Herod and the Magi The Epiphany story is about a search and a discovery. Having the intention of paying homage to the newborn king of the Jews, the Magi went off on their search, but what they discovered was something quite unexpected. From all accounts, they never expected to find a baby lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. On the other hand, the Epiphany story is also a story about defiance and treachery. When King Herod heard…
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph The Feast of the Holy Family is a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church in honor of Jesus, his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster father, Saint Joseph, as a family. The purpose of this feast day is to present the Holy Family as a model for Christian families. The Holy Family is basically a human family. They would have had to fulfill daily chores, earn a living to put…
Joseph’s doubt In the Gospel of Matthew 1:18-24, Joseph thought of abandoning Mary after finding out that she was with child. Since he and Mary have not yet lived together, Joseph was sure that the child wasn’t his. Such was his plan, when and 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…
On December 25th, the Christmas Mass of the Day will be celebrated at 3:30 pm. After Mass, come and join us for an evening of great food, songs, dance, music, Santa Claus, gifts and fun for the whole family! O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, born the King of angels: O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us…
How great is John the Baptist? Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11) There are two parts in this statement. The first part is: among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist. When Jesus said this, he was talking to the people about John the Baptist in relation to the prophets; He…
Repent! The Kingdom of God is at hand! Why do we need to repent of sin? The sinner wounds God’s honor and love, his own human dignity as a man called to be a son of God, and the spiritual well-being of the Church, of which each Christian ought to be a living stone. (CCC1487) To return to communion with God after having lost it through sin is a process born of the grace of God who is rich…
The Midnight Mass was the first Christmas Mass celebrated at the Holy Name of Jesus Chinese Catholic Mission when it opened three years ago. The tradition of the Midnight Mass continues to be celebrated each year on December 24th. This particular Mass during the Night brings out a sense of tranquility and solemnity far apart from the busy hustle and bustle of buying Christmas gifts and planning parties. The sound of Christmas hymns, the smell of incense, the procession and…
Prepare to meet the Lord Jesus Christ The Gospel of Matthew contains a couple of verses that have intrigued many people: “Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left (Mt 24:40-41).” These verses, along with a couple of other verses from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, which says: “For the Lord Himself…
My Kingdom is not of this world As we reflect upon the Kingship of Jesus Christ, let us recall the time when Jesus was brought before Pilate for trial; Pilate asked Jesus: “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33) Jesus replied: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not…
The Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem At the time of Christ, the Temple in Jerusalem was a massive building; it took forty-six years to complete, and ten thousand skilled workmen were said to have been employed in its construction. According to the historian Josephus, some of the stones were seventy feet in length, twelve feet in height and eighteen feet in width. The Temple was adorned with gold, silver and precious stones; it was a magnificent sight to behold.…