Authentic Prayer

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 27-28, 2007

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

2 Kgs 5:14-17

Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-42

Tm 2:8-13

Lk 17:11-19

Buddhist Temple in Taiwan

Prayer is a way of our communication with God. We talk to God through prayer, whether we say in the silence of our hearts or we say it together as one community. Prayer is basically is an expression of our faith, that we belief there is a God. I just came from my holiday. I spent a few days in Taiwan, and then three weeks in the Philippines. My friends in Taiwan are Buddhist, we visited a Buddhist temple I prayed with people of different belief. It was my first time to experience praying with Buddhists but although they have a different image of God I could sense the presence of God as I joined them in prayer.

My Buddhist friend told me that they visit the temple to pray before they travel abroad, when making a big decision in business, in short God is always part of their life’s existence.

Prayer basic expression of our faith
When we pray we feel the presence of God, we reconcile with God, we adore God, express our petitions, we become ready to face problems, trials, change a new person. Prayer must reflect our attitude towards other people.

Praying with humility
The main theme of today’s readings is the need for true humility as the hallmark of our prayers. God loves us when we pray with humility. We could even say that humility is the key to God's heart, a sure guarantee to a favorable reply. In our first reading today, the Book of Sirach teaches the same thing. Humility is the beginning of wisdom. A humble heart puts us on the level of the poor and needy to whom God always bends an ear. Of course, when we pray, we must really mean what we say when we acknowledge our sins and imperfections. Now that shouldn't be difficult!

St. Paul's words to Timothy in the second reading are not only beautiful but have a very personal tone: "I have competed well, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." St Paul reveals his suffering by following Christ, but he clearly sees that the way to follow Jesus is by accepting lowliness and suffering. He was proud that he fulfilled his duties as a Christian but he was humble enough brings back all the credit to God.

Humble prayers are heard because they come from the hearts of people who know how much they need God.

In the Gospel, Jesus presents to us two different characters that have two different ways of praying. The Pharisee stands in the very front of the temple, distancing himself from his inferiors, and his prayer is self-centered. If we analyze his prayer we can say that he is not praying at all. He wasn't really praying to God, but merely talking to himself about all his virtues. He believes that he is spotless, perfect and holy; He is under the mistaken impression that he can fulfill all that is required of him by his own actions; he just present to God all his good works, comparing how good he is than other people. At the same time, he was guilty of rash judging that poor tax-collector at the rear of the Temple who didn't even dare raise his eyes to heaven as he begged forgiveness for all his sins.

The Pharisee's prayer didn't impress the Lord very much. In fact, he didn't even return home justified.

Tax Collector
On the other hand, the tax collector's prayer earned him forgiveness from God. Why? Not because of his offenses, but because he honestly acknowledged them and humbly repented. He is aware of his brokenness and opens himself to God, asking for his mercy. He stood at the back of the temple, and would not even lift his eyes to God. He confesses his sins and humbly asks for God’s mercy: "O God, be merciful to me--the sinner."

His prayer was short, but to the purpose. His heart-broken, humble prayer wins him acceptance before God.

Mother Theresa
There is always the danger of religion becoming religiosity. Even our good works can become an obstacle to our relationship with God, if we don’t recognise God’s role.

A news reporter once asked a daring question to Mother Teresa if she was ever tempted to be proud. Mother Theresa inquired with a smile, "Proud about what?" The reporter replied, 'Why, about the wonderful things you have been doing for the poorest of the poor?” Then came her answer, "I never knew I had done anything, because it was God who had worked in and through my Sisters and volunteers.” True humility differentiates a saint from a sinner. If we are proud of our talents, our family connections, our reputation, or our achievements in life, today’s gospel tells us that we need Jesus to rid us of our pride and make us truly humble.

Lesson
Evict the Pharisee and revive the publican in each one of us. There is a big dose of the Pharisee's pride in us and a small dose of the tax-collector's humility. If you think you’re God, you deceive yourself. That’s why the humble tax collector, who asked God for mercy, went home reconciled with God while the proud Pharisee did not. If we are not sensitive to other people we are not sensitive to God. The Pharisee was not sensitive to the tax-collector, and hence he was not sensitive to God. The tax-collector was sensitive to his own failings and thus was equally sensitive to God. Sensitivity to other people and sensitivity to God go hand in hand.

A good daily dose of humility added to our prayer can make us better Christians. Humility before God because we are all equal O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives!When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way!When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me!When I am hurt, He heals me!When I am broken, He mends me!When I am blind, He leads me!When I am hungry, He feeds me!When I face trials, He is with me!When I face persecution, He shields me! When I face problems, He comforts me!When I face loss, He provides for me!When I face Death, He carries me Home

Kapangyarihan ng Panalangin

Kahalagahan ng Panalanging Di Napapagal
Lk 18:1-8
Sto Rosario, Lumbac, Pulilan Bulacan

October 20, 2007

Unang pagbasa - ang nakadipang kamay ni Moises ang tanda ng tagumpay ng Israelita laban sa Amalecita. - Kapag nakataas ang kamay ni Moises sila ay nananalo laban sa mga kaaway Sa Banal na Ebanghelyo ay isinaysay ni Kristo ang isang talinghaga upang ituro sa kanyang mga alagad na dapat silang manalangin lagi at huwag manghinawa.

