Sunday
January 7th

Epiphany of the Lord
St. Raymond of Peñafort

1st Reading: Is 60:1-6:
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

2nd Reading: Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6:
Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Gospel: Mt 2:1-12:
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Reflection:
Do we see the light of God? The Light of God has been revealed in the person of Jesus through the Scriptures. But oftentimes people, do not see its splendor because they treat the Scriptures only as a source of information and not as a book of faith. The Knowledge of the Astrologers to see the signs of the times and the humility of doing their work shows the wisdom needed to see the Glory of the Light of God. Are we inspired by the light of God or do we feel threatened like King Herod?

Let us pray that we may able to discover the Light of God deep within our being. He created us good let this goodness be radiant. He allows us to be steward of His Light, let us be good stewards of igniting the splendor of His Light and be humble in accepting and rejoicing the witness of the Light from others. Amen. Rejoice in the Light of God in you. Identify and affirm God’s manifestation in the goodness done by your neighbor.

Monday
January 8th

1st Reading: Is 42:1-4, 6-7:
Thus says the Lord: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. a bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Gospel: Mk 1:7-11:
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Reflection:
After Christmas, the liturgy shows us the start of the Public life of Jesus. It all starts with the baptism done by John. The baptism of the Lord inaugurates his mission as Messiah revealed in his obedience to the Father and closeness to the poor and sinners. The Lord’s Baptism also reminds us of our baptism, dying to our own sinfulness and rising up as beloved children of the Father. Our Gospel invites to follow Jesus who is to commence the journey that would lead him to death and resurrection.

Almighty ever-loving Father, nourish us with the fire of your saving and comforting love as we tread the path of life amidst trials and problems. Look kindly upon us your children that we may be able to fulfill our roles and responsibilities as Christians, spreading love and generosity! Amen. Nurture the love of God dwelling deep within your heart. Take time to listen to a person whom you do not like to be with. Offer to the least member of your community one of your most dear possessions, like a shirt or pair of shoes, etc…

Tuesday
January 9th

Baptism of the Lord

1st Reading: 1 Sm 1:9-20:
Hannah rose after a meal at Shiloh, and presented herself before the Lord; at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. In her bitterness she prayed to the Lord, weeping copiously, and she made a vow, promising: “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

As she remained long at prayer before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, “How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” “It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the Lord. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.”

Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left. She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downcast. Early the next morning they worshiped before the Lord, and then returned to their home in Ramah. When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, the Lord remembered her. She conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the Lord for him.

Gospel: Mk 1:21-28:
Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Reflection:
Evil in its many forms will always be a human reality we have to contend with. It can dwell in human hearts and can be perpetrated by an individual, a group, a system, or even a nation causing conflicts, wars, and untold human sufferings. One form of evil that has been the subject of intense scrutiny is that of some forms of mental illness that can lead to violent behavior. Yet we do not have to be mentally ill to know that evil can settle in our hearts. In our sinful nature, there is already in us a constant struggle between the forces of good and the spirits of evil.

Although we strive for love, peace and unity, there is also in us a force that works for strife and division. We can be weighed down by our wounded past, tempting us to choose the path of darkness. In today’s Gospel, evil spirits even in a place of worship is confronting Jesus. Invariably these spirits recognize him, his true identity and mission, even confessing his divinity and power over them. As the Gospel demonstrates, only the power of Jesus’ words is able to cast away all spirits of deceit, violence, burden and pain.

Wednesday
January 10th

1st Reading: 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20
During the time young Samuel was minister to the Lord under Eli, a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent. One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.”

So he went back to sleep. Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet. The Lord called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth.

So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the Lord.

Gospel: Mk 1:29-39:
On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door.

He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Reflection:
When Jesus heals, two things happen. First, the person entrusts oneself or an ill person to Jesus as did Simon in our Gospel today. Then, there is the spontaneous response of the person healed—gratitude shown through one’s act of hospitality and service. Whenever Jesus heals, he sends the person from some inner condition to the outer world of relationships and service. These two movements are the healing from and the healing for, since any kind of illness is debilitating.

The healing Jesus brings frees us from any kind of debilitating condition that tends to limit our capacity for life. Faith and healing are closely linked. Faith opens us up to greater possibilities—to believe in ourselves and in God who is the giver of life. When we allow self-doubt to settle in our hearts, we put limits to our capacities and to what can God do through us. Faith teaches us to believe that we are meant for something more and healing enables us to be and to do something more for God and for others.

