God's Presence in the Family

Feast of the Holy Family Dec. 26, 2010
(Mt 2:13-15, 19-23)

When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son."

When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazorean."

As the Church celebrates the Christmas Season, today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Naturally, when Jesus was born, He, his mother Mary, and Joseph became a family. Mary and Joseph welcomed the baby Jesus to the world. But the fragile Jesus was not without threat from unwelcoming people like Herod. Being fragile and helpless is a consequence of the Incarnation. When Jesus chose to become man, He made Himself vulnerable to the dangers of this world, to the same dangers that we ourselves face. But He had a family to protect Him.

Today's Gospel story shows us that the families that obey God's will may also face difficulties and trials, but they are never left alone. God is in the midst of the family that calls upon Him and obeys His will. Today, as our families are threatened by separation, economic problems and a certain bill, we are invited to pray and to listen to the voice of God, who leads His family, the Church, to safety.

We are the Church and we are God's family. As He guided the Holy Family, He also guides us today as we journey here on earth. As we face those who oppose the coming of God's Kingdom, we hear God's voice and we know He is with us. He protects us from all the threats against life, and from all that will lead us away from Him.

Today, we are also reminded to protect life. Mary and Joseph welcomed Jesus as a gift from God. And they both protected Jesus and raised Him well. Mary did not see Jesus as a burden, even though her pregnancy was a scandal to Jewish society and a threat to her life. Mary and Joseph accepted parenthood as a privilege from God. Today's parents are also invited to welcome life, to accept the responsibility of procreation, and to raise a family that is obedient to God.

May the child Jesus be born to every family this Christmas Season. And may God always lead all families, especially the Church, to His embrace and may we all be part of that one, big family group hug with Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Emmanuel in the Midst of Confusion

4th Sunday of Advent Dec. 19, 2010 (Mt 1:18-24)

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.

Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

A Christian existentialist philosopher named Soren Kierkegaard said that there were three stages of man's life. The first is the aesthetic stage where all that matters is pleasure. The second is the ethical stage, where social norms and ethical rules govern one's life. The last stage is the religious stage, where one goes beyond ethics. Kierkegaard said that man can only be at one stage of life at a given time, but man can make a leap towards the next stage.

Abraham was said to be a man in the religious stage of life. Ethical rules told him that murdering his son Isaac would be wrong, but he ignored ethics because he trusted God who asked for the sacrifice. His faith in God went beyond social norms. He knew that God's wisdom is far higher than human conventions.

I believe St. Joseph, in our Gospel today, also made a leap from the ethical to the religious stage. He made a leap of faith, trusting in God who, through an angel, told him to marry a pregnant woman. Marrying a woman who bears a child that is not even one's own was quite a scandal in Jewish society, especially back then. But Joseph realized that the angel's command was part of a grand plan that God was working on. He trusted that everything will work out because God was the event organizer. So he ignored the social norms of his time and chose to obey God.

Today's Gospel reminds us all that God has a plan for our life. Jesus is the Emmanuel, the God who is with us. He is the God who works in our everyday life. The angel's message to Joseph is also God's message to us, "Do not be afraid." In times when we don't know what to do, God makes us realize that He has been and will always be with us. In the midst of confusion, God makes everything make sense, as He did in Joseph's life.

As He did to Joseph, God asks us to trust in Him, to listen to Him, and to cooperate with Him in whatever He has in store for us. Even when nothing makes sense to us, we must make a leap of faith and obey the will of God that is revealed to us in prayer. Only then will everything make sense to us. We will realize God's plan and we will see how much better His plan is. At such a point in our lives, we will feel happy simply because we allowed ourselves to be part of God's plan, and we will forget all the confusion and all the difficulties we faced before.

Jesus is the greatest proof that God is with us. He was born here on earth to dwell with us precisely because He wanted to show us that God is working for our salvation and that we have to participate in His plan. He came to show us how to live in faith. He reminds us to make room for Him in our life, even if our life is one chaos of a manger.

In this world where we make many important decisions, where we hear many voices telling us what to do, and where most of us want to do everything their way, Jesus offers us another way - His way. He invites us to try doing things His way, for we might just find it better. Even when we are not sure where Jesus' way will take us, our faith in Him assures us that His way is the best way to go.

As the world makes noise this Christmas, may we find time to pray and to listen to what God is telling us. May we be open to His will, like St. Joseph, and may we be able to participate in God's plan for us. May our faith survive amidst confusion and amidst all the challenges that this world poses and ultimately lead us to the way which Jesus was born to show us.

What Did You Go Out to See?

3rd Sunday of Advent Dec. 12, 2010 (Mt 11:2-11)

When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.'

