tukayo

Hospitality at its best

2010-07-17T22:53:00.001+10:00

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time C

July 17 & 18, 2010

Luke 10:38-42

Hospitality of Martha and Mary

The readings today present examples of giving hospitality as part of human relationships.

The first reading from Genesis is the story of Abraham and Sarah offering hospitality to three strangers who appear unexpectedly before their tent. Abraham realizes that they have come from the Lord. He and his wife Sarah rush around making preparations for a lavish meal to refresh their guests. He provides them a place to rest.

Then their generous hospitality is even more generously rewarded. God, speaking through the guests, promises the aged couple that they will have a son!

In the Gospel Jesus visits the house of his closed friends, Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus. The Lord receives two levels of hospitality from the sisters. The Gospel describes how Martha wants to extend the traditional hospitality to Jesus by preparing an elaborate meal for him. While her younger sister Mary, in her simple and trusting manner, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to him.

Definition of Hospitality

We define “hospitality” as “a cordial and generous reception of or disposition toward guests.” Hospitality is simply showing an act of kindness or a warm welcome to guests. Hospitality is a generous treatment or receptiveness of people. It’s a nice relationship between guest and host.

Unfortunately sometimes we don’t get hospitality for fee. We need to dine in a restaurant or stay at hotel or travel by plane in order to experience hospitality at its best. We call this “a paid hospitality.” When a flight attendant smiles at your and offers you, “coffee or tea?” it’s a paid hospitality.

In my four years in the priesthood I am blessed to experienced “unpaid hospitality” or “freeby hospitality” from parishioners, friends and relatives. Sometimes I feel embarrass how people give me special treatment at their homes.

My brother-in law once pleaded me if I could stay overnight to their house more often. I said, “Why?” He says, “so that they can have cooked breakfast every day!”

Art of Hospitality

How do we show hospitality? Many people misunderstand hospitality by preparing plenty of food and decorating the house lavishly.

Hospitality is an art of making other people feel comfortable and welcome. Only simply things are needed to make people feel at home, one of which is to sit down with our guests and listen to them speaking.

The best gift we could offer to our friends and in fact to anyone is the gift of time. Of course food is always important (for me anyway)! But for Jesus, in speaking of hospitality, it’s the undivided attention and our interest to listen to our guest has a greater importance.

I suppose this is also true in terms of looking after our children, we complain how busy we are at work, we are busy doing household chores cooking, cleaning and washing, that we forget to sit down at the feet of our children and listen to their stories.

Houseblessing

Yesterday I was invited to bless a new house. It’s very special for the family, so they prepared a lovely lunch following the blessing. We all sat down around the table and enjoyed the meal together except for grandmother. Grandmother was busy at the kitchen; she would serve all the food in front me...as if it would be my last meal.

I called her many times not to worry just sit and eat with us but she wouldn’t comply. I said gently to her politely, “you were like Martha in today’s Gospel.”

She paused and smiled. Then she served me more food!

Making time to listen to God

The story of Martha and Mary teaches us the need for balance between action and prayer -- the need for spending time with the Lord and learning from Him.

Martha has become a symbol of action-oriented people, men and women who "get the job done." And the world needs such people. There is nothing wrong with being a responsible, action oriented kind of person.

Jesus did not find fault with Martha for being responsible. Martha’s fault was that she was too busy to listen to Him, too distracted to sit at his feet and absorb his presence. She was too busy to hear what Jesus had to say.

Mary, by listening to Jesus’ word, by contemplating on his presence, has encountered Jesus more deeply in her heart. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.

We need both "serving" Marthas and "listening" Marys.

However the story suggests that “Mary’s undivided listening” is the first prerequisite for human love and Christian discipleship. The more one listens, the more love grows. The less one listens, the less love there is.

This is certainly true in marriage.

They say, In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.

In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.

Any good marriage will find a man and woman who have discovered what it means to listen to one another.

Listening means focusing on the other; it is concentrating on the persons before you, giving them your undivided attention.

In our prayer life, which Mary represents, the other word for listening is contemplation... contemplation is “living in the presence of God”. Contemplation is finding time to sit down before God. Contemplation is gently letting go of worldly distractions in order to hear and understand Jesus’ thoughts and insights more deeply.

In the words of St Teresa of Avila, "Contemplative prayer is... "I look at him and he looks at me"

Contemplation is just spending time with Lord gazing upon His beautiful face, and allowing God to gaze upon our face.

This is the best hospitality we can offer to God – our time, our attention, our listening. – Are you listening?

Amidst the hustle and bustle of our life, we are here at church today in order to spend time with Jesus, to ask his pardon and forgiveness, to listen to his words, to offer ourselves on the altar, to worship God together - not only in action but also with contemplation.

Conclusion

There is a Martha and a Mary within each of us: a part of ourselves which is active and busy, another part which sits at Jesus’ feet and listens trustingly to him.

We need our active self to accomplish God’s will, but the listening self, contemplative self, is the best part, and we must not allow it to be taken from us.

"Lord, to be in your presence is life and joy for me.

Free me from needless concerns and

preoccupations

that I may give you hospitality at its best

my undivided love and attention.

Amen."

Lovely Wine at Cana

2010-01-17T21:49:00.004+11:00

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time C

John 2:1-12

January 16-17, 2009

Lovely Wine at Cana

One Sunday night, a police officer signals to a car driver to pull over to the side of the road, due to the fact that he appears to be driving crazy.

He says to the driver, "You appear to have been drinking!"

The driver answers, "No sir, I am just tired. I had a long day."

The policeman looks into the car and notices that the driver is wearing a Roman collar. He is a priest! He also notices that there is an empty bottle on the floor.

He says to the driver, "Father, what is, or should I say was in this bottle?

The driver answers, "Just water!"

The policeman opens the bottle and says, "Father, I am afraid it's not water, it's wine!"

The priest driver looks up to the heavens and says, "I can't believe it. It's a miracle! Oh Lord, you have done it again!"

The Gospel story of the Wedding at Cana where Jesus changed water into wine is a relevant story.

We can only find this story in the Gospel of John. The Synoptic Gospels, namely, Matthew, Mark and Luke, don’t have a record of it. The Gospel of John, also called the Fourth Gospel, compared to the Synoptic Gospels is highly theological and filled with deep symbolism. There are symbolic figures and images used to glorify Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah. And one of the best examples of a story filled with symbolisms is the Wedding at Cana.

First, it is in Cana that Jesus performs his first miracle (“sign”) and reveals his glory. It is here too that his disciples begin to believe in him.

Second, the sign is performed by Jesus upon the intervention of his Mother. This tells us the role of Mary in our Christian life – she is our intercessor or helper because she is mindful and aware of our needs. When we pray to Mary, we can always expect that she is interceding and aiding us in prayer to her Son on our behalf.

Third, Jesus addressed Mary as “Woman” not “Mother”. The word “Woman” in no way shows lack of respect to Mary but in fact Jesus raises the prominent role of Mary as the New Eve.

Fourth, Jesus refers for the first time here to his “hour”. He said, “My hour has not yet come.” The “hour” is a word he will use later on as he approaches his Passion-Death-Resurrection.

There are more other images and symbols we can look up it’s impossible to expound them all in ten minutes.

Human story

I think we can all relate with the human side of the Wedding of Cana. During the party Mary comes to know that the wine has run out. This is a very serious predicament that can lead to a serious disaster. It would be very embarrassing for the newly-wed couple should the wine run short for the guests. If you are hosting a party you have to make sure that there will be enough food and drink for everybody.

I remember three years ago, shortly after my ordination I went back home to the Philippines to celebrate a "Thanksgiving Mass" in my home parish. For a newly-ordained priest first “Thanksgiving Mass” is really a festive celebration. It’s an open invitation to the whole town and parish community.

My mother and sisters planned carefully how much food and drinks needed. We hired a food catering service. There were seven roasted pigs in addition to other menus. While my mother didn’t worry if we ran out of wine, it’s not our tradition, she was rather very concerned if we had enough rice to feed at least 2000 people who turned up! Thankfully we had more than enough food and drinks to satisfy our guests.

Meaning of the Story

Going back to the Gospel Story. Jesus changed water into wine not simply to save the newly-wed couple from embarrassment. Again it is a symbolic story. It has much to tell us as a sign of something deeper.

It is really a story about Jesus and his mission. It tells us that Jesus is the “true God-become human.” When Jesus dwells in us we will be transformed and have life in abundance. When water is changed into the best sparkling wine, more than enough for the guests, Jesus demonstrates a superabundant blessing we can all receive from Him.

Jesus performs signs and miracles not to entertain people but to invite them to faith. Jesus performed hundreds of miracles in his time; he cured the sick, raised the dead, walked on the water, to name a few, but still not everyone believed in him.

Miracles happen in our daily life. Even in this Mass, believe it or not, the greatest miracle will happen, later on the Holy Spirit will change the Bread and Wine into the sacred Body and Blood of Jesus for our nourishment.

People can still refuse to believe in miracle. Jesus respects our freedom. We have a choice either to believe or not to believe. Notice how John ends the Gospel reading today: “..at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.”

If we believe in Jesus' power then we are His new disciples. If we believe in Jesus, trust him with all our hearts and minds then...

Jesus can change our fear into trust.
He can change our sorrow into joy.
He can change our depression into hope.
He can change our anxiety and fear into peace.
He can change our weakness into strength.
He can change our selfishness and hatred into love.

If we have faith in Jesus, if He is welcomed in homes, hundreds of miracles can always happen in our life. Water is change into wine. It means with Jesus, and with Mary in our life, we can be assured, the best is yet to come.

joke from the internet

suggested reading: "Jesus Goes Public" by Bishop Ted Bacani

Let Go, Let God...

2010-01-14T15:14:00.001+11:00

Funeral Mass for Kevin Salem

January 14, 2009

Gospel: John 14:1-6

Let Go, Let God...

We celebrate and give thanks for the life of Kevin Salem, for his very special role in our lives, and for the gift God has given to us in him - as the only son to Clem and Cora, a brother to Kathy and Kathleen, and a “smiling-face friend” to all his cousins and family friends.

I only met the Salem family last week at the Royal Children Hospital when I was requested to administer the Sacrament of Anointing the Sick and say the Prayers of Commendation for the Dying for Kevin. Before I anointed Kevin with Holy Oil, I read a scripture reading from the Gospel of John which recounts the final moments of Jesus on the Cross. It was the scene when Jesus uttered his last words before he died, “Into thy hands Father I commend my spirit...”

I can only pray at that moment inside the ICU that these words of Jesus would give some comfort and strength to Kevin’s family as they painfully watched his little body succumbs to death. A few moments later, like Jesus, Kevin finally commended his spirit to God his Creator.

The second time I met Kevin’s family was last Tuesday morning at their home. They showed me Kevin’s room, his wheel chair and his childhood and recent photos, the ones displayed at the foyer of the church. It was a short visit but I got to know more not only about Kevin but also his parents and sisters who provided him the best security and comfort the world could offer him. Clem and Cora, Kathy and Kathleen, were the important people who surrounded Kevin with such enormous love, support and friendship.

Kevin was a gift to his family, as his family was a gift to him. In his lifetime he was a gift to his family in so many ways. They have been lifted up and cheered by his smile. Through Kevin’s fragile condition, the Salem family proved their patience and endurance to make sacrifices for each other no matter what the cost. They never saw Kevin’s disabilities a burden, rather it was for them wonderful opportunity to create their home a haven of friendship, support and unconditional love.

Tito Clem and Tita Cora I can only imagine your enormous pain of letting go Kevin. A child is supposed to outlive his parents, but if he is called home before them, then parents must let go for his eternal home. Letting go is very hard. We never want to let go those who are dear to us. But love is proved in letting go.

We don’t let go as if it’s the end of Kevin’s story. We don’t let go as if death has the final say in fragile life. As Christians, we let go with hope, we let go with sure confidence that one day we shall be reunited with him again. We let go and we let God. We let go and let God, knowing that God who is the author of life, now takes care of Kevin, where there is no room for any pain, sickness and death, rather eternal joy and happiness.

Kevin’s Dependence

Kevin was a dependent person from the day of his birth, he was dependent every single day of his life – he was dependent on something, he was dependent on the doctors and medications, he was dependent on his family to get him out of bed, to give him food, to get him dressed and washed. He was dependent on people to put him to bed at night.

Because Kevin was a dependent person, he was blest. Because Kevin was a dependent person, he was closer to God. As Jesus said lovingly on children, because of their simplicity and dependence, the Kingdom of God belongs to them.

The Gospel reading today gives one of the most comforting words of Jesus: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me…there are many rooms in my Father’s house.” These words bring us comfort knowing that Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, will open wide the gates of heaven for Kevin who depended solely upon him.

If God surrounded Kevin with so much love, through the love and care of his devoted parents and two sisters, during his brief earthly life, we can be sure that God will take good care of him, now that he has gone home to Him.

Thanking Kevin

We are thankful to Kevin for what he taught us and gave us. Blest are we, when we recognise our dependence on God. Blest are we when we accept the limitations we have, and draw our strength from the one who created us and loves us.

As we pray for Kevin today in this Mass, we also pray for ourselves who are still making our journey on earth. Remembering the words of Jesus: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me” we pray that like Kevin, we also may have a child-like heart, humbly recognising our dependence on one another. We pray that like Kevin, we too, may increase our trust in God and find security in His Divine providence.

We also pray that our Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother Mary will enfold Clem and Cora, Kath and Kathleen in their loving arms, and assure them all will be well with Kevin, and that all will be well with them.

Kevin finally rests in God’s secure peace now.

We let him go now but our eternal love goes with him.

Adorable Baby

2010-01-03T22:34:00.000+11:00

Epiphany Sunday 2010

January 2-3, 2010

Adorable Baby

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 just like a newborn baby."

"Really? Like a newborn baby?"

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

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. We awaited for four weeks of Advent for the birth of baby Jesus. We lighted four candles in our advent wreath anticipating the newborn Messiah. The Feast of Epiphany is like a second Christmas. The radiance of our little baby Jesus is still with us to adore and worship. We continue celebrating the baby Jesus born to be our Saviour.

According to the Bible the “Three Kings” or “Three Magi” journeyed from the East following the Big Star leading to the place where the child Jesus is born, so they could worship him. Traditionally their names are Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They represent the Gentile world: non-Jewish or pagan people.

They were pagans but they must have felt that like everyone else they too are members of God’s children. They said, “We have come to do him homage.” They did not care if they were foreigners, strangers, pagans from the East.

Paradox

The Gospel story today highlights the paradox: the Jewish leaders who have received the Scriptures and heard about the Messianic prophecy (the coming birth of the Savior), were the ones who rejected it. While the Gentile people, represented by the Three Magi, would be the first ones to witness and adore the newly born Messiah.

King Herod, the Jewish national leader of that time, ended up trying the Child Jesus by massacring all the male children in Bethlehem under of two known as the "massacre of the innocents". He would not accept a newborn King is born. He will do everything for his love for power. He will compete directly with God in order to stay in power.

On the other hand, the Three Wise Men, acted the exact opposite, when they found the baby, they worshipped and humbly offered him gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh. These three precious gifts 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).

For All Nations

More than anything else the Adoration of the Three Magi to baby Jesus brings us a theological illustration that Jesus Christ belongs to all. The child Jesus was born not for a particular group of people alone but for the whole human race. Christ is revealed as the Saviour, not of a select group of people, but of all peoples.

The Feast of Epiphany is something equivalent to “United Nations’ Week”. We celebrate the progressive unification of all nations around Christ as our center. St Paul explains this in the Second Reading, “it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.”

The Feast of Epiphany is like a Second Christmas because it brings everybody together. Jesus broke down the great barrier that existed between Jews and Gentiles. Everybody is welcome to receive and adore Jesus, the Universal King.

Our Journey to find the Star

Like the Three Magi we have our own journey to take, some are searching for enlightenment others for success. Like the Three Magi may we all persevere to reach whatever goals or journey we need to undertake in life.

Unfortunately sometimes we see ourselves perhaps like King Herod, who instead of welcoming Christ’s humbly and wholeheartedly, we reject him because we prefer comfort, popularity and power. Our pride closed our eyes, our ears and our hearts before the presence of Jesus. We are afraid to let God control our lives.

New Year’s Resolution

As year 2010 unfolds what gift or New Year’s resolution we could offer to God?

My New Year’s resolution is to eat healthy food. Unfortunately I broke my New Year's resolution on New Year’s day! I celebrated New Year's even with my sisters and cousins. We partied till late, had a few drinks. When I got up in the morning my sister was still asleep. I didn't want to wake up her up just to ask for some breakfast. I went to the town center to find somewhere to eat. As expected most of the shops were closed except for Hungry Jack’s and Mc Donald's. I said to myself, "Burgers are better in Hungry Jacks". So I had “Angus Beef burger” as my first meal for 2010!

Gift for baby Jesus

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. The Feast of Epiphany reminds us that as Christians we are called to like baby Jesus, a small but an effective agent of love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds.

Maybe what we can offer to baby Jesus is the gift of peace and reconciliation. Maybe we missed out forgiving someone last Christmas, it’s never too late. Maybe we missed out saying sorry to someone last Christmas, it’s never too late.

The Feast of Epiphany invites us to be a more welcoming people, humble and peace-loving citizen. It’s a good and wonderful way to start the Year - it really makes us feel like a newborn baby… fresh, cuddly and beautiful.

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.

Called to be Joyful and Happy!

2009-12-13T11:24:00.001+11:00

Third Sunday of Advent 09

(Gaudete Sunday)

“Called to be Joyful & Happy”

Introduction

Don’t panic we have 12 more sleeps to go before Christmas!

The Rose candle in our advent wreath and Rose vestment I am wearing today indicates our deep joy for the coming birth of our Saviour. The liturgical colour Rose we have today, the sign of our joy, also confront us with these questions as we journey through this advent season:

Are you really happy in your life today? Is there joy in your life? Are you still searching for joy and peace? What is the source of your joy? Is the nearness of Christmas causes you some deep joy or it’s the opposite? Or maybe you are too busy that you didn’t have the time to even think about it?

Joy vs Happiness

Have you ever wonder the difference between joy and happiness? At first glance, joy and happiness may seem similar but, really, they are quite different.

HAPPINESS, according to the Oxford English dictionary, is based on luck or good fortune. JOY on the other hand, is described as extreme gladness or a vivid emotion of pleasure.

HAPPINESS depends on circumstance; JOY, on our emotional well-being. We may feel absolutely happy if we win the lottery, but we feel joy when there is peace within us or in our family and loved ones.

HAPPINESS mostly depends on something that is passing. For instance I am happy with my new watch which I just bought the other day; I wear it when I sleep. I wear it when I go for shower. I wear it all the time. But after a while, when I get used to my watch, when it's no longer new, would I still be happy? Maybe I will be a new one.

Happiness is fleeting. More often happiness expires. As soon as the object of what makes us happy is gone then you are no longer happy.

Happiness is most of the time is self-centered. I want this want this. This is mine. I deserved this toy, I want this car, this house and I deserved that. I deserve want to be happy. Nothing wrong with that. But notice the word happiness has “I” is the center. “I am” the center of the universe.

Last year I went to see this great musical called “Miss Saigon.” It’s about a love story between American soldier and a Vietnamese bar girl during the Vietnam War. After the show, I had the chance to talk with the main actress who is a Filipina but based in America. She is very pretty, charming and friendly. Maybe because I forgot to tell her I am a priest.

After that fateful conversation, I was held up by a group of Filipinas who looked very excited, I thought I knew them from the church so I smiled to be friendly. I was surprised they were asking for my autograph and would take picture with me! They thought I was one of the actors from Miss Saigon. I felt really popular. But it wasn’t long before they realised I was only an audience like them. It was my 30 second experience of FAME!

It was a good feeling though, unfortunately I didn’t last long.

JOY as a state of mind that does not depend on worldly things such as popularity, beauty, money, or longer holidays. JOY is always a part of who we are and how we view the world. A JOYFUL person doesn’t need to have a supermodel body to be joyful.

JOY to Discover

Joy is something we discover within us. We feel joy when we appreciate life, when we recognize our freedom, and when we dwell on our successful relationships with other people; ULTIMATELY we feel JOY when we have faith in something larger than ourselves.

There is JOY when we know that there is God who is not distant, but already in our midst. We REJOICE in the presence of God who can bring us peace, harmony and unity despite tension around us, financial or health problem. The JOY we find in God is our ADVENT JOY!

There is nothing wrong to be happy, God wants us to be happy, but we need to balance our priority: Would you search for happiness or would you invest your time in searching for joy?

Scripture message

The Scripture readings invite us all to welcome God in our life if we want to be a JOYFUL person. In the first Reading, Prophet Zephaniah announces, “Shout for joy...sing joyfully...be glad and exult with all your heart.” St. Paul writes to the Philippians, telling them,(us) to “rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!”

In the Gospel, John the Baptist humbly points us to the ONE Person who alone can give us lasting JOY – that is JESUS. JESUS is the Source of our Joy.

The word JOY itself give us the key to find joy in our life. JOY (JESUS, OTHERS, YOU). To love Jesus first, to Love others second, to love Yourself last.

Let us use these remaining days before Christmas as a time of revival and renewal of our faith and love to JESUS, so that Christmas will be a time of DEEP JOY.

They say, there are three levels of Christmas: The commercial level, the survival level, and the spiritual level. May we all be fulfilled on these three! However, let us prioritize. Let us start with the spiritual level.

It can be a real tragedy, with all the glittering Christmas lights around us, to miss the true Light, the source of our JOY – only Jesus, always Jesus, forever Jesus.

