TAKE IT PERSONALLY

I bet all of us would like the idea of having to make the right decisions in life. Sometimes we are confronted with so many confusing things that we are no longer sure of what to do. These can be avoided if we are always consulting God in prayer which endows divine assistance. It comes in the form of signal graces which are signs sent by God to help us in our life making decisions. It is not just signs but also divine assistance with all aspects of our life. In view of this I would like to share the 15 promises of Mary to Christians who recite the Rosary. (Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche) Our favorite promise is #1 on the list - Signal Graces!

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3. The Rosary will be a powerful armor against hell. It will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.

4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5. Those who recommend themselves to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.

6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death, the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

12. All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only son, Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

This can also be found in the Pieta Prayer Book with an Imprimatur: Patrick J. Hayes, D.D., Archbishop of New York

If everyone knew about these promises, more people would be praying the rosary. Just like in today's 1st reading when they prayed altogether with Mary, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 1:12-14

...All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Brothers and sisters, if we are confident that we are where we are supposed to be and the Lord allowed things to happen in our life the way they are happening right now then we should be still and know that God is in control. We need to understand the mysteries of our faith in order to appreciate it better. We have to go near as much as possible to the Word of God and experience it come to life and see His glory shining on us. As we go near Him we see his face and feel His love. We always have hope in the Lord who knows what's best for each one of us. There should be no doubt in our minds that He answers prayers. All we have to do is call on the Lord, trust that He hears the sound of our call and wait for Him with courage. When we get carried away by all the commotion there is a tendency that we neglect the essential and most central issue which is to always believe that we shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. There is really nothing that we should worry about if we always hold in our hearts the truth about Jesus. There may be times when we encounter disappointments and setbacks in life but this doesn't mean that God has stopped becoming the Loving God that He is, who suffered His only Begotten Son to die on the cross for our sake. Our focus should be on the truth of this love and everything that it stands for. This reminded me of a mini play staged in EWTN of a passenger waiting to be boarded on the airplane. He was the 1st and only person in the boarding area waiting patiently for his seat reservation to be called. He got surprised when someone came along and hardly ever waited when his seat number was called. He felt somehow annoyed at the idea of someone who just came and did not wait but got on the plane first although he managed to stop himself from making a scene. A lady with her young child also came and looked very excited to board the plane but he tried to warn them not to keep their hopes up too much because it would definitely take time and said that he had been waiting for a long time and came early but his number had not been called yet. To his surprise their numbers were called and happily boarded while he was once again left behind. He simply couldn't stand it anymore when a pleasant young lady came with all smiles on her face and speaking of how excited she is to board an airplane for the first time. The company of this nice lady kept her impatience at bay. She advised him to stop thinking about how the others were able to get there quickly but rather think of the joy he would have once he gets there. She assured him to just relax and make the most of his time because he has a reservation and a ticket all he needs to do is just wait. He did exactly just that and found himself at peace until the time his number was called. The same thing happens to the best of us when we are confronted with a tedious and exasperating process of waiting. We tend to lose our peace and joy and succumb to worry and doubt. If we are holding on to something that was assured to us by a trustworthy and reliable source we can put our worries to rest. Although sometimes anxiety can still find its way to our hearts and forget on whom our confidence lies.  If we remain in the Lord and put our trust in Him then there is nothing we should worry about. In life, there are 4 things which are 1. sin 2. grace 3. forgiveness 4. reconciliation that we could all learn a lot from. The 1st 3 are all a reality but #4 is only a possibility. Reconciliation calls us to true conversion. An example that fits this is a snake and caterpillar since both of them undergoes conversion. The snake sheds off its old skin but comes out the same while the caterpillar emerges into a butterfly. We have to ponder and think about setting our goals high, keeping our thoughts positive and coming up with new solutions. There is no room for fear for He is consistent to His nature as God. Let us strive to become the child He has meant us to be. Another thing we could learn something about is a puzzle. I am one person who never even thought of working on a jigsaw puzzle. I am not the type of person who would bother to even buy one. It just happened that when I was in Japan and saw all sorts of things which are being sold in a bazaar, I ended up buying one for no reason at all. In fact it took years before I finally opened it and put the puzzle together. That was when I actually experienced how to do it. It takes patience and perseverance to do it especially with the complicated puzzles. Sometimes in life we just back out and give up when things become complicated and when we do, we fail to witness the bounty of the Lord. As psalm today tells us, we've got to wait with courage and be stout hearted. We should all long for the day when we will have 100% confidence level in all our decisions for God. When the time comes it will totally remove all forms of anxiety and fear and incline ourselves to Him at all times. It should be our ultimate desire and nothing else, to always be in the presence of the Lord. To abide in Him at all times even when things are not very good. I could never forget and would always remember those times when I used to pick figs at Sis Loreta's garden. It was then that a thought came to my mind while I was climbing a ladder in order to get the figs in hard to reach places. Despite the fact that I was already on top of the ladder there were still some figs that I was not able to see and pick up right away although it was already right in front of me. They are being covered by the leaves of the tree and some are hidden in between branches. I just realized that it could be compared to how God showers us with all the blessings and graces that we need. There are times when we fail to see it though it is already right in front of us. Sometimes we have to really look very closely and try to turn our gaze into different angles in order to see it. What's funny was that when I thought that I've got almost every ripe fig in the tree, I noticed one big ripe fruit at the lowest part of the tree, there was even no need to use a ladder in order to get it. Sometimes in life we resort to a lot of means that are sometimes no longer necessary. All we have to do is believe that we will see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living if we will just be patient and full of courage. We ought to realize that if we wait on the Lord patiently and persevere long enough we will never be disappointed for He alone is our light and salvation. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

