January 29,2023*Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time*Beatitudes

                          Dss. Norma P. Dollaga, KASIMBAYAN

https://liberationtheology.org/

Zep 2:3; 3:12-13

Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

1 Cor 1:26-31

Mt 5:1-12a

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Blessed are the poor in spirit

The poor, the hungry the exploited

The bent-over and humiliated

Blessed are they

Who expose the ills of wealth-in-the-hands-of-a-few

Blessed are they who would break down the walls of  

    injustice

Their lament unfolds now, into an outburst of cries for

  JUSTICE.

They shall rejoice and celebrate!

“Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.”

Blessed are they who grieve,

      whose  broken bodies and spirits

      crushed by powers and principalities

      of luxurious pleasures,

      plunder and murder.

For they who mourn will be comforted

 by the  solidarity and movement

 who rebel against abuse and tyranny.

They shall rejoice and celebrate!

“Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.”

Blessed are the meek

They who know of tending the earth

They who share intimacy with nature, growing seeds;

They who, for centuries, victims of feudal bondage

    will inherit the land.

                        Memories of stolen dignity and honor

                             will never push God’s toiling masses to exodus

     for they shall claim their land inherited from the next generations

They shall rejoice and celebrate!

“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.”

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness

They who bear the unbending and resisting spirit

Until all can feast for food and drink;

No more Lazarus, an outsider longing for crumbs

  from the table.

They shall rejoice and celebrate!

“Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.”

Blessed are the merciful,

They who show compassion and care

They who do not look down on the poor

Neither do they blame them for their torn clothes.

They will receive mercy from the hands and tears of the poor.

They shall rejoice and celebrate!

“Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.”

Blessed are the clean of heart,

They who seek baptism of purification

They who recognize personal contradictions

And ready to be refined and remolded

Until they see and behold the face of God in the Other.

They shall rejoice and celebrate!

“Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.”

Blessed are the peacemakers,

They who believe in just and enduring peace…

 food on every table, roof over every family, clothes for their

       bodies.

Peace, for every child to enjoy the fragrance of flowers

 and play in wide open fields without fear .

Peace where cannons, and bombs are no more,

   when peacemakers are tagged as terrorists no more,

    because JUSTICE is here to flourish.

The Children of God rejoice and celebrate!

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The  Kingdom of God belongs to you

    artists, poets, scientists, theologians, philosophers,

    educators, religious, civil libertarians, human rights defenders

    peace advocates, doctors, health workers, lawyers;

You who give your talents, gifts, abilities for others,

You who side with the oppressed and seek to end tyranny,

You who offer the best years of your lives for the liberation of our

                people,

The Kingdom of God belongs to you.

You shall rejoice and celebrate!

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

                     You will never be forgotten

         Heaven is ready to receive you

 in the heart of the people’s memory

your deeds and names shall prevail and your love will reign!

Then ALL of Creation shall rejoice and celebrate!

When the night has fallen and the stars are our guide

Remember those who fell without seeing the dawn of Freedom

Let their lives be the stars to guide us

The hope that never extinguishes even at the darkest moment of the night.

THIRD SUNDAY IN Ordinary Time*January 22, 2023*Jesus’ Tribute to John

Jonel B. Dalimag CICM, Baguio City

https://seedsoffaith.cph.org/2017/01/06/new-testament-2-lesson-6-jesus-calls-disciples/

 Isaiah   8:23—9:3

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

1 Corinthians     1:10-13, 17

Matthew     4:12-23

John is perhaps the youngest person at his time to recognize Jesus. John was still in the womb (unborn) of his mother Elizabeth when he leapt for joy in recognition of Jesus (Lk. 1:41). John felt again Jesus’ spirit when he baptized Jesus at the Jordan river (Mt. 3:13-17). John was even hesitant to baptize Jesus, saying: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”. But Jesus, recognizing John’s spirit, simply said: “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” After this encounter, they went their own separate ways, preaching repentance and God’s Kingdom. In one occasion, Jesus gave a report to John : “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Lk. 7:22). Jesus and John were very much of the risks and the dangers of what they were doing. However, their commitment to bring justice to the oppressed and to the poor, the marginalized and the abandoned, to heal the sick, and to proclaim the Good News to all, is so strong that they were willing to face all the risks and the dangers that are attached to their missions.

