Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (ABC)

January 1, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Numbers 6: 22-27

Psalm: 67

Second Reading: Galatians 4: 4-7  

Gospel reading according to Luke 2: 16-21

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Homily:

Mary gave birth to the Son of God and became the Mother of God, as what the angel Gabriel told her. On the day when Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man (of Mary) was born, the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds while keeping the night watch over their flock in the field and made an announcement of the good news.  After learning of that great event that had happened, they went in haste to see the newly born infant.  “The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger” (Lk. 2: 16).  When they reached and found the cave where the Babe of Bethlehem was lying in the manger wrapped with swaddling clothes with his parents, they believed and worship the infant.

They told their stories on how they knew and learned the birth and the coming of the savior, Christ and Lord.  They retold what the angel told them about the birth of Jesus.  “When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child” (Lk. 2: 17).  They shared and reported what the angel told them about all these things, and said to them “Do not to 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” (Lk. 2: 10-11).  They continued the story of the apparition of the angel about the sign of knowing this event of the birth of an infant, and the angel said as they retold the announcement, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk. 2: 12).  These were exactly what they have found and saw in that cave where Mary, Joseph, and the infant savior, Christ and Lord, were.  They told everything, every detail of what the angel told them to Mary and Joseph.

Although Mary and Joseph knew all about these, but still they were amazed about the stories of the shepherds on what they have heard from an angel.  “All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds” (Lk. 2: 18).  They could not imagine that the shepherds will bring them great joy and rejoicing, of the good news for the love of God and for the salvation of all peoples throughout the whole world.  These shepherds had to leave their flock of sheep and goats just to see the infant in the manger, in Bethlehem (which means the House of Bread), and retold the message of the angel.       

As a mother, despite of her young age and less experience or no experience at all, nobody told her what to do; she treasured all the things that are happening to her child, every minute detail was inscribed and written and stored in her heart.  “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Lk. 2: 19).  She reflected everything.  Since the visit of the archangel Gabriel up to the coming of the shepherds in Bethlehem, all these things were kept in Mary’s heart.  If she knew how to write, she wrote them in her diary or notebook, but because of her sharp memory, she retained them all in her heart.  There is no best treasury box except the heart of a mother to keep the memories of her children.

Then the shepherds returned to their flock.  They too were amazed with the good news announced to them by an angel.  “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them” (Lk. 2: 20).  They saw everything and they believed.  They were the first witnesses of the birth of the Savior, Christ and Lord. Then, they worshipped and praised God for his mercy and love towards his people, to us, and to all creatures.

As human, (and at the same time God), Jesus will undergo and submit to the human precepts and laws of his ancestors and countrymen.  He has to be circumcised as the tradition given to Abraham and his children forever as a sign and symbol of the covenant between God and men that God will be their God and theere is no other and the people will be His people forever; and the cleansing for Mary after giving birth.  After seven days of cleansing of Mary, Joseph together with the infant and his mother went to the Temple to subject the infant in circumcision.  “When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb” (Lk. 2: 21). This tradition of circumcision is also a time of giving name to a child.  Mary and Joseph gave the name to their child Jesus as announced and given by an angel, the archangel Gabriel, the messenger of God before he was conceived in her womb.  Everything happened according to  the will and plan of God.

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C)

December 30, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1: 20-22, 24-28

Psalm: 84

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-2, 21-24

Gospel reading according to Luke 2: 41-52

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Homily:

Joseph and Mary usually go to the temple in Jerusalem every year to attend the Feast of Passover, in commemorating the passing over of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt (from death) to liberation in the Promised Land, the land of flowing of mild and honey (to new life). It is their tradition as members of priestly and kingly families to show up on this Feast.  “Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover . . .” (Lk. 2: 41). As true Jewish descendants of King David and Aaron, Joseph and Mary offer gifts to God (Yahweh, or Elohim, or El Shaddai or Allah) and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give thanks for the freedom their country received from God and continue praying for the liberation of their country to their new conqueror – the Roman Empire.  

When Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph, turned twelve years old, he was brought by his parents in the temple in Jerusalem to attend and celebrate the Feast of the Passover, “. . . and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom” (Lk. 2: 42), to train him in giving thanks to God who delivered his ancestors from slavery.  Yet, later on, he will deliver his people from slavery of sins.  Jesus was very excited to see the House of His Father, the place of prayer, worship, offerings and of learning. 

When everything was done in celebrating the feast of the Passover, the family of Jesus and his relatives and friends decided to go home in Nazareth.  “After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it” (Lk. 2: 43).  Jesus decided to stay and remain behind in his Father’s House without the knowledge of his parents, or relatives or friends.  He did not ask permission that he will stay for a few days more in Jerusalem.  While his parents were thinking he went and joined together with his relatives or friends or townsmen in going home in caravan. “Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him” (Lk. 2: 44-45). After a day or two, they looked for Jesus in the convoy but they did not find him.  They asked their companions, relatives and friends if they saw Jesus but with no avail.  They still are looking for Jesus, until they decided to go back in Jerusalem to search for him.

