1. 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year B
    I Sam 3:3b-10, 19
    Psalm 40
    1 Cor. 6: 13c-15a, 17-20
    Jn. 1: 35-42

      Behold the Lamb of God

    Beloved in Christ, in order to live a meaning full and fulfill our destiny in life, we need to ponder the question Jesus poses to the disciples in the gospel: What are you looking for [in life]? We need to meditate on why God created us. Each of us is created because God anticipates the need of those he places in our lives. Our lives are not all about us, but them. When God created the world, he left his mark on everything he has made: “It was very good”. Everything God touches, become better because God’s Spirit is a transforming LOVE that makes everything new and better. St. Paul, in our second reading, reminds us that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit! The power of God, who makes all things new and beautiful, dwells in us! That Statement should remind us of the honor and the responsibility we have as sons and daughters of God. The honor and responsibility we have to become co-creators with God. That is our identity and mission in life: Temples of the Holy Spirit called to leave God’s mark on the world! I think that honor and responsibility St. Paul is talking about is what Dr. Martin Luther King Junior remembered; that is what made him move beyond the walls of his church to bring the gospel of Christ into his community, transform the American society, and leave the legacy we celebrate this Monday as a nation.
    A way of showing that God’s spirit dwells in us is to leave God’s mark on everything we touch, every place we go, and on all we interact with. That, people, places, situations become better because we were present. As the psalmist says in the responsorial psalm today, it is in seeking this will of God and doing it that we find peace and joy in life. In the first reading, we heard about the call of Samuel, one of the greatest prophets of Israel. He was called as a young boy and needed somebody to help him respond to God’s call. Eli left God’s mark on Samuel; and Samuel left God’s mark on Israel because under his leadership Israel became a better nation and draw closer to God. Eli helped Samuel to respond to God’s plan for his life; and Samuel helped Israel, as a nation, respond to God’s call for their lives.
    In the gospel, John the Baptist understood his life as helping people to listen to the voice of God in order for them to become a means of grace that God uses to transform the world. John the Baptist helped Andrew, Peter, and John behold Jesus. In bringing these men to Jesus, John uses a sentence that our priests repeat at Mass everyday: Behold, the Lamb of God! The word “behold” as used by John the Baptist does not mean just look at or admire; rather, it means opening one’s heart and lifting up one’s gaze with attention in order to embrace something and become what one embraces. Jesus receives Andrew, Peter, and James, and leaves the mark of the Father on them by helping them develop a better relationship with God the Father and with their neighbors. Because of Jesus, these men developed a deeper love for God and others.
    Beloved, God places us in specific situations and in the lives of specific people so that we can help them behold the Lamb of God, leave God’s mark on them, and help them become better human beings, people who love God and neighbor. As Christians, all our words and actions should shout out that single invitation to the world: Behold the Lamb of God! As we celebrate the Eucharist today, we need to ask ourselves: Are those God had placed in my life becoming better because I am in their lives? Is your husband becoming a better man because you are in his life? Is your wife becoming a better woman because you are in her life? Are your children becoming better because you are in their lives? Are your parents, siblings, friends, etc becoming better because you are in their lives? Are your work place and community becoming better because you are there? Is your church community becoming better because you are here? Do your words and actions help people to behold the Lamb of God?


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  2. Solemnity of Epiphany (Year B)

    Is 60:1-6

    Psalm Ps 72

    Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6

     Mt 2:1-12

     

    Let There Be Light

    My Dear People of God, today we celebrate the Solemnity of Epiphany (the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Light of the world). We join the whole of creation to lift up the Chalice of Salvation and praise our God. Beloved, Scripture tells us that before God created the world, there was total chaos and. darkness. So God created the world in order to dispel darkness and bring joy, order, peace, and life. Do you remember how it all begun? What was the first thing that God did in creating the world? He spoke: Let There Be Light!  St. John, in his Gospel, tells us that the Word that God spoke is also the Light of the world through whom all things were created; and that the Word has become flesh in the person of Jesus Christ in order to dispel darkness and bring about the new creation.

