MAY THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST, BE ALWAYS IN OUR HEART TO KEEP US HUMBLE, GRATEFUL, MERCIFUL, FORGIVING --- O GOD, BLESS ALL THAT IS COMING FROM YOU AND BREAK ALL THAT IS NOT COMING FROM YOU, AMEN --- This site is just a drop from the immeasurable ocean in JESUS, THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD - HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE - TEACHER, HEALER, REDEEMER --- The main purpose of this site is to make an easier access to Catholic Religion-related links.
If the Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday, and falls on 7th or 8th January, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord is transferred to the following Monday. Before the Gospel one Reading is read.
Il-Magħmudija tal-Mulej
Festa
Jekk is-Solennità tal-Epifanija tiġi ċċelebrata l-Ħadd, u taħbat fis-7 jew fit-8 ta’ Jannar, il-festa tal-Magħmudija tal-Mulej tiġi ttrasferita għat-Tnejn ta’ wara. Qabel l-Evanġelju jsir qari wieħed.
At St. John's co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta
The Baptism of Jesus Christ where God the Father proclaimed Jesus to be his Son
Year A --- Mt 3:13-17 -- The Baptism of Jesus - Il-magħmudija ta' Ġesù --- Sena A
[Mt:3:13] Mbagħad ġie Ġesù mill-Galilija lejn il-Ġordan għand Ġwanni biex jitgħammed minnu. [Mt:3:14] Imma Ġwanni ma ħalliehx, u qallu: "Jiena hu li jeħtieġ li nitgħammed minnek, u int tiġi għandi?" [Mt:3:15] Ġesù qallu: "Inti għalissa ħallik minn dan, għax hekk jixraq nagħmlu biex intemmu s-sewwa kollu." Mbagħad Ġwanni ħallieh jitgħammed. [Mt:3:16] Ġesù, wara li tgħammed, minnufih tala' mill-ilma; u ara, is-smewwiet infetħu, u ra l-Ispirtu ta' Alla nieżel qisu ħamiema u ġej għal fuqu.[Mt:3:17] U mis-smewwiet instama' leħen jgħid: "Dan hu Ibni l-għażiż: fih sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi."
YEAR B - Mk 1:7-11 -- John the Baptist and Jesus's Baptism - Ġwanni l-Battista u l-Magħmudija ta' Ġesù- Sena B
F’dak iż-żmien,[Mk:1:7] Ġwanni l-Battista kien ixandar u jgħid: "Ġej warajja min hu aqwa minni, li jien ma jistħoqqlix nitbaxxa quddiemu u nħoll il-qfieli tal-qorq tiegħu. [Mk:1:8] Jiena għammidtkom bl-ilma, iżda huwa jgħammidtkom bl-Ispirtu s-Santu."
[Mk:1:9] U ġara li f'dawk il-jiem ġie Ġesù minn Nazaret tal-Galilija, u tgħammed minn Ġwanni fil-Ġordan. [Mk:1:10] U minnufih hu u tiela' mill-ilma ra s-smewwiet jinfetħu, u l-Ispirtu bħal ħamiema nieżel fuqu; [Mk:1:11] u mis-smewwiet instama' leħen: "Inti ibni l-għażiż; fik sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi."
Year C - Lk 3:15-16. 21-22 -- The Baptism of the Lord - Il-Magħmudija ta' Ġesù - Sena C
[Lq:3:15] Il-poplu kien qiegħed jistenna ħerqan, u kulħadd kien jistaqsi lilu nnifsu dwar Ġwanni, jekk kienx hu l-Messija. [Lq:3:16] Għalhekk Ġwanni qabad u qal lil kulħadd: "Jien, ngħid għalija, ngħammidkom bl-ilma, imma ġej wieħed aqwa minni, li ma jistħoqqlix inħollu l-qfieli tal-qorq tiegħu. Hu jgħammidkom bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u n-nar.
[Lq:3:21] Ġara li, wara li tgħammed il-poplu kollu, Ġesù tgħammed ukoll u, waqt li kien qiegħed jitlob, is-smewwiet infetħu, [Lq:3:22] u niżel l-Ispirtu s-Santu u deher fuqu fis-sura ta' ħamiema. U mis-sema ġie leħen jgħid: "Inti Ibni l-għażiż; fik sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi."
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Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
VITAE SPIRITUALIS IANUA
The first Sacrament one can receive in the Church, Baptism, defines our relationship with Christ. In it, we are reborn as part of his mystical body, and are gifted the grace of God's love. Baptism lays the foundation for every other Sacrament we are to receive, and inextricably links us with the Trinity.
