ARCHDIOCESAN SHRINE AND PARISH OF
ST. jude thaddeus
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN Vol. 1, No. 20 | December 18-24, 2016
Say ‘yes’
fr. nunilon arnold f. bancaso jr. “God created you without you, but will not YES IS A transforming word. save you without you.” Our consent and our If Mary did not say ‘yes’ to be the decision are important in the eyes of God. mother of God, and Joseph did not also As Bishop Teodoro Bacani once said in his say ‘yes’ to God’s bidding, who would homily, “every decision that we make has save us? It was their decisive ‘yes,’ that repercussions not only in our own private brought salvation to our world. It is also lives, but in the whole Church and in the the reason why when jesus was doing his world. Our sins hurt not only ourselves or public ministry, he reminded the people, the direct victims of our sins. “say yes if you mean yes They hurt the whole church and and no if you mean no.”We SUNDAY world. On the other hand, when need to have a firm stand. we say yes to do good, all are It is is our conviction to do beneficiaries of that goodness.” the things we promised that forges us to This fourth sunday of advent, Jesus continue journeying towards God despite all reminds us to stand firm to our decisions. difficulties. Our ‘yes’, can make a difference See to it that before we decide on big and beyond our imagination. Kaya something, we need to be mindful of its minsan, nasasakitan kita sa paggibo nin effects. As we face the challenges of times mga bagay na katakod kan satong mga in our country, it is necessary that we katungdan huli ta minsan dai nanggad boldly express our yes or no. For example, pusog an satuyang desisyon. The problems that we face each day can be easily be solved there is no grey area in terms of morality; it is not conditional or circumstantial. if first and foremost we were convince of Anything that destroys man’s freedom, what we are doing. dignity and life is contrary to the teachings The birth of the Son of God was of Jesus, and therefore, we need to be firm realized because two persons made their decisive ‘yes’ to the challenge given by God. in our decision. Jesus didn’t compromised the truth over and above the reputation The gospel this fourth sunday of advent and admiration he could get from the illustrated to us how Mary and Joseph people; he was not a pleaser, he was never a became instruments of the love of the conformist. His conviction was exemplary, Father to the whole of humanity. For sure, even up to the point of saying ‘yes’ to the God could do it alone, but he wanted us whole plan of salvation by accepting the to take part and cooperate with him. He cup of sacrifice. wanted consent from them to allow the Mary, Joseph and Jesus’ decisive ‘yes’ perfection of the nature that is in them. was transformative. We just need to do it. Let us remember that we were created Remember Jesus’ words: “He who is not in God’s image and likeness and therefore against us is with us.” he gave us two great faculties for us to use, As we continue our preparation for his and he respects our decisions in life. God birth, let us learn to make firm decisions. will not intervene even though he can, so that our decisions and freedom will be made Say ‘yes’ if you mean ‘yes’; say ‘no’ if you realized. Even St. Augustine reminds us, mean ‘no’. n
Reflection
GIYA PARA SA PRAYER MEETING
Lukas 2:1-14
Pasko kan Pagkamundag (Taon A) “TUMINUKAD MAN si Jose hali sa Galilea, sa syudad nin Nasaret, abot Judea, sa syudad ni David na inaapod Belen.” Binuot ni Cesar Augustus na an gabos na nasasakupan kan Roma LECTIO magpalista. Kaya gabos nagpuruli sa sadiring banwaan. Kabilang digdi si Jose, dawa ngani madali nang mangaki si Maria. Susog ki San Agustin, kita mga namamanwaan kan kinaban asin kan langit. Kaya dapat nyatong utubon an mga patakaran kan gubyerno asin kan Simbahan. Alagad bakong gabos na patakaran kan gubyerno tama. Sarong halimbawa iyo an Batas Military. An tamang batas naggagalang kan buhay, katalingkasan asin pagrugaring kan tawo. Arin sa mga patakaran kan banwaan asin simbahan an sakong nalalapas?
Divina
“Pinatos nin lampin asin ihinulid sa bahugan; palibasa mayo sindang ibang madadagusan.” Ipinapasabot sa sato na dawa gurano katios an tawo, kaya nyang mag-ataman nin aki. Si Maria ginamit an lampin, asin pinatos an aki na si Jesus tanganing tawan ini nin imbong asin proteksyon duman sa bahugan. Siring kaini kahalaga an buhay, na dapat pangatamanan puon pangidam sagkod sa huring hinangos. Pano ako mag-ataman kan sakong mga aki? O kan magurang? “Igwang mga pastor sa ronang idto...” Ipinapasabot sa sato na dawa gurano katios an tawo, kaya nyang mag-ataman nin aki. Si Maria ginamit an lampin, asin pinatos an aki na si Jesus tanganing tawan ini nin imbong asin proteksyon duman sa bahugan. Siring kaini kahalaga an buhay, na dapat pangatamanan puon pangidam sagkod sa huring hinangos. Handa na kaya ako na magsungko sa pagsamba ki Jesus? n
Kagurangnan, tamungan nin katuninungan an saimong banwaan.