Prayer

"Lord Jesus, help us not only to find joy

but also to be a faithful witness of the joy of the gospel

and during this Christmas

help us to point others to you

as John did through his testimony."

Amen.

Humanda sa Pagdating (Prepare for the Coming)

2009-12-06T14:01:00.002+11:00

Second Sunday of Advent C

December 5-6, 2009

Prepare the Way of the Lord

Joke 1

A man who thought he was John the Baptist was disturbing the neighbourhood. So for public safety, he was forcefully taken to the psychiatric ward of a hospital.

He was put in a room with another crazy patient. He immediately began his routine, “I am John the Baptist! The Lord has sent me as the forerunner of Christ the Messiah!”

The other guy looked at him and declared, “I am the Lord your God. I did not send you!”

Joke 2 (2nd Try)

What do Winnie the Pooh and John the Baptist have in common?

Answer: They both have the same middle name.(THE)

Introduction

In today’s Liturgy of the Word, the figure that stands out, without any doubt, is John the Baptist, and this message of his, “Prepare the Way of the Lord.” Today this voice of John the Baptist echoes not only in all Masses here at Queen of Peace, but it is proclaimed in all churches all over the world. Because we are now in the period of these weeks of Advent, the time in which we are preparing to celebrate the coming of our Redeemer.

In this Second Sunday of Advent, we ponder John’s words, “Prepare the Way of the Lord.” What does it mean to “Prepare the way of the Lord?” And what kind of preparation we need to do during this Advent season?

Advent is a time of preparation for the past, future and present coming of Jesus.

Past Coming

First we prepare for the ‘past coming’ of Jesus, when the Blessed Virgin Mary gave birth to the Redeemer in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago. We prepare to celebrate the ‘past coming’ of Jesus, that is His birthday, when God became flesh, entering the history of humanity. Notice the first part of the Gospel, it gives us some names of political leaders during time of Jesus such as Tiberius Caesar and Pontius Pilate. They were proofs that in a particular era of human history, God, through Jesus, became human like us except sin. We prepare for the ‘past coming’ of Jesus, his birthday on Christmas day. Jesus is what Christmas is all about (period).

I saw a super market TV commercial the other day; it shows a happy family eating together around a big table. It ends with this message: “Christmas is about family, giving and fresh food; that is what Christmas is all about.” I said to myself? What happen to Jesus? How would you feel when your family excluded you on your birthday celebration?

Celebrating Christmas without Jesus is like going to a Christening without a baby.

Future Coming

Secondly advent is time of preparation for the future coming of Jesus on the last day. We always need to be prepared on the Second Coming of Lord. The clamour of John the Baptist “Prepare the way of the Lord” is a call for repentance. Repentance means turning our heart and mind from sin, indifference and skepticism, to trust and obedience to God's word.

Advent is an opportune time to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receive the unconditional love and forgiveness of God. Advent time is the time we reconcile to one another – to restore broken relationship. It’s about time ring up someone and say “sorry”.

Only through our humble repentance and conversion of our heart and mind will make us ready to stand in confidence before the Son of Man, ‘the future coming of Jesus’ either on our death or on the Last Day.

Present Coming

Thirdly, advent is time of preparation for the ‘present coming of Jesus’, when Jesus enters into our hearts today, not tomorrow or yesterday, not later, but here and now, at this point of time.

Last Thursday evening, Maria Forde who is a singer/songwriter conducted an Advent reflection using her music. She said, “advent is a time to be in touch with ourselves.” It’s a time to reflect what really matters in your life or what is it that’s worthwhile for you and your family? She said, for some Christmas will pass be just like another day with no meaning. For some Christmas time only brings financial burden and pressure of buying thing we cannot afford. For some Christmas time is the loneliest part of the year due to deaths or separation in the family

Jesus is coming to our life wherever we are in the present moment whether we in good disposition or not. Part of preparation this Advent is to welcome Jesus in our present moment, that is now. Whatever our condition is in our relation to God, John the Baptist speaks to you and me, "Prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight” so in the end “we shall see the salvation of God.”

Prayer

We pray to you Lord,

to open our mind and heart to see your grace

It is just our sins that prevent us from seeing you.

May we return to your merciful embrace

and accept your loving invitation.

You wanted us to be reunited with You

So help us Lord to prepare your way inside ourself

and made the paths straight

so that we would be there to welcome you.

Amen.

New Year Today!

2009-11-28T14:11:00.000+11:00

First Sunday of Advent C

November 28, 2009

(First Weekend at Queen of Peace, Laverton)

Waiting for the Moment

Introduction

Today is like a “new year’s day” not in our civic calendar, but in the Liturgical Calendar of the Church. By celebrating the first week of Advent Season we begin afresh the new Liturgical Year of the Church. Advent comes from the Latin ad venio, “to come” — is the liturgical season anticipating the Adventus Domini, the "coming of the Lord.”

Interestingly as the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, I also begin a new chapter of my priestly journey with you here at Queen of Peace Parish. I was assistant priest at St Andrews in Werribee for 3 years. Although Werribee is just a few kilometres from Altona Meadows but coming here is a new and exciting journey for me – I hope Fr Binh has the same feeling.

Everything is new to me – not only I have a new set of keys to remember but also a few hundreds of new names or at least faces to remember.

Just to give you a brief profile about myself, I’m sure you get to know me later on (hopefully just the good side of me), I was ordained priest in 2006 at St Patrick’s Cathedral by Archbishop Denis Hart. I started my seminary training in the Philippines at the age of 16. I came to Australia in year 2000 and continued my studies at Corpus Christi College.

I have three sisters; two of them live in Sunbury, where I spent most of the time in day off playing with my 3 nieces and 3 nephews. My younger sister lives in the Philippines with my mother and father.

Advent Season

Well, let’s go back to Advent!

Advent Season is a season of waiting for the coming of Christ on Christmas day. The Gospel reading today is about the impending of second coming of Jesus, the Son of Man, at end of the world. St Luke Gospel invites the people then to be ready, be vigilant at all times.

The first Sunday of Advent has the theme of waiting because God is coming! We have to be prepared and ready. Like a pregnant mother we anticipate and wait with full of excitement the birth of our Saviour – in our hearts and in the hearts of everyone – this is indeed the true and sole meaning of Christmas.

We have only 27 days before Christmas!

Everyone is getting ready for Christmas — people at homes and shopping centres are now busy putting up Christmas decorations. They are all beautiful and make the atmosphere colourful and festive but one of the serious temptations we are facing every year is the commercialization of Jesus’ birth.

Sometimes we are so busy with the material preparations that we lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas: the Word made flesh coming to dwell among us. We need to remind ourselves again and again to preserve the spiritual focus of Christmas amidst the hustle and bustle of our consumer-driven society.

Inside Church

Inside the Church we see the beautiful purple colour of Advent, candles, vestments, that reminds us that our four Sundays of preparation and expectation before Christmas must first of all be a spiritual one.

Purple or violet used during Advent and Lent is a penitential colour – it invites us to start afresh our journey with God by being sorry for our sins, ask for His forgiveness and make a resolution to really work hard to be a better person.

The gradual lighting of the four candles, one on each Sunday of the Advent season, help us to symbolize not only our expectation of Our Savior's first coming into the world, but also in his Second Coming as Judge at the end of the world.

Readings

Our readings this Sunday touch our need for strength, determination and perseverance to overcome our weaknesses and sinfulness so that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, may be born in our hearts.

The first reading reminds us of the promise God has made to his people: Righteousness and justice will come to the earth. The day of the Lord will arrive, though long delayed.

In the second reading Paul expresses this need of strength. He writes, May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all,just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts…

And in the Gospel, Jesus tells us to pray that we may have strength, “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”

Conclusion

Let us be cautious about the shortness of time. Too soon enough, it’s Christmas day already.

Again in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, let us strive to keep Advent a season of waiting and longing, of conversion and hope, meditating often on the incredible love and humility of our God in taking on flesh of the Virgin Mary.

In our shopping, let us remember to purchase and prepare something for the poor. When we clean our homes, let us distribute some of our possessions to those who lack many necessities.

While we are decking the halls of our homes, let us not forget to also prepare most of all a peaceful place in our hearts wherein our Savior, the Emmanuel – who is to come to dwell amongst us.

Farewell St Andrews Werribee

2009-11-21T20:59:00.002+11:00

Thank You St Andrews!

November 15, 2009

Werribee: A Place of Nourishment

Oppurtunity

There is a strange Greek statue which has disappeared completely. But it could be reconstructed today from a stone inscription which used to be the base on which the statue stood. That inscription is a very unusual one: it makes the statue talk to you while you are reading the text.

Here is what it says:

“What is your name, O statue?”

“I am called OPPORTUNITY.”

“Who made you?”

“Lysippus.”

“Why are you standing on your toes?”

“To show how quickly I pass by.”

“Why is your hair so long on your forehead?”

“So that people may hold onto me when they meet me.”

“Why, then, is your head so bald in the back?”

“To show that when I have once passed, I cannot be caught.”

“And what is your name again?”

“OPPORTUNITY.”

St Andrews

I am very thankful to God that I have been given the OPPORTUNITY to spend the first three years of my priesthood here at St Andrew’s parish Werribee. How quickly those three years have passed? I officially started my role as Assistant Priest here at St Andrew’s on November 29, 2006. I just came back that day from a holiday trip from the Philippines. Fr Frank and Ernie Demate picked me up at Tullamarine airport at 7 o’ clock in the morning. We soon arrived in Werribee 10 minutes before 9, just enough time for me put on my vestments to say morning Mass.

It was the beginning of my beautiful journey at St Andrews – indeed it was a wonderful OPPURTUNITY – to take and to hold.

Bird’s Nest

How can I describe St Andrew’s parish? What is your role to me in the last three years?

When you go to the parish office, you will see a bird nest (like a little tiny cup) on the top left corner near the entrance door. I first noticed it when I came back from my holiday last month. I fondly observed it each day, underneath the parent birds, you can see the unfeathered baby bird peeking her head out of the nest.

Each day and night the parent birds ensured that their baby in the nest is well guarded. When they’re not around I knew that mum and dad were somewhere out there looking for food. While the lucky little bird does nothing but wait for her food supply. The little nest is her world. It’s her home; her comfort zone. It’s a place where she is fed and nourished.

Four weeks have passed, the little bird is now fully feathered in fact it has started learning how to fly. While it takes time for a young bird to become good at flying – not too long from now she has to leave its nest.

Last night, while I’m writing this Farewell Speech, I went out to check the little family, they were sleeping. I took them a picture as souvenir. I hope they didn’t mind the flash of my camera.

While a picture of a bird nest is so simple, I would like to describe St. Andrew’s parish as my “little nest”, my home, my comfort zone. Because St. Andrews is the place where I was nourished and fed for the last three years both literally and figuratively. St Andrews parish, you, built the foundational years of my priesthood. Over the past three years I have grown in experience with your help and support.

I cannot thank Fr Frank enough for his guidance, for sharing his pastoral skills, for his patience and for his friendship. I already thanked our Parish Team and Admin Team last Friday on my Rite of Passage. I thank the Parish Core Group for their vital role in backing up us priests in so many ways.

I thank our school communities – all the staff and students – for the wonderful opportunity to celebrate sacraments and social activities with you.

I thank you all for the love and care and friendship you have shown to me.

Thank you for bringing Christ to me.

Thank you for looking after Christ’s young priest in me.

Thank you for listening to my homily, or at least pretending to be awake during homily. Thank you for opening the doors of homes and doors of your fridge for me.

I learned from the last three years that priesthood is a difficult life, but, as we hear from many priests themselves, it is an intensely rewarding life. I have walked with you at the darkest hours of losing a loved one. I have joined your moments of joy at weddings and celebration of your child’s baptism, confirmation and First Communion.

Priesthood is intensely rewarding because despite our human frailty the light of Christ shines more brightly.

Italian message

I would like to say a few words now in Italian:

GRAZIE PER LE BELLE MEMORIE, SOPPORTO, INCORAGGIAMENTO CHE MI AVETE DATO IN QUESTE POCHI ANNI. IL BUON CIBO, VINO, GRAPPA, E SOPRATUTTO PER LE VOSTRE PREGHIERE AMORE E AFFETTO.

VI CHIEDO DI CONTINUARE DI PREGARE PER ME, E, IL MIO MINISTRO SACERDOTALE IO PREGHERO PER VOI NELLA CELEBRAZIONE DELLA MESSA. GRAZIE!

(Translation: Thank you for the beautiful memories, support and encouragement through the years. I loved your food, wine and grappa. Please remember me in your prayers, as I will remember you all each time I celebrate Mass. Thank you!)

Conclusion

Interestingly the Gospel reading today is about the end of the world. Everything has a beginning and end. So many things come and go in our life, in our world. But the promise given in our Scriptures is that in the end, there will always be Christ.

Like the little bird my days are now numbered, it’s now time for me to take my flight to a place not so far from here. (Maybe the Archbishop thought my wings are not yet that strong).

The wonderful OPPORTUNITY of spending my time St Andrew’s, Werribee is nearly over but wherever I may be it will always remind me of how God blessed me.

In behalf of my parents in the Philippines and myself thank you and I wish for each of you the blessing of Christ’s joy and love.

Quality vs Quantity

2009-11-10T12:48:00.007+11:00

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 8, 2009
(1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44)

Trust in God results Generosity

Widow
In biblical times widows were among the poorest of the poor. A woman without a husband, in the ancient world was one who had lost everything - no source of livelihood; no money; no security; no social status; no future.

In the bible a widow stood as an example of powerlessness.

Today we heard from the First Reading and the Gospel Reading two powerless women. They were both in poor situation, yet they were both so generous because they entrusted everything to God.

The widow in the First Reading from the Book of Kings had a son who was totally dependent on her. She was down to her last handful of meal: a flour and little drop of oil. After that she and her child will starve.

Yet, she generously shared their last remaining food to Prophet Elijah, in return to her goodness God blessed her with a never-ending supply of food more than what she and son needed. Amazingly, it was in giving that she gained so much.

A widow's trusting & generous heart
In the Gospel, Jesus praises the widow’s dependence on God for giving all she had. Jesus is so thrilled that he calls his disciples onto the stage and teaches them the immensely important truth: ...this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury. She contributed more than the others, because while they gave from their surplus of wealth, she contributed all she had.

The few coins she placed in the treasury box - represent her very self, an expression of high level of sacrifice and generosity which some wealthy people were unprepared to give. She lets go of every shred of security, and committed herself wholly to God. Hence, the story is as much about trust in God as about generosity.

Message
We shall see in the bible widows also represent those poor people who despite their poverty, helplessness and oppression, place all their trust in God.

We wonder what is the source of their generosity? The answer is their generosity results from their total trust in God. Their generosity results from a deep trust that God will provide. They gave cheerfully without complaining. They gave cheerfully without sight and saying; Now I am left with nothing. They gave quietly and cheerfully.

People can be very generous to the Church. Some give money, a great deal of money. Others give their hands, their strength, their time, their energy and their loyalty. The Lord’s emphasis is not on quantity but quality. Jesus looks not on the amount of what we give but on the depth, honesty and sincerity of our hearts when we are giving.

Story of Chicken and Pig
I remember one of Aesop's fable's abut the story of chicken and a pig.

One day the chicken said to the pig, 'Hey, I've got a brilliant idea. The two of us should go into a business partnership.' 'Great,' said the pig, 'but what sort of business?' 'Oh, I don't know ... how about maybe we could try the bacon and egg business?' 'Well, that seems like a good idea, let me think about that,' said the pig. After a few moments the pig said, 'Wait a minute, though - it's okay for you to produce eggs, but for me to produce bacon I'd have to give up my life.'

There is big difference between involvement and commitment. The chicken might be involved in the partnership by laying eggs, but the pig would be somewhat has to commit his life to produce a bacon, he has to give his all. Commitment is giving your all, and it can be painfully demanding, but the reward is overwhelming!

Self-Giving
Giving is at the heart of our Christian religion. The Gospel of John says, For God so love the world that He gave us His only Son (Jn 3:16). The Second Reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus gave to the Father everything He was; He offered his life the sake of others. In the Eucharist our Lord gives us His all, his divinity and his humanity, not He gives us His Body and Blood for our spiritual and physical nourishment; Jesus also gives us as well his generous mercy, love and forgiveness.

We are called to do the same. To follow Jesus is to learn how to give generously. Let us pray that we may generous in giving with utmost sincerity and honestly.

Let us remember it’s not the quantity but the quality that counts.
The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the cost to the giver. Of course, we are not only talking about material things. Giving is not only about the money we put in the plate. We can live up generosity more than in material things. Such things are when we share our knowledge, our time, talents, love, attention, understanding and forgiveness to others.

Let us give without counting the cost. Because it is possible to give without losing. In fact, the only way of gaining is by giving.

"Lord Jesus, all that I have is yours. Take my life, my possessions, my talents, my time and all that I have. Grant me the grace I need so that I can share them with others for the greater glory of your name. Amen."

New Life Out There!

2009-04-12T20:00:00.000+10:00

Easter 2009
April 10, 2009

New Life Out There!

Today we celebrate Easter with great solemnity because we celebrate the bodily resurrection of our Lord from the dead. Today we share the joy of our new brothers and who have been washed (body and soul) in the waters of baptism, and our brothers and sisters who are welcomed today in the Catholic Faith.

With the Psalm reading today, we proclaim with great joy, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.”

What a great moment face Easter dawn/morning, too early for most of us. We all got up early today like Mary Magdala who came to the tomb of Jesus while it was still dark.

Easter fills churches this weekend not just because it’s a happy ending to Jesus’ crucifixion and death but because it also means a new beginning of life for us. Jesus’ Resurrection is not only about Jesus but also about us, it’s about our new life in Christ.

The Resurrection of Jesus is rising to life beyond death and beyond time and space. It transcends our present earthly life – a life of eating, drinking, merry-making, power-tripping, marrying, procreating, etc. The Risen Life is the life which we are being invited to share according to God’s great promise as St Paul says, Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it dawned on the what God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Cor 2:9)

Story of the Unborn Twins
There is a story about unborn Twins in the womb who are having a brother-sister conversation. Let us listen to them.

Sister: Do you think there is life after this?
Brother: No, no. You are imagining things again. This is all there is and this is all we need – this dark and cozy space. We only have to cling to the cord that feeds us, and we’ll be okay.

Sister: But there must be something more than this place. There has to be something else – a place with light where there is freedom to move.

(Brother is not convinced. A moment of silence)

Sister: Hey, I have something more to tell you. I believe you won’t believe that, too, but I think there is a mother.

Brother (furious): A mother? What are you talking about? I haven’t seen a mother. Have you? Who put that silly idea in your head? I told you, this place is all we have. Why do you always want more? This is not a bad place after all. So, let’s be content.

(Sister is quite upset by her brother’s attitude. Silence. Meanwhile, she starts to feel strange spasms and squeezes all over the body.)

Sister: Do you feel what I feel? These squeezes on my body are becoming more frequent and painful.

Brother: Yes, I do. What’s special about that?

Sister: Well I think these spasms are preparing us for another place more beautiful and comfortable than this where we’ll see our mother face to face. Don’t you think that’s exciting?

(Brother is silent. He is fed up with guesses and fantasies of his sister. The best thing for him to do, he says to himself, is to ignore her)

We can imagine at the end of the story the twin Sister was right. There is life outside the womb. There is light outside and there is a place where they can enjoy freedom. And yes, there is a mother. But I guess we cannot blame her twin Brother for his unbelief, after all, no fetus ever moved out of a womb, and returned to tell about the magic of sunset, beauty of creation and a mother’s kiss – outside the womb. He has no idea about life and anything outside the womb.

Struggle for Faith is Conquered by Love
Likewise, on that Easter morning, Mary Magdala and Simon Peter, both had no idea about life after death. They had no idea about Resurrection. As the Gospel says, “For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”

When Mary discovered that the stone covering the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away, she feared that the body had been stolen and taken away. Mary ran to tell Peter and John (the "disciple whom Jesus loved," v 2), and the two disciples raced to the tomb to see for themselves.

Mary and Peter have both surrendered readily that when Jesus suffered, died and was buried, that was the end of him. In their grief, they need to find out where the body of their Lord was.

Only the “disciple whom Jesus loved” believed that Jesus is not dead, not because he saw and touched Jesus but because he loved. John, was the first one to believe that Jesus has Risen because his love to Jesus perhaps is stronger than the others.

Philosopher Gabriel Marcel once said, to say someone “I love you” is to say “You will not die”. To say “I love you” with authentic love, not spoken lightly, but spoken from the depths of one’s being is to write within oneself, “You will not die.” True love mysteriously resists despair at the loss of the love one, face to face with the evidence of death. Love, authentic love, is itself a desire for immortality; it’s a claim for eternity.

On Easter: Jesus Shows Us Newness of Life
Easter Sunday is a celebration of the newness of life, that is eternal life, we received from God, through our Lord’s Resurrection.

Easter Sunday renews our understanding of life in a world that knows so much death, physical death, spiritual and moral death. Jesus has risen from the dead to show us that human life is transformed. Jesus has risen from the dead to prove to us there is loving God, like a mother or father who cares for his or her child. Jesus has risen for the dead to tell us that life has so much to offer, if we believe in His Resurrection.

Today let us make Easter celebration not just a spiritual day trip, but let us make it a renewal of our journey with Christ in His Church, knowing that we are loved, because God loves us that He gifted us with life, and not simply life, but life eternal - not after our death, not tomorrow, but today, here and now.

