Penshoppe

Taken at different places, shared with different company,

celebrated different occasions, enjoyed different moments,

wearing the same t-shirt.

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St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

Best of friends' highland travel

Moments with the Lee family in Baguio City

At Pulilan Butterfly Haven

Karaoke time with high school buddies

Twelve Apostles, Victoria

Open house at the seminary

"Nature's way" only in the Philippines :)

A supposed to be a quiet moment

Reflection:

"THE VOICE OF THE LORD: My child, if your peace is dependent on some dear friend whose company gives you pleasure, you will be insecure because you are entangled; but if you turn at all times to the ever-living, ever-abiding Truth, you will not be made unhappy if your friend leaves you or dies. Your love for your friend must stand in me, and it is for my sake that you must love any good person who is dear to you on earth. Friendship has no strength or lasting power without me, and no affection that I have not joined can be pure and true."

- from the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

written during the earlier part of the fifteen century.

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Friendly casts: Ronaldo, Odra, Peter, Lee family, Cotton (pet dog), Christine Joy, Arnold, Ellen, Edgar, Evelyn, Maylyn, Espie, Jean, Randy, Pinky Marie, Fr. Badong and Eric (hands only).

Communion of Love

Trinity Sunday

2007 June 2-3, 2007

Reading I: Proverbs 8:22-31

Responsorial Psalm: 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Reading II: Romans 5:1-5

Gospel: John 16:12-15

Introduction
Our Christian life develops completely in the presence of the Trinity – the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. At the beginning of our life, we were baptized "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," and at the end, at our bedside, our soul is commended “…in the name of God, the Almighty Father who created you, in the name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you, and in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you."

The basic expression of our Christian faith is the sign of the Cross – in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. When we pray we begin and end with the sign of the cross. At the beginning and end of the Mass we make the sign of the cross. This we do as well in every celebration of sacraments. The sign of the cross is the most obvious and frequent expression of what it is to be a Christian. Sometimes we see atlethes, performers, professionals, and other people making the sign of the before beginning their tasks. When we are thankful, excited, nervous, scared we make the sign of the cross.

Because the sign of the cross - in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit - sums up who we are and what we are as Christians. Ironically, this simple act of making the sign of the Cross is one of the most mysterious aspects of our Christian faith. Each time we make sign of the Cross we profess our belief in what we celebrate today: The Solemnity of the Holy of Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity means there are three Persons in One God namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are equal in every way, with one nature and one substance: three Divine Person, but only one God (Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 253-255).

Basic understanding
The doctrine of the mystery of the Trinity (triune God) has always been part of the living tradition of the faith of the Church. We will not find the word "trinity" in the Bible but it is grounded upon the revelation of God in the Scriptures. In the Old Testament, God revealed himself as the Father of Israel, the Father of all the peoples and the Creator of the world. In the period of the New Testament God shows himself in the person of Jesus Christ, who became human like us except sin. Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity is our mediator and saviour. Then the new experience of God happens at the coming of the Holy Spirit – the Third Person of the Trinity – that makes God’s presence in us and within us.

Why Trinity in One God?
Many people ask: Why do we have to believe with three Persons in God? Would it not be easier to believe in a God who is just one? What is the significance of the Trinity in our life? Many Christians, theologians and intellectual thinkers throughout the history have tried to grapple, exhaust and explain the doctrine of the Trinity.

St Marie Vianney used the image of the flame to explain Holy Trinity. Just as the flame of the burning candle has light, shape and warmth and yet only one flame there is only one God expressing Himself as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, described the Trinity to the pagans simply by using the shamrock leaf. He says like the Trinity the shamrock leaf has three parts but they are all part of one.

Some Christian artists expressed their reflection on the Trinity through artworks such as religious icons.

But of course human attempts (i.e. intelectual arguments, simple images or artworks) to comprehend the nature of the Holy Trinity will not solve its mystery.

Anecdote
There is a very old story about St. Augustine, a great theologian and a Father of the Church. One day he was walking by the seashore, attempting to conceive of an intelligible explanation to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. As he walked along, he saw a small boy on the beach, pouring seawater with a shell into a small hole in the sand. "What are you doing, my child?", asked, Augustine. "I am trying to empty the sea into this hole," the boy answered with an innocent smile. "But that is impossible, my dear child,” said Augustine. The boy stood up, looked straight into the eyes of Augustine and replied, “What you are trying to do - trying to comprehend the immensity of God with your small head - is even more impossible.” Then he vanished. It was an angel sent by God to teach Augustine a lesson. Later St. Augustine wrote: "You see the Trinity if you see love." This means that we can understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity more readily with the heart, i.e., by love, than with our feeble mind.

St. Augustine describes the mystery of the Holy Trinity as communion of Love. He looks on the image of the Lover, the Beloved, and the mutual Love between the two. The Father is the Lover who created the world to share his love to us. Jesus, the Beloved Son, whose out of his love to the Father and to us died on the Cross. And the Holy Spirit, as mutual Love, that Binds the Father and Son.

Scripture Readings
Today’s readings from Proverbs, Romans, and John’s gospel us to live in the awareness of the presence of the Triune God within us: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Instead of spelling out the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, today’s readings summarize the effects of the Trinity in our daily lives.

The Book of Proverbs reflects on Wisdom, a quality that identifies with God the Father. St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, teaches us that we have peace with God the Father through Jesus Christ, and love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And in the Gospel, Jesus mentions the role of the Holy Spirit and his close relationship with God the Father, and what the Holy Spirit is going to do for us as we go about our daily tasks.

Challenge: Call to be a communion of love
Although the Trinity is a mystery (and will always remain a mystery), God in the fullness of his being is in fact very close to us. The communion of love that exists between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, is an invitation for us to be united with God and with one another in perfect communion of love.

This means like God the Father we are called to be productive and caring people. Like God the Son, we are called to be peacemakers, forgiving and ready to make sacrifices for others' sake. And like God the Holy Spirit, we are called to understand, nourish, inspire and teach our Christian faith.

Although we may not understand the mystery of God, we can put into actions God’s mystery in our day to day life. May the love, unity and joy in the relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be the supreme model of our relationship in our Christian families and with one another.

All we ask in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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This icon of the Trinity was painted by Andrei Rublev for the Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. This icon is a masterpiece of ancient Russian iconography, and the Church established it as the model for depicting the Trinity. http://www.wga.hu/html/r/rublyov/trinity.html

Eto ang Milan

che. lla. ne. zio. nie. si. no. voi. co. to. ta. li. nia. llo. me. die. de. nio. te. gio. dre. io. to. me. per. te. rno. ale. nel. uale. iamo. il. nio. e. ero. qui. con. zie. tra. nza. uon. tti. su. uti. in. sto. iale. di. ore.

Di yan mga secret codes pang-tawag sa aliens at opkors di rin yan puzzle na pag pinagsama-sama ay may mabubuong magic words o malalaman mo kung sino ang may crush sa iyo. Di rin yan uri ng bagong virus o bagong translation ng Butsikik. Ang mga iyan ay mga last syllables na natutunan ko nung Sabado ng gabi.

Nakikain ako sa isang Italian family nung Sabado. Para sa aming mga Italyano (haha.. ako pirated) normal lang ang tatlong oras na kainan. Eto ang sistema: entree ng entree, entree, main meal, fruits, desserts, cafe, at pagka-minsan may bonus pang keso at nuts. Sa loob ng tatlong oras 80% ng usapan ay Italiano. Dahil gifted ako wala akong naintidihan. Kaya kesa makatulog ako kinabisado ko na lang last syllables ng wika nila.

