homily

    Once in a big cathedral, as the priest is about to greet the people in the mass with the usual “the Lord be with you” (Ang Ginoo Maanaa kaninyo) to which the people were to respond: “And also with you,” (Maanaa usab kanimo) the people were not able to hear this because the wires in the microphone were defective. The priest then banged the microphone which fortunately made contact. But to his regret, while the mic regain contact, he accidentally shouted and broadcasted loudly: “there is something wrong with the microphone”. (Naay daut ang microphone) And worse, the people involuntarily replied: “And also with you.” (Maanaa usab Kanimo).

    Usually in the mass, we hear the normal greeting of the priest: The Lord be with you” (Ang Ginoo maanaa Kanimo). And then we usually reply, “and also with you” (Maanaa usab kanimo). But what does it mean? What does the Lord be with you mean?

    According to the scripture, the words, “the Lord be with you” is the first good news ever proclaimed to us. Since the annunciation of Maria, the birth of Jesus until His ministry, death and resurrection, these words and message have always been proclaimed and preached to us, and has been a recurring theme of the Good News of Jesus Christ. And even until now, the Spirit of God and the Church, has preached these to us again and anew – that the Lord is WITH you and all of us now.

    If the Lord is with us, how should we feel then? Our readings today call us to be Joyful and Thankful to God for He has blessed us with His presence and salvation in our lives. Isaiah rejoices over God’s grace bestowed not only on himself but on Us all, proclaiming: “My soul rejoices in my God”. St Paul exhorts that we should always rejoice and give thanks for such great blessing upon us.  John in our gospel today knows himself. He is not the Messiah himself. John is not the message or the Good New, but He is just the microphone & loudspeaker of the message. He is only the voice and just the precursor to prepare the way of the Lord. But he also aspires to be a worthy friend of the bridegroom. He is not the Groom but the joyful Best man or person for the Groom. This is also what John wishes for us – that We become the Best (worthy, righteous, and joyful) Person before God and others for the Christ, the Messiah, and become a Microphone/Loudspeaker of the message.

    We are now in the third Sunday of Advent. The whole Church calls this particular Sunday as “Gaudete Sunday”, the Sunday of Joy and Praise. We are encouraged to be always grateful of the Good News that the Lord is with and upon us.

    But are we really now joyful because of the Good News that the Lord is with us? Or are we, like what happened with the priest who said that mass, become accustomed and got used with the message that the Lord-is-with-us that we are not anymore happy and excited about it? And because we get used to it and have heard it before, we just automatically or mechanically respond without really meaning it: And also with you?” What then, is the difference if when we hear the Message, and we just respond, “OK, fine whatever.”? Or without interest responding “Amen”, whenever presented with “Body of Christ” during communion? Or just saying “So what?” when a special guest arrives in your home for a visit?

    If we have heard the good news that the Lord is with us, what should we do then? If we really recognize that the Lord is with us, it is but right and fitting that we should rejoice and be happy because a great grace has come upon us. And in our joy and gladness, we also need to preach and share this good news to all – that is we should actively witness, preach and proclaim this with all our words and actions. Like St. John the Baptist in our gospel, we who have heard and glad of the good news of salvation must also become the best man – like good microphone or sound system that proclaims, “the Lord is with us”. And in this season of advent, we must renew, prepare, and strengthen our faith, so that we may become worthy of His message.

    If the microphone is defective, we must also check if the speaker and receiver are also defective, for we might send a wrong message and get a wrong response. Advent then is Time for Sound Check & Mic Test – to ensure we are at our BEST condition to host our beloved Guest Jesus Christ.

    Christmastime proclaims to us the simple message: the Lord is with us. How about us? Are we with Him?

    May we Be with the Lord, as He has always been with Us. Amen.

  • Have the Courage and Faith to be Childlike

    Have the Courage and Faith to be Childlike

    December 11, 2020 – Friday of the Second Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121120.cfm)

    Homily

    Children are particularly special to Jesus because the Kingdom of God belongs to them. This is because of the characteristics associated to the children. Children express their dependence to adults and tend to be trusting, welcoming and open to surprises. Their simplicity makes them sensitive to God.

    Jesus used the image of children in the Gospel, however, this mirrors the attitude of unbelieving people.  Children have both strengths and weaknesses. In the parable of the kingdom of God, Jesus pointed to us the strength of being “childlike.” And in today’s Gospel, Jesus emphasized the dark side of becoming “childish.”