On the third day of looking and searching they found their son, Jesus, in the temple in Jerusalem. “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers” (Lk. 2: 46-47). They found him in the temple together with the scholars, scribes, Pharisees, priests, and elders, almost all people living in the temple, scrutinizing Jesus by asking him questions and he answered them with his full knowledge and wisdom (coming from his Father who is with him in the Temple).  He too asked questions to those experts in the Book of Moses, the Prophets and History.  In the end, all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers, and questions.     

His parents saw and heard also everything Jesus in answering questions and in asking questions, they too were amazed of the great knowledge and wisdom of their son.  “When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety’.” (Lk. 2: 48).  They were struck awe; but Mary, a truly worried mother like those who have lost a child, was excited to find and see her child in good condition and with the elders and leaders of the temple, she cannot control herself and uttered to Jesus her worries, “Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”   It is difficult to Mary to lose her only son.

But Jesus has his own plan and can already decided on his own for he was already twelve years old.  He already reached the age of reason.  “And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’” (Lk. 2: 49).  Again, Jesus reminded his parents about the things they have learned from the angel before he was born. They were reminded the role they will play in the life of their child and in God the Father.  Although they knew before-hand what is the plan of God for their son, still they cannot held their emotions when they found him, in the House of his Father.   

His saying was not clear.  They required a deeper devoutness to understand what Jesus meant when he said that he must be in his Father’s house and doing his God’s occupation.  “But they did not understand what he said to them” (Lk. 2: 50).  Despite they knew very well their son, still he manifested some strange ideas and works and words that are difficult to comprehend, for he was occupied in the name of his Father.

After a long good byes and asking forgiveness for whatever Jesus said and did to the leaders and elders in the temple, his parents made sure that he will not be lost again at their sight.  The three of them went in Nazareth in Galilee to their home.   “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart” (Lk. 2: 51).  As he grew older, Jesus manifested obedience to his parents, to Joseph and Mary; and Mary kept all the things that are happening to her son, Jesus, in her heart.  “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man” (Lk. 2: 52). Jesus continues learning the art of wisdom, grows in age, and finds favor in the eyes of the Lord God and of men and women. 

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord-Christmas Day (ABC)

December 25, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 52: 7-10

Psalm: 98

Second Reading: Hebrew 1: 1-6

Gospel reading according to John 1: 1-18

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Homily:

In the Book of Genesis, the first book of the bible, God said, “Let there be . . ., “and it was happened.  He used mere words in creating the sky above and the earth below.  He said, “Let there be . . . light, a vault of water, dry ground, vegetation, lights of the vault in the sky, the water teem with living creatures and birds fly above, living creatures according to their kinds . . . and mankind in our image, in our likeness. And God saw that it was good” (1:1-31).  All this happened in just mere words.  John, the Evangelist, used also this theme, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God” (Jn. 1: 1-2). Before anything else was the Living Word who were with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for this Word is also God.  They already existed before any creation was performed.  The Word was with God, for It was God.

Because of this Word everything existed.  The creatures cannot exist without the Word.  “All things came to be through him and without him nothing came to be” (Jn. 1: 3).  The reason why every creature exists is because of the Word of God, who is God also.  Through Him everything exists.  Without Him nothing exists.  He must therefore exist so that everything might exist.  Through Him life came.  He gave life to all creatures that live. “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn.1: 4-5). The life that was given to all creatures has light that shines in the dark.  It gives light and even darkness turns into light for the human race.  When the Word has come and gives light, the darkness in the world will be expelled and turn into bright light and it cannot hide from its darkness, it cannot win the light that comes from the light of the Word.

John, the precursor of the life giving light, came to prepare the way for the coming of the Word of God in the world.  “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” (Jn. 1:6-8).  John was sent by God to give testimony and life to the light so that many people will be enlightened by his testimony and believed.  John knew very well that he was not the light that gives life; he just came to point the giver of life of light to men and women, and then he decreased while the light of life increased.  The truth of the matter is that the Word, the life that gives light will come, and he is coming.  “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world” (Jn. 1: 9).  The dark world will experience true light when the Word comes into the world.  Everybody in the world will be brought to light.  The light was already in the world.  It shines in the life of all living and non-living creatures on earth.  Every day it shines its light to all.  But, not all in the world recognized the light, only few acknowledged him as true light.  It comes and goes, day in day out, but less see it.   “He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him” (Jn. 1: 10).  Though all things came through him but He was not known by it.  He came to his own, but they did not know him.  “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him” (Jn. 1: 11).  He was not even accepted by them, his own.  While others accepted Him for they knew him and recognized him.  “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but God” (Jn. 1: 12-13).  Those who recognized him or made known him became children of God, especially those who believed in him through the power and initiative of God who introduced his only begotten Son to those who believed. 

