Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara* (at mga bata)

Para sa ala-ala ni Cune

mula kina Ato, Jaya,

Joshua.

Ipinakikilala Osang at Buruknoy.

I love you, I love you

Sindakin shower scene

May tao ba dyan?

Ayan na

* Patayin sa Sindak Si Barbara

A New Beginning

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time A

January 29, 2008

Isaiah 8:23—9:3

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

1 Corinthians 1:10-13,

17 Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17

Always a Beginner
There is a Chinese proverb that goes: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Lao Tzu). We can name famous athletes, actors & actresses, political leaders, and all other influential people, who started from a humble beginning before they rose to popularity. Before their glourious triupm they had to start from the scratch and really worked hard. As Plato said, “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”

We don’t have to go far, let us ask ourselves, how can you compare your life today compare to what you were ten or twenty or thirty years ago? I’ve met lots our parishioners who love to tell their story when they first came to Australia. They love to recall how they came here as migrants – no friends, no family, no big houses, no cars, and no English! Look at them now. How they have achieved a lot and made a difference in this country.

Today I looked up what I wrote in my diary ten years ago, the date was January 10, 1998, the time was 12:55 am. I was deeply in love with this girl, I couldn’t sleep and I eat because of her. Today, ten years later, I am deeply in-love with Jesus. I sleep a lot and I eat a lot!

In every chapter of our life there is a new beginning.

Readings
Today’s readings present us series of beginnings among the lives of God’s people in the Old Testament, to the lives of early Christians in the New Testament, and to the ministerial life of Jesus.

The first reading from Isaiah speaks of the coming of light which will break the burden and oppression of God’s people. The dark days of oppression and deportation of the God’s people will finally be transformed into the light of joy and salvation. The prophecy of Isaiah vanquishes all the darkness of war, violence, suppression and captivity to give way to the experiences of joyful festivals. A new beginning of hope and joy.

In the second reading St Paul begs the Corinthians, in the name of Jesus, “to be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” They must change their old ways, to stop their quarrelling, end their misunderstanding and be united in Christ! A new beginning of unity and peace.

Today’s Gospel marks a new beginning of Jesus’ ministry. It tells us of the first public ministry of Jesus. You will notice John the Baptist is no longer in the scene. It signals the beginning of the New Testament; Jesus began preaching in Galilee and working out of Capernanum; and as he begins his mission the Gospel presents him as the light of the nations.

...the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.

The Gospel is fitting as we celebrate today Australia day. It’s a day when we as nation how this beautiful country Australia began to welcome people from different nations, races and culture. What we are celebrating today are all the things that make us “young and free” as Advance Australia Fair goes. We thang God for being happy and blessed to be Australian, and to live in Australia (I am not Australian citizen).

Challenge of Secularization

Today, we acknowledge the beauty of our country, but as a Catholic Church in Australia and as Christians, we also need to acknowledge that there are certain things in our country that needs transformation through the light of Christ. We have to acknowledge that we are also facing “spiritual” problems cause by modern secularization, materialism, and abuses of morality.

With our prayers and firm trust in God a new beginning is possible.

One of the most significant events in Australia this year is the World Youth Day in Sydney. We pray that this historical event would mark a new evangelization and a new Pentecost to our country particularly to our young people.

Let me read an excerpt from the letter of invitation of Pope Benedict XVI to the young people to attend World Youth Day in Sydney.

My dear young friends, I hope to see very many of you in Sydney in July 2008. It will be a providential opportunity to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power. Come in great numbers in order to be a sign of hope and to give appreciative support to the Church community in Australia that is preparing to welcome you. For the young people of the country that will host you, it will be an exceptional opportunity to proclaim the beauty and joy of the Gospel to a society that is secularized in so many ways.

During the Holy Communion we will play for the first time in our paristh the theme of World Youth Day 2008, entitled Receive the Power. It is built around the theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Let us pray in the Mass that we may make another step closer to Jesus. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let us allow the Light of Jesus to lead us step by step to our day to day journey with him, until our faces reflect his goodness and love. Amen.

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Photo: undated picture of my father

Lamb of God Ads

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time A

January 19, 2008

Gospel: John 1:29-34

Fr Ngo-ngo

When I was preparing my homily yesterday I suddenly remembered my old parish priest in the Philippines when I was just a young boy. Although I was around 6 years old then I could easily remember the way he talk. His name was Fr. San Juan. His voice was very low and monotonous, and his homily was long and boring.

