Christmas

 

In Bethlehem, a Savior Was Born to Us

Luke 2: 1-14

 

As we read/listen to this familiar Gospel passage of the birth of Jesus, let’s compare three details.

 

First, the names of Caesar Augustus and Jesus.  Augustus defeated his opponents through military conquests and became the first Roman emperor.  He even called himself “son of God.”  Jesus, as we know, was born in poverty and obscurity, to an ordinary couple. 

 

Second, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, not Jerusalem, or Rome.

 

Third, the news of the birth of Jesus was announced to shepherds, not celebrities or important people of the society.

 

May we know the presence of our Savior in the ordinary moments, events, and people of our life.

 

The Savior has been born to us.  

 

 

Image source: Fray Juan Bautista Maino - Adoration of the Shepherds,

commons.wikimedia.org

 

4th Sunday of Advent - C (December 19, 2021)

 

“Blessed”

Luke 1: 39-45

 

Mary “believed what was spoken” to her by the angel at the Annunciation.  The angel told her that “the Holy Spirit will come upon” her, “the power of the Most High will overshadow” her, and that she “will bear a son.”

 

Mary believed that God is with her.  Consequently, her greeting alone brought the Savior’s presence to Elizabeth and her son, John.

 

Likewise, Mary has brought God to us, who continues to be with us.  How blessed we are!    

 

How conscious am I that I can, like Mary, bring God into the world?

 

 Image source: www.agnusday.org

3rd Sunday of Advent - C (December 12, 2021)

John Preached Good News to People

Luke 3: 10-18

 

John the Baptist called people to prepare the way for the Lord.  They asked him, “What should we do?”

 

John’s instruction seems to call for basic decency.  Those who have share with those who have less.  And people are to act according to what they are supposed to be. 

 

John did not tell tax collectors and soldiers to quit.  This has an important implication since tax collectors and soldiers at that time served illegitimate rulers.  Besides, they had the reputation of corruption. 

 

How do I live John the Baptist’s invitation today?

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org

2nd Sunday of Advent - C (December 5, 2021)

The Word of God Came to John

Luke 3: 1-6

 

St. Luke begins this passage with a list of important people.  It was to none of them, but to John did “the word of God” come.

 

And through John, one who was not important by human standards, “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” 

 

Let us be thankful to God for the gift of God’s word.  May we embrace the same mission that was given to John, to share God’s salvation with all people.  

 

 Image source: www.agnusday.org

1st Sunday of Advent - C (November 28, 2021)

 

The Son of Man is Coming

Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36

 

Life is a journey. 

 

We have two options. 

 

We can drift through life aimlessly and “become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life.”  

 

Or we can live life with a purpose.  We know that God is with us, the Emmanuel.   Jesus is the origin and the destination of our life journey.  And he is with us, accompanying us on our journey.  

 

(Dawn on Long Island Sound, New York)

 

Christ, the King - B (November 21, 2021)

 

What Kingdom?

John 18: 33b-37

 

When Pilate asks Jesus “Then you are a king?”, Pilate has in his mind one kind of being kings and one kingdom – the Roman Empire that had conquered other peoples and nations by military power and force.  That was why Pilate could not understand Jesus.

 

Similarly, we might want to ask ourselves, “If Jesus is my king, then what kind of kingdom do I belong to?  And in my life, what type of a kingdom that I project to others?”

 

In today’s preface (the prayer before the Holy), we proclaim the kingdom of Jesus being “an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”

 

May we live each day as citizens of such a kingdom. 

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org

33rd Sunday - B (November 14, 2021)

 

“… will not pass away”

Mark 13: 24-32

 

It’s autumn now.  Another year is soon to coming to an end.

At this time of the year, each of us should ask, “What matters in my life?”  and “Is it something that lasts forever?”

 

It’s also the season of Thanksgiving.  Let us thank God for what really matters – eternal life.

Let us thank God for God’s gift of love in Jesus and in the people in whom we experience God’s love.

