PRICELESS

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."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 +

ON THE ROCKS

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.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 +

OF LOAVES AND FISHES

Matthew 15:37 - "They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was the end of the day, and people are hungry. 

It was getting dark, with children crying and people looking for something to eat. Worse, the disciples doesn’t even know what to do. 

And Jesus, being a good host, “was moved with compassion for them”. “You give them something to eat”, He said. 

And something to eat, they found – but only five loaves of bread and two fish. 

Jesus did not panicked – in fact, He never panics! 

He blessed the bread and the fish, and was able to feed the five-thousand. And there were even leftovers! He produced so much for so many, and so much more.

Jesus does not only solve our problems, He does it with more abundance than we could ask for or even imagine. Therefore, we must release our resources to Him in trust. And it must be accompanied by our learning to trust Him by doing what He asks, even if we have no idea where He is going with it.

In this season of Christmas, we would again be blessed with so much material things and gifts. 

But let us not forget the true gift of the season – the blessing of having the Gospel of salvation. We are stewards of what the Lord has given us and we have a responsibility to share with others the same thing that He has shared with us. 

And we'll be there to pick up the left-over pieces and marvel the weight of his abundance.

“How many loaves do you have? Go, see and share.”

+ Let us pray:  Almighty Father, feed us with Your words and love. You will provide for us, forever. Here are my small resources. I offer them to you unconditionally. Our job is to have faith that You will; to trust in You; and to pray without ceasing so we may live in Your love. Amen +

OUR FATHER

Luke 10:21 - "Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, 'I give You praise Father, Lord of heaven and earth...'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Like father, like son. 

As a son, our father is our role model.  He is the one we go to for wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.  He guides our first steps, and teaches us how to live throughout our lives. 

While my father is not perfect, in my eyes and in the eyes of his children, he is perfect.  He was the one who put God first in our minds and our hearts, and showed love to others by the way he chose to serve others and his family.

Christ bore the both the image of the earthly and the image of the heavenly.  

Seeing the imagery of the father and son relationship is very important. God desires a personal relationship with us. Though at times our trails and temptations may result in much suffering, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  We go to Him through thick and thin.

Therefore, the next time that you feel like you have let your father down, or failed to live up to his expectations for you, just remember that Jesus Christ, the perfectly obedient son, has given his righteousness to us, and has brought perfect satisfaction to our father as we are identified in Jesus Christ.

Live in Him, live with Him.  We cannot do anything unless it’s His will.  

And we cannot will anything, unless He allows us to do it.

+Let us pray:  Almighty Father, we thank You for our earthly fathers, those to whom You have entrusted the responsibility to provide loving protection and guidance of their families.  May Your Holy Spirit constantly inspire them with justice and mercy, wisdom and strength, fidelity and self-giving love.  Amen +

I WILL FOLLOW YOU

Matthew 4:22 - "He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed Him".
-----------------------------------------------------------------

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 LORD'S ADVENT

TODAY IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Luke 21:36a - "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations..."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For us ordinary mortals, we know what a calendar year is – it is from January to December of the current year. But in corporate world, they also have the Fiscal year. It may be the same as the calendar year, but most of the time, the inclusive months is different and may start on the month that the company was established.

And of course, for the Roman Catholic Church, we have the Liturgical year which starts today, on the First Sunday of Advent. And for the next four weeks, we would be reading about the preparations we need as we joyfully await for the first coming of the Lord on Christmas day.

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. Wake up from all those years of slumber wherein we did not recognize the presence of the Lord in our lives. 

Awake and let His spirit enter our hearts so we may be acceptable in His Kingdom.

Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which His presence will bestow, for He is Lord forever and ever. 

And in His birth, our own rebirth!!!

+  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 +

DANIEL AND THE BIG "KATH"

Daniel 3:81 - "All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt Him, above all forever".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know who Daniel is?

No, not the Padilla one.  But the one who was almost devoured by the lions, yes,the big cats.

