SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 96:1-3, 7-10; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11

This year’s liturgical calendar is different. Last Sunday, the First Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrated the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In two weeks, we will punctuate the Ordinary Time to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

The Ordinary Time refers to those periods that fall outside of the major liturgical seasons like Advent and Christmas seasons, and Lent and Easter seasons. The Church uses green vestments and decorations during the Ordinary Time to symbolize that we are alive in Christ and that we are on an ongoing journey of faith. We can liken the seasons of Advent and Christmas and the seasons of Lent and Easter to be seasons of sowing while the Ordinary Time season to be the season of sprouting, nurturing, blooming, flowering, and bearing fruits. We pray for one another that the graces we received during the Advent and Christmas seasons do not die out but sprout, nurtured, bloom, flower, and bear lasting fruit. Green means alive, active, proceed, etc. We can apply the meanings to our spiritual life.

The background of the first reading is that when the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile (538 B.C.), they found Jerusalem in ruins. Its temple, walls, and buildings were razed to the ground. Desolation was everywhere. The sight of this left the returnees in distress and despair. God sent Prophet Isaiah to console the people. God promised through Isaiah: “I will not keep silent. I will not be quiet… You shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of God… You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord. A royal diadem held by your God… No more shall people call you ‘Forsaken,’ or your land ‘Desolate,’ but you shall be called ‘My Delight’…” As we begin a new year, these words and promises are for each one of us, especially for those going through grief and desolation. Hebrews 1:3 says that God sustains us “by his powerful word.” Another translation says, “by his powerful command.”

It is relevant at the beginning of the year that St. Paul reminds us in the second reading that God has blessed each of us with spiritual gifts for the benefit of all and the Church. St. Paul writes, “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” (1 Corinthians 12:7). There is no gift-less individual. Our spiritual gifts are not supposed to be hidden. They are supposed to manifest. Can I identify my gifts? Do my gifts manifest? Can I identify where my gift manifest? What are the impacts of their manifestation? We are invited to reflect over these questions, as we begin a new year. Someone says, “Do not go to the grave with your song unsung.”

Also, today’s gospel is very relevant for our reflection as we begin a new year. One can only imagine how the wedding reception could have continued with no wine. The role Mary played in saving the couple from confusion and embarrassment is very important. She said to Jesus, “They have no wine.” Jesus clearly stated that his hour had not yet come. But, because Mary interceded for the couple, his hour began at that moment. He changed water into wine.

Mary instructed the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” The servers filled six stone jars with water as Jesus directed them. I wonder what was on the minds of the servers as they filled the stone jars with water. It would have been absurd for them to be told to fill stone jars with water when the problem was lack of wine. Nonetheless, they followed the instructions given by Mary and Jesus. The servers’ obedience to Mary and to Jesus enabled the miracle. The servers’ obedience teaches us to trust God even when from human reasoning, it appears meaningless to trust him.

It is significant that the gospel states that Mary and Jesus were invited to the wedding (John 2:1). If they were not invited, the wedding reception would have ended badly. This passage, also, teaches us that where Jesus and Mary are invited ‘wine’ will never run out. Let us invite them through our prayers to everything that is going on in our lives. Mary is the Mother of Perpetual Help. Her powerful intercession opens the doors of Divine Mercy.

We celebrated Epiphany when the Magi revealed Jesus, and his Baptism when God revealed him. Today, Jesus reveals himself through the miracle of changing of water into wine. Today’s gospel concludes, “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him” (John 2:11). We pray that Jesus, also, reveals his glory to us by performing signs in our various areas of need. May he change our ‘water’ into ‘wine.’ Amen.

BAPTISM OF THE LORD YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29:1-3, 9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Last Sunday was the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany means the revelation of Jesus to the world. The revelation continues today with the Baptism of Jesus.

As we read in today’s gospel, God himself and the Holy Spirit are the witnesses to Jesus’ revelation. God makes a public declaration about Jesus, not through any prophet, not through any angel, not through the shepherds, not through the Magi, not through Simeon and Anna, not through John the Baptist, but by himself and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The gospel says, “After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’” (Luke 3:21-22).

