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Lectio Sunday, february 25, 2024

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, CYCLE B

First reading: from the Book of Genesis (22:1-2,9-13,15-18). This reading presents us with the story of the sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham’s only son, whom God asks to offer him as a burnt offering. It is a test of faith and obedience, which Abraham overcomes with trust and generosity. God rewards him with a great blessing and a promise of numerous and blessed descendants. This reading invites us to reflect on our own faith and our willingness to follow God’s will, even when we do not understand it or find it difficult.

Psalm 115:10,15,15,16-17,18-19. The psalm is a thanksgiving of a faithful person who has been delivered from death by the Lord. He expresses his gratitude and his commitment to serve God and to fulfill his vows in the presence of all the people. The psalm encourages us to recognize God’s benefits to us and to offer him our life as a sacrifice of praise.

Second reading: from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (8:31b-34). This reading shows us the certainty of the victory of Christians over every adversity, thanks to the love of God manifested in Christ. If God is with us, who will be against us? If God has given us his Son, how can he not give us everything else? If God justifies us, who will condemn us? If Christ died and rose for us, who can separate us from his love? This reading strengthens us in our hope and trust in God, who loves and saves us.

Gospel: according to St. Mark (9:2-10). This reading narrates the episode of the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, before three of his disciples: Peter, James and John. Jesus appears glorious, clothed in white robes and surrounded by Moses and Elijah, who represent the law and the prophets. A voice from heaven proclaims that Jesus is the beloved Son of God and must be heard. The disciples are astonished and terrified, and remain silent until Jesus rises from the dead. This reading reveals to us the identity and mission of Jesus, the suffering and glorious Messiah, and invites us to follow and listen to him.

A new day begins and we wake up at dawn to listen and contemplate, both attitudes are fundamental to approach God and his will. Listening implies being attentive, receptive and willing to obey. Contemplating implies admiring, thanking and praising. Both attitudes help us to enter into communion with God and with others.

Listen

Today’s Gospel places us on Mount Tabor, the place where Jesus is transfigured before Peter, John and James. Let us contemplate this passage welcoming the depth of the experience of which God makes us witnesses; his clothes were glistening, very white as snow (Mk 9:4), Moses and Elijah appeared (Mk 9:4), a cloud covered them and from heaven a voice was heard saying. «This is my beloved Son, listen to him» (Mk 9:7b).

Contemplate

We continue the Lenten climb and the opportunity to allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit into the desert and accompany the Lord to a solitary place remains vital in today’s liturgy of the 2nd Sunday of Lent. Let us look at the text from four keys that will help for reflection:

1) Willingness to go up. The text begins by alluding to the ascent of the mountain where Jesus takes three of his friends (Peter, James and John). Like the disciples, it is important to make this route of ascent, because when we prepare ourselves for the journey we encounter the fatigue of daily life, where the need to return, to do penance, to listen to the pain of the heart that lives on spiritual rents is revealed. It is important to go up because the call to conversion is made to us by the Lord walking with us, being, working and listening in our daily life.

2) We are not alone as in the desert, but we are accompanied by Jesus and our brothers and sisters, because conversion arises from the encounter with others. To review the relationships with oneself, with God, with nature, with the neighbor, is the secret, because in that daily exchange Love and the firm purpose of serving the Lord is manifested.

3) Jesus also sets out on this journey because he needs to be reunited with his Father and with himself. On Mount Tabor, Jesus receives the confirmation of his Mission; not only does he see Elijah (the Prophets) and Moses (the Law), but he hears the voice of his Father who envelops him and gives him a foretaste of the glory and the cross.

4) This is my son, listen to him! The transfiguration is a gift for the believer, because we do not walk blindly but we know well what is the destination of our conversion process: the experience of the encounter with the glorious Jesus, who looks at us with love and consoles us, dispels our doubts, fears and disappointments. He shows us his shining face, which anticipates the glory of the resurrection and eternal life. He invites us to listen to his voice, which reveals his will and his word.

Invitation.

Pope Francis said, «the culmination is not only to attain the grace of forgiveness and the experience of the Father’s love, Lent also allows us to forge the will to put the means to keep the heart centered for inclined to sin we will always be, but we can choose to stay with HIM.» We ask ourselves:

  • How is your relationship with yourself, with others, with God, with creation?
  • What did Jesus need to hear according to today’s Gospel? What could Elijah and Moses have said to him?
  • What does the Father want you to hear from Jesus?