Kanina naman ay dinalaw ko ang isang pamilyang Italyano na namatay ang tatay kaninang umaga lang :( Buti Ingles ang usapan namin pero pag sila-sila na Bisaya na.. opps Italian pala (pis tayu dudong!). Kahit papaano nagamit ko ang natutunan kong syllables last Sabado night. Ala nga lang sense. Bow.

Moral lesson:

Learning a new language opens____. Learning a new language takes you ____. Learning a new language is a _____. Mastering a foreign language is an oppurtunity to______. Learning a foreign language can be a frustrating task but _______.
Learning a new language can be just as _______. Knowing the language of the other is one of our only _________.

(Fill in the blanks na lang nakakatamad mag-isip sa Ingles e).


PS.
Quation from what movie:

"Mahal mo ba ako dahil kailangan mo ako? O kailangan mo ako kaya mahal mo ako?"

.5

Parang gusto kong magulat kasi June 1 na ngayon. Nasa kalahati na tayo ng taon 2007. Dalawang buwan na lang 29.5 years old na ako. Ang bilis, ang bilis, ang bilis. Hanggang ngayon e nag-iisip pa ako ng magandang new year's resolution para naman maging high-achiever ako - tulad ni Rizal.

Di bale may anim na buwan pa ako para bumawi. O kaya siguro mas maganda ang nalalabing anim na buwan ay planning stage ko para sa year 2008. Ganun na lang ang plano. Sarap mag-drawing.

Pampamotivate. :)

Autumn in the springtime

Today I buried Melanie Weeks, a very young person who died of leukaemia complications. She was only twenty three.

I said at the beginning of my homily, "Melanie was a joy to us, to her family and friends. All her positive outlook in life, sense of humour, youthfulness and memories make it all the more difficult for us to let go of her. But we let go of her in faith, knowing full well where she is going and not wishing to refuse God the pleasure of her which we ourselves have so enjoyed. Melanie was God’s gift and grace on loan to us – we must never forget that – and she was an outstanding gift and grace. We will remember the beauty and the love and the charm and the joy that she was among us..."

This is my first time to officiate a funeral service for a young person. It is so sad to see someone die while still in the springtime of life.

Let us be thankful for the gift of life.

Destined for Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage is not for the faint hearted. When you step out your front door, suitcase in one hand and tickets in the other, you know your destination. You know where you're headed. But you don't know what will happen on the way!

As soon as you go out the front grate of your safety zone, there will be dangers and pitfalls. But you are in the hands of God. He will be your guide and your guard. He will keep you sake, and if you fall, he will pick you up.

Be prepared to learn what it is that God is asking of you.

Be prepared for a full-strength dose of life!

Be prepared to have your horizons strectched, your boundaries exploded!

Be prepared for a personal encounter with the one who said: "Iam the truth."

Be prepared to come face to face with love incarnate.

Remember that you are predestined to be God's child for ever. The whole purpose of your pilgrimage from the start to the end of your life is that you become more and more like his Son Jesus and more and more conformed to his love.


YOU ARE DESTINED for PILGRIMAGE!

Excerpt from Archbishop Denis J Hart's

Pentecost Letter to Youth 2007

Lumang Senti

Minsan 15 taon na ang lumipas inutusan akong magsoli ng kaldero sa mga lola ko. Binalot ko ang kaldero sa plastic na maganda para walang makapuna at isinabit sa manibela ng aking lumang bisekleta. Kailangan sa loobang kalsada ako dumaan baka kasi makita ako ng crush ko kung sa main road ako dadaan - kakahiya.

Nasa kalahati na ako sa aking pupuntahan ay biglang may natanawan akong grupo sa gilid ng kalsada na masayang nagkukwentuhan. Dahan dahan ang paandar at ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko habang papalapit ako sa mga ito.

Napagmasdan ko kaagad siyang nakaupo sa itaas ng mababang pader na yari sa adobe. Nakasuot ng puting t-shirt at blue na shorts. Ngumiti sya. Huminto ako sandaling sandali lang pero parang ang tagal.

15 taon na ang lumipas. Dalawa ang naalala ko ang kaarawan niya at ang kaldero.

Holy Spirit Empower Her with Your Love

Pentecost Sunday 2007

Reading I: Acts 2:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13;

Gospel: John 20:19-23; or John 14:15-16, 23b-26

Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat mahal kong kaibigan. Naiintindihan po ba ninyo ako?

I am not drunk or high on drugs. I just spoke in Filipino my native language. What I just said was, “Good evening my dear friends. I wonder if you can understand what I was saying.”

Do you remember the story of the Tower of Babel from the Old Testament? The story tells that before everyone speaks with the same language, everyone used to understand each other and there was no language barrier. According to the story, pride building up in peoples’ hearts that they would like to be like God. One day people decided to build a tower in attempt to climb heaven and reach God. Because they spoke the same language, they worked well, so they easily built a tower as high as they could, hoping to stand at the level of God.

God was watching what these people were doing. He was not pleased. He had to do something to teach these people a lesson they would never forget. If He let disobedience like this go unpunished, what else might these people think about doing? So God said, "Let us go down and mix up their languages so that they cannot speak to one another."

Everyone was busy building. Then all of a sudden everything went terribly wrong. The workers could not understand each other. The foreman could not understand the workers. The architects could not understand the foreman. Men became angry with one another. Fights broke out here and there. How could they carry on building? They couldn't. The project stopped. First Reading: Reversal of the experience of Babel

“Holy Spirit the Language of Love”
First Reading (Acts 2:1-11) is meant to reverse the experience of Babel. We heard from the first reading the coming of the Holy Spirit. The apostles were all in one place when suddenly a strong driving wind filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them the Holy Spirit like tongues of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them. When they were all filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles began to speak in different languages and the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

The first reading says there were Jews who came from different nations who witnessed what happened to the apostles. The Jews were surprised and astounded when they heard the apostles speaking their own native languages. How could they be?

If in the story of the tower of Babel people were disintegrated because they suddenly spoke different languages. There was chaos when God mixed up their languages. But the experience of the apostles was different. When spoke in different languages (speaking in tongues) people around them understood what they were saying. There was confusion not because they couldn’t understand each other but the Jews were confused that the apostles could speak their own native language (Acts 2:6). Some of them even thought they were drunk!

Thus, Pentecost overcomes the division of the people at Babel. At Pentecost the Jews and the apostles became more united as brothers and sisters, as one family of God. That is why the Scripture uses tongues as of fire (v 3) to convey this signification. This means that through the tongue of the Spirit, which is ultimately the language of love, all men and women of all races and nationalities will be reconciled and united. The feast of Pentecost we celebrate today is thus a time of reconciliation and communion as children of God, through the Holy Spirit.

Language of Communion
In the Gospel reading, we heard about the sending of the advocate. Jesus tells his disciples that He will ask the Father to send forth another Advocate to be with the disciples always. Jesus is the first Advocate. Now that Jesus is going back to the Father, he is no longer with his disciples but he sends forth the Holy Spirit upon them and so to us. Jesus is not with us physically but the Holy Spirit is alive and active in us to be our teacher, inspiration and friend, to help us bear witness of Christ’s presence in the Church and with one another.