I still remember how easy it was to fall asleep in his Mass. And I still remember how some people used to make their trip to the toilet during his homily.

I feel guilty now that I become a priest like him. It’s now my turn to see from the pulpit those who are struggling to stay awake in the Mass.

It’s amazing how there are people who were not gifted to be a good public speaking, on there other hand, there are people who are very good in delivering speeches. There are people who can talk for long hours and yet you won’t lose your concentration and interest. There have special charisma to attract people. This is quality is very common to good salesperson.

I read somewhere that a successful salesperson is one who is not only a good talker or enthusiastic about his/her product, but when he or she speaks, he or she looks directly to your eyes as if you are the only person in the world.

John the Baptist: A good salesperson
In the Gospel today we can compare John the Baptist to a good salesperson. But unlike any other salesperson, John the Baptist’s sale’s talk was always honest, humble, sincere, and direct.

John the Baptist endorses Jesus to people with an eye-catching title “Jesus – the Lamb of God.” When John saw Jesus coming toward him he proclaims loud and clear to people, “Look, the Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world.”

John’s purpose is not to put up Jesus for sale rather he is giving a powerful testimony to Jesus, a testimony that will mark forever our Christian understanding of who Jesus is.

In the Bible we find several titles given to Jesus, such as the Messiah; the Greater One; the Chosen One; the Son of God; Son of Man; the Christ; and so on. For the John the Baptist the most precious and meaningful title ascribed to Jesus is the loving and lonesome image the Lamb of God.

It is used 29 times in the book of Revelation. It’s the best advertising material to describe Jesus because its sums up his the love, sacrifice and the triumph.

It points us directly to the mission and identity of our Lord – the vulnerable Lamb of God, who suffered innocent death so that we might live.

Lamb of God
However, the title of Jesus as Lamb of God will not make any sense to us if we are unable to see the traditional Jewish sacrificial lamb since Old Testament period.

1) The Lamb of Atonement (Lev. 16: 20-22). A lamb was brought to the temple on the Day of Atonement. Placing his hands over its head, the high priest transferred all the sins of his people on it. It was then sent into the forest to be killed by some wild animal.

2) The Lamb of Daily Atonement (Ex. 29: 38-42; Numbers 28: 1-8). It was the lamb sacrificed on the “Black Altar” of the temple every morning and evening to atone for the sins of the Jews.

3) The Paschal Lamb (Ex. 12: 11ss.). The Paschal Lamb whose blood saved the first born of the Jewish families in Egypt from the ‘Angel of destruction’. It reminded them also of the Paschal Lamb which they killed every year on the Passover feast.

Jesus the Lamb of God
Jesus as the “The Lamb of God” is the Son of God. It’s the Lamb that God gives to take away the sin of the world. He is empowered to undo the world’s evil because God is giving what is so intimately his own, namely, his Son.

John the Baptist compared Jesus to a lamb led without complaint before the shearers or butcher, an image of a life giving sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

(Are you all still awake?)

In every Mass, before we receive Jesus in Holy Communion the priest invokes this title saying: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world happy are who are called to his supper. This reminds us that our Saviour surrenders his life to nourish us, in love, innocence, and at his own cost.”

Witness to the Lamb
The challenge for us now, after hearing John the Baptist’s testimony, is to sincerely believe him and to be a witness to the Lamb of God.

We may not be gifted in talking or pretend to be good in sales talk to become a witness of Jesus, but we can still advertise Jesus to others as the Lamb of God using our own examples as a disciple of Jesus.

We can be good advertisers, preachers and promoters of our Lord the Lamb of God when we when we bring to others the gift of love, peace, justice, tolerance, and mercy to others.

We can be witness to Jesus the Lamb of God, when we live like a lamb: leading a pure, innocent, humble, selfless lifestyle obeying Jesus’ commandment of love.

Most of all, we give witness to Jesus the Lamb of God when we die like a sacrificial lamb in our own ways. We do this by making sacrifices for the sake of other people without expecting anything in return. We die like a Lamb when we share our blessings of health, wealth, time and talents with others. We die like a Lamb when we bear our personal suffering, illness and pain for Christ’s sake and without complaining.

