Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, Joseph (B)
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 (or: Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3)/Ps 128 (or: Ps 105)/Col 3:12-21 (or: Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19)/Lk 2:22-40 (or: 2:22, 39-40)
In the First Reading from the book of Genesis, we hear that God has promised Abraham that he will be the father of faith. God has promised Abraham that despite his old age, he and his wife Sarah will bear a son and that his generation will be as many as the stars in the sky. Although it seemed impossible for Abraham and Sarah to have a child in their old age, Abraham trusted the will and word of God. Because of that, God rewarded Abraham for his faith by giving Abraham and Sarah a son, who is Isaac.
The author of the letter to the Hebrews in the Second Reading talks about the continuation of Abraham's story, especially when Abraham's faith was tested. God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac. Although Abraham was hurt by the request of God, he still did it anyway to prove to God that he trusts in His word and will. Just as Abraham was about to kill Isaac, God sent His angel to prevent Abraham from murdering Isaac because he has proved his faith in God. God saved Isaac from death.
We hear the narrative of the Presentation of the Lord in the Gospel for the Feast of the Holy Family. Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus to the temple in order to be presented in front of the Lord God. As Jews, Mary and Joseph follow the law of Moses that every child should be brought and presented to the temple forty days after the birth of the child. The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph follow and observe the law of Moses. They show obedience to the law of Israel.
At the day of the presentation of the baby Jesus, Simeon prophecies the mission of the baby Jesus. Jesus' mission is to save mankind from sin. Simeon also prophecies that the heart of the Virgin Mary will be pierced by a sword because of what will happen to Jesus. Simeon prophecies that Jesus will die for the salvation of mankind. Although this will happen for the good of mankind, this will cause pain in the heart of the Blessed Virgin. The Blessed Virgin's heart will be deeply wounded and hurt because of what will happen to Jesus.
But, did that cause the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph to lose hope and faith in the Lord? NO. Their faith in the Lord's will was still strong. Although they do not understand why it should happen, they still trust in the Lord. Whatever Jesus' mission is, no matter how dangerous the mission Jesus will undertake, they will not stop or prevent Jesus from doing the Father's will. They will raise Jesus and protect Him from danger in His younger years, but once Jesus is a fully grown man, they will not prevent Him from doing His mission.
Like the Holy Family, let us be obedient and trust in the word and the will of God. God's will brings goodness to everyone. God's will is for everyone's good. Let us pray to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to help us in being obedient and trusting the will of God. Jesus, Mary and Joseph had deep faith in God, obeyed and followed His will.
Fourth Sunday of Advent (B)
2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38
Our Sunday Gospel for today is about the Annunciation. The Archangel Gabriel announces to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she is chosen by God in order to be the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as how the angel Gabriel said to the Virgin Mary, the Virgin Mary was found with favor in God. God was pleased at Mary that He chose her to be the mother of the Word-made-flesh - Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity.
The fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary gave the go-signal for Jesus to be born. God chose Mary among all women to be the mother of Christ. Mary approved God's request for the Messiah to be born of her. She allowed God to work His plan for her and for the whole world. We could say that the Blessed Virgin Mary had plans for her own. She was already betrothed to St. Joseph and they could have lived a simple life together. But it all changed when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.
If Mary did not accept God's will, the whole world would still be slaves of sin. Mankind would still be slaves of sin. We would still be living under the bondage of sin. We wouldn't be free or saved from sin. But Mary accepted the will of God. Her faith and trust in God became the way for her to accept the will of God. Thus, Mary allowed God to work His plan of salvation. The Blessed Virgin accepted God's plan and gave the go-signal for Jesus to be born.
God did not will for mankind to become slaves of sin. The Lord was hurt on the sight of mankind under the slavery of sin. It was not God's plan or will for mankind to be slaves of sin. He planned to free mankind from sin, just as how He freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. That's why God decided to become man, just like all of us, in the person of Jesus. By becoming man, God expresses that He is one with mankind. Jesus is our Emmanuel - God with us. Why? Because Jesus Himself is God, the Second Person in the Trinity.