R: I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 4 One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple. (R) Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. R

The body does not think that everything goes. Behaviors can cause physical and mental health problems. The blessing of our church is that we have such good wisdom when it comes to guidance around sexuality and that wisdom is validated by scientific evidence. We don’t need science to prove our faith but to those who tend to say that our faith is outdated and antiquated then they are wrong about that. Science is absolutely on the Church’s side. There is great wisdom in the faith about sexuality and good guidance. Sometimes people don’t know what the church teaches. What exactly does the church teach is acceptable in marriage.  This is perhaps caused by the cultural idea that anything goes, they are wrong, whether they accept the faith or not, there are some physical and mental health consequences to some behaviors. Any habit can become a compulsion. The problem is that the culture encourages to move from disappointment to resentment. When we become full of self pity and resentment we want to escape that pain, the emotional pain is unbearable and that’s when people move into something for comfort to escape pain and to increase pleasure. The culture offers all kinds of ideas for comfort and pain escaping. Those become habits simply to deal with the pain created by resentment and self pity. Once a habit limits the freedom of human desire like an addiction then it blocks grace. Let’s say you eat a particular kind of food  every night and then someone offered you something very special but you don’t want it. You just want what you are accustomed to. It is very typical in people who could not receive love in the way it is offered because their habit has become a compulsion. A compulsion means a person could not stop even if they want to, like “I do that which I don’t want to do.” It’s really about slavery and no longer having that freedom of human desire. There are all kinds of ways people try to stop. The only way is simply to stop. Once you stop there’s an enormous amount of pain that you must know how to deal with. At the core of an addiction is a wounded heart, a malady of the heart. We are people with legitimate needs (physical and emotional) and someone responds. When a baby cries, every drop of comfort and love is not received. The addiction, compulsions and obsessions are blocking the ability to receive that love and comfort that we need. Sometimes somebody settles down because somebody cares and listens. We can not give love until we properly receive it. All therapy starts with a change of thought. We claim the truth that God the Father gave us value, there’s nothing we do that will make us less or taint it. Separate our value from our behavior. Until we change our thoughts we can not remove our compulsions. Compulsions lead to addiction.  Jesus loves us and knows already our bad behavior. We have to claim the truth that God loves us in spite of our bad behavior.  

1 Peter 4:13-16

Beloved: Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. If you are insulted for the name of  Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer. But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name.

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.

INVISIBLE FORCE

During our lifetime we encounter people, situations and circumstances that one way or another influence, impact and sometimes unavoidably leave a mark in our life. It's a good thing if they benefit us in a positive way but sometimes there are some that create a negative impact on us and become prisoners of these things or worse disabled and left crippled with it for life. Today's 1st reading tells us that the Lord has removed the judgment against us and we have no more misfortune to fear. Let us claim this for ourselves no matter what we've been through and really feel the Lord's presence in our life by making Him King. Therefore if the Lord said so then we can definitely rely on His word. 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 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. She 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. Amen. Hallelujah!

Zephaniah 3:14-18a

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.

