Christmas, Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

December 25, 2017

Readings:

First Reading – Isaiah 9:1-6

Psalm 96

Second Reading – Timothy 2:11-14

Gospel reading according to Luke 2:1-14

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Homily: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!

The time came for Mary to give birth to his only Son, Jesus Christ.  This time happened during the censure decreed by Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, and when Quirinus was governor of Syria, most probably in 4 BC.  Joseph, would be foster father of Jesus, who belonged to the house and family of King David, brought Mary with child to Bethlehem, in Judea, to the City of David “to be enrolled” (cf. Lk. 2:1-5) in that very first enrollment and/or census in the whole world.  As Luke said, “While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son” (2:6). We do not know what time Mary gave birth to Jesus, what we know she gave birth in a cave where domestic animals like sheep, goats and cows are kept in the night, “because there was no room for them in the inn” (Lk. 2:7)..  We do not now who was he owner of that cave.  And we do not know how Mary gave birth to her son.  Was there a midwife who assisted her or her herself alone delivered her baby while she was in labor?  This does not matter, we find Mary “wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger” (Lk. 2:7).  The Baby of Bethlehem, Jesus, was born and now he is in our midst. 

So humble, so simple and lots of poverty surrounding the birth place of the Son of God.  The King of kings, Christ and Lord was born in a cold cave with animals and laid in a manger full of hay to comfort him; and he was covered with swaddling clothes to protect his holy small body.

The first men and women heard this good news were the poor shepherd watching the sheep and goat entrusted to them in the field of Bethlehem.  “Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock” (Lk. 2::8).  When suddenly, “the angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear” (Lk 2:9).  They were surprised when they saw the heavens and the surrounding fields where they were became bright, and the more they were surprised when they saw an angel of the Lord who has glad tidings to announce to them, “The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For today in the City of David a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.  And this will be sign for you: You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk. 2:10-12).  “And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Lk. 2:13-14).

Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!!!       

Christmas 2017

Christmas 2017

   

   

  

  

Dear brothers and sisters,

May God give you peace!

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For today in the City of David a savior has been born who is Christ and Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in manger” (Luke 2: 10-12).  

Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!!!

Fraternally yours,

Fr. Yosi, OFM

Fourth Sunday of Advent (B)

December 24, 2017

Readings:

First Reading – 2 Samuel 7:1-5; 8b-12, 14a, 16

Psalm 89

Second Reading – Romans 16:25-27

Gospel reading according to Luke 1:26-38

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Homily: Mary said: Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord!

God, from the beginning of time, was looking for the right Mother of his Son, from Eve until Elizabeth, but that searching was fulfilled to a fifteen year old girl from Nazareth of Galilee, whose name was Mary.  God knew Mary very well, but still He respected her right.  So, when the fullness of time arrived, He sent his angel Gabriel to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, “to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary”(Lk. 1:26-27).  The angel Gabriel cannot be mistaken; he should know exactly who he was looking for and the exact location of her place, and who she was.  The name of that girl is clearly uttered and pronounced from the mouth of God the Father, “Mary.”  As if God was saying to the angel Gabriel, “Look for Mary!”  And the angel Gabriel found her praying.  She was praying for the coming of the long awaited Mother of the Son of God, that she may come soon so that the prophesy be fulfilled and the love of God be experienced now by all.  “And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you’.”(Lk. 1:28).  His greetings indicated the condition of Mary in the eyes of God the Father for she was the chosen Mother of the Son, who is also God.  Mary, before the world began, is filled with grace.  Despite so long a time, God the Father waited for the coming of Mary, conceived and born immaculate, for His Son.  That’s why she was full of grace at the same time the Lord is with her.  In the mind of God, she already existed, and He was with her long, long time ago.  But, Mary, in her younger age, “was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be” (Lk. 1:29).  She did not expect that the Mother of God she prayed and longed for was none other than she.  “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Lk. 1:30). 

There is no woman in the world, from time immemorial, that fitted to become the Mother of God except Mary.  “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus” (Lk. 1:31).  She is the one to conceive and bear the Son of God, whose name announced and revealed by the angel Gabriel as Jesus.  Jesus as Son of God the Father “will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end. . . . The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Lk. 1:32-33, 35).  This is what the Son to be conceived and born by Mary to be.  