May the blessing of Easter remain with us and loved ones forever and ever. Amen.

Readings: And They Shall Name Him Emmanuel by Fr C.G. Arevalo SJ; Hello Jubilee by Fr Ruben J. Villote

The Passion of God

2009-04-09T09:16:00.000+10:00

Good Friday
April 9, 2009
The Passion of God

Good Friday is a celebration that has two fundamental truths: First of all Jesus really died. God cannot die, but Jesus was also true man and shared the fate of us all. It’s a fact that He entered human history and he died on the cross in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago.

What is the second basic truth of Good Friday? Not only did Jesus die young but He was murdered. Jesus was a good young man in his early thirties (just two years older than me), doing great work, teaching, healing, and forming communities. Jesus was innocently murdered on the Cross during the prime of His life!

We ask why the anniversary of such a sad and terrible event is called “good?” What “good” is there when such an innocent man killed in cold blood? It is as if we are delighted by the death of Jesus to call this day “Good Friday.” Is there really something good we have to celebrate for this grim fate of Jesus?

Pope Benedict said in his Holy Week reflection, “Christ's death recalls the mass of pain and evil weighing upon humanity in every epoch: the crushing weight of our own mortality, the hatred and violence which still bloody the earth today. The Lord's passion continues in the suffering of mankind,"

If there is anything “good” at the brutal death of Jesus, that is He did not die in vain. His death is life-giving. The first reading from the book of Isaiah tells us why of all Fridays today is called “Good Friday:” On him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed.

Pope Benedict continued in his reflection, "If Good Friday is a day full of sadness, it is at the same time the best day on which to reawaken our faith, to strengthen our hope and the courage to carry our cross with humility and trust, abandoning ourselves to God in the certainty of His support and His victory."

Good Friday is Sacred
Today the Churches are stripped and there are no other liturgical celebrations provided until Easter vigil. The Church watches in prayer sharing the feelings of sorrowful Mary at the foot of the cross of her beloved Son.

While some people are grudging for being unable to shop, gamble or play sports today, we see Good Friday as central to our Christian faith. Today we venerate saving Cross of Jesus. We give honor to the Cross of Jesus because it gives people hope in despair, and it gives meaning to our suffering. Let us not allow consumerism to highjack Good Friday as one of the few sacred and reflective days we have remaining on our yearly calendar.

Good Friday is sacred. Today is the opportune time to recall the Passion of Christ. When we speak of the passion of Christ, what immediately come to our mind are the pains He endured, the sufferings He bore and the death that He courageously faced. As far as many of us are concerned, our immediate thought about the passion of Jesus is what was done to Him physically and emotionally – by his closed friends, by the soldiers, by the people in authority, in religion and government.

Jesus’ Passion
Yet, there is another passion we must think of today, it’s the strong “passion” of Jesus to obey the will of the Father. Jesus had a strong passion to give His life for us; He had a strong passion to show the human face of God to us.

The Pope explained in his Holy Week reflection how Jesus did not wish to use the fact of His being God, His glorious dignity and His power, as an instrument of triumph and a sign of distance. Out of love for us, "He wished to 'empty Himself' and become our brother. For love, He shared our condition, the condition of all men and women. On the contrary, 'he emptied himself' assuming our miserable and weak human condition."

Whenever we are tempted to doubt, or when we feel weighed down, or worried that God will be too strict, or wonder whether God will ever forgive us, the image of Jesus on the Cross should remind us God’s passionate love for us.

Questions
As we reflect on Jesus’ passion today, let us ask ourselves these questions: First, do we still have our passion for God? Do we still have our passion for the good, for the holy and for morality? Are we now turning cold? Are we still on fire with love to serve and to live according to the teachings of the Church? Do we still have that passion in our life? If we say yes, do we have enough proof to show this in our parish community?

If today we realise that what cold fools we have become, it is not time to retreat and feel rejected. It is definitely not the time to walk away ashamed of our lukewarm hearts and hard consciences. But Good Friday is the time we humbly bring our nothingness to Jesus. That is why Jesus came. That is why He suffered and died. That is the reason for the Passion.

He is at the Cross with arms outstretched waiting for any of us whose hearts have turned cold, numb, hesitant or afraid to come back. All we need to do is to come back to Him with all our hearts, with no fear of rebuke. Remember, he has a passion for the wounded, he has a passion for the sick in mind and body and yes, the lukewarm.

Let us use this opportunity this Good Friday to rekindle in our hearts our passion of love for the Lord. As we come to venerate the Cross, we will offer to our Lord our secret sufferings, and let us imagine how much we are loved by God, how much God wants to give Himself to us in love.

And finally, if you want to follow Jesus and be like him, and like the Father before him, you too, must have this passion to give yourself away. Remembering his own words, "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Reading: Jesus Our Light by Bishop Socrates Villegas pp 124-126

Remembering the Last Supper

2009-04-09T00:07:00.000+10:00

The Lord’s Supper 2008
St. Andrew’s Parish
April 9, 2007, 7:30pm

Welcome to the beginning of the Easter Triduum. On this evening of Holy Thursday we enter into a somber and dramatic atmosphere of the final days of our Lord, filled with the remembrance of his passion, death and his glorious resurrection on Easter Day.

There are three principal mysteries we solemnly commemorate on this evening Mass of Holy Thursday: First is the institution of the Holy Eucharist; Secondly, the institution of the ministerial priesthood; and lastly, the New commandment of Christ to love one another.

The Eucharist
The first reading from the book of Exodus and the second reading from the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians are linked together to illustrate for us how our Lord transformed the Jewish Passover Meal into his own Paschal Sacrifice, (and the Eucharistic celebration as we have today).

The first reading narrates that the blood of the animal marked outside the door post of the houses of the Chosen People saved their first born sons from the plague of death. In the second reading, St Paul shows us that through the coming of Jesus, we were also saved from the plague of death, not through the blood of an animal but through His very own flesh and blood.

Until the Lord comes, St Paul says, therefore, every time you eat this bread of Life and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.

The Eucharist therefore gives us assurance that our Lord will never abandon us. The celebration of the Mass is a celebration of His loving presence and divine security.

Our Lord’s body and blood is our food for the soul, so that as long as we live, his body and blood is the source of our comfort and strength.

So tonight let us deepen our love and devotion to the Eucharist. Let us not take the celebration of the Mass for granted.

The Priesthood
After our Lord instituted the Eucharist, he then followed by the institution of the priesthood with his command, Do this in memory of me.

The priests as ministers of the Sacraments and the Eucharist, are called to represent Christ in the community. They act in persona Christi to keep the command of Jesus fulfilled for you, the people of God, so that the presence of Christ’s paschal mystery pervades in your daily lives today and until the end of time.

Priests are ordinary people, human and weak, chosen to perform extra-ordinary works.

The priesthood is a difficult life. It is no joke to live a good priesthood… Sometimes priests have to hide from people their tears under a whitened made-up face because they do not wish to add to their flock’s burden. They have to dance and jump at their beck and call, even if their legs feel broken and bruised.

After each busy day in the church, the priest goes to his room alone, fondly remembering the children who can’t be his own. He returns to his room, alone, with no one to listen to his happy story, with no one to whom to bare his aching soul.

The priest’s life is way of the cross. It is the duty of the priests to pray for the people and to sacrifice for them. Priests are called to imitate Jesus, to love Jesus and to share Jesus.

So this evening please pray for us priests that we may always be faithful to Jesus, that we may always be faithful messengers of his love, courageous enough to carry our crosses, and joyful enough to bring God’s hope.

Commandment of Love
Lastly this evening we call to mind the new commandment of Christ, to love one another as He loves us. This love is much deeper than feeling or emotion, but it’s a kind of love that can bear trials, endure sacrifices, and face the horror of death.

In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrated a unique picture of love and humility — he stoops down to wash his disciples' feet. His purpose wasn't to clean up their feet; but his purpose was to give us a genuine example what our relationships should be as brothers and sisters.

He washed his disciples’ feet to remind us of his undying affection and a silent plea for us to do the same for each other. We are called to love and take care of one another, as he loves and takes care of us.

If God so humbled himself, how much more us? If really want to welcome Jesus in our life, we are required to imitate him, we must wash one another’s feet, serve one another, and revere His divine presence in every person.

Conclusion
Let us pray tonight as we celebrate the Last Supper, we may not only relive the memory of our Lord’s paschal mystery but sincerely bring its true message in our actions.

We thank the Lord for the Eucharist that sustains us.

We thank the Lord for the priesthood.

We thank the Lord showing us how to love genuinely.

Amen.

Readings: Jesus Our Light by Bishop Socrates Villegas pp 73-74

Forgiveness of God

2009-04-07T20:02:00.000+10:00

St Andrew’s Parish Werribee
Penitential Service
April 7, 2009

Forgiveness of God

A missionary priest on one of the Pacific Islands was surprised one day to see a woman enter his hut carrying a handful of sand, which was still dripping water.
“Do you know what this is Father?” she asked.
“It looks like sand,” replied the priest.
“Do you know why I brought it here?” she asked.
“No, I can’t imagine why?” the priest answered.
“Well, Father, these are my sins,” the woman explained, “my sins which are as countless as the sands of the sea. How can I ever obtain forgiveness for all of them?”
“You got that sand down by the shore, did you not?” said the missionary. “Well, take it back there and pile up a heaping mound of sand. Then sit back and watch the waves come in and wash the pile slowly but surely and completely away. That is how God’s forgiveness works. His mercy is as big as the ocean. Be truly sorry and the Lord will forgive.”

Dear brothers and sisters, we are gathered here this evening for two reasons, first we remember our sins. Our sins may be as countless as the sands of the sea, we remember them all; we feel sorry for them all.

{In remembering our sins, we take time to ask ourselves: What have I done for God in my life? And what am I doing the rest of my life? Am I living a life pleasing to God? Am I making a difference?}

Secondly, and most importantly, we are gathered here this evening because we remember that we have a God, who is forgiving and merciful. We remember that the measure of his forgiveness is beyond measure, his forgiveness is far beyond our imagination, greater than the ocean.

And as we remember God’s forgiveness, we desire for it, we must long for it.

The Psalm reading invites us to want God’s forgiveness, to desire for his mercy more than we desire for gold.

Let us now gently lay down our sins and all our guilt feelings, let us allow our Good Lord to completely wash them away, to purify us, and make us a new and holy people.

Take Control of Our Life Lord

2009-04-05T08:23:00.000+10:00

Palm Sunday 2009
April 5, 2009
Mass Homily

Today, Palm Sunday, we come together to begin a solemn celebration of Holy Week in union with millions of Christians throughout the world as we commemorate the Entrance of our Lord into his own city, Jerusalem, to finally complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again.

We remember the adoring crowds raising palms and shouting “Hossana” as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem.

We remember before the week is out, the stirring welcome wears off; cheers turn to jeers; the sheltering palms into scourging at the pillar and the hosannas into a heart-piercing “Crucify him!”

A Close encounter
The Mass today is unique compared to all Masses, we have a long narration of the Passion Narrative from St. Mark Gospel.

The Gospel reading is intended not merely to narrate what happened 2,000 years ago but it is being proclaimed in Churches all over the world today for us to remember the good news of salvation in our own present time and the good of salvation in our present situation.

What is the good news of our salvation? It’s no other than God loves us! God loves us more than our imagination.

The Holy week which we begin today is the great time for remembering. We remember how much He loved us. We remember especially on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday that we were saved with much pain, and at a great price.

Yes, more than anything else, we remember we are loved so much.

St. Paul
In the Second Reading, St Paul spells it out very clearly our Lord’s utmost love for us:

….though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave…he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

St Paul is also invites us to bend our knee before Him…to glorify the name of Jesus…to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord… What does he mean? Perhaps it’s another way of telling us to always remember, never forget, how Jesus he loves us so much…

An Altar Server asked me this morning, “Father, why the statues were all covered today?” I said to her, “It’s because Holy Week is a time when we focus to Jesus alone!” To make sure I said the right answer I asked Fr Frank, for the first time I was right! :)

Like fasting we try to discipline our mind and hearts for Jesus alone. Without Jesus everything will be out of control.

There will times in our life when we seem to be out of control!

Philippines
• My mother’s 60th birthday – many invited guests didn't send RSVPs. Those who were invited and attended the party carried along with them some friends who were not invited!
• We went to an Boracay island – 4 kilometers of white sand beach and crystal clear waters. Our joys were out of control! It was great experience!
• My timetable in the Philippines was out of my control, I was invited to give speeches and hand in awards at graduation ceremonies, bless houses...
• Visited the mother of my closest friend who is suffering leukemia.
• Anointed some people who were seriously sick without medication because of poverty...
• Highschool reunion – we started at 6pm we finished at past midnite. We shared our personal stories sad and joysful.. For some broken marriages and relationship were beyond their control.

When it seems what’s happening around us to be out of control, maybe it’s time to give Jesus a chance to control us!

Conclusion
This Holy Week we let Jesus control of us -- our mind, our hearts, our whole being. We remember that whether we are healthy, rich, happy or not, whether we ended up in broken relationships He left us a mission to accomplish.

Our mission is to remind everyone that there is a God, a God who loves us, and that there is hope.

Let us always remember that Jesus knows our own suffering, the burdens we bear, our depression, conflict in our family, health problem and all other conflict we carry within us.

Finally, during this Holy Week we remember that it is not enough to remember.

Our remembering should lead us to transformation, our remembering should lead us to become better persons, to be good Catholics, holy members of the body of Christ.

In other words, we remember and renew our love for God and for us His people.

Remembering is going back from past in order that we can go forward once more, with great love and devotion!

With all this in mind and heart we are ready for Holy Week.

Wedding in Tasmania

2009-01-09T11:27:00.002+11:00

Michelle and Toby Wedding Homily

St Canice Church, Sandy Bay, Tasmania
January 3, 2009

Personal delight
Performing this wedding ceremony for Michelle and Toby is not a pastoral duty for me as a priest but a personal delight. It’s my great honour to be invited here to witness the fulfillment of Michelle and Toby’s dreams to become one in marriage before the altar of God and before their loved ones.

Of course, it’s always a delight for me to travel for free! Thanks for paying my airfare!

Thank you for bringing us all here on this beautiful island of Tasmania. This is my second time here in Tassie and until now I’m still hoping to see a Tasmanian Devil whirling around and devouring everything like in cartoons.

Thank you for providing me a nice accommodation through the hospitality of Fr Michael Tate, your parish priest. On my first night at the presbytery I saw the glimpse of heaven because when I looked outside the window I saw McDonald’s just across the road!

Thank you for your warm welcome and friendship when I visited you in two occasions in Sydney.

Could I also take this opportunity to thank you for flying to the Philippines to attend my thanksgiving Mass just after I was ordained priest in 2006.

Design for eternity
So today, dear friends, 3rd day of year 2009, in this beautiful church of St. Canice, today will be marked as the most remembered day in the lives of Michelle and Toby as they enter to a permanent, exclusive and sacred union through the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Today is not only my first wedding for year 2009 but it’s also my first time to celebrate a wedding of two actors. And I already feel like a Hollywood celebrity here!

Michelle and Toby, you are dressed beautifully today, just like those fairytales we learned in school where the next line after the wedding was always, ‘and they lived happily ever after.’ And we hope today you will be just as happy tomorrow as today.

You are dressed so beautifully today for this sacred union and next day like all of us, you will dress more casually, but the wedding vows you are proclaiming publicly in a few moments, will become part of you for the rest of your lives.

Your wedding ceremony lasts only for an hour, but its effect, its sacramental grace is designed by God for you until your last breath.

First Meeting
It was in 2003 when Michelle and Toby first met at “drama school” at NIDA in Sydney. It was in a class where their friendship started which later on flourished into a loving relationship, and this brought us here today.
In Toby’s own words he said, “We spent a lot of time together in class, and I will always remember those moments in Voice where we would all stand in a circle doing vocal exercises and she would catch me looking at her and we would share a smile. By mid way through first year, the situation had become unbearable. I had to tell her how I felt about her or I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

Here’s what Michelle said in my exclusive interview, “At first we were just colleagues and friends, but then we discovered that we shared many interests, had the same sense of humour and I discovered that he was a loving, kind, giving and intelligent person…Toby is my college sweetheart”

The School of Marriage
Michelle and Toby, you first met each other at “drama school” where you learned together the art of acting and singing. Starting today whether you like it or not you are going back to school again together, not at “drama school,” this time to the “school of Marriage.”

At drama school you became familiar to the important role of a Stage Director. Stage Director ensures the quality and completeness of theatre production and to lead the whole team to achieve their artistic vision for it. Stage Director occupies different places of authority and responsibility, but his or her main job as Director is of course to give direction.

Michelle and Toby at the “school of Marriage” you need a Good Director. There will be moments in your lives as husband and wife when you need to seek guidance and advice. The script lines your Good Director asks you to memorize and live out starting today is all about love, unconditional love. The Good Lord, your Good Director, showed His sacrificial love until the last drop of his blood on the Cross. He said to his followers and now to you, “love as I have loved you.” Let His Love, let His Holy Scripture be your constant light and inspiration.

GPS
Michelle and Toby you will begin your journey today as married couple. Every life’s journey has its ups and downs, you will pass winding roads and you will climb high slopes and deep valleys. So you will need to carry with you a GPS. But this GPS doesn’t stand for Global Positioning System, rather this GPS stands for us Christians as God Providing Security.

Allow Jesus to guide you and direct you. Jesus will be your GPS – God Providing Security personified, anytime and anywhere, with Him you will never get lost.

I am sure you are both excited to work hard for the welfare of your marriage and for your future children. But always remember the best security that you can provide to each other is God. Only God and not material things, who can provide you love, joy and peace. Only God and not popularity, who can bring you unity, faithfulness, understanding and all the good things you dream about for each other. Take advantage of the tools the Church gives us: namely the sacraments. Like your own parents, live a good sacramental life, go to Mass every Sunday and set the example for your future children.

Michelle and Toby it is our deepest prayer for you today that through the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, you will fulfill God’s divine plan for every husband and wife according to the beautiful of words of Jesus today: “So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must divide.”

in search for justice

2009-01-07T23:06:00.004+11:00

I read this story only today, apparently it has been spreading in the blogsphere since after Christmas last year.

"So, I just had the worst day of my life.

At around 1:30 PM today, at Valley Golf and Country Club, Antipolo City, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr., Mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur, his father, Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and company, beat my defenseless 56-year-old dad and my 14-year-old brother to a pulp because of some stupid misunderstanding on the golf course.

read the whole story

Happy New Year!

2009-01-06T18:39:00.001+11:00

Yehey! Maligo tayo sa Bagong Taon! :)

GPS

2008-12-28T10:53:00.009+11:00

Feast of the Holy Family
Luke 2:22-35
December 28, 2009

Melway 2009 Edition
I hope we are all happy with the Christmas gifts we received from our loved ones.

On Boxing Day I went to Big W to buy myself a Christmas gift I really wanted. I bought myself the latest edition of Melway (map). On the second page of the book there was an insert advertising Navway. It's an electronic device known as navigator which is far better than the Melway I just bought for 32 bucks!

GPS
Like all other types of navigator Navway is using GPS which stands for Global Positioning System. Using GPS you can travel anywhere in the city or far countryside, with it you will never get lost. Let’s say I would like to go to my uncle’s house in Scoresby, I will just type the place of my location (Werribee) and then to my uncle’s address in Scoresby. After few seconds you will receive instructions: go straight, turn right, turn left…somebody will guide you. It will also tell the distance of your travel and will calculate your driving time! Supposing you get confused and you didn’t follow the instruction you turn left rather than right. Don’t panic. There is what you call recalculation. GPS will give new instructions. Just follow me and you will reach your destination. That’s Global Position System. You will never get lost.

GPS - God Provides Security
In our life as Christians we also have GPS, who will call God – God Provides Security.

All of us have a special place in God’s heart. When you get lost or stray God will find you like a Good Shepherd to his flock. When you lost meaning in life, He will fill you. When you sinned, He will forgive you. So with God, with Jesus Christ, becoming man, we have GPS – God Providing Security.

In the midst of our insecurity because of the problems around the world and our society we find our security in God. We have an amazing God, a God who loves us not because we are good but because he just wants to share His life with us.

In sharing His life with us He humbled himself and entered our human family. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI’s in his Christmas eve homily he said, God dwells on high, yet he stoops down to us!... God's stooping down became real in a way previously inconceivable. He stoops down: he himself comes down as a child to the lowly stable, the symbol of all humanity's neediness and forsakenness. God truly comes down. He becomes a child and puts himself in the state of complete dependence typical of a newborn child. The Creator who holds all things in his hands, on whom we all depend, makes himself small and in need of human love.

Today’s feast of the Holy Family Sunday is an opportunity for us to reflect first all on God’s greatest act of love in becoming human and becoming part of our human family, to give us security. Jesus is God Providing Security personified.

Secondly, today’s feast makes us look to the Holy Family – of Joseph, Mary and Jesus – as the model of every human family.

It is more important than ever that we look toward the Holy Family as a true model of family life to be imitated.

In our current society the institution of the family is under attack. There are forces in the world constantly at work to destroy the traditional and biblical understanding of what it means to be family. These people would like to remake the family according to their image rather than Gods.

We see it constantly in the attacks to redefine marriage as being something other than between a man and a woman and God. Marriage as an institution belongs to God and is only between a man and a woman and God. It is a sacred relationship that no one or even the state has a right to redefine for the sake of personal gratification. Every child being born has the right to live in family rooted in natural law, cared by mum and dad.