Intention.

Let us ask the Lord that we may continue on the path of conversion.

S. Mariulis Grehan, tc

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Lectio Sunday, february 18, 2024

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, CYCLE B

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15. God establishes a covenant with Noah and his descendants after the flood, and establishes the rainbow as a sign of his faithfulness and of his promise not to destroy the earth again with water.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24. It is a psalm of trust in the Lord, who is the guide, the savior and the forgiver of his people. The psalmist asks him to teach him his ways and make him faithful to his covenant.

Second reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22. The apostle Peter reminds us that Christ died for our sins and rose again for our salvation. He is the model of our faith and of our baptism, which unites us to him and makes us sharers in his victory over evil.

Gospel: Mark 1, 12-15. The evangelist Mark tells us how Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by Satan, but also assisted by the angels. After the imprisonment of John the Baptist, Jesus began to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, calling to conversion and faith.

A new day begins and we wake up at dawn to listen and contemplate, both attitudes are fundamental to approach God and his will. Listening implies being attentive, receptive and willing to obey. Contemplating implies admiring, thanking and praising. Both attitudes help us to enter into communion with God and with others.

Listen

We read in the Gospel «After this the Spirit drove Jesus into the desert» (Mk 1:12), «There he lived for forty days among the wild beasts, and was tested by Satan; and the angels ministered to him» (Mk 1:13). «After John was put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee to preach the good news from God» (Mk 1:14). He said, «The time has come, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Turn to God and accept in faith his good news» (Mk 1:15).

Contemplate

As we cross the threshold of Ash Wednesday, we enter into the midst of the Lenten season. Today’s Gospel is brief but profound in meaning. The opening sentence tells us, «The Spirit drove Jesus into the desert, and he stayed in the desert forty days.» This is Lent: 40 days in the desert. The word «Lent» comes from the Latin «quadragésima», which means precisely «forty». This time evokes ancient biblical events loaded with spiritual symbolism.

  • 40 years of pilgrimage of the people of Israel through the desert towards the Promised Land.
  • 40 days of Moses’ stay on Mount Sinai, where God renewed the covenant with his people and gave him the Tablets of the Law.
  • 40 days that Elijah traveled through the wilderness until he met the Lord on Mount Horeb.
  • 40 days that our Lord Jesus Christ spent in the desert praying and fasting, before beginning his public life that would culminate on Calvary, where he would bring our redemption to completion.

In this passage (Mk 1:12-15), we contemplate two fundamental aspects: the desert, where Jesus prepares himself for his mission, and the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, which demands conversion and faith.

The desert, in biblical literature, is not only a physical place, but also a spiritual symbol. It seems that God chooses this setting to carry out his works of salvation. The desert is arid and inhospitable, but it is also a place of encounter with the divine. It is a symbolic and profound place. It is the place where God’s people suffer, are tested and purified, but it is also the place where God reveals himself to his people and saves them.

It is a place of solitude, but also of encounter with God’s love. It is a place of desolation and also of Hope. It is the place where I want to go because «God will speak to my heart and win me back» (Hos 2:14). In the desert we see God as He is and He looks at us as we are. It is the place where I allow myself to experience weakness and recognize that «Mercy is the name of God» (Pope Francis).

Welcoming the call of the Spirit to the desert and conversion begins with accepting the call to holiness and to live the Gospel as St. Francis once expressed it: «This is what I want; this is what I seek; this is what I desire with all my heart to do» (cf. 1Cel 22). It is not an idea, it is the firm will to take the step to experience in order to configure one’s own feelings to those of Christ in such a way that prayer and one’s own life go from superficial foundations to the point of saying «it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me» (Gal 2:20).

Conversion is a demanding path, which implies renouncing and fighting against everything that distances us from God. But it is also a path of mercy, which brings us closer to Jesus and to following him. During these days, the Church invites us to practice the spiritual works of mercy (Teach those who do not know, Give good advice to those who need it, Correct those who are in error, Forgive injuries, Comfort the sad, Suffer with patience the faults of others, Pray to God for the living and the dead, and pray to God for those who are alive, To pray to God for the living and the dead) and corporal (To feed the hungry, To give drink to the thirsty, To give lodging to the needy, To clothe the naked, To visit the sick, To help those in prison, To bury the dead) as signs of our conversion.

Invitation.

