FEASTING ON THE WORD
"If you meditate on the Scriptures it will appear to you in its brilliant splendor." ―St. Pio of Pietrelcina
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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Isaiah 8:23—9:3 | Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 | 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 | Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17  This Sunday we move further into the series of readings for the liturgical time called in our tradition “Ordinary Time”. Our readings for this Third Sunday in Ordinary Time recounts how the God's people of old experienced the joy of God's light and no longer dwell in the gloom. This light of Christ unites us and bids us to come after him and build the Kingdom of Heaven.
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FEAST OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS (A) Isaiah 9:1-6 | Psalm 98: 1-5 | Ephesians 1:3-6.15-18 | Matthew 18:1-5.10  Being a nation where children comprise 31% of the population (about 34 million of the total 109 million), Filipinos are known for their love of children. When we see children, we are happy. A child is welcoming, comforting and non-threatening. Its power is in its weakness. Its force is its love. It comes as no surprise that we have a long-standing and widespread devotion to Holy Child Jesus after the first image of El Santo Niño Jesus was brought to Cebu and given as a baptismal gift to Rajah Humabon’s wife by Fernando Magallanes 502 years ago. For Filipino Catholics the Holy Child represents a God who is a source of great joy; a God who is accessible to all and can be approached without fear. One can easily notice an image or icon of the Sto. Niño displayed in family altars of homes, schools, offices, community stores and even inside jeepneys.
The Epiphany of the Lord (A) Isaiah 60:1-6 | Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13 | Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6 | Matthew 2:1-12  Originally, there were seven kings from the Orient but only three made it to Bethlehem to pay homage to the King of kings as reported in Matthew 2:1-12. One was led by another star to New York and became Burger King. Another reached Beijing and became Chowking and the last two found their way to Manila to become Tapa King and Goto King!
Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (A) Numbers 6:22-27 | Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 | Galatians 4:4-7 | Luke 2:16-21  Jeremy wants a PlayStation 5 Console for Christmas really badly, but the kid is a real bad seed, and he knows it. He writes a letter to Jesus. "Dear Jesus, if I get a PlayStation 5 for Christmas, I'll be good for a whole week." He thinks about it, crosses out what he wrote, and says, "I can't be good for a whole week, I'll be good for five days." He crosses that out and writes, "I'll be good for four days." Then he thinks again and says, "Can't do that." He gets down to one day and says, "I can't even be good for a day." Then in frustration, goes in his mother's room and get the statue of the Virgin Mary, wraps it up in a blanket, puts it in a paper bag, throws it in the closet and says, "Dear Jesus, if I don't get a PlayStation 5 Console for Christmas, you'll never see your mother again!
The Nativity of the Lord (A)Isaiah 9:1-6 | Psalm 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 | Timothy 2:11-14 | Luke 2:1-14  A Blessed and Merry Christmas to you brothers and sisters!
As we celebrate this Christmas, I'm especially struck by the first words proclaimed after Jesus is born. The angel says to the shepherds “do not be afraid.” These words were also used in the events leading up to Christ's birth. The first thing the angel Gabriel says to Mary at the Annunciation are “do not be afraid.” Similar with St. Joseph, the angel says to him in a dream, “Do not be afraid Joseph to take Mary as your wife.” Why would the first words God has proclaimed to the human race on the birth of His Son be “do not be afraid”? Fourth Sunday of Advent (A)Isaiah 7:10-14 | Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 | Romans 1:1-7 | Matthew 1:18-24  We are now on the fourth Sunday of Advent, and as the song goes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The Scriptures for this Sunday before Christmas focus directly on the mystery of who Jesus Christ is.
Third Sunday of Advent (A)Isaiah 35:1-6A, 10 | Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 | James 5:7-10 | Matthew 11:2-11  We are now very close to celebrating Christmas Day! The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin for “rejoice.” This Sunday is so named because today’s Mass begins with the antiphon from Philippians 4:4,5, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” Some people mark this Sunday on their Advent wreath with a rose-colored candle. It is a joyful reminder that our salvation is near.
Second Sunday of Advent (A)Isaiah 11:1-10 | Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 | Romans 15:4-9 | Matthew 3:1-12  The liturgy of the Second Sunday of Advent focuses on the themes of renewal, peace, harmony and focus on Jesus. Jude sees Grace sitting on a park bench with a dog laying next to her. Jude asks Grace, "Does your dog bite?" Grace replies "no." Jude proceeded to pet the dog, who then jumps up and bites his hand. Pressing his bleeding hand and with tears streaming from his eyes, Jude cries "I thought you said your dog doesn't bite!" Grace responds "That's not my dog."
First Sunday of Advent (A)Isaiah 2:1-5 | Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 | Romans 13:11-14 | Matthew 24:37-44  This Sunday marks not only the first of four Sundays of the Advent season, but also the beginning of the new liturgical year. The themes for this Sunday's Mass are making peace in the soul, family, and neighbourhood; ruling oneself by governing one's passions; and keeping vigilant for the coming of Christ
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (C)2 Samuel 5:1-3 | Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 | Colossians 1:12-20 | Luke 23:35-43  The concept of king and kingdom is at the very heart of Jesus’ message to us. He came to inaugurate among us the Kingdom of God. In today’s Scripture readings we are given the true image of a leader.
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum Archives
January 2023
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