4th Sunday of Advent (A)

Short Reflection for the 4^th Sunday of Advent (A)

Readings: Isaiah 7: 10-14; Romans 1: 1-7; Matthew 1: 18-24

Selected Passage: “The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins’."  (Matthew 1: 20-21)

Meditation:  In facing life’s challenges, we are, often, afraid.  The message to us is similar to Joseph: ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID’. Trust in God! Christmas is a celebration of God dwelling in us and in the world through Mary, our mother!

Today we, too, can give birth to Jesus, if we allow God to intervene in our lives.

Giving birth to Jesus in our own times, we need to hear his voice and heed the call to GIVE LIFE TO OTHERS, especially to those in need.

www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.

The Shifting Sands of Muslim-Christian Relations

The Shifting of Sands in the Relationship of Muslims & Christians...

1. The Politics of Power between the Mighty vs. the Weak;

2. The Economics of Sharing between the Rich vs. the Poor;

3. The Condition of Despair vs. Hope;

4. The unstable Policy of War vs. Peace;

5. The reality of Exclusion vs. Inclusion;

6. The Ambiguity of who are Terrorists vs. Witnesses;

7. The bitter History of Conquests & Subjugation vs. Healing

THE CHOICE IS OURS TO MAKE... EITHER FOR DEATH OR FOR LIFE...!

CUIDADO!

Jun Mercado, OMI

#Badaliyya-Philippines

December 16, 2019

3rd Sunday of Advent (A)

Short Reflection for the 3^rd Sunday of Advent (A)

Readings: Isaiah 35: 1-6a, 10; James 5: 7-10; Matthew 11: 2-11

Selected Text: 4 Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 * the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 6 And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." (Matthew 11: 4-6)

Meditation: We need new eye sight to heed the signs that point to the presence of the reign of God in our midst – “the blind regain their sight; the lame walk; lepers are cleansed; the deaf hear; the dead are raised; and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” These are the signs that God’s saving work is underway, in the here and now. And through our good works, especially our concrete sharing of our time, talents and treasure with those in need make the reign of God present in our midst. Cf. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart.

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible...

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.