HAPPY EASTER

What further proof do we still need in order to truly believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior? We must come to this point where we achieve the peak of our faith and be truly confident of the deep meaning of what Easter celebration is all about. Bottom line, it's about love, care and understanding no matter what activities we engage in and people we spend time with, as long as it's all done with these 3 things then Easter is always a reality in our lives.  What a privilege to be one of God's chosen witnesses. Everyday of our lives should be directed toward this goal that we may someday come face to face with God and be able to stand in His presence. Today’s 1^st reading also reminds me of my reflection several years ago about my visit to the Getty museum. As a Christian we must believe that there is no such thing as coincidence only divine providence. I could still remember when we (Sisters Bernadeth, Lucy, Marcy, and Rose) spent the entire day at the J. Paul Getty Museum. It was indeed a day of joy and gladness not only because of the wonderful and nice things we've seen at the Museum but also because of the very nice company we had in each other. There were lots of people who came to the museum that day and everyone who came had the chance of seeing the priced and valuable treasures that the Christian world holds very dear. I am not surprised at all after seeing the things in the museum why there is a truth in the claim that 97% of the people who studied about history ended up becoming Catholic converts. In one of the exhibit rooms and the first place we had been were manuscripts of some parts found in the bible that dates way back in the year 800 AD. There were illustrations some with gold in paper of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, The story of Jephtha and his oath (can be found in the Book of Judges) (Regensburg, 1030-40; 1400-10)The Annunciation and The martyrdom of Isaiah, (Wurzburg, 1240-50)St. Michael battling the Dragon,  (Hildesheim, 1170s)St. Stephen by a painter named Circle of the Master of the Golden Bull (Prague, 1405) The Visitation (Strasbourg, 1500) and several of The Crucifixion (Steinfeld, 1180; Cologne by Master of St. Veronica, 1400-10; Franconia, 1475; Westphalia,1500-05; by Albrecht Altdorfer, 1520) These are just a few of the many and the earliest artworks they have preserved and depicts the truth about our God. There is really no doubt about the truth in today's 1st reading since every human being has been given the privilege of knowing about our God and acknowledging Him as the one true God. For thousands of years people have been writing, painting, documenting amazing and wonderful things from different parts of the world. It is a consolation to know that although there are people, places and things that I've seen there that no longer exist today and is just a thing of the past but the message conveyed in every artwork about our Lord Jesus Christ still persist and remain intact, true and a masterpiece until the present time. It's good to know that we always have a choice. Whatever choices we make in life, let us be sure that each one of them is rooted in our belief in one Lord Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose again for our sake. We are all called to this inheritance to be adopted sons and daughters of God through our Lord Jesus Christ who has purchased for us this privilege and honor. No one is excluded or exempted from this. God is fair to all and plays no favorite for as long as we maintain the holy fear of the Lord and remain upright before Him. It is just by our own choice and free will that we can get a hold of this for it has already been made available for us by Jesus our Redeemer and Savior. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 10:34, 37-43

...To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”…This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, 41 not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

God is the source of all good things. Only Jesus can satisfy our souls. We should be really careful in setting our priorities. Sometimes we end up making the wrong choices and decisions in life. We end up rejecting something that should be valued and treasured more than anything else in this whole wide world. All we need to do is trust that the Lord will always take care of all our needs we need not tire ourselves to the point of exhaustion because it is better to take refuge in the Lord than resort to trusting in or own strength and others. According to Fr. Joseph Koterski a Jesuit priest and a professor in Fordham University it helps to always have GRACE. G stands for Gratitude, R for Respect, A for Account (have an accounting of the things we have done whether good or bad), C for Charting (to chart our course of action in order to see where we're going) and E to Entreat the Lord for the energy  and enthusiasm He has been giving us in this life. We need to always think of the things we are grateful for. It will help us examine our conscience and live a holy life that is fitting for a people of God. There are times when we don’t feel like saying our prayers. Whenever we feel this way but still managed to gather all our strength to still commit to our prayers then we will surely find ourselves with renewed strength to start our day right. When we master the art of praying and always drawing near to God then we become "Untouchables".  This is due to the fact that no one is like God. There is none like Him, for no one else can do as much as the Lord God Almighty and All Powerful can. We can rely on God’s goodness and build confidence on that knowing that with God on our side we are undefeated. His might knows no limits and His power is able to do wonderful things beyond our imagination. Everything fits like a key in a hole. There is only one thing that is conveyed here that God allows things to happen for a reason and everything falls into its perfect place. God's love and mercy endure forever and do not fail. We can always count on the goodness of God at all times and in all circumstances all the days of our lives. Truly knowing and proclaiming that God is Lord of all our days makes all the difference. It gives us real joy and gladness for heaven and earth will fade but His words will remain. We may not have witnessed first hand when Jesus walked and lived on earth but we can never deny witnessing to God's miracles working in our lives every day. Truly knowing and proclaiming what we are celebrating this easter season makes all the difference. It gives us real joy and gladness that never fade. We should have the confidence to joyfully shout out what the psalm tells us today.  Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

R: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 16 “The right hand of the LORD has struck with power; the right hand of the LORD is exalted.” 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.

The gift and promise of Easter should be directly proportional to the life we live here on earth. It is not like a seasonal diet that we follow for a specific period of time but one that we are willing to stick to for life. We should not set it aside once the season is over since it should be the kind of lifestyle we should be willing to commit throughout our lifetime. We are recipients of this great gift of salvation and thus we ought to make ourselves worthy and fitting for it. One thing we can be sure of, everything pays off immediately, later or in the end if we constantly seek God in all we do. No matter how tiring or discouraging the way or the road we are traveling which seems to pull us back down and want to give up, not go on or be tempted to take a different direction we simply must keep on going to the road where Jesus leads us. We should remain focused on Christ no matter how many distractions we encounter in our daily lives. We are living in a world full of deceptions, pretenses and lies. Sometimes we would be better off if we could just keep our thoughts to ourselves most especially the sensitive and very personal issues about a person. If we have a choice then we would rather not be involved and just keep silent about it. Sometimes not even immediate family members, close relatives and friends dare to do it.   Although there are times when we simply could no longer ignore the fact that God wants us to speak out and be bold enough to proclaim the truth. A lot of things are easier said than done. Living our faith in Jesus Christ by example is definitely one of these things. It is good to know that we have scriptures to guide and enlighten us at all times and today’s 2nd reading is definitely one of them. But this we can only do if we truly love and care about these people and be able to show them that it is really Christ that is in us and in all that motivates us to do so. Amen. Hallelujah!