We ask ourselves:

Are asceticism, almsgiving, fasting, prayer, penance and confession means that help you to deepen and live meaningfully Lent, which is a time of grace and gift? What is my purpose at the beginning of Lent? What does it mean for you to live in an attitude of permanent conversion?

What do you think of this phrase of Pope Francis? «Without recognition of your own sin you cannot receive Mercy». 

Intention.

Let us contemplate today’s liturgy from the desire to be with Jesus, to know his heart, to love him and to follow him. Let us ask the Lord to impel us with his Spirit into the desert.

S. Mariulis Grehan, tc

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Lectio Sunday, february 11, 2024

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, CYCLE B

 

  • First Reading (Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46), we are presented with the terrible existence of leprosy sufferers in Old Testament Judaism. The priest declared the leper unclean, who had to live in isolation outside the camp.
  • The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 31) shows us a merciful God who erases our faults. Just as the leper confesses his illness, we too must acknowledge our faults and turn to the Lord for forgiveness.
  • Second Reading (1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1), Paul exhorts us to follow Christ’s example. By following his Christian standards, we can reflect God’s compassion and mercy in our daily lives.
  • Gospel according to St. Mark (1:40-45). In this passage, Jesus encounters a leper who comes to him in humility and supplication, «Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.» Jesus’ response is moving: «I will, be cleansed» and integrates him back into the life of his people.

A new day begins and we wake up at dawn to listen and contemplate, both attitudes are fundamental to approach God and his will. Listening implies being attentive, receptive and willing to obey. Contemplating implies admiring, thanking and praising. Both attitudes help us to enter into communion with God and with others.

Listening.

The Gospel recounts the last passage of chapter 1 of the Gospel according to Mark in verses 40-45 entitled «The Healing of a Leper». I invite you to break down the text which will allow us to become part of the scene, to imagine, to listen and to involve the rest of the senses. We find Jesus on the outskirts of a village (Mk 1:40), he meets a leper who asks to be healed if it is his will (Mk 1:40b), Jesus expresses his desire to see him healed (Mk 1:41), he sends him to fulfill the prescriptions of Moses so that his health may be established (Mk 1:44) and people come to him from everywhere (Mk 1:45).

Contemplate.

In the reflection of this passage the context is important. According to Jewish law, the priest was the one who could declare a person impure, who from that moment on was excluded from the social and religious life of his people, having to go to live on the outskirts of the town among other sick and possessed people. In this context we place a leprous man who approaches Jesus carrying in himself the marginalization, the exclusion, the repudiation, the unworthiness, the worry of being even rejected by God and with the weakness of the one who has banished from himself every reason to live, he puts himself in Jesus’ hands without demands «If you want, you can cleanse me».

Jesus had compassion (Mk 1:41a), he approaches him, he does not remain indifferent, he allows himself to be involved and wounded by the pain, by the sickness of the one he meets on the road; he touches him with his hand (Mk 1:41b), he does not turn back, his goal is the man, to heal his wounds; and says to him (Mk 1:41c) «I will, be cleansed», words that reintegrated him not only to the social but also to the religious life of his community, so Jesus sends him (Mk 1:44b) as established by the Law, go and present yourself before the priest so that it may be recorded before all that you are now cleansed of your sickness.

The passage continues Mk1, 45b and says that Jesus stayed in the outskirts because he could no longer enter freely into the villages, a significant fact that brings us closer to the essence of God for whom borders do not exist, Jesus remains in this theological place thus fracturing the differences of the old law that separated the cursed from the blessed. There he received the sick from many places, so this place must become for everyone a call to personal and pastoral conversion, and for this let us not be afraid to go to the peripheries of the other worlds and our own, where we are all one with the Father, the Son and the Spirit. There where we are all Church in going out, Church on the way.

Invitation.

The Lord is waiting for you in the peripheries where you learn to look at life in many colors, where life hurts, where there are only equals and where you can feel your vulnerability, discover your own despair, bare your heart, not be an appearance, be reconciled with yourself, with others, build bridges, give and receive mercy.

To approach the personal and pastoral conversion implicit in this biblical passage, it is important to give answers to these questions:

  • Who are the lepers of today?
  • Do you have any leprosy that prevents you from living in fraternity, reconciled and hopeful? Today you can ask Jesus to be cleansed.
  • What are the peripheries where you can meet the Lord?

Intention.

