188 total views

St Luke’s account of Mary’s trip to visit her cousin Elizabeth (1:39-56) is replete with theological significance despite its simple domestic setting. It offers another opportunity to link Jesus and John which other gospels are silent about. This time the two have been paired not separately but joined and stressing as always the subordination of John to Jesus. Even the depiction of the two mothers, Elizabeth defers to Mary throughout, (though later in her Magnificat Mary deflected the encomium from Elizabeth by attributing everything to the action of God).

In this Visitation episode the word ‘blessed’ appeared four times (v42 twice, v45, v48). But two Greek words were used. The first two used ‘eulogëmenë’

(εὐλογημένη) while the last two used ‘makaria’ (μακαρία). Both Greek words could mean blessed, joyful, happy. Coming from Elizabeth and addressing it to Mary, through her prophetic insight she knows that Mary has been specially chosen by God and that her child is special, that is why she and the child in her womb are blessed, referring to the gratuitous and gracious act of God. But aside from that basic meaning of being ‘blessed’, the second word used (‘makaria’ vv 45,58) had an added nuance, that is, Elizabeth praises Mary for her trust in God’s word. She is blessed in accordance to the biblical tradition which denote the condition of righteous existence before God (cf Ps 1:1;2:12;

83:4;93:12[LXX]). This is the term Jesus used in his Beatitudes (Lk 6:20-22; Mt 5:3-12). Luke clearly pointed this out in 11:27 when Jesus contrasted between “blessed is the womb that carried you…” and “rather blessed are those who hear the word of God and observed it”. And of course Mary is blessed on both counts.

As we draw nearer to the celebration of the birth of our Savior, we look up to Mary as our model in our desire to be blessed before God. Indeed we are so blessed already and enough. But just like Mary we can be truly and fully blessed if we continue to listen to the Word of God and accomplish it, thereby living a real righteous life before God.

Veritas Editorial

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

President of Radio Veritas

Separation of Church and State

 101,800 total views

 101,800 total views Mga Kapanalig, ginamit na dahilan ni Senador Robin Padilla ang prinsipyo ng separation of church and state upang depensahan ang kontrobersyal na televangelist na si Apollo Quiboloy. Ito ang kanyang dahilan kung bakit pinangunahan niya ang paglalabas ng isang written manifestation bilang pagtutol sa pagpapaaresto sa nagtatag sa grupong Kingdom of Jesus Christ. 

Read More »

Nagbabadyang gun culture?

 119,873 total views

 119,873 total views Mga Kapanalig, pinapayagan nang muli ng Philippine National Police (o PNP) ang pagkakaroon ng mga sibilyan ng semi-automatic rifles. Ito ay matapos amyendahan ng PNP ang implementing rules and regulations ng Republic Act No. 10591 o ang Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act.  Ipinasá noong 2013 ang naturang batas na naglilimita sa pagmamay-ari ng

Read More »

Agrikultura at ekonomiya

 131,122 total views

 131,122 total views Mga Kapanalig, hindi pa man tayo umaabot sa tinatawag na peak o pinakamatinding bahagi ng nagpapatuloy na El Niño, umabot na sa 151.3 milyong piso ang halaga ng pinsalang idinulot nito sa sektor ng agrikultura.  Ito ang pagtataya ng ating Department of Agriculture batay na rin sa datos na libu-libong tonelada ng palay

Read More »

Book Reading

 164,141 total views

 164,141 total views Uso pa ba ang pagbabasa ng libro ngayon, kapanalig? O mas uso pa ang magcellphone maghapon? May survey noong 2017 na nagsasabi na marami pa rin namang mga kabataan, pati mga adults sa ating bansa na nagbabasa pa rin. Ayon sa survey, kada buwan, mga mahigit walong oras ang ginugugol ng mga bata

Read More »

Katiyakan sa pagkain sa panahon ng tagtuyot

 186,509 total views

 186,509 total views Kapanalig, sa panahon ng tagtuyot, nasa likod na ng isipan ng marami nating kababayan ang pag-aalala at nasa dibdib na rin nila ang kabog ng takot. Sasapat kaya ang pagkain ng pamilya ko  ngayong panahon ng tagtuyot? Ang laki ng epekto ng tagtuyot sa bansa. Marami pa ring lugar sa ating bayan ang agrikultural

Read More »

Watch Live

catholink
Shadow
truthshop
Shadow

Related Story

Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Love

 998 total views

 998 total views From the gospel today comes the most quoted and even memorized verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (3:16). The verb “agapaō” ( άγαπάω ), occurred more than a hundred times in

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Sign/Temple

 1,028 total views

 1,028 total views All four gospels has the account of the purification of the temple by Jesus. In the synoptics, it precedes Jesus’ arrest at the end of his public life, coinciding with his only visit to Jerusalem during his ministry: Matthew (21:12-13) and Luke (19:45-47) on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem; Mark (11:15-17), on the

