Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus, Naga City | v.3, n.49 | issn 2599-5030 | 2 to 8 December 2018
“S
giya sa prayer meeting
STAND TALL
tand tall, stand proud” is a line from the song Voices That Care composed by David Foster and friends in 1991 to boost the morale of soldiers at war in Iraq and those supporting the International Red Cross organization. The song continues with these lines: “Voices that care, are crying out loud. And when you close your eyes tonight, feel in your heart how our love burns bright.” In the gospel this first Sunday of Advent, the strength to escape the tribulations that Jesus tells us the same thing: “But when these are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Jesus is coming as a man, not as a signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise monster or a beast. Through vigilance and your heads because your redemption is at prayer, we also welcome Him as we are— hand.” The end of times, as Jesus human beings, and not as beasts or as gods. predicted, is scary as war where all If you have not gone to sense of security is lost. But our SUNDAY confession for years, make sure faith teaches us that long before REFLECTION that it is the first on your list. If the end of times, Jesus sends us you confess frequently, how about making a the Trinitarian ‘voices’ that care. better confession, a thorough confession? The scriptures tell us about the three Those who have no need for confession are comings of Jesus: first, His incarnation which either beasts or gods. took place 2,000 years ago; second, His daily If you have not had any quality presence visitation in our lives; and finally, our death during Mass, make sure it is also on your list. and the end of times. In all three cases, Jesus tells us to anticipate with vigilance and prayer. To prepare for the Eucharist, attend lectures, retreats or recollections. We badly need to First, we need to learn how to wait. We nourish our minds and souls with God’s word cannot command that Jesus be born and sacraments. prematurely. Our media and commercial If you have not done any charitable act institutions begin playing Christmas songs for your neighbors, then put that on your as early as September. Christmas parties list. Generosity is a virtue which can only be and gift-giving are held weeks in advance. acquired when done repeatedly. Yet we cannot celebrate Christmas other Christmas is a spiritual event, an event than on Christmas day. Mary gave birth to meant to nourish our minds and souls. When Jesus on one particular day. In the same we prepare, let us do more than material manner, we may desire an early death. Yet we cannot advance our own death. We have preparation. Let us prepare for the coming of the baby Jesus in our lives. And let us make to wait for that particular day when God Him grow in us, every day of lives, so that wills the end of our earthly life. with confidence and fortitude, we can stand Second, while waiting, we need to prepare for what is coming. “Be vigilant at all tall and proud when we meet Him on His times,” the Lord says, “and pray that you have final coming. 4 fr. wilmer joseph s. tria
lukas 3:10-6
Domingo 2, Adbyento, Taon B
“D
uminatong an tataramon nin Dyos ki Juan.” Si Juan magigin dakulang propeta, alagad ini huli ta an tataramon kan Dyos duminatong saiya. Dai nagdatong an tataramon sa mga bantog na tawo kan panahon, arog ki LECTIO Emperador Tiberio o ki DIVINA Pilato, o ki Herodes, o sa halangkaw na padi na si Annas asin Caiafas, kundi sa dai midbid na si Juan. Siring man kaini si pagpili ki David asin ki Maria. An tataramon dai duminatong sa palasyo o sa templo, kundi sa kadalagan. Sisay ako sa sakong komunidad?
“Ihinaharubay an bunyag nin pagbakli para sa kapatawaran nin mga kasàlan...” Sa mga Hudiyo, an pagbunyag sarong pagdanay sa dating ugali asin tradisyon. Ki Juan, an pagbakli sarong pagbirik, o pagbàgo nin direksyon sa buhay. Dapat nyang talikdan an pagigin kinàbanon tanganing kuguson an buhay sa kabanalan. Asin dapat ining may malinaw na bunga arog kan pagtabang sa kapwa, pagigin totoo, asin dai pag-abuso gamit an kapangyarihan. Asin an pagbabàgo bako sana sa sadiri kundi pati an nasyon. Arin na an mga binakli ko sa buhay?
“Andama an dalan nin Kagurangan, patanusa an saiyang agihan.” Kan panahon ni Jesus, kun maglalakbay an hadi, kabilang sa pag-andam iyo an paglinig kan saiyang aagihan, pagpatag asin tanos kan dalan. Ini tanganing dai maabala an hadi. Bakong literal kundi patalinhaga an pagpakahulugan kaini ni Juan. Gabos na karàtan arog kan kapaabaw-abawan, karigsukan, pang-aapi, mga ulang sa pagdagos kan Kagurangnan sa satong buhay. Arin pa an dapat patagon sa sakong buhay? 4