In the contemplated context we ask the Lord to see him in order to know him internally, to love him, to accept his will and to refresh the memory of our own salvation history.

 

S. Mariulis Grehan, tc

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Lectio Sunday, february 4, 2024

First Reading: Job 7:1-4.6-7. The book of Job presents us with the drama of a righteous man who suffers for no apparent reason and who questions God about the reason for his situation. In this passage, Job expresses his anguish and despair before a life that becomes unbearable for him.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146:1-6. The psalm contrasts Job’s attitude with that of the psalmist, who praises God for his goodness and power. The psalm reminds us that God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists, and that he is especially concerned for the poor and the afflicted.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23. The Apostle Paul shares with us his experience as a preacher of the Gospel, which for him is not a source of pride, but an obligation and a vocation. Paul does everything for everyone, adapting himself to different circumstances and persons, in order to win them to Christ.

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39. The evangelist Mark narrates the beginning of Jesus’ public activity in Galilee, where he performs signs of healing and liberation, and where he withdraws to pray in solitary places. Jesus shows his compassion for the sick and the possessed, and his fidelity to the will of the Father, who sends him to preach the Kingdom of God.

A new day begins and we wake up at dawn to listen and contemplate, both attitudes are fundamental to approach God and his will. Listening implies being attentive, receptive and willing to obey. Contemplating implies admiring, thanking and praising. Both attitudes help us to enter into communion with God and with others.

Listen

We approach a day with the Master where daily life is woven of Celebration, Service, Fraternity, Prayer, Mercy and Mission as we confront it in the Gospel proposed for the contemplation of this day: Mk 1:29 they leave the synagogue (Celebration); Mk 1:30 to meet Peter’s sick mother-in-law (Service); Mk 1:31 in Peter’s house Jesus cures his mother-in-law who sets about serving them (Fraternity); Mk 1:32 in the evening he cures the sick crowded at the door (Mercy); Mk 1:35 in the early morning he withdraws in silence to be with the Father (Prayer) and in the face of the restlessness of the people who are looking for him at dawn he responds to his disciples, let us go to other places (Mission) Mk 1:38 .  Each of these words shows us a facet of the love of Jesus and his self-giving, and invites us to imitate him in our concrete reality.

Contemplate

We could continue reflecting and delving into each gesture of Jesus from the six words that outline his day, but there is a detail that helps us to enter into the heart of God and be with Him, which is the goal of every prayer space. We fix our gaze on the verse Mk 1, 31 how Jesus not only works miracles but the particular way of relating with trust and predilection with the sick whom he cured; he approached her, took her by the hand and lifted her up. Later the story speaks of other healings, but this one in particular characterizes the gestures of Jesus which are those of the Father. We wonder what Peter’s mother-in-law could have seen or felt? There were no words, we only know that Jesus’ eyes and hands connected with her weakness and in his gestures the woman found the strength and support that made her get up to welcome, attend and serve Jesus and the disciples.

There is another implicit reality in this Gospel and although it is not entirely exposed, it is born as an irrefutable consequence, and it is that every person who meets Jesus and the face of the Father cannot keep silent about the joy of salvation, the announcement of what has been lived, the beating of the heart made words. It was a reality for Peter’s mother-in-law, her healing focused her, empowered her and turned her into a sacrament of God, testifying with her life the joy of having regained Hope and the meaning of life. Not only did she open the doors of her house to God and serve Jesus, but she also announced, invited and welcomed her neighbors. This tells us that Jesus not only restored her physical health, but also gave her a new spiritual life. This incorporation of Peter’s mother-in-law challenges us to renew our faith and our commitment because listening to the Master implies being willing to learn from him, to follow his teachings and to do his will. Allowing ourselves to meet his gaze implies recognizing his presence, his love and his action in our lives and in the lives of others.

Invitation:

Anyone who listens cannot remain silent. Recover your joy, listen to the Master and let yourself meet his gaze. Jesus met the gaze of the Father and his way of living helps us to question ourselves:

  • Is prayer the space where you find strength, consolation and the impetus to live the mission?
  • Does the surrender of Jesus in the daily life animate your daily life and is it necessary for you to live the celebration, prayer, fraternity, mercy, service, mission as aspects that we cannot neglect if we want to follow the example of Jesus?
  • What do you think of the statement he who listens to Jesus cannot remain silent?

Intention:

Ask the Father through the intercession of Jesus Christ that during this week you may feel his voice lifting you from fever and the joy of the encounter with him and the intimacy with the Father give you Comfort and Hope.

