Things that cannot be, and yet that are

I tried a little search on the Google search engine for a Christmas story just to get into the Christmas spirit and these came up:

What type of motor bike does Santa ride?
A Holly Davidson

What game do reindeers play in their stalls?
Stable tennis

And finally, what did Adam say to his wife the day before Christmas?
It’s Christmas, Eve.

You can immediately sense the level of desperation when someone has to resort to lame Christmas jokes just to get into the Christmas spirit. I’m quite certain that many of you have been trying desperately to get into this Christmas spirit for weeks. Playing Christmas carols in your car since November. Putting up the Christmas tree and decking it with lights, late November. Going on your Christmas shopping sprees or just frequenting the malls just to savour the Christmas lights and decorations, and to soak in all that Christmassy feeling. Still, despite your best attempts, many would be lamenting that it just doesn’t feel like Christmas this year. It’s a “not-so-merry Christmas”!.

What caused it to lose its magic or sparkle? Maybe it’s the fact that there are no surprises anymore? Or that we don’t have any young kids in our family to make it more fun? It could simply be that all our friends and family are away. An empty nest is no cause for celebration. Maybe you’ve gotten into a really bad fight with someone close to you or you’ve just lost your job. Or let’s face it, it’s been a really bad year with little hope of getting better. I don’t have to list it all but in Malaysia and in the rest of the world, many are experiencing a fullness of difficulties this Christmas. Yes, Christmas just doesn’t seem…well…like Christmas. It doesn’t feel like a celebration. For some of us, it feels like a disaster. How can we possibly find any joy in this mess? Some will shake their heads and say with a deep conviction, “Impossible!”

We could blame this on the seasonal advertising, the saccharine sweet lyrics of popular carols and the pristinely fairy tale perfect decorations in the malls. They paint the holidays with such strokes of happiness and magic, that it is rather impossible to live up to such perfection. Reality really never looks as good as it does in the commercials. It is not as if Christmas has fallen short of our expectations but the real cause of our disappointment is that we remain fettered by our feeble imaginations and cannot see Christmas for what it truly is. Trying to force Christmas into the pattern of the world or our own narrow key-hole world view, is an exercise in futility.

What most people forget is that Christmas isn’t about you, and it isn’t dependent on how you feel about it and it can never be something you manufactured. The truth of the matter is simply this; Christmas, as the name obviously suggests, is about Christ. Yes, we are here for the Mass of Christ. Christmas is not just a holiday, any holiday; it is a “holy” day. Our Christmas joy is not the sum of what we have done or not done, but it is because of what God has done for us. He has given us Jesus, the Hope of all ages. That should be the cause for endless joy.

We began the Liturgy of the Word with the beautiful, uplifting and consoling words of the Prophet Isaiah. But these words were not spoken to a people whose lives and personal happiness were close to perfection. Far from it, the prophet was prophesying to the people of Israel at a point of great national and personal despair. They were experiencing the bitter taste of their failures. The people had lost everything. Now after fifty years of captivity in Babylonia, the exiles had returned to their homeland. But there was no cause for celebration. Instead they faced an enormous task of rebuilding. The walls of Jerusalem lay scattered in broken pieces. The once magnificent Temple was in ruins. Any possibility of restoration appeared to be hopeless. Instead of a renewed national status, the nation was in helpless disarray. It was not hard for them to feel abandoned. If they had been living today, they would have announced that they were cancelling Christmas. “What would there be to celebrate?” Where is God in all this now?”

And yet the Prophet Isaiah does not focus on the darkness of their predicament. In fact, he presents to the people the glad tidings of joy they so needed to hear. The prophecy of Isaiah promises the restoration of Israel. “No longer are you to be named ‘Forsaken’ nor your land ‘Abandoned’, but you shall be called ‘My Delight’ and your land ‘The Wedded’; for the Lord takes delight in you…” How could this be possible? It all seems impossible and yet tonight attests to the moment that all things are made possible in God. To borrow a phrase from G.K. Chesterton, “Things that cannot be, and (yet) that are.” For man, it may appear impossible, but for God, all things are possible! It is possible simply due to God’s amazing grace.

This is what the genealogy of Jesus Christ according to St Matthew seeks to do – “Things that cannot be, and (yet) that are!” God will work through ridiculous circumstances to transform what seems impossible to become possible. In order to save His people; He will spare no effort. There comes a point when we are tempted to cut our losses and call it quits. But not God. No matter how unfaithful the Israelites were, no matter how hopeless things seemed, no matter how impossible it was to keep going, God never abandoned them, God kept going. The genealogy becomes an account of God’s sublime faithfulness. Through wars, famines, betrayals, slavery, exile and turmoil, God is going to keep His promise. And if one were to examine the names listed in the genealogy, you can easily come to the conclusion that God will work through ridiculous people to fulfil His promise. Man’s wilfulness, sinfulness and brokenness cannot hinder the purposes of God.

