This Sunday we were commemorating the Three Kings that worshiped Jesus in a Manger.
However, the priest in our church wanted to change three Kings to just the coming of Jesus on Earth.
He added that if the three Kings were here today, they will not want us to venerate them, but rather, point us to the baby Jesus.
According the priest, the Manger is where the animals in a barn goes to eat.
The manger symbolizes communion where we take in the body of Christ and we get blessed.
In Filipino, the manger is "sabsaban" and if we interchange letters "s" and "b" it will turn out to be "basbasan" which means when we eat the body, we are then blessed.
As the priest tried to drive a deeper awareness, he opened a real story of a 5 year old kid who noticed that the NATIVITY decorations inside the church and asked who they are.
the priest said, they are the three kings and they have went to travel to bring tidings to the baby Jesus.
Is that so, how come there are no treasures?
The priest looked at the nativity scene and in fact, the treasures were not there. It was rotting at the back of the church and if not for this child, he would not realize that the treasure boxes were missing.
The priest was suppose to come up with an explanation to divert the thoughts of the child from inquiring more about the treasures to center it to Jesus, however the kid left already. It was to his surprise that the child did not leave church just yet but went to the nativity and greeted the baby Jesus a happy birthday. The child found the treasure which is Christ Jesus.
The priest added in his Homily the symbolism of the gifts of the three kings.
Gold - means a ruler with a golden crown
Frankincense - means a person with a priestly vocation as it is in church that incense are being used.
Myrrh - embalming agent - means a prophet by nature - in the past, prophets die early as they were being persecuted.
The priest ended his homily with a message that we can bring gifts as well to the baby Jesus and that is our pure heart. Whether we are rich of poor, we have to offer our hearts to the baby jesus as this is what is important rather than giving something tangible to our Lord and Saviour.
Matthew 2: 1 - 12
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
2 "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:
6 `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared;
8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy;
11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009 Fourth Sunday of Advent
The gospel of the mass I attended this day had some familiar content in it. It included a portion of the pray for "Hail Mary" in it : "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"
According to the priest, the baby inside Elizabeth is actually John the Baptist and he leaped when he met the baby Jesus as a sign that Baby John already recognized Christ our Saviour.
John the baptist is the son of Zachariah who was an old man and was married to Elizabeth who was sterile.
An angel came to the house of Zachariah and spoke to Elizabeth that a year after, she will be having her own son and Elizabeth just laughed about it.
That kind of laugher turned out to be out of doubt, but soon the prophecy of the angel came true and Elizabeth got pregnant.
My and my wife nearly had doubts that we will have a baby, but I stood firm, and prayed fervently and now, my wife is at her 7th month in pregnancy.
It is a joyful feeling, to know even as the baby is not yet born, that he can already sense the good things that is in front of him. Come to think of it, this is also an awesome display of how God's presence is felt even within the womb. =)
Luke 1: 39 - 45
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
According to the priest, the baby inside Elizabeth is actually John the Baptist and he leaped when he met the baby Jesus as a sign that Baby John already recognized Christ our Saviour.
John the baptist is the son of Zachariah who was an old man and was married to Elizabeth who was sterile.
An angel came to the house of Zachariah and spoke to Elizabeth that a year after, she will be having her own son and Elizabeth just laughed about it.
That kind of laugher turned out to be out of doubt, but soon the prophecy of the angel came true and Elizabeth got pregnant.
My and my wife nearly had doubts that we will have a baby, but I stood firm, and prayed fervently and now, my wife is at her 7th month in pregnancy.
It is a joyful feeling, to know even as the baby is not yet born, that he can already sense the good things that is in front of him. Come to think of it, this is also an awesome display of how God's presence is felt even within the womb. =)
Luke 1: 39 - 45
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Prospering with God's guidance
I woke up today feeling low, and wondering how can I start achieving more for my family’s future.
I am trying to find ways to prosper, and by googling I have found this great verse that lifted me up from such a low feeling.
III John 2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers" (Amplified).
God was speaking through this verse to uplift my spirit, and He was truly successful in doing that.
Later that day, I attended mass with my wife and the Homily was about John the Baptist trying to prepare us for the Lord’s coming.
There were specific instructions about people who have extras in life, to give and to keep one’s moral integrity.
Furthermore, the priest was adding up that the color of today's candle was changed from Violet, to Rose. This is a symbolism of celebration of Christ's coming which was also telling me that I have to rejoice and forget about my low feeling.
If I add the message from Mary Lou’s blog, and the message on today’s gospel, I will end up with this thought:
God will prosper me with specific instructions that I give to others and make sure that I keep my moral integrity along with His gifts of prosperity.
I am already conditioning myself to allow the blessings of God to start pouring in and committing myself to give to our less fortunate brother’s and sisters as God fulfills his promise.
To God be the Glory!!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Third Sunday of Advent
First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel: Zephaniah 3:14-18
(Ps) Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:10-18
Luke 3: 10 - 18
10 And the multitudes asked him, "What then shall we do?"
11 And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you."
14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."
15 As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
18 So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.
I am trying to find ways to prosper, and by googling I have found this great verse that lifted me up from such a low feeling.
III John 2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers" (Amplified).
God was speaking through this verse to uplift my spirit, and He was truly successful in doing that.
Later that day, I attended mass with my wife and the Homily was about John the Baptist trying to prepare us for the Lord’s coming.
There were specific instructions about people who have extras in life, to give and to keep one’s moral integrity.
Furthermore, the priest was adding up that the color of today's candle was changed from Violet, to Rose. This is a symbolism of celebration of Christ's coming which was also telling me that I have to rejoice and forget about my low feeling.
If I add the message from Mary Lou’s blog, and the message on today’s gospel, I will end up with this thought:
God will prosper me with specific instructions that I give to others and make sure that I keep my moral integrity along with His gifts of prosperity.
I am already conditioning myself to allow the blessings of God to start pouring in and committing myself to give to our less fortunate brother’s and sisters as God fulfills his promise.
To God be the Glory!!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Third Sunday of Advent
First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel: Zephaniah 3:14-18
(Ps) Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:10-18
Luke 3: 10 - 18
10 And the multitudes asked him, "What then shall we do?"
11 And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you."
14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."
15 As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
18 So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.
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