Today’s psalm remind me of my experience at the Yosemite Waterfalls Park. Being there is like being in touch with God in an awesome and inspiring way. On our way going there we were already excited to take pictures of the vast mountains and waterfalls that we saw. And when we finally got there we were able to take a closer and longer look at the surrounding view and the waterfalls.  The tall trees that lined the road are all towering above us. I almost got stiff necked due to several twists and turns I did as I grew excited looking at what was before me not wanting to miss a single thing. The big rocks made us look like ants. When we finally reached the foot of the gigantic waterfalls that almost got us all wet due to the deafening and strong impact of the water that fell on the ground that was when I really got amazed at this marvelous creation of God. It is considered as the tallest waterfalls in the US and ranks 5th in the whole world.  Whew! As I watched the water crashed down hard on the ground coming all the way from up on the mountain a thought came into my mind. If we truly believe that God is our Savior then we should have no more room for fear and doubt. Our weaknesses are born from it and rather than give in to it we must cultivate in ourselves the strength and courage coming from the Lord. We have a Great and Holy God which is enough reason to cry out with joy and gladness.  We have already been given access to the fountain of life, let us choose to approach it and draw water from it with joy and live. A prayer that I got from an e mail really caught my attention. It has personally touched my heart when I came upon this prayer and decided to write it down in a notebook so that it can always come in handy whenever I need an inspiration. This is the prayer: "None goes to the river early in the morning and brings dirty water. As you are up this morning may your life be clean, calm and clear like the early morning water. May the grace of the Almighty support, sustain and supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Amen."  The psalm reading today reminds me of it because it somehow speaks of the same message conveyed in the prayer. 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. I remember this friend who kept on saying that she enjoyed every single thing she did   that day. She went to a children's party and enjoyed everything about it from the company of friends who were with her, the delicious food that she ate and the activities and games that brought so much fun to everyone. It didn't stop there because after the party she proceeded to attend mass and was surprised with a party for all in the Church. She kept on saying and repeating these words to me, "ang saya saya" in English "it was so much fun" This is why I am reminded of her upon reading today's psalm. We should realize that our situations no matter what it is should always create in us an atmosphere of "ang saya saya" You know why? It's not because we are out of our minds, it is because we have a Great and Holy God which is enough reason to cry out with joy and gladness. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

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. (R) 4 Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. (R) 5 Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth...

 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

The gospel also speaks of the child bearing of St. Elizabeth that was called barren and somehow it can be compared to becoming fruitful for the Lord. It challenges us to give birth to a blessing from out of nothing and trust the Lord's power to do it. Today's gospel in particular contains the Magnificat which has become a famous prayer and song for most Catholics. The Magnificat (Latin: [My soul] magnifies) — also known as the Song of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung (or spoken) liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the 8 most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn. The text of the canticle is taken directly from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:46-55) where it is spoken by the Virgin Mary upon the occasion of her Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. In the narrative, after Mary greets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with the future John the Baptist, the child moves within Elizabeth's womb. When Elizabeth praises Mary for her faith, Mary sings the Magnificat in response. The canticle echoes several Old Testament biblical passages, but the most pronounced allusions are to the Song of Hannah, from the Books of Samuel (1Samuel 2:1-10) Not many of us know that these words of Mary are taken from the very prayer of Hannah in the Old Testament. Even Mary, the Mother of God studied scriptures and used it to form part of her prayer. She was also knowledgeable of these holy men and women who lived way back in the Old Testament. If not she would not have used in the Magnificat the same words that Hannah prayed. Haven't we thought of it yet? We are better off in a way that we do not have just the Old Testament as guide for our daily living but the richness and fullness of the New Testament where everything is fulfilled. We are reminded not to forget to acknowledge the goodness of God in our lives. Sometimes we have a tendency to overlook or neglect this important thing of acknowledgement. This reminds me of a terrible mistake I did in the past. I had my thesis manuscript printed and bounded but forgot to include the acknowledgement page. When my adviser knew about it he kidded me by saying, "Thanks to I, me and myself." It's really important that we acknowledge people for what they did to us or most importantly God for that matter whom we owe everything. On top of that, the readings for today point to it as something we need to do and not overlook as demonstrated by these 2 popular and well loved personalities of faith. Mary's way of acknowledging the greatness of God is evident in the gospel today. Hannah and Mary both echo in their songs their deep gratitude for God. We, too in our own right can claim ownership to the Magnificat if we will only follow the example of a perfect response to God's blessing and call of these 2 women. We must proclaim the goodness of the Lord for all the good things He has done and for everything that comes our way. Just like them we should develop an attitude of complete trust in the Lord and reflect in our lives the gratitude we have in our hearts no matter what situation we are in. We can surely learn from their example and start developing in ourselves this sense of gratitude and acknowledgement to whom it is really due. Amen. Hallelujah!