Colossians 3:1-4 (or 1Corinthians 5:6-8)

Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Happy Easter to all! May we all experience a transforming experience not only today but in all the days to come in our lives brought and effected by the truth of the victory of Jesus' Resurrection from the dead. Jesus has taken away the obstacle and hindrance for us to enter into new life with Him by His resurrection. Let us not forfeit this benefit and truly believe with the heart and soul of our faith. It seems impossible for somebody to rise from the dead that is why Mary of Magdala got confused despite her being able to witness with her own very eyes the many wonders that Jesus did when He was still with them. There are some instances when we just can't get it. But we should never doubt the truth that God is all powerful and able to do beyond our imagination even though at times we fail to grasp the meaning of some things happening in our lives. Through His resurrection we are able to enter into new life with Him. I can still remember very vividly what Fr. James de Souza preached when I attended his seminar way back in the Philippines more than 20 years ago when the gospel for today was the focus of his teaching. He commended St. John for being the most intimate and affectionate to Jesus. From that time on, I always have this constant hope and prayer that I will grow more daily into that overwhelmingly deep affection of St. John for Jesus to always see and believe Him in order to run and go to Him first. John is the only apostle who did not leave Christ and stayed beside Him all the way to the foot of the cross. He was also the beloved apostle who rested his head at the chest of Jesus during the last supper.  It is him who Jesus entrusted His mother with at the foot of the cross. This bible passage from today's gospel has left a remarkable impression in my memory. He ran as fast he could to be closest to the Lord. It made me think of our attitude towards God. Do we also have the same enthusiasm and fervor as John? And yet he still hesitated and got a hold of such strong emotions and still acted accordingly as dictated by the virtue of prudence. He was full of love and devotion for the Lord but he did not let it get in the way or disrupt the proper order of things that needs to be followed.  He outran Peter in the rush to the tomb where Jesus was buried, but he let the more superior leader of the Twelve enter the tomb first. We can follow the example of St. John’s humble deferment to someone higher, his self-sacrificing and humble disposition vis-à-vis seniority. We should learn from him in the way he conducted himself in such situations, full of love and abounding in grace. He definitely acted the right thing at the right time in all the right places. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 20:1-9

1 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5 he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6 When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 7 and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. 8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

POWER IN THE WORDS

We should never ever reduce our dignity as human beings to anything less than what God made us to be. In today’s 1^st reading we find the reason why we must submit to God's will. We are created in his "image and likeness" (Gen.1:26-27) and our ultimate end is to be with God. We are in this world but we are not of this world. We came from God and we all go back to Him. That is what our life is really all about since all of us will die someday and each day that passes should be thought of as a day closer to God. Since our end is God we should all know how to relate with God. In the beginning God created everything to be in harmony, man, the land and all creatures. But man sinned leading to a rupture with God, one’s self and others. We have to go back to where God had intended it to be. If everything happened by chance there is a tendency for us to wane in our resolution and our responsibility is deemphasized. The understanding that a Creator made the world leads to a fundamental responsibility to it. When we watch these movies about the end of the world it gives the impression that our world exists by random and we look upon the universe as a product of chance. Everything that exists comes through Jesus. Everything in the universe came through Christ. He is the foundation of all reality. Creation is existent and made through and for Him. It does not exist by chance and is ruled by God and His plan. Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. Ephesians 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved…Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible. John1:3 All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; Look at creation and see its beauty, in the microscope and telescope. God is the creator. God shows a great love for everyone in this world not in a mythological world. Gen 1:27 God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. We are capable of reason because of our mind. God gives choices but we also have a free will we can go beyond instinct and go against the will of God. We are the image of God and we have a unique personality because of the dignity of a person. We are unrepeatable which makes us distinctive and like God. Man and animals have some similar gifts like emotions and body but what distinguishes us is reason. Our freedom to choose what is right and wrong is conscience. We choose good and avoid evil. It is easier said than done. How many people want to lose weight but it is not easy to lose weight because there are a lot of temptations aside from food. The same is true with our conscience. In Romans 7:18 it is stated, For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want. The natural law is humanizing, but it is dehumanizing when we don’t obey the natural law. Human beings should make a decision to accept Christ as the one mediator so we can go to heaven not in hell.  The speed of light is constant throughout the universe, even gravity is a constant and because it applies in the universe that is why we can apply science. There are laws, human beings have reason and discover these laws. God made us distinct from all animals to be able to do these things. Psalm 33:6 By the LORD’s word the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host. This is a radical statement. All the pagans believe that God created the world through sex and violence. God created the world by His word and it came to be. All reality came to being by God’s word. Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the works of his hands. Christians should study Science not be a skeptic but to be able to discover the beauty of creation and God’s wisdom in its order. To display the wonders of God. Wisdom 13:5 Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of beauty fashioned them. Or if they were struck by their might and energy, let them realize from these things how much more powerful is the one who made them. For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen. We look at the ocean and see how wide it is, the sunset, mountain vastness and outer space is even more amazing with trillion of stars and millions of galaxies. We have perception so we do not just see but we have a mind to appreciate it. Romans 1:19-20 For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; St. Bonaventure said that God loves creation so much and took on human nature. The creatures of this sensible world signify the invisible God. This part of reality we need to understand. There was this time when we had a conversation with regards to this person who easily pass judgment on people although, I am sure that he doesn't mean anything really bad about it and was just very careless in his choice of words and say things without much thought and little care. Although this is the case, I was suddenly reminded of what I have learned from several talks and seminars I've been to in the past which happens to be explicitly demonstrated in today's 1st reading. It tells us of the story of Creation. God created the world with a single command of His words and everything came to be. There is power in the words. We ought to say them with care and caution and choose to say words that build and create at all times. God created the world through His words. There is power in words. We ought to realize this and take advantage of this by using words for creating something good and beautiful. Let us not fall trap to the wrong use or choice of words and take for granted what it can do and not do to us. We also sometimes say things that do not build and create goodness but rather destroy and cause trouble. If we can't say anything nice at all we better not say anything at all. Therefore, we have to use words wisely and only when necessary. God has created for us a really wonderful place to live in. Everything we need and we'll ever need is right before us. God loves us so much that He designed a perfect world for us to live in. We have a responsibility to care for the environment because it is a gift from God. If we start to become more conscious, aware and involved then we can surely develop an attitude that is godly and from it will eventually and inevitably arise a love for a God, though Infinitely Great, Omnipotent, Almighty and beyond our  full understanding is also Gracious, Generous and is able to make all things possible.

