Franco Grech osa

 

Reflections and Articles written by Fr Franco Grech osa

 


 

The Baptism of the Lord

Is. 55: 1-11; Psalm 12: 2-3, 4bcd, 5-6; 1 Jn. 5: 1-9; Mk. 1: 7-11

Read: John the Baptist is a prophet who reveals the presence of God amongst us, and what God expects from us human beings. John preached repentance. He recognises what is divine in Jesus, and on Jesus’ insistence, baptises him.

Reflect: Baptism makes us children of God. It confirms that we are loved by God. Those baptised should frequently reflect on whether they are living in accordance with Jesus’ teachings. Baptism confirms God’s love towards us and trusts us with the mission of loving others as we are loved by His son, Jesus.

Pray: Let us pray that we will have God’s love in Christ. Pray that we will have the courage to show our love towards others, especially to those who are most in need.

 Act: Think of somebody who wishes to share with others God’s love, but does not have the courage to do this. See what you can do to encourage that person.


Epiphany of the Lord

Is. 60: 1-6; Psalm 71; Eph. 3: 2-3a, 5-6; Mt. 2: 1-12

Read: “Wake up! So that the light will shine on your face! Your light has arrived! The Lord’s light will shine on you!” “The star that they had seen rising started moving until it stopped on the place where the child was. As soon as they saw the star they were filled with great joy. Then when they entered the inn and saw the child with his mother Mary they fell down on the ground adoring him.; they opened their treasures and offered him gold, incense and myrrh”.

Pray: “All those who seek you will be happy and joyous; those who love Your salvation will always say ‘Great is the Lord’ “(Psalm 40,17).

Reflect: At Christmas the Son of God came to meet us. At the Epiphany it is us that should take action to seek him. The Magi sought and found him. Jesus changed them ….. they went to him as pagans and left as Christians. The same He will do to us.  He does not expect from us gifts of gold, incense and myrrh, but to give Him our mind so as to start thinking as He does by, when making decisions, we act as if He is the one taking these. And when we give Him our mind, He gives us His heart …. to love, to sympathize, to serve, to forgive with His heart. If we make just one pace forward towards Him, He will start changing us. That day will be the Lord’s Epiphany for us.

 Act: At the beginning of a new year let us commit ourselves that, with God’s help, everything that we do is done according to the Gospels. Like the Magi let us realise that the person with real wisdom does not remain closed within himself, but is open to God.


Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Gen. 15: 1-6, 21: 1-3; Psalm 104; Heb. 11: 8, 11-12, 17-19; Luke 2: 22-40

Read: The aged Simeon said: “Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace just as you promised, because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel”. The Prophetess Anna “began to give praise to God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem”.

Pray: Whilst we are patient when under trial and certain of the Lord’s promises that we are to expect with vivid hope for His help in this life and glory in eternal life.

Reflect: During this time when the elderly are suffering because of the pandemic, Gods’ Word gives us the opportunity to give them what they deserve. Simeon and the Prophetess Anna, regarding whom we read in today’s Gospel, are two models of a well-balanced old age. Simeon is described as being “an upright and good man, who was looking forward to Israel’s comforting “, shows us how we should age. He recalls God’s promises and waits with the utmost hope for these to be carried out. He feels his diminishing abilities, but still remains capable of hope. He lives in the light of God’s Word, and for this reason, although conscious that his days are nearing the end, he is not afraid of death. He is happy and prays to God that He will welcome him in His peaceful environment. Simeon rejoices when he sees and takes in his arms the Messiah. He offers Him to all the people. This moving scenario shows us the mission that all aged persons should pass on to their children and to their children’s offspring, so that this faith becomes for them the light that makes sense of everything that they encounter in life. Anna never stayed away from the temple. She knew that every day was precious and thus should be spent intimately with God and to serve the community. The aged never feel that their life is senseless if they learn to live waiting for the coming of God. They can always offer their humble services, that have value and bring happiness to others. Above everything, like Anna the Prophetess, they have a mission to talk about Jesus with those who are seeking life’s way. This is the precious legacy that they will leave for future generations.

 Act: Take heed of what the aged say! That is what the Holy Family did when they met the aged Simeon and with the aged Anna. If there is an aged person in your family, do likewise.


4th Sunday of Advent Year (B)

2 Sam. 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 88; 1 Rom. 16: 25-27; Luke 1: 26-38

Read: “Go and tell my servant David: ‘When your time has ended and u are resting with your fathers, I will raise descendants after you, a race descended from your bosom. Your family and your kingdom will remain intact for ever before Me’ ”. “ Do not be afraid Mary, because you have found grace before God. See, you will give birth and will have a son whom you will name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called Son of the most high, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father”.

Pray: Pray with Mary pray to God that His word will be done.

Reflect: Like Mary, we too found grace in God. He had faith in Mary and, through her, He wanted to come amongst us as our Saviour. Perhaps God’s plan for us is not that great, however God still wishes to make Himself present in us and in others through us. We, like Mary, are a ring in the chain of God’s plan. See, until the arrival of the Saviour through Mary, how many persons formed part of God’s plan: “The Lord God will give him David’s throne; and will reign over the house of Jacob for ever”.   

 Act: Every human being is called to give birth to God. Ask yourself “How can I give birth to Jesus in my life and in the life of others?”

ħaddieħor?”


3rd Sunday of Advent Year (B)

Isa. 61: 1-2a; 10-11; Lq. 1: 46-50, 53-54; 1 Tess. 5: 16-24; John 1: 6-8, 19-28

Read: “I rejoice and rejoice even more with the Lord, my soul leaps with joy through my God”. “My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour”. “Be always joyful, pray without stopping, praise God in everything”. There was a man sent by God, named John. He came as a witness, so as to be witness to the light, so that all would believe. He was not the light, but to be witness to the light”.

Pray: Let us pray that Jesus will come, to renew our heart, to make our heart full of joy, because His joy is our strength.

Reflect: During this time of the pandemic, it is possible that one does not wish to hear of joy. In this darkness, Jesus still wishes to be the light that lightens our life so that we will experience joy. St. John the Baptist said: “I am the voice of one shouting in the desert. Pave the way for the Lord”. So as to recognise Christ as the Light, a witness like John the Baptist is necessary; he was capable of recognising his own identity of being simply the voice that was to convey the message that the Lord was coming. Those who do not recognise who he is ….who do not recognise that every good thing that he has comes from God, and remains placing his hope on his own efforts, instead on the goodness and fidelity of God, cannot welcome Jesus who is coming, shedding his joy, and giving his own evidence.

 Act: Where there is a lack of good heartedness let us be a witness of the joy of the Gospel brought to us by Jesus.

 

 


2nd Sunday of Advent Year (B)

Isa. 40: 1-5; 9-11; Psalm 84; 2 Ptr. 3: 8-14; Mark 1: 1-8

Read: “Prepare a way for the Lord; make a straight pathway for Him”.

Pray: At times we have put God aside and kept Him away from our life, from the surroundings where we live, work, study, recreate ourselves. During this advent let us ask God to come back to us because we need Him more than ever before.

Reflect: The call being made to us during this Advent: “Prepare a way for the Lord; make a straight pathway for him” means that God is expecting us to open wide our heart to Him. Preparing a way for the Lord means the need to prepare oneself for a meeting with love. The call to prepare a way for the Lord is not the way that enables one to take oneself to the Lord, but one that opens the way to God to come again to that person.

 Act: God is meeting us so as to redeem us. In His name let us hasten to bring more justice and an improvement in all aspects of our life.

 


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