December 31, 2023 * Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph*The Revealing of God through Christ and THROUGH US

Dss. Bless De Leon, Board of Women’s Work, UMC       

 

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Sir 3:2-6, 12-14

Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5.        

Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 

LK 2:22-40       

In a moment, anytime today we will be hearing loud bangs and celebrations coming across the world as we close this year’s chapter. A few days ago, we were also delighted at how we joyously celebrated Christmas Day and how we also stood in solidarity with those who were unable to do so because of the many struggles they were facing.

Advent time as is celebrated in the Philippines is occasionally and incidentally during almost the end of the year. This somehow gives us the chance to (1) look back and remember God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives that delivered and sustained us through the year. (2) assess ourselves on what went well, what we need to change or focus on, and what might be our next steps offering ourselves as living testimony of the Emmanuel.

This day also gives us the same spirit and challenge of how we remember EPIPHANY. Epiphany which is the revealing of God through Christ who became man and fulfilled the promise of salvation, hope, peace, joy, and love.

GOSPEL READING (Luke 2:22-40)

Today’s Gospel Reading is an event known as the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or the Purification of Mary. According to Jewish law (Leviticus 12:2-8), a woman who gave birth to a male child was considered unclean for seven days, after which the child was circumcised on the eighth day. After the days of her purification were completed, the mother would bring an offering to the temple.

Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple in obedience to these laws. The dedication involved offering a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

What about Simeon and Anna?

Simeon and Anna represent devout Jews who were eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promises of consolation and redemption for Israel. Their recognition of Jesus as the Messiah reflects the expectation and hope that many devout Jews had during that time for the coming of the Redeemer.

The dedication at the temple marks an early episode in the life of Jesus, emphasizing his connection to Jewish traditions and the fulfillment of messianic prophecies. Simeon’s words, often referred to as the Nunc Dimittis, express a sense of fulfillment and readiness for what Jesus will accomplish in terms of salvation and redemption.

REFLECTION

Christ’s coming gives the people of his time an immense promise of hope for what is now and what is next to come. People made great preparations for how we welcome this Savior who is also a symbol and a promise of liberation. Most of the time and in reality, this promise of hope is not easily felt especially for those who experience injustice, persecution, oppression discrimination, and abuse. Those who were in the midst of war, like the people of Gaza and other parts of Palestine. Those who have no option but to fight till the very end to have a decent living that will sustain their families, like the Filipino Jeepney drivers who to this day are facing the threat of Jeepney Phaseout and are waiting and holding on to the last line of their hope, struggling to be sent forth with victory and peace. And we know for sure that there are many other challenges in the Philippines and other parts of the world that to this day we continue to struggle with.

The question: How can we celebrate and welcome the new year with these sufferings? How can we fully experience a future with hope even amid uncertainty?

With all these overwhelming realities, we may not have all the solutions and answers but we are reminded of our readings today to…

-Present ourselves as testaments of this promised Messiah who will not keep silent from all sufferings of others. (Isaiah 61:10-62:3)

– Embody the act of praise through our active prayer, worship, and discernment of personal relationship with God not undermining the social relationship with God expressed through bold witness, active mission, and service. These are divine and prophetic ministries championed by Jesus, the Messiah, which is the central theme of his coming, living, dying, and resurrection. (Psalm 148)

-Remember that the fulfillment of hope, love, joy, and peace will be fulfilled and realized if we always choose to live out Christ’s example: rising above our individualism, putting love at the center (loving God and loving our neighbor) as children and as one body of Christ. (Galatians 4:4-7)

SENDING FORTH

Now as we move on to the year 2024, may today’s message be a constant reminder and challenge to be echoed into our homes and across the world. May it speak to us and remind us that the emancipation of the reign of God moves us to walk in justice, righteousness, and peace. That we may always choose to do good and walk humbly standing for truth and casting out evil-doing, being sent forth now and forever.

Amen.

