"Magaluwas sia sang iya mga tawo sa ila mga sala"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 1:18-24)

Domingo (Disyembre 22)

Amo ini ang pagkatawo ni Jesu-Cristo. Ang iya iloy nga si Maria kalasalon na kay Jose, pero sa wala pa sila makasal nasapwan ni Maria nga nagabusong na sia sa gahom sang Espiritu Santo.

Si Jose nga kalasalon sa iya isa ka tawo nga nagahimo sing matarong, pero indi sia luyag nga mahuy-an si Maria sa mga tawo. Gani ginpakamaayo niya ang pagbiya sa iya sa tago lang.

Samtang ginabinagbinag ni Jose ini nga butang, ang isa ka anghel sang Ginoo nagpakita sa iya sa damgo nga nagasiling, "Jose, kaliwat ni David, indi ka magkahadlok sa pagpangasawa kay Maria, kay ang Espiritu Santo amo ang naglalang sang ginabusong niya.

Magaanak sia sing lalaki, kag pagahingalanan mo sia nga Jesus, kay magaluwas sia sang iya mga tawo sa ila mga sala."

Karon ini tanan nahanabo agod mapamatud-an ang ginhambal sang Ginoo paagi sa propeta, "Ang isa ka ulay magabusong kag magaanak sang isa ka bata nga lalaki, kag pagatawgon sia nga Emanuel" (nga kon sayuron, "Ang Dios kaupod naton").

Gani sang pagmata ni Jose gintuman niya ang ginsiling sang anghel sang Ginoo, kag iya ginpangasawa si Maria.

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, you came to save us from sin and the power of death. May I always rejoice in your salvation and trust in your plan for my life".

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Do you believe that God will fulfill every promise he has made to us? The prophet Isaiah spoke words of hope in a hopeless situation for Israel. The Davidic dynasty was corrupt and unfit for a Messianic King. Apostates like King Ahaz (2 Kings 16) and weaklings like Zedekiah (Jeremiah 38) occupied the throne of David. When God offered King Ahaz a sign, the king refused. God, nonetheless, gave Israel a sign to assure his people that he would indeed raise up a righteous King who would rule forever over the house of David. We see the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and the unfolding of God's plan of redemption in the events leading up to the Incarnation, the birth of the Messiah. The new era of salvation begins with the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. This child to be born is the fulfillment of all God’s promises.

Mary had to face an enormous challenge to her faith and trust in God and to the faith of her family and Joseph, the man she chose to marry. She was asked to assume a burden of tremendous responsibility. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature. That required faith and trust in God and in his promises. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. Mary was only espoused to Joseph, and such an engagement had to last for a whole year. She was asked to assume a great risk. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. She nonetheless believed and trusted in God's promises.

Joseph, a just and God-fearing man, did not wish to embarrass or punish his espoused wife, Mary when he discovered that she was pregnant. To all appearances she had broken their solemn pledge to be faithful and chaste to one another. Joseph, no doubt took this troubling matter to God in prayer. He was not hasty to judge or to react with hurt and anger. God rewarded him not only with guidance and consolation, but with the divine assurance that he had indeed called Joseph to be the husband of Mary and to assume a mission that would require the utmost faith, confidence, and trust in Almighty God. Joseph believed in the divine message to take Mary as his wife and to accept the child in her womb as the promised Messiah. Like Mary, Joseph is a model of faith for us. He is a faithful witness and servant of God's unfolding plan of redemption. Are you ready to believe in the promises of God, even when faced with perplexing circumstances and what seems like insurmountable problems? God has not left us alone, but has brought us his only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate Christmas, the feast of the Incarnation, with joyful hearts and let us renew our faith and hope in God and in his redeeming work.