REMAIN IN HIM FOREVER

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.
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Seeing those children dressed in new clothes, walking down the street from house to house, at Christmas morning, would bring back memories of my childhood, as we do the same together with my kid brother and some friends.

We would visit our godfathers and godmothers, expecting to get something in return – a gift or some money. And we would prefer the latter, for it can be used to buy something that we need.

And in this material world, children would continue to ask for material things as gift during Christmas time. Are they at fault? Of course not! They are just living a life in which they were raised – a life full of materialism, yearning for more that is from this world.

And as parents, we need to start guiding them – teaching them that there is more than just the richness of this world. We should start teaching them about the richness that is heaven. Richness that would forever be in them. Richness that would never be destroyed.

This new year, may we all remember the true gift of Christmas – Jesus Christ, our Lord so that we may forever inherit the richness of heaven.

Teach that to our children. Teach that to ourselves.

Let us pray +

Oh Lord, as we look at the vastness of the universe that the You have created, we are overwhelmed with Your love. What comfort, what peace and what joy do we constantly feel under Your immense greatness. May the new year brings us more blessings, for in Your name, we put our trust. Amen +

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

THE TRUTH IN US

1 John 2:3-4
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.
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As a child, we are all hungry for knowledge. We would believe whatever our teacher or our parents would tell us. For us, these are “gospel” truths simply because we trust them and that they are telling the truth.

And yet, when someone starts preaching us about God’s gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, we would prefer to think about it the more than just believing on it outright.

We all knew about the commandments of God, and still, we break at least one of them, telling ourselves that one would not hurt.

Why? Is it because we simply do not believe that God really exist? Or yes, we do, but our hardened heart simply pushes away God from our being?

Whatever the reasons are, we do need to keep God in our hearts and follow his words and commandments. We cannot always say that I would just ask for forgiveness tomorrow… for tonight, you may not wake up.

Take that path towards perfection… we may not all be perfect, but with God in our heart, everything would be done in perfection.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, blessed are we, because we have known You! Blessed are we, because we have believed in You! Blessed are we, because we bear Your wounds and the sign of Your Blood on our contenances! Blessed are we, because You are our great hope! Blessed are we, because You are our God forever! Amen +

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

RISE AND FLEE

Feast of the Holy Innocents

Luke 21:36
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
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Two-thousand years ago, the devil used Herod to execute all innocent male children in Bethlehem the hope of killing the Child Jesus.

Today, the devil is using another tool to take that innocence out of our children –
… taking their mind out from godly existence
… and to live a life full of lust and worldly anxieties,

All for this, in the hope of killing Jesus in their hearts.

We can now see it everywhere – the magazines we read, the songs we sing, the music we dance to, the billboards along the busy highways – pictures or themes or messages that promote sex and sexuality.

And the bad news is that these same messages are picked-up by our children.

Today’s sex-obsessed culture forces children into roles they are not mentally, physically or emotionally ready to handle.

Innocence is dying in our children.

When will parents act like adults and rise up to say, “enough!”?

Let us pray +

Oh Lord, through our prayers, may we reach purity. Through our prayers, may we be example of purity. Through our prayers, may we teach others purity. Through our prayers, let all things we are become pure.

Amen +

Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.

GOD BLESS OUR FAMILY

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Colossians 3:18-19
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them.
---------------------------------------------------

Rich or poor, there is no woman or man here on earth who is part of a family. And in this Christmas season, it is always a great feeling to be with your family to celebrate the season.

And together, we must aspire to be a part of a bigger family – to be a member of God’s family.

I invite you this day to join it without delay. Open your eyes to see the value of your soul, the sinfulness of sin, the holiness of God, and the present danger of your present condition, the absolute necessity of a mighty change.

Open your eyes to see these things, and repent this very day. See how Jesus has loved you, lived for you, died for you, risen again for you, and obtained complete redemption for you. See how he offers you free, full, immediate pardon, if you will only believe in Him.

Open your eyes to see these things.

Seek Christ at once. Come and believe in Him, and commit your soul to His keeping this very day.

Almighty Father, we thank You for the gift of family. We acknowledge that our image and name as family come from you.

We believe that within our family lies a homemade holiness.

We are Family.

We give thanks to You for the many joys and blessings that have come to us by being a part of Your family.

Amen +

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.

BECAUSE OF MY NAME

Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
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A day after Christmas, we commemorate the life and death of the first saint – St. Stephen, who died at the hands of Saul (who later became Paul, and became a great defender of the Christian faith).

This tells us that in our Christian life, not everything is fun, merry-making and celebration.

Yes, we can have Him more and more and more, overflowing from our hearts so we can have the chance to share Him with others.

But be reminded also that we would be hated because of Him, and yet we must endure everything for His name. He came to the world not to enjoy life, but to suffer and die for our sins.

So, we, too, did not come to the earth to enjoy it, but rather so others may enjoy life with God.

That is why we have the Holy Spirit, to help us through these trials and tribulations. We must remember Who we are, Who’s we are with, and What we have. We have the Spirit of God Himself living and breathing in us.

We are built to last.

God will never put more on us than we can bear. And always remember that Christ’s suffering on our behalf is infinitely far greater than our suffering on His behalf will be.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, receive my spirit and do not hold this sin against those who hates me. We love you because You loved us first. Amen +

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

CHRISTMAS TIME

The Nativity of the Lord

Titus 3:4-6
He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND ALL!!!

Amidst the giving of gifts, the excitement of children and the cooking of traditional dinners, it is easy to miss “the reason for the season”, the birth of God's son, Jesus Christ. There are several ways of bring Jesus back into our family celebrations of Christmas, including masses and church services.

Oh Lord Jesus, it's Your birthday!

Let's praise You, the king we adore. We raise our hands, loudly sing, praise and honor to the King of Kings who is born today to be our light, our life, our way!!!

Let us rejoice in Your love with the joyous heart of a child. And then, like a jolly laughing Santa, we go out and share it with the whole world.

And as we await Your second coming, may we live our lives in total surrender to Your love, mercy and compassion.

A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.

MIGHTY SAVIOR

Christmas Eve

Luke 1:68-69
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior…”
-----------------------------------------

A Christmas Prayer

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen+

Speak from your heart.
Thank Him.
Praise Him.
Glorify Him.

I encourage you to think about what Jesus means to you and your family.

The favors of the LORD I will sing forever…

SILVER AND GOLD

Malachi 3:3
Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
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Gold and silver…
Symbol of excellence…
… metals that cannot be tarnished.

And to achieve that luster and quality, they were subjected to continuous purification in the hands of an experienced silversmith.

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

You are being continually subjected to continuous purification. And in turn, you must allow Him to mold you, change you, purify you.

Let Him take away the tarnish so you may exudes that luster that everyone can see.

Almighty Father, keep my heart pure for You. You have created me in Your likeness and image.

You are the absolute example of purity, and to be with You, I must also be pure. And yet, You still love and take care of me, in spite of being impure and disgusting.

Always keep me under the warmth of Your love – molding me, turning me around, heating me up – under Your watchful and caring eyes, until You see clearly Your own image in me.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, search our heart and cleanse us of all that would keep You from being our “first love” always and in all things. For You are everything to us, for You alone can fulfill our deepest needs. We seek Your mercy, we seek Your compassion as we glorify and praise You forever and ever.

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

GREAT THINGS

Luke 1:49
…the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.
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In our life, we tend to expect more from someone or something good based on first impressions.

We would befriend fair-complexioned person because he would be rich.
Men would be better managers than ladies.
Marry a handsome guy or a lovely woman.

In the end, when our choice fails to meet our expectations, we become disappointed, disgusted, with that person or thing. But in reality, we become frustrated with ourselves.

Almighty Father, teach me to be contented for all the great things you have done for me.

We are all your lowly servant, and we should all rejoice for just a mere mention of your name.

Teach me to appreciate everything and everyone that You have given and provided me. Moreover, if anything does not go well – based on how I look at it, and not based on what You want – teach me to trust in You, for You are a faithful God.

