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 to us 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 that St. Paul experienced 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.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
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 nor 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 is 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.”
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 nor 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 is 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.”
Sunday, June 5, 2011
WANNA SEE YOUR FUTURE?
They say there is no such thing as coincidence only divine providence and I truly believe in this. Since last night, I was approached by Bro. Andrew, one of the elders of God’s Children Prayer Community. He told me after the pray over that my deliverance is coming. I was not surprised at all because prior to this declaration I have already been preparing for this so called “deliverance” on my part. I considered it as a confirmation of the basis of all the things I have been doing recently in response to this hope on “the promise” and profession of faith. Amen. Hallelujah!
Acts of the Apostles 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. 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.
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!
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. 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!
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 .”
Acts of the Apostles 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. 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.
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!
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. 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!
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 .”
Saturday, June 4, 2011
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. For 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 it for yourself and find out. 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. Yesterday, Bernadeth was here and brought back memories of the times when we used to walk and run to and from MT. SAC. It was the farthest and longest I've ever done in my entire life it took us almost 3 hours. It was all worth it because it did not just benefit our health but became a source of enjoyment. I can still remember that as we were walking along the road we get to see the beautiful view of the brightly colored green trees, flowers and mountain with tiny little rabbits running in the sidewalks amidst the sound of whistling birds, rustling of the leaves as the cool refreshing wind blew in our faces and spread the pleasant scent of the different plants along the way which created a wonderful and invigorating feeling and left me in awe of our God who is the Creator of all. Which in turn inspire me to share this beautiful song, "I Stand in Awe of You"which made me cry the first time I heard it. Amen. Hallelujah!
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
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." I look forward to the day when the beauty that surrounds me 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. 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…
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. Yesterday, Bernadeth was here and brought back memories of the times when we used to walk and run to and from MT. SAC. It was the farthest and longest I've ever done in my entire life it took us almost 3 hours. It was all worth it because it did not just benefit our health but became a source of enjoyment. I can still remember that as we were walking along the road we get to see the beautiful view of the brightly colored green trees, flowers and mountain with tiny little rabbits running in the sidewalks amidst the sound of whistling birds, rustling of the leaves as the cool refreshing wind blew in our faces and spread the pleasant scent of the different plants along the way which created a wonderful and invigorating feeling and left me in awe of our God who is the Creator of all. Which in turn inspire me to share this beautiful song, "I Stand in Awe of You"which made me cry the first time I heard it. Amen. Hallelujah!
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
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." I look forward to the day when the beauty that surrounds me 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. 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…
Friday, June 3, 2011
LOCK & KEY
When we went for a walk yesterday, I felt so light and vibrant unlike the previous day when I felt so sluggish and lazy. It was like I was ready to walk miles and go anywhere without feeling tired. Another surprise and amusing thing happened when I just found myself buying something that I’ve been wanting to buy for a long time. When I finally found it, I immediately grabbed it because it was on sale. All the while I thought it costs cheap but turned out to be much cheaper. When I used the award card I got and just intended to add a few more bucks to pay the remaining balance I was surprised to find out that I didn’t even consume the entire amount and has left more than half of it. When my friends found out how much it costs they themselves were amazed. They all said the same thing, “I am blessed to always find something really good.” With this happening we should no longer have doubts that God wants us to have the good things in life. There is no reason to be afraid, was just singing about it this morning and happens to be what the 1st reading is telling us today. 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 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 of that 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 then we emerge as fully built and restored that 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.”
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 of that 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 then we emerge as fully built and restored that 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.”
Thursday, June 2, 2011
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 I heard. It was 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) 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 becomes 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.”
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 I heard. It was 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) 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 becomes 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.”
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
MARBLE AND CLAY
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 the mystery. In Theology they call it mystagogy which means a 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 you have to go through or battle with or whatever you choose to do that you have to accept but there is definitely an Easter and a spring season. 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 you 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. I just learned that 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. 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. Last night during our Catholicism study our speaker talked about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and gave light on this matter. He said that 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. 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 were 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 a 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, 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...
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. I just learned that 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. 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. Last night during our Catholicism study our speaker talked about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and gave light on this matter. He said that 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. 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 were 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 a 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, 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...
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