INVISIBLE FORCE

Whenever we see spectacular movies about the supernatural powers we can always expect scenes that are breathtaking and full of suspense. It showcases things like when all else failed after everything the characters have done and death or defeat is imminent then all of a sudden the powerful forces took their side and saved them from the claws of their enemies. It always turn out as a blockbuster movie that we find we find very entertaining and amusing without realizing that just like these movie characters, we as God's people can rely on His Almighty Power to win all our battles. Let us learn from the example of Mary as we celebrate her visitation to St. Elizabeth. Mary kept everything in her heart. From the time of the Annunciation in the Joyful Mysteries, to the time of the Passion and Death of Jesus in the Sorrowful Mysteries, to the time of illumination in the Luminous Mysteries up to the Resurrection in the Glorious Mysteries. Praying the rosary with sincere meditation is the key to her heart. Amen. Hallelujah!

Zephaniah 3:14-18a (or Romans 12:9-16)
14 Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. 16 On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! 17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, 18 as one sings at festivals.

Just like the Blessed Mother Mary, who is Queen of heaven and earth, we too are destined for victory and royalty. If only we live out the example of her obedient life and carry Jesus in our hearts the way she does. Mother Mary serves as a special channel that God has given to humanity to receive His graces. It does not obscure or diminishes the one and only Mediator, Jesus Christ, rather she shows God's power even more. Jesus, the Son loves His mother and gives her the greatest grocery of graces in heaven. Mary totally depends on her Son as in the wedding feast in Cana by saying, "Do whatever He tells you." Mary knows that her Son is the ultimate source that's why she leads us to Him, the true Mediator. God Himself ordained that His only Begotten Son be born of a human mother through Mary's obedience and perfect surrender. When the angel appeared to Mary, he wasn't speaking his own thoughts and words. He was sent by God to speak God's words. In Greek, the Hail Mary is translated as Hail most highly graced one, meaning so completely graced. Mary truly is filled with God's grace. When God conceived Mary she was free from the stain of original sin. He is getting ready the 1st tabernacle of His Son here on earth. She is made holy, unstained and created in the fullness of grace. God has placed in Mary the fullness of grace. Mary conceived by her virginity and humility. It should be in our hearts to honor Mother Mary because the Son is within her body. The Father is in the Son. It is by grace that we are saved. Through Jesus and Mary all things are restored. Everything is possible with God. Who are we to defy the manner that God Himself has chosen for His Son to come to this world. Amen. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
R: Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
2 God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. 3 With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.

When Mary visited Elizabeth, she recognized right away not just the presence of her cousin Mary but the Mother of God. “When in the womb of their mothers, John the Voice and Jesus the Word met, the women raised their own voices in praise. Elizabeth praised Mary and her child; Mary turned the joy of them both into a hymn of praise to God.” This should move us to do the same thing and be able to recognize God's presence in our lives. It gives joy that only God can give us. Blessed is Mary for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled. We can also come to a point when we can also sing our own "Magnificat" and raise our hands to God in prayer and thanksgiving for every gift He has given to us, even those gifts of sorrow. God is in charge and He will make all things work for the good.

The Graces of the Visitation
The events of today’s mystery bring before the faithful in a peculiar manner the fact that our God is a hidden God, and that his power works in the soul in a secret and impenetrable manner. Four people are concerned in the occurrence we are celebrating: Jesus and Mary; St. John, and his mother St. Elizabeth. Now, it is most remarkable that of all the sacred personages the only one who seems to perform no particular action is the Son of God himself. Elizabeth, enlightened from on high, acknowledges the Blessed Virgin’s dignity and humbles herself deeply before her: “Whence is this to me?” (Lk. 1:43) John even within Elizabeth’s womb, feels his Divine Master’s presence, and shows his joy in a wonderful way: he “leaped for joy.” Mary, marveling at the great effects of divine omnipotence in herself, exalts the holy name of God and declares his munificence in her behalf, with her whole heart. But all this time Jesus Himself, hidden beneath his Mother’s breast, gives no sensible sign of his presence. He, who is the cause of the whole mystery, takes no active part in it.
Strange as this may seem, it is not really surprising. Our Lord here hides his power intentionally, to show us how he is the invisible force that moves all things without moving himself, and directs all things without showing his hand. Hence, we shall find that though he may seem to be passive on this occasion his influence is fully apparent in the actions of the rest, whose movements are really all inspired by him alone. One of the greatest mysteries of Christianity is the holy union that the Son of God forms with us, and his secret way of visiting us… When God deigns to look upon us, we can but learn from Elizabeth how to reverence his supreme greatness by fully recognizing our own nothingness, and to acknowledge his benefits by confessing our unworthiness. Bishop Jacques Benigne Bossuet (1704) French Bishop and Theologian


Luke 1:39-56
39 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” 46 And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior. 48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. 49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. 51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. 52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. 53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, 55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” 56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

STRAIGHT INTO THE EYE

No figure of speech can actually depict the beauty and glory contained in the Word of God. You may have read numerous stories and poems, or even watched lots of movies with very inspiring and beautiful content but all of them is just part and parcel of, a glimpse of or just a tiny bit of the real message which is the enormous love in God's Word. Is there a promise or word of God that holds a special place in our hearts? If we do then we can always be assured that what it says it will surely deliver and fulfill. Sometimes things do not appear and happen the way we expect it to be. It should not discourage us but rather be firm in our convictions that God's word and promise remains forever. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Peter 1:18-25
...“All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”...

If we claim to be true followers and believers of our Lord Jesus Christ then we can put a claim on these same blessings and privileges bestowed on the chosen people of God. No poet, writer or artist can ever describe in words or paint in canvass the love of God. For the immensity of its beauty and glory is immeasurable and beyond understanding.
Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
R: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
...For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. (R) 14 He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! (R) 19 He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia...

Today's gospel makes it clear to us that we have to purify our motives and intentions before we do something. Sometimes we fall into the trap of doing something in exchange of something or we are driven to action by the fact that there is a catch to it. These things should only come as a result of our action but not the main driving force of our action. What should keep as going is the truth that Jesus, the Son of God, King of all kings and Lord of all lords came to earth to serve and became ransom for our sins. God's greatest expression of love is a masterpiece. He suffered His only Son for our sake. Is there anything more that God could do for us that He has not done? The least we can do right now is to look into the life model and example that Jesus left for us. Know everything there is to know about our God who stripped Himself of His Kingship and Royalty to become like us. Fr. Mitch Pacwa said that what God did for us was like that of a big tall man who knelt down on the floor so as to look into the eye of a small baby crawling on the floor. God wanted to be able to be with us and look at us straight into the eye while He says, "I love you" which is directly aimed at our hearts. Once we've realized this and done everything with the best of our efforts then there's nothing else that could stop us from adoring and praising our One, True God who gave His all for us. In the gospel, we find that it is the 3rd time in Mark’s that Jesus mentioned about His prediction of His Cross. This one being the strongest as He said, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.” The whole point here is that Jesus saves the world through His passion, death and resurrection and the disciples are to share with Him in this Paschal Mystery. This is the point that we miss, James and John are no different for they did not understand. They wanted to be seated in the right and left or be in a position of authority and power. We recall in Luke 9:54, When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" We can see from here that they want success and domination. Somehow we can not blame them for thinking this way. They have been obedient servants and had witnessed the transfiguration. They are especially close to Jesus that they had aspired for these great things. There was a misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings. In this particular scene, James and John only saw the glory but failed to see the Calvary. Aren't we all guilty of the same attitude sometimes? We only want the fame, glory and power but dismiss the hardships that go with it. When Jesus came from heaven to earth to show the way He did not bypass or made a short cut he went through it all, the passion, death and resurrection. We should not want Jesus just because of our own personal agenda. The Kingdom of God must be viewed through the lens of Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King but not one seated on the throne but hanging on the cross. Pope Benedict XVI said in his book that we are to aspire for one thing that is the sharing in His Passion without expecting anything in return. We should not think of what we can get out of it and search for power and success. It is not about dominating and wielding authority like what most people look for in the world. The heart of Christianity is in giving of ourselves. When we do things in our life like providing for our children, sometimes the routine of it all becomes so tiring. We have to realize that it’s the path to holiness. Our service done in a disinterested way without expecting anything in return should be the mindset of Christians. We follow the example of Jesus who drunk the cup filled by our sins. As in Isaiah 53:4-5, “Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.” The way of the cross that we experience in our lives is determined by God. It is the Father’s will that we follow as we abandon ourselves to God. We conform ourselves to His will because our path is not something we engineered but something that we follow in accordance to God’s will. We can glory in our infirmities in bearing our daily cross in union with our Lord Jesus Christ. Although there were conflicts among the people in the Church, as it usually does, they were able to go past it and built the Church. These things, can be considered as the agitation in the grain of sand in the clam which eventually turned into a priceless pearl. This anxiety among these people of God brought about the spread of the Church in various places for they were divided into 2 groups and were able to evangelize in 2 different places at one time. God saw to it that everything turned out for the good. Mark’s gospel emphasizes this truth that despite the brokenness of the people the Church of God, the community still survived which is evident to this very day. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 10:32-45
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 He replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” 37 They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" ...whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