December 24, 2023*Fourth Sunday of Advent*Still, God’s Love is Everlasting

                Sr. Pat Fox, NDS

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2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16   

Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

Rom 16:25-27

Lk 1:26-38                

The readings for this last Sunday of Advent are full of “messianic expectation”. They exude a hope and trust which has endured through occupation and exile and grown stronger in persecution.  It is a hope centred on the key promise of God given to David, that David’s house and his kingdom would be established forever (2 Sam.7:16). After the Exile, the people longed for another David, the shepherd boy anointed by God who became a great warrior, defeated enemies in battle and united the 12 tribes around Jerusalem. With the defeat of the Davidic dynasty the people asked where was God’s promise?  We see the struggle of the community with this dilemma in the Royal Psalms.  Psalm 89 begins praising God’s steadfast love and faithfulness to all generations but this trust in God is being tested as the psalmist laments “where is thy steadfast love of old, which by thy faithfulness thou did swear to David” (v49).

In the intertestamental period, prophecies and hopes for a restored Davidic kingdom heightened and led to the imminent expectation of a future anointed king who would be the “messiah”., in the line of David. It is within this climate that Gabriel appears, first to Zechariah and then to Mary. Gabriel’s only other appearance in the Bible before this was to Daniel, where he tells Daniel of the destruction of Israel by the Medes and Persia (Dan. 8:16).   Now Gabriel has appeared again, first to Zechariah to announce the “impossible” pregnancy of Elizabeth, and then to Mary with an invitation that she be the woman through whom the Davidic dynasty would be re-established.

Mary, an ordinary Jewish woman living in the insignificant town of Nazareth, had been chosen as the person through whom God was to become a human person and dwell among us.  She would have been steeped in the messianic hope of her time, for an anointed person who would liberate them from Roman occupation and restore the community. And while Zechariah asked for a sign, Mary believes that with God nothing is impossible and replies to Gabriel: “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word”.  Luke puts this response within the context of the restoration of the Davidic dynasty. Mary could make this response, believing in the steadfast love of God despite clarity in what this would mean.  We know it led her to heartache as she stood with her son who showed a different “kingship”, based on concern for the poor, oppressed and marginalized.  A kingship that would lead to the cross and ultimately resurrection.

Romans 16:26-38, are Paul’s final words to the churches there before he moves on to Spain. He calls on them to look deeply into the mystery of the prophetic writings where they will discover that Jesus’ reign is not just for the people of Israel but for “all the Nations”.  Through this reflection he calls them to obedience in faith, to live a Jesus did. 

In our troubled times, where the Philippines has become a country where the rivalry between China and USA is being played out, where human rights are not respected, and poverty is increasing. Where Israel continues to bomb the people of Gaza and attack Palestinians in the West Bank.  Where Russia and Ukraine continue at war.  Where the military in Myanmar continue to massacre the indigenous.  Where people in Africa are starving and where the world is turning its back on refugees forced to leave their country because of war or famine.  What would Gabriel be calling us to now.  How do we both say we are the servants of the Lord and act accordingly.  Do we see hope as a verb and live “Emmanuel”, God with us?  This Sunday is a call to renewed hope in action, because God’s love is everlasting.

Let me end this meditation with Palestinian carol: “Hatred will vanish, the earth will bloom, war will be buried, and love will be born. “

December 17, 2023*Third Sunday of Advent* For the Anawim

         Fr. Aris Miranda, MI

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IS 61:1-2A, 10-11

LK 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54

1 THES 5:16-24

JN 1:6-8, 19-28

We live in difficult times. There are ongoing crisis in Israel-Palestine, and Ukraine-Russia, and emerging conflict in the South China Sea. Then there is the climate and economic crises that threaten food security. We are also faced with enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings as well as violation of rights of activists, human rights defenders, environmentalists, workers and farmers, which happen with impunity.

The human race has suffered hardships since the day exploitation became part of the relationship between people, systems, and structures. Gladly, the scriptures today provide us with both hope and direction.While the situation is uncertain and worrisome, the third Sunday of Advent proclaims the message of joy and glad tidings.

As we come together on this Gaudete Sunday, a day of joy in the midst of our Advent journey, the words of the prophet Isaiah resound in our hearts: “I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels.”

