Category: Pastoral Team

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Fr. Reu Galoy Reflections

Called to Become a Child-Friendly Community, A SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION for Feast of Señior Sto. Niño By Fr. Reu Jose C. Galoy

The pastoral visit of Pope Francis to our country is indeed a blessing – a once in a blue moon opportunity especially for those who cannot afford to go and visit the Vatican City in Rome. I wonder who are those who will have the chance to get closer to the Pope and those who will be relegated to the sidelines. My only prayer is that after his visit there will be no story of people being given the special privilege due to Connection, Hype, Influence, Lobbying and Donation because to some extent this is blatant disregard to what Pope Francis wants as well as a betrayal to the theme of his visit, compassion and mercy.

The gesture of Pope Francis to be closer to people especially the poor is driven by his ability to see Christ among the least, last and lost. It is not an opportunity for Pope Francis to mingle with the ordinary people. It is rather a privilege for Pope Francis to celebrate with his flock as a shepherd, Christian faith-life together with the faithful amidst the struggles to living life lovingly and finding faith fraternally. Such an encounter is ministry in reserve – the condition of the faithful becomes the source of inspiration to the pope in exercising his office as servant-shepherd-steward.

Pope Francis is humbly and seriously taking his office as both an encounter and communion with God. Most often than not, positions of authority and function alienates the person holding it in name of protection and security and sometimes ending up as prisoner of it. That is why Jesus wanted people including children to have access to him and would like to teach his disciples to learn a lesson and all of us – our role is to help the people become closer to Christ than to us, including the Pope himself.

The powerful words of Jesus, “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mk. 10:15). Again, Jesus is making use of contrasting images to lead people to understand his point. The image of the kingdom connotes power and prestige. The child on the other hand, represents the inferior and insignificant. Jesus did so to convey his message that the basis to enter God’s kingdom is to be childlike which to me is a call and a challenge to be Compassionate, Humble, Inclusive, Loving and Dependent on God’s grace.

The child Jesus brought light into the world through his birth. May we also try to give birth to a CHILD-friendly environment in our parish and nurture it through sharing the light that Jesus brings in our homes and workplaces.

About Fr. Reu and his other reflections.

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Fr. Baltazar Obico Reflections

“Feast of the Lord’s Baptism: New Life in Christ, Incorporation into the Faith Community”, a Sunday Reflection by Fr. Baltazar Obico, OFM

Introduction: The word padrino or ninong comes from the church religious vocabulary to mean godparents, someone who assist the parents of the child in order that the baptized child grows up to be a mature Christian. They serve as second parents to their godchild that the latter should grow into Christian discipleship. The word padrino has deteriorated into what is known as the padrino system in our culture that is contributive, if not the major cause, to our inefficient and corrupt bureaucracy. It has eroded the merit system; what is important is who is your well placed padrino who can facilitate favors on your behalf, either through employment or juicy government contracts. The deterioration can be traced to reduction of baptism to become merely social events. Chief concern is given to numerous ninongs and ninangs to the lavish feasts for the invited guests. Less interest is shown in explicit religious dimension of the sacrament itself. The obvious result is nominal Catholicism sometimes labeled as KBL (kasal, binyag at Iibing) as those are the only occasions when the baptized go to Church.

Feast/Gospel: Today we celebrate the Lord’s baptism. In Mark’s account, John the Baptist once more professed that Jesus whom he is going to baptize is mightier than he. Matthew therefore expressed John’s reluctance to baptize Jesus due to his awe of Jesus. He perceives Jesus as the more powerful one. All the three synoptics have common denominators of the baptismal account of Jesus. The opening of the heavens, the appearance of the Spirit like a dove, and the voice from heaven recognizing him as God’s beloved son in whom the father is well pleased. And all of them placed Jesus’ baptism as a prelude to his public ministry. Hence the baptism of Jesus is the father’s public recognition of Jesus’ Sonship as well as the beginning of his public life. The same text from the prophet Isaiah 42 was also uttered in the transfiguration story, where the beloved three disciples have difficulty accepting the public proclamation of Jesus that messiahship consists in his suffering and death. The Father is well pleased with Jesus because of his work as a messiah and his life as Son of God is by being a servant, a suffering servant. The baptism of the Lord reminds us of our own baptism. We have been anointed and have been constituted as God’s children.

