1st Sunday of Advent

Love Story
Mk 13:33-37 

Br. Glen Mar T. Gamboa, OP 

May mga kaganapan sa atin na pang-MMK o Magpakailanman ang eksena. Drama o komedya sigurado may kwento ka, pero tingin ko mas makulay ang mga kaganapan kung love story. 

Sa pamilya ako unang natutong magmahal hindi lang dahil natanggap ko ito mula sa magulang at mga kapatid pero dahil dito ko unang naramdaman ang pag-ibig ng Diyos. Hindi namin kaya ang mga pagsubok na dumating kung wala ang Diyos. Binigyan nya kami ng lakas at gabay para lampasan ang mga ito. Mas lalong umigting ang nadama kong pag-ibig niya sa panahong parang wala ng pag-asa, ngunit nagpadala siya ng mga taong handang tumulong sa gitna ng pangangailagnan. Ang pamilya ko at mga taong ito ay aking pinahahalagahan, lubos na pinasasalamatan, at pinagdarasal dahil sa kanila makulay ang love story ko sa Diyos ngayon. Ang mga taong pinahahalagahan natin sa ating buhay ay ang mga taong naging instrumento ng Diyos upang madama natin ang kanyang pag-ibig sa atin.

Sa unang linggo ng Adbiento, hinihikayat tayo na maging alerto at mapagmasid, maging handa sa pagbabalik ni Hesus. Marahil ang pinaka-mainam na paghahanda ay ang pagtukoy kung ano ang dapat pahalagahan natin sa buhay bilang isang Kristyano sapagkat dito natin madarama ang pag-ibig ng Diyos. Ang pagkakaron ng love story sa kanya ay ang sanhi ng tuwa, pag-asa, pagbabago sa ating buhay. Ang hiwaga ng kanyang pag-ibig ay patuloy na kumikilos sa atin at walang sino man o anu man ang makapaghihiwalay sa atin mula dito.

Handa ba nating pahalagahan ang love story natin sa kanya? 

SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

The Kingdom of Jesus 
Matthew 25:31-46 
Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP 

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. We must, however, refrain from comparing Jesus with other kings and queens of this world. The Gospels tell us that He had no crown except the crown of thorns; no throne except the dirty manger in the stable at Bethlehem; no soldiers except a handful of disciples who eventually left Him alone.

That is precisely the message Jesus wants to deliver. He is the King of the Kingdom of God, where mercy reigns over violence; justice over inequality; truth over lies. The Good News and challenge to us Christians is to bring this Kingdom into our daily lives. 

When we refuse to cheat in an exam; when we are faithful to our spouse and family; when we are not swayed by false doctrines; and when we deepen our faith through constant study; we bring the Kingdom into this world. The Kingdom of God comes when we answer to His call to be merciful, to be just and to be truthful.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Faithfulness
Matthew 25:14-30
Br. John Paul A. Sontillano, OP

Everyone has a calling. Not all are priests or religious men and women. Some are married while others decidedly remained single until death. Whatever our status in life is, everyone is called to faithfulness – to a life of holiness.

In today’s gospel, the parable of the talents reminds us that as we await the coming of the Lord, there is work to be done. Diverse as we are in terms of gifts or interests, all are held responsible in the discharge of our duties as citizens of the world and as members of the Church in a given context we are in.

As Christians, it is our special task to help build the Kingdom of God. Whenever we work for justice, do acts of charity and promote a peaceful environment, we are somehow making God’s reign already present among us. In our workplaces, we can preach grace by performing our job in a truly Christian way. If a parish is entrusted to us as priests or a school as administrators or a class as teachers or a family as parents or children, faithfulness is expected from us. Whether we are carrying out great or small responsibilities, it is always about faithful and loving service. Love is the greatest commandment; fidelity in this is the real measure of success – not the amount of wealth accumulated or the number of academic degrees gained for ourselves. This faithfulness is our sanctity.

May the Lord, when He returns in the least expected time, mercifully grant us eternal life. Amen.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

BEAUTY WITHOUT, BEAUTY WITHIN
John 2:13-22

Br. Reynor Munsayac, OP

St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians said “Do you not know that you are God’s temple, and that God’s spirit abides within you?” As Christians, do we acknowledge the presence and the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Consumerism tends to highlight the superficial. People are more conscious on their external appearance. That is why the advertisements we see in the television are mostly of products or of clothing brands that promise to the consumers an external beauty. The effect of this to the viewers is the insatiable desire to acquire these things and the promised external beauty. There is nothing wrong with desiring to be beautiful externally. But what is dangerous is when we give too much emphasis on beautifying the outside to the detriment of the inside. What is the use of having beauty on the outside if the inside is rotten? We need to find the balance between the material and the spiritual.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We pray to God that He bestows on us his Holy Spirit so that we may be able to merit these fruits and manifest them in our life, within and without.

31st Sunday in ordinary Time

The Judgment

Mt. 25: 31-46

Br. Junel C. Pedroso, OP

No one wants to be damned. We all hope for a better future and even a peaceful afterlife. We can endure inconveniences or can make sacrifices if these would entail achieving something better or more valuable. Thus, no one wants to be eternally punished in hell. We all aspire for perpetual bliss in heaven. 

In our Gospel, we are reminded of God’s calling to be with Him in His heavenly kingdom. He lays down the requirements for the admittance to His abode which is to do good deeds on earth in every instance of our lives. Thus, God calls us to a life of generosity and kindness, and challenges us to keep from selfish acts.  

Today we remember those people who had gone ahead of us. Let us pray that they may be purged from their sins and enter God’s home. May we also prepare ourselves to be worthy of entering God’s kingdom and partake from His heavenly banquet.