God is gracious...all the time!

The Birth of St John the Baptist
Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80
June 23-24, 2007

Introduction
Today the Church observes the birth of the sixth-month older cousin of Jesus – St John the Baptist. This means starting today or tomorrow we have six months to go before Christmas! Merry Christmas! :)

As a rule, the Church celebrates the feast of a saint once a year, on the anniversary of the saint’s death. But John the Baptist breaks this rule! In his case the Church celebrates his death, as well as his birth. He is the only saint whose birth is celebrated with a solemn feast. This is the Church’s way of saying that John the Baptist has a very special role in our Christian life.

Why? Because John the Baptist marks the frontier or the boundary between the Old and the New Testament. John was the very last who prophesied the coming of the Son of God. John represents the Old Testament and at the same time he introduces the New Testament as he prepares the coming of Jesus.

Greatness of John
Jesus Christ himself speaks of the greatness of John the Baptist, he says, “among those born of women no one is greater than John.”

The greatness of John the Baptist is very obvious in the Church. Many churches throughout the world were dedicated to him. There have been 23 Popes who have taken his name.

John is the Name
Perhaps “John” is one of the most popular names for male worldwide. The name “John” is translated into different languages: Giovanni (Italian), Juan (Spanish/Filipino), Johannes (German, Danish, Swedish, Dutch), Ian (Scotish), Sean (Irish after the French Jean), João (Portuguese), János (Hungarian), Johnny (American?).

Well, John is not only popular for male but it has also feminine forms such Giovanna, Jana, Joan, Joanne, Jean, Janice, Jeanette, Juana, Jane and so on.

(Once I asked my mother where she got my name "John." I thought she derived from the Bible unfortunately she said it's not. She got my name "John" from a popular Filipino comedian*)

I read somewhere that the seven musical notes -- do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti -- have something to do with John the Baptist. They are derived from the first seven syllables of the first stanza (strophe) of a liturgical hymn composed in his honor. If you don't believe me. Check it out from the internet. I got it from there! :)

What’s in the name of John the Baptist that makes him so popular? Why does the gospel show such an interest in the naming of the child?

In biblical times, the name of the person is very important because the name reveals an essential character, the purpose, the mission and the destiny of the bearer. We heard in the Gospel that it was a Jewish custom that a first born son must be named after his father. Again John breaks the rule - he was execempted to follow the tradition.

He had already a name even before he was conceived by his mother Elizabeth. It shows that his mission was made clear even before he was born. Remember it was an angel who appeared to Zechariah that his son will be named “John.” John means “God is gracious.”

The words of Isaiah in the first reading apply equally to John: “The lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. … he formed me in the womb to be his servant (Isaiah 49:1, 5).

Greatness = Sacrifices
John is great, John is popular basically because “God is gracious” to him. But John's greatness and popularity correspond to his great sacrifices. His purpose in life required him to live in the desert far not only from his loved ones but also far from civilizations. He adapted a difficult lifestyle to enhance his calling in life. He had to dress in rough animal skin and eat the vegetarian food of locust and wild honey.

To prepare way of the Lord he sacrificed his personal happiness for others sake.

Our Youth

In the Gospel today people around Elizabeth and Zechariah were asking what will be the future of their son. “What, then, will this child be?” Then Gospel continues, “the child grew and became strong in spirit…”

I’d like to ask the same question to our young people particularly in our parish: “What, then, will our young people be in the future?” What, then, will the church be in the coming years?”

Will our youth be like John the Baptist who grew and became strong in spirit? Will our young people be great like John the Baptist in terms of his faithfulness in Christ? Will our young people be ready to endure some sacrifices for the good of Church?

I’d like to read one paragraph from Pope Benedict XVI’s World Youth Day message this year for the young people. He calls them to be Witnesses to the love of Christ:

“….you should stimulate, with your enthusiasm and charity, the activities of the parishes, the communities, the ecclesial movements and the youth groups to which you belong. Be attentive in your concern for the welfare of others, faithful to the commitments you have made.