    In our first reading, God tells us to rise in splendor and shout for joy because our Light, Jesus, has come. Because of him, darkness will give way and Goodness will reign. God tells us that Jesus, our light, will shine on us and because of him people will draw closer to us and praise our God. This is what St. Paul emphasizes in the second reading by reminding us that we are coheirs and partners with Christ in his mission as the light of the world. God created each one of us to be his partner and co-worker in bringing light to the world so that darkness will be no more. That is what Christ meant in Mt. 5: 14 when he told his disciples: “You are the Light of the world”.

    Beloved in Christ, there are times that we succeed in being the light and there are times we fail to be true light to the world. Our Gospel reading today reminds us of how to be light. The Gospel tells the story of how the Magi came to find the light and brought that light to their people. In the ancient world, the Magi were people whose job was to read the signs in nature to advice the king about what to do in order to keep the country safe and bring about development. So they were people whose job was to find solutions to the problems that their society was going through. There are few lessons that we can learn from the Magi.

    1.     They did not allow the darkness to discourage them.  The Magi began their journey by looking at a star. This is symbolic. Usually, you can see a star when there is darkness. You can also use some gadgets to see the star during the day but I do not think that at the time of the Magi technology had advanced as it is today so, obviously, they saw the star in the darkness. This means that when they began their journey things were not okay; there were problems with their country, communities, families, and their personal lives. However, they did not allow the darkness to discourage them. They faced the darkness; and it is by facing it that they found the star of hope that things could be better. Beloved, that is what faith is about. It is about facing the darkness and believing that regardless of what is going on, there is a way out because the is a Savior, Jesus Christ. That is what we need to learn from the Magi to become light for our country, our community, our family and even our enemies.

    2.     Human wisdom alone is not enough in solving the problems of the word. We need the Word of God to find the answers to the problems of life. When they followed their human wisdom it took them to the palace of Herod where they almost lost their lives. It was only through the revealed word of God, which was read to them, that they came to know the place where hope could be found: Bethlehem. We need the Word of God. Without Christ, we shall be lost.

    3.     Finally, they worked together; they were a team. That is how light is formed. The formation of light is the coming together of one electron with others. Each one of is like an electron and when we come together in love, we produce energy, which becomes light for the world and drives away darkness. Beloved, problems in life get worse when we keep things to ourselves. But God placed us in families, communities, among our friends, and in the Church so that we can help carry one another’s burden. So please, don’t be a lone-ranger in 2018. Share your problems with somebody and seek help. God will use all those little helps to dispel the darkness in your life and bring new life.

    So Beloved, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Epiphany, let’s remember that we are the Light of the world; and work as a team, facing the darkness, forgiving those who have offended us (Husband, wife, children, parents, friends, co-workers, people at church etc) and sharing one another’s pain and joy! In this way there will be Light in the world.

     



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  3. The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
    (Vigil Mass)