Sa kwento ni Jesus ay may isang babaing makulit daw na punta-punta ng punta sa hukom at humihingi ng katarungan. Bagamat hindi sinabi kung ano ang dahilan ay isinasaad sa kwento na matigas ang puso ng hukom at lumipas ang ilang panahon na nagpabalik-balik ang babaing ito

Kahalagahan ng panalangin sa ating buhay
- a life without prayer is like a garden without flowers its ugly.
- a life without prayer is like a soldier without a gun he is unprepared.
- a life without prayer is like a butterfly without wings it's incapable to fly

Panalangin ang nag-uugnay sa ating pagkatao
- kapag tayo ay may mabigat na problema ay parang humihiwalay ang ating isip, nawawala na sa sarili, nabubugnot, nayayamot, walang pasensya sa kapwa nagmumura

Panalangin ang nag-uugnay sa bawat isa sa atin
- inaalala natin ang presensya ng ating mga mahal sa buhay sa panalangin
- Ilan sa atin dito ang may kamag-anak, kapatid, anak o asawa sa ibang bansa?
- Ilan sa atin dito ang may mahal sa buhay namayapa?
- Ilan sa atin dito ang pamilya na pinaghiwalay hindi ng kamatayan o pangingibambansa kundi dahil sa hindi pagkakaunawaan?

Panalangin ang nag-uugnay sa atin sa Diyos
- sa panalangin unang dumadaloy ang biyaya at grasya ng Diyos
- sa buhay sa seminaryo ay buhay panalangin

Buhay panalangin ng isang pari
- kapag nawala na ang prayer life ng isang pari duon nagsisimula ang pagbasak ng kanyang bokasyon
- ang panalangin ang syang nag-uugnay sa Diyos

Si Kristo ang modelo natin sa pagdarasal
- Nuong isang Linggo ay itinuro ni Kristo sa Ebanghelyo isang aspeto ng panalangin – ang magpasalamat

Ngayong Linggo ang panambitan sa atin ni Hesus ay manalangin lagi at huwag manghinawa
- Para nga sinasabi sa atin ni Kristo na tayo ay maging makulit sa ating buhay panalangin kahit paulit-ulit ay okay lang sa kanya.

“Maging Makulit”
- Kapag ang isa bata ay makulit humihingi ng dalawang piso sa una ay di natin papansinin subalit kung ito nagsimulang mangungulit bibigyan natin ito kahit 50 centavos o piso.
- Kung mayroon tayong panalangin na hindi tinutupad ni Lord, huwag tayong manghinawa, huwag tayong magsawa, hindi man Niya ibigay ang atin kahilingan natin ay may ibang biyaya parin tayong mapapala.
- May mga taong may cancer o may karamdaman lagin humiling sa Diyos na sila ay pagalingin…hindi man sila gumaling ay nagkakaroon sila ng lakas at tiyaga na buhatin ang kanila krus.


Si Krito ay “makulit”
- Sa bandang huli- kung iisipin natin si Kristo pa ang nangungulit sa atin araw-araw, lingo-linggo.. o sa tuwing tayo ay nananalingin
- Kinukulit nya na tayong magtiwala sa kanya, kinukulit nya tayong magpakumbaba, kinukulit nya tayong magpatawad, kinukulit niya tayong subukang magbago, kinukulit nya tayong mahalin sya at ating kapwa.

Kinulit nya tayong manalangin lagi dahil mahal niya tayo.

Si Maria din ay hindi naghinawa
Ipihayag ni Maria ang salita ng Diyos ng paulit-ulit mula ng siya ay tumalima sa mensahe ng Anghel, hanggang sa pagsilang kay Jesus, sa pagpapalaki kay Jesus, hanggang sa pagpapakasakit at pagkamatay sa Krus ni Jesus ay paulit-ulit na ipinapapahayag ni Maria ang Salita ng Diyos.


Manalangin tayo sa Diyos na huwag nawa tayong maghinawa sa ating buhay panalangin. Amen.

Moments

Your Heart Today

Bingo moments

Where there is fear I can allay, where there is pain I can heal, where there are wounds I can bind, and hunger I can fill.

Moments with retired priests

Lord, grant me courage, Lord, grant me strength, grant me compassion that I may be Your heart today.

Picture perfect moment

Where there is hate I can confront, where there are yokes I can release, where there are captives I can free, and anger I can appease.

Two sisters' moment

Lord, grant me courage, Lord, grant me strength, grant me compassion that I may be Your heart today.

Playful moment

When comes the day I dread to see our broken world, compel me from my cell grown cold that Your people I may behold.

Innocence moment

Where there is fear I can allay, where there is pain I can heal, where there are wounds I can bind, and hunger I can fill.

Kokoblack moment

Lord, grant me courage, Lord, grant me strength,

Sharing "The Simpsons moment"

Grant me compassion that I may be Your heart today.

After mass moment

And when I’ve done all that I could, yet there are hearts I cannot move, Lord, give me hope… that I may be Your heart today.

In every moment say cheese!