The feast of Pentecost is not simply the 50th day after the Lord's resurrection; it is also the time when we as the Church, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, received our mission to bring all people of all races and cultures, colors and nationalities, to the love God.

Before Jesus sends forth the Holy Spirit he asked us only one thing - to speak the one common language of love – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments…Whoever does not love me does not keep my words…”

My dear friends let us ask ourselves: How is our relationship with Jesus? What is the level of your to Jesus. Do you have Jesus in your heart? If your answer is yes, are you willing to overcome your weaknesses and sinfulness for the sake of his love? Do you have enough inspiration of Jesus that you can change your way of living to inspire the lives of people around you? Or do you feel that Jesus is so quiet and away from you.

Do I feel weak that no matter how I try to be good my human weaknesses always surpass my willingness follow Jesus? Am I tired of my own self-centeredness and being unfair to other people...

In this Mass let open our hearts and let us invite the Holy Spirit to enter us so that Jesus may become truly alive and present in our day to day life. There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit wisdom, understanding, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

As we commemorate today the feast of Pentecost, may we receive all the gifts or one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we need most on our present journey of life.

Let us open our hearts and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we may live in unity and accordingly to the one common language of Love - a language that transcends everything, languages, colors, nationalities... a language that unites all things in love.

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

Sunday Morning

It's Sunday morning I got up earlier than usual to prepare for Mass. The weather is not too cold than the last previous days. The sun shines so brightly and the sky is clear - a perfect beautiful day it is. However inside me there is something missing, a void or an empty space, longing for something or someone... so I think I feel lonely, yes I am. This feeling of loneliness reverse the perfect weather. So after doing the things I have to be done in the church I went back to my room to pray asking the Holy Spirit to fill me with the grace I need.

Today is Pentecost Sunday the church commemorates when Jesus breathes out the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles to empower them. The Holy Spirit will make his presence even more truly present in their hearts. I need that grace today. But the Lord somehow is telling me "it's good for you to feel lonely so you can comfort people who are truly lonely -- who is recently widowed, divorced, or homebound with an illness; who is new in town, or who travels frequently on business away from family; perhaps someone in prison, in the military or in a nursinghome, etc. etc.

I feel lonely but I am glad I am. Although I am not really alone in fact I am surrounded with good friends and I really cannot cope easily with so many invitations I receive from them. Many people just love me. But at the end of the day the smile and laughter, voice and singing, tinkling of wine glasses and everything will fade away. Then reality confronts you, you are alone. People and friends whether you like it or not they come and go. You only meet them either when there are great joys or when there are troubled, when they need you or when there has been a tragedy.

I realise it's helpful to be alone and it is important to cherish the feeling of being lonely in order to have a strong solidarity with people who experience loneliness in one form or another: those who suffer anxiety, depression, rejection, and all others.

I read somewhere you don't have to be by yourself in order to be lonely. "Many people feel alone in the middle of a crowd because inside they feel inferior or rejected. Some people feel misunderstood or unwanted so they isolate themselves; they are afraid of getting hurt by others. While they silently keep to themselves, deep inside they are longing for interaction with another."

Thus I have to humbly admit that I am alone, that I am weak, that I am lonely. For when I am alone the presence of God becomes more present. When I am weak I feel helpless seeking God's endearing grace; simply wanting and longing for God, like a child who wants a cuddle from no other person than his/her mother. When I am lonely I immerse myself in contemplation to the reality of God who is love and nothing else - with his love I am not alone. And with God you and I were not alone.

It's Sunday morning. What a beautiful morning it has been.

In the end love

Ascension of the Lord 2007

May 19-20, 2007

Acts 1:1-11;

Ephesians 1:17-23;

Luke 24:46-53

The story is told about an old woman who offered the bus driver a handful of peanuts which he gratefully munched up. After some moments, she gave him more peanuts, again the driver ate them gratefully. Curious, the driver asked why the old woman kept giving him peanuts.

“I have no teeth,” she replied.

“But why do you buy peanuts?” the driver asked.

“Oh, I just love the chocolate around them,” was the old woman’s reply.*

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In today’s Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension into heaven, Jesus gave us no peanuts but three substantial and precious gifts: A deep sense of Hope of God’s promises to our humanity. Desire to be Witnesses to the Gospel. And, a sense of Joy at the Ascension of the Lord.

The Church believes that our Risen Lord at the end of His life on Earth he was gloriously “ascended into heaven” in body and soul. We proclaim this belief every time we say the Creed before the Prayers of the Faithful. We recall the moment when Jesus after forty days during which he rose from the Dead and appeared himself to the apostles, “he ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Father.”

We can describe the Ascension of Jesus into heaven first in a historical aspect. The Ascension was not an invention of the disciples, rather this glorious even occurred in our human history, in a particular time and place. It is a historical fact. His disciples witnessed how “he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.” The first reading tells us that the last glimpse of the risen Jesus who has been taken up into heaven will return in the same way at the Second Coming.

Aside from the historical aspect of the Ascension of Jesus we look at its invisible aspect or the theological fact of Christ’s exaltation and glorification with the Father in heaven. What is the significance of the Ascension in our salvation?

A deep sense of Hope
Jesus who is God, but also human like us, when he Ascended into heaven he brings our humanity. Now that human nature has entered into heaven nothing will be able to separate us from God. “Jesus Christ is the Lord who now in his humanity reigns in the everlasting glory of the Son of God and constantly intercedes for us before the Father.”
Our celebration of the Ascension gives us the hope that one day we reach the place which our Lord has prepared to each and one of us in heaven.

Desire to be Witnesses to the gospel
So the second gift the Ascension gives us strong desire, it motivates to be living witnesses to the Gospel. We are confident that we believe will bring us salvation. Although we cannot see our Lord physically his Ascension into Heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit gives us confidence and desire to be living witnesses of Christ in our present society.

Where the Lord’s physical hands and feet are no longer present, the ministry of the hands of countless saints continues to bear witness to the Lord’s loving presence. Although our Lord may not appear in our midst to eat broiled fish (as he did with his apostles), his presence is tangible in the people who work for the poor, those volunteers working tirelessly in soup vans, people who care for the sick and lonely. But most of all we feel, we receive, the presence of the Lord, in every celebration of the Eucharist. Jesus is truly present at the proclamation of the word, at Holy Communion, and in each and one of us gather around His Altar.

We believers who affirm that the Lord is Risen and was taken up to heaven, therefore should consider and follow what the Lord has sent us to do, as we heard from the first reading: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (that includes Weribee!)

Sense of Joy at the Ascension of the Lord
Inasmuch as the early Christian were filled with joy at the Ascension of the Lord we too receive the gift of joy as we celebrate today the mystery of our Faith. “Jesus who has been taken up into heaven will return in the same way as the Second Coming.”(Act 1:11)


The day of the Ascension of Jesus brought them joy! The disciples received Jesus’ blessing with great joy, the worshiped him and praised God, and they began immediately to do what Jesus instructed them to do.

May this joy be shared by us today! May joy always be God’s gift to each of us here today and to our students who will receive Holy Communion for the first time today.

May the feast of the Ascension
give us a deep sense of Hope of God’s promises,
increase our desire to be faithful witnesses
to Christ’s teaching wherever we go,
and fill our hearts with Joy
as we await the coming of the Lord.
Amen.