Jesus’ reaction of moving to Galilee after he heard the arrest of John is a tribute to John. Jesus needed to take up the cudgels and continue the mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Jesus did not use John’s imprisonment as a reason to gave up the fight for justice, for the poor and the marginalized, and for the sick. On the contrary, Jesus’s resolve to bring about justice and peace became stronger and more dynamic. This is Jesus’s best tribute to John. Jesus moved the center of his activism to Galilee, where ordinary people, common folks like the fisherfolks, vendors, ordinary laborers abound. In acknowledging and recognizing John’s vision of the Kingdom of God, Jesus used the same words that John uttered in the desert: Repent, for the Kingdom of God is coming. By his action of starting a movement in Galilee, of bringing to the fore the injustices and the abuses common people in Galilee deal with, He gave hope to these ordinary people. As a result, some of them followed Him: Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. Hence, the Jesus movement grew bigger and stronger. In this regard, Jesus exemplified the very spirit and essence of activism: to continue to fight for what is just and right, to take up the fight when one companion is down or has fallen, to continue to believe that justice, peace, and righteousness will flourish, and to make other people see the light and the truth. Indeed, the very essence of proclaiming the Kingdom of God, through social action and solidarity is to bring to reality what the first reading describes as: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian”

In the context of the Philippines, many development workers, socio-cultural advocates, peace advocates and activists were arrested, tortured and even killed. They are the modern Johns in our midst. Do we have modern Jesus to take up the struggle for the fallen Johns? Or do we have people like Paul, who in the second reading, committed himself to preach the gospel so that Christ cross might not be emptied of its meaning?

John’s arrest was a signal for Jesus to intensify his preaching, to bring his preaching to other places and other people, to do more. Jesus did not see John’s arrest as a setback but as a push-factor from him to invite other people to join their cause. Jesus and John were united in the cause they were fighting for. Their unity became stronger and more vibrant when Jesus shared their cause to other people. It is in sharing a common cause, a common struggle, a common vision, that true unity arises. As we often say, in union, there is strength. However, in our present context, the challenge we are facing is this: In ONION, there is strength (meaning power and money). How can we counter this ONION power? Let the UNION/UNITY of Jesus and John be a shining example for us to continue the pursuit of justice and peace, so that we can claim that the “Kingdom of God is at hand.”     

January 15, 2023*Second Sunday in Ordinary Time*JESUS REVEALED

Snap Mabanta, NCCP

Is 49:3, 5-6
Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
1 Cor 1:1-3
Jn 1: 29-34

Before a revelation, there was a promise. There was a promise about the light- the true light that gives light to everyone who is coming into the world. John the Baptist testified about this. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. There was a promise of a Messiah, which John the Baptist testified, and denied it was him – for a greater man that comes before him will come. These we can see in the prior verses 1-28 of the gospel of John, before the text for this lectionary.

Joey Velasco Hapag ng Pag-ibig

And we come to the text right after John was asked by religious leaders whether he was the Messiah.

As Jesus was approaching, John the Baptist testified that he was the lamb of God, the man he was not worthy of untying his sandals, the man who surpassed him because Jesus came after him, and the man he was referring to when he said: “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.”

How did he know that Jesus was indeed the one chosen to be God’s lamb? At the end of the text, he further said ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

But what does it take to be a lamb of God? What was Jesus’ earthly journey before the ultimate demonstration of being God’s lamb?

When I hear the word “lamb” associated with bible stories, I would immediately picture in my mind Abel’s offering of the best portions of the firstborn of his flock (Genesis 4:4). It also reminds us of the Jewish tradition of the paschal lamb- where a lamb is sacrificed for the first Passover. And so many believed that when John said, Jesus is the lamb of God who will soon take the sin of the world, we immediately welcome the passion and death of Jesus, exhibited by the iconic image of Jesus hanging on the cross, dying in order for our sins to be taken away. But then, we miss a significant part of Jesus’ journey, and that is his earthly ministry leading to his death.

Right after John 1:34, it showed further Jesus being seen around to gather his disciples. And we find Jesus not in grand temples and in religious gatherings. In the text, Jesus is found among his disciples in villages, by the seashore, in the mountains, and in their humble working places. Jesus showed us a great deal of working side by side with the people. That the task of creating heaven on earth requires groundwork and community effort together. In this story, Jesus was demonstrating that his ultimate task of taking away the sin of the world cannot be done by him alone. The redemption of the world for the better requires the recognition of a collective task, not by anyone alone and not by a single entity.

And after calling his disciples, we witnessed how Jesus did his ministry – not preaching in religious gatherings, but being with the ordinary people, with the sick, with the imprisoned, with the women and children, and those who were pushed at fringes by the ruling elite.

