Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus, Naga City | v.2, n.50 | 3 to 9 December 2017
T
giya sa prayer meeting
BE PREPARED
his Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, is the beginning of a new Liturgical Calendar of the Church. It is also the best time to start preparing ourselves for the coming of Jesus, the Christ.
When we knew that a friend of fear. In some part of the Scriptures, Jesus ours will be coming to pay a visit, tells us the parable of the wise SUNDAY what we usually do is prepare the virgins, who waited patiently, REFLECTION house. As much as possible, the and brought with them extra floor must be clean and shiny, and oil for their lamps. Because of their gesture, no traces of dust should be left on they were accepted by the newly wed couple the cabinets, dividers, and window panes. and celebrated with them with joy and We make sure that everything is in order, happiness. and no unnecessary objects and clutters This is the same with what we have in are to be seen. We budget and prepare for our gospel this Sunday. Jesus says “Stay the food: if not the most expensive, at least awake! For you do not know when the Lord well-loved dishes should be served. Even of the house will come.” Since we don’t the plates and utensils should be the best know the time and the day, or even the ones—expensive china and gold-plated manner of his coming, we must be vigilant cutlery. We personally prepare ourselves even more. physically. When the guest arrives, we feel Furthermore, St. Paul says “Throw happy because we know that we have been off the works of darkness and put on the well prepared. armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves But what if we don’t know the time and properly not in orgies and drunkenness, the day of his coming? Do we prepare? not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry Usually, when this happens, we are and jealousy. But to put on the Lord Jesus caught unprepared, and this results to Christ.” embarrassment on our part. We don’t know I think these are concrete preparations what to do, we can’t act accordingly, and we beings suggested by St. Paul for us. Let us are in extreme anxiety as to what the guest prepare by allowing the goodness of Jesus will say to us. flow into our lives. And let the light of Jesus How greater the pressure will be when be the shining armor that protects us. And, we talk about the coming of Jesus. more than that, we must prepare by doing What then is the best solution? good works to others. Our gospel is telling us, this first When Jesus finally comes, even when Sunday of Advent, to prepare always—to be we are not certain as to when it will be, we vigilant, to stay awake—for we don’t know can fearlessly face him, and without shame, when and how Jesus will come again. We accept and lead him inside our homes—our must be continuously awake and ready so hearts—for we are prepared. 4 that we can face Jesus without remorse and — Fr. Nunilon Arnold F. Bancaso Jr.
Marco 1:1-18
Domingo 2, Adbyento (Taon B)
“K
iapinùnan kan ebanghelyo ni Jesus, Cristo, Aki nin Dyos.” An ebanghelyo ni San Marco nagpuon bako sa pagkaumboy ni Jesus kundi diretso sa pagtrumpeta kan saiyang marhay na bareta. Daing paligoy-ligoy, LECTIO tulos na ibinareta ni San DIVINA Marco an dapit ki Jesus na Mesias na magsasakit asin magtitios para sa kaligtasan kan gabos. Sa satong pagtukdo, igwang direkta asin halìpot na magtaram, igwa man na halawig dawa an patara-tara. Pàno ko ipinapahayag an ebanghelyo ni Jesus? Tàno?
“Uya, sinusugo ko an sakong anghel enot saimo: aandamon nya an saimong dalan.” Anghel an apod ni San Marco ki Juan. An ebanghelyo gikan sa Griyegong euangeliou kun sain an eu ‘marhay’ asin an angeliou ‘anghel’. An anghel paradara nin marhay na bareta. Kaya an anghel bako man talaga idtong naglalayog hali sa langit pasiring sa daga. An sisay man na nagdadara kan mensahe kan Dyos sa tawo sarong tunay na anghel. Ini an misyon ni Juan, an pagigin anghel sa pag-andam kan aagihan ni Jesus. Pàno ako nagigin anghel sa sakong pamilya? Sa sakong parokya?
“Nagtunga si Juan Bautista sa disyerto, ihinaharubay an bunyag nin pagbakli para sa kapatawaran nin mga kasalan.” Tàno ta sa disyerto magdara kan marhay na bareta, bako sa banwaan? Makahulugan an disyerto para sa mga Hudiyo. Duman sinda nakamati nin katalingkasan pagkadulag sa Ehipto. Duman sinda nagin sarong nasyon. Sa disyerto man nagigin kabaing si Juan ni Elias. Duman sinda pareho nag-erok, nagdakula, asin nagdara kan marhay na bareta sa buot magbàgong buhay.
Anong parte sa parokya an disyerto para sako? Tàno? 4