Jesus is the Lamb of God let us receive him in our hearts. Amen.

You are my beloved

Baptism of the Lord A

January 12-13, 2008

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

Psalm: 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

Acts 10:34-38

Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus’ Baptism: the beginning of his mission

Beginning today, the church calendar closes Christmas season. Through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord we gently say good bye to the infant Jesus whom we waited during Advent and adored during Christmas season. We see indeed a very quick transition in the life of Jesus today. We shift our reflection today from an adorable, loving and cute baby Jesus to a thirty-year old man Jesus. Our Church calendar seemingly makes Jesus mature so fast probably to emphasise us his eagerness to fulfill his mission on earth – bring us salvation.

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Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a new beginning in Jesus’ life. For thirty years Jesus had lived at home where he daily performed his duties to Mary and Joseph and relatives at Nazareth. Now is the time for Jesus to leave home, he is now leaving the comfortable presence of his friends and loved ones. It must have caused some pain to Mary to let go her son and see him leaving. Likewise Jesus must felt the same sadness, leaving her loving mother.

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Jesus would now be facing new challenges of life and what lies ahead in his future: Jesus will have nowhere to lay his head, the shadow of Calvary will haunt him, and he will have experiences of defeat and outright hostility of his enemies.

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Letting go

So, reluctantly this Sunday, we let go gently the child Jesus, and take up the Man Jesus who’ve got an important mission in this world. It’s not always easy to say good bye but sometimes we have to because we need to grow mature and bear fruit.

I am sure we all have experienced the feeling of sadness and loneliness after saying goodbye to our loved ones. People say good bye to parents when entering married life. People say good bye to loved ones when moving to a new home, to other state or to other country. Sadly and lastly we say good bye to our loved ones at the funeral.

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Sometimes we need to let go people including the comfort of our past lifestyle in order to fulfill our mission in life. I remember the first time I left home to enter the seminary. I was only sixteen then and I still remember I hardly slept on my first night at the seminary. I felt homesick during the first few months. Every time my mother would visit me at the seminary to bring me clothes or food it was always sad to see her leaving the gate of our seminary building. My only consolation was the food at the seminary!

Jesus' mission, our mission
Jesus must have felt the same human sadness and loneliness because of the sudden changes in the pattern of his life. However, there is something that empowers our Lord today as he begins his public ministry. When Jesus allowed himself to be baptised by John, a voice was heard from the heavens as he rose up from the water, it’s the voice of the Father: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

It’s the voice of love. It’s a voice of assurance. It’s a voice of the divine presence that glorifies our Lord. Sooner we will enter the Lenten season and we will re-enter the consequences of Christ’s coming into this world. This voice of the Father will constantly be the source of his strength and his loving obedience until his death.

The baptism of Jesus reminds us of our identity and mission. Jesus actually don’t need baptism because He himself is God and sinless. But he allowed himself to be baptised to embrace the fullness of our humanity. As St Paul says, “God's beloved Son entered the murky waters of human sinfulness and sanctified it by his divine presence (2 Cor 5:21).

Our own Baptism
Today’s feast is a beautiful reminder that each and one of us are special. We are God’s beloved sons and daughters blessed, chosen and anointed. Today is the day to remember the graces we received by baptism and to renew our baptismal vows: On the day of our baptism, the late Pope John Paul II explains, "we were anointed with the oil of catechumens, the sign of Christ's gentle strength, to fight against evil. Blessed water was poured over us, an effective sign of interior purification through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We were then anointed with chrism to show that we were thus consecrated in the image of Jesus, the Father's Anointed One. The candle lighted from the paschal candle was a symbol of the light of faith which our parents and godparents must have continually safeguarded and nourished with the life-giving grace of the Spirit."

Every time we dip our fingers into holy water font and blessed ourselves as we enter the church we remind ourselves of our baptism. When I bless myself with holy water, it’s meant to remind us how special we are, that I am a child of God, that I have been redeem by the Cross of Christ; that I have been made a member of God family; that I have been consecrated to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So today we rededicate ourselves to Jesus. We ask God’s grace that day by day we grow mature in our faith as baptised Christians. To grow daily in intimacy with God deepening our prayer life, by reading the Word of God, by making Sunday Mass our priority and by frequenting the sacrament of reconciliation.