And maybe you would ask, what is he thinking about playing around with the lions.  Well, in reality he is not.  He was put in a den with the lions as a punishment.

And punishment for what?

For being "disobedient" to the laws passed by a king, and being true to his one and only King, our Almighty Father.

But, I said "almost devoured".  Because he escaped death.  And by how?  Let us just quote Daniel:

And Daniel answered, "My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight.  Nor have I ever done any wrong before you...".

Isn't that great?  Isn't that great to hear?  Isn't that great to know?

God is always with us.  Sickness, pain, suffering, fear and death would continue to stalk us.  Let us just give it all back to good and implore His protection and strength.  He will be there with you for sure.

+ Let us pray:  Almighty Father, I ca never forget that in my neediness and affliction, You came and rescued me.  While I was a slave to sin, You sent Your Son to deliver my soul.  Deliver me from the destruction of selfish desires and continue to seek Your Holy will and be obedient in You.  Amen +

VITAL SIGNS

Luke 21:28 - "But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are all looking at the vital signs – body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, tidal volume, oxygen rate, results of blood test – for we all know that once these are normal, we are okay. 

We are very dependent on these signs as we are very dependent on some miracles that the Lord may give. But I reminded everyone that faith in Him will surpass all vital signs and miracles. 

If you are strong in faith you don't need signs and wonders to know that the Father cares for you. You don’t need to be further convinced of God by the exhibiting of power. 

We don't need signs and wonders to prove that He exists or that He hears our prayers. Faith comes by hearing the word about Christ and the salvation that He gave.

Signs of wonders and miracles are not for the Christians who already believe, they accompanied the Gospel and were done in the presence of the unbelievers to have them believe in the message. 

As believing and faithful Christians, we are to fear God and obey His voice by keeping His word, holding to Him only.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, behold our family here assembled – for they already is a great sign of Your love to us. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded to us this day, for the hope with which we expect tomorrow; for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. Restore us and renew us in a joyous awakening to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be.  Amen +

MENE TEKEL PERES

Daniel 5:25 - "This is the writing that was inscribed:  MENE, TEKEL and PERES..."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Naranasan mo na ba ito:  Sa sobrang saya ng iyong naramdaman, marahil na-promote ka, o nanalo ng malaking halaga, o kaya ay sinagot ng minamahal, ay nalimutan mong magpasalamat muna sa Kanya, dahil na rin sa mga panahong iyon, pakiramdam mo ay napakagaling mo, at hindi mo na Siya kailangan.

Ngunit naranasan mo na rin ba ito:  Nasa banig ka ng karamdaman, o kaya ay namatayan ng minamahal o naubos ang ari-arian dahil na rin sa matinding dagok na dumating sa iyong buhay.  At sa ganoong pagkakataon, makikita mo ang sarili mong nakaluhod sa harap Niya, nagsusumamo at humihingi ng tawad.

Tunay na nangyayari sa lahat sa atin, kung saan sa isang minuto ng magandang buhay, ay nalilimutan na natin ang nagbigay nito.  Sa isang oras ng kasaganahan, ang ating paniniwala ay dahil na rin ito sa ating lakas at galing, at di natin Siya kailangan.

At sa huling paghuhukom kung saan matatapos ang ating buhay sa mundong ito ("MENE"), tayo ay titimbangin, at makikitang nagkulang ("TEKEL").  At ang yamang panglupa na ating naiwan, na naging dahilan ng ating pagiging palalo, ay di natin madadala, bagkus ay paghahatian lang ng ating mga naiwan sa lupa ("PERES")

Walang masamang dumanas ng kaginhawan, kayamanan at kagalinga sa mundo.  Ngunit huwag sana nating kalimutan na ang lahat ng ito ay nanggaling sa Kanya.  Siya ang nagbigay sa atin ng lakas at talino upang makami ang mga ito.  Kung kaya't nararapat lamang na patuloy tayong magpasalamat sa Kanya, sa Kanyang patuloy at walang hanggang biyaya.