S. Mariulis Grehan, tc

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Lectio Sunday 28 January, 2024

Gospel: «May you listen to his voice today».

On this fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are confronted with the characteristics proper to prophethood and, in turn, with the authority that Jesus possesses because he is the Son of God. We observe the balance he shows between what he is, what he thinks and what he does.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

 

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20

The reading from Deuteronomy contains the words of Moses addressed to the people of Israel. Moses communicates the divine promise to raise up a prophet like himself among the Israelites. Many Christians see this prophecy as a messianic reference to Jesus Christ, the supreme prophet and mediator between God and humanity. This passage reminds us of the importance of being attentive to divine guidance in our lives, to listen and follow the teachings God gives us through various means, including the Scriptures and those He raises up as messengers. The warning about the false prophet highlights the importance of discerning between God’s authentic messengers and those who seek to deceive. In a world full of different voices and messages, it is vital to seek God’s truth and guidance, remaining faithful and avoiding being deceived by flashy and strange doctrines.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

In the reading from Corinthians, the apostle Paul shares his advice about marital status and how to live a life focused on serving God. He stresses that those who are not married can devote more time and energy to the things of the Lord rather than dividing their attention between family responsibilities and the cares of the world. Paul does not dismiss marriage, but highlights how singleness allows for a more focused approach to serving God. This text invites us to consider the importance of our priorities in life and to seek the right balance between our daily responsibilities and our commitment to God, whether in marriage or singleness. The key lies in how we use our lives to honor God and serve others in the best possible way.

Gospel

 «This teaching with authority is new!» (Mk 1:27).

The beginning of Jesus’ public life highlights the authority with which he teaches, heals and expels what disturbs human life. His teachings break with the traditional prototypes of the laws and the methods of the scribes. Jesus uses a colloquial pedagogical method, but full of authority, not only because he is the Son of God, but also because of the balance he manifests in his thought and actions.

Teaching entails sacrifice, balance, perseverance, witness, research and, especially, living according to the Gospel. Jesus, the great teacher, taught with divine and human authority. His teachings made sense because of the balance manifested in his life.

Fruit:

Ask the Lord to enable you to teach with your life the values of the Gospel and to expel with the experience of faith all that torments the soul.

 

S. Johanna Andrea Cifuentes Gómez, tc

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Lectio Sunday 21 January, 2024

The Kingdom of God is not a Utopía, it is a Relationship

Introduction

 Today we celebrate in our Church the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time; on this Sunday as Catholics we celebrate the day of the Word of God, that is, as the Lord speaks to us through the Sacred Scripture and exhorts us to a Christian life enlightened by His Word.

First reading: From the prophecy of Jonah 3:1-5. 10

Second reading: From the first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 7:29-31.

Gospel: according to St. Mark 1:14-20

 In the first reading of the prophecy of Jonah, God sends his prophet to the city of Nineveh to invite it to conversion, likewise God continues to send prophets in the midst of his people, the Church, to encourage them to change from a concrete lifestyle. The first great prophet in our midst is undoubtedly the Holy Scriptures, where we find daily spiritual nourishment and admonition to find true happiness. Nineveh needed Jonah for God to speak to him, we need our brothers for God to speak to our hearts. Let us look at our lives, as did the people of Nineveh and take the first step in accepting that we will always have to change something in our lives, let us open ourselves to be attentive to change.

In the Second Reading We are in front of an eschatological text typical of the first Christian communities, however, still remains the affirmation and faith as it allows us to trust in the eternal, because everything is ephemeral and has the limitation of time, it is therefore urgent that we seek a lifestyle of total surrender to the Lord from the vocation to which we have been called, because all of them lead us to God.

In Mark’s Gospel, the public life of Jesus is presented and with it the resounding preaching that he makes about the Kingdom of God, ratifying not only the essential but also what it implies to assume and live the Kingdom of God. Different interpretations are made of the Kingdom, however, I want to focus on what it implies to live the Kingdom of God. It is exactly a relationship. Jesus, in the midst of his discourses, wanted nothing more than for humanity to learn to love, this implies knowing how to relate and even learning to discover in the other the divine presence of God, this is the Kingdom, a permanent relationship with the other. In the second part of the text Jesus’ forceful call to go and look for new souls and unite them to the truth of the Kingdom is presented, for he says «Come after me and I will make you fishers of men». It is an expression that comes loaded with commitment, it implies walking towards a goal, directing the gaze only to Him. As the virgin and martyr says, if you say «Yes» to his «Follow me», then we are his and the way is free for his divine life to pass to us (Edith Stein).