VITAL TRUTH

There are so many distractions in this world that break us away from our God given destiny to be holy. From that period when time is not yet known, up to this present age, God has already been telling us of the things we ought to know and believe in. We have a tendency to fall away because of the many things that we encounter daily in life. We fail to hold on to what should truly be our priority and become totally oblivious of the real and genuine call of God. Today's 1st reading reminds us of this most important task that we ought to stick and commit to for our own sake and welfare. Let us grasp this vital truth as if holding on to our very life. Let us clear things up and set everything right so as to build the highest level of confidence and conviction to lead a holy life. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Peter 1:10-16
...the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them. 12 It was revealed to them...Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance 15 but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, 16 for it is written, “Be holy because I am holy.”

We should consider each day as an opportunity to know and learn more about our God. Whether it be an ordinary or special day in our life nothing should be amiss and should be spent in giving glory to God our Savior and Master. Let us take our stand and know that God's grace is sufficient for us. We will not be put to the test beyond our strength. Things are bound to get better for as long as we hold on to God's promises. Today's psalm, kind of remind me of this preaching about this wise man from the East in the Old Testament (OT), he is a prophet named Balaam and served an evil and wicked king. King Balak wanted Balaam to exact a curse upon Israel but from his mouth came forth a blessing. He prophesied in Numbers 24:15,18 that there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel who will dispossess Edom. A star and a scepter signifies kingship. In parallel, it was also the 3 wise men in the New Testament (NT) during the time of King Herod an Edomite who were looking for a star that would direct them to the newborn King of Israel, Jesus. He is truly our King and the fulfillment of God's promise. It is our duty to aim for the ultimate good which is the will of God in our lives. This is not something that we still have to search and look for. It is already programmed in us and made known to us by the Lord. If by any chance this is not the case especially for those people who have not heard or known about our Lord Jesus since birth then the Lord Himself knows how to deal with them in accordance to His Divine Wisdom and Mercy. For us who have been blessed and endowed with the privilege of hearing and knowing about Jesus, this is coupled with a responsibility. The principle that to those who have been given much, much is also expected definitely applies. We have a responsibility in our hands to make known to everyone we meet about this vital truth that could spell the difference between life and death. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R: The Lord has made known his salvation.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm...He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel...


Nothing is ever wasted or taken for granted if we work for the glory of God. We have a Generous and Almighty God who doesn't need anything from us but whom we need everything from. What's at stake here is not just a limited period of time here on earth but eternity. It surely is worth all our time, effort and resources. Let us not continue to be duped by the enemy into believing his lies and deception and switch our total allegiance to God. Be wise and act now. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 10:28-31
28 Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel 30 who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. 31 But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

AN INHERITANCE

It is a natural reaction from most people who hear about someone entrusted a big inheritance to feel envious of his/her good fortune. I always hear people say that such person is so lucky. Actually, there is no sense in feeling that way if we just realize that we've all been handed down an inheritance from God through Jesus Christ. We are a people beyond lucky but truly blessed. We should realize by now that we are more than royalty because we are heirs of not just a great fortune but an imperishable, undefiled and unfading inheritance. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you 5 who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. 6 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

God is always true and faithful to his covenant. We can count on Him to carry out and fulfill His part. It is our part of the covenant that we need to be concerned about. We've got to respond to God and fulfill our part of the bargain for our own good. This we need to be aware of and keep in mind always. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 111:1-2, 5-6, 9, 10c
R: The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
...He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations...

It is not true that God makes it difficult for us to enter heaven rather it is ourselves who make it difficult. When we cling to people and things more than we cling to God then that's when it becomes difficult. We've got to realize by now that nothing is impossible for God and by uniting ourselves to Him we can overcome anything. We've got to surrender everything to God and unite our wills with Him so that what seems to be impossible becomes possible. St. Dominic Sabio said that he would choose death rather than sin. We have to know what helps us to overcome sin in our life. St. Ignatius of Loyola said that we have to retrace the steps that led us to fall into sin and strive to eliminate it. It is in the beginning when sin is easily overcome. We have to attack sin at a point where it can still be easily removed or put to a stop. One more important thing is to avoid occasions of sin. We must not underestimate the effects of original sin. If we play with fire we will get burned. Furthermore, "Curiosity kills more than just cats, it can kill the soul." We have to resist temptation and offer negative resistance but when a temptation is difficult, we offer positive resistance through prayer. We do this by invoking the presence of God in moments of temptation. We can also do the opposite virtue for which we are being tempted. For example we are tempted to hate and despair we make an act of love and hope. If it's an attack to chastity then we direct ourselves to other things. There is a parable about making it is easy to live virtuously. It is about a man who said that there are 2 wolves fighting within us. When asked who won he answered it is the one who we feed the most. We have to feed the good wolf in us through spiritual reading, frequenting the sacraments, spending time in prayer and engaging in healthy spiritual friendships or anything that can inspire and strengthen our character to what virtue is in need of. We’re not Pelagians who believe in the theory that we can be holy by our own strength alone. We need the grace of God. If we know we are lacking in devotion we ask for fervency and a fiery love of God. We should work and develop abhorrence for sin as in hate intensely what God loathes. We should see sin for what it really is. Eve looked upon the fruit and saw that it is pleasing to the eyes. It may have an appeal but it brings destruction. An offense to God is an attack to our own dignity. Sin is a threat to our union with God because it delays or prevents it. Sin may appeal to us in a very irresistible way but we have to keep in mind that all it can give is just a momentary sort of delight. We need to think of ourselves walking on the edge of a cliff. If we want to strive for holiness and perfection we need to move further away from the cliff so as to increase the distance between us and the cliff and thus prevent falling into sin. It is a difficult task but as the gospel tells us today, "All things are possible for God.” Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 10:17-27
...“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ...“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

PENTECOST

The talk entitled, "Opening to God's love" by Dominic Berardino broadened my understanding of God's love. I have always shared this talk and several others during Pentecost. I was specifically touched when the speaker said that God has so much love that He is not able to contain it and it overflows. God's creation is His way of making room for His love. We are all expressions of God's love. It was impressed to me that as pro creators of God we too are capable of expressing this love and make it grow and multiply through the help of the Holy Spirit. Allow God to change our hearts and live that love not just in words but in action, deeds and in truth. He further said that peace is still unfulfilled, which is very evident in the prevailing conditions worldwide because people or we are not yet fully transforming our hearts to love. He said he used to be a "Cultural Catholic" who never heard the personal message of God's love. Although he already felt the love of God at age 7 when he had his 1st communion, he still had an obscure image of Jesus. He even thought that Jesus was Italian being Italian himself and very Catholic. It was only after a long while when he started to have this personal relationship with God that he saw in Jesus the perfect image of God's love which is very unlike the typical image that we all sometimes used to have of God who is one who punishes and disciplines. It was the image of God from the Parable of the Prodigal Son that he was able to paint a better image of God in his life. He said that the Prodigal Son misused his free will and abused it. It was like the son wanted his father dead because he already asked for his share of wealth even though he is still living. When the time came when he already hit rock bottom and lost everything, the so called spiritual earthquakes of our lives that was when he decided to go back to his father. Thinking to himself that he is better off as a hired worker in his father's home and did not even thought of being treated as a son but the father's love was so great that upon seeing his son with nothing at all he immediately ordered that his son be given a robe, ring and sandals which means he has his freedom back. For in those times people who have no possessions at all are the slaves. He cited this bible passage that not a single sparrow falls to the ground without the knowledge of our Heavenly Father and so much more should we be convinced that God is watching us always with love. 1 Cor.13 It's about time we heal the broken images of God and know that He has this unconditional love for us. In the end he quoted, St. John of the Cross "When the evening of this life comes we will be judged on love." He further recommended to read Mt. 25. and ended his talk with another quote from St. Gregory, "We all have this residue of selfishness and we wash it away with unselfishness." It is indeed a blessing to celebrate this very special occasion when we commemorate the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and from that time on their lives were never the same. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 2:1-11
1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim...