At sa darating na araw na ikaw tayo ay titimbangin, lumabas nawa tayong kumpleto, buo at perpekto sa Kanyang paningin at maging karapat-dapat na maging kabahagi sa Kanyang Kaharian.

+ Manalangin tayo:  Ama namin, maraming salamat po sa mga biyayang Iyong ipinagkaloob at patuloy na ibinabahagi sa amin.  Patawarin Mo po kami sa mga pagkakataong kami ay nakakalimot na magpasalamat sa Iyo.  Nawa'y patuloy naming sundin ang loob dito sa lupa, upang sa araw ng paghuhukom, ay makamit namin ang pangako ng Iyong kaligtasan, kasama Ka magpasa-walang hanggan.  Amen +

THE SIGNS ARE HERE

Luke 21:11 - "There will be powerful earthquakes, famines and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, the signs are here.

Strong typhoons, the ISIS war, global warming, earthquakes happening all around the world.  Yes the signs are here.

Jesus has foretold about this during His time.  But, His revelations was not to strike fear in our hearts.  His revelations is to make us prepared, for even Him does not know when the end will come.

Still, the world is generally peaceful and stable.  When waking up in the morning, most of the time, if not always, you would see the same things at exactly the same place where you left them before sleeping the previous night.

Until that thing we fear happens.

And in the midst of devastation and helplessness, we can do nothing more than cast weak, sympathetic glances at each other.

And we are overlooking the greatest strength of all:  COMPLETE TRUST IN GOD.

When that bad things happen, that is reality we cannot escape.  But when we set aside complaining and start placing ourselves in God's protection and voice out our pain and suffering openly to God in prayer - that is, when you really trust in God as your mighty protector an strength.

+ Let us pray:  Almighty Father, You have not given us signs but love. We will not give you doubt but faith. You have brought about our conversion through the power of faith in Your Word, and the evidence of Your love in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Let Your indwelling Spirit sustain our hope so that we may not be discouraged like the prophet Jonah, or be unfaithful like King Solomon in spite of his wisdom. Only by Your grace can we persevere. Amen +

THE KING OF OUR HEARTS

SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

John 18:36a - "My kingdom does not belong to this world..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is the "King of Diamonds" - our wealth, our richness, the source of our "happiness"

There is the "King of Spades" - our work, our job, the source of our livelihood.

There is the "King of Flowers" - our family, our relationships, the source of our inspiration.

And, there is the "King of Our Hearts".  The Lord, our King, our Savior - Jesus Christ.  The source of our Life.

The first 3 Kings are important in our life.  But be reminded that they are with us, because of the fourth one.  And we should use the first 3, not for our own selfish interests, but to serve the fourth One.

And as we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, let us all find solace and experience paradise, the one promised by our Lord.  And once we reach that place, may we truly say that "I am now in Paradise, with my Lord and my King".

The One and Only King of Our Hearts...

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

THREE TO GET MARRIED

Luke 20:34-35 - "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.  But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage..."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marriage is a sacred vow.  Too bad, some of us would just celebrate the wedding day and not the marriage.  Wedding day is just a day of fun and celebration.  Marriage is a lifelong, unbreakable union between man and a woman.

And since God is the One Who decisively makes every marriage, only God has the right to break a marriage.  And He only does this by death - "till death do us part".  And in Heaven, everyone is married only to God, as everyone is like an angel, all children of God, all children of the resurrection.

God's definition of marriage is clear.  ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN, UNITED FOR LIFE IN GOD.  It always takes three to make a marriage works.

It is not without fear that we take this step but should be responsible enough.  And by God's help, we will also learn to love and submit, and experience the wonderful union of marriage, and share it with our children.

Rekindle your love for your spouse whom God has given to you to be your partner for life, for richer and for poorer, for better or worse, in sickness and in health - may the Lord our God blesses our marriage forever and ever.