If our image of the family is distorted then our image of God will be distorted. If our image of family relationships is distorted then our understanding of our relationship with God will be as well. This is one reason God gives us a model to look to in the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Importance of Family
The family is the basic building block of society. Our family performed a vital role in what we are now today. It is where we first experience relationship. It is where we learned values, good manners and even our basic hygiene.

Most of all, it is in the family where we were first taught about God. It is here in the family where we first saw the image of God. Our family is our first church, where we learn the virtues we heard in our second reading: compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.

The family, is the first Christian community to which we belong, is really the testing-ground for how deep our relationship really is.

Today, we lift all our families to the Lord in prayer to ask for healing, grace and strength because family life is not easy today.

As we come to the end of the calendar year and make plans for next year, let us take priority our family’s spiritual well-being.

Every family must take advantage of the tools the Church gives us: namely the sacraments.

Parents must live a good sacramental life and set the example for their children. Parents must take their family to Mass together as a family every Sunday even when during on vacation. Parents must take their children to confession together as a family.

Conclusion
Every parent will do their best to provide security to their children. Mum and Dad work hard for their children future. But the best security that anyone can provide to his or her loved ones is God.

Only God can provide us love, joy, peace, unity and blessings all the good things we dream about for our family. God will give us these if we but trust Him, if we walk with Him, if welcome Him in our family. Only God can provide security to our families.

Let us be thankful that amidst the chaos around us we have our GPS – God Providing Security.

GPS heard from Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, bishop of Cubao; readings Captured Fire by Joseph Krempa

Quits lang

2008-12-28T01:49:00.003+11:00

Ako: Hello Ina, Merry Christmas!
Ina: Malungkot Pasko... Kaming dalawa lang ng Ama mo dito sa bahay.
Ako: Ganun ba?
Ina: Wala man lang kaming anak dito (hikbi).
Ako: Pareho lang tayo, ako nga nag-iisa dito ngayon e, at wala din anak!
Ina: hehe.

Good News

2008-12-25T15:30:00.004+11:00

Christmas Midnight Mass 2008 Homily
Is 9:1-7; Ps 96:1-9-3, 11-13; Tit 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14
December 24, 2008

Good News

One evening a father came home from a tough day at work. His wife opened the door with a big smile and kissed him, “You looked so tired?” Husband said, “You’re right I am very tired and I’ve had a really bad day. So, please, if you have a bad news tonight keep it to yourself.”

To which she replied, “Okay, I promise no bad news hon; only good news.”

So, what’s the good news then dear?

“Remember we have four children?” she said.

“What’s the good news about our four children? he said.

“Well, the good news is three of them didn’t break an arm today.

Good news
Good news. We all want to hear good news. We are all sick of bad news we hear and read everyday. We are all sick hearing the same old news about violence, terrorist attacks, murder, rape, and so on. We are all upset and terrified hearing sad news about the rising death toll in our country due to road accidents. Our hearts break every time we hear the news about people committing suicide, broken marriages, killings of unborn babies, etc.

We all feel betrayed hearing news about scandals committed by our government and community leaders, and sadly even our leaders in the church.

We are all scared about the worsening effect of global warming to our environment.

I think we have enough bad news. Nowadays, people are desperate to hear only good news.

We want real good news. Based from our own experience it’s always beautiful to hear only good news. Good news is always beautiful news.

Good News in human experience
For instance, what a comfort for a mother to hear the doctor saying her first born child is healthy. That’s good news.

What a relief for someone to hear that a friend survived a serious car accident. That’s good news.

What a great delight for the VCE students this year seeing their names amongst the top-passers list.

What a great news for a parishioner to hear she won the brand new car from our parish fair draw.

Remember the first time you received an award in primary school? It’s was good news not only to you but most of all to your proud mum and dad.

Remember when your boyfriend proposed to you after long years of waiting? That’s good news.

And what a great joy for a newly ordained priest, 2 years ago, that he would be assigned to a lovely parish of St Andrew’s, Werribee?

We always want to hear good news. For this reason we always celebrate after hearing a good news.

Mother of all Good News
Tonight we are gathered here in this church celebrating along with millions of our brothers and sisters in faith around the world the Good News, the Good News of all Good News, the Mother of all Good News, proclaimed by an Angel to humanity 2008 years ago.

“I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”

Today we celebrate the Good News of our salvation: the Birthday of Jesus!

The Good News that people from of old been waiting for long time has finally come: Jesus Christ the Lord is born.

What is greater news than hearing because of God’s great Love to each of us, through Jesus, He came down to our level, to reach us He embraced the fragility of human life?

What is greater news than to hear God, through Jesus, became all things like us except sin, to comfort our longing, to fill our emptiness, to give us direction and to bring us salvation?

So tonight is the most appropriate time to sing out loud, to announce glad tidings, along with the choir of angels, “A Savior has been born to us, Christ our Lord.”

Through Jesus, God is no longer far from us, He now belongs to all the nations and His bare arm is for all. God is now accessible to us, for God is with-us, here present lying peaceful in peace in a manger.

What a great news to hear that we are not alone. What a good News to hear God is with us.

This what makes Christmas, always a Good News.

Everyone is a Winner
In every Christmas celebration, everyone is a winner!

For Children: Christmas is always about making people happy specially our children. Today they will receive many gifts and toys. For sure they will remember your love to them.

For parents, grandparents, and for every family – Christmas is a family reunion

For the elderly, the lonely, and the orphans – Christmas is the time when people from different group or church denomination visit and entertain them. People go to nursing homes to sing Christmas carols.

For us Priests – Christmas is a always great time not only because we receive gifts from parishioners but also it’s a good consolation for us priests, (special for a parish priest), to see our church so filled with so many worshipers on Christmas eve and Christmas day. Suddenly our church attendance is tripled in number!

For Business people - Christmas is certainly good news for business people. I am sure the manufacturer of Dora the Explorer is celebrating today!

For non-Christians - Christmas is good even for non-Christians because it’s holiday. It’s good for shift-workers, they get paid doubled!

On Christmas day we all receive gifts. No one is left out. Everyone is a winner!

After Christmas?
What then happens after Christmas?

Because today/tonight we heard the Good News, that God became human like us, after Christmas we can be agents of God in this world. Because through Jesus, God revealed his dignity, the peace, and his the majesty in this world, after Christmas we can be His angels in disguise, we can be His messengers, His instruments in our world, to share what we’ve seen.

Because God-is-with-us, not above us, after Christmas we can share God’s life with others.

After Christmas, we can be Shepherds who lead other people to Jesus.
After Christmas, we can be Shining Stars to others who bring joy to the lonely.
After Christmas, we can be Mary and Joseph who value family life.
After Christmas, we can always Santa Claus, generous not only with materials gifts, but generous in understanding and forgiveness.

If only after Christmas, we still carry in our hearts the great joy of the Good News we hear today, then, everyday will be Christmas. Then, every day people will hear only good news. No bad news. What a great headline news it would be.

In this Mass and after this Mass let us celebrate and together with the choirs of angels, let us cried out with great joy the Good of News of salvation, as we say: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth.”

Pasko na.

2008-12-19T23:37:00.007+11:00

Eksena: Dumating si Santa Claus sa kalagitnaan ng kasayahan. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga bata sa party, sabay sabay na nagsigawan ng makita si Santa Claus (parang mga bata). Nakakatuwa halatang Pinoy si Santa Claus. Ang dami nyang inihagis na mga candies at chocolates mula sa kanyang pulang bag. Pagkatapos ay tinipon ni Santa Claus ang mga bata. Habang nakaupo at nakabilog sa harap ni Santa nagtiyaga ang mga bata na makatanggap ng regalo bukod sa napakaraming kending ipinarabol sa kanila. Pero dahil sa 'di inaasahang bilang nila nagkulang ang regalo ni Santa Claus. Umiyak tuloy ilang bata na di nakatanggap (parang mga bata). Ngunit ganun pa man masarap pa din maging bata tuwing Pasko

Christian Joy

2008-12-19T22:05:00.007+11:00

Gaudete Sunday

December 13-14, 2008

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Christian Joy

Gaudete Sunday goes back to the old time when Advent was a period of deep penance and fasting. The priest used to wear vestments with the penitential color of purple or violet. In order to remind the people that Advent is a preparation for the very joyful occasion of the birth of Jesus, the priest wore “rose” vestments on the third Sunday Advent.

We have a similar break during middle of the Lenten season – Laetare Sunday - when the priest also wears “rose” vestments.

Rose or pink is not just for girls, and it is not just a pretty color. Its lovely color also indicates deep joy. This is common theme running through today’s readings - deep joy and hope as we wait and prepare for the rebirth of Jesus in our hearts and lives.

The first reading tells us that we should rejoice because the promised messiah is coming as our savior and liberator, saving us by liberating us from our bondages.

The Psalm is taken from Mary's “Magnificat,” in which she exclaims: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit finds joy in God my savior.

St. Paul in the second reading advises us to “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances (be joyful) give thanks” for this is the will of God for all of us who love Jesus.

Today’s gospel tells us that John the Baptist came as a witness to testify to the Light. His purpose is to lead us to Jesus, the Light of the world. John the Baptist is pointing us that Jesus is the only source of our joy. Joy that lasts forever.

Advent Preparation
On this Gaudete Sunday, we are now halfway in our Advent journey toward Christmas, we need to stop and reflect. We need to ask ourselves today honestly, how do you feel this Sunday? Is the nearness of Christmas causes you some deep joy in your life? Are you too busy that you didn’t have the time to even think about it?

In our culture today, Advent is spent is sending Xmas cards, buying presents, attending year-end parties and then, the day after Christmas, its all over. The Christmas carols disappear and immediately we shift our attention to the coming New Year.

As we come closer to Christmas with the hard times and busyness we are experiencing now, let us remember that the first Christmas was poor and simple.

We need to rememeber that Advent season was traditionally a quiet, somber, deeply prayerful time of the Church. It was a time for a spiritual preparation for Christmas.

Our remaining days before Christmas must be a time of revival and renewal of our faith, thus a time of re-discovering our deep joy.

The Rose candle is that is now shining before us beautifully is not only a decoration. Its symbolism strongly challenges us to ask ourselves: What is the source of your joy? Is there joy in your life? Are you still searching for joy and peace?

Joy vs Happiness
Have you ever wonder the difference between joy and happiness?
At first glance, joy and happiness seem to be similar but, really, when we look them closely they are quite different.

Happiness, according to the Australian Oxford Paperback dictionary, is a feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. It is usually based on luck or good fortune. Joy on the other hand, is described as extreme gladness. The pleasure that joy brings is deeper than emotion.

Happiness depends on circumstance; joy, on our emotional well-being. We may be happy if we win the lottery, but we feel joy when there is peace within us or in our family and loved ones.

Happiness mostly depends on something that is temporary. For instance I am happy with my new beautiful shoes but after a while, when my shoes become torn and ugly, would I still be happy? I am happy with my new hairstyle, but after few weeks my hair will grow again and I am no longer 'happy'. I am happy with my new iphone, but then after a few months for sure a new model will come out to the market, an upgraded better iphone will beat it. We see as soon as object of what makes us happy is downgraded or perhaps taken away from us then our original quality of happiness lessens.

Happiness is most of the time is self-centered. I want this I want that. I deserved this toy and I deserved that. I deserve want to be happy. It is interesting that “I” is the center of the word happiness. It seems to suggest that our search for happiness makes us the center of the universe.

In contrast Joy as being a state of mind does not depend on material things such as on more money, bigger cars, or longer holidays. Joy is always a part of who we are and how we view the world.

A person don’t have to be supermodel… powerful, popular, beautiful, or healthy...to be joyous.

Joy is something we discover. Joy is always within our nature as human. Joy is something innate to us. Joy is always simple. We find joy simply when we appreciate life. We find joy simply when enjoy our freedom. We find joy simply we appreciate the presence of people us. We discover joy simply when we admit to ourselves that we are not alone, there is God that is larger than ourselves.

Understanding the difference between joy and happiness is not about seeing one as better than the other, but rather about recognizing and celebrating the differences.

It’s up to us how to balance our priority: Would search for happiness or for joy? Would you invest your time and money search for joy or happiness.

What would you like to give your children this Christmas - happiness or joy?

JOY: Jesus Others You
There is only one person that can give lasting joy and peace.

John the Baptist says in the Gospel that he is the Messiah is one among us who is not recognised. It can be a real tragedy, with all the lights us, to miss the true Light, the source of joy, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word JOY itself give us the key to find joy in our life. To love Jesus first, to Love others second, to love Yourself last.

"Lord Jesus, help us not only to find joy in life but also help us to be a faithful witness of the joy of the gospel. This Christmas help us to point others to you as the source of our joy. Help us to immitate John the Baptist who in his witnessing found joy in you. Amen.

readings: www.alive.com; captured fire by joseph krempa

Crowd Breaker

2008-12-06T19:08:00.007+11:00

2nd Sunday of Advent B

December 6-7, 2008

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14;
2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

Crowded Christmas & Crowd Breaker

19 more sleeps before Christmas!

In other parts of the world particularly in northern hemisphere white Christmas is not far away. You'll see people skating and sledging, and children making snowballs and snowmen.

For us here in the southern hemisphere, although Melbourne weather is unpredictable as always, we are now getting the warm summery feeling.

Whether we are in cold or hot country Christmas is just around the corner.

Christmas season no doubt is really is a crowd builder. Parking lots are with cars; stores are filled with shoppers; shopping inserts in the newspapers are multiplying; it seems a lot of buying is going on.

When we look back at the scene of the first Christmas, we find that it was also crowded. The manger or nativity was surrounded with all familiar Christmas characters: Mary and Joseph, of course, there are the shepherds (the wisemen), cattle, sheep, and some other animals.

Whether we like or not, our popular culture has added more Christmas characters in the crowd: Santa and his elves, Rudolph and other reindeer, the little drummer boy; Frosty the snowman, Tiny Tim and all other funny characters.

We see modern Christmas and first Christmas has both crowded scene. Christmas is definitely not for people suffering demophobia or the fear of crowd!

With all this Christmas crowding, sometimes it’s really hard to see the Lord Jesus, who is the main character of this festive season.

John the Baptist – Crowd Breaker!
Luckily, we have today, John the Baptist, the cousin of our Lord, who is acting like a crowd breaker today with his loud sounding voice: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

We don’t receive Christmas cards with John the Baptist and there aren’t many Christmas jingles about John the Baptist. But the Church places John the Baptist on the center stage of the Second Sunday of Advent.

The Gospel describes John the Baptist who appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John's message calls us to confront and confess our sins; to turn away from them in sincere repentance; to receive God's forgiveness; and most importantly, to look to Jesus.

John the Baptist is our Advent prophet. His prophetic voice echoes the same message of the first reading from the book of Isaiah, prepare the way of Lord. His voice also echoes the letter of St Peter in the Second Reading wishing all Christians to come to repentance, so the when the Lord comes we are to be found without spot or blemish of sins.

Minds & hearts are also crowded
During this time of the year, its not only shopping malls that are crowded, its not only parking lots that are crowded, its not only tv commercials and magazines that are crowded with X-mas advertisements, but our minds and our hearts are also crowded.

Our human hearts and minds can be so crowded with so many confusions, resentment, brokenness, fear, sinfulness and all other negative feelings.

Preparation for Christmas is not only joining the crowded shopping mall. A much deeper preparation for Christmas is the clearing of our crowded minds and hearts. John the Baptist speaks about preparing the way for the Lord, in terms of getting rid of the bumps and holes in our life to make straight path for the Lord.

John the Baptist reminds us today that Advent Season is a time removing all blockages and obstacles which prevent our Lord Jesus from coming close to us.

Be Empty
The best way to prepare for the Lord this Christmas is to be empty. The more we put Christmas decors and beautiful lights in and out our house that more we need to empty ourselves.

There is a story about a young student who went to visit his elderly teacher for advice. "Sir," he said, "teach me what I need to know to have a happy life. I have studied the sacred scriptures, I have visited the greatest teachers in the land, the Pope, the Dalai Lama, and what have you, but I have not found the answer, please teach me the way."

At this point the old teacher served tea to his guest. He poured his visitor's cup full and then kept on pouring and pouring so that the tea began to run over the rim of the cup and across the table, and still he poured, until tea was flowing upon the floor.

The young student watched it until he could not longer help himself.

“Sir what are you doing? Can’t you see? Its overfull already, no more will go in" he cried out. "Like this cup", the old man said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you the way unless you first empty your cup?"

Conclusion
Let us be empty. Let us empty our hearts of all the unnecessary and harmful stuff during these Advent weeks. Let us clean our hearts with tears of repentance and confession of sins. Let us be empty so that we can see Jesus clearly and make Him the center of our lives this Christmas.

John the Baptist came to teach us today that there is a way out of the darkness and sadness of the world and the wilderness of our human condition, and that way is Jesus himself. Let us humbly listen to his words today: Prepare the way of the Lord.

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Suggested reading: captured fire by joseph krempa

Watch!

2008-11-30T18:08:00.002+11:00

First Sunday of Advent Year B
November 30, 2008
Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1, 3-8; Cor 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

Stay Awake!
(Be watchful! Be alert!)

Introduction
Have you seen the Australian game show “The Singing Bee”? This game show is originally from America and because of its popularity it has now many international versions.

The basic rule of the game is simply to sing lyrics to songs correctly or risk being eliminated immediately. In a karaoke challenge each contestant sings the blanks in the lyrics being displayed on the screen with correct words. For every word correctly sung, the player is given a point.

The player who finishes with the least amount of points for instance in Round 1 and 2 combined is eliminated from the game.

Let's try this game. I will sing a song and you sing the missing word.

We wish you a merry _ _ _
We wish you a merry _ _ _
And a happy New Year!

You better watch out you better not cry
You better not pout I am telling you why
_ _ _ _ is coming to town!

It’s hard to believe that today we begin the first week of Advent leading us to our four weeks of preparation before Christmas. It's hard to believe we can now hearing again Christmas carols on radio, tv and in shopping malls.

Look around us, everyone is getting ready for Christmas. Too often, however, people are so busy with the material preparations that we lose sight of the real reason for Advent season: the coming birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many times I really would like to change the lyrics of this Christmas carol.

You better watch out you better not cry
You better not pout I am telling you why
Jesus Christ is coming to town!
Jesus Christ is coming to our homes!
Jesus Christ is coming to our hearts!

Jesus – is - Christmas.
It – is – Jesus – who – is coming – this - Christmas

I am not against Santa Claus. He was in fact a Catholic bishop known for his generosity especially to the poor. We love Santa Claus because of goodness. But let us remember that Santa Claus was generous because he loved Jesus. Let us be watchful not to be misled by our consumer society that is making Santa Claus a mere symbol of consumption of material things during Christmas.

Be watchful
Be watchful. It the call of today's Gospel reading on this first week of Advent. Be watchful in preserving the spiritual focus of Christmas amidst our prevailingly secular and consumer-driven society.

The Lord teaches us in today’s Gospel reading to “wake up”, be watchful and be alert because like a master of the house who traveled abroad He will come back anytime without a warning. We must be always ready and alert for his arrival.

What it means to be watchful? To be watchful means to understand the call of Advent Season, thus the true message of Christmas. First of all we have to understand the history of salvation. Advent Liturgy celebrates beginning today the history of Israel, pointing us and leading us towards the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies - the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

As for today’s readings – the First is a poem entreating God to come and save his people. It recalls God’s past goodness, and acknowledges the ingratitude and sinfulness of his people.

The Second Reading and the Gospel talk about the final coming of Christ, something that early Christians believed was imminent. For the faithful, the Lord’s coming is not something to fear, only if you are ready, watchful and more conscious of our actions – the way we treat other people, in our words, and in our thinking.

Three times in today’s Gospel Jesus urges his disciples, so us, to ‘watch!’ To 'watch' is a word we need to remember as we ready ourselves for the coming of the Lord.

How to watch?
We are watchful even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, when we strive to keep Advent a season of waiting and longing, of conversion and hope, meditating often on the incredible love and humility of our God in taking on flesh of the Virgin Mary.

In our shopping, we are watchful when we remember to purchase and prepare something for the poor. We are watchful when we clean our homes, we remember to distribute some of our possessions to those who lack many necessities. While we are decking the halls of our homes, we become watchful when we don't forget to prepare a peaceful place in our hearts wherein our Savior may come to dwell.

Singing bee
Let’s imagine Christmas like The Singing Bee game show. Jesus is giving us the missing lyrics we need to know by heart, watch! Let us memorize it, keep it, learn it and practice it if we don’t want to be eliminated from this beautiful season of Advent.

photo: My friend Stacy's two friends singing at KTV in Taipei.

Kakaibang Kaharian

2008-11-22T17:49:00.003+11:00

Christ the King 2008
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46
November 21-22, 2008

A Unique Kingdom

With the feast of Christ the King, we come to the end of the Calendar of the Church or the culmination of the Liturgical Year. Next week is the first of week of advent Season, the beginning of our four-week preparation for Christmas.

As the Church concludes today its liturgical year with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King, the Gospel call us to mind the concluding moment of human history: Judgment Day. At the end of the day, Jesus Christ, our universal King, will be our universal judge who will judge us according to our good deeds on earth as the Gospel illustrates, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Judgment Day is not something to be scared rather it should be something we must look forward to because it assures us that injustice and evil will not have the last word. It is Goodness and not Evil that will prevail. Therefore, the reality of Judgment Day is a constant reminder for us to live in holiness, justice and peace so that we shall not be condemned, but rather receive salvation, and we can be those to whom Christ will say: Come, you who are blessed by Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you.