Though the people of God who is returning from exile experienced extreme hardships and challenges one after another as they struggled for their liberation, sustained by enthusiasm and hope, they managed to overcome difficulties. The city was defenseless; their houses were crumbling and the land of their fathers were occupied. Drought has reduced many families to poverty. Newcomers were burdened with debts, and some became slaves of landowners and unscrupulous profiteers.

In this challenging situation, the prophet Isaiah rose and proclaimed the good news to the discouraged and heartbroken. “I was sent,”—he says— “to give courage and hope to those who are disappointed, to bind up broken hearts, to bring good tidings to those who suffer, to proclaim liberty to the captives and to announce the year of the Lord’s favor” (vv. 1-2). The year of the Lord has come, in which each one can reclaim property, condone debts and rejoin family (Lev 25:10). No one must resign to live in misery and slavery. It is time for the poor to lift their heads and regain their dignity.

Isaiah’s prophecy mirrors the message of joy and liberation that we celebrate today. It’s a proclamation of hope and a call to action. In our beloved land, a nation that has known both triumphs and tribulations, these words find new life. They speak to the struggles of those in poverty, to the brokenhearted seeking solace, and to those who are captives to the chains of injustice. They also speak to us to act and aspire for a radical transformation of society

In our history, we have seen prophetic voices rise, much like Isaiah, that speak truth to power. The Advent season calls us to heed these prophetic voices in our midst. They challenge us to examine the structures that perpetuate inequality, to confront the systems that keep our brothers and sisters in captivity, and to actively participate in the healing of our broken world. An authentic Christian faith is not confined to the sanctuary; it spills into the streets, and into the homes of the oppressed. The preferential option for the poor is not just a theological concept but a lived reality. It’s a commitment to stand in solidarity with those whom Isaiah describes as the “poor in spirit” (anawim).

The poor are the anawim of God, they are those who believe that God is with them or coming to them and will be with them. It is God who they believe in totally and completely. They don’t believe in “systems”. They don’t believe in money. They don’t believe in power. They believe that the presence of God will be with them in their struggles. He alone is their source of hope and enlightenment.

Jesus said, “You have the good news now and I am proclaiming it.”  (ref.Matthew 11:2-11) And what is the good news? The good news is that God has come to be with us and stay with us. God has sent His Son and God Himself has come with him, as the Father and the Holy Spirit, and “when you look at me, you must see in me the Son of God.”

John the Baptist is one of those who embraced the challenge of prophet Isaiah to become witness to the glad tidings (good news) for the poor. In the gospel of John, John the Baptist is not the precursor of the Messiah but a witness to the light, Jesus himself. He saw in Jesus the Spirit that would bring true and radical newness to our social condition, the new heaven, and the new earth. We are called to be like John the Baptist. We are called to be apostles and witnesses. We have been entrusted with a mission from God. We have been created for a purpose. We were given God’s life at baptism so we can share his life with others. We are his witnesses. We are called to make the presence of Christ a reality in our worlds by witnessing his presence through our own lives.  

As we reflect on the joy of Gaudete Sunday, let us also be attentive to the cries of the poor and the marginalized, the earth and all its creatures. Our joy is incomplete if it does not extend to our brothers and sisters who long for liberation. It will not be meaningful if it ignores the cry of our Mother Earth, raped and taken advantaged of for profit. Advent calls us to be active participants in the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy — to be the bearers of glad tidings, healers of broken hearts, and proclaimers of liberty.

In our beloved country, where the spirit of resilience runs deep, let us find inspiration in the hope embedded in Isaiah’s words. As we navigate the challenges of our nation, may we be people who, like Mary, responded with a resounding “yes” to the call for justice, liberation, and joy.

Finally, may this Sunday remind us that our joy is intricately linked to the liberation we bring to others and our “common home”, just as Christ, whose birth we eagerly await, came to liberate us all.

December 10, 2023*Second Sunday of Advent*God Speaks in the Wilderness. Listen! Change Your Ways!

Sr. Rowena J. Pineda, MMS

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IS 40:1-5, 9-11
PS 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14
2 PT 3:8-14
MK 1:1-8

Today’s scriptural passages bring to us the reassuring message of God’s promise of “a new heaven and a new earth.” All the readings for this day use images that make this promise closer to us in ways that lure us to desire it: Comfort for God’s people, fearless freedom, truth springing from the earth, bountiful harvest from the land, justice marching before us. Another word for this promise is PEACE, God’s Shalom, the theme of the second Sunday of Advent.