Thursday
January 11th

1st Reading: 1 Sm 4:1-11:
The Philistines gathered for an attack on Israel. Israel went out to engage them in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. The Philistines then drew up in battle formation against Israel. After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the battlefield. When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said “Why has the Lord permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the Lord from Shiloh that it may go into battle among us and save us from the grasp of our enemies.”

So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of God. When the ark of the Lord arrived in the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth resounded. The Philistines, hearing the noise of shouting, asked, “What can this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” On learning that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were frightened. They said, “Gods have come to their camp.”

They said also, “Woe to us! This has never happened before. Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with various plagues and with pestilence. Take courage and be manly, Philistines; otherwise you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they were your slaves. So fight manfully!” The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; every man fled to his own tent. It was a disastrous defeat, .in which Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were among the dead.

Gospel: Mk 1:40-45:
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Reflection:
As we reflect on today’s Gospel, it makes us wonder who our society and our church consider to be the modern day lepers. Lepers were outcasts of society, banned from entering the city and forced to live under the restrictions of the Mosaic Law until a priest certified them as cleansed. So, Jesus’ command to the leper to submit to this procedure was itself an act of mercy, for only then could the man return to a normal life with his family and friends. Leprosy symbolizes our many fears, anxieties, unfreedoms, and prejudices.

These make us unconsciously project on others something and anything in ourselves that we dislike, deny, feel uncomfortable with and find unacceptable. Today’s lepers confront us with our own biases and prejudices. They make us aware that we are also afflicted with leprosy and that we need God’s mercy and cleansing. Like anyone else, today’s lepers also need love, mercy, kindness, affirmation, forgiveness and hope. For as long as we are not healed of our own leprosy, there will always be “lepers” in our world who will be ostracized, banished, and marginalized unless we reach out to them.

Friday
January 12th

1st Reading: 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a:
All the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us.” Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the Lord, however, who said in answer: “Grant the people’s every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.” Samuel delivered the message of the Lord in full to those who were asking him for a king. He told them: “The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot.

“He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers. He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will use your daughters as ointment makers, as cooks, and as bakers. He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials. He will tithe your crops and your vineyards, and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves. He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best oxen and your asses, and use them to do his work. He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves. When this takes place, you will complain against the king whom you have chosen, but on that day the Lord will not answer you.”

The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “Not so! There must be a king over us. We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles.” When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the Lord, who then said to him, “Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them.”

Gospel: Mk 2:1-12:
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Reflection:
Most of us, if not all, have something within us where we feel shame–whether it is something stupid we have done in the past, or some kind of physical disability, or something we dislike and find unacceptable in ourselves. All these affect our self-image, paralyzing us from moving forward with our life. No one wants to suffer from any kind of paralysis, much less be made a spectacle because of one’s condition. As much as possible we hide our flaws and imperfections from others’ view.

Imagine how the paralytic must have felt when he was being lowered through the roof and made a spectacle before the crowd. He must have felt humiliated when all attention was upon him and his paralysis. But like him we want to be healed of our paralysis and be willing to accept whatever it takes to be freed from our shame and suffering. This is where the compassion of Jesus and the support of our friends can help in our healing process. We need to be forgiven first of our sin against love—our inability to love ourselves and to accept that God loves us. Only God’s forgiving love can enable us to move forward.

Saturday
January 13th

St. Hilary

1st Reading: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1:
There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people. Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.”

Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals. When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.” Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.”

Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish.” Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying: “The Lord anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the Lord’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout. “This will be the sign for you that the Lord has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

Gospel: Mk 2:13-17:
Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Reflection:
If the story on the call of Levi were to happen today, with whom would Jesus be spending time? What kind of sinners would Jesus be eating with? Perhaps not just prostitutes, maybe drug addicts, corrupt government officials and politicians as well. In fact, he will be spending time with any of us who feel the misery of sin. Our sins are the very reasons why Jesus wants to be with us. The punch line is Jesus’ statement: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The example of Levi, a tax collector and thus, a sinner in the eyes of the righteous, gives us courage to approach Jesus and to follow him. I have heard people say that they do not feel worthy to follow the call to join the priesthood, the religious life, or to be a lay missionary, because they are sinners. The Gospel wants to demonstrate to us that when Jesus chooses us, he takes no notice of our achievements or human qualities. Instead he reckons with what is nothing and worthless to humble those who believe only in their own powers and righteousness.