Last Sunday, I mentioned that the Magi prophetically brought gifts to Jesus foreshadowing his messianic mission: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold symbolizes Jesus’ kingship, frankincense his priesthood, and myrrh his death. In the same way, an earlier revelation of Jesus’ mission was prophesied by Isaiah as we read in the first reading, “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased. Upon him I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations. … [He is] a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness” (Isaiah 42:1, 6-7). As we begin the second week of the year, we pray that the light of Jesus lights our way and dispels every darkness of the past year. May we be healed from every blindness of the past year. May we be released from every confinement and dungeon of the past year. Amen. As Advent and Christmas decorations are taken down from today, let us not take down the graces of Advent and Christmas that we have received.

In the second reading, we read, “[Jesus] went about doing good and healing all those possessed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). We pray that in the new year, we will experience Jesus’ goodness, healing, and deliverance in abundance. Amen.

Catholic catechism teaches that Baptism is a Sacrament through which we are cleansed from original sin. Through Baptism, we become followers of Christ, children of God, and members of the Church. Some people ask, “If Baptism cleanses us from original sin, why, then, was it necessary that Jesus was baptized although he was sinless?” Maximus of Turin explains, “Christ is baptized, not that he may be sanctified in the waters, but that he himself may sanctify the waters… For when the Savior is washed, then already for our Baptism all water is cleansed and the fount purified… Christ therefore takes the lead in Baptism, so that Christian people may follow after him with confidence.”

By his Baptism, Jesus incarnates himself into humanity. He fulfills all requirements of identifying with sinners. According to St. Athanasius, “He became what we are, so that he might make us what he is.” We, therefore, become recipients of his incarnation by our own Baptism. Hence, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1272, teaches, “Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.” 

Today’s celebration reminds us of the importance of our own Baptism and baptismal promises. The baptismal promises are to reject Satan, and all his works, and all his empty promises, and to believe in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and in the Church. 

Today, we are invited to remember the great day we were initiated into the membership of the Church and christened as followers of Christ. We are invited to rediscover the importance of our Baptism to our journey of faith. As we begin the new year, let us renew our baptismal promises, and make an effort to keep them. By this, we become God’s beloved children and pleasing to him. God says of Jesus in today’s gospel, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Can God say the same about each of us?

Baptism is not a Christian naming ceremony, as some people wrongly perceive it. It is the spiritual and mystical foundation of other Sacraments and our spiritual lives. It is the beginning of our Christian dignity. If the baptismal foundation is absent, there is nothing spiritual to build on. If the baptismal foundation becomes weak at any stage, the spiritual building becomes weak. If baptismal promises collapse, the spiritual dwelling collapses.

Finally, let us pray for the church or parish where we were baptized, the priest who baptized us, our parents and our godparents, and all those who assisted us and are assisting us on spiritual journeys. Since we do not have the tradition of celebrating the day of our Baptism, today is a good day to celebrate it.

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Ephesians 32-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

The word Epiphany comes from the Greek word 'epiphania,' meaning revelation or manifestation. Before the arrival of the Magi (also called the wise men), it was only the shepherds and those the shepherds told who knew about the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:17-18). As we have read in today’s gospel, it was the Magi who announced the birth of Jesus to King Herod and his officials. From then, the news became public. This is one of the reasons why the visit of the Magi is called Epiphany; meaning the disclosure or revelation of the Lord.

Matthew 2:1 informs us that the Magi came from the East to Jerusalem. It has been suggested that the East was, perhaps, within the region of the present-day Iran. It is very sad that where Jesus was born and where the Magi came from are among the most troubled parts of the world now. It is very sad that the Middle East, the home of three major world religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, remains in conflict and wars. We pray for peace in the Middle East and around the world.

The Magi saw a spectacular star, which they, rightly, interpreted to signify the birth of the Messiah. They prophetically brought gifts to Jesus according to his messianic mission: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold symbolizes Jesus’ kingship, frankincense his priesthood, and myrrh his death.

The Magi were non-Jews. It was God’s plan that through their visit, the birth of Jesus was, also, revealed to the non-Jewish world. The Magi, no doubt, returned to the East with the news of the birth of Jesus.

