EPIPHANY, A

-
-->
CHRISTMAS IS COMPLETE



As children we grew up near the church and most of the time we were in the church to help clean and arrange things. At Christmas time we were fascinated by the Nativity scene as slowly it becomes complete – first, there were just Joseph and Mary and some farm animals, then the centerpiece Baby Jesus comes. My cousin used to say though, that the Nativity scene would not be truly complete until the “three Kings” or Magi arrived. True enough, when we saw the Magi already in front of the King of Kings, we knew that Christmas was indeed complete.



The Magi complete the Christmas story because it is through them that we know what happens after the birth of the Savior of the world. God has indeed revealed himself fully to his chosen people. These were a people who met God through the angels and prophets, through miracles and wonders, and most importantly, through his Word, the Scriptures. And yet, not all the Jews would open their hearts to receive their king and to acknowledge him when he came.



In contrast, the Magi were a people from a faraway land, and certainly not part of the chosen people. They were Gentiles, without benefit of direct revelation from God. That they saw a “star” tells us that they read the signs of nature to find the will of God. Instead of Scripture, they relied on signs. And yet, they came, braving all difficulties, to find the King proclaimed by their heavenly sign. They not only came but adored God in the baby in the manger.



Christmas is truly a gospel story in itself. What would happen to Jesus later in life already happened to him at his humble beginnings. In his adult life, as a preacher, Jesus would be met with two possible reactions: acceptance and rejection. In the Christmas story, the reactions were already happening.



The paradox is that those who were waiting for the Messiah missed the opportunity because they failed to receive the Lord. And those who had no inkling of salvation finally possessed the joy of encountering the Lord, as the Magi did.



Now that we are ending Christmas again, let us remember that all throughout our lives, we are in between two choices, to receive or to reject the God who comes to us. Let us pray for openness and fidelity that we may be found faithful to the Lord.


Popular posts from this blog

HOLY MASS IN FILIPINO (TAGALOG)

-
Image
ANG BANAL NA MISA PAMBUNGAD NA AWIT Pari:    Sa ngalan ng Ama, at ng anak, at ng Espiritu Santo. Bayan: Amen P.         Sumainyo ang Panginoon. B.        At sumainyo rin. P.         Mga kapatid, aminin nating ang ating mga kasalanan upang tayo’y maging marapat sa pagdiriwang ng banal na paghahaing ito.             Sinugong Tagapagpagaling sa mga nagsisisi,             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.        Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.        Dumating na Tagapag-anyayang mga makasalana’y magsisi,             Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Nakaluklok ka sa kanan ng Diyos Ama para ipamagitan kami             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Kaawaan tayo ng makapangyarihang Diyos,             Patawarin tayo sa ating mga kasalanan,             At patnubayan tayo sa buhay na walang hanggan. B.        Amen. GLORIA/ LUWALHATI
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 1: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
FIRST DAY: DECEMBER 16   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8   Thus says the Lord: Observe what is right, do what is just, for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.   Hay is the one who does this, whoever holds fast to it: Keeping the sabbath without profaning it, keeping one’s hand from doing any evil. The foreigner joined to the Lord should not say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people”; Nor should the eunuch say, “See, I am a dry tree.” And foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, to become his servants—All who keep the sabbath without profaning it and hold fast to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 2: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
SECOND DAY: December 17   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo   First Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10   Jacob called his sons and said [to them]: “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. “You, Judah, shall your brothers praise—your hand on the neck of your enemies;the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion’s cub, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches, lies down like a lion, Like a lioness—who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his feet, until tribute comes to him, and he receives the people’s obedience.”     A.             Short Background on the First Reading   1. Who was Judah? Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (or Israel). Jacob was considered the father of the nation of Israel and his twelve sons were cons
Read more