with Gospel Reflections
by Sr. Bernardita D. Dianzon, FSP
PHILIPPINES
GOSPEL POWER 2016 [Scripture quotations are] from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Š 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Copyright Š 2015 by Daughters of St. Paul Published and distributed by Paulines Publishing House 2650 F. B. Harrison Street 1300 Pasay City, Philippines E-mail: edpph@paulines.ph Website: www.paulines.ph Cover design: Ann Marie Nemenzo. FSP Layout design: Dennis Ortujan Illustrations: Rexie San Luis All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher. 1st Printing 2015 ISSN 2350-7217
at the service of the Gospel and culture
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God white
1st Reading: Nm 6:22-27
JANUARY
01
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23“Speak to sunday Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, 24The LORD bless you and keep you; 25the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace’. 27So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” 22
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67
May God bless us in his mercy.
2nd Reading: Gal 4:4-7
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. 4
Gospel: Lk 2:16-21
16 The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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ith the visit of the shepherds and their circulation of the news about the great things they had witnessed, all of a sudden, Mary’s newborn Baby became a celebrity. And what did the mother do amidst all this excitement about her child? She treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. Mary teaches us our first lesson for the year 2016. To discover the true purpose of life, the relationship among a chain of events, their underlying meaning, and the response that is asked of us, we need to do as Mary had done—treasure all things and reflect on them in our hearts.
Lord, help us to learn well this lesson your Mother is teaching us, so that we may live the gift of this New Year to the fullest. Amen.
Saturday before Epiphany Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Naziazen
1st Reading: 1 Jn 2:22-28 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98
white
JANUARY
02
saturday
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Gospel: Jn 1:19-28
19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
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hat John does in this confrontation with the emissaries from Jerusalem is to shift the limelight from himself to the real protagonist of salvation history. He does what every witness is supposed to do–tell the truth. He is no opportunist who exploits the misconception about him to boost his own career. His God-given subordinate role suffices for him.
Lord, John the Baptist teaches us our second lesson for this year— commitment to the Truth, which is you, in person. Amen.
JANUARY
03 sunday
Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord white
1st Reading: Is 60:1-6
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. 5Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD. 1
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
2nd Reading: Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
2 Surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, 3and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation. 5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Gospel: Mt 2:1-12
1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” 7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
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sharp contrast is drawn between two groups of people—the
visitors from afar, who knew that a great event had occurred in the birth of a child; and King Herod, the chief priests, and scribes, who lived a short distance from where the event took place, yet remained unaware of it. Wisdom spelled the difference between these two groups. The visitors were called “magi”—wise men—because they were seekers of the truth and had cultivated a sensitivity to divine action in history, and could perceive and follow the signs. Wisdom had opened their eyes to the epiphany of transcendent reality in an ordinary-looking child destined to be a king. Lord, grant us the gift of wisdom, that we, too, may perceive your epiphany in the ordinary events of daily life. Amen.
JANUARY
04 MONDAY
Monday after Epiphany white
1st Reading: 1 Jn 3:22-4:6 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 2
I will give you all the nations for your heritage.
Gospel: Mt 4:12-17, 23-25
12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” 17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 23 He went throughou Galilee, teaching in theipr synagogues and pproclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
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ith the silencing of John the Baptist, Jesus took up the proclamation, echoing the very message of John. But why did both insist on repentance in view of the approaching kingdom? Contrary to expectations, the kingdom that John and Jesus proclaimed would not be manifested in material prosperity, nor in worldly grandeur and power, but in hearts that are contrite, lives that are transformed, and relationships marked by stewardship of one another and of the rest of creation.
Lord, help us to live in continual conversion, that our lives may be a manifestation of the kingdom already present in our midst. Amen.
Solemnity of All Saints white
1st Reading: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
NOVEMBER
01
TUESDAY
2nd Reading: 1 Jn 3:1-3 Gospel: Mt 5:1-12a
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
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he first word that Jesus utters in his sermon on the mount expresses God’s desire to give us the happiness that the world can neither give nor take away. “Blessed” (“makarios” in Greek)... only God can put us in this state, through a radical program of life that unmasks the world’s empty promises of happiness. This program, known as the “Gospel Beatitudes,” builds on a trustful relationship with the provident Father of the heavenly kingdom, and opens us up to a network of caring connections with our fellow-creatures.
Lord, all your saints bear witness that living according to the Gospel Beatitudes is the only true way to lasting happiness. Give us the grace to follow this program of life. Amen.
NOVEMBER
02
WEDNESDAY
Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed green/ black
1st Reading: Wis 3:1-9 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
2nd Reading: Rom 6:3-9 (or 6:3, 8-9)
Gospel: Mt 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples, 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you
DECEMBER
25 SUNDAY
Solemnity of Our Lord’s Birth Midnight Mass white
1st Reading: Is 9:1-6
1 There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96
Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
2nd Reading: Tit 2:11-14
11 The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Gospel: Lk 2:1-14
1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see— I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
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hy did the Almighty God choose to be born as a helpless child in the utter poverty of an animal shelter? It is so mindboggling! It must be to teach us the divine logic—that greatness is found in littleness; power in weakness and vulnerability; fullness in self-emptying. Jesus anticipates by the manner of his birth the very values that he will later teach by word and deed, by his life and by his death. In one word, the reason is LOVE.
Lord, you emptied yourself to bring us to fullness; you became poor in order to enrich us. Thank you for loving us to the point of folly. Amen.
DECEMBER
25 SUNDAY
Solemnity of Our Lord’s Birth Mass During the Day white
1st Reading: Is 52:7-10
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the LORD to Zion. 9Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
2nd Reading: Heb 1:1-6
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 1
Gospel: Jn 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
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t creation, God spoke the efficacious Word, and everything that he called forth sprang into being. That Word—principle of everything that exists— has now put on our lowly nature and become one of us. Creator commingles with creatures in that unimaginable act of love called the Incarnation. Now we have no reason to complain that, “God is out of reach,” or totally alien to us. In Jesus, God has entered into the limitations of our situation to lead us out of the dead end.
Lord Jesus, you are God-with-us. Help us to strive to be present to you as you are always present to us. Amen.