Amen. Hallelujah!

Genesis 1:1-2:2 (or 1:1, 26-31a or Genesis 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 or Exodus 14:15-15:1 or Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18 or Isaiah 54:5-14 or Isaiah 55:1-11 or Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 or Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4 or Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 or Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6)

1 In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. — 4 God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. — 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” ...7 God made the dome, and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it. 8 God called the dome “the sky.” ...God called the dry land “the earth,” and the basin of the water he called “the sea.”...Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed...

God is the source of all good things. Only Jesus can satisfy our souls. We should be really careful in setting our priorities. Sometimes we end up making the wrong choices and decisions in life. We end up rejecting something that should be valued and treasured more than anything else in this whole wide world. All we need to do is trust that the Lord will always take care of all our needs we need not tire ourselves to the point of exhaustion because it is better to take refuge in the Lord than resort to trusting in or own strength and others. According to Fr. Joseph Koterski a Jesuit priest and a professor in Fordham University it helps to always have GRACE. G stands for Gratitude, R for Respect, A for Account (have an accounting of the things we have done whether good or bad), C for Charting (to chart our course of action in order to see where we're going) and E to Entreat the Lord for the energy  and enthusiasm He has been giving us in this life. We need to always think of the things we are grateful for. It will help us examine our conscience and live a holy life that is fitting for a people of God. There are times when we don’t feel like saying our prayers. Whenever we feel this way but still managed to gather all our strength to still commit to our prayers then we will surely find ourselves with renewed strength to start our day right. When we master the art of praying and always drawing near to God then we become "Untouchables".  This is due to the fact that no one is like God. There is none like Him, for no one else can do as much as the Lord God Almighty and All Powerful can. We can rely on God’s goodness and build confidence on that knowing that with God on our side we are undefeated. His might knows no limits and His power is able to do wonderful things beyond our imagination. Everything fits like a key in a hole. There is only one thing that is conveyed here that God allows things to happen for a reason and everything falls into its perfect place. God's love and mercy endure forever and do not fail. We can always count on the goodness of God at all times and in all circumstances all the days of our lives. Truly knowing and proclaiming that God is Lord of all our days makes all the difference. It gives us real joy and gladness for heaven and earth will fade but His words will remain. We may not have witnessed first hand when Jesus walked and lived on earth but we can never deny witnessing to God's miracles working in our lives every day. Truly knowing and proclaiming what we are celebrating this easter season makes all the difference. It gives us real joy and gladness that never fade. We should have the confidence to joyfully shout out what the psalm tells us today.  Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (or Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 or Psalm 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20-22 or Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 or Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 or Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 or Psalm 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4 or Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19)

R: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever...

We have this hope as presented to us in today’s 2nd reading. We are able to rise from our being dead in our sins because Jesus Christ conquered sin through His death on the big cross. Just like Jesus we too have to accept freely whatever little crosses that come our way in our daily life to the point of even dying to ourselves so that we can be raised up. Every single activity whether religious or secular is just a constant and undeniable reminder for us that we have a God who suffered on Maundy Thursday, died for our sake on Good Friday, rose from the dead on Good Saturday and is fully resurrected on Easter Sunday. The awe and wonder of these mysteries contain the love and mercy being applied to us without any exemption provided we take the words of God for it and never neglect it. Being in union with Christ means freedom from the slavery of sin. We should live for God alone and reflect it to others that they may know the God that we serve.

The 2nd reading for today is a testimony that we are blessed and honored since God is with us. He is great and Almighty. Amen. Hallelujah!

Romans 6:3-11

...We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. 10 As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. 11 Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

It is not always pleasant to talk about death. Whenever people talk about it some may feel very uncomfortable and may not even want to think of its possibility despite of its certainty. Though a few people would even welcome and look forward to it to the point of being misunderstood. This should be the right attitude because it is something that we should prepare for. The gospel reading for today invites us to dwell on these words "on entering the tomb" We must one way or another, be able to picture ourselves dead and placed in the tomb. When that time comes let us hope and fervently pray to be utterly amazed as an angel welcomes us to enter the Kingdom of God. We should never ever take this grand event of the Paschal Triduum for granted. We have to always remember never forget nor neglect what Jesus has done for us.  Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 16:1-7

...On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed...

