This coming January 09, 2020, we'll be celebrating two special occasions. First, the 118th Birthday of the founder of Opus Dei, St. Josemaria Escriva and second, the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene (in the Philippines).
In these past days, I was trying to figure out what St. Josemaria Escriva and the Black Nazarene had in common. We'll thanks to a priest-friend of mine I saw the answer to my question: the devotion to the Holy Cross. Because during the Mass in honor of the Black Nazarene, the propers are taken from the Holy Cross and at the same St. Josemaria has this wonderful devotion to the Holy Cross. In fact he has this beautiful aspiration which he says, In laetitia, nulla dies sine cruce!, “In joy, not a day without the Cross!”. And would use this to encourage himself “to carry the Lord's burden with generosity, always with good humor, though often it means going against the grain" (Letter, 2 Feb 1945, noted in Vasquez de Prada, The Founder of Opus Dei, Vol. 2, p.454). All of us, have our own crosses in life, may it be in the form of illness, pain, natural calamities, trial, challenge, or struggle, but whenever we carry it, we carry it with good humor. You would see people, especially Filipinos, smiling amidst these forms of struggles. This what other countries admire about us, Filipinos, we are resilient as well as we are able to face difficult situations with a smile in our faces. As a matter of fact, the former Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia said in his speech at Manila Cathedral last December 8, 2019, "What I like of the Filipino people is that you are always smiling, even if you are suffering in your heart." So what does this have to do with the Black Nazarene? I'm sure some of you will ask. Well the image of Jesus, the Black Nazarene, is shown in a genuflecting posture, symbolizing the agony and the weight of the cross with the pain Christ endured during his Passion. As Filipinos, we can all relate to the image of the Black Nazarene as we carry our crosses daily and even at one point experienced pain and agony out of it. But you would also notice our Lord Jesus Christ, in the image of Black Nazarene is looking up to heaven offering His suffering to His Father - Our Father - God. It is natural to abhor suffering. But suffering is integral to our human nature—not only to our “wounded” human nature but also to our “authentic” human nature, because man is, in essence, the union of spiritual soul and material body. All matter tends towards disintegration; our material bodies will eventually fail, and therefore require a separation from our spiritual souls—death—in principle, a process necessarily painful because of the intimate union of body and soul in man. It is only by uniting them with Christ’s that our own sufferings can make sense or have meaning—so as to be bearable to the rational mind—as a means for sanctification, the way to our eternal happiness. Thus, our Lord says, “my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Mt 12:30). Our Lord Himself said: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mt 16:24). There is no Christianity, no sanctity, without the cross—which is understandably “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23) of every age and culture. “The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle” (CCC, No. 2015). We need to do penance, for our sins and those of others, as the Apostle Paul says: "In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church" (Col 1:24). Jesus, is teaching us indeed that the secret to carrying our crosses with joy is to look up and offer it to God. Let us not be afraid of the cross but rather embrace it and carry it for the rest of our lives. After all, we are never alone in carrying it because Jesus is carrying it with us. Yes our cross is painful, our cross is not easy to bear. But in the cross lies our hope and our sanctification. O Jesus, the Black Nazarene, have mercy on us! St. Josemaria Escriva, pray for us! Ninth day- Misa De Gallo
