Sunday Gospel Reflections for January 2003

from Fr. Erick Santos

>EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - Year B
>January 5, 2003
>Is 60 : 1 - 6 /  Eph 3:2-3a.5-6 /  Mt 2:1-12
>
>    HE COMPLETES US
>
>The classic story of the Three Magi searching for the King who was born in
a manger and being guided by a star always amazed me as a child.   As a
grown up man,  it still never fails me to recount how beautiful the scene
was.  In fact,   whenever I visit my sister in Germany,  I make a
pilgrimage to the magnificent Cathedral in Cologne where the Three Kings
are venerated in a special shrine. 
>
>But more than the story told and retold, more than the many art pieces
depicting the Epiphany,   one can see deeply the hearts of these three men
longing to see the King of Kings.  They traveled from the far east risking
their lives through the dark and cruel deserts just to look for the
new-born King.   Their hearts were eager to see Him and to pay Him homage .
. . to worship Him in spite of whatever danger they may face.  
>
>A beautiful religious hymn says, "Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus
. . ."  Such is the longing of our hearts.  Like the Three Magi, we want to
see Him too . . . to touch Him and be touched by Him . . . to pay homage
and to worship.   (Once a prayer leader in a charismatic gathering in near
tears said, "Manalangin po tayo, IPIKIT natin ang ating mga mata at awitin
ang "OPEN our eyes Lord . . .)
>
>Maraming mga naging hadlang sa paglalakbay ng Tatlong Mago.   Hinanap nila
ang kasisilang na Hari na di kilala sa kanilang pinanggalingan.  Marahil ay
hindi nga nila lubos na nauunawaan kung bakit sila naghahanap at kung sino
ang kanilang hinahanap. Malayo ang kanilang ginawang paglalakbay.
Nakapapagod. Mabangis ang disyerto.  Mainit sa araw . . . maginaw sa gabi.
Maraming mga panganib na nakaabang.  Mapanlinlang si Herodes.  Mahirap
pagkatiwalaan.  But they decided to go on searching.  I their hearts, they
knew, He was worth all the efforts, troubles and dangers.   They knew that
they would surely understand better the moment they see Him.   It was like
looking for a missing part of their lives.   They were searching for that
part . . . so that they may be whole again.
>
>And so, they followed the Star.
>
>(When you see a Star . . . sundan mo ito.  Pag nakarating ka na doon,
magpagasolina ka.  Caltex 'yan!)
>
>Marami ring mga hadlang sa ating paglalakbay patungo kay Hesus.
Mapanganib din ang daan ng buhay.  Mabangis.   Naghahari ang materyalismo
kung kaya't minsan ay nadarama nating di na natin kailangan ang Diyos.
Mahirap mabuhay para kay Kristo.  Madami Siyang kakumpentesiya sa buhay
natin.  Ironically, most of the time, we don't have time.    And yet, no
matter how far we have gone in our life's journey, we still feel incomplete
without Him.  There will always be a missing portion.  Thus, we continue
searching for Him.
>
>When the Magi saw Him, all fears and physical stress were gone.   The mere
sight of Him was enough to sooth the aching muscles and tired bodies.  He
refreshed their souls.   They found answers to their questions.  They fully
understood why they had to take on such a strenuous journey.  
>
>The Church remains to be a shining star which would lead us to Jesus.  The
sacraments nourish our souls.  The Word of God fills our emptiness.  Prayer
gives us strength.   Jesus helps us find the missing parts of our lives . .
. He completes us.  He makes us understand.
>
>         Fr. Erick Y. Santos
>
>
>
>
>BAPTISM OF THE LORD - Year B
>January 12, 2003
>Is 42:1-4, 6-7 /  Acts 10: 34 - 38 / Mk 1: 7-11
>
>    ANAK NA KINALULUGDAN
>
>Noong nakaraang Linggo ay ipinagdiwang natin ang Dakilang Kapistahan ng
Pagpapakita ng Panginoon.  His epiphany.  His manifestation.  Sa araw
namang ito ay ating ginugunita ang pagpapakilala na ama kay Hesus sa
Kanyang pagbibinyag. Ayon sa tinig na nagmula sa langit, "Ikaw ang
pinakamamahal kong Anak . . . lubos kitang kinalulugdan."
>
>John speaks of somebody who is more powerful than him . . . "Binibinyagan
ko kayo sa tubig, ngunit bibinyagan niya kayo sa Espiritu Santo."  
>Ironically, he who was more than John submitted to his baptism.   He who
was more powerful humbly asked  that he be baptized.  Sa Kanyang
kapakumbabaan ay nakilala ng lahat na Siya nga ang Anak ng Ama.