+ Let us pray:  Almighty Father, bless the family.  Bless the union of marriage of every wives and husbands.  May they continue to bring back to You their married life and be blessed in You.  For those who have hardened their hearts, may they realize their limitations and repent back to You.  You have joined men and women from a family dedicated to You, and may no one separate this union.  Amen +

PRAYER TIME

Luke 19:46 - "My house shall be a house of prayer..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been praying as long as I can remember. 

I was taught to pray in the morning, before meals, after meals and before retiring in the evening. All through my life, I have experienced the power of prayer – in times of family trouble, marital trouble, financial trouble and personal difficulties. 

God welcomes all of us into His House. God invites everyone to come to Him. He wants everyone to bring their burdens to Him in prayer. 

And when they do, they will find acceptance, comfort and help from Him. Though we come mourning to the house of prayer, we shall go away rejoicing. We will find needs met when we cast our cares and burdens upon the Lord. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or imagine. 

So lets ask that His kingdom come, His will be done in our lives, our church, our city and our country. What He wants us to do is much bigger than we are, but it is not bigger than God. We need to demonstrate our trust in Him to fulfill the vision He has given us and seek the Lord together in prayer. 

With God’s help let us make His house, a house of prayer for all the people.

+ 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 +

JESUS IN OUR MIDST

Luke 19:41 - "As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"To cry" versus "to weep".

If we feel something painful in our body, normally cry.  As a child, if someone took our toy, we would cry.  A baby who is hungry or becomes wet, would cry to get our attention.

But "to weep" shows a deeper emotion than just crying.  You weep because you lost someone you love.  You do not just feel pain, but feel something within you just died also.  It is a feeling accompanied by regret, lost and grief.

And this is the exact emotion felt by Jesus the first time He saw Jerusalem,  It is the promised land.  The land established by His Father and promised since the days of Abraham.  It is the land He loves and close to His heart.

But, during His time, He found it "in ruins".  They continued to look for the Messiah, while He is already in their midst.

And as it was then, the same happens today.  We continue to look for things that can make us happy.  We continue to look for that person that can provide us what we need.  We continue to ask for specific things, instead of using what is around us to meet our needs.

We continue to ask "where are You, Lord?", when He himself has said that He would always be there in our midst and will never leave us nor forsake us.

Jesus continues to weep, as He sees us still wallowing in the darkness of our soul.  Break our of it and let Him guide you.  Know Him more and accept the forgiveness, love and salvation He gives.  Believe in Him for He is our Lord, our King and our Saviour.

+ Let us pray:  Oh, Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace, my Saviour and my Lord.  My heart beats for You forever as calmness fills my soul.  May you never weep again as I accept You in my heart and being justified in faith, I would forever be living in peace with the Father through You.  Amen +

STAY IN ME, LORD

Luke 19:5 - "When He reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, 'Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house'".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He is looking for me.  But where am I?

Perched up up there, far away from Him.  Together with my pride, sin and disobedience.  Should I come down?  Should I heed His voice?  Should I follow Him?

But I am a sinner.  I am "short" in faith in God.  I am like Zacchaeus.

Yes, I am like him.  But like him, Jesus is asking me to come down from where I am.  For He is looking up to me.  He is looking after me.  He is inviting me to dinner, so I can eat a piece of Him, a piece of His love and mercy.

Jesus' invitation is for providing salvation and forgiveness to this sinful man who is starving for spiritual life.  And He is waiting for my repentance.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost".  And that means, you and me.

So, are you short in faith in God.  Jesus is inviting you to receive Him, in your house, inside yourself and in your heart, staying in it forever.

Go down from where you are and receive Him, today.

+ 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 be willing to risk whatever reputation I have to join You.  I long to see Your salvation shine more brightly through me.  Amen +

OPEN MY EYES, MY HEART

Luke 18:41 - "Jesus asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you'".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Oh, God, please help me go through this crisis in my life.  Please forgive me for all the sins I have done and I promise not to do it again.”