You have done so much great things for us, Oh Lord. May we always recognize that as we await the celebration of the birth of Your Son.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, our trust is in You, forever. Grant us the patience and the ability to accept the consequences of our choices. May we forever be grateful for all the blessings that You have given us. May we see true beauty in everything we have and everyone we love, for they are part of the plan You have laid out for each of us.

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

OUR HEARTS REJOICE

Psalms 33:20-21
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust.
-------------------------------------------------

It has been a year since we first arrived in Tijuana to work on a project.

And, I am glad I am still alive – physically and spiritually.

Although, sometimes I feel that the loneliness of being away from your family is eating me alive, and yet I survived.

And going back home for Christmas, thinking of it would give be reason to rejoice and be glad.

For the season of Christmas is a season of joy, of love, of giving and of hope. It shows how God loves us so much that He was willing to give His begotten Son so we would all share with Him is eternal life.

There are still a lot of questions in my heart. But I know God already has the answers to all of them. And all I have to do is believe and trust in Him.

It’s hard to trust sometimes – especially, if you are just putting that trust to a person or something… but knowing that it is to God whom you are putting your trust, is enough reason to persevere. I know, it’s enough.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, blessed are we, because we have known You! Blessed are we, because we have believed in You! Blessed are we, because we bear Your wounds and the sign of Your Blood on our contenances! Blessed are we, because You are our great hope! Blessed are we, because You are our God forever!

Amen +

Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

MARANATHA

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Luke 1:45
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
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The long wait is coming to an end. As the celebration of our Lord’s birthday approaches, our hearts grows fonder – full of joy, hope and merriment.

Maranatha. “The Lord has come!”

And God has sent Him to be with us because only He can undo what we have done. Only the One who created us in the first place can restore us again. Only our Creator can break down the wall of sin that separates His creatures from Him.

Only He can give their lives the meaning and completeness they were supposed to have.

Only "God with us" can rescue us from the oblivion and death in spirit that we are all heading toward.

Emmanuel. “God is with us.”

In this one name, everything humankind needs and the entire plan of God's salvation has come into being. How blessed we are that Jesus Christ became Emmanuel, GOD IS WITH US.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, so great was Your love for us, Your fallen creation, that You let Your glory to come here. And through His perfect life and death on the cross He broke down the wall of separation that our sin had built and reconciled us to Himself. Through Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, our sins are forgiven and we have fellowship with You, our Creator again. Amen +

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

GLADNESS AND REJOICING

Luke 1:13-14
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth…
---------------------------------------------

We all know who St. John the Baptist is…

But do you know who his mother is? She is no other than St. Elizabeth. And she has undergone some ridicule herself. She bears no son until the advance age. In a patriarchal honor-and-shame culture, the ultimate blessing for a woman was to have a son, and the ultimate disgrace was not having one. In those days, people assumed that the woman was sterile and at fault.

And yet, Elizabeth is portrayed as the first prophetic figure of the new era, the first to announce the blessing and the blessedness of Mary.

In the story of Elizabeth and Mary, even women in a very patriarchal culture become vehicles of grace, conveyors of the truth, and bearers of the two most crucial figures who announce and bring in the new era of salvation.

Do you love? Do you obey?

Friends, we do not need an angel coming to us in a dream to challenge us to follow God. Instead, we have God’s greatest messenger, His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ to follow, to serve, to depend upon, and to love.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, let me enjoy the miracle of waking, when it comes to me; and the miracle of being aware that I am alive—a breathing, walking, thinking proof of Your love and mercy. It is a miracle that You made us, Lord. It is a greater miracle that You tolerate us. We thank you, Lord, with a full heart, for everything. Give us the gift of appreciating You, and all You do. Amen +

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

YES TO GOD

Matthew 1:23
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
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An angel came to you, telling you that you will bear the Son of God. Imagine the very dire consequence if Mary had not accepted the proposal from God. Or Joseph running away after knowing that his fiancée is pregnant and the father is not him!

Most people agree that if someone says no and they have a good reason, then, that makes the “no” more acceptable.

But for Mary and Joseph, there is really no point in saying “No”.

And God, being all-knowing, knows that they will say “Yes”. This is one of the reasons why Mary and Joseph are regarded with great respect by many people. They showed what the ultimate obedience was.

And the rest, as they say, was history.

Jesus was born, suffered, died, resurrected, ascended to Heaven – all for our salvation; as we await for His second coming.

And this all because Mary and Joseph SAID “YES” TO GOD!

Let us pray, as Advent draws to a close for the faith that opens our lives to the spirit of God +

Almighty Father, all-powerful God, Your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of Your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice which announces His glory
and open our minds to receive the Spirit Who prepares us for His coming.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen +

And blessed forever be His glorious Name…

PERFECT LOVE STORY

Matthew 1:16
Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
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God had promised long before Abraham that a Redeemer would come.

Had Christ not redeemed us from the power of the devil, the work of redemption would not be perfect.

And in doing so, God had used two obedient individual – Joseph and Mary.

Imagine the gossip, the rumors, the pointing fingers, the whispers behind the back, the judgment and rejection that faced this young couple, on the verge of beginning their life together.

Joseph was a righteous man. He was a man of character, integrity, and the highest of moral standards.

Mary was an obedient woman. She was a woman of humility, loving and caring.

Joseph loved Mary enough to stay with her despite her being pregnant. He loved her enough to raise God’s Son as his very own. She had faith in him and in God that what the angel had predicted would indeed come true.

And together, they raised Jesus in total obedience to and love of God.

Theirs is a perfect love story. So perfect that it gave us salvation so we can be with our Heavenly Father forever and ever.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, Who loved us so much that You sent Your Son, born of a virgin who was engaged to a righteous man, we are so grateful for Your unselfish act of creation. We offer to You our lives, our beings, our obedience, and we ask that You would help us to live as You call us to live. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen +

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

THERE IS NO OTHER

Isaiah 45:22
Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other!
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In the Philippines, as in some other places around the world today is the start of the Midnight (or early morning) masses called “Simbang Gabi”. And for the next nine (9) days, a daily novena will be offered as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is our God and there is no other. He is worthy of our praise.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, the truth and the life. As the celebration of Your nativity draws near, may we continuously prepare our hearts to fully accept You as our Lord and our King.

And as we wait for Your glorious second coming, may we continuously prepare ourselves, through Your mercy and grace, to join You in eternal life.

Oh Lord, we are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which You prepared beforehand.

This Christmas, may we let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave us.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, blessed are we, because we have known You! Blessed are we, because we have believed in You! Blessed are we, because we bear Your wounds and the sign of Your Blood on our contenances! Blessed are we, because You are our great hope! Blessed are we, because You are our God forever, and there is no other! Amen +

I will hear what God proclaims…

ENTERING THE KINGDOM

Matthew 21:31
Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you.
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I pray everyday…
I write daily devotions…
I hear Sunday masses… attend bible studies
Try not to fall into temptations…

And Jesus is saying that “tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you”.

I would say this is unfair.
But God is NEVER unfair.
He is a justly God… He is the god of Justice!
For entering heaven is not just those things I mentioned above.

It is opening our hearts to Him and responding to His every words and following His every will. In Jesus time, these people found life as it was meant to be. Jesus offered hope to the tax collectors and sinners, hope they never before had.

We must now open my heart FULLY to God. And then share this joy with others so they may also fully understand the gift of salvation, the gift of heaven. Only then would I be entitled to it, joining the sinners, like me, who came to know Jesus fully in my life.

Do you only know about Jesus or do you know Jesus in your heart? Have you met Him? If not, tell him you want to meet Him – before it’s too late!

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, please be patient with me as your Spirit seeks to do his work of transformation in my life. I do want to live to honor you and more closely reflect the character and grace of Jesus. Please give me wisdom to know your will, courage to stay away from sin, and a willing heart to seek after you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen +

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

TEACH ME, O LORD

Psalms 25:4-5
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me…
-------------------------------------------

Life is a continuous learning process. Our parents are our first teachers… then comes our teachers.

We learn so we would grow in life. There are some painful experiences, but we know that these should make us stronger and better.

Lord Jesus has taught and loved us through examples and parables. All we need is to accept His teachings and practice them in our lives. And, as god’s creation, we must humbly ask Him to guide us and teach us.

To be humble means to depend on God, on His grace, to keep ourselves under His guidance, like Jesus, without leaning on ourselves but uniquely on His all-powerful and merciful might.

And through the power of the Holy Spirit, we must learn to be less proud, less greedy, less envious, less anger, less lust… to clean out our soul, in order to fill us with Jesus, with his humility, love, joy and peace.

The Lord Jesus Christ was no religious hypocrite.

He always practiced what He preached and preached what He practiced. He was totally consistent in all of His ways. No legitimate fault could ever be found in Him.

May we, His servants today, become more and more like Him!

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, may we forever embodies humility – make the esteem effort to listen, accept others - no matter what their race, their religion, their education – or lack of it, or their station in life. And we can only show this through service, with great love, to others. May You see the humbleness in our hearts from this day forward. Amen +

Teach me your ways, O Lord.

BAPTIZED

Third Sunday of Advent

Luke 10:16
John answered them all, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
---------------------------------------------

The Lord has come and He is knocking. Let us welcome Him in our hearts. Let our ears be opened so that the full meaning of what he did and said becomes evident to us, and we personally see that it involves us.

He gave us a new life, by sacrificing His life on the cross. May we think about the greatness, the glory, and the wonder of God.

When we come and believe in Him, and keep coming and keep believing in Him, we grow into an intimate relationship with God. And when that happens, we would never let go, for withdrawing away from Him would be unthinkable.

Learn how to share your work, your family life, your personal life with Jesus, to operate in dependence upon his wisdom, grace and forgiveness.

Learn to bring all of your life constantly back into connection with Him.

Learn His Words, read the Bible. Pray constantly and without ceasing. Let Him know what you heart desires and He will give it to you.

Learn to be with Him, always. Totally surrendering your life to Him, for He alone is the Lord, and He alone can give us totally rest and joy.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, You give us all the gift of faith. You give us all the gift of life. Enable and empower us to see you in all we touch, hear, say, and do. May we not take the obvious for granted but, through you, see all of our lives as sacred and a gift from you. Through our Savior, in the Holy Spirit, we pray, one God, forever and ever. Amen +

Cry out with joy and gladness:
for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

ANG PUSO KO’Y NAGPUPURI*

Luke 1:28
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
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Mary's "yes" becomes joy to all who were in darkness and the shadow of death. Indeed, through her the Lord of life came into the world.

The words of the Magnificat are as it were the spiritual testament of the Virgin Mother. Therefore they quite rightly constitute the heritage of all who, recognizing themselves as her children, decide to welcome her into their homes.

*My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
He has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed;
the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is His name.
He has mercy on those who fear Him,
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good thing
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember His promise of mercy,
The promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

O Mother Mary, help me to keep to my purpose of living as a faithful disciple of Jesus.

I greet you, Mother, morning and evening; from you I hope for the inspiration and encouragement that will enable me to fulfill the sacred promises of my earthly vocation and win eternal salvation. Like you in Bethlehem and on Golgotha, I too wish to stay always close to Jesus. He is the eternal King of all ages and all peoples.

You are the highest honor of our race.

DELIGHT IN THE LORD

Psalms 1:1-2
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners… But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.
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I grew up in Tondo, a district of Manila. Tondo is notorious for being the poorest and most underdeveloped district of the country. Many of the city's slums are found in this area. And the environment I was in has some bad influence on my formative years.

I learned how to drink alcoholic drinks at an early age. And I would sometimes go home drunk and nauseating.

Later on, I would be enjoying myself going to girlie’s club and watched naked woman frolicking in the stage. All because of curiosity, as what my friends would say… and that was what I believed.

And one day, I found myself asking my own self if I want to continue with this kind of life and totally waste my life altogether. And so 20 years ago, I totally surrendered my life to God… asking Him to totally lead me though life. My life is in His hands from that day forward.

There are still problems, temptations and sinning… but it is a delight to know that God is always looking after me, waiting for me, whispering words of encouragement in my heart. And 20 years after that fateful day, my life is still in His hands.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, blessed are we, because we have known You! Blessed are we, because we have believed in You! Blessed are we, because we bear Your wounds and the sign of Your Blood on our contenances! Blessed are we, because You are our great hope! Blessed are we, because You are our God forever!

Amen +

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

CONQUER FEAR

Isaiah 41:13
I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.”
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One way or the other, we fear something… or someone. I, myself, have a fear of height. I still remember when we were doing some mountain climbing in China. I have to quit and go down because I cannot bear it anymore. My body is trembling, that I have to go down slowly.

But it is great to feel the tapping on my shoulder when we reached the ground, with my wife and kids telling me that it is okay now.

We go through life with lots of fear in life. It even came to a point for some that they would commit suicide just to escape problems in their lives. And this is just because no one tapped him on his shoulder and say, “don’t worry it would be alright.”

Feel the tap on your shoulder, for the Lord God is telling you that all would be alright. He is continually grasping your right hand in times of trouble and problems.

When we have a relationship with God, we can rely on His promises. We can be strong and of good courage. We can fear nothing because God is with us, He will not fail us, nor forsake us.

This is His promise. And as a faithful God, we need to have faith in Him.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, help me overcome fear of man and of the unknown. May I look up to you and seek Your mighty name so I may not be afraid of being alone, not to be afraid of being too weak, not to be afraid of not being heard, and not to be afraid for our physical necessities. I know I can, because I have put my total trust in You. Amen +

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

COME TO ME

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
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After a long day’s work, we all feel tired. And yet we still need to drive or commute back home. We really feel weary that we do not have anymore time to check on our kids, kiss our spouse or even talk at all…

…and yet, we would still have time and energy to open our computers and check on our emails, just in case, that something important came up.

So, are we just tired physically? Or really tired of this life we have…?

A burden is the heaviness of the heart, soul and spirit. It's something that you might have done or it could be a natural thing that has happened.

May we learn to share each other's burdens, and in this way, our family can help us through it. The rest that we receive, we know we don't deserve it. But we believe that the Lord will give us the ability to have peace and confidence of mind.

We may not remove the whole burden, but we must still come to Him with trust in our hearts; we lay it all out to Him, for we trust in Him forever and our lives to Him we surrender.

What task of yours is too great to bear? Christ wants you to come to him for rest. He will give you peace and ease and comfort. We must not focus on the burden we have. We must focus on how God has blessed us. We must let God handle our burdens.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, teach me to be a burden-bearer, not a burden-passer. And as I help lift other people’s burden – I know You will lift mine, for You are a merciful God. I shall never think I am too important to help someone, for if that is what I believe, then I am only fooling myself. Amen +

O bless the Lord, my soul!

THE LORD IS WITH YOU

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Luke 1:38
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
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Obedience…
Humility…
Modesty…
Immaculate…
Our Mother… caring, loving, beautiful inside and out.

Mary was indeed favored and full of grace.

The Lord of heaven and earth had prepared and chosen her as a fertile ground into which he planted the seed of His Word.

Each of us is now called to become full of grace. The Lord desires to be with us, to live within us in a world that hungers for His love—a love which can be borne in us and offered through us to others.

Mary shows us the way.

She heard the promise, believed, was filled with grace, and conceived the Lord who is Love incarnate. We can do likewise if we learn to pray, to listen, to hear, to respond, to say “Yes”. In doing so we, like Mary, will discover that “nothing is impossible with God.”

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, world without end. Amen +

Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous deeds.

OUR HEART’S DESIRE

Luke 5:22
“What are you thinking in your hearts?”
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We wake up in the morning doing the same routine… again and again and again. And then we ask ourselves… what do I want to do in my life? Most people question their destiny and purpose for this life we’ve been given.

Many of us don’t recognize our talents or gifts so we seem to float from day to day, doing the same thing over and over.

Our only joy now is an empty weekend that may provide moments of fun and enjoyment. Our joy is only the worldly things that we bought yesterday, and yet it would really not give us true joy.

And then Monday rolls around and we start the same lifeless pattern over again. Almost seems senseless.

Had it even made you think, for a moment, why all these senselessness?

Simple. Because, the Lord is not in your heart. God has created such a beautiful earth, the magnificent world filled with wonders too great to explain. And we only need to enjoy that greatness.

Let Him come to your heart and experience true joy.

For there is nothing better than living in the freedom, peace and joy of having Christ in our hearts!

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, we always think of ways to make our lives happy. But we always fail for we try to seek joy through materialism. Teach our hearts to seek You always for You are our only true joy. Blessed are we, because You are our God forever! Amen +

Our God will come to save us!

SALVATION

Second Sunday of Advent

Luke 3:4-6
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths… The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
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Who doesn’t want salvation?

You may say, “Not me!”… and yet, can you answer a straight “YES” when asked if you are going to heaven if you die today?

We would rather spend more time preparing for the party tomorrow. We would rather spend more money buying clothes and gifts. And yet, when it comes to preparing ourselves for the coming of the Lord, we are all clueless on what to do.

In this season of advent, may we be reminded to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We must prepare a straight path for the Lord, removing all obstacles which stand in the Lord’s way preventing him from coming.

All the crooked ways in our life, all the worldly cravings and sins of the flesh need to be straightened out and taken out.

Let the season of Advent be a time when we look forward with great expectation to the coming of the Lord, trusting that he will do a new thing in our life and in the life of the world, preparing ourselves morally and spiritually to receive Him when he comes.

Behold our God, our Savior, our Lord, our King. He is coming.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, Lord, our God, we praise You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, for He is Emmanuel, the Hope of all people. He is the Wisdom that teaches and guides us. He is the Savior of us all. O Lord, we should always be ready for the coming of the Master. The Lord will make the darkest places bright, in Jesus’ name. Amen. +

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

GIVING AT NO COST

Matthew 10:8
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
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When I do consulting jobs, my first question is “what is your budget” for this project. When someone tries to employ me, the first thing that comes into my mind is “that the pay should be better than what I get now”.

The Lord could have done the same during His public ministry. Asking for money in exchange for some miracles.

Imagine this:
Healing leprosy… 100 dinari
Making you see again… 200 dinari
Making a dead alive… 1,000 dinari
Multiplication of loaves… 50 dinari

But this was not the case.
This is not what He taught to His disciples.

Rather, Jesus gives his apostles a lesson about what is priceless –

SERVING: Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

So the challenge is to give away what you’ve received. Don’t worry about what it is, or how much you have, or how it stacks up against what anyone else has received.

Just give it away!

It is really hard to do, for we are all attached to these material things. But in giving, we will gain heaven – that is everything! That is, PRICELESS!

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, in Your infinite riches, You have given me everything I have. Show me today how and where to give it away. I believe that even as I do, You will fill me with more and more. Amen +

Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

DO YOU BELIEVE?

Matthew 9:28
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
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I was able to watched “Magic Tricks…Revealed” on TV. This show explains, or reveals, the different magic tricks that the magician employs. And, as it turned out, those are not really magic but a thoroughly conceptualized routines, contraptions and sleight of the hand, as they call it.

And so watching a magic show would never be the same again. With the mystery gone, the excitement goes with it.

The same is true with our faith in God - once we start knowing what will happen to us tomorrow, then our lives become nothing but mere magical routine. We try to control everything in our powers and totally forget what God can do for us…

So, I would rather have a mysterious life that is totally dependent on the Lord, knowing and believing fully that He can do everything for me.

Lord Jesus, You did explained to us that we can have the ability to move mountains and trees, if we only have the faith the size of a mustard seed.

You have challenged our whole being, that our life must be lived in total faith in You - to follow and say what You believe is right, without doubting!

For without faith, it is impossible to please You, Oh Lord, for we must constantly come to You; must always believe that You would reward those who diligently seek You and Your will (Hebrews 11:6).

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I know that faith is more precious than any gold or riches and due to this, that I would be continuously tested for my faith. Help me cultivate my faith, Oh Lord, that I may do greater things, and even move mountains, all for the glory of Your mighty name. Amen +

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

BUILT ON THE ROCK

Matthew 7:24
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.”
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Family…

Ah yes, we always think about them, we always care about them, we always see to it that we keep them forever.

But are we making sure that we are built a solid foundation in our family life so that it will not collapse? Are we making sure that our spouses and kids would act and live as what God wants, so our marriage will not go to waste?

Are we making sure that our home is built on rock?

Building a house on sand means placing our hopes and certainties in unstable and unpredictable things that cannot stand the winds and scorns of time. All it takes to bring everything crashing down is just a little more work, a little time out to enjoy myself… and that “little” would start to get bigger and bigger…

This has got to stop. From now on, let us take the time to appreciate everything that God have already done and given us. And let us start with our own family.

Continue to build your house on rock. And let us start with thanksgiving and praise. For giving our family to us, let us thank Him fully.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, we should always believe and put our faith in You, Oh God. We have been demanding a lot from You lately, of things that we may not need. And instead of waiting, we show doubt and more disappointment for our faith is rooted on sand. Teach us to build our faith on solid ground and act on Your Words faithfully and obediently. Amen +

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

MOVED WITH PITY

Matthew 15:32
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat…”
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“I do not want to send them away hungry…”

I would sometimes tell my wife whenever we have visitors. So I would ask to cook or buy something to eat before they leave. Or maybe, so that when I visit them, they would also do the same. Shame on me…

“I do not have spare coins, maybe she can ask from somebody else…”

I would tell my wife whenever a beggar would approach us asking for food or money. And I would not care if she has not eaten for days, as long as I can eat at my favorite food house. Shame on me…

For the Lord is different… Jesus’ heart is moved with pity for everyone.
The hungry…
The sick…
The oppressed…
The lame, the blind…

Jesus’ heart is moved with pity for all of us, for we always put ourselves above everyone else.

His heart is moved for pity for all of us, because we are hungry for love, sick in spirit, and blind to things that would concern us most.

Let us come back to Him and feed on His Words and let our hearts listen to Him forever. So our spirit may feel full, and have that attitude to share that same feeling of fullness and joy with others.

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, indeed, have pity on us. And then may you finding us sharing your compassion with others who need your pity too. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen +

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

REVEALED TO THE CHILDLIKE

Luke 10:21
“…for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”
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We hate changes.

For changes would change the way we live, work and enjoy life. When I have been asked to be a part of the team to go to Mexico to work on a project, I was very apprehensive. A total change in my life as I have to be away from my family – something that never happened to me before.

And due to the toughness of my heart, I was not able to see the inner workings that God is planning for my life. But, through constant prayers, I was able to open my heart.

And like the heart of a child, I listened.

We could only understand the workings and the love that God wants to share with us if we would have the mind and the heart of a child. He doesn’t want us to understand everything but He wants us to trust in Him as we live our life, totally oblivious of what will happen tomorrow.

Always be a kid at heart where even simple things can make you smile. Take time to enjoy the little things, the many little blessings that come along your way. As time goes by, reflect on your childhood days which are now a beautiful memory.

And, life goes on. We live. We love. We learn.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, thank You for giving me a mind that can know
and a heart that can love. Let me be convinced that all knowledge leads to You and let me know how to find You and love You in all the things You have made. Grant me the grace to put my knowledge to use in building the Your kingdom on earth to prepare myself for kingdom in heaven. Amen +

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

CALLED TO FOLLOW

Matthew 4:22
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.
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Like new Christs, the Twelve and all the followers of Jesus in history reveal something of what it means to be a disciple. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they were able to share the Good News to the gentiles and the Jews.