I will live this day as if it is my last.
This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity...
I have but one life and life is naught but a measurement of time.
When I waste one I destroy the other.
If I waste today I destroy the last page of my life.
Each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return...
- Og Mandino

*

* "Your Heart Today" words by Manoling Francisco SJ from the album and scorebook: The Best of Bukas Palad (vol2). Photos: bingo bozos of Sunbury, Majela priests' retirement house, Rocelyn Reyes, Patricia & Kaka, Odra & Kaka, Karol & someone's baby, Kokoblack Camberwell, Litz & the Simpsons, altar servers of St Andrew and barrel cheese.

Proud to be humble

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time C
September 2-3, 2007
Reading I: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29

Responsorial Psalm: 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11

Reading II: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a

Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14

What is humility? According to my "humble" dictionary, “humility is a condition or attitude of mind.” It’s a very humble definition because it didn’t say much about humility. :) We can also define what humility by saying what it is not. The opposites of humility are pride, arrogance, assertiveness, self-importance, egoism. We often say a person is humble when he or she is not arrogant, not boastful, or when one doesn't think that he or she is better or more important than others.

Once there was an arrogant lawyer who asked a humble old Italian farmer, “Why don’t you hold up your head in the world as I do? Look I bow by head neither before God nor to anyone, even to Prime Minister.” “Sir” replied the old farmer: “see that field of grain? Only those heads that are empty stand upright. Those that are well-filled are the ones that bow low.” The English word humility is actually derived from the Latin term “humilis,” which means low, humble, from earth. So a humble person is has an attitude of lowliness, one who does not hold up his or her head, nose or place above other people. Sometimes even animals can tell us what it means to be humble. I read somewhere saying that when two goats meet each other in a narrow path above a stream of water, a situation where they cannot turn back, and they cannot pass each other, for there is not an inch of spare room. You know what they do? Instinctively, they know that if they butt each other both will fall into the water below and be drowned. Nature has taught one goat to lie down so that other can pass over its; as a result, each goat arrives at its destination safe and ground.

If you have goats at home try it. Let me know if it works. :)


Jesus favourite topic One of the most favorite topics of Jesus is humility. Remember we heard Jesus' words from the Gospel last Sunday calling to “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” He says the gate of heaven is narrow and it’s difficult to get in. It is narrow and small that if we want to enter we have to be small or bow down our heads. This means we have to be humble and to lower down our pride. Last Sunday's Gospel ends with this message, “the last will be first and first will be last.”

Little children are number one candidates to enter heaven not because they are cute but because they are humble. How blessed are they because they will find it easy to pass the narrow and small gate of heaven! In today's Gospel Jesus teaches us how to be humble using a parable. He says, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor…take the lowest place.” The reason Jesus was invited to the dinner party was that he was already well known as a sort of celebrity, noted for curing the sick and performing miracles. But Jesus was not interested about his fame. However, he used the occasion to teach a lesson about the Kingdom, presenting humility as the essential condition for God’s invitation to His heavenly banquet.

He showed that humility must be expressed in the recognition of one’s lowliness and one's need of salvation. Jesus was talking to the Pharisees who were known as notorious, proud and elite religious leaders of his time. Jesus would like to teach these Jewish religious teachers about genuine humility and the dangers of pride.

Invitation
Well, this parable is not only to teach the Pharisees the importance of humility, however this parable is Jesus’ personal invitation for all of us. An invitation calling you and I to strive hard to embrace the virtue of humility. The virtue of humility is always grounded in a psychological awareness that everything I have is a gift from God -- therefore, I have no reason to boast. To admit our need and dependence on God is being humble. To see good things we have in life as gifts from God is being humble. We must not use our God-given gifts and talents to elevate ourself above others. Humility means the proper understanding of our own worth. It requires us not to overestimate our worth, but also not underestimate it. To be humble is to realize that we are loved by God because we are His children.


The mere fact that we are here present in this church is a very good sign that we are humble and that we need God to work in our life.

The quality of humility that Jesus is asking to have has a sociological implication. It means that Jesus is inviting us to associate with the so-called “lower classes" of society -- even the outcasts. Jesus invites us to change our social patterns in such a way that we connect with the homeless, the handicapped, the elderly, and the impoverished -- the "street people" of the world.

Let us pray that we strive to be humble each day. Jesus is our model of humility. St Paul describes in his letter to the Philippians (2:7-8) God’s humility through Jesus’ coming to this earth: “Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”

"Lord Jesus, you became a servant for my sake to set me free from the tyranny of selfishness, pride, fear, and conceit. Help me to be humble as you are humble and to love freely and graciously all whom you call me to serve."

Keeping God's Wisdom

Wisdom is the principal thing;
therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor,
when thou dost embrace her.
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace:
a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

*

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings;

and the years of thy life shall be many.

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;

and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Take fast hold of instruction;

let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Proverbs 4:7-13

*

*The Scripture potrays wisdom in a feminine gender. She brings us the ability to know the difference between things that are temporary and essential. Praying for wisdom makes us live meaningfully and wiser in the eyes of God. Our today's model of wisdom is my friend Pinky Marie because of her feminine beauty, and also today is her birthday. Photos used without her permission. :)

Are you fat?

