MA'AM BABES

SCRUTATIO SCRIPTURAE

MA'AM BABES

A Scrutatio for the 3rd Sunday of the CHRISTIAN SEASON OF EPIPHANY

Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Amos 3:1-8 / Psalm 139:1-17 / 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 / Matthew 4:12-23

Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Isaiah 8:23b-9:3 / Psalm 27:1, 4, and 13-14. / 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 and 17 / Matthew 4:12-23

Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Introit: Psalm 97:7-8 and 1

Epistle: Romans 12:16-21

Gradual: Psalm 102:15-17

Alleluia: Psalm 97:1

Gospel

Matthew 8:1-13

Offertory:

Psalm 118:16-17

Communion Antiphon: Luke 4:22

Let me share with you the LOVE-STORY of MA'AM BABES MANLANGIT BASILIO, the Coordinator of the Ministry on Worship and Liturgy for our Parish:

After six (6) years of a HAPPY AND BLESSED MARRIED LIFE, Sister Babes' husband passed on due to complications of rheumatic heart disease...

In the Province of Leyte, it's been a tradition for the widow to accompany the casket of her husband from their home up to the Church on the day of his burial...

This is in accordance with the vow that they have taken on the day of their Wedding: "Till death do us part..."

Yet, due to the immense love of Sister Babes for her ONE-AND-ONLY (she was never remarried since that very day, BTW), she asked an old lady how she could follow to the cemetery without being noticed by her in-laws...

"You could follow if you really want to... There are two gates in the cemetery grounds: one on the east end and the other going west. You could take the Western gate, there your in-laws would not even have a hint that you actually followed them."

Hopping in a tricycle and asking the driver to take her to the cemetery like there's no tomorrow, Sister Babes, along with her brother (or sister, if my memory serves me right) who was left to accompany her, reached the place of the burial grounds to watch from afar the entrance of the burial entourage of her husband...

After the culmination of the burial rites, Sister Babes' mother-in-law told her: "Since you're still young, you could remarry if you want to."

But because of her unending love for her husband, she has chosen to serve the LORD instead through ministering in HIS Church.

Now, maybe you would wonder why I have to even bother to share with you this story of hers?

In today's society where the FULLNESS of the SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE is blurred by the leprous fads of same sex "unions",  the SANCTITY OF THIS LIFE-GIVING COVENANT 

being tarnished by the false ideologies of a pro-contraceptive mentality (kindly read this and this, 

please.) and its LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT OF SELFLESS LOVE being destroyed by favoring divorce, I hope we could be ENCOURAGED by the LIFE-GIVING WITNESSES of persons such as SISTER BABES, to kindly CONSIDER, PONDER ON and LIVE-OUT the very FULLNESS OF THIS WONDERFUL SACRAMENT; and that is the SELFLESS LOVE OF JESUS TO OUR HOLY MOTHER CHURCH, HIS ONE AND ONLY BRIDE.

Marriage is not just  another "social gathering"...

No!

Marriage is a WONDERFUL SACRAMENT WHERE A MAN AND A WOMAN, MADE BY OUR ALMIGHTY GOD FOR HIMSELF AND FOR ONE ANOTHER, FEASTS ON THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO IS LOVE AND LIFE ITSELF! 

It is here where LOVE IS PERFECTED, SANCTIFIED AND MADE NEW BY THE NEWNESS OF THE ENDLESS AND FAITHFUL LOVE OF CHRIST FOR HIS CHURCH.

It is here where couples, and the family that they will be blessed with to nurture in the future, are DISCIPLED  FROM GLORY TO GLORY TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS, JUST LIKE THE FIRST APOSTLES THAT WERE CALLED, THE LEPROUS MAN THAT WAS HEALED, AND THE CENTURION FROM CAPERNAUM.

Marriage is not just a contract signed and entered into by two parties...

MARRIAGE IS GOD'S SELFLESS LOVE BEING LAVISHED TO COUPLES AND FAMILIES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY.

May we take time to MEDITATE and be challenged to LIVE-OUT this LIVING TRUTH.

RUTH 1:16-17