WORD: In baptism we are made God’s children. Traditionally we have associated baptism with cleansing of original sin; the experience of painful moral weakness in trying to do what our conscience tells us, but also inclination to evil which is called concupiscence. As a consequence we find ourselves in a society structured by sinful structures, injustices and moral aberrations. The struggle against sin must go on, but with our baptisms we are marked with Christ, in dwelt by the Spirit and supported by Christian community. Therefore baptism focuses on our having new life in Christ, not simply washing away of original sin.

In baptism we have been incorporated into the faith, messianic community of believers, the Church. This means our personal relation with Christ is never a private affair but always a loving relation that originates, develops and grows in union with fellow members of Christ’s body. Our baptismal life is never solitary, isolated thing, but a communal sharing with others. Lastly, baptism enables us to share in the church’s three fold ministry of Jesus’ as priest, prophet and king. In baptism we are not only recipients of the privilege of being children of the father, but we are also tasked to
proclaim his message and establish his kingdom by our words, deeds and courageous initiatives. This ministry will entail bringing our baptismal commitment to the political arena.

About Fr. Tasang and his other reflections.

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Fr. Jesus Galindo Health Care Ministry

Health Care Ministry Gives to Rizal Medical Center by Chuchi Quevedo

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Despite the announcement that no classes and no government offices would open due to Typhoon Ruby, the Health Care Ministry members did not mind getting a little wet last Dec. 9. Accompanied by their spiritual adviser Fr. Jesus Galindo, OFM, they went ahead with their plan to distribute 150 ecobags to the Pedia Ward, Medicine, Surgery, and certain rooms of OB-Gyne Ward, at the Rizal Medical Center.

As in the past years, they pooled their resources and asked Elisa Manaloto to buy toiletries from Divisoria. They also included in their gift bags, Ovaltine, Bread Pan, choco bars, apples and a religious calendar.

The patients were all smiles upon seeing them don their Santa hats as they distributed the gifts. Fr. Jesus offered to bless a baby with hydrocephalus. Thanks also to Barbie Young for having lent her van and driver the whole morning.

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Fr. Jesus Galindo Reflections

“Rejoice in the Lord Always” A Sunday Reflection for the Third Sunday of Advent B by Fr. Jesus Galindo, OFM

A visiting tourist left his hotel room on a Sunday morning, looking for a church. He approached a policeman and asked him for directions to the nearest church. He thanked the policeman for the information and was about to walk off when he turned and asked, “Chief, why have you recommended that particular church? It looks like a Catholic church. There must be other churches nearby that you could have recommended.” The policeman smiled and replied, “I’m not a churchgoer myself, but I have noticed that the people who come out of that church are the happiest looking people in town. I thought that would be the kind of church you would like to attend.” [Could it be Santuario de San Antonio? Sana.]

Today is Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday. Joy is all over the texts of today’s Mass: Rejoice in the Lord always (entrance antiphon); enable us to attain the joys of so great a salvation (opening prayer); I rejoice heartily in the Lord (first reading); my soul rejoices in my God (responsorial psalm); rejoice always (second reading). It looks as if the Church wants us to take a break from our Advent penance—although you wonder if any Advent penance is really going on, with all the Christmas shopping and Christmas parties going on!

The first question that comes to mind is: Rejoice, why? What about? Do we have any good reasons to rejoice? What is it that makes us happy these days? Hopefully not just the material frills and perks of the season, such as the Christmas bonus, the 13th month payment, gifts, vacation, extra food, etc. There must be better and deeper reasons for joy. (One of the first gifts I got this Christmas is a book entitled, “14,000 Things to Be Happy about.”)