*Story told by Fr Jerry Orbos SVD in "Moments" at www.inquirer.net

My love please do not let your heart be troubled...

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 12-13, 2007
Reading 1 Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

Responsorial Psalm Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Reading II Rev 21:10-14, 22-23

Gospel Jn 14:23-29

Fear is part of our daily life. Being afraid to something is always part of ourselves and within our human consciousness. Each of us here I am sure have our own individual fear, each of us has something we are afraid of.

When I was a child one of my greatest fears was thunder. I used to cower in fear whenever I hear loud thunderbolt. I remember my two elder sisters whenever there was a thunder rather than giving me comfort, they would scare me more!

Well I am not scared of thunder anymore. But one of my greatest fear now is to receive another speeding ticket!



Fear is one of our greatest trials.
According to a Bible commentary, "365 days with the Lord": “We fear so many things! We fear accidents, the death of a loved one, sickness, theft, rumors, unemployment, marriage breakup, old age, bankruptcy, failures, being late, missing a favorite TV program, making a bad impression, flunking an exam, wearing the wrong clothes, having pimples, getting caught in the rain, not being able to pay the mortgage, not getting a promotion, becoming fat, and so on. The list is endless.”

We can add some more, fear of being alone, fear of being lonely, fear that we might not reach our dreams and our goals. Sometimes fear is accompanied by anxiety, homesickness, uncertainty, and so on. Some people are afraid to take risk, others are afraid to fall in love…because when we have fear we feel vulnerable.

Be not afraid.
Over 300 times in the Bible we hear the message of God, “Fear not! For I am with you; don’t be afraid, it is the Lord. ” As Jesus comes walking across the water (Jn 6:16) he says, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Gabriel said to Mary, “Fear not, Mary.” The angel said to Joseph, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife…” The angels told the shepherds, “Don’t be afraid.” And finally when the risen Lord appeared to the apostles he told them “Don’t be afraid.”

Jesus' farewell to his disciples
In the Gospel today, Jesus is saying his final words to his disciples before he go to the Father. Jesus is leaving his followers but one day he will return at the Second Coming. But Jesus tells his disciples not to be afraid for he is sending an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will teach them everything, inspire and strengthen them to continue his mission on earth.

What will happen to them now?
How the disciples should live their faith in Jesus’ absence…how they will keep his words without him around…how they will remain faithful and confident without Jesus at their side?

Why we are not to be afraid?
May I suggest three things “Why we are not to be afraid?” They all start with letter P – Presence, Peace and Power.

These are three promised gifts of Jesus to his apostles as announced them of his departure.

Presence of the Holy Spirit: “The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.”
Jesus called the Spirit the Paraclete or Advocate, which also points to a number of meanings: defender, counsel, comforter, intercessor, helper, assistant, interpreter and others. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church will teach us to know Christ and will give us the grace to love him, even if we cannot see him. The grace of the Holy Spirit makes Christ ever present in the Sacraments, in the Church and in our hearts.

Peace of Christ: “Peace I leave with you.”
Second reason why we must not be afraid is that Jesus is leaving us his peace. All we need to do is to accept that peace. The peace that Jesus gives is not just any peace, not the peace that the world gives. Christ gives a peace which is his own: the full joy that overflows his soul. This joy and peace is nothing else than the union/unity of Christian with one another. The peace that Christ gives us is a deeper kind of peace, that brings healing, comfort, contentment, eternal happiness and spiritual tranquility.

Powerful words of Jesus: “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
Let the words of Jesus in the Gospel today sink in to depths of our hearts “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Not to be afraid is the fruit of peace and peace is the result of Jesus’ victory over and sin, the first gift of his Resurrection.

Through the Holy Spirit these powerful words of Jesus will bring us peace even when we face sufferings and trials, it helps not give in to failure or anxiety.

The powerful words of Jesus are addressed in a very speciall to our students today who will receive our Lord for the first time in Holy Communion. “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

The powerful words of Jesus “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” are addressed to all mothers today as we celebrate Mother's Day. May the words of Jesus give strength and hope to all mothers most especially those single mothers who are struggling hard in carrying out alone the responsibility of nurturing and caring for their children. May these words of Jesus give comfort to all mothers who are abondoned and neglected by their own children.

Conclusion
Presence, Presence and Power are the gifts of the Spirit of the Risen Lord. The challenge of the gospel lies precisely in the invitation to accept a gift for which can give nothing return. Once we embrace these gift, only then we are free to become gracious givers and instruments of Jesus’ peace, presence and power to our brothers and sisters who like us are troubled and afraid.

Lord, we become attached to the things
which brings us close to you:
our personal devotions, Sunday Masses, etc
When we have to give them up
we become anxious and even angry.
But we have learned from experience

that we must not let our hearts be troubled or afraid

because you are greater than any manifestation

of your presence, and just as Jesus went away

from his disciples and returned

so you will always show yourself to us in a new way.

Amen.

If we fall in love...

Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 5-6, 2007
Reading 1Acts 14:21-27
Responsorial PsalmPs 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
Reading IIRev 21:1-5a
GospelJn 13:31-33a, 34-35

Giving of self – Love is by nature generous.
Christ = His Cross is the measure of our love.

Common notion of love
Love according to the Australian Oxford Dictionary is “an intense feeling of deep affection or fondness.” It says to fall in love is “to suddenly and intensely begin to love something (or a person).” When a person loves he or she “begins to live or experience great joy.”

This common definition of love as feeling or emotion is what we often hear from the contemporary media, showbiz magazines, from Hollywood movies or from popular songs we hear from the radio. We always describe love as “mushy loving-feeling,” an emotion that brings enjoyment and romance. Sometimes we hear/blurt out statements like, “I don’t love her anymore” or “I don’t love him anymore.” Actually what we mean is “I don’t feel the joy and pleasure of loving anymore.”

Love is giving
To define love this way downgrades or rather abuses its real meaning. Because love in its true essence is more than an emotion, love is more than infatuation or attraction, its more than a “romantically-good-feeling.”

Love as contrary to feeling is a firm decision. For love is by nature generous. Love is decision to give oneself self freely. Love is equated to giving of self. Love in its essence is readiness to give oneself for the good of another person. It is a free act of the will to offer oneself, to give one self generously, even if the process of self-giving is painful. (We all know the story of “The Giving Tree.”)

How love is shown?
How do we express our love to others? We show our love to other people in different levels. First, by intention, it means we can love people in our minds and nobody knows about that love except God and the one who loves. Secondly, we show our love by verbal expressions. So from the mind, the expression of love goes to our lips saying “I love you.” To hear that we are loved, that we are appreciated is very encouraging. Those three words bring us joy and consolation. But the third expression of love is greater than the two. The highest level of showing our love by action. Certainly love that is shown in action is greater, it’s deeper, than love by intention, it’s more meaningful that what comes from the lips. Love by action proves the true meaning of love.

Love deeply
If love is far more than a feeling, but a firm decision to give oneself, thus love can be commanded. In our Gospel today, we hear a clear commandment from our Lord how to love and how love is shown.

Jesus entrusted to His disciples the new commandment of love. I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you, so you should love one another. It’s a crystal clear commandment: to love as Jesus Christ loved us.

To love like Jesus means we must love deeply. The Lord is telling us to go deeper than the heart, to go deeper than the feelings. We are called to love not is a superficial way, but to love as he has loved each and one of us, regardless of who we are.

