SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

Numbers 6:22-27

Psalm 66 (67)

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:16-21

2023: A YEAR OF GRACE 

At the beginning of the year, the Church invites us to celebrate the solemnity of Saint Mary, Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace. The Gospel passage takes us back to the manger, where the newborn Jesus was laid. Born of Mary, this little Child is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Mary is therefore the Mother of God. But she is also our Mother in the order of grace, because through baptism, we have become sons of God and coheirs with Christ Jesus.

Moreover, it is interesting to note that the first reading speaks of blessing. Meanwhile, to “bless” someone is to wish good to the person. Thus, the liturgical blessing of the people of Israel consisted in invoking God’s NAME on the people, and this included three things: protection, grace and peace. 

Therefore, dear readers of “SOWING THE SEED”, I would like to express my best wishes to you at the beginning of this year 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. May he give you the assurance of his presence especially in the midst of your moments of 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 2023 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 integrity, fullness, health, serenity , material and spiritual prosperity, good relationship with God, with others and with nature. 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 its uncertainties and mysteries, fear and hope. May she intercede for us so that the peace of the Lord may reign in our world marked by wars and conflicts. Amen

Happy New Year!

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD: MASS DURING THE DAY

Isaiah 52: 7-10

Psalm 97

Hebrews 1:1-6

John 1: 1-18

CHRISTMAS: DAY OF WONDER AND JOY

We celebrate today the mystery of the Incarnation: God has become man; 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). That is why Christmas is a day of wonder and joy.

It is a day of wonder because in this 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 friend and walk the path of life with us. Therefore, what is important is to welcome him in our lives and be filled with his grace.

In this way, whether we celebrate this Christmas with our family members, or under the bombs, or in tears, or on a sick bed, or in whatever situation we may be going through, the Good News that is announced to us today is the same : Do not be afraid, your Saviour and Redeemer is born. This is the Good News that we are called to receive and carry to our world of fragile peace and broken promises. This is the good tiding we must share in our homes and spread everywhere we may go: “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). 

As the song goes: “Great things happen when God mixes with us, great and beautiful, wonderful things. Great things happen when God mixes with us”. 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 this birth of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises. They insist on his divine origin, and at the same time, they reveal his human nature. 

In effect, Saint Matthew sees in the birth of Christ the realization of the sign of the Emmanuel announced to king Ahaz by the prophet Isaiah (Is. 7:10-14). In the announcement made by the Angel to Joseph, we see how the project of God is being accomplished. It was God who took the initiative. This initiative is exceptional and mysterious: the Virgin Mary has conceived a son through the Holy Spirit; and this son will be called Emmanuel, God-is-with-us. He will be named Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:18-24). 

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, humility and silence to the realization of God’s saving project. Joseph, a descendent of David, became the foster-father of Jesus the Messiah. In this respect, we may well understand Saint Paul when he affirms that he is an apostle of the Gospel concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, who is descended from David according to the flesh, and established as Son of God in power according to the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:1-7). 

As such, God’s saving plan comes through, thanks to the “yes” of both Mary and Joseph. Like them, we may have our own projects and plans. But we must know that God has a bigger project, a bigger plan of love, for our lives. Sometimes we need to let go our own plans even when it seems unjust and unreasonable. What is important is to accept God’s will with faith and obedience. As we get ourselves ready to welcome the Infant Jesus, let us ask him the grace, so that our hearts and homes may become his dwelling-place. May he, the Emmanuel, remain always with us till the end of time. Amen

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A

Isaiah 35:1-6

Psalm 145 (146)

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. “Be strong, fear not! Here is your God”, declares the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, while Saint James says: “Steady your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is at hand”. For the prophet Isaiah, we should rejoice and sing for joy, because God himself is coming to save us. This salvation means 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 often 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 coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:7-10).

Our joy is also fruit of our faith, for which we recognize the signs of God’s presence in our lives. St John the Baptist was a great prophet who recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. 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 any 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 THE REALIZATION OF GOD’S PLAN

God’s plan is to bring us all back to himself. He does not just call us from afar. He comes to us by sending us messengers. In today’s liturgy, we have Isaiah, Paul and John the Baptist. 

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 forever. This 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. We may be tempted to consider it as utopic and unrealistic. 

However, Isaiah’s prophecy remains a message of hope for all times, because it announces the fulfillment of God’s wondrous plan for mankind. And this cannot but inspire hope in us, just as St Paul tells us in the second reading. According to him, the Sacred Scripture aims at instructing us and inspiring hope in us, for it reveals to us God’s saving plan for us. Thus, while we await the full realization of God’s kingdom, we are invited to live in harmony, tolerance and patience despites our differences.

Moreover, this Kingdom of God is not something far away. Indeed, St John the Baptist announces: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The condition for entering and being a part of this kingdom is to implement a change in our life, which is to repent every day, to take a step forward each day. That is why John calls for repentance. He challenges all of us and not only the Sadducees and Pharisees to show fruits of repentance, conversion and renewal because God’s judgment is imminent. 

In this perspective, the message of this second Sunday of Advent is clear: Christ, the Messiah-King and just Judge, is coming. God’s promise to his people is about to be realized. Therefore, the words of John the Baptist must sound once more in our ears: “Prepare the way of the Lord”. Let us not allow the challenges of this present time make us lose hope. Our Savior is coming to save us. Amen

  

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