Ġesù jfejjaq wieħed lebbruż
(Mt 8, 1-4 ; Mk 1, 40-45) [Lq:5:12] Darba kien qiegħed f'belt. U jkun hemm raġel marid sewwa bil-lebbra; kif ra lil Ġesù, mar u nxteħet wiċċu fl-art quddiemu jitolbu u jgħidlu: "Mulej, jekk trid, tista' tfejjaqni." [Lq:5:13] Ġesù medd idu fuqu, messu u qallu: "Iva, irrid; kun imfejjaq," u minnufih il-lebbra marritlu. [Lq:5:14] Ġesù widdbu u qallu: "Qis li ma tgħid xejn lil ħadd. Iżda mur uri ruħek lill-qassis, u agħmel offerta għall-fejqan tiegħek, kif ordna Mosè, biex hekk tagħtihom xhieda li inti fiqt." [Lq:5:15] Il-fama tiegħu bdiet aktar tixtered, u folol kbar ta' nies kienu jmorru biex jisimgħuh u jfejjaqhom mill-mard tagħhom. [Lq:5:16] Iżda hu kien ifittex xi mkien imwarrab u jinġabar fit-talb.
Il-bidu tal-ministeru ta' Ġesù fil-Galilija
(Mt 4, 12-17 ; Mk 1, 14-15)
[Lq:4:14] Ġesù, bil-qawwa ta' l-Ispirtu, reġa' mar il-Galilija; u l-fama tiegħu xterdet ma' dawk l-inħawi kollha, [Lq:4:15] għax hu kien jgħallem fis-sinagogi tagħhom fost it-tifħir ta' kulħadd.
In-nies ta' Nazaret ma jilqgħux lil Ġesù
(Mk 13, 53-38 ; Mt 6, 1-6)
[Lq:4:16] U ġie Nazaret fejn kien trabba. Daħal fis-sinagoga tagħhom, kif kien imdorri jagħmel nhar ta' Sibt, u qam biex jaqra.[Lq:4:17] Tawh f'idejh il-ktieb ta' Isaija l-profeta, fetħu u sab fejn kien hemm miktub dan li ġej:
[Lq:4:18] 'L-Ispirtu tal-Mulej fuqi,
għax hu kkonsagrani,
Bagħatni nħabbar il-ħelsien lill-imjassrin,
nwassal il-bxara t-tajba lill-fqajrin,
u d-dawl mill-ġdid lill-għomja,
nrodd il-ħelsien lill-maħqurin
[Lq:4:19] u nxandar sena tal-grazzja tal-Mulej.' [Lq:4:20] Mbagħad raġa' għalaq il-ktieb, tah lura lill-qaddej u qagħad bilqiegħda. Għajnejn kulħadd fis-sinagoga kienu msammra fuqu. [Lq:4:21] U beda jgħidilhom: "Din il-kitba seħħet illum, intom u tisimgħu." [Lq:4:22] U lkoll laqgħu kliemu u stagħġbu għall-kliem mimli ħlewwa li kien ħiereġ minn fommu......
"...love [means] that we allow ourselves to be parted from that narrow view directed toward our own ego and that we begin to move out from our own self, in order to be there for others."
So, what's the story of your life? Or, perhaps more pointedly, how do you frame the story of your life?
In the Ego-drama, my life is all about me. I am the author of the screen play. I have the lead role; I also produce and direct the show. Or, to use the image from Mark 4:35-41 depicted above, I am the captain of my own boat, and my fate is in my own hands.
When the storms of life blow up, I am sometimes surprised that they don't exactly fit with the script I've imagined. There's always my crew to blame, of course, or the "god" of my own making, against whom I can rant. But such intrusive realities ultimately threaten my world view, and nothing is more important than me defending my place in my drama.
In the Theo-drama, on the contrary, others take centre stage. The entire production, in fact, abounds with a depth and a meaningfulness because the story is not dominated by my pride, my self-aggrandizement, my agenda. When properly framed in such a theological perspective, my life is really a matter of playing an essential part in a story that's larger than life itself.
Rather than succumbing to illusions of total control, I navigate my way into the Theo-drama by humbly saying "Yes" to the role for which I was quite literally born. I embrace the fact the "my boat" is not really mine, but is on loan for a few scenes. I open my eyes to the fact that the Captain is always on board, and all is well, even though I cannot foresee the resolution of the final scene. When framed as an Ego-drama, my life becomes a matter of making "gifts" to appease my never quite satisfied self. I wear myself out seeking to fill myself up. I have to have all the answers, all the time. I find myself shocked when deep-rooted fears or anxieties well up to ruin my day.