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.

LOCK & KEY

Whenever I go running, there will be times when I feel so light and vibrant unlike some days when I feel so sluggish and lazy. It was like I was ready to run miles and go anywhere without feeling tired. There was a time when I just found myself running in a different direction and did not take the 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 did not have any lights on and looked abandoned and bushy. I must say it looked even more frightening since it had 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 I experienced that happened 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,...

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 through the sacramental life of the Church. 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. 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. We all belong to the Creator of this world where we live, the God Most High. There is no other greater dignity than this to be sons and daughters of God who is King of kings, Lord of lords and Almighty God who is with us. 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 like 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.  We just might find ourselves singing this song.

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom

Who can fathom the depth of Your love

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty enthroned above

Chorus:

And I stand (I stand) I stand (I stand) in awe of You

I stand (I stand) I stand (I stand) in awe of You

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you

Repeat Chorus

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you

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.

We all 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  that He will make all things beautiful in His time. 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. We look forward to the time 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.” 

WANNA SEE YOUR FUTURE?

There was this sharing in Didache entitled, "In His time" and it just hit me straight in the heart. Just like this lady who wrote it, I am in a period of waiting and significantly enough is on my 7th year. She said in her sharing, "I opted to “wait for further instructions” and accepted a part-time job in a nearby school in the meantime. Three years later, I was invited to serve in the Basic Ecclesial Community of that parish. It turned out to be a much bigger job than any ministry I could have started on my own. I heard the Lord correctly three years earlier but it was only prophetic. It was not yet His time. I’m glad I chose to “remain in the city” — working only in the vicinity and ready to be uprooted anytime. So when He called, I was available."

In Oct. 7 2007, I too heard the Lord's message through Habakkuk 2:2-3 “Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the

tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.”. 

I am now on my 7th year of waiting and still counting that is why when I read this sharing and today's 1st reading it all just connected. They say there is no such thing as coincidence only divine providence and I truly believe in this. 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 our 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.  I can still remember during the writing phase of my MS thesis way back in 2002 when I was told by my adviser after finishing the manuscript that I still have to include the statistical treatment for my experimental data. I was so confident already that statistical data is no longer needed for my experiment since I thought it is not applicable to microorganisms. I have done so many experimental tests already and thought that my work can obviously stand alone without it. I was wrong, I did need it and I was surprised at how the statistician applied several tests and proved without reasonable doubt that all my results were significant and with a high confidence level. Without it my thesis from my own point of view is in itself sufficient but it has to satisfy all requirements in order for me to successfully defend it. 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 of the Apostles 1,1-11.

He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak;...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. 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 through the sacramental life of the Church. 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. 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. We all belong to the Creator of this world where we live, the God Most High. There is no other greater dignity than this to be sons and daughters of God who is King of kings, Lord of lords and Almighty God who is with us. 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 like 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.  We just might find ourselves singing this song.

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom

Who can fathom the depth of Your love

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty enthroned above

Chorus:

And I stand (I stand) I stand (I stand) in awe of You

I stand (I stand) I stand (I stand) in awe of You

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you

Repeat Chorus

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you

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.

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. For God can satisfy all aspect of our lives, it is no longer a question of faith. In all these things, to God be the glory!

Amen. Hallelujah!

Letter to the 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. 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!

Matthew 28:16-20
16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped, but they doubted. 18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age .”