The story of Christmas points at the insurmountable splendour of grace in the face of impossibility. It cannot be...and yet it is. Into time and human history comes a reality that is timeless, eternal. The timeless event only intersects with our regular time in this night. As an ancient hymn says it well: In the stillness of the night, when all the world was at peace, when all was still, the eternal Word leapt down from heaven. The One whom the whole world cannot contain enclosed himself in a woman’s womb in a timeless moment of human history. A world that was on a certain collision course with its own destruction, was saved at the very last moment by a child who was born in impossible circumstances and yet He survived. The Son of God became the Son of man in order to seek and to save that which is lost. Many would cry “impossible!” These are all things that cannot be...and (yet) that are.

Listen, no matter what deprivations you might be experiencing tonight, no matter how lonely your life might be, no matter how sad it might be, no matter how painful your situation, no matter how bleak the Christmas season or the future, no matter what dungeon or prison cell you might find yourself in, no matter how strong your fears and how terrifying the prospects of the future might be to you, know this, you are not forsaken; you are not abandoned! No matter what goes wrong in this life, no matter what is not the way you would like it to be, no matter how much unfulfillment you face, know this, you are and will always be God’s delight! There is no need for us to trawl the internet, shop till we drop, or drink ourselves silly to create a feeling that can never be manufactured nor sustained. But we can celebrate with full hearts this Christmas knowing that we are profoundly loved. You may think that all of this is ridiculous and even impossible, but then tonight is the night where “all things that cannot … and (yet) that are.” That is what makes Christmas so magical!

That is the real message of Christmas–every year. Everything about Christmas is so improbable. And yet it is all true. The Forsaken will be known as God’s delight. The Abandoned would be loved beyond our most creative imagination. The Lost would be Found and redeemed. The Hopeless Sinner would be offered forgiveness and a path back to the Light. Tonight, that improbable and even impossible story begins anew. Tonight, we celebrate the things that cannot possibly be....And yet they are. We celebrate God’s unfathomable love. Tonight we celebrate the Truth that our Salvation has arrived. Indeed, He is Here!

Posted by Rev Michael Chua at 8:17 AM

Source: http://michaelckw.blogspot.my/2016/12/thin...t-that-are.html

Gregorian Chants - Kyrie Elesion, Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Advent
Lectionary: 198



Reading 1 (1 Sm 1:24-28)

In those days,
Hannah brought Samuel with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
“Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
She left Samuel there.

Responsorial Psalm (1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd)

R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Lk 1:46-56)

Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.



REFLECTION

THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD. In Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, right after their conversation, Mary sings her canticle. Her song focuses on the greatness of God. Believing she is blessed and being aware of the great Child in her womb, Mary enumerates the great things God has done for her and for her people Israel.

The canticle looks innocent, but it contains memories dangerous to those who want to cling to power, wealth, and prestige. These people should learn from history that shows how God has overthrown them all. Now they are no more. God will do the same to the present oppressive worldly powers. It is just a matter of time.

Here in her song, Mary, like a conscienticized activist, shows awareness of what has happened. She is not ignorant of the struggles of her countrymen and women who have suffered much from oppression and poverty.

Mary sees that with her Son, being the fulfillment of prophecies and a sure sign that God remembers his mercy, another revolution is brewing. Her Son will overthrow the oppressive economic, political, and social systems, along with those who are promoting them. That is how God shows his greatness, and it makes Mary rejoice and sing.

Mary’s canticle challenges us to see our spirituality or religion as a power for social change or transformation and our faith as a force for liberation.

Abandon your irrelevant and self-serving piety. Embrace Jesus and his purpose.

SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Saint of the Day: St. Peter Canisius



In 1565, the Vatican was looking for a secret agent. It was shortly after the Council of Trent and the pope wanted to get the decrees of the Council to all the European bishops. What would be a simple errand in our day, was a dangerous assignment in the sixteenth century. The first envoy who tried to carry the decrees through territory of hostile Protestants and vicious thieves was robbed of the precious documents. Rome needed someone courageous but also someone above suspicion. They chose Peter Canisius. At 43 he was a well-known Jesuit who had founded colleges that even Protestants respected. They gave him a cover as official "visitor" of Jesuit foundations. But Peter couldn't hide the decrees like our modern fictional spies with their microfilmed messages in collar buttons or cans of shaving cream. Peter traveled from Rome and crisscrossed Germany successfully loaded down with the Tridentine tomes -- 250 pages each -- not to mention the three sacks of books he took along for his own university!

Why did the Vatican choose Peter Canisius for this delicate task?

Born in Holland in 1521, Peter had edited and written several volumes on Church history and theology, been a delegate to the Council of Trent, and reformed the German universities from heresy. Called to Vienna to reform their university, he couldn't win the people with preaching or fancy words spoken in his German accent. He won their hearts by ministering to the sick and dying during a plague. The people, the king, and the pope all wanted to make Peter bishop of Vienna, but Peter declined vigorously and administered the diocese for a year.

For many years during the Reformation, Peter saw the students in his universities swayed by the flashy speeches and the well-written arguments of the Protestants. Peter was not alone in wishing for a Catholic catechism that would present true Catholic beliefs undistorted by fanatics. Finally King Ferdinand himself ordered Peter and his companions to write a catechism. This hot potato got tossed from person to person until Peter and his friend Lejay were assigned to write it. Lejay was obviously the logical choice, being a better writer than Peter. So Peter relaxed and sat back to offer any help he could. When Father Lejay died, King Ferdinand would wait no longer. Peter said of writing: "I have never learned to be elegant as a writer, but I cannot remain dumb on that account." The first issue of the Catechism appeared in 1555 and was an immediate success. Peter approached Christian doctrine in two parts: wisdom -- including faith, hope, and charity -- and justice -- avoiding evil and doing good, linked by a section on sacraments.