    Being “childish” reveals our negative and selfish attitudes. A child can throw up tantrums when displeased and does not get what he/she wanted. This attitude of a child is an unconscious form of control and manipulation to get what he/she desired.

    Being childish is being selfish to get what we want no matter how unfair that would be to others. Being childish focuses on what “satisfies me” and on what “I can gain.”  To be childish prevents us to “listen” to what is more important. It also prevents us to believe and to accept other ideas because we are already convinced of our own judgments and beliefs. Thus, being childish is also characterized by being indifferent.

    This was the attitude of those people who rejected Jesus as well as John the Baptist. So, what was Jesus really doing? Jesus was very unconventional because he ate and drank with sinners. He touched and mingled with the sick and the unclean people. Jesus preached a loving and forgiving God the Father. He was from Galilee, from an insignificant town called Nazareth. He was not a well-known intellectual and did not come from a rich and influential family. And all that Jesus did was a threat to the status quo.

    The Chief Priests of the Temple and the Pharisees were already contented with the comfort that they had, with the power and influence that they were enjoying. They were privileged people and the ordinary ones would almost worship them. They preferred a strict and unforgiving God because it was through that belief that they could advance their self-interest. They used their position in the society to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor.

    That is why; they were against Jesus because he was changing their ways. Their hearts were filled with bitterness, hate, anger and the desire to have more; in other words, they were filled with themselves, worshipping their very selves. This is idolatry.

    These were the reasons why they could not accept Jesus or even recognize the presence of God in Jesus. They rejected John the Baptist by accusing him of being possessed by a demon for being different and radical. They rejected and despised Jesus, accusing him for being a glutton and drunkard because Jesus ate and drank with sinners and the poor.

    Being childish makes us blind to what God shows us now. This attitude makes us “blind” to what is happening around us today. We refuse to see the suffering of others because we tend to only see ourselves. This attitude would also make us deaf to what God is telling us now. It makes us deaf to the many cries of those who are suffering.

    The Lord invites us not to be childish anymore and to turn away from that attitude and become childlike. This is the invitation today, as we continue our journey in this Season of Advent. Let us pray that we may have the courage and the faith to become childlike who can see and hear God in the lives of those who are suffering and among our loved ones. Hinaut pa.

  • God holds us tightly because God is our help

    God holds us tightly because God is our help

    December 10, 2020 – Thursday of the Second Week of Advent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121020.cfm)

    Homily

    The very image of God holding us tightly is certainly a comfort to us. We have this image of God, not giving up on us but continues to hold us and to embrace us. Such image must have been the very experience of the Hebrew people in the Old Testament. Prophet Isaiah who proclaimed God’s word to us today in the first reading, tells us of this, “I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you (Is 41:13).”

    These comforting words in the Book of Prophet Isaiah do not only give us assurance but also empower us. God’s help empowers us because God becomes our strength, our confidence and our friend.

    In a time when we are overwhelmed with trials, with difficulties and even in struggling because of our sins, God continues to grasp our right hand. Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew also tells us that the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent are taking it by force. However, even in the midst of violence God’s justice and mercy will prevail.

    Again, this image of God not wanting to give up on us is revealed in the history of our salvation. God sent prophets to remind the people of His presence and mercy. God’s messengers and His blessings, and miracles done to the people were expressions of God grasping our hand.

    John the Baptist who was sent ahead to announce the arrival of the Messiah, was another figure and expression of God grasping our hand. Through John, who in the words of Jesus, was Elijah, the one who is to come, brought the people to repentance. John prepared the hearts of the people and reminded them of God’s mercy coming into flesh. John gave us the assurance that God comes to dwell among us and become our very help.

    God’s ultimate expression of help and presence is the person of Jesus, whose birth we shall celebrate in few weeks’ time. As we acknowledge God’s empowering presence, let us also recognize those friends and family members who in their own way held our hand and helped us to rise again and gain confidence. We have experienced their presence who refused to give up on us and continued to see hope in us. Let us be grateful to them by also giving hope and refusing to give up on anybody.

    We may become God’s presence and help to others today. Hinaut pa.

  • MISA DE AGUINALDO 2020

    MISA DE AGUINALDO 2020

    The Aguinaldo Masses are in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to be celebrated nine (9) days before Christmas for the perseverance of the nation in faith. In the spirit of the season, one may lawfully use in these Masses the Weekday Lectionary. The GLORIA is sung in these Masses and white vestment is used even on Sunday. (-from the ORDO)

    Below are prepared Liturgical guide that contains the readings and prayers proper for each day of the Misa de Aguinaldo. Feel free to download and share these resources. May our celebration of the Misa de Aguinaldo truly prepare us to celebrate the big feast on Christmas Day, the birth of our Savior, the Emmanuel, Jesus.

