There’s no better way
to start the 1st day of the New Liturgical Calendar of the Catholic Church than
to look to God and focus our eyes on Him as he gives us hope to look forward
toward the fulfillment of what He has promised to us as foretold in today’s 1st
reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Jer 33:14-16
The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the
promise…
No matter how unsure life may be and how unfair it may seem
we can always rely on the one true God who was, is and will always be forever. If
we will just take to heart at all times the assurances of God in the scriptures
then there is really nothing that should stop us from following the right path
that leads to God. We should constantly implore God's help in prayers so that
we faithfully live out His example in our lives. In the Philippines there is an expression
being said when people are so bent over and head strong about doing a certain
task like nothing can ever stop them. It is known as, “Kina-career mo naman yan”
In English, “You’re making it a career!” If we will look at the meaning of
career in the dictionary we’ll find that it means, course of action; height of
activity or run or move at full speed. Come to think of it, that’s how we
should act when it comes to the most important aspect of our life. There is
really no doubt about the goodness of God. If there is one thing in this world
that we can depend on that is the mercy of God. It is possible that all our
hurts and injuries be turned to compassion for those who have caused us so much
pain because God who is full of mercy and love is the one who did it first for
us and we ought to follow. We should constantly implore God's help in prayers
so that we faithfully live out His example in our lives. Our confidence in God
should never waver nor falter. It should be our goal to grow and mature in our
knowledge and love for God. As we move forward in it then we win for ourselves
a friendship that is like no other. We have seen a lot of broken relationships
in our lifetime and if we will base our understanding of the word friendship on
that then we will start to lose faith and confidence in friends. It is so
reassuring and comforting that in the friendship of God we can be sure that it is
something we can always count and depend on. Everything comes from God. All
good things come from God. All blessings come from God. God pours out to us the
all abundant love in every possible way. Love and life is not simple other wise
we will be living in a heavenly world where there is no strife, deceit,
injustice and division. The world we
live in is fractured, unless we stop doing mundane and distracting things that
pulls us away from visualizing the things of God then we will just find
ourselves distracted and unfocused. We just might find ourselves going in all
directions but not really finding where we are supposed to go. God teaches us
His ways with the guidance of the Holy Spirit directing us every step of the
way. This is how we should relate to God by aiming to encounter Him in an
intimate and personal way. It is possible that all our hurts and injuries be
turned to compassion for those who have caused us so much pain because God who
is full of mercy and love is the one who did it first for us and we ought to
follow. It is indeed a consolation to
know that we are in the hands of God. There is no reason to fear nor doubt, for
the Lord will surely bless and keep us at all times. This made me think of the
children who squirm and try to break free from the protecting hold of a parent.
Sometimes we are no different from the children because we want God to let
loose of His hold. We have a gentle and loving God who will never impose nor
force Himself. It is all up to us whether we remain or wriggle free from the
loving grasp of God's hands. God always
work with perfection. We can always be assured that if we allow ourselves to go
through the Refiner's fire then we will surely come out perfect. God is always
precise in His moves and can never go wrong. We should be very grateful and awe
inspired as we realize that there is nothing beyond the power of God. If we are
sensitive and attentive enough to the Lord then we would discover that God
allows the events in our daily experiences to happen in a way that is best for
us. Although there are times when we just can’t see it the way it is. It is in the
consultation of the word of God that we can find so much consolation and hope
in our daily walk in life. As we develop this communication with God through
scriptures we would find it to be always connected if not perfectly fitted as
God opens up our mind and allows us to grasp things in a very unbelievable way.
Our God is beyond compare, awesome, wonderful and marvelous. If we give to God
all our concerns and anxieties and trust in His goodness and mercy then He will
always direct our steps in the way that He wanted us to go. A few years ago in
a Lenten Retreat at St. Lorenzo yhe speaker said that Catholicism is the
religion of the soul while Protestantism is the religion of the mind. This is
because Protestants have a problem accepting things that are not written in the
scriptures. The language of the mind makes use of words alone which are limited
unlike the language of the soul which goes beyond what is written and extends
to signs, images, symbols and metaphors. There are things that are beyond human
comprehension and expression. This explains why we are a people attracted to
signs and symbols. Dan Brown, a famous author of books, Da Vinci Code and
Angels & Demons are only a few of them, which deal greatly on the meaning
of signs and symbols has become a hit. His style appeals to the public that's
why he has earned millions and become popular. It is in this nature of ours
that God speaks to us not just in physical terms and words but in spiritual
language as well. We have to be aware of
the truth of the richness of our Catholic dogma, doctrine, discipline and practices.
