My cousin recently gave birth to a baby boy, and she asked me to be a ninong for her baby’s baptism. During the baptism, the priest reminded us of the sacrament’s importance, and why ninongs and ninangs are essential in a child’s life. Godparents do not only give gifts on birthdays and Christmas—we also help the parents raise the child by being examples of how to live as good Catholics.

Can I truly be a good example to my inaanak? Growing up, it was easy for me to love my parents, but I also took for granted their encouragement to attend Holy Mass and Feast gatherings.

I pray that my inaanak grows up to be a loving son with deep faith in Christ.

May the Holy Spirit guide me to be a good example for him.

Joshua Cruz (joshua.c@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

reflect

How’s your prayer time and have you asked for guidance recently?

Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer. It’s a constant reminder that we can always reach out to you. Amen.

Saint Genevieve, pray for us.

First Reading | Isaiah 60:1-6

The image of light is powerful. We use light to dispel darkness and make it possible for us to see. When we speak of light in relation to Christ, a Christian is reminded that it is the light of His truth that dispels the darkness of sin from our lives. Darkness has no place where there is light.

¹ Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. ² See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. ³ Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. ⁴ Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. ⁵ Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. ⁶ Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R: Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

¹ O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; ² he shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment. (R) ⁷ Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. 8 May he rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. (R) ¹⁰ The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. ¹¹ All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him. (R) ¹² For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. ¹³ He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. (R)

Second Reading | Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

As stewards of God’s grace, we are accountable for all the gifts He has bestowed upon us, including the environment we live in and even the knowledge we have gleaned from human studies and science. How well do we preserve our heritage for those who will come after us? Do we care for the environment? Do we use the knowledge of science well?

² Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, ³ namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. ⁵ It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: ⁶ that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.  

Gospel | Matthew 2:1-12

The Magi went to look for the Christ Child because they felt it was right to pay homage to Him. How well do we respect the daily presence of Christ within us? Do we truly recognize His presence, or do we doubt Him because we cannot touch Him with our hands, in the same way that Thomas once did? Christ is with us wherever we may be, and it is our duty and privilege as Christians to make Him manifest to the world. Let us find new ways to do this today.

Gospel Acclamation

We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.

¹ When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ⁶ And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ⁷ Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” ⁹ After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ They were overjoyed at seeing the star, ¹¹ and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Read the Bible in one year! Read JOHN 13 - 16 today.

Reclaim and Proclaim His Holy Name

Once, I saw a Facebook meme of a teenage boy sarcastically thanking his grandma. The reason? For a Christmas gift, he asked for an iPad, and his grandma gladly sent him boxes of eye pads.

The digital age has changed so much of our modern-day vocabulary. The digital generation understands apple, mouse, notebook, tablet, cloud, application, pad, etc. so differently from the previous generations. But this is true not only in the digital world. The following story will explain what I mean.

Once, in church, a child asked his mother who the man on the crucifix was. The mother, quite surprised, plainly said, “Jesus Christ!” Then the child replied, “Shhh, Mom, we’re in a church. Don’t say that word!” The boy, in all innocence, thought that “Jesus Christ” was actually a bad word. 

This is not a funny story. It is a sad commentary on how our world has morphed the Holy Name of Jesus into a meaningless expression of surprise—even more sadly, an expletive of ill intention.

Today, the liturgical calendar celebrates the Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. It calls to mind the circumcision of the Infant and His naming as Jesus. But more than the naming of the Child, this memorial is a call for all of us to celebrate our own naming as Christians. We bear the name of Christ. 

Today, let us make it our aim to reclaim and proclaim the beauty of Jesus’ name and the dignity of our calling. Share the joy of the faith. Plant in the hearts of others the hope for eternal life. Be the lovingkindness of God to others. Make a special effort to show to the world our gratitude for being able to share in the name and in the life of Christ. Let us do this, in Jesus’ name! 

Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

Search, know, and celebrate the date of your baptism—the day you received the dignity of being named a child of God.

Pardon, Lord, for the blasphemies committed and uttered against Your Most Holy Name. Make me a worthy bearer of the name Christian. May my life be a sweet perfume, spreading far and wide the fragrance of Your message. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________