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, the church 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. Visiting churches, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and chanting of the Passion of Jesus Christ or more popularly known in the Philippines as Pabasa give a sense of unexplainable joy. 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. The confidence of the martyrs in God did not waver up to the end. They stood firm in their faith and remained steadfast. I have read that the most critical point in our life is during the time of death because it is when a battle between good and evil is being waged over our soul. We might have heard of different stories of people about to die who were reported to have seen all sorts of vision. As we read the psalm for today may we find ourselves truly internalizing and believing the words thus visualizing the glory of God the way the saints and martyrs demonstrated for us during the critical hour of their life. We are a work in progress and we need to acknowledge our sins, mend our ways and surrender our life to the Lord. The world believes that it is foolish to believe what we can not see but we have to believe in what we do not see and face them all with faith, this is according to St. Thomas Aquinas. The testimony of those who believe help to build up our faith and the more witnesses we have the more solid it becomes. We look to the Gospel and see that there are so many witnesses and testimonies with very little variation. They speak of the truth of the life of Jesus. We have to accept everything that the Gospel tells us. 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. Our persistent cries and tears to God are always heard. God has given us very clear instructions from the very start. If only we will stick to it then we can be assured of a life lived to the full. We’ve got to have faith that of Abraham who believed even though his wife is with age that the one who made the promise is trustworthy. What God says is true and He does not lie. Padre Pio said that the most beautiful act of faith is one made with sacrifice and effort even in the presence of darkness. We have to believe that God has the best things in mind for us. If He allows some things that are not pleasant in life this is only to bring about the best. Although faith is not the best of the virtues, it is the rarest. Real faith inspires all actions and reveals God in everything. How rare is real faith next to danger. We sometimes feel that we do not see so much evidence of the reality of God. God does not give us so much light so that we are not forced to accept Him nor does He give too little that we can not find Him. He gives us just enough light so as to put to practice our faith. Nothing can ever frighten or scare us not even death if God is our stronghold. We can rely on so many things in this world like wealth, fame, power and success but only in the Lord can we find true security and satisfaction. There is no denying to the truth that we have a God who is always there for us whether in good or bad times. We can be assured that we can take comfort and hope in the Lord. Our enemies may be lurking from every side but we don't have to worry or be afraid. God is our refuge and strength. He can rescue us from the clutches of our persecutors and set us free. 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. We should always be praising and thanking God in all circumstances knowing that God will always be there for us. He knows and sees all things much more than our limited points of view and angles of reference. God can view things in a multidimensional level while we can only see a single or at most double dimension. If we are looking at a not so pleasant view trust that God can see a better view than what is before us. If we have experienced an almost dangerously impossible situation wherein escape and deliverance seemed to be farfetched then we are in a worst case scenario. Believe it or not, this kind of situation could drive anyone to panic. Even the most steadfast in the faith community could succumb to anxiety and fear with regards to such situation. In fact, it could even come to a point where the most steadfast may go to a certain extent of negotiating for the sake of the lesser evil. It is this type of experience that could turn out to be unforgettable and could forever be etched in our mind not only because of the trouble and difficulty we went through but most of all the love and concern we experienced and witnessed from people in the community. Although it could indeed be a frightening experience when we could have just chosen to give up and succumb to the obviously convenient option for the sake of getting it over and done with but didn't for the sake of the truth of God. If we do then we would find that it is all worth it even though we have to learn some lessons in life the hard way. It is evident that the harder the situation we are in all the more could we feel God's ever reliable and strong hands secured all around us. We can not deny it and should always believe that God's truth and saving power prevails at all times. We look to God always in the midst of all the turmoil. No matter how long and hard we try to search for happiness outside God we can only find it in Him as St. Augustine says, “My soul is restless until it rests in Thee." Only with Him do we find rest, fulfillment and satisfaction. Let us trust God in His divine providence and goodness that He will never abandon nor forsake us. He will rescue us at all times for He can turn back or fast forward the hands of time for everything is right on time with God. He is the God of the eternal now. 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. God gives us valuable instructions for life that will make it pleasing and acceptable before Him. We should be mindful of the word of God being given to us in the scriptures and in our daily circumstances. The bible has been described as something like a manual that teaches us, Christians to go about with our lives. Just like any new equipment that comes with a manual in order to operate it properly so are God's words to us. We have to discover the joy of always consulting the word of God through the daily readings. In doing so we may even come to a point of making a commitment to write down reflections and share it to family and friends. It is in documenting and organizing our thoughts or journaling that we can access, read it readily and be reminded constantly. When God created us He intended for us to be guided and directed in accordance to His will and that's what the word of God does for us. For nothing else matters more than what matters to God. Jesus is 100% divine and human except for sin. This is a Church teaching that was emphasized during our bible study. The arch of Mark's gospel which illustrates 2 opposite parts represented by Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man is highlighted by the center of the arch where Jesus' divinity meets His humanity in the cross as the perfect victim (sacrificial lamb/scapegoat) of man's salvation. When things get out of hand we have no one to blame but ourselves for Jesus the perfect sacrifice is surely not lacking in everything that He has given us for our own welfare. 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. There is none like Jesus. When we go through difficulties and trials in life we must always think of Jesus Christ who is King of kings.  Just think of what He had to go through for this love and yet we complain at the slightest hint of inconvenience when we do not have things our way. We must be aware that God knows exactly what we are going through with perfect precision and He will not let us through it without seeing us through it, all we have to do is completely trust His will for us. Look at Jesus, who willingly obeyed the will of God the Father when He took the form of man and allowed Himself to be subject to everything that a human being goes through even to the point of extreme suffering, humiliation, pain and death in the cruel hands of His very own people, the Jews whom He had chosen and loved very dearly. He had the option not to go through that but He had to show us the perfect example of obedience to the will of God and there can never be a greater sacrifice than this and it's all because of His great love for us. Whatever we are going through right now is not even an inch close to what He had to go through who is Christ the King. Whatever it is that is bothering us we must keep in mind that our King has already won the battle for us and victory is in our hands. God the Almighty has the power and final verdict over all things. 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.”