It was not only the Magi that saw the spectacular star. Some people saw it, admired it, but it meant nothing to them. Some people saw it, knew that it signified something special but did nothing about it. Only the Magi, after seeing the star, followed it until it stopped over the place Jesus was born. The Magi’s journey took them months through hills, deserts, and rivers. Not even Herod could stop their mission. This means that the level of perseverance and passion determines the level of success. The Magi teach us that by determination, perseverance, and goodwill, we will accomplish our mission. We pray that God may send us the ‘star’ that will guide us and that we may recognize and follow the guiding ‘star.’ The Magi teach us to see something and do something; not see, talk, and do nothing. “Talk the talk and walk the walk!”

May we experience our own epiphany, which is a new revelation and a new manifestation of the presence and the power of Jesus in our desires, decisions, plans, and lives. We pray that the Spirit of Jesus opens the eyes of our minds and hearts and reveals to us hidden things. St. Ignatius asks us to pray, “To come to know Christ more intimately, love him more ardently and follow him more closely.” Someone refers to such a spiritual state as “wrapped up in Jesus.”

The Magi’s journey teaches us that the Christian journey is a journey of hope. The Magi’s journey helps us to appreciate 2025 as the Holy Year of Hope, declared by Pope Francis. The Pope writes in the Papal Bull he issued on May 9, 2024, “Often, we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic, and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee Year be an opportunity to be renewed in hope. God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope.” Renewed hope means renewed spiritual strength. The Magi’s hope did not disappoint them. Our hope in Jesus will not disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

The Magi brought gifts to Jesus. What gifts do we bring to Jesus during the Year of Hope? The greatest gift we can bring to Jesus is to become stewards of God’s graces and givers of hope to people. By doing so, we become co-partners of Jesus, as St. Paul challenges us in the second reading (Ephesians 3:2, 6).

The birth of Jesus made the angels sing, made the shepherds rejoice, and made the Magi come all the way from the East in wonder and adoration. But it made King Herod to become deeply troubled; and he, immediately, planned to kill Jesus. Of course, Jesus was not to become an earthly king and was not to take over Herod’s temporal kingdom. Herod represents the worst and extreme cases of jealousy and envy. There are ‘herods’ who are deeply saddened by other people’s accomplishments to frustrate or destroy the accomplishment. We are invited to become stewards of God’s graces and blessings, givers of hope, and sons and daughters of encouragement rather than tools of discouragement and tools of destruction. May our ‘stars’ keep shining. May God shield our ‘stars’ from ‘herod’s’ forces of destruction!

Lastly, the Magi did not return to Herod, as Herod requested. They listened to God’s warning and departed by another way. We pray that we may have listening ears and seeing eyes to follow the new ways God has opened for us in the New Year. Let us embrace 2025 with renewed hope and renewed strength.

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD, January 1, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21

The Catholic Church begins the year, every year, by invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession for the world. The Church honors her today by her highest title, The Mother of God, in Greek, _Theotokos_ , meaning “God-bearer.” The Incarnation, the Word became flesh, took place in her womb. She gave birth to God the Son. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and *THE WORD WAS GOD.* ” Luke 1:41-43, “Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that *THE MOTHER OF MY LORD* should come to me?” Colossians 2:9, “In Him dwells *ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD* bodily.” Being the Mother of God means that she is the mother of all. As we invoke her, may she intercede for us as she interceded for the couple during the wedding banquet at Cana (John 2:1-12). As we begin 2025, may Jesus change our water into wine. May our anxious moments become joyful moments. May we become bearers of God as Mary was.

Today is a day of thanksgiving. We thank God for keeping us alive, keeping us together, and bringing us to 2025. We thank God for the gift of one another, and for the gift of family and friends. We thank God for what we are, who we are, all he has given to us, and for his countless blessings. None is by our power nor by our might. Only the fool says that there is no God (Psalm 14:1).

It is a special day to gather in God’s sanctuary to receive his blessings, which launch us into the new year. The first reading is God’s blessings on us:

May the Lord bless us and keep us. Amen.

May the Lord let his face shine upon us and be gracious to us. Amen.

May the Lord look upon us kindly and give us peace. Amen.

(Numbers 6:22-27).

