Weekly Reflections

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. This Feast, usually celebrated on January 6th commemorates the manifestation of the glory of Christ that was shown upon the Gentiles in the person of the Magi, the Three Kings. Today, we could say that we celebrate the manifestation of the Lord – the light of the world to whole world.

The first reading from Isaiah speaks of our light that has come and “the glory of Lord that shines upon us.” This light shining through the darkness and the clouds is a wonderful image describing what the Epiphany of the Lord is about and what it proclaims.

Today’s psalm focuses on the nations coming to adore the Lord. “Lord every nation on earth will adore you” and than speaks of kings from foreign lands bringing gifts to the Lord.

Today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew teaches us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. When King Herod heard that a King was to be born among the Jewish people, he panicked and called together all the chief priests and scribes. He was afraid to lose his throne. After consulting the chief priests and scribes, King Herod learned that it has been prophesied that the King would be born in Bethlehem, the land of Judea. He told the wise men to continue their journey and when they find the Child Jesus, to report back to him so he too can go and pay homage to the King of the Jewish people. As we know, Herod had no intention whatsoever of paying homage to the Child Jesus.

And so the magi continued on their journey. The next thing we heard during the reading from the Holy Bible is that the star led them, not only to the town, but also to the house where Jesus dwelled. When the guiding star stopped over the house, the magi were overwhelmed with joy. They entered to the house and found the Child Jesus with Mary His mother. They knelt before Jesus and presented Him with gifts of “gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

They brought gifts which have a symbolic meaning. Gold was a gift that was fit for a King. Frankincense was a gift fit for a priest. Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. While the magi perceived that Jesus was their King and a priest, they also perceived that He would die for the salvation of mankind.

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, the central message of the Epiphany is that Jesus is revealed to us as the light to the nations and Savior for all people. Today we are invited to recognize God’s light, God’s presence in our lives. We are called to go out and share with others the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in today’s world through our daily lives, in loving others, in forgiving them and in our faith and compassion.

May Jesus’ light enlighten our footsteps every day in our life.

My dear brothers and sisters,

Today we celebrate New Years Day and the Solemnity of the Humble Shepherds. Today we remember in the Holy liturgy the first guests who visited Baby Jesus in the manger.

In today’s Gospel Luke describes the simple scene in the manger at Bethlehem. We see a man, a woman who has just given birth, and baby Jesus lying in the manger. This little child is the Son of God and that young woman is the Mother of God. God came to this world as a child to bring salvation to all people on earth. This is the great mystery of the Incarnation which we celebrate every Christmas and throughout the Christmas season which lasts through the new year.

The first visitors in the manger were the shepherds, who took care for their flock around Bethlehem. We are not sure whether those shepherds really understood the message given by the angels that a Savior is born. But they obeyed the voice and went in search of the child born to bring peace to the world. They find the family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph and they worshiped Jesus as a God. After that they went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

They also told everyone around of what they had seen: the shepherds were the very first heralds of the Good News, the Gospel message. They were the first missionaries who proclaim the word of God. The shepherds may not have understood a great deal of this mystery but they accepted this in their simplicity and faith.

My dear brothers and sisters, we need the simple and trusting faith of the shepherds.

Luke tells us that all who heard what the shepherds had to say were amazed because nothing about the message made sense. They were providing something unheard of. But they gave a message of something new and wonderful making people wonder about their words. The extraordinary has occurred in and through the ordinary.

Luke tells us that Mary ponders, considers and gives careful thought to the message of the shepherds.

The Nativity scene attracts humble shepherds, a reminder that the rich and mighty hold no special favor in God’s eyes when it comes to the spiritual realm. Likewise we can’t forget the humble and needy among us. The Christmas season reminds us that Our Lord lives in the humblest of places even today: in the poor, in the forgotten, in the abandoned.
A complete Christian life includes besides our beliefs, the works of charity.

Today, we are starting a new day and a new year with Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and Humble Shepherds. We greet each other with the same blessing as in the first reading of today: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you his peace.”

May the peace of the Lord remain within us, our families and communities and bring us the joy and happiness in the year to come. The divine name appears in the Blessing, giving life and warmth. May the graciousness of God remain with each one of us throughout the New Year.

You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

My dear brothers and sisters what does it mean to love our neighbor as ourself? The readings for today’s Sunday tells us how to love everyone who comes into our life, not only friends and family, but also our enemies.

Love is very important not only in our relationship between people on earth, but in future, because love is reaching heaven. Jesus Christ many times tells us in the Scripture that the Kingdom of heaven is about loving God and our neighbor.