>
>Today, we are being called to reflect on our own baptism . . . a grace
given to us by Christ and made us partakers in His sonship.  How important
is our baptism to you?  How conscious and aware are we of this grace that
has been bestowed on us?  Alam mo ba kung saan ka bininyagan?  Kailan?
Sino ang nagbinyag sa iyo?  They may be immaterial and yet, one would truly
remember these things if he holds his baptism close to his heart and regard
it as something so important just like one's beirthday and wedding day.
Nakakatuwang isipin na naaalala lamang ng mga tao ang tungkol sa kanilang
binyag at pagiging binyagan kapag kailangan na ng baptismal certificate sa
para sa akung anumang requirement ditto sa masalimuot na buhay.  Ang
nakakatuwa pa niyan, ni hindi maalala ni Nanay kung saan bininyagan ang
kanyang anak.   Kaya kadalasan ay nakikipagtalo pa sila sa clerk ng opisina
ng parokya dahil ipinagpipilitang doon nga bininyagan.
>
>Minsan ay may bininyagan ako.  Ang tanong ko, Nasaan po ang Nanay?" "Ay,
wala po Father.  Busy. Nagluluto ng handa."  Tanong ko uli, "Nasaan ang
Tatay?"  Nasa bahay po,  lasing na at kaninang umaga pa nakikipag-inuman."
Huling tanong, "Paano nakarating dito sa simbahan ang bata?"  "Ah . . .
ipinagbilin po sa driver ng tricycle,  pakihanap na lang daw dito ang mga
ninong at ninang."
>
>We fail to value the importance of our baptism . . .kasi akala natin,
binyagan ay handaan.  But it is more than just the usual handaan.  It is
the beginning of a meaningful sharing in the life of Jesus.    Kung hindi
natin naalala ang kahit na pinakamaliit na detalye ng ating pagkakabinyag
ay baka lalo naitng malimutan ang tunay na halaga at kahulugan nito sa
ating buhay.
>
>Jesus went through baptism in all humility in order to show us the way.
Our own baptism should also humble us as we continue to realize how
unworthy we are of this august sacrament and the grace that it entails.
Yet, in our unworthiness, the more that we try hard to live good Christian
lives.   We go beyond the tag of being Christians by making Christianity a
way of life and Jesus, an important partner and source of strength and
inspiration in our daily struggle for perfection.
>
>May we struggle hard enough so that we too may hear the Father telling of
us, "Ikaw ang pinakamamahal kong anak . . . lubha din kitang kinalulugdan." 
>
>
>       Fr. Erick Y. Santos
> 
>
>
>
>FEAST OF THE SANTO NIÑO - Year B
>January 19, 2003
>Is 9:1-6 / Eph 1:3-6.15-18 / Mt 18:1-5.10
>
>     BABY
>
>In January 1995, the Pope celebrated mass at the Luneta for the
culmination of the World Youth Day.  It was the Feast of the Santo Niño.
It was a shining moment for the Filipino people who drew the biggest crowd
ever to assemble before a papal mass.   The Holy Father saw the Filipino
soul.  He felt the Filipino spirit.  He witnessed the faith.   It was a
religiosity which has always been entwined with the devotion to the Child
Jesus.  It was a feast unique to the Philippines.  
>
>January will always be Santo Niño month.   So many children being brought
for baptism in January would always be named Niño or Niña.  (Never mind if
the name literally means little boy/girl.  Imagine when Niño becomes a
grandfather . . . he would be called "Lolo Niño."  So Filipino.  Nowhere in
the world would a girl be nicknamed Baby.  Indeed, I have a Lola Baby!  And
yes, the nickname Boy . . . even if he has grown to be a full-blown man, he
would still be Boy, but never Man.)
>
>I was in Prague in 2001 and celebrated a mass at the world renowned Shrine
of the Holy Infant at the Church of Our Lady Victorious.   The people
fondly called the Holy Infant "Bambino."  I had a problem.  All vestments
at the sacristy were too large for me.  When I went to the altar with my
oversized priestly garb, I heard some pilgrims saying . . ."Ah, el padre .
. . Bambino!"
>
>Non-catholics frown at this particular devotion.   Devotees would fancy at
how they would groom their Santo Niño images.   Those owned by rich
Catholics pamper their Niños with the finest jewelry and richly-brocaded
vestments.   The critics opine that Jesus himself has grown into a macho
man and thus, we have been saved through the cross. They find it difficult
why He has to remain a little child in our devotion.  Bakit daw bine-baby
natin si Hesus?
>
>And that would mean a lot.  
