4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Short Reflection for the 4^th Sunday of the Ordinary year (B)

Readings: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20; 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35; Mark 1: 21-28

Selected Passage: “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.”  (Mk.1: 22)

Reflection: The first reading invites us to become prophets, that is, “called to speak on God’s behalf”. The Gospel tells of Jesus teaching and preaching with AUTHORITY.  ‘He taught as one having authority and NOT as the scribes.’   That authority flows from a life lived faithfully according to God’s will and like the prophets, they speak on God’s behalf!

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Fr. Jesus Reynaldo A. Roda, OMI - Martyr

7 years ago (Jan. 15, 2008), a martyred Oblate priest, Fr. Rey Roda of the Philippines, testified with his blood that Jesus is the Son of God… 

His life, work and his brutal murder in that God-forsaken island of Tabawan in Tawi Tawi (Philippines) pointed to Jesus who taught us that ‘greater love than this no one has than to lay down one’s life for friends…’ Jesus is our FRIEND… and we are invited to be a friend to one another. 

Fr. Rey was a Martyr who went to the peripheries to proclaim the Good News with JOY...
(Jun Mercado, OMI)

The Feast of the Lord's Baptism

Short Reflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Readings: Isaiah 42: 1-4. 6-7; Acts 10: 34-38; Mark 1: 7-11

Selected Passage: “I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mk. 1: 8)

Reflection: In our lives, we always try to discover the meaning being baptized by the Holy Spirit.  In our own Baptism, this reality is better understood in our being anointed by the Spirit as PRIEST, PROPHET and KING. Priest symbolizes the worship of God in our lives; Prophet tells of our commitment to Justice and Truth; and King speaks of our life of service to others, especially those in need.

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Hymn to Mary - the Holy Mother of God

HYMN to Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way !
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine !
Mary the wheat sheaf, Christ the living Bread;
Mary the rose tree, Christ the Rose blood-red !
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood’
Mary the chalice, Christ the Saving Blood !
Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored !
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest !
Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son.
Both ever blest while endless ages run.
Amen.

(“Mary the Dawn”; Words: anonymous poet; The poem now exists in its edited form by the Dominican Sisters of Summit (1972).
Mary the Dawn by Kathleen Lundquiest is available from Amazon.com)