Such Narcicissim demands my self to expand at the expense of others; it is a "zero-sum" game bent on annihilation, one way or another. My opinions, my positions, my politics, my economics--simply because their mine--or else.
When framed in terms of the Theo-drama, my life becomes a matter of making a gift of myself to others. I'm open to mystery, to wonder and to awe. I find myself fulfilled by pouring myself into the role which the divine Director asks of me each day. I'm confident that the Captain will quiet the winds and the sea, and so I am quietly confident about the story's ultimate ending.
Such Love invites my self to contract for the good of others; it is the ultimate in "win-win" thinking, which alone can save the world. Our needs, our best interests, our common humanity, our deep-rooted communion--simply because the Director has scripted it so--once and for all........
Jn 1:29-34 -- John Testifies About Jesus - Il-Ħaruf ta' Alla
Il-Ħaruf ta' Alla [Ġw:1:29] L-għada Ġwanni ra lil Ġesù riesaq lejh, u qal: "Araw il-Ħaruf ta' Alla, li jneħħi d-dnub tad-dinja. [Ġw:1:30] Dan hu li għalih għedtilkom, 'Warajja ġej bniedem li hu aqwa minni, għax kien qabli.' [Ġw:1:31] Anqas jien stess ma kont nafu; imma jien għalhekk ġejt ngħammed bl-ilma, biex hu jkun mgħarraf lil Iżrael." [Ġw:1:32] U Ġwanni xehed għalih u qal: "Jiena rajt l-Ispirtu nieżel mis-sema bħal ħamiema u joqgħod fuqu. [Ġw:1:33] Tabilħaqq, anqas jien ma kont nafu; imma dak li bagħatni ngħammed bl-ilma, hu stess qalli, 'Fuq min tara l-Ispirtu jinżel u joqgħod, dak hu li jgħammed bl-Ispirtu s-Santu.' [Ġw:1:34] Dan rajtu b'għajnejja, u għalhekk xhedt, 'Dan hu l-Iben ta' Alla.' "
Jn 1:35-42 -- John's Disciples Follow Jesus - L-ewwel dixxipli
L-ewwel dixxipli [Ġw:1:35] L-għada Ġwanni raġa' kien hemm ma' tnejn mid-dixxipli tiegħu. [Ġw:1:36] Ħares lejn Ġesù li kien għaddej minn hemm, u qal: "Araw il-Ħaruf ta' Alla." [Ġw:1:37] Iż-żewġ dixxipli semgħuh jgħid dan, u marru wara Ġesù. [Ġw:1:38] Ġesù dar u rahom mexjin warajh, u qalilhom: "Xi tridu?" Iżda huma staqsewh: "Fejn toqgħod, Rabbi?" - li tfisser Mgħallem. [Ġw:1:39] Hu weġibhom: "Ejjew u taraw." U marru miegħu u raw fejn kien joqgħod, u dak in-nhar baqgħu miegħu. Kien ħabta ta' l-għaxar siegħa. [Ġw:1:40] Wieħed mit-tnejn li semgħu x'kien qal Ġwanni u marru wara Ġesù kien Indrì, ħu Xmun Pietru. [Ġw:1:41] L-ewwel ma għamel mar isib lil ħuh Xmun, u qallu: "Sibna l-Messija" - li tfisser Kristu. [Ġw:1:42] U ħadu għand Ġesù. Ġesù ħares lejh u qallu: "Inti Xmun, bin Ġwanni. Inti tissejjaħ Kefa" - jew Pietru.
