In the First Reading from Isaiah (6:1-8), the prophet Isaiah has a powerful vision of God’s holiness. He sees the Lord in all His glory and is overwhelmed by His presence. Isaiah realizes his own unworthiness and sins, but instead of being turned away, God purifies him and calls him to be His messenger. Isaiah’s response is simple yet profound: “Here am I, send me.”
I was walking with a colleague to the Surigao house we share and came to talk about her first foray into the city. A development worker, she had come from Iligan and had just been onboarded into a response team here in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette in 2021. Her work then must have been challenging, made even more difficult by the prevailing Covid. Being new here myself and getting a lot of help settling in, I was immediately reminded that I arrived at a better time.
In Jesus’ time, while water is essential, it is often unsafe to drink due to high possibility of contamination. Waterborne diseases were very common and were a major cause of death especially to the poor. Historically, wine being fermented, was a safer and more practical option, frequently diluted with water to purify it and extend its use. In our scripture reading, at Cana, there were six stone jars filled with water for purification, these were meant for ritual purposes, yet as we look beyond the narrative and fill the gaps of the story, these tapayans, or clay jars were not just religious objects but practical necessities. These are symbols of survival in a world of scarcity. If there’s no clean water and no wine, what else could there be?
The Baptism of the Lord is more than a thing to remember or a period in Jesus’ life – it is a powerful reminder to reflect on how His baptism shapes our very being. It invites us to examine our purpose as the baptized. It is challenging us to step beyond comfort , and embody a solidarity that responds to the cries of a world yearning for justice, peace, and hope.
When the album Folklore was released on July 2020, it was just months after Covid 19 affected the entire world. Taylor Swift isolated herself in those days, but aloneness proved to be fertile ground for a revelation. One song stood out among those included in the album. In this poetic, lyrical piece, Swift “empathizes with doctors and nurses, who served the affected despite their harrowing work, and mental trauma they have to experience while handling the loss of human lives.”
Our Gospel reading this first Sunday of Advent is intriguing. How can we connect this to our preparation for the Messiah’s birthday on Christmas, and to our preparations for the second coming–the End of Days, as some people believe it will be?
In the year 600 BC, the kingdoms of Jerusalem and Judah found themselves subjugated, first by the Egyptian and then by the Babylonian empires. The empires, as ruling authorities, had control over various aspects of governance. They dictated policies, imposed heavy taxes, and appointed tyrannical vassal kings, with all facets of rule falling under their command.
By living out our faith actively in these difficult times, we align ourselves with God’s purpose and we continuously prepare to what lies ahead. After all, in the passage lies a hidden message of hope and salvation: the moment when God will gather His people, bringing them together from all corners of the earth, safe in His presence and assured of His promise of deliverance and peace.
Death anniversary noon ni Pinky, ang aking matalik na kaibigan, nag pasya kaming dumalaw sa kanilang probinsya sa Pangasinan. Halos 12 years din ako na di nakabalik doon, dalawang marunong mag-drive ang aking sinama. Yung isa, waze ang tinitingnan, tinuro kami sa isang daan na dead end naman. Kaya nag desisyon ang isang kasama namin na magtanong tanong, at natunton namin ang bahay nila Pinky. Mahusay ang makabagong panahon upang mapabilis ang ating mga gawain subalit lumilikha naman ito ng paglayo natin sa kapwa. Ang mensahe ni Hesus ay lumaganap noong ipinahayag ito ng iba at hindi lang sa limitadong kanyang mga kaibigan at isang paraan. Sa ating panahon, kinikilala natin na mabisa ang social media, subalit mabisa pa rin ang malawak na kayang maabot ng pakikipag k’wentuhan at malalim na pakikipag-kapwa.
One of the most beautiful illustrations I’ve ever heard about the depth of our knowledge of the Lord goes like this: Before starting the day’s business, the presiding judge called on anyone from the courtroom who knew Psalm 23 and requested to share it at the front.
Psalm 15 asks- “Who shall abide in God’s sanctuary?” “ Those who walk blameless and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue and do no evil to their friends nor take up a reproach against their neighbors. . .” “…Who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent.” “Ang mga ganitong tao ay mag-aani ng tagumpay!”
The phenomenon of Church people leaving or abandoning the Church has become a normal event in the life of the Church, particularly in developed countries as well as in developing nations. This crisis is nothing new to us today but somehow began in the early years of Christianity. The gospel of John affirmed this crisis: “… many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” This provoked Jesus to confront the Twelve: “Do you also want to leave?”
Typhoon Carina and monsoon rains have both had an impact on the country in recent days. Metro Manila experienced the worst flooding in most places, resulting in damage to people’s lives, homes, and livelihoods. River water levels surged as a result of severe rainfall. Many people needed shelter, food, and clothing for the next few days. People are desperate for even the most basic essentials.
The 71-year old congregation to which I belong to, took a hit early 2023 when many of our members seceded in relation to a wider struggle of the church that is dividing the institution globally. Despite being relatively small in number, we decided to move on with new leadership and vowed to continue serving and worshipping as those who came before us did. In my view, this experience has broken an old “banga”, which was molded from the grounds by diverse communities of faith journeys and witnessing experiences.
Many people sleep during Sunday services. Many people find such behavior unacceptable. Many other people understand the reasons why many people sleep during Sunday services.
As we delve into these texts, we’re reminded of the universal nature of God’s call. The invitation is open for all- elite or the powerful are invited, likewise God welcomes the marginalized, and ordinary people. Amos, a shepherd and dresser of sycamores, embodies this truth. His story challenges the established power structures and affirms that prophecy and justice can emerge from the margins.
But Sunday’s lection on Jesus’s homecoming paints a different picture. His townmates ask, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” Mark’s ‘The carpenter from Nazareth, the son of Mary’ (read, bastard) was a hard sell. It was certainly a hard sell for the other Nazarenes; in the Lukan version of this story, they tried to throw Jesus off a cliff.
I love quiet times. Perhaps it is the best sign of my “coming of ageing”, or perhaps it is just the way I am loving that moment when I transitioned into 60 years. No fanfare, no special 60th party. I was alone. But it was not a lonely moment. If I am affected by comparisons to other people who have celebrated their 60th with fireworks and expensive staycations, I would have been the loneliest. One of my friends even told me, seriously, “You are like an outcast!” But sure enough it was the most intimate of my celebrations ever. In the quiet and stillness of that day, God’s love became real. It was a miracle. It was a healing moment.
In Sunday’s lection, the disciples find themselves in the middle of a raging storm. Jesus is with them, but he is asleep. The Gospel of Mark shares the detail that he was sleeping on a pillow. Scholars say that pillow was actually a sack of sand for ballast.
Today’s Sunday reading is about the threat of evil in our world. May we be reminded and inform our conscience that evil is the result of sin, and if we do not want evil to overwhelm us, we must fight against the act of sin. The first reading in the book of Genesis tells us the origin of sin. It originates both from the serpent and man by accepting temptation and by encouraging fellow humans to commit sin.
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