The first reading from the Book of Exodus tells us about how we should treat strangers and foreigners.

“You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry.”

We have to be compassionate, loving, forgiving and help all those in need like God is compassionate, loving and forgiving.

During today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees what was the greatest Commandment.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” The second greatest Commandment is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The second Commandment means that if we truly love God with all our heart, soul and mind, this love should shine towards others, our neighbors. Our neighbors include everyone, our families, our friends and even strangers. The love we have for our family should be equal to the love we have for everyone else because we are all one large Christian family through Jesus in the Body of Christ, the Holy Catholic Church.

My dear brothers and sisters we have to remember that, if we discriminate towards one person within the Body of Christ, then we do not have the love of God in us. If we break the second commandment by not loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, then we do not love God. We may say that we love God, but in reality, we do not love God.

Jesus said, what you do to others, you do to Him. If you give someone a drink of water, you are giving a drink of water to Jesus. If you dress the naked, you are giving clothing to Jesus. If you feed the hungry, you are feeding Jesus.

My brothers and sisters, I ask that you reflect on these words this week and pray to the Holy Spirit that He may come to you to sanctify you in Christ by the grace of the Heavenly Father. May the grace of God work abundantly in each and everyone of you so that the commandment of love will be lived.

Give to God the things that are God’s.

My dear brothers and sisters,

We receive lot of gifts and blessings from God in our daily life. Many times we do not recognize that the gifts came from God and we do not see that something happened in our life because of God. We have to remember that everything that happened in our life after our Baptism is from God. Through our Baptism, God gave us all a new creation and He opened the doors to Heaven. He gave us our salvation through Christ.

Christ died for us. He gave us the Holy Catholic Church to continue the apostolic work of Jesus. He gave us the Sacrament of Baptism so we may be born again through faith in Christ, water and the Spirit. He gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation so we may change our life. He gave us the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist so we may enjoy the Living Bread that leads us to the Kingdom of God. And the list continues… How numerous are His Divine blessings for each and every one of us!

From the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, we learn more about the greatness of God. Saint Paul gives thanks to God in prayer for all the blessings that the Thessalonians had received from God. Paul emphasized that it was not just his words that transformed the Thessalonians, but the “power” of the Holy Spirit. “For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.” The Holy Spirit was responsible for all the spiritual manifestations of righteousness.

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus was asked, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus asked for a coin and said, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” They answered, “Caesar’s”. So Jesus told them: Then repay Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. Give to God the things that are God’s.

Today’s message my brothers and sisters is, let us appreciate what God has given us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, let us preserve our gifts and blessings with all our souls, our minds, our spirits, our hearts and our strength. In the Most Holy Name of Jesus, let us keep these gifts stainless so one day, when we will appear before God, we will proudly give Him back what He gave us. Then, we will rightfully inherit the assurance of our salvation.

Welcome my brothers and sisters in Christ to today’s celebration of the Holy Mass. Every Sunday we joyfully come to our church to the House of the Lord. Our gathering confirms that the grace of God is working in each and every one of us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s readings from the Book of Isaiah, the Letter of Paul to the Philippians and the Gospel of Matthew speak of an invitation to the Great Feast of the Lord Jesus. Summarizing these readings, the first speaks of the Great Feast that is to come. The Second Reading echoes how God provides for our needs. The Third Reading tells us that God calls everyone but few answer His calling.

The reading from the Book of Isaiah is a prophecy regarding the promised salvation that was to come, it having been fulfilled through the Blood of Jesus Christ. The gift of eternal life has been fulfilled through the Blood of Christ when Jesus gave up His life on the Holy Cross for the sins of the world. Since then, commemorating the Last Supper, Christians participate in the Holy Mass, the great banquet, to receive Christ and His salvation through the Church Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

The Second Reading shines in Divine Providence, showing how the Lord God provides for His children. God gives them all that they need in this life to perceive the Kingdom and to live in the Kingdom.

Reviewing the reading from the Gospel of Matthew, we perceive that there is a spiritual meaning involved. We are no longer at a Great Feast but at a Royal Wedding Feast. It is a Wedding Banquet that the Father gives for His Son. The Son is Jesus. The Bride is the invisible Kingdom of God on earth, the Mystical Body of Christ that is made visible through the Holy Catholic Church. The Holy Catholic Church had its beginning in Jerusalem on Pentecost Day when the Apostles received the Holy Spirit.

