January 3,2025 Gospel Reading Reflections

 Blessed, Bountiful New Year 2025!

Come Oh Most Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in us the fire of thy Divine Love, please send forth Your Holy Spirit Lord and it shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.

Today's lay reflection is by Rissa Singsong Kawpeng.

She tells us of a very holy mission worker who was called to the next life after battling stage 4 cancer.

Prayers for his physical healing was not answered.

Reminds us of  God being God. He gives and He takes back on His perfect time.

Yesterday, I got two information of death of friends/relatives.

And a young  distant niece battling Meningitis.

My Father-in-law struggling with some prostate issues while in the hospital for a week now.

Lord Jesus, we continue to seek your tender Mercies and Graces, for complete and total healing of our love ones and friends as well as the eternal repose of those who passed on.

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Reflection questions:

What is Christian hope?

How can you be a pilgrim and ambassador of hope this new year?

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The reflections of Father Albert Garong SSP is very beautiful.

Please allow me to directly quote it:

Today’s readings remind us that we, Christians, walk along two timelines. For us, time is not just the forward passing of seconds (chronos), but also moments of divine opportunity, or God’s perfect timing (kairos).

“When the fullness of time had come,” says Paul in Galatians, “God sent His Son.” What is this fullness? Who can predict it? God’s time will always be a mystery to us. Such is the basis of our hope: that God has His own perfect time, which no one can predict or influence. His perfect wisdom, justice, and plans are not ours to control but ours to completely rely on, as Mary did, whose faith led her to say yes and believe that God’s timeline was more important than her own. 

As we put to action our carefully designed plans, may we look up to Mary, Mother of God and model of hope. Let us trust that whether it is the first day of the year, the middle of a difficult month, or near the end of another year where nothing seems to have gone our way, God’s interventions can happen anytime, anywhere, in ways unimagined, and always better than anything we could have anticipated. 

As we remain in God’s mysteries, we navigate life’s twists and turns, and ponder them with faith in our hearts. Like Mary and Joseph, we remain obedient to God’s commandments and stay close to the Church, so that when it is our turn to receive His invitation to what He has been preparing for us all along, we can also give our wholehearted yes. With this in our hearts and minds, Jubilee Year 2025 will surely be a pilgrimage of hope. May we radiate this hope so that others can be lifted up, too, by God’s perfect plan for them. Fr. Albert Garong, SSP

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Today, I had an important Divine Appointment despite the fact that I woke up with a terrible head cold. My other plans for today were revised due to this.

I was not able to get up and prepare Ruel's lunch.

Despite the twists and turns experienced in my schedule and plans getting disrupted, I pause and  continue to pray for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, to have the grace to put my HOPE and CONFIDENCE in God's will and direction for my life as I continue to show up as a CHILD OF LIGHT to the world.

Thank you dear God for the graces to be able to do what is expected of me today and always.

Mary, Most Holy, My Mother, continue to pray for me.

St. Joseph, terror of demons, continue to pray and protect my family and me especially in the home we call in your honor.

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I found this in youtube a few minutes ago. I claim all the prayers of breaking of financial curses in my life through this prayer of this person and in Jesus most Holy Name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHj_-iJLAFM&ab_channel=TaraMullarkey

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Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 98:1, 3-4, 5-6 (or Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6)

R: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) ³ All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. ⁴ Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R) ⁵ Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. ⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the Lord. (R)

Alleluia Alleluia

January 2,2025 Gospel Reflections

 Blessed New Year 2025!!!

Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the heart of Your faithful, please enkindle in me the fire of Your Divine Love, send forth Your Spirit Oh Lord, and it shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the world, starting with my thoughts, my habits, my decisions and my life.

Last night, Ruel and I had a nice chat at bedtime.

I now beg the Lord's Mercies and graces for these intentions to come into fruition in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, and through the powerful intercession of Mary, Most Holy Mother of God.

Here are today's gospel readings reflection questions for me to ponder on:

Are your troubles making you doubt yourself?

It is important for us to reflect on what it means to "abide in Jesus" (verse 28) as we live the Christian life. We need the strength and power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to enable us to live this way of life. When we abide in Jesus, we gain His strength. Let us pray for the grace to dwell in Him and let Him dwell in us

Do you recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in your life?

How can you surrender to Him in a deeper way?

How have you blocked the Lord’s path recently by your words and actions?

Before I proceed, please allow me to identify and thank Bo Sanchez and his various ministries especially the Kerygma Daily Bible Reflection.

I have been receiving this most regularly for more than 30 years to my email.

The format is very nice.

It starts with the reflection of Bo Sanchez ( usually the first day of the month ) and other lay missionaries. Then each reading is given a introduction. Short but ever helpful in putting you in the right context of the scripture.

Then a priest gives his thoughts on the gospel readings with the applicable short prayers and reflection questions.

I continue to pray that Bo Sanchez and his various media tools be blessed more abundantly.

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The first reading asks us what a LIAR or who is one?

The psalms extol God as our savior at all times and that this will be made known to the ends of the earth.

The gospel tells us about John, the Baptist cousin of Jesus, who prepared the way for His coming and work.

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Am I a liar?

Do I engage in lies?

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First question asks me if my troubles have made me doubt myself. I'd say, my self doubt and lack of confidence has put me in some trouble.

Thus, my challenge is to seek God's will in everything I do from the moment I wake up to the time I lay my head on my pillow at night...

Focus on His will and work, and the strength to do it first and foremost and have faith and confidence that everything will fall into place as He has shown me countless of times.

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I may have blocked the Lord's path recently by focusing on my own wants and desires.

The solution to this is to refocus on His Will, His work first...and all will fall into place.

My prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, please continue to guide me in seeking your will in my life as a wife, mother and  business person in the market place.

I know you LOVE me so much. Thank you.

I remain and abide in your care, protection and guidance as your child.

-JMJ-

AA