December 24, 2019 Readings: 2nd Samuel 7:1-5.8-12.14.16 Psalm 89 Luke 1:67-79 Ngayon ay nasa huling araw na tayo ng ating Misa de Gallo. Sa mga nakabuo ng Misa de Gallo, congratulations po at nag-persevere tayo hanggang sa huli. Sa mga hindi nakakumpleto, ok lang po iyan. Ang mahalaga ay ang ating intensyon na dumalo sa Misa upang makinig sa salita ng Diyos at tanggapin Siya sa Banal na Pakikinabang bilang paghahanda sa Kanyang pagdating ng Pasko. St. Josemaria Escriva said: Christmas time. You write: “Together with the holy expectation of Mary and Joseph, I also impatiently await the Child. How happy I shall feel at Bethlehem! I have a feeling that I won’t be able to contain this joy without bounds. Yes! but, with Him, I also want to be born anew.” —I hope you really mean what you say! (The Furrow, 62) Indeed, on this last day of our Misa de Gallo, we have this unexplainable feeling of longing and excitement na ilang oras na lang dadating na si Hesus. Dadating na ang Pasko. If you pay attention during our Misa de Gallo, specifically, from Dec. 17-23 we recited the famous ‘O’ antiphons. Sapientia (Dec. 17), Adonai (Dec. 18), Radix Jesse (Dec. 19), Clavis David (Dec. 20), Oriens (Dec. 21), Rex Gentium (Dec. 22), and Emmanuel (Dec. 23). Now if you take the first letters of each of the ‘O’ antiphons and arrange it from last to first, it will form a Latin acrostic “ERO CRAS” which means, “Tomorrow I will come”. Today, we are reminded that Jesus is indeed coming tomorrow on Christmas day. So the question that I would like to ask you, brothers and sisters in Christ is, are you ready for His coming? Handa na ba kayo sa kanyang pagdating? Whenever our families and friends would tell us that they would spend and celebrate Christmas at our place, we go the extra mile in preparing for their said visit. From cleaning the house, decorating the place, buying and preparing the food and many more. However, are we willing to go the extra mile in preparing for the coming of Jesus? Simple lang po ang paraan upang tayo ay maging handa sa kanyang pagdating. First, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Sa pamamagitan ng pangungumpisal ay nagiging malinis ang kaluluwa and our souls become a worthy dwelling place when the Lord will come into our lives. With this, on our last day of our Christmas Novena, I would like to encourage everyone na bago magpasko tayo’y mangumpisal at magbalik-loob sa Panginoon Diyos. Second, receive Holy Communion. Well, sa pagdalo natin dito sa Misa de Gallo ay natatanggap natin ang Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Pakikinabang. At sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Pakikinabang, nakakatanggap tayo ng grasya at biyaya na kinakailangan natin upang maging handa sa pagdating ni HesuKristo. Last, pray to our Blessed Mother Mary. Kung tutuusin ang Misa de Gallo naman ay isang Nobena sa karangalan ng Mahal na Birhen (o partikular sa Birhen de la O). Sa pagdalo natin nitong nakaraang siyam na araw, tayo’y humihingi ng tulong at gabay sa mahal na Birhen upang maging handa at marapat tayo sa pagdating ng kanyang Anak ang Panginoong Hesukristo. Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we end our 9-days Misa de Gallo, let us give thanks to the Lord our God in the same way as Zechariah did in our Gospel today. Let us thank God for the graces and blessing in which He showered upon us throughout the 9-days novena. Let us thank God for the answered prayers granted to us as we strive to participate in these past 9-days. But most of all, let us thank God, for out of His love and mercy, He gave us the greatest gift of all, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh. ERO CRAS: Tomorrow I (Jesus) will come. Let us prepare ourselves in welcome Him filled with gratitude in our hearts, peace in our souls and joy in our whole being. Eighth day- Misa De Gallo
December 23, 2019 Readings: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24 Psalm 25 Luke 1:57-66 A day of salvation, of eternity, has come for us. Once again the call of the Divine Shepherd can be heard, those affectionate words: Vocavi te nomine tuo — I have called you by your name. Just like our mother, he calls us by our name, even by the name we were affectionately called at home. —There, in the depths of our soul, he calls us and we just have to answer: Ecce ego quia vocasti me —here I am, for you have called me, and this time I’m determined not to let time flow by like water over rounded stones, leaving no trace behind. (The Forge, 7) If you have read (or been part of the play) “Romeo and Juliet”, I’m sure you are familiar with this famous line: “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.” -Romeo and Juliet, Act II Scene II Noticed that in this line, Juliet is prevented from marrying Romeo because of his name being a Montague who happens to be in a feud with the Capulet clan [specifically Juliet’s parents]. This explains why the two star-crossed lovers tend to meet in secret. Our names can be at times a blessing and a curse in this world. But for every person that has a name there is a meaning, a reason and a mission behind that said name. In the Gospel today we hear how Elizabeth gave birth to her baby boy and when the time came that the said baby boy was to be named majority said that it would be best if the boy would be named after his father, Zechariah, so it means, in modern context, he