Jesus, as the lamb of God – was not a picture of an offering magically offered to appease the Lord. Jesus, as the lamb of God, went through a well-grounded ministry that was felt and seen among the people. A pulsating ministry that served the least of the least, and questioned the powerful. And in the end, Jesus’ role of being the lamb of God went full circle- when he was crucified by the Roman Empire and died on the cross. A lamb of God was ultimately sacrificed so that more people will be awakened and join the movement he started to organize while living here on Earth – not for himself, but for a better life for the people whom he loved and served, and and then the word became flesh and dwelt among us.##

January 8, 2023*The Epiphany of the Lord*

Sr. Anne-Marie Brittain NDS

Isaiah 60: 1-6

Psalm 72

Ephesian: 3 2-3a, 5-6

Matthew 2: 1-12

Sometimes it is called The Three Kings or the Visit of the Magi. This feast is familiar to us. It conjures up colorful pictures of a journey, a search, with only a star as a guide. It is placed in the liturgical cycle to deepen and broaden an understanding of incarnation. The chosen Scripture texts are inspirational as they open us up to the needs of the world, and the wisdom of nature.

The accompanying photo connects the birth of Jesus (the crib scene), with his roots in the Jewish prophetic tradition. The Word and presence of God in the person of a vulnerable baby; the Word of God reverenced, recorded, in a long tradition of longing and hope in the scroll

Today’s feast points us towards the Gentile world, to which we, as Christians belong. The chosen Scripture texts are very beautiful. Third Isaiah speaks of dawn, pushing back darkness; the creation of a shining brightness leading people from far places. They bear gifts of homage to the God of Israel in Jerusalem. There they will lay gold and frankincense for the “Lord’s praise they shall proclaim.” (v6).

Psalm 72, situated at the end of Book 2, gives insights into the role of the King, or, in our modern context, the role and responsibilities of leadership. Some translations emphasize the direct link between worldly success and attention to the most vulnerable in society. “If” the king saves the life blood of the needy it is a fulfillment of the covenant relationship. Power is to be achieved not by grasping for the most, but by caring for the least… How much is this attitude of self-emptying governance, of social justice needed in today’s world? It is a challenging corrective to the all-pervading market economy.

Ephesians moves us into the Christian world of belief in Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Paul speaks of his suffering, of imprisonment borne for the sake of the message.  The Good News is that the Gentiles have been invited into the covenant relationship; they, too, are partners in the promises through and in Christ.  In Pauline language it is a “mystery” which has been revealed through the Spirit. Revelation is on-going.

The Gospel for today is from Matthew- the only one that mentions these 3 magi/astrologers/travelers. The account of their journey

and arrival is midrash/story-telling, a Jewish method in order to delve, use imagination and discover a deeper message. I like this image because most prominent are the figures and the stars. No baby is yet in view. One star is shining more brightly among many others. The picture seems symbolic of human life. There are choices to be made, directions to be taken, stars to be refused, as well as chosen. A bright star in the Ancient East was the sign of a significant birth; we are being tutored to pay attention to the story.  These 3 set out not knowing where their destination was to end. They showed trust, perseverance, and humility. 

Conversely, in the text, King Herod is presented as a power-hungry and ignorant leader; more intrigue and violence is corroborated by historical records.  Herod, we are told, was “troubled” at the news of the birth and needed to check messianic promises. He, as a Jew, should have known the tradition about Bethlehem and the strong hope that a Davidic Messiah would come from there. He pretends to be interested in travelling to Bethlehem himself, and requests further news from them at their return.

The 3, however, following the wisdom of their dream, decide to return to their homes by a different route, avoiding Herod. Dreams are significant in the biblical tradition and their insights are considered valuable. So too, with the development of psychology, we have come to realize their importance in our own lives.  

Names too, are always significant in Scripture, and the name given to the newborn baby was “King of the Jews.” In Herod’s eyes, there could not be more than one King in the region, so it presented a great threat to him. This title is repeated at Jesus’ death; the lesson is that birth and death cannot be separated.  Myrrh, one of the gifts presented to the child, together with gold and frankincense, can signify anointing. Maybe, as followers, we are being reminded of the way in which Jesus died which opens us to the full message of his time on earth.

May the revelation of this feast continue to grow and to lead us forward in surprising ways as we journey into another year of life.

Anne-Marie Brittain NDS