THE MODEL

I have always been fascinated by the dramatization of this particular bible passage in Exodus of the Passover. I bought a VCD of the Prince of Egypt and my 2 sons and I used to repeatedly watch it. I can still remember the look on the child's face, wide eyed and scared, in that particular scene of the movie during the Passover when the Israelites were instructed to mark their homes with the blood of the lamb and all homes bearing the blood were spared.  When I was just new in the Catholic Renewal I used to hear my brothers and sisters always say this prayer, "Jesus, cover us with your Most Precious Blood". As days and years go by in the renewal my understanding of this became broader and deeper. Baby christians whine and cry often about their situations not realizing that the blood of Jesus have them covered. As a child christian, maybe it has improved to that same wide eyed and scary look on the face of that child in the movie but no more of the whining and crying. Adult christians are fully aware of the efficacy and power of the blood of Jesus in their lives. On what stage are we right now? Whether we're at the highest level of maturity or still working on it we ought to really be constantly marked by the blood of Jesus. We should have been all sentenced to death penalty if we were to give an accounting of all our sins and offenses against God, the Master, Creator, King and Judge. Even if we drain up to the last drop of blood left in our bodies only Jesus' blood can exact payment for the insult received by an Almighty God. Which is why, Jesus took it all upon Himself and shed righteous blood. It may be difficult to understand what Divine Justice is all about but the love of an innocent person to the point of dying for a sinner is what we should just focus on. The outline of the salvation history or covenant history goes back to the time of Adam& Eve and Noah and dates way back to 1800 BC during the time of Abraham, Moses (1200), David (means the favored one,1000), Exodus (600)the time of Exile until the birth of our Lord Jesus. From this time line, significant events happened like Creation when God created man who fell into sin and became unfaithful and how God continuously called us back to Him by showing us who He really is throughout the length of time. It can never be denied that the Salvation History or the covenant history of mankind shows us the relationship of God and man and how God continues to show mercy and relent in many ways for He is a living and loving God. God's demonstration of His love to us through the length of time is like a strip teaser who one by one strips herself of clothing before she comes out totally naked. God throughout time has sent emissaries, patriarchs, prophets and kings to declare His great love for us and in the fullness of time has ultimately revealed His naked love in its entirety by sending His only begotten Son Jesus who was not spared to suffer and die on the cross just to show His great love for us. The foreshadowing of the Old Testament to the New Testament is a remarkable connection which can not be denied and overlooked. It is all about the covenant, the new, perfect and everlasting covenant, and the repetitive words of God that can be found all throughout the scriptures, "I will be your God and you will be My people." There is no doubt about the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His part of the covenant because He has shown from generation to generation that he is indeed our God but have we fulfilled our part of the covenant in truly being a people of God. Abraham is the 1st recipient of God's revelation of Himself to mankind. He is considered as one of the Patriarchs to whom God chose to establish his covenant. Salvation history tells us of God's faithful love and continues to restore and bring back the broken relationship of God and man. It was through Abraham's total surrender to God's will to offer his son Isaac  that he foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus  as the Lamb of God. It is true that God started to reveal Himself to us through Abraham and the ultimate revelation was in Jesus His only begotten Son. The victimhood of Jesus to conquer evil not by slaying evil but by allowing Himself to be killed and shed His own blood is the height of God's love. It should always be a treasure embedded in our hearts. We have to be fully aware of the efficacy and power of the blood of Jesus in our lives. The great exile from Egypt is part of the life history of the Jews that has defined them as a people of God. In the same manner, we can never separate the Eucharist in our identity as Christians. The bread and wine truly becomes the body and blood of Jesus and is instituted by Christ Himself during the Last Supper. Amen. Hallelujah!

 

Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14 (or Isaiah 61:1-3, 6, 8-9)

...It is the Passover of the LORD. 12 For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every first-born of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt — I, the LORD! 13 But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you. 14 “This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution.”

When we hear of amazing stories we can not contain our excitement. May we be always mindful of it at all times and filled with this kind of emotion in all circumstances. We all have sinned and bore the guilt in us. We have all been destined to die but Jesus took upon Himself all our sins and paid it in full. He made an offering of Himself for our sake. The least we could do is to give honor to this Holy Sacrifice. Let us cloth ourselves with the blood which Jesus shed for us in Mount Calvary, let us not forget what Jesus did for us so that God's mercy will always be upon us. We have to endure to the end and be found deserving of a great blessing that awaits us. The ignorance of our faith is ignorance about Jesus. We may sometimes think that evangelization is just work for the priests and the religious. It is not limited to them but anyone who is baptized should take on this responsibility. JFK once said, "Here on earth, God's work must truly be our own." Nothing should ever stop us from being part of the work of God. God made man in His own image and likeness. (Gen 1:26) In this context we need to define personhood well and know the perils of limited definition. It could be classified into 2 definitions, nominal and real. Nominal definition of personhood is decided by man. It is approaching something that we don't know but we already have the answer. We make decisions and play God. The dangers of this definition of a person are:

1. nominal- when we deny to identify a person as a real person. Example is abortion, when doctors deny the fact that at the moment of conception a person already exists.
2. real but limited - We do not deny but identify them as persons but with lesser worth like the sick and terminally ill. Just because they are old, weak and sick they deserve to die as in the case of euthanasia.
3. full and real but limited - Kills people as in the Holocaust.
The whole principle involved here is discovery and deciding. When our approach is discovery then we are being led to the events in our life with a sense of total surrender, trust and faith in the Lord's Providence for the realization of things that are unseen and hoped for. God may not fully reveal and present us with a surprise but we maintain full confidence in a God who brought us to wherever we are right now. In deciding, our approach is a lot different since we already have an answer for something that we don't know yet. It boils down to the fact that we think we know too much but we don't. We end up playing God. We need to remain as man and allow God to be God of our life. When man becomes God, we lose everything because we are not God. We have to realize the impact in our life of discovery versus deciding.

We should ascribe to the real definition of personhood. It answers the question what, how and what is it meant to be. Our approach in life to achieve faith and righteousness is by discovery and through an authentic Christian life. Discovery can be best defined in the sense that we are open to the intention and purpose of God for us. With a seeking and expectant faith we should allow God to lead us in discovering what is ahead of us and prepared by God. The approach should be in a manner of discovering what God's intention is and respecting it. We've heard of several occasions when people are spared from death or any tragic or unpleasant event because they missed the bus, woke up late, got stuck in traffic and something just came up which delayed them. I guess, it has happened to us too, somehow. After feeling annoyed and impatient because of that incident, we just found out that what appeared to be a nuisance and a problem turned out to be a blessing. It will always be good to undergo trials and hardships in life and remain steadfast in the Lord for everything will pay off in the end. Not a single thing that we've been through for the glory of God will ever be in vain. It is only right that we give all glory, honor and praise to God. We need not wait and see any longer for it is in our very own lives that God wants us to start paying attention to in order to make a return for all the good he has done. What Jesus has done for all of us is the ultimate sacrifice of love ever known in the entire history of mankind. It is impossible for us to repay what He has done but with hearts full of gratitude we can follow what the psalm reading today is telling us. It is only right and fitting that we honor our vows and promises.  This shows how grateful, confident and assured we are of the Lord’s goodness. It is only right and fitting that we give 100% loyalty to God who deserves more than all the praises we can give. Let us cloth ourselves with the blood which Jesus shed for us in Mount Calvary, let us not forget what Jesus did for us so that God's mercy will always be upon us. The blood that marked the houses of the Jews during the Passover spared them from death. We, as true believers and followers of Christ had been marked with the Most Efficacious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is really good that without us making a way, He was the One who made the way. No amount of thank you will ever suffice to what God has done for all of us. This and only this should we always have in mind, the least we could do is to always put God first in everything we do. Let Him become our motivation and inspiration knowing that He shed His blood for our sake. We may look different, strange and queer for some because of our intense desire to please God in return for all the good that He has done for us. It may still be imperfect or could be unbecoming if based on the standards of some but we must continuously strive to do our best to pay reverence, homage and loyalty to the one and only Supreme Lord of all in the presence of all his people at all cost in the best way we can. We have to feel the abounding joy and peace in our heart as we remind ourselves of the many promises of God that we have been patiently waiting for to be fulfilled. God is going to fulfill all His promises this Easter season. It should give us renewed strength and courage to confidently stand up and remain steadfast in His love against all odds. We can be a people radiating with goodness that others can see the contrast. We can choose modesty, chastity and purity over the values that the world tries to influence us with. We should be able to know our definition of happiness and love and be the person God has made us to be before the world defines it for us. In doing so, we can face God on that day with faith and enter the ark of salvation into His heavenly kingdom. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18

R: Our blessing cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

12 How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? 13 The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. (R) 15 Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. 16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. (R) 17 To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. 18 My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people.

God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus who already paid the price of our redemption at a great cost. His humility goes beyond the washing of the disciples' feet and extends up to His death like a criminal on a cross. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. There's no other way and we have no further excuse. He has given us the perfect example and a model to follow. In today's 2nd reading, St. Paul gives us instructions on the greatest legacy of Christianity, the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. A death freely accepted, Jesus left us a remembrance of His great love for us by giving up His body and blood. It is very important that we commemorate this as often as possible, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration during Holy mass.  Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (or Revelation 1:5-8)

23 Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, 24 and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. There's no other way and we have no further excuse. He has given us the perfect example and a model to follow. God knew everything before it came to be. We need not be stressed or anxious. Sometimes it is easier said than done but sometimes too we should take into consideration the many occasions that God has shown us that there is really no other way to do it but according to His way if we want the best. Nothing could go wrong since God has already appointed "the hour" or a time, place and situation for everything. We may think that time is running out but God owns time and so we must peacefully resign our cases to God. This is the best thing to always do than panic and be stressed because none of those things could really help and called for.   Whenever we think that we are at the end of our line we should remember that it is not over unless God says so. God knows and sees all and it would always be for the best to surrender to His will and spare ourselves from further trouble. God knew the exact hour. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 13:1-15 (or Luke 4:16-21)

1 Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father... So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. 14 If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

SIN & BETRAYAL

There is power in the familiarity of the cross. These are the words of Fr. John Korapi in his talk about pain and suffering. He said that there are no shortcuts although what he went through he wouldn't wish on anybody and what he is doing right now he won't be able to do if he hadn't been through what he went through. God permits evil for a greater good. He said that on the day after the wake of the 9/11 tragedy there were no records of any abortion in New York at that time. The pain of the cross is essential and can't get away or escape from it. When we look at the Son of God crucified on the cross we see evil and cruelty but through it we were all saved. The gate of heaven was closed when our 1st parents (Adam & Eve) fell into sin. In Gen 3:23-24 "The LORD God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken. When he expelled the man, he settled him east of the garden of Eden; and he stationed the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword, to guard the way to the tree of life." The price of sin is death but through the death of Jesus we were once again given access to heaven. The cross is the way to power and victory. We have to fight a good fight all the way to the end. There is an unbelievable power in the cross which is a conduit of grace. Today's readings prepare for us the most sanctified and holiest week ever known to mankind, the week that changed the world. We don’t call any other week all throughout the year, holy only this week. It is a week like no other. This is where our attention should be fixed, on Jesus giving up Himself for the institution of Holy priesthood and servanthood by suffering, dying and rising from the dead. It is written that on the day Jesus died, the veil in the temple of the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom. If this was done by a person the tear could have been from bottom to top considering the thickness of the veil but God was the one who rent that veil from top to bottom. This is to tell us that He no longer dwell in the sanctuary but in the body of Jesus and became the temple of God. The Holy Father, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI  points out this route through Jesus as the way to ascend to God. The orientation of the believer changed when Jesus came. When Jesus offered Himself as the Lamb of sacrifice, He forever reconciled man to God. Jesus goes out to Jerusalem as a lamb without blemish to be sacrificed in the eyes of Israel. He goes beyond to a New Jerusalem which opened for us the frontier from earth to heaven. The word of God never fails. It has always been a source of  enlightenment, assurance and encouragement especially at times when we needed it the most. It has been consistently living up to what it stands for from Ephesians 6:17 as sword of the Spirit. Also in Hebrews 4:12, "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart." We can always prove this to be true if we will constantly consult the word of God in the daily readings, we will find that it always perfectly fits the situation that we are presently in for we have a God who knows everything that is going on with us, is always around and never leaves us.

Only to God should we rely for all our needs. If at the end of it all, when we've exerted our efforts and placed our best foot forward, still things do not work the way we expected and planned it to be then be at peace knowing that God has no boundaries and the real best is yet to come. God surpasses all bests and always have something great in store for us. The ignorance of our faith is ignorance about Jesus. Today’s 1^st reading also tells us the prophecy of the passion as foretold 500 years or more before the time of Jesus and give us an account of Judas’ betrayal. We are confronted with the fact that there are very troubling aspects that go with sin. We can see in Matthew 16:22 that the apostles were distressed. In John’s gospel there’s an account of deep emotions that troubled Jesus whenever He encounters death and betrayal. We’ve also experienced this in our own lives especially when people intentionally deceive us. These could be very disturbing but the Good News is that Jesus’ passion is about to conquer evil and death. We should take note that in both accounts of Matthew and John’s gospel this betrayal when satan entered the mind of Judas happened at the Feast of the Passover. This is also the time when Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and taught the apostles of this Most Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharist is the heart of our faith and the very foundation of Jesus’ work. It is the goal of satan to attack our Eucharistic faith and take us away from it. Satan wanted to influence us and make us abandon this great sacrament that Jesus Himself instituted at the Last Supper. When we leave God we will succumb to another power. This is what satan is watching out for in order to maneuver his entrance into our hearts by using greed and lust. We must not lose sight of the cross because it is where the glory of God is revealed. It is made manifest in the love of the Son. Death is conquered by life eternal in the revelation of glory through obedience to the Father’s will. Satan is conquered. In John’s gospel we can see the betrayal of Judas in contrast with Peter’s denial. It is an interesting contrast because Judas betrays him, deeply regrets and tries to repent but what’s lacking was the return to our Lord. Peter turns back to Jesus while Judas despairs. He did not accept God’s mercy. We’re all sinners but do we repent and turn back or do we keep going along the path of sin. Often times in our confessions we have repeated sins but the beauty of confession is that we keep on turning back to the Lord. We keep the hope alive through the sacrament that gives us the grace to keep coming back to our Lord. Though, we never want to commit sin, It’s a terrible thing to sin because it is a betrayal of Jesus. Let us pray that we continue to have faith in Him and accept His mercy. This reminds me of the Catholicism lecture by Atty. Jess Moya in St. Martha's Church about the principle of "Sola Fide" or faith alone. The title of the talk is "Rebutting the principle of protestantism:"Faith alone" (Sola Fide). The speaker said that as Catholic Christians we have a responsibility to spread the word of God and impart it to as many people as possible. We are encouraged to know more about our faith and not be complacent. There is big responsibility in our hands to not just accept things as they come but be able to handle and understand it well. It can build up our confidence in God and love Him best. It has become my offering to the Lord that I write my personal reflections of the daily bible readings. As I commit this daily to the Lord I have always prayed that someday I can announce these same words in today's 1st reading. Amen. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 50:4-9

...I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting ...The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let him confront me. 9 See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong?

The following are the main thoughts discussed in the said talk.

I. Man needs to be saved because of his fallen nature. (Rom 7:21-24 & CCC 1949)

-Man is dominated by greed, pride and lust (CCC 407 & 1 Jn 5:19 ) The devil has acquired a certain domination (Gal 5:19) and we are engaged in a battle that has been won but does not stop there since we have to always put on our guard for the enemy does not rest. He called the whole process of being saved as "justification" .

 II. "Man is saved by God's grace alone based on CCC 1996.

-The question is how does the grace of God become an active part of our life or "by what are we justified?" The example he gave here was a newborn baby who is baptized. A baby has not merited anything yet but is saved by the mere act of being baptized. He mentioned about Martin Luther's despair about his salvation which led him to formulate the doctrine of justification by "Faith  alone" He misunderstood the Bible passage Rom 3:28 which mentioned faith alone apart from works of the law. Paul in this letter to the Romans was pertaining to the Jewish Law which is being practiced during their time like circumcision, washing of the hands and the like which are practices that can not really justify a person. Faith alone doctrine states that justification simply means being "delared righteous" We can not just be declared righteous but be made righteous by not continuing to sin.

III. Justification actually means being "made righteous" i.e. it entails the sanctification of his whole being (CCC 1989, 1990, &1995) We are justified not by faith alone nor by works alone. Justification has its stages i.e. initial and progressive. Initial justification takes place at our baptism. We still have a tendency to backslide and during the hour of death is the period of intense spiritual battle over our soul. That is why we need to mature in our faith.

IV. Certainty of Salvation

"Once saved, always saved?"  If we believe in this it tends to put off our guard. (1 Jn 5:13-14) We should say instead "I know I am saved, still being saved and will continue to be saved."  Justification is a life long process as stated by Paul in 1 Cor. 4:3-5, 9:27. In Phil 2:12 Paul also encouraged us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. For the enemy is waging war on us and we need to be very aware of this and claim God's protection over us at all times. (Eph.6:11-12)

V. Epistles against works?

There have been some misunderstanding of the following bible verses:

Rom. 3:28 (Obedience of faith) We know we are saved, still being saved and will continue to be saved as stated by Paul in 1 Cor. 4:3-5, 9:27. In Phil 2:12 Paul also encouraged us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. For the enemy is waging war on us and we need to be very aware of this and claim God's protection over us at all times. (Eph.6:11-12) When Martin Luther based his belief on faith alone on this specific verse he failed to see that Paul in addition to what he said was attacking the Jews with regards to their ceremonial laws and that it’s not enough to just hear the law but to observe it. (Rom 4:5 Total adherence) An example he gave was attending the mass not just as an obligation but with the heart. Consider it a privilege and do it for the love of God. He said we are saved by grace not by works but we obtain the grace of God by good works and the motive is mercy (Eph. 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5)

VI. Epistles supporting "Works"

Here are several bible passages cited to us by Atty. Moya that support the need for us to cooperate and work with God. James 2: 14-22& 24 say that faith without action is dead. From the gospel of Matthew: What must I do to be saved? (Mt. 19:16-21) When the rich man asked this question he was told to keep the commandments and he said he already did so Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor for he is very attached to his possessions that he has to let go of all attachments. We are also called to keep our fire burning for the Lord so that we don't end up like the 5 virgins in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Mt 25:1-13. The same principle applies with the Parable of the Talents or Silver pieces that we have to cultivate the goodness in ourselves and let it grow. It is also very clear from Mt. 25 31-46 which mentions about the last judgment that we can not just accept the Grace of salvation but need to do our part, too since it is specifically stated that whatever we have failed to do will go to eternal punishment. Also it is stated in Mt 7:21-27 that we need to live His words because not everybody who says "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven for there is a need to turn away from our wrongdoings. He said that there is no dichotomy between Christ and His doctrine. If we really believe in God then we also need to do what He teaches. The will of God will never take us to where the grace of God will not protect us. God knows exactly and with perfection what is being allowed to happen to us in our lives at this precise moment. God's purpose for us is simply perfect. He wants to show us things that only we can understand by living what we are living and by being in the place we are now. In the midst of all these unsightly things there should always be a burning flame of hope that God will never forsake nor abandon. We should always maintain our confidence in God and never lose hope and courage in the great love that God has for us. The ignorance of our faith is ignorance about Jesus. We may sometimes think that evangelization is just work for the priests and the religious. It is not limited to them but anyone who is baptized should take on this responsibility. JFK said, "Here on earth, God's work must truly be our own." Nothing should ever stop us from being part of the work of God. God made man in His own image and likeness. (Gen 1:26) In this context we need to define personhood well and know the perils of limited definition. It could be classified into 2 definitions, nominal and real. Nominal definition of personhood is decided by man. It is approaching something that we don't know but we already have the answer. We make decisions and play God. The dangers of this definition of a person are:

1. nominal- when we deny to identify a person as a real person. Example is abortion, when doctors deny the fact that at the moment of conception a person already exists.

2. real but limited - We do not deny but identify them as persons but with lesser worth like the sick and terminally ill. Just because they are old, weak and sick they deserve to die as in the case of euthanasia.

3. full and real but limited - Kills people as in the Holocaust.

The whole principle involved here is discovery and deciding. When our approach is discovery then we are being lead to the events in our life with a sense of total surrender, trust and faith in the Lord's Providence for the realization of things that are unseen and hoped for. God may not fully reveal and present us with a surprise but we maintain full confidence in a God who brought us to wherever we are right now. In deciding, our approach is a lot different since we already have an answer for something that we don't know yet. It boils down to the fact that we think we know too much but we don't. We end up playing God. We need to remain as man and allow God to be God of our life. When man becomes God, we lose everything because we are not God. We have to realize the impact in our life of discovery versus deciding.

We should ascribe to the real definition of personhood. It answers the question what, how and what is it meant to be. Our approach in life to achieve faith and righteousness is by discovery and through an authentic Christian life. It is discovery in the sense that we are open to the intention and purpose of God for us. With a seeking and expectant faith we should allow God to lead us in discovering what is ahead of us and prepared by God. The approach should be in a manner of discovering what God's intention is and respecting it. Checklist of Evangelization.

1. Do we see God as the Primary agent?

God is the Primary Agent of Evangelization. It is not about us but about God.

2. Do we see Evangelization as everyone's responsibility?

We must not end up like the Dead Sea that just received water but did not give out. The same thing happens to us when we do not take the responsibility of evangelization  as our own. We have to work on improving our skills for the work of God.

3. Do we communicate God's love?

4. Is total human betterment part of the ministry?

5. Do we respect other traditions?

God does not take sides. There is an equal opportunity for all but we have to make sure that we are on God's side. We need to rid ourselves of any triumphant or arrogant attitude towards people of other faith. The Abrahamic religion has a common denominator which is belief in God. We are not the sole professor of truth. We need to listen for God's revelation from others, too not only from us.

6. Does our love go beyond Catholic borders?

The kingdom of God is older and a broader reality than the Catholic Church. We need to live a humble life and forgive each other.

7. Is our approach ecumenical?

We do not have the monopoly of God because the Good News has no border and dealt with a common faith.

8. Do we use all available media?

The best media is our own life, no need for TV. The example of how we live our life is the best means to evangelize. Walk the talk.

9. Do we fully utilize existing groups?

Ministries that renew and energize members.

10. What is our total image?

We've got to maintain a wholesome image unlike the Crusaders, though they were able to convert many to the faith, the spread of the Good News was carried out using the sword or violence.

We must take extra care in projecting the right image as Good Messengers of the Good News. We should not have any fear or hesitation in carrying out the task that the Lord has given us. In our commitment to follow the Lord there are times when we encounter disappointments. We can say that serving God is not lying on a bed of roses, though God rewards those who obey Him we have to realize that we too must share in the passion of Christ if we truly are His followers. For we know that the Lord in His great love, is always there for us. What matters most is that we always call on God and allow His saving power to rescue us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34

R: Lord, in your great love, answer me.

7 [8] For your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face. 8 [9] I have become an outcast to my brothers, a stranger to my mother’s sons, 9 [10] because zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me. (R) 20 [21] Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak, I looked for sympathy, but there was none; for consolers, not one could I find. 21 [22] Rather they put gall in my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (R) 30 [31] I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving 32 [33] “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! 33 [34] For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”

Though, Jesus knows the outcome of our actions and even warned Judas in the following words: “It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” He said this within the context of His hope on the slightest probability of Judas to listen to His warning and not betray Him. The implication of His response, when Judas his betrayer said in reply "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" and answered, "You have said so.", is that Jesus will always respect our decisions and He will never be an imposing God. He will always give us the benefit of the doubt. No matter what destiny has brought us, we always have a choice and the freedom to decide. We are no different from Judas whenever we succumb to impatience. Judas may have gotten impatient with the existing condition of their life at that time. He was thinking that he needed to act aggressively in order to achieve his end at all cost. We may not realize it but we sometimes succumb to the same attitude of Judas when we resort to means that are clearly not pleasing to God. We need to stay firm in our conviction and faith in God. "Life is God's gift to us. What we make of it is our gift back to God. We only pass this way once. We better know life's reason and purpose. Our ultimate happiness depends on it. Life is a terrible thing to waste. At the end of the day, we should all leave this world a better place than the way we found it." Judas could have been saved or maybe he is. We actually never know for we are not here to judge people and say who is saved or not. The grace of God is so great that we really never know. But apart from it, what we should really be concerned about is the truth that we are called to cooperate in God's saving grace. Have faith working in love (Gal. 5:6; Cor 13:1-3) In conclusion it is said that we are saved by God's grace alone through faith that works in love. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 26:14-25

14 One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, 16 and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. 17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.” ’ ” 19 The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” 23 He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. 24 The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” 25 Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”