will be named Zechariah Junior. But Elizabeth however had other plans, inspired to follow God’s plan she wanted to name the boy “John”. Just as how the angel told Zechariah about naming the boy “John” during the annunciation of his birth. Since both parties could not agree on regarding the name of the said baby boy they opted to ask his father, Zechariah and whatever name Zechariah may give to the boy would be the final decision. Zechariah still being mute at that time asked for a tablet so he could write down the name of the boy and he wrote there “John is his name.” At that moment because Zechariah believed and trusted in God’s plan by writing the name in which the angel instruction to him, he was able to speak again. Oh, how John’s name is indeed a blessing and a miracle for Zechariah. Because of the name he was able to speak again. With this Zechariah wondered, “What then will this child be?” All of our lives by the names we hold we also tend to ask that question, “What then will I be?” It’s like a similar question to: Who am I? What is my purpose? Where do I belong? Sometimes the answers to those questions lie in our name. For example, my name means two things: (1) God is gracious and (2) little or humble. May be my purpose in this world is to show to others how God is gracious especially to the little or humble ones. Who knows? Our life here on earth is a journey. A journey towards self-discovery, knowing our purpose here on earth and embrace God’s calling to us whatever vocation it may be. All we have to do is pray and trust in God’s plan for us and keep on walking with Him until we find eventually our place and our role in establishing God’s kingdom here on earth. Just like the story of Romeo and Juliet, we should not judge nor hate other people just because of the name they bear or the name reminds them of their grudges with other people similar to that name. Rather give them a chance to prove themselves and see their potential in bringing out the best in them thus giving justice to their name and through that name, they will be forever remembered for the good that they have done. All because they are faithful, obedient and trusting in the Lord and His will. “What's in a name? A name can bear a meaning in your life, the reason for your existence, your purpose in here on earth and the mission in which God has entrusted upon you, me and everyone.” Sixth day- Misa de Gallo
December 21, 2019 Readings: Song of Songs 2:8-14 Psalm 33 Luke 1:39-45 On my way back home (galing ako sa isang mall to buy Christmas errands) I rode a jeep and because of Christmas rush, the jeep was full of people. Actually correct that statement: The jeep was overloading with passengers. There was a young student “na umangkas” at the back of the jeep now here is the touching part of the story, there was a sales clerk. She noticed that the young student was exhausted from holding on to the back of the jeep and out of her generosity; she offered the young student a paper bag to be placed on the floor of the jeep so the student could sit. Indeed I was touched with what the sales clerk did though the act is simple the impact was great. As Christmas approaches we are reminded with a famous quote, “It is better to give than to receive.” This Christmas is the season in which generosity and the spirit of Charity burns within us. How I wish everyday would be Christmas because if it is every day there would be sharing, every day there would be love, every day there would be peace and every day good will reign on earth. In the Gospel today we hear the second Joyful Mystery, the Visitation. Here we see how Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth and looking at it further we saw how Mary shared her blessing, the child in her womb, not only to Elizabeth but to John also who was in the womb of Elizabeth. The best way I could describe the scenario of the Gospel is to use the meditation of St. Josemaria Escriva’s Holy Rosary, particularly on the Second Joyful Mystery: By now, my little friend, you have no doubt learned to get along by yourself. —Joyfully keep Joseph and Mary company... and you will hear the traditions of the House of David: You will hear of Elizabeth and Zachary, you will be moved by Joseph's pure love, and your heart will pound whenever there is mention of the Child who will be born in Bethlehem... We walk in haste towards the mountains, to a town of the tribe of Judah (Luke 1:39). We arrive. —It is the house where John the Baptist is to be born. —Elizabeth gratefully hails the Mother of her Redeemer: Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb! —How have I deserved to be thus visited by the Mother of my Lord? (Luke 1:42-43) The unborn Baptist