Do not hesitate to joyfully abstain from some of your entertainments; cheerfully accept the necessary sacrifices; testify to your faithful love for Jesus by proclaiming his Gospel, especially among young people of your age.”

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Let us pray that the official launching of World Youth Day 08 in our parish this evening will enable our young people to activate their faith and desire to Jesus, only to Jesus, always to Jesus. Amen.






*That Filipino comedian is 'John Puruntong' from a comedy program "John n Marsha" :) The last two pictures were taken from our youth group bowling night.

Party II

Sabado ng gabi umatend ulit ako ng bertdey party.

Astig ang bisita
Naexcite ako
Sobrang proud. Bow


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*Jenny as Dorothy the Dinosaur

Party I

Sabado ng tanghali umatend ako ng bertdey party.

Lola: O ba't nag-iisa ka ata. Ala kang partner? Sa'n si misis?
Ako: Nasa bahay po e.
Anak ni Lola: Nanay si pader po iyan. Hindi nyo nakilala.hehe

Tumingin sa kawalan si Lola.

Destined For Truth

On your pilgrimage you will be looking for signposts pointing you to your destination. You will be looking for pathways to the truth.

Today a lot of people are skeptical about truth. They tell you: We all have different truths. One person’s truth is as good as another’s. All roads lead to truth. You can’t know the truth.

There are lies. Listening to them will cause you to lose your way and lose your hope.

Just as every human being shares the same destiny – eternity – so there is one truth in which we place our hope. Our life journey is a pilgrimage toward this Truth.

When you set out on a journey, a map will show the way to your destination. Along you way, you make decisions. What exact route shall I take? When and where will I stop for a rest? Will I take a detour for a sight-seeing trip?

Clearly it is possible to make decisions that lead away from your destination rather than toward it.

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It is the same in the pilgrimage of life. You have significant decisions to make. You are free and intelligent. Your journey to your ultimate destiny will be marked by your free and intelligent choices.

On your pilgrimage you will be guided by your destination. Seeking the Truth, you will seek and follow signposts to Truth. The signposts are there if you look for them, but strength of heart and will are required to make the right decisions at every junction.

You are destined for truth.

+Most Rev Denis J. Hart DD

Archbishop of Melbourne

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*Photos taken in Sydney with Cune

Classic

1 maecho + 1 maecho = ___

PS
Big hit daw ito :)

Bridge To Terabithia

I have a new favourite movie - Bridge To Terabithia. It's a heart warming, sweet and cute film for children. Yet the ending left me heartbroken.

Here is my review.

"Three thumbs up!"

-myself :)

It's Time, I Have To Move On

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11
Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Luke 7:36—8:3 or 7:36-50
June 16-17, 2007

The readings we have this Sunday all proclaim the forgiveness of sin.

The first reading tells story of King David confessing his guilt for committing adultery with Bathsheba and allowing her husband Uriah to die in a battle in order to cover up David’s sins

What we heard from the second reading was a testimony of St Paul, who in his former life was a hardcore persecutor of Christians, but having encountered Christ personally, he received Christ’s loving mercy and forgiveness that turned his life upside down. From being a persecutor he converted to a faithful proclaimer of Jesus. His powerful words in the second reading clamor a new person in him, “I am crucified with Christ, it’s no longer I, but Jesus Christ who lives in me.”

And the Gospel tells a story about a moving encounter of Jesus with a sinful woman in the house of Simon, the Pharisees. This particular sinful woman, a former prostitute, symbolizes all outcasts, those who ‘have a bad name in town’ for any reason whatsoever. When this woman (Mary) heard that Jesus was present at Simon’s house, she enters the house without any word but with silent gestures of humility and gratitude: She throws herself at Jesus' feet, washes them with tears, dries them with her hair, and kissing them, pours them with the ointment from her flask.

Simon, the Pharisee, sees the sinful woman’s gestures as public scandal. He rebukes Jesus for allowing her doing so. Jesus knowing what was inside the mind of Simon is preparing everyone to understand what he is about to say in defense of the woman: "'For this reason I say to you her many sins are forgiven her because she has loved much. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.' Then he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven you.'" Jesus returned to this woman her lost dignity and her bad reputation by being forgiven for whom ever she had been in the past.

