THE GIFT OF LOVE

Mark 12:29-30

“The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

It is not just a kiss or a hug, or a simple “I Love You” which we normally give to our loved ones to show our love. It is not just saying sweet nothings similar to the content of our love letters. Jesus did not say just to love. He said we must love the Lord with our WHOLE heart and soul and with ALL our mind and strength. If that is the case, then how can I love my wife, children or neighbors, when my WHOLE heart is already given to the Lord? If that is your understanding, then you are correct. BUT GOD IS BEYOND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING.

Moreover, if that is the case, there would be no more second great commandment. In fact, Jesus says the second commandment is like the first. The kind of wholehearted love Jesus is talking about is charity (agape) - loving God for his own sake and all others for his sake. And we do it not by human strength or understanding, but with the divine love that is poured into our heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

When we love others with charity, we are loving God through them. Our every loving act towards them becomes an expression of our love for God. As St. Bernard of Clairvaux has written in his book, “Now a man cannot love his neighbor in God, except he love God Himself; wherefore we must love God first, in order to love our neighbors in Him. This too, like all good things, is the Lord's doing, that we should love Him, for He hath endowed us with the possibility of love. In such wise man, animal and carnal by nature, and loving only himself, begins to love God by reason of that very self-love; since he learns that in God he can accomplish all things that are good, and that without God he can do nothing.”

Almighty Father, may I love You in all things and above all things. May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in Heaven. Nothing is good that is against Your Will, and all that is good comes from Your Hand. Place in my heart a desire to please You and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love, so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace.

I am the Lord your God: hear My voice.

SEVENTY-SEVEN TIMES

Matthew 18:21-22

“…how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

It could be 7 times. It could be seventy-seven times. And it may even be seventy times seven. The Lord doesn’t and will not care how many times you do it. What he expects us to do is to do it repeatedly. We have to do it many times. And we have to do it from the heart – forgiving and then forgetting. For how can we ask God to forgive our sins, when we ourselves cannot forgive others? How can we ask God to give us what we need, when we ourselves cannot give to others what they need?

Learning to forgive implies that forgiveness is a learned process, not an automatic response. Our sinful flesh has a high resistance to laying offenses aside – we always want to take revenge. We want others to suffer as we suffer. Within our vicious mind, retaliation is most often not an option, but rather it's a driving force – the only option - it has to get even!

Learning to forgive begins with understanding what God says about forgiveness in the Bible. According to Scripture, we are the ones who must put off the old and learn of God and choose His ways. The Spirit dwells within us and teaches us that forgiving repeatedly is an act worth of Heaven.

Our Christian life should be a changed life. We should forgive others no matter how many times they sin, as we live a progressively more holy life as we grow closer to Christ. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace” (Ephesians 1:7). When was the last time you forgave someone of his sin? Have you done it straight from the heart?

Almighty Father, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Solidify our understanding of forgiveness as you have done for us.

“I did not asked for forgiveness,
and yet You died for me.
And I have to do it again and again,
forgiving and forgetting their sins to me.”

Remember your mercies, O Lord.

WALK THE TALK

Jeremiah 7:23

Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.

The instruction from my mother was clear. Ride a jeepney going to Divisoria. Alight by Ilaya road. Walk by about 200 steps to Tabora Street, then turn right on the first bend. On my right, I will see the store selling the things I need for my project. The instruction was clear – or so I thought.

Along the way, I got lost. I may have taken the wrong turn. Or entered the wrong street. Just the same, it took me quite some time to find the store. I have forgotten to put the instruction at heart, so I lost my way as a consequence.

The Lord not only wants us to listen to His voice (or His commandments). He also wants us to “walk the talk”. We maybe attending Church on Sundays hearing the good news, or attending bible studies once a week, or reading the Bible every night. But this does not really make us more Christian than others if we fail to convert that into actions.

“Walk” with Him today. Spend time with Him – feeling His love and letting others feel that love. Try to understand just how He wants things to happen, by His own standard, not ours. Let's try to find out what His plan for our life is. Let's not conform to what the world expects. The world is wrong – and we could get lost in the end. Let us put His words in our hearts and walk in all the ways that He commanded and we will not be lost.

Almighty Father, teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name for ever.

“Your gospel, we hear
By heart, we remember.
Your commandments, we bear
In Your way, we prosper.”

Teach me Your way, Oh Lord, that I may walk in Your truth.

GOOD FOR THE SOUL

Matthew 5:19

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Another story I got from the internet:

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six year old son asked if he could say grace, as we bowed our heads he said, “God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!” Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, “That's what's wrong with this country, kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!”

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, “Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?” As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him. An elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, “I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.” Really? My son asked. “Cross my heart. Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.”

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his ice cream for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, “Here, this is for you, ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already.”

Is your soul good already? If we do the simple thing God is requiring at the moment, we are perfect in God’s sight—not perfected, but perfect for the moment. Follow His commandments, it’s good for the soul.

Almighty Father, I pray you will give us such a burning passion to do Your perfect will that everything else will become secondary in importance.

