Msgr. Josefino S. Ramirez

The gospel today narrates the circumstances of Christ’s conception and birth. The Christ, who is to be born shall be called “Emmanuel” (cf. Matthew 1:23), which means “God-with-us.”

This is the Third Sunday of Advent. It is also called “Gaudete” or “Rejoice” Sunday, taking the cue from the first word of the opening prayer of the Mass. It is the theme of today’s celebration: rejoicing.

The gospel of today is about John the Baptist. This cousin of Our Lord had the special mission of preparing for the coming of Christ. He helped the people to become receptive to the message of Christ.

Today we begin the liturgical season of Advent, which consists of four weeks that will usher in the season of Christmas.

In the 19th century, there was a very strong movement to oust God from the realm of public life.

After warning His followers of the possible difficulties that they can expect, Jesus Christ ends the gospel reading of today by exhorting them to perseverance. “Your endurance will win your lives.”

We have just been through two special days in the Church, when we commemorated all our deceased brothers in the faith (All Souls’ Day) and those among them who are already in heaven (All Saints’ Day). It is, therefore, very appropriate that the gospel of today talks about the future resurrection of all men. 

Zaccheus was a very fortunate man. Surely, he had heard about the Great Teacher. And he must also have heard about some of Jesus’ teachings from his neighbors.

hat a contrast! The Pharisee thought himself to be good, just because he was observing some external stipulations of God’s law. The publican, on the other hand, was “on the side of the oppressors,” but was deeply aware of his personal shortcomings and miseries.

The gospel of today narrates the incident of the 10 lepers who were cured by Jesus Christ. Of them, only one came back to manifest his gratitude, and it seems that Christ missed this gesture on the part of the other nine. 

The gospel of today contains a beautiful petition of the apostles: “Increase our faith!” we can make this petition our own, because we are very much in need of faith.

The gospel of today is all about the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.

The Gospel of today contains a very accurate observation that is also a wise piece of advice: “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). Fidelity!

The last part of this gospel reading is about the prodigal son. We are all familiar with the tale of that young boy, blinded by his sudden riches, living a dissipated life only to find himself at the lowest level of society, abandoned by his apparent friends and left with a penny.

As we look around us and see how many different structures are rising up, we occasionally see some structures that have never gotten finished. Behind those unfinished buildings is usually the story of the man who began to build, sinking a tremendous amount of capital, yet not having estimated properly.

The gospel reading today contains a very valuable piece of advice from Jesus Christ. “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11). 

“Lord, are only a few be saved?” (Luke 13:23). It is a very interesting questions that Jesus Christ did not answer. Instead, He urged his listeners to strive to “enter by the narrow gate” and He pointed out that some, who took their salvation for granted, would not be saved, because they were “workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27).

“I have come to cast fire on earth, and what more could I want than that it be enkindled?” (Luke 12:49).

THE Boy Scouts have a very wise motto that we could all very well imitate—“Laging Handa.” They are supposed to be prepared for any possible emergency, whether it be saving a drowning child or helping an old lady cross the street. 

The first part of today’s gospel reading talks about the attempt of someone to use Jesus to settle a dispute about inheritance.

Today’s gospel reading contains the counsels of Jesus Christ on the need and importance of prayer.

The Gospel today presents us with a rather amusing domestic quarrel. It is the typical bickering we can imagine between a very responsible and conscientious elder sister, and what appears to be an irresponsible younger sister.

“The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few. Pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).

We can concentrate our reflection of the gospel of today on the demands that Jesus made to those persons who wanted to follow Him. Someone who volunteered to follow Christ was warned about these demands.

The gospel reading for today’s Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is about the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes performed by Christ, in order to feed more than 5,000 people who had somehow forgotten their material needs in order to listen to the teachings of Christ.

The sign of the Christian is the sign of the cross. When we extend our hand to the four directions of our body, we are reminded of the cross and the mystery of our salvation through the suffering of Christ.

Today we commemorate the sending forth of the Holy Spirit to the first Christians, as promised by Christ.

Today we commemorate the fact that Jesus Christ, 40 days after His resurrection, ascended into heaven in order to take His proper place “at the right hand of God the Father.”

The Gospel of today is like a preparation for the approaching celebration of Pentecost. Just as Jesus Christ gradually prepared His followers for the coming of the Holy Spirit, so the Church prepares her children for the commemoration of that crucial event.

The gospel today is about the so-called new commandment. When Judas Iscariot had left the company of the apostles in order to carry out his work of betrayal, Jesus gave this commandment to the remaining eleven.

In the gospel of today, Christ identified his followers by the following criterion: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

The Gospel narrative today is about how the apostles recognized the Risen Lord by the miraculous catch of fish, performed through their hands at the command of Jesus. The Risen Lord gave them instructions from the shore.

What would you do if you were planning to go abroad in a few weeks, you had some important unfinished business and you were in a gathering with your associates?

THE gospel reading today presents us with the woman who was caught in the act of adultery and who had been dragged to the presence of Jesus Christ in order to see if He would proceed with her condemnation to death, as stipulated by Jewish law.