quivers... (Luke 1:41) —Mary's humility pours forth in the Magnificat... —And you and I, who are proud —who were proud—, promise to be humble. Indeed when Mary received the good news about her conception of Jesus in her womb. She did not selfishly keep it all for herself. But she thought of the common good and decided to share the good news and the blessing to all especially to those in need. This is indeed a humbling experience for Elizabeth and John (who was still in his mother’s womb at that time) to be visited by our Lord Jesus Christ together with her mother and ours, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Brothers and sisters in Christ, the challenge today in our Gospel is that for every good news and blessing we received from God; do we share it with others especially to the less fortunate? Whenever God gives us graces and blessing there is indeed a reason behind it and that is to share it. “Share your blessings” another quotation that should motivate us not only this coming Christmas season as well as for the rest of our lives. As Mary shared to the world her Son, the greatest blessing in the world; may we be inspired by her example to share too what we have and what we can for others. By doing this so, we can feel and experience indeed the spirit of Christmas and that is the spirit of generosity and the spirit of charity to all our brothers and sisters. Fifth day- Misa de Gallo
December 20, 2019 Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24 Luke 1:26-38 Let us continue where we left off yesterday, in Gospel about the Annunciation of the Birth of John, the angel Gabriel told Zechariah the good news but he did not believe because it defied every human and even medical expectation that Elizabeth though old and barren was able to conceived and bear a son. With this because of his doubt in God’s surprise he became mute and he will be able to speak again when the right time comes. We hear another Annunciation in the Gospel today only this time it is the Annunciation of the Birth our Lord Jesus Christ. With this, I would like share with you a reflection on this beautiful Gospel in the words of St. Josemaria Escriva. He said: Don't forget, my friend, that we are children. The Lady of the sweet name, Mary, is withdrawn in prayer. You, in that house, are whatever you want to be: a friend, a servant, an onlooker, a neighbour... —I, at this moment, don't dare to be anything. I hide behind you; full of awe, I contemplate the scene: The Archangel delivers his message... Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco? —How shall this be done since I know not man? (Luke 1:34) Our Mother's voice brings to my memory —by contrast— all the impurities of men.... mine too. And then how I hate the low, mean things of the earth...What resolutions! Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.— Be it done unto me according to Thy word (Luke 1:38). By the enchantment of this virginal phrase, the Word was made flesh. (Holy Rosary, 1) Brothers and sisters in Christ, there are two lessons I would like to share with you base in the Gospel today: 1. Trust in God Expect at times what God has planned for us does not match with our personal plans. Sometimes we even tend to question God plan and His timing as well, and I cannot blame those people because again the limitation of the human mind hinders them to give their complete trust in God. I mean in reference to the Old Testament in terms of Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his son, if we try to look this situation with our human mind, we would think God is a murderer. But as we hear in the story of Abraham it was just a test of His faith and trust in God. When God saw that Abraham was about to do what God asked him to do. He was convinced of Abraham’s faithfulness and sent an angel to prevent Abraham in killing his own son. The annunciation of the birth of John and Jesus, in the New Testament proves that indeed God can make the impossible things possible. All we have to do again, as I mentioned in my previous homily is to stop questioning God and begin to put your trust in Him and His plans for you, for me and for everyone who believes in His will. 2. Obedient in the will of God “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” We hear the famous fiat of Mary. Her we see how Mary submits herself and becomes obedient to the will of God. Remember throughout Mary’s life she was obedient to God. Even to the point of seeing her Son dying on the cross she never question God and at the end of her life she was rewarded for her obedience. Indeed Mary is the greatest model in term obedience to God and we should be inspired as well as trying our best to imitate her obedience