How did Jesus show His love for us?
Jesus showed his love for us in a simple way, a human and tangible way, by becoming human like us. So that his love is seen concretely, Jesus shares everything with us, even his life making us all God’s children.

Second the love of Jesus is not merely shown words but his love is always in action. The love of Jesus is beyond the law; Christ’s love is always active, self-giving love, self-sacrificing. His love is never self-seeking or asking any love in return…a love that constantly gives until it hurts. It is this kind of love which makes “all things new.” It is only in this loving deeply like Jesus’ that we can also live fully.

Thirdly, the Cross of Christ is the measure of our love. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends. This is what is “new” about the command: it is Jesus himself, in his life, service and self-giving unto death, who models what it means to love one another.

To imitate the love of Jesus is not easy because such kind of love requires a daily laying down of one’s wishes, needs, and desires for the sake of the other. It’s never easy but it is possible…

Conclusion
In the twilight of our life there is only one thing that would be asked of us, “how much did you love?” It is a question that will perhaps, never be fully answered in life, because it comes at the Day of Judgment. But each day of our life should prefigure that final moment. To love like Jesus is to make a firm decision in life to self-giving for the sake of others. It is the kindness we extend to everyone, the truthfulness of our words, the respect that everyone deserves, the humility of our achievements, the forgiveness of those who offend us. To love like Jesus is our willingness to give up one’s life for a friend.

May we able to follow the commandment of Jesus to love as he loved us. May the love of Jesus help us to be fully prepared at the twilight of our life. Indeed, it may be our only means to salvation. Amen.

"If we fall in love anywhere with you would be a better place.."

Readings: "Love Like Jesus" by Bishop Socrates Villegas

Called to Love You

Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 28-29, 2007
Reading I: Acts 13:14, 43-52

Responsorial Psalm: 100:1-2, 3, 5

Reading II: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

Gospel: John 10:27-30

Image of sheep and Shepherd
In the Gospel today, Jesus uses the image of the relationship between the sheep and the Shepherd to describe his loving relationship with us all.

Sheep have many interesting characteristics. They are vulnerable animals, they are gentle and they have poor eyesight. It is very important that sheep should always go together in a flock so they won’t get lost when they go on their own. There are foxes and other wild animals out there in the fields that could easily attack them from ambush if they got separated from their flock.

Another quality of the sheep is that they know the voice of their Shepherd. They only recognise and follow the voice of their Shepherd. When he calls out, they simply get up and come to him. They follow him out through the sheep-gate. They make no mistakes.

The shepherd is extremely important to the well-being of a flock. He guides them, makes them safe, lead them to food and drink. The shepherd knows all his own sheep by heart.
He has a special name for each character in the flock.

When Jesus speaks of the shepherd and the sheep, we think of ourselves as sheep, and our Lord, as the Good Shepherd. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” Today’s Gospel brings these words of comfort and hope, but they are also words that challenge us. We are each called and gifted for some unique role in God’s kingdom which no-one else can fulfill.

Three Vocations
Vocation Sunday is a reminder for us to listen carefully to the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Vocation means a “calling”. Jesus is calling us to follow him. Some are called to the vocation of married life, others are called to single blessedness, and while others are called to the vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

The Church recognizes these three “callings” as states of life where we can follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd more closely. These three vocations are all equal gifts of God; one is not better than the other. They are all personal invitations from God to each one of us so we may be able to live happily, meaningfully and holy.

Vocation to the Priesthood
However, today we particularly pray that many young men and women will respond to the calling of priestly vocations and religious life.

In many parishes, seminarians from Corpus Christi College go out and speak at masses around the Archdiocese on this weekend. They speak of their call to follow the Lord; the talk about the Church’s understanding of the priesthood and also their hopes for their future ministry if God willing they too become a priest.

If you can still remember three years ago I came here at St. Andrew’s on Good Shepherd Sunday to share my vocation story, I was hoping to inspire young people then. It’s been three years since then, but still no one from Werribee is joining the seminary. But I will not give up, I will be amongst you for the next three years!

I remember I said in my talked three years ago that I didn’t really have a dramatic experience of conversion or experience God calling me from heaven: “follow me my son”. As a young boy I never thought of becoming a priest. It was my grandmother and my friends in highschool that influenced to join the seminary in the Philippines.

I've been a priest for only seven months. Oftentimes when I get up in the morning I still cannot imagine myself as a priest. It's weird that even my own father calls me Father. People who are old enough to be my grandparents address me Father!

I'd like to thank my family and friends who knows me too well, including my weaknesses, for their support and encouragement during the times when I was down and lonely. Thank you for your company when I felt alone. Thank you for bringing balance in my life. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your love.

Priesthood

Each vocation is special, but the vocation to the priesthood is something unique as priest somehow is a bridge between God and human in every celebration of the Sacraments. In his priestly ministry, he brings hope to the people; he preaches the word of God; he builds up parish communities; he looks after the school; he sometimes makes people laugh; but ultimately the priest brings us the identity of Jesus the Good the Shepherd himself.
Invitation for Inquiry Sunday

On Sunday 20th of May, the seminary in Carlton, Corpus Christi College, will have an Inquiry Day for single men who are curious or open to thinking about the priesthood as a vocation in life. Programs includes Mass, lunch with seminarians and the Archbishop of Melbourne, tours of the seminary by Rector and seminarians, and explanation of entry procedures by Director of Vocations.

If you know someone, perhaps your brother, grandson, nephew (whisper: or even your boyfriend) who is curious about the seminary, tell them to come on that weekend. If you have any question please feel free to approach me or Fr Frank.

Again, my dear friends, let us pray for the increase of priest and religious in our country. Please pray for us priests, religious and seminarians as we do pray for you.

Let us pray for one another that we may all live life to its fullness and love our own vocation, which God has given us.

We may continue to follow the voice of Jesus our Shepherd. Amen.

I love you, I love you, I love you...

Third Sunday of Easter Year C April 22, 2007
Reading I: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

Responsorial Psalm: 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13

Reading II: Revelation 5:11-14

Gospel: John 21:1-19 or 21:1-14

They catch fish

We’ve just heard the story of the appearance of our Lord to the seven disciples.

After all the drama of Christ’s crucifixion and death, the disciples went on their own ordinary way of living. We imagine their disappointment, frustration and feeling of abandonment after the death of Jesus, their Lord and Master. But, life must go on, they have to move on, so they went back to their old profession, fishing.

When the Lord appeared to them, they didn’t immediately recognise him. They were only able to come to know that it is the Lord after they caught a large number of fish.

The Gospel today tries to show that the Lord never abandons His disciples and His church. Maybe at first, the disciples were frustrated by the death of Christ. Maybe they already lost hope because their leader who preaches eternal life was tried and killed. Maybe they were tempted to think that what they were doing in following the Lord was totally useless. But in His appearance to His seven disciples, our Lord showed that his might and promise endures, that He never leaves His fold and that He continues to call His followers. His death was not the end of His ministry but the beginning and fulfillment of His saving ministry.

Do you love me?

After this event, Jesus had an intimate dialogue with Peter. Three times he asked Peter to answer the question “Do you love me?” And for three times, Peter confessed to the Lord his love. With this, our Lord asked him to express his love by feeding the lamb and tending the sheep. And He concluded, “Follow me!”


