GPS

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

.
Suggested reading: captured fire by joseph krempa

Watch!

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

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

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

Breakfast namin sa Panglao, Bohol island.

He's back

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

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

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

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

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*image designed by rikka

Minsan lang sila bata

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

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

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.

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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/