The talk delivered by Fr. John Hampsch, CMF entitled, "Don't take woe for an answer" is another thing worth looking into during Pentecost. He discussed not only about optimism per se but within the context of the Christian virtue, hope. He quoted Rom 5:5 which describes hope in God as something that doesn't disappoint. It is good to always put our hope in the Lord who make all things work together for good for all those who love Him.(Rom. 8:28) He said that we should always face the sun for the shadows to go behind. Come to think of it, I only realized it when I heard it, I guess it's another way of making us realize that if we are always facing the Son of God, Jesus who is the Light of the World, then every shadow that darkens and blocks the light in our lives will go behind us. He said there is only one place where there is only complete total disappointment for there is no hope of relief and that is hell or Dante's inferno. He further described Christian hope as not confined to the standards of this world and transcends emotional hope. It is an assurance or certainty of something good as in Ps. 42 where several times the words, "Put your hope in God" were repeated. Hope is a virtue infused by God in our wills not only in our emotions. Trust God with complete certainty. He quoted, the Council of Trent declaring that, "No one is certain of salvation.” This is somehow contradictory to what St. Augustine said that "You should think of salvation as if it were already certain." The certainty of salvation is as certain as our own existence. He explained that there is really no contradiction in the sense that the uncertainty comes from our side as human beings and not from God. He said we have the free will to choose our salvation. He reiterated the importance to see to it that the truth we heard remains in us and if it remains in us then God is surely assuring us of the certainty that He is on our side. It's just like finding something beautiful that we would never want to let go and remains forever. He mentioned the forces of evil that tempts us to become unfaithful. But God assured us that no one can snatch us out of His hands but the problem is if we choose to pull away from God. In the face of real challenges only those who stay firm in God's promises will hold and survive. It is given that God never abandons us, only we can abandon Him through the choices we make. In this present time of great trial and hardships we have to discover the grounds of hope which is rooted in the so called "Tripod of Hope" by St. Thomas Aquinas: 1. faith in the power of God (2 Thes. 1:11-12) 2. faith in the goodness of God (Ps. 146) 3. faith in the promises of God (Heb.11:1-2; Ps. 145:13) Sometimes this tripod is placed in a slippery floor of despair, conclusion of fools, neglect of faith and the like. We are called to always have faith and hope in God as written in the 1st book of Peter. If we feel like we are experiencing a hardship just like Job and starting to lose hope then we are called by God to stand firm and be joyful in hope. (2 Cor 1:5-6; Rom 12:2) Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 104: 1. 24. 29-30. 31. 34
R: Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
...How manifold are your works, O LORD! The earth is full of your creatures. (R) 29 If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust...

In the talk, "Revealing God's love to others" by Fr. Bill DeLaney, SJ. He said that there are several names attributed to God but the name "Abba" holds a special meaning. He is a God that is not distant and shows Himself as a loving Father to a son. He said we have a task at hand which is to continue the outpouring of the Spirit in the Church. He said that we have already been filled but we leak so we have to constantly be filled and there should be an ongoing filling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is revealed in many ways and one of these is when the Holy Spirit reveals sovereignty, which means it is direct and only God can do it. The Holy Spirit is always present but we do not always feel its presence. We have to work with Jesus so that it can be revealed. In Gal. 5:22 there are several fruits of the Spirit which allows us to reveal God's presence to others and bring it out in others. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. It is sad that oftentimes we do not reflect the fruits rather the opposite. We are invited to live at peace with everyone by first becoming the person of peace. It can never be done in hostility but only in gentleness. 1 Tim 5:3, treat others even your enemies with courtesy and respect. It is how you relate and disagree with one another that tell much of who we really are. It is rooted in the truth of who we are and what we honestly believe. The will of Jesus for the community is unity. He prayed not only for the disciples but for all those who believe. A Christian community should love and respect each other even when we disagree. Heroic virtues and holiness should just be something ordinary since it is the way it should be for a true Christian. He said that when we pray for patience we should be willing to go through the process of planting, cultivating and nourishing it. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Corinthians 12:3b-7. 12-13
3 Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 5 there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6 there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

The 4th talk is about "Receiving and Giving Encouragement" by Kay Murdy. She said that the word courage came from the Old French word which means the heart, which can be taken as put courage into the heart. She further said that kind words can be short and brief but its echoes are endless and never forgotten. St. Paul strengthened and encouraged the Thessalonians by sending Timothy. God gives us encouragement through the scriptures even eternal encouragement as in the book of Romans. She mentioned about Joseph of Cyprus whose name became Barnabas which means "son of encouragement" because he lifted up Paul during the time when the other disciples were suspicious of him. We are encouraged to recognize the gifts and talents of others and letting them know about it by simply writing a note and saying something positive. Even King David when feeling depressed encouraged himself in the Lord. He recognized who he was and what he is called to be. She quoted this "If you can't change the direction of the wind then adjust your sails so that you can reach your destination." She further said that to each is given a gift not only to some and emphasized the word to each. We are called to develop and allow it to grow for us to share to others and be as contagious as possible. We should encourage each other as much as we can before it’s too late. She narrated a story of a man whose dream was to be a musician but ended up becoming a lawyer due to family pressure. It was like this man can be compared to round peg being fitted into a square peg. The man was said to commit suicide. It is God's will that we encourage one another as our way of testifying to God. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 15:26-27; 16:12-15
26 Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. 27 And you also testify,...

NEVER QUESTION

We are a people of different colors, shapes and sizes. Each person is unique but we all have something in common that we can share. Today's 1st reading tells us of the story of St. Paul imprisoned in Rome. Despite his situation it did not stop him from fulfilling his mission. He continued to persevere to the end because of the hope he had for God. We too, are called to share and rely on this hope in God and carry on with our tasks against all odds. We have to extensively study, always read about the word of God and share it to others and discover the circumstances that have opened doors to being part of the lives of other people who are sent by God to us and vice versa, we are sent by God to them. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
...This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.”

It is funny how sometimes we fail to see the things that are right before our very eyes. We overlook, neglect and take for granted what obviously should be our main concern and focus. Why is this so? We have to realize that when we are presented with a variety of good things all around us unless we know our criteria, take time to look very closely and inspect what we are getting then we might end up picking up the wrong choices. We should not allow any distractions to shift our gaze and remain focused on the Lord at all times. We should have this confidence that everything that happens does not escape the searching glance of God. He knows the past, present and the future and things surely happen for a reason and whatever it may be, it will always work for the best. Let us not forget to always work for justice and goodness in the name of Jesus and we can be assured of not only always being in God's presence but really gaze on His Holy face. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 11:4, 5, 7
R: The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his searching glance is on mankind. (R) 5 The LORD searches the just and the wicked; the lover of violence he hates. 7 For the LORD is just, he loves just deeds; the upright shall see his face.