 

Image source: https://esahubble.org/images/potw1550a/ 

32nd Sunday - B (October 7, 2021)

 

To Love Is To Give All

Mark 12: 38 – 44

 

Last week, Jesus reaffirmed the priority of the two commandments of love.  And to love as Jesus teaches is to love with all that we are and have. 

 

Today, we witness the poor widow’s sacrificing love – in giving “her livelihood.” 

 

Moreover, Jesus is now already in Jerusalem.  In a few days, Jesus himself would give the ultimate gift of love – the gift of his very life on the cross (we also hear this in today’s 2^nd reading). 

 

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  (John 15:13).

 

See how Jesus loves us! 

 

In the US, this week is Vocation Awareness Week.  Let’s pray that we may see our vocations as God’s gift of love to help us love as Jesus loves.  And may young people embrace God’s vocation for them as such.  

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org

31st Sunday - B (October 31, 2021)

 

Our Real ID

Mark 12: 28-34

 

We have various ID’s, emblems, membership cards, passports that indicate membership of organizations, clubs, or citizenship.

 

What identifies our membership or citizenship of the Kingdom of God?

 

Today, Jesus tells us that our membership of that Kingdom is to love God and to love our brothers and sisters.

 

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

29th Sunday - B (October 17, 2021)

 

What to ask

Mark 10: 35-45

 

The request made by James and John, and the reaction from the other disciples expose their ambition.  It is such an opposite with the way of Jesus, who “came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

 

Jesus thus comments to James and John, “You don’t know what you are asking.”

 

Similarly, we do not always know what to ask for in prayer.

 

We should first ask for an ever deeper appreciation of Jesus’ self-sacrificing love for us.  Then, we would know to pray for what we each need to imitate Jesus in his way of service.    

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org

 

28th Sunday - B (October 10, 2021)

Treasure in Heaven

Mark 10: 17-30

 

Jesus sets the price for “treasure in heaven.”

 

The question is probably not “How much is it worth?”

 

It is worth everything and more. 

 

Therefore, Jesus still asks us, “Are you ready for what it might cost you to have this “treasure in heaven”? 

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org

27th Sunday - B (October 3, 2021)

 

“From the Beginning”

Mark 10: 2-16

 

Our lives have challenges and difficulties.  At times, we say, “It’s not supposed to be like this.”

 

So does Jesus.

 

He affirms us the goodness of the original plan that God has for God’s children and for all creation, “from the beginning.”

 

We must be realistic as we live the realities of daily life, with its blessings and challenges.  At the same time, let us not forget God’s plan “from the beginning.”  Let us keep striving for the fulfilment of God’s plan for each of us and for all of God’s creation.  

Image source: www.agnusday.org 

26th Sunday - B (September 26, 2021)

 

“An Ever Wider We”

Mark 9: 38-48

 

John and his fellow disciples “tried to prevent” a person who was “driving out demons in [Jesus’] name” because the person “does not follow us.”  In other words, this person is an outsider.

 

Curiously, twenty verses early in this same Chapter 9, the disciples could not drive out one mute spirit.

 

Do we allow jealousy prevent us and others from doing good, even when the good is done in Jesus’ name?

 

This year, this Gospel happens to be the Gospel on the annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees.  In his message for this day, Pope Francis invites all believers and people of good will to work “towards an ever wider we” for all people.  He invites us to pray, “Bless each act of welcome and outreach that draws those in exile into the “we” of community and of the Church,
so that our earth may truly become what you yourself created it to be: the common home of all our brothers and sisters. Amen.”

 

Image source: www.catholicbishops.ie

25th Sunday - B (September 19, 2021)

Jesus’ Patience

Mark 9: 30-37

 

Last week, we heard Jesus telling the disciples that he, the Christ, must suffer and be killed, and he would rise.  The disciples did not get it.  Peter even tried to change Jesus’ mind.

 

Today, Jesus tells the disciples the same thing the second time.  And again, they don’t get it.

 

While we won’t hear it in church as a Sunday Gospel passage, but Jesus will tell the disciples the same lesson the third time (Mark 10: 32-45).  And sure enough, the disciples still fail to get it. 