When the time comes, in the fullness of time, the Word of God came into the world.  “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1: 14).  The Son of God, the Second Person in One God was born and lived among men and women.  Those who saw him saw also His glory, full of grace and truth.  They can testify to its glory for they were eyewitnesses of his coming.

One of those witnesses was John the Baptist, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  When John was in the wilderness, in the River Jordan, he proclaimed the coming of the Messiah (Christ) and he testified it, for he saw the glory of the Son of God when God himself announced that, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him,” and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon him.     “John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said: The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me’.” (Jn. 1: 15).  John testified and cried out loud so that many could hear him, “This was he of whom I said,” he was pointing Jesus.  Jesus is the one who is coming after John, and he ranked ahead of him because he existed before him.

Jesus’ glory gives him fullness of graces and truth.  For from him, everyone receives grace upon grace. “From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1: 16-17).  Jesus is the giver of graces and truth as compared to Moses who gave only the law.   

One of these graces and truth is to see and know God.  But no can see God for God is spirit.   He has no body like ours. “No one has ever seen God.  The only Son, God who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him” (Jn. 1: 18). Only the Son, the Second Person in the Trinity, can see God for He came from Him and He is also God.  He can also reveal God to us if he wishes.  We only know God when the Son reveals God the Father to us and to those whom He wishes to know Him; this was his plan since time immemorial, since the beginning of the creation of the world.   

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord-Christmas Midnight (ABC)

December 25, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 9: 1-6

Psalm: 96

Second Reading: Titus 2: 11-14

Gospel reading according to Luke 2: 1-14

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Homily:

A census was declared by the Caesar (Emperor) Augustus to all his territories under the power and authority of the Roman Empire, just to know how many people can fight with the Empire when other kingdoms go on war against the Caesar and for taxation purposes.  “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled” (Lk. 1: 1).  All the peoples of the world should go to their original places to register and enroll in the census.  This enrollment will be the time for the Son of God to be born in a place predicted by the prophets of old.   “This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria” (Lk. 1: 2).  Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, the newly-appointed Imperial Legate (governor) of the province of Roman Syria, was tasked to carry out a tax census of the new province of Judea, one of the three territories into which the kingdom of Herod the Great had been divided on his death in 4 BCE. (wikipedia.org/wiki/Census_of_Quirinius). The census has connection with the birth of Jesus.

One of those who went to his original home of his ancestry was Joseph with his wife Mary who was about to deliver her baby.   “So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.  And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child” (Lk. 1: 3-5).  Since Joseph came from the house and family of David, he went from Nazareth, Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, to register together with his wife, Mary.  

The time has come for Mary to deliver her child in Bethlehem, in the city of King David. “While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son” (Lk. 1: 6-7a).  Mary gave birth to her first born son, whom later will be given the name, Jesus.

When the child was born, his mother wrapped him with swaddling clothes, are cloths and bands used in the practice of swaddling, or essentially “wrapping” an infant tightly in cloth, to protect him from cold of the night, and to show Baby Jesus who was wrapped in swaddling clothes according to the custom of the day, an action that showed the tender care and affection of His mother, Mary.  “She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Lk. 1: 7b).  The child was laid down in a manger in a cave where animals are kept and fed in the evening.  For when they arrived in the city there were no more rooms in any inns available, even in their relatives and friends, for there were lots of people came also to be registered.  So, they found a cave that keeps and feeds animals, that’s why Mary gave birth in the cave and her son was placed in a manger to become bread/food for all, as what the meaning of Bethlehem was, “House of Bread,” and what God planned for His Son’s birth, humble, simple, and poor.

There were other people awoke on that night, the shepherds, watching their sheep. “Now there were shepherd in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock” (Lk. 1: 8).  It is natural for the shepherd to stay awake during the night to protect the flock from wolves and other wild animals. 

Suddenly, an angle of the Lord from heaven appeared to the shepherds with an announcement. “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. 1: 9).  Bright light shone and covered them and the shepherds were amazed yet with great fear. 

Then the angel announced the wonderful message.  “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 a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk. 1: 10-12).  There is nothing to fear but a reason for rejoicing.  He proclaimed the good news for all peoples in the world, that in the city of David a savior is born, He is Christ and Lord.  The angel also gave a sign, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.  There were lots of people there, why this good news was announced to the poor shepherd as the first receivers of the birth of Christ and Lord?  

When suddenly, a thousands and thousands of angels from heaven appeared in the night sky together with the angel who brought the good news to the shepherds.  “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 the favor rests” (Lk. 1: 13-14). They were praising God the Father and Creator of all for His promised was fulfilled according to his plan.  And they were singing “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom the favor rests.”