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Transfigure

 1,539 total views

 1,539 total views All three synoptic gospels narrate the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mk 9:2-10; Mt 17:1-9; Lk 6:28-36). Following the priority of the Markan gospel, one can say that both Matthew and Luke have drawn their account from that of Mark sharing in many of its features. The term “metamorphoō” ( μεταμορόω ) is a verb

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Desert

 2,434 total views

 2,434 total views Today’s gospel (Mk 1:12-15) narrates the event after Jesus’ baptism. He was led by the Spirit, the same Spirit present to Jesus in his baptism (1:10), into combat with the evil one, then followed by the beginning of his public ministry. In the synoptic tradition, the Markan account of Jesus’ temptation (1:12f) is

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Ash Wednesday ‘24

 2,368 total views

 2,368 total views s1S#77 Repent 3/20/22) Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent, 40 days of preparation for Easter. The day is marked by fasting, abstinence, and the blessing with ashes. These remind us of the need for reconciliation with God. They indicate our mortality. It was an early practice in Rome for

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Bethlehem

 4,789 total views

 4,789 total views “Oh little town of Bethlehem …” so goes the song. Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem, בֵּֽית־לֶ֣חֶם, Beyt-lechem, (cf. Lk 2:4; Mt 2:5-6). It is but fitting that the Messiah should be born in the city from which King David hails, (1Sam 16:1;17:12), and the place of his annointment as

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Light

 5,427 total views

 5,427 total views The Third Sunday of Advent is liturgically called “Gaudete” (meaning “Rejoice”) Sunday (cf s1S#9 Rejoice; 12/10/22; Rose-colored vestments may be worn and rose-colored candle in the Advent Wreath is lit.) The readings today (Is 61:1-2; 10-11; 1 Thes 5:16-24) emphasize the joyous anticipation of the Lord’s coming. Indeed the Lord comes, as testified

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Watch

 5,906 total views

 5,906 total views Advent season begins today and it serves as preparation for the different comings of Jesus- His coming in history, His coming at the end of time (in majesty), and even His coming in the present time (in mystery). Today’s gospel comes from chapter 13 of Mark which talks about the eschatological time and

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Throne

 6,221 total views

 6,221 total views The word “thronos” (θρόνος), translated as a throne, is easily associated with a seat of power especially of the kings. As the Church honors Christ the King on this last Sunday of the liturgical year, today’s gospel (Mt 25:31-46) refers to him as the Son of Man coming “to sit on his glorious

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Talents

 7,020 total views

 7,020 total views Today’s gospel (Mt 25:14-30) is the third in a series of parables dealing with the proper attitude to, and behavior in, the face of the coming Son of Man with the theme of judgment. Called the parable of the talents (cf Lk 19:11-27; Mk 4:25), a typical wealthy landowner is about to go

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Hour

 6,998 total views

 6,998 total views Beginning Chapter 24 of the gospel of Matthew Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for what is to come (24:—25:46). The imminent destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple becomes a metaphor for the final judgment at the close of the age, a warning and encouragement to be constantly in a state of preparedness

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Exalt

 7,653 total views

 7,653 total views Today’s gospel (Mt 23:1-12) is the beginning of the chapter that contains Jesus’ strongest words against the scribes and Pharisees (vv13-36, the seven woes), bringing to a close Jesus’ dealings with them and their teachings, (which started from 21:23). Addressing the crowds and his disciples, Jesus warns them to beware of the ways

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Greatest

 7,514 total views

 7,514 total views The episode in Mt 22:34-40 is the third of the continuous “game of challenge and riposte” between Jesus and the Pharisees (Ch 22-23). The question posed was meant to test Jesus, (v.35; cf v15; but see the less confrontational context in Mark 12:28 where Jesus is approached by a friendly scribe while in

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Trap

 8,030 total views

 8,030 total views After Jesus made some scathing condemnations against the Pharisees in the controversy between them (Mt 21-23), the Pharisees continued to engage Jesus hoping to upend him. Today’s gospel (23:15-21) is the first of their three attempts (vv22-42). At the outset, the malicious intent of the Pharisees is pronounced: “pagideuō” (παγιδεύω), a verb associated

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Fruit

 7,692 total views

 7,692 total views Sa isang Salita, Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey, BenJeronimo, Gospel of our Lord Jesus, The Word Explained, #DailyGospel, #SaIsangSalita The parable of the vineyard is found in all of the synoptic gospels (Mt 21:33-44; cf Mk 12:1-12; Lk 20:9-19) and is built upon the Vineyard Song of Isaiah 5:1-7, (cf 1st Reading: the owner

Read More »

Latest Blogs

Scroll to Top