Sometimes we are too preoccupied with other people's lives that we fail to attend to what should be our main concern, our very own lives. When we do this without attending to ourselves first we end up with nothing to give and worse may mess up other people's lives too. We have to look at our lives first and strive to mend our ways first before we can reach out to others. In today's gospel, Jesus did not answer Peter's question but responded with another question. The bottom line is that we ought not to concern ourselves too much of other people's businesses but should see to it first if we ourselves are on the right track and follow Jesus through and through. There is really no need to question God about what is happening in our lives. It should not be a cause for anxiety on our part what matters most is that we follow no matter what the cost. For only Him can answer all our concerns and anxieties. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 21:20-25
...When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” ...

BENEFITS

Trust, perseverance, doubt, frustration and anxiety are all part of one big mix of experiences that we need to go through. Just like a big cookie dough with all the bits and pieces of nuts, chocolate and all the other things that add up to its flavor and taste. We encounter these things so God can provide opportunities for us to advance in our faith and discover His perfect will in our lives. Sometimes we encounter people who belong to a different religion or same religion but different organization or prayer group. Whether you're Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or Catholic what matters most is that you respect each other's beliefs and know in your heart that each person is a child of God. Trusting God in His magnificent ways that He will reveal Himself in whatever way He deemed fit for each one of us. Sometimes our convictions and beliefs can place us in a difficult situation when we would have to be tested to the point of being forced to retract and abandon what we are standing up for. Especially when it comes to a matter of life and death, this would definitely make us think hard before we can ever decide if we are really willing to go through that kind of suffering and hardship. Reflecting on the life of Jesus, Mary and the saints should humble and embarrass us whenever we end up wavering in our faith. We have been blessed by the glorious background of their lives and gifted with this present time when we can freely exercise our faith without fear of being imprisoned and executed. During their time, profession of faith in Jesus meant persecution and death. Isn't it something that we should really be grateful and take advantage of. Those people who have worked hard for our faith paved the way for its richness and splendor that we have to appreciate every single moment of our life. Let us not waste nor disregard the hard work they have done for us to enjoy the blessings brought about by their great faith in God. Let us always treasure it in our hearts and be very thankful for it. May it inspire us to also work hard and contribute for the further flourishing, proliferation and spread of the good news about Jesus. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 25:13-21
... they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive.

We are so blessed that we did not live during the time when Christians were being persecuted and martyred and what we are enjoying right now are already the benefits of God's marvelous work wrought by His mighty hand. We can never fathom the wisdom of God but we can always remain confident in the truth that His kindness is perfect and everlasting. He makes all things work for good. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 103:1-2. 11-12. 19-20ab
R: The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits...

Love is not exclusive. Jesus wanted Peter to show his love for Him by reaching out to others. This is exactly what we're supposed to do no matter who the person is. Our faith in God brings us to circumstances when we can no longer decide on our own but on the basis that we are totally disposed and abandoned to His perfect plan for us. This is why in today’s gospel Jesus had to emphasize it to Peter. Whenever we want to make a point then we tend to repeatedly say and ask things and sometimes, too we tend to feel hurt when someone seem to doubt our capacity to do it. Jesus in today's gospel asked Peter 3x if he loves Him and he also replied positively to Him 3x. But we know the rest of the story when Peter ended up denying Jesus 3x also. The same in our own lives, God sometimes needed to emphasize some things in our life so as to really focus and commit to it. God knows each and every one of us and it is just proper and fitting that we must take every persistent message that God gives us, really take action and surely benefit from it. Knowing that our God will always bring about what is good for us. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 21:15-19
...“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.

ABOVE SOME POINT OF VIEW

God permitted our present situations and for sure after all we've been through and done with much prayers and supplications that whatever may be the outcome it will always be for the best. We should always believe that if God deemed it necessary that we go through something then it is for the best. This is what most of us fail to understand when we have to go through some challenges and trials. We should thank God for the experience gained and lessons learned during these times. Although we sometimes still feel uncertain and anxious but what should keep us going is the assurance that God is giving us daily in His word. Just like Paul who had to go through a mountain load of problems and be faced with difficult decisions and compelled to take a specific action in response to God's call we should take courage because the Lord said so. We bear the name of Jesus and with that come the courage to take each step to go forward and beyond the road where God brings us. We believe in God and we have a reverence that God is greater than ourselves. We should exemplify all virtues and radiate them. The truth of our faith is so important and so true that nothing can change them no matter where you are and who you are. We must believe to the point that we are willing to die for God. We should believe and show the world that we know what is true and nothing can change that. We have to take courage because it is not enough that we know the truth but that it is harder to keep the truth and make an impact in our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 22:30; 23: 6-11
...the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

There may be some negative speculations and forecasts that are being hurled right in front of us about our present situations most especially with the uncertainty and unpredictability of prevailing conditions. We need to keep this in mind, only God can keep us safe from all harm. A holy man once said this, "If we don't go to the desert we have nothing to bring in the marketplace." If we have no prayer then nothing works. We have to pray. We need to take time to be alone with God because if we don't, then we make ourselves vulnerable to the enemy. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 16:1-2a and 5. 7-8. 9-10. 11
R: Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; 10 because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R) 11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever...

Our confidence lies in the truth in today's gospel. Jesus cares for us, he even prayed for us. If only we will truly be one with Jesus in all aspects of our lives and be totally united with Him then there is no more room for doubt that God who is Almighty, All Powerful, Immortal and Holy is able to make good things happen in our life and be a living testimony and reflection of God. What binds all the virtues together is love. All virtues should be motivated by love which articulates them all. We can use love for the service of God. Love is our motivation that makes the machine of an organism move and to speak God and His will. Love inspired in our hearts makes us give ourselves to others. We have to guard ourselves, too. There are times when we fight for a good cause which takes anger to keep us moving. We become driven by anger and we need to be above these things. It must be humble work and we have to be above some point of view. It should exactly be the kind of love that today's gospel speaks about. It is also noteworthy that chapter 13 of John up to today’s gospel which is taken from chapter 17 is parallel with the 5 books of the Old Testament. Chapter 13 speaks of the last supper and a farewell speech of Jesus which is parallel to Deuteronomy 32, the long prayer of Moses wherein he encouraged and emphasized the importance to obey the law and concludes the book with long prayers in chapters 32-33. We have to pay attention to how our Lord Jesus is doing something similar to what Moses has done. Putting together what Moses had done we would find that Christ is doing the same. It is important for us to keep coming back to all the gospels. If we may recall, at the very beginning of John 2 Jesus starts his public ministry at the wedding of Cana when he responded to the request of Mary that His hour has not come. While in chapter 13, he said that the hour has come. Obviously, the sense of the hour is to designate the final movement by which He redeems the world through obedience to the Father. He wanted to bring this out through the gospel. In chapters 5 and 8 we repeatedly read Jesus saying that the Father and I are one. He also asks the Father to give Him glory but He does not cling to the gifts that the Father gives Him but always return the glory to God. He would always say that everything of mine is yours. Christ is giving us an inner life, a deeper insight to the true meaning or the substance of the divinity through Him. No mere creature would be capable of accepting infinity from the Father only the Infinite Son but it is His nature to give it back to the Father and not cling to it. St. Augustine said that mutual self giving of one person to the other personifies the Holy Spirit. The gift of eternal life is the very purpose that the Father sent Him to the world. In John 6 the purpose of giving Himself through the Eucharist is the way to have eternal life. He reveals the name of God which is Father. It is so powerful that it makes them one. Some denominations have stopped baptizing in the name of the Father. The name Father can not be eliminated from our faith since it gives strength and make us one. Jesus always say, “I have not come to do my will but the will of my Father. My disciples are those who keep my word. Those who remain in Him the Father and the Son will remain in Him.” The words of Jesus has the power to unify us with the Father & Son and bring us to eternal life. It is well to meditate on these words of Jesus and imbibe wisdom which is the key to understanding the relationship of Jesus and the Father by which we are to live and bring us to eternal life. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 17:20-26
20 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me… I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

Sis Pat Pua shared to me before about an experience she had way back in the Philippines when she wasn't in the Charismatic Renewal yet. She said she was at that time still grieving over the loss of her mother, adjusting to married life and relocation to the hometown of her husband. She said that during her time of grief she had a vision of her dead mother wearing a brown habit and clothes like that of St. Anthony of Padua. I learned from a talk a long time ago when I was still new in the Renewal about the spiritual war which could be found in Ephesians 6:10-20. The presence of the spiritual army of evil in the heavens could take the form of dead loved ones or even be disguised as holy and divine. Those spirits could take advantage of the present state a person is in which could be grief and be used against him/her. There is really a need to always anchor ourselves firmly to God and not be easily deceived which is exactly what Paul is telling and warning us in today's 1st reading. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 20:28-38
...savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. 30 And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. 31 So be vigilant...