    So that each day, may also have a focus, I have designed an over-all theme for the Misa de Aguinaldo and particular theme for each day. The theme of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines, GIFTED TO GIVE, is the over-all theme. From this theme comes the inspiration for each day.

    There is also a prepared short introduction for each reading that will be useful for further reflection and connection with the theme.

    Each file is in PDF form. Click the link to download it.

    December 16 : Recognizing our gift and the gifts around us

    DECEMBER 16, 2020 (First Day of the Misa de Aguinaldo) – Liturgical PublicationDownload

    Is 56:1-3a,6-8 – Foreigners came to believe in God. Through their encounter with the people of God, they too have recognized God’s presence in them. God’s people became a gift to those foreigners leading them to worship God and give thanks to God.
     
    Psalm 67:2-3,5,7-8 – The Psalm recognizes God’s authority over all the nations. In this, even those who did not belong to the chosen people of God, they too were blessed because God created everything. This is a confidence in God who gathers everyone, without exception.
     
    John 5:33-36 – Jesus recognized the role of his cousin, John the Baptist. John’s life and his presence was a testimony to the truth. He was a burning and true shining lamp for people to see and recognize the true light. John led people to Jesus. John’s life was a gift to people around him. Moreover, more than John the Baptist, the works of Jesus, were the very gifts also of God to us that point us to Jesus, the greatest gift we have.

    December 17 : The Gift of our Family and healing of our Family History

    DECEMBER 17, 2020 (Second Day of the Misa de Aguinaldo) – Liturgical PublicationDownload

    Genesis 49:2,8-10 – Jacob called his sons and bestowed the blessing to Judah. The blessing also contains the prophecy of the rise of a King, in the person of David, the very lineage of Jesus claimed in the Gospel of Matthew.

    Matthew 1:1-17 – The Gospel recounts the family tree of Jesus with 42 generations divided into three, that makes it 14. 14 is the equivalent of two 7. Seven is a perfect number in Jewish belief. And the repeated use of 7 means that God works in the human family of Jesus in an absolutely perfect way. The family tree though not perfect but with traces of sins and unfaithfulness, God works within human family to bring healing and life.

    December 18 : The Gift of promise being fulfilled: A call to fulfill our commitment

    DECEMBER 18, 2020 (Third Day of the Misa de Aguinaldo) – Liturgical PublicationDownload

    Jeremiah 23:5-8 –  God proclaims his promise to save his people and give them security.

    Psalm 72 – God’s promise is fulfilled as the people lived in justice and peace. The faithfulness of God in the covenant is shown on how God rescues the poor and saves and afflicted.

    Matthew 1:18-25 – The scandalous pregnancy of Mary must have brought Joseph to confusion. Yet, because of his commitment to Mary and to God, he fulfilled his promise to protect her and the baby. Joseph embraced the Lord’s will because of his confidence in God who is with us.

    December 19 : To be surprised with God’s gifts to us

    DECEMBER 19, 2020 (Fourth Day of the Misa de Aguinaldo) – Liturgical PublicationDownload

    Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 – The birth of Samson was a gift filled with surprises to Manoah and his barren wife.

    Psalm 71: 3-4, 5-6, 16-17 – It is a song that expresses the hope for strength from God. It also expresses the spirit that completely puts trust in God and recognizes God even before birth.

    Luke 1:5-25 – The announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist caught Zechariah off guard. He was too surprised that he could not believe it. Thus, he argued with the angel and in consequence was made mute because of his unbelief to God’s surprising gift to him.

    December 20 : The Gift of Salvation fulfilled through our participation

    DECEMBER 20, 2020 (Fifth Day of Misa de Aguinaldo; Fourth Sunday of Advent) – Sunday Liturgical PublicationDownload

    2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 – The Prophet proclaims the very hope and joyful expectation of the fulfillment of God’s promise. This covenant rests now in that relationship with God as a father.

    Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 – The people at that time endured a great amount of suffering. In their anguish and fear, they recalled the covenant with God and recognized the “everlasting kindness of God.” God is faithful indeed, and God is our father.

    Rom 16:25-27 – Paul reminds the Romans of God as the source of strength. And calls obedience to faith through Jesus.

