November 27, 2011

Waiting

So that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 1: 7


Gina and I got married in 1997. We still had no baby in 1998. The following year came and went. In 2000 she finally tested positive. We were going to have a baby! Arrangements and provisions were made: bedding, clothes, room and paraphernalia. We researched about pregnancy and babies. We made sure that Gina and our coming child were healthy.

But these preparations were nothing compared to our anticipation of holding her, seeing her face, watching her sleep, kissing her, hearing her laugh and cry and play and do all sorts of baby stuff. We couldn’t wait for her to be born!

Advent is a time of waiting, too. We celebrate God’s redeeming love but we also look forward to God’s blessings for the coming year. What will God reveal to you this Christmas? Can you picture how the Lord will manifest His love for you next year, how He will bless you?

Think of the best things that God will do for you. You will be surprised that He will exceed your expectations. You will surely not wait in vain.Jun Asis (mabuting.balita@gmail.com)


REFLECTION:
Advent is waiting with joy in our hearts, anticipating the wonders the Lord has in store for us.


Lord, I can barely contain my excitement for Your coming. You bring good tidings and true happiness to my life. Come, Lord Jesus!

COMPANION

1st READING

The Prophet Isaiah is aware of the people’s infidelities and unfaithfulness to God, yet he hopes in the goodness and mercy of God to deliver and save them. We see from this text that even repentance and conversion are God’s gifts to us. We are helpless and totally lost without God’s help. We should never lose hope in God for He is our Father who tenderly watches over us, His children, lest we stray too far.


Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7
16 You, LORD, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever. 17 Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. 19 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you, 64: 2 while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for, 3 such as they had not heard of from of old.No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him. 4 Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways! Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful; 5 all of us have become like unclean men, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; we have all withered like leaves, and our guilt carries us away like the wind. 6 There is none who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to cling to you; for you have hidden your face from us and have delivered us up to our guilt. 7 Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter we are all the work of your hands.

P S A L M

Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
R: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
2 O shepherd of Israel, hearken, from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. 3 Rouse your power, and come to save us. (R) 15 Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see;  take care of this vine, 16 and protect what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong. (R) 18 May your help be with the man of your right hand, with the son of man whom you yourself made strong. 19 Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name. (R)

2nd READING

Paul’s prayers indicates to us that the power for Christian living resides in Jesus Christ. I once read a book by Colin Urquhart called In Christ Jesus.Here I was presented with the challenge, of which St. Paul would be in total agreement, to make the choice to live in and with Christ and not in my own power and according to my own wisdom. It sounds easy and logical, but to practice this every day requires an enormous level of commitment.




1 Corinthians 1:3-9
3 Brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, 6 as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

G O S P E L

Advent is a time for us to reassess our lives of discipleship and to make necessary changes. The priests wear purple vestments to symbolize that this is a season of conversion. Am I alert and attentive to the action and voice of the Holy Spirit in my life? Am I growing in love of God and my neighbor? Am I becoming more sensitive or less sensitive to sin in my life? These questions can help us take stock and see how we are advancing in our spiritual walk. Let us use this season of Advent to renew our spiritual vigor and love for God.


ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.
R: Alleluia, alleluia


Mark 13:33-37
33 Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. 36 May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’ ”


my reflections
t h i n k : Let us use this season of Advent to take stock and see how we are advancing in our spiritual walk.


God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________


T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________


_______________________________________________________


READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Romans 1-4
 SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

SABBATH

THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS

A beautiful song, “The Potter’s Hand,” describes God as the potter who molds us into His own awesome work of art. It is the first Sunday of Advent. As we begin a new liturgical year, we renew ourselves with the truth that we are God’s children, the work of His hands. Today’s first reading reminds us again that we are the clay and God is the potter.

Pottery is a wonderful craft —extremely time consuming, constantly dirty, always awkward, yet very rewarding. Imagine what the potter beholds after he completes his hard work. The potter’s hands are constantly dirty. God, similar to the potter, comes to us in our mess. We remember at this time Christ who was born for us into the messiness of humanity’s sin.

Pottery is time consuming. Many times the potter has to remold and reshape the work until it becomes perfect. In the heat of the kiln, time flies as the clay dries up and is fashioned according to the mind of the creator.

Clay is very awkward. It takes a lot of patience to shape and mold the wet clay that too often slips in the potter’s hands. If the potter’s hands are not strong and steady, the clay goes whichever way it wills. Thus, the image of the clay and potter is an apt image as we begin this Advent season.

Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare our hearts like clay before the Potter, Creator God. Our hearts have wandered away from the Lord, hardened and obstinate, unwilling to submit to God’s love and care. The prophet tells us we have become like polluted rags, withered leaves. It is time to call upon the Redeemer, the all-powerful Potter to reshape and fashion us according to His likeness and image.

Let us rejoice again in our Creator God, the Potter, whose hands are steady and strong, ready to uphold us again in His mighty power and merciful love. We are messy sinners, wet clay, needing the Redeemer to bring us back into His loving presence. We need the warmth of His love, like the kiln, to purify us and bring the work of His hands to completion.Fr. Brian Steele, MGL


Reflection Question:
You are like wet, supple clay, ready for the Lord to work on this season of Advent.