We all go through different situations and circumstances in life. Some of them do not make any sense. if we fail to acknowledge the power of God moving in it. There are numerous things that we can think, focus and decide on but there’s only one thing I am sure of. We’ve got to acknowledge that God’s power remains to be above all things no matter what it may seem to be. These experiences we have been through should bring our faith to greater depths, heights and lengths that we never could have thought or imagined possible. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
R: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
28 [29] Show forth, O God, your power. the power, O God, with which you took our part; 29 [30] for your temple in Jerusalem let the kings bring you gifts. (R) 32 [33] You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, chant praise to the Lord 33 [34] who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.

We can not discount the fact that evil is lurking in this world and temptations never stop to assail us. Remember that Satan is the father of lies and have gone to a great extent to lure people to his malice and schemes. It is evident how we see the world has become today. We tend to change loyalty and be convinced of the intricate and elaborate strategy of the enemy. He just doesn’t take things sitting down. He is definitely at work and should never be underestimated. We already have the victory in our hands but sometimes we just let it slip by. We’ve got to learn more and more from Jesus and know who is Master of our lives. Jesus is the hallmark sign of humility. He is obedient to the Father’s plan to the point of suffering and death. It went as far as taking up the cross for our salvation. As scriptures say, “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart.” St. Augustine said that Jesus did not say, learn from me to do wonders and miracles, heal the sick, cast out devils, raise the dead but learn of me to be meek and humble of heart. God doesn’t expect the great signs, wonders and deeds. He does expect meekness and humility from us. Meekness is the virtue that moderates anger. Humility is so powerfully a Christian virtue and not as the pagan philosophers believe it to be. It is thinking that God alone is good and the source of all goodness. He distributes His gifts to all of us and is the goodness in all that we see. From this point of view we can say that to sin is being envious of God. When we sin it means we are jealous of God. It is our will, thinking and the intellect that primarily decides. It is the appetite of the will that keep us from the moderate striving to reach our goal. We can cross the line from being the creature and the creator and try to procreate the things that belong to God. St. Paul says, that whatever we do, we do it for the name of the Lord. We do it because He directs, guides and inspires us to do it for His honor and glory and not our own We have to be void of pride and vain glory. We must not pride and delight in ourselves of any good deed that the Lord worked through us. Rather what we own and what is truly ours is our vices and sin. Beware of the wisdom of the world to have more and more. Jesus tells us to stop running after things and be anxious about them and always speaking about them. We ought to speak of the Kingdom of God first and everything will be added unto us. St. Francis warns us of practicing religion and saying beautiful words and always be concerned of how it looks like and how it shows to other people but care little about the deed. Love is what love does. Our love must be expressed in action. The spirit of the world wants the holiness that is ours to be apparent to people for a show. The interior spirit is what we should exemplify in. We must keep our eyes focused in God and do it to a certain degree. We must be patient when we suffer and things go bad. It is part of humility as well to have patience and persevere. We should keep pressing in our minds that we grow to a greater degree in our internal life when we fall in various trials and endure anguish of soul and body. St. Francis says that, what a man is before God, that he is and nothing more. How does God see us? What we are before God is the status that we need to believe and not the values of the world. We must not measure up to world’s standards and categories, live in another people’s place and be concerned of what they think of us. It is a consolation to know that we are protected by God at all times. Everything has already been given to us. If there are moments when we don’t feel like it then we must realize that it is a deception. We must accept correction and achieve a holy state of life. It is about time that we clear things up and finally see what we are missing all along. We are assured in today's gospel that we are protected from the evil one for as long as we are consecrated in truth. We should always have an attitude to shun away from the false values of this world and draw ourselves closer to nothing but the truth. May we always seek the truth, stay in it and live it in our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!

Jn 17:11b-19

...I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one...

A DAY LIKE NO OTHER

We are called to perform a priestly function. Just like Paul, we too are called for a mission. It may not be the same one as what he did and may be just a simple task that we do daily or it could be a very difficult one but what's most important is our commitment and consistency to carry it out and really offer it to God. It is in these situations when we are compelled by the Spirit to do something that challenges our faith and put it to the test. In doing so, we encounter difficulties and hardships to the point of uncertainty. In the face of adversity and in this time of great trial do we bear witness to the gospel of God's grace. No matter how tough the opposition may be around us, pressing from all sides we must not waiver nor falter. Not everyone may understand or agree with our convictions and firm stand in the small or big things that we do but what matters most is that we do it for the greater glory of God. If we really claim to be God's faithful followers and hope to be part of His great Kingdom in Heaven then we are held responsible to truly become His witnesses. The kind of life we live is our testimony and witness to Jesus Christ. Sometimes we are too focused on so many things that we tend to forget this most vital truth about our existence. St. Paul in today's 1st reading got it very clearly and fought hard for it since he said, "Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace." He also sort of gave a warning when he further said, "...I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.” It is time that we examine our way of life and make sure that we are right on track. Life on earth is not easy but we can follow St. Paul who was called by Jesus though he never had the chance to see Him in the flesh. When Jesus revealed Himself to him on the way to Damascus St. Paul lived his life like he never did before. He got converted and believed in Him. There are so many mysteries in life that we may never come to understand. We may not realize it but we are going through the same process of St. Paul in his way to Damascus, but we are too busy and preoccupied with other things we fail to see God's revelation in our lives. Sometimes we tend to wait for the extraordinary things before we can get our attention to God. These things extraordinaire are not too pleasant for us sometimes that we end up turning away from God. We only tend to see these things in our life in a very narrow and limited way. We need to abandon ourselves totally to God and allow Him to lead us. We can never find the best example in anyone or elsewhere but in Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was obedient to the Father even to his passion and death. When we see Jesus’ sufferings on the cross then we behold the Son of God and believe. Hearing and understanding things is a process and come through the cross. There is no other way than the way Jesus did. When we don’t know God’s word and Jesus then the devil can easily snatch our faith out of our hearts. It is important to study and learn about our faith. We need to see the plan of God in Jesus. Notice the difference in Matthew 8:14-15, “Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. “ And also in Matthew 13:1, “On that day, Jesus went out of the house …” Matthew 13 is all about parables of the Kingdom of God, the people did not understand Him but when He went into the house of Peter the disciples understood Him. The house of Peter signifies the Church, and outside the church there is no understanding of Jesus’ teaching. When we stand from outside of the Church and the faith there is no understanding of Jesus and the plan of God. Just imagine ourselves standing inside the Church and looking at the stained glass windows. We see the images in detail and in full color but if we are from outside the Church what we see is darkness, and kind of shadowy unable to see its full color and detail. This happens when we stand from outside of the faith. The light illuminates the window and we see clearly from inside the church and believe as it illuminates the life of Jesus. Only from within the Church can we understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God which is actually what Jesus is teaching us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 20:17-27
...But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, 23 except that in one city after another the holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. 24 Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace. 25 “But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again. 26 And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, 27 for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.”

Whether it be in the face of hardship, embarrassment, ridicule and always under the scrutiny of the self righteous judgments of other people, if we know that we've ran the race, finished to the end and fought a good fight of faith at all cost we can be assured of God's abiding presence. The Lord pours down His blessing on us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 68:10-11. 20-21
R: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
9 [10] A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; 10 [11] your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy. (R) 19 [20] Blessed day by day be the Lord, who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation. 20 [21] God is a saving God for us; the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death.