From these three readings, we saw three different characters who had one quality in common, all were sinners: David, an adulterous King and murderer; Paul, a persecutor and murderer; and Mary, a prostitute. They were different people who messed up their lives against morality, they caused scandal to the people and sinned against God. But in the end their sins were forgiven, they received healing, and they began a brand new life.

Conversion
Perhaps, each of us here today, has the need to be forgiven, to receive Christ’s healing touch, and has the need to be converted. Let us not be scared to let ourselves be identified with David, Paul or Mary for each of us indeed are but sinners and unworthy human beings in the presence of God.

Let us accept the fact that each we need conversion in our lives – a change of heart.

Conversion is not only an event, it is a process, just as being a Christian is always a process of becoming. No sin no matter how great or grave it may be can never be forgiven by God. Jesus came to call sinners. Jesus’ love and mercy surpasses all our human weaknesses and failures. We all are children of God who are important and are made into his image and likeness. Let us be confident that we can always turn back to God. We can always stand up again from where we fall.

When we sin, when we do something wrong, there is always trouble in our hearts, there is no peace, there is no harmony within us, we feel guilty, we feel restless, we feel unworthy, we feel hopeless. God doesn’t want us to live in misery. God wants us to be happy. God wants to restore our brokenness caused by our sin and our human weaknesses.

Let us humble ourselves to admit our sinfulness and allow God’s grace to bring us healing and restore our confidence to move on.

I like to end my reflection with this story…

Rise Again
A young priest was supposed to preach in the prison. Day after day he tried to find some message or formula that would move hard hearts.

As he entered the room, he shuddered under the gaze and stares of the crime-hardened faces. He said a silent prayer for light as he walked up to the pulpit. He stumble on the second last step and rolled head over heels right down to the floor. The audience broke out into loud laughter.

For a brief minute the your priest felt himself hindered by pain and shame. Then he got an idea. He jumped up, took the steps two at a time and laughed right back at his captive audience, tellimg them, “Men, that’s exactly why I came here today: I wanted to show you that a man can stand up again after he has fallen flat on his face.”


We are forgiven. We can be forgiven. Stand now. Let’s move on.

*1001 Stories You Can Use by Fr Frank Mihalic SVD;
Some reflection readings http://www.liturgy.slu.edu/ ; the model in the picture is myself :)

Pinoy Import

I played basketball today with some Sudanese youth just before 5pm Mass. These players are literary running towers! And they don't need to jump to reach the ring! But my Filipino spirit never give up when it comes to basketball. Luckily after this physical game I just sprained my left little finger and it's swollen still. I think I need a holiday. :)

Need Your Help

A Solemn Act of Consecration

to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.
Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.
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O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.
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We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home.
Amen.
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--Venerable Pope Pius XII

For the Record

Friday evening I attended the Episcopal ordination of Bishops Peter Elliot and Timothy Costelloe SDB in St. Patrick's Cathedral. They were both my professors in Theology. Together with Cardinals, bishops, priests and lay people from all over Australia, I feel privelege to witness on this feast of the Sacred Heart as Bishops Peter and Tim are ordained as sucessors of the apotles to serve in the people of God in the Archdiocese Melbourne.
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As I looked around and saw the great number of priests present I realised I'm the youngest cleric at the moment in the Archdiocese or probably in Victoria and Tasmania. Being the youngest priest doesn't necessarily mean I am the holiest among all but honestly, (sadly, I mean it) speaking I am sure it's the other way around... So I'd like to consecrate myself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which overflows with love, forgiveness and mercy.