Universal Hope
Jesus Christ the King, who is our final Judge, is also our universal hope. One of the greatest challenges we face each day is hopelessness. Many people suffer hopelessness on their present situation or to their future. Our hope against hope often times leads us to depressions. We face dreadful uncertainties and hopelessness in life to name a few we worry about our own individual struggles and fears, in addition there are growing threats around us such as violence, climate change, global financial recession, and so on.

Only in Jesus Christ the King we can find hope for the salvation of our fallen and sinful humanity. Pope Benedict XVI said in his book Spes Salvi, The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life. We Christians are people of hope. We cannot be touch by any forms of depression when we hope. We cannot be deaden loneliness when there is at least a spark of hope in our hearts.

Our hope lies on the Kingdom of God. His Kingdom is not about royal castles, knights in golden armor, and grand military battles. God's Kingdom concerns not the glory, power and popularity that only enslave people and bring false hope. God's Kingdom is Kingdom of hope that doesn’t enslave people but sets them free. Jesus liberates us from sin and sets us free to be the person God intends us to be. Jesus gives us the truth about our life, about ourselves, about our future. This is the Kingdom we celebrate today.

My Kingdom does not belong to this world, says Jesus to Pilate. Its power is not from the world, but from the grace and life of the Risen Christ. Every Sacrament we celebrate points us to this Kingdom. We become royal member of God's Kingdom through Baptism. We are made faithful soldiers of His Kingdom through our Confirmation, Penance and Holy Communion. And we serve God's Kingdom through our vocation as married couple, single people, and priests or religious.

The fulfillment of God's Kingdom is where our hope rests. We end today the Church Calendar filled with hope that as we begin a new Season, we become a better person, more worthy to share God's Kingdom. As we begin very soon Advent, let us take this our fresh start to begin and to unite ourselves more deeply with Jesus our King. Let the power and peace of Christ the King remain with us, stay with us and guide us. May we all hear clearly our Lord's shepherdly love for us, so that like His good sheep, we may "hear His voice and follow Him" (Jn 10:27) until the end. Amen.

photo: Sr Beth & Sr Maria walking back to their convent in St Augustine, Baliuag, Bulacan.

To Our Departed Loved Ones

2008-11-02T14:58:00.004+11:00

All Souls Day

Isaiah 25:6-9; Rom 5:5-11; Mt 11:25-30
November 1-2, 2008

All Saints Day
Yesterday the Church celebrated the feast of All Saints. Every year, on the first day of November, we give honor to all the saints in heaven, both canonized and not canonized, who are now sharing Christ’s Risen glory.

Canonized saints are holy people officially recognized and acknowledged by the Church to be models of holiness. On another hand, un-canonized saints are those faithful departed who are now enjoying the beatific vision or in heaven known to God alone. Some of them shed their blood or left them homeland & loved ones or denied their personal dreams for the sake of their love to Jesus.

On All Saints Day we congratulate all of them and we thank them for being exemplars of our Christian faith.

Saints were ordinary human beings like us, they were rich and poor, parents and celibates, students, professionals, scholars, there were also illiterates, but we call them “saints” because they lived extra-ordinary lives of holiness. They showed us the beauty and majesty of a life of fidelity to Christ that is not measured by publicity or by the flash and glamour but by fidelity.

The saints are not only models of Christian holiness, but because they are now in Heaven they are also our intercessors, helpers in prayer, partners, and patrons. In our parish we have St. Andrew as our patron saint. Through his intercession he is helping us to be heroic parishioners and faithful in our life whilst we ware still here in this world.

All Soul’s Day
And today we celebrate All Souls Day or the commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. It is a time in the year when we remember all our departed loved ones and all our friends who have gone before us in prayer with deep love and faith.

In this Mass we recall all those people whose lives have deeply affected us, people who have traveled a part of life’s journey with us, we also remember those people who from our childhood have assisted us in our life.
Our special prayer for them today can be a way of showing gratitude for their contribution for what we are now.

We remember our departed loved ones not as perfect beings but as human persons with limitations much like we have. If some of those who died may have failed us, they are much in need of our prayer and forgiveness. For this reason, our prayer can be an instrument of reconciliation with those from whom we had become distant or even resentful.

Today we also remember in our prayer, most especially in this Mass, all the souls unknown to us who are still on their journey to the gates of heaven. They are the souls in purgatory undergoing final purification until they become “capable of God and thus capable of unity with the whole communion of saints” in heavenly Kingdom.

Far from being morbid, far from many scary images of death, ghost and spirit we see in television every year during Halloween, All Saints Day and Souls Day are two wonderful occasions of remembering, healing and praying. It is a great day of reconciliation and spiritual reunion with out departed brothers in sisters.

Last night I had a feeling of being a little bit of nostalgic because I missed celebrating All Saints Day in the Philippines. In the Philippines All Saints Day has become a deep-rooted family tradition handed down from generation to generation. It is a national holiday to allow people go to their hometowns to visit the tomb of their loved ones to pay respects. Families spend time at to cemeteries to offer prayers and flowers and light candles at the grave of their loved ones. Many families stay until night time and that makes occasion become a bonding moments or family reunion with relatives and friends.

Praying for the Dead
The feasts of All Saints’ Day and All Souls Day have something in common, and for this reason, have been placed one after the other. Both celebrations speak to us of what's beyond.

All Souls Day invites us to a wise reflection: Death is certain. One day we shall leave this world. All Souls’ Day should remind us that we are but pilgrims, we are mortals, one day we shall leave everything in this life. We leave this world carrying nothing except the love that we shared while we were still alive.

Although death is certain, although death brings us tears, although just to think of death scares us to death, it always has a positive side. Death is the only passage leading to something entirely wonderful. Death leads us to the door of heaven, to immortality, to eternal life with the God of life.

But death can only be meaningful when we believe in Christ’s resurrection. As Jesus promised: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in, even if he dies, will live."

We heard from the readings today the trumpet sounds of our Christian faith calling us to mind that God is more powerful than death.

First reading: (The Lord God) will destroy death forever…he will wipe away the tears from all faces.

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid

Gospel: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Our final resting place is the hands of God. Death will always remain a mystery and will cause us pain. Yet as Christians we live in faith and hope. If we had enough faith, we would face death without fear and welcome it as a homecoming in the house of the Father. God will not let us perish for ever. In Christ we have God's promise that we will rise from the dead for glory and eternal joy.

In this hope we commend today all the dead into the hands of the living God. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Bohol

2008-10-21T18:42:00.000+11:00

Breakfast namin sa Panglao, Bohol island.

He's back

2008-08-01T21:55:00.006+10:00

I just came back from a beautiful pilgrimage.
Let me settle a bit.
I'll see you soon.

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notice:
don't take notice of the date in the picture it's not correct. If you didn't notice the wrong date then ignore this notice. Peace! :)

Do not worry

2008-06-21T10:27:00.001+10:00

Saturday of the 11th Week A
Mt 6:1– 6, 16–18
June 21, 2008

Do not worry

In today’s Gospel our Lord wants us to remember and keep in mind that God created us to be happy and enjoy this life. If there is an enemy in our lives to pleasure and enjoyment, it would have to be worry. It is amazing how much we worry in this life, even when we know that it accomplishes nothing. We still keep on worrying.

I would like to read a little poem that I guess summarizes the way most of us go through life. But it describes how futile it is to worry. It says:

Worry never climbed a hill,
Worry never paid a bill,
Worry never dried a tear,
Worry never calmed a fear.

Worry never fixed a heel,
Worry never cooked a meal,
Worry never composed a song to sing,
Actually, worry never did a worthwhile thing.

Another word of being worry is “being anxious”. Anxiousness weakness our confidence that we have God who is provident cares so much about us. We have a God – who’s all-powerful, infinitely wise, and full of mercy.

St. Paul wrote to the people of Phillipi from his jail cell not to worry but Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. (Phil 4:6).

In the two thousand years since Christ walked the earth, the Church has continued to echo this sentiment. Over and over again we hear the words Jesus in the four Gospels “Be not afraid.”

Likewise, every time we go to Mass, we hear these words. "Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin, and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ." This is an ancient prayer of the Church that reminds us that the Lord desires to "Protect us from all anxiety."

God wants us to enjoy the gift of life he gave us. Let us not worry rather let’s be grateful for every graces we receive from God in every single moment and minute of our life. We are in God's hands. God loves us and cares for us and knows what we need.

source: http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/index.html

Follow Me

2008-06-12T12:48:00.006+10:00

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Hosea 6:3-6; Psalms 50:1, 8, 12-13, 14-15
Romans 4:18-25; Matthew 9:9-13
June 8, 2008

The Call of St. Matthew

SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT WITHOUT Jesus, the seven days of the week would be “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.” *

There is something moving about today’s Gospel. It is a story of Matthew’s conversion when “he got up” as soon as he heard the words of Jesus, “Follow me.”

We can say that the Gospel passage today is the day when Matthew said goodbye to his “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

When Matthew realised how important he is to Jesus his whole life dramatically changed. Instantly his eyes were open and discovered his true self.

Reflection
Let us see briefly the profile of each character in today’s Gospel and hopefully learn something from them. We have Matthew, the Pharisees and Jesus, as the main characters in today’s Gospel story.

Matthew
Matthew as clearly mentioned in the Gospel was a tax collector. In the Jewish society during the time of Jesus tax collectors were considered ‘unclean people’, public sinners and traitors to their own country because they collaborated with the Roman occupying power in the gathering of taxes. Their profession was often marked with corruption and dishonesty.

Jewish people hated them, particularly the religious leaders, so much so that they were forbidden to join them in public worship in the synagogues or to act as witnesses in court. Matthew couldn’t care less; he loved money enough to have defied all that. But not until when Jesus called him up.

Matthew is a person who doesn’t procrastinate. He answers Jesus’ call at once; he didn’t think twice or Hemake any excuses. He leaves everything and follows with great joy and gratitude. And this is a remarkable character of Matthew who is considered notorious by his own people.

To celebrate his personal conversion, he instantly organized a farewell dinner with his friends, his fellow tax collectors, and all his gang who were considered public outcasts.

The Pharisees
It was on this occasion when the Pharisees, the second character of today’s Gospel story, entered the scene. The Pharisees were group of pious religious leaders during that time. They were extremely shocked (probably they nearly had a heart attack!) when they saw Jesus partying with Matthew and with all his friends (or mates).

It was a general custom for the Jewish people not to eat with public sinners such as tax collectors. Any association with them will make you ‘unclean.’ The Pharisees complained to the disciples “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus
Jesus, overhearing their complaint answers back the Pharisees with the core message of today’s Gospel: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do;” “I desire mercy, not sacrifice;” “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

In three simple sentences Jesus expresses the true image of God – a compassionate, a forgiving, and most of all a loving God.

Jesus is not interested in preserving his social status but he is more interested in helping sinners. Jesus hates sin but loves sinners and wishes to set them free. Jesus hates our sinfulness but not our being as a person. No matter how grievous our sins or how long our list of sins may be Jesus loves us just the same. We are important and precious ones before his eyes. He loves us individually as if we are the only person on earth.

Reflection
No matter how sinful we are, you and I, all of us are candidate to be saints.

Who would have think that a tax collector like Matthew, would be become one of the gospel writers (in fact he himself is the author of today’s Gospel)?

There is a saying: “Every Saint Has a Past, Every Sinner a Future.”

We pray today that we may imitate St. Matthew who promptly left his past and joyfully followed our Lord.

Our Lord assures us today that we can be saints and joyful people. This possible only when we follow him everyday, this means – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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*joke from Fr Gerry Orbos inquirer.net; larawan kuha sa bukid sa Pagkabuhay at ilog sa Lumbac, Pulilan.

The Call of St. Matthew

2008-06-08T10:20:00.000+10:00

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Hosea 6:3-6; Psalms 50:1, 8, 12-13, 14-15
Romans 4:18-25; Matthew 9:9-13
June 8, 2008

The Call of St. Matthew

SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT WITHOUT Jesus, the seven days of the week would be “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

There is something moving about today’s Gospel. It is a story of Matthew’s conversion when he got up as soon as he heard the words of Jesus, Follow me.

We can say that the Gospel passage today is the day when Matthew said goodbye to his “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

When Matthew realised how important he is to Jesus his whole life dramatically changed. Instantly his eyes were open and discovered his true self.

Reflection
Let us see briefly the profile of each character in today’s Gospel and hopefully learn something from them. We have Matthew, the Pharisees and Jesus, as the main characters in today’s Gospel story.

Matthew as clearly mentioned in the Gospel was a tax collector. In the Jewish society during the time of Jesus tax collectors were considered ‘unclean people’, public sinners and traitors to their own country because they collaborated with the Roman occupying power in the gathering of taxes. Their profession was often marked with corruption and dishonesty.

Jewish people hated them, particularly the religious leaders, so much so that they were forbidden to join them in public worship in the synagogues or to act as witnesses in court. Matthew couldn’t care less; he loved money enough to have defied all that. But not until when Jesus called him up.

Matthew is a person who doesn’t procrastinate. He answers Jesus’ call at once; he didn’t think twice or make any excuses. He leaves everything and follows with great joy and gratitude. And this is a remarkable character of Matthew who is considered notorious by his own people.

To celebrate his personal conversion, he instantly organized a farewell dinner with his friends, his fellow tax collectors, and all his gang who were considered public outcasts.

It was on this occasion when the Pharisees, the second character of today’s Gospel story, entered the scene. The Pharisees were group of pious religious leaders during that time. They were extremely shocked (probably they nearly had a heart attack!) when they saw Jesus partying with Matthew and with all his friends (or mates).

It was a general custom for the Jewish people not to eat with public sinners such as tax collectors. Any association with them will make you ‘unclean.’ The Pharisees complained to the disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?

JESUS, overhearing their complaint answers back the Pharisees with the core message of today’s Gospel: Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do; I desire mercy, not sacrifice; I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. In three simple sentences Jesus expresses the true image of God – a compassionate, a forgiving, and most of all a loving God.

Jesus is not interested in preserving his social status but he is more interested in helping sinners. Jesus hates sin but loves sinners and wishes to set them free. Jesus hates our sinfulness but not our being as a person. No matter how grievous our sins or how long our list of sins may be Jesus loves us just the same. We are important and precious ones before his eyes. He loves us individually as if we are the only person on earth.

Saints in the making
No matter how sinful we are, you and I, all of us are candidate to be saints.

Who would have think that a tax collector like Matthew, would be become one of the gospel writers (in fact he himself is the author of today’s Gospel)?

There is a saying: “Every Saint Has a Past, Every Sinner a Future.”

We pray today that we may imitate St. Matthew who promptly left his past and joyfully followed our Lord.

Our Lord assures us today that we can be saints and joyful people. This possible only when we follow him everyday, this means – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fundraising for World Youth Day

2008-06-08T01:14:00.005+10:00

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*image designed by rikka

Minsan lang sila bata

2008-06-04T12:49:00.007+10:00

Nakatanggap ako ngayong umaga ng newsletter ng Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Poress na ipinadala ni Fr Boyet Concepcion. Si Fr Boyet ay pari sa Bulacan na kilalang-kilala sa kanyang kabanalan. Tagapaglingkod siya ng mga mahihirap, mahihina, matatanda at mga batang lansangan sa Bulacan at maging sa Metro Manila. Itinayo ni Fr Boyet ang Emmaus House sa Malolos, para sa matatanda; Galilee Rehabilitation Center sa DRT; Ephesus Home para sa mga "abused children"; at ang Bethlehem House of Bread, sa Baliuag, na nagkakalinga sa batang iskwater.

Ang kasalakuyang proyekto ni Fr Boyet ay ang St Martin de Porres sa Bustos, Bulacan, na kumakalinga sa 70 batang paslit na walang pamilya o tahanang matutuluyan. Nuong isang taon ay nagkapagmisa ako kasama ni Fr Boyet sa Pulilan. "Hindi ako nag-asawa" sabi niya sa homilya, "ngunit tignan ninyo ang daming kong anak na inaalagaan."

Nakaraang buwan sa aking pag-uwi sa Pulilan napansin ko ang mga batang ito na namumulot ng mga karton sa tapat ng simbahan. Hanggang tenga ang kanilang mga ngiti. Parang hindi nila dama ang kahirapan at mga bagay na ipinagkait sa kanila ng lipunan - ang pagkakataong mag-aral, mag-laro, kalinga ng magulang, at maging mga bata. Naalala ko si Fr Boyet. Kung nakita nya siguro ang mga batang ito baka isinama na nya sa kanyang tahanan.

Watch this video to learn more about the work of St. Martin de Poress

and the children who live there.

Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porress
Claro Santos St.,
Bonga MenorBustos,
Bulacan, 3007Philippines
For Correspondence: P.O. Box 6231, Bustos, Bulacan
website: http://www.stmartinproject.org/
Fr. Boyet's email: boyetcon@yahoo.com

House of Rock

2008-06-04T11:17:00.005+10:00

9th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32
Psalms 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25
Romans 3:21-25, 28
Matthew 7:21-27

"House on Rock"

Commonsense will tell us that building a house built on loose foundation is lack of commonsense. Any house without good foundation is naturally vulnerable to natural disaster. One need not be an architect or structural engineer to know this basic principle of building.

During the time Jesus, everyone knew that it was foolish to build your house on sand at the bottom of the valley rather than on the rock high above. After every heavy rain a torrent of water forms almost immediately that sweeps away everything in its path.

Our Lord uses this observation to create today’s parable about the two houses that, as a parable, has two meanings.

These two houses in the parable describe two groups of humanity, specifically we Christians who are trying to follow the footstep of our Lord.

Jesus classified the first of group of his disciples as wise people:

Thus, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

Changing only a few words, Jesus presents the second group of his followers, the foolish ones:

And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined (Matthew 7:26-27).

Are You Stable?
Which group can we find ourselves? Naturally, our Lord wants all of us to be his wise followers with a strong foundation in life.

We all know that our life on earth is not always easy. Like our Melbourne weather, our own life can be unpredictable and at times without any warning it can turn to a powerful storm. Likewise life unfortunately can be devastating.

Storms in our life may appear as financial setbacks, health problems, marital difficulties, depression, personal crisis, or the death of a loved one. Are stable enough to face such 'storms' in life?

Today our Lord Jesus shares with us his divine wisdom and reminds us all “to build our house not on sand but on rock.” In order to survive we need to cling on to something stable, strong and permanent.

Building your house on sand means placing your hopes and certainties in unstable and unpredictable things that cannot stand the whips and scorns of time. Money, success and personal health are such things. They are all good but they are one of those things that will not last forever.

Building your house on rock means, on the contrary, to stake your life and hopes on that which “thieves cannot steal nor rust corrode,” on that which does not pass away. “Heaven and earth will pass away,” Jesus said, “but my words shall not pass away.”

Building your house on rock means quite simply building on God. We try our best to commit our life and trust in God as our Rock. In the Old Testament rock is one of the Bible’s favourite symbols for God: “Our God is an eternal rock” (Isaiah 26:4); “He is the rock, his works are perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Our response to the Psalm today “Lord, be my rock of safety.”

God is our rock. He is our sure foundation and our ultimate security in life. God alone is our stronghold when waves of trials and disaster threaten us. As long we cling firmly to our Rock no big storms can ever blow us away.

Church: House Built on Rock
God loves us, that he himself had built a house on rock for us, through his Son Jesus. All we have to do is to go inside his house built on rock, it is the Church. The house built upon the rock is the one about which Jesus spoke to Simon: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18).

When we say Church we don’t talk about its physical structure. It is not the one built of bricks and mortar but that made up of “living stones.” These living stones are we who are built upon the cornerstone, who is Christ Jesus.

We are the Church, everything that Jesus has told and revealed, his teachings and miracles and including the stories of his first disciples, they all belong to us.

So to build one’s life upon rock therefore means to live in the Church in unity, not staying outside forever pointing our fingers at the inconsistency and defects of the human side of the Church.

To build one’s life upon rock most of all is when devoutly practice what we believe as Christians. When we are not only familiar to the Church's teaching but also faithfully obeying its provisions, we are building our life on God. For our faith and belief must be consistent to our lifestyles.

May Christ’s words and wisdom today abide in us, so as to become in us principles of life… If our life conforms to the teaching of Christ, we shall be like the wise man who with his mind and will built upon Christ as upon a firm foundation.

Prayer
"Lord Jesus, you are the only foundation that can hold us up when trials and disaster threaten us. Give me the wisdom, foresight, and strength of character I need to do what is right and good and to reject whatever is false and contrary to your will. May I be a doer of your word and not a hearer only."

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Quasi-Parish of Our Lady of MiraculousVirgin, Balatong, Pulilan, Bulacan. Readings Fr Cantalamessa's homily www.zenit.org; daily reflection at www.rc.net

Lets Eat Together

2008-05-28T17:26:00.008+10:00

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
May 25, 2008
Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
Psalms 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58

Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.

We celebrate today the solemn feast of Corpus Christi. It is a doctrinal feast formally established in 16th century for three purposes: 1) to honor Christ who is present in the Holy Eucharist, 2) to strengthen our devotion to the Eucharist, that makes us one. 3) to appreciate and make use of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist.

The Eucharist teaches us the importance of communion – being united as One Body of Christ. Just as numerous grains of wheat are pounded together to make the host, and many grapes are crushed together to make the wine, so we become unified as one Body.