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

August 25-25, 2007

Reading 1Is 66:18-21

Responsorial PsalmPs 117:1, 2

Reading IIHeb 12:5-7, 11-13

GospelLk 13:22-30

Once there was a rich man who always had this question fixed in his mind: "Will I go to heaven or to hell?" This became so much of an obsession with him that he decided to approach his pastor. "Father, will you please ask God whether I am going to heaven or to hell?" "Well, my son, how can I possibly know? I do not have a direct line with heaven." "Come on, Father! Pray hard. Do not worry; I will compensate you well for all your efforts. I will pay off all the debts of the Church..." With that kind of an offer, the pastor could not refuse. "Come and see me in three days time," he reassured him. And sure enough, three days later, the rich man was knocking at the door of the preacher. "Well, Father, any news from God?" "Yes, my son! I have good news and bad news." "Give me the good news first." "The good news is that you are going to heaven!" "Great! Wonderful!" exclaimed the rich man in jubilation. "And what’s the bad news?" "Well, the bad news is that you are going to heaven today!”

Who can be saved?

In the Gospel someone asked Jesus “Who can be saved?” Jesus simply answered “strive hard because the heaven has a narrow gate." In simple words I supposed Jesus wants to say is that a person must be fit, must workout, and lose some weight so that she or he may enter the gate of heaven. We have to trim our waistline to enter the narrow gate. We are not talking here our physical sizes but to enter heaven we need to burn our “spiritual fats” --- our attachments to pleasure, worldliness, and selfishness. The second reading tells us more how can we trim our “spiritual waistlines” to enter the narrow gates, through discipline, suffering and sacrifices

Strive to enter by the narrow gate. Jesus uses the image of a narrow gate to describe the gate of heaven. It has been made small so that only the little ones will fit through it;

Remember Jesus says you cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless you become like little children. Little children will find it easy to enter the narrow gate not because there are little physically but because they don't have "spiritual fats".

Look little children have especially qualities that we adults don’t have: they simple, they are not image conscious. They cry, poo and pee in public they don’t care what people say. They are free to express openly what they feel, and feel deeply what they are. They don’t care whether they are male or female, rich or poor, Christian or Muslim.

Children are not afraid to get hurt for being known for who they are. That is why they are so loving and lovable to eyes of God. More importantly little children unlike us are without world attachments. Children are totally dependent on their mum and dad. The world is perfect around them as long as mum and dad are present.

There will be full of surprises in heaven. The VIP’s and big shots on earth will not necessarily be VIPs and Bigshots in Heaven. To enter heaven, what will matter is not your social status on earth, or your bank account, or your looks, or your academic degrees. What will matter then will be the kind of person we are: are we like children? Are we a selfish or a loving person?

Strive to enter by the narrow gate. We too believe that we cannot “earn” our way into heaven by good works, but we also believe that we must allow God to work in our lives through His grace, a grace that is reflected in our actions. The road of the life of this world is wide, many follow it because it is like a river of desires and pleasures, it drags them into spiritual danger and it is a definite way to perdition. The road to heaven is narrow and difficult to follow, not everyone can find it easily because it demands following my gospel. The gate to gate in not so popular because tt is very easy to stray from it because of the distractions of the world.

The good thing for being a Catholic as Bishop Christopher Prowse said yesterday at Confirmation Mass is that when we fail or when we sin, we are always welcome to start a new life, we can always start afresh with Jesus and through Jesus.

We want to start afresh new now. Let us begin to trim our spiritual waistline to enter by the narrow gates.

Jesus wants us all to be in heaven. Jesus came to save us all, and we are all important to him no matter what is our country, race, culture or religion. The means of salvation is all available in the Catholic Church. We have the sacraments as means for us start our new life and thus enter the narrow gate: Eucharist, Reconcilliation…

Let us strive hard to be more closer to Jesus, only Jesus and always Jesus. We will do our best for Jesus.

Let us conclude with this a short prayer of self-examination:
“I need you Jesus Christ. Grant me forgiveness for my sins. Make me a new person. I need your Holy Spirit to direct me, to strengthen me, so that I can walk in the narrow way and choose the narrow gate. I need you to change me from a self-centered, self-sufficient person into your wise servant.”

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*Our little models for today are Nicola, Joshua and Jordan :)

Peace breaker

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time C

August 19, 2007

Reading I: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10

Responsorial Psalm: 40:2, 3, 4, 18

Reading II: Hebrews 12:1-4

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

Jesus The Peace Maker?

“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”

These words of Jesus must have shocked his disciples. Jesus' words are not only dramatic and hard to understand but there are also a seeming contradiction. Isn’t it Jesus is supposed to be a Messiah, ambassador of peace, harmony and unity? Elsewhere in the Gospel, Jesus is described to be the Prince of Peace, at his birth the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest and earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” On Easter night Jesus greeted disciples with peace three times. When he commissioned his disciples he instructed them to greet every household they would visit with a greeting of peace.

How can these two positions be reconciled? How can we interpret the words of Jesus today? The answer is to be found in consequences, not intention. For instance in the first reading we heard that the prophet Jeremiah must be put to death because he is steadfast in his mission from God. Jeremiah is ridiculed, hated, thrown first into prison, then let down into a deep cistern by those who wouldn't listen to his message. They said it was "too demoralizing." King Zedekiah admires Jeremiah, but he is too weak to act on his advice. Jeremiah was left in a dark and muddy cistern solely because he had spoken God’s warning. He is battered and beaten as consequence of telling the truth!

Our Gospel reading concludes with examples of family unity which will be divided: From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three;a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father,a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother.

