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On Focus
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 THE
ENCOUNTER
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By Sansu
Garin
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The Christmas season culminates with the Feast of the
Epiphany. I believe, one of the beautiful stories we know by
heart is the Gospel on the Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12) – the Child
Jesus revealed to the three wise men from the East, the star, the
gifts, the dream, the new route…
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Inspired by Bro. Bo’s talk during our Genesis anniversary
celebration last year, I started the list of my 100 dreams in lieu
of a New Year’s resolution. You probably have the annual one
hundred and one New Year’s resolutions. Or your own version of
the “xxx Things I Want to Achieve in Life.” These dreams, goals
or resolutions are like the star the three wise men from the East
pursued. They followed the star to where the Child Jesus was.
They knew what they wan
 ted. They sought it, traveling far and wide, and they
found it. Are we following our stars? More importantly, do our
stars lead us to our Lord Jesus?
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No doubt, last Christmas, most of us gave and/or received
“countless” gifts. Perhaps, some still do until now! We made
sure we have something to give to all those we hold dear…not
necessarily pricey ones but enough to let them know they’re
thought of. We felt pretty special giving the gifts. And what
more, with the presents we, too, received. As for the three wise
men from the East, they offered gifts of gold, frankincense and
myrrh to the Child Jesus. Wow! This made we wonder. What gift
have we given the to the Child Jesus? Is it fit for a King?
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Soon our holiday hangover will fade, if it hasn’t come to
that yet. The typical drone of everyday life eventually gets to
us. As we say…back to reality! In the race for surviving in the
here and now or in the midst of idling about, some of us might
probably forget all about our stars, our New Year’s resolutions or
our best laid plans for this year; like in the past. In order not
to succumb to this same old pattern, we can take a lesson from the
three wise men from the East. “In a dream, they were warned not
to go back to Herod…” (Matthew 2:12). And so, they did not.
Because they listened! Are we listening to God’s voice? Do we
seek God’s will? Do we keep our daily appointments with Him?
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Delightful moments during Christmas and New Year surely
fill our hearts to the brim. Wonderful times spent with the
family, tireless visits to relatives, endless catching up with
friends, joyful gift giving, fabulous food binges, fantastic new
places (got the picture?) and a lot more! In all these, I know,
you felt God’s hands, making everything possible. The One True
Source of all these blessings! Think. Aren’t all these
happenings, actually, encounters with our Lord Jesus? In fact,
our very own epiphanies? He is, after all, the reason for the
season. Transformation happens to us when we meet our Lord
Jesus. Just like the three wise men from the East, it is said in
the Gospel, “…they returned…by another way” (Matthew
2:12). More
than the change in the physical route they followed, there was
conversion for the three wise men from the East. As a result of
their encounter with the Child Jesus. How about us? Are we
taking a new route? Are we living transformed lives this New Year?
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Brothers and sisters, let not the Feast of the Epiphany
simply be the culmination of the Christmas season. Rather, let
the Epiphany live on in us. In the transformed lives we live.
This New Year. This very day!
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All Glory to God!
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TELL US
LIKE IT IS!
- Has
something wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did
God answer your prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like
Isaiah, meet God’s whisper?
- Have
you felt His powerful hand working in your life recently?
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Everyday, people are experiencing God’s mighty Word in their
lives and it is a pity that very few know about it. Do you have
a story to tell? Some Good News to share?
- E-mail
us (genesis@catholic.org)
or fax us (021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You
don’t have to be a great writer to do this. We can help you
write it – just tell us like it is!
- Don’t
forget to write the subject: “Let Me Tell You A Story”
For comments, suggestions
or ideas:
Write us: Jl. Bacang No. 20
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Call us: (6221) 720-3824
Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
Genesis
Catholic Community
- All
Rights Reserved 2003
No
part of this website may be copied, reproduced or modified without
the permission from the webmaster.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
The Father Speaks
By Fr. S. Binzler, SJ
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Community Life
By Armand Sol
Sharing
By Princess Martillano
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
God Answers Prayers
By Beth Manibog
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
Saint for the Month
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