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reflections and guide

Feast of the Sto. Niño

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First Reading: Isaiah9:1-3,5-6

Background/Context

When Judah was threatened by the Assyrians, the prophet Isaiah warned the Israelites about their disobedience and sinfulness. And yet he also assured everyone that the Lord will intervene to save his people. The reading is part of the “Immanuel prophecies” which foretells the coming of the King who will deliver Israel from its enemies. But Isaiah projects his hopes farther when salvation will come through a Child-King who has all the qualities of a great hero: wise, brave, fatherly, peace-loving and just.

Message/Meaning of the Reading

We are reminded to see in the child Jesus, the Sto. Nino, the image of the fullness and majesty of God who is “Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace”. In Jesus, God chose to make himself visible as an appealing child to draw us to himself. What a wonderful God we have! We are also called to be like the Jesus – to be humble, kind, and to love peace and justice.

How to Proclaim

This is Hebrew poetry, so a melodious tone is needed. Determine the two-liners that echo the same thought and read the second line as an echo of the first. Longer pauses between two liners with different thought units will create a special flow and rhythm

Word Watch

Isaiah - ai-ZAY-uh

Midian - MIH-dih-uhn

Counselor - KAUN(T)-s(ə-)lər

Cloak - KLōK

Yoke - YōK

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Responsorial Psalm: ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH HAVE SEEN THE SAVING POWER OF GOD

The responsorial psalm calls us to rejoice and praise God for the salvation that He brings.>

 

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Second Reading:Ephesians 1:3-6,15-18

Background/Context of the Reading

This letter, written by Paul to the church in Ephesus, tells of God’s generous plan of salvation. It is rich in its theological message expressed in the form of a prayer of praise and petition.

Message/Meaning of the Reading

The reading emphasizes the grace given to human beings, creatures who were chosen to be adopted sons of the mighty God. Because of such a great privilege, we should always give thanks to God and pray that our knowledge of God increase and that we grow in the awareness of the wonderful gift He has in store for those who love Him.

How to Proclaim

The reading is a hymn of praise to God, the Father for the grace of being called to His church. It should be proclaimed in an exultant tone. The sentences however, are long with numerous commas; carefully plan your pauses for effective proclamation. Read carefully to separate the long sentences into different thought units to determine the proper places to pause.

Word Watch

Ephesians - eh-FEE-zhuhnz

Blessed - BLES-id

Beloved - bi-LəVD

Destined - DES-tind

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Gospel: Matt. 18:1-5, 10

Message/Meaning of the Reading

Jesus loved the children. He saw in their eyes the reflection of the freshness and the holiness of his Kingdom. God came to us as a child to show us how to become children of God, how we can entrust our lives to our heavenly Father.
The social dimension of the gospel reading shows us that we must also love the children and care for their welfare. Children are naturally lovable but a lot of them are not loved in the right manner – some are spoiled, some are deprived and neglected, some are exploited and abused, and some are not even allowed to see the light of day! Our devotion to the Holy Child should not stop at the family altars. God expects us to love and protect the children of today and act to help remove the causes that produce such evils upon them.

Reflections

How could we help protect the rights of today's children?

 

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