Today’s Mass readings help us discover the true joy of the season. In the gospel we meet John the Baptist, a powerful voice and a powerful witness to Christ. People were drawn to him because of his austere lifestyle. He made a difference. As somebody once said, “Do not give an explanation of your faith unless they ask you; but live in such a way that they will ask you.” Hopefully we will arouse interest for being forgiving, generous, and honest in business and in politics.

John the Baptist was thought to be the Christ, or perhaps Elijah, or the Prophet. However, he did not take advantage of the people’s mistaken opinion about him. He knew his role and stuck to it. He was not the light, but only a witness to the light. He gave Christ the place of honor. That’s it: Christ, at the very center of our life, at the center of our Christmas celebration; not overshadowed by Santa Claus, not drowned by the glitter of lights and décor, but outstanding and out-shining them all. He is the true source of our joy!

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing.” Amid the noises of the Christmas caroling and Christmas parties, we must strive to find some time and place for silence and prayer in order to keep in touch with the mystery. It will surely enhance the joy of our Christmas celebration.

Finally, prophet Isaiah reminds us that we must provide reasons for joy to others. We must be messengers of joy: “[The Lord] has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor!” Definitely, this reading puts our Christmas celebration in focus. Our Christmas will be truly happy and meaningful only to the extent that we bring happiness to others, and share with others God’s blessings, just as God the Father has shared with us the most precious gift—his only Son. Sharing is another name for Christmas.

About Fr. Jesus and his reflections…

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Fr. Robert Manansala

“Echoes of God’s Love” Book Launching

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November 30, 2014, Saturday, marked a milestone in the life of SSAP guest friar priest, Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM. He launched his first book, Echoes of God’s Love (Homilies for Liturgical Cycle B) at the packed St. Bonaventure Room. The room was filled with parishioners, Franciscans, seminarians, family and friends, who came to show their love and support for Fr. Robert.

Echoes of God’s Love is a compilation of homilies for the Sundays and major Solemnities and Feastdays for the Liturgical Year Cycle B, which started with the first Sunday of Advent.

Echoes of God’s Love is meant for spiritual reading to accompany us in our spiritual journey towards God. It speaks to the heart about the amazing love of God. Further, it challenges us to respond to His love by the way we live and love.

Despite Fr. Robert’s hectic schedule, he was able to complete the book and launch it in time for Advent. Fr. Robert heart-warmingly thanked the people who have supported him to see this dream of his turn into reality.

The official launch of the book were led by parishioners Mrs. Petrona Lim and Nanette Jalandoni. Assisting them were Ambassadors Howard Dee and Francisco del Rosario.

All proceeds of the book sale and donations have been pledged for the Library Upgrade and Renovation project of the Our Lady of Angels Seminary-College.

Interested parties may contact Bernadette Andulte at the parish office or visit the parish bookstore.

This article was written with contributions from Jaja Ledesma and Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM.

About Fr. Robert and his reflections.

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CWL Fr. Robert Manansala

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE (CWL) ADVENT RECOLLECTION

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The Catholic Women’s League (CWL) held its yearly advent recollection with Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM as facilitator. Fr. Robert spoke on advent spirituality to the CWL members, and reminded them that the spirit of advent helps us to live a Christ-like life and to share with others the Christ we have received. Fr. Robert explained that the advent spirit is a contemplative spirit. Seeing God in all things and seeing all things in God.

Fr. Robert also said that advent is a sense of joy. Joy is never received directly, it is a by-product of a deep relationship with God. When we are most true to ourselves, when we are most loving, we then experience glimpses of joy.

The recollection ended on a note from The Joy of the Gospel: The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew.