Fruit: Ask the Lord to give you the grace to long for the eternal, to follow what is true, to bear witness and especially to be an builder of the Kingdom from your being a Christian.

S. Johanna Andrea Cifuentes Gómez, tc

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Lectio Divina of January 14

Following Christ from the twofold path of call and response.

«Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening».

The experience of walking with Jesus is materialized in a call and a response proper to the one who receives the call. Therefore, it is a bidirectional path that implies listening and responding, even with the fears inherent in existence.

First Reading: From the first book of Samuel 3:3b-10. 19

Second Reading: From the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 6:13c-15a. 17-20.

Gospel According to St. John 1:35-42

Samuel’s experience represents the constant response of humanity to embrace the diverse calls of life. We find ourselves faced with diverse voices urging us to live in a certain way, and we run in search of an answer. However, Samuel, despite his attempts, fails to identify the voice of the Lord until the third call and with the guidance of Eli. Samuel’s response is docile, attentive and with an open heart. Discovering the authenticity of the divine call requires recognizing the voice of the speaker and listening. Divine listening is a challenging virtue to cultivate in a noisy world full of flashy voices. In spite of this, Samuel, from the docility of his heart, responds: «Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. Docility and inner silence thus become essential tasks in order to respond with certainty and fidelity to the vocation and dream that God has prepared for those whom he loves.

First Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 6, 13c-15a. 17-20

«Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.» The Christian understanding of the body is based on contemplating it as the tabernacle of the spirit. This perspective confers on the body a sacred value by allowing it to manifest the divine presence through its actions. In a culture obsessed with physical appearance and standards of beauty, the Christian view of the body implies a balanced care for one’s basic needs and pleasures. St. Paul’s teaching stresses that the body can become an expression of glorification of the Lord, which implies caring for it, loving it, respecting it and valuing it. It is crucial to delve deeper into the theology of the body and the reflections of St. John Paul II in order to gain a new understanding of sexuality and love.

Gospel according to John 1:35-42

«He said to them, «Come and see».

The experience of the call translates into a response to the human search for happiness and the meaning of life. The call of Andrew and John reflects the characteristics of the call of Jesus, who teaches, accompanies and captivates with just a few profound words from the heart. Each person has different searches in life, some respond to personal stories, complex situations, desires and dreams. Jesus’ encounter with these disciples manifests the divine desire to meet with those seeking answers. Christ’s call presents new ways of thinking, acting and relating. St. Ambrose of Milan urges us to seek Christ not with bodily steps, but with the disposition of the soul and contemplation from the heart, which implies a deep faith and a soul capable of longing for the eternal from the earth.

Fruit: Ask the Lord to make you a contemplative of life, capable of listening to the calls he makes to you to live fully from the following proposed by Jesus Christ.

S. Johanna Andrea Cifuentes Gómez, tc

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Lectio Divina Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord

Rediscover the virtuous BEING that you have received through the Holy Spirit.

«He on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, that is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit» (John 1:33).

First reading: A reading from the book of Isaiah 42, 1-4. 6-7

 Second reading: From the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38.

Gospel According to Mark 1:7-11

Like an echo of the Epiphany, today we celebrate the Lord’s baptism, his public manifestation, «Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen one, whom I prefer. On him I have put my spirit.

Prophethood is an authentic way of living, based on the choice made by the Lord from the womb, as Isaiah expresses it in his call. Identifying the actions of the Spirit requires discernment and prayer, as does understanding the works of the Kingdom. It is essential to recognize the extent to which we assume the choice of being chosen by God and, from this mission, to embrace our being Christian. If the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, your decisions, actions and thoughts will be directed toward proclaiming the truth of the One who gives you wisdom.

In the second reading… «It is clear that God does not make distinctions; he accepts those who fear him and practice justice, no matter what nation they are from».

One of the most beautiful characteristics of our God is the greatness of his mercy and the heart that allows him to love all his children without reserve. Our goal on earth is to achieve a heart like the Father’s, a challenging task but one that traces a path of configuration with the Lord. If you reflect on your heart, how much have you grown in loving without distinction, prejudice or criticism?

