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Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. Dec 26, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (From Bethlehem to Calvary)
Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. Dec 26, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (From Bethlehem to Calvary)
| Dec 26, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (From Bethlehem to Calvary) |
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| Sections - The Daily B.R.E.A.D. | |||||||
| Written by Bobot Apit | |||||||
| Thursday, 24 December 2009 20:22 | |||||||
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&feature=related" rel=nofollow target=_blank mce_href="/&feature=related">ck&feature=related W hat is the connection between Bethlehem and Calvary – the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and his passion and death on a cross? The very reason the Son of God took on flesh and became a man for our sake was to redeem us from slavery to sin and death and to give us new life as the adopted children of God. Feast of St. Stephen Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 M atthew 10:17-22 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, (18) and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. (19) When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; (20) for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (21) Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; (22) and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Meditation by Don Schwager W hat is the connection between Bethlehem and Calvary – the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and his passion and death on a cross? The very reason the Son of God took on flesh and became a man for our sake was to redeem us from slavery to sin and death and to give us new life as the adopted children of God. The way to glory in the kingdom of God is through the cross. If we want to share in Jesus' glory, then we, too, must take up our cross each day and follow in his footsteps. Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they followed him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst; do you accept it? This is not the world's way of offering a job. After the defeat at Dunkirk , Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears. This is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord commissions us in his service. Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the Master who laid down his life for us. The Lord gives us sufficient grace to follow him and to bear our cross with courage and hope. Do you know the joy and victory of the cross of Jesus Christ? "Lord Jesus, your coming in the flesh to ransom us from slavery to sin gives us cause for great rejoicing even in the midst of trials and pain. Help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships, adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you. Strengthen my faith and give me courage that I may not shrink back from doing your will". Supplementary Reading WIDE-EyED
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ – Matthew 11:19 T he first time I heard his voice, he definitely annoyed me. His voice sounded whiny and irritating. It made the hairs of my skin stand up. When he approached us and started talking, all I wanted to do was run away. I mentally told myself to shut up so I wouldn’t say anything bad. Thank God my best friend saved me from talking to him that night. The next day, I was talking to my best friend, laughing about the guy when she said, “Don’t you think you’re being a little bit harsh? He is still made after God’s image, you know.” That definitely shut me up. Jesus must have experienced the same kind of ridicule back in His time. He was called a glutton, a drunkard and a friend of the enemies of the people just because He loved to talk and hang out with them. And here I am, judging someone by his voice. For all I know, the Lord may even have the same whiny voice the annoying guy had. This Christmas season, may we learn to see Jesus in every person we meet and avoid passing harsh judgments on him or her. May we remember that everyone we encounter is made in the image of God. Tina matanguihan REFLECTION: If I had lived in Jesus’ time, would I follow Him? Or would I turn away from Him and dismiss Him as a fraud? Dear Jesus, help me see You in every person I encounter.
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Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:03:00 12/26/2009
QUESTION: How do you know that your children are growing up?
Answer: When instead of asking you where they came from, they start refusing to tell you where they are going or where they are coming from.
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Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. In today’s Gospel (Lk. 2, 41-52) we hear the story of the 12-year-old Jesus getting lost in the temple and the anxiety of his parents Joseph and Mary in looking for Him.
When a child is “lost” is it the child’s fault, or is it the parents’ fault?
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Do you have a “problem child”? Someone said that there is no such thing. There is only a child who has problems and usually it is his/her parents who are his/her problem.
* * *
This reminds me of a story about a mother who saw her teenage child crying in her room one Christmas morning. When she asked her why, the child’s reply was: “I’m homesick, Mom.” “But you’re home,” said the mother. “That’s why. I’m sick of our home” was the teenager’s reply.
* * *
When we think of Christmas, we usually think of families coming together, and we think of home. But the sad reality is that for many, there is no family, and not even a home on Christmas. Yes, for many, there are no cozy—or NICE-NICE—feelings at Christmas. While we cherish Christmas moments, we also must not lose sight of the reality, the blood, sweat and tears which the Incarnation points to us.
* * *
Why did the parents of Jesus lose Him? Why did they not know where He was? They must have gotten busy with matters related to the feast and the journey ahead.
Don’t modern day parents have the same predicament? Too busy with worldly matters, too pre-occupied with worldly concerns, they end up losing their children. Parents, listen to what the children are saying: “We want NOBODY, NOBODY BUT YOU!”
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The parents of Jesus were with the caravan, with their relatives and acquaintances when they lost Him. In other words, they were somewhere else physically.
Presence is important. Being absent or away from people we love and care for involves risk. Yes, more than our presents, people need our presence.
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“But not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for Him.”
We all need to return to our “Jerusalem” to look for whatever or whomever we have lost. We all must have the openness and willingness to take the journey of the heart—to God’s heart, to people’s hearts, and to our own heart. The road that will lead us there is the road of honesty and humility.
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We have problems in our country mainly because we have problem parents, i.e., absentee and delinquent government leaders and officials who are always in the caravan, and are focused on their own relatives and acquaintances. We are a blessed nation and people, but we are not blessed with good leaders.
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By the way, the word “parent” is pronounced and sounds like “pay rent.” If service is our rent for being in this world, then parents would do well to remember that all their efforts and sacrifices in raising up a good family is their rent to this world. In the same manner, our government leaders and officials would do well to ask today if they are paying their rent.
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Be it in the family, be it in the country, be it in the Church, be it in the world, what we need are leaders with “SSS”—that is, leaders with Sincerity, Service and Sacrifice.
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The concept of “stewardship” is a good reminder for all of us: Parents, you don’t own your children; politicians and government leaders, you don’t own the country; Church leaders, you don’t own your flock; and all of us, we don’t own the world. We are all just passing by, and we are all answerable to God, the Absolute Owner of everything and everyone around us, you and me included.
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As we come to the end of 2009 and as we enter into 2010, let us return to our own “Jerusalem,” go out of our usual way and go the “extra mile” to return to God’s heart and surrender to Him all that was, and entrust unto Him all that will be. For all that has been—good or bad, happy or sad—thank you, Lord! And for all that will be, whatever will be, yes, Lord!
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Did you make the Infant Jesus smile this Christmas? Remember, Christmas is not just a day. Let us continue to make Jesus smile by our words and deeds and by the very lives we live. I pray that next year will be a better year for all of us, in all aspects, in Jesus’ name. Amen. A Happy and Better New Year, Dear Friends!
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What a journey 2009 has been for all of us. And what will 2010 be like? We do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future in His hands.
As we journey on, let us be reminded that the journey is not just about destination, comfort, distance or speed. Life as a journey is also about companions, necessary pauses and stops, detours and setbacks, and a constant moving on—a journey to the heart.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, let us not forget Sincerity, Service and Sacrifice in our journey. Amen.