November 18, 2014
Theme: Advent Spirituality
Facilitated by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM

• Advent is Adventus. This means Coming.
• The season of advent is 4 weeks. It is a time of expectant waiting. and preparation for the celebration of the nativity of Jesus at Christmas.
• Plarousia is at the end of time, all will be transformed by God.
• Advent is the waiting of Christians for Christ’s coming.
• Mother Mary is the model disciple.
• There are three types of the coming of Our Lord:
1. Historical coming of Jesus.
2. Second coming of Jesus at the end of time to judge the living and the dead.
3. Different comings of Jesus in between: Incarnation and parousia by the power of the Holy Spirit; in the sacraments, scriptures, prayer.
 In the events of ourlives, in the church, in society, in the person and lives of the poor.
• “God is at home, it’s me who has gone out for a walk.” (Meister Eckhart, Dominican mystic)
• “Advent means a heart that is ready and awake.” (Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ., priest, , outspoken critic of the Nazi regime who was martyred in a concentration camp in 1945.)
• The starting point – we are already intimately connected with God.
• The advent spirit is to celebrate Christmas more meaningfully so that we receive Christ more and more in our hearts, in our lives, in our families and in our society.
• The spirit of advent helps us to have a Christ-like life and to share with others the Christ we have received. (Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM homily, 1st Sunday of advent, Dec. 26, 2011)
• The advent spirit is about meeting Christ in the sacraments and in the scriptures and in the many other ways through which he comes to us.
• The advent spirit is a contemplative spirit. “Seeing God in all things” and “Seeing all things in God.”
• You can experience a great sense of joy even in the midst of much trouble if we know God is with us.
• The more we receive Christ, the light of the world, the more we become a light to the world.
• Only God can satisfy the vacuum in our hearts.
• Advent is a sense of joy.
• “A sad saint is a bad saint.” (St. Francis of Assisi)
• “A sense of joy is a hallmark of holiness.”
• You experience joy if you truly experience God in your lives.
• When we are most true to ourselves, when we are most loving, we experience glimpses of joy.
• Real joy is never received directly; it is a by-product of a deep relationship with God.
• Joy = Jesus – others – yourself.
• Fear, worry, anxiety – are all forms of atheism.
• Let Go, Let God.
• The mystic spirit/heart is a lived experiential awareness of God’s uniting and transforming presence, immediacy and intimacy.
• “Advent is a time of being deeply shaken, so that man will wake up to himself…The shaking is what sets up the secret blessedness of this Season and enkindles the inner light in our hears, so advent will be blessed with the promise of the Lord. The shaking, the awakening: with these, life merely begins to become capable of Advent…that the golden threads running during the season may reach us.” (Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ)
• Three advent figures: (1) John the Baptist – “The voice calling in the wilderness.” (2) Archangel Gabriel – “The angel of the Annunciation.” (3) The Blessed Mother – “A heart ready for the word to become flesh.”
• From acquiring advent spirit to becoming advent people – “Our hearts must be keenly alert for opportunities in our own little corners of daily life. May we stand in this world not as people in hiding, but as those who help prepare the way of the only-begotten Song of God.” (Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ)
• Advent wreath/candles: “Light the candles wherever you can, you who have them. They are a real symbol of what must happen in advent, what advent must be, if we want to live.” (Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ)
• “This is a peaceful, reticent, but constant shining. This is giving light at the cost of one’s own substance, so that one is consumed in the process. Anyone who wants to comprehend Christ’s message of light…must comprehend this one thing: the mission, the duty to shine, to draw others, to seek, to heal, to do good at the cost of one’s substance…(Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ. Feb. 2, 1941)
• From advent spirit to advent people to advent life: “All of life is advent” (Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ)
• “The entire life is a spiritual journey.”
• “Our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.” St. Augustine
• Joy: St. Paul – To rejoice in the Lord always in the midst of tribulations. (Phil 4:4)
• Joy – more than a feeling state or a mere heightened sense of pleasure. In Christian life it refers to a basic disposition and a fundamental attunement to the self-giving of God in Jesus Christ.
• To rejoice in the midst of suffering puts a strain on our ordinary conception of joy and enjoyment.