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. As the scripture says, no servant is greater than his master. We don’t expect to escape scar free. If Jesus did it so must we in our own personal way. 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.  The moment we wake up we should already give thanks to God who made all things possible. His power and might are limitless and we are all subject under His dominion. Nothing escapes the knowledge of God and everything came to be because He is God and always in total control of things. Which reminds me of the e mail I received several years ago of a picture of a pick-up travelling 75mph in Flagstaff, AZ on US Highway 100 and was said to broke through the guardrail but miraculously and safely landed on the edge of a very high ravine. Anyone who could have seen it would definitely be amazed at how it happened. It even said this at the end of the email: If this guy didn't believe in God BEFORE, do you suppose he believes now? Let this be a reminder to all of us, GOD is in control! 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. According to the Holy Father there is a danger that faith without reason would end up in fanaticism and reason without faith to paganism. If one is without the other a person would eventually fall into desperation. Faith purifies reason. Through faith we are united with, a real sharing of the life of Christ in contact with God, over come temptations and have His life within us. Finding the truth is not so hard but running away from the truth once we found it. Human intelligence is limited. Church does not condemn technology and science. It is open to discovery and corrections that would lead us to knowledge through faith and reason and to joy and peace that the world can not give. It is reasonable to believe in God. The miracles of Christ and the prophecies foretold have entered into several thousand years and still stand to this very day.  When we meet people that we like we long to be in their company and start to develop a bond with them. The more we know them and spend time with them the better our relationship becomes. Each day is a revelation of God's wonders and miracles most especially with the enjoyment and fun coupled with love that everyone experiences in the company of our loved ones, relatives and friends. God knows all our concerns and listens to our sighs and pleas. Today's psalm reveals to us the perfect location where we should be at in order to attain to such a relationship. Anywhere close to God. 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...

THE ADVOCATE & COMFORTER

Unlike any other super hero that we've seen on TV, we don't have to shout Darna or Captain Barbell. We have tremendous power in our hands, great enough to cause an earthquake, open prison doors and unlock chains binding us. The 1st reading today is proof that there is power in praying and singing hymns to God. Although we do not see these things happen everyday we should always nurture this kind of attitude and disposition that every time we pray and sing to God something amazing and awe inspiring happens. The Holy Spirit dwells in us, manifests in several very unique but personal ways and never leaves us alone. No matter how trapped and imprisoned we may be feeling at the moment just like Paul and Silas, God is able to set us free. It reminds me of the broadcast of The Journey Home in the EWTN Channel about Blessed Dominic Barberi. His story was very much like what happened to Paul and Silas. He was already drafted in the military under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte to be sent to Russia but his number was not called. He was spared of a certain death. It was narrated how things happened one after the other which eventually led to his becoming a Passionist priest. He was also instrumental to the conversion of John Henry Cardinal Newman. Today's 1st reading speaks of an almost similar story when the jailer and his household were baptized and converted to God. If we are to take heed of God's power moving across the world and ultimately in our lives, we'll find that we are truly blessed for the countless times God has demonstrated His awesome love for all of us. No one can ever deny this truth. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 16:22-34

...Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, 26 there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew [his] sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” 29 He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” 32 So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. 33 He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. 34 He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.

I could never forget the experience when we were in that very hazardous place in Crestline without any idea where we were going. I am thankful for the lesson learned from it. All we have to do is completely trust Him that in His goodness and mercy will show us His saving power and grace. If there's one thing for sure, that is the truth that God knows everything we are going through and He will not withhold the help that we need from Him in His most appropriate and best time, place and situation. All we need to do is just give our trust completely to Him who will complete what he has done for us and would not forsake the work of His hands. Just constantly pray and sing out our praises to God to unleash the power within us. We can always count on God at all times in all circumstances. Let us not stall any longer and finally respond to His call without any reservation. We should entrust all our cares and concerns to the Lord and be assured that He is true to His promise and will fulfill it. Our God is faithful and He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it in all of us. God never fails in sending us people, circumstances and situations that always build up strength in us. I have always believed in angels even before I got the miracle petal with a cherubim’s image. I can still remember and will never forget how my mother used to narrate to us how I was miraculously saved by my angel several times. First was when I was still less than 2 months old and fell from a height of 2-3 ft countertop when the nanny after giving me a bath left me for only a second to get something and upon returning found me already unconscious and lying on the hard, ceramic tiled floor. I was rushed to the doctor but he told them that if I fail to regain consciousness within an hour then he said I could die. To everybody's surprise I started to cry even before the time is up. Another one was when I was barely 2 yrs old when I almost got hit by a speeding jeepney. My parent's house is right beside my grandparent's house which is right in front of the school where my mother used to teach. She said she was standing in the center of the stage of the school that was why she had a good view of the things around her even the terrace of my grandparent's house so she was shocked when she saw me there alone running very fast heading toward the open gate while a speeding jeepney was coming and looked as if I would really get hit and it would be too late even if somebody was there to stop me. She was already screaming from afar together with the other teachers who saw it and was trying to call the attention of the driver but to no avail for he didn't even slow down because their screams were muffled by the loud engine of the jeep.  It was just a miracle that the moment I stepped on the side of the road she said that I suddenly stopped and stood very still as if someone was holding me back. She said it was my guardian angel that held me and prevented me from getting hit by the jeep.  I don't remember personally any of those experiences it was only through my mother's stories that I came to know about them. But when I was older like in 4th grade I could already remember how I was spared again from being hurt seriously when the fluorescent lamp right on top of my head fell on my desk a split second after I stood up and left my chair.  My classmates were really shocked and were hovering around me and told me that it was really close. There is no doubt, angels are obviously at work. Today God assures us that we can always stand secure for as long as we remain united to Him through the aid of His Holy angels and saints. There is no doubt that we should sing the praises of the Lord in the sight of the angels. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