This is hard and does not sound very appealing, but sometimes this is the reality. In the act of accepting Jesus, many people found themselves at odds with others, even family members. To accept Christ seriously mayh cause division and rejection in one’s own family. It happened in early Church and it still happening today.

Christ desired peace, but a faith on fire often leads to division. Many parents feel so bad about their children who were reluctant going to church on Sunday. Some parents have told me that they now try to avoid the topic of religion, Sunday Masses, Christian moral values on their children in order to prevent discussion or disagreement. There are some children go to church just to please their parents or grandparents.

On the other hand, there are children who want to pursue a dedicated Christian life but their family offer no understanding or support. There can be very strong family reactions to one member’s embrace of the faith. I remember a friend priest of mine in the Philippines telling his vocation story. He said, when he entered the seminary his father stopped talking to him. Another friend of mine, a religious sister, said she entered religious life without telling her parents because she knew that would not let her. She literally jumped over their fence the night she sneaked out from her house to enter the convent.

We come to the realization that following Christ is not a laid-back pursuit. To follow our Lord with fire in our belly can and does produce division. Jesus declares that His teachings will bring division and conflict, even within his followers' own households. To follow Jesus can produce uncomfortable results and affect our morale. The best solution is given us in our second reading from Hebrews today: let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

A true disciple loves God above all else and is willing to forsake all for Jesus Christ. Jesus insists that his disciples give him the loyalty which is only due to God, a loyalty which is higher than spouse or kin. It is possible that family and friends can become our enemies, if the thought of them keeps us from doing what we know God wants us to do.

When Jesus says he brings division to family, family could also be the world at large, our civil government and our local communities. It is the duty of the Church to transmit Christ message in our society. As the Church proclaims Christian moral values and principles she causes division.

A concrete example is in our parish take away-sheet this weekend. At the last page there is a letter from Archbishop Hart regarding the issue of a Private Members Bill, the decriminalizing abortion will be introduced into the Victoria Parliament this week. Archbishop Hart wrote: I appeal to all that we acknowledge and protect the human dignity of each person from the very beginning of life to its natural end. This means that we not only preserve the life of the unborn child, but also work tirelessly to care and support mothers and distressed by an unplanned pregnancy and anxious for their future and that of their unborn child…This legislation to decriminalize abortion will weaken eventually weaken the respect we have for life and the dignity of each person.

We know our moral stand against abortion will cause division. But as followers of Christ, it is our moral duty to recognise that all human rights ultimately depend on our love and support for the most vulnerable and defenseless in our community.

So, in this Mass let us pray that our love to Jesus may be strengthened, make him always our number one, and let the fire of God's love burn brightly in our hearts. Let us also pray for the Church, to all who endure hardship, and pain in the cause of discipleship.

Together with all the baptised, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

"Lord, may your love consume me and transform my life that I may truly desire nothing more than life with you. Make me strong in love and fidelity that nothing may hinder me from doing your will."

Let us prepare now

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C
August 12, 2007
Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm: 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 or 11:1-2, 8-12;
Luke 12:32-48 or 12:35-40

After the parable of the rich man last week, we heard today from the Gospel another parable of Jesus reminding us what really is our true wealth, treasure that never perish, that is eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

There is a big contrast between earthly treasure which will perish and heavenly treasure which is imperishable. We cannot bring our big houses, expensive car, jewelries, money and even our good looks in heaven. What we will carry with us when we die is not our bank account but the measure of our love for God and our love for neighbour.

The message of the Gospel today is clear; the master portrays our Lord returning to fetch us on the day of our death. Jesus is asking you and I today, “are you now prepared?” Jesus is not asking if you are prepared tomorrow or next week, he is explicitly asking us here and now, “are you prepared?” Have you and I stored enough treasure in heaven that will never perish? Are we still like the foolish rich man in the parable last week who placed his trust and security alone in his money and material wealth?

There is a story of a conversation between a young and ambitious lad and an older man who knew life. Said the young man.
“I will learn my trade (be professional)
“And then?” said the older man.
“I will set up in business.”
“And then?”
“I will make my fortune.”
“And then?”
“I suppose that I shall grow and retire and live on my money.”
“And then?”
“Well, I suppose that some day I will die.”
“And then?”

Last Friday night, our new regional bishop Bishop Christopher Prowse confirmed our students from Corpus Christi School. He delivered a powerful and challenging homily. He said, as our modern society grow richer people suffers a disease called “affluenza.” It’s a disease of the soul caused by being over-materialistic. The more we buy things, big houses, luxury cars, expensive clothes; all the more we acquire wealth and pleasures and forgetting about God’s presence, the more we become lonely and depressed. Wealth does not guarantee a life of love. That is why the richest man is not necessarily the happiest, even if his wealth can provide him much pleasure in life.

Our real wealth is the kingdom of God. For Jesus, this should be the primary concern of our life. When we speak of true riches, though, two things are to be remembered. First, it is God who gives us this wealth: it is free! It is not acquired through our own efforts, unlike material wealth, which largely depends on our own toil. Heaven is not acquired by our own achievement it is not our achievement. By contrast, in true wealth, it is God who acts. We can do nothing without Him. Second, all we seek is that God establish His kingship over us. Our role is not passive, but it is exercised in active passivity. We allow God to rule our lives and our society. Not what you and I want, but what the Lord wants this is what prevails in our daily life.