 

The disciples won’t get it even when Jesus is arrested, crucified, and died.

 

Eventually, they would get it.  In fact, they all embraced their own sufferings and crosses out of love for Jesus.

 

They needed time.

 

And Jesus was patient with them. 

 

We too need time to learn Jesus’ Gospel and to live his way of life.

 

We know that Jesus is patient with us.  

 Image source:  www.agnusday.org

24th Sunday - B (September 12, 2021)

 

The Christ

Mark 8: 27-35

 

The Gospels of the previous two Sundays portrayed Jesus as an outstanding teacher and a powerful healer. 

 

First, Jesus’ outclassed the Pharisees and scribes in his teaching.  Then, his healing power made people “exceedingly astonished” that they acclaimed, “He has done all things well.  He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

 

Yet, today we learn that he’s more than an outstanding teacher or a powerful healer.  He is the Christ, God-anointed. 

 

As the Christ, he accepted rejection, his passion, and crucifixion to save humanity.  he is true to his identity.

 

He calls us to follow him. 

 

If we live our identity authentically, we must be like Christ.  We must take up our crosses and follow him.  Only then can we have life and become the instruments of Christ’s life in the world.  

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org 

23rd Sunday - B (September 5, 2021)

 

Ephphatha!

Mark 7: 31-37

 

The Gospel passage begins with a list of places, all in the area of non-Jewish people, also known as the gentiles.  Jesus went to the people who had not known God to bring them the good news of God’s salvation. 

 

Today, Jesus continues to do the same for us.

 

He invites us to “Be opened” to his presence and his Gospel.

 

Moreover, he invites us to open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to his presence in the people around us, particularly those who are poor (2^nd reading), and those who are outsiders, just as Jesus was to them.

 

Jesus also gives us the examples and the power to open our mouths to proclaim his Gospel to others. 

 

Ephphatha!

 

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

22nd Sunday - B (August 29, 2021)

God-With-Us

Readings

 

“For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us?”

 

These words from Deuteronomy proclaim our privilege of having the God who created the universe with us. 

 

In the Incarnation, the Second Person of the Trinity came to live among us.  He now remains with us in his Eucharist, the Sacraments, and in his words.

 

In our hearts, God is present as evident in the voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us to do good and avoid evil (ref. the Gospel).

 

Jesus also teaches us that he is present in our neighbors.  Moreover, as St. Paul reminds us Jesus’ teaching that we serve Him when we “care for orphans and widows in their affliction.” (2^nd Reading).

 

Images Source: www.agnusday.org

21st Sunday - B (August 22, 2021)

 

“We have come to believe”

John 6: 60-69

 

Like Peter, we believe that Jesus has the words of eternal life. 

 

At the same time, Peter’s words “We have come to believe” remind us that faith is a journey.  Like Peter and the rest of the Twelve, there are times our faith is strong, other times, we falter. 

 

To grow in faith, we must give Jesus time to speak to us.  We must give him space to speak to us in our hearts.  We must give ourselves time to listen to Jesus in prayer and silence, and to read and reflect on his words in Scriptures.

 

In the age of explosion of information, with smart phones, social media, text message, etc., we probably need to be even more intentional in this important aspect of our communication with Jesus so as to live by his words of eternal life.  

 

 Image source: www.wikihow.com

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15, 2021)

 

“In Haste”

Luke 1: 39 - 56

Mary travels “in haste” to visit Elizabeth.

Immediately prior to this passage, the angel told Mary, “The Lord is with you.” 

Now, as Mary visits Elizabeth, she brings the Savior to Elizabeth and her son. 

The Lord is also with us, in his words and in his Eucharist.

May we travel in haste to bring Him to our brothers and sisters.  

Image source: www.agnusday.org

19th Sunday - B (August 8, 2021)

 

John 6: 41-51

 

How often do I begin a sentence with “I”?

 

Even in our relationship with God, we’d say, “I pray, I go to church, etc.”

 

Jesus reminds us that it is God who draws us to God to share with us God’s life, eternal life.