Inspirations at your Fingertips!

4 January John 1:35-42  Bernard Lonergan, a famous Jesuit theologian, is known for developing theological reflection based on the See-judge-act principle.  This may also be the core of today's readings to deepen our faith this Christmas season.  St. John opens the need for proper and sustaining ways for guiding Christian in the ways of faith, lest the evil one corrupts the self with false truths.  For the faith is like a seed planted in a person's heart.  He is like Jesus, "begotten by God".  Sin has no place in this persons heart. But being being begotten, apart from the seed being planted, needs constant nourishment.  Note the gospel for today in the sense of See-judge-act. First, see. "Look, there is the lamb of God."  There are many avenues by which faith is introduced to us as there are a million ways for evil to corrupt our hearts as well.  The looking points to Jesus. Second, judge.  How did the apostles know about J...

3 January John 1:29-34 What is Christmas?  Why did Christ have to become man in order to save us? Knowledge of Christ leads us to a deeper knowledge of ourselves as Christians.  In the 2nd Plenary Council of the Philippines, a study revealed that the Filipino Catholics are "sacramentalized but not evangelized".  This connotes a sad state of Catholicism in the Philippines. To be transformed in Christ means to receive God's forgiveness only through him.  Only Christ through his passion, death, and resurrection is capable of redeeming us from sin.  Second, we are transformed in Christ's holiness.  As we know more about the life, words, and actions of Jesus, we are transformed to his likeness.  He is the Way, the Truth, and Life.  We need to devote the whole of our lifetime to be transformed according to his likeness. Finally, we are transformed to perfection in Christ's love.  We share his love to others, enabling a Church to be bo...

5th day within the octave of Christmas Luke 2:22-35 Blessed are those whose Christmas did not end on December 25; rather, is just starting as of December 25 till today and forever. In the First Reading, St. John reminded the Christians to make their faith tangible and practical instead of being profound and abstract.  The one who knows God keeps his commandments. We are presented with two sets of commandments, the old and the new.  The old command are practical norms of serving God and others.  The new commandment is declared by Jesus, "Love one another as I have loved you." In the Gospel, Simeon was waiting all his life for the consolation of Israel through the coming of the Messiah.  The Jews are generally expecting a temporal Messiah; but Jesus brings much more.  He brings about the total redemption of men and women from sin. This Christmas Season, its truly lasting effects are found in the hearts of men and women.  We may be following all co...

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Matthew 2:13-18  Today, we commemorate the Feast of the Holy Innocents who, despite their state of helplessness, already offered their lives to Christ. Matthew's gospel gave reference to Jeremiah 31:15, about Rachel who could not in any way be consoled because her children were "no more." In this reading, God speaks as the source of real consolation.  All others, material or any other thing in this world could not console us. This Christmas Season, let us offer this day for children, especially those aborted, who at their innocence become the victims of sin, darkness, and violence.  On the other hand, this day is an invitation for us to rely solely on God who consoles us no end.  Remember the Beatitudes, "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Mt. 5:4). Let our Christmas not be a feast about food and gifts.  Knowing that these are temporary, the real Christmas is Christ who is our true source of consola...

23 December Luke 1:57-66 The Christmas story moves on with Elizabeth naming her child "John".  Zechariah was able to speak again. The Book of Malachi is one of the last books that give reference to the immediate coming of the Messiah. One very noticeable theme it gives is on the area of purification: "For he is like the refiner’s fire and the fullers’ alkali. He will take his seat as refiner and purifier; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and then they will make the offering to the Lord as it should be made." He shall restore Israel to its former glory. Two days to go and we shall celebrate Christmas.  But the Lord wants us to purify all our intentions to its pristine form, like John the Baptism and how he lived in righteousness.  Let us enter into our purification process: First, the Lord wants pure offerings - "He will purify the sons of Levi ..." If in the case of the priests of the Lord, they are deman...

22 December Luke 1:46-56 Continuing from yesterday's Gospel, Mary sang her "Magnificat", a song-prayer filled with love and joy for God, our Savior. In the First Reading, Hannah presented her new-born son Samuel humbly to Eli in the temple.  From the very start, she acknowledged that her son was already made, destined to serve in the temple. In these two personages, Hannah and Mary, is reflected utmost humility as condition experiencing the true meaning of Christmas. As we await the immediate coming of the Lord this Christmas, today's readings inspire us to respond through the words of Magnificat or even Hannah's generosity of offering her son, Samuel.  How should we respond to the Lord's gift of himself this Christmas? First, adore the Lord.   Mary adored the Lord, even though she was regarded as "blessed among all women", she said, "My spirit finds joy in God, my Savior, for he has looked kindly on his lowly servant; all generatio...