Inversely, the conditions described above inform us of the enormous suffering from generations of people’s bondage in slavery and oppressive rule. This was the context when prophetic voices flourished. Prophets of old like Isaiah, Daniel, Enoch, Samuel and all other prophets spoke up and stood against the sinful ways that drew people away from their God. The prophetic voices and their witness modeled for us a total dedication, a complete separation from corrupt and fallen Israel. The word they spoke was uncompromised, completely challenging, untainted by either fear or favor, and was wholly of God alone.
In reflecting on the good news of God’s promise as we prepare for the coming of the Messiah, it is important to take notice of the wilderness referred to by Isaiah in his prophecy (40:3). Many biblical stories have the wilderness as the background of significant events. God spoke to Abraham while he was in the wilderness. God brought the Israelites into the wilderness in order to speak to them at Mount Sinai. This is where He spoke to Moses. In the wilderness God met with Elijah. So, we may ask: Why the wilderness? What is its relevance in the fulfillment of God’s promise?
The wilderness, interchangeably called desert, is a place of intimate encounter, of separation from distracting influences, of facing the reality, of letting go, of preparation…a place of deep listening and decision-making. Coincidentally, the Hebrew word for the “desert” midbar uses the same 4 consonant letters (MDBR) that spell another Hebrew word medaber which means “to speak”. God is present in the wilderness and reveals this presence to those who listen and are open to see, hear, and receive a message that is meaningful, powerful, and life-changing.  
God led and met with Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Elijah in the wilderness. The desert or wilderness was an experience of harshness, barrenness, roughness, emptiness, isolation, aloneness, insecurity, vulnerability. Yet, it became the birthplace of a new identity, of a deeper and more solid relationship with God, and of a new orientation to one’s life purpose. In the wilderness, God revealed Himself in wondrous and awesome ways that one is liberated from any other need or want but God.

Such an experience of the wilderness can become a profound source of courage, wisdom, and commitment to act and speak on behalf of God. To lead others back to God, the encounter with God empowers one to dare to challenge the present oppressive state, interrupt the prevailing unjust systems, and uplift the hope for the coming of God’s day of justice and peace.

John the Baptist emerged as the “voice from the wilderness” prophesied by Isaiah 700 years before him. He is considered a most pivotal figure in God’s salvation history. His formative years were lived in obscurity in the desert (Luke 1:80). His public ministry ended what theologians called 400 Years of Silence. It began with the warning that closed the Old Testament: “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.” (Malachi 4:5)

Just because there was prophetic silence does not mean this was an uneventful period in Israel’s history. God continued to speak but no new written scriptures were noted. God was working all things out for His glory and for the salvation of humanity.

The silence ended with the coming of John the Baptist, making him a “transitional figure”. Within that period, great conflict and struggle defined the time between the last word from the prophets and the rule of King Herod. These created the circumstances under which the Messiah was born. These same circumstances of political upheaval, moral degradation, and the scandalous poverty provided the backdrop with which John carried the central theme of his ministry: “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near.” He did not only preach; he embodied his prophecy by pointing to the sole purpose of his being: he was to prepare the way for the Messiah who was to come after him.

Almost two millennia have passed since John the Baptist ended that period of prophetic silence. This Advent, let us connect with and reflect on God’s promise of peace in the context of our present-day circumstances. Can we allow God to lead us into the wilderness of our time and space and liberate us from all that enslave us? Do we really love God enough to engage with and hear God speaking through the prophetic voices around us? Are we alert enough to discover the potentials of vulnerability and poverty to empower us to orient ourselves to God? Will we immerse ourselves in this orientation long enough to make it the ground for life-changing choices to hope and act for a just and lasting peace? In the midst of the untruth, corruption, violence, wars, and immorality reigning in our land and our lives, will we dare add to the prophetic voices crying for change, live everyday prophetic action, and witness to God’s power as the source of prophetic hope?