This is how we pray, because maybe, just this morning, one of our loved ones was either sick or has met an accident.  Or maybe, because a big financial problem is being experienced by the family.

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.

We are all blind in faith because we choose not to see and remain in the dark, or go back in the dark, where things are easier to do.

But then, there are those people who pray not because they are in crisis.  They prayer not because they have problems.  

Rather, they pray because they saw themselves, in all humility, as absolutely dependent upon Him, their only hope.  

They pray because they are faithful… they pray because they are hopeful.  

They pray because they see with their heart.

The miracle stories of Bartimaeus seeing again are signs of who Jesus is for us.  

We should invite Him in our 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.

Make sure we never go blind again and continue to see. The change was permanent and 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, open my eyes.  Open my heart.  Renew my faith with the unstoppable faith that Bartimaeus possessed.  Amen +

SAAN ANG PUNTA MO?

Mark 13:32 - "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"O, saan punta mo?"

Isang paraan ng pagbati para sa ating mga Pilipino.  Hindi naman talaga natin balak na alamin kung saan talaga siya pupunta.  Ngunit gusto lamang natin siya batiin at siguraduhing meron nga siyang patutunguhan sa araw na iyon, at hindi lamang siya naliligaw o walang patutunguhan.

Ngunit saan nga ba talaga tayo papunta?  Papuntang trabaho, o papuntang paaralan, o papunta sa isang kaibigan.  Kahit saan man tayo papunta, iisa lang ang sigurado - mayroon tayong patutunguhan at nakahanda tayo sa daang ating tatahakin patungo doon.

Paano naman ang iyong kaluluwa?  Handa ka ba at alam mo ang patutunguhan nito?

Ang pagiging handa sa muling pagdating ng Panginoon ay nangangahulugang handa tayong gumawa ng mga bagay nang naaayon sa Kanyang kalooban.  Nararapat lamang na gawin natin ang naaayon sa Kanyang plano, saan man tayo naroroon.

Walang nakakaalam kung kailan ito.  Mayroong mga taong nagsasabi ng panahon o oras ng ikalawang pagdating, ngunit hindi natin ito dapat paniwalaan.  Ang mahalaga ay nararapat na lagi tayong handa.

Handa ka na ba?  O patuloy mong sinasayang ang iyong buhay sa kawalang saysay o sa kawalan?  Paano kung mangyari iyon bukas, nakahanda ka ba?

"O, saan ba talaga ang punta mo?"

+ Manalangin tayo:  Manahan ka sa buhay ko ngayon, Panginoon.  Manahan ka sa aking puso bilang aking Panginoon, Hari at Tagapagligtas.  Mula sa oras na ito, itinatakwil ko ang kasalanan at ang pagiging makasarili, at sumunod sa Iyo sa buong panahon ng aking buhay.  At ang buhay kong ito ay inilalagak ko sa Iyong mga kamay nang buong pagtitiwala.  Amen +

IN DUE TIME

Luke 18-8 - "I tell you, He will see to it that justice is done for them speedily".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prayer is a simple ordinary part of human life, as natural as the relationships between friends or between parents and children. We may not always get what we want, but be assured that we always get what we need from God’s point of view. 

He may not give us a scorpion if we ask for an egg, but He would also give us more than an egg! Just be trusting in Him that He knows better than all of us combined.

Similarly, Jesus encouraged people to be persistent in prayer, to keep asking. It is important to understand the difference between faithful persistence and manipulation.

And God will not give in to manipulation. He will not give in to giving conditions in exchange for something. But He will certainly give in to persistency, providing what He knows we need at the right time.

Christian prayer is distinguished from magic precisely at this point. It is never manipulative, always trusting. We must trust God to decide what is good. Prayer is not mechanical, but interpersonal. 

We exercise our freedom in a relationship and expect the other person (or God) also to respond in freedom. Seek His will and righteousness and in His great kindness, all these things shall be added unto you.