Mary became the way in order for God to become man. The Blessed Mother allowed God to work His plan of salvation. Jesus came here into earth as a human like us, through Mary. This is why the Blessed Virgin Mary is very important for all Christians. If it not for Mary's fiat or submission to the will of God, we would still be all slaves of sin. The fiat of the Blessed Mother paved the way for the salvation of mankind.
Third Sunday of Advent (B)
Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1/1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
Our Gospel for this Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday, is about John the Baptist revealing his identity. John the Baptist denies being the Messiah when he was asked if he was the Messiah. With great bravery, John the Baptist said the truth. John the Baptist knows that he is not the Messiah. Rather, he is chosen and sent by the Lord God in order to prepare the way of the Messiah. He even said that there is someone greater than him who will come after him. The person greater than John the Baptist who will come after him is none other than Jesus Christ.
If John the Baptist said that he is the Messiah, he is fooling himself and the people that come to him. John the Baptist is not being a man of his word. John the Baptist would become a hypocrite if he said that he is the Messiah. He calls on everyone to turn away from sin and be baptized in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. But, if John the Baptist said that he is the Messiah, he is committing a sin. He has sinned against himself, the people he is baptizing, and most of all, against God. That is if John the Baptist said that he is the Messiah.
But, John the Baptist knows that he is just the best man. If we would describe it with a wedding scenario, John the Baptist is the best man. He just prepares the bride and everyone to meet the man who will be married. That is John the Baptist's role. John the Baptist is preparing everyone to meet Jesus Christ. With whole honesty and humility, John the Baptist is fulfilling his role as the forerunner of the Messiah. He knows his mission here on earth, and he is fulfilling it.
Telling the truth does take a lot of courage and strength. Being honest is quite hard for us, especially during these times. Let us ask the Lord through the intercession of St. John the Baptist to be honest. John the Baptist chose to be brave by telling the truth about his identity. Like John the Baptist, let us be honest to ourselves and to our neighbors. If we tell lies, we are fooling ourselves and our neighbor. But, there is one person who we cannot fool - God. God knows who we are, even things that we don't know about ourselves.
Second Sunday of Advent (B)
Is 40:1-5, 9-11/Ps 85/2 Pt 3:8-14/Mk 1:1-8
Today's Sunday Gospel comes from the beginning of the Gospel according to St. Mark. St. Mark the Evangelist begins his narrative on the life of Christ by writing about the forerunner of Christ. The forerunner of the Lord is none other than his cousin, St. John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist is a very important figure in the life of Jesus. John the Baptist prepares the people to meet the Messiah, who is Jesus Himself. In the closing lines of the Gospel, John the Baptist even confesses that Jesus is greater than him.
As the forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ, St. John the Baptist calls everyone to confess their sins and turn back to God. This is in preparation to meet Jesus, the long-awaited promised Messiah. John the Baptist is responsible for preparing the people for the coming of Jesus. The role of John the Baptist is like the role of the best man in a wedding. Jesus is the groom while John the Baptist is the best man.
Turning back to God is a very good way to prepare ourselves for Christmas. As part of our Advent preparation, let us turn back to God by turning away from our sins. Repentance is a very good way in preparation for the celebration of Christmas. John the Baptist says in today's Gospel passage, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His path." In preparation for Christmas and for the coming of the Lord in our lives, let us prepare ourselves by turning back to the Lord. He is waiting for us.
John the Baptist's message comes from God, he is just the messenger. God is calling us, the sinners, to turn back to Him. The Lord wants us to return to Him, to turn away from sin and come back to Him. One thing God would never do is to reject a sinner who repents of their sin and come back to Him. God is very merciful and compassionate. Our God is merciful, compassionate, and loving. He did not send the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to condemn us of our sins, but to save us (John 3:16).
Let us heed the call of the Lord to repentance. He is waiting for us to repent. God does not want us to perish because of our sins. Although God has a punishment for those hearts who refuse to repent, it is not in His will that mankind to suffer. He wants to save mankind from sin and be with Him. God is waiting for us to return to Him. Let us return to God with all our heart by repenting of our sins and turning back to Him in preparation for Christmas and for the coming of the Lord.