Jn 3:22-30 -- John Testifies Again About Jesus - Ġesù u Ġwanni l-Battista
Ġesù u Ġwanni l-Battista [Ġw:3:22] Wara dan, Ġesù ġie mad-dixxipli tiegħu fl-art tal-Lhudija, u baqa' hemm magħhom jgħammed. [Ġw:3:23] Ġwanni wkoll kien qiegħed jgħammed f'Għajnun, qrib Salim, għax f'dik in-naħa kien hemm ħafna ilma; u n-nies kienet tiġi biex titgħammed. [Ġw:3:24] Sa issa lil Ġwanni kienu għadhom ma tefgħuhx fil-ħabs. [Ġw:3:25] Ġara mela li d-dixxipli ta' Ġwanni tlewwmu ma' wieħed Lhudi fuq ir-rit tal-purifikazzjoni, [Ġw:3:26] u ġew għand Ġwanni jgħidulu: "Rabbi, kien hemm raġel miegħek in-naħa l-oħra tal-Ġordan, dak li int xhedt għalih. Issa, ara, hu qiegħed jgħammed, u kulħadd sejjer għandu." [Ġw:3:27] Ġwanni weġibhom: "Ħadd ma jista' jirċievi xi ħaġa jekk ma tingħatalux mis-sema. [Ġw:3:28] Intom stess tistgħu tixhdu li jiena għedtilkom li 'jien m'iniex il-Messija,' imma biss li 'jien kont mibgħut qablu.' [Ġw:3:29] Dak li għandu l-għarusa huwa l-għarus; imma l-ħabib ta' l-għarus, li jkun ħdejh u jisimgħu, jifraħ ħafna meta jisma' leħen l-għarus. U dan hu l-ferħ li bih qalbi mtliet. [Ġw:3:30]Jenħtieġ jikber hu u niċkien jiena."
John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus......One of them was Andrew, who, the first thing that he did was to go and tell his brother Simon Peter "“We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).42 AND HE BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS.............
ARE WE REALLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT GOD USES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO BRING OTHERS TO HIM ? ARE WE READY TO MAKE HIM OUR LORD, READY TO SACRIFICE OUR OWN AMBITIONS, DESIRES, OUR DREAMS ? ARE WE READY TO ACCEPT THE FACT....THAT ANY ONE OF WHOM WE BRING TO JESUS, CAN BE MORE TRUSTED AND EXCELL.....AND WE ARE PUT IN THE SHADE ? WE MUST BE READY TO BOW DOWN TO WHAT GOD PERMITS... TO TRUST IN HIS MYSTERIOUS PLANS FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US....IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ZEALOUSLY MAKING HIM KNOWN WITHOUT ANY DOUBT AND WITHOUT GIVING IN TO THE TEMPTATION OF THE FEAR OF MISJUDGEMENT, MISTRUST, PROVOCATION, OPPOSITION, TORMENT, RIDICULE, ABANDONMENT OR EVEN REJECTION ...
THE SAINTS TEACH US, BY GOING FURTHER THAN THAT........THEY THANK AND PRAISE GOD, IN SUCH SITUATIONS.....THROUGH THE FRUIT OF HUMILITY !
By following Jesus Christ we are making Him Lord of our life instead of ourselves. This is a really big commitment to make, being a genuine follower of Jesus Christ means “dying to self”, a Christian is no longer the master of his own destiny, but rather commits to living out God’s plan for his life. Although this might sound really hard to do, ask any Christian how he feels about following Jesus Christ and he will tell you that even though he may not always have happiness, he has TRUE JOY instead. Happiness is fleeting, but joy is permanent, and the only way to obtain true hope, joy and peace is by making a commitment to follow Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul went as far as to say; “I consider that my present sufferings are not even worth comparing with the glory that will one day be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
LET US ALL KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD, HIDDEN IN THE BODY OF A HUMAN MAN, ACCEPTED IN TOTAL HUMILITY AND OUT OF LOVE OF MANKIND, ALL THE SUFFERING, THE HUMILIATION, THE DEATH, THE TOMB...FOR OUR SALVATION AND FREEDOM FROM SIN --- YET JESUS, ON THE CROSS CRIED OUT - "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO" Luke 23:34
... AND TO FOLLOW JESUS, WE HAVE TO BE READY TO GO THROUGH ALL, AS OUR GOD DID ... THROUGH HUMBLE FORGIVENSS - ACCEPTING ALL THAT HE, THE HOLY TRINITY, PERMITS IN OUR LIFE -
Matthew 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. "
PSALM 103
Praise of Divine Goodness
1 Of David.
I
Bless the Lord, my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord,
my soul;
and do not forget all his gifts, 3 Who pardons all your sins,
and heals all your ills, 4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
and crowns you with mercy and compassion, 5 Who fills your days with good things,
so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.[b]
II
6 The Lord does
righteous deeds,
brings justice to all the oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses,
to the Israelites his deeds. 8 Merciful and gracious is the Lord,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always accuse,
and nurses no lasting anger; 10 He has not dealt with us as our sins merit,
nor requited us as our wrongs deserve.
III
11 For as the heavens tower over the earth,
so his mercy towers over those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our sins from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord
has compassion on those who fear him. 14 For he knows how we are formed,
remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like the grass;
he blossoms like a flower in the field. 16 A wind sweeps over it and it is gone;
its place knows it no more. 17 But the Lord’s
mercy is from age to age,
toward those who fear him.
