CCSIS Cornerstone

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐖 5:1-12a📖

"When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."”

𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍 1:32-34📖

"Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍 13:14-17📖

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

As we welcome another fruitful year, one of the common practices we embrace is creating a list of New Year’s resolutions. May this list reflect our desire for continual conversion—to become better servants and leaders within our community. May we truly embody Christ’s humility and His boundless love for all of God’s children.

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙏𝙒𝙀𝙇𝙑𝙀 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
— ISAIAH 9:6

Merry Christmas!

Glorify and praise the Lord for His promise has been fulfilled. ❤️

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙀𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””
— LUKE 2:1-14

𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙇𝙐𝙅𝘼𝙃! 𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙇𝙐𝙅𝘼𝙃!

𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐎𝐃! 🙌

𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙇𝙐𝙅𝘼𝙃! 𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙇𝙐𝙅𝘼𝙃!

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙏𝙀𝙉 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.

Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.”
— LUKE 1:57-66

The birth of John is a powerful testimony of God’s love and mercy. Zechariah and Elizabeth spent most of their married life bearing the shame and judgment of others for having no children as they grew old. Yet, God was working in His perfect time. In the Gospel, we see His promise beautifully fulfilled.

As their first child, it would have been an honor for Zechariah to pass on his own name. Instead, he humbly set aside personal pride and obeyed God’s command to name the child “John.” and even during his long season of silence, when his voice was restored, he did not complain; instead, his voice was filled with praise to God.

Let's put our hearts in the hands of our merciful and loving God.

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙀 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.”
— LUKE 1:46-56

Day 9 shows Mary’s humility under the love and grace of the Lord. She believed, and now she sees God’s promise beginning to unfold right before her eyes.

In our faith, we do not live by the belief that “to see is to believe.”
Instead, we believe first so that we may see God’s miracles at work in our lives.

May the Lord speak to our hearts!

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙀𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”
— MATTHEW 1:18-24

Day 8 invites us to reflect on Joseph’s acceptance of Jesus as his son. It all started when Gabriel met him in his dream, where he revealed that Mary had conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. In a moment that most of us would be confused and uncertain, Joseph chose silence—an act of his obedience and love, both for God and for Mary. He did not demand explanations or signs; he trusted and followed.

Together, Mary and Joseph showed us what true obedience looks like. It is not blind submission, but a loving response rooted in trust.

They obeyed because they loved and trusted God.
They obeyed because they were faithful servants of the Lord.

Oh, Emmanuel! God is here with us!

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙎𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived* a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.”
— LUKE 1:26-38

Day 7 celebrates the moment when the Lord’s messenger, Angel Gabriel, announced to Mary that she had found favor with the Lord and would conceive a Son who would reign as King for eternity, for He is the Son of God. She was given a choice, and through her faithful and courageous “𝐘𝐄𝐒,” our Lord and Savior came into the world for our salvation.

Like Mary, may we find peace and security in our faithfulness to our Father. In moments of doubt and uncertainty, may we too humbly proclaim, “I am the handmaid of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word,” fully surrendering our lives to the One who provides, secures, and sustains us.

May the Lord speak in our hearts!

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙎𝙄𝙓 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.”
— LUKE 1:13

Day 6 tells the story of Zechariah receiving the news from Angel Gabriel, the archangel who acts as God's chief messenger, that his old and barren wife, Elizabeth, would conceive in God’s perfect time.

This story reminds us of the importance of patience and allowing God to work in our lives. We are often so busy rushing—much like Zechariah and Elizabeth, who were already old in age and felt as though they were “running out of time.” But for God, His timing is never too early or too late; it is always perfect.

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙁𝙄𝙑𝙀 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”
— MATTHEW 1:24-25

Day 5 shows Joseph's love for Mary and for God and how his faith is bigger than his doubts. He believed and trusted the Lord as he took the responsibility of loving Jesus as his own flesh and blood.

𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝙁𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝗢𝗙 𝙂𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀! 🌟

“The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until he to whom it belongs shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his.”
— Genesis 49:10

Day 4 of Grace reflects on the prophecy of the coming of our King. In the Gospel of Matthew, specifically Matthew 1:1–17, we are shown the paternal lineage of Jesus through His earthly father, Joseph, revealing His descent from a line of kings. Unlike King David, Jesus was not crowned with gold or silver, but with thorns.

The coming of our Lord Jesus signifies the long-awaited promise of eternal salvation.