It’s not sinful to enjoy the wealth and material things that we earned and worked hard for. We have the right to do so. But when material wealth causes us to treat God as our last or our least priority, then we endanger our soul.

Jesus is inviting each of us to be vigilant and watchful not only in our priorities in life but also our attitude towards God and our neighbour. “Gird your loins and light your lamps, and be like servants who await their mater’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.”

In the Gospel, as Jesus admonishes his disciples 2000 years ago to be vigilant for the “master's return,” to be eager to learn and do the “master's will,” and to be “faithful” though the master's coming is delayed, and so he is asking us today, here and now, to be ready, well-equipped and prepared.

Vigilance does not mean simply waiting for something to happen. Waiting for Christ to return means working for the coming of the Kingdom of God. It means mastering the virtue of kindness and compassion; it means ending the hatreds that divide us; establishing peace among ourselves, within our families, in society, and among the nations of the world; being vigilant means building a social structures that respect the dignity of individual humans, including the unborn.

Once again Jesus is knocking on the door of hearts now. Are you prepared? We don’t have to wait for the time of our death? Jesus wants to enter into deepest our heart now. He wants to be ready when he comes, he wants to us to be prepared. Let us renew our commitment to Jesus, let us pray to him like we never pray before.

Jesus wants us to be prepared because he loves us, as the Psalm says “(we).. are the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.”

Pananatili

Mahal kong,

Huwag mong naising lisanin kita; wala 'kong hangaring ika'y mag-isa. Sa'n man magtungo, ako'y sasabay, magkabalikat sa paglalakbay. Mananahan sa tahanang sisilong sa 'yo, yayakapin ang landasin at bayan mo. Poon mo ay aking ipagbubunyi at iibigin nang buong sarili. Sa'n man abutin ng paghahanap, ikaw at ako'y magkasamang ganap. Ipahintulot nawa ng Panginoon: ni kamataya'y maglalaho, anino ng kahapon. Dahil pag-ibig ang alay sa 'yo, mananatili ako. H'wag nang naising tayo'y mawalay, h'wag nang isiping magwawakas ang paglalakbay.+

Nagmamahal,



+titik ni Noel Miranda; inawit ng Bukas Palad

Another Day

11:34pm
Dear Jesus,

Here is the outline of my activities today:

9:15-10:30am Concelebrated at the Mass at MacKillop College together with hundreds of secondary students. The school celebrated today its foundation day. (May nagpicture sa akin na dalawang studyante, feeling sikat :)

10:30-11:00 am - Tea ("merienda") with school principal and fellow priests.

11:00 am -12:00pm - Outdor party with teachers, students along and Victoria Police Band; enjoyed cotton candy while watching students play games, rides, etc.

1:30-2:30 - Celebrated a funeral Mass for Dianne Lucas. She was a 50 year-old mother of two children; she suffered and died from a huntington's disease and cancer.

3:00- 3:15 pm - Burial at cemetery

3:30-4:30 pm - Hospital visitation. Santo Manna died at the hospital today. I blessed his remains and consoled his family. Administered sacraments of reconcilliation and anointing to some patients.

6:00-7:30 pm - Concelebrated at Confirmation Mass for Corpus Christi Parish School students.

7:45-9:30 pm - Concelebrated at Confirmation Mass (second batch)

10:30 - Late dinner with a bishop and parish priest.


I thank you Lord Jesus for this day. I am sincerely sorry for all my sins, please forgive me. Help me to pray like I never pray before. Help me to start anew life with you. Renew in me your Spirit. Look not on my sins, unworthiness, selfishness and the hardness of my heart, but make me an instrument of your loving grace and presence. Amen.

The Australian People's Saint

Mary Mackillop Prayer


Most loving God,
We thank you for the example
Blessed Mary MacKillop
who in her living in the Gospel
witnessed to the human dignity
of each person.

She faced life's challenges with faith and courage.

We pray through her intercession for our needs...

May her holiness soon be acknowledged
by the universal Church.

We make this prayer through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Biography
Miracle

My sister Maricon at Mary MacKillop's grave

Pray for me.

Healing

Once again, only in the Philippines!

These inspiring videos from youtube.com show Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center's (CPDRC) revolutionary system in penology aimed at inner discipline through a choreographed physical exercise.

Whether we are living within the four walls of the prison or not we have to face that we all need rehabilitation, and it all begins from within.

Watch this first. Then watch this next

It's Show time: Radio Gaga Sister Act Jumbo Hotdog

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Bigla ko tuloy namiss ang flag ceremony at field day namin sa elementary school :(

Praying to Pray

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 28-29, 2007

Gen 18:20-32; Col 2:12-14; Lk 11;1-13

Prayer
What is a prayer? "Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment" (CCC 2697) Prayer is a conversation with God. All religions in the world express there acts of worship, faith and belief through prayer. There are different kinds of prayer – vocal prayer and mental prayer. Vocal prayer is when we utter words aloud (eg rosary, novena, etc) and mental prayer is when we talk to God in the silence of our hearts. (note: in the Catholic tradition, expressions of prayer are through vocal prayer, meditation and contemplation)

Sometimes we do not see the importance of prayer. Oftentimes we do not know how to pray or what we have to pray for. Like Jesus’ disciples in today’s Gospel we need instructions how to pray, what to pray for and why we need to pray.