Jesus is no longer a baby in our midst; he is now a full grown man saying to us loud and clear “follow me” for we are all God’s beloved sons and daughters of the Father with whom He is well pleased.
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*Nicola, Jaya and Ato shopping cheap toys with tito Joel at "Reject Shop" in Sunbury.

Need Your Help

I received today a message from Fr. Robert del Rosario. I knew Fr. Robert during my seminary training in Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Bulacan. Fr. Robert was ordained priest early last year by Bishop Socrates Villegas for the Diocese of Balanga in Bataan. Bataan is part of the province in Central Luzon in nothern Philippines. It is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north.

Fr. Robert has just been appointed to be a director of a new Catholic highschool in Morong, Bataan. One of his greatest challenges is the lack of funds in acquiring books for the school library. If you happen to be reading this blog and would like to help start Fr. Robert's new school by donating old/new books or offer some financial support please contact me at jjev78@yahoo.com. Thank you!

musta na ang aking kapatid na pari? i hope everything is going on well and good. nakauwi ka ba nitong Christmas season dito sa Pilipinas?

well, today i am celebrating the 1st day of the 11th month of my priesthood hehhehee...everything has been a blessing to me despite my shortcomings and sinfulness...well, pinag-UUBRA lang naman tayo talaga ng Diyos for his purposes and plans. but im trying to be an OBRA of his hands, a beautiful masterpiece of his. let's contunue praying for each other for us to be always docile to him.

bro, aside from making pangungumusta my second purpose is to ask you a favor and may be you can tell it to Fr. Lawrence also. My bishop has assigned me to be the pioneer director of a school in Morong, Bataan...and frankly and practically speaking, i am starting from zero...so i am asking you for some help. is it possible, baka may mga friends ka jan na pwede mag-donate ng mga libro for high school students... these will be for our library. or pwede rin naman na in form of cash to buy books. sana po... maybe fr. Lawrence can help me also kasi nasa school din sya diba? anyway, i am just hoping... ngayon pa lang ay nagpapasalamat na ako sa iyo, pagpalain ka nawa ng Diyos at ang iyong paglilingkod!!!

in Christ,

Fr. Robert

Lakasan ang Loob

Ebanghelyo: Marcos 6:45-52
Agad na pinilit ni Jesus na sumakay sa bangka ang mga alagad at pinauna sa Betsaida sa kabilang ibayo habang pinaaalis niya ang mga tao. At pagkapaalis niya sa kanila, mag-isa siyang lumayo papunta sa kaburulan para manalangin.Nasa laot na ang bangka nang gumabi at nag-iisa naman siyang nasa lupa. Nakita niya silang nahihirapan sa pagsagwan dahil pasalungat ang hangin. Kaya nang madaling-araw na, pinuntahan sila ni Jesus na naglalakad sa dagat at waring lalampas sa kanila. Nang makita nila siyang naglalakad sa dagat, akala nila'y multo siya. Kaya sumigaw sila. Nakita nga siya nilang lahat at nasindak sila. Ngunit agad niya silang kinausap: "Lakasan ang loob! Ako ito, huwag kayong matakot."Nang nakasakay na siya sa bangka kasama nila, tumigil ang hangin kaya lalo pa silang namangha. Hindi nga nila naunawaan ang tungkol sa mga tinapay, kundi sarado ang kanilang isip.


Pagninilay-nilay

May maganda tayong salitang ginagamit para sabihin na sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap at problema sa buhay, patuloy pa rin tayong nabubuhay nang may pag-asa at tiwala na magiging mabuti pa rin ang lahat.

Sinasabi nating "nakakaraos" pa rin tayo sa kabila ng patuloy na paglalakbay natin sa buhay pasalungat sa malakas na alon. At para sa ating mga alagad ni Jesus, nararanasan din natin na sa piling ng Panginoon, nagiging payapa ang dagat ng paghihirap at suliranin sa buhay. Naglalakad siya sa ibabaw ng alon para sabihin sa atin na wala tayong dapat ipangamba dahil kasama natin siya, kasabay natin siya at lagi niyang pinalalakas ang ating loob




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* Teksto hango lahat sa website na ito
* Larawan ni Sr Maria Melinda Comiso RCM

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Epiphany Sunday 2008
January 5-6, 2008
Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Matthew 2:1-12

Oldies Joke
Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turned to the other and said:

"Jack, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age.
How do you feel?"

