A DAY LIKE NO OTHER

Sometimes when we encounter difficulties in life we have a tendency to blame it on God and picture Him as a punishing God. Though most of the time we suffer due to our own doing we don't realize that His love for us made Him undergo all the pain any human person could ever imagine. These past few days of the Holy Week has become a great occasion for most Catholics to celebrate with great honor and devotion the faith we all have for the Lamb of God that was slain and took away our sins. We've finally arrived on this day when God saved the world. A day like no other in which an act of great love that surpasses all other is made known to all. Throughout the course of time, we've been constantly told of this and as we move on may we be reminded always of this sacrifice that God's Beloved Son offered for our salvation. Amen. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 52:13-53:12
...for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder… it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we smitten by God and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed were healed. 6 We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth...

God the Almighty has the power and final verdict over all things. Let us just trust God to allow things to happen in our lives whatever He deems best for us. Though the cross in Mt. Calvary may not be pleasing to our sight based on our standard let us not be discouraged right away and look forward to Easter Sunday. Let us follow the example of Jesus who was obedient to death and was resurrected on the 3rd day. No matter what comes our way we should draw strength and inspiration when Jesus during the not just tiring but unbearable journey to Calvary fell 3x but was still able to carry on to fulfill His goal. It is always a consolation that as we strive to carry out our tasks in life and encounter trials and difficulties that almost make us want to quit we can always look at the Way of the Cross that Jesus left for all of us. We should never have any doubt that God is able to do all things for our good for there is nothing more that He could do that He has not done. It is only right and fitting that we give to God all glory, honor and praise to the best of our abilities. We should all be thankful for the rich and glorious tradition of the Catholic Church as an expression of our faith. This is born out of the tremendous, unbelievable and unsurpassed demonstration of God's love for man. As we commemorated Maundy Thursday last night, St. Martha's was filled to capacity for many attended the Holy Mass of the Lord's Supper. It was followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. It has been a long standing tradition that the people of God observe the holy and noble practice of Visita Iglesia. We went to 7 churches in all and also joined the chanting of the Passion of Jesus Christ or more popularly known in the Philippines as Pabasa which is done during Holy Week. It gives a sense of unexplainable joy during this activity. It made me realize that we are all so blessed to have a rich tradition to express our faith, hope and love in God. Although none of these things can ever be enough for a God who gave up His only Begotten Son to die on the cross. It helps develop a deeper faith just by being able to take part in this activity and see people still hold on to these practices to enrich their faith despite the cultural differences and the hectic schedules that so often get in the way. All of these devotions are done in the desire to honor God for what He suffered for our sake. With this great love that He offered to all of us, there is no doubt that God will make all things beautiful in our lives in His time. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
R: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
1 [2] In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me. 5 [6] Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. (R) 11 [12] For all my foes I am an object of reproach, a laughingstock to my neighbors, and a dread to my friends; they who see me abroad flee from me. 12 [13] I am forgotten like the unremembered dead; I am like a dish that is broken. (R) 14 [15] But my trust is in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” 15 [16] In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.” (R) 16 [17] Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. 24 [25] Take courage and be stout-hearted, all you who hope in the LORD.

Jesus understands. He knows exactly what we have been through and are going through right now even much more than we can imagine. Let us trust that He knows better than we all do and be confident of God who created us all. It should also give us a better perspective, the best motivation and inspiration to always offer everything that we do to God whether it be a simple or great task that is in our hands knowing that Jesus His Son has already perfected it for us. If we sometimes come to a point where we feel so lost and unsure if what we are going through and doing is still worth it, let us always keep in mind that for as long we do it to honor and glorify God then it should make us think very hard and not just twice before we ever give up. Let us not miss out on the ultimate blessing and the inheritance won for us by our unbeatable and undefeated Savior. All things happen for a reason and a purpose within the appointed time. Amen. Hallelujah!

Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
...For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.


We are commemorating now the greatest story ever told in the entire history of mankind. There is none like Jesus. Listening, reading and watching about His story over and over again should make us really feel and experience it in our own lives. Let us make a decision to really make it personal in our lives. If there were so many lies, deception, violence, betrayal, denial, injustice and the like during the time of Jesus' death then. Let us not despair for He has won it all when He died on the cross. We may still be in our Good Fridays but there is no doubt to the truth that our Holy Saturday and soon enough our Easter Sundays are up ahead. He has already paid the price for our sins and we are now free. Everything that has been said and foretold about Jesus is fulfilled. Let us not just look at the here and now but trust that God can do more and beyond what we are able to comprehend. I have always been amazed at how some things unexplainable as it may seem, came to be. I am sure this is true for most of us who in one way or another has encountered an incident that left us in awe and wonder of a surprising revelation and discovery in our lifetime. Some of them we can not even put together right away or may linger on for quite some time before we can put some light on and make sense out of it. If we are still groping for answers and still do not see any light in our path then we can only hold on to Jesus whose Perfect Divinity and Humanity has put all questions to rest and already stood the test of time. Today's gospel is full of the High Christology characteristics that is well known of the Book of John. John's gospel focuses so much on the Divinity of Jesus and eternal life. All the words in the scriptures from of old have been fulfilled in Jesus as it was written. He can make all things happen. He is indeed without a doubt, the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 18:1-19:42
...Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill what he had said,...Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” ...Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. ...Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, "You are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." ...Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed... “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”...“You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, Behold, the man!" When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him." ...Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, ..“Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be,” in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled [that says]: “They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots.” This is what the soldiers did...When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit...But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, 34 but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may [come to] believe. 36 For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of it will be broken.” 37 And again another passage says: “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.”