Something good is going to happen this very day. This day is a special day and is definitely not like any other. We have to believe that God has designed everything according to His wonderful plan for us. Sometimes we find ourselves led to the events and situation in our lives like we have never imagined. It was all too unbelievable that sometimes we come to this point when we almost feel like we don't know where to go and what to do. This should not wear us out and down but rather hold on to God's promise that He will fulfill in His most perfect time. In whatever situation we have in life we are called to respond to God as is where is. Sometimes we make things more difficult than it really is when we make all kinds of excuses and alibis just to get away with the fact that we already know what we're supposed to do but just don't want to do it because only we ourselves know it and nobody else. God our Father, Brother and Comforter surely speaks to the person concerned first and foremost and not to anybody else. All we have to do is just keep our communication lines with Him always open especially through prayers. Once we've known it then we can already give our commitment and full conviction to do and accomplish what God is asking of us so that we can give glory to Him. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 17:1-11a
1 Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come…I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.

WE ARE NOT ALONE

We should be asking ourselves the same question in today's 1st reading. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the special strength to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Jesus Christ, in order to confess the name of Christ boldly and never to be ashamed of the cross. And to put into word and action, the way that we live our faith. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 19:1-8
...“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”

I grew up without a father because he died when I was barely 3 years old. My nanay (mother) was the only one who practically raised us up when we were still very young then. With all that we've been through, I can never ask God for more, for He was with us every step of the way just as nanay had always said and believed when she was still living. There are still more to be thankful about and it made me realize that if we will only be focusing more on the goodness and blessings that God send our way then there is really no more reason for us to be afraid or be discouraged. There is no doubt that God will always come to our rescue and will never forsake nor abandon. The Holy Spirit is invisible but we can see its effects. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, peace, joy, kindness, goodness, patience, self control, humility and faithfulness. We should all be reflecting these fruits in our lives. We may still have a long way to go but we can start now. We need to make these effects visible by making the Holy Spirit work through our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab
R: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
...But the just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice. ...The father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling...

Upon reading today's gospel all the more did I get convinced that God knows exactly what each one of us is going through. These nice words that He said are all very reassuring and encouraging that if we will only take seriously what He is telling us everyday then we would realize that not even the PDA (public display of affection) that boyfriends and girlfriends do will ever be enough to show God how much we should appreciate and love Him. It is good to know that we can be totally attached and cling to Him without any fear of being dumped for another when a better one comes along. He is a dependable, reliable, trustworthy and faithful God. God became man and this means that He thinks the whole world of us. He would never leave nor forsake us. We need to realize always that we are never alone because we have God our Father. It's important for us to remember that we have been given the Holy Spirit. As St. John Mary Vianney puts it, it is much like a horse carriage that will lead us to heaven. But we have to allow ourselves to be carried to that place and unless we truly commit to it then we may never get there. Or a rifle that needs to be fired in order to serve its purpose, in other words we have to pull the trigger. The Spirit cries within us, Abba Father. If we sometimes feel lonely and depressed we ought to realize that the Holy Spirit rouses the hearts of the weary. Let us focus on Jesus in today's gospel when He himself knew that He will be abandoned. He said we will have trouble but we have to take courage because He has overcome the world. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 16:29-33
...Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

We may all have reached a point where we run out of answers to the questions we have. We never expected that things would sometimes turn out the way it did. If we had only known then we would have opted to do things differently. We come up with a lot of speculations as to whether things are going to get better or worse or how things should be done. Although there had been some inconsistencies and misgivings, for as long as we have already complied in everything that is possible in order to meet all the requirements then we should put our cases to rest. Despite the oppressing reality of the uncertainty of a situation we would be surprised at how we manage to still carry on with everyday life. It helps to always take notes and journal our daily walk with the Lord. In doing so it allows us to recall and remember the important reminders in life. Just like the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. When they were about to lose hope after everything they had been through from beginning to until close to the end which looked like nothing good is going to happen, Sam Witwicky still stood his ground and believed. There are times too when things start to look really bad and looking back at all of it we can borrow his words in the movie when he said, "We wouldn't have gone this long and far for nothing, I believe there is a reason and a purpose why we are here.” They say there is no such thing as coincidence only divine providence and I truly believe in this. The people we meet, the places we go to and the situations we are confronted with speak volumes of messages to us. They confirm, emphasize and make us reflect on vital issues in our life. Marvelous signs, wonders and miracles, these are only teasers of what really await us. We have to be wise and know where your loyalty lies. Come to think of how God arranges the events in our lives in a wonderful pattern that if we really take a close look and pay attention to our God we'll find out that every single thing works and happen for a wonderful reason which are all bound to work for good. It is a consolation that today's 1st reading gives us an assurance that through the power of the Holy Spirit all things are possible. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 1:1-11
...he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father...“It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”...

Sometimes we marvel at people who are able to see through the future or are able to forecast things even before they happen. I know only of one thing that there is no need for us to consult any other except God who resides in our hearts through His Spirit dwelling in us. Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascencion of the Lord. We have a God who is King and sits on His throne. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 (6)
R: God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
1 [2] All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, 2 [3] for the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth...For the king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. 8 [9] God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne...

We should hope and pray that the work that God has commissioned for each one of us to do to build up the body of Christ and to spread the good news will attain to the fulfillment of its ultimate and highest goal in making Christ known to all people. The gate of heaven has been opened through Jesus and we have gained for ourselves an access to heaven. The tomb is empty and the fullness of His glory is truly present in us all. Jesus both God and Man has taken humanity into a new intimacy with God and invites us to a communion in Jesus Christ. He is the one who ascends to heaven, something that we can not do of our own power. But He enters into the fullness of His priesthood just like what the 2nd reading tells us today. May we continue to be open and experience the awe that is characteristic of our God who never stops to inspire us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Ephesians 1,17-23.
...May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might,...

We see in today's gospel the divine power of Jesus Christ as He ascended into heaven. He is now seated in the throne at right hand of the Father. He has passed from death to another life beyond time and space after His resurrection. The risen body of Christ was not recognized immediately by Mary Magdalene and the disciples on the road to Emmaus. His appearance was different in the resurrection from His earthly presence. His humanity has entered into the glory of God. He was filled by the power of the Holy Spirit and sharing in the divine light of God's glory. He is fully present in the spiritual realm of the God the Father. Something of course that He has from the very beginning since He shares in God's full divinity. He just wanted to share this glory to us. He has entered into the glory of God to inspire us, the faithful to offer our homage and adoration. The glory of God that appears and disappears can only be discovered in the realm of faith. He is inspiring faith in each one of us. His resurrection has reached its full significance in this salvific event, His triumph and victory over sin and death. We remember that He was condemned to death for claiming that He was the Son of God. With His resurrection, He is confirmed and raised by the Father. Not raised like Lazarus who died again but He is raised never to die again. He said that when He is lifted up we would know that He is the Son of God and confirms His claim about His divinity. He has defeated sin and death. We are truly free. His resurrection is the principle and source of our resurrection. He is the source of new life for everyone and manifests our adoption as children of God. He is life itself. It is a hope that inspires faith and charity in us towards Him. He is the source of life and our future resurrection. He dwells in our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the mystery we come in contact with in the resurrection. Today in the ascension we see an even greater or another difference in the veiled glory of the risen one and that of Christ ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. Who is His Father and our Father. Remember He said to Mary "Do not touch me as I have yet not ascended to the Father." As He ascended in the clouds and into heaven we look upon the full glory of God. The clouds symbolizes the fullness of glory as we recall in the Old Testament the clouds that descends in Mt. Sinai and the Transfiguration (Lk. 9:35) in the New Testament. These speak of the fullness of glory. The resurrection and ascension, all confirm that Jesus Christ is alive. Pope Benedict says that the ascension does not imply a temporary absence in the world but rather inaugurated the new, definitive and insuppressible form of His presence by virtue of His participation in the royal power of God. We find in today's gospel that Jesus told them that all power in heaven and on earth has been given to him. This has inspired and empowered them as they became His witnesses and told the world of what He has done. In this communion with Jesus and in His power over death, to resurrect and ascend into heaven, we too have the power to proclaim what He has done for us. We all have the mission to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in whatever way we can by our actions, love and words. Jesus gives to us His Holy Spirit and He hands over to us everything that He is. Each one of us has his or her own calling and it is well to know what God is asking us to do. In whatever it is that we do we can well be assured of the truth that He will always confirm it through accompanying signs. We would know deep in our hearts whatever it is that God wants us to do. No matter how big or small the task may be God will never leave us groping in the dark and will always hold us by the hand to guide and enlighten us in the path that He wants us to take. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 16:15-20
15 Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE

The EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) Channel, Global Catholic Network has been a great help for Catholics who have been journeying in the faith. All their programs and speakers have certainly been doing their assignments and doing a great job. Those who have been following them on television and online know exactly what I am talking about and for those who have not, it's about time to see and find out for yourself. It's absolutely a great consolation that we can have access to things like these that allow us to understand and grow in our faith. We have an obligation to guard our faith and be confident in it by knowing everything there is to know. Let us not deprive ourselves of these opportunities when we get to meet, watch or hear people like Apollos in today's 1st reading who certainly know what they are preaching about. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 18:23-28
...A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the scriptures...establishing from the scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.