Jack said, "I feel j ust like a newborn baby."

"Really? Like a newborn baby?"

"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants."

Joyful mode
We are still in Christmas season. The Church is still in a joyful mode of adoring the newborn baby lying in a manger whom we have waited patiently during advent season. The radiance of the infant Jesus remains the center of our reflection and meditation.

Today’s celebration is called the Solemnity of Epiphany, it is like a second Christmas. It is, in fact, the Christmas of the Eastern Churches. It proclaims that the child Jesus belongs to and is given to the whole world as its Savior. We, in the Western Church, Christmas season ends after the Baptism of the Lord, which is next Sunday.

Epiphany Sunday in some countries is also called “Three Kings Sunday.” The Three Kings or Magi according to the Bible journeyed from the East following the Big Star leading to the place where the child Jesus is born, so they could worship him.

The Gospel reading we have this Sunday has many symbolisms.
The Three Kings or the three Magi, traditionally named Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar represent the Gentile world or non-believers. They were looking for the King of the Jews. Although they were not Jews, they must have felt they belonged somehow to his kingdom, too. “We have come to do him homage,” they said. They did not care if they were foreigners, strangers, pagans from the East. They are pagans but they are also members of God’s children.

Being the first ones to receive the news of the birth of Christ, they signify that the coming of the child Jesus in the world is not only for a particular group of people but for the whole human race.

The birth of Christ is God’s gift of salvation for Gentiles or Jews, and for all people.
The importance of the three Wise Men in our faith as Christians is not only their perseverance to pursue relentlessly the “Big Star” that led them to the Child Jesus. But more than their patience and stamina, it is their act of homage and respect to the child Jesus that we need to follow. They recognise the Child as the newborn Messiah king, prostrate themselves, do him homage.

The three Magi expressed their act of worship to the baby Jesus by bringing him special gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These three precious gifts brought by the Three Kings tell us something about the life and ministry of the Child Jesus: Gold signified his kingship; frankincense signifies his priesthood; a sign his offering/sacrifice to God; and myrrh a symbol Christ’s saving death (myrrh, used in anointing a body).

Then, we have King Herod, a figure of someone who cannot accept the Child Jesus as the King of World. King Herod who in the beginning pretended to be a “Christ friendly” politician, ended up trying to kill the Christ-child. Herod's advisors told him that the prophet Micah foretold the birth of a Messiah in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David where he was also anointed king (Mi 5:2). Herod feared that this child would be a threat to his throne, and he sent the magi to search for him on the pretence of offering him homage. He will do everything for his love for power. He will compete directly with God in order to stay in power. He doesn’t want to see the glory of God’s manifestation. He doesn’t want God to be part of his life for he is full of pride.

Our Journey to find the Star
If we are going to put ourselves in the today’s reading, how can we relate ourselves to the characters and their activities we heard from the Epiphany story?

Can we see ourselves like the Three Kings? Like the Three Magi we have our own journey, we are looking for enlightenment, we are searching for answer, we are longing for happiness. Are we persevering enough on our life’s journey? How motivated are we in reaching our goals in life?

Could we see ourselves perhaps like King Herod, who instead of welcoming Christ’s humbly and wholeheartedly, sometimes we prefer to accept values contrary to his teachings?

What gifts can we offer to the Child Jesus? As year 2008 unfolds what gift or resolution we could offer to God? We don’t have to buy the expensive gifts of the wise men. The most inexpensive gift but the most precious gift we could give to God is a pure and contrite heart. We are not perfect but we can allow the light of Jesus to enlighten the darkness of our hearts and thus renewed our lives.

We are all invited to discover the Lord through the different journeys in faith we undertake. But after encountering Christ we cannot return to our old ways. We must travel in a different direction by the way we live our lives.

Prayer
Christ, Help us now to come to you,
We want to walk in your light and rest in your warmth.
Please keep us on the right road,
heading toward your radiance,
bringing our treasures, our assets,
our gold, frankincense and myrrh, of our hearts.
Christ, be born again and again in us.
Be the gift we bear, the treasure in our hearts.
Amen.

* This is a recycled reflection of my homily last year.

