PAN DE LA SEMANA

[BREAKING THE BREAD OF GOD’S WORD] 4 th Sunday of Advent Year C December 20, 2015 BLESSED IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE Today is the last Sunday prior to Christmas, and the fifth day of the novena in preparation for the second greatest feast in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Like we did last December 8, our thoughts are focused now on the one who made Christmas possible – the woman, who, by her cooperation with God, brought forth to the world the reason for the season – Jesus Christ, God’s Son! Five days before the mystery of the Incarnation takes place, we think about her who was a primary player in the Divine Con-spiracy of goodness, grace, and gift. Without intending to spoil the message of Christmas, I would like to think of the big day for us Christians as epitomized by the idea of outpouring. Christmas is essentially an outpouring of grace, of blessing, of gift. But like in everything that happens in our earthly life, all gift, all grace, all blessing ...

4th Sunday of Advent(C) 5th Day of Simbang Gabi / Misa de Gallo December 20, 2009 Readings: Mi 5:1-4a / Hebrews 10:5-10 / Lk 1:39-45 The word “bayani” (hero in Tagalog) has become a by-word in the Philippines of late. We got two this year, from no less than internationally renowned entities. CNN hailed my youthful “kababayan” (province-mate) Efren Penaflorida as hero of the year. Muelmar Magallanes was hailed as hero of the year by Time International magazine after saving the lives of 30 others but lost his own during the worst floodings the Phillippines have had in decades. We had a number of unsung and unknown heroes during the height of the twin typhoons that ravaged a big portion of Northern Philippines. Whilst people pleaded for help, about to be overtaken by rampaging floods, young Filipinos who were techno-savvy were busy providing equally unknown individuals orchestrating help for them – help that the government was ill prepared to give … to thousands who needed it, all at the...