FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

When We Were Baptized  

Br. Rambang Ngawan, O.P.

Today the Church is celebrating the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This feast marks the end of the Christmas season. The Church invites us through this feast to reflect on several important Church teachings that we must understand and live out in our day to day living as Christians.

Many things that happened during our Lord’s baptism at the Jordan River are symbolic of our baptism as Christians. During the baptism of the Lord, the Holy Spirit came upon Him; when we were baptized, the Trinity made us His holy dwellings. When Jesus was baptized, there was a voice crying out from heaven which proclaimed Jesus as the most beloved Son of the Father; and during our baptism, we were made adopted children of God who live under His grace. When the Lord was baptized, the gate of heaven was opened; and when we were baptized, the gate of heaven was opened for us and our salvation. During the baptism of the Lord, He prayed; and we too, as beloved children of God, must pray for strength and perseverance for the life of holiness and a life filled with God’s love.

On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Church invites us once again to remember our baptismal promise and live under the grace of our baptism. If we are able through the grace of God to be faithful Christians, we would truly have celebrated Christmas and found its meaning in our lives.

2ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

VOCATION: A CALL TO HOLINESS
Br. Jayno Jabonillo, OP

All of us have a gift of vocation from God. Yes, all of us and no one is exempted. We may not agree with the first sentence above but it is the truth. What leads us to disagree, perhaps, is because we do not yet understand the meaning of this and find out the life that God has planned for us.

Life is the greatest gift that we have received from God and he wrapped this gift with a Vocation, a call since our birth. We may not hear him calling us but our faith helps us listen to his Divine calling. But what is this call asking us?

In today’s gospel, Jesus Christ said, “Come, and you will see” so that you will understand and find out that VOCATION IS A CALL TO HOLINESS. “Be Holy, for I the Lord your God, am Holy.” (Leviticus 11:44)

Are you a consecrated man or woman? Are you married? Or are you a single blessed? We know the kind of vocation we are embracing and living now, but do we understand completely the purpose or what benefits us in living our vocation faithfully and joyfully?

Brothers and sisters, God himself is constantly reminding us that our VOCATION IS ALWAYS A CALL TO HOLINESS. Thus, let us live together a Holy Life.

3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

AYOS

Br. Jaymar Capalaran, OP

Bago pumasok sa eskwelahan ang mga mag-aaral, sila ay nag-aayos ng kanilang sarili. Bago pumasok sa trabaho, lahat ng empleyado ay nag-aayos din. Kahit sa pagdalo sa mga espesyal na pagdiriwang o kaganapan, ang mga dumadalo ay nag-aayos.

Ang pag-aaayos ng sarili ay napakahalaga hindi lamang dahil ito ay pangunahing gawain kung hindi isa rin itong maka-Kristiyanong gawain. Sa ating Ebanghelyo, ipinahayag ni Hesus ang magandang mensahe ng Panginoon na ang kaharian ng Diyos ay malapit nang dumating. Sa paghahanda para ditto, lahat ay inaanyayahang magsisi at maniwala sa Magandang Balita, ang ating kaligtasan (cf. Mark 1:15). Sa madaling salita, mag-ayos ng sarili, sa Ingles, to bring ourselves into the order of goodness.

Ipinaalalahanan tayo ni Hesus na mag-ayos ng ating mga sarili hindi lamang dahil tayo ay may inaabangang party. Ayaw Niyang sa huli tayo ay magsisi. Sino ba namang ayaw makarating sa kaharian ng Diyos na puno nang kaayusan? Ako, ikaw, lahat tayo siyempre, gusto. Subalit bago pa man ito mangyari, handa ba tayong ayusin ang ating mga sarili? Maitatanong ba natin sa ating sarili: maayos na ba ako? Maayos na ba ang aking ugnayan sa Diyos? Maayos na maayos na nga ba? Kung hindi pa, tayo ay binibigyan ng panahon upang magsisi sa ating mga nagawang kasalanan at bigyang tuon ang paniniwala sa Magandang Balita. Ito ang nagbibigay kaayusan sa ating buhay. Kung itong maka-Kristiyanong uri ng pag-aaayos ay naisapuso at naisabuhay, masasabi natin sa huli, AYOS!

CHRISTMAS FOR ALL: SALVATION FOR EVERYONE

Every Christmas, we joyfully remember the birth of Jesus. What is the real significance of His birth?

According to the Catechism for the Filipino “The Father sent His Son as Savior of the world”

This means first, that God sent His Son as an offering for our sins. Second, he came to reveal to us God’s love, that we might have life through him. Third, he came to be our model for sanctity, so that, fourth, we could share in his divine sonship.” “Christ’s whole life constituted a redeeming process, begun at the Incarnation when he “was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.”

In the letter to the Hebrews, a canticle reminds us about the great love Jesus has for all. “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” Because of his incarnation “he was truly united with us, who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” Through his incarnation, we have obtain a true model on how to be a real human person. Through his love, we are able to know more about ourselves.

The long awaited Savior had come during the first Christmas. As we remember the day Jesus came, may we receive the salvation offered to everyone; this is the greatest gift from our loving Father through our Savior Jesus with the Holy Spirit. With much joy, let us celebrate the coming of Christmas for all, give thanks for the blessings brought about by Christmas, and strive to incarnate in our lives the love, which is the true essence of Christmas, so that every day is a Christmas day.

MOTHERHOOD OF MARY

New Year serves as an invitation for a new beginning. It gives hope and inspiration for all to face the new challenges that will come in the future. That is why as we welcome the New Year, it is just proper to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God, our Mother. We are all reminded that Mary is with us for another year that is filled with blessings from the Almighty.

The Solemnity of Mary as Mother of God is celebrated on the first day of January. It is included in what we call “Octave of Christmas,” or the extended celebration of Christmas starting from the 25th of December. Mary as the Mother of God is one of the most important titles of Mary. This title comes from the Greek word theotokos which means “God-bearer.” In this day, we are reminded of the important role that Mary played for our salvation. Through the Holy Spirit, God the Father prepared Mary to be the instrument of the incarnation of His Son, Jesus. Mary’s fiat serves as the sign of the fulfillment of God’s plan for the salvation of all. That is why, to call Mary as the Mother of God is the highest honor we can give to her.

If Christmas is giving honor to Jesus as the “Prince of Peace”, the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God gives honor to Mary as the “Queen of Peace”. New Year’s Day is also the “World Day of Peace”. It announces the place of Mary in our hearts and her special role in our world. With Mary, we are all at peace. Like her care for Jesus, we will also be under her protection. In her company, we will not be forsaken.

She is Mary, the Mother of God, Mother of All, Mother of Peace.