We will hear in the Gospel the Voice of the Father: «You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased».

The baptism of Jesus reveals the full and divine identity given to him as the Son of God, authentically manifesting the gifts of the Spirit in human life. As St. Cyril affirmed, «the first fruits and gifts bestowed on humanity were first shown in the humanity of the Savior.» From this affirmation, we can reflect on the gifts given to the Son of God in his humanity and rediscover the authentic seal that baptism gives us. The identity of Jesus is based on the principles of the Gospel; therefore, love and charity are the compass for decisions and actions, and truth and justice are criteria for opinion, observation and analysis. Faced with the seal of baptism that gives us faith and the identity of Jesus as the perfect culmination for acting, being and deciding, we are presented with the authentic life of a believer who does not live the virtues and gifts by himself, but by the GRACE of the Spirit. Exercising ourselves in the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit allows us to grow in authenticity, truth, justice and holiness. How do you assume this identity as a child of God that implies transforming your weakness into a gift and grace to live with your brothers and sisters?

S. Johanna Andrea Cifuentes Gómez, tc

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Lectio Divina on the Feast of the Holy Family

First Reading: A reading from the Book of Sirach 3, 2-6.12-14

Ps 127:1-2. 3. 4-5

Reading from the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Colossians 3:12-21.

Gospel of St. Luke 2:22-40

Living as authentic homes in the style of the Family of Nazareth is the challenge presented to us by the octave of Easter, a beautiful feast capable of awakening spirituality and the connection between parents and children, following the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

This year, the celebration of the Holy Family commemorates its 150th anniversary since its institution by Pope Leo XIII. This celebration not only illuminates history, but also sheds light on today’s experience of family life. Have you asked yourself how you live your role as a mother, father or child in the mission God has entrusted to you? Take time for prayer and reflection.

In the first reading the text provides a reflection on the importance of love and respect for parents. It reminds us that honoring parents is an act of justice and gratitude, no matter the circumstances, carrying with it the promise of long life and blessings for children. It invites us to consider how we honor and show love to our parents and how it impacts the community and to understand that love, respect and gratitude are fundamental to the fullness of life.

Psalm 127 is a beautiful poem that speaks to us about the importance of depending on God in all areas of our lives. it reminds us that we must allow God to be the foundation and guide in all that we undertake. Without His help, our efforts may be in vain. Trusting in God’s protection and care in our lives and in all of creation. It is an invitation to trust in providence by putting Him first and not placing and depending on our efforts and titles. Finally, there is the care of children as a gift from God, to be cared for with love and responsibility, teaching and preparing them to face the challenges of life.

In the second reading, St. Paul begins an exhortation of a mystical nature regarding the virtues that all those chosen by God have. When he mentions the expression «clothe yourselves», undoubtedly you imagine a dress, a suit, a blanket, because from there he recognizes the greatness of feeling chosen and at the same time what it implies to clothe yourself not with material attire but with the virtues proper to the children of God. Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and forgiveness. It is not easy to live them because our human condition makes us fragile, however, prayer as a fundamental element of the life of faith allows you to achieve unsuspected and spiritual paths. A simple and practical exercise that can help you is mentioned by Paul himself: «Begin by giving thanks for every situation, person or event in your life».

And finally we approach a family gospel that recounts the faithfulness of Joseph and Mary in fulfilling the prescriptions and laws of Israel; in this case, the purification in the temple reflects a pious and devout family, committed to faithfully fulfilling what the Lord demands. However, let us focus on the figures of Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

Joseph, a prudent and silent man, represents the authentic proposal of a husband capable of assimilating these virtues for family life. Mary, an industrious, hardworking and prayerful wife, embodies the figure of a mother who is attentive to the process of her family. Jesus, as Luke says, grows in wisdom and grace; this process is proper to children who, throughout their lives, grow and, with experience, recognize the presence of God.

Today, we find ourselves in a society with different proposals about what it means to be a family, but Jesus, Mary and Joseph are the authentic BEING of a family that never ceases to assume the full, mystical and contemplative experience of existence. Today they present the virtues proper to a Christian family.

BEING FAMILY is a challenge that not only challenges social schemes, but also breaks into the real life of charity, fraternity and love in a home. TO BE A FAMILY is the proposal of the Kingdom expressed in affective bonds. If you are a mother and you feel that this task is difficult, assume the example of Mary in her spirit of prayer. If you are a father, adopt the role of Joseph, a prudent man attentive to the needs of his wife. If you are a child, remember that you are in a learning process and that God will show you day by day the necessary teachings to grow in wisdom.