+  Let us pray:  Almighty Father, thank You for hearing my prayers and tending to the desires of my heart, answering my prayers, and doing so in ways beyond my hopes. I pray that others will turn to You and do the same, praying about whatever is in their hearts and minds, so that You can reveal Yourself to them in awesome ways, too. I pray these things to You, in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior; and in the love of the Holy Spirit. Amen +

OUR PROTECTION

Luke 17:37 - "Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They are birds of prey.  They are also symbol of death.  And wherever you see them gather in a group, expect that they are enjoying a meal - carcass of an animal or body of a man.

Truly disgusting, but this is how the vultures live.  They need to survive, hence, they need to eat.

And the devil is compared to the vultures, that stalk its victim and feast on it, when it's dead.  But the similarity stops there.

The devil hunts its prey, not to eat and live, but to kill its soul and spirit to be forever separated from the Lord God, our Master.

We should take the devil very seriously.  We are to be watchful and vigilant.  Satan is the adversary.  He is the enemy, who despises humanity in general and the followers of Jesus, in particular.

But the good news is that Satan is already defeated!

We have won the battle through the death of Jesus on the cross.  Be firm in our faith and let Jesus protects us.  We can claim the fact that we are beloved of Jesus.  So, seek Him and be with Him so the vultures may not be in our midst anymore.

+ Let us pray:  Almighty Father, I praise You, and I worship You.  I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Who won victory over the devil, over sin and over death for my salvation.  I thank You, Jesus, for setting me free.  Amen +

NO NEED FOR "BULLETS"

Luke 17:21b - "For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lately in the news, you will read about the "laglag-bala" or "tanim-bala" modus in the airport that is allegedly being perpetrated by the airport staffs manning the x-ray scanners.

And some of the reasons by the passenger is that they use it as amulets, or "anting-anting".  And, despite of the advice from the authorities, it will continue to happen.  Some people just need some "protections" from the unknown and guard them against potential harm and danger.  And to make it effective, they need to pray over it on regular basis, so they need to bring it wherever they go.

I do have a similar item in my possession.  And we know it as the Holy Rosary.

But I do not use it as amulet.  I don't just carry it as a thing in my pocket.  I use it during my daily devotions and prayers.

And instead of praying over it to make it effective, I pray with it.  And praying to God is the most powerful defense against evil, harm and danger.  It is the best defense against Satan.

God is always in our midst, taking care of us, looking after our needs and continually loving us.  All we need is to seek His presence through prayers.  And once we have that habit of prayers, wherever and whenever we are, we are truly protected and not anymore need any "great amulets" that you can find in the whole world.

So how about another prayer time in the morning and in the evening, asking God for strength - to resist evil and to look after the needs of our spirit?  It is really not hard to do, if we should put our hearts on it.

+ Let us pray:  Almighty Father, You are my strength, and to You I would forever be faithful.  I truly believe that it is only You I need in my life.  Protect me and my family from harm and danger.  And when time comes that I am tempted, provide me the way out so I can stand up over it, and simply say no to Satan.  Amen +

I COME TO YOU

Luke 17:12-13 - "As He was entering a village, ten lepers met Him... 'Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us'".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We would rather wait for blessings to come our way.  We would just stay within our comfort zone, and just wait for something good to happen.

Is this your attitude?

No wonder you are stuck where you are now.  You just remained contented at what you have.  Yes, there is nothing wrong with that.  Just that, you should stop whining.  You should stop complaining why your life is like that.  You chose the life where you are now, and only you can change that.

Why not start acting the lepers in the Gospel today?

They knew that they are outcast.  They knew that they cannot be in the crowded places, as they risk having people contaminated with their disease.  They knew that they are a hopeless case as leprosy is not curable.

But instead of doing nothing, they are the one who sought Jesus.  They tried to met Him, asking Jesus for mercy.  They asked Jesus to bless them.  They asked Jesus to cure them and become again productive part of society.

And Jesus did not disappoint them.  They were cured of their disease.

