SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

Numbers 6:22-27

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:16-21

2020: A YEAR OF DOUBLE-DOUBLE

January 1st, a day marked by three events: the beginning of a new year, the solemnity of Saint Mary, Mother of God, and World Day of Peace. For the liturgy today, two things caught my attention. First, the Church invites us to celebrate a woman on this first day of the year. Meanwhile a woman is the symbol of life and fertility or fecundity. This woman is Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Mother in the order of grace. The second reading and the gospel attest to this fact.

Second, the liturgy of the Word opens by speaking of blessing. Now to "bless" someone is to wish "good" to the person, to set him apart for God. Thus, the liturgical blessing of the people of Israel consisted in invoking God's "NAME" on the people, and this included three things: may the Lord "keep you", may he "be gracious to you", and may he "give you peace."

Therefore, dear readers of "SOWING THE SEED", I would like to express my best wishes in four words: life, protection, grace and peace. I wish you a life full of joy and fruitfulness. May the Lord keep you from all misfortune and protect you; that he gives you the assurance of his presence especially in the midst of your doubts, difficulties, tribulations and trials.

May he grant you the graces you need and help you accept all the events that will mark your life in this year 2020 as a grace. Because everything that happens is good! And may he give you his peace. Yes, peace (shàlôm), this word which, in the biblical sense, is not simply absence of war but expresses good relationship with God, with others and with nature, integrity, fullness, health, serenity , material and spiritual prosperity. May this year be a year overflowing with grace, a year of breakthrough and a year of spiritual elevation.

Finally, may the Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Peace, accompany us throughout this year which opens before us with all that it contains of mysterious, uncertain, of fear but also of hope. May God keep us and bless us! Amen

Happy New Year!

SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY FAMILY, YEAR A

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

Psalm 128  

Colossians 3:12-21   

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

THE HOLY FAMILY

Still in the joyful mood of Christmas, we are invited to celebrate the solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which is a model for all families. This Family is called “holy” not because it was “problem-free”. But because it was founded on faith in God and adherence to God’s will. As such, they enjoyed a great inner peace and profound unity in spite of their woes and hardships. 

In the gospel passage, St Matthew narrates the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt in order to save the life of the newly born child Jesus, which was threatened by king Herod. This story does not only remind us of the many families that are going through dramatic situations, but also invites us, especially parents, to be life-protecting. We must care for our children and protect them in all respects. 

It is needless to say that we live in a world where many families are torn apart, where there are conflicts and misunderstandings fuelled by a generational gap between parents and children. Again, the figures of “father” and “mother” are robbed of their true meaning; and children claim greater rights and autonomy from their parents. Thus, the first reading reasserts the importance of parents and insists on the honour and reverence that children owe to their parents, who gave them life. It challenges us to help and care for our parents, to be patient and considerate towards them, especially when they are old and sick. For whoever does so receives forgiveness for his sins and blessings from God.

In the second reading, St Paul enumerates some attitudes that favour family life and its progress in love and harmony: heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, mutual respect, affection and especially forgiveness. It is important to note that no family is perfect. Each member has his own history, wounds and crosses. Hence it is necessary to “bear with one another” in love and patience. Each of us must be ready to let go any grudge and to forgive, so as to establish harmony, peace and serenity in our families. May the Holy Family intercede for our families so they may grow in love, faith and obedience to God’s Word. Amen

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD: MASS DURING THE DAY

Isaiah 52: 7-10

Psalm 97 

Hebrews 1:1-6 

John 1: 1-18

BREAKING NEWS: GOD HAS BECOME MAN

Today we celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation: God has become man; Jesus is born. This is an old news but always a breaking Good News. The Eternal Word of God has been made flesh and he lives among us. God has become one of us so that by faith we may become children of God. From his fullness, we have received grace upon grace (John 1, 1-18).

In the little child lying in a manger at Bethlehem, we contemplate God. The invisible God has been made visible. Man can now touch God, hear God crying and being consoled. In this little child, God communicates and reveals his love and mercy to mankind (Heb. 1, 1-6). He identifies himself with each one of us. He shares our human condition, our pain and joy, our misery. In this new born, God comes to live with us, to console us, to be our friends and walk the path of life with us.

And this is the Good News that is announced to us today: “How beautiful on the mountain, are the feet of one who brings good tidings, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation…” (Is. 52:7-10). This is the Good News we must carry to our world of fragile peace and broken promises. This is the good tiding we must bring to our brothers and sisters. This is the joyful news we must share in our homes and spread everywhere we may go. 

As the song goes: “Great things happen when God mixes with us, great and beautiful, wonderful things…” May this year’s Christmas bring you a breakthrough in whatever difficult situation you may find yourself. May the Infant Jesus, the Prince of Peace grant you peace, joy and fullness of life. May his light illumine every dark area in your life. Amen.

Merry Christmas!!!

