SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG, JANUARY 6TH, 2024) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY, YEAR B

First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72:1-2;7-8;10-11;12-13 (R.cf. 11)
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3a;5-6
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 2:2
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

Phillip Okoye

MY REFLECTION

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we have just been blessed with the greatest of all gifts, God's only begotten son, Jesus Christ.

You will agree with me that we can never overemphasize God's love for us. Even when we completely lost our friendship with God, He still did not withdraw his grace and compassion for us, what is more?

The gift of God to us, in the birth of Christ, reaffirms His love, care, and concerns for us. The Wise Men from the East, we were told, saw His shining star. This unique star announced a new dawn for the redemption of humanity. A renewed hope for you and me.

This gift of God to mankind, in birth of Christ, ushered in freedom from our captivities, and bondages of sins and death. A gift that subsequently defeated sins on the cross, and the power of death by His resurrection. A reconciliatory gift that sets us free, re-establishing our uprightness with God the Father.

The Magi in the gospel reading who could not hold their joy, went all out to prepare befitting gifts, with which they went and did him homage, in reverence and gratitude for God's love.

As Christian brothers and sisters, we should ask ourselves these salient questions:

How well have I received this heavenly gift of God, Jesus Christ?

What is the significance of this awesome gift of God to me?

In what ways am I showing gratitude for the love of God to me, especially in this season?

What are my gifts of gratitude to God for all He has done and still doing in my life?

Are my gifts truly acceptable in His sight like those of the Magi, by the way I live my christian life?

The words of the Psalmist in the responsorial psalm says, "All nations on earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord."

     

As a Christian, I must strive in ensuring my life qualifies me for falling prostrate before the Lord in reverence and gratitude. My life should be seen as exalting His majesty, at all times.

Also, brothers and sisters, we should remember that our gifts in this sense, could come in the expression of love for the least of persons out there. The sacrifice of our time, talents, material resources, wealth, should be for the needy, the orphans, the widows/widowers, the voiceless, the oppressed e.t.c. As these could go a long way in being befitting gifts for Christ. 

In conclusion, brothers and sisters, there is no better time to gift Christ than now. Now, is the time to gift Christ the best of gifts, precisely in the service of love to all and sundry.

As we strive in our Christian life to offer the best of our gifts in gratitude to Christ, our new born King, may God's grace continue to empower and sustain us through this new year, 2024, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Aikpokhio Anne

MY REFLECTION

The Revelation of God to the Gentiles

The Magi (wise men) coming from the East represent God's love for the Gentiles, the society of different status of people worshipping Jesus- (the non Jew). 

Through the actions of the Magi, God has made us heirs and partakers of His promises through Christ Jesus.

God can use anyone (the wise men) and any means (the star, the dream) to reveal Himself to us for his purpose. All we need to do is to listen, be attentive, focus and pray for the grace to be able to do needful.

Let us make ourselves available for God this year 2024 for us to be the light that brightens people and nations.

Let us not be intimidated by any power, persons, positions, authority and situations around us. The Magi were not. God is the supreme. 

Let us also learn to appreciate God with our substance either big or small just like the wise men did.

May God bless us all, Amen.

Janet Osuide

MY REFLECTION

Tomorrow is the epiphany of the Lord, which means to show God's self-manifestation in His son, Jesus Christ– the word made flesh. As such, what is taking place in Bethlehem today is a fulfillment of the plan of God.

How, have we appreciated this gesture of God? Did we feel the presence of Jesus during Christmas? Do you believe that a Savior is born and you have to make Him known to the world?

Have we experienced this great revelation of God as the wise men did? Like the wise men, we all are called to go out and show Jesus to the world with the different gifts God has endowed us with so that Christ's light will shine and there will be justice, peace, and love in the world.

We need to regain our focus, avoid every distraction, and proceed to meet Jesus in our little way and let Him unite us with Himself and make us into God's children.

This magi teaches us today, that the gifts we bear are important, but our greatest gift to God must be the gift of ourselves. May God help us, Amen.

Chukwuebuka Ofor

MY REFLECTION

The Manifestation of the Lord

In the Gospel, we note the appearance of the star, the star is above (epi- in greek) to give light (phane in greek) (i.e. Epiphany). The Epiphany is of the Lord as the Wise Men from the east saw the new star and lead them to Bethlehem (the City of David). Beit-lehem means 'house of bread' whereas, Beit-lahm means 'house of flesh'. It is perfect that Jesus the 'Living Bread' was born here, the same place David was born and anointed king.

Jesus said, "I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning Star" (Rev. 22:16).

Jesus Christ, though, he is the son (i.e. descendant) is also the 'root' (i.e the father) of David.

He is the Star we need to stand up for (Isaiah 60:1). We have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship the Lord (Matthew 2:2– Gospel Acclamation).

We need to know this Star, the knowledge of the truth, the shining glory, for His light dispels all kinds of darkness (Isaiah 60:2). For he shall save the needy when they cry, the poor, and those who are helpless (Psalm 72:12).

Before him all kings shall fall prostrate, all nations shall serve him (Psalm 72:11). Jesus is the Morning Star that kings look up to and those that walk by this light rises to greater heights (Isaiah 60:3-5). 

The Morning Star saves. The last sentence of the psalm of the day says: "He will have pity on the weak and the needy, and SAVES the lives of the needy" (Psalm 72:13). Similarly, the last sentence of the gospel reading tells us how the wise men were saved from Herod after their encounter with the Morning Star (Matthew 2:12).

May Jesus forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of His mercy, Amen.

Chinwe Ann

MY REFLECTION

My reflection will be from Gospel and should be on gifts, especially to children.

The three wise men visited the child Jesus and gave him gift of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh which signifies Christ being a King, Priest and Prophet.

In our own time, what are the gift we offer to new born babies these days? It goes a long way in what we want the baby to become or how we want the baby to act when growing up.

These days we see gift as more in financial perspective, I could remember one year we were preparing for Christmas love gift in my choir and one of my member made it clear that NO ONE SHOULD GIVE HIM BIBLE OR ROSARY in the name of gift!!! Imagine this kind of statement, which means that those prayer gifts are nothing.

Today we noticed that the gifts the three wise men gave to baby Jesus signifies a lot in his life.