Our Lord chose these elements in order to show us that we ought to be united with one another and to transform ourselves into Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is symbolized by our sharing in the same bread and the same cup. Hence, Holy Communion strengthens our sense of unity and love.

Communion means exchange, partaking or sharing of oneself to become one. We know the fundamental rule of sharing: that which is mine is yours and what is yours is mine. It’s entirely different from the animal instinct of survival of the fittest: what is mine is mine, what is yours is still mine.

I remember I used to have three dogs at home. Feeding time was always difficult especially if you had three dogs bullying each other. I had to feed them miles apart from each other as they always fight over their food. They were not content of their share. They wanted others' food. They were willing to fight over it. They dont follow the basic rule of sharing and partaking. For them is this, what is mine is mine, what is yours still mine.

We, humans have to intellectual capacity to know the value of communion, sharing and partaking - what is mine yours and what is yours is mine. We will see its greatness when we try to apply this rule to Eucharistic Communion.

What do I have that is truly “mine”? Human as we are what do we really have? Misery, failure, sin, worry: This alone belongs to us exclusively.

What does belong to Jesus? What does Jesus have that is “his” if not holiness, the perfection of all the virtues?

So, communion consists in the fact that I offer Jesus all that I have my sin and my poverty, my loneliness, sinfulness, fear and everything, and in return he gives me holiness, love, healing and peace. This is what the Church Liturgy defines in Latin the “admirabile commercium,” or “wonderful exchange” that being is realized in Mass.

In the every celebration of Mass there is a “wonderful exchange” happening. We offer our time to God, we offer everything in our mind and hearts, and then Jesus offers his Body and Blood to give us eternal life.

Pope John Paul II
The late Holy Father wrote beautifully in one of his daily meditations what our disposition should be whenever we celebrate the Eucharist:

How important it is, then, for the faithful, as they take part in the Eucharist, to assume a personal attitude of offering. It is not sufficient that they listen to the word of God, nor that they pray in common. It is necessary for them to make Christ’s oblation on their own, offering up their pains, their difficulties, their trials, and even more themselves, together with Him and in Him so as to make this gift rise even to the Father, with the gift which Christ makes of himself.

Priest’s Silent prayer
This wonderful exchange (admirable commercium) in Mass is beautifully expressed when the priest mixes the water and wine during the preparation of gifts. Have you ever wonder why the priest does it? While the priest mixes the water and wine he says this prayer quietly:

By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

We, the people are designated by water, the blood of Christ by wine. Mixing water and wine in the cup shows our union with Christ, and all the believers' union with Him in Whom they believe. After the mixing of water and wine after in the Lord's Cup they become closely united that they cannot be separated one from another. In just this way that nothing can separate us (the Church) from Christ, that is, we become firmly and unshakeably joined together in Christ by God’s eternal love.[1]

Conclusion
Our Lord Jesus loves us so much that he will do everything possible for us to always belong to him, to be closely united with him. For the last two thousand years the People of God has always been nourished by our Lord’s Body and Blood at the altar of God.

Jesus says in the Gospel: “I am the living bread come down from heaven. [...] My flesh is true food. [...] Whoever eats my flesh will have eternal life.”

We can only receive our Bread of Life in the Eucharist. It is only in the Eucharist where we can offer intimately ourselves to God. If every Catholic would realise the mind blowing reality of what we receive in the Eucharist no one will ever miss Sunday Mass. We will make Mass as our number priority in life. It is only in the Eucharist where we can enter the mystery of communion and the “wonderful exchange” between God and humanity. What is mine is yours, what is yours is mine.

Let us ask the Lord to strengthen our will to make the Eucharist the center of our life and our the lives of our loved ones.

Painting by Fr Conrado "Badong" Santos

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[1] St. Cyprian of Carthage (Letter to Cacaelius)
Readings Fr Tony's homily, Fr Cantalamesa, Daily Meditation of Pope John Paul II
http://www.zenit.org/

VIP

2008-05-25T16:36:00.002+10:00

I met yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard

Kakatuwa wala man lang siyang body guard.

Let's Go Up!

2008-05-09T00:38:00.003+10:00

Solemnity of the Lord's Ascension
Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 16:15-20
May 3-4, 2008
Goodbye Forever?

As we do every year, forty days after Easter, we celebrate the feast of the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven. In the first reading the Apostles heard as they looked up towards Heaven from the two men dressed in white garments (Angels) saying: This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven (Acts 1:11).

Is Jesus up in the sky or floating somewhere in heaven or in the galaxies? It is important to clarify what we Christians mean when we profess "Jesus ascended into heaven" or when we pray "Our Father who art in heaven," or when we say that someone "went to heaven."

In talking about heaven as God's dwelling place we understand it more as a state of being than a place. That God is "in the heavens" means that he "dwells in inaccessible light," that he is as far beyond us "as the heavens are above the earth."

We recite in the Creed. "He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Christ’s ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain… (CCC 665).
That Christ has ascended into heaven means that he "is seated at the right hand of the Father," that is, as human like us, he has entered into God's world and brought our humanity. His Ascension thus brings us great hope – “where He has gone, we hope to follow.”

Farewell
At first glance, the Ascension seems to be a sad “farewell” to Jesus. We all know Jesus spent three years with his disciples, teaching them about the kingdom of God, instructing each of them how to show love, compassion and justice, showing them miracles. For the last three years Jesus and his disciples created a strong bond tested by trials, betrayal, death and victory. It’s sad to hear that Jesus is apparently leaving his disciples and Mary.

Airport
I was in the airport last Thursday night to send off my eldest sister and her three children who are now in the Philippines. Last night I went to the airport again to say good bye to other sister Marsha, who also went to the Philippines with her family for holidays. (During this part of year fiestas are celebrated in the Philippines).

For two consecutive nights that I was in the airport I noticed two kinds of group of people – happy and sad. Those who are waiting at the arrival, you see people, families, children, parents, they are happy and excited and waiting patiently as they wait for coming of their loved ones. Once they found each other they embrace and kiss with joy.

When you go to the departure gate the atmosphere is different, it is rather sad. You see people, families, lovers, hugging each other with tears in their eyes as they say goodbye to each other. Some people couldn’t let go their loved ones perhaps they knew that it would be a long time before they see each other again.

We learn from our experience that there is always sadness in saying goodbye.

Difference: Disappearance & departure
The feast of the Ascension is not really goodbye. There is an apparent contradiction in this leaving of Jesus: while leaving, he assures us that he is staying with us. While Jesus’ body and spirit ascended into heaven he promised us, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Mt.28:20)

Ascension is not a sad "farewell," but rather a true feast. There is difference between a disappearance and a departure.

Jesus has not departed, he has not become absent; he has only disappeared from our sight. Those who leave are no longer here; those who only go out of our sight, however, can still be near us.

Jesus does disappear from the apostles' sight at the ascension but he does so to be present in another more intimate way through the Holy Spirit. He is not exclusively belong to his apostles alone – he belongs to everyone.

We heard from the Second Reading St. Paul reminds us of the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to give us wisdom and understanding, to enlighten our hearts and minds to clearly the presence of Jesus.
Jesus is no longer outside the apostles but He is within them in their hearts.

Eucharist – Jesus is here
This is similar to the Eucharist. So long as the host is outside of us we see it, we adore it; when we receive the host we no longer see it, it has disappeared, but it has disappeared to be within us. Through the Holy Spirit, our Lord becomes present in us in a new, more powerful way.

When First Communion Students receive our Lord in a short while, their hearts will become a living tabernacle, where our Lord rests to strengthen them in their faith. You will help your friends to see Jesus.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.
Jesus is no longer visible, but through the Holy Spirit Jesus wants himself to be known to everyone – to our friends, loved ones, neighbour, people we know. Jesus wants all people to discover him, to have relationship with him, to be closely united with him.

When we are baptised, our eyes, our ears, our tongue, our hands and feet, becomes the eyes, ears, toungue, hands and feet of Jesus.

Let us pray that through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we can obey the commandment of Jesus to to make disciples of all nations. Let us help others to make Jesus known and to make Jesus loved, and together we will share the joy and happiness in heaven. Amen.

Readings: Gospel Commentary for Feast of the Ascension by Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, www.zenit.org

Our Advocate of Love

2008-04-29T22:25:00.006+10:00

Sixth Sunday of Easter A (Filipino Mass)
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Psalm: 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21
April 27, 2008

Holy Spirit: Our Advocate of Love

Story
One time there was a Pinoy attorney who went on vacation in a small farming town during the long-weekend. While walking through the streets and enjoying the beautiful countryside scenery, he noticed that a car was involved in an accident. As expected, a large crowd gathered (mga usisero).

“A propect client” the attorney said to himself. The Pinoy attorney was excited and eager to get to the injured, but he couldn't get near the car. Being a rather clever person, he started shouting loudly, "Let me through! Let me through! I am the son of the victim. Let me through. "

The crowd made way for him. Lying in front of the car was a donkey.

Advocate of the Apostles
In today’s Gospel the Lord promises his disciples that he will send them an Advocate to be with them always. Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit, the Second Person of the Trinity, as an Advocate, it means counselor, protector. The Holy Spirit is like an attorney (but a much clever one compared to the lawyer from the story) who will pleads for our case, to stand by us and defend us in time of need (without fee!)

In Greek, Holy Spirit is translated as “parakletos” which means a lawyer or a witness who will testify in your behalf. It also refers to a person who gives comfort, counsel or strength that we always of need. [I’m not sure if the word “parak” in Tagalog comes from “parakletos”? Parak is pulis tagapaglitas. Of course not! :) ]

Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit as he prepares his disciples for the day when He will no longer be with them physically. It is through the Holy Spirit, their advocate, that they come to have a deeper or mature understanding of the teaching of Jesus, his mission, his miracles, and the purpose of his Birth, Death and Resurrection.

Our Advocate Too!
Inasmuch as the Holy Spirit is the apostle’s Advocate, the Holy Spirit is also our Advocate! It is through the Holy Spirit that we can feel Jesus’ loving presence in the Church, in the sacraments, in our community, his loving presence in each and one of us even we can not see him physically (Look the person next to you. Can you feel the presence of Jesus to the person next to you? If not, pray more for the Holy Spirit.). The Holy Spirit comes to us for the first time in the sacrament of baptism. The Holy Spirit’s in us is perfected and strengthened on the day of our confirmation, when the Bishop said to us, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” This is why confirmation is called the sacrament of our maturity in faith.

Commandment to Love
Before our Lord promised his disciples that He will send the Advocate, he first spoke one of his final words, his final reminder was (o huling habilin) – If you love me, you will keep my commandments. We need to ponder his words deeply in our hearts. And we know that his commandments are: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength. Love one another as I have loved you.

Let us ask ourselves… What makes us sure that we really love Jesus and our neighbour? What makes us sure that we obey his commandment of love?

To Jesus real love is something difficult and it must be expressed not as sentiment or emotion but as real obedience to God. The word ‘obedience’ means ‘to listen carefully’. The more obedient we are to Christ's commandments, the more we are listening to the Holy Spirit’s call in our lives

Checking Spiritual condition
I read in a book 3 practical questions we should ask ourselves to check our spiritual condition if we really love God both in words and deeds:

First question: Are you yapping?
Yapping means “to bark, to yelp, to talking noisily”. We yap when we always criticize people, when we always find fault to others. A yapping person discourages, hurts and destroys people rather than seek to be helpful.

Second question: Are you yawning?
Some people go to church as if sleeping, they hear nothing, see nothing, and do nothing. (I must admit I was guilty of this when I was young). St Paul says, “we must be alive unto God – revive our hope, increase our love, and work our faith” (Rom 13:11-12).

Third question: Are you yearning?
Are you yearning or seeking for material pleasures, excessive wealth (40Million jackpot?) rather than yearning to fill your spiritual emptiness that Christ alone can satisfy? When we consecrate ourselves to love God, we only yearn for a more effective, meaningful and holy life, and for the Holy Spirit to fill us with divine love.

Conclusion
If your answer is to these questions is three big yes that means we need to be more open to the Holy Spirit, our Advocate. We all have our personal faults, imperfections, wrong decisions, sinfulness, lust, etc., that prevent to obey faithful God’s commandment of love, but the Holy Spirit will help us grow towards maturity and wholeness.

St Paul says in his First Letter to the Corinthians that the Holy Spirit is already in us as, he writes, “Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? Each of us are sacred, we are temple of God.”

We just need to allow ourselves to the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us see the truth and beauty of ourselves. Like the good Advocate the Holy Spirit will enable us to become stronger, will aid us and guide when we face difficult and painful situation, and will help to love truly.

I invite you to bow your heads and pray with me:

Come Holy Spirit, renew me with your gifts.
My life will be more joyful and fulfilling with you action in me.
Heal my brokenness, pour down your wisdom.
Instill your peace within me, inspire my every need.

Amen.

Do not be afraid

2008-04-25T16:45:00.000+10:00

5th Sunday of Easter
Do not be afraid

Jesus Is the Way
"Where are you going in life, or what are you living for?" is the most important question to ask ourselves, one another, the Church, our people. Even, we, Christians at times feel lost. Yet we shouldn't, for we have Jesus who shows us the way, who is our way, to God, to ourselves, to people. Jesus is not only our way but he is our companion on the road.

Modern Martyrs
I received an email today about the persecution of Christians around the world. In our modern world it’s hard to imagine how our many fellow Christians suffer a lot, beaten and tortured simply for their faith in Jesus Christ.

In Sudan, a Christian boy, Damare, has his knees and feet nailed to a board and he is left to die just for attending a church service. When rescued he says he forgives the man who did this because Jesus was also nailed and forgave him.

In Vietnam, a Christian pastor is sentenced to two years in prison. When he is offered an early release, he declines stating that he has a group of new Believers in the prison – they thirst for the Word of God.

A Colombian missionary is kidnapped and told she only has two hours to live. She tells her captors that if she only has two hours to live, she wants to spend it telling them about Jesus.

The Way to God, to People, to Ourselves
Although life had been uneasy for them, they clearly know where they are going. They know their destination; they know the beautiful end of their journey; because of their faith.

We learn from their stories of faith practical help and encouragement to welcome Jesus in our hearts.

Isn’t it sad even if we have everything in life, we sometimes feel totally "lost"; when we do not know where we stand in life, when we all looks confusing and senseless.

Today Jesus speaks to us, who says not only "I will show you the way, but: "I AM THE WAY." Go with me, follow me, I will lead you to your goal in life. I will bring you safely to the Father and to your loved ones, yes even to your own true self. Live as I have lived, for I am the way and the truth and the life.

Jesus is the way to God, that he is the truth of God and in him is God’s own life. Let us loving embrace, treasure and live out the beauty of our faith.

Teary

2008-04-23T22:49:00.003+10:00

will make you teary

Watch

Wanted: Good Shepherd

2008-04-12T16:49:00.000+10:00

Good Shepherd Sunday A
April 12-13, 2008

“..the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and lead them out..”

The Good Shepherd image in the New Testament:
In Palestine the word "shepherd" was a synonym for selfless love, sincerity, commitment and sacrificial service. Hence Jesus selects it as the most fitting term to denote his life and mission.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd and we are his flock, however Jesus is also calling us to be good shepherds to one another – most especially to those people who are entrusted to our care.

In that sense, priests, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials and the politicians are all shepherds. The teacher who really loves the children in her charge, the nurse who carefully tends to the sick, the friend who listens attentively to another's problems, the nona or nono who looks after grandchildren during holidays -–all these remind us of the abiding presence of the Good Shepherd among us.

The parents become good shepherds when they provide the means for their children to grow both physically and spiritually. Parents are good shepherds when they become the role models for their children, encouraging them in their prayer and sacramental life.

This Sunday, we join Catholics around the world praying for the increase of shepherds whose task is unique from those I mentioned earlier. We pray for shepherds who will the spiritual needs of God’s people. Thus we pray for the increase of priests in the church.

Nick (guest seminarian from Corpus Christi) later on will speak briefly about the mystery of the priesthood and his personal response to our Lord's calling.

Lost two shepherd
We are saddened about the death Archbishop Frank Little. He was our shepherd for 22 years as Archbishop of Melbourne. We thank the Lord for all his worked in the church.

Yesterday a friend priest of mine, Fr Robert del Rosario, was buried in the Philippines. He was the priest who asking for books early this year for the new school he was building. Last March he celebrated 1st year anniversary. Though his ministry was short, we thank his example of saying “yes” to our Lord to follow him.

Pray for new shepherds
We join our prayer today in this Mass that the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd will be heard by many young men and adults today called them to be shepherds of souls.

May I also ask you to pray for us priests, young and old that we may constantly be faithful to this beautiful ministry entrusted to us by our Lord in the loving service of his flock – his Church.

Paalam Fr Robert del Rosario

2008-04-11T23:55:00.012+10:00

Don Robert,

Musta na?

Pasensya na di ako nakapunta sa Misa Pasasalamat sa iyo kanina. Pero nakapunta naman kahapon dyan sa Balanga ang Ama't Ina ko. Nakausap daw nila ang Tatay at Tita mo. Gustong gusto ko talagang pumunta sa iyo kanina para magpaalam. Sayang si Bishop Soc pa naman ang nag-misa. Pinagpala ka at isang banal na obispo ang nagmisa sa iyo. Di ba binanggit ko sa iyo dati hinahangaan ko si Bishop Soc at lagi kong nagagamit ko ang mga libro niya sa homily ko dito.

Sayang ipapakilala mo sana ako sa kanya ng personal pag-uwi ko: if narito ka uli sa Pilipinas, just tell me and maybe we can arrange schedule for a visit to Bishop Soc. he is very much cordial and warm to receive you. (Jan 15 2008 3:08pm) Di bale, makikila ko din si Bishop Soc sa ibang pagkakataon.

Natutuwa ako at nakarating ang mga libro na ipinadala ko sa iyo. Salamat sa walang hanggang pasasalamat sa email mo sa akin kahit nakapasimpleng bagay lang ang naicontribute ko school na itinatayo mo dyan:

thank you po ng marami and pls extend my sincerest gratitude din sa mga friends mo na nagbigay ng book for our school! rest assured of my prayers for you and for them!!! thanks po uli (March 26/2008 1:23 pm)

Pasensya na Don Robert itinawag ko sayo kasi lang nuong mga nakaraang araw binalikan ko ang mga ala-ala mo nuong nasa ICMS pa tayo. Sa seminaryo Don Robert ang tawag ko sa iyo, bihira kitang tawaging kuya kahit senior ka sa akin ng ilang taon.

Naalala ko tuloy sa seminaryo lahat na lang napapansin natin at ginagawang katatawanan, kaya masaya tayo kahit na nasa "loob". Kahit sino may kanya-kanyang tukso. Tulad mo – Don Robert, Jaworski, at higit sa lahat ang di mo matanggap na kalbo. Maaga kasing umangat ang hairline mo e. Tampol ka lagi ng biro dahil lagi kang cool (minsan/madalas din ay pikon). Natatandaan ko nung first year college ata ako nun pagkatapos ng community night prayer natin e bigla kang nagsalita ka sa lecturn. Sabi mo sa community bawas-bawasan na natin ang biruan. Tulad ng inaasahan nagpalakpakan at nagsigawan pa kaming lahat! Sigurado akong walang pari nung oras na iyon.

Isa pa, tuwing ikaw ang tutugtog sa Misa kabisado na namin ang recessional song - ang walang kamatayang “Tell the World of His Love” (kahit apat na taon nang lumipas ang World Youth Day!).

Ngayon ko lang din naalala lagi kang nakatuck-in at laging puti ang tshirt mo. Style.

Tsk tsk. Matagal nang lumipas buhay natin sa seminaryo. Lahat ng iyon lilingunin na lang sabay tawa. Mga pari na tayo ngayon...

Hindi ko na hahabaan pa ang sulat na ito. Hindi mo naman ito matatangap e. Saka di naman ganito ang style ng mga sagot ko sa mga email mo sakin. Inaaliw ko lang ang sarili ko dahil hindi ako naka-attend sa Misa Pasasalamat at libing mo.

Hindi ko maitype ang salitang “libing” para kasing di bagay kasi parang buhay ka pa.

Nagdadasal nga pala ako ng night prayer nang magtext sa akin si Patrick nung Lunes. Sabi nya “Fr. Robert del Rosario passed away. Pls. Pray 4 his repose.” Hindi ko ito agad pinansin tinuloy ko lang ang dasal ko. Siguro mali ang balita. Siguro ibang pari iyon. Siguro hindi ikaw iyon. Matagal bago tumimo ang katotohan. Pero nang tinawagan ko si Patrick sabi nya ikaw nga.

Nakakalungkot pala ang mamatayan ng isang kapatid na pari. Lalo na iyong halos kasabayan mo lang maordenahan. Gusto kong i-quote dito ang isang parte ng sulat mo sa akin dati. Pabiro iyon pero may lalim.

musta na ang aking kapatid na pari? 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.(Jan /10/2008 12:18 pm)

Ako din araw-araw pinag-uubra lang. Isa ka ng OBRA ngayon kapatid! Kahanga-hanga namatay kang isang pari. Congratulations!

Hanggang dito na lang Don Robert, alam ko daig mo pa ang totoong Don diyan dahil nakamit mo na ang tunay na kayamanan.

May you rest in peace with our Good Shepherd.

Pray for us Fr. Robert!