Because of the success and the need, Peter quickly produced two more versions: a Shorter Catechism for middle school students which concentrated on helping this age group choose good over evil by concentrating on a different virtue each day of the week; and a Shortest Catechism for young children which included prayers for morning and evening, for mealtimes, and so forth to get them used to praying.

As intent as Peter was on keeping people true to the Catholic faith, he followed the Jesuit policy that harsh words should not be used, that those listening would see an example of charity in the way Catholics acted and preached. However, his companions were not always as willing. He showed great patience and insight with one man, Father Couvillon. Couvillon was so sharp and hostile that he was alienating his companions and students. Anyone who confronted him became the subject of abuse. It became obvious that Couvillon suffered from emotional illness. But Peter did not let that knowledge blind him to the fact that Couvillon was still a brilliant and talented man. Instead of asking Couvillon to resign he begged him to stay on as a teacher and then appointed him as his secretary. Peter thought that Couvillon needed to worry less about himself and pray more and work harder. He didn't coddle him but gave Couvillon blunt advice about his pride. Coming from Peter this seemed to help Couvillon. Peter consulted Couvillon often on business of the Province and asked him to translate Jesuit letters from India. Thanks to Peter , even though Couvillon continued to suffer depression for years, he also accomplished much good.

Peter died in December 21, 1597. He is known as the Second Apostle of Germany and was named a Doctor of the Church.

In His Footsteps
Peter believed in the importance in learning and understanding the Catholic faith. If it is available to you, resolve to read a portion of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. Don't try to read too much but consider reading a page a day. Before we can spread our faith we must have a solid foundation in ourselves.

Prayer:
Saint Peter Canisius, you saw the good in even the most troublesome of people. You found their talents and used them. Help me to see beyond the behavior of others that may bother me to the gifts God has given them. Amen

St. Peter Canisius, Ora pro nobis!
Mother of Perpetual Help, Ora pro nobis!
Jesus Christ, miserere nobis!

Saint of The Day: - Saint Peter Canisius
#SaintOfTheDay #Confessor #DoctorOfTheChurch

Ordained Priest at 25 (1546), at age 26 Peter Canisius assisted Cardinal-Bishop of Augsburg as Theologian at the Council of Trent. After making his solemn profession as a Jesuit in 1549—the first German to do so!—he taught Theology at the University of Vienna, preached in the cathedral and at the court of Ferdinand I, and laboured in every way to restore true Catholic doctrine, for the Church in Vienna was in a deplorable state due to acute shortage of priests.

He kept himself free (in contrast to the Protestants) from all narrow-mindedness and personal vituperation, his exemplary humility, moderation and tact, making him the most influential leader of the Counter Reformation in those lands, the “Second Apostle of Germany”.

He corresponded enormously with Saints Charles Borromeo, Philip Neri and Francis de Sales, and was in demand as adviser to pope, bishop, king, prince and commoner alike. He zealously promoted Rosary sodalities, encouraged the publication of good books, and founded some 30 schools and Papal seminaries in order to form an instructed laity and a devout clergy. Thousands were won back to the Faith and crowds thronged his confessional and the Masses he celebrated.

His ascetic and homiletic writings aside he is most famous for his Triple Catechism—for children, young people and adults—containing a lucid treatise on Roman Catholic dogma, which even in his lifetime saw 200 editions in 12 languages.
Peter died in 1597, was beatified in 1864, and was canonized and declared Doctor of the Church in 1925.

Reflection: “If you want to be of use to others, begin by taking pains with yourself, the fire that is to enkindle others should be lighted at home” (Saint Ignatius de Loyola).

7 powerful morning prayers you need to get your day started with God

Rise and shine – the great morning awaits all of God’s children.

This may be a well-known fact … not everyone is a morning person. Some people really struggle to get out of bed and get their day started. Praying to God is the perfect way to find the needed encouragement, peace and strength for the day’s tasks. With hopes of helping those anti-morning believers and further inspiring the go-getters of the world, we present to you a wonderful list of powerful morning prayers.

Arising from Sleep
O Master and holy God, who are beyond our understanding: at your word, light came forth out of darkness. In your mercy, you gave us rest through night-long sleep, and raised us up to glorify your goodness and to offer our supplication to You. Now, in your own tender love, accept us who adore You and give thanks to You with all our heart. Grant us all our requests, if they lead to salvation; give us the grace of manifesting that we are children of light and day, and heirs to your eternal reward. In the abundance of your mercies, O Lord, remember all your people; all those present who pray with us; all our brethren on land, at sea, or in the air, in every place of Your domain, who call upon your love for mankind. Upon all, pour down your great mercy, that we, saved in body and in soul, may persevere unfailingly; and that, in our confidence, we may extol your exalted and blessed Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, always, now and forever. Amen
beautiful morning

The Good Morning God Prayer
Good Morning God!
You are ushering in another day,
untouched and freshly new.
So here I am to ask you, God,
if You’ll renew me too.

