I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve started many projects I didn’t complete. I’ve started many businesses that died at the early planning stages. I’ve made many resolutions that I didn’t fulfill.

For example, I wanted to go into an Amazon business, so I paid for training with a successful mentor to learn how. I still get targeted by this mentor’s ads, but I have yet to earn a single cent from that business. 

I bought various notebooks for my writing, business, and everyday plans. I think I only really wanted to shop for the notebooks because I only used one of them. 

Maybe you, too, have started something, yet fell short of completion. And if you’re like me, you feel foolish for all your unfinished projects.

Today’s verse reassures us that God is not like us. He will work until the end of our days, so that His project—us—will not fail. He who began a good work in us will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Joyce Roa (jsosoban@gmail.com)

Reflect:

Have you taken time out to thank the Lord for the good work He has started in your life? Recall these good works.

Dear Lord, thank You so much for the good work that You have started in my life. May I respond positively to Your grace. 

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us. 

First Reading | Baruch 5:1-9

Today's reading inspires hope in the hearts of the people of Israel. As we move toward the celebration of the birth of Jesus as a man, let us grow in expectation and hope of what this event will mean for us. It is God’s work and nothing is going to get in His way to complete it. We have a sure hope that we will receive the promise of salvation in the end. It is God who saves us. 

¹ Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: ² Wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. ³ For God will show all the earth your splendor: ⁴ you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship. ⁵ Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights; look to the east and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God. ⁶ Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you borne aloft in glory as on royal thrones. ⁷ For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground, that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God. ⁸ The forests and every fragrant kind of tree have overshadowed Israel at God’s command; ⁹ for God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

¹ When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. ² Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. (R) Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” ³ The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. (R) ⁴ Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. ⁵ Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. (R) ⁶ Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. (R)

Second Reading | Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

Saint Paul reassures us that our salvation is God’s job. He is the one doing the work within us. It is important not just to believe, but to also live it out in our lives. Without trust in God who transforms us, we will constantly succumb to the temptations of sin. Only with the help of God will we become holy.

⁴ Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, ⁵ because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁸ God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, ¹⁰ to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel | Luke 3:1-6

It must have been a haunting experience for a Jew to hear Isaiah's words spoken by John the Baptist. Hearing the words associated with the coming of the Messiah must have triggered various feelings. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are faced with the danger of taking it for granted.Christmas comes every year, and thus, it easily loses its unique nature and character. Only once in the history of the world has God become a human being. 

Gospel Acclamation

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

¹ In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, ² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. ³ John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, ⁴ as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. ⁵ Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, ⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 THESSALONIANS 1 - 5 today.

“I can finally see your point!” We often use this expression to show that we have arrived at an understanding of what someone is trying to tell us. Gaining clarity of other people’s ideas takes time and requires a lot of patience. Today’s readings for Mass are all about the gift of sight. Isaiah says, “On that day . . . when the Messiah arrives . . . the eyes of the blind shall see” (v. 18). True indeed, Jesus accomplished this messianic prophecy when He healed, when He brought light to the two blind men.   

If we look closely, what Jesus did to the two is not simply another miracle nor just another proof of His divine power. It is also a profession of deep faith in Jesus as Messiah. It begins with these two blind men who were going after Jesus, calling after Him, begging Him in desperation: “Have compassion on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 9:27). This messianic name, “Son of David,” spoke of their faith in Jesus. It echoed their faith in His healing power. Thus, Jesus posed to them this question: “Do you believe that I can do this?”   

Moreover, in other miracle accounts of healing in the Gospels, to be healed and to be saved by Jesus requires faith. This kind of faith is personal, not intellectual. One may know all about faith, all about who Jesus is, and pass every exam related to who He is, and still not be His follower. Faith in Jesus means: I believe in Him. I believe in His promises. I believe in His power over sin and death.   

If we look closely, there is more depth here than meets the eye because what we have is not just the restoration of the two blind men’s physical sight. They, too, have gained “in-sight” as to the identity of Jesus. They can really see. They can truly see who Jesus is. They have recognized Him as the Messiah. Fr. Rick Montañez, AA

Reflection question:

Having seen the light, do you readily give testimony to the Good News?   

Lord, make us take seriously our baptismal responsibility to proclaim the Gospel both in word and deed. Amen.

Today, I pray for _________________________