SPIRITUAL JOY

Feast of the Visitation

Luke 1:46-48

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant.

MAGNIFICAT! The Magnificat (also known as the Song of Mary) is a canticle frequently sung (or said) liturgically in Christian church services. The text of the canticle is taken directly from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:46-55) where it spoken by the Virgin Mary upon the occasion of her Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. In the narrative, after Mary greets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with the future John the Baptist, the child moves within Elizabeth's womb. When Elizabeth praises Mary for her faith, Mary sings the Magnificat in response.

With these words Mary first acknowledges the special gifts she has been given. Then she recalls God’s universal favors, bestowed unceasingly on the human race. When a man devotes all his thoughts to the praise and service of the Lord, he proclaims God’s greatness. His observance of God’s commands, moreover, shows that he has God’s power and greatness always at heart. Mama Mary attributes nothing to her own merits. She refers all her greatness to the gift of the one whose essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for he fills with greatness and strength the small and the weak who believe in Him.

Therefore it is an excellent and fruitful custom of holy Church that we should sing Mary’s hymn at the time of evening prayer. By meditating upon the incarnation, our devotion is kindled, and by remembering the example of God’s Mother, we are encouraged to lead a life of virtue. We are weary after the day’s work and worn out by our distractions. The time for rest is near, and our minds are ready for contemplation.

Almighty Father, You have shown strength with Your arm andscattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. You have put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree. You have filled the hungry with good things; and the rich has been sent empty away.

“Ang puso ko’y nagpupuri, nagpupuri sa Panginoon.
Nagagalak ang aking Espiritu, sa aking Tagapagligtas…”

Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Matthew 11:28

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest…”

Thank God It’s Friday (TGIF). Aside from being a name of a very popular restaurant, this is a common “cry” among employees. It means the end of the week. It means there is no work for tomorrow (for most). It means thanking God for giving us the opportunity to rest after a week of working hard, meeting deadlines, problems at work and dodging colleagues who make our life more difficult at work. It gives us the opportunity to re-think our priorities for life and prepare us for another week of intense battle.

In today’s world, everyone seems to be very busy. Sometimes it would make us think if people are trying to earn their way to heaven by being busy. Are we thinking that we can get to the door of heaven, and God will ask, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” and be happy of we will answer, “Because I’ve been so busy all my life. Just look at all the things I’ve done.” The Pharisees had similar thoughts in Jesus’ day. And Jesus alone has the answer. “Come to me,” says Jesus, “and I will give you rest.” The answer is not work, but rest, rest in Jesus. And only Jesus can give us rest. Christ denounced the Pharisees for laying on the people burdens too heavy to carry, and not lifting one finger to help the people carry those burdens.

This is not the case with Jesus. He has promised to carry our burdens, and oftentimes He does that by carrying us entirely! God will never give us a heavier load than we can bear. Any burden that we bear is certainly infinitely lighter than the burden that Jesus Himself carried for us. And these two things can be of great comfort to us when we undergo trials: Jesus carried more than we ever will, and Jesus is helping us to carry ours even now. Come to Jesus and He will give you rest!

Almighty Father, teach us how to truly rest from our labors. Help me to cease striving. I find myself doing nothing, not because I have nothing to do, but because there are too many things to do and I am overwhelmed. Restore my soul, made weary from the week. Refresh my spirit with the kindness of your Word. Help me to be a refuge for others from their struggles. I praise you, and I love you, God of Rest, for in you alone I am justified. Amen +

The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear Him.

SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT

Mark 10:51

“Master, I want to see.”

We hate brownouts. I still remember during the early 1990’s when we are subjected to brownouts for about 4-5 hours per day. In our area, we experience the brownouts at night. Therefore, when it happened, the whole area will become pitch black – really, really dark. Then, spot of lights will start to be seen as people started to light up their candles, or their emergency lights. The streets will again be illuminated by the flickering lights as people start coming out of their houses to breathe the fresh air while waiting for the power to come back again.

In our spiritual lives, we frequently experience brownouts. We experience this spiritual darkness. As such, we are totally blinded by our sins and totally ignored what the Lord wills for us to do. On one level, darkness is promoted by spiritual forces under the leadership of Satan. On a human level, darkness is not only the absence of knowledge, but a personal and active opposition to the rule and truth of God. Paul taught that those who do not believe in Christ are those whose minds have been blinded by Satan (II Corinthians 4:3-6). Satan is a terrible adversary of both God and man to be sure. He lies and twists the Word of God to prevent people from coming to the knowledge of the truth (John 8:44).