Forgive the many errors that I made yesterday
and let me try again dear God
to walk closer in Your way.

But Lord, I am well aware,
I can’t make it on my own.
So take my hand and hold it tight,
for I cannot walk alone.

Morning Offering to the Sacred Heart
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the intentions of our Holy Father for this month.

Morning Prayer
I adore Thee, O my God, and I love Thee with all my heart. I give Thee thanks that Thou hast created me, made me a Christian, and preserved me this night. I offer Thee the actions of this day; grant that all of them may be according to Thy holy Will, and for Thy greater glory. Save me from sin and from all evil. Let Thy grace be always with me.
Amen.

Prayers at the Day’s Beginning
Lord, one more day to love you!
O Jesus, watch over me always, especially today, or I shall betray you like Judas.
Lord, today is the day I begin!
Jesus, shine through me and be so in me that every person I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul.
My God, send me thy Holy Spirit to teach me what I am and what thou art!
May the Passion of Christ be ever in our heart.
And to be more with Him, more with Him, not merely with oneself.

Father, my heart is heavy. I feel like I have to carry the burden alone. Words like “overwhelmed,” “distraught,” “exhausted” seem to describe where I am. I am not sure how to let you carry my heavy load, so please show me how. Take it from me. Let me rest and be refreshed so that my heart won’t be so heavy in the morning. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dear Lord, help me remember what a difference it makes when I make time with You a priority in my morning. Awaken me in body and spirit each day with a desire to meet with You and to hear You speak words of affirmation, assurance and wisdom over my heart as I prepare to go into my day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Source: http://catholicsay.com/7-powerful-morning-...arted-with-god/

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Advent
Lectionary: 198



Reading 1 (1 Sm 1:24-28)

In those days,
Hannah brought Samuel with her,
along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,
and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh.
After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull,
Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said:
“Pardon, my lord!
As you live, my lord,
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
She left Samuel there.

Responsorial Psalm (1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd)

R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world;
he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.”
R. My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Lk 1:46-56p)

Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.



REFLECTION

THE LORD HAD SHOWN HIS GREAT MERCY TOWARD HER. Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives see her giving birth to John as a sign of God showing His great mercy to her. They are all amazed at this extraordinary childbirth. They see it as God’s intervention in her life, curing her sterility or, in Old Testament parlance, opening her womb. Elizabeth has earlier acknowledged this: “The Lord… has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others” (Lk 1:25).

The joy of the people over John’s birth comes also as a result of their own prayers and expectations. One cannot rejoice over the miraculous birth if one has not long desired it. The event is not private, not only for the elderly couple. The neighbors and relatives have been following up the developments.

In the naming of the child, God further shows mercy to Zechariah whose mouth is reopened. Nine months earlier, Zechariah was struck dumb for not quite believing God’s good news announced by the angel Gabriel (cf Lk 1:20). Once his mouth opens, Zechariah blesses God and sings his canticle, picking up the theme of God’s mercy (cf Lk 1:72, 78).

John’s birth invites us to see children being conceived and born as God’s intervention of mercy in our lives and regain our capacity to be amazed and to rejoice with women giving birth.

Do you promote the culture of life? Are you in favor of zero population growth?

SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

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My brothers and sisters, the end of 2016 is upon us. 2016 has proven to be a year of relentless attacks on the very fabric of our faith. The evil one is attacking the church from within, attacking its people on all fronts and on all continents of our world. We all need to return to the very basic fundamentals of Christ's love for us.

The dawn of a new age is awakening. Each year people firmly believe that this will be the year - the year they lose weight, the year they make more of an impression at work, the year something is better than the previous. This is all good but we need to make a New Year's resolutions to follow Christ and spread his good news throughout the world. Only when Christians are like Christ will we begin to drive the evil one from our midst.

Here are some things you can do to help promote the faith and strengthen your relations with our Lord:

Go to Daily Mass. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting Lumen Gentium, describes the Eucharist as "the source and suumit of the Christian life" and states that "the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily." Resolve to attend just one more Mass each week.

Add a new prayer to your prayer routine. There are so many ways of incorporating more prayer in your life: Daily Mass, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Noon-time Angelus- the list is endless. Make a commitment that will be achievable - even if the only commitment you are able to make is to pray one single Our Father each day.

Read the scriptures. The Bible is the living word of God and spending just 10 minutes a day reading it will change your life. If you are new to reading the Bible - begin with the Gospel of John and commit to reading for 10 minutes. If you are already a regular scripture-reader, pick a book that you are not as familiar with and begin reading.

Forgive. Holding on to unforgiveness is hurting only one person - you. This New Year - resolve to forgive those who have hurt you. Spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord for the grace to extend forgiveness. Remember that Jesus forgave from the Cross- it is difficult to withhold forgiveness when you meditate on the crucifixion scene. A great way to start is to write a letter to the person who has hurt you (you don't have to actually send it). In the letter, be specific about what you are forgiving that person for. When you have completed the letter, place the person in the Lord's hands and let them go.

