Dec 21, 2022 | NEWS
In the Philippines, many Christmas parties are held during this time. Different groups, neighbours, communities come together to celebrate together, make wishes and give each other small gifts. The sisters from the community in Manila organised a Christmas party for a group of women who have participated in all three editions of the sewing course at our house. The party was also attended by the Polish ambassador to the Philippines and his collaborators. It was a very joyful gathering. Many of the women who attended the sewing course are using the skills and are already earning money for their families by sewing. Some of them brought gifts to the sisters that they had sewn for them themselves.
Dec 21, 2022 | DAILY BREAD
21 December
O Oriens!
Gospel – Luke 1:39-45
“She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry…”. What was that greeting? A greeting that made the child leap and Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit. It is the greeting of Mary who was carrying the Word became incarnate. It is the greeting of Mary who entered into a profound dialogue with the Word became incarnate. It is the greeting of Mary who became the handmaid of the Lord. So, again what was that greeting? It was the Word and Presence of God’s intervention in the history of humanity. A greeting which announces the good news. A greeting that takes away the sins, wipes the tears, and embraces human miseries. A greeting that liberates the humanity. This can be seen in the loud cry of Elizabeth. The cry of the liberation of humanity. Advent is the time to be liberated through the message and presence of God in Mother Mary.
Dec 20, 2022 | DAILY BREAD
O clavis David
Gospel – Luke 1:26-38
The conflict is always between what we want to do and what God asks from us. The question of Mary, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’, shows this. In the answer of angel Gabriel, she, Mother Mary understood the mystery of God’s will. It is about giving the lead of the life to God. It is about abandoning oneself to the Word of God. It’s not anymore, a conflict between what we want to do and what God wants from us. It’s about bowing to the work of the Holy Spirit, and it is to be in the shadow of the power of Most High. It’s about understanding that the possibilities of God begin where the possibilities of man finish. Here conflicts are transformed into conformities. Conformities to the will of God. What God asks from us becomes what we want to do. Advent is a time to make same what God asks from us and what we want to do.
Dec 18, 2022 | DAILY BREAD
19 December
O radix Iesse,
Gospel – Luke 1:5-25
“Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear.” The sign of the presence of the angel at the altar disturbed Zechariah and he became afraid and then he doubted the words of the Angel. Here we see fear and doubt taking over Zechariah in the presence of the Angel. This also happens to us. Fear and doubts overshadow our prayers and spiritual life. Then it’s difficult to understand and accept the Word of God. We don’t accept the message of God with the due respect and love. This fear starts from not understanding the presence of God in different situations and through different persons. When we don’t understand, there starts the fear and doubts. Advent is the time to overcome the fears and doubts so that we can understand the message of God.
Dec 18, 2022 | DAILY BREAD
4th Sunday of Advent
Gospel – Matthew 1:18-24
O Adonai!
“Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit”. Joseph accepted the maternity of Mary as an action of the Holy Spirit as he accepted his paternity as an action of the Holy Spirit. This is a great mystery which elevates the nature to be at the service of the plan of salvation of the humanity. This mystery works in a perfect collaboration between grace and nature, between God and man. Here comes the role of Mother Mary and Joseph. There is an intrinsic relationship between the full disposition of Mary and Joseph and the full action of the Holy Spirit in them. It’s their full and free consent that welcome the action of the Holy Spirit into their life. Their cooperation to the will of God is full. Angel of the Lord is encouraging Joseph not to have any fears for this full and free consent to the action of the Holy Spirit in his life as he like every one of us was surrounded by elements of fear and questions. Advent is the time to give full and free consent to the action of the Holy Spirit in our life.
