Weekly Missionary Reflection
Sunday, 07 January 2024
SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY
World Missionary Children Day
Isa. 60:1-6; Ps. 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13. Eph. 3:2-3a,5-6; Matt. 2:1-12
“Though darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds, the people, upon you, the Lord will dawn, and over you his glory will be seen.” Thus we read again the prophecy of the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading. We are asked to see and ponder today’s world where war is still going on in some countries, natural disasters strike, and a lot of uncertainty in our lives. However, amid those incidents, we are made to realize that God is present in them.
Today the Church celebrates the Epiphany and Gospel reading repeats the story of the three Magi from the East following the new star to see the newborn Christ Child. The Magi were scholars who studied a lot of subjects, therefore many of them became advisors to the kings. The three Magi in today’s Gospel went on a long journey, relying on what they had studied and believed to be true. They risked their safety along the journey. The star was their guidance to the newborn Jesus in the manger.
Amid uncertainty in our lives and the chaos of the world, the Lord has His way of guiding us to realize that He is present among us. The Christmas that we celebrate will be meaningless if we are not able to feel the Lord’s presence in our daily lives. The God who was born into this world in a manger in Bethlehem is truly present in our lives today, and through the natural signs seen by the Magi, He uses various ways to lead us to Him.
Let us humbly open our hearts and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we may feel God’s presence. We pray that through the Holy Spirit poured into us in baptism, we can become the sign of God’s presence to the members of our family, colleagues, communities, and the people around us. May all of us become the missionaries of God’s love and light of the world which is full of the dynamics of life. God bless.
(Br. Kornelius Glossanto, SX – Xaverian Missionary)
DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER
Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.
Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:
Universal Church Intent: For the gift of diversity in the Church
We pray that the Holy Spirit may help us to recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community and to discover the richness of different traditions and rituals in the Catholic Church.
Indonesian Church Intent: Young families
We pray that young families may find their intimate private space full of God’s love amid their activities at work, household, church, and society.
Amen.
Situs Resmi Karya Misi Kepausan Indonesia (KMKI) 