Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

       “We won the UAAP game because God was on our side!” someone said.

      Really? What made God decide? Or did the team that simply prepared and played better that day win the game? And for the team that lost, was there not something to gain from that as well? In that sense, was God not also on their side by allowing them to learn valuable lessons in defeat that would be beneficial in the future?

       I believe what we need to pray for is the grace to prepare for whatever comes our way. We can’t explain every occurrence and it’s difficult to judge in whose favor God decides, because the truth is we don’t always get what we want.

           That’s why my favorite line from my alma mater is, “Win or lose, it’s the school we choose.” That is to say, it doesn’t matter if things don’t go our way this time — we still know what our identity is.

          I think it should be the same with our faith. “Lord, whether I get what I want or not, I choose You because You know best.” Therefore, God is on everyone’s side. George Gabriel (george.svp@gmail.com)

Refection: Are you praying for something? Trust that God has the best answer for you.

St. Adrian of Canterbury, pray for us.

Jesus will always choose to love. This is the foundation of our relationships. As we deal with our hurts and disappointments, let us remember God’s mercy. Better to love and forgive than to resent and reject.

1 Thus says the Lord: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, 2 not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, 4 until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. 6 I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

R: The Lord will bless his people with peace.

1 Give to the Lord, you sons of God, give to the Lord glory and praise, 2 give to the Lord the glory due his name; adore the Lord in holy attire. (R) 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the Lord, over vast waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is mighty; the voice of the Lord is majestic. (R) 3 The God of glory thunders, 9 and in his temple all say, “Glory!” 10 The Lord is enthroned above the flood; the Lord is enthroned as king forever. (R)

Pope Francis once tweeted that the modern-day Pharisees and hypocrites are the priests who deny the sacrament of baptism to the children of unwed parents. God is a loving and merciful God and will not deny His grace and blessing to a child because of the shortcomings of his parents. Judging others is a serious matter. Let us leave the judgment to God.

34 Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered in the house of Cornelius, saying: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. 36 You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, 37 what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

Jesus is empowered by the Holy Spirit during His baptism. Here again we have a model for our own journeys of faith. The Holy Spirit enables us to overcome the temptations of sin. We need His power to live as disciples of Jesus. Let us receive the grace of baptism and live in holy fulfillment and service to the Gospel.

The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

13 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” 15 Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. 16 After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. 17 And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

think: Who has been the John the Baptist in your life?

Read the Bible in one year  Matthew 4-6

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEARTS

Ever heard of the line, “If you want God to laugh, tell Him your plans”? In the second book of Samuel, King David was settled securely in the magnificence of his palace. Suddenly, he had an attack of conscience and so he said, “Here I am living in a house of cedar and the ark of God is living in a tent… ” (see 2 Samuel 7:2). David realized that the Ark of God, symbol of God’s presence in their midst, is dwelling in a simple tent. So he went to Nathan, the prophet, and consulted him about his plan to build for God a more worthy dwelling place. But the Lord spoke to Nathan that night and asked him to say, “Go tell my servant David... ‘Should you build me a house to dwell in…? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day’” (see 2 Samuel 7:6).

       God was “laughing” at David’s plan. I don’t think God was ridiculing his plan but I believe what God was saying was that He didn’t need a building to stay in. He wasn’t longing for a temple as magnificent as David’s temple. What God wanted was for David to once more welcome Him in his heart. Maybe God was beginning to see David being consumed by the power and prestige of his kingship. Proof of this was that, soon after, David would violate God’s commandments when he took Bathsheba for himself and had her husband Uriah, killed in battle.

         Today is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The Baby born in the manger is all grown up and ready to begin His mission. Today is also the end of the Christmas season in the Church’s calendar. This is the time when we fold the Christmas tree and take down our decorations. As you do, please leave Jesus behind. Jesus does not wish to be confined in a dark corner of your home. He wishes to dwell in your heart. The Christmas season is over, but Christ is not seasonal. Let Him dwell in your heart so that you may desire only that which is good and godly.

       Remember the Christmas story, that line where we read, “And there was no room for them in the inn”? Let us rewrite that line. Let us clean up, clear up, and spruce up the inn of our hearts that Jesus may find in it a warm and welcome lodging all year long. Fr. Joel Jason

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

W. T. Ellis is credited to have said, “It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” Did you have a Christmas in the heart?