Mt 5:13-16

Coming from the Season of Christmas, we celebrated the coming of the glorious LIGHT in the world of darkness, Jesus CHRIST. Jesus came to enlighten us, enliven us with His Spirit, to lead us by His light to the fullness of life in the Father.

Mt 5:12a

In the days of the prophet Zephaniah around 700 BC, the Lord promised to take care of the “remnants of Israel,” the humble and the lowly who seek refuge in Him. It’s not surprising that Matthew premises the Beatitudes with this opening: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven because this theme is deeply rooted in the Scriptures. God has repeatedly shown special favor to the anawim - the poor, the lowly, and the humble, the little ones. The preferential option for the poor is how the contemporary landscape calls this service.

The reading from Isaiah is paired with the Gospel because Matthew sees the prophecy of Isaiah fulfilled in Jesus’ revelation of Himself in the region of Galilee. During this time, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two (2), Northern Israel and Southern Judah. Both, unfortunately, were in a state of decadence and destruction. So, when the Assyrians, the dominant empire of the time, expanded to their southern borders, they invaded the northern tribes of Israel, the land of Zebulun and Naphtali was the first to be destroyed; and experienced darkness. These two tribes of Galilee were once - allotted to the two Sons of Jacob and part of the twelve tribes of Israel.

John the Evangelist uses the theme of the Lamb of God in his Gospel and the book of Revelation. - Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. - The symbolism of the LAMB as an innocent sacrifice originated in the Old Testament. In the Temple liturgy, the priest sacrifices an innocent lamb as a holocaust or burnt offering. The burnt lamb offering stresses the victim character of the offering - innocent, harmless, and endearing sacrifice to depict the Savior, the Lamb of God. The prophets use these unique characteristics of the lamb to refer to the Messiah, the Christ.

Mt 2:1-12

The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord re-enforces the truth of His real identity; that He is the true God and true man, the incarnate Son of God. The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. He is the light of the world, who gives light to all nations. His light invites us into the radiance of the saving promise of God. The Second Vatican Council calls this radiance: Lumen Gentium, Jesus Christ as the “Light of All Nation.”

Happy New Year! Jesus. Like all other years, this year I offer to You, Jesus – at all times and all people, everything belongs to you, Lord. You are the Alpha and the Omega who defies chronology. You are the beginning and the end - YOU are, period! Yesterday, today, and forever. Let us face the New Year 2023 with confidence and trust in God and with a firm resolve to listen more about what God wants and expects of us. In the midst of all the noise and haste, let us take time to listen and be obedient to His Divine Will and Plan.

Happy Birthday, Jesus. You came just on time. You are the eternal word: The Incarnate Word - you came on time. To be seen, touched, heard, and to engage our senses, to be like us in all things but sin. What a privilege we have to be in your company. From now on, we should never feel that we walk alone; because you are with us. You are the “Emmanuel” God with Us. In a very intimate way, in a very mysterious way, Lord, but in a way that we could understand.

The Advent Season ushers the weeks of preparation for the joyous season of the year, the Birth of the Baby Jesus on Christmas. The readings of early Advent bring us to the scene of the call of John the Baptist to Prepare the Way of the Lord. Let us not be drowned by the loud voices of society or the culture that promotes the ways of the world and not the WAYS of the LORD. Let us advocate God's ways, the intangible value of friendship, love, purity, joy, loyalty, generosity, kindness, gentleness, patience, and peace.

Mt 1:18-24

When Joseph hears of Mary's conception, he fears for Mary. He knows the consequences of having a baby outside marriage: the ridicule and condemnation from society; and the possibility of death. He intends to divorce Mary quietly when suddenly - the angel of the Lord appears in a dream: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.

Mt 11:2-11

Leaders come and go. Elected political leaders serve a term and literally have to court voters from where comes their mandate. In some dioceses, church leaders: Priests or Pastors - after the period of their assignment are reassigned to another parish - they also come and go.

Mt 3:1-12

One responsibility entrusted to me as Associate Pastor at St. Theresa in Phoenix was the Marriage Preparation or Pre-Cana Program. I did it for four (4) years, and in those years, I had at least one couple; when asked to sign up for the program, was hesitant and questioned the rationality of preparing for marriage when they already love each other and had known each other for many years. I explained to them that whether they are aware of it or not, they are being prepared for marriage by the secular world. Mass media, print, and social media often highlight broken relationships, infidelities, divorces, and separations as an expected occurrence - couples are continuously being taught erroneous ideas and values about marriage.

Mt 24:37-44

The word ADVENT means coming – the Coming of Christ – but not the coming with His birth on Christmas. Going through the readings reveals His Second Coming. Jesus says that the day of His arrival is a mystery known only to the Father. Seers and self-proclaimed prophets, or safe to say that no human being knows this, no spiritual beings like the angels, even the Son of Man, have to wait on the Father to reveal when this is to take place.

King Saul was the first king of Israel; though the prophet Samuel was not enthusiastic about anointing one for them, he acceded to their clamor. The prophet knew that although this benefited the people, he forewarned them that a king would demand loyalty and service (like God) from his subjects. The warning proved true when the kings of Israel eventually became rivals of Yahweh, more concerned with enriching themselves; of their status and glory than leading people to be God fearing.

Lk 21:5-19

The historian Josephus agrees with the people during his time about the beauty of the temple. He writes: No one except Herod the Great adorned it better - that made the Jews proud of their temple. The massive white stones made it appear (from a distance) like a mountain covered by snow. Gold covers the façade of the sanctuary, and the entrance – is adorned with golden vines for votive offerings; gifts of golden grape clusters dedicated to God draped it.