3RD SUNDAY IN ADVENT A

-


THE PROPHET AND THE BULLY





The world today is run by loudmouths.



They raise their voice high so that people will think they are strong.



They use vulgar and offensive language so that people will consider them fearless.



They use their platform, whether their government office or their media office to humiliate people.



They want people to think that they are powerful, that they are the idols the world needs to have.



Such is the strategy of



…the elected official who thinks he is more powerful than God



…of the radio announcer who thinks he is battling evil except the evil in himself



…of the cult leader who thinks he can command the earthquake to stop (but cannot stop the longest running soap opera in the country).



No other word is apt for these people but “bully.”



Bullies reign for awhile, and then fade in dishonor and shame.



For there will always be a genuine person who will make the bully fall to his knees one day.



The prophet is different; he is clearly not a bully.



The prophet raises his voice not to project his strength but to extol the greatness of God.



The prophet speaks in conscientious terms but only to bring people back to their senses.



The prophet uses his power not to put down but to help people find the light again.



John the Baptist is the greatest prophet, says the Lord Jesus in the gospel today.



He is faithful to his mission… he lives in simplicity and freedom… he speaks the message of the Lord.



This Advent, the Lord is asking us, who we listen to.



Do we like to listen to the bully because he sounds great to our ears although his message is empty?



Do we listen to the prophet who tells us how to prepare our hearts to be the dwelling place of God?



It is such a shame that in a Christian country like ours, people prefer the words of bullies over the words of prophets.



However, it is also good to ask, are there still prophets in the community of faith?



Are people listening to the bullies because the prophets are nowhere to be found?



While we look for prophets who will lead us to the Lord, consider this:



Maybe you are the prophet who will lead others to



… the truth



… the right way



… the light



… the faith



they need to discover.



Christmas is almost here. Let us pray to the Lord Jesus to help us discover the prophets in our midst, but in a special way, the prophet hiding in our hearts.


(pls share to a friend...)


-->

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