DAILY- HOMILY

January 10, 2015 SATURDAY

CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY

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1Jn 5:14–21 / Jn 3: 22-30

Gospel Reading: Jn 3: 22-30

     After this, Jesus went into the territory of Judea with his disciples. He stayed there with them and baptized. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim where water was plentiful; people came to him and were baptized. This happened before John was put in prison.

     Now John's disciples had been questioned by a Jew about spiritual cleansing, so they came to him and said, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, and about whom you spoke favorably, is now baptizing and all are going to him."

     John answered, "No one can take on anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said: 'I am not the Christ but I have been sent before him.' Only the bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens, and rejoices to hear the bridegroom's voice. My joy is now full. It is necessary that he increase but that I decrease."

Reflection:

     While we are still in the season of Christmas, for most people the imagery of the season remains stuck on the infant Jesus and the nativity scenes. However, there is more to the scene found in Christmas card designs. Our short memories make us forget about God's promise and the long awaited time foretold by the prophets of old, and that appointed time had come when God made Himself vulnerable and entered human history.

     More importance is being given to the event of baptism than the meaning of the sacrament for us. Modern man has watered down the deeper meaning of rituals and made them routine actions or SOP (standard operating procedures), robbing us of the sacredness originally intended. Divine Action that is operative in the sacrament – the first important sacramental encounter with Grace – has been set aside and not recognized. We forget that God had claimed us to be His children. The gift of fullness of new life necessarily comes with the death of the old life – the spiritual cleansing mentioned in our gospel.

     Like Christmas, baptism marks the beginning of God's entry into our lives. Epiphany gradually reveals the mystery of God's love manifested through Jesus Christ. Salvation is the best gift of God's love – divine life for us to recognize and accept with gratitude and humility.

     Have we grown tired of waiting too, preoccupied with our businesses, without giving much thought to the importance of this divine initiative? Does pride prevent us from accepting the gift of salvation?

PRAYER INTENTIONS:

Thanksgiving & special intentions of Beny Chua.

For the eternal repose of the soul of Rozelle Digal.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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