Meditate

Imagine. What if Jesus asked you directly the question he asked Peter in Sunday’s Gospel?
“Do you love me?” And Jesus repeated his question the second time. What does the repeated question do to you? Then, yet again, not just twice but a third time, the tender but unnerving question, before you have had time to settle your mind and heart.He asks you by name, “Do you love me?” Let it echo inside you.
Does he suspect that you really do not love him? Consider your daily attitude toward Jesus and toward God. Do not say your answer lightly.

Give your response quietly in prayer to Jesus, or out loud if you wish. Take your time. Pay attention to how it feels to say it. Maybe you will reply, “Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you,” as Peter did. Or do you have another answer? Something like, “Lord, you know everything, you know that I want to love you, I just want to believe in you and live a good life. You see the fear and the running away and the distraction I live by—are you going to condemn me for them? I want to love you but I don’t know how.”Jesus answers, “Feed my lambs.”Stay with it. Think about it. Pray about it.Doesn’t it mean that we who are sinful can be part of Jesus’ mission? We don’t have to be perfect? We are forgiven?

We are called and imperfect

We are all called by the Lord no matter who we are. As we can see from example of the disciples, they were not perfect or righteous persons. Look at Peter, he denied the Lord three times. But the Lord chose him still and made him the leader of the early Church.

Look at me. God has chosen me to be priest despite my weaknesses, imperfection and sinfulness.

The Lord looks at us with mercy and compassion no matter who we are. He is only asking one question, “Do you love me?”

As followers of the Lord, whether you are priest, married person or single, student, every action that we do therefore is always an answer to his question, “Do you love me?” And every “Yes” that we made, must be put into action. When we serve our family, when we work hard for our children, when we are honest in our world and responsibilities, when we are true to our friends.


Jesus, help us love our own suffering, and embrace our weaknesses boldly.

Jesus, help us love you just the way disciples did. Give us sharp eyes to look for you in every person we meet, in every place we go everywhere, always. Amen.




readings: Homily of Bishop Ramon Villena, Bishop of Bayombong; www.liturgy.slu.edu

"Doubt no longer...I love you"

Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:12-16

Psalm: 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

Gospel: John 20:19-31

April 15, 2007

“I love you”
We have a famous saying to see is to believe. We won’t believe unless we can see with our own eyes. Our skeptical minds require proofs, evidence or facts before we believe in something.

For instance, when a guy says “I love you” to his girlfriend or to someone he loves, naturally he has to prove his love not only in words but with his actions. To say “I love you” is so easy, but to make someone believe that you love the person is not easy. You need to prove it by actions. Saying “I love you” needs evidence of truth through ones patience, understanding, acceptance, readiness to bear pains, sacrifices and disappointments.

Christian faith
However, the saying “to see is to believe” doesn’t apply to our Christian faith. Because faith is something you believe the things you cannot see. As St. Augustine says, "Faith is to believe what we do not see; the reward of faith is to see what we believe." Faith does not require proof or material evidence. The words of Jesus in the Gospel echoes what our Christian faith should be.. “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Today’s Gospel reading, like all of St. John’s Gospel, contains several themes. It is not possible to follow up all the themes together; we must focus on one at a time, going deeply into it and allowing it to reveal some deep truth about Jesus, about ourselves and about life.

I invite you to focus on the apostle Thomas. Although the readings includes two of Jesus’ resurrection appearances – both of them are deeply moving… Let us stay with the dialogue of Jesus and Thomas…

Jesus Appears
After resurrection, the apostles were all excited when they saw Jesus, they ran to Thomas later on, as if telling him, “Hey Tom Jesus is alive, he is risen, and we see him with ourselves.” And Thomas says, “I won’t believe until I see the scars my self, until I see the scars from his hands, until I touch the scars at his side.”

We have been calling a doubting Thomas, and kind of picking on him as one who has little faith. Later on in the story Jesus appears to the disciples again but this time Thomas was with them. Jesus says to Thomas, “Thomas, here I am look see the scars on my hands, put your finger on my side.” Jesus doesn’t ridicule Thomas for such having a little faith…he embraces his skepticism.. He encourage him to test and see, and feel for himself.



There is a famous painting by Caravagio. In this painting Jesus is not only showing Thomas the scars but also he is taking his hand. And you could just almost see the love on his face. The disciples look like anything but holy men chosen by Christ. Thomas ashamed of even doubting starts to pull away and Christ has to grab his hand to steady him while the others look on in a kind of morbid curiosity. Jesus is putting his finger into his side, helping Thomas’ skepticism away and restoring his faith back. The face of Jesus seems to be in pain, but it must the pain that comes from Thomas’ doubt. He is please to give Thomas what he is looking for. He challenges him and us to look forward to the day when he will believe without seeing.

The Word of God always gives us hope and confidence. The first reading calls us to overcome our doubts and fear, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.” The Responsorial Psalm speaks the same message of assurance “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.”

God understands our skepticism. He knows that our human struggles on our faith, personal loneliness and pains. Some people will find it difficult to come into faith in times of trials or death just like the apostle Thomas. But there is one thing that we admire of Thomas. After Jesus shows him his scars and put his finger on his side, Thomas cries out, “My Lord, and my God.” Thomas was the first one to do that after his Resurrection. Thomas was the first one to recognise Jesus as not only Lord but as God himself. We call Thomas, the Doubting Thomas, but when he overcomes his skepticism and doubt, he was the one who truly recognise the Risen Lord!

Thomas’ doubt is also our doubt
Thomas teaches us the important lesson that we must not separate the resurrection from the cross, since we are called to be followers of Jesus. He also teaches us the church and of our individual spiritual growth. We cannot live the life of grace, the ‘risen life; authentically unless we bear in our bodies the wounds of the cross. This means being conscious that we develop to love and to be loved only by dying to ourselves.

Our wounds are also a constant reminder of our frailty, and that is God’s grace that raises us up to new life.

Summary
To see is to believe.
Saying “I love you” is more than words it means readiness to live with a wounded heart.
Faith is to believe that we are loved by Jesus, even in times of doubt, trial, suffering and even separation from our loved ones.

Prayer
"Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have overcome all the powers of darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith and my belief in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection." Amen.

A Promise of Love

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.”

Elizabeth Browning

What Love is About

It was something

I was searching for,

It was something I had found.

It was something I lost,

And it knocked me to the ground.

.

If it's really meant to be,

then it will always last.

If it isn't meant to be,

then it leaves pretty fast.

It makes you get lost,

yet it helps you find your way.

it makes you get tounge tied,

but helps you find the words to say.

.

It gives you butterflies,

hurt you? it may.

but when it's there it keeps you smiling

each and every day.

It brings hope,
and it brings fear.
But you are never afraid,
when that special one is near.

When it's gone,
you'll feel pain.
But learning to love
has just been gained.

It's about giving your heart
without a single doubt.
You're there from start to end...
that's what love is about.


by FC

.

Photos from Rose Garden, Weribee Mansion

Easter 2007

Easter Sunday 2007
April 7/8, 2007

Three fellows went to Heaven on the same day and showed up at the pearly gates. St. Peter looked them over and said, "Well, before you can enter the gates you have to answer one simple question, to show you know something about why you're here."