From the Old Testament, we learn that the first guests who were invited to the Wedding Banquet were the Jewish people and their leaders, they being God’s chosen people. Having rejected God’s invitation, the Lord sent out His invitation to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people. The invitations were sent out to all people, all races, the good and the bad. Today, the invited Gentiles are all those who have received the Sacrament of Baptism. Having been born again through faith in Christ by water and Spirit, they qualify as children of God if they persevere in their living faith until the end.

In a few moments, we shall continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass. The Holy Mass is the Great invisible Wedding Feast that is opened to all those who have been baptized and who live their faith in Christ. During The Holy Mass we receive the Living Bread, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ; we participate in the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal salvation. Let us continue to praise and worship the Lord for having blessed us with this great Feast through Christ our Lord.

Welcome to today’s celebration of the Holy Mass on the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Why are we gathered here today?

It is because we are spiritually hungry for the Word of God; because we are spiritually hungry for Jesus’ Body and Blood in Holy Communion and His Teaching.

My Dear brothers and sisters

During today’s First Reading from the Book of Ezekiel, we learned that those who turn away from their wickedness by doing what is right, they will be saved. At the same time, those who were previously saved and who have turned away from their righteousness to commit sins, they will die for it. This is a very powerful message.

During today’s Second Reading, we heard that when we are of one mind, having the same love as Christ, there is encouragement in Christ. We find consolation during our tribulations. We share in the Spirit. We have compassion and sympathy for others. Our joy is complete in Christ.

During today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, we heard Jesus tell the story of the man who had two sons. The father asked one of his sons to go and work in the vineyard. His son said that he would not go but he changed his mind and he went. The second son said that he would go but he did not go. This holy reading from the Scriptures echoes the first reading. Some turn away from their righteousness to do evil while some turn from their evil ways to do righteousness.

The son who promised to go and work in the vineyard, but he did not go, he broke his promise. He was no different then God’s chosen people of the Old Testament who broke the Old Covenant. He was no different then the people within the Church today who break the new Covenant of God by turnings away from His righteous ways. He was no different then many Christians today who calling themselves Christian, but they have no relationship with God at all.

Jesus asked, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” Naturally, we all know that it is the one who obeyed. My friends we have to be men and women whose word is a good as a contract. Always we have to be righteous people, better Christians and put lot of effort to learn about the Will of God and His true Church. We have to literally take the Word of God.

My brothers and sisters, this week, let us take the time to reflect on all what has been mentioned. Let us ask ourselves, “Am I in complete obedience to the Will of God?”

In the parable of the laborers for the vineyard and also in the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus wants to stress the great Divine Mercy, so that we can take it as the model for our generosity and mercy.

My Dear brothers and sisters,

It is so easy to receive gifts, money, different things, and indeed we receive so much daily, in fact we have been receiving daily all of our life. But when it comes time to give, everyone becomes mean and possessive, and then generosity is given with restraint. This is not what Jesus teaches. He teaches all of us by His actions. He is the Giver of all gifts.

Jesus is teaching in the Gospel “give and you shall be given, be merciful and mercy will be shown to you;” so whatever you do for the least of my brothers will receive a reward. I assure you, you will always be rewarded for your generosity.

Whatever work we do in Jesus` kingdom will be repaid according to His mercy. Jesus forgave the thief on the cross who accepted Him as His savior and who asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered his kingdom. He received the great gift that virtuous men seek so eagerly and at such a cost with a simple act of faith and humility.

My friends, we should rejoice and be glad because of Jesus’ great mercy. He died on the cross to forgive everyone who comes to him with sincerity, asking pardon for their sins and with a desire to amend their lives. Jesus does not discriminate sinners. He died for them. He is the savior of the world. His job is to forgive and to save. He wants everyone to benefit from his mercy. He wants every one to be saved.

My Dear brothers and sisters the only condition for our salvation is humble repentance. Jesus is willing to save even those to whom the world condemns. He is the God of the outcast, the rejected, the poor, and the sinful who are desperately in need of conversion. For this reason Jesus calls everyone to be generous as He is generous, to help others as he helps everyone.

We have to share with others as much as we can, we have to pray for others especially people in need, our friends and enemies and for sinners who live far away from God and his commandments. We have to be good without measure, when we have to do something for someone remember that we are doing it for Jesus. When we see someone in need do not hesitate to help. Now we know that whatever we do for others, we are doing it for Jesus. We have to remember Jesus teaching: “love one another as I have loved you.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today we are entering a new Liturgical Season, one of penance and sacrifices. Together, we have gathered here to celebrate “Ash Wednesday,” the first of forty days of the Lenten Season that precedes Easter.

Today, on Ash Wednesday we start preparation for the joy of Easter that approaches.