Learn to listen. Listening and patience go hand-in-hand. Learning to listen, rather than merely being present, can make a world of difference both to you and the person or people you are talking to.
Note that the art of listening is not limited to the people around you. God speaks to us every day, but how many of us can say that we have the ears to listen? Listening to God can be difficult, particularly when you are in desperate need of answers.
James 1:19 helps us understand what listening means. "Remember this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to human anger..." A good way to practice listening to God is to sit in a quiet place. Ask God to help you be more open to what He has to say, and ask for the patience to actively listen to those around you.
Bonus: Putting down electronics and looking people in the eye helps you become a better listener.

Be generous. This is not limited to money! Remember, when we offer to help people pack for a move, practice for a speech, listen to their worries or feed the hungry, we are being generous and mirroring Christ's heart.

Make a difference in your parish community. Believe it or not, your parish community can use your talents. Offering your talents to your faith community is one of the most effective ways to feel useful and connected to others, and it is a potentially life-changing New Year's resolution.

Be present to others. There is much celebration and mourning, joy and sorrow in peoples' lives. What a blessing it is to be able to share those times and not let others experience them alone. The gift of your presence to others is much more valuable than you realize.

Nurture friendships. Our friends are those we choose to be with, those with whom we spend our evenings, with whom we vacation, to whom we go to for advice. Friends are gifts from God who give us a greater appreciation of God's love for us. Friends need our time and love.

Lastly, whatever you do, don't give up. People give up their New Year's resolutions because of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations. So take it slow, be kind to yourself and keep trying. Resist the urge to throw your hands up and quit. You succeed through small, manageable changes over time. Ask the Lord for guidance, strength and perseverance in achieving your resolutions. In his letter to the Phillipians, Saint Paul writes: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Phil 4:13). If God is the center of our New Year's resolutions, they have a better chance for success.

Peace and blessings for a healthy, prosperous and faith filled 2017!

Christmastide: The Celebration Has Just Begun!

What does December 26th mean to you?

For most people it means that Christmas is over. But for Catholics, it means the celebration has only just begun.

Many of us Catholics, however, are not aware of this, and our rhythm of celebrating Christmas is very much along the lines of the secular celebration. We put a massive amount of effort into preparing for December 25th; then, the very next day, we feel a bit blue.

“It’s over,” we think. We begin the process of removing decorations, drag the tree out onto the curb, and return to our work-a-day lives.

Don’t! Stop right there.

The carols, the feasting, the lights, the joy, have only just commenced. We are about to rejoice in an octave (and more!) of the radiant splendor of the birth of Christ, the Messiah.

There is a reason why Christmas is called a season. It does not last for a single day. After Easter, it is the most important liturgical feast in the Church calendar. Why? Because Christmas is what made Easter possible. Without Our Lord’s incarnation and birth, our redemption would not have been brought to completion, and there would be no hope for us in our fallen state.

So first, we celebrate the octave of Christmas. This means that there are eight official solemn days of rejoicing. In the language of the Church, the word “solemn” does not mean what our common use of the word defines it as. It doesn’t mean being grim, serious, or morose.

According to a simple definition: “In the Catholic Church year, a solemnity is the highest ranking holy day possible in the Church calendar…” These are days that are emphasized by particular joy, lavishness, pomp, and glory.

This might be hard to recognize in the lay life, but it’s unspeakably obvious in the religious life, where the Divine Office (the prayer known as the Liturgy of the Hours) practically shouts out Hallelujah!

Basically, during the octave of Christmas, the office that is prayed each day—for eight straight days—is more or less the same office: the one for Christmas day.

Think about what that means: it means that we are celebrating each day, for eight days, as though each of them were Christmas day itself.

Isn’t that beautiful? The Church so rejoices in the birth of her Bridegroom and Savior that she simply revels in the joy!

While the reality of the Christmas octave (the word “octave” just refers to the number 8) may be a new concept for many of us, who isn’t familiar with the “12 Days of Christmas”? These 12 days refer to the Christmas octave as well as the four subsequent days which take us to the feast of Epiphany.

And actually, if we are going to be very thorough and precise about this, on the traditional liturgical calendar, the Christmas season (also known as Christmastide) lasts 40 days. It begins with the vigil Mass said on Christmas Eve, and ends on February 2nd, Candlemas, which is the day on which we celebrate the feast of Jesus’ presentation in the temple.

Christmastide

December 26th – Christmas Octave – Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and First Martyr

December 27th – Christmas Octave – Feast of the Holy Family (Usually this is the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, but the Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the first Sunday after Christmas, so that is what is being celebrated this year)

December 28th – Christmas Octave – Feast of the Holy Innocents

December 29th – Christmas Octave – Feast of St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop and Martyr

December 30th – Christmas Octave

December 31st – Christmas Octave – Feast of St. Sylvester I, Pope

January 1st – Christmas Octave – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation)

January 2nd – Feast of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

January 3rd – Feast of Epiphany (This feast is actually celebrated on January 6th, but in the USA it has been moved to the nearest Sunday)

January 4th – Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

January 5th – Feast of St. John Neumann

January 6th – 12th Day of Christmas (Traditionally the Feast of Epiphany)

January 7th – Christmas season – Thursday after Epiphany

January 8th – Christmas season – Friday after Epiphany

January 9th – Christmas season – Saturday after Epiphany

January 10th – End of Christmas season on the new calendar – Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

February 2nd – End of Christmas season on the old calendar – Candlemas (Presentation of the Child Jesus)

Source: https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/cele...e=socialnetwork

Christmas mass in Aleppo (Maronite Cathedral)

Glory to God in the highest!