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Read the report of his death

Our Meeting Place

2008-04-05T12:17:00.008+11:00

3rd Sunday of Easter A
Acts 2:14, 22-33;
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 1 Peter 1:17-21;
Luke 24:13-35 April 5-6, 2008

Road of Emmaus

Our Scripture readings this Sunday have one common, an encouraging theme: “No matter what happens in our lives, our Risen Lord is always with us.” We must not feel we are abandoned or alone, Jesus is always with us. We encounter Jesus day by day but because we are preoccupied or busy, oftentimes we don’t recognise him most especially to unexpected persons or events.

The risen Lord with the most beautiful smile

A young boy was walking home through the park after attending a Sunday school class. Somehow, he couldn’t stop thinking about the lesson for that day about Jesus’ teaching on the Last Judgment. What impressed him most was what the teacher said, "When you give something to another person, you’re really giving it to Jesus and you will find the risen Jesus in every one you meet." As he continued through the park, he noticed an old woman sitting on a bench. She looked lonely and hungry. So he sat down next to her, took a chocolate bar he had saved and offered some to her. She accepted it with a beautiful smile and he watched her smiles as she chewed the chocolate.

Then they sat together in silence, just smiling at each other. Finally, the boy got up to leave. As he began to walk away, he turned, ran back to the bench, and gave the woman a big hug. When he arrived home, his mother saw a big smile on his face and asked, "What made you so happy today?" He said, "I shared my chocolate bar with God." Before his mother could ask more questions, he added, "You know, she has the most beautiful smile in the world." Meanwhile, the old woman returned to her little apartment where she lived with her sister. "You’re all smiles," said her sister. "What made you so happy today?" She replied, "I was sitting in the park, eating a chocolate bar with Jesus. And, you know, he looks a lot younger than I expected."

The message of the story is simple – Jesus is with us and he always desires to stay with us. He wants to join us in our travels of life.

He is with us; Jesus desires to walk always on our journey…

It’s the same message of the Gospel story today. The road to Emmaus story illustrates that Jesus is with us even when we do not recognize him. It tells us how our Lord always desires to walk with us on our journey.

Jesus is present in the Word of the Scripture
Jesus remains with us in two ways: in the Eucharist and in his word. He is present in both: in the Eucharist under the form of food, in the Word under the form of light and.

The Scripture is the Word of God. When God speaks a word he always means it. His message is always sincere, reliable and true. When Jesus says, “Do not be afraid; or do not worry” he means it. Jesus wants to assure us his protection. When Jesus says “I am with you always” he fulfills that promise. Jesus is our companion both in ups and downs of our life.

For instance, in today’s post-Easter story, we heard how the two disciples of Jesus, Cleopas and his companions, were discouraged and devastated, as they set out on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were met by a stranger going along the same road. Because they were so preoccupied with their own disappointment and sorrow at the death of Jesus they didn’t recognise that it was Jesus himself, who was walking with them!

Jesus is present in the Eucharist
Secondly Jesus is very present with us in the Eucharist. In the Gospel, the disciples recognize him at the breaking of the bread, then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us…”

Jesus is with us in every celebration of Mass, the celebration of the breaking of the bread. Jesus says it lovingly, “Whoever eats my body and drinks my blood shall live with me eternally.” It a pity that sometimes don’t realize what is happening during Holy Communion.
The Eucharist is soul food, the bread of life for eternity. It feeds us and fills our spiritual needs. It is a pity that sometimes we take going to Mass on Sunday for granted.

Conclusion
The Eucharist is our meeting place with our Lord, it can be our Road to Emmaus. Let us pray in this Mass that our eyes and heart will recognise Jesus’ presence in our midst. May all of us be nourished with His life-giving Word and with the Bread of Life. Amen.

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story from Fr Tony

I Doubt...

2008-04-03T12:02:00.004+11:00

Second Sunday of Easter A

March 29-30, 2008
Scripture: John 20:19-31 “

Help my unbelief Lord”

Doubt
All of us have our moments of doubt and uncertainty - should we quit our job and try a new one? Do I really love my girlfriend? Should we marry? Should we break from an unfulfilling relationship? What I’d like to do in university? Do I really want to become a priest? Should I trade in my old car on a newer model? Buy a new house in a more expensive suburb? Will I ever be a good mother to my children? What about church’s moral teachings or government policies?

You doubt. I doubt. Why not? We all have the right to doubt.

There are a number of reasons for our doubting, uncertainty and indecision in life - in some instances it is simply lack of will power or confidence. More often we doubt things because of of ignorance and lack of information. When we doubt we demand for proof. We always want to be 100 percent really sure of things in life. We know the saying "to see is to believe!" To say in other way, "to believe is to see".

Thomas the Twin This exactly what happened to Thomas after the Lord Risen from the dead. His mind and heart are full of doubt whether to believe that Jesus really rose from the dead. Thomas laid down his requirements for believing in the resurrection. His doubts that the Lord has truly risen echo through history. His doubts echo as well our unbelief and lack of faith.

Thomas sincerely believes that Jesus, who he followed wherever he went, was now dead and gone. He was sincere about his doubt. He was sincere in demanding proof that the Jesus is alive. Suddenly his fellow apostles reversed his unbelief as they proclaim, "We have seen the Lord! Jesus is alive! The doors were all locked and suddenly he stood there among us! He talked to us!" Thomas’ heart could not accept it. Too much was at stake. So he dramatically cried out loud, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

This is exactly in character for Thomas. The tough words are really a protection for a heart that would break in half if given another false hope. “The only way I would believe such nonsense is if you give me very practical proof.”

Jesus gave it. Fingers in nail marks, hand into side.

In spite of his cynicism, Thomas had always belonged to Jesus. When he got the practical proof he needed, he sank to the ground.

And then, doubting apostle proclaimed the greatest profession of faith: “My Lord and my God.”

It becomes the foundation of our Christian faith. Our faith is based on the divinity of Jesus as proved by his miracles, especially by the supreme miracle of his resurrection from the dead. Thomas’ profession of faith is the strongest evidence we have of the resurrection of Jesus. It was such a faith that culminated in Thomas’ self surrender to Jesus, his heroic missionary expedition to India in A.D. 52 and his fearless preaching and powerful testimony by life, which led him to his martyrdom in A.D. 72.

We are like Thomas, we doubt things...are doubt is strong at times of trials and sadness. When like is tough we doubt the presence of our loving God. We accept our being human but like Thomas let us use our doubt, our skeptism to help us grow in faith.

The good thing about Thomas was that he was honest. He was sincere and courageous enough to say, “I really do not understand…I really cannot understand that the Lord died and rose from the dead.”

Thomas became a saint because of his sincerity and courage. He did not understand at the start, but once he understood, once it was clear in his mind and heart, he went all the way – even unto death – in following our Lord.

More often it is our genuine doubts about our faith or the doctrines of our religion that encourage us to study more and thus grow in our faith. This will naturally lead us to a personal encounter with Jesus through prayer, study of the Word of God, and frequenting of the sacraments. If have doubt in your faith remember the words of our Lord, “ask and you shall receive.”

However, we must never forget that our faith is not our own doing, but a gift from God. Hence we need to increase our faith every day by prayer, by sharing our faith with our children, our families and our neighbors, so that we may join St. Thomas in his Easter proclamation: “My Lord and my God”.

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Readings: Fr tony's homily & Bishop Soc

Katawa

2008-04-02T23:50:00.007+11:00

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Based on a true story...

Barker ng bus: ah Cubao, Cubao, Cubao, Cubao,
Cubao,Cubao, Cubao,Cubao, Cubao, Cubao,
Cubao,Cubao,Cubao,Cubao,Cubao,Cubao,!!!!
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Pasahero ng Bus: Boss Cubao?
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In Europe were the Pieta created by Michaelangelo is displayed:

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Italian: "Magnifico!"
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English: "Brilliant!"
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Aussie: "Superb mate!"
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American: "Wow! Amazing!"
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Filipino: "Picture! picture! dali pangfriendster!"

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text messages received today from cune and ruthie

Bday Greetings!

2008-03-28T21:53:00.003+11:00

Hi Sister Lan!

Chuc Mung Sinh Nhat! :)

Be at Peace

2008-03-28T21:10:00.010+11:00

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Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life;
rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are,
will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.

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Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same understanding Father who cares for
you today will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside
all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

by St. Francis de Sales

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picture: Sunset in Danshui, north Taiwan

Pulilan

2008-03-28T20:30:00.005+11:00

Pulilan

bayang sinilangan

hinahanap-hanap

di kailanman malilimutan

lupang kinagisnan

tahanang bayan

Pulilan

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larawan kuha ni Matilde de Guzman

Beauty of Silence

2008-03-27T21:52:00.002+11:00

What cannot be expressed, should be left in silence.

Lesson In Life

2008-03-26T23:53:00.003+11:00

Perseverance is much more important in life than intelligence.

Entering Holy Week

2008-03-16T22:20:00.001+11:00

Palm Sunday 2008

During Holy Week we are entering into a special part of Church calendar when you and I will accompany the final moments of our Lord – his agony in the Garden, his arrest, his abandonment by his friends, the denial of Peter.

On Holy Thursday we will remember the Last Supper and the betrayal of Judas.

On Good Friday, the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ.

Holy Saturday, the Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave.

Easter Sunday, the glorious Resurrection of our Lord.

You and I, and the rest of Catholic around the world, are invited during this Holy Week to enter prayerfully and meditatively into the heart and mystery of our salvation. It’s the mystery of dying and rising, the mystery of humiliation and exaltation, the mystery of suffering and glorification, the mystery of death of one person in order that we live eternally, the mystery of defeat which is crowed with victory.

We just heard the narration of the Lord’s Passion according to the Gospel of St Matthew. The scripture story invites us all to enter into the story of Christ’s passion, his psychological torture, physical torment of the scourging and the crowning with thorn.

There are several characters in the story that perhaps we can relate with - Pilate, the crowds, Judas, Simon of Cyrene, Barabbas, the good thief, the bad thief, the crown, etc. Let us journey with them this Holy Week. Gradually we will experience during this week our Lord’s desire to be near us, to be so intimately closed to each one of us and reveal his love.

Jesus wants you and I, to always remember how he loves us, love that caused his own death on the cross.

Commitment
Today, let us make a commitment to celebrate this holy week in the way never celebrate before. Let us participate in our liturgical activities during the week as an expression of our desire to encounter Jesus and not to abandon him.

Jesus knows our own suffering too, the burdens we bear, depression, conflict in our family, health problem and all other conflict we carry in our mind and heart. During this week we ask our Lord to give us the strength and courage to carry our own crosses in life and make sacrifices for others sake.

With all this in mind and heart we are ready for Holy Week.

Living Up

2008-03-08T22:50:00.000+11:00

Fifth Sunday of Lent A
Hope – Raising of Lazarus
March 8, 2008

Herald Sun Weekend magazine
Last Saturday week Herald Sun Weekend magazine had a big section on how to achieve a better life – how to feel fitter, eat better, think faster, de-stress and put real meaning back into our world. The magazine enumerated 20 practical ways how to change our life. They are in this order: invite your neighbour in, show that you appreciate your friends and family, learn to cook something new, drink more water, cook at home, learn to dance, have a check-up, meditate, find your own special place, get some exercise, get a good night’s sleep, play mind games, manage conflict at work, take up a team sport, heal yourself through laughter, consider yoga, keep a diary, enroll in a coarse, and lastly, go easy on yourself as a parent.

I myself would personally try most of these (except the last one) and see what will happen. I believe our modern technology and health experts can provide us the possibility of rapid change in our life for better, a balance and healthy life-style.

Then, I ask myself, let’s say that I’ve done all these things good exercise, good diet, and everything, still in the end I will die. Even if I’m the most discipline, smart and healthy person on earth, I can’t be here forever.

I must be hope for something more than good health or a radical change in our life!

We must hope for something that is not temporary but lasting, that is beyond this life.

Ultimate Hope
Today’s readings point to our ultimate hope in life in the midst of the mess in humanity, depression and all its confusion. We have all the ultimate hope to live a life untouched by debt, miseries, pain and death. Our ultimate hope is eternal life.

In encyclical letter Spes Salvi (On Christian Hope), Pope Benedict XIV says, In some way we want life itself, true life, untouched even by death; yet we do not know the thing towards which we feel driven. We cannot stop reaching out for it, and yet we know that all we can experience or accomplish is not what we yearn for.

I suppose what the Holy Father is saying is that we are all hoping for a better life, we often don’t know how to achieve it. No medical breakthrough or modern technology can offer us eternal life. We cannot simply download it from the internet.

In today’s Gospel Jesus brings the ultimate hope to humanity that we are all longing for – the hope for eternal life.

We heard from the Gospel last Sunday when Jesus healed the blind, he brings the sign of light into the world. Today’s raising of Lazarus is a sign of the new life, of new hope, offered through the Spirit of the risen Lord.

The dramatic scene of Lazarus coming out from the cave, wrapped in linen but alive and well, is not really the main point of the reading. Lazarus was only temporarily resuscitated by our Lord. Like all human beings, Lazarus would succumb to natural death later on.

The raising of Lazarus is one of the last and greatest miracles worked by our Lord to prove that he is the Messiah, sent by God to give a new life, an eternal life, to humankind and that through faith in him believers will receive eternal life.

Jesus explains the purpose of this miracle not because Lazarus was one of his very close friends, rather “it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” How? First, when Jesus brings Lazarus back to life, people will give God glory for the miracle. Second, by restoring the life of Lazarus, Jewish leaders of his time would be more determine to kill Jesus. And ironically, the death of Jesus would bring true life and hope to the world.

Message
When Lazarus came out of the cave, Jesus commanded the people to “Untie him, let him go.” This is what Jesus saying to each of us today as we approach the end of Lent.

Untie him, let him go.
There are so many dark areas in our private life. We often bind ourselves with strings of our sinfulness, laziness, un-forgiveness, pride gossip, prejudices, hatred and uncontrollable anger and bury ourselves in the tombs of despair. Jesus asks us today to seek his help and that of the community around us to loosen those chains and come out of tombs of our own creation.

Is there an area of your life where your hope is gone? Do you want to lock it up in a tomb and seal it away from Jesus or are you willing to have Jesus visit this area of your life? There are times when we refuse to let God enter into lives, to unbind and free us from the darkness of mess.

If you want Jesus to visit the dark dungeons of your life, ask Jesus during this Holy Mass to bring the light and the power of His Holy Spirit into your private life and ask him to liberate us from our tombs.

Let the story of the resurrection of Lazarus become our story! We are called to leave our graves of sin and unhappiness. Jesus calls each of us by name to come out of our graves and help others to do the same.

Only then after we come out from our raised own grave of sinfulness, and be re-created by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we can truly say that we live better, feel fitter, eat better, think faster, put real meaning back into our world.

Blind can see

2008-03-02T22:48:00.001+11:00

Fourth Sunday of Lent A
March 1-2, 2008

(DRAFT )

Healing of the Blind Man

Highschool class discussion
If you would have one disability what would you choose?
It’s alright to be deaf;
Somehow it’s ok mute; limp; lose one leg; arm
To be blind? To loose sight it’s like leaving in a dark hole; Imagine you cannot the colour of a flowers; the change of season; the face of your loved ones.
It doesn’t only restricts your mobility but you seem to live in your own world; it’s not easy…
Imagine yourself being blind – close you eyes for a minute. How blessed we are that we can see.

Sri Lankan
- met at St Peters parish 4 years ago...
She prays not for herself but for world, for the poor, young people and her children and grandchildren. I never heard her praying for her own needs. Her physical eyes were blind but her heart has clear vision of the needs of the people.

Physical blindness
Spiritual blindness
People who can see yet they cannot see what is essential.
Some people pretend to be blind or not seeing things because they don’t what to see the reality. (Mother pretending not seeing the jocks and socks scattered in the house; Cat during Mass; beggars in the streets)

Some people cannot see the goodness of their loved ones. Those who do not appreciate good things in life – those who cannot appreciate smile; laughter; friendship

We are spiritually blind when we cannot see the needs of other people. (In the train pregnant woman without seat; elderly person crossing the road)

We are spiritually blind when we pretend not to see evil/harmful things in our lives. When we tolerate one’s inclination to sins. When we pretend not seeing sinfulness happening inside or around us.

The highest level of spiritual blindness – we cannot see Jesus as the light of our life.

Pharisees are spiritually blind
They witnessed before their eyes the miracle that happened to a man born blind yet their “eyes of faith” are closed; they were blind to it. They met Jesus, without really meeting him. They heard Jesus and they saw him, but they neither saw nor heard the salvation that Jesus brings. Why? Because if they admitted the truth that Jesus is God – Messiah - they were afraid that they would lose their seat of power and their influence.

Their pride is the one that is covering the eyes of their faith – which makes them “spiritually blind”.

Spiritual blindness is worst than being physically blind. When people are spiritually blind they do not believe in Jesus or obey him. But when people trust in Jesus to save them, they are given "spiritual eyes" to see God’s will for their lives. When our “eyes of our faith” is open we are able to see and understand the goodness of God; the beauty of the world; the grandeur of being human; that other people do not see and understand.

Jesus is the light
When Jesus healed the blind man in the Gospel. Jesus brought both physical and spiritual healing.

When the former blind man believed that Jesus is the Lord his vision goes beyond seeing. He faith able to see Jesus as the Light that shun the darkness of sin. The Light that illumines the humanity and the whole world. In Jesus, he found a much important security in life more than having clear vision eyes.

Jesus is ever ready to heal us and to free us from the darkness of sin and deception. There is no sickness, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual that the Lord Jesus cannot heal.

The Lord offers us freedom from spiritual blindness due to sin and he restores us to wholeness of body, mind, soul, and heart.

We ask our Lord in this Eucharist to touch and open our eyes to the deeper and beautiful realities of our faith.

Let's rejoice today that Christ is the Light of the World. We cannot remain in the darkness of sin; miseries and anxiety. We have Jesus who can take us out of the darkness of our sins and even our dark past.

He is the our Saviour, Healer and our Light.

"Jesus, in your name the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead are raised to life. Come into our lives and heal the wounds of our broken hearts. Give us eyes of faith to see your glory and hearts of courage to bring you glory in all we say and do."

Let's Drink

2008-02-24T22:42:00.000+11:00

3rd Sunday of Lent A
Exodus 17:3-7
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
John 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

The Samaritan Woman and the Water of Life

Water
Water is absolutely essential to the survival of life on Earth. Every living organism on earth must have water in some form in order to survive. Every living cell is composed primarily of water.

When space probes are dispatched to other planets in search of other life forms, they look for the presence to water to determine if life, as we know it, is possible there. Water means life.

Have you ever noticed in public place how many people around you are carrying a bottle of water? One can live without food for several days, but not without water. We cannot go for more than a couple of hours without satisfying our thirst.

In the first reading today, the Jewish people were desperate for water. When they complained about their water crisis in the wilderness, God instructed Moses to strike the rock and a stream of fresh living water gushed out (Exodus17:6 ). Even though the Israelites did not trust God to care for them in the wilderness, God, nonetheless gave them abundant water and provision through the intercession of his servant Moses.

Gospel message
In the Gospel today, we heard an encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan women at the well. Jesus wanted to offer this woman the living water. Jesus is not referring to water that can satisfy our physical thirst rather water that satisfies our spiritual thirst. He is offering “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” This symbolizes the Holy Spirit and his work of recreating us in God’s image and sustaining in us the new life which comes from God.

The long version of the Gospel gives us background of this woman. She was longing for happiness and satisfaction, which she couldn’t find. She has five husbands (plus she has a new lover) and they hadn’t brought her what she was really looking for. She is a figure of a human being longing for spiritual satisfaction but has no idea where to find it, until Jesus found her.

At the end of the long heart to heart conversation Jesus reveals himself to her as the Messiah, which in turn leads her to faith in him.

Human Thirst
Like the woman at the well in today's Gospel, we try every kind of water under the sun to satisfy our thirst. Later in life, we recognize that our “thirst” is far more than physical thirst — it's thirst for happiness, satisfaction, peace of mind. Sometimes we "get it right," but often we look for the wrong kind of water, and we look for it in the wrong places. We often spend all kinds of money and waste a lot of time, looking for something to quench our thirsts – drinks, food, work, looks, accomplishment, other persons, sexual pleasure, and so on.

Jesus - living water
Jesus offers us the spiritual water that really satisfies. He is offering us what He offered the Samaritan woman—water far superior to anything she had ever tasted or ever dreamed of.

Jesus never despised her sinful state or bad reputation; instead offered her “a living water” that will cleanse, refresh and renew her life.

Jesus understood her hidden longing even better than she did, and so he began to lead her to where he, the healer, could astound her by the truth that indeed he is the Messiah.
When she heard this, she dropped her bucket and joyfully ran back to her townspeople to spread the good news that she has found the Messiah!

Lenten Message
Lent is a time for us to let Jesus satisfy our thirst. Like the Samaritan woman, we find real joy and satisfaction in letting the Lord fill us with the grace of the season. Like her, we find that our joy is greatest when we were accepted despite of who we are.

Our relationship with the Lord is the water of our lives: essential for our well being and the source of our joy. Without the Lord we would wither away like dried leaves.

Only Jesus, always Jesus fulfils all our desires!

“Lord Jesus, my soul thirsts for you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may always find joy in your presence and take delight in doing your will. Bring me always the spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

turning...

2008-02-22T22:54:00.001+11:00

naks!

Constant Change

2008-02-17T22:31:00.000+11:00

Second Sunday of Lent A
February 16-17, 2008
Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm: 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Matthew 17:1-9

Change
An ancient Greek philosopher by the name of Heraclitus said our world is ruled by the law of change. Everything around us is changing that “no one can step the same river twice.” Because different waters flow in rivers, the water are always changing.