R: Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

1 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;...for you have made great above all things your name and your promise... The LORD will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands...

We used to go for a walk at Schabarum Park before whenever we had the chance. In one of our leisure walk at the park, Sis Rose told us that when her husband died and left her alone that was when she really missed him and felt an intense longing that she never felt when they were still together. Although it was difficult that time and was full of uncertainties even before his husband died she was already praying to God for help and through prayers she was able to overcome it. In today's gospel we are being told by Jesus that it is better for Him to go so that the Holy Spirit will come. In our everyday life we encounter similar experiences when we have to be separated from our loved ones. It has surely caused us so much grief and pain. Even when we’ve prayed and tried to work things out so that we could resolve our situation nothing seems to be happening. There is this feeling of entrapment and inability to do anything about a particular situation. The only thing that gives us hope is the assurance of God that whatever it is that we are going through we must consider as preparation. The same thing that happened with the family of the jailer in today's 1st reading we should continue to hope that we will all soon be rejoicing altogether. We should believe and know that God is true to His promise. When Jesus left this world more than 2000 years ago, He sent an Advocate, God the Holy Spirit to always be with us. From then on God has never left us a single moment for He dwells in us. During these times of sorrow the Holy Spirit is always with us to light, guard, rule and guide us every step of the way, and will never leave us alone. The truth is, things happen not just for the better but for the best. The Lord has been telling us for several days already in the gospel of His love and today He assures us of the Holy Spirit being our Advocate to defend and guard us. We should rejoice in this truth. At the same time we should understand that the Holy Spirit resides inside the courtroom of our consciences. He is there to illumine our actions, to show us where we sin so that by faith in Him we can be redeemed and be saved. It is the work of God that we believe in Him, convict us of our wrong doings and turn away from our sins. We must believe and not follow the cynicism of the agnostics just like what Pilate did and the betrayal of Judas. These are the things that bring us condemnation. The Roman Empire and the Nazis collapsed because of its own corruption and evil schemes of self destruction. These are evidences of their being condemned. We must be open to the way the Holy Spirit is acting on us and working inside our own conscience. But we have to also act on our own. We have to believe and allow ourselves to live in Christ and His redemption.  Reject the glamour of evil no matter how attractive it may seem as the world presents it. We have to accept the faith in Jesus. This is the choice that has already been won and what our Lord Jesus is asking us to make. Amen. Hallelujah!

 

John 16:5-11

5 Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: 9 sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”

L and O

There are key words in today's 1st reading that we could definitely benefit a lot from. These are words we could use for our own welfare so that we, like Lydia could enjoy the presence of God in our life. These words start with L and O. It's easy to figure it out. All it takes is to make a conscious and committed effort to really listen and open ourselves to God. Although it may not be as easy as it may seem to be or else there would no longer be any struggles on our part.  But we know for a fact that when we Listen and Open our hearts to the Lord the consequences of these actions are unimaginable and endless. If we follow what happened to Lydia it was not just herself but her household as well who turned to God. Let's just give it our best shot and see for ourselves. We have nothing to fear as long as we are always worshiping and listening for God can see through our hearts. I am filled with joy whenever I am reminded of the time when my son Jude told me that he is the highest in their Statistic class. He was in his 3rd year Chemical Engineering at De LaSalle University in Taft Ave, Manila at that time. This incident I have inevitably connected to the time when my son Jude was still very young, I guess 5 or 6 yrs old and used to bring them along in our office during our parties. We had this boss whose name happened to be Lydia and her favorite color is purple. It is so timely that the name of the person from today’s 1^st reading is a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. This boss of ours traditionally gives gift to the young children during Christmas time. She is a woman of faith and very generous especially with children. She usually ask all the children to fall in line and give each one their Christmas gift. When my son got his gift he continued to stand in front of her and still waited to be given another gift. When asked why, he said his younger brother Allan was still sleeping and asked another one for his brother.  Of course she did not hesitate to give my son another one. But everybody was laughing out loud and teasing me that I have trained my son very well. Now I know why he's very good in Statistics, he never missed anything, recall, remember and count every single thing most especially his beloved baby brother. Which also reminds me of how very affectionate he is to his young brother most especially when Allan was still a baby. I know in my heart that Jude will always be the same loving brother and son in Jesus name, amen. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 16:11-15