So, why not seek Him now.  Meet Him in prayers and stop complaining.  And remain humble to the end.  It is better for you to say nothing and let the world see that Jesus changed your life by the way you live, and not by the things you say.

+ Let us pray:  Lord Jesus, I am unclean as a leper shouting to You for forgiveness.  Allow me to meet You and heal me of my spiritual illnesses.  Thank You for even giving up Your life to ensure ever-lasting comfort, joy and peace with the Father.  I shall always go back to You and give You thanks and praise.  Amen +

I SERVE YOU FAITHFULLY

Luke 17:10b - "We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we are obliged to do".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You see your maid, talking to someone on the phone.  Well, maybe, for a minute or two, you would allow it.  But not anymore if she's on it for 15 to 30 minutes, and doing it ten times a day, right?

Or, you see your staff watching TV during lunch break, well that is acceptable.  What is not anymore acceptable is when he is there even during working hours.  You might as well terminate him.

It is expected of them, to work.  That is their duty and they are paid to do that.  The master is not there to serve the servant.  The servant is expected to serve the master.

The same goes in our relationship with the Lord.  Most of the time, we always think that we are the master, and God is our slave.  Yes, Jesus said that He came to serve, but that is to be a service to us in terms of making us closer to God, teaching us His will and saving by dying on the cross.

But still, our prayers tend to be "give me" prayers - "Please help my business succeed", "Heal me of my cancer", "Provide food to those experiencing famine", "Work in my boss' heart to give me a raise".

Is this how we really address God to whom we owe our allegiance, life, trust and salvation?

We are His servants - His slaves first.  And we are to serve Him dutifully, without expectation of reward.  But of course, He loved us first and as servants, our prayers should be of servant's prayer.

Prayer of thanksgiving - "Lord, thank you for giving me the wisdom to run my business successfully".

Prayer of trust - "Lord, may I be with You in my suffering, as I fight against my own suffering".

Prayer of commitment - "Lord, give me the strength so I may continue to serve my fellowmen in the best ability I can".

Prayer of total abandon - "Lord, I put my life in Your hands".

+ Let us pray:  Almighty Father, give me a servant's heart.  Teach me to better understand my appropriate role as Your slave, so when You graciously grant me Your friendship, I will truly appreciate the love You give.  Amen +

A FIERCE JESUS

John 2:16 - “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 +

GIVING WITHOUT EXPECTING

Mark 12:44b - "...but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all these years, it is still a struggle.  There will still come a time that I have to be selfish.  But is it because I do not want to share something?  Or because I am not even appreciated to after doing it?

Yes, I know... both are wrong.  As God is a cheerful giver, so should I.

I have to learn from the lesson of the widow that Elijah met.  She has to give everything she got to feed Elijah who was hungry and weary.  And by doing so, she got more than she gave.  Her jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry.

Or I should follow what the poor woman did during the time of Jesus.  For she gave everything that she got, he whole livelihood.  And she did it, all out of trust to God, fully knowing that she is very dependent to God to give everything she needs.

Yes, it is still a struggle for me,  There is still this fear that I might lose everything and left nothing for my family.  But I am still hanging on.  I must go on.  The blessings I receive are not anymore for my own.  They are to be shared.

And I pray that they would also learn from these lessons.  I will not be here on earth for that long.  I just hoe that they continue loving and sharing long before I am gone.

+ Let us pray:  Lord God, I may be a giver, but not a cheerful one.  Teach me to be like You, giving everything so we may live in You.  Turuan Mo po akong maging bukas-palad nang di naghihintay ng anumang kapalit.  Turuan mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo nang ayon sa nararapat, na di naghihintay kundi ang aling mabatid, na tanging ang kalooban mo lamang ang aking sinusundan.  Amen +

MY HEART'S RICHNESS

Luke 16:13 - "No servant can serve two masters...You cannot serve God and mammon".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is always said, "Money is the root of all evil".  But let us make it accurate - "LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil".