“Your commandments we obey
So others may believe, we pray.”

Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

NAAMAN

2 Kings 5:15

Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.

In Scripture, leprosy denotes sin - man’s true spiritual condition without the saving grace (spiritual healing) of God’s salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the time of Jesus, a leper was considered unclean and had to be isolated from society to a certain degree. Wherever he went, he was to cry out, “unclean, unclean,” and he had to wear black with a hood covering his face and live outside the city walls.

Sin is like this. It separates us from God, for we are unclean. Because of man’s separation from God - because of his spiritually dead condition and the hardness of his soul - he becomes insensitive, callused, restless and never satisfied. We often does not experience severe pain anymore because of our sins and waywardness. Finally, the leprosy of sin destroys the pleasantness and beauty God meant for mankind in His creation.

The healing of Naaman, the leper who leads the Aramean army, is not just a story of the healing of a man from one of the most dreaded diseases of ancient times. It is a story of salvation, one which illustrates the spiritual salvation man finds only in Jesus Christ and how men come to find that salvation in Christ.

Moreover, we knew in our heart that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life – our only salvation. And yet, we sometimes keep a hardened heart. Our disobedience, like that of Naaman, keeps us from attaining salvation. Because of our pride and ego, we want to follow our own way and not God’s way. Listen to our loved ones. Listen to our elders and friends like Naaman. When he finally listened and followed what God, through Elijah, has instructed him, “his flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” Become a new creature by faith in our Lord. Follow Him and be cleanse of our sins.

Almighty Father, we pray for all who are in need of healing. We pray for all who are disabled by injury or illness. We pray for all who are troubled by confusion or pain. We pray for all about to undergo surgery. We pray for patients here at the hospital and their loved ones. Lord, hear the spoken and unspoken prayers in our hearts and minds. Amen +

At thirst is my soul for the living God.

BELIEVING IS SEEING

Third Sunday of Lent

John 4:41, 42

Many more began to believe in Him because of His word… “for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

My wife told me that she is pregnant. I did not believe at first. I asked her how did she know. That is when she showed me the pregnancy test result. If we do not see it, does it still exist? My friend told me that I passed our final exam and we are now candidates for graduation. I did not believe at first. I asked him how did he know. He just told me to go to the office and check on the list posted on the door. If we do not see it, do we believe it happened?

I cannot see the air, and yet I live for I breathe. That is the most important proof that it exist. I cannot see my brain, and yet I think, feel and love. That is the most important evidence that I do have a brain. I cannot see God, and yet all around us, we see beauty, love, happiness and life. That is the most important proof that He exist. It is not easy for a lot of people to put faith in something he does not see because we tend to put faith only in what we can see. As humans, we can merely sense the existence of a higher Being, a greater coherence than ourselves, but we cannot see it, for now face to face.

The people of Jerusalem had seen God in Jesus’ face, and yet they did not believe in Him. Up to now, most of them still wait for the coming of the Lord. The people of Samaria is different. They had seen Him and believed in Him, not just because He says so, but also because “of His word” that they “have heard for (them)selves.” He came to give this ‘living water’. From us it will go out to help other people. The world is full of people who need spiritual help. But we cannot have new life from Jesus until we ask for it. Before we ask, we must want it. Before we want it, we must believe that He lives up to this day – loving us and caring for us.

Almighty Father, the well-spring of life, pour into our hearts the living water of Your grace, that refreshed by You, we may live this day in steadfast reliance on the strength You give; through our Savior Jesus Christ.

“Your living water, we openly receive
Your eternal Words, we fervently believe.”

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

I LOVE THE LORD

Micah 7:18, 19

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin… And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt?

Our God is a compassionate God who calls us to compassion. Compassion which leads to acts of justice - love which leads to the relief of suffering - is the inspiration from God's spirit which breaths life into us as we strive to bring our good God - our good help - to those in need, through who we are and what we do to alleviate spiritual and physical suffering.

Let me share with you another beautiful song. Be blessed! (you may go to www.bukaspalad.com).

I love the Lord, He is filled with compassion.
He turned to me on the day that I called.
From the snares of the dark,
O, Lord, save my life, be my strength.

Gracious is the Lord, and just.
Our God is mercy, rest to the weary.
Return my soul to the Lord our God who bids tears away.
I love the Lord.

How can I repay the Lord for all the goodness
He has shown me?
I will raise the cup of salvation and call on His name.
I love the Lord.

I shall live my vows to You before Your people,
I am Your servant.
I will offer You my sacrifice of praise and of pray'r.
I love the Lord.

Almighty and compassionate Father, thank You for Your compassion and mercy that led You to seek our redemption instead of our destruction. As we live each day, we pray for those less fortunate, especially those who are hurting, and whose wounds need to be healed. Send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts and minds that we may look to Jesus for strength, hope and the courage to share Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Him with everyone I meet today and everyday.

The Lord is kind and merciful.

UNLOCKING HEAVEN

Matthew 20:28

“And so I say to you, you are Peter… I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.”

March 1997 – I received the key to my first-ever car. I was very excited. First stop, Tagaytay!

September 2004 – I received the key to our first house, our very own dwelling place. We are very happy. This is where we will build on our dreams, our family and our future. First stop, the bedroom!

I wonder how Peter reacted when the Lord gave him, not just a key to a house or a key to a carriage. Rather, he was given the key to heaven that “Whatever (he) bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever (he) loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” He must be struck by awe, thinking what Jesus means by that. He must have stood there for some time, trying to understand what’s the real meaning of this Key to heaven.

But he would understand it as the time goes by. That Christ’s passion, death and resurrection is the key to heaven, not just for His disciples, but for all of us. While it is true that Christ did confer authority on Peter, it is also true that this authority was not unique to Peter, nor was it supreme over the other apostles and the entire church. The power of the keys was granted to the whole church to be exercised in the forgiveness of sins. The apostle Peter was the first to open the way of salvation by the preaching of the gospel, first to the Jews at Pentecost and later on to the Gentiles.

We are given the Key to Heaven, through St. Peter. As committed Christians, we should proudly hang the Key around our necks for the world to see. Be more aware of our commitment and therefore less likely to put down the key.

If you die today, is the Key with you to unlock Heaven’s gate?

Lord Jesus, You have given us the Key to Heaven through our first pope, St. Peter. May we always have this key with us and forever keep it in our hearts so upon reaching Heaven, we would be able to enter and join You forever in God’s eternal glory and love.

You are Peter, and upon this rock will I build My Church.

HOPEFUL TRUST

Jeremiah 17:7

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD.

Hope is a brand of cigarette. Faith, Love and Charity are pseudo-names of women in a bar or massage parlors (oopss, don’t ask me how I knew – been there, done that). And then there is TRUST, the brand of a contraceptive device. To Christians the words "faith," "hope," “trust” and "love" convey non-material concepts, being related to the functions of the spiritual "inner person". Yet, in this world, these have became synonymous to earthly things that give us earthly satisfactions – and security.

Most people have a great reluctance, even fear, of being unsecured and vulnerable. We like to control events and our environment. We insulate ourselves with power, riches and relationships and a host of other things to give us the illusion of security. However, God has given us blessings far beyond what we can imagine. And yet we ask more, and yet we still feel unsecured.

Things are not always clear for us either and it can seem that we are lost in the wilderness. Faith — trust in God — is spiritual radar that will guide us onward and home. And it might have an impact on future generations. Everything that we do will be through the power of God, for it is God’s show and not ours. But we have to accept that gift and allow ourselves to be led by it. The fact that Jesus abolished death and grants us immortality should set us free from the self-preserving fear that governs our lives. This grants us the freedom to love and to serve without being overwhelmed by the usual human feeling of vulnerability.

That is why a constant turning to God in prayer is vital for healing. And for those who remain too broken and wounded to pray for themselves, they must rely on their brothers and sisters in Christ to pray in their stead.

Restore someone's ability to trust. God will bless you for it.

Almighty Father, how me how much you love me and save me according to your promise. Then I can answer those who insult me because I trust in your word. Then I can live fully without fear under Your great love and mercy because my faith is in You, for I trust in Your word.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

ATONEMENT

Matthew 20:28

“Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

A ransom is defined as a payment for the release of property or a person who was against the will of the owner or the kidnapped person. In today’s gospel, Jesus mentioned that He gave His life as a ransom so we will be saved. This is the very essence and the foundational truth of Christianity. In this way He fulfilled the old covenant sacrificial system, reconciled us to God, and changed our lives forever.

This is the doctrine of the Atonement. That Jesus described his death as a ransom payment is clear. But to whom was the ransom paid? Jesus never said. Again, posing such question would be a theological precept that I would not be in a position to answer. But one thing is clear, Jesus offered His life so we may live forever in the grace and love of God. When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, the devil won and we became beholden to him until Jesus paid the fee.

Now that Jesus has fulfilled the old covenant and sealed the New Covenant in his blood, we can enter into eternal relationship with God. This does not mean that Jesus' death was some hidden, financial transaction going on "behind the scenes." It is an act of sacrifice in which we, his followers, are caught up as we die to sin and live to God.

Atonement is not just about getting saved for the afterlife. It's about becoming reconciled with God, others, and ourselves.

Almighty Father, we offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

“Jesus offered His whole being
As payment for all our iniquities.
He did this so He can bring
Each one of us in life eternity.”

Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

HUMBLE OF HEART

Matthew 23:12

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

A samurai came to see a Zen Master one day. The samurai was very famous and he was really very proud of all his conquests. As he enter the Master’s house, and looking at the beauty of the Master and the Grace of the moment, he suddenly felt inferior.

He said to the Master, "Why am I feeling inferior? Just a moment ago everything was okay. As I entered your court suddenly I felt inferior. I have never felt like that before. I have faced death many times, and I have never felt any fear -- why am I now feeling frightened?"

The Master said, "Come outside." And he said, "Look at these trees. This tree is high in the sky and this small one is beside it. They both have existed beside my window for years, and there has never been any problem. The smaller tree has never said to the big tree, 'Why do I feel inferior before you?' This tree is small, and that tree is big -- why have I never heard a whisper of it?"

The samurai said, "Because they can't compare." The Master replied, "Then you need not ask me. You know the answer."

We are nothing as compared to God. And yet, we still think that we are better or even superior than most people that we meet or know. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." Our job is to humble ourselves. God’s job is to lift us up. We need to see that all that we have is given by God and be humbled by that realization. And we need to be willing to use all that we have been given for the sake of the Gospel.

Almighty Father, I am far too often influenced by what others think of me, pretending to be either richer or smarter or nicer than I really am. Please prevent me from gloating over praise on one hand or be discouraged by criticism on the other. Show me how to be humble of heart, like you.

“Being humble like a little child – happy, carefree with what he has
This is what God desires, that He may exalt you in due time.”

“To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.”

PROUD JUDGMENT

Luke 6:37, 38

"Stop judging and you will not be judged… For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

I disagree with what a friend is saying. Instead of saying my side about the issue at hand, I criticized him - hmmm, no, it was something harder – I actually insulted him. Yet, he remained silent. His silence made me stopped and think hard. His silence exposed the pride I feel inside. His silence judged me more than I judged him in the first place.

The act of judgment is an act of pride. Judging others is an act of monumental pride - enormous pride, stupendous pride, galling, astonishing, fantastic pride. When you render judgment on another, you have taken upon yourself an awesome responsibility for making the correct judgment. Because, after all, your judgment is not necessary.

So when we judge others perhaps we should step back for a moment and judge our judging. Are we being fair? Or are we acting on a double standard? “We all have beams in our eyes, so to speak; to judge people for the little motes stuck in their eyes while we have big beams in our own is devilish arrogance as well as folly.”

As Tyron Edwards (renowned American theologian) have said, “Most of our censure of others is only oblique praise of self, uttered to show the wisdom and superiority of the speaker. It has all the insidiousness of self-praise, and all the ill-desert of falsehood.”

Make the right judgment based on facts, or don’t make any judgment at all.

Almighty Father, may Your Spirit of wisdom and understanding enlighten our minds to perceive the mysteries of the universe in relation to eternity. May Your Spirit of right judgment and courage, guide us and make us firm in our baptismal decision to follow Jesus' way of love. May Your Spirit of knowledge and reverence, help us to see the lasting value of justice and mercy in our everyday dealings with one another.

“I judge others for I feel I am right, I am better;
In the end, I am the one judged for I am wrong, the one lesser.”

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Theresa

TRANSFIGURATION

Second Sunday of Lent

Matthew 17:7

“Rise, and do not be afraid.”

In elementary school, we learned about the word “Metamorphosis”. The prefix "meta" means to change and the "morphe" means form. It is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a relatively abrupt change in the animal's form or structure through cell growth and differentiation. We know that butterflies and dragonflies undergo metamorphosis.

The word "transfigured" is translated from Greek word "metamorpho" from which the word metamorphosis came from. It also means to transform, literally or figuratively to metamorphose, or to change. It also means to change the outside to match the inside. In the case of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ it means to match the outside with the reality of the inside. To change the outward so that it matches the inward reality. Jesus' divine nature was "veiled" in human form and the transfiguration was a glimpse of that glory.

The Son of God came to earth in the form of a man to be the true servant of God and to gift mankind with the greatest gift ever given, eternal life. The transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a visible sign in the presence of reliable witnesses of the reality of the power of God and the glory, which is Christ Jesus.

And we are all called to receive and exudes that same glory. May others see in us the reality of God that is within us. And as we metamorphose into what He wants us to be, may we also facilitate the transformation of others to receive the same glory that is within us.

Almighty Father, we open our eyes and we see Jesus, transfigured to a beam of light, the light of the world, Your light. May your light shine upon us forever. We see Jesus, not casting us off, but leading us down, leading us out - to minister to people, so Your love endures forever.

“We open our ears and we hear your voice,
‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him!’ And we give you thanks.”

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

PERFECTION

Matthew 5:48

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

During Six Sigma trainings, I always get this question – “Is there a company that already achieved Six Sigma status?” If I say yes, then they would ask for proof. If I said no, then they would question why I am in front of them espousing this quality “thing”. I would respond differently; yes, there are companies now that is striving to achieve Six Sigma. They have learned the tools, used the methodologies and achieved results.

And they have been doing it consistently. Even before they achieve the Six Sigma status of 3.4 defects per million, they have already learned a lot of lessons, improved their processes, gained more customer respect, delivered more products, revenues shoot-up and employees are happier than ever. If this is not Six Sigma, then I don’t know anymore what is.

Yes, nobody is perfect. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot anymore strive for perfection. We cannot say that I cannot be perfect as the world is not perfect because we are not of this world. Perfect union with God cannot be attained in this life, because we lack the happiness for which we are destined. We suffer many evils both of body and soul. Perfection therefore in its absolute sense is reserved for the kingdom of heaven.

Yes, we can be perfect. We can start our journey to perfection today and we do it consistently. Along the way, we would learn a lot of lessons. We would fall in pits of sins, but it is important that we get up again. And along the way our relationship with our family improves, we receive more blessings, we bring more souls to God and we are very happy, rejoicing and praising Him forever. If this is not PERFECTION, then I don’t know anymore what is.

Almighty Father, You are perfect but we are not. Yet, this did not stopped You from loving us. You even gave Your Son to the world so we may attain perfection with You. In that perfection, I will give You the glory You desire of me, and in that perfection I will find my greatest joy in heaven.

“Perfection You desire, yet I cannot for I know I am imperfect
But in loving others and leading them to you, I am already perfect.”

“This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections." – St. Augustine

RECONCILIATION

Ezekiel 18:21

But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

It was a perfect day for a bike ride – early morning, cloudy, dry. I took my trusty old bike and took the road frequently traveled. I was coasting along enjoying the scenery (old houses, junk shops, children playing on the street) when suddenly a car passed by my side at a very fast speed. He missed me alright, by inches but I lost balance in the process. I lost control of the bike and I fell down suffering bruises on my elbow and legs in the process.

The driver may have not noticed, for he (or maybe she) didn’t even bother to stop. I remained in my position for some quite time for I don’t know what to do. Then it hits me – I could just stay there for the rest of the day pondering what happened. Or I can stand-up, ride the bike again, clean my bruises upon reaching the house, and get on with my life.

Throughout our lives, we experienced falling down, not only physically, but spiritually as well. Once we entertain temptations and commits sin, we fall out of the grace of God and come short of His glory.

However, “for if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). God is the author of reconciliation and has even taken the initiative to remove the wall of enmity between Himself and mankind. Through His love, Christ became the agent of the reconciliation, having died for all our sins. And finally, man is called to be an ambassador of reconciliation. For through forgiving others can we truly be reconciled with God, for sin that separates is ours that only God could reconcile.

Almighty Father, may reconciliation take place first in our own hearts. It is my fervent hope and prayer that we shall receive the gift of healing and reconciliation and true unity which only You can give, and could come simply from our willingness to open ourselves to receive it.

“I may fall down, yet I must not stay down
For the Lord God heals, changing us as we change others.”

Forgive, if you have anything against anyone…

ST. VALENTINE

Matthew 7:12

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

Love is in the air.

And on this day of love, the gospel focuses on the Golden Rule as spoken by Jesus. It sums up Jesus' ethical teachings in one short sentence. If we wish to be loved, we must give love. If we wish to be respected, we must respect all persons - even those we dislike. If we wish to be forgiven, we must also forgive. If we wish others to speak kindly of us, we must speak kindly of them and avoid gossip. If we want strong marriages, we must be loyal and faithful to our spouses. If we wish to be fulfilled in our lives, we must share generously with others. If we wish to reap the rewards of our Heavenly Father's love, we must truly love all His people.

And this is the same love espoused by no other than St. Valentine whose martyrdom we commemorate today. He is a Roman martyr who was beheaded in c. 269-273 AD. During that time, Emperor Claudius II declared that unmarried men were potential soldiers, so he outlawed marriage. However, St. Valentine abhorred his outrageous action and continued to marry young couples. To stop Valentine in doing so, Claudius attempted to convert St. Valentine to paganism, but St. Valentine resisted and attempted to bring Claudius to the Church and Jesus Christ. For this, the Emperor had St. Valentine jailed and later on, beheaded.

While imprisoned, his jailer saw that Valentine was a man of learning, so he brought his daughter, Julia, to Valentine for lessons. Julia was a young had been blind since her birth. One day, they are praying when suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell. Julia screamed, “Valentinus, I can see! I can see!” On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, “From your Valentine.”

Almighty Father, may I love You in all things and above all things. May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in Heaven. Nothing is good that is against Your Will, and all that is good comes from Your Hand. Place in my heart a desire to please You and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love, so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace, forever.

You have my heart, now and forever!

ABANDONED NOT

Jonah 3:10

When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, He repented of the evil that He had threatened to do to them; He did not carry it out.

Kobe earthquake 1995 – 5,000 people dead. Indian Ocean tsunami 2004 – 225,000 dead. US Katrina hurricane 2005 – 1,800 dead. Luzon earthquake 1990 – 4,000 dead. New York terrorist attack 2001 – 3,000 dead. In all of these disasters, no one really asked what was the intensity of the quake, how high were the waves, how fast are the winds moving, into what floors did the planes first “landed”. Instead, people are asking a moral question - “How could God have let this happen? Did God abandoned us?”

I am not really in any position to respond to these questions. Moreover, people may have asked these not to question the authority of God, but rather as a reaction to what happened, being overwhelmed by the horrifying sights and smells and profound scenes of human suffering.

In the midst of devastation and helplessness, we can do nothing more than cast weak sympathetic glances at each other, overlooking the greatest strength of all: complete trust in God. Bad things happen, that is a reality. However, we should not dwell forever on these things. The world is generally peaceful and stable. When waking up in the morning, most of the time, if not always, you would see the same things (your slipper, your book, your clothes) at exactly the same place where you left them before you sleep the night before.

And so, the truth is, when “bad” things happen to us, that is reality. But when we set aside complaining and place ourselves in God’s protection and voice our pain and suffering openly to God in prayer—that is, when you really trust in God.

Almighty Father, You are no stranger to those who do not estrange themselves from You. How can anyone say that it is You who absent Yourself? As your Son offers us a share in the glory of His achievement if only we accept His call to follow the same path, if only we stop hiding the real behind empty defenses, if only we openly admit our pain to You, if only we let our prayer speak in honest humility for us. Teach us, Oh Lord.

From all their distress God rescues the just.

BREAD FOR STONE

Matthew 6:14

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

Someone threw a stone at you, and it hit you really hard. Your head is not the only one bleeding, but your heart as well. For how could a friend of 15 years do this to you. Do you seek revenge, and throw a bigger stone at him? Do you seek revenge, and out of hate, you kick him, punch him, and leave him dying so as to relieve the pain you are experiencing? You would be thinking a lot of things just to take revenge. I am just human, you would say.

But how about throwing “bread” at him. And if you are it, put some butter and jelly. Have you thought of forgiveness? Have you thought of reconciliation? Have you thought of leading him for the better, leading him to Jesus? Yes, Jesus who, 2000 years ago, have died so our sins may be forgiven. Jesus, who wants us to forgive not only those who are dear to us, but our enemies as well. Jesus, who through Him, God is still forgiving us our sins, so we may live forever with Him.

Forgiving means letting go of the anger we harbor inside us and allowing God to deal with him or her as he, in his perfect wisdom, sees fit. It doesn't mean excusing a wrong or denying that it ever happened. It means we don't allow ourselves to be consumed with anger towards the one who has done something to us. Instead of cursing him, we pray for him.

Almighty Father, today, I decided to forgive. Today I have gained a better understanding of forgiving others and with your help, I fully forgive from my heart. Just as you have freely forgiven me, I forgive them. Father, I ask you to forgive me for hurting others out of my own hurt and to heal my relationships with others.

+ Our Father, who dwells in Heaven, holy be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, here on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen +

“I forgive and I forget
As the Lord forgives and forgets.”

From all their distress God rescues the just.

I DARE YOU

Matthew 25:40

And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

An atheist professor was teaching a college class and he told the class that he was going to prove that there is no God. He said, “God if you are real, then I dare you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you 15 minutes!” Ten minutes went by He kept taunting God, saying, “Here I am God, I'm still waiting.”

He got down to the last couple of minutes and a BIG 240 pound football player happened to walk by the door and heard what the professor said. The football player walked in the class room and in the last minute, he walked up, hit the professor full force, and sent him flying off the platform. The professor got up, obviously shaken and said, “Wow, where did you come from and why did you do that?” The football player replied, “God was busy, so He sent me!”

Christ is sending us in the same way that God sent Him. As such, we need to briefly explore the implications of these themes for our life. Suffering and hardship were part of Jesus’ mission and we should believe that they should be part of ours to. This will involve us in a degree of discomfort. Church should not be a place where we expect to be comfortable and free from challenges.

We are on a mission. WE ARE HIS MISSION. We have no options. Our mission, announcing the coming of the Kingdom of God through word and deed, is part of what it means to be a Christian. You can’t say that you are not interested in mission and evangelism and still claim to be a Christian. Do you put your hand in your pocket and give sacrificially so that other people can hear what God has done through Jesus?

Almighty Father, You sent your Son to carry out Your mission of redeeming the world. Let the light of Your Gospel of love so shine in the world that it may be transformed into a worthy home for all Your children of every race and country. Together with Your missionaries, may we too share in the missionary work of the whole Church that your Kingdom of justice, love and peace may come in all hearts and in all nations.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

TRI-TEMPT

First Sunday of Lent

Matthew 4:4

"It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'"

He was tempted. Satan knows that He is the son of God, and yet, he still had the guts to tempt Him. OR, a better way to put it – Satan knows He is the Son of God, THAT IS WHY, he gathered all his guts to tempt Him.

The temptation of Jesus focused on Satan's determined effort to keep Jesus from the cross. He didn't want Him to die so that we may live. He desperately sought to keep Him from the cross, for he knew Christ's death will destroy evil, death, and Satan himself. The proof of his desperation was his willingness to compromise with Jesus by letting Him rule over an earthly, materialistic kingdom - a perpetual reign over a world lost in sin.

The temptation of Jesus ceased, but only "until an opportune time". Obviously, Satan returned throughout Christ's ministry: through demon-possessed people, the hardened hearts of the scribes and the Pharisees; His own family who cannot understand His mission in life, His own disciples; and finally in the colossal struggle in Gethsemane, where for the nth time, He accepted His fate by following the will of God – “I shall drink the cup which the Father has given Me”.

No matter how badly mauled Satan is, or however strongly he's opposed, he won't admit defeat and insists he can yet find a way to defeat us. And this, we should not allow. Resist temptation and live life fully with the Lord.

Almighty Father, we do not forget that the devil exists and he is a tempter, very intelligent and astute. Teach us to be vigilant in the eyes and the heart. To be strong in spirit and virtue, tireless praying and adoring You. Teach us to listen to Your words, remembering Christ's victory over temptation and our sharing in that victory. Teach us to be humble and love You and others more until the end of time.

“I may be tempted, but I will not give in
I will resist temptation, denouncing evil and sin.”

“'Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall.”
- William Shakespeare

AN ARM FOR AN ALMS

Isaiah 58:10

If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday…

They would knock on the car windows, begging for alms. Sometimes, I would give them something but most of the time, I would not. What is worse, I would even comment that these children are part of a syndicate, so giving them money would mean “feeding” the syndicate.

I would see them sitting or lying on the streets, begging for alms. Sometimes, I would give them something but most of the time, I would not. What is worse, I would even comment - they seem to look to be in such good health: they are just so lazy! They could work. They are young and even look stronger than me.

God would see me kneeling, praying for something that I need, or even begging for something that I want. Sometime, He would give it to me immediately but most of the time, He would not. And then I would comment, He does not love me, He does not care.

It is really our nature to want to receive more than to give. When it comes to giving to others, we are sometimes very stingy. But when it comes to asking for something, we even “want the whole world”. One must take from oneself and give to others. And we don’t just give alms. We must do so cheerfully and not reluctantly, secretly and not for the praise of men. And you may not care anymore how he use it – as what St. John Vianney had said – “The poor will be judged on the use they have made of their alms, and you will be judged on the very alms that you could have given but haven't.”

Let us pray the prayer of St, Ignatius Loyola +

Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to seek reward, except that of knowing that I do your will.

Amen +

Teach me your way, Oh Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

FAST BREAK

Matthew 9:15

“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Today is the first Friday of the Lenten Season. And on all Fridays of Lent, everyone is enjoined to do fasting. Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. However, remembering that fasting is a form of penance and self-denial, it must be kept in mind that we are urged to do this during the entire season of Lent, but it does not have to be a fast from food on all those forty days. There are many other ways in which we can show God how sorry we are for our sins. Among them are the following: being generous with others, visiting the sick and lonely, feeding the poor, studying Scripture, making the Stations of the Cross, praying the rosary, practicing self-control, and many others.

The prophet Isaiah was clear on this when he exclaimed (Isaiah 58:6-8):

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:

Releasing those bound unjustly,

Untying the thongs of the yoke;

Setting free the oppressed,

Breaking every yoke;

Sharing your bread with the hungry,

Sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;

Clothing the naked when you see them,

And not turning your back on your own.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

And your wound shall quickly be healed;

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,

You shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

Almighty Father, we observe fasting out of love for You and not because we have to, and also to give us an opportunity to deny ourselves in other ways. Every Friday is a day to prepare for Sunday – the day that, for us who believe, is Easter every week of the year. For Sunday is never a day of fasting. Rather, it is the glorious Day of the Lord!

“I fast not because I want others to see
Rather, because I want to be what the Lord wants me to be.”

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

CHOOSE LIFE

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him.

I was 10 years old, a Grade 4 student. Back then, I only knew few things in life and do so little – playing, studying, eating, sleeping. I never even thought of getting old. Fifteen years later, a full-pledged engineer working in a multi-national company, I learned far more things – based on experience – playing with experiments, studying pareto charts, still eating and still sleeping. But the thought of getting old is slowly creeping in. And now, another 12 years later, whenever I see old people with their gray hairs and difficulty in moving around, I have come to realized that ALL, yes everyone, will grow old and ultimately die.

After millennia of human existence, it is noteworthy that no one has really made the slightest progress in overcoming death. Despite all the advances of medical science, the state-of-the-art hospitals, the new and hi-tech medical equipment, multiple degree scientists and doctors, the death rate remains exactly what it has always been -- a flat 100%. No progress has been made, and no progress in sight. I think God has intended it to remain that way. He is teaching us something. This is part of the "teaching of God" that goes on for all people. Some he will draw clear on to salvation, as they respond, but all people, everyone, shall be "taught of God," and death itself is part of that teaching.

Death is inevitable. And life with Jesus and in God is the righteous thing to do. Have you learned how to share your work, your family life, your personal life with Jesus, to operate in dependence upon his wisdom, his supply of grace, his forgiveness of failure, to bring all of your life constantly back into connection with him? Choose life, and you will never go wrong.

Almighty Father, You have revealed Yourself as the Father of all Life. We praise You for the Fatherly care which You extend to all creation, and especially to us, made in Your image and likeness. Give us Your strength that we may never give in to the fears that may tempt us to sin. Bless our families and bless our land, that we may have the joy of welcoming and nurturing the life of which You are the source. Amen.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

ASHES TO ASHES

Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6:1

“(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.”

I still remember Ash Wednesdays when I was a kid. After being imposed with the ash-cross on my forehead, I would really be very careful so that the cross will not be “erased” as I go through my school classes, lunch, jeepney rides to and from the school. When my forehead perspires, I would really be careful in wiping them out, ensuring that the ash remains.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten Season. And in the next forty days (or forty-six, it became forty because the Sundays are removed when counting the days), Christians will be observing repentance, abstinence or fasting.

The ashes imposed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday are a reminder of our unworthiness and sinfulness that corrupts and stains us and leads to death (we return to the dust from whence we came). Ashes remind us of our original sin and our need of redemption ­ our need to be cleansed of sin and made worthy of Salvation. When we wear the ashes on our heads, we also acknowledge the sacrifice of Christ, who forever substituted His own death for the "burnt offerings" made by Old Testament priests to atone for the sins of the people.

And long after the ashes on our foreheads were gone, may our hearts always remember the sacrifice that Jesus had done for the atonement of our sins. Always remember that not the ritual, but the truth of your heart, can earn you blessings from God.

Almighty Father, protect us in our struggle against evil. In this holy season, help us to turn our minds and hearts back to you. Lead us into sincere repentance and renew our lives with your grace. May this season of repentance bring us the blessing of Your forgiveness and the gift of your light.

“Ashes on our forehead, Your sacrifice we remember;
Unworthy, we are sinners, in You we believe, life forever.”

Remember, Oh man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES

Mark 5:36

“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”

If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, and play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right. There will always be another day to say our "I love you's”. But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, and today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight. So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day that you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear, tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear. Take time to say “I'm sorry”, “Please forgive me”, “Thank you” or “It's okay”.

And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.

Almighty Father, hide us and protect us in the very midst of any problem that could ever come against us. Take us in Your arms and cradle us with love. You are a great provider and always will be. We reach out unto You for You are always there for us. You have our trust, for trust is faith. And we firmly believe that You will never let us down, nor will You forsake us.

Amen +.

Listen, Lord, and answer me.

GETTING WELL

Mark 5:19

“Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”

The doctors allowed us and we decided to go home. But he has to undergo series of dialysis, for his kidney has already malfunctioned. He has to undergo checkup on a weekly basis for his heart is already showing slowing down. We decided to go home, prepare him for his dialysis & checkups and just put all the trust in the Lord so he may regain his health for the better.

After three months of medication, Tatay decided to go home, together with God in His Heavenly Kingdom. His body succumbed to organ failures. We wept, we felt really bad at that time – but we prayed really hard that he may finally find rest with Him. Tatay decided to go home, so he may prepare our mansions up there – awaiting us so we may all be together again in God’s glory in heaven.

God does not promise to heal every single disease. If He does, then no one will ever get sick and die from illness. Medicine is wonderful and the advancement in medical technology is likewise a good thing. James 1:17 tells us that “every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above”. Seeking medical treatment for our illnesses glorifies God. Seeking the best medical treatment we can find just acknowledges God's sovereignty in dealing with our sicknesses, making us well and raising us up. Be assured that God approves of us using available means to promote health, including medicine. But there is one important requirement: We must pray about it and receive it with thanksgiving.

Almighty Father, into your most holy hands I commit the keeping of my heart, asking you for health of soul and body, in the certain hope that you, my most loving Lord, will hear my prayer. Into the bosom of your tender mercy, this day, every day of my life, and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body. To you I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that all my actions may be ordered and disposed according to your will and that of your Divine Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“In life and in death, in sickness and in health
You are our hope, our Saviour, our medicine, our wealth.”

Lord, rise up and save me.

BLESSED ARE WE

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The word "Beatitude" comes from a Latin word meaning “happy” or “blessed.” God implanted in us a desire for happiness, eternal happiness. In truth, the things of this world - money, athletic or scholarly achievement, fame, possessions - can never satisfy the hungry heart we all possess. Only God, God's goodness and love, can quench our thirst for happiness. Jesus teaches us what we have to do right now to develop the kind of attitudes that lead to happiness, even in this life.

The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them not to long for merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven.

The Beatitudes depict the expression of happiness in our lives with Jesus Christ and portray his charity. They express the call for living a life in faith associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection; they shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life; they are promises that sustain hope in the midst of uncertainties, chaos and non-belief; they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for Christ's disciples that have begun in the lives of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.

Examine our hearts. Are we trying to be like each one of them? Let us put our complete faith and trust to the Lord, for we all belong to the Kingdom of God. We truly deserve to be happy and blessed.

Lord Jesus, keep us from being pre-ocuppied with money and worldly goods. Help us not to be ruthless with one another, and to eliminate the discord and violence that exists in the world. Let us not be impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others. Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and actively spread your Words. Grant that we may be quick to forgive and slow to condemn. Free us from our senses and our evil desires, and fix our eyes on you. Aid us to make peace in our families, in our country, and in the world. Make us willing to suffer for the sake of right rather than to practice injustice; and do not let us discriminate against our neighbors and oppress and persecute them. Amen.

Blessed the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!