It is a day to thank God for giving us another opportunity. That we are alive today is not because we are better behaved than those who passed on. It is by God’s grace. Therefore, 2025 is God’s new chance for each one of us! The question is, what am I going to do with this new chance God is giving to me? Sometimes, when a gadget malfunctions, a good solution is to shut it down and restart it. Many of us need a restart. Malfunction does not mean crash. We may only need to delete some virus apps.

Very importantly, it is a day of reflection. Jesus’ Parable of the Net in Matthew 13:47-48 encourages us to put what is good into buckets and throw away what is bad. As we begin 2025, let us throw away what has not helped and will not help. Let us keep and improve on what has helped and will continue to help.

It is, also, a day of prayer of committing and surrendering everything about us to God to take charge and be in complete control in 2025. We pray that he will shelter us with his pinions, and under his wings we will take refuge; that his faithfulness will be our protecting shield; and that he will command his angels with regard to us, to guard us wherever we go (Psalm 91). Amen. 

I wrote a piece that can be a spiritual guide. The title is, *WHAT WE CELEBRATE, MULTIPLIES* .

If we celebrate positive thoughts and positive actions, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate negative thoughts and negative actions, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate faith and courage, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate doubt and fear, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate trust and confidence, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate distrust and suspicion, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate love and acceptance, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate hate and violence, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate understanding and harmony, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate discord and disagreement, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate self-control and peace, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate anger and revenge, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate forgiveness and reconciliation, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate resentment and unforgiveness, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate uprightness and integrity, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate dishonesty and deceit, the Evil One multiplies them. 

If we celebrate generosity and hospitality, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate meanness and unfriendliness, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate kindness and upliftment, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate unkindness and pulling down, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate gratitude and thanksgiving, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate ingratitude and ungratefulness, the Evil One multiplies them.

If we celebrate virtue and goodness, God multiplies them.

If we celebrate weakness and sin, the Evil One multiplies them.

Indeed, what we celebrate, multiplies! Therefore, let us celebrate God’s blessings, and may he multiply them

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and our mother intercede for us.

Happy New Year to you all!

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY, YEAR C, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:41-52

Today’s feast is of utmost importance to all of us since we all belong to families; and the family is the first and the greatest institution God created. No doubt, we are passing through a difficult time whereby many families are fractured, hurting, and disordered in one way or another. Since families are the foundations and the constituents of societies, fractured, hurting, and disordered families mean fractured, hurting, and disordered societies. Therefore, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is a model for all families.

Being a holy family did not mean that everything was well and smooth for them. It was a lowly family with many ups and downs. Mary’s pregnancy brought a troubling situation for both Mary and Joseph. However, they accepted the situation when each of them was ministered to by the angel of the Lord. Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). As for Joseph, “When he awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded and took his wife into his home” (Matthew 1:24-25).

Mary gave birth to Jesus in a very difficult circumstance. After a long journey on foot from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census, a distance of about 100 miles (161 kilometers), there was no inn. They went to a shed on a farm where Mary gave birth to Jesus. It was not recorded that any nurse or midwife was available to help. We can only imagine how tough it was for the two of them all alone.

During the presentation of Jesus in the temple, Simeon prophesied to Mary that a sword would pierce her heart. The first experience of a sword piercing her heart was when the family fled to Egypt to save Jesus from being murdered by Herod. A sword pierced her heart when Jesus got separated from her and Joseph after the feast of Passover in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple after searching for him for three days, as we read in today’s gospel. Finally, a sword pierced Mary’s heart when she witnessed Jesus carrying the cross, his crucifixion, his death, and his burial.

As for Jesus, he “grew under them and became strong, filled with wisdom; and God’s favor rested upon him” (Luke 2:40). As we can see, the Holy Family was not spared from earthly troubles.

Therefore, we have so much to learn from the Holy Family that can help us to keep our families from falling apart. Pope Paul VI describes the Holy Family as a school of Nazareth where we learn true science of life and the higher wisdom of divine truth. We draw courage and wisdom from the Holy Family’s experience when we think we have done everything right, yet misfortunes happen to us.