to God and His will. Though it is not easy to follow the will of God for we may expect trials and sufferings upon following His will but we should not give up but rather strive every day that we may stay obedient to the will of God so at the end of our lives here on earth we may be rewarded by God for our obedience to Him. Trust and obedience to God are the keys on order to live a life that is very fulfilling here on earth and also the secret in order to attain full of grace from God. May all of us whenever we experience God’s extraordinary surprises learn to trust in His works in us and be obedient in following His will. Allow me to end this with a famous Pinoy quotes/prayer that we often utter whenever we experience trials and sufferings but still not surrendering our obedience to God. “Anuman ang mangyari sa buhay ko. Ikaw na Diyos ko ang bahala sa akin.” Fourth day- Misa de Gallo
December 19, 2019 Readings: Judges 13:2-7,24-25 Psalm 71 Luke 1:5-25 “Impossible is nothing.” -Muhammad Ali/ Adidas’ slogan Indeed God is a God full of surprises. Sometimes He would make unexpected surprises in our lives and sometimes He would make a kind of surprise that defies all human and worldly standards. He would to defy medical standards like heal a person with cancer or incurable diseases. He would defy space, time, science and even laws of physics. Most of all He would defy the ordinary routines of everyday people through miracles, apparitions and interventions. In the First Reading and in the Gospel today we hear how God’s surprise defied medical science as the wife of Manoah and the wife of Zechariah, both barren and Elizabeth advance in years, both were able to conceived and bear a son. However, the reaction between Manoah and Zechariah in receiving the news is where the difference lies. In our First Reading, there was no reaction (either positive or negative) from Manoah upon receiving the news that her wife though barren would eventually conceived and bear a son. With this, I assumed that Manoah accepted and took delight in this wonderful news. Manoah may have taught us that in receiving this kind of surprise by God we should rejoice and be glad as well as thank God for the wonderful surprises that He has given to us and for blessing in which we receive from Him every day in our lives. No matter what God’s surprises are in stored for us, we should accept this with joy and not with a heavy heart. The Gospel we see a different scenario, the Angel Gabriel announces to Zechariah the good news, God’s surprise, for the couple that Elizabeth, though barren and advance in years was able to conceived and bear a son. However, Zechariah did not take the news very well and tends to question God’s surprise. With this, he became mute because he did not believe the good news from the Angel Gabriel. We tend at times to question God’s surprise and we cannot blame ourselves as well especially when His surprises are the extraordinary ones. Our human minds are only limited to what we see in the world and what the definition “normal” is and the “standards” in which the world defines. But God, at times, goes against the standards of what is normal in the world; that is why we tend to call it as a “miracle” because it goes against what is normal and we give due credit to God for making what it seems to be impossible, possible. St. Josemaria Escriva said, “Let me assure you, it's something which I have touched with my own hands and seen with my own eyes, that, if you trust in God's Providence, if you abandon yourselves in his all-powerful arms, you will never lack the means to serve God, his Holy Church and the souls of men; and this without having to neglect any of your duties. You will then rejoice in the joy and peace which mundus dare non potest, which possessing all the goods of the world cannot give. (Friends of God, 117)” With this, brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day of our Misa de Gallo God challenges us to try to look at things in another perspective. The things and events that we think seems to be impossible try to look at it with eyes of faith because there will you understand that God really make the impossible things, possible, because He loves us so much and He would do everything out of His love for His children. All we have to do is to stop questioning, to stop doubting and to start believing and trusting in the power of God. Allow me to end this with a quote from Luke 1:37 as a reminder for us the whenever we experience these extraordinary surprises from God that defies all human and worldly standards, always remember: “For nothing is impossible with God.” Third day - Misa de Gallo
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