The first man stepped up to the gates, and St. Peter said, "Now, explain to me, what is Easter?" The second guy replied, "Oh, that's easy. That's the holiday in November, when everybody gets together to give thanks, and eats turkey, and..." "Wrong," replied St. Peter, "You'll have to wait." He turned to the second blonde and said, "What is Easter?" The second blonde replied, "I know, Easter is about Jesus. In December, when we put up a nice tree, exchange presents, and celebrate His birthday."

St. Peter shook his head in disgust at the second woman and sighed. He turned to the third blonde and said, "You look a little smarter than the other two... Now, WHAT IS EASTER?"

The third guy smiled and said, "I know what Easter is. Easter is the Christian holiday that takes place in the spring. Jesus and his disciples were eating at the last supper, and He was deceived and turned over to the Romans by one of his disciples. Then the Romans took Him to be crucified and stabbed Him in the side, made Him wear a crown of thorns, and crucified Him. He died, and was buried in a cave sealed off by a large stone." St. Peter smiled and nodded. The blonde continued, "And every year the stone is moved aside so that Jesus can come out, and play with the Easter Bunnies.”

St. Peter fainted...

(What is the significance of Easter Bunny & Egg?)


The Resurrection of Jesus

The death of Jesus ends up his earthly ministry. However, his glorious Resurrection opens up a new dimension of his identity as both truly human and truly divine. The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our Christian faith. The apostles’ faith did not produce the Resurrection rather the Resurrection produced and strengthen their faith. After Resurrection of Christ, his apostles and followers have witnessed a profound revolution of who Jesus truly is.

To hear someone has risen from the dead is something unusual, unthinkable and beyond our human reason. But this is what the early witnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection had to proclaim to the community they were living—a radical truth that is to be handed down even to our time today. Our access in knowing the truth about Jesus’ Resurrection is not merely the empty tomb, rather the witnessing of men and women “Easter witnesses” who encountered Christ and gave testimonies about his appearances after his death.

The reality of the resurrection is the central fact of the Christian faith. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Lord gives us "eyes of faith" to know him and the power of his resurrection. The greatest joy we can have is to encounter the living Lord and to know him personally. Let us celebrate the feast of Easter with joy and thanksgiving for the victory which Jesus has won for you and I, for the whole humanity over sin and death.

Today, marks the end of our old life, the death of our old self, the forgetting and forgiving of our shameful wrongdoings. Today is the beginning of a new life, the resurrection of a new self, the continuity of living our Christ faith, that gives us hope and live, that leads us to a life everlasting, in the Father’s kingdom.

Let us pray that Jesus triumphed over the grave and have won new life for us, our faith may be strengthened to see his glory, we may grow in great love and victory over sin and death.

Christ is truly Risen!

From darkness comes a new light. May our Resurrected Lord shine in our lives and brings hope to each one of us. Alleluia Alleluia.

Good Friday 07

Good Friday 2007
April 6, 2007
Reading I: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Responsorial Psalm: 31:1, 5, 11-12, 14-16, 24
Reading II: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel: John 18:1-19:42

Good Friday
Today, Good Friday, is a day of penance, of fasting, of prayer, of participation in the passion and death of the Lord on the Cross. But what Good is there today when our Lord Jesus died. Do we consider this Good? It is as if we are delighted by the death of our Lord Jesus. Is there really something that we have to celebrate? The good news for today is that evil has been overcome by good. Secondly, God’s unconditional love was revealed today and through this love we receive our salvation. And this all happened on the Cross of Christ.

My First Prayer
The first prayer I ever learned was a simple sign of the cross. I can still remember how my mother would gently guide my two little fingers pointing to my forehead, down to my belly and to my left and right shoulders as I say in Tagalog, “In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. ” Every night before going to bed I would often make the sign of the Cross assuring myself that God would keep me away from the ‘monsters’ that might appear in my dreams. And as far as I can remember making sign of the Cross was my earliest memory of my Christian faith. Every time I would make sign of the Cross before and after praying, when I pass our parish church, or when I was afraid, I knew that it is a sign of God’s blessings, his protection, and his loving presence. For indeed the Cross of Christ is the holiest sign there is. On the Cross our Lord saves the whole humanity. It is the sign of the Totality, it is the sign of our salvation.

The Cross
During the time of Jesus, for the Jews and the Gentiles crucifixion is the most shameful form of death which is appropriate only to the most notorious criminal in society. The death of Jesus on the Cross gives us a glimpse of his unbearable pain and horror – both physically and spiritually – it represents the degradation and destruction of his dignity both as God and human.
Commenting on Good Friday, St. John Chrysostom, a 4th century saint wrote: "Before, the cross meant disdain, but today it is venerated. Before, it was a symbol of condemnation, today it is the hope of salvation. It has truly been converted into a fount of infinite goods; it has liberated us from error, it has scattered our darkness, it has reconciled us with God. From being enemies of God, it has made us his family, from foreigners it has converted us to his neighbors: This cross is the destruction of enmity, the fount of peace, the coffer of our treasure" ("De cruce et latrone," I, 1, 4).

Human Sufferings
We, as Christians desiring to be faithful disciples, always remind ourselves that the Cross is very much a part of our life. We make sign of the cross every time we pray individually or communally. We wear it as a necklace; put it on our altars both in churches and in our homes. But the Cross we have as Christians most of the times can be our individual sufferings and pains, experience of the death of our loved ones.

Good Friday celebration reminds us that the Cross, that is our suffering and death, are very much a part of our life and we cannot escape from them. We heard from the Gospel that Jesus himself did not remove his pain, his humiliation, his suffering and death but rather only gave meaning to them. They are opportune moments of his total obedience to the Father, and unconditional love for each and one of us.

Cross is not Only Pain
However, the most important component of the Cross is not that it causes pain, not that it causes suffering. The most important component of the Cross is that it gives life to others. When our sufferings do not give life to others, that is not the Cross of Christ. When our pains do not bring life to others that is not the Cross of Christ because the Cross of Christ always gives life. The Cross of Christ always leads to the resurrection.

When we refer to the cross only as pain, when we refer to the Cross only as suffering, when we refer to the cross only as problems, that is not our Christian understanding of the cross. Carrying the cross of our suffering without Christ in our hearts, only brings us sorrow, pain, disappointment and despair. But a Cross with Christ brings life and salvation.

A Christian without cross is incomplete as Jesus calls us, “Come follow me and carry your cross daily.” The cross that we are challenged to carry in our daily lives is the cross that brings life, happiness, love, peace and forgiveness to others. So, let us not fear to carry our own crosses.

Conclusion
Let us remember that Passion of Christ did not end on the cross. Jesus, hanging lifeless on the Cross, shows us that he did not die in vain, his suffering and death are redemptive fulfillment of his love. A new life and a new spirit are poured out.

So let us not remain in our crosses too – in our Good Fridays, in our deaths. Let our deaths, our Good Fridays be experiences of paschal death!

As described in today’s gospel reading, the death of Jesus on Good Friday was a tragic event indeed. Yet, it becomes more tragic in our eyes when we understand that it was not necessary.

The Cross of Jesus is a blessing. His Cross is life. His Cross is our Salvation. His Cross is Love. This is the meaning of Good Friday. Amen.

.

.

Resources: Love Like Jesus by Bishop Socrates Villegas, Homily Guides For Lent and Easter http://www.rcam.org/pdf/2007_HG_LentEaster.pdf

Holy Thursday 07

The Lord’s Supper 2007
St. Andrew’s Parish
April 5, 2007, 7:30pm

Introduction
As the Lenten journey comes to an end, this evening we begin the celebration of the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. The Church's liturgy invites us to contemplate the mystery of the Cross, to acknowledge our sinfulness and, in faith, to unite ourselves with Jesus in his saving passover from death to life.