• The peculiar object of joy in scripture and church tradition – the revelation of God in Jesus.
• Joy is the ingredient in the very pattern of life constituted by trust in God, in, with, and through Jesus Christ. Every activity and relationship in the service of God and neighbors shares in a joyful quality.
• Serving the neighbor becomes an “enjoyment,” one of the chief ends of human existence.
• Joy is not contingent upon fortune, good or bad, but is grounded in faith that God is creator and redeemer of the world.
• In sum, joy occupies a central place among the Christian affections, yet is also characteristic of all activities begun and completed in faith.
• While ecstatic states of joy may be sought after and experienced from time to time, the principal aim of the Christian life is to serve God and neighbor joyfully. In the spiritual life, God is the supreme joy and the greatest delight.
• Third Sunday of Advent has been traditionally called Gaudete Sunday because the first word of the Entrance Antiphon of the Mass is Gaudete, the Latin word for “Rejoice.”
• The opening prayer asks us to “experience the joy of salvation.”
• The alternative opening prayer asks God to “remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which Christ’s presence bestows.”
• Third Sunday of Advent, it would be a good thing to reflect on what “hinders us from feeling joy and hope.”
• Many specialists of the human heart tell us that the enemies of joy are fear, worry and anxiety.
• Ann Landers, a well-known newspaper editor with a decade old advice column in the Washington Post received an average of ten thousand letters every month. She said that in those letters, the predominant problem were fear, worry and anxiety.
• Charles Swindoll (Laugh Again): “Of all the joy stealers that can plague our lives, none is more nagging, more agitating, or more prevalent than worry.”
• Swindoll: “ We get our English word worry from the German wurgen, which means ‘to strangle, to choke.” Our Lord mentioned that very word on one occasion, ‘The sower sows the seed and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.’ (Mk. 4:1 4-19)
• In a nutshell, when worry strangles our thinking, choking out the truth, we become unfruitful and unproductive. Along with becoming harassed mentally and paralyzed emotionally, we find ourselves throttled spiritually. Worry cuts off our motivaton, inspiration and sense of joy.
• John O’Brian (The Art of Courageous Living): “Worry is debilitating. Fear paralyzes the springs of action. The need for a remedy that will release soul and body from the grip of these twin evils is the paramount need of our day.”
• Luke 12:22-34 (Do Not Worry) 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no store room or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin, yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one o these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you – you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well.
• 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you
the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• The First Reading tells us that we can rejoice heartily when “the spirit of the Lord is upon us” (Is 61:1) because God is the joy of our souls.
• In the Gospel, we have a glimpse of joy in the life and example of John the Baptist. John the Baptist is the one who knows his identity and mission before God; he knows he is not the Messiah; neither is he Elijah. He is the voice crying out for the coming of the Messiah. When we know who we are before God, when we know our identity and place in the world, when we know and do what God wants us to do with our lives, then we find real joy ad happiness.
• True joy is a by-product of having a deep relationship with God and Jesus. It is a by-product of making Jesus the center of who we are, of what we do, of what we have, and of all our relationships, endeavors, and plans. Joy is found in living a holy and loving life. It is found in love, simplicity, innocence, trust, service of God and of others. It is found in losing ourselves in Christ and others.
• Did not Jesus Christ say that the person who loses his life, because of the love he has for Christ, will find it? (cf. Mt 16:25; Lk 17:33) Joy and its increase in our hearts come directly from Jesus Christ, working through the Holy Spirit, His first gift to those who believe in Him. On the night before He offered His life for us, He said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (Jn 15:11) Joy is a by-product and not something that we pursue directly. It is a God-given gift.
• “If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great…Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away and He gives you everything. When we give ourselves to Him we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life.” (Pope Benedict XVI, April 24, 2005)
• “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept His offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew. “ (The Joy of the Gospel)