There is a lot more about Jesus our God that we haven't known yet. Looking back from the time of Abraham to the time when Jesus came and thereafter is just more than we all could ever handle. Every single day of our life is an opportunity to discover more and more about a God who loves us more than we'll ever come to know. I’ve been doing my daily run no matter how toxic and tiring it is at times. It was all worth it because exercise does not just benefit our health but can also become a source of enjoyment. When we get to see the beautiful view of the outdoors likr brightly colored green trees, flowers, mountain, tiny little squirrels running in the sidewalks amidst the sound of whistling birds, rustling of the leaves as the cool refreshing wind blow in our faces and spread the pleasant scent of the different plants along the way, they could create a wonderful and invigorating feeling which leaves us in awe of our God who is the Creator of all. Amen. Hallelujah!


Psalm 47:2-3. 8-9. 10
R: God is king of all the earth.
1 [2] All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, 2 [3] for the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.

The more we get to know about a person the better our relationship will be with each other. We can only develop a strong bond if we are willing to invest in a relationship. Sometimes even the years of being together and the intimacy shared are not enough to keep it intact. We have seen several relationships during our lifetime that we thought are bound to last for a lifetime but did not. Where did we go wrong? That is often the question being asked by people who thought that their relationship is for keeps. There are so many things that are not known to us like the answers to such questions that remain uncertain. We can think of numerous things that are yet to be answered at this time. We can not claim to know everything but we can always rely on someone who knows everything. He knows and sees all things. He is in perfect control and always in charge. If only we could realize this important truth that we can depend on God always. We may have experienced failed relationships despite our best efforts but with God nothing is wasted. We've got to know the power of the triangular relationship. All our relationships with anyone or anything should not just be two way but rather trio. It should form a triangle wherein each angle is connected with the other. These 3 angles comprise the I or one's self, the other person or could be a thing, situation etc. and imperatively, God. We should be able to always connect one from the other and not break the triangle. This is the triangle of life. We ought to keep it intact because not a single part of it would be able to stand without the other. Everything stays within the triangle. It may not yet be clear to us as in a figure of speech that Jesus speaks about but isn't that what faith is all about. Faith is believing in things that we hope for. Jesus in today's gospel tells us to ask from Him anything provided of course it is not evil. If we reconcile these words in the gospel and the things we long for then there is really nothing more that we ought to be truly worried about. As in Roman 8:28, "We know all things work for good for those who love God who are called according to His purpose." and in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord. Plan for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope." We look forward to the day when the beauty that surrounds us will merely become shadows in the light of God's radiant glory. Everything that seems to be a mystery will soon come to light and eventually be revealed to us. We may not be able to fully understand and appreciate the things that are happening in our lives right now but we should continue to hold on to God's word and promises trusting that He will make all things beautiful in His time. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 16:23b-28
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 24 Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25 “I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father…

LOCK & KEY

When I went running last night, I felt so light and vibrant unlike the previous day when I felt so sluggish and lazy. It was like I was ready to run miles and go anywhere without feeling tired. Another surprise and amusing thing happened when I just found myself running in a different direction and did not take my usual route. The reason I did this is because I was intimidated by a warning of this person who said not to let the dogs chase me. I got somehow affected by the comment that I decided to run in the opposite direction. This action was primarily influenced by the fact that I am always almost attacked and bitten by a dog. The thought of something like that happening made me change my route without realizing that I would end up in a much scarier path. This part of the road where I ended up running does not have any lights on and looked abandoned and bushy. I must say it looks even more frightening since it has started to get dark. Sometimes when we give in to fear we end up in a much worse situation than we actually are. I have said this because of these series of events happening one after another. We must not let our fear incapacitate us. There is always a chance that we would stumble on something that scares us. We can’t help it when we get scared but we must keep in mind that there is no reason to be afraid. We should not have doubts that God wants us to have the good things in life especially when I found out what the 1st reading is telling us today. All the more I am convinced that there is a reason for everything. Isn't it amazing, how God makes things fall into place and fit into a lock and key combination. It is a consolation to know that God got us covered. If we have truly dedicated and offered every aspect in our life to God then we can be assured that nothing can harm us. Although we encounter problems and difficulties in life and become afraid of the circumstances that surround us we can always choose to rejoice in the Lord knowing that He is able to defeat all the works of the enemy and has already won for us our victory. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 18:9-18
9 One night in a vision the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you,...

There are lots of insights and opinions that could be brought up and help pave the way for a broader understanding of God's word. Different points of view and personal observations could be raised which could make us realize that when looked at the specific angle where the person who said it was coming from can never be judged as wrong. We all have this personal differences and unique characteristics but what's most important is that we recognize our inadequacies that even if we fail to fully embody the infinite wisdom and intelligence of God and just reflect a tiny bit but when put together under the lordship of God our King can amount to some thing really inspiring and great. When we contribute to the wholeness of God's people and become one then indeed, we are the body of the Church and the temple of God where God reigns as the Head and King. We have a wonderful God worthy of all praise. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 47:2-3. 4-5. 6-7
R: God is king of all the earth.
1 [2] All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, 2 [3] for the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.

As we gradually become assimilated in the body of Christ, truly become the Church of God and the living temple, we emerge as fully built, restored and nothing can ever take away nor destroy the sanctuary of God that lives in the depths of our hearts. As that time comes when we become one with God and all things have come to light then we fulfill in our lives the words that Jesus said in today's gospel. If for any reason you are lonely and sad then you should rejoice and be glad. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 16:20-23
...But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 23 On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

STRONG HEARTS

Nothing seemed to stop or discourage Paul. He continued with his mission against all odds. The Lord has already planted the seed in his heart and he has chosen to nurture and let it grow. If only we could get ourselves to acquire his fervor and zeal to spread the word of God then we could very well be assured of making this present world of ours a better place to live and the best place in the company of God with all the angels and saints in the world to come. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 18:1-8
...Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. 6 When they opposed him and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your heads! I am clear of responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”...

Let us take our stand and know that God's grace is sufficient for us. We will not be put to the test beyond our strength. Things are bound to get better for as long as we hold on to God's promises. Today's psalm, kind of remind me of this preaching about this wise man from the East in the Old Testament (OT), he is a prophet named Balaam and served an evil and wicked king. King Balak wanted Balaam to exact a curse upon Israel but from his mouth came forth a blessing. He prophesied in Numbers 24:15,18 that there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel who will dispossess Edom. A star and a scepter signifies kingship. In parallel, it was also the 3 wise men in the New Testament (NT) during the time of King Herod an Edomite who were looking for a star that would direct them to the newborn King of Israel, Jesus. He is truly our King and the fulfillment of God's promise. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
...He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel...

