Week of PRAYER for Christian Unity

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EN BÚSQUEDA DEL MESÍAS

     Today's Gospel story of John and his disciples seeing and following Jesus sounds so simple and casual, it's easy to miss the significant acts of faith that are made.

     John points to Jesus: "Look," he says, "there is the Lamb of God." John's faith in Jesus is evident, so evident that John's disciples immediately leave his side to follow this Jesus.

     The two disciples make their own act of faith. They follow Jesus, spend time with him, and are quick to spread the good news of their discovery: "We have found the Messiah."

     It is easy to forget that the expectations of generations, the hopes of many ages of faithful people were being fulfilled in these simple acts of faith. The Lamb of God, the Messiah, foretold by the prophets, had finally come. Nearly everyone among the Jewish people was watching for the Messiah back then; who in our own society watches for signs of the presence of the Messiah today?

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

     El relato del Evangelio de hoy en el que Juan y sus discípulos ven y siguen a Jesús, suena tan sencillo e informal, que fácilmente pasan desapercibidos los importantes actos de fe que ocurren.

     Juan señala a Jesús: "Miren", les dice, "este es el Cordero de Dios". La fe de Juan en Jesús es evidente, tan evidente que los discípulos de Juan inmediatamente se van de su lado y siguen a Jesús.

     Los dos discípulos a su vez hacen un acto de fe. Ellos siguen a Jesús, pasan tiempo con él, y no demoran en compartir la buena nueva de su descubrimiento: "Hemos encontrado al Mesías".

     Es fácil olvidar que las expectativas de generaciones, las esperanzas de muchos siglos de fieles se estaban cumpliendo en estos sencillos actos de fe. El Cordero de Dios, el Mesías, anunciado por los profetas, finalmente había llegado. Prácticamente todo el mundo en el pueblo judío estaba a la búsqueda del Mesías en esa época; ¿quién de nuestra sociedad busca señales de la presencia del Mesías hoy día?

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

"Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you."

— 1 Corinthians 6:19a

“SucuerpoestemplodelEspírituSanto.”

—1Corintios6:19a

PASTOR'S MESSAGE

  Dear Parishioners and Friends,

     The image of the Santo Niño de Cebu, of which a replica is enshrined at St. Michael Church, is considered as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines and is enshrined in the Basilica in Cebu. The image was given by Magellan to the Queen of Cebu, as a gift during the baptism of King Humabon and his wife Queen Juana on April 14, 1521. It was her ardent wish to have It in place of her pagan gods.

     However, after the death of Magellan, including the chaplain Fr. Pedro Valderrama, the baptized indigenous people did not flourish in their practice of faith due to the absence of deeper instruction. The baptismal rite was misconstrued by the locals as a customary ritual of friendship rather than a spiritual initiation.

     Forty-four years later, the Legazpi-Urdaneta Expedition arrived in Cebu on April 27, 1565. However, the locals appeared to be hostile and they set the village on fire. On the following day, a soldier (Juan Camus), found in one of the burnt houses the image of the Santo Niño unscathed.

     Since then, the miraculous image has been venerated by the Cebuanos and became the patron of Cebu.

     This year the 450th Anniversary of the Discovery ("Pagkakaplag") of the Image of the Santo
Niño of Cebu is being celebrated. The theme of the celebration is "Santo Niño Hope of the People."

     "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me..." (Matthew 18:3-5)

     May we be like little children - humble, obedient, not holding grudges in the heart - but with a heart to pray, a heart to share, a heart to serve, a heart to witness, and a heart to build bridges.

                                                                                                 Fr. Manny Ediza