S. Johanna Andrea Cifuentes Gómez, tc

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Lectio divina fourth Sunday of Advent

First Reading. II Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16. … «Go and do whatsoever thou thinkest, for the Lord is with thee.»

Responsorial Psalm. Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29. … «I have sealed a covenant with my chosen one.»

Second Reading. Romans 16:25-27. … «Revelation of the mystery kept secret for eternal centuries.»

Gospel. Luke 1:26-38. » I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word.»

We have arrived at the Fourth Sunday of Advent and with it, at the end of the road traveled in preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, we have traveled this Advent path with the sole purpose of arriving ready to renew one more year God’s greatest gift to the History of Humanity which is His own Son, Emmanuel.  Today, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, the liturgy allows us to remember that God fulfills his promises in the long awaited Messiah.

In the first reading, we hear how the prophet Nathan speaks to King David about God’s promise to establish an eternal rule for his people. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is a descendant of David.

In the Responsorial Psalm, we are reminded that God is faithful to his promises and that his love and mercy is eternal.  And in the second reading, St. Paul tells us about the mystery of salvation that has been revealed through Jesus Christ.

But let us dwell today in a special way on the Gospel. St. Luke gives us the story of the Annunciation, in which the angel Gabriel visits Mary and announces that she will be the mother of the Messiah. Mary, with bewilderment but still with deep faith, accepts her role in the salvation history.

At the heart of this celebration is the crucial role that Mary played. She, a humble and faithful young woman, was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who announced to her that she would be the mother of the Son of God and her «Yes» was an act of total surrender and trust in the divine plan, an example of obedience and humility that changed the course of history.

Mary’s «Yes» teaches us that true greatness lies in the willingness to do God’s will, even when we do not fully understand His plan. Her example of faith and determination at a time in history when, as a woman, she was totally subordinated to the custody of a man is truly disconcerting; Mary inspires us by defying the established social order of her time, only affirmed in the certainty that it was God who spoke to her heart and God does not lie.

 How admirable her trust, the trust that we often lack because there is a great difference between believing God and believing in Him.   Undoubtedly Mary believed God and her faith was enough to make possible the most important event in history: The Incarnation.

The Annunciation is an invitation to think that God wants to establish a relationship, an encounter with us, that He sends us messengers and messages to make this bond possible, that He approaches our lives in a surprising and unsuspected way, with no other pretension than to find our hearts as willing as Mary’s. And that in this message there is an enormous amount of information about God. 

And that in this message there is an enormous amount of trust placed in our lives, He is the God who puts Himself in our hands, within our reach, who makes Himself fragile, defying the stereotypes and comfortable images that we have made of Him.

Let us end this reflection by quoting the words of Father Eduardo Meana in his beautiful musical interpretation «Oh, tierracielo», so that we may understand in it the sublime act of love that the incarnation of the Son of God contains.

O God who has tied yourself with the ropes of time

To our coordinates, to our slow rhythms

To the uncertain becoming of our learning

To the irregular river of our growth

You revealed the depths of this, our existence.

What was ours was in You, what was ours was yours

The human was «more» – God-capable, and sacred

Dramatic and sacred, our «being in the world».

The opaque of the earth in you was transparent!

The opaque was capable of heaven and Word

And it was mirrored in your flesh that we are «earth-sky».

Fragments of infinity in illuminated flesh

Holy kiss of two words

O Jesus Christ, O heavenly earth!

Strong tender, human Lord

Divine ours, Divine ours

Divine and bereft, amazing God and ours

Brotherly and vulnerable, exposed to unloves

Concrete surface of human skin ready

To moon and sun, to hugs, and to whips and blows

Your incarnation is the map of our hope

The human, in your humanity, rises in silence

Destiny and wonder that your body narrates to us

What is ours fits in God and this God fits in what is ours

What unpronounced God traveled in pregnancy

Serene and mysterious of the Mother Maiden

But the God whose back comes by the work

Of sowings and seeds, of nets and fishing?

Holy kiss of two words

O Jesus Christ, O heavenly earth!

Strong tender, human Lord

Divine ours, Divine ours.

May God with us be the truest motive that fills our hearts with joy in this new Christmas.

 

S. Sandra Milena Velásquez B, TC

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