Feast of the Holy Family, Year B

"...They returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth."

1st Reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128

2nd Reading: Colossians 3:12-21

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

Like all good Jewish families, Joseph and Mary brought the Infant
Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem, to be presented to the Lord.
For, according to their religious law, "Every male that opens the
womb shall be consecrated to the Lord...and to offer the
sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons". So as
they went on, in the Temple, they met Simeon and the prophetess,
Anna. Upon seeing the Infant Jesus, Simeon made a prophesy
saying that the child is destined for the fall and rise of many
in Israel, and that Mary herself a "sword will pierce". Anna, on
her part, also came forward and gave thanks to God for the child,
who she knew was to be the Redeemer of Jerusalem.

The Child Jesus was not only God incarnated in human flesh, but
He was also born to a human family. Joseph, His foster father,
is from the royal line of King David. And Mary, His mother,
was a simple Jewish maiden, whom God favored and bestowed with
the fullness of His graces (she being immaculately conceived and
without sin). If God blessed mankind by incarnating Jesus in
human flesh, He also blessed the human family through St. Joseph
and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, God does not call only
individuals to holiness; He also calls the human family to
holiness - through the example of the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph).

The pursuit of sanctity as a family is not easy in our modern
world. But it is possible, if we always look to God's strength,
help, and divine graces. The Holy Family is one source, wherein
families can look up to, for patterning their lives after: thru
the virtues that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus lived while they were
together at Nazareth. The simplicity of their being together,
working together, living together, and especially praying
together, can teach us the Christian ideals of fatherhood
(Joseph), motherhood (Mary), and childhood (Jesus). Let us
therefore thank God for the gift of the Holy Family, from whom
we can seek understanding to life's mysteries, as each of us
journeys as a family, in this world with other families.

4th Sunday of Advent, Year B

"...For nothing will be impossible for God."

1st Reading: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-11, 16

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89

2nd Reading: Rom 16:25-27

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Now that Christmas will be four days from today, the gospel for
the fourth Sunday of Advent, presents to us how the Child Jesus
was conceived in the womb of Mary: by the power of the Most High
(who will overshadow her). Mary was a simple and humble maiden
from Nazareth, who, because she found favor with God, was visited
by the angel Gabriel to bring her the news that she would bear
Jesus, the Son of God. At first, Mary was troubled, for she did
not understand what the greeting meant. And to add to her state
questioning, she wanted to know how this would happen, since she
was a virgin. As the angel assured her that "nothing will be
impossible for God", Mary gave her fiat: "I am the handmaid of
Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word."

Do you remember a time when you received a great favor from a
person of authority, influence, or great political standing? Was
it your boss offering you a promotion and with higher pay? Or was
it a superior who asked if you would like a foreign assignment -
all expenses paid? If we had followed the spirit of Mary's
humility, we may have been greatly troubled for we do not know
what this would really bring to us. And more than that, we may
have been aware of our limitations and weaknesses. Also, we
may have been even afraid for we do not know the greater
responsibilities we will shoulder, or what sort of culture we
would be immersed in, in our foreign assignment. But if we cling
to God, and trust very much in His Providence, He will assure us
as Gabriel did to Mary - "nothing will be impossible for God".
And in the spirit of Mary's obedience, we too shall say, "I am
the servant of the Lord. May His will be fulfilled."

By Mary's example, we are taught the great value of obedience
to God's will. Mary's fiat, her obedience to be the Mother of
God, is like the quality of humility and obedience of Jesus: who
though He was of divine substance, did not deem equality with
God, but rather emptied Himself, took the nature of a servant,
and even accepted death on the Cross (Philippians 2:6-11). The
ways of God are beyond our human understanding. We know that
great kings and rulers of human civilizations were born in
grandeur and in an environment that we know belong only to
royalty and to those of high social standing. Yet, here we have
something special: we also have a King, a Prince of Peace, who
was born of a virgin, in a lowly manger in Bethlehem. And yet,
we know through our faith, that the Light that emanated from
the Christ-Child, is a Light that far exceeds in greatness to
the light of all the rulers and kings combined in our whole
human history.

Gaudete Sunday, Year B

Gaudete Sunday, Year B

"...[He] came to testify to the Light."

1st Reading: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11

2nd Reading: 2 Thes 5:16-24

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28

As we light the 3rd candle for Advent, we will notice that the
color of the candle is rose - signifying a spirit of joyful
anticipation. Christmas day would just be eleven days away. And
the light in the three Advent candles includes one with a
"brighter" shade - giving our Advent sight a refreshing scene in
the liturgical scene of Advent.

St. John the Baptist is still the prominent figure in the 3rd
Sunday of Advent, Year B. But his humility, despite the strength
of his character, makes him special to us, for the gospel says
that: "he came for testimony, to testify to the Light...he was
not the Light, but came to testify to the Light."

It is but human for us to light up our home with many bright
lights - even colored ones that dance, skip, run, flow, and
alternate in various patterns. This especially brings joy to the
home - that joyful anticipation that Christmas is nearing soon.

Let us suspend for some time our external sight and look deeply
within us. Do I see darkness or light? Is my soul ready to
receive the light of Gaudete Sunday? Is my soul joyful because
Christ is coming and I have, so to speak, set my spirit in order
by receiving healing from praying over the Word, and celebrating
the Sacrament? If so, then let us rejoice and together with St.
John the Baptist, testify to the coming of the Light...the Light
is coming to our world, in our family, and in our hearts.

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B

"...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

1st Reading: Is 40:1-5, 9-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 85

2nd Reading: 2 Pt 3:8-14

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

During the season of Advent, the readings remind us of the
coming of Christ: both His first and His second coming. The 1st
reading refers to the first coming, with an allusion to the
prophet John the Baptist by Isaiah. The second reading on the
2nd letter of Peter, reminds us of the second coming of Jesus,
which will be cataclysmic: "the heavens will pass away with a
mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire..." And
the gospel shows us how the prophet John the Baptist prepared
for the coming of Jesus by baptizing the people of Israel so
that they will repent from their sins and seek forgiveness from
God.

St. John the Baptist's call to the people to repent from their
sins and seek forgiveness from God is also a call for us today
to repent from our sins and also seek forgiveness from God thru
the sacraments. With all the rush of the Christmas and holiday
season, we may be tempted to neglect the one thing necessary:
(not the external preparations for Christmas, but) the internal
and spiritual preparation we need to prepare our selves for the
coming of Jesus. Advent is a time for us to purify our hearts,
so that by Christmastime, Jesus will find us in His favor and
allow Himself to be born in our hearts that we may be filled
with His Spirit.

As we journey on in this season of Advent, let us be more
immersed in God's Word and Sacrament. Jesus is both present in
His Word and Sacrament, and He invites us during this liturgical
season to allow us to let Him "fall softly into our lives."
Jesus came into our world 'softly' - not with the noise or
fanfare of the rich, the powerful, or the famous. Jesus however
came to us in the form of a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
in the sheer silence of Christmas Eve. So let us heed the call
to come away (for some time) from the noise of Christmas
celebrations and shopping, and take the time to be quiet and
still, and be thankful that God has never given up on us. He
reminds us every year, during this season, that He is sending His
Son to become One with us that we too may become one with Him
in eternal life.