Christmas 2007 is about a Child who healed the sick, fed the hungry, showed compassion, taught that one should lay down his life for friends --- and did so. He also gave answers to basic questions that confront ordinary mortals like us: pain, suffering, loss and death.”
“The Bethlehem story, in Luke’s Gospel, gives us an ‘array of luminous images’. “They Shall Call Him Emmanuel”- a name which means God is with us. ( We see ) “The night sky alight with bright angels, simple shepherds startled from sleep, magi…It is a happening, above all, for the deepest heart.”
“Christmas is not, first of all, a revelation for the intelligence….It is looking at a Son who was born for us, who would die for us, because we mattered to him, because we are infinitely cherished, infinitely loved…At the crib, the first task is to look, and looking to adore. Venite adoremus, the old Latin carol says. Come let us adore him”.
“The hopes and fears of all the years / Are met in thee tonight,” the 1861 (?) carol says of the little town of Bethlehem. Indeed, the unique grace of Christmas is that both sinners and saints can say, together with kings and shepherds: “Let us go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us.” (Juan Mercado)
A Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2007!
Jun Mercado, OMI
Kargador at Dawn
Work in the Vineyard
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Message of Christmas!
Christmas 2007 is about a Child who healed the sick, fed the hungry, showed compassion, taught that one should lay down his life for friends --- and did so. He also gave answers to basic questions that confront ordinary mortals like us: pain, suffering, loss and death.”
“The Bethlehem story, in Luke’s Gospel, gives us an ‘array of luminous images’. “They Shall Call Him Emmanuel”.( We see ). “The night sky alight with bright angels, simple shepherds startled from sleep, magi…It is a happening, above all, for the deepest heart.”
“Christmas is not, first of all, a revelation for the intelligence….It is looking at a Son who was born for us, who would die for us, because we mattered to him, because we are infinitely cherished, infinitely loved…At the crib, the first task is to look, and looking to adore. Venite adoremus, the old Latin carol says. Come let us adore him”.
“The hopes and fears of all the years / Are met in thee tonight,” the 1861 (?) carol says of the little town of Bethlehem. Indeed, the unique grace of Christmas is that both sinners and saints can say, together with kings and shepherds: “Let us go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us.”
A Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2007!
Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, OMI
“The Bethlehem story, in Luke’s Gospel, gives us an ‘array of luminous images’. “They Shall Call Him Emmanuel”.( We see ). “The night sky alight with bright angels, simple shepherds startled from sleep, magi…It is a happening, above all, for the deepest heart.”
“Christmas is not, first of all, a revelation for the intelligence….It is looking at a Son who was born for us, who would die for us, because we mattered to him, because we are infinitely cherished, infinitely loved…At the crib, the first task is to look, and looking to adore. Venite adoremus, the old Latin carol says. Come let us adore him”.
“The hopes and fears of all the years / Are met in thee tonight,” the 1861 (?) carol says of the little town of Bethlehem. Indeed, the unique grace of Christmas is that both sinners and saints can say, together with kings and shepherds: “Let us go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us.”
A Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2007!
Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, OMI
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Celebrating Christmas in HOPE...
Hi Folks!
Peace!
Despite the increasing crisis in the world today our theme for our prayer this Christmas season is one of hope and courage. In his second encyclical letter, Pope Benedict XVI addresses our need of HOPE. “Spe salvi facti sumus.” (in faith, we are saved – Romans 8:24) is the beginning statement of the said letter. In fact, to come to know God – the true God - means is to receive hope.
Our remembrance of Christmas – the birth of the Lord who is called Emmanuel which means god is with us – is to receive HOPE. Yes, we are given HOPE by which we can face the challenges’ and the difficulties of life. By hope also we approach each other’s differences and we are able to dialogue both inter and intra-faith communities.
For those that might like to see the recent development to encourage inter-religious dialogue and reconciliation there is the famous Muslim Letter that speaks of the Love of God and Love of neighbor as the common ground for our dialogue – inter and intra-faith communities. The letter and a Reading of the same you can be found at http://www.omigen.org/ipid
Be well!
Eliseo "Jun" Mercado, OMI
Peace!
Despite the increasing crisis in the world today our theme for our prayer this Christmas season is one of hope and courage. In his second encyclical letter, Pope Benedict XVI addresses our need of HOPE. “Spe salvi facti sumus.” (in faith, we are saved – Romans 8:24) is the beginning statement of the said letter. In fact, to come to know God – the true God - means is to receive hope.
Our remembrance of Christmas – the birth of the Lord who is called Emmanuel which means god is with us – is to receive HOPE. Yes, we are given HOPE by which we can face the challenges’ and the difficulties of life. By hope also we approach each other’s differences and we are able to dialogue both inter and intra-faith communities.
For those that might like to see the recent development to encourage inter-religious dialogue and reconciliation there is the famous Muslim Letter that speaks of the Love of God and Love of neighbor as the common ground for our dialogue – inter and intra-faith communities. The letter and a Reading of the same you can be found at http://www.omigen.org/ipid
Be well!
Eliseo "Jun" Mercado, OMI
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