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Fr. Baltazar Obico Reflections

“JOHN THE BAPTIST AS ADVENT COMPANION,” A SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION for the 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B) By Fr. Baltazar Obico, OFM

Introduction: There is something in the Christmas season that the Church has difficulty dealing with;the preparatory character of Advent to Christmas. This ambiguity is seen here in the Church as two contrasting colors, signifying contrasting moods juxtaposed here. We have the bright colors of Christmasand the sober purple of advent. I think the Church has yielded the animation of the season to the business community. It has adapted itself to the early and immediate celebration of Christmas, thus effectively
glossing overadventus’necessary prelude to Christmas. The market place has dictated the dizzying tempo of the season. John the Baptist was relegated to obscurity and Santa Claus was thrust into prominence as the symbol of the season; symbol of abundance, fecundity and generosity; someone well fed (overeaten), well clothed (overdressed) and bubbling with joy.

GOSPEL:Today the Gospel gives us the figure of John the Baptist to help us prepare towards a meaningful, fruitful celebration of Christmas; not only joy brought about by material abundance but the joy of being reconciled with God and with one another. What Santa Claus is,John the Baptist is not.John appears eccentric when youlook at his wardrobe and diet. He wears a garment of camel hair with leather belt and his food is locust and wild honey. It is not the “eat all you can” burst you will find in buffet meals so much in fashion nowadays. His ascetic dress and wild diet is associated with the wilderness. He breaks its silence with his unsettling call to repentance. His own life is his message. It is in the desert that they become God’s people. It was in the desert that they intimately experienced the providence and nearness of God, something they did not realize when they were enjoying the comforts of Egyptian civilization. Gradually it dawned on them that they are one people, not 12 tribes of Jacob.

WORD:
1) Call to repentance: The Greek word for repentance is metanoia. It carries a double connotation of changing your mind and behavior. It signals a need to go beyond your mindset and allow a new mindset to drive new actions. Repentance begins by entering the desert, far from the maddening crowd. Desert experience would lead us to the appreciation that if people survive it is not because of their own talents and efforts but because of God’s providence. Until we enter into solitude and do some inner work, we will always be a one-sided creation of other people. It is not a question of simple remorse but positive commitment to the way shown him by God. It does not mean simply going to confession; it is asking why I transgressed God’s commandments at all.

2) Bear fruits of repentance: One of the dangers of equating repentance or metanoia to simple
confession and admission of guilt is the absence of change behavior. The same transgressions are repeated again and again. True repentance means new behavior, a new way of living. If Christ were to come to us in a.meaningful way, if Christ is to be more than “ho, ho, ho and a bottle of rum” we Christians have to change our minds with a corresponding change of behavior. The inner voice says we are children of Abraham and that is enough. There is noneed for repentance for they claim physical descent. They are part of the 56chosen people and the fact of their birth takes precedence over inner repentance.

3)New life in Jesus: Metanoiaor repentance literally means a 180 degreeturn; it is turning back to God from a life centered on oneself. A life centered on oneself loses its spiritual character and reducesit simply to its material dimension. Without being conscious of it, the materialistic orientation of one’s life makes us consumeristic, greedy and selfish. This is the root of our transgressions of God’s commands. In our consuming desire to satiate our material satisfaction, we alienate ourselves from our true selves. No amount of material things can fully satiate us; not the 12 thousand Peso Burberry shirt, not the hundred thousand Peso Herrnesbag nor a 30 thousand Peso Iphone; not even your Maserati sports car which can get you in trouble with trafficenforcers. It can only lead us to compulsive addiction to branded products.

4)Brothers and sisters, Santa Claus as a Christmas symbol of generosity, sharing and abundance becomes meaningful only as a result of our response to John the Baptist’s message of repentance. It is not abundance as such that makes this season joyful. Imagine you have all you wish for in your Christmas list, from small gadgets and latest accessories to more expensive amenities, but you have no one to share it with. Imagine how pathetic it would be if you are alone for nochebuena at Solaire or Resorts World. It is abundance shared with others that make this season joyful. We cannot luxuriate in the midst of want and misery. Santa Claus is not any longer in the liturgical calendar.