    Lk 1:26-38 – The words of Mary to the Angel Gabriel, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” was a statement of faith and also a statement of love. As God fulfills the promise, God also asks us to participate in the divine plan.

    December 21 : The Gift of Presence

    DECEMBER 21, 2020 (Sixth Day of the Misa de Aguinaldo) – Liturgical PublicationDownload

    Song 2:8-14 – The Beloved has been visited by the lover. Such imagery portrays the excitement of being graced by the presence of the lover to the one being loved. This proclaims the hope of a new day as God comes, the lover, to his people, the beloved. The presence of the lover invites the beloved to arise from sadness and embrace life.

    Psalm 33:2-3,11-12, 20-21 – This recalls the hope and the longing for God. The people waits for God’s coming whose presence is the strength of the people. In that anticipation, joy can be felt, thus, a calling to rejoice and sing praises to God.

    Lk 1:39-45 – Knowing that Elizabeth needed help in her pregnancy, Mary came to visit her cousin. That visit revealed how a mere presence of a person brings joy to another. Moreover, what makes this visit more wonderful was the presence of God in the life of Mary. The baby in her womb was God’s presence being gifted to Elizabeth and to her child in the womb who leaped for joy.

    December 22 : Gratitude to the Gifts of the Lord

    DECEMBER 22, 2020 (Seventh Day of the Misa de Aguinaldo) – Liturgical PublicationDownload

    1 Sam 1:24-28 – Hannah had been into humiliation and shame because of being infertile. She could not bear a son which gave her so much anguish. Being the second wife of Elkanah, Hannah was always humiliated by Peninnah, the first wife. Yet, through the prophet Eli, Hannah’s prayers were answered. She bore a son, Samuel. Because of her gratitude to God’s blessing and saving her for humiliation, she dedicated her son to God. In fact, because of this offering, Hannah had been blessed also to have 5 more children after Samuel.

    1 Sam 2:1,4-5,6-7,8abc – This expressed the experiences of the people and particularly of Hannah in the first reading. God comes to rescue his people who were oppressed, humiliated and broken. The response, “My heart exults in the Lord my savior,” expressed that deep gratitude to God who is not indifferent to the suffering of the people.

    Luke 1:46-56 – The song Mary, like the Psalm, expresses also that deep gratitude to the Lord. God is indeed great for he has done many great things even to the lowly ones. This recalls and recognizes the action of God where the powerful, the arrogant and the corrupt are brought to shame while the lowly, the poor and the hungry are raised and satisfied. Thus, Mary’s song as indeed a song of gratitude to God.

    December 23 : God is gracious and fills us with gifts

    DECEMBER 23, 2020 (Eight Day of the Misa de Aguinaldo) – Liturgical PublicationDownload

    Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 – In the prophecy from the Book of Malachi, the herald shall lead and gather the people to see God. He will be like a refiner’s fire who will teach and correct the wrong of the people. In this way, this herald will lead the people to repentance to fully welcome the Lord. The birth of this person is not by accident but planned well by God. The life of this person is the message of God to make the people prepare themselves for God’s coming. This is God’s promise which is to be first fulfilled through the participation of humanity, through us.

    Psalm 25:4-5ab,8-9,10-14 – The author of the Psalm expressed the desire to be taught by the Lord and to be led to the truth. This is the role of the herald in the first reading and the herald in the Gospel of Luke who teaches, leads and gathers the people to recognize God’s graciousness.

    Luke 1:57-66 – The name John literally means, God is Gracious. The birth of John the Baptist is a testimony of God’s graciousness not just to the old couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth but to the whole humanity. The couple is an image of the people who longed to be taught and to be led to God. As John was a gift to his parents, John also points to God’s graciousness who is about to come in its fullness.

    December 24 : Unboxing the Gift

    DECEMBER 24, 2020 (Ninth Day of the Misa de Aguinaldo) – Liturgical PublicationDownload

    2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 – The Prophet proclaims the gift to be given to David. David who thought that he should build a house for God, was promised by the Lord to be given a house that will last forever.  This is the covenant so dear to the people because God is a father.

    Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 – Because of the suffering endured by the people of this time, they longed to that promise of God who shall show an everlasting kindness. What kept them hopeful was their confidence in God’s faithfulness because God is our Father.

    Luke 1:67-79 – Zechariah recalls the covenant of God and the fulfillment of the promise of a mighty Savior. In his song, he also recounts how his eyes have seen clearly that promise being unfolded through the birth of his son John. John will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sins. John is, indeed, unboxing the gift.

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