2nd Sunday of the Year in Ordinary Time, Year B

2nd Sunday of the Year, Year B
"Look! There is the Lamb of God!"

1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20
Gospel: John 1:35-42

After the feast of the Lord's Baptism last Sunday, this coming
Sunday, we will hear the gospel account of how St. John the
Baptist was shepherding his own disciples to the direction of
Jesus. And so, when Jesus was seen walking by among them, John
exclaimed, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" Two of John's
disciples heard this and then followed Jesus. One of the two
of who followed Jesus was Andrew. Andrew then sought out his
brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah!" (for
John had pointed Him out to Andrew). As the two brothers
approached Jesus, Jesus looked upon Simon, and then gave him a
new name: Cephas (which is rendered as Peter).

For many of us seasoned Catholics, we were baptized during our
infancy and learned about the Catholic faith through our parents,
through Catholic schools, or through catechists. But even if
we were initiated already into the Christian life through our
infant baptism, a majority of us have not been really led to
encounter Christ personally and get to know Him in Word,
Sacrament, and through the living of a devout life. What often
happens is we even stray away from the requirements of our
Catholic faith. But usually, God sends persons, significant
people in our life, who help us convert and live a more devout
life in the Church. (Like what St. Ambrose and St. Monica did
for the conversion of St. Augustine of Hippo.)

As we journey on in our Christian life, there will be many
occasions of people (like St. John the Baptist) who will point
out Christ to us and shepherd us to follow Him more devoutly.
These people can be members of our own family, our friends, or
anyone in our social network. When we are given the
opportunity by others to rediscover Christ in our life, we can
then imitate the action done by St. Andrew - who went and
sought out his brother Simon and led him to encounter Jesus
also. We too, like St. Andrew, can shepherd others to Jesus.
And we can do this in many ways - in the very social milieu
in which we live and work. We can shepherd others to Jesus
through: our good example; through charitable advice; through
the giving of moral support; by solving other people's
problems; by visiting the sick; or even by simply radiating
the presence of Christ through random acts of kindness,
goodness, generosity, patience, and peace, wherever we are.

Feast of the Lord's Baptism, Year B

Feast of the Lord's Baptism, Year B
"You are My beloved Son."

1st Reading: Isaiah 55:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 29
2nd Reading: 1 John 5;1-9
Gospel: Mark 1:1-11

This Sunday's gospel is taken from the gospel of Mark. The
brief passage tells the story of Jesus being baptized by John
the Baptist. The description of the baptismal scene is filled
with rich imagery. The account tells us that after Jesus was
baptized by St. John in the river Jordan, immediately after
Jesus came up out of the water, the sky "was rent in two" and
the "Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove". And then a voice
came from the heaven, saying: "You are My beloved Son. On You
My favor rests."

Jesus is the perfect model for our Christian life. Though He
was greater than St. John the Baptist, in obedience to the
Father's will, He underwent John's baptism. His baptism sealed
and confirmed His Sonship before the Father - something meant
for us to know. When we are baptized, we also share in the
Sonship of Jesus and become sons and daughters of the Father.
We are also initiated into a life of following Christ - by
obeying the Father's will, as we work and live as Christian
families witnessing to the Father's love for us. And just as
the Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove, upon our baptism,
we also receive the Holy Spirit, that we may be granted the
grace and the strength to live good and virtuous Christian
lives.

Feast of the Epiphany, Year B

"They prostrated themselves and did Him homage."

1st Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72

2nd Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

The feast of the Ephiphany is the manifestation of the Child
Jesus to the world. It was prophesied that from Bethlehem "shall
come a ruler to shepherd" Israel. Astrologers from the East knew
this and they traveled to Jerusalem. King Herod then became
aware of this news from them, and was greatly disturbed (as this
"ruler" could be a threat to his reign). As the astrologers set
out then from Jerusalem, to follow the star...as they saw the
star come to a standstill over the place where the Child Jesus
was, they entered the house, saw Mary with the Child, prostrated
themselves, and did Jesus homage. They presented gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.

Through the gospel passages that we have heard this season of
Advent and Christmas, we find many people and things leading us
to Jesus: St. John the Baptist, pointing out Jesus to us as the
Lamb of God; Samuel telling us that Jesus would bring the rise
and downfall of many in Israel; and the prophetess Anna, talking
about the Child Jesus as the Deliverer of Jerusalem. Also, now
we have a star from Bethlehem leading us to where we can find
the Child Jesus lying in the lowly manger attended to by His
Mother Mary and His foster father Jesus. We have three prophets
and a star leading to Jesus.

People we encounter in life and the signs of the times, also
lead us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Whenever people lead us
to a greater spirit of charity, generosity, kindness, patience,
joy, peace, goodness, and fidelity, it is for certain that we
are led to re-acknowledge Christ and His Spirit as the center
of our lives. And as the star of Bethlehem led the astrologers
from the East to the Child Jesus, wherever there is light in
our present times - that too, will also lead us to the greater
Light who is Christ. So, as we are led by others to Christ, we
too are called to lead others to Jesus - in the same way that
we have been shown the way (through acts of charity, kindness,
patience, mercy, forgiveness, peace, etc.) Even in these times
when we see patches of darkness in our world, let the Church
show us the way to the Light - Christ, our Prince of Peace.
And when we re-discover Christ as the Light of our life, it is
but fitting to pay homage to Him who is our Savior and our King.