Christmas Weekday
Lectionary: 206



Reading 1 (1 Jn 2:29–3:6)

If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.

See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.

Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.

Responsorial Psalm (PS 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6)

R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia (Jn 1:14a, 12a)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him
he gave power to become the children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 1:29-34)

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel."
John testified further, saying,
"I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."



REFLECTION

John Testified. The Gospel highlights John the Baptist’s testimony on the identity and ministry of Jesus: he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, who existed before John, upon whom the Spirit descended, the fulfillment of a divine promise, who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, the Son of God. The different titles used to describe who Jesus is and what he does remind us that we have to be open to God’s revelation. Who Jesus is and what he does are expressed in many ways.

New evangelization calls us to “new ardor, new methods, new expressions” in proclaiming truths of our faith, so that people can appreciate the richness and vitality of life with the Lord Jesus.

In your family, workplace, and parish community, how do you show the vitality of your Catholic faith?

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara, pray for us...
Feastday: Jan 3



Mar Kuriakose Elias Chavara is a Syrian Catholic saint and social reformer from the Indian state of
Kerala. He is the first canonised male saint of Indian origin and belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic
Church, an Eastern Catholic Church of the Saint Thomas Christian community founded by St. Thomas the
Apostle in the first century.[4][5] He was the co-founder and first Prior General of the first
congregation for men in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, now known as the Carmelites of Mary
Immaculate (C.M.I.), and of a similar one for women, the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (C.M.C.).
* Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“A good Christian family is the image of heaven, where persons are living together, by the bond of
blood and affection, duly respecting and obeying their parents, and walking peacefully before the Lord
and people, ensures their salvation, according to each one’s state of life.”
(Chavara, letters,II ed 133)

"Let your friends be those who love God."

Calling all Catholics from far and near to come and join in praising and thanking God for blessing the Malaysian Church with our very first Cardinal.

It will be a joyful Thanksgiving Mass on January 8, 2017 (Sunday). The celebration will start at 3pm with Rosary, follow with Vespers at 3.30pm and Mass at 4pm.

The Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Kuala Lumpur has arranged for a 8,000 seating capacity (in the cathedral and grounds plus at The New Community Centre and carpark areas). More chairs will be available at the AOHD , if the need arise.

The celebration is meaningful as the Cardinal also marks 50 years of priestly ministry (Dec 10 last year). The Mass will be presided by Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Most Rev Julian Leow. The Nuncio plus several prelates and many priests are expected to be present. VIPs and leaders from other faiths are also attending. The Religious from different Congregation will also come. Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez will be one of the con-celebrants. Prayer cards will be distributed on that day to all.

The celebration will conclude with a light fellowship that will be distributed along Jalan Bukit Nanas (8 distribution points). The road will be closed to traffic on that day. Those driving could park their cars at the various open carpark along Jalan Raja Chulan (7 min walk) or Bangunan Ming or other nearby buildings' carparks. Or come via LRT/MRT.

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
Lectionary: 208

Reading 1 (1 Jn 3:11-21)

Beloved:
This is the message you have heard from the beginning:
we should love one another,
unlike Cain who belonged to the Evil One
and slaughtered his brother.
Why did he slaughter him?
Because his own works were evil,
and those of his brother righteous.
Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If someone who has worldly means
sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him?
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.

Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God.

Responsorial Psalm (PS 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5)

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

The LORD is good:
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 1:43-51)

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip.
And Jesus said to him, "Follow me."
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see the sky opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."



REFLECTION

"HE FOUND PHILIP" ... The word “found” is mentioned three times in the Gospel. After Jesus finds Philip, Philip in turn finds Nathanael and tells him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets…” Philip responds to Jesus’ invitation; he follows him. This encounter with Jesus makes him a herald of the good news that the promised Messiah in the Old Testament has already come in their midst in the person of Jesus.

Although Nathanael is at first skeptical to follow Jesus, his encounter with him gives him an insight into who Jesus is: he is the Son of God, the King of Israel. Believing in Jesus will be rewarded with a heavenly vision.

Jesus invites us to follow him; generous response to his invitation makes our life worth living.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Always begin with the star
Epiphany Year B



‘Always begin with the star!’ That would be the most annoying piece of advice my older brother had to offer me whenever we came to that time of the year when the Christmas tree had to go up. I felt that he took great condescending pleasure in saying this because he knew that only he was tall enough to place the first bulb of the string of Christmas lights on the crown of the tree, just behind the star.

Since, I was a vertically challenged runt next to my brother, I was given the demeaning task of decorating the lower portion of the tree. What compounded my frustration was that the Christmas lights which always had to begin at the top, was never long enough to cover the whole length of the tree. The lights would always stop three-quarters way down the tree, leaving ‘my section’ in darkness. Due to the lack of light, my decorations, which I had painstakingly and delicately placed on the tree, were all hidden in the shadows. It would seem that my efforts were always an exercise in futility.