The Lord has spoken and His words are everlasting. What He has promised to do is sure to happen. In today’s gospel we remember the heart of Mary pierced by a sword as prophesied by Simeon. A heart full of sorrow but was turned into joy. We look to Mary and follow her example. The pain that she experienced is something that is more than any woman could endure. At the time when the Angel Gabriel announced to her that she will bear Jesus, the Son of God she just surrendered her will to God. It was not an easy decision for her at that time but she trusted God completely. She may not have understood everything but she entered into that deep trust in God and believed. It was a decision not merely based on some vague feeling or a pleasant emotion that makes people good when times are good. Thus the title "Seat of Wisdom" perfectly fits her. Our Lady not only does the normal part of loving. She is filled by the love of her Son that is given to her in very extraordinary circumstances. Not by a normal birth and conception before marriage. She conceived in her womb the Son of God and with that conception is a God sent promise. Her motherhood goes beyond the normal sufferings that any mother experiences. She traveled to Bethlehem in her pregnancy, was refused of a place to stay and gave birth in a manger. She had to give up a home and went into exile in Egypt. She continues to believe in that Son of hers, the Son of God as He perplexed her, in the finding of Jesus in the temple and when she heard the words of Simeon in the Presentation,"...a sword will pierce your heart..." In the wedding in Cana, she said, "Do whatever He tells you". She stored and kept it in her heart although she did not understand everything. She loved and continued to believe until she saw and heard the mocking words addressed to her Son during the scourging and the crowning with thorns until she stood at the foot of the cross. That was not what's in her mind when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her to inherit the throne of King David. At the foot of the cross she was given a sad substitute in St. John when told, "Mother, behold your son" She accepts that and enters into an experience of charity and suffering. Normally a person would fight back to those who hurt our children. It is a normal reaction if we see others harm our child. Jesus truly became flesh in the womb of Mary. We have to take the reality of the choice that Mary made, the reality of the incarnation. What we need is true devotion to Mary that brings us close to God. We look through the gospel and see the dividing line whether we accept or reject it. We have to recreate and enter into that Incarnation without over spiritualizing or rejecting it which brings us away from God. Some Catholics has the temptation of being accustomed like the people of Nazareth. They grew up with Jesus and Mary as part of their environment but never live it seriously. Sometimes we become overly familiar. We become horrible hypocrites. Our devotion to Mary turns out to be a skirt where we can hide in. We claim to be on a pilgrimage with Mary but it makes no impact in our lives. We never understand the suffering of Christ. We misuse the scapular but continue to live our sinful behavior. The scapular should be worn as if we are putting on the yoke of Christ. The externals of this devotion become a block when we fail to understand and live the charity that Mary did. Let us be careful that everything we do is not just superficial. We have to enter into the love of Mary in which she felt the love of Jesus in what He did for us to redeem us. Bring us to a deeper love of Christ our Lord and look at Jesus through her perspective and love. Let us follow the example of Mary, from that joyful moment of the annunciation as she fulfilled the promise of God to the throne of King David to the sorrowful sight of her only Son as she stood at foot of the cross and ultimately to the glorious resurrection. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 16:16-20
...Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

THE LANGUAGE OF GOD

Paul in today's 1st reading introduces Jesus to the Greeks. He hoped to lead them to Christ as he tried to unfold the powerful mystery of Christian life. He wanted so much for all of us to see God's movement in our lives. We may be living in a material world but we ought to see beyond and grasp the spiritual as well. Life is a mystery that we have to decode it properly. It may sound like we need to borrow the skills of Alfred Hitchcock in order to solve a mystery. In Theology they call it mystagogy which means guidance into the mysteries. According to Dr. Scott Hahn, a speaker in the EWTN program entitled, "Signs of Life" our entire human body is a sacrament of the person. Our eyes, smiles, words and actions tell something about us. God calls us now to something infinitely greater. It may be complex at one level but simple at another. It could be much like the 4 seasons that each represents a distinct and particular circumstance or feature. There is a time for everything. Although, I don't like winter, it is given that here in the US there are 4 seasons, and I can't do anything about it. I'll just have to live with it, and you know what, I've learned something from it, the same time I've learned something from Lenten season to Easter season. That there are some things in our life we have to go through or battle with or whatever we choose to do that we have to accept. Whether we like it or not there are certain seasons that we need to pass through. Jesus died and was crucified but He has certainly resurrected. All we have to do is entrust everything to the Lord. Just like Jesus we have to go through our own crucifixions and deaths but it is also certain that we will also have our resurrections. It's so hard to imagine this while we are going through some trials but one thing is sure, God will always be the same powerful God, it doesn't change the fact that we have a victorious God. Everything points to the meaning of Jesus Christ in our life. God made us material beings but we have to recognize that we too are embodied souls. Sometimes we get stuck in the material aspect and fail to advance into the spiritual. God uses sensible signs to lead us to spiritual realities from the visible to the invisible, earthly to heavenly, temporal to eternal and human to divine. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 17:15, 22-18:1
...‘To an Unknown God.’ What therefore you unknowingly worship, I pro claim to you. 24 The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything. 26 He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, 27 so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us. For 'In him we live and move and have our being,' as even some of your poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.' Since therefore we are the offspring of God,...

There is no conflict between faith and reason. There is no divide or arch rivalry between Church and Science. In fact, they imply a real need for each other. It's either we don't know our Science or we don't know our faith. It is overwhelming to know this information about the Human Genome Project. It is comprised of 2,000 scientists who worked to identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA and determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make it up. The project was completed in 2003 but analyses of the data will continue for many years. The philosophical implication of real science is so huge we can only conclude one thing, it is the language of God. We can benefit a lot from Science through good research that are producing cures rather than do something that is totally wrong. The scientists could sometimes cross the line. There is nothing wrong about being dedicated to the work that one does but there is a need to be passionate to the truth rather than in the political sense. This must not be contingent to any person or circumstance. Our faith calls us to goodness and we must play our part well. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
R: Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
...his majesty is above earth and heaven. (R) 14 He has lifted up the horn of his people. Be this his praise from all his faithful ones, from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia.

Our knowledge of God comes in stages. We must all start now in our efforts to cultivate and nourish the love of God in our hearts so that a time will come when we can all understand God's word for what it really means. Whatever we're going through right now just consider it as preparation. Jesus said in yesterday's gospel that it is better for Him to go so that the Holy Spirit can come. Jesus meant for the Holy Spirit to come so that all men all over the entire planet can be reached being in the form of Spirit. This is the idea of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Jesus as a human being is limited by time and space unlike the Holy Spirit which is not bound by time and space. This explanation may not sound like a very brilliant idea and could just be a very minor reason out of the so many more relevant ones we can come up with regards to the Spirit of truth. It is just like the so many things in our life that we are unable to understand fully at a certain point in our life and even now at the present moment but in His perfect time we can all be assured that we will all be guided accordingly as God has intended it to be. God knows the limitations of our being and would always deal with all of us with compassion and wisdom in accordance to His All-Knowing nature. If we continuously seek God's will in our lives then we are sure to find it and God will not withhold it from us. Jesus in today's gospel is preparing and orienting His disciples for the work of the Holy Spirit. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. There is no question on the part of the Holy Spirit in carrying out the work and having it done. The Holy Spirit is like an artist. A Master Sculptor can work on a hard substance like marble or clay which is malleable. Marble is a hard substance and very difficult to work with. It is chiseled and chipped away in order to form the image. On the other hand, clay is soft, easily shaped and formed. We could choose to be the marble or the clay. The Holy Spirit is the constant and we are the variable. The Holy Spirit can have it done in any way but it is just harder on us if we are not receptive to it. Chipping away is painful. If only we could just be the clay but for some of us, it just doesn't come that easy. Let's take Peter and Judas as an example. They do not differ in a lot of ways. Peter was a very rough man, just imagine a person taking hold of a sword and chipping away the ear of a Roman soldier. He also denied Jesus 3x. The only difference is that Peter did not sin against the Holy Spirit unlike Judas who fell into despair after betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of gold. Judas sinned against the Holy Spirit for imagining that his sins are bigger than God's love and mercy. To lose hope in a loving God is unforgivable. Mary teaches us about this hope in the best way possible. She is not the Spouse of the Holy Spirit for nothing. Mary wants us to be like her Son so that the Father can recognize us. When we have Mary and the Holy Spirit then we have Jesus. It's what really happened from the very beginning (Luke 1:35) and what will happen to us when we are open to the Holy Spirit. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 16:12-15
12 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. 13 But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming...