MY GUARDIAN ANGELS (09-29-12)

Feast of Archangels Raphael, Michael and Gabriel

John 1:51

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

As what St. Thomas Aquinas once remarked – Angels transcend every religion, every philosophy, every creed.  In fact angels have no religion as we know it… their existence precedes every religious system that has ever existed on earth.  They are forever our guardians – guiding us and keeping us from harm.  Feel then, hear them.  The Angels are waiting for you to speak to them.  Listen closely and you will hear them sing their sweet harmonious melodies into your heart and soul.

St. Raphael the Archangel - Raphael's name means "God heals”.  This identity came about because of the biblical story which claims that he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch.  He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah.  He is also the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers.

St. Michael the Archangel – The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers.  Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell.  St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness.

St. Gabriel the Archangel – The name Gabriel means "man of God," or "God has shown himself mighty”.  He was the angel who appeared to Zachariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptizer. Finally, he announced to Mary that she would bear a Son Who would be conceived of the Holy Spirit, Son of the Most High, and Saviour of the world.  Gabriel is the patron of communications workers.

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day, be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide.  Amen +

In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

REUNITED (09-28-12)

Zechariah 8:8

They shall be my people, and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice.

It is a grim reality.  One day, we would meet our death.  But, it is also a reality that we would be raise again.  And what is "rising"?  In death, the separation of the soul from the body, the human body decays and the soul goes to meet God, while awaiting its reunion with its glorified body.

God, in His almighty power, will definitely grant incorruptible life to our bodies by reuniting them with our souls, through the power of Jesus' Resurrection.  How? Christ is raised with his own body but he did not return to an earthly life.  So, in him, "all of them will rise again with their own bodies which they now bear," but Christ "will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body," into a "spiritual body".  This "how" exceeds our imagination and understanding; it is accessible only to faith.

Our participation in the Eucharist already gives us a foretaste of Christ's transfiguration of our bodies.  To rise with Christ, we must die with Christ: we must "be away from the body and at home with the Lord”.  In that "departure" which is death the soul is separated from the body.  It will be reunited with the body on the day of resurrection of the dead.

This is the good news for us all:  Jesus, the Son of God, freely suffered death for us in complete and free submission to the will of God, his Father.  By his death he has conquered death, and so opened the possibility of salvation to all men.  To be a witness to Christ is to be a "witness to his Resurrection”.

Let us pray +

O Risen Lord, the way, the truth and the life, 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.  Bring your life and love to all and leading them to your Church.  This we ask of you, Lord Jesus, living and reigning with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever.  Amen +

…the people gather together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

FOR HIM ONLY (09-27-12)

Mark 9:40

For whoever is not against us is for us.

The condominium community where we live in is composed of very diverse people.  Some maybe there to live in peace, or some may have some other things in mind.  But if some of them do live in one of those units, then it is a fact of life.  In this world, good and bad people live in “perfect harmony” – people who are for and against the truth that Jesus espouses.

However, Jesus is saying that compared to some religious people of His time, these people tagged as “bad” may even enter the Kingdom ahead of them.  For most of them could have come to Him for forgiveness, and eventually mended their ways.  In the end, they were able to understand the truth and became defender of it, working for Christ and His ideals.

What the Lord was saying was that there aren’t going to be any more special mountains you need to go to.  There are no special anointed places you need to seek out.  No special religions that can take to themselves as being the true religion.  There are no great religious figures you need to bless you.  True worship will be of the heart – accepting Jesus as our Lord.

Jesus is present with every one of His people. He is in their hearts. He is in their mouths. He is in their lives.  Christ Himself builds His Church, and He flocks His people as He wills.  He calls us one, by one, by one.  And as for our flock of gathering, we just need to find out where the Lord would have us to be.

And together, we should work hand in hand for Him, our Lord forever and ever.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I have done wrong through my thoughts, my actions, and the things that I've said, sometimes by mistake and sometimes on purpose.  I have gone my own way and not put you at the center of my life.  I am very sorry and ask that you please forgive me.  Please help me to follow you more closely every day and live a life which gives glory back to you. I pray this in Jesus' name.  Amen +

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

TRUE TREASURE (09-26-12)

Jeremiah 31:13

I will turn their mourning into joy; I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.

I still remember those days when a lot of treasure hunters came out looking for the Yamashita treasures.  They would really buy out a property and dedicate their whole life digging for the “treasures”.  However, years after, the treasure is still “out there”.  No one has really proven that the Yamashita treasures ever existed.  And they ended up with nothing for they put their belief in something that may not really exist in the first place.

In the Bible, the parable of the hidden treasure focus on the how finding the Kingdom of God could give anyone so much joy, that he would forego of his every possession just to have it.  This joy of discovery reveals two essential points:  first, the kingdom of God is not visible to the human eye, and, second, it is present in the midst of men.  It might seem impossible to find a kingdom that cannot be seen, but with God's help it can be found.

Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”.  Just like the precious metals and gems of the physical world, many of God’s spiritual treasures lie hidden from human view.  To possess them we must dig deep and search – shaping, refining, polishing and finishing.

Lastly, the parable also reminds us that once we have received the kingdom, we must assume the responsibility to share it with others.  In sharing the treasure of the kingdom, one increases one's grasp of it.  The righteousness which is acceptable before God is found in His kingdom.  Discover true and infinite joy – discover Him, discover His Kingdom.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, grant us, the gift of true happiness in You, and the serenity which comes from living close to You.  Renew in us the sense of joy, and let the Your eternal spirit dwell in our souls and bodies, filling our every hearts with light and grace through Your love and mercy.  Amen +

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

ETERNAL LIFE (09-25-12)

Luke 9:22

“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected… and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

It is a fact that we are men of flesh.  Therefore, it is only true that we shall experience suffering, rejection and death.  Even the Son of God has gone through all of these human emotions – crying, laughing, depression, suffering and death.  But unlike most of us, Jesus looked beyond the cross in accepting His fate.  For it is the resurrection that would fulfill all the promises of God and give us our salvation.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead not only demonstrated the truth of His teaching, but the value of His death.  It proved Him to be the Son of God.  It transformed discouraged and disbelieving disciples into fearless preachers of the gospel.  That element was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.

Indeed, death is really the path that opens the way to this wonderful place, called Heaven.  If we live here on earth forever, we would never have an opportunity to shed this sinful state.  But God wants us to have a new body, and He wants us to dwell with Him forever.

We should look beyond suffering and death.  Those who put their trust in Christ as Savior have a wonderful hope—they can spend eternity with the Lord in a place where there will be no more death.  In suffering, there is joy.  In death, there is eternal life.

Let us pray +

O Risen Lord, the way, the truth and the life, 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.  Use us as your instruments for the renewal of society, bring your life and love to all
and leading them to your Church.  This we ask of you, Lord Jesus, living and reigning with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever.  Amen +

Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

SUPERHERO (09-24-12)

Luke 9:9

And he kept trying to see Him.

The telenovela is a hit among Filipinos especially the superhero types and the “rags to riches” genre.  We like superheroes because we like someone to always save us, instead of trying to do it ourselves - depending on someone (or something) to help us or give us good luck in everything that we do. 

On the other hand, we also like to watch “rags to riches” shows not because we can emphatize with the character in the story.  Rather, it brings us satisfaction and that inner desire to see someone suffer so we can feel better ourselves knowing that what we are experiencing is not that bad at all.  And finally, it brings us hope, for at the other end is joy and triumph, as we conquer all and redeem ourselves.

Herod, after beheading John the Baptist, was again troubled by the news about Jesus who many believes was Elijah or another prophet who has risen from the dead.  He desired and was trying to see Him, not because he wants to praise Jesus, but because he wants to see how He can do such miracles – and maybe learn to do it himself.

But we are not Herod.  We were created to desire God. We were created to desire the goodness and beauty of God's creation.  We were created to desire to share that goodness and beauty with our neighbor. 

There is nothing wrong desiring to be a superhero, as long as we become a superhero to others.  There is nothing wrong seeing other people suffer, as long as we help and lift them up so they may experience joy and triumph.  That is our mission.  That should be our hearts’ desire.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.  Grant us the grace to desire You with our whole heart, that in desiring You, we may seek and find You.  That in finding You, we may love You and share equitably with our neighbors.  Through Christ Jesus we pray this.  Amen +

The Lord takes delight in his people.

MY LIFE, MY MISSION (09-23-12)

Luke 9:6

Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

Jesus viewed the whole world as His harvest field.  It is the harvest season with the winter season coming soon.  He knows that all his harvests will be ruined if he did not harvest now.  Many souls will perish without hearing his message of the kingdom of God.  But the harvest workers were few.  So, He is depending on all of us to work for Him in spreading the good news.  The Kingdom of God was clearly the theme of Christ's ministry.  And it should be ours, too.

As Christians, we are called to go into the world and proclaim the good news to all of creation.  We are to proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand.  We are to proclaim the Gospel, showing people that it is through faith in Jesus Christ that we gain access to the kingdom of God, for He alone is the way to the Father.

The kingdom of God gives us true joy and peace and the love of God while on earth.  But that’s not all.  The kingdom of God is our eternal home.  It gives us a clear destination and direction of life.  It gives us a living hope in this troublesome world.  When we accept Jesus in our hearts, we have the promise of heaven as our everlasting inheritance.  Proclaiming the kingdom of God should be our number one priority in our mission life. 

Whenever we have the opportunity to proclaim the kingdom of God, grab it!  Proclaim Him in every situation.  Proclaim Him no matter how unpleasant the situation is.  For truly, the Kingdom of God is at hand!

Let us pray +

O Risen Lord, You love us so great that not only did You want to save us, but You want to involve us in Your own salvation and in the salvation of our family and friends – even those we don’t know.  From the beginning of time, You wanted us to be Your co-redeemers.  Help us fulfill the mission to bring the good news of salvation to the whole world.  Amen +

Blessed be God, who lives forever.

ACT IN FAITH (09-22-12)

Luke 8:21

“My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

I was surprised.  My father once visited me in my office because he was in the area at that time.  I went to the lobby and introduced him to the receptionist.  We then went up to my room and along the way, I introduced him to my co-workers.  He smiled and felt happy knowing that I work in a good company.  After he left, my colleagues would remark, “Mas pogi pala sa iyo ang father mo” (“Your father is more handsome than you.”).  And I immediately remarked, “at mas mabait sa akin yun” (“and he is nicer and more kind-hearted than me).  He was the greatest father on earth.

It is even greater to know that we also have the greatest father in Heaven.  All of creation is in God and is held together by Him.  As Scripture puts it, “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  If this is true of all creation, how much truer for us, His children.

If the Father is aware and concerned for a tiny sparrow, all the more is He about us.  No one can harm us without His permission and His willing it.  He knows each hair on our head.  God’s divine providence cares for us.  We are His beloved children for whom He sent His Son to suffer and die for us.

In return, we must act in our faith.  We must acknowledge Him as our Lord, and our Father.  We must show this not just by praising Him or glorifying Him.  We must exemplify the value of Jesus’ teaching by our behavior and our actions:  the modesty with which we act, the charity with which we speak, the kindly acts of service we render to others, the moderation with which we eat and drink, the meekness with which we contain our anger, the self-mastery with which we control our sensual passions, the aversion we have for telling lies.  We walk our talk!

Let others know Him because of you.  Teach others to know Him.  Acknowledge Him before others, so He may acknowledge you in Heaven.

Almighty Father, thank You for my life on this earth, however challenging or not.  We know that You will forever be with us, protecting us, so we should never be afraid.  We praise You and acknowledge Your great power.

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

SALVATION FOR ALL (09-21-12)

Ephesians 4:7

But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Ask a group of children to fall in line and you will give them each a candy.  Of course, you will see that they will run to you trying to be the first in line.  There will be a lot of shoving, maybe with the big ones in front and the little ones at the back.  Now do this.  Immediately go to the back of the line and start distributing the candy.  Now, you would hear grudges from those in front and they would start complaining.

Most of the time, we are like that.  We thought that since we are the first to know Him, then we are already entitled to more things and blessings from God.  So we would complain once we see people who get more while they are not even going to Sunday mass services.

Jesus was telling the people around Him that salvation was available to everyone, but only a few were going to take Him up on his offer.  When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He paid the price for salvation for anyone who believed on Him.  It is His to give to anyone who comes to Him.  Some would accept Jesus, and have the joy of working for God for many years.  Some people put off accepting Jesus until late in life, even until they are about to die.  They only get to serve the Lord a short time.

God makes salvation available to us all.  We should not feel cheated if we receive the candy last.  Jesus promised us Heaven, but did not promised that you will be first to reach it.  Everyone is entitled to His promise.

It is not merely the time that we put in. It is the heart that we put into the time we have.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, give me Yourself, for You are sufficient for me.  If I were to ask anything less I should always be in want, for in You alone do I have all.  I may be the last to know You, but I know I will always be first in Your heart.

Amen +

Their message goes out through all the earth.

HEART OF A CHILD (09-20-12)

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.”

Let me share with you a very nice poem.

When we are children there's a part of us that is open to love, and faith and trust through a little child's laughter and teary eyes.  There's a holy laughter, and tears so pure, there's an innocence that will always endure.

But as we grow older, that part of us dies.

There's a dream and vision, an endless sea, the tingling of life in a heart set free.  Nothing to prove, no possessions to hold but a joy and peace more precious than gold.

It's a beautiful place, fiery and wild when we return to the heart of the child.

Let's take off our masks and drop the facade and live like the children of the Living God.  Take a chance, you may be betrayed if you risk it all but He'll be there to catch you when you slip and fall.

Remember that our Father to whom we pray considers us His children each day and like little children we must learn to rely on the love of our Father who reigns on high.

So much prejudice to forget and unlearn, it's the heart of the child for which we yearn.  We can't enter heaven with a heart defiled, it must change through Jesus to the heart of the child.

Innocence lost, is so hard to regain.  We get forgiven but hold on to the pain.  But Jesus is saying to us, “Come to me with the heart of a child.”

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, may we see and accept your love through the eyes of a child.  Amen +

The Lord upholds my life.

ACCEPT HIS WORDS (09-19-12)

Luke 8:15

But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.

In my elementary science, I learned about the types of soil – clay, sand, loam, chalk and peat.  Among these, loam is generally considered as the best for large number of plants for it has both the characteristics of the sand and clay. 

The sandy characteristics allow the roots to work through it easily.  The clay component, meanwhile, retains moisture and prevents plant from rapidly drying out.  This ensure the plants grow healthier and greener.

We are like soil that receives the words of God in our daily lives.  If we only have a sandy or rocky heart, even though the seed would take roots, the seed we receive would die right away due to lack of moisture.  Thus we need the clay component to provide continuous moisture.

Our belief and faith in God would provide us the sand component to accept the Lord and make us grow roots as we grow in Him.  But we need the continuous hearing of His words to sustain our growth.  Attending Sunday services, listening to bible studies, reading the Bible and praying would provide that necessary nourishment and water to fuel our growth.

Let us make our heart ready to accept Him, to accept Him fully and to accept Him forever.  Sometimes our hearts can get hard, sometimes they can grow shallow, sometimes it’s over-involved.  Persevere to have hearts like the warm and fertile soil – open and responsive.  Our hearts must be eager to be soil that would forever accept His words and bear good fruits through perseverance. 

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, give us a healthy heart.  May our hearts be filled with good soil that would continually nurture the seed of your words so it may grow and bear fruits a hundredfold.

Amen +

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

CONTENTMENT (09-18-12)

1 Timothy 6:7-8

For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.  If we have food and clothing, we shall be content…

GREED.  It exist in many forms – greed for money, power, wealth, possessions.  Essential to the concept of greed is the awareness that the needs of others are denied.  Greed also often involves using wealth to gain power over others, sometimes by denying others wealth or power.

The Scriptures are filled with examples of greed and its consequences.  In one of His parables, He told us about a very greedy man who accumulated so much harvest that instead of sharing them with others, he built a bigger barn to keep them for himself.  Then, he would just rest, eat, drink and be merry.  Little does he know that by the next day, he will die.  So who would benefit from all of those harvest he kept?  Surely, it will not be him for he cannot bring them to afterlife. 

Greed for money… greed for power.  The good life has nothing to do with being wealthy, being in power or having more possessions.  In fact, greed is harmful to spiritual well-being.  Greed's rewards are anxiety and pressure. Greed sets a person to scheming how to increase what they already have, instead of thanking God for what he has given them.  Greed is totally self-serving to the point of denying another person of what is due him so you can stay in power. 

Are you content with what you have or do you insist on much more?  Is wealth and holding on to power your only reality?  We have the assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  With that promise firmly in our purses, what more could we possibly need or ask for.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, You are our only hope.  It is my prayer that, in spite of living in the world around us, we all will learn to put You and Your kingdom first so that one day, we will inherit the kingdom which was prepared for us from the foundation of the world.  This is my prayer in Jesus name.  Amen +

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

LOVE AND FORGIVENESS (09-17-12)

Luke 7:50

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The story of the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and her hair is one of the most moving accounts in the New Testament.  Without saying a word, she proceeded with kissing and washing the Lord’s feet with ointment – a very expensive one.

She knows that all the people in the party is condemning her.  But she also believes that Jesus will not.  She went there to ask for forgiveness of her sins, and Jesus did not fail her.  She received forgiveness that the religion at that time could not give to her.  Jesus’ love and forgiveness, not religion, changed her heart and her life.

This woman’s worship of Jesus was at a great cost to her. It cost her the expensive vial of perfume, and the humility to kiss, wash, and dry the dirty feet of the Lord Jesus.  But the forgiveness she received is worth more than anything in this world.  She was forgiven by our Lord, while those who thought themselves righteous went away unforgiven.  Jesus’ love and forgiveness can change your life.  This is what it means to become a Christian. 

You don’t become a Christian by just subscribing to the doctrines of the Bible and trying to following the ethics of the Bible.  You become a Christian by meeting the Jesus of the Bible – the same Jesus that this woman met, and experiencing his love and forgiveness. 

It is this encounter with the living Jesus and his undeserved love that changes your heart and gradually transforms your life to thank him and love him and serve him by giving his love to others.

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, I cast myself on your mercy.  I trust that you are willing and able to pay my sin-debt for me, and I ask you to forgive me for all of my sins.  Thank you for loving me and forgiving me as you promised.  I want to follow you because of your love.  Amen +

How great are the works of the Lord!

ONE BREAD, ONE BODY (09-16-12)

1 Timothy 3:15

…you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

You do not call your hands by another name and then your feet by another.  When a person calls you by your name, he is not referring just to your head or to your legs.  He is referring to the whole of you, as a person – living, breathing individual.

So it is with Christ.  The Body of Christ, like all bodies, is comprised of many parts. There are limbs, organs, and various members that, when left alone, are useless, but when assembled make up the entire body.  The body is a holy entity and is to be respected and treated with complete honor.

• You are called to promote truth and unity – (Ephesians 4:25)  “Therefore each of you must…speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
• You are called to service – (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) outlines the importance of using your God-given spiritual gift.  It is essential to the body that you use your special gift in service to God.
• You are called to share Jesus – (Romans 1:16)  “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…”
• You are called to worship – “It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name” (Psalm 92:1-2).
• You are called to love each another – (1 John 4:11)  “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Be a contributing member of the body of Christ, actively serving God and sharing Him with others.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, thank You for making me part of Your body. Give me opportunities to accomplish these things for Your glory!  Use me Lord by serving, promoting unity, and sharing my faith with others.  Amen +

How great are the works of the Lord!

HUMBLING OBEDIENCE (09-15-12)

Luke 2:34-35

Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel… and (to) you a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

In Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ, he portrayed Mary as Jesus' caring mother in several scenes.  One showed her running to comfort her little boy who fell down just as my mother or your mother would.  Another showed Mary calling her young carpenter son to dinner.  She tells Jesus to take off that filthy carpenter's apron before he comes inside, just like my mother would.  She makes Jesus wash his hands and he teasingly splashes water on her and then kisses her on her forehead.  She was used to doing that – just like your mother and mine.

I imagine Mary carried such fond memories in her heart.  But she also carries so much sorrow knowing that one day, her beloved son would leave her, and would suffer and die for that salvation of mankind.  Though, she knows that this would happen one day, she did not become a hindrance by hiding him or taking him to another place.

She was an obedient one from the start, the handmaid of the Lord who let God do unto her whatever plans there is according to His mighty will.  And she chose to suffer in grief, so we may live again and be with God in Heaven forever.  Mama Mary knows our grief because she has experienced it to the fullest.  Going through the grief brings us to peace again and enables us to be compassionate to others who grieve.

In our grieving and in our dying we can be sure of Mary's understanding and healing presence.  She is our mother.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayer for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, let us live like Mary, suffering and grieving, in the love of your Son that His Kingdom may come.  Lead all people to the source of living water that flows from His Heart, spreading over the world hope and salvation, justice and peace.  Amen +

I will walk with blameless heart.

TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS (09-14-12)

John 3:14-15

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

We make the sign of the cross.  We would place a cross in rooms of our house, or wearing this image on our persons, is a constant reminder – and witness – of Christ's ultimate triumph, His victory over sin and death through His suffering and dying on the Cross.  The cross is a symbolic summary of the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ – all in one image -  the image of salvation and heavenly promise.

On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (or Triumph of the Cross) we honor the Holy Cross by which Christ redeemed the world.  The public veneration of the Cross of Christ originated in the fourth century, according to early accounts, beginning with the miraculous discovery of the cross by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine, while she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem – the same day that two churches built at the site of Calvary by Constantine were dedicated.

The Cross – because of what it represents – is the most potent and universal symbol of the Christian faith. It has inspired both liturgical and private devotions.  We remember Our Lord's words, "He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me”.

Meditating on these words we unite ourselves – our souls and bodies – with His obedience and His sacrifice; and we rejoice in this inestimable gift through which we have the hope of salvation and the glory.

Let us pray +

God our Father, in obedience to you your only Son accepted death on the Cross for the salvation of mankind.  We acknowledge the mystery of the Cross on earth.  May we receive the gift of redemption in heaven.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen +

Do not forget the works of the Lord.

LIVE FOR JESUS (09-13-12)

Mark 8:35

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.

The gospel today sure sounds frightening and sacrificial.  We are to deny  and lose our lives, take up our crosses and follow Him.  All for the sake of Jesus and the good news of the Lord. 

DENY OURSELVES.  Humility and obedience, totally forgetting about fame and worldly honors.  One of our greatest challenges will be to resist promoting ourselves and trying to succeed on our own.  God is not interested in second-hand glory.  He wants the credit for what He (and not what we) accomplishes in our lives.

TAKE UP OUR CROSSES.  That is accepting responsibility of making sure that others are saved through us.  Cross has become the symbol of salvation, but it was not clear at first to the disciples.  Today, it may not still be clear to us what it means by taking up the cross, but through continual reading of His words and believing and having faith in Him, we could finally see the cross dying in ourselves and being alive in Him.

FOLLOW HIM.  God does not command us to deny ourselves and take up our crosses because He wants to bring us misery.  He knows the drastic measures He must go to in order to pry us away from the world and make us wholly dependent on Him.  It is a burden given in love, for our good, for our joy.  It’s the denial of worldly pleasures so that we can gain much higher pleasures when we finally meet Him in Heaven.

It is not God's job to follow us, it is our job to follow Him!  Then, we must be willing to follow Him anywhere, anytime, under any conditions.

That is the deal!

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, may we learn to take up our crosses and follow You.  We have been very busy with our earthly works that we totally forgot about You.  May you finally show us the way to Heaven through You.   Amen +

I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

FRUIT OF THE WOMB (09-12-12)

Luke 6:43

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.”

A Filipino saying, “Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga” (Whatever the tree is, is the same with the fruit).  This could refer to a lot of things, but most of the time, this could also mean “Like father, like son”.  As all crops are considered “fruit of the earth”, children are called the “fruit of the womb”.  Similarly, a man's words are "the fruit of his mouth."

In ancient and modern times, people have used "fruit" to mean results, products, outcomes, accomplishments and achievements.  An employee must be productive to be worthy of his wage.  He must work hard, work fast and work smart to get jobs done and done right. 

In Scripture, "fruit" has similar meanings.  Closely following God's desire for good fruit is His desire for us to produce a lot of it—to be highly productive.  Jesus said, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8). Notice, bearing abundant fruit glorifies God and identifies Christ's disciples!

Later, Jesus states the purpose of our calling: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last" (John 15:16, NIV).  Hence we must be oriented toward eternal goals and work with all our hearts to bring good fruits!

As we do that, let's remember to focus on Christ's overall lesson regarding the fruit of our lives:  Bear good fruit and much fruit!

Let us pray +

Heavenly Father, make my heart one with you and your Son, so that I may bear fruit that brings you glory and honor.

Amen +

Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.

WEB OF FAITH (09-11-12)

Matthew 18:34-35

Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.  So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.

Eleven years today, man’s faith in God was tested.  And we were all humbled by that event when two planes knocked down the world’s symbol of might and power.  But faith would not leave us.  It will empower us more.

As Psalm 55:22 says: “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.”

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit during intense fighting.  He lost all contact with his comrades. He was alone in the jungle.  He could hear the enemy soldiers getting closer and closer.

Then the marine saw a cliff riddled with caves. He ran to it and hid in a cave, hoping he wouldn’t be found, then prayed for God’s help and protection. As the soldier prayed, a spider dropped down over the entry of the cave and began spinning a web.  The marine had to laugh, despite his fears. “God, I need a brick wall, and You send me a spider?”

 Still, as the spider created a thick web of many layers, the marine sat there for hours and hours. Then, he heard enemy soldiers checking nearby caves.  When the enemy came to his cave, one of them noticed the huge spiderweb over the entry.  “We don’t need to check in here,” he said. “No one could have gone in without disturbing this web.”

God supernaturally protected that marine’s life.  He later asked for God’s forgiveness.  “When I saw that spider, I laughed,” he said. “But now I realize with You a spider’s web can be stronger than a brick wall.” (Reference: Book by Joel Osteen)

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 +

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

A PRECIOUS POSSESSION (09-10-12)

1 Timothy 1:14

Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Like a newly-born baby, man as to undergo continuous spiritual growth in order to grow in faith and love.  As man grown from being a baby, then to a toddler, then a teenager and finally, an adult so should also our life with the Lord Jesus Christ.

God expects us to grow in faith. It is crucial that we grow in faith, because it is impossible to have a relationship with God without it.  Faith is one of our most precious possessions and a key to everything important.  It is because we have faith that we can receive the commendation and approval of God.

We begin our journey to living a life of faith by asking God for it. It is His will that we have faith, and He is willing to give it to us.  Prayer, along with study of the Scriptures, is a vital part of conversation with God.

It is a way of expressing our love, as well as our concerns, to Him. This heartfelt communication with God increases faith.

Understanding these truths of God is a gift from Him. If you understand them, God is calling you to participate in His great plan. 

Begin now to develop the living faith that will see you through the trials of this life and into the coming Kingdom of God.

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, 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!

Amen +

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge…

MEASURE UP (09-09-12)

Luke 6:37, 38

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

We always want ourselves to be judged by others – but it should be positively.  My friend should tell me that I dress well.  Parents want their children to tell them good things about themselves and vice versa.  Office workers want rewards for good things done.  We want people to say nice things about us at our funeral (though we would not be able to hear it anyway).  We want to feel good by what others say about us.

In return, we judge everything and everyone and find life meaningful only when we are judged as having significance in return.  But of course, I hate it when someone judge me negatively.  When you judge me favorably and applaud me, that is what I like, and I may judge you the same.

Gospel today tells us that it is better to be judged than judge others negatively.  Or, do not judge a person or anyone at all.  You will be judged by the greatest and only Judge of all - by Jesus.  He will weigh and measure the moral worth of your every thought, feeling, word and deed.  You will give an account to Him of your entire life.

On Judgment Day, your deeds will be the evidence of your faith, verifying whether or not you truly believed in Christ with living faith.  His judgment is what will give your life its true and ultimate significance.  The judgment you made will ultimately judge you.  Judge Him to be your Savior and receive God’s judgment on your sins in His death on the cross.  Judge Him to be your Lord and receive God’s judgment of your eternal acceptance in His resurrection.  And accept your judgment in Heaven.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, teach me not to be judgmental of others so I may not be judged in return by no other than You.  In the end, may your mercy judge me positively so I may finally join You in heaven.

Amen +

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

MY LIFE, MY PURPOSE (09-08-12)

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Romans 8:28

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Today, we celebrate the birthday of Mama Mary.  She was the Mother of God in his human nature.  This special role of Mary in salvation history is exemplified by her acceptance of Christ into her womb, her offering of Him to God at the Temple, her search for Him ‘til she found Him in the temple, her urging him to perform His first miracle in Cana, and her standing at the foot of the Cross at Calvary.

Since her immaculate conception, she already knows her purpose in life.  Mama Mary was already destined to be great and be the mother of the greatest One.  She knows the she has to feel loneliness as her son has to leave her so he can fulfill his mission of bringing the good news.  She knows that she has to suffer emotionally as her son is being led to the cross and die.  It is not a happy life but rather a joyful and fulfilling one.

It is not anymore important whether we celebrate on the 8^th, or on the 9^th or in July.  What is important now is that in Mama Mary’s birth, God has given her a chance in life to be the mother of our Lord.  A chance that was not given to anyone before, is not being given to anyone now and will not anymore be given to anyone in the future.  She is our obedient mother, the queen of heaven and earth.

Everyone of us is given that one chance to follow our purpose in life.  Ask God about it, and once you knew it, follow it with all your heart, being obedient to the Lord until the end.

Happy Birthday, Mama Mary!  We are indeed very thankful to God for giving us a perfect Mother.  Mama Mary, please continue to pray for your children, for the many times we are not worthy in the presence of God because of our sins and wickedness.  Thank you for the comfort that you give whenever I ask it from you.  Thank you for being with me always, praying with me to God the Father for all my needs.  You are a perfect creation of God.  In you, God shows how much He loves us.

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.