THE BROOD

Having the chance to observe this aviary for months made me realize how simply fascinating it is to see how these birds relate with each other. I guess, everybody is aware of the fact that mother birds as all other mothers are very protective of their brood from the moment they lay their eggs until they hatch and while still unable to feed and care for themselves. Well, I guess this is a universal truth for most parents and could be observed well in all animal species especially the human race. There is really a truth in this saying, "Birds of the same feathers flock together." Not just that, I discovered that the brood that were hatched together flock closer and more often than the rest of the same feathered birds. They are so cute to look at that even when they are finally out of the nest and could fly, they still stick close to each other always sit side by side and all huddled up. It is very heart warming to see such a display of love and care. This kind of affection is so powerful. It can be attributed to the sense of belonging of one to another. In the same way that we should develop the attraction and inclination to whom we really belong, God our Father who created us. Amen. Hallelujah!

2 Samuel 5:1-3
“Here we are, your bone and your flesh.

When we are feeling tired from all the day's work all we want to do is just go home. Nothing could be more rewarding than coming home to a place where we find rest and peace. Our life here on earth could be compared to something like this. It is nice to know that at the end of the day or our life's journey we can go rejoicing to the house of the Lord and find ourselves welcome there. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” 2 And now we have set foot within your gates,...

Today’s 2nd reading says it all. It is nice to know that we all belong to the brood of God’s beloved family. We are safe under the protective wings and warmth of His love and care. Amen. Hallelujah!

Colossians 1:12-20
12 Brothers and sisters: Let us give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.


Whether good or bad, we are all invited to enter the Kingdom of God. It is never too late for anyone for as long as we follow the example of the good thief in today’s gospel. But sometimes it might give us the wrong impression that we can wait as long as we want even up to the end before we decide to be good since this is what happened to the good thief. Let us not take for granted the fact that he also underwent the excruciating pain of death on the cross and chose to be converted in the end. There is not much difference between these 2 thieves. In fact they were alike in one thing they are both bad. The difference lies in the fact that the bad thief decided to remain as he is and not be converted. This is the usually what happens and is the normal trend, when we become used to who we are and just stick to it to the end. It suddenly comes so naturally. It required a great deal for the thief who used to be bad to finally be good, I suppose. It may not be safe to stall especially if we don’t trust ourselves to endure harder than the good thief. Whichever way we choose let us not put at stake the ultimate goal for each one of us, to be in Paradise someday. Amen. Hallelujah!

3:35-43
...“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”