Community Word: Jesus is the guiding Star in our journey of faith.
Order: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mk 1:17)
Reflection:
The New Year is a fresh beginning that involves a process to change oneself, a process that is not easy to do. We should be aware of our continuing need to change for the better and be more loving. And so we offer to God the most precious thing we have – a loving heart, in the same way that our heavenly Father gives us His own heart thru His beloved Son, Jesus. He is Emmanuel and He always blesses us with His presence and constantly guides us when we call on His name. The community word for this celebrated month is “Jesus is the guiding Star in our journey of faith.” In special times like Christmas, He pours out His blessings even more abundantly. And we pray for God’s continuous guidance so that we can love Him and as well as our neighbor, with all our heart in our earthly journey towards holiness. During the month of January, our faith shall be strengthened, guided by the Themes from the liturgical readings of each Sunday.
The first Sunday of January is the ‘Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord’ with the Theme: We are guided by the Star in our journey of faith when we find Jesus in one another. After a long journey, the magi found Jesus. Like the magi, we too are on a journey to find God through our relationship with one another. Though we undergo many struggles growing up, we still are able to discover our identity and learn to love ourselves and most invaluably, other people. We are called to help each other on our journey of faith as a community, as a church. We need to remind each other by God’s word that the journey is well worth the difficulties and the cost. We need to feed each other at the table of the Lord so that we have food in this journey. We need to support each other, especially those among us who are in crisis. After the merriment of the holidays, we should ask ourselves: How did the light of Christ affect me? How can I continue to live and spread the light of Christmas throughout this New Year? The light of Christ continues to shine in our midst through the very Eucharist we celebrate, whose light illumines our lives amidst the daily challenges that lie ahead. Let us keep the eternal light of Christ alive in us.
Our Theme for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is: We are guided by the Star in our journey of faith when we strive to please God by showing no partiality and acting uprightly. Jesus’ baptism was not for Him; it was for you and me. What is the effect of Jesus’ baptism on us? We are filled with the Holy Spirit and we are bestowed with power. The same spirit connects us to God, making us children of the Father. We are filled with power, the power to serve and love, to forgive, to understand and share, and most of all, to continue the mission of Jesus in our own daily experiences. At His baptism, Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son on whom rests His favor. He is “God’s Servant” sent to bring justice to the nations and liberty to the captives. Step by step, Jesus was to live out the revelation of His baptism. What really matters is to hear God the Father tells us “you are my beloved, on you my favor rests.” If we truly believe this, we can face the unknown with a peaceful heart. As someone said, ‘we do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.’ Since the one who holds the future is our loving Father, there is indeed nothing to fear.
Our Theme for the Feast of Santo Niño is “We are guided by the Star in our journey of faith when we trust and have confidence in God’s providence.” Jesus entrusts to us the care of children, and as His followers, we must love, nurture and protect the children around us. Jesus has used the endearing qualities of an innocent, humble, and trusting child to show us what kind of person we should be to inherit His kingdom. Be “like a child” means, being simple, devoid of any ambition for money, power and influences, especially the intention to deprive others of their rights as human beings and cause them harm instead. Those who are righteous and humble will be raised up by God. He will provide for them generously, for this is His assurance for them: “You may know the hope that belongs to his call, the riches of his glory in his inheritance among the holy ones.” (Eph 1:18b)
For the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, our Theme is: “We are guided by the Star in our journey of faith when we follow and remain with Jesus.” Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; there is no way to the Father but through Christ. There are so many things in this world that could easily bring our attention away from following the truth of the Spirit. There are beautifully coated deceptions around us that if we are not careful, we can easily be enticed into falsehood. One of the cleverest of all is our own self, when we become blind to our arrogance and self-righteousness. When Jesus said: “Come and you will see,” He wants us to experience a life that is simple, free of any pretensions, but filled with care and compassion. For indeed, what good is it to be right, but forgetting to forgive and love. So, St. Paul has given us this Promise when we put Jesus first in everything that we do: “Whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” (1Cor 6:17)
Finally, for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, our Theme is: “We are guided by the Star in our journey of faith when we denounce our worldly attachments and follow Jesus. The gospel speaks of the Good News for the whole world. Jesus inspires all peoples by the message of salvation He brings. His mission is an experience to be shared, not a solitary one. How does one share in that mission? Jesus calls you to be His companion, His friend, His follower. The ideal way to respond to God’s call is “unconditionally and wholeheartedly.” Jesus chose ordinary men as His co-workers in the huge task of evangelizing the world. He chose fishermen, laborers who were working for a living but who went on boldly to preach the message of their Master when they received the Holy Spirit. In spite of the overwhelming odds they faced, in spite of hostility and persecution, they proclaimed the message of salvation and numberless people were drawn to Christ.
Jesus depends on us for continuing the mission of the first disciples. Like them we are sent by Jesus to spread the Good News, to make it known and to attract others to Christ. As members of our God-given community, Jesus reminds us: “come after me and I will make you fishers of men,” (Mk 1:17). Let us courageously set out to make Him known. Not all of us are called to do so by “word” but our lives should be an eloquent witness to our faith, and this is possible for all of us. It is through us that the saving “Word” will reach others and that Christ will be made known to a world that is so badly in need of Him, of His forgiveness, of His healing and of His joy.
Let us pray that we may be attentive to the light of Christ who draws us and that through the Holy Spirit we may have the courage, hope and trust to continue on our journey of faith to God and our true selves all through the years of our lives. Jesus, the suffering Servant of God accepted everything for our sake so that we might find meaning in our life by dedicating ourselves to God just as He did. To Him be glory and honor and thanksgiving now and forever. Amen.
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