>
>Bine-baby natin si Hesus kasi mahal na mahal natin Siya.   Bine-baby natin
Siya kasi masarap makipag-usap (at magdasal) sa isang bata at Siya na rin
ang nagsabi sa ating dapat tayong manatiling katulad ng mga bata upang
mapabilang sa mga pinaghaharian ng Diyos.  Bine-baby natin Siya kasi ito
ang pinakapayak na pamamaraan natin ng pagpapahalaga sa Kanya.  Pero habang
bine-baby natin Siya, kailangan din nating lumago, lumaki at umunlad sa
pananampalataya.  It is about growing up but basically retaining the
essential child in us.   And Jesus loves us for being child-like.  
>
>While Jesus himself grew up to be a man, he remained a little child to the
Father:  obedient to His will and  devoted to His mission.  
>
>We are also being urged to remain like little children.  Gusto rin ni
Hesus na manatli tayong baby:  may banalo na pagkatakot sa Diyos,
masunurin sa Kanyang kalooban, mababang-loob, marunong maglambing at
magmahal,  kinikilala ang sariling kahinaan at walang sawang humihingi ng
lakas sa Kanya,  marunong tumawa at ibinabahagi ang kagalakan sa kapwa,
marunong umiyak at lumalapit sa Kanya sa oras ng kahinaan.   Sa ganyang
kaparaanan, nananatili tayong parang baby subalit mulat at lumalago sa
biyaya at pananampalataya.
>
>Isang maligayang kapistahan ng Santo Niño!  Baby natin siya . . . at
mananatili rin kayong baby ni Kristo.   
>
>       Fr. Erick Y. Santos
>
>
> 
>THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Year B
>January 26, 2003
>Jon 3:1-5, 10 / 1 Cor 7:29-31 / Mk 1:14-20
>
>    LEAVE LIFE . . . LIVE HIS LIFE
>
>The gospel for today constitutes the Third Mystery in the Mysteries of
Light:  the proclamation of the Kingdom and the call to conversion.   Jesus
echoed the same words of John when the herald spoke of His coming.  To
others, it may sound as a warning to an imminent danger.   But in reality,
it is an invitation to a meaningful and fruitful life.
>
>In the first reading, Jonah was made instrumental in bringing a warning to
the people of Nineveh.   He speaks of God's plan to destroy the city in
forty days.   What could have been a gruesome warning became a clarion call
to the people.   They responded with eagerness.  They repented and gave in
the  invitation to live more meaningful lives.  Jonah's call made a
difference.
>
>In the gospel, it is somebody more than Jonah reiterating the same
invitation.  It is Jesus.   
>
>It was rather easy for Andrew and Simon to leave their nets behind in
favor of Jesus' invitation.  The net meant so much to them;  it is their
livelihood, it is their LIFE.   He called on James and John to follow him.
They readily left their boats and their father, Zebedee in favor of Jesus'
invitation.   It could not have been easy to leave one's father behind.
He gave them life.  He was their LIFE.
>
>And yet, Jesus offers much more than what they have.  Sapagkat "lahat
naman ng mga bagay na ito'y mapaparam" ayon sa ikalawang pagbasa.   It is
clear that in spite of what they had, they still found Jesus' promise to be
more worth living.  It was a response not unlike that of the people of
Nineveh who readily gave up their own lives to embrace a more enlightened one.
>
>The four apostles saw something behind and beyond the very simple
invitation of Jesus.  "Sumama kayo sa akin at gagawin ko kayong
mamamalakaya ng tao."  It was an invitation to seek the greater things in
life: to share in His mission, to enjoy the blessings that this world
cannot give,  to capture the joy that only Jesus can share.
>
>It was easy for the people of Nineveh and for the Andrew, Simon, James and
John to go for a dramatic change in their lives.   Because they knew that
God alone can suffice and they had to readily let go of whatever was left
in their lives.   Sa gitna ng buhay na kanilang nakamulatan ay nagparaya
sila para higit na makabuluhang buhay na inilalaan ng Diyos.
>
>Ikaw kapatid, kumusta ang buhay mo?   You maybe enjoying your life right
now.  But up to what extent?  Up to when?   After each and every partying,
we still find ourselves drowned with problems and other earthly cares.   We
 may have the essential things needed for a good, comfortable life.  But
why do we remain unhappy?   Why do we always find ourselves still wanting
on something?   Kasi, ibang batayan natin ng mainam na buhay.   At
kadalasan, ang mga batayang ito ay naglalaho rin ng mabilis kasabay ang
ating kawalan ng ganang mabuhay.
>
>Jesus is inviting us through this sacrament to follow Him and share in His
joy.   That is if you are ready to let go of your own lives and other
sources of the good life and allow Him to live in you.   Leave life . . .
live His life!
>