In response to the request of his disciples, Jesus repeated the commonly spoken of as the Lord’s Prayer, “from which it appears that above all we are to pray that God may be glorified, and that for this purpose we may be worthy of His kingdom, living in conformity with His will.” We ask for nothing unless it be in accordance with God’s divine will. Inasmuch as we pray for spiritual guidance we also ask God for temporal things – food, health, strength, shelter, etc., so that we may continue to serve God and our neighbours. Finally, there are the evils which we should pray to escape, the penalty of our sins, the dangers of temptation, and every manner of physical or spiritual affliction, so far as these might impede us in God's service.


Persistence in prayer
We have to be persistet in praying. The First Reading shows what persistence means. We heard Abraham bargaining with God. Jesus recommends the same shrewdness in the Gospel. He gives the famous parable of knocking on the door of a friend at a late hour to borrow some bread. The friend refuses because he and his family are all in bed. Jesus says, “If he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.”

Why do we have to be persistent? Why we need to pray over and over again? Why bargain?Because of love. When we love someone, we want to spend time with her/him; we never wish to lost contact with the person we love. Love requires us to be always in presence of the object of our love be it physical, emotional or spiritual presence.

Blessed Mother Teresa gave a tip when our prayer life runs dry, she said, “The only remedy for the lack of prayer is to pray again.”

Does God listen to our prayer?
The answer is yes. Yes, God always answers our prayers. Jesus himself says, “ask and you will receive.” However, though we trust the words of Jesus why it seems many of our prayers remain unanswered. When we do not receive what we are praying for. We must not stop praying. For prayer enlightens our mind, increases our trust in God and even changes our attitude into goodness. Most of all prayer deepens the degree of our intimacy with God.

God always answers our prayers. His answer is either yes or no, but always God answers our prayer in the way that is best for us. When Jesus says “ask and you will receive” he does not specify precisely what we ask for. He just says, “ask and you will receive.” Sometimes we receive what we ask for, sometime we do not.

Sometimes we are unaware that what we praying for may not be good for us, or might harm somebody else, or might prevent us from growing as a person. In that case God’s answers us or gives us something, something better than what we asked for.


The Serenity Prayer (Reinhold Niebuhr)

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

*
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Hi to Jordan Samantha, my niece and model for this entry. :)
CCC- Catechism of the Catholic Church

Destined for Christ

We go on pilgrimage for the Truth, but the Truth is not a set of loftly ideas. Truth is a person.

We go on pilgrimage seeking an encounter with the one who IS the Truth. Only this encounter can give real meaning, a new horizon and a decisive direction to our lives.

Of course there are times on our pilgrimage when we will feel lost, when we feel that the goal has slipped out of sight behind some mountain or lost in some forest.

At such times we remember the story of the two disciples on Easter Day who were walking home to Emmaus (Luke 24:15-35). They had lost sight of the goal and were in despair.

But at their darkest moment, when they felf most lost, Jesus joined them on their journey. They did not know who it was at first - only later did they look back and realise that it was the very one who had called himself "THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE" (John 14:6).

Jesus himself has walked the full human pilgrimage from birth to death, and by his resurrection has broken beyond the horizons of this world into eternity. Now he walks with us as our companion on the journey.

You are destined for a face to face encounter with Christ!

+Archbishop Denis J Hart

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Special thanks to Ms Ruthie Vergabera of Southern Christian College of the Philippines, Midsayap, North Cotabato, Philippines.

Funny

Enjoy life! Only in the Philippines!

Part 1

Part 2

:)

Playing Busy

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 21-22, 2007

Busyness of life
Over the last few months that I’ve been here at Werribee I've kind words of welcome and hospitality. Oftentimes people would ask me if I am settling alright here ofcourse my answer is a big "yes". People are very friendly but sometimes they ask me "funny" questions like what I do after celebrating Mass. There is an impression that a priest is ordained just to celebrate Mass. That was my impression too! Well, I am a priest now for ten months and I’d say the demands on my time and energy as a priest are relentless or at times overwhelming. In short, busy. But who is not busy? We all have work to do and tasks to accomplish be as priests, parents, employees or students. See, even our young children they are super busy too; they have to juggle their time on their home works, and other activities like music lesson, dance, sports, etc.

We live in a super-busy world. And because we are busy we want everything instant. We want everything and we want it now. We have instant messages, email, fax, internet. Time is so precious that we want instant food, education, job and money. We want things to be done quick, fast and better. We demand instant information, medical service, instant diet, and we even demand instant boyfriend or girlfriend! :)

Technology is supposed to make life easier and give us more leisure time. But it seems the more technology advances the more become busy and less time. We walk down the street, it's not ordinary to people without a mobile phone or i-pod to their ear. People are busy sending text messages to their friends even during meetings (Mass?).

We are too busy that oftentimes we want to do different tasks at the same time - multi-tasking. Oftentimes it works. For instance my eldest sister has a talent doing things at time. She can cook meal, wash clothes, while at the time feeding her 3 children. (I had a talent too. When I was studying I could write down notes and sleep at the same time during class).

