In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus presents to his disciples three teachings on how to be true evangelizers. This counsel can also be seen as three essential steps in being leaders and educators after the model of the gospel.
Tag: Sunday Reflection
REFLECTION FOR SUNDAY GOSPEL – Four Illusions of Worldly Happiness
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C (Lk 6:17.20-26) – February 16, 2025 Fr Daniel Antonio de Carvalho Ribeiro, SCJ We can all agree that everyone wants to be happy. However, if we talk to different groups of people from…
5th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – The Amazing Power of God’s Call
After a moment of Eucharistic adoration at St. Rose of Lima school, a little girl, perhaps 6 or 7 years old, approached me and said, “Father Ed, Yyou say that Jesus speaks to us, but I can’t hear Him.” Children at this age often go straight to the heart of the matter, asking questions that can be challenging for us to answer. I simply told her, “Jesus speaks inside your heart.” Fortunately, the little girl didn’t ask a follow-up question, but I’m not sure she was satisfied with my answer.
Gospel Reflection – PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews who obeyed the Law of Moses. Jewish Law prescribed that two ritual acts needed to take place for a firstborn son. First, the mother of a newborn son was ritually unclean for seven days, and then she was to “spend thirty-three more days in a state of blood purity” (Leviticus 12:2–8). During these forty days she was not to “touch anything sacred nor enter the sanctuary till the days of her purification are fulfilled.” For this reason, today’s feast has at times been called the “Purification of Mary.” Second, the father of the firstborn son was to “redeem” the child by making an offering to the priest of five shekels so that the priest would then present the child to the Lord (see Numbers 18:16). Recall that the firstborn male of all the Egyptians, animals and children, was killed during the tenth plague, but the firstborn males of the Israelites were spared. Thus, this offering made for the firstborn son in the Temple was a way of ritually redeeming him in commemoration of protection during that plague. Since Jesus was presented in the Temple for this redemption, today’s feast is now referred to as the “Presentation in the Temple.”
GOSPEL REFLECTION – Jesus, The New Wine Reserved for Us
The Church traditionally uses three celebrations after Christmas to emphasize the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity. First, on the Feast of the Epiphany, the Child Jesus is recognized as God by the three wise men. Then, as we saw last Sunday, at His baptism performed by John the Baptist, a voice from heaven reveals that Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father and a dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, descends upon Him. This trilogy concludes in today’s celebration with the Gospel of the wedding at Cana, where Jesus during a wedding and after His mother’s request, turns water into wine and begins His messianic signs that would be completed with the sign of greater love through His sacrifice on the cross.
BAPTISM OF THE LORD – The Mingling of the Human and the Divine
This prayer of the priest appears before my eyes in a hallucinative glow on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: “May the mingling of this water and wine bring us to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity.” The celebrant of the Eucharist utters this prayer under breath while mixing a drop of water into wine in preparation for the offertory. When I said this prayer during my first mass, the baptism scene of Jesus came to my mind without any prior meditation, and it stayed on with me.
The Lost Son
The story of young Jesus in the temple offers a profound reflection on family, faith, and understanding God’s will. Though Mary and Joseph struggled to grasp Jesus’ actions, their journey reminds us of the importance of trusting in God’s plan. As Jesus grew in wisdom and honored his parents, we are called to embrace faith, love, and the responsibility of nurturing both our families and our relationship with God.
THE VISITATION
The Gospel of the Visitation is a story of faith in action, as Mary journeys beyond her comfort zone to support Elizabeth, her cousin. This act of selflessness reminds us that God calls us to love and serve others, even in challenging circumstances. Christmas invites us to embrace this mission of compassion—reaching out to those in need, offering hope, and being bearers of God’s love in a world yearning for His presence.
The Historical Summit of Two Women
The Gospel today beautifully captures Mary’s visit to Elizabeth—a meeting rich in prophetic and spiritual significance. This moment not only celebrates the joy of two miraculous pregnancies but also highlights the embrace of the Old and New Testaments through John’s recognition of the Messiah. Mary’s journey reminds us of a faith that moves forward with purpose, carrying hope and light into the world.
Giving Way is the Noblest Way
Giving way is the noblest way, as John the Baptist teaches us in today’s Gospel (Luke 3:10–18). His humility, selflessness, and practical advice to the people remind us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ by sharing generously, living justly, and serving with love. This Advent, let us embrace the nobility of sacrifice, echoing John’s example of pointing others to Christ and creating space for the Kingdom of God in our lives.