And their faith and love became the fuel that kept the faith burning in the hearts of men up to now.

Following Jesus is about listening and doing.

It is about putting into practice the things that Jesus taught.
It is about a lifestyle of peace and justice that sets one apart from others.

He doesn’t need to interview you.
All you have to do is drop everything and follow Him.

And it would not be a walk in the park with Him.

For true discipleship is found where people are hurting, where people are hungry, where people are oppressed, where people are denied justice, where people are dying.

Follow Him, He is waiting.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, may our love for You and others be our only concern. And may that love really push us to follow You and only You. We should be more concerned about who we follow such as Jesus rather than what the evil one tempts us to follow. We are Your disciples, forever. Amen +

The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

REDEMPTION

First Sunday of Advent

Luke 21:28
“But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”
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I am back in Mexico, finishing what we have all started. After all the preparations, executions and sacrifice, the project is nearing completion.

And as preparation is vitally important in everything that we do in life, being prepared is most important as we await the coming of the Lord.

And today, we enter the season of Advent.

Advent is a season of preparation. If the season of Lent prepares us for what happened on Good Friday (execution) and Easter (resurrection), then during Advent, we thank God for Christ's first coming (Christmas), prepare for his final coming at the end of time, and celebrate Christ's presence among us today through the Spirit.

Let us light up the path today for the Lord and prepare His way as He comes to our hearts.

Let Him lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice which announces His glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit Who prepares us for His coming.

Let Him prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which His presence will bestow.

Stand up straight with head raised… for we will be with Him, forever.

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, excite in us a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive our prayers as part of our service to You, our Lord who enlists us in God's own work for justice. Excite in us a joy responsive to the Father's joy. We fervently seek His will so we can serve with gladness, singing and love. Amen +

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

VIGILANT AT ALL TIMES

Luke 21:36
Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent…
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At night, especially when walking in a dimly-lighted streets, we are always on the look-out, always vigilant as danger could just be around the corner. We would always look for a well-lighted place, fully knowing that we would be safe…

You could be in the dark today, groping around trying to find that way towards the light. All you have to do is to open your heart to Jesus Christ and let him guide you out of the dark.

For us, as people of faith and hope and love, the Gospel says all we have to do is have courage, hold our heads high, and keep our chins up because Jesus is coming, redemption is at hand, the reign of God is here, and everything is going to be alright.

And in today’s gospel, Luke urges us to spend time in prayer as we remain vigilant at all times…

…for the strength to stand before Christ, to spend time in prayer
…to keep vigil by sitting in the presence of God
And keep talking to God
Keep listening to God’s voice
And be continually in the presence of God.

Be prepared, for the Lord is coming.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, You are holy and worthy of all our praise and adoration. You are calling us all to a higher standard of integrity and obedience than ever before. You are warning us to walk our walk as You reveal it to us -- and You are calling us to do what we say -- to be doers and encouragers and not just talkers. To You be all the honor and glory! Amen +

“Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord… exalt him above all forever.”

HIS WORDS, FOREVER

Luke 21:33
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
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God is always busy.
He is always busy loving us.
And yet, we busy ourselves with taking care of earthly things.

Some things that are not evil in themselves may have an evil influence if they crowd God out of our lives. Having fun is not evil. But these things may compete with God in our lives if we let them.

Then it becomes evil.

We must make time with the Lord the number one priority. We must be careful or the "busyness" and simple pleasures of life may crowd out our time with the Lord. Spend a personal time listening to and reading the words of the Lord.

He is the beginning and He will be the end.
His words and promises will all be fulfilled.

He has been a faithful God and has given us immeasurable blessings.

Live in Him. Live with Him.
He is our God and His words must not pass away from our hearts.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, help all who pray to be obedient to Your call when they receive it. Be especially watchful over our church leaders worldwide as their role is key and their obedience vital. Help all of us to learn from our past mistakes so we will not repeat them. Amen +

Give glory and eternal praise to him!

DELIVERER AND SAVIOR

Daniel 6:28
He is a deliverer and savior, working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth…
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Savior is defined as someone who rescues another from harm, danger or loss.

So you may ask, how did Jesus became my Savior? Am I in any danger; is someone trying to harm me; or what would I lose if I failed to recognize Him as my Lord and Savior?

Good questions… that would merit good answers. But the answers would only be good, if you would first take away all disbelief from your heart… and start to believe that only Jesus can deliver us from all anxieties, sins, fears and death that this worldly kingdom has to offer.

Yes, we are all in danger of losing a place in heaven. For the devil is continually trying to get our attention… tempting us, so we would join him in hell and be subjected to anguish and pain… forever.

But even as we sinned against God, He would not allow us to suffer. And he sent our deliverer and savior, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and pay as ransom for the many sins.

JESUS can be fully trusted and relied upon 100% for our personal salvation.

There is no surer source of truth, for He himself is the truth and only way to God. He is our Deliverer, our Savior, our King, our Lord and our God.

Let us pray +

Oh Mighty Deliverer, I can never forget that in my neediness and affliction, You came and rescued me. While I was a slave to sin, you died to deliver my soul. I am free Lord, and such joy fills us me as I walk in the light of Your presence. Deliver me Oh God from the destruction of selfish desires, that I might bind up the broken-hearted in Your name, and set prisoners free for Your glory. I am full of hope, Jesus, my Deliverer, for you have rescued me. Amen +

For he is the living God, enduring forever…

HATED BUT UNHARMED

Luke 21:17
You will be hated by all because of my name…
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Have you experienced being persecuted because of your faith? Being imprisoned, tortured because of your belief in Jesus Christ, our Lord?

Today, millions, if not billions of people are being persecuted because of their belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. And it started even thousand of years ago, when the early Christians have suffered and endured persecutions because of their faith.

They were killed and fed to the lions…
They were stoned to death…
They were crucified…
They were burnt at the stake…
All because they love and serve You, Oh Lord.

For that, it is already comforting to know that this has not happened to me, to us. At least, not yet. But if it does happen, and the “opportunity” comes to present itself, I only ask one thing from You – that You may grant me the strength – mind, body and spirit, to accept whatever You what me to do.

In this very dangerous world, we must put our trust totally in Him. Let us persevere in our faith, always praising and glorifying His name.

Ask for forgiveness through our prayers so we may become the true blessings to others. Do not be afraid, for He is our Lord.

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, there is nothing too hard for You! And you being our Master, should put all our faith on this fact. And every evil, disabilities, sufferings, and disasters of this world would be nothing but mere instances in a likewise ordinary day. Amen +

You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting…

MIGHTY SIGNS

Luke 14:11
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
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Wars…
Flood…
Famine…
Earthquakes…
You read about them… you hear about them.

Sign of the times… mighty signs that Jesus already talked about two-thousand years ago.

Yes, the signs are there, but no one, nobody, would really know when would the end come. Only the Father knows.

But does knowing the exact time really matter? Do we have to wait for that time, before we repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior?

The time is now! The gift of salvation is not limited to saints, priests, or hermits. Everyone can have their spiritual eyes opened!

Open your eyes to the truth…
and open Your heart to accept Him in your life, not tomorrow, but today.
For tomorrow may be too late.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, Dear Lord, I ask you to open my spiritual eyes so that I can truly discern the signs of the times. I ask you to give me the grace to walk by faith and not by sight, and to see things as you see them. Amen +

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

EXALTED ABOVE ALL

Daniel 3:52
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever…”
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You are omnipresent. You are omnipotent. You are all-knowing. You are omniscient. You are everything, and we are nothing in Your eyes.

And yet, we are the one who has the courage to ignore you. We would sin and commit sin, fully aware that you hate sins. And as we are still sinners, You would send your only Son to die on the cross so we may be saved and be given a second chance in life to be with You forever.

Isn’t that enough so we would repent?

Isn’t that enough so we would worship You and You alone for the rest of our lives?

Isn’t that enough so we would seek Your love and mercy forever?

Thank You, God, that no matter how many sins we commit, Your arms are still open to receive our repentance.

Thank You, God, that no matter how many times we ignored Your Words, Your love would still be there to protect and envelop us.

Thank You, God, thank You.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, blessed are we, because we have known You! Blessed are we, because we have believed in You! Blessed are we, because we bear Your wounds and the sign of Your Blood on our contenances! Blessed are we, because You are our great hope! Blessed are we, because You are our God forever! Amen +

Glory and praise God forever!

VOX DEI

Solemnity of Christ the King

John 18:37
Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
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Christ the King Sunday, the last holy Sunday in the western liturgical calendar year. Next week, we start with the new liturgical year, starting with the Advent season as we prepare for Christmas, the birth of our Lord.

Ahh, it’s Sunday again.

It is the day when we, at least, spend a whole one hour praising Him, singing for Him, hearing His mighty words and receiving the Eucharist - signifying that we accept Him as our Lord, our God, our Master, our Teacher, our Savior, OUR KING!

If in those little, minute things and places, we already find solace and experience paradise, what more if we really experience the true one, the one promised by our Lord. When we reach that place, we can truly say that “I am now in Paradise, with my Lord and my King!”

You are always inside me…
talking to me…
hearing my thoughts…
understanding the pain I go through…
and loving me, for the real Paradise is in my heart.

Continue filling-up my soul with Your love, Oh Lord, overflowing, out-pouring, that I may share them with others.

Let us pray +

Oh Lord, continue to console our souls. Anticipate our desires and make Yourself present to us always, bringing all those graces and remedies to those who are in need. We speak to You, for we know You are near, willing to listen. We ask these in Jesus name, our Lord and King forever. Amen +

The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

GOD OF THE LIVING

Luke 20:37-38
“…He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”
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Resurrection…
Life after death…
The afterlife… the eternal life.

It is clear that life does continue beyond life here on earth, that we move into a new age, a new place, that cannot be described by or even compared with our earthly existence.

Are you still in doubt? Well, Jesus has the answer… simply relax and be at peace in your faith.

I surely believe and know that Jesus lived and died and was resurrected. If I am wrong, well, I am to be pitied, but nothing is lost…

But if I am right...well, imagine the treasure I would have gained in Heaven!

This is the very promise of the Resurrection. After the grim reality of death and suffering, we would all be raised again, completely free from sin.

Christ has died.
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.

He is God not of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all of them are alive. In life, in death, in the resurrection we are still reconciled with God, inseparable from Christ, the living Son of the God of the living.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, make us faithful followers of the spirit of your resurrection. Grant that we may be inwardly renewed; dying to ourselves in order that you may live in us. May our lives serve as signs of the transforming power of your love. This we ask of you, Lord Jesus, living and reigning with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever. Amen +

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart…

LET US PRAY

Luke 19:46
“My house shall be a house of prayer…”
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I have been praying as long as I can remember.

All through my life, I have experienced the power of prayer – in times of family trouble, marital trouble, financial trouble and personal difficulties.

How do you pray? What do you pray? How sincere are your prayers?

God invites all of us to come to Him. He wants us to bring to Him all our life’s burdens through prayer. And when they do, they will find acceptance, comfort and help from Him.

Let us ask that His kingdom come, His will be done in our lives, our church, our city and our country. We need to demonstrate our trust in Him to fulfill the vision He has given us and seek the Lord together in prayer.

The power of prayer resides in the Lord. Put all your confidence in Him, asking anything according to His Words. And knowing that He hears us, we know that He will provide whatever we asked for, in His time.

With God’s help let us make His house, a house of prayer for all the people – holy, obedient, trusting and one in Christ.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I pray for the goodness of everyone. May we constantly seek You and continuously praise Your mighty name. Be merciful to us and be forgiving. We are all sinners, so I am not really better than others. And there is no more comforting truth in this world than this: Christ Jesus came into the world to forgive sinners. And for that, I humbly and silently pray with all my heart and thank You. Amen +

We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

DAYS ARE COMING

Luke 19:43
For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you…
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The devil would continue to haunt us. He doesn’t want us to be serving the Lord our God. They will continue to pounce on us, in different forms, in different times, at different opportunities.

So, are you ready? Is the armor of God protecting you? Is the sword of the Lord ready and sharpened?

We are always in constant attack from the principalities that rule this world.

But we should not back down.
We should all hold our ground.

We need to continue to be the loving, compassionate, and peacemaking children of God we have been called to be.

We may have hated someone in our life, but always remember to hate the actions done and not the person. We must continue to show love to that person so that same love may change him and change us. Loving others is taking out the enemy within.

So, in the end, we are both changed… taking out the true enemy from our hearts and worshipping only the true, One God.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, anger destroys the peace of our own soul, but being a loving and compassionate peacemaker brings peace to our soul. Teach us to love those who brings injustice to our lives. Teach us to love our enemies. Teach us to trust in You, knowing that this is how we have been called to be.

Amen +

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

CONTENTED IN HIS PRESENCE

Psalms 17:15
But I in justice shall behold your face; on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
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Upon waking up in the morning, you would go straight to your normal morning ritual – fixing the bed, going to the bathroom, eating breakfast, taking a bath, dressing up and off to work. Where is the car key? Where is my lunch box? Where are the kids? An hour into the morning, and you are already dishelved, frustrated and a mess.

Most of the time, we always take common things for granted. That the sun will rise in the morning, that you will hear the chirping of the birds tomorrow, that you would be alive the next day. And still, we would blame God for every bad things that would happen to us. Isn’t that unfair?

Live a life of contentment in His presence. Not a contentment that comes from possessions, activities, or other people, for these can be changed or taken away. But a life of contentment that comes from our relationship with Jesus Christ. There is absolutely nothing that can take that away.

Contentment frees you to enjoy every good thing God has given you. Contentment demonstrates your belief that God loves you and has your best interest in mind.

Wake up in His presence… thanking Him for another day and start your day contented and full of peace.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, blessed are we, because we have known You! Blessed are we, because we have believed in You! Blessed are we, because we bear Your wounds and the sign of Your Blood on our contenances! Blessed are we, because You are our great hope! Blessed are we, because You are our God forever!

Amen +

The Lord will not abandon his people.

SALVATION HAS COME

Luke 19:9-10
“Today salvation has come to this house… For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost”.
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Tax collectors during the time of Jesus, like Zacchaeus, are very wealthy people… but they are also greatly hated by the people. They cheat people and whatever he collected over the amount required would be for him to keep. But Jesus has other plans. Instead of hating Zacchaeus, Jesus called on him so He can stay for dinner at his house.

Zacchaeus is overjoyed. Here he was, a social outcast being offered the opportunity to host one of the most famous men in the country. He scrambles down the tree and welcomes Jesus. At the end of the day, another soul was saved, as what Jesus has come to accomplish.

We are called to a dinner with the Lord.
We are called to eat with Him.
He is inviting us to dinner, because He wants us to eat a piece of Himself.
He knows our longing for Him and our faith in Him.

Jesus’ invitation is for providing salvation and forgiveness and He is waiting for our repentance. Jesus takes our shame upon himself willingly, waiting, hoping that we will understand and repent.

What grace!
What mercy!
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost”.
That means, you and me.

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, as I read about Zacchaeus, I think of my own selfishness. Help me to see you at work in people around me. Help me to be willing to risk whatever reputation I have to join you. I long to see your salvation shine more brightly through me. In your holy name, I pray. Amen +

The Lord upholds me.

HAVE SIGHT

Luke 18:42-43
“Have sight; your faith has saved you”. He immediately received his sight and followed Him, giving glory to God.
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The cry echoes clearly two-thousand years ago as it is today, “Jesus, have pity on me!” But most of the time, once we received what we need, we again go back to our previous wrongdoings, totally forgetting God, until that next disaster.

Jesus taking out afflictions not because He wants to, but because that person believes and have faith in Him. The blind man's persistence and his urgent calls for help were rewarded as others before had been rewarded for their persistence.

Let us be rewarded because of our faith. Ask for pity in all humility as we are absolutely dependent upon Him, Who is our only hope.

And it should not stop there…

We should invite Him in out hearts, seeing with the eyes of faith. Perhaps dimly at first and in need of correction, but nevertheless focused on the source of life and light that the Lord is offering to all of us.

And we continue to see the light with and for Him…

Make sure we never go blind again and continue to see. These drastic changes in our lives should also be permanent and plain for all to see. May others see all the good and right things in us so they may know that the Lord our God is really a merciful and loving God.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, forgive me for my unbelief. Renew my faith with the unstoppable faith that Bartimaeus possessed. Let me be quick to praise God and to follow you in the Way. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen +

Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.

YOUR WORDS, OUR LIFE

Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
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Words spoken 2,000 years ago, still they are as true and as relevant in our lives today. So it really is amazing that the words of Jesus Christ continue to set the bar that no one can reach.

However, some of us would twist these words to suit our lives, so we can continue to live in our lies. “An eye for an eye”, “divorce as promulgated by Moses”, “animal sacrifices” – these are old thinking that was already renewed through Christ.

“Love your enemy”.
“Love your wife; listen to your husband.”
“I am the way, the truth and the life”.

Jesus claim is so revolutionary that it was considered insane by some rational person. Yet, somehow, I know deep in my heart (as I am sure you also believe and know), that he spoke the plain truth.

And while I, as a sinner, might have problem reconciling His words with what I really want to do in my life, I cannot deny that He spoke with the authority and wisdom that can only come from a loving, omniscient God.

May God give us the strength to follow the words and actions of Jesus Christ and not be swayed by the tides of a changing world.

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus Christ, may we forever live and believe in your very Words. No one can twist them, for they are Words of Life. May we follow Your example forever, only believing in You and Your mighty words and deeds.

Amen +

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices…

CALL OUT TO HIM

Luke 18:7
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to Him day and night?
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You asked for something
You did not received what you asked for
So, you gave up… thinking that you are not loved, and so you rebelled.

But have you thought of asking again…
And again… and again?

God is more than a father, He is more than a judge. He is our Lord, our God – worthy of our unceasing praise and prayers.

If faith is the furnace of our lives, then His grace is its fuel.
And the divinely appointed shovel for feeding the burner is prayer.

If I lose heart and lay down the shovel, the fire will go out. I would eventually grow cold and hard.

Focus on our heart attitude.
“Rejoice always” is an attitude of joyfulness.

How do we rejoice and give thanks? Through prayer!

It expresses itself throughout the day with silent prayers of vital communication with the LORD. We can't always stop asking, our heart’s attitude should always be of “praying without ceasing”.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I pray to you without ceasing. I bring back to You my life of prayer without losing heart. And when Jesus comes, I hope that He would see the faith in me, and be worthy to join Him in Heaven.

Amen +

Remember the marvels the Lord has done!

SUDDEN COMING

Luke 17:26
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man…
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The year is again nearing its end. Would the end of the world not be far? Don’t ask me, for I don’t really know. Only God the Father knows when it will be – even Jesus doesn't even know as He told His disciples: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”.

But what I know is this.

We all need to be prepared.
We must all be ready and watchful,
For “the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare”.

As St. Peter has all warned us, and so we must be prepared –
“You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:11-13).

Are you ready for the last day?

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, help us to be ready for Jesus' sudden coming. Shake us awake. Help us not to be lulled to sleep by the unbelief Teach me the true value of material things so that I do not cling to them. Help my eyes to be ever looking for His appearing. In the holy name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen +

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

KINGDOM IN OUR HEARTS

Luke 17:20-21
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed… For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”
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I already have a concept of our dream house. But it is still a concept – kept in my and my wife’s mind. We are still paying for the lot so we cannot build it yet. And until it is completely built, it would remain a dream – soon to be realized. Until we see it, feel it and live in it, we would only be living in our dreams. That is the reality of living in this earthly world.

Jesus is offering us more than this earthly world. He is offering us more than just a dream.

Yes, He promised us heaven and the Kingdom of God.
Yes, He promised us eternal life and His second coming.

Jesus did not want us to expect an immediate kingdom, but now that promise is not just a dream for it lives in our every hearts. All we need is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

The Kingdom of God is not a visible territory with borders. It is not a capitol building with beautiful architecture. Instead, his Kingdom, God's Kingdom, has already begun to make its appearance as people bow their hearts to the King and offer themselves in service to His rule.

Have you truly yielded your heart, soul, mind, and strength to do the Lord's will? Is His Kingdom now rightfully placed in your heart?

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I praise You for Your power and glory. I praise You for Your work of deliverance and salvation in our lives. I praise You for Your promise of a home and a great future with us. Now I ask that Your will be done in my life as I offer myself to serve and honor You as the only true and living God, in Jesus' name.

Amen +

Your word is for ever, O Lord.

PITY US, LEPERS

Luke 17:12-13
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
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Leprosy… a type of sickness that cannot be easily healed. Slowly, the body is being consumed, little by little, until we cannot bear the pain and suffering anymore. And the part has to be amputated or disfigured permanently.

Sin… spiritual weakness that cannot be easily cured. Slowly, the body is being consumed, little by little, until we cannot bear the pain and suffering anymore. And our lives are forever amputated from the body of Christ, wallowing forever in sinful extravagance, our soul disfigured permanently.

We are all lepers – spiritual lepers, that is. What is worse, this disease affected our hearts, totally ignoring God up to a point of doing those that are exactly the opposite of His will.

And worst of all, some of us do not believe that they ever can be healed!

Yet, there is hope. There is hope when Jesus sends His gospel to us, and bids us to repent. "I believe in the forgiveness of sins": this is a sweet sentence of a true creed.

Believe in the renewal of our hearts; for the Lord can give new hearts and right spirits even to the evil and unthankful; cleansing our heart, our soul, our spirit – giving us salvation!

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, I am unclean as a leper shouting to You for forgiveness from afar, for I cannot approach You and unworthy of even Your gaze. But You did differently. You are the One who even approached me and healed me of my spiritual illnesses. And You even gave up Your life to ensure ever-lasting comfort, joy and peace with the Father. I shall always go back to give You thanks and praise. Amen +

Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.

UNPROFITABLE SERVANT

Luke 17:10
When you have done all you have been commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do”.
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Would you see your house helper, remote control in hand, sitting in your sala and watching TV? Or, sleeping in the master’s bedroom? Of course , not. As servant, they have a place in the house, and they should follow that rule or their service will be terminated.

You may say that is not fair. But fair or not, the servant was expected to work in the house or the field and prepare the food afterwards for his master. That is his duty. The master wasn't there to serve the servant, but the servant is expected to serve the master.

And in our relationship with the Lord, we always think that we are the master and God is our slave.

Our prayers tend to be "give me" prayers – “Please help my business succeed”, “Heal my mother's cancer”, “Provide food to those experiencing a famine”, “Work in my boss's heart to give me a raise”. Is this any way to address God to whom we owe our allegiance, life and salvation.

We are His servant, not the other way around! We are His servants, His slaves first. We are to serve him dutifully without any expectation of reward.

Our prayer should be of servant’s prayer: “Father, what do you want me to do today?”, “How can I help my friend learn to be brave in face of sufferings?, “Give me strength and boldness to witness for you so others may know You.”

And after we have learned that lesson of obedience, hear His voice as He call us His "friends."

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, give me a servant’s heart. Help me to better understand my appropriate role as your slave, so when you graciously grant me your friendship I might truly appreciate your love. Amen +

I will bless the Lord at all times.

TAKE THEM OUT

John 2:16
“Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”
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Jesus, with a whip… driving vendors out of the temple.

Jesus, anger in His face, overturning tables of the money changers.

“Take these out of here”, he would tell everyone for they are making His Father’s house a marketplace.