Holy Thursday is the night on which our Lord Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. What went through the mind of the disciples on that night, we will never know. We can only imagine. What we do know is that Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from the world and to go to the Father. While Jesus had been preparing His disciples for some time, hinting to them that He was about to be betrayed and crucified, the disciples did not appear to perceive what Jesus was telling them.

As we now enter into the dramatic atmosphere of the coming days, filled with the remembrance of the passion and death of Christ, and his glorious resurrection on Easter Day, we celebrate this evening the Feast of Holy Thursday. There are three principal mysteries we solemnly commemorate in this Mass: First the institution of the Holy Eucharist; The institution of the priesthood; The New commandment of Christ to love one another.


The Eucharist
In harmony with the readings from the book of Exodus and from the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians, readings, today’s gospel according to John describes how Jesus transformed the Jewish Passover into the Eucharistic celebration. First, he washed their feet - a tender reminder of his undying affection and a quiet plea for them to do the same for each other and reminding us that our vocation is to take care of one another as he always takes care of us. Then he gave them his own body and blood as food, so that as long as they lived, they'd never be without the comfort and strength of his presence. Thus he washed their feet, fed them, and then went out to die.

The Institution of the Priesthood
This was followed by the institution of the priesthood with the command, “Do this in memory of me." An ordained minister who shares the priesthood in persona Christi has an important role in keeping the command of Jesus fulfilled for the people of God. The priests as ministers of the Sacraments and the Eucharist, are called to represent Christ in the community and giving example to everyone how to deepen and celebrate the mystery of the Eucharist with strong devotion. So that the presence of Christ’s paschal mystery pervades our daily lives as Christian community today and until the end of time.

The New Commandment to Love
Jesus began his Passover celebration by washing the feet of his disciples as a lesson in humble service because it was the duty of slaves. Again in the Gospel, Jesus gives us an example of the deepest kind of humility—he stoops to wash the disciples' feet. His purpose wasn't to clean feet; his purpose was to give us an example of relationships based on a pattern of divine humility.
If the divine Son so humbled himself, how much more ought we!

Christ’s example gives a message of humble and selfless service. Our celebration of the Eucharist requires that we wash one another’s feet, i.e., serve one another, and revere Christ's presence in other persons. It means that we become great only by serving others.
Jesus establishes then a close link between him washing the disciples' feet and the disciples washing the feet of others. If the Eucharist is the place where the Lord washes our feet, our daily life, our homes, our workplace, our parish community, is the place where we ought to wash the feet of others. Jesus who broke the bread of the Eucharist also washed the feet of his disciples. We must follow his example both at the altar of the Eucharist and at the altar of life.

Conclusion
But before we wash each others’ feet, as a sign of our humble service to one another, we must first of all allow ourselves to let the Lord wash us. As Jesus said to Peter, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me (John 13:8). First, the Lord washes us clean so that we belong to the Lord. Only then are we qualified and empowered to wash the feet of our sisters and brothers in the Lord. When this truth dawned on Peter, he overcame his reluctance and cried out, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" (v. 9). For this to happen all that the Lord needs from us is simply for us to be there, to present ourselves to him and to let him wash us.
Let us pray in that our celebration of the Last Supper, we may allow us to relive not only in memory of our Lord’s paschal mystery but bring its true message in our actions.

Let us ask the intercession of Holy Mary, who followed Jesus on the path of the passion and the cross, and who embraced him when he was taken down from the cross, let us pray that all of us who will participate fervently in the Easter triduum, will experience the joy of Easter together with all of our loved ones. Amen.





Resources:
1)VATICAN CITY, APRIL 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).- From the address of Pope Benedict XVI he gave at the general audience today in St. Peter's Square. 2) http://www.liturgy.slu.edu/

Let's Begin, A Holy Week of Encounter

Palm Sunday
March 31/ April 1, 2007
Homily

Introduction
Five weeks ago, on Ash Wednesday, our foreheads were marked with ash, reminding us that “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” On that day, the Church began the observance of Lenten season – it is a season marked by prayer, fasting, alms-giving and repenting for failures to focus on the need for God’s grace. Most of all, Lent is a season of the year that helps us focus on Christ’s self-sacrifice and prepares us to celebrate his glorious Resurrection on Easter.

Today 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.

On Palm Sunday, we remember the spreading of palms and clothing in Jesus’ path as He entered Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion. People welcomed him with praises and shouts of “Hosanna.” But before it was all over, a tidal wave of manipulated opposition welled up that brought Jesus to the cross. So that Palm Sunday is also celebrated as Passion Sunday anticipating the impending death of Jesus on the cross.

A Close encounter
During the last few Sundays of Lent, we have been hearing and reflecting upon the works of Jesus, his miracles, his parables, his temptation at the dessert, his clashes with the scribes and Pharisees. We may be aware or not, but each time we hear or listen to the Word of God being proclaimed, is always a moment of encounter with our Lord. The passion story we’ve just heard is intended not merely to narrate what happened 2,000 years ago but to interpret it as good news in our time and in our present situation.

Although we are familiar with the Passion of Christ, we’ve heard this every year, we may saw the movie, but there is always something there that always touch and grind our hearts – it could the humiliation of Christ, his torture, and his crucifixion. Whatever it may be that touched us most, the story of the Passion of Christ, we always encounter the basic reality of the love of Jesus Christ to all of us, and his total obedience to the Father.

The Holy Week celebration which we begin today is a moment of close encounter with our Lord, to his love to us. The liturgical celebrations we have in the Church during this week somehow express 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.

Abandonment
The Palm leaves and olive branches we use today is a symbol of our glorious welcome to Jesus. The Liturgy of palms and the liturgy of the Passion show the duality of our human response to the love of God to us through Jesus Christ through out history. Sometimes we welcome him in and other times we push him away, left him abandoned.

After the people’s glorious welcome, the waving of their palms, and shouts of joy, at end Jesus would find himself alone and abandoned. Jesus’ experience of abandonment even seemed to extend to his Father: My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Jesus came triumphantly into Jerusalem, but he knew what faced him. The death would be terrible, and the suffering that would accompany it would be excruciating. Worst of all would be the pain of abandonment. Jesus would die abandoned by everyone. His friends and disciples would run away and leave him alone.
In dying his lonely death on the cross, Jesus brought salvation to all those who are abandoned by others: the poor, the homeless, the unemployed, the lonely elderly, those suffering from communicable diseases, the hungry, political prisoners, prostitutes, those who in prison. Jesus died and rose that they might be liberated from their abandonment.

Prayer
Let us pray that as we enter Holy Week, we may allow ourselves to encounter Jesus and not abandon him, but remain in him.

Let us pray that we may receive the grace to die to all of our worldly cares and desires to make space in our hearts for Jesus to enter in.

As we reflect upon the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross, let us pray that we may be healed and restored to his new life.


Prayer of welcome

“Christ, you so loved the worldyou did not shield your facefrom the pounding and spitting andyou did not answer from under the blindfoldwhen they jeered and screamed,”Who struck you?”Humbled and emptied you were,and you taught us how to live.Please open our hearts and minds that we may encounter you more closely, know who you are to us.
Amen.