Melt me, mold me, use me, walk beside me. I give myself to the Potter’s hands.


Blessed Michael Takeshita, pray for us.

November 6, 2011 (Sunday)

DIDACHE

A CHANNEL OF GOD’S HELP

 

She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men’s desire. – Wisdom 6:13 

As I write this, I am amazed at how God has continued to use me in unexpected ways — mostly to meet other people’s needs.

At a time when there was not even a hint of publishing non-book products, the idea of an inspirational perpetual calendar popped into my head. A few months later, the idea was put to good use when our company president asked us to think of other products to sell. With Bo’s approval, the idea turned into reality.

Another time, I got a call from one of our counselors. A counselee wanted to apply as a writer in our publication. We weren’t hiring, so I just told her to let the person send in her resume. A few weeks later, I overheard our events organizer and her boss discussing about a need to hire a marketing person. Suddenly, I remembered the person, whose  redentials met their needs. Last I heard she’s about to start working for our events group.

There have been numerous instances of this kind in my life. Call it serendipity, but I believe the Holy Spirit knows what God’s people need even before we’re aware of it, and uses other people to channel His help. Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com)

REFLECTION:
How open and sensitive am I to the leadings of the Holy Spirit?
 
Lord, make me more sensitive to Your promptings in my life. I offer myself to be used as a channel of Your help for other people.
   

COMPANION

1st READING 

Here, wisdom is personified as a wise counselor who seeks to help and guide us. Wisdom, if we value her, will watch over our plans and help us make them successful . She will prevent us from rushing impetuously into plans and schemes that are ill considered and imprudent.
 
Wisdom 6:12-16
12 Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. 13 She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men’s desire; 14 he who watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate. 15 For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and he who for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care; 16 because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude.
 
P S A L M 

Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

1 [2] O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R) 2 [3] Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, 3 [4] for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R) 4 [5] Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. 5 [6] As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R) 6 [7] I will remember you upon my couch, and through the night watches I will meditate on you: 7 [8] you are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. (R)
 
2nd READING 
Some Christians at Thessalonica had the mistaken idea that the Lord had already come and they were afraid that they had been left behind. St. Paul makes it clear that the Lord will come in power with His angels and those who are alive when He returns will be caught up in the air and not taste death. The dead will hear His voice and rise to eternal life. This is one of the great consolations that we have as Christians — that we shall share eternal life with God in our resurrected and perfected bodies.
 
1Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, console one another with these words.
 
G O S P E L

Oil is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Bible and in the sacraments of the Church. The parable of the Virgins teaches us the need to continue to let the Holy Spirit animate our lives. We need to stay alert and vigilant, or we may miss the moment of His coming and be found unprepared. By our daily prayer and spiritual exercises, the light of faith and love can continue to burn in our hearts.
 
ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
R: Alleluia, alleluia 

Matthew 25:1-13
1 Jesus told his disciples this parable: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, 4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. 11 Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 12 But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
 
my reflections

t h i n k : By our daily prayer and spiritual exercises, the light of faith and love can continue to burn in our hearts.
 

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
 
_______________________________________________________
 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Matthew 13-16

SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
 

SABBATH

ARE YOU READY? 

The wedding ceremony in the Jewish culture is a very elaborate celebration and often drawn out. Normally, the celebration would occur in the house of the bride’s father. The virgins, unmarried young women, would keep watch for the bridegroom’s arrival. At a moment’s notice, they should be ready to inform the bride of his arrival. The torches were long poles with oil-drenched rags on top. Charred ends of the rags were cut and trimmed. One needed to have plenty of oil to keep it burning, usually replenished every 15 minutes.

The whole point of the story is that we must keep watch and stay awake because we do not know when the Lord will come again. The bridegroom is late in his arrival and so naturally, the virgins fell asleep. They all became drowsy. When the call of the bridegroom’s arrival came, there was much panic. Trimming their lamps, the foolish ones realized they had no more oil left. They sought favor from the others but the wise virgins were in a predicament because it would mean they too would be lacking. When they hurried off to the merchants in the middle of the night, they returned with the door closed on them. The trouble was that they were not ready.

We must always be vigilant and keep the oil in our lamp burning. Every one of us has a responsibility to keep our torches (faith) lit with the oil (charity). By our good deeds, we will meet the Lord as soon as He arrives and takes us to Himself. The oil is the charity, the love expressed in faith through our actions. It would be a terrible thing to find at the Lord’s coming the door closed on us. Once locked, it cannot be opened. The great shame is that these women were there all along, waiting. It was because of their unprepared resources that they missed out. If only they had the resources, the joy would have been theirs to celebrate. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL
 
Reflection Question:
How are you keeping the oil burning?
 
Lord, I pray for the grace to be vigilant, watchful and waiting for the hour of Your coming. Amen.
 
St. Barlaam, pray for us.