Remove our spiritual blindness and seek to see the Lord again. Pray for God to enlighten us by the work of His Spirit, to give us a hunger for His Word and His ways. Seek that Spiritual enlightenment - Jesus is the light of the world, He is our God-given source of spiritual enlightenment. But we must believe in the light. Jesus said: "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light" (John 12:36). Finally, we can live a life of faith in our God, who is greater than all and reaches out to all people to offer redemption. By the grace of God, through the blood of Jesus Christ and the love of the Spirit, you can come to the light, become a child of God, and walk in the light of the gospel.

Almighty Father, help us to see You. Heal us of our spiritual blindness and enlighten our path so we can forever obey Your will. We want to see You, Oh Lord, and live our lives in Your love forever. We believe in You for You are the light, taking out the brownout in our lives.

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

REFRESH YOUR SOUL

1 Peter 1:24-25

…the grass withers, and the flower wilts; but the word of the Lord remains forever.

My wife bought a jade plant, also known as the “money plant”. Since it was the first time that we have this kind of plant, we water it everyday like the other normal plants that we have. Then at days go by, it’s leaves started to fall, one by one. That is when we water it more, thinking that it needs more. But it only worsens. In the end, all the leaves are gone and the stem started to rot away. When we check on the internet, we learned that this kind of plant really needs little watering. Overwatering can kill it!

We are similar to this jade plant. Most of the time, we try to “water” ourselves with things that we think will make us grow. Then, a time will come when we really “overwater” ourselves because we start feeling dry, and thirsty and hungry. And that only made us crave for more, as our principles and morality starts to fall off. And deep inside, our body and our soul starts to rot away. We withers like grass and wilts like flower.

Only the words of the Lord can make us fresh. Hearing the words of God and putting them into actions, could make our soul really jump for joy. This is what we must think; this is what we must believe. Fill yourself with the words of the Lord. Get your bible and read about the good news. Overwater yourself with His words, with His promises, with His love, with His passion, with His spirit. Your soul will definitely not rot away, but grow more and more in love, until, it overflows. Your body may wither as time goes by but your soul, filled with the spirit of God, will remain forever.

Almighty Father, in light of all You have done for me cause me to love as You have loved me. Though I am unlovable You chose to still love me. Let Your word grow in my heart and remains there forever. Fill me up with Your water of life so Your word will be the good seed that will grow and produce the fruit of love. May your name be glorified by the way I love this day. Shower me with Your love everyday, refreshing my body and soul.

“Water my soul with Your kind words of love

As I give my life to You, and my soul You will have.”

The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

1 Peter 1:15-16

…be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy.

The Church has always been concerned with holiness. At times in the past people have equated holiness with becoming a saint, living inside a monastery, chanting prayers 24/7 and dying a martyr death. But true holiness is not just a Jesus-and-me attitude. It's not enough to go to Church on Sunday and leave the rest of your life unchanged. True holiness requires a conversion of the whole person, a transformation of the total personality, a concern for bodily as well as spiritual health, and a balance between prayer and action. This may require a conversion of our lifestyle, no matter where we live or what we do for a living.

Francis de Sales took seriously the words of Christ, “Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.” He tried to convey to people that there should be no difference between "the devout life" of a priest and the way a lay person lives his everyday life in the world. He explicitly mentioned to “let us try to love and serve God well, to be good men and women, devout men and women, pious men and pious women”. He says that Our Lord would prefer that we cultivate the practice of such “little virtues” as “patience, meekness, self-mortification, humility, obedience, poverty, chastity, tenderness toward our neighbors, bearing with their imperfections, diligence, and holy fervor”.

With this explanation St. Francis de Sales goes right to the heart of what the Christian life is all about, for what he is describing is love of God and love of neighbor. Nothing could be more basic. Not only should a person practice the virtues suitable to his vocation, but he should also love his vocation in itself, precisely because that vocation comes to him from God.

And he beautifully expressed this holiness of serving God and others – “you must bring yourself to a tender affection for your state in life and for everything about it, out of love for Him who wills it so”.

Almighty Father, lead us safely through all things; and at times when we cannot stand it, carry us in Your loving arms. May we be forever at peace with You, as we put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

“True holiness consists in doing God's will with a smile” – Mother Teresa

RICHNESS OF THE HEART

Mark 10:23

“How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!”

When Jesus mentioned this to His disciples, their immediate reply was, “then who can be saved?” And I am very sure that the first time you read this verse, you have asked the same. Does this mean that a rich person is not worthy of entering Heaven? Does this mean that those who have more than the others are doomed to be in Hell? Of course, not!

The rich are not condemned because they are rich. Abraham, during his time, was a very wealthy man. And yet, he became the “father of many nations” to whose lineage, the Messiah would be born. Thus it was not the rich man's riches that were his undoing, but the use he made of them. Once we make the mistake of thinking that our wealth is for ourselves, and for ourselves alone, then it would really be very hard for us to enter the Kingdom of God.

The worldly wealth that we have becomes a blindfold, such that we fail to see the other side of our richness – like the poor who, like Lazarus, just remain there and eat the scraps from our sumptuous table. Our earthly possession becomes an earplug that forever kept us from hearing the pleas of the hungry as they content themselves with the little thing that we give them, thinking that it is enough for us to win Heaven.

Each of us has an enormous responsibility to share in appropriate ways the abundance of God's goodness to us. If we leave the needy and those we could easily help--physically, emotionally, or spiritually--sitting at our gate, then the gate may follow us into the next life, not as a passageway, but as a barrier separating us from the ultimate communion with God. Acknowledging Him as our Lord means abandoning our reliance on our own strength and wealth. Be generous in good deeds and be willing to share.

Almighty Father, I praise You with all my heart. Forgive me, Lord, for the sins I have committed against You and the people around me. I confess that I am a sinner and could not do anything by myself to reach your righteousness. I am humbled by Your love. Let me live as a new creation, with love in my heart. Let me love with actions and in truth, as Jesus Christ loves us, to the glory of God in the highest. Amen +

“Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” – Oscar Wilde

BODY OF CHRIST, AMEN!

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

1 Corinthians 10:17

Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

The Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation accomplished by Christ on the cross, is also a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for the work of creation. In the Eucharistic sacrifice the whole of creation loved by God is presented to the Father through the death and the Resurrection of Christ. Through Christ, the Church can offer the sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all that God has made good, beautiful, and just in creation and in humanity.

The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification. Eucharist means first of all “thanksgiving”.

The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of praise by which the Church sings the glory of God in the name of all creation. This sacrifice of praise is possible only through Christ: he unites the faithful to his person, to his praise, and to his intercession, so that the sacrifice of praise to the Father is offered through Christ and with him, to be accepted in him. (From “Catechism of the Catholic Church”)

All of us were called by Jesus as His people, as His disciples, as His friend. And as one body, we dedicate our lives in following His will, seeking His love and mercy and partaking in His life, death and resurrection. To the offering of Christ are united not only the members still here on earth, but also those already in the glory of heaven. And as we receive Him during the Holy Communion, may it nourishes our body, soul and spirit. By giving Himself to us, Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to earthly creatures and root ourselves in Him. Receive Him, wholeheartedly, working for our good and the good of His Church.

Almighty Father, Whose promises give us hope, we eat this covenant meal before You today. You have agreed to receive us who believe in Your son. You sealed Your covenant with His blood. We, even in our faltering faith, believe in Your son. We thank you for his life which is given to us, Amen +

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

PRAY FOR US

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.

At least once in our lives, we asked someone to pray for us or for someone we love who happened to be in great danger at that time. And most of the time also, we receive advise or emails asking us to pray for someone – for recovery, for freedom, for passing an exam, for healing. Great is the power of prayer of one another. As with an unseen hand, it may brush danger aside -- be it car, poison, bullet, bomb, evil intention, temptation of sin. It reaches beyond the realm of life, for the Church has received the power of interfering with man's eternal life through prayer.

I have been in this situation so many times in the past – for my parents when they were confined in the hospital, during our stay in China, prayer for a colleague or a relative, prayer so I may reach home safe and sound. And in these moments of deliverance we do not realize that someone, somewhere, is praying for us.

Jesus knew that the only way we could be one with each other is when we love one another, pray for one another, care for one another, accept one another, know one another, visit one another, strengthen one another - one another for each other! We should live our lives for others, as always.

"I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I always remember you in my prayers, asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better. I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us… and you will know that God's power is very great for us who believe." — Ephesians 1:16-19.

Almighty Father, we shall always pray for each other, asking You to help us live the kind of life Your Son has called us to live. We pray that with Your power, You will help us do the good things You want and perform the works of faith. We pray all this so that in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will have glory in You. That glory comes from the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Amen +

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

‘TIL DEATH DO US PART

Mark 10:8-9

“So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

Many people have wondered why Jesus gave such a demanding teaching on marriage. Forbidding divorce flies in the face of human experience. This is obvious today when divorce is so common, but it was true also back in Jesus’ day. The emperor Augustus enacted laws, hoping to prevent the breakup of marriage. And, even among Jews, divorce was common enough. As we heard in the Gospel, Moses had to set up procedures for divorce. Jesus went against a widespread practice. He refused to recognize divorce. He says that to divorce your spouse and marry another is the same thing as committing adultery.

The only teaching we have is the one Jesus gave us: that marriage is a lifelong, unbreakable union between a man and a woman. Because of that firm teaching, the Catholic Church has always considered marriage as the great icon of the union between God and his people.

Ultimately, as Pope Benedict wrote, that teaching is about more than our human relationships. It is about the relationship of us to God and God to us: a passionate love which invites a total and exclusive response. In that relationship above all: What God has joined, no human being must separate.

And since God is the one who decisively makes every marriage, only God has the right to break a marriage. And he does it by death. Which is why the traditional and biblical marriage vows have one and only one limitation: “till death do us part.” Rekindle your love for your spouse whom God has given you to be your partner for life, for richer and poorer, for better or worse, in sickness and in health – may the Lord our God blesses our marriage forever and ever.

Almighty Father, help us to remember when we first met and the strong love that grew between us. To work that love into practical things so nothing can divide us. We ask for words both kind and loving and hearts always ready to ask forgiveness as well as to forgive. Dear Lord, we put our marriage into your hands. Amen +

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – M. McLaughlin (American author & journalist)

SALTY PREPOSITION

Mark 9:50

Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.

Most of us would like our food to be a little bit salty. If it is, then that food is flavorful. If it is flavorful, then we can enjoy the food and maybe eat more than the usual. This is the reason in our dining table, we have a lot of things that we use to salten our food – soy sauce, “patis” or fish sauce, “bagoong” or shrimp paste and of course, salt. For we equate saltiness with flavor and flavor with saltiness. And among the poor, most of them will have lunch of rice with salt or soy sauce, and that’s it!

The role of salt in the Bible is relevant to understanding Hebrew society during the Old Testament and New Testament periods. Salt is a necessity of life and was a mineral that was used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange. The Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification.

In today’s gospel, Jesus invites us to “keep salt in ourselves” to achieve peace with one another. We have to keep ourselves “flavorful” – valuable, loyal, useful and pure – in the eyes of God and in the eyes of others. Salt is primarily used as a seasoning - how about your life does it add seasoning to others? Salt is also known to be a great preservative. There are a lot things in our lives that need to be preserved, things like passion, love for people, righteous living, giving and obedience to God’s will. These are characteristics that God wants preserved in our lives daily.

Prevent ourselves to become insipid – losing that flavor – for we will be of no use. Keep your life filled with passion, giving, and love for people. Allow God to melt away everything that is not of Him. Have SALT in yourselves.

Almighty Father, I give my soul to your care. Do not let me lose it by serious sin. Protect my mind and my will so that all my thoughts and desires will be pleasing to God. Let me love you with all my heart, through Jesus. Let me always try to love my neighbor. Let me always remember that my body is a home for the Holy Spirit who dwells in me.

God will redeem me from the power of the nether world by receiving me.

SIN OF OMISSION

James 4:17

So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.

When you steal, you committed a sin. When you lust or covet another man’s wife, it is a grave sin. How about seeing a person in pain, lying on the street and instead of helping, you just go your way. Is it a sin? Or seeing someone hungry and yet you do nothing? Or maybe, just as simple as failing to say “I love you” to your wife. Are these also sins? Sad to say, but yes… you could be committing the sin of omission.

The “sin of omission” is defined as the willful neglect or positive refusal to perform some good action that one's conscience urges one to do. Such omission is morally culpable, and its gravity depends on the importance of what should have been done, on the person's willfulness, and the circumstances of the situation.

Our relationship with God is not only one of being aware of what evil we do, but also being aware of the good we don't do. The good things we are called to do are not to be done only when it is convenient for us, but at all times. Just as we are called to be constantly aware of temptations and sin in our lives, we are also called to pursue the fruits of the spirit. The sin of omission is just as harmful to our spiritual well being as the sins we know not to do. In the bible, the rich man was thrown to hell NOT because he maltreated Lazarus, but rather, since he did not do anything to alleviate the poor man’s suffering and pain. The rich man, as he saw the beggar starving at his doorstep and could easily have reached out to him and helped Lazarus to become well again. What we fail to do can make us just as guilty as what we do. A sin is a wrong choice, and to decide not to do something is just as much of a choice as to decide to do something.

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen +

“It isn’t the thing you do; it’s the thing you leave undone,

Which gives you a bit of heartache, at the setting of the sun.” (M. Sangster)

Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

THE CHILD IN US

Mark 9:37

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.”

She looked at me straight in the eye. This little girl of about 10 years offered me her sampaguita garland while my car is stuck in traffic. I do not normally buy garlands for the car, but that time, I felt something weird. I opened the car window and asked her how much. I did not remember anymore how much. I just gave her the money and she gave me a few garlands. I immediately saw her cross the street and gave the money to a lady, maybe her mother. Afterwhich, she went back selling garlands.

They litter the street of Metro Manila. They are called “streetchildren”. They either sell something or just beg for money or food. But what is striking to note is that their mother or father is just out there, waiting for them to give them the money. They may have a thousand reasons why they do this to their children, and we are in no way to judge them. However, seeing those children roam the street, inhaling polluted air and braving the heat of the sun would make you wonder – do they deserve such harsh punishment. They, that Jesus considers as the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And that is basically the reason why they are the greatest.

Children are true picture of humility. Yes, the little child beautifully epitomized the godly quality of humility. And Jesus’ point is clear. All of us must cultivate childlike humility if we are to inherit God’s Kingdom. True Christians seek to serve, not to exercise power. No matter how unpleasant the task or how lowly the recipient, true humility moves us to minister to others. Such humble service brings rich rewards.

That little girl knows that she has to work, at that early age, so they can survive another day. She did it to serve her family, no matter how hard. As for her parents’ irresponsibility, that is another story.

Teach us, Lord Jesus, the meaning of these words in the depths of our hearts. Help us to respond to them and to be faithful men and women. Help us to strive for that greatness which will shine throughout eternity, to be great as you are great, Lord Jesus, in the same Spirit and by the same power. We pray in your name.

Amen +

Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.

WISDOM AND PEACE

James 3:14-15

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

First, it was Burma. A devastating hurricane may have killed about 100,000 people and thousands injured. The images we have been shown are of death and disease and people wanting more help. Then, in China, a strong earthquake destroyed about 500,000 homes and killed another 100,000 people including children in a school. As with any natural disaster, a lot of people have lost everything they had, including their families. Children have also been separated from their families.

In the Philippines, tragedy struck when nine bank employees were shot to death, most of them in the head, in a robbery that happened in Laguna, south of Manila. In terms of number of victims, it was nothing compared to those in China and Burma. But in terms of significance, it is of greater tragedy than the two combined. Why? Because, the Laguna massacre could have been avoided. Because the Laguna tragedy could have never happened. What happened in China and Burma is an “act of God” but what happened in Laguna is because of man’s selfish ambition and demonic act.

These murderers may have reason for robbing the bank. But they would never have enough reason why they should kill. For no matter what reason you may have, killing another person is outright unspiritual and irrational. There is no wisdom in killing. There is no peace in taking others lives.

Wisdom and peace always go together, for the wisdom of God always creates right relationship since God Himself is a triune communion of holy love. Let us perfect our lives by seeking the wisdom and peace coming from God. It is heavenly, spiritual and God-centered. “And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Almighty Father, we pray that inner peace will be found by all individuals so that the peace we dream of, we speak of and pray for will have a chance. As in times past, we will work together to recover from our shared national tragedy. We pray together for those who have lost loved ones. We seek Your wisdom so we may understand everything. Amen+

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

TRI-UMPHANT IN GOD

Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

2 Corinthians 13:13

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion -- the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these Three Persons being truly distinct one from another.

The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons. The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire: “The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e. by nature one God”.

The divine persons are really distinct from one another. “God is one but not solitary”. "Father", "Son", "Holy Spirit" are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really distinct from one another. They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: “It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds”. The divine Unity is Triune.

The divine persons are relative to one another. Because it does not divide the divine unity, the real distinction of the persons from one another resides solely in the relationships which relate them to one another. While they are called three persons in view of their relations, we believe in one nature or substance.

This sharing in the life of the Trinity is meant to culminate in heaven, where we will see the three Persons - face to face, united to them in unspeakable love.

O most holy Trinity, Almighty God, we adore You, Who give life and vigor to every creature and Who shed light eternal where there is darkness. We offer You our hearts, our souls, and our whole being, today and on the days to come, that we may offer perfect praise and love to your glorious Name. Amen +

Glory and praise for ever!

SELF-CONTROL

James 3:8,10

…no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. My brothers and sisters, this need not be so.

We communicate, mostly, through words. Communication is necessary for us to continuously exist. A world in total silence is a dead world. I don’t know when was the first time I uttered a word, but one thing is for sure, at that instance, my parents were really very happy. I would not just be anymore communicating with them through cries, or through beautiful eyes, but through words. Because the words of a child is life!

In today’s gospel, we are warned about the bad implications of using communication, specifically the tongue, as a tool to do evil. The tongue must be understood as a symbol for all the ways we communicate with each other. And communication is not meant to be used as a way to destroy others, but to lift them up. It’s not meant to be a thing of cursing, but a thing of praise. Ever since man started to talk, no one has really “tamed the tongue”. Quarrels between friends were started by saying something bad about the others. A parent calling his children by names, cursing them that leads to children growing up rebellious and away from God. When our sense of personal worth is hurt, we get enraged, and bad things would come our of our mouth. This need not be so!

Just as love is self-sacrificial, so we must come to learn that to converse in the way of love, we must sacrifice ourselves, our desires, our perceived glory, for the sake of something greater. It is this way we can follow Christ’s will for us. We are called to bless those who curse us. It is only when we do this can we find a way to turn our so-called enemies into friends. We should also seek to listen and learn from them. We must learn to tame our tongue, and use it for the good of others and ourselves. Let us use it for the glory of God, by imitating his ways - the way of love, the way of grace.

Almighty Father, teach us to use our tongue so others may be blessed. That only good things may come out of it. That we use it to glorify You forever, imitating Your ways of love and grace. Amen+

“I used my tongue to curse, not knowing that I curse myself in return.

Teach me to use my tongue to bless others, and Your only love, I yearn.”

You will protect us, Lord.

WORKING FAITH

James 2:26

For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

There was an article in The Readers’ Digest some time back by Claire Safran. The title of this moving story is Mama Hale and Her Little Angels. It tells of Clara Hale, who has spent a lifetime caring for other women’s children. In a fifth-floor walkup, she raised forty foster children as well as three of her own. And now she operates a place called Hale House. At the time the article was written, she had cared for 487 babies of addicts. Since then, there have been hundreds more. Mama Hale would understand what James talked about — "Having a Faith that Works" — a description of practical Christianity. She puts love into practice.

This is the primary emphasis of James entire epistle. We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. A person who claims to have faith without works is like a person who puts all their effort into building the foundation of a house and never builds anything on that foundation. But a person who displays great works but has no faith is like a person who builds their house on sand without any foundation. Our response to God’s love is to be more than simple belief. It is to be a belief so strong it calls us to action.

Works toward God are to do His will and His work and, yes, to obey His laws. Works toward our neighbors are to serve them and to do good for them. Faith without works is dead. Faith with works is life—eternal life!

We must believe that we cannot separate faith and works. They must go together or your faith is a dead faith. We are not talking about our own works or that our works earn us eternal life... but that, by the grace of God, we act in faith working through love to cooperate with the gift of grace and gain eternal life. Let your faith works with love!

Almighty Father, We are not helpless, we are certainly not weak, we are children of the King and His rightful heirs. Turn our hearts toward worship, praise, and thanksgiving when we start to wallow in self pity, selfishness, or pride. I am blessed beyond measure already, and I praise and thank You for all You have provided. Amen+

Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.

THE ANOINTED ONE

Mark 8:29

You are the Christ.

I once had a discussion with a lawyer regarding using titles before our names. He mentioned that for doctors and lawyers, it is okay for them to use “Dr.” and “Atty.” before their names because they have undergone more than the normal 4 years of college (8-12 years). So they consider themselves “nagpaka-dalubhasa” (specialist). While for engineers (like me), we only studied 5 years, and yet we always put the title “Engr.” in front of our names. Well, I just responded that for me, it doesn’t really matter. A person should be known not by titles but by the things he does to help others become better. That title should only be vested in you by those people you helped, for they know that your life was lived for that purpose – saving lives, defending the truth and making the world a better place to live in.

Doctor, President, Mayor – they are all titles. They speak of the office that the person holds; the task he was called to do. So it is with the one we worship, the one whose title we bear when we call ourselves “Christians”. His proper name is “Jesus”. But His title, reflecting the title He holds and the task He was called to do, His title is Christ.

Christ is the Greek word Cristos, a translation of the Hebrew Meshiach, or as we say in English “Messiah”, or the Anointed One. There are a lot of mayors and presidents. But in Jesus’ case it is different. There is only one office of Messiah, of Cristos. And there is only one person who holds that office. So we speak of Jesus the Christ... Jesus Christ. But His title did not matter to Him. He came to the world not to be served, but to serve. And only Him fully deserve to be called the King… the King of all Kings! Jesus - the Christ - who will one day return to proclaim, with the sound of the trumpet, that he is here as almighty Judge and King to usher in the Year of the Lord's Favor.

Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, our Savior and our King, I choose today to take refuge in You. I choose to fear the Lord and not man, and I choose obedience over willfulness and submission over pride. I am blessed beyond measure already, and I praise and thank You for all You have provided, knowing that we will lack no good thing as we seek You first above all else. To You be all the honor and glory!

Jesus - the Christ, the King. My King, your King.

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP

John 15:12

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

Today’s gospel would focus on two fundamental teachings of Jesus. Actually, it was too radical that some people during His time could not comprehend or even accept them.

“Love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

In the past, the general trend was to do good to those who do good to you, and to only love those who loves you. It is new because Jesus calls people to pray for those who hate them and to do better things to them. He even pushed this further by commanding us – “love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return”. In so doing, He promised us the rewards of Heaven. It is really difficult for us to do this but always remember that the Lord, Himself, has not hated us even though we are all sinners. In fact, He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. We are to love one another as Christ Himself loved us, even dying on the cross so we may be saved and live eternally. Start living your life in love. Unless you start loving, you will not really experience true love in return.

“I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends…”

A slave must serve his master. A slave must die for his master. This is the norm before Jesus showed the world a different kind of leadership. The new Master serves His people. The great Master would die so His people will be saved. As He exclaimed – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.” And in the spirit of love, He wants us to treat each other as friends. Friends who love one another. Friends who are willing to serve others, while claiming everything is from the Lord. Love one another as He loves us.

Lord Jesus, I love You for You loved us first. And out of this love, You gave your life so all our sins will be forgiven and give us the opportunity again to join You in Heaven together with God and the Holy Spirit. Fill my heart with love for others, that it may draw love unto itself. Set me free from selfish cares, that I may have time and thoughts for them. Bless me, that I receive love by the loving service that I give. Amen+

The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

LIGHT OR DARKNESS

James 1:13-14

“…God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”

You hear it as if someone is whispering – “you need money, and that wallet contains a lot of money. Get it, and no one will know. Get it and buy yourself some food. Get it, for the owner has more!” Hearing this, are you committing sin already? Of course not! But you are being tempted, by no other than the devil. And being given the free will, you can decide whether to ignore or give in to that temptation. And if should give in, then that is committing sin. Giving in to temptation to do something against the will of the Lord, that is sin.

Temptation is not deciding between doing right or doing wrong. If our own lusts draw us away and full-blown sin results, we have no one to blame but ourselves. God tempts no man; we are “tempted” because our hearts do not want God. Our hearts either accept or reject God’s offer for freedom from sin. If we accept Jesus as our Rescuer, he does so instantly. Likewise, if we reject this God-offer, darkness swallows us up immediately.

Adam stood at this crossroad before time began. Jesus stood there, too, and time ceased for those who accept eternal Life. The first Adam chose death; the last Adam—Jesus—chose God’s way, even though it meant He had to suffer a horrible death despite His innocence. Our temptation is the same Temptation experienced by Adam and Jesus. And, just like Adam and Jesus, we enjoy the fruits of our choice: darkness or Light. We would all be tempted a million times in our life. But do not be despair. Close your eyes and pray so God may give you the strength to resist and the wisdom to choose what is right. That is choosing Light, that is choosing salvation.

Almighty Father, how many times the riches of this world, the temptations of pride, greed, envy, jealousy and lust have dethroned you my God from my heart. I sincerely repent of this insult to your Majesty. Through Your Son, Jesus, give me the grace to be able to reject the things of this world, to detach myself from all that is around me, and to cling strongly to your Spirit within me. I love you with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, with all my strength and with the Spirit you have given me.

When cares abound within me, your comfort gladdens my soul.

AT HOME IN OUR HEARTS

James 1:2-3

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Perseverance is commitment, hard work, patience, endurance. Perseverance is being able to bear difficulties calmly and without complaint. Perseverance is trying again and again. In every trials that comes into our life, we do not run away. We face them head-on knowing that God is with us always. Welcome Him into our lives and make Him stay, for our hearts is His home.

Be blessed with another beautiful song (www.bukaspalad.com).

You who welcomed Christ into your home
You who must have washed the Savior's feet
Are truly blest, you who fed the Lord when weary and forlorn
Blest are you who served the Lord's needs

You with whom He shared His wondrous deeds
You to whom He bared His broken dreams
Are truly blest, you whom Jesus sought before His lonely end
Blest are you whom Jesus called His friend
And so we pray, now and always
That we might serve the Lord as selflessly
By feeding those in need, their woes making our own
In our hearts may Jesus find a home
You who begged the Lord to raise His friend
You who knew our death He would amend
Are truly blest, You whom Jesus heard say, “You are the Messiah
The Son of God who comes into the world!”

Lord Jesus Christ, I believe in You as my God and my Saviour. Make me more faithful to Your Gospel and commandments. Keep Your Love alive within my heart and soul so that I may become worthy of You. Teach me to value and be thankful for all of Your Gifts.

Amen +

“To persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage to a man.” - Euripides

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Pentecost Sunday

John 20:22-23

“Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

“Through the Holy Spirit we are restored to paradise, led back to the Kingdom of heaven, and adopted as children, given confidence to call God our Father and to share in Christ's grace, called children of light and given a share in eternal glory (St. Basil).”

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down visibly on the Apostles. He gave them the power to speak in strange tongues to the crowds that came to Jerusalem for that Feast. He also transformed them, from selfish and timid men into giants of courage and faith. He makes holy the souls of the just by His presence. But a Spirit is not present in the sense of taking up space. We say a Spirit is present wherever it causes an effect. In the soul, the Holy Spirit transforms it, making it basically capable of taking in, after death, the infinite streams of knowledge and love that flow within the Holy Trinity. Thus we are really "sharers in the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). This is a dignity so great that any earthly honor is insignificant beside it.

There is no gift of God more excellent than this, and there is no greater gift of God than the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came to remain with the Church forever. This is the promise of Jesus Himself. He dwells in the Church permanently and unfailingly, performing in it without ceasing, His action of life-giving and sanctification. May we confidently and continually beg of Him to illuminate us daily more and more with His light, inflame us with His charity and inspire us with faith and love. Receive Him and let the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts, forever.

Let us pray+

Grant, O merciful Father, that Thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and purify us, that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew and make us fruitful in good works, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, forever and ever.

Amen +

Lord, send out Your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

LIFE IN JESUS

John 21:25

There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

Born in 1970, I am part of this world for 38 years already. Reckoning back all those years, what have I really done for myself and for others? I finished college in 1992 and got a job in the same year. Got married in 1994 and have 2 kids. Working now with a multinational company, have a house, a car and some liabilities. That’s it! But are those the things God will ask for if I meet Him face to face in Heaven? Would having finished college assures me of being in Heaven forever? I have thought of it before and I am thinking about it now. And my mind would always say “of course, not!” My life’s autobiography would be about 150 pages, more or less, including the table of contents, biography, prologue and epilogue.

Jesus lived for only 33 years and yet the gospel of John proclaims that His life was so rich and colorful that “if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” You may say that it was just a figure of speech, but hey, remember that Jesus has been with God since the beginning of time. And in His three years of public ministry, He has achieved what no other man has done – to die and be resurrected, all for the glory of God and for our salvation.

It may be one book or a worldful of books. It doesn’t matter anymore. What matters now is that Jesus has really made a lasting change in the lives of many – including you and me. If someone would write a book about your life, would it be as interesting? Would it be focusing on the wordly things that you achieved, or would the pages be focusing more on the lives that you saved because of Him?

Rewrite the pages of your life. Rewrite it now with the Lord as the author.

Lord Jesus, you came that we might have life, and have it abundantly. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I ask You to forgive me and to come into my life right now. Thank You for giving me a relationship with You. May I share that love with others as they see You in me. May my life be lived in total obedience to Your will.

Amen+

The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.