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Today, we hear Jesus asking the people, "What did you go out to the desert to see?" As the celebration of the Lord's birth is nearing, we celebrate today the Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of Joy. And today, Jesus, through the Gospel, invites us to reflect on what we go out to see.

Simbang Gabi is coming. What do we go out to see, especially at such an early hour? Do we go out to see the church all decorated for the season? Do we go out to see if there are any puto bumbong or bibingka sold near the church? Or maybe we go out to see our special someone and to chat with him or her near or even inside the church? Do we not go out to see Jesus and to receive Him in the Eucharist?

Christmas parties are happening everywhere. Do we see people start these parties by praying? Having a Christmas party without prayer is like holding a birthday party without inviting the celebrant.

Everytime we celebrate Christmas, we see a lot of things. We see decorations, attend parties, and watch commercials that try their best to get the audience' attention using Christmas as a theme. But are these things really what we go out to see? Do we really know it's Christmas because of ham or fruit salad? Shouldn't Jesus be the cause of our joy this Christmas? After all, you can spell Christmas without ham or fruit salad, but you just can't spell it without Christ.

Gaudete Sunday invites us to rejoice in the coming of our Savior. This joy is often preceded or accompanied by sorrow. But at the end of every sorrow, there is always joy. When we do not refuse challenges but face them courageously, in the end joy is our reward. In the same way, when we take the Advent journey of repentance and preparation, our joy will be complete on Christmas day, not because of anything or anyone else, but because of Jesus.

If only we see the joy that Jesus brings, the healing that He brings about in our lives, we would not mind carrying all the sorrow in the world, so long as Jesus will be our reward in the end. Jesus' light can outshine even the brightest Christmas light or parol.

This coming Christmas, may we all go out to see Jesus.

Lamp upon Our Feet presents new logo

As the new liturgical year continues, Lamp upon Our Feet presents its new logo. From a picture grabbed from the net, Lamp upon Our Feet's new logo now depicts a magnificent sunset photographed by yours truly. This photograph was taken while I was in a retreat in Caleruega, Batangas.

The new logo is still faithful to the image of the Word of God as the light that guides our path. It is my hope that this blog may continue to bring light to the lives of the people it reaches, no matter how many or how few they may be. The light is the Word of God, not this blog. Lamp upon Our Feet is only a means of bringing the light to God's people.

May the Word of God continue be a lamp upon our feet!

Advent Comes Before Christmas

2nd Sunday of Advent Dec. 5, 2010 (Mt 3:1-12)

In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: "A voice of one crying out in the desert, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'"

John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

Aside from the Lenten Season, Advent is a season when the Church reiterates the constant call for repentance. Everyday, we are called to return to the path God set for us as we journey to find Him. But Advent reminds us in a special way that God Himself is coming to us and that we should prepare a way for Him.

The message of John the Baptist, therefore, is an important part of the Advent message. John reminds us that when someone is coming, the natural response is for us to prepare. Now since our expected visitor is Jesus, we must remember that the preparation we must do is not just decorating, feasting and buying gifts. These lose their meaning when we forget to prepare our hearts for Jesus.

Christmas for most of us today has become a meaningless joyful season. Little by little, we are removing Christ from Christmas. This is because some of us don't participate in the Advent season's journey of repentance and joyful spiritual preparation. Every year, we celebrate Christmas; but how does this yearly celebration change our lives aside from emptying our pockets? Christmas joy will always fade if our joy does not come from Christ.

John the Baptist reminds us not to be indifferent with affairs of the soul. As the Advent season continues, we are reminded to prepare for Jesus a road that leads to our hearts, without fear, anger or sin as obstacles along the way. We are invited to turn away from sin and to focus on welcoming the God who desires to enter our hearts. Instead of cleaning and decorating our homes and feasting, we must remember to clean our hearts defiled by sin, furnish our souls with holiness and to feast on God's Word in order to prepare for Jesus' visit.

The Pharisees and Sadducees in our Gospel today symbolize the people who refuse to prepare for Jesus' coming because they don't see the need for it. John, in exhorting the Pharisees, in effect also reminds us that simply being a Christian is not enough. We must live fruitful lives and our repentance must be made manifest through a life of holiness. Anyone can say he's repentant, and many people say they believe in God. Nevertheless only a few really live as children of God.

Jesus always comes to us in our daily lives. And finally, He will come again to be our judge at the end of time. This is a reality that we must not take lightly. Christmas is not just a mere reminiscing of how Jesus once came to be born here on earth. It is a reminder that He will indeed come again to gather those who are His, and to condemn those who were not fruitful and who did not prepare for His coming. In the end, the peace that was foretold in today's First Reading will be the abode of those who belong to Jesus.

May the message of Advent remain in our hearts and minds even after the season. May we always remember to care about our spirit, for when Jesus comes, He will care, not too much about how we made merry, but about how we prepared for His coming.