A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

Pag-aalay sa 'yo

This is a nice song para sa mga nagmamahal na pwedeng manligaw, magpacute at magpakaromantic. Let love grow naturally walang pilitan ika nga (naks). If love meant to be, be thankful. But if it's not...close your eyes...be thankful...tapos na yon...and move on. Remember the love you give away is the only love you keep..huhu :)

Kung ika’y magiging akin

Di ka na muling luluha pa

Pangakong di ka lolokohin

Ng puso kong nagmamahal

Kung ako ay papalarin

Na ako’y iyong mahal na rin

Pangakong ikaw lang ang iibigin

Magpakailanman

Di kita pipilitin

Sundin mo pang iyong damdamin

Hayaan nalang tumibok ang puso mo

Para sa akin

Kung ako ay mamalasin

At mayron ka nang ibang mahal

Ngunit patuloy ang aking pagibig

Magpakailanman

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Kung ako ay papalarin

Na ako’y iyong mahal na rin

Pangakong ikaw lang ang iibigin

Magpakailanman

Para sa akin

Ang kantang ito ay "Para Sa Akin" ay muling inawit ni Sitti Navarro.

Pagbabago

jjev78: musta daw sa bi ng ate ko
eleanorespenilla: musta din :)
jjev78: ikaw daw ba ung penpal ko..haha
eleanorespenilla: hehehehehe 14 years ago
jjev78: hehe. parang 3rd year hs daw
eleanorespenilla: oo nga tagal na nun pero parang kelan lang
jjev78: nursing student ka p nun
eleanorespenilla: ngyon isa ka ng ulirang pari at ako nman ay isang mabait na nurse hehe..........

A Banquet of Love

Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ

Corpus Christi

June 9-10, 2007

Reading I: Genesis 14:18-20

Responsorial Psalm: 110:1,2,3,4

Reading II:1Corinthians 11:23-26

Gospel: Luke 9:11b-17

Once there was a newly ordained priest who was sent to a country parish. After several months in the parish he felt terribly lonely and homesick; missing his friends at the seminary. He thought of getting a pet to give him company. Off he went to a nearby pet shop. Going through all the pet animals, he decided to buy a talking parrot.* “I know this one is very expensive, but I am sure this will cheer me up,” he said to himself as he excitedly brought it to his presbytery.

But several days passed and the parrot hadn’t uttered a sound. The priest went back to pet shop owner and complained. “What it needs is a ladder for the cage,” the man said. “When it goes up and down, it’ll start talking. But the parrot didn’t speak a word. So the priest returned and complained. “Ah, Father, what it needs is a swing,” the owner said. But a week went by, and still the bird didn’t talk.

When the priest returned to complain for the third time, the pet shop owner said what it needed was a mirror in the cage. But again it didn’t work. Another week passed and the priest came back to the pet shop, this time he was mourning. He reported that his expensive parrot had died. The owner was embarrassed. “I’m sorry to hear that Father, but did it say anything at all?” “Yes,” said the poor priest. “As my parrot drew its last breaths, finally it spoke. It said: “Father, don’t they have bird food in the pet shop?”

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Food
Food is essential to sustain life. All living things plants, animals, microorganisms and humans need nourishment in order to live. Without food we will get hungry deteriorate, and having no nourishment we will eventually suffer the grim fate of the talking parrot in the story. :(

But as Christians, we need another kind of food not only for our body but a kind of food that also feeds our soul. And this food is the Body of Christ offered to us at Mass in Holy Communion. Jesus promises eternal life to whoever receives this food, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life everlasting and I shall raise him up on the last day” (cf Jn 6, 5.1-55)

A Meal that feeds the Body and the Soul
The Gospel reading today is not much about the feeding of the five thousand people or the miracle of multiplication of the bread, but it is a story where Jesus leads his followers to recognise the Food and Drink that do not perish. Jesus is preparing the people for the greatest miracle that is going to happen when he will offer himself at the Last Supper – as Flesh to eat and Blood to drink.

At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist as a sacramental banquet and a sacrificial offering. As a sacrament, the Eucharist is a visible sign that gives us a share in Jesus’ divine life. Jesus is the Bread of Life from Heaven that nourishes people’s spiritual hunger. This is what in the every Eucharistic celebration as Jesus offers himself as the Bread of Life, to nourish our spiritual hunger and needs. In fact this is what we are going to receive later on at Holy Communion.

