The Christian prophetic message is a the heart of Christianity. These faith convictions cannot be silenced through rejection or prejudice. Hence, as Christians, we are all called and commissioned by God to be prophets. Prophets who speak and live out the truth without fear or favour.
The assembly of the people of God is the living body of Christ: the inclusive Church for all. The Church is not just a building or a place of gathering. The Church is a body created by God the Father, saved by God the Son and governed by the Holy Spirit who sanctifies it. The purpose of the Church as a living institution alive and active and constantly undergoing transformation and reformation is the topic of the readings today.
Our lives are full of complexities, but the best solution to these challenges or problems is through the intervention or prayer of Mary. With Mary powerful intercession, whatever difficulties there are in our lives, marriages, families, communities, societies, churches, or the world have quick and effective solutions. Jesus would never deny his dearest mother anything, even when his intervening time is not due.
The Christian baptism is our profound commitment and mission to Christ and his kingdom. It is not just a mere religious ritual or rite of sacred oil, water and words pronouncement. Actually, the sacrament of baptism opens us up to the grace of God and the Christian life.
The Solemnity of the Epiphany is the manifestation of the universal salvation of Christ to the whole wide world. Fundamentally, the Epiphany demonstrates to us that God is a God inclusion. God does not exclude anyone or anything from his saving grace and mercy.
There is no time more appropriate to consecrate ourselves to the patronage of Mary, Mother of God, more than the beginning of a new start of the year. Usually, the New Year start is always one that is apprehensive, tense and worrisome for all with a mixed feeling of hopes and fears for the future. These feelings are normal, natural and human. Yet, they invite us to have recourse to God and his divine plan and promise for us.
The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph reminds us of love, peace, and unity, which are the basics of the Christian family. The Holy Family is a perfect model of family life today in our society. Especially as many have lost the sense of family through governmental and media disorientations. The instrumental tools of Satan destabilized the most fundamental nucleon of the world.
There is no doubt that Christmas is a festive celebration of peace on earth to men and women of goodwill. This is the most beautiful declaration of the angels to the humble shepherds on the night of Christmas. When heaven and the earth were united at the birth of the Saviour and the Prince of Peace. The angels sang beautifully to the whole wide world: Glory to God on High and peace on earth to men (women) of goodwill.
The joy and celebration of Christmas are in the little or insignificant things of our daily human and Christian lives. Where God comes to meet us. It means we all need the grace to be conscious of the little joys, gestures, words, actions and contacts we make with God and others during this holy season. Christmas challenges us to see great things happening in human history and around us in the most insignificant ways.
The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe invites us to see Mary as the herald of joy and peace to the human race. The coincidence of celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the 3rd Sunday of Advent is one of Joy. A Sunday is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete means rejoice.