Today we call upon the mercy of the Lord Jesus, asking Him for His blessings, forgiveness and best preparation during Lent for Easter.

During Lent, through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are going to prepare ourselves to celebrate the death and glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior.

My dear brothers and sisters

As we heard during today’s First Reading from the Book of Joel, the Lord God calls upon us to return to Him with all our hearts, with fasting, weeping and mourning. To practice sincere repentance, the Lord God tells us to change our hearts. We are called to examine our most inner self, those evil ways that we have to let go, once and for always.

During today’s Second Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, we heard St. Paul appealing to us on behalf of Jesus to be reconciled to God. God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us on the cross. He who was without sin took our place and was treated as a sinner, so we might become righteous in the eyes of God. Now is the time for us to show our appreciation to the Lord God by walking in His righteousness so we may inherit the salvation that we have asked of Him and which He is granting to us through His infinite love and mercy.

How do we walk in righteousness?

Jesus answered that question during today’s Reading from the Gospel of Matthew.

It is not by continuing in our worldly ways. It is by embracing a spiritual mind so we may mature in Christ by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus warns us against hypocrisy, our piety must manifest private time between the Lord God and ourselves. We must walk with Christ in our lives every minute of the day, from the time we rise in the morning until the time we go to bed at night.

My friends

The church asks us today, at the beginning of Lent to renew our own lives in the great spiritual works of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving and listen to the advice of Jesus in today’s gospel. Today we try to begin and we receive the ashes as a sign that we are willing to undertake the gospel way of life. When we receive the ashes we hear again the first words of Jesus in Mathew’s gospel: Repent and be faithful to the gospel. So let us begin our lent.

In today’s Gospel Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, there is a contrast given to us today between the person who takes the word of God into his heart and soul and acts on it and the person who simply speaks the word of God but does not live it.

Those who take the word of God into their heart and soul and walk in the way of the Lord, they will receive God’s blessings and will inherit His Heavenly Kingdom. Those who only speak the word of God but do not live it; will not inherit God’s Kingdom. God’s warning is as clear as black and white, there are no grey areas.

Today’s First Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy reminds us that today is the day to make a final decision.

I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse: a blessing for obeying the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin on you today; a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, but turn aside from the way I ordain for you today, to follow other gods, whom you have not known.

Today, we must decide if we will walk with God according to His Commandments or against God, contrary to His Commandments. This means that we must be living models of the Christian faith, practicing what we learn from Jesus’ preaching in the Gospel. In Christ, there is one life, one way and one truth.

The Letter to the Romans, from which comes our second reading, puts its focus on faith: we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. We could ask a question very similar to one that Jesus poses elsewhere: who has faith? The one who does the works of faith or the one who only speaks about it?

The Gospel of Matthew today is about belief and faith. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’” The Gospel tells us that doing great work is not enough. Even doing great work in the name of the Lord is not enough. We must believe from our hearts and souls.

So today we are invited to become followers of Christ in a totally committed way, both believing and doing. Doing, by itself, is not good enough. Believing without acting on the belief is not belief. Let us believe as well as practice faith by our actions and deeds in our every day life!

My dear sisters and brothers,

All the readings for today’s Sunday are about trusting our Heavenly Father. Trust in the Lord! That is the strong message of the readings that we have heard today.

In God’s few words from the Book of Isaiah we learn of His Fatherhood. “I will not forget you” says the Lord God.

We have a heavenly Father. Not only is He our Creator, but He also wants to be our Father. While we struggle here on earth, awaiting the day when we will be united with the Heavenly Father, we are told in different words that God is watching over us. He has not forgotten us. If we think that He has forgotten us, it is all in our minds.

The second Reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians concerns the ministry of the Apostles. We heard the author say, “Brothers and sisters: ‘Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.’”

In today’s Gospel Jesus said, to His disciples “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Disciples, followers of Christ, cannot have a divided loyalty.

Changing the subject, Jesus said in today’s Gospel, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Today, Jesus reminds us who follow Him that we are more important than flowers, than the grass, than swallows. His promise to us is that He will take care of us even more than He does of the plants and birds. This teaching of Jesus reminds us that we are called to a distinct way of life, not a worldly way but a spiritual way. We are called to trust in God who knows what we need and to believe that God will give it to us. Blessed is he who places his trust in the Lord Jesus!

We are called can pray for a deeper commitment to God for ourselves and for others. This week my brothers and sisters in Christ let us pray for each other, that we may receive the gift of faith that is necessary to trust in our Heavenly Father so we may not worry about tomorrow.