Ang Sukli Ko

Nakakabato kanina
Hindi dahil sa walang ginawa
Nakakabato lang
Umalis ako ng bahay at nagtungo sa Footscray Market
Isa itong asian wet market

Diretso ako sa Pilipino take away store
Bumili ng masarap na tanghalian
Isang order ng kain at dalawang ulam
Menudo at bistik

Nagbayad ako at humingi ng patis.
Nakalimutan ko na tuloy ang sukli ko
dahil sa excitement
Hala diretso na sa lamesa

Sabi ng tindera sa kustomer pagkaalis ko
"Naiwan nung mama yung sukli nya"
Sumagot ang ale, "hindi mama iyon
si pader yun!"

Masaya kaming kumain ng ale
Nagkataon na isang parokyano
Kasama niya ang kanya asawa at kaibigan
Lahat sila miyembro ng koro Pilipino

Nagtatawanan sila at tinawag daw akong mama
Nye, balewala sa akin yun
ang mahalaga
may Filipino food ako ngayon.

Pagkatapos kumain
Kahit busog na di ako nakuntento
Gusto ko ng turon panghimagas
Bumalik ako sa tindahan at bumili ng turon
Papunta pa lang ako
Abot tenga ngiti ni aleng tindera

"Ang bata bata mo pa!" tanong nya
"Ilan taon ka na?"
"29 po"
"Kaidad mo lang ang anak ko"
"Hehe." sa isip ko
"Eto ang isang balot ng pandesal
bigay ng may ari."

Ay lumaki tuloy ang sukli ko.
Naalala ko tuloy ang sinabi ni Kristo
"anyone who leaves father, mother,
sisters, home will gain a hundredfold"

Ang pandesal kaya ay isa lamang sa hundredfold
Ano kaya ang susunod?
Hehe kahit wala basta salamat na lang
Kakatuwa
Kanina ay nakakabato
Ngayon ang bato naging pandesal
Tara magselebreyt tayo.

Our Common Vocation

First Friday Mass
January 5, 2008
1 John 3:7-10
Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9
John 1:35-42

“To live a holy life is to be holy just as God is holy” writes St John in the first reading today. Holiness is our main calling in life, holiness is our vocation. We may be different in state of life: married, single, religious and priest, yet God has only one invitation to each one of us – to be holy.

There is a document in the Second Vatican Council called Lumen Gentium. In chapter five of this document the Council Fathers stated the call to holiness of every Christians. They said, Christians in whatever state of life they belong are “called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love” (LG 39).

What is to be holy? Is being good and nice person or in Aussie slang “a fair dinkum bloke” holiness? Is being respectful, nature lover, just and friendly be called holiness?

There is a difference between natural goodness and holiness. An atheist person, a non-believer, a philosopher, a non-Christian, a philanthropist or anyone can be a nice and good moral person to eyes of many but it doesn’t mean such person is holy. Because holiness requires more than good qualities; holiness is not just an attitude or a philosophy of moral goodness.

Holiness gradually develops into the heart of the person as a result of an intimate relationship with God in the person of Jesus. In the Gospel today, John divert his disciples’ attention to Jesus, he said, “Look, there is the lamb of God.” What follows was a conversation with Jesus. Jesus turned to them and asked, “What do you want?” They answered, “Rabbi” – which means Teacher. They asked Jesus “where do you live?” and he replied “Come and see.” They stayed at the place of Jesus and to cut the long story short one two became the very first disciple of Jesus, and his name was St Andrew, our very own patron saint.

Holiness is a journey. As followers of Jesus we are all in a journey to holiness. When were baptised we began that journey and we were established among the People of God to become one body of Christ. We participate in the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ. This means journey to holiness requires us to take part in the Eucharist, to share the word of God and to do pastoral care for the people.

As we begin the year 2008 let us pray that our fellow Christians in all walks of life those in the world of business, politics, hospitals, factories, markets, and so on may take part faithfully to God’s call to holiness so that we may all contribute to the sanctification of the world according to the Gospel. In this Mass, let us pray for the grace that we may begin this task first of all, by making ourself holy.

Happy New Year Trippings

Atin atin lang ito. Ganito po nag-celebrate ng Bagong Taon ang mga probinsyanong taga Bulakan na dumayo sa siyudad ng Melbourne. Trip na trip!!!