These people are making easy money by cheating the people. They would sell the birds and the oxen for sacrifice, and would sell them at a higher price. They would change money at higher rate, because only certain type of money can be donated to the temple.

We always see Jesus portrayed as either serene parable teller or the suffering Jesus, carrying the cross, being mocked by the crowd, being crucified. Or the triumphant Jesus having defeated death in His resurrection, with His face in glorious light and pompous serenity. Very seldom, if not, do we see Him with a whip in one of his hands.

And yet, this is the way Jesus is portrayed in today’s scripture. He is a man on a mission, and he will not stand for his Father’s temple to be desecrated.

Jesus cleansed the temple. And He did it again on the cross.

Ask Him to come in our lives and whip us out of sin and overturn our tables, not out of anger but to make our lives into what He has created us to be. Perhaps the fierce Jesus is needed. Perhaps Jesus needs to come in with a whip to cleanse us out.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, clean out my heart. Come into my life with your whip and cleanse me out. Take those parts of my life that take me away from you and get rid of them. Fill me with your Spirit. Lord, you have the power to forgive and you have the power to change me. All of this in Jesus’ name. Amen +

God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.

GIVE IT WHOLE

Luke 21:3-4
“…this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for… she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood”.
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What! I only have enough money, and yet you still want to get it from me. How can I eat tonight? How can I go to work tomorrow? How can I buy my favorite beer after work? How can I give some tip to my favorite dancer in the club? Go somewhere else… I have to work.

Where is the trust? Where is the heart to help? No wonder Jesus would put the poor widow in today’s gospel above all the rest.

Her act was motivated by the knowledge, by the spiritual thrill of heart, that she belonged to God. She had received freely, and her gratitude to God revealed itself in contentment, a total confidence that the Lord was able to supply her daily need. She lived in total dependence upon God.

Total trust… true love.

How about you? How about me? Have we given God your all, whether large or small? Do we have the heart of trusting God for the next step, the next meal, the next project? Know the reward of loving God with a joy and purity that reward you with His glorious presence. Give with all your heart and trust to the Lord.

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, I am more and more aware that those whom You will reward with the greatest crowns are not as likely to be the well-known Christian leaders, but the faithful men and women who regularly lay their whole life on the line for you. I pray that I might someday you might count me worthy to stand among these ordinary Christian heroes.

In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen +

Praise the Lord, my soul!

GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS

Luke 16:15
“You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”
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Matthew is a very rich man. He can earn money in an instant. And he would share whatever blessings he has with others. He is a devout Christian and would donate part of his blessings to the Church. But in the eyes of many, he is still rich and many would judge him to have gained his wealth though dubious means.

Yet, God would look in the heart,
and only Him can know what is in Matthew’s heart.

Paul is a killer, a murderer. At one time, he would kill people for money. He was caught and was imprisoned. Inside, he would come to know Jesus and start serving Him. And through the years, he would be leading bible studies for the prisoners. And when he was finally set free, people would still doubt him, and still look at him as the old killer that he is.

But God would look in the heart,
and only Him can know what is in Paul’s heart.

I may be reading my bible daily, or going to mass every Sunday, or donating a portion to the needy, or attending bible studies; and yet I would readily judge Matthew and Paul as not worthy of heaven.

But God would look in the heart… in their hearts... in my heart.

How about you, what is in your heart?

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, may I use all the resources You are giving me to uplift the spirit of others, to show them how You really care, to make them aware of Your true love. Look at our hearts. For the only greatest riches that we should aspire for, and as You promised, is the gift of eternal life! Amen +

I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

CHRIST THROUGH ME

Romans 15:17-18
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast in what pertains to God. For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me…
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We would sometimes boast – I know more today because I studied in a great school, because I have learned from a great professor, because I read a lot of books, because I persevere on my own, to learn more today that what I have learned yesterday.

But can we say the same when it comes to our spiritual lives?

Can we say that "Jesus is working within me, that is why I act righteously in my dealings with others?"

Can we say that "Jesus is in me, that is why I would try not to commit sin that would destroy my soul?"

Can we say that "Jesus is me, that is why others can see Him through me?"

We can boast of anything in this worthless life on earth, so we can achieve some sense of worthiness, but those would not matter to God in heaven. What matters to Him is how you used the teachings of His son, so you may carry yourself and others into knowing Him, obeying Him and loving Him. That is our mandate in life… that is what we need to accomplish.

Can you still boast now?

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, for now, we live in this other side of heaven, knowing that sometime in the future, we would join. Lord, give us a healthy appreciation of the beauty and wonder of this world. May we pour ourselves out, living for you. And may others see Your kindness and compassion through us as we persevere to be and act like You. Through Jesus Christ, Amen +

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.

REJOICE WITH ME

Luke 15:10
“I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
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My Father bought me a ring. It has three colorful stones – white, red and green. It may not be precious stones, but for me, these stones are precious. That is why when one of the stone fell and got lost, I started crying and told my father about it. He told me that he will just buy me a new one, and yes, he did.

As for the old ring, I stopped wearing them for without that one stone, it is not anymore complete.

It is not about that stone. It is about the completeness of it all.

The lost sheep and the lost coin are more than the prized possessions of their owners; they are also parts of a whole. The sheep belongs to the flock and the coin to the purse; without them the whole is not complete. The search, then, is a quest for restoration and wholeness. In this sense, all of us who are part of God’s creation should be just as anxious as God until the lost are restored and we are made whole again by their presence.

When we got lost, God’s family is not anymore complete. And so He has to search for us and invite us to be with Him again. And He did more than searching. He even sent His Son to the “lion’s den” so our sins may be forgiven.

God, broom in hand, patiently sweeps away the dirt from our lives and restores us to our God-given image. And as we are found, the whole community in heaven rejoices. Be willing to answer God’s call, "Rejoice with me”.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I got lost but You found me. Still, I would run away from You and seek my own satisfaction. But, You would never give up. You would find a way to make me return back to You. And as I accept Your mercy and forgiveness, heaven would rejoice for Your family would be complete once more, through Jesus our Lord. Amen +

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?

OUR OWN CROSS

Luke 14:27
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
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Carry my own cross? Isn’t that very heavy? I think I cannot do that. I thought the Lord Jesus has carried it already for me, why do I have to carry it again?

Maybe, I will carry it tomorrow, but for now, I am busy.

I will just forgive those who sinned against me later. Well, for my enemy, that is another story – he will be my enemy forever. I will just visit my sick friend, maybe next week… and the hungry… have to go to lunch first.

LOTS OF EXCUSES!!! And still we wonder why we cannot find the true joy in peace in our hearts. Jesus provides the bridge for us to receive God's grace of forgiveness for our sins and fulfill the hope of eternal life. He completed His purpose by being crucified, willingly, so God could be glorified through His resurrection. He lived His life while here on earth in perfect obedience to God regardless of the pain and suffering.

Carry my own cross? Yes, everything for Jesus. And come to think of it, it is not that heavy after all.

Let us pray +

Teach me, my Lord Jesus, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of my life – in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in the insincerity of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied. Jesus help me and never forsake me! Teach me to carry my own cross and follow You.

Amen +

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

INVITED TO DINNER

Luke 14:23-24
Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.
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The Lord God is inviting you now, to join Him in his banquet.

BUT!!!

You were busy at work, you are busy trying to be wealthy, you are busy cleaning your new car, you are busy… you are busy… you are busy.

No wonder the next day, God invited someone who was willing to accept His invitation. He gave him all the blessings that life can offer. And in return, he gave God what is due Him – praise, worship and love.

But did God forget you? Of course not! His invitation is still open. And when you are not busy anymore, why not accept His invitation? He is waiting for you. Just make sure that when you decided to accept it, it is not too late, or you will not forever taste the banquet He prepared in Heaven.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, give me a servant’s heart. Help me find ways to show hospitality to those in need, not to win their favor, but to reflect your love to them that they will seek to know you better.

Amen +

In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.