About Fr. Tasang and his reflections.

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Fr. Sergio Santos Reflections

A SECOND CHRISTMAS, A SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION for the FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT By Fr. Serge Santos, OFM

Our pilgrim church is a strategist. Why so? Let’s take a look. Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King, which declares that our Lord Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. This really means Christ rules the world and the universe and the Controller of our lives and Mother Earth. Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the Advent season and the new liturgical year. Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus, which means Coming. What is this Coming? This is the Second Coming of Christ, which would happen on the day of Final Judgment, when  Christ would turn over humanity to God the Father and Creator. We prepare for this coming so that when this spectacular day arrives, we are ready like the five Wise Virgins fully prepared heart, mind, body and spirit to meet the Bridegroom Jesus Christ. If we are ready and prepared for this Second Coming, which is considered the Second Christmas, we will be prepared for the First Coming, which is the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. This what makes the church that designed the liturgical calendar strategist.

I quote from the ORDO 2015: “ADVENT has a twofold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is  remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of  devout and expectant delight.” (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar, 39). The church divides Advent in two parts. The first part, which begins today until December 16th, urges us to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. The second part from December 17th until Christmas Eve highlights the preparation for the celebration of his birth. (cf. Calendarium Romanum, p. 61)

As we begin Advent today, the church reminds us that Christmas is coming. But it seems that the church is late in announcing this event. Shopping malls and stores and houses have been decorated beautifully since October. Many children have made a list of presents they want to receive. Many adults have bought gifts. Christmas carols are in the air. It’s about time the church tells us to get ready and be prepared.

And yet, in the scriptural readings today we cannot find any idea about the birth of Jesus Christ. Why? Because there are two Christmases we can prepare. The first is the one we are very familiar with, the First Christmas (Nativity). We know Jesus Christ was born like us but without sin. By following his words and example we give meaning to our human existence. Christ has gone to the Father but he will return. This is the Second Coming, the Final Judgment Day (Parousia), which is the coming of Christ at the end of time.

Maybe many of us don’t give enough thought to this Second Christmas so the church calls attention to this event. We want  for sure to go to Heaven. Therefore it is fitting and right to be found worthy for this momentous event. This Last Day is still a secret to us.

“Watch” is the warning of Jesus Christ. We will be prepared if we remain faithful to Christ and to our Christian faith. This holy season of Advent is a great opportunity to look into one’s life and check how one stands with God. Christmas should remind us of the Second Christmas. Question oneself: How would I fare if I were called today from this world? Have I followed the teachings of Christ? Could I get a passing grade? If we find ourselves lacking in preparedness, this is the season to put things in order.

We have the capacity to make the Second Christ either joyful or terrifying. Our loving God does not will evil for us. Jesus Christ wants us to be SAVED! God is giving a wonderful Christmas gift, which is ETERNAL LIFE. The spirit that we can adopt is the spirit of the Second Christmas which is highlighted in our prayer following the recitation of the “Our Father”: “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

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Fr. Reu Galoy Reflections

SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION, CHRIST THE KING By Fr. Reu Jose C. Galoy, OFM

Today marks the closing of the church’s liturgical year with the celebration of the feast of Christ the King. Jesus came as our Good Shepherd and entrusted us to one another. When he comes again at the end-time, we shall come face to face with him and see our worth through his eyes and from our own. We anticipate him asking us: Have you cared for one another? What have you done for the poor and weak among you? Put in another way, only one criterion will matter when the time comes – love and compassion for others.

As followers of Christ, our lives can best be examined on the basis of what we have done to alleviate six conditions of poverty and suffering: hunger, thirst, exile, nakedness, illness, imprisonment. Jesus tells us that our faith in God is manifested in our action in behalf of compassion and in the passion and perseverance with which we pursue the work to combat these inhumane conditions.