21 December Luke 1:39-45 Mary, after having learned that Elizabeth would bear a child, proceeded in haste to assist her in her home which was about 120 miles from Nazareth.  When Elizabeth saw her, the baby in her womb leapt for joy. In the book of the prophet Zephaniah, he called out on the people to rejoice with incomparable gladness because the Lord repealed his sentence, his kingship will dwell again in Israel, and he would drive its enemies away. After the conception of Jesus in the womb of the Blessed Mother, what are the conditions of us jumping for joy given this Christmas?  Christmas is truly a time to jump for joy when we learn these three realities: First, "Emmanuel".   God is with us every moment of our lives to the minute detail.  Let's rejoice because our deliverer is always with us.  We experience eternal security in the presence of the Lord.  He is truly a loving God who dwells with us forever. Second, conversion.   We sha...

Friday of the 2nd week of Advent Matthew 11:16-19  Christmas is always a time to renew ourselves to know who the Child in the manger is and how we can consider his offer of salvation. Unfortunately, when people are too preoccupied with worldly things, this offer of salvation is cast aside till later date, perhaps at the time of death.  This is the message of the Lord to hard-headed children, " We played the pipes for you,  and you wouldn’t dance;  we sang dirges, and you wouldn’t be mourners.”   Let us resolve to use each day to know, love, adore, and serve the Lord.  Knowing the Lord does not commence at the end of life, but now. Doing the Lord's commands is not an end-of-life task but entails listening each day for his word. Loving the Lord through others entails utilizing each day to offer oneself to bring life to others.  Then we shall not be sidetracked with the materialistic concerns of preparing for Christmas; rather, our ho...

Remedies to violence Matthew 10:17-22 A day after Christmas and we are exposed to violence: the death of Stephen and the warning of Jesus.  It shows us that this is the world Jesus entered and saved from sin.  It would entail also the offering of his life.  This is our Christmas as well. In the face of violence and in front of non-God-fearing people, the best remedies are trust in the Lord, commitment to serve him, and perseverance in faith. Trust in the Lord because when the time comes, it is the Lord who will speak through us. Be committed to serve him despite all odds, so that when we face our accusers, we can face them with clear consciences. Last but not the least, persevere in faith; in time, we will reap the fruits of this perseverance: the conversion of our brothers and sisters.

The discerning heart Mt. 4, 12-17, 23-25 As we prepare to shift from Christmas to ordinary time, we prepare for the renewal of our baptism.  The Christmas decors may be kept but real Christmas is flowing in our hearts. The best way for Christmas to remain in our hearts is orient it to the discerning heart of Mary, "pondering all these things in her heart." What makes a discerning heart?  First orient that heart to Christ. Second, you will know in the heart which ones belong to Christ and which ones do not.  Test the Spirit; learn its fruits like the fruits harvested by Jesus - goodness and healing everywhere. Third, orient that heart to follow Christ and offer everything to him.

Experiencing Christmas everyday John 1:19-28 Like Mary, let us continue pondering on the wonders of Christmas. John in the first reading seems to be talking directly to a generation that has not seen Christ and yet have faith him. It may not be eye account of the Jesus but that which was taught to them is enough proof for the faith in Jesus to flourish. There are two sacraments that confirm this fact: baptism and confirmation.  In baptism, we are planted the seed of faith.  In confirmation, we are anointed to give witness to Jesus. Let us start anticipating what would happen to us after Christmas.  Let the graces of these sacraments plus the Holy Eucharist enliven our resolve to see Jesus in the sacraments and in us.  And everyday we shall experience the true meaning of Christmas!

Because of you John 1:29-34 What would it be like after Christmas? Would we end up the same persons or something happened that changed our lives and our outlook of life?  Reflect on the words "Dahil sa yo": Dahil sa iyo, nais kong mabuhay Dahil sa iyo, hanggang mamatay Dapat mong tantuin, wala ng ibang giliw Puso ko'y tanungin, ikaw at ikaw rin Dahil sa iyo, ako'y lumigaya Pagmamahal, ay alayan ka Kung tunay man ako, ay alipinin mo Ang lahat ng ito, dahil sa iyo. It is because of Jesus that we got to be like this. It is because of this the God chose to forgive us and called us His sons and daughters. It is because of Christ that we can change. Why are we like this? Because of his presence or his absence.  Why do we choose to do good?  It is because of him. After Christmas, only we can know what happened to us, whether we have grown in faith or lack of it; only our knowledge of Jesus can determine our life and our salvation.