1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR C

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalm 24

1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2

Luke 21:25-28.34-36

BE READY, THE LORD IS COMING!

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. Advent is a period of waiting and of a double preparation: preparation for the commemoration of the Birth of Christ at Christmas and preparation for the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is therefore a period of joyful hope.   

In the first reading, through the prophet Jeremiah, God assures his people that he is going to fulfill his promise. He is going to make a branch grow for David and his people will be saved and dwell in confidence (Jer. 33:14-16). This prophecy was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus of Nazareth. This coming is what we are preparing to commemorate at Christmas. 

However, Jesus himself tells us that he will come again in power and glory as the Judge of the universe. Talking about this second coming in the gospel, he uses images that may create fear and anxiety in us. Nevertheless, it is a message of hope, for it will be a day of our liberation. It is also an invitation to get prepared (Luke 21:25-28.34-36). But how do we get prepared?

Three ways are proposed to us. First, we should watch ourselves, by not indulging in debauchery, drunkenness and the cares of life. For St Paul in the second reading, we should live blameless lives, that is, lives of good conducts that please God. Second, we should stay awake. To stay awake means not sleeping, being active and aware of what is going around us. Thus, Jesus invites us to be spiritual “gate men”, to stand erect like soldiers for his coming. Third, we should pray at all times so as to keep in touch with God always. That is to say, being in constant dialogue with the Lord and building a relationship with him. 

If we are able to fulfill these three things, we should not be afraid or worry about anything. For the Lord’s coming will be for our redemption. May he grant us the strength to get ready to meet him whenever he comes. Amen

Happy New Year!!!

SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING, YEAR B

Daniel 7:13-14

Ps 92:1-2.5

Revelation 1:5-8

John 18:33-37

CHRIST THE KING OF THE KINGS 

Today, we celebrate Christ, the King of the universe, a solemnity that is set at the conclusion of the liturgical year and which reminds us of our royal priesthood. We believe that Jesus Christ is the King of kings, and his kingdom has no end. Therefore, Jesus Christ can be identified with the Son of Man in the vision of the prophet Daniel. In effect, Daniel saw a Son of Man on whom was conferred sovereignty and glory. His kingdom was to be an everlasting kingdom and all people would serve him (Dan. 7:13-14). The Book of Revelation also presents Jesus as “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).

Paradoxically, the scene of the Gospel presents the dramatic trial and interrogation of Jesus before Pilate. When asked by Pilate if he was a king, Jesus affirmed that he was a king. But with a quiet dignity, he explains, “my kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:33-37). He had no body-guard nor weapon to defend himself, except the weapon of truth. He had no other ambition, except that of revealing the love of God to mankind by dying on the cross. For this, he was born and for this he came into the world. 

In this way, the cross remains the emblem of Jesus’ kinship and the symbol of our redemption. For on the cross, we contemplate the one who was pierced out of love for us. On the cross, we contemplate the Ruler of the kings of the earth, who has made us into a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father. 

To celebrate Christ the King is therefore to celebrate our own identity as a chosen race, a royal priest, a people set apart to serve God. For by our baptism, we share in the kingship of Jesus Christ. We belong to the royal family of God. And we must behave as such. We must lead noble and praiseworthy lives, so that we may not bring shame onto our King. May Christ, the King of kings, help us to accept him as the Lord of our lives, and allow him to reign in our hearts so as to transform our lives. Amen

33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Daniel 12:1-3

Psalm 15:5.8-11

Hebrews 10:11-14.18

Mark 13:24-32

WORLD DAY OF THE POOR 

Today is the last Sunday before the Solemnity of Christ the King, which marks the end of the liturgical year. It coincides with the annual celebration of the World Day of the Poor, instituted by Pope Francis in 2016. Today’s readings speak about the final consummation or end of time. That time will be marked by dramatic cosmic changes, the gathering of the nations for judgment and the manifestation of the glory and power of the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The first and gospel readings tell us that it will be a time of great distress. But the people of God, those who have remained faithful to the end, will be saved. The angels will gather the chosen ones, those whose names are written in the Book of Life, so that they may inherit eternal life and shine as bright as stars. However, the unrighteous, the unfaithful ones will go to shame and everlasting disgrace or eternal damnation. 

Contrary to the many so-called prophets who claim to know or to have received a vision of the end of time, Jesus tells us: “But as for the day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.” Therefore, we should not allow ourselves to be fooled or deceived by anyone who claims to have a dream or a vision about the end of time as many are doing especially on social media. 

What is of great importance is that we stay awake and stand firm in the Lord. Jesus has achieved eternal salvation for us through his self-offering on the cross, as the second reading reminds us. Therefore, we should cling to him, instead of worrying about what will happen in the future. Let each day be an opportunity for us to change, love and serve. Let us keep on doing what is good, especially towards the poor and the marginalized. Let us keep on walking with the Lord. He will preserve us from any shame. May he grant us the grace to stand ready and keep us safe for eternal life. Amen.

32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

1Kgs 17:10-6

Ps 145:7-10

Heb. 9:24-28

Mark 12:38-44

 

A DARING GENEROSITY

 

Do not to be afraid to give, for generosity pays. This is the main message of today’s readings. The first reading recounts the daring act of generosity of the widow of Zarephath. She used the last provisions she had to feed the prophet Elijah at the time of the drought. And her jar of meal was not spent nor the jug of oil emptied, in accordance with the word of the prophet (1Kgs 17:10-6). 

 

According to the second reading, Jesus made a total offering of himself to God out of love for us as a sacrifice of expiation, taking on himself the faults of many (Heb. 9:24-28). In the gospel, after teaching, Jesus sat opposite the treasury and was observing the people contributing into the treasury. Then came a widow who put all that she had to live on, two small coins. The inner attitude that accompanied her offer was so great that Jesus commends her to his disciples: Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury…” (Mark 12:38-44). 

 

What is common to the two widows of today’s readings is their daring generosity: giving out all that they had. They took a risk which translates their trust in God's providence. They were poor in material possessions, but rich in generosity. What we can learn from these two widows is that none of us is too poor that he or she has nothing to give; and that none of our “little offer” is insignificant before God. 

 

Every act of generosity will not go unrewarded. What matters is not so much what we give but how we give. It should be out of love and generosity. Indeed, if we wait to have much before giving, we will never give, because we will never have much. Though it is a terrifying and painful experience to give out of the little, it is in this risky act of giving out of the little that we experience God’s closeness to us. For those who trust God and show generosity to others are never disappointed in time of their own need. May the Lord teach us to give and give generously. Amen