The kingship of Christ is not one of dominion, power and control. His kingdom is not about building empires, about prestige and popularity. Rather, it is the kingdom of love, service, justice, reconciliation and peace. It is about the transformation of our hearts into his vision – that all may have life and have it to the full or abundantly.

Jesus uses the image of the final judgment not to scare us as to what will happen at the end of the world but to teach us on the one essentials of life, on what really counts or matters. This gives us an opportunity to evaluate what concerns us in developing a healthy and joyful life. This gives us a chance to look at our service as an act of deep faith.

And so on in this feast of Christ the King we ask ourselves: What holds dominion over us? What drives us in this life? How are we growing in Christ’s vision? Are we becoming Eucharist to one another? How are we working for the transformation of our world and of our community into a kingdom of love, peace, reconciliation and service?

Perhaps, truthful answers to these questions will reveal to us that we have other gods that capture our allegiance and attention. The image of the last judgment is not only serving those in dire need. Rather it is a about serving God, for the neighbor in need is no other than Christ himself.

About Fr. Reu and his other reflections.

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Fr. Jesus Galindo Reflections

“You are God’s Building.” SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION By Fr. Jesús Galindo, OFM for Dedication of the Lateran Basilica A

Business and religion have always gone together. They did in the time of Jesus and they do so now—with a slight difference: In Jesus’ time, they brought business to the temple; now, we bring the temple to business centers (malls, banks, government offices, etc.). Fund-raising activities are a usual occurrence in most parishes. Attached to most churches are stores selling religious articles. Clerks in parish offices are busy collecting all sorts of fees; and collection boxes are strategically located in our churches.

Jesus, though “meek and humble of heart,” got quite angry when he saw the vendors and money changers in the temple of Jerusalem. He threw them all out, as we read in today’s gospel. Those people, bible scholars tell us, were doing a legitimate service to worshippers by providing the unblemished animals needed for the sacrifice (Ex. 12:5), and the shekel coins used to pay the temple tax (Ex. 30:13; Mt. 17:24). Perhaps it was their overpricing and exploitation that irked Jesus.

We read today the gospel passage about the cleansing of the Temple in connection with the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. For over 300 years Christians had no churches; they met in private homes and in the catacombs. When emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, he made it the official religion of the State and donated to the Church the palace he had acquired from the Laterani family. Said palace was transformed into a basilica—the official residence of the Pope. Thus, the Lateran Basilica is considered the Mother of all Christian Churches.

All religions have places of prayer and worship (churches, mosques, synagogues, ashrams, etc.) where God is believed to be present, or where God’s presence is more intensely felt. Sometimes they are referred to as the “house of God.” In today’s gospel, Jesus calls the Temple “my Father’s house.”

We know that God dwells in the whole wide universe. He cannot be confined in any physical structure, in any temple, no matter how ornate and how large it may be: “The Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands” (Acts 7:48). Jesus promised his presence, not to any physical structure, but to the community gathered in his name: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20).

It was Jesus himself who introduced a new concept of temple. When the Jews, after the cleansing of the temple, asked him for a sign, Jesus pointed to his own body as the temple where God dwells: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn 2:19). In today’s second reading, St. Paul says: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God?” God then dwells in people, not in buildings. Perhaps this is the reason why Jesus never built any church or chapel but rather spent his time feeding the hungry and healing the sick—God’s temples.

The pastoral implications are clear: Important as it may be to have a beautiful church building, it is by far more important to have a beautiful community. The church building should be the mirror of the community using it. It is incongruous to have a beautiful church while the parish community is rocked by intrigue and division. People won’t like to go to a church that houses a broken community. In most parishes, the largest bulk of the budget goes to construction and repairs of the church and convent. If we really believe that people are God’s living temple, then we have to re-assess our pastoral priorities and invest more on people and less on structures.

About Fr. Jesus and his other reflections.

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