I endured the humiliation for years, and awaited the opportunity to finally assume the responsibility of deciding how to place the Christmas lights on the tree. I thought, when I had my way, I would start from the bottom. The time finally arrived when my brother left for overseas. It then fell on me to set up the entire Christmas tree on my own. I was ecstatic at the realisation that I would finally be able to put up the Christmas lights according to my own designs, and not having to listen to the dictates of my brother. It was my time to shine!

And so I began with the first bulb at the bottom of the tree. I began twirling the lights around the tree, already imagining what a splendid looking final product awaited me at the end. But in my excitement and, of course, in my hubris I had forgotten that the lights were not long enough. I started to stretch, rearrange and reposition the lights but despite my best efforts, those lights resisted all attempts to reach the top. As I stood back in exasperation, my mother stepped out of the kitchen, and to add further injury to my wounded pride, she took a single look at my handiwork and remarked: “Have you already forgotten what your brother said, “Always begin with the star!”

A star figures prominently in today’s gospel. The wise men from the East presented their request before Herod by saying that they “saw His star as it rose and have come to do Him homage.” What was this ‘star’ that had stirred their hearts and compelled them to leave their homeland and travelled to far distant regions? Over the centuries, astronomers have tried to find an actual star of Bethlehem.

Some have said that the star was a comet that appeared in 5 B.C. (and found in Chinese records). Others suggested a planetary conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Still others suggest a supernova. No one knows for certain if the star was an actual astronomical event. The Star of Bethlehem could very well have been one of these. But it isn’t so much about something seen in the sky as it is about something that was seen on earth. Or rather, ‘someone’ who was seen on earth — and who will be seen here again. And He is the real “star” of Bethlehem: Jesus.

For those who remain fixated on solving the mystery of the celestial star may have gotten their hands on a red herring. That star is definitely not the point of the story. In the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict, “it is not the star that determines the child’s destiny, it is the child that directs the star.” Our Epiphany story is not about the appearance of a celestial star so much as it is about the appearance of the presence and glory of God, revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. This is what the word ‘epiphany’ implies – a manifestation. Literally, it means “shine on” or “show forth.” Among the Eastern Christians, the word leaves no room for ambiguity – it is a theophany – the Child is a manifestation of God.

St Ambrose, the great Doctor of the Church and mentor of St Augustine, wrote this about the star, “The Wise Men make a gift of their treasures. Do you want to know what an excellent honour they received? The star was visible only to them; where Herod lived it was invisible; where Jesus lay, it once again became visible and pointed out the way. So it is that this star is also the way, Christ's way; for

Christ, in the mystery of the Incarnation, is the star, because “a star shall come forth from Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel” (Num 24:17). Therefore, wherever Christ is, the star is too, for He is ‘the bright morning star’ (Rev 22:16). With His light, then, He points to himself” (Comment on Luke II, 45).

Today, the Church invites us to fix our vision on that illuminating star, not a thing but a person; it is Christ who is our “bright morning star.” (Rev 22:16) The morning star, which is actually the planet Venus, derives its name from the fact that it appears before sunrise. On a long dark night, the appearance of the morning star means daybreak is imminent. This is exactly what Christ does. He is the light shining in the darkness, announcing the coming kingdom of God while the world still groans under the curse of the Fall. He is the first to be resurrected—the ‘firstborn of the dead’ as Colossians 1:18 puts it.

For thousands of years mariners and travellers, just like the wise men in our story, have used the stars as a guide; as a point of reference. Likewise, Christ, the bright and morning star is our true point of reference. If you are lost, you just need to look at Him. If you are unclear about the direction of your life, just turn to Him. Notice that He is not “a” point of reference. He is “the” point of reference. He is not just a star among many stars; He is unique. The trouble is that on a clear night, we are bombarded with a vision of countless constellations of stars in the sky; it's hard to tell which one is the real star of the story. So just like the infamous Herod of our story, many are consumed with their own self-importance and they actually believe that they are the ‘star,’ and that the light of another star would never be tolerated. Yes, there can only be one star, and He is Christ Our Lord.

It spells certain disaster, whenever one attempts to usurp His limelight. Herod wasn’t the first with delusions of grandeur. The first to suffer from this puffed-up feeling of self-importance was Satan, also described in Scriptures as the Morning Star. Satan may be the brightest morning star among the celestial beings, but he is only a poor imitation of the one true bright morning star, Jesus Christ, the light of the world. It is wise to remember that Satan’s and Herod’s delusions would be the cause of their downfall. Blaise Pascal warns us that this is what happens when God is no longer the point of reference in our lives, “If (people) turn away from God, one of two things can happen. They will think they are gods and go mad, or turn to carnality and become animals”.

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, gives us a beautiful piece of advice so as not to fall into this trap of self-delusion. “The shepherds and the Magi teach us that to find Jesus we must know how to look up to the heavens, and not to be turned in upon ourselves, on our own selfishness.” Rather, we must “open our hearts and minds to God, Who always surprises us, know how to welcome His messages, and respond promptly and generously.” So let us “look up to the heavens,” and see the real star of Bethlehem. If we ever get lost, there is always this star to remind us of our destination. Always remember, it doesn’t begin with us, or with our plans, or with our self interests. It always begins with the Star.