Jologs pero kwela.

Oha, kasali kami sa crowd. Put your hands up in the sky daw.

Kainis hanggang tingin lang kami sa fireworks dito. Sa Bulacan abot kamay ang paputok namin dun, minsan nga e kasama ang kamay na sumasabog.

Uwian na po. Balik na po kami sa aming sakahan.

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Isang mapayapang Bagong Taon satin lahat!

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Mga tauhan: Fr. Ato, Fr. Lawrence, Odra at ako.

Drive safely

I bought myself a Christmas gift a brand new Apollo/Raceline Pave Road Bike

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Result: Ouch..A brand new souvenir!

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New Year's resolution: Perseverance, perspiration and patience

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Happy 2008

Mary Mother of God
January 1, 2008

Numbers 6:22-27

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8.

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:16-21

Today as we begin another new year, we, like many, may be reflecting on what this past year has brought. It is a time to consider what may be coming in the future and for many it is a time to resolve to be different.

Knowing where to begin or end can be a little problematic sometimes, and so our Mother Church shows us the way.

We begin the New Year focusing on the love of God who became Man through the love and devotion of the obedient and humble virgin. All begins with love, all proceeds with love and all will end with love.

The Blessed Virgin Mary receives the Word of God into her person in a way that is unique among the human race, for she is given the great honor of being the mother of our Lord Jesus, true God and true man. As she holds the child Jesus in her arms, she treasures the tremendous gift of the Word of God and continually ponders over its mystery. In so doing, she is a model for all who listen attentively to the Word of God, especially through the reading of the Holy Bible.

It was during the Council of Ephesus (430) when the Church officially affirmed the title of Mary as “the Mother of God.” When the Church formally decrees Mary’s Divine Maternity,[1] she not only uplifts Mary’s dignity as the Mother of God, but also preserves the fundamental truth that Jesus is both human and divine. So, Mary did not only give birth to a man Jesus, but she gave birth to the Second Person of the Trinity, hailed as the Christ, known as Jesus of Nazareth.

Intimately connected with Mary’s divine motherhood is the truth that she also becomes the mother of humanity as well. Mary is the New Eve restoring the broken dignity of the human race caused by Eve’s disobedience.[2] So whenever we reflect and call upon Mary as Mother of Jesus, and our mother as well, we recognize the gift of salvation we received from the mystery of the coming of the Son of God into the world.

Last night I joined thousand of new year's eve revellers who poured into the city for last night's fireworks display and family entertainment. Searing temperatures did not deter even some families with little kids not to enjoy this long-standing tradition of welcoming New Year along with massive crowds.

As I looked up the sky with sensational fireworks rocketing up and exploding with bright colored glittering showers I imagined them as God showering us from heaven His gracious blessing for year 2008 -- BLESSING that you and I desperately need in every single day and all throughout the year 2008. Today's readings allow us to heed for God's blessing. The first reading from the book of Numbers is a prayer of blessing:

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly andgive you peace!

Many people are reflecting today what a New Year's resolution. Often people resolve to get slim and fit, promise to avoid chocolate, try to be on time, quit smoking, and so on and on.

This year 2008 will give us many opportunities to live God’s Good News with Mary as our inspiration. Perhaps its a good idea to make a new year's resolution that is something spiritual. Why not praying the rosary each day be our New Year's resolution? Whenever we pray the rosary, the Blessed Virgin Mary brings us closer to her Son, Jesus. Also, what better New Year’s resolution could we make than to adopt Mary’s stance before the Word-made-flesh: making her contemplative gaze our own and keeping the incarnate God constantly before our mind and heart.


Today the Church also celebrate World Day of Peace. Pope Benedict XVI delivers a beautiful message of peace for the whole humanity particularly for every family.


Dear friends, as we journey together the year 2008, may our heart be daily inspired, challenged, consoled, and uplifted. Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, may we all be drawn closer to the living presence of her Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Happy New Year To All! :)

Sources:www.bible.claret.org/, www.daily-meditations.org/

[1] The Council of Ephesus (430) affirms the validity of the divine truth that “Mary is the Mother of God.” Mary is predestined to be the Theotokos. It is a Greek term which expresses the title of Mary as the Mother of God or a God bearer. [2] Cf. LG 56.