Monday, December 21, 2009

6th day of Simbang gabi - 21st December

THREE WORDS

In today's Gospel reading we hear the story of 2nd Joyful mystery - The visitation of the Blessed Mother to her cousin Elizabeth. Mama Mary who was also pregnant hurriedly went to her cousin when she knew that she was also pregnant. Imagine someone who is pregnant "in a hurry" . . . Let me share with you three (3) words to reflect in relation with our Gospel for today's simbang gabi.

The first word is "COMMITMENT". God fully commited with His love for humanity sent his only Son to save us from sin. God that He was he took a form of a slave, shared the stages of being a child, adolescent and an adult and died for our sins. If God was not commited to us then until now we are still in bondage with sin.
Mary was also commited to the call of being our universal Mother, specially being the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is Mama Mary was not commited then the whole Salvation History would not happen. When Mama Mary when to Elizabeth she was soo commited to visit her cousin who is also pregnant given the fact that she was also pregnant.
Are we commited in our given task? Or we are just commited when the task is easy and we easily give up when it's hard?

The second word is "JOY". When Mama Mary approached her cousin Elizabeth and spoke . . . The baby in Elizabeth womb "leep for joy!" As Mama Mary was commited being our Mother she accompanied it with outmost joy . . . when she said "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. "
St. Elizabeth even in her old age, was full of joy accepting the will of God to be pregnant and bear a son who will prepare the way of the Lord. Zechariah on the other hand, became mute because he did not believe what the angel Gabriel told him but when the baby was delivered he spoke with joy "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he comes to his people and set them free . . . "

The third and the last word is "LOVE". Our salvation history was all because of one word and that is the imense LOVE of God with humanity. It was His LOVE that made him "Commited with Joy."

I remember the story of the Pig and the chicken. They both always see their Master eat his breakfast. One day the chicken told the pig, you know our master likes me because he always eat egg everyday while he just eats luncheon meat sometimes. The pig replied, yes our master doesn't eat pork meat always but there one thing I can say. You just sit there and you produce eggs of which is being used by our master. But as for me I need to butchered before my meat becomes a luncheon meat which he eats sometime.
Let us ask ourselves, are we like the chicken or the pig in the story? If one our loveones needs our life, are you able to offer it for LOVE? If in the near future we may encounter such fate, may we close eyes and somber a prayer that God may help us be commited, full of joy and love!

God loves you more than you know!

RAYMOND SINENSE - MACATANGGA
Lector and Commentator
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Manila Metropolitan Cathedral - Basilica

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MESSAGE FROM THE HOLY FATHER: POPE BENEDICT XVI

The Holy Father's Monthly Intentions for the year 2010:

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SEPTEMBER 2010


The Word of God as Sign of Social Development

General: That in less developed parts of the world the proclamation of the Word of God may renew people’s hearts, encouraging them to work actively toward authentic social progress.

The End of War

Missionary: That by opening our hearts to love we may put an end to the numerous wars and conflicts which continue to bloody our world.

RCAM NEWS:

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Archdiocese Recognizes Parents of Priests

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"IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD ..." (John 1:1) The Word service proclaims, not only the contents of the readings, but also the bigger reality that God speaks continually to his people that we are called to a dialogue with God and with one another. To proclaim their inspired content in the midst of the worshipping community is a ministry entrusted to a few. The manner of proclamation is important for the delivery of the message in order to enable the community to enter into the spirit of the Word. The magnificence of this ministry cries out for the excellence that the Word of the Lord deserves. As lectors at the Mass we transmit that Word to human hearts and minds. The readings remind the people of the vision of the Christian community . . . of the things that truly matter.