Source: http://michaelckw.blogspot.my/2017/01/alwa...-with-star.html

Jan. 6, 2017: THE EPIPHANY (MANIFESTATION) OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

“And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2: 9-11).”

Today the Church celebrates the Epiphany or the “manifestation” of Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah, Savior of the world. In the wise men (magi), all people of every nation, language and race who set out, called by God, to adore Jesus, moved by their innate desire in search for the Truth, are represented.

As we celebrate today’s solemnity, let us consider the following ideas in our personal meditation as we contemplate the Gospel for today’s Mass:

1. The wise men from the east SET OUT INTO THE UNKNOWN, TO THE UNCERTAIN, LEAVING BEHIND ALL THE WEALTH, COMFORT AND THINGS IN THEIR OWN KINGDOMS, thus teaching us the importance of courage, determination and DETACHMENT from material things in order to find God and savor the spiritual.

2. The Magi were learned men with restless hearts, driven by their quest for God, unsatisfied with the material, they yearned for what really gives meaning in their life and thus courageously embarked on a journey to FIND GOD, teaching us that the most important goal in this life is TO FIND JESUS AND LIVE OUR LIFE FOR HIM NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.

3. Their journey was utterly long and uncomfortable.

• They must have travelled and slept in conditions to which they were not used to. But they did not complain, they did not give up.
• They were able to surmount the innumerable difficulties of their expedition moved by their faith and desire to be with Jesus.
• When the star disappeared, they did not hesitate to ask for help, showing us that wisdom and humility go hand in hand.
• In our journey towards heaven, we need the help of SPIRITUAL DIRECTION, knowing that: “one's own mind is a bad adviser, a poor pilot to steer the soul through the storms and tempests and among the reefs of the interior life. That is why it is the will of God that the command of the ship be entrusted to a Master who, with his light and his knowledge, can guide us to a safe harbor (St. Josemaria, The Way, n.59).”

4. When they saw where that the star led them to “the child with Mary his mother”, they were overjoyed, “they prostrated themselves and did him homage”.

• They did not say to themselves interiorly: “Is this all that there is?” “Did we have to suffer the entire journey just to find a child?”
• No. They rejoiced with an uncontainable joy, they adored, paid homage and offered gifts to the GOD-CHILD which allegorically signify the following:
o gold to acknowledge that He is King;
o incense, to confess that He is Perfect God;
o myrrh, to profess that He is perfect Man
• They worshipped the God-Child because they were humble and they had faith. learned, wise men, kings, respected in their countries…adoring the GOD-CHILD! Their science, knowledge and wisdom did not at all impede them to recognize the Messiah, the Savior of the world, God-Child, humbling themselves and worshipping him.

5. Like the wise men, we, too, can recognize, adore and worship God only with humility and faith. But let us not forget that Jesus present in the tabernacle is the same Jesus the wise men found in Mary’s arms. With what devotion, reverence and love do we have towards Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament or during the Holy Mass?

6. “The Magi set out because of a deep desire which prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for that star. It was as if the journey had always been a part of their destiny, and was finally about to begin. Dear friends, this is the mystery of God’s call, the mystery of vocation (Pope Benedict XVI, Speech, World Youth Day in Cologne 2005).”

• May we also be willing to embark on the journey towards Jesus, with a “determined determination” (St. Teresa de Avila), with faith, humility and perseverance of the three wise men in order to follow the star of our vocation to holiness to which God has called us.
• May we also generously offer to Jesus, the gold of our obedience to God’s will; the incense of our prayer and adoration; and, the myrrh of our daily deeds of humility, self-abnegation and sacrifice: our heart, our will, our life.

“O God, who on this day revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star, grant in your mercy that we who know you already by faith may be brought to behold the beauty of your sublime glory (Opening Prayer, Mass during the day).”
Happy Three Kings to you and your loved ones!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Catholicsstrivingf...11961052314228/

Christmas Weekday
Lectionary: 209



Reading 1 (1 Jn 5:5-13)

Beloved:
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three that testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
Whoever believes in the Son of God
has this testimony within himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.
And this is the testimony:
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
Whoever possesses the Son has life;
whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you so that you may know
that you have eternal life,
you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm (PS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20)

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Alleluia (MK 9:6)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:
This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mk 1:7-11)
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."



REFLECTION

YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON. When Jesus comes out of the water after being baptized by John in the Jordan, he sees the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon Jesus. A voice from the heavens reveals Jesus’ nature and mission: He is the divine Son of the heavenly Father. “Beloved” recalls the Suffering Servant in the book of the prophet Isaiah (42; 49; 50; 52:13-53:12). Jesus is beloved to the Father because of His obedience even unto death for the salvation of many. We have become God’s children by virtue of our baptism. This dignity to be God’s adopted children entails a responsibility, that is, a mission to witness to God’s love to the world. Recall your baptismal promises and ask yourself how you have lived them.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/