4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A

Isaiah 7:10-14

Psalm 24

Romans 1:1-7

Matthew 1:18-24

THE "EMMANUEL PROJECT"

In few days, we will celebrate Christmas, the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Today’s readings present the birth of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the Gospel passage, we see how the project of God, as predicted by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, is accomplished. It was God who took the initiative. This initiative is indeed exceptional and incomprehensible to us, a project of infinite love: the Virgin Mary was to conceive a son, who will be called Emmanuel, God-is-with-us. Christmas is indeed the fulfillment of God’s promises; it is God coming to dwell among his people.

Moreover, the readings make it clear that the Son of Mary is not the son of Joseph but the Son of God. Nonetheless, the role of Joseph is very important in the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation. By his unconditional obedience to the will of God, he cooperated in discretion, silence and obedient faith to the realization of God’s saving project. 

By his “Yes”, Joseph, a descendent of David, will become the foster-father of Jesus the Messiah. In the Second reading, Paul affirms that he is preaching the Gospel concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, who was descended from David according to the flesh, and established as Son of God in power according to the Holy Spirit. As such, God’s saving plan comes through thanks to the “yes” of both Mary and Joseph.

Like Mary and Joseph, we may have our own projects and plans. But we must know that God has a bigger project, a bigger plan, for our lives. As such, sometimes we need to let go our own plans even when it seems unjust and unreasonable. Let each of us say a free, unconditional and courageous 'Yes' to God, as we get ourselves ready to welcome our Saviour, the Infant Jesus. May he, the Emmanuel, remain always with us till the end of time (Matt. 28:20). Amen

3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A

Isaiah 35:1-6  

James 5:7-10  

Matthew 11:2-11

GAUDETE SUNDAY: ANTICIPATING THE JOY OF SALVATION

Advent is a season of joyful expectation, a season of waiting. Thus, today’s readings give us two characteristics of effective waiting: hope and patience. Hope allows us to anticipate the joy of possessing what we are waiting for, whereas patience enables us not to lose heart or give up no matter how long our waiting may be. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah invites us to rejoice and sing for joy, because God himself is coming to save us. This salvation means bringing healing, liberation, restoration, fulfilment, wholeness and holiness (Is. 35:1-6). 

Unfortunately, there are people, even Christians, who always have funeral and morose faces. They always complain and lament over their difficulties, sicknesses, losses, and problems. They become impatient with God, thinking that God does not care. This impatience leads to frustration, anger, anxiety, and unhappiness. But like the farmer who patiently waits until the fruits of his labour are ripe, we too should be patient, just as the second reading tells us. We must not lose heart, for the Lord is coming soon (James 5:7-10). 

This need to be full of hope and patience must be coupled with our capacity to recognize the signs of God’s presence. St John the Baptist was a great prophet who recognized Jesus as the long awaited Messiah in the Jordan River. When he was in prison, having heard about Jesus’ ministry, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus: ‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for somebody else?’ Jesus sent them back pointing at his signs and wonders as tangible evidence that he is the Messiah. The prophecy of Isaiah is being realized: God has come to save his people (Mt 11: 2-11).

As we await and prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord, may we be filled with joy and hope. In every life situation, let us never lose heart, for the Lord is our Salvation. May he open our eyes of faith to recognize him as he comes each day to us in various ways and especially in the Eucharist. Amen

2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A

Isaiah 11:1-10

Psalm 71

Romans 15:4-9

Matthew 3:1-12

Waiting For Peace And Restoration

Advent is a season of waiting and anticipation. It is a time of hope. And today’s readings are vivid representation of this hope. In the Gospel, St John the Baptist, the forerunner, preaches in the desert calling the people of Israel to repentance, for “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He challenges the Sadducees and Pharisees to show fruits of repentance, conversion and renewal because God’s judgment is imminent. The long awaited Messiah-King and just Judge is at hand. God’s promise to his people, of which we hear in the first reading, is about to be realized.

The prophet Isaiah announces the coming of God’s Anointed One. Full of the Holy Spirit, this Messiah-King, a descendent of king David, is coming to restore peace, harmony and God’s glorious kingdom of truth and justice on earth. In his days, justice shall flourish; happiness and fullness of peace for ever. This beautiful prophecy of Isaiah may be difficult to accept in our contemporary world characterized by violence, conflicts, discrimination, injustices, corruption, political upheavals, wars, and so forth. In front of this reality, we may simply say that this prophecy is a utopia and unrealistic; that it is a dream. 

Indeed, this prophecy reminds us of the famous discourse of Rev. Martin Luther King Junior, which he made in 1963: “I have a dream”. Isaiah’s prophecy, in fact, anticipates the fulfillment of God’s wondrous plan for us. It announces the full realization of the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus Christ is coming to restore at the end of time. And this cannot but inspire hope in us, just as St Paul tells us in the second reading. 

He reminds us that the Sacred Scripture aims at instructing us and inspiring hope in us, because it reveals to us God’s saving plan for us. Thus, he invites us to live in harmony, tolerance and patience despites all our differences, while we await the full realization of God’s plan with courage and perseverance. Therefore, let the words of John the Baptist sound once more in our ears: “Prepare the way of the Lord;” for he is coming and he will not delay. He is coming to save us. And like Martin Luther King said: “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair”.