...a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.

We may have seen people who are exercise and health buffs and really take care of their bodies well. Just by looking at them we can already say that they work hard to develop a muscular and strong body. They were able to get good results because they have committed themselves to a strict diet and exercise regimen. In the same way, we should work hard and stick to a regimen that will maintain our souls in perfect shape. No matter who we are, what we do and where we are we can no longer have any excuse not to praise and give glory to God “as is where is”. We are all God's children and we should rightfully assert our place in the kingdom of our God the Father. We are the Church of God which does not pertain to just the physical structure but also the Spiritual Church of God which is our souls dwelling in the physical temple of God which is our bodies. It is important that we always ponder in our hearts the significance of the words of God in relation to our life. I can still remember when I joined the Ikebana (Flower arrangement) in Japan. I was late and did not see the demonstration so when I was given the flowers to arrange I just did it for the sake of just getting it over and done with. What do you expect? I was not proud of what I did. In fact I even removed the label from my work so nobody would know that I was the one who did it since I am representing the Philippines. It is a consolation to know that we have a God and Creator who knows perfectly well what He is doing. No matter what we do to ourselves He will never disown us. Since we are still in this world but definitely not of this world, which is temporary. It should always be our daily commitment to God that we reconnect, refocus, realign and all kinds of action that will redirect us to God in order to withstand this constant battle and tug of war between good and evil. We just have to realize that it is ourselves who eventually disown and turn our backs on God knowingly or unknowingly. If we remain faithful to the Lord and live our lives according to His decrees then we will always find ourselves rejoicing as stated in the psalm reading today. We just need to remind ourselves always that when He created us, humans, He saved the best for last. He even fashioned us in His own image and likeness. In fact, up to this present time, scientists and scholars have not fully solved and understood the mysteries and wonders of the human body and soul. As far as science is concerned we the humans are the most advanced living creatures in this planet endowed with all the capacities that no other creatures are capable of. God will never run out of good things in store for us. We might have hit rock bottom or the lowliest place in our lives but we can always be assured that our God speaks in our hearts and will never forsake nor abandon. If there's one thing that should never leave our minds and hearts then that is the truth that we are on top of God's creation and takes delight in us. If we are faithful to God then we can claim all the benefits of being God's kingdom of priests. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a, 9b

R: The Lord takes delight in his people.

1 Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. 2 Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. (R) 3 Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (R) 5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; 6 let the high praises of God be in their throats. 9 This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. 

The circumstances are pointing us to the task of always remembering and not forgetting all the good things that God is doing for all of us. We should always be full of gratitude as we recall, remember and count every single blessing that comes our way. We should fill our hearts with all the good and nice things that God has gifted us so that we can withstand that hour of trial and be strengthened by the memory of Jesus sent by God our Father in union with the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Let us guard the special abilities that God has given to us. Among all other creatures on earth we should be proud that God created us, as man and woman. Let us maintain this profound human dignity that He has given to us alone. There may be times and circumstances when we neglect this truth or forget it. There is nothing more unfortunate than this. No matter what happens let us not be distracted by the cares, worries, anxieties or it could be allurements and false promises of this world. If at any time we feel that we are under attack of some kind and starting to fall away from the truth then we need to break this bad spell and get back to our senses. God wants us to take action and make a stand for Him for He is always with us in Spirit. Today's gospel tells us that we are capable of doing so since we are not alone, we have an Advocate who is always with us and don't we ever forget that.  Amen. Hallelujah!

John 15:26-16:4a

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, because you have been with me from the beginning. 16: 1 “I have told you this so that you may not fall away...I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”