The first reading reminds us that, “God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority over her [children].” Unfortunately, many parents have handed over this God-given authority to their children. The reverse has become the case; whereby many children have authority over their parents and are able to control and manipulate their parents as they wish. Sadly, the God-given authority has been snatched from many parents by governments, social media, and gadgets. Proverbs 22:15 says, “Folly is bound to the heart of a youth, but the rod of discipline will drive it out.” And Proverbs 13:24 says, “Whoever spares the rod hates the child, but whoever loves will apply discipline.” We are seeing what the society is becoming as we do not apply discipline on our children. One obvious result is that we have a generation that is spiritually hollow, unable to see meaning in hard work and perseverance, and incapable of prevailing in hardship.

The first reading contains blessings for children who honor their parents and who take care of their parents in their old age. However, Sirach 3:16 warns children who disrespect their parents and who abandon their parents in their old age: “Those who neglect their father are like blasphemers; those who provoke their mother are accursed by their Creator”. On the other hand, the second reading challenges parents not to maltreat their children so that they may not become discouraged (Colossians 3:21).

There is no perfect family. Turning on one another and violence to one another make matters worse. For this reason, the second reading encourages us on how to cope with family imperfections to avoid disorderliness, breakdowns, and disintegrations. The reading says, “Put on … heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. … And over all these, put on love…. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, … And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:12-17). Also, it is important that family members pray together. “A family that prays together stays together.”

Our reflection today goes beyond our biological families. It extends to the external families we belong to: church family, religious family, business family, groups, associations, and so on.

May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph pray for us and for our families. Amen.

CHRISTMAS DAY, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1-6; Hebrews 1-6; John 1:1-14

The word ‘Christmas’ originates from the Latin phrase Cristes Maesse, meaning Christ’s Mass.

Christmas celebration is the most festive time in the world. Andy Williams composed a Christmas song, which refers to the Christmas season as “the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” One of the lines of the lyrics says, “It’s the hap-happiest season of all.” While Christians celebrate the commemoration of the birth of Jesus, the effects of the celebration are felt all over the world. The fact that the word ‘Christmas’ is on the lips of believers and non-believers is the reason Pope St. Leo the Great says, “No body is an outsider to this happiness. The same joy is common to all …” Indeed, Jesus is the reason for the season! St. Paul writes, “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).

In 2004, Alan Gurney wrote a book entitled, The Compass, a Story of Exploration and Innovation. It is a story of a boat with the latest high-tech. In the morning, the boat set sail, guided by a sophisticated computer program. Everything progressed as programmed. On the first night, the open sea was moonless and starless. It was a night of total darkness. Then, the unexpected happened. Without warning, all the electronics on board failed. The screen went blank. It was a night with no moon or stars to serve as beacons, and no lighthouses in sight to guide the boat to a safe harbor. Another complication was that no one on board had thought to bring a simple compass that could have guided the boat to safety. The boat sailed blindly and tempest-tossed the whole night without any directional guides. However, there was a great sigh of relief when, in the early hours of the pitch-black morning, the dense clouds parted, and the North Star appeared in the heavens. The North Star guided them out of harm’s way until the sun appeared. Then, the highly humbled crew returned the latest high-tech boat to the safe harbor. (From Archbishop George Leo Thomas’ homily).

Recently, on March 26, 2024, a high-tech cargo ship, in the middle of the night, lost power and lost control. At about 1:28 AM, it crashed into Baltimore Key Bridge (1.6 miles/2.5 kilometer bridge), causing the collapse of the structure and the death of six bridge maintenance workers. 

Revelations 22:16 refers to Jesus as “the Bight Morning Star” and Malachi 4:2 refers to him as “the Sun of Righteousness.”  The morning star is the brightest star in the night sky, which heralds the dawn and the end of darkness. As the Bright Morning Star, Jesus, is our hope and salvation. As the Sun of Righteousness, he is the light that dispels every darkness. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). 

The first reading of the midnight Mass says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone” (Isaiah 9:2). We have just read from St. John’s Gospel, “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:4-9). 

Our high-tech world is not our hope and salvation, and not the light. High-tech world is good, but the results of high-tech without Jesus are high-tech lies, high-tech stealing, high-tech corruption, high-tech injustice, high-tech immoral life, high-tech wars and violence, and all kinds of high-tech evils.