    Is 62:1-5

    Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29

    Acts 13:16-17, 22-25

    Mt 1:18-25


    The Best Gift for Christmas is Forgiveness

    Beloved in Christ, the readings this afternoon remind us of why we celebrate Christmas. Christmas is about reconciling Heaven and earth: making ALL things new! The main goal is to bring reconciliation between heaven and earth and ensure that all sin that divide God and us are removed; all the things that separate human beings and deprive the world of joy and peace! So the goal of Christmas is peace on earth, joy to the world, and glory to God. When there is peace and joy on earth then God is gloried.
    Christmas is God’s way of teaching us that we need to take the initiative to make peace with people who have offended us. Our first and second readings tell us how God took the initiative to make peace with the world. He decided to come to us, speak with us, tell us we are forgiven, and teach us how to love him and love one another.  True Christmas is when we don’t just receive God’s forgiveness but share that with those who have offended us.   
    In the gospel, we have the story of the Annunciation as recorded by Matthew. If you pay attention you will see that in the Gospel of Matthew, the Annunciation is not between the angel and Mary, but rather, between Joseph and the Angel. Why did the angel have to come to Joseph? It was important for the Angel to come to Joseph for a number of reasons but in this homily I will dwell on just one: Joseph was going through a rough time in his life. His wife, a woman he held in a very high esteem, was pregnant but Joseph knew he was not responsible for this pregnancy. He is disappointed and is struggling with whether to divorce Mary and end the relationship or give her the benefit of the doubt.  It was at this time that the Angel appeared to him and told him, Joe, don’t divorce Mary. Don’t be afraid to give Mary the benefit of the doubt. God is up to something GREAT here! This is what the Angel meant when he called Joseph “Son of David”. God was telling Joseph, Joe, remember the promises I made to your ancestors to save the world through your family. As strange as this seems, I am working through this. If you don’t give up on Mary, something great will happen because you will be helping God to save the world (Emphasis mine).
    Beloved in Christ, unlike Mary, we make choices that are sinful and hurtful to our relationships. But there are also times that our loved ones might make choices, which even though are not sinful, could still be disappointing to us. Maybe you are facing some problems in your relationship. Maybe, as a husband or wife, you are disappointed and you are thinking about divorce. Like the angel, I want to plead with you: Please don’t do it. Whatever doubts or disappointments you have about your spouse, don’t give up on him/her. If you don’t give up, you will see great things. When you don’t give up on somebody you help God to make that person better. Or maybe you have some conflict with a friend, a sibling, your children or your parents and you are tempted to give up on that relationship. God is telling you don’t give up even if you feel disappointed. At times, people find themselves in situations where they make choices that might hurt us but their real intention is not to hurt us. That is why you need to give them the benefit of the doubt.
    The story of Joseph teaches us that, at times God’s ways of fulfilling his promises might seem scandalous and difficult for us to take, but the only way we can allow God’s promises to come true in our lives and in the world is to give God the benefit of the doubt and continue to love even when it does not make sense to us. If we can give people the befit of the doubt, and not give up on them, if we can continue to love them no matter what, then the world will know peace at this Christmas, then we can bring joy to the world! So come, open your heart! Show your mercy to those in fear! We are called to be hope for the hopeless, so hatred and blindness will be no more!

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  4. 4th Sunday of Advent-Year B
    2 Samuel 7:1-5; 8b-12, 14a, 16
    Psalm 89: 2-3,4-5, 27-29
    Rom. 16-25-27
    Luke 1: 26-38
    God is always up to something!
    Beloved in Christ, our readings today tell us that God is faithful. He keeps his promises; and that he always knows what he is doing. St. Paul tells us in the second reading that God is ALL WISE even when what he allows to happen in our lives does not make any logical sense to our human minds. Our responsorial psalm tells us to praise him forever because he wishes nothing but the best for us. The readings teach us that life is not so much about what we can do for God, but rather what we allow God to do with us. We see that in the life of David in the first reading. David wanted to glorify God by building him a house but God sent the prophet Nathan to tell him that he did not have to do so and that he is pleased just with the good thoughts that David had for him. This could have been very frustrating for David because he wanted to really do something great for God. God was teaching David that the desire to please God is itself pleasing to God, and that life is not so much what we can do for God but what we allow God to do unto him.
    My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we all go through situations in our lives that humanly speaking might not make any sense to us. There are times we wish to do something to glorify God, but then things do not seem to work out they way we want them to. We all desire to be saints and we can get very frustrated and even angry when we struggle with some sinful habits and all our efforts to overcome them do not seem to work. This could be very frustrating. However, if you are feeling that way today, don’t be discouraged or frustrated because our first reading tells us that even our desire to please God is itself pleasing to God. Do not give up on yourself. Keep trying, keep living your life looking forward with faith in God and allow God’s grace to work in your life at the pace and in the manner that God wants. Let it be done unto you according to God’s will and timing.
    That is what we learn from the life of the Blessed Mother in the gospel. In her life, we see that, at times, the sufferings we go through might have a bigger purpose and might be part of God’s bigger plans for fulfilling his promises to the world. The gospel we listened to today was not written on the same day that the Angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin Mary. I am sure St. Luke was not hiding somewhere taking notes. What happened to the Blessed Mother that day was something that did not make sense to her right away. She had questions but she embraced the message believing that even though it did not make sense according to human thinking, it was part of God’s bigger plan for the world. It was only after many years, when Jesus died and rose from the death that Mary began to understand fully what it was all about. That was when she began to tell the story to the disciples who were also trying to understand the master they had followed for three years and had to suffer so much for his sake. Mary lived her life looking forward, but she understood it fully looking backward. So, Beloved, I don’t know what situation you are going through right now that brings pain, frustration, and discouragement. But I want to urge you to adopt the perspective of the Blessed Mother, live your live forward with faith in God, believing that someday either here on earth or in heaven it will all make sense; and we will realize that all we go through is part of a bigger picture. God is always up to something!
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