Let us accept it, we need money to live comfortably in this world.  We need it to eat, buy clothes and have a roof over our head.  Money also make many good things possible.  And yet, we should come to realize that money is a good slave, but a terrible master.

So, can you be trusted with small things now?  Have you been using your blessings to improve your relationship with the Lord?  Or, are you using it for greed, selfishness, gluttony and having yourself the center of everyone's attention?

Let us remember that all blessings we receive are not ours alone, and only entrusted to us, as keepers of God.  And we are expected to be responsible in using them, for what we will get in heaven depends on how we use the things here on earth.

Sometimes, we get sidetracked by temptations and eventually commit sins, in the name of money.  The desires of the flesh would then slow us down.  And worse, we would even put an explanation to everything to justify all of these.

Let us ask our Lord to help us detest these self-centered desires of the flesh.  We should all desire Him only and be clothed in His likeness.

"Itigil na natin ang pagiging mukhang pera".

+ Let us pray:  Lord God, may I use all the resources You are giving me to uplift the spirit of camaraderie and sharing with others.  To show them how You really care and make them aware of Your true love.  Detach my mind and my heart from the love of money, fully knowing that it is only You I should love and serve.  Amen +

LUBOS NA PAGKILALA

Romans 15:21 - "Those who have never been told of Him shall see; and those who have never heard of Him shall understand".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paano mo nakilala si Kristo?

Dahil ba nabasa mo ang tungkol sa Kanya sa isang aklat o magasin?  Dahil ba napag-aralan mo Siya sa paaralan noong bata ka pa?  Dahil ba ipinakilala Siya sa iyo ng iyong mga magulang, kaibigan, isang kakilala o isang misyonaryo?

At ngayong kilala mo na Siya, paano mo naman isinasabuhay ang Kanyang mga turo?  Paano mo sinisigurado na ang bawat mong gawain ay naaayon sa Kanyang turo at sumusunod sa Kanyang kalooban?  Paano mo pinapanatili sa iyong buhay at sa iyong puso ang Kanyang presensiya, at paano mo ito ibinabahagi sa iba, lalo na sa iyong mga mahal sa buhay?

Tunay na maraming tanong pagdating sa tunay na pagkilala sa ating Panginoon.  Dahil, hindi lamang sapat na Siya ay makilala lamang natin sa pangalan.  Hindi sapat ang mababaw na pagkilala lamang sa Kanya sa lebel lamang ng nababasa natin sa magasin o mga aklat.

Ang tunay na pagkilala sa Kanya ay sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pagbabasa at pag-unawa ng Kanyang buhay, mga gawain at mga kautusang nakasulat sa Bibliya.

Kung tunay lamang nating isasaloob ang Kanyang mga turo, siguradong wala tayong pag-aalinlangan ngayon.  Kung isinasabuhay lamang natin ang Kanyang mga kautusan, siguradong mas masaya ang ating buhay ngayon dahil alam nating ginagawa natin ang nakalulugod sa Kanya.

Lagi Niya ayong inaanyayahan sa Kanyang piling, ngunit tayo lamang ang nagpupumilit lumayo.  Patuloy tayong mamuhay nang ayon sa Kanyang kagustuhan.  Manatili tayo sa Kanyang presensiya nang sa gayon ay hindi tayo mawalay sa Kanya.

Kilalanin natin Siya nang higit pa sa pangalan lamang.  Kilalanin natin Siya bilang ating Diyos at Panginoon, na Siyang gabay at may-ari ng ating buhay.

+ Manalangin tayo:  Panginoong Hesus, ikaw lamang ang aming Diyos at Panginoon.  Patuloy mo pong ituro ang daan patungo sa Iyo.  Turuan mo kaming laging nakaasa sa Iyo sa lahat ng pagkakataon.  At as patuloy naming pagsasabuhay ng Iyong mga kautusan at turo, nawa ay manatili kami sa Iyong piling magpakailanman.  Amen +