Our Catholic faith is so rich, it's like eating cheesecake and if we ever think
of leaving the Catholic fold after knowing these truths it would be like
exchanging the cheesecake for a sugarless donut. Liturgical cycles of the
Church are very interesting in the light of the seasons of love, life and
faith. Advent is defined as anticipation of something that is coming. We are
well aware of the 1st coming (Parousia) when Jesus came to this world more than
2,000 years ago and the 2nd coming of Jesus which no one knows exactly when it
would be. But there is one more thing we need to really prepare for which is
the 3rd coming or our own personal coming of Jesus when we die. As Catholics,
we might want to ask ourselves why we go to Church and attend mass. We come to
the Lord at a designated time and place to know of the mystery of life. If we
somehow come to know of these signs, symbols, images and metaphors although not
totally then we could relate better in our relationship with God. The Mass is
full of these signs and symbols that appeals to our sense of sight, sound and
smell. There are lots of explanations that go with these practices. Though
these practices can change in the course of time the core teachings of the Catholic
Church like the dogma and doctrine are all non negotiable and would stand
through time. We should no longer doubt in our minds all the things that God is
capable of doing. Life is a mystery which is much like a black hole. Once we
fall into that black hole then there is no more turning back from where we came
from. We just go on and on learning about life until such time when we come to
the knowledge of its full mystery when we die.
For God has reserved for us something special like the front row seats
in a spectacular play in a theater. No less than the prime spot for the Lord
will always grant our heart's delight as we faithfully cling to Him. While we
still can, we must come to a better understanding of these things and strive to
learn the deeper meaning of our faith. No one in his right mind can ever deny
the presence of a Supreme Being who created all of us and this wonderful world
we live in. It remains a mystery how the sky hangs on high without ever getting
tired and falling, even the rising and setting of the sun, the moon and the
stars that bedecks the sky and the planets that rotate around the sun without
ever losing its alignment and end up bumping into each other. Even the wisest
and most brilliant scientists are continuously amazed at the endless and
infinite discoveries and revelations of the universe as they strive to unravel
its mystery. From generation to generation and ages past no single human being
was able to completely unfold it for human intelligence is simply insufficient
and can never measure up to God's. Have we ever wondered and asked how things
in our life came to be? There is only one thing that needs to be done, that is
to call on God endlessly at all times for guidance. As we try to look back and
recall may we always find ourselves confidently claiming all our life's events
as according to what God has planned for us and if not then it is about time
that we call on to God with these words in the psalm reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R. (1b) To you, O
Lord, I lift my soul.
… All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward
those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The friendship of the LORD is with
those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction.
There are times when we are confronted with very difficult
tasks at hand and it seems impossible to do it if we will just rely on our own
capabilities. Today’s 2nd reading reminds us that we are not to do it on our
own but through the help of God who strengthens our hearts to conduct ourselves
honorable before God and men. Amen. Hallelujah!
Reading II
1 Thes 3:12-4:2
Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and
abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to
strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at
the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. Finally, brothers and sisters, we
earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how
you should conduct yourselves to please God
The part of the gospel that I cited yesterday (Dec. 1, 2012)
and the other day (Nov. 29, 2012) is the
entire gospel for today. It tells us one thing, that the message of God is
repeatedly being declared and very persistent in every manner possible. God has
given us all the signs and warning we need to know of in order to prepare us
well. There can never be a good excuse for not being prepared unless we ignore
and take them for granted then we just might find ourselves unable to stand and
in for a surprise. We can never deny the fact that we are constantly being
tapped in the shoulder by God so that we do not forget and always remember the
important things that we need to pay attention and attend to. Amen. Hallelujah!
Gospel
Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the
sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed
by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in
anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And
then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because
your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from
carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you
by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the
face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of
Man.”
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