December 10, Sunday, we begin the second week of Advent. Let us celebrate the promise of Peace, God’s Shalom, as the world commemorates the 75th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Let us revisit every aspect of our lives and nurture seeds for co-creating a new heaven and a new earth, here and now.

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December 3, 2023*First Sunday of Advent* Staying Awake in Fulfilling Our Ministry

Divine G. Naoe, UMC

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Is 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7       

Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19          

1 Cor 1:3-9      

Mk13:33-37    

Various motivational speakers remind us of the importance of vigilance and perseverance in achieving personal fulfillment. Stephen Covey, in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” urges us to be proactive, to begin with the end in mind, and to prioritize crucial tasks. Similarly, Og Mandino offers numerous quotes to inspire improvement in any chosen endeavor, emphasizing that determination to succeed can outweigh failures.

Tony Robbins, one of the best-known motivational speakers, once said, “I challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. I challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk.” 

These speakers all focus on living a purposeful life, one that brings personal contentment and satisfaction. A life live with a purpose that creates a difference on the lives of others has something to share to the world. 

In Mark 13:33-37, Jesus speaks of His unexpected return, with the exact time unknown. He instructs His disciples on their duties during this period of waiting, emphasizing the need to “stay awake” through a parable.

What does “staying awake” mean, and why was it significant for the disciples?

The term “awake,” derived from the Greek word ‘agrupneo,’ means to be both literally awake and figuratively attentive and ready.

Attention is crucial in task accomplishment. Contemporary concepts like Attention Intelligence (AQ) highlight this, comparing its importance to Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in workplace success. AQ aids in maintaining focus on people and problems, controlling selective attention, and staying on task (Tawakol, 2019). A person attentive to their work is thorough, accurate, and consistent, working to high standards with minimal supervision. This approach minimizes errors, optimizes time use, and reduces the need for oversight.

Conversely, inattention can lead to costly errors, affecting not just the individual but the entire organization. Such mistakes, often resulting from carelessness, negligence, or selfishness, can have significant repercussions, including financial loss, property damage, or even loss of life. As we can see, many social and political unrest are rampant. Many injustices had not been resolved, the issues on disappearances, extra judicial killings, suppression of freedom, oppressions of the poor, to add on these the pandemic and war happening in the whole world. These are work of people who are not attentive to what is currently happening. Works that devalue humanity, creation, the preservation of the life which God has given us. A manifestation of unpreparedness and unworthiness to face the Creator and the Giver of life; unpreparedness to the second coming of Jesus, or even to the come to the table to celebrate the essence of Christmas. 

The distraction and disturbances created for not staying awake will then be the tribulations of many who are called to follow Jesus’ ministry. These might be the foreseen tribulations during Jesus’ time which can be encountered by the followers of Jesus. He knew that these might cause the disturbances and distractions, fears, doubts for the disciples to continue their ministry.  

Staying awake therefore, is ensuring that the task being given is the main and primary concern of the individual. Staying awake means surviving the tribulation. Each of us is given a task which need to carry on, staying awake is giving our full attention to that task. Making sure that the created movement or process will never be distracted and or discontinued because of the trust and confidence that we can perform the work/ministry while waiting for the second coming of Jesus. Staying awake means moving on undisturbed, carrying the task wisely, and thriving above the discomforts that life may bring. 

I conclude with a story about A.J. Muste, a Dutch-born American clergyman and pacifist who protested against the Vietnam War. When asked by a reporter if he believed his solitary protests in front of the White House could change national policies, Muste replied, “Oh, I don’t do this to change the country. I do this so the country won’t change me.”

We are provided with the many blessings, I am beginning to learn, that blessing is not the absence of the discomforts, blessings are opportunities to express the encompassing love of God to people and creation. In becoming a blessing to others, one must hold on to the message, “stay awake.”

This advent season, a time to wait and prepare to celebrate Christmas, may we all be found “awake” in fulfilling our ministry that God has given us. Our task to bring the essence of Christmas to the world, most especially to the less fortunate and vulnerable, will keep us awake, until we sit on the table to celebrate with joy, love, and peace with God in our midst.