Multi-tasking Mary
The Gospel story we have today reflects our business in our life. At the same time it teaches us that in terms of our relationship with God, it is not healthy to be busy or preoccupied with so many things in mind. When we want to serve God we need to make certain priorities, we need balance by doing things one at a time.

The story of Martha and Mary teaches us some wisdom on how we can offer hospitality to God and particularly how we can make Christ welcomed in our life. Jesus goes to the house of his friends Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus. Jesus comes as friend and as guest receiving two level of hospitality from the two sisters.

Mary & Martha
Mary arranges herself at Jesus’ feet and focuses clear wide eyes upon him, listening to his word, while Martha bustles in the kitchen about getting dinner ready.

“Martha and Mary are often seen as symbols for a balance of hospitality. Martha represents the tasks of preparation-cleaning house, cooking food, setting out the dishes and cups, and the like. Mary represents the personal care of the visitor-listening, paying attention, spending quality time in conversation. Both are important.”

But in response to Martha’s (exasperated) request that Mary help out a little, Jesus remarks that, no, Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken away from her.” Jesus is not saying to Mary that food or the chores of making meal are unimportant. (Personally I find food more important :). Jesus would like to remind Martha that she has forgot about him as guest, as she was anxious and worried about many things, and her mind was on work – like us, she was super busy!

“The moral of the story actually is this: real hospitality means a two-way relationship. Host and guest open to each other and become present to each other in various ways. Yes, hosts do work on the details, and work hard. But they always remember the visitor while they prepare. They do not become distracted from the reason for the food. Excellent hosts manage somehow to get everything ready but then to truly listen to and converse with the one who has come.”

Active contemplation
Both Martha and Mary play a significant role in their attentiveness to Jesus, while meditation, listening on Jesus’ word is accorded an essential preference.

Yesterday, I attended a special Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate the 1 year out before World Youth Day in Sydney. The Cathedral was packed with so many young people from schools and parishes, together with parish coordinators and representatives. Bishop Prowse said in his homily “there is no greater encounter than to encounter Jesus in our life.”

Let us sink his words in our hearts....“There is no greater encounter than to encounter Jesus in our life.”

Mary, by listening to Jesus’ word, by contemplating on his presence, has encountered Jesus more deeply in her heart.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of our life, let us give hospitality to Jesus let us welcome him not only in action but also with contemplation. Contemplation means we need to find time to sit down, let us let go of worldly distractions in order to hear and understand Jesus’ thoughts and insights more deeply.

We need to meet God “face to face” at it were, because we are made for him, we are made for worship. We find our rest on in Jesus, as St Augustine says, “our hearts are made for you, O Lord, and they will not rest until they rest in You." Amen.

Bb Socorro Laniog

Ipinanganak si Binibini Socorro Laniog taon 1929. Nagtapos siya sa National Teacher College nuong 1960.
Sa loob ng halos 37 taon nagturo si Ma'am Laniog sa St Dominic Academy, Pulilan, Bulacan, kaya't ilang salin ng henerasyon sa Pulilan ang pinalad na dumaan sa kanyang istrikto ngunit masayang istilo ng pagtuturo. May nagsabing kung may Mary Walter daw ang pelikulang Tagalog ay may Miss Laniog naman daw ang SDA.

Huling naglingkod si Ma’am bilang guro sa Fernandez College Technical High School sa Baliuag kung saan siya ay nagturo sa loob ng 7 taon.

Nakakalungkot ang mga huling taon ni Ma’am dahil siya ay halos nabuhay sa hirap. Madalas siyang makikitang nakaupo sa harap ng munisipyo ng Pulilan, nag-aabang at nanghihingi sa mga kakilala o kaya’y sa mga naging estudyante niya.

Ipinagkait man kay Ma’am Laniog ang maginhawang buhay, siguradong kung saan man siya naroroon ngayon ay tinatamasa na niya ang ibayong ligaya at yamang taglay ng Poong Maykapal dahil na rin sa kanyang paglilingkod at mabuting pakikitungo sa kapwa.

July 1, 2007, inihatid sa huling hantungan si Ma’am Laniog sa Garden of Love Memorial Park. Dahil sa dami ng tao na nagparangal at nakiramay kay Ma’am Laniog sa burol at Santa Misa, masasabi daw na isa ito sa pinakamalaking okasyon ng libing sa bayan ng Pulilan.

"wala na po sya please pray for her soul"

- Peejay

"lam u n b blita? patay n c ms. laniog. c lerelyn n eileen gay send message thru frendstr.."
- Pilar

"MS. LANIOG PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT SA PALTAO NAKABUROL.."

- lerelyne

"sa mga ka batch ko! iniwan n tayo ni maam laniog!lets pray for her!"

- rio

" please pray for the soul of our teacher ms.laniog,she passed away last night."

- Eileen gay

joel: sa bisita ng paltao ata binurol

elsa: dami siguro pumunta noh? parang reunion

elsa: ilang generation ang estudyante nya eh

joel: oo nga parang reunion tayo lang wala

elsa: di bale maintindihan nya un...may representative nman tayo eh

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"Marami ang natuwa,napaiyak at napasayang atin ulirang guro na si ma'amLaniog. Ngunit sa kabila nito, marami tayong natutunan aral sa buhay na hanggang ngayon ay atin pa rin bitbit kahit san tayