YOUR ANGEL

In today's 1st reading cherubim is mentioned which reminds me of Sis Susan a lay missionary of the Holy Trinity Missions whom I met yesterday. I have been very interested about guardian angels already that's why I was so engrossed in listening to her stories when she shared to us how helpful these angels to us are if we acknowledge their presence. She also quoted several scripture readings that speak of angels. Psalm 34: 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Exodus 23:20-21 See I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Matthew 18:10 'See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.

Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22

... Then the glory of the LORD left the threshold of the temple and rested upon the cherubim. 25 [19] These lifted their wings, and I saw them rise from the earth,...

No one can pretend to be innocent and blameless for our iniquities. We've got to set things right before we find ourselves lost in the deceptions of this world. God will never take things sitting down for He will see to it that those who call and truly follow and obey Him, the so called "poor of the Lord" those who fully depend on God's Providence will surely be lifted up and raised from the dust. God gave His only son as ransom for our sins to save us. Is there anything else He could have done that He has not done for our sake and best interest? God alone is worthy of our praise and worship. If we will just be open at all times to this truth that the psalm reading today tells us and realize the importance of always praising God in all circumstance and live it in our lives then we can be assured of the loving, protecting and caring gaze of God to be always on us. I love this prayer that I got from an email it says, "Stars do not struggle to shine; rivers do not struggle to flow, and you will never struggle to excel in life because you deserve the best. Hold on to your dreams and it shall be well with you. Amen." We simply have to keep on trusting that God will do for us what He has promised and said that He would do. There is nowhere to go but to God. If we are confident in God's Divine Providence and constantly and consistently pray for God's guidance and protection and decide to act at all times for His greater glory then there is nothing that should ever make us want for anything for God is in control, He provides for all our needs and knows what's best for us. Nothing is indeed by accident everything is under the will of God. We just need to always trust God in all circumstances that whatever happens, God will always make a way. It is important that we are always in touch with this reality and truth about our God who is Lord of lords and King of kings and gain confidence from it as if we are already seated and counted among the leaders of His people. That's the Spirit we should all have, a winner. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.

1 Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever. (R)  4 High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens is his glory. (R) 5 Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high 6 and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?

God will always and without fail make His presence felt at all times if we will just seek Him in all the things that we think, say or do. He will always assure and confirm us especially in times of trouble and distress. He is always with us, will never leave nor forsake us. I know that with God there is no such thing as coincidence only Divine intervention. There was a time when I've been wanting to find this specific passage in today's gospel but I just can't locate it in the bible. I even quoted it in the letter I made for a friend and wanted so much to include the specific book, chapter and verse where to find in the bible but I was not able to do so. It is indeed a pleasant surprise that what I was trying so hard to look for is now in today's gospel which emphasized even more the message I was trying to convey to her. Another important thing that I have been reminded once again is the truth that to be a part of a community of believers is really valuable. The gospel today affirms and confirms it because Jesus Himself advises us to have someone whom we can pray with. But in connection with the reality of the presence of guardian angels there is never a single moment in our life when we are alone, all we have to do is acknowledge their presence and call on them to say our prayers with them which means that even though we can not see them physically present we can rely on them to always pray and be with us. Psalm 91:11-12 he has given his angels orders about you to guard you wherever you go. They will carry you in their arms in case you trip over a stone. 

Surely what He tells us is something that we can hold on and take to heart seriously. His great and steadfast love for us is new every morning. We can no longer deny the truth that the hand of God is always reaching out to us. Whether we reach out to Him too is all up to us. I was reminded to share about the talk of Charles Whitehead at the SCRC. It is well fitted for the readings today especially his experience on the train while riding with a bum or a punk. He described him with a shocking orange hair standing on its ends and got the surprise of his life when he felt a prompting of the Holy Spirit to tell that man standing right next to him that he has nice hair. At first he was hesitant but he finally gave in and told it to the man. With a loud and somewhat irritated voice the man snapped at him, Why did you say that for? He mastered all his strength in order to have the courage to answer him that he is a charismatic and the Holy Spirit prompted him to say that. He wasn't prepared for the response because the man asked him if the Holy Spirit has something to do with Jesus and told him that for days he has been thinking about him. He excitedly responded yes to him and that was the start of the man's conversion when he asked him if he could spend time with him and tell more about Jesus. Charles Whitehead decided for love when he risked being mugged by that punk in the train. When he courageously obeyed God he witnessed a surprising conversion of a bum. Surely there were times when we heard and experienced the voice of God giving us out of this world instructions and we responded nonchalantly as if we never heard anything or outrightly refused and rejected it. Whichever way we chose to do it before let us resolve to respond positively to God from now on. It took one courageous step on the part of Charles Whitehead and a beautiful story of conversion unfolded before him. It's about time we start doing the same thing and win them over to God's side. There is this song that I really like which has the words, "If you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you, to get a touch from the Lord is so real." We could really feel God touching our lives every single day if we only draw near to Him instead of shutting God out of our life. We may or may not be aware of it but we are definitely capable of doing this. It may sound petty for some but not a single day passes without God drawing near to us in different ways. Sometimes we just fail to see it anymore when our actions bring us farther away from God. If all our words, thoughts and deeds are always focused on God then everything else will follow. Amen. Hallelujah!

Holy gospel from Matthew 18:15-20

15 Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. 16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector...19 Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

YUMMY!

I can still remember my son, Jude when he was still a kid, during mealtimes we usually make a scene at home. It will take hours before he can finish his food. As a child he preferred to eat sweets like chocolate and ice cream but when it comes to real healthy food that a growing child is supposed to eat he simply refused to eat them. It was a very tedious task back then when I had to utilize all tactics in order to make him eat. Somehow I felt that God our Father feels the same way because He wants what's best for us but we sometimes refuse to follow and fail to understand that it will always be for our own good.

Ezekiel 2:8–3:48 The Lord God said to me: As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you, be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you.

We've got to realize that there is nothing more delicious than the food God is offering us. We need to make sure that what we sought and yearn for, is what should bring us genuine riches, true delight and the most precious treasure which the world can not give and only God can bring about. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

R: How sweet to my taste is your promise!

14 In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches. (R) 24 Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors. (R) 72 The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (R) 103 How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (R) 111 Your decrees are my inheritance forever; the joy of my heart they are. (R) 131 I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your  commands

If we are just going to look back and recall all the things that have happened in our life then we can never deny the presence of guardian angels as spoken of in today's gospel. God always makes His messages known to us in various ways but He confirms them to us too. God is assuring us that there is no need to be afraid because He directs us always to the right path and if ever we are led astray He constantly searches for us to lead us back to Him. We should remain eternally trusting in our faith in God as a child is with his/her parents. It is faith that must become the foundation of all that we do. If we are just going to look back and recall all the things that have happened in our life then we can never deny the presence of guardian angels as spoken of in today's gospel. There is this very interesting detail I read with regards to the instinctual behavior of oriental breed sheep whenever they get lost. According to this study, upon sensing such a misfortune, they stop their frantic wandering and just stay still. Instead of searching the right way on their own, they prefer to sit still and just wait instead until they are found by the shepherd. This somehow explains how Jesus in today's parable left the 99 in search of the astray. In our own lives we, too experience being lost and led astray. Sometimes we are too wrapped up in our problems and miseries that we just kept on searching for ways and means to get out of it. The more we do this the more exhausted we become and the less likely we find a solution. God our Father and Good Shepherd knows exactly what we are going through and He already figured out what to do. Instead of relying on our own efforts which are obviously no match for God's plan and design we might as well stop our frantic wandering and just stay still if we want God to find us. Another interesting message in today's gospel reading is the fact that the quantity is irrelevant and looks after every person for God cares for each one of us. God wants to put emphasis on this point that He is always with us and knows our deepest thoughts and concerns. Jesus makes all things possible for we are adopted sons and daughters of God.

Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 18:1-5. 10.

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

PERCENT PROBABILITY

Our God is indeed a God who provides for everything we need. I was reminded of a friend who is worried about her job situation. I told her that her doubts and anxieties will not make things better in fact it may even worsen things. I shared to her about the fruits of the Holy Spirit which is love, peace, joy, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. If it produces none of these like worry and anxiety then those are not of the Lord's and every time we succumb to it then we give power to the opposite spirit or the enemy since we choose to bring about these fruits that are not of the Holy Spirit. I told her that she has to dispel right away these negative feelings whenever there is an occasion that leads her to it. I even laughed at myself when I told her about a point system. Every time she succumbs to these ill feelings then she is unconsciously although not deliberately willing it, giving the enemy the advantage to win in the battle by adding points to the opponent. I told her we have to be aware that we are engaged in a battle while here on earth and we have to consciously make a firm stand on which side we really are through our words, thoughts and actions. If we truly believe what is said in today's 1st reading then there is really no cause for us to even doubt that God is able to supply all that we need and multiply all our points to our advantage for His greater glory. We need not fear or doubt. When we encounter situations that make us lose our confidence and wear us down we should focus on what today's 1st reading is telling us. It is also important that we faithfully adhere to it. When we toil and earn a living, our harvest should be a product of righteousness. It is indeed a chain of kindness and goodness that continuously goes on and on. Amen. Hallelujah! 

2 Corinthians 9:6-10

6 Brothers and sisters: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver...God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work...The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God...

As human beings we all long to be loved and be in a relationship especially if we are in that stage of life defined by Erikson in psychosocial development which is love. The Intimacy vs. Isolation conflict is emphasized in this stage which is around the ages of 20 to 34. It is important that we enter into a relationship forming intimate, reciprocal relationships (e.g. through close friendships or marriage) and willingly make the sacrifices and compromises that such relationships require. Though, we are also aware of rejections such as being turned down or our partners breaking up with us. We are familiar with pain, and to some of us, rejection is painful; our egos cannot bear the pain. We should realize all the more the importance of establishing an intimate relationship for that matter with God always at the center.  If we allow God to take an active part in our life especially in our relationships then He will surely do. He will not intrude or trespass but if we will gladly invite and welcome Him then He will surely come to be with us. Just imagine having a good friend at our side ready to support and help us at all times. We will never be disappointed if we stick to God and all the things He stands for. In fact we will find that God can be our constant companion and friend, the greatest one we could ever get. It is never easy, we are still striving and sometimes struggling to do the work that God has lead us to do, nevertheless, we are hopeful and persevering that we can make a difference. Trustworthiness, honesty and sincerity is the key. Have you ever been in darkness that you can't see even the tiniest thread of light? I have been to such and know exactly how it feels to be trapped in darkness. We were in a cave and it was pure black. It felt good when a torch was lighted and shone through the darkness. We all depended on that light to take us where we were going. The same is true with our own lives when we stumble and fall and feel as if we are left all alone in the dark. We must not forget that there is a light that shines within us. God dwells in each one of us. If we conduct our affairs justly and not choose to do wrong then no darkness can terrify us. We can always rely on the words and promises of God for they are trustworthy. Despite all the negativities that assail us from day to day and the list is endless, we should remain hopeful and steadfast in the Lord for we are not relying on the limited efforts of human beings but on God. What are we willing to put at stake just to uphold our faith and confidence in God? Sometimes we are tested by the difficult circumstances that we are faced with and when these trying times come up our disposition in life tend to waver and we start to lose our ground. We can always come up with alibis and excuses most especially the overused line which is "The Lord will understand." Of course He will always understand but it is in these situations that we are being offered the chance of reaping bountifully instead of just sparingly. Let us not miss and always take advantage of every opportunity that the Lord sends our way to really take the challenge. To have the heart of a champion who knows no defeat only victory. It is time we discover who we really are in the eyes of God and prove what we are really made of. It is through the daily events in our life especially those that challenge us to go further down the road of life that can bring us to the peak of our faith. If we are always full of doubt and uncertainties it could mean that we are not confident of the greatest and sole source of blessings who is God Himself. Only the brave, daring and courageous make it big. But it is also true that the more daring we are the more chances we have of losing more. There is always a 50/50 probability whenever we place our bet on something. But if we are betting, giving our all and putting at stake all that we've got on the words and promises of our Lord then our probability turns into 100% certainty. If God says so then it is ultimately and without a trace of doubt very true. The light that is within us will surely break through the darkness and not have fear. Although many people misunderstand the fear of the Lord. Recalling the verse in Proverbs 1:7 and Proverbs 9:10, the fear of the Lord is called the beginning or foundation of wisdom. In Proverbs 15:33, the fear of the Lord is described as the "discipline" or "instruction" of wisdom. They think that the fear of the Lord is something that is good to have when we first start out as a Christian, but that we should grow beyond it. That should not be the case; rather, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because it is one of the foundations of our religious life. It is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit enumerated in Isaiah 11:2-3. When we are infused with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit the way that Christ Himself would. It confirms the virtue of hope. We often think of hope and fear as mutually exclusive, but the fear of the Lord is the desire not to offend Him, and the certainty that He will give us the grace necessary to keep from doing so. It is that certainty that gives us hope. The fear of the Lord is like the respect we have for our parents. We do not wish to offend them, but we also do not live in fear of them, in the sense of being frightened. In other words, it is not a fear of punishment, but a desire not to offend God that parallels our desire not to offend our parents. This gift "fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread, above all things, to offend Him. It is always for our own good to have a holy fear in the Lord. It is not the same as fear in the sense that we are just compelled to do something solely because of fear but rather with love and respect. God is indeed one who speaks to us in many ways especially through the circumstances that surround us. He knows exactly the day and the hour and make everything fit perfectly according to His plan. Nothing can ever be wiser than a man who follows the Lord with all his mind, heart and soul. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 112:1-2. 5-6. 7-8. 9

R: Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

1 Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. 4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just... (R) 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; 6 he shall never be moved; the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance. (R) 7 An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.

The gospel for today says it all. We can never be too sure of anything in this world. Everything seems to be a risk. There are times when we thought we are already cautious and careful enough and yet we still inevitably encounter things that we thought were already taken care of. Or we thought everything has been laid out and well planned and yet still get caught unaware by the surprises in life. This leads us to conclude that in this present life we ought to take chances, be willing to stretch out ourselves, give it our best shot, not be afraid and go for it. Too many dos and donts and should have done this or that. Though we may also end up regretting things we have or haven't done. But at the end of it all it is always for the good to have tried and done our best than to have not tried and done anything at all. Especially if we are rooted in the Lord and at the heart of everything we do, even the tiniest and most simple task, is the motivation to offer it to God as a form of service and make it a pleasing offering to Him. Let us not lose heart and always stand firm in our faith in God as in solid rock. It is not an easy task but a very difficult one in this world we live in but let us hold on to God's words in today's gospel and not be moved. We should always follow and do what God wills for us. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

FAIR WEATHER FRIEND

There are times when we expect God to reveal Himself to us through spectacular and heart rending events that we miss the point. We sometimes associate God and good luck to a certain extent that we fail to know the difference. In all of these things that are happening in our lives we have to realize what's most important is that we get God's message. In today's 1st reading God reminds us that He is always with us through thick and thin, even when we hardly hear or feel Him or seems like He is absent and doesn't care at all. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13

...A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing

rocks before the LORD — but the LORD was not in the wind. After the

wind there was an earthquake — but the LORD was not in the

earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was fire — but the LORD was

not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. 13 When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave...

What a wonderful world this place that we live in could be if only we listen to the instructions constantly being given to us in the scriptures. We have an awesome God who always speaks to us in a very timely and specific manner. His messages are fitted to the situation we are presently experiencing right now. We should remain confident that God will make a way. There is really nothing more that God can do for us that He has not done. God is never short of blessings to shower on us. He has made it all available to us through His Son. All that is needed is for us to make our move. Let us open ourselves to God's presence in our lives and know that there is never a moment in our life when He is away from us. It is always the other way around for we are the ones turning away from Him and placing blocks and hindrances between us whenever we can't find Him.

We are constantly being faced by challenges to our faith especially at this present time. It is easier to be firm in our faith when times are easy but when tough times come that is when we are put to the test. No matter how difficult things may seem we should never give in to the pressure and remain steadfast. We can always choose to do the right thing if we safeguard in our hearts the truth about God knowing that it is always for the best. We need not be afraid of anything although this is something that we all find very difficult to do. They say faith and reason do not work together just like science and religion. This is not a fact but a fallacy. These things in fact compliment each other because one supports the other. There is no faith without reason and vice versa. We can not just have one and lack the other. This has to be very clear in our heads. We should always try to condition ourselves in the atmosphere of God's presence. We should gear ourselves toward that direction so that we place ourselves within His reach, it's not that God can not reach us but we hinder God from reaching out to us. When we do not respond to His call and shut off our ears although we are within hearing range, we fail to get the message. Which reminds me of Bernadette's ear, when we went to her doctor she underwent a procedure (ear lavage) in order to unclog her left ear but prior to that she was already instilling ear meds for 4 days. The nurse explained to her that it can be painful and can cause her to feel dizzy and asked her if she still wants it done and she agreed. Sometimes we have to resort to very uncomfortable measures in order to be cured in the same way we should maintain such condition spiritually so that we can always keep our ears open to God's word. Wherever God is, there is always peace and prosperity. It is only natural that we have longings and desires because God Himself planted it in our hearts. We all long for the good things in life and God Himself can provide for all these things. It is just sad that we reach out for other things that we thought are good for us. We do not realize that we have to seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else will follow. We fail to follow this sure and no fail formula that is not a secret. In fact it is not hidden in the bible since it is often quoted, sang and regularly assigned in the gospel readings. It is in really living this truth that we can witness for ourselves the glory of God dwelling in our land. Let's just keep our eyes always focused on the Lord no matter how long the road we're travelling is and how heavy the burden we're carrying may seem to be for the Lord is our Good Shepherd. If things about God are very clear in our minds then there is no need to doubt that God is the only authority that is worthy of obeying more than anyone and anything in this whole wide world. If we will just look very closely at what's happening in our lives then we'll see that God has our best interests in mind. We simply have to believe and obey Him with all our hearts. God will never stop in sending out His message to us. All we have to do is be attentive and receptive to what He's telling us. Day in and day out we are bombarded by the realities of life. There are times when we just can't help but be worried and anxious of so many things. It even comes to a point when we feel like giving up but we should always keep in mind that there is hope, for the glory of the Lord will dwell in our land. Only God can give us the peace that the world can not give. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14R: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD-for he proclaims peace. To his people, 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.

...12 [13] The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps.

Last night we attended the Bible Study in San Lorenzo and it was the last of the series of talks about the Book of Mark. It focused on the 4th and last pillar of Mark's gospel which is the Markan Community (Communal/Sod) It is like any other community, human, broken and shared. A story of failed discipleship which can be found in Peter who denied Jesus 3x, Judas, the betrayer, James and John who were so ambitious and insensitive and so many others that can be found in the bible. A community of all and not dictated by race whether Jew or Gentile. The community gives special attention to the weak and helpless. There is strength in the community in spite of its brokenness. It tells us that the apostasy of Peter was committed when he was alone which tells us that it is not good for man to be alone. I guess we can learn from these famous lines, "I am at my best when I'm in a relationship." "Suffering is the best teacher." "Big mistakes make big impressions in the heart of men." Faith is the center of the community. Faith birth miracle not the other way around. Faith itself that remains steadfast and continues to believe despite the disappointments encountered in life is the miracle. It is a community in a hurry because discipleship can not wait. If there's brokenness we have to immediately restore the relationship. The selected reading was about the blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52) and was compared to another blind man who was also cured (Mk 8:22-26) Bartimaeus has a strong spirituality because it is written that he immediately followed Jesus despite Jesus' words, "Go your way" but he didn't go his own way but followed Jesus. He was healed by word and in an instant the moment Jesus spoke. During that time, the cloak signifies who you are. He is a beggar and his cloak stands for everything he is and owns since he uses it to place the money he gets from begging. Bartimaeus even left his cloak and rushed to Jesus like he did not care about anything anymore for he found in Jesus everything. Another similar story that was cited was from Jn. 4:4 of a Samaritan woman fetching water but when she learned about the life giving water which Jesus spoke of she immediately left her jar of water when she realized who Jesus is. She left behind her old life and follow the way of Jesus. On the other hand there's this story of another unnamed blind man in Bethsaida, he was not healed instantly rather slowly and gradually. He was healed by touch with a spittle and was sent home. Mark recognizes the differences in spirituality of the members of the community. He knows that there are people that are quick in understanding things concerning matters of the faith and there are those who are slow. But this doesn't mean that we kick them out of the community. Mark sees the community as all sinners because ours is a flawed community and it is for this reason that Jesus came. Peter whom we thought was the first person who got it all right about Jesus as the Messiah denied Jesus 3x but he was not thrown out of the community. He proved himself true to his faith by his succeeding actions which led to his dying on the cross upside down but eventually earned him the honor of becoming the 1st pope of the Church. Just like Peter we have to experience everything in order to fully understand what the Markan secret is all about. For in the end, the Markan community mirrors the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, the Paschal Mystery which is the Markan secret. Today's 2nd reading conveys the same message of communal love that a Markan community fosters. St. Paul conveys his great love for his people to the point of even wanting to be accursed for their sake. He knows the great privilege and benefit of being joined to Christ and he wanted very much for the Israelites to realize what they are missing by not accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. We too, should be able to process this truth in our heart, mind and soul. Amen. Hallelujah!

Romans 9:1-5

1 Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2 that I have great  sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

There are times in our life when we consider all positive things happening to us as the only reason to continue to love, serve and praise God. We should do all these in all circumstances even when we don't feel like it. In today's gospel Peter was able to walk on water but when he was confronted with the strong winds and waves he started to sink. We have our hopes up when we see things turning into our favor but we suddenly lose our ground the moment things don't go our way. We become fair weather followers/friends of Jesus. Can we still honestly profess with conviction our faith in God in the midst of trials?

I have come to develop a special attachment to every gospel story that speaks of the Sea of Galilee. This started way back in the Philippines before I finally decided to come here. The Sea of Galilee has taken on a deeper meaning in my life way back in 2007 when I decided to come here to the US. In Mt. 4: 18 the Sea of Galilee is where Jesus' call to the first disciples took place. It is good to recall and look back where our own Galilees are. I can still remember very well my own sea of Galilee and should always keep in mind and never forget. As we gather all our strength and courage we, too like the disciples should never turn back and go forth to our own Galilees. I could still recall the bible story in Luke 5 entitled, "The call of Simon (later on named Peter) the Fisherman." It was way back in Feb. 4, 2007, during those times when I was discerning and weighing my decision to come here to the US with my friend Joy. This gospel reading from Luke specifically caught my attention, confirmed and gave me confidence in what I was planning to do and eventually did. Just like Peter who was skeptical at that time I was also feeling so unsure about my decisions then and this phrase really had a great impact on me back then coupled with the priest's homily that went with it. That was like more than 7 years ago now. I feel like God is reminding me again of that scene at the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Gennesaret) when I, just like Peter decided to respond to God's call in my own personal way. I have been writing and sharing about this message constantly. The Sea of Galilee is the place where Jesus chose His Apostles and also where the apostles immediately left everything and followed Him. (Luke 5:10-11). Which reminds me too of that song entitled, "Lord, you have come" The background setting of this song is biblically based on the gospel stories of the call of Jesus to Peter and the apostles at the Sea of Galilee.  It held a special and deep meaning that touched my heart in an unexplainable way owing to the occasions and incidences that were connected and related to it. But I believe God in His awesome and almighty wisdom, intelligence and knowledge reveals things in stages for the benefit of our limited capacities and understanding. The series of events and daily readings became an eye opener and has given me a better understanding of all the things that have happened since. I realized it is always good to look back, recall and never forget those times in our lives when Jesus was calling us for a certain task and decided to follow and obey. As I develop in myself a broader understanding of the Call at the Sea of Galilee I also realized the need to go across it and experience a higher level of union with God.  In the gospel of Luke back then, the situation was different since the Sea of Galilee in that given bible passage was very reassuring since it gave an impression of peace and calm which was very conformed to my situation back in the Philippines before I left for the US. When I finally arrived here in the US and experience life away from my loved ones and encountering the challenges I now face I was able to relate to that gospel in Mark 4:35-41 also at the Sea of Galilee when the disciples were faced by a violent squall and big waves filling up the boat to the brink of causing it to sink. Very much unlike the gospel in Luke when Peter having obeyed and followed to put out into the deep water was rewarded with a miracle, Lk. 5:6-8 “... when they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing... and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.” Immediately upon arriving the US I was also greeted with a lot of pleasant surprises like passing the NCLEX-RN, getting a hospital petitioner, being able to travel to the East Coast (New York, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington DC) for free and winning the grand prize in the Nurse Expo. All these experiences of the disciples in the Sea of Galilee I have noticed that I can personally relate to especially in the manner of the sequence I have encountered them. In both occasions, the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus in both gospels of Luke and Mark came to this scenario or condition of their boats both in danger of sinking. Although both happened in the Sea of Galilee, as I look at my own life the gospel in Luke which I encountered before I left the Philippines reflected the positive and confirming things that were happening  back then just as the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus' specifically the bible passages at the Sea of Galilee in Luke 5:4-6 "Jesus said to Peter, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master we have worked hard all night and caught nothing  but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this they caught a great number of fish their nets were tearing." On the other hand the gospel in Mark which I have encountered now that I am already here in the US reflects the trials and difficulties which I can relate to the disciples response to the bidding of Jesus to cross to the other side were greeted by a not so pleasant surprise with a violent squall to the point where the boat was already filled up with water and in the brink of sinking. After having made those decisions in 2007 which eventually brought me to my present situation here in the US, I must say I can somehow relate to how the disciples felt back then. It made me realize that I have also come to a point in my sailing with Jesus in my very personal Sea of Galilee when I have also witnessed violent squalls in my life here in the US and been brought to situations to the point of sinking but have been constantly assured of God's tremendous power. I have witnessed Him pacify the turbulent winds in my life which have left me with a great calm in the midst of the storm. In today's gospel it is cited that Jesus came toward them walking on the sea and his invitation to Peter to get out of the boat and go to Him on the water which reflects the need to go beyond this call of Jesus at the seashore of Galilee. In the same way we are called to respond in our own personal way to Jesus by carefully looking at our own lives as we go through a series of stages and discover the various experiences we had which led us to accepting His call at our own Sea of Galilee, sail with Him across it, not be afraid of the storm that assail us, and even get out of our boats and start walking on water.  It may sound impossible but that is exactly what God expects us to do. We can not just remain in the security of our boats all the time we've got to gather all our courage to step out of our boats and believe that we are able to overcome anything with Jesus on our side. If we have faith and do not doubt then we are able to overcome the impossible in our lives. If we are in a middle of a very scary situation there is no reason for us to doubt that God can rescue us even though our problems are insurmountable. God wants us to continue believing and trusting in Him even in the middle of a storm in our life. If we hold on to God then nothing can shake us. There is no reason for us to be afraid. We can walk on water. Jesus is Lord and is over and above all our fears, troubles and anxieties. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 14:22-23

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds...During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ...

TRUE CONNECTION

We may have been praying for something a long time already and it seemed like nothing is happening. We must not lose heart for God is always at work. His ways and thoughts are much higher than ours. We can always rely on His word and can hold on to what Fr. Orbos said that there is a reason and a mission for everything and whatever may be happening to us we should always remember that it is in transition. It’s been many years ago when I first encountered this bible passage from today’s 1st reading on Oct. 7, 2007 (10-07-07). From that time, I’ve started writing down daily reflections based on the assigned bible readings up to this very day.  This bible passage was also one of the reasons why I remain steadfast in my decisions back then despite of it all. It’s also divine providence that I came across a music video in You Tube entitled “Everything In It’s Time” which has an identical message in today’s 1^st reading which really captured the special meaning I hold in my heart. To make it connect even more is the fact that the numbers 8 and 10 are also significant for me. There were several events that I can associate with the numbers 8 and 10 which led me to this path where I am right now.  When I was still in the Philippines, I called the US Embassy to get a schedule for an interview. I was scheduled on Feb. 8, 2007 Thursday. At that time, I have been getting a lot of confirmations with the # 8 and the day Thursday that’s why they meant a lot to me. It was like getting a positive sign from the Lord already and was confirmed when I was granted a visa. Another incident was when I took the NCLEX-RN exam in Pasadena, on that day when we got to the testing center I got the surprise of my life when I saw the # 8 hanging in a stand. Although that # was not assigned to me and got the # 11, I secretly wished that I should have gotten the # 10 instead because it's considered as a perfect number. And guess what, wish granted when the test administrator accidentally switched the # and I got the # 10 instead. I personally think it is God's way of building up my confidence which I considered a good sign since I passed the test. It was also on the 8th of Nov. 2007 which happened to be a Thursday, too when I finally decided to stay in the US after receiving word from a USCIS personnel regarding my immigrant petition. What’s interesting here is that when I asked her name she refused to give it but gave the code Maria 550LM, the same as the Blessed Mother’s name. It was impressed to me that things are connected in a way since significant events in Mama Mary's life is dated with #8. Her birthday is on Sept. 8 and the Immaculate Conception on Dec.8. When (8-10-12) we attended the Block Rosary activity of the Militia Immaculata in Westminster in honor of a faithful departed soul whose birthday made an impact on me since it was also the birthday of another faithful departed loved one whom I had been offering a rosary daily. Today’s 1st reading is taken from Habakkuk which has 8 letters in it and the letter H represents the #8 in the alphabet. I feel that God has always been sending us positive signs although not directly implied God is giving us an opportunity to hold on to Him at all times no matter how unsure some things may be. There is more to it than I could ever realize, figure and write about. No matter how perfectly or slightly matched these numbers, endless connections and significant events are, the fact that God is always true to His words and promise thereby  making all things possible is the only true connection that really matters. Amen. Hallelujah!

Habakkuk 1:12 – 2:4

…2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. 3 For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late…

Mark, Luke and Matthew are considered Petrine gospels because they originated from their association with Peter while the authority of John is coming from his direct relationship with Jesus being always in close contact with Him and fondly called as the one whom Jesus loved. Matthew is more of the strict and rigid type, which adheres to the laws. Luke depicts more of the healing power of Jesus. John is considered as high Christology, apocalyptic in nature since he is the one who died last among all the apostles he witnessed more and was able to write a lot of revelations about Jesus. In studying the bible we have to use the holistic approach and study all 4 gospels for a broader understanding of who Jesus is. If we continue to hold on to God and seek Him at all times in all things then we will never be disappointed. We will surely find Him and not be led astray for everything is under God’s control and power. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Psalm 9:8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R: You forsake not those who seek you, O Lord.

… The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of distress. 10 [11] They trust in you who cherish your name, for you forsake not those who seek you, O LORD.

God knows everything and assures us that all is under His control for nothing is impossible with God. We can not let unbelief nor the slightest trace of doubt set in. We should always acknowledge the fact that there is a continuous tug of war between good and evil. Whatever actions we engage in, will result to the advantage of one pulling end over the other. This is critical since we will contribute to the proliferation and taking root in us of one power over the other. It’s like hearing the words of a lawyer telling us, whatever you say and do can be used against you or the other way around, since it could also be to our advantage. It is definitely in our hands, we’ve got to nurture the seed of faith that God has planted in us.  We’ve got to take an active part in it and be perfectly aware of the truth that we are the variable factor. God is the constant factor. There is no question about God’s power and might that’s why we are able to move mountains because God said so. We need to let our faith grow from little to great just as God our Father whom we rely on, is able to do the impossible. We are destined for great things for we are God's special creation. We should always keep this in mind and believe that there is nothing that we can not do if only we put our faith in it.

Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 17:14-20

…Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

WE CAN BET ON THIS

Do you feel safe and secure in your homes, offices, and other places aside from these. We have come to reach a point in our present day life when we often hear a lot of shocking news about fraud, robbery and murder which is now very rampant. There is no reason to fear because we can always count on an Invincible and Almighty God.

Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-71 See, upon the mountains there advances the bearer of good news, announcing peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah, fulfill your vows! For nevermore shall you be invaded by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed.

He is the boss! He calls the shots that's why we are confident that nothing can go wrong let's just always trust God that whatever happens He is in control, amen.

Deuteronomy 32:35cd-36ab, 39abcd, 41R: It is I who deal death and give life.35 Close at hand is the day of their disaster and their doom is rushing upon them! 36 Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity.

Aren’t we supposed to live life in abundance? Today’s gospel tells us, that if we wish to come after Jesus, we must deny ourselves and follow Him. The one who saves himself will lose it. We have several selves and we have to lose our sinful selves. St. Paul in Gal. 2:20 said, it is no longer I who live. There should be no coexistence. Jesus should take over.  We are challenged to leave the world a better place than we found it. There can never be anything more rewarding than possessing the greatest treasure in the whole wide world. Are we willing to give up everything just to take hold of it. If we are wise and smart then we must carefully decide what we consider most precious for us. Indeed, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul. It's wiser to invest on treasures that will benefit our soul instead of material wealth. We can bet on this. There are very difficult situations in life that we simply have to experience and go through. But whatever it may be it is of great consolation if these difficulties, trials and hardships that we are confronted with and encountering are offered to God as a form of sacrifice that will make us whom God meant us to be. If we know that we are always conformed and aligned with God's will and plan in our lives to become a pleasing sacrifice before Him then nothing that we go through and suffer is in vain. If man recognizes, acknowledges and gives tribute to the goodness of a person how much more can God give to those who faithfully follow and obey Him. Amen. Hallelujah!

 Matthew 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.

AWESOME GOD

Since today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, all the readings point only to one thing, the Kingship, Majesty and Dominion of God over all the earth. In today's 1st reading, God is described as seating on His throne and gave an impression of great power. It takes us to another aspect or level of understanding of the majesty of our God. We ought to be glad and rejoice that we have a God who is Almighty and Immortal that no one or nothing can ever be over and above Him. Whenever we hear the word throne then we immediately paint a picture in our minds about royalty, highness and being on top of everything. This is all true when we speak of God. Although we may never be able to fully visualize God, the Ancient One sitting on the throne, it reminds us of the truth that He is King of kings and Lord of lords.  We just can’t put the right words into our mouth when we speak of God’s majesty. God is almighty and all powerful. He is beyond words! Amen. Hallelujah!

Daniel 7:9-10. 13-14

9 As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. 10 A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him... His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

We don't want to be losers here in this life, do we? All the more should we not want to be losers in the next life for eternity. We have a God who fights our battles and we are assured of His victory already. We should all be well aware of God’s angels that surround us and are sent by God to us to always light, guide, rule and guard. It is just a matter of persevering and committing to the task that we are all called to fulfill. To live a life of faith in words, thoughts and deeds in our Lord Jesus Christ who lived, died and resurrected all for our sake. Erase all doubts and be faithful to the One God who is most high above every other god. We should develop an image of God that is fitting to Him as described in today's psalm. There are significant events in our life that we can associate with certain major decisions we made and can never forget. The place where we are right now is exactly where God wants us to be. If God brings us here then He will bring us through it. God knows exactly and with perfection what is being allowed to happen to us in our life 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 where we are now. That's God, He passes us through a lot of things for us to see His glory. We all long to become a member or even be identified with groups and associations that hold a good name and reputation. It helps us in many ways and keeps us abreast with the latest trends in our profession for example. It could be considered an asset and we would definitely not leave it out from our resume because it speaks well of us. There are even associations that require us to fulfill certain requirements in order to qualify. We even have to go out of our way and make some sacrifices such as go through rigid screening, pass certain examinations and maintain certain units in order to comply with the qualifications. All of these we are willing to do and make ourselves able just to belong. Considering that these are all earthly memberships that could only last a lifetime. What about eternal memberships that continue even after this life is over? To be a part of the Kingdom where our Lord is King is the ultimate goal we should all set our eyes on. Whenever we are faced with problems and difficulties in life we should always find consolation in a God whom nothing is lost for He knows and sees all. We may still not be in perfect shape for the Lord but God is constantly at work in those who are just and upright of heart.  We have all the reasons to rejoice and be glad knowing that we have a God who is just. We should always acknowledge that without God we are nothing and God's power over us can only go as far as we allow Him to. Nothing else matters more than this truth that we have a God who is high over all the earth and exalted far above all gods. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

 Psalm 97:1-2. 5-6. 9

R: The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

...Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. (R) 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory...You, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.

Peter declared God's tremendous power with much conviction. This due to the fact, that he had been an eyewitness of God's majesty. We know that once in our lives, too we've already witnessed the glory of God and it is only right and fitting that we proclaim it and make it known to everyone in order for us to always remember the He is Lord of lords, King of kings and Savior of the world. Today's 2nd reading is first hand information from Peter himself. He witnessed Jesus' Transfiguration which made all the difference from all other narrations which are just handed down. When we hear amazing things and stories we get all excited about it but to experience and witness it for ourselves is a lot more rewarding and convinces us even more to believe and not doubt. One way or another we've had experiences like that of Peter's when we can not deny its authenticity. Our senses have testified to it and can no longer be unbelieving. If we are to closely review our lives we will find that we too have been to Peter's situation when we also have witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus. It may not be specifically the same events but it is something that should make us hold on to God and make us a living testimony of His Almighty Power. It could serve as a lamp shining on us when darkness comes and morning seems to be far from sight. Amen. Hallelujah!

2 Peter 1:16-19

16 Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

We should fully trust the voice of Jesus who dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. If there are times when we get confused and don't know anymore what to do, whom to listen and where to go just feel the very depths of our heart as we pray and He will never hesitate nor withhold the answers we seek. He is not a God who misleads, confuses and causes chaos. There is a time for everything. All we have to do is kneel down before the foot of the cross and we will surely find the answers. Let our hearts talk and do the work to fully understand His instructions to us. May we be able to learn the art of silence and just listen and meditate on the Word of God. There are some things that our mind can not fully explain and understand. Each one of us during our lifetime have experienced unbelievable things wrought by God's mighty hand that are beyond our understanding and comprehension. We shouldn't be surprised at all if we truly believe that our life is in the hands of a God who is Almighty, Immortal and Holy. Today’s gospel invites us to look deeply into the transfiguration of Jesus. This corresponds to the 1^st transformation in the womb of the Blessed Mother when the glory of God penetrated humanity. This transformation happened without any harm coming on Christ’s Divine nature.  This communication of divinity is the immediate prelude of the resurrection. We long and have a deep desire to live and see at the very moment of our death this same glorious sight that the disciples saw although with holy fear and an awe of God that we want to live in perfect union with Him. We see God’s face that shines forth and with clothes dazzling white. We think of the very garments worn by Jesus made by Mary. We ask Mary to intercede for us and plead to her son that each of us will be transformed into the likeness of His son just as Jesus Himself was woven in the flesh of her own body.  The transfiguration is true of us when we experience deification after the 2^nd coming. Our features will not be distorted but glorified just as in the person of Jesus. He did not lose the substance of his flesh but showed forth an addition of brightness. Our bodies will be renewed in the way Jesus is. We will be brought to a state of perfection, surrounded by the glory of God not only at the level of our souls but also in the level of our bodies. Jesus is one Divine Person with 2 natures, the divine son who by merit of his Incarnation assumed our human nature. He exists united, with human and divine nature which is what we profess in the Apostle’s Creed every Sunday. He takes the aspect of suffering and humiliation when He underwent death in his human nature but in his divinity resurrected in glory for He is life Himself. His glory in transfiguration as a human person is not abolished or absorbed by His divinity nor did His humanity hide His Divinity. When Jesus became man He did not in any way lost any of His Divine nature. He is always complete, fully divine and fully human and always in full and total operation, both natures are together and miraculously joined in the person of Jesus Christ. His divinity is not evacuated but divinity communicated.  He shares to us his divinity and makes us partakers as in Romans 8:16-17, The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.  God alone can transfigure our lives and make it beautiful. Thus the gospel for today also holds a special meaning to me in relation to my son. He wrote an essay a couple of years ago to fulfill one of the requirements for his College entrance exam. Here is what he wrote.

-When I was in elementary (4th grade) and wanted to be a part of the basketball team of our school. I tried out many times but I always get cut because I am not physically fit, I was really fat back then. I was really determined to join the team and I decided to lose weight and get fit. I exercised daily and lessened my food intake and from 160lbs I became 120lbs. On the first term of my 1st year in high school, I tried out again for the team and I got accepted but the league that I am suppose to play in was in the 3rd term. I became really sad that the coach didn’t recognize my determination and talent. And then the most unexpected thing happened to me, during our PE class which was swimming, I got a perfect score in our practical test in diving. My teacher talked to me about my potential in becoming a strong swimmer and asked me if I would want to join the team, at first I was hesitant in joining because I didn’t really know how to swim but when my teacher said that he would teach me all of the strokes, I immediately accepted his offer. At the start of my training in swimming, I had a really hard time. My coach said that it’s normal because I haven't been swimming for a long time already and my body is not yet used to it. But he assured me that eventually I will soon get the hang of it. And so I did train hard and enjoyed at the same time, I joined competitions and it was in my 4th competition that I got my very first medal. And now that I am in my 4th year in High School, I was appointed by our coach to be the Team Captain. In those years I have learned that you must persevere in order to attain your goal. I just wanted to be a part of the basketball team but because of persevering it turned out to be more than I expected because now I am already the Team Captain of the swimming team.

 When I was a child about 7years old, I used to idolize the cartoon character Tarzan. His family lived in the jungle, but his parents were killed when he was still young and the gorillas were the ones who took care of him. I was really captured by the movie and I used to watch it everyday, over and over again. And then one afternoon, after eating lunch, I got so hyper that I copied the moves of Tarzan. In our garage we had a lot of cases of beer for my dad’s business. I climbed the cases of beer about a storey high. I lost my footing and I fell from it. It was really high that I just closed my eyes and then all I heard were the crashes of the bottles and cases. And then felt that my body was flat on the ground. And then I heard my mom screaming. When I opened my eyes I was already surrounded by  glass splinters. The shirt that I was wearing was bedecked with broken glasses. It looked like it was stuck there forever and can no longer be used so my mom just threw it away. I was all wet with beer and really smelled of alcohol but aside from that all I got was a small scratch in my chin. I saw my mother’s face and she was crying so hard, she kept on asking me “Are you okay? Where does it hurt?” and I just said to her that I am okay and she has nothing to worry about. I got up and took a shower then I slept. When I woke up, I saw my mother crying while praying and then I said to her that I would join in praying. From that day on I have always prayed almost everyday. I made it a point that I would always talk to God and thank Him for His blessings everyday. From a kid who watches Tarzan, I became a man who have a big faith in God. End of his sharing.

When I read this I was in tears. I praised and thanked God for the personal transfiguration process of my son at a very young age and still at work even in the present. Amen. Hallelujah!

 

Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him...behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.