His salvation is for the children’s children 18 of those who keep his covenant,
and remember to carry out his precepts.
IV
19 The Lord has
set his throne in heaven;
his dominion extends over all. 20 Bless the Lord,
all you his angels,
mighty in strength, acting at his behest,
obedient to his command. 21 Bless the Lord,
all you his hosts,
his ministers who carry out his will. 22 Bless the Lord,
all his creatures,
everywhere in his domain.
Bless the Lord,
my soul!
103 (102). L-imħabba u l-ħniena ta' Alla
[S:103:1]Ta' David.
Bierek, ruħ
tiegħi, il-Mulej!
B'qalbi kollha
nbierek l-isem qaddis tiegħu.
[S:103:2] Bierek, ruħ tiegħi, il-Mulej,
u la tinsiex
il-ġid kollu li għamel miegħek.
[S:103:3] Hu li jaħfer dnubietek kollha;
ifejjaq il-mard
tiegħek kollu;
[S:103:4] jifdi lil ħajtek mill-qabar;
iħaddnek
bit-tjieba u l-ħniena;
[S:103:5] ixabba' bil-ġid snin ħajtek,
u bħal ta'
l-ajkla tiġġedded żgħożitek.
[S:103:6] Il-Mulej jagħmel is-sewwa,
u l-ħaqq
mal-maħqurin kollha.
[S:103:7] Hu għarraf lil Mosè l-ħsieb tiegħu,
l-għemejjel
tiegħu lil ulied Iżrael.
[S:103:8] Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej,
idum ma jagħdab u
kollu mogħdrija.
[S:103:9] Ma joqgħodx jitlewwem magħna,
u anqas jinkorla
għal dejjem.
[S:103:10] Ma mexiex magħna skond ma ħaqqhom ħtijietna;
ma
ħallasniex skond ma ħaqqha ħżunitna.
[S:103:11] Daqskemm huma s-smewwiet 'il fuq mill-art,
hekk hi kbira
tjubitu ma' min jibża' minnu;
[S:103:12] daqs kemm hu mbiegħed il-lvant mill-punent,
hekk hu jbiegħed
minna ħtijietna.
[S:103:13] Bħalma jħenn il-missier għal uliedu,
hekk
iħenn il-Mulej għal min għandu l-biża' tiegħu.
[S:103:14] Għax hu jaf kif aħna magħġuna,
jiftakar li aħna
trab.
[S:103:15] Bħall-ħaxix il-ħajja tal-bniedem,
bħall-fjur
tar-raba', hekk jikber.
[S:103:16] Tgħaddi ż-żiffa minn fuqu, u jispiċċa,
u ħadd aktar ma
jagħraf fejn kien.
[S:103:17] Imma t-tjieba tal-Mulej minn dejjem għal dejjem
ma'
dawk li għandhom il-biża' tiegħu,
u s-sewwa tiegħu
ma' wlied uliedhom;
[S:103:18] ma' dawk li jħarsu l-patt tiegħu,
u jiftakru
fil-preċetti tiegħuu jħarsuhom.
[S:103:19] Waqqaf il-Mulej it-tron tiegħu fis-sema,
u saltnatu fuq
kollox taħkem.
[S:103:20] Bierku l-Mulej, anġli tiegħu kollha,
setgħana u
qawwija li tagħmlu l-ordni tiegħu,
malli tisimgħu
leħen il-kelma tiegħu.
[S:103:21] Bierku l-Mulej, eżerċti tiegħu kollha,
qaddejja tiegħu,
li tagħmlu r-rieda tiegħu.
[S:103:22] Bierku l-Mulej, għemejjel tiegħu kollha,
kullimkien
fis-saltna tiegħu.
Bierek, ruħ
tiegħi, il-Mulej!
A PROPHET IS JUST A VOICE IN THE DESERT. HE MUST BE FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE SALVATION OF GOD - YET IT IS CHRIST'S WORK TO CONVERT THE PEOPLE THAT THE PROPHET MEETS, WITHOUT ANY PREFERENCE AT ALL.
THE ALL CONQUERING POWER OF GOD'S LOVE AND HUMILITY IN THE EUCHARIST keeps us down to earth, prostrated and conscious of the fact that only through JESUS and with JESUS, we can overcome the evil spirits, within us and against us ... the evil spirits of misjudgement, fear, doubt, anxiety, vengeance, unforgiveness, hatred, pride, vanity, vainglory, presumptuousness, arrogance... and all the crafty wiles of satan.