Real Presence
We believe that Real Presence of Christ (both his humanity and divinity) in the Blessed Sacrament for only one reason: because Jesus tells us so, and we trust Him completely.

[Cyril of Jerusalem [A.D. 350]). "Do not, therefore, regard the bread and wine as simply that; for they are, according to the Master’s declaration, the body and blood of Christ. Even though the senses suggest to you the other, let faith make you firm. Do not judge in this matter by taste, but be fully assured by the faith, not doubting that you have been deemed worthy of the body and blood of Christ. . . . [Since you are] fully convinced that the apparent bread is not bread, even though it is sensible to the taste, but the body of Christ, and that the apparent wine is not wine, even though the taste would have it so, . . . partake of that bread as something spiritual, and put a cheerful face on your soul".]

Throughout the history there were numbers of Eucharistic miracles that happened in different parts of the world. God has allowed visible miracles to occur in order to strengthen our faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. After proper investigation, two Eucharistic miracles have been authenticated by the Church:

I will mention only one. In the year 1263, a priest from Prague was making a pilgrimage to Rome in order to ask God to strengthen his faith, since he was having doubts about his vocation. Along the way he stopped in Bolsena, seventy miles north of Rome. While celebrating Mass there, as he raised the host during the consecration, the bread turned into flesh and began to bleed. The drops of blood fell onto the small white cloth on the altar, called the corporal. The following year, 1264, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus, today’s feast Corpus Christi.

Reverence to the Blessed Sacrament
Having said the Real Presence of the Jesus under the appearance of bread and wine it is therefore important to have a sense of reverence when receiving the Lord in Holy Communion.

Reverence, of course, is an attitude or feeling of awe and respect for something or somebody I value. Reverence comes from the heart. Although it comes from the inside we show reverence on the “outside” through respectful actions or gestures. First instance as sign of respect to other people we bow our heads, we tip our hats, we kiss the hands of our parents or grandparents, and we wear descent clothes when visiting important people.

More than ever, of course, reverence and respect are expected when we approach, encounter and receive the Lord in Holy Communion. When we receive our Lord either by mouth or by hand let us be filled with such deep and genuine faith in His presence in the Eucharist.

Practically we ensure that our mouth is clean beforehand not only of food or bubblegum but also with bad words or unkind judgment against others. If we are receiving Holy Communion by hands we ensure that our hands are clean not only with pen marks (eg. phone numbers!) or other stains but also we try to free our hands from ruthless and hurtful motives against others.

When the minister says “The Body of Christ” you reverently respond “Amen” with firm conviction that you are receiving not just a symbol of Christ but it is Jesus himself who is coming to you personally to be your spiritual nourishment.

Jesus nourishes our spiritual needs and keeps us under his loving care. In Holy Communion, we receive Jesus Christ, who offered for us the most perfect act of love - the total sacrifice of self – by his death on the cross and glorious resurrection.

Are you hungry for God and the life he offers us?
At the Holy Communion let us allow God to fill up our interior longing, and our spiritual hunger that material things cannot fulfill.

Let us pray that through this Eucharist each one of us will come closer to Jesus – the Bread of Life – so that we may not experience hunger but gain EVERLASTING LIFE. Amen.

Miss Saigon

Miss Saigon Tour in Melbourne

Chris and Kim play the war-torn lovers in Miss Saigon

"I swear I give my life for you." Kim holds her son Tam.

After our show :)

For the second time I watched the musical Miss Saigon in Melbourne and once again I was captivated by the superb perfomance of the casts - proud to say most of them are Filipinos. The highlight of the night for me was having the oppurtunity to have a chat with Ms Laurie Cadevida, a talented Filo-Am who played the leading character as Kim. And the second highlight was a funny one. After the show a group of shy Filipinas politely asked me to have photographs with them. I thought I've met them somewhere. Apparently they mistakenly thought I was one of the cast members of Miss Saigon. Haha. Sikat! :)

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.

****

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.*

~~~~

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