Nothing is permanent in this world. The only permanent in this world is change. Season change and temperature change. "Cold things warm up, the hot cools off, wet becomes dry, dry becomes wet."

We human life is also governed by the law of change. Our appearance change, our weight and waistline change, our mood or emotion swings from one to another. As year go pass we grow old in age, we gain wisdom, we learn new things, we mature and developed.

Lent
Change is the call of Lenten season. We are invited during this time of the year to change our old ways, change our bad habits to conversion.

We notice various changes in the life of the Church during the time of Lent: our liturgy is simple we don’t sing or recite the Gloria; we don’t sing or say the Alleluia to welcome the Gospel; there are no flowers in the church. In some churches they cover the statues and images during Lenten season.

During the time of Lent, we change a bit our normal lifestyle - we make sacrifices, we give up something pleasurable, we let go off things that stop us following Him, so that inner change may truly happen within us. Inner change is called a conversion heart. To be converted means allowing our hearts being touched by the words Jesus through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Lent is a time when we bring our mind and heart closer to our Lord so that we can listen attentively to him attentively. Conversion of heart is the goal we want to achieve in Lent.

Transfiguration
In the Gospel reading, Peter, James and John, witnessed a sudden change in Jesus – He was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. They were dumbfounded at this dramatic vision, also with the appearance of the two great men from the Old Testament, Moses and Elijan appeared to them. As this happens they head a voice saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

In an instant the three disciples, Peter, James and John, experience a glorious moment that would change and deepen their understanding about Jesus – the person whom they were following. Up until now they knew Jesus only in his external appearance: He was not a man different from others; they knew where he came from, his habits, the timber of his voice. Now they know another Jesus, the true Jesus, the one who cannot be seen with the eyes of ordinary life, in the normal light of the sun; what they now know of him is the fruit of a sudden revelation, of a change, of a gift.

Because things change for us too, as they changed for the three disciples on Tabor; something needs to happen in our lives similar to what happens when a young man and woman fall in love. In falling in love with someone, the beloved, who before was one of many, or perhaps unknown, suddenly becomes the only one, the sole person in the world who interests us.

The Transfiguration of Jesus calls us to transfigure our hearts which means making him the sole center of our life amidst the world around us that is constantly changing. What are those changes around us? Faith and religious practice are in decline, and they not seem to constitute, the point of reference in life. There is the boredom, the weariness, the struggle for believers in performing their duties. Many young people are not attracted to the faith. There is dullness and lack of joy among the believers in Christ. On the other hand, being faithful Christian makes you unpopular and considered old fashioned.

Challenge
We should not be discouraged about this change. When Jesus allowed his disciples to see him transfigured, his purpose was not to show off his glory and power rather he wanted to encourage and strengthen their faith. So when they see him suffer on the cross they would not lose hope. And when themselves experience persecution because of their faith they would not lose their love and trust in him.

The Transfiguration of our Lord transfigures the hearts of his disciples, loving him faithfully both in times of joy and sorrow.

The challenge for us during this today, especially at this time of Lent: are you ready to transfigure your heart?

Real change of heart happens when we are no longer so much preoccupied with selfish questions such as: How beautiful is my look? How much money do I have? How much power do I posses? How much pleasures are available for me?

Real changed of heart happens when we simply ask: How can I please God? How can I serve him in other people? Will my attitude make God happy?

Let us remember nothing is not permanent in this world, all things we see, taste and touch are all but temporary, including ourselves, we will all leave this world.

There is one thing that is more permanent than change. The unchangeable love of God to us is the only concrete and permanent in this world. We can enjoy the permanence and eternity God’s love, but first we need our hearts transfigured.

Evil Exists

2008-02-10T17:46:00.001+11:00

First Sunday of Lent (YearA)

February 8-9, 2008 Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
Romans 5:12-19
17-19Matthew 4:1-11

Temptation...Temptation is something that allures, excites, and seduces someone. Temptation has many form, it exists anywhere at any time (mostly in the kitchen table, even in the church and during Mass). Some people are tempted to leave just before the Mass finished. Temptation by its nature distracts our attention and focus in doing what is right and good and what is pleasing before the eyes of God.

Human as we are, anyone is prone to temptation we lose our attention in doing the will of God. Even the most holiest priest can be tempted.

There was once a young, pious priest waiting for a taxi at a street corner. Suddenly rain started to pour down and the poor priest was getting soaked to the bones. Luckily a car came a long and stopped to offer him a ride. As the priest got in, he found out that the one behind the driver was a young, very attractive lady.

For spiritual protection, the devout priest prayed to himself: “Lord, deliver me from evil.” As they drove on, a freak accident happened causing the car to slide and swerve out of the road falling into a ditch. The car overturned, knocking off the two unconscious.

A few moments later… The young priest regained consciousness, he saw his hand resting on the smooth, tender hand of the lady, of course by accident. Seeing the compromising situation, the pious priest looked up to heaven and prayed: “Lord, thy will be done!”

We do not know the end of the story. Did the priest give in to temptation or not?

Lent begins
The celebration of Ash Wednesday four days ago marked the beginning of Lent. The imposition of ash on our foreheads reminded us of our own mortality in order to help us focus on Christ’s self-sacrifice and more eagerly to celebrate his Resurrection.

Lenten season is a 40-day journey. It's a 40-day of discipline not lose our focus and attention to our Lord who is the destiny of our earthly journey. The purpose of 40 days is to ready us to celebrate Easter with ‘mind and heart renewed’. We begin the first Sunday of Lent with the reading of today’s Gospel – the Temptation of Jesus. Yes, Jesus himself was tempted. Jesus is like us in every way, he was tempted as we are, but always with this one exception: He did not sin. In contrast to Adam and Eve, from the first reading, Jesus remained faithful to God when he was tempted and never lose his focus to obey God, even though it would lead him to the Cross and the Tomb.

Sin
Sin is not a popular topic in our modern culture, but during this time of Lent we are called to face up to its reality in our lives and to the devastating effect it has had on the world around us. Sin always had an effect not in our personal life but also has social implications – it affects our family, children, community…

The logic is this: Temptation leads to sin, sin leads to death. Thus the best way to avoid sin is to prevent temptation as we always pray when we recited the Lord’s pray we say, “Lead us not to temptation but deliver us from evil.”

In our modern culture the greatest temptation we are facing is the attitude that denies existence of evil. The demon’s greatest trick is to make people believe that he does not exist. Evil tells us that sin is not a big deal, everyone does it anyway: it’s ok to swear; it’s ok to commit adultery; it’s ok to abort a fetus it’s not a baby; it’s ok to live together outside marriage it’s common now; it's ok to have sex before marriage; it's to sometimes disobey our parents; it's ok not to pray; it’s ok not to go to confession; it’s ok not to church on Sunday, God is everywhere anyway and I will go to church when I feel like going;

It’s ok to sin. Not a big deal.

But we know it’s not ok to sin. When we sin deep in our heart there is an little voice (conscience) that tells us "something is not right" and guilt confronts us. No matter how hard we justify ourselves we feel it's not ok.

We all know from our personal experience the bad effect of sin, again to our family, loved ones, children, community, even to our economy.

Jesus conquers Sin
Evil exists, it’s a fact. The devil roams around and within us. Yet the most important thing that the Christian faith has to tell us is not that evil exist, but that Christ has defeated evil. Christ is more powerful than the devil. With Christ we have nothing to fear. Nothing and no one can do us ill, unless we ourselves allow it. Satan, said an ancient Father of the Church, after Christ's coming, is like a dog chained up in the barnyard: He can bark and lunge as much as he wants, but if we don't go near him, he cannot harm us.

In the desert Jesus freed himself from Satan to free us! This is the joyous news with which we begin our Lenten journey toward Easter.

Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving
During these 40days of Lent we acknowledge our sinfulness before God. We trust his loving mercy and forgiveness to renew our lives and set us free from our past mistakes and wrong decision.

This week, Archbishop Denis Hart, Archbishop of Melbourne, wrote in his Pastoral Letter for 2008 some guidelines how we make this season of Lenten a meaningful journey. His letter is available for us to read.

He presents us what the Gospel calls us to do during this time of Lent – to pray, fast and almsgiving or works of love.

The archbishop invites us to be faithful in our prayer life most especially the celebration of Mass. We are invited to observe silence in our churches before and after Mass to provide each other with opportunities to reach out to the Lord in prayer. He encourages us also to walk with Jesus during this time of Lent by attending Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Way of the Cross and the Rosary.

Archbishop Hart briefly mentioned the importance of fasting as discipline which enables us to focus our attention to God and the needs of others, rather than our own needs.

Lastly he encourages us Catholics to continue our strong tradition of helping the poor as an expression of our love. He says, We who live in a land of plenty are given the opportunity to think of others who lack the abundance that we have. Each year we contribute financial help to alleviate the poor through Project Compassion.

The core of almsgiving is love and justice. We donate something to the poor not because we are rich and they are poor. We do not give because of pity but we give, we help, not merely because they poor but because they are our brothers and sisters, and we love them.

Conclusion
We pray as one family that together we make this Lenten season an opportunity to overcome temptation, an opportunity to say sorry for the many times gave in to temptation, an opportunity of renewal and growth and a real pilgrimage that we may reach the destiny of our journey, no other than our Resurrected Lord. Amen.

Happiness

2008-02-03T17:39:00.000+11:00

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time A
February 2-3, 2008
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
1 Corinthians1:26-31
Matthew 5:1-12a

What is happiness? What makes you happy? Happiness is a feeling of contentment and satisfaction. A simple definition of happiness can be described as a pleasurable feeling, joy and contentment. An outward sign of being happy is a big beautiful smile.

A student will say, “I am happy to go to school when homework was done.”
A mother will say, “I am happy to see my children eating well and healthy.”
A grandmother will say, “I always feel fulfilled and happy after hearing Mass on Sunday. I am incomplete not going to church.”
A lover will say to his beloved, “I am happy only if she is are happy.”

Happiness… Isn’t it happiness our goal in life? Anne Frank writes on her diary, "We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same."

People look for happiness in family life, in ones career, etc. We sometimes believe that a change of circumstances will make us happy: restoration of our health, winning a tattslotto, an improved financial situation, a better job or perhaps a new romance.

It is natural for us to spend a lifetime search for happiness, hoping to fill the emptiness, incompleteness or sadness we have deep within. The problem is sometimes we do not know where to find real happiness.

Searching for happiness story
The story is told about a man who searched for gold all his life. His one preoccupation, devotion and obsession in life was to accumulate more and more gold believing this would make him happy. He was spending so much time of his life, sacrificing his health, his family, his friends, his values, his faith and even his very soul for precious, precious gold. When he died, St. Peter showed him the road to heaven. To his surprise the road to heaven was all paved with gold with the words: “That which you considered valuable and precious on earth is just asphalt here.

Gospel
There are two ways to achieve happiness: one is the way of the World, and the second way is the way of Jesus. The way of the World to achieve happiness is the accumulation of the 4 P’s namely, power, prestige, possessions and popularity. The way of the World promises us that these 4 P’s are keys to be happy. But in reality they are not based on tragic experience of many people we’ve know who had achieved power, prestige, possessions and popularity.

The second way to achieve happiness is the way of Jesus. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a rather different road to happiness. Contrary to the way of the World, Jesus gives us a prescription for real and genuine happiness in a number of short sayings which we call the Beatitudes.

The word beatitude comes from the Latin root word beati (beatitude, happiness) means blessed but a more literal translation of beatitude into contemporary English is “happy.” The Beatitudes imply that people not normally considered blessed (happy) on Earth are in fact blessed by God and will experience the Kingdom of Heaven, where there is eternal and real happiness.

Jesus' way of happiness, contrary to the way of the World, do not require accumulation of material things, however, demands a transformation from within — a conversion of heart and mind – the search for happiness is begins from within.

First Four Beatitudes:
The first set of four beatitudes: Happiness of the poor in spirit, the gentle, the mourners and the righteous.

Humility, being poor in spirit, is the fundamental condition of a relationship with God. Poverty in spirit is the first condition for real happiness. Being poor in spirit is not trusting in ourselves but trusting in God instead. We are poor in spirit when we surrender our plans to God asking for his help. Poverty in spirit makes us free to seek God alone not on material things or prestigious titles that we have.

If we are to be happy we are to be gentle, to be gentle means to self controlled and God controlled. To be gentle does not mean being soft or quiet, rather it also has the ability to be angry with the right people about the right things at the right time to the right degree.

Jesus says that we will be happy when we mourn for our sins and the sins of others.

We will be happy when we are hunger and thirst for what is right. A righteous person is someone who only desires the will of God and one who has a profound respect for others and wants to treat others with equal dignity. So when we see other people abused in one way or another, we hunger and thirst that their dignity will be respected.

The Second Set of Beatitudes
The second set of beatitudes: The happiness of the merciful, pure of heart, peace makers and the persecuted. All the second set of four beatitudes is best interpreted as the ability to give unconditional forgiveness and the generosity to ask pardon for our offences against others.
Jesus gave the example of the forgiving love of a merciful heart from the cross by praying for his executioners. As long as we hold something in our hearts against somebody we are not free, we are not happy.

Purity of heart makes one happy. The pure in heart are morally pure, in body, speech and in mind.

Balance
What way of happiness are we following: the way of the World, or the way of Jesus? Jesus is telling us today, that a happy person is the person for whom God is the most important thing in life – whether one is poor or rich, popular or not, powerful or weak. If our first thought in the morning and the last thought in the evening are of how to desire God, then we are happy.

"Lord, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting happiness and peace. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will."

Sa Dapit Hapon

2008-02-02T15:40:00.000+11:00

T’wing dakong dapit-hapon,
Minamasdam ko lagi
Ang paglubog ng araw,
hudyat ng takipsilim;

Ganyan ang aking buhay,
Kung may dilim ang buwan
Hihiwat sa baybayin pagsapit ng dilim

Kung magawa ko lamang
Ang hangin ay mapigil
At ang dilim ng hatinggabi,
Huwag sanang magmamaliw.
Upang ang palakaya ay laging masagana;
Sa tangan kong liwanag ang kawa’y lalapit.

Nang dakong dapit-hapon,
Piging ng Panginoon,
Sa mga kaibigan ay manghuling hapunan.
Sa bagong salu-salo,
nagdiriwang ang bayan,
Ang tanging Kanyang hain
Ay sarili niyang buhay.

FR. EDUARDO P. HONTIVEROS, SJ
(20 Dec 1923 – 15 Jan 2008)

Sa Aking Pagtanda

2008-02-01T10:30:00.000+11:00

Sa aking pagpunta sa simbahan ng San Agustin sa Baliwag, Bulacan, nuong isang taon, nagulat ako nang makita ko ang dalawang libro na ang una ay may pamagat na "Vitamin C" at ang isa naman ay "Multivitamins" na parehong isinulat ni Fr Ariel Robles. Hindi ako sa pamagat nagulat subalit sa pangalan ni Fr Ariel. Naging guro ko kasi si Fr Ariel nuong 1994, diyakono palang si padre nun, unang taon ko iyon sa seminaryo ng Inmaculada Conception sa Guiguinto, Bulacan. Bago ako magtapos sa Philosophy Department taon 1999 si Fr. Ariel ang aming college dean.

Tahimik lang si Fr. Ariel ngunit pag nagsalita ay makabuluhan at talagang makikinig ka. Simple ngunit malalim ang kanyang homilya. Nakakatuwang isipin na may nalathala na pala siyang libro ngayon. Pagkabili ko ay pinabasa ko muna ito sa ina ko. May isang parte daw dun na naiyak siya, itinuro niya sa akin iyon, at ito ay isang liham na mula sa magulang na marahil ay uugod-ugod na. 'Di ko lubos maisip na marami pala ang naantig sa sulat na ito kaya mabilis itong na nalathala ("kumalat") sa internet.

Sana ay magkitang muli kami ni Fr. Ariel upang siya ay pasalamatan at i-congratulate.

Sa Aking Pagtanda
Rev. Fr. Ariel F. Robles

Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensyahan.

Kapag dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan o nakatapon ng sabaw sa hapag kainan, huwag mo sana akong kagagalitan.

Maramdamin ang isang matanda. Nagse-self-pity ako sa tuwing sisigawan mo ako.

Kapag mahina na ang tenga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, huwag mo naman sana akong sabihan ng “binge!” paki-ulit nalang ang sinabi mo o pakisulat nalang.

Pasensya ka na, anak, matanda na talaga ako.

Kapag mahina na tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong tulungang tumayo, katulad ng pag-aalalay ko sa iyo noong nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad.

Pagpasensyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ay nagiging makulit at paulit ulit na parang sirang plaka. Basta pakinggan mo nalang ako. Huwag mo sana akong pagtatawanan o pagsasawaang pakinggan. Natatandaan mo anak noong bata ka pa? kapag gusto mo ng lobo,paulit-ulit mo ‘yong sasabihin, maghapon kang mangungulit hangga’t hindi mo nakukuha ang gusto mo. Pinagtyagaan ko ang kakulitan mo.

Pagpasensyahan mo na rin sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda, amoy lupa. Huwag mo sana akong piliting maligo. Mahina na ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag nalamigan, huwag mo sana akong pandirihan.Natatandaan mo noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kitang habulin sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mong maligo.Pagpasensyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako’y masungit, dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan mo rin.

Kapag may konti kang panahon, magkwentuhan naman tayo, kahit sandali lang. inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong nag-iisa. Walang kausap. Alam kong busy ka sa trabaho, subalit nais kong malaman mo na sabik na sabik na akong makakwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong hindi ka interesado sa mga kwento ko. Natatandaan mo anak, noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kong pakinggan at intindihin ang pautal-utal mong kwento tungkol sa iyong teddy bear.

At kapag dumating ang sandali na ako’y magkakasakit at maratay sa banig ng karamdaman, huwag mo sana akong pagsawaan alagaan. Pagpasensyahan mo na sana kung ako man ay maihi o madumi sa higaan, pagtyagaan mo sana akong alagaan sa mga huling sandali ng aking buhay. Tutal hindi na naman ako magtatagal.

Kapag dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo sana ang aking kamay at bigyan mo ako ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang kamatayan.

At huwag kang mag-alala, kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagapalain ka sana … dahil naging mapagmahal ka sa iyong ama’t ina…

Listen to his radio interview on SBS Radio

An Aging Parent's Plea To His Child
English translation by Edecat Manila

As I grow old,
I seek your Patience and Understanding.
Despite Hard-of-Hearing - notwithstanding,
"Love me". You're told.

If I spill Soup or break Plate,
My Eyesight could be dimming.
Look upon me with no hate.
Lest, I get a bad feeling.

If I am slow to stand,
My Knees could be weakening.
Quickly give me your Hand,
For I did teach you - Walking.

If I'm slow to understand,
My Hearing could be failing.
Write down or Motion-by-Hand,
So I could get the meaning.

If I sound like a "Broken Record",
My Memory could be lapsing.
Please do not laugh at me - nor be bored.
Bear with me - just by listening.

If I feel so alone,
My Spirit yearns for your presence.
Although busy at work,
Find time to be with me at home.

If I become hard-to-please,
My Consciousness favors the familiar.
Be careful and not amiss,
I'm exacting on particulars.

If I emit an unpleasant smell,
I could have the Odor-of-Old.
A daily Bath could make me unwell.
My weak Body could get a Cold.

If I urinate and move my bowel in bed,
Persevere still in loving me.
My Life is ending and farewells would soon be said.
Memories last eternally.

And if my Moment-of-Death is near,
Hold my hand and embrace me dearly.
Your love for me brings "God's Blessings" here.
You and I are truly family!

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Edecat_Manila

Tula Para sa Pulilan

2008-02-01T10:18:00.000+11:00

Natagpuan ko ang tulang ito sa blogs ni Mr Rene C. San Andres na kapwa ko taga-Pulilan

Bayan kong sinilanga’y dili iba’t ang Pulilan ,
Mga binata’y makikisig ,
dilag nama’y maririkit ,
Sa tahanan nitong ama ,
palamuti’y nangagsabit ,
Tanda ng kasaysayang walang patid iniukit.

Sa pagpasok mo sa Longos,
kalabaw na nakaluhod,
Ang sa iyo ay bubungad,
masdan mong buong lugod,
Sagisag ng isang lahing,
sa D’yos Ama nananalig Paniwala sa Maykapal ,
lahat yao’y binubunyi.

Ang Longos na nuong una’y tahanan nitong PI,
Eskwelahang humubog din,
isip mandi’y pinapanday,
Kahit tabi nitong ilog,
at sa isip na mahusay,
Hindi na rin malilimot,
ang talino sa pagsikhay.

Dumako ka pa roon,
at Sto Cristo’y sasapitin,
Lugar ng mga Ochoa,
dakilang tao’t pinuno rin,
Mga tao’y mababait,
bukas-palad sa pagtulong,
Katangiang sadyang likas,
karangalang yumayabong.

Kung lalakad pakanluran,
sa Cut-cot ay magagawi,
Dito dati ang kiskisa’y ang hilera’y walang patid,
Inaning palay sa kabukiran,
dito lahat gigilingin,
Sa pagdating ng tag-ulan,
ay kaysarap na sinaing.
.
Read more...

.

Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara* (at mga bata)

2008-01-31T00:36:00.000+11:00

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

2008-01-29T23:11:00.000+11:00

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.

Photo: undated picture of my father

Lamb of God Ads

2008-01-26T14:40:00.000+11:00

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.