In today’s 1st reading, Abraham was visited by 3
men whom he showed hospitality despite the fact that he had never met them
before. There are times when we think negatively and consider some of the good
things we have done as lost and gone. Especially if we do it to people whom we
barely know, could not return the favor and could not benefit in us in some ways. Such as these
would never be the case if we consider everything we do as a form of service to
God. It makes a whole lot of difference when the people we’re doing a great
favor are dear and close to us. To extend hospitality to someone who is almost
a stranger and could not return the favor nor expect anything from them is
truly noble. Abraham was rewarded for his good deeds by God Himself who never
lets anything go unnoticed especially those we offer in service to God. Since I
arrived here in the US
in May 19, 2007 I never had a single hair cut. My hair has grown so long that a
lot of people have noticed it already. It has been more than 6 years since then
and my hair has gotten so long. Although I tie it all the time there are some
people who know how long it has become and have been convincing me to have it
cut. I remained firm in my decision to have my hair cut only when God has
granted my long time prayer and request. I just can’t make some people
understand why I have to do what I am doing. I’ve had several affirmations with
regards to this decision of mine and today’s 1st reading is one of them. It
serves as an encouragement and reminder that God is able to carry out what He
said He would do. It is on this account that I remain firm in what I have
committed to do. I personally felt God's assurance with regards to it. I could
still remember when Bernadeth and I were at Chinatown and later on at Japanese Village
Genesis 18:1-15
…I will surely return to you about this time next year and
Sarah will then have a son....13 But the LORD said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah
laugh and say, ‘Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?’ 14 Is anything too
marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year,
I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Because she was afraid,
Sarah dissembled, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But he said, “Yes you did.”
We should always have so much hope in the Lord who makes all
good things happen for and to us. If we
just try to recall everything that we've been through and we have been totally
dependent and fully surrendered to God then we can surely say to ourselves that
God has always been there for us. The gospel this advent season always speaks
of child bearing of those women that are called barren and somehow it can be
compared to becoming fruitful for the Lord. It challenges us to give birth to a
blessing from out of nothing and trust the Lord's power to do it. Today's
gospel in particular contains the Magnificat which has become a famous prayer
and song for most Catholics. The Magnificat (Latin: [My soul] magnifies) — also
known as the Song of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung (or spoken)
liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the 8 most ancient
Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn. The text of the canticle
is taken directly from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:46-55) where it is spoken by
the Virgin Mary upon the occasion of her Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. In
the narrative, after Mary greets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with the future
John the Baptist, the child moves within Elizabeth 's
womb. When Elizabeth
praises Mary for her faith, Mary sings the Magnificat in response. The canticle
echoes several Old Testament biblical passages, but the most pronounced
allusions are to the Song of Hannah, from the Books of Samuel (1Samuel 2:1-10) Not
many of us know that these words of Mary are taken from the very prayer of
Hannah in the Old Testament which happens to be the character being spoken of
in today's 1st reading. Even Mary, the Mother of God studied scriptures and
used it to form part of her prayer. She was also knowledgeable of these holy
men and women who lived way back in the Old Testament. If not she would not
have used in the Magnificat the same words that Hannah prayed. Haven't we
thought of it yet? We are better off in a way that we do not have just the Old
Testament as guide for our daily living but the richness and fullness of the
New Testament where everything is fulfilled. We are reminded not to forget to
acknowledge the goodness of God in our lives. Sometimes we have a tendency to
overlook or neglect this important thing of acknowledgement. This reminds me of
a terrible mistake I did in the past. I had my thesis manuscript printed and
bounded but forgot to include the acknowledgement page. When my adviser knew
about it he kidded me by saying, "Thanks to I, me and myself." Well I
guess, it's really important that we acknowledge people for what they did to us
or most importantly God for that matter whom we owe everything. On top of that,
the readings for today point to it as something we need to do and not overlook
as demonstrated by these 2 popular and well loved personalities of faith.
Mary's way of acknowledging the greatness of God is evident in the gospel
today. It is very appropriate also that today's 1st reading is about Hannah.
These 2 women both echo in their songs their deep gratitude for God. We, too in
our own right can claim ownership to the Magnificat if we will only follow the
example of a perfect response to God's blessing and call of these 2 women
(Hannah and Mary) in the scriptures. We must proclaim the goodness of the Lord
for all the good things He has done and for everything that comes our way. Just
like them we should develop an attitude of complete trust in the Lord and
reflect in our lives the gratitude we have in our hearts no matter what
situation we are in. We can surely learn from their example and start
developing in ourselves this sense of gratitude and acknowledgement to whom it
is really due. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Luke 1:46-47. 48-49. 50 and 53. 54-55
R: The Lord has remembered his mercy.
46 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 my
spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (R) 48 “For he has looked with favor on his
lowly servant... 53 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, for
he has remembered his promise of mercy,...
The gospel speaks of one's love
and concern for a fellow human being no matter who that person is. God also
sees the love we have for each and every member of our household/family and He
will always come to save and heal us just like in the gospel. It also serves as
a reminder to us that just like that centurion we should have that unwavering
faith in the word of God and seek to follow His lead always. It is very
overwhelming to know that such power and authority of God is existent in all
people, places, time and circumstances. There is no limit in what God can do
for our lives. All we have to do is have faith, never doubt and just believe
and it will be done for us. Just like this Gentile Roman centurion who did not
belong to the race of the Chosen People and yet was reached by the power of God
we, too should develop in ourselves this great faith in God no matter what. In
fact, the words of this Roman Centurion resound up to this moment and time as
it is being recited in the Communion Rite every time there is Holy Mass being
celebrated all over the world. Jesus has defied the cultural barriers of faith
and demonstrated in today's gospel that He is indeed over all, in all and for
all. It is good to examine ourselves if we have the same humility and faith
like the centurion right before we accept Jesus in Holy Communion. The
centurion knows that Jesus can heal his servant. He humbly asked the Lord and
showed Jesus an act of faith. St. Jose Maria Escriva once wrote, "We are
going to receive our Lord on this earth, when we receive an important person in
our home we bring out the best, food, lights, music and formal dress. How
should we prepare to receive Christ in our souls? Have we ever thought of how
we must behave if we should ever receive Him only once in a lifetime who is the
King of kings and the Lord of lords? Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 8:5-11
5 When Jesus entered Capernaum ,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is
lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” 7 He said to him, “I will come
and cure him.” 8 The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have
you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For
I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say
to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my
slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and
said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel
have I found such faith. 11 I say to you, many will come from the east and the
west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the
kingdom of heaven.”...And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have
believed, let it be done for you.” ...
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