Everything now is clear to Mary.  The plan of God long time ago is fulfilled in her.  The Son of God will become her Son, whom she will name Jesus.  But still there is one question playing in her mind.  She is still a virgin, that’s why she asked the angel. “But Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have no relations with a man’?”(Lk. 1:34). This shows that Mary was still innocent and virgin.   As for Joseph, he was a righteous man, he protected the virginal promises of Mary and he did not touch her, even though she was already betrothed to him, as if they were already married.  “And the angel said to her in reply, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35).  This is the greatest revelation coming from an angel.  How Mary will conceive and bear the Son of God in her womb?  The Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit who comes upon her, the Most High God the Father who overshadow her, and the holy Child to be conceived and born by her, are working the miracle of Incarnation, through the Virgin Mary.  The Holy Trinity is all present in that annunciation of the birth of the Son of Man (Mary) and His conception, for nothing is impossible for God (cf. Lkk.1:37).  And Mary said to the angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk. 1:38). And the angel Gabriel went back to God in heaven and announced the acceptance of Mary to become the Mother of his Son.  God and the whole company of angels in heaven rejoice, for He was not mistaken when He chose Mary at the very beginning of time to become the vessel/womb of his Only Begotten Son.  Now we can truly say that there is no impossible for God.  Now is the time of rejoicing for the Son of God is born in our midst.  And He will live, rule and reign forever and ever.  Amen.

Merry Christmas!!!

Erratum

I was not able to look at the Ordo the exact word of Gaudete Sunday.  I followed what’s in my mind.  Instead of Laudete, it should be Gaudete.  Thanks for your understanding.  God bless!

Third Sunday of Advent (B)

Laudete (Rejoice) Sunday

December 17, 2017

Readings:

First Reading – Isaiah 61: 1-2a, 10-11

Psalm Lk. 1

Second Reading – 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24

Gospel reading according to John 1: 6-8, 19-28

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Homily: Make straight the way of the Lord!

“This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing” (John 1:28).  John the Baptist’s popularity, as a prophet sent by God to be his messenger, became known to many people in the whole Judean countryside even up to those in authorities in Jerusalem.  He brought confusion, especially to the elders and leaders in the Temple of Jerusalem for he gave testimony, “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” (John 1:6-8).   

To know better who this John was and his testimony to the light, for he was preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins and baptism, the authorities in Jerusalem, maybe afraid to expose their sins to John, sent a delegation of priests and Levites to him and to ask him on behalf of those in the Temple.  They asked him, so that they can tell something to those who sent them, “Who are you?” (cf. John 1:19), for they were thinking that the Messiah has come in the person of John, or a prophet of old appeared, and the time for the renewal of the Temple in Jerusalem must be done soon, and that they might be replaced in their positions.  “Who are you” is a question of scrutinizing the person, (sini-sino in Filipino), to make little less than them who are in the position and authority.  But because John was true to himself and he knew who he was, he told the true, nothing but the truth.  “He admitted and did not deny it but admitted, ‘I am not the Christ’.” (John 1:20).  To go deeper in their scrutiny, they asked him further, “So they asked him, ‘What are you then? Are you Elijah’?”   Again, he told the truth, “I am not” “Are you the Prophet?”  He answered, “No” (John 1:21).  The delegates became indignant and annoyed with John’s answers.  Now they became forceful and insistent to John.  “So they said to him, ‘Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you have to say for yourself’?”(John 1:22).  Now, it was revealed to John the intention of those delegates that they came to him not to receive the light and be baptized but to catch him in his answers from his mouth, so that these delegates have blather to convey to those afraid leaders hiding in the Temple area.  But, they did not trap John, for John knew who he really was.   He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said” (John 1:23).   He was the one helping us to straighten the way of the Lord who is to come and to bring light in our lives.  That is John, the precursor of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One the world is waiting to have light and to gather us all in his Father’s house. 

Aside from the priests and Levites being sent by the Jews in Jerusalem, some Pharisees were also sent by those authorities in the Jerusalem Temple as their delegates to John.  “They asked him, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” (John 1:24-25).   John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie; . . . he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (John 1: 28; Mark 1: 8).  This is where John leading us to the Great Light, being baptize/born again with the Holy Spirit to be together to himself.

As true precursor of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in John there is no pretension found in him, only he lives in truth and telling the truth, nothing but the truth.  He brings to us the Light of the Lord God; there is nothing to be fear or to hide as compare with the authorities in the Temple together with their cohorts – the priests, Levites and the Pharisees.  As true followers of Christ Jesus, we must live in the light of truth for he gathers us together to himself.