MARCH 15 MEMORABILIA

Today is a day that I would always remember for the rest of my life. March 15 has become so significant to me in so many ways. Catholic Christians believe in life after death and this is one of the reasons why today’s date is special. It is when my mother is reunited with our Creator. It is also the same date for my grandmother and 2 other aunts. As believers we maintain this faith that a person’s death is one’s birth to eternity. In fact I learned that when a person dies it is no longer the birthday that is being celebrated but rather the birthday to eternal life with the hope that they are in a far better place, in heaven. Another incident which makes this memorable for me is the fact that I had been consecrated on this date to the Blessed Mother through the Militia Immaculata under the Spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Last year another significant event added up to its memorabilia. A friend and a classmate from High School (Eileen) whose birthday is today made this date even more significant when she refreshed me with very good memories of my mother. What she said about her is forever etched in my heart. This would always hold a special place in my heart, never forget and always remember. Speaking of remembering and never forgetting, Jeremiah reminds us today that we ought to follow God's commands. He even reminded us of the day his people left the land of Egypt. God has done wonders and miracles as in Exodus 8:15 "the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." Yet Pharaoh remained obstinate and would not listen to them, just as the LORD had foretold." Plagues overwhelm the magicians of Egypt. Each of the plagues were all attached to Egyptian deities like frogs and flies. By using these plagues God has clearly demonstrated His power to defeat Egypt and showed that their gods is not god at all. We should not be lacking in understanding how great the power of God is and finally come to our senses that our faith should rely on the one true God alone. He is our Master and our loyalty should rest in God alone. Then again my memory brings me back to this extraordinary loyalty that I have witnessed a couple of years ago also in March. It was at the time when I went jogging at the grounds of the Pacific Palms Hotel where I came across someone who was also jogging with his 2 dogs. I was really impressed to see that his dogs were not on a leash and simply jogging along his side without straying away from him. They looked so disciplined and focused on their master. I really loved the way they looked. The man was just jogging and looking straight ahead while his dogs jogged close to his side and was looking at him from time to time as if making sure that they didn't miss a single thing from their master. That was the first time I had seen something like it and to think that it was an open space where they could easily ran off. I guess, these dogs were really trained and have developed a deep trust in their master's voice and command. I have seen many dog lovers and we would just be amazed to see how they love and care for their pets. It may sound outrageous but sometimes it went as far as the extraordinary to the point of exceeding the love and care a person would give to another human being. Come to think of it, if this is possible then how come we humans can not even be as half obedient to God the way a lowly dog is to its master. Humans rank as the topmost creature in the hierarchy of God's creation. In fact the bible says in Psalm 8:5-7 What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them little less than a god, crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them rule over the works of your hands, put all things at their feet and in Psalm 139:14 I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be. Let us not just know this bible passage but proclaim it with dignity and conviction knowing that we should live up to be the people God made us to be. Amen. Hallelujah!

Jeremiah 7:23-28
23 Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. 24 But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me. 25 From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day, I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets. 26 Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers. This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.

If those dogs that do not even measure up to the dignity and standing as a people of God are capable of obeying their master with so much love and respect all the more can we do it and a whole lot better than that. We have to make a decision to be with Christ. God is the Good Shepherd. He will not scatter but draw people to holiness, righteousness and goodness. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
...For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.



There is no neutral or middle thing for the Lord. It is either we are with Him all the way without any exceptions or we are against Him. We could not choose to divide our loyalty because it will only destroy us in the process. It's like we are in a battle and our full strength and cooperation is needed to keep our defenses up or we end up losing it and captured by the enemy. We've got to make a clear stand by now in all areas and aspects of our life whether big or small and from the least to the most important or significant. We have to be aware of the fact that what we are dealing with here is a "no fuss and beat around the bush thing". We have to know on which side we are in and really go for it. Exorcism of demons is part of Jesus’ ministry. In today's gospel people were amazed at how Jesus was able to cast out evil spirits. These various evil gods and demons are a real presence at the time of Jesus and appear to rule even in the ancient world. The crowd is looking for a sign and they have seen enough to bring them to amazement but with it go together, the blindness and the hardness of the heart. This is a perennial problem when people see what God is trying to do but because of the hardness of heart it just won’t sink in. We have to examine our conscience and should ask ourselves what are the signs of the presence of God in our life. How are we paying attention or listening to the signs that God gives us. This is the call of today’s readings. Christ answered His critics in the gospel that every kingdom divided against itself will be laid to waste. Is satan divided against itself? Do we think that satan will tolerate a civil obedience in his kingdom? The answer of course is that satan is not divided against itself, he won’t tolerate that. He will terrorize and make people absolutely frightened to make them follow his bidding. This is satan's way. As God works in His mercy, satan operates through terror. Who are we imitating? There is no doubt that God can defeat Satan and has already shown this since time immemorial to all generations. Jesus' ability to cast out demons is similar to God casting out the power of Egypt. Christ is using the power of God to liberate his people. He is the new Moses. He is doing a great liberation from delivering us from satan and sin. Like the multiplication of the loaves and the manna from heaven. Christ is leading and invading the power of evil and bringing the kingdom of God into the presence of this darkness, to Israel and the whole world to gain freedom of the demonic. In His short parable in the gospel he likened a strong man and his army to satan and his devils. He controlled people’s lives and continue to debilitate and deform human nature. We are made in the image and likeness of God but he distorts this image because that’s his goal. There are other ways he does this, through violence and any of the capital sins. He uses the lust industry and distorts human love. This demonic distortion is what Christ wants to conquer. The violence, oppression, anger, lust and the capital sins are all part of the distortion but Jesus has overcome and the forces of evil are defeated. He can take souls away from the clutches of evil but He sets a challenge for us. He said that whoever is not with me is against me. We see so many forces of the anti Christ in the world today through violence, avarice and sex which are very rampant. They are the demonic devices and ways which the evil one works. We should make a decision to always be for Christ and not compromise with the enemy. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 11:14-23
14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. 15 Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” 16 Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. 17 But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 18 And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. 19 If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”