St. John continues, “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name” (John 1:11-12). Jesus is the light in our darkness. Without him, like the two ships, we lose control. Without him, we are lost. Without him, we are bound to crash and many times cause catastrophic destruction. But with him, we are back on track. He is our “Wonderful-Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6). He is our restorer. St. Peter writes, “The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. To him be dominion forever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10).

Jesus was born in an animals’ shed because human beings could not provide an inn for Mary and Joseph. The commemoration of the birth of Jesus is our opportunity to provide an inn for Jesus to be born again in our lives; that he may light up, guide, restore, strengthen, and establish us. Fr. Mark Ameh, MSP, sings in his Christmas song, “Jesus, you are all I want for Christmas; more than presents wrapped beneath the tree.” A song by Fernando Ortega says, “Give me Jesus, you can have all this world.”

Christmas brings great beauty. Homes, churches, shops, offices, and streets are beautifully decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths, flowers, lights, and gifts. Christmas will have the best positive impact if our lives are spiritually decorated with hope, peace, joy, and love, which we prayed for during the four Sundays of Advent. Christmas will have the best positive impact if we give to others and receive from others hope, peace, joy, and love as gifts. Give someone hope! Give someone peace! Give someone joy! Give someone love! Receive hope! Receive peace! Receive joy! Receive love! If this exchange happens, Christmas is properly celebrated. If it does not happen, Christmas is not properly celebrated.

Merry Christmas to you all.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR C, 2024 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Micah 5:1-4; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Today, we light the fourth candle, which is called the candle of love.  The circle is complete. Hope (first candle) brings Peace. Peace (second candle) brings Joy. Joy (third candle) brings Love. The first Christmas happened because “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). God loves us first (1 John 4:19). “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16). We live in love and in God when we appreciate and reciprocate God’s love by sharing his love with fellow human beings. By so doing, Christmas is properly celebrated. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20-21). Lighting the candle of love is our prayer that love may conquer hate and animosity. May the Advent journey and Christmas celebrations enable us to become channels of God’s love.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Rev. John Guun writes: “Of all the dark passions that smite the human soul, hate is the darkest. If you hate another, it hurts you more than the one you hate. Hate will make you nervous, restless, apprehensive …. Hate is like a cancer; it will eat your heart out.”

Even when people refuse our love, or keep hating and hurting us despite our efforts to reconciliation and peace, Jesus advises us to love them, which means that we do not retaliate. Jesus advises us to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:45). St. Paul puts it this way, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing, you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good” (Romans 12:20-21). In a way, the “burning coals” is the “cancer” that eats the heart of the person who rejects peace, love, and reconciliation.

As we are approaching the celebration of Christmas, the action of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as we read in today’s gospel, helps us to reflect on our relationship with one another and on our spiritual journey.

The angel said to Mary, “And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:37-37). The gospel says, “Mary sets out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Luke 1:39).

Mary set out, in haste, to visit Elizabeth. She was not directed by the angel to go over and help Elizabeth. She was not sent for by Elizabeth. In her heart of compassion, she reasoned that her elderly pregnant relative needed help. So, she set out in haste to help. She stayed with Elizabeth for three months; which means that Mary stayed with Elizabeth until Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist.

We remember that Mary responded the same way at the wedding at Cana when the wine ran out. Without being asked, she saved the couple from embarrassment by letting Jesus know that “They have no wine.” Then, Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). Mary’s thoughtfulness and generous response are a challenge to our, sometimes, insensitivity to matters that concern other people.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped for joy in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary’s presence filled Zechariah’s house with joy and the Holy Spirit. The presence of Mary radiated joy and the Holy Spirit. Does our presence radiate joy and the Holy Spirit or sadness and bad spirit?

Elizabeth exclaimed, “How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43). The understanding that she was the mother of God humbled Mary rather than feelings of pride and self-importance. Can we be a bit gentle and humble with whatever or whoever we think we are?

Elizabeth said to Mary, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Luke 1:45). What was spoken by the angel about Mary came to fulfillment. O Lord, not the evil one’s will, not human’s will, and not our will; but as Mary prayed, “May it be done to [us] according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Amen.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for us, that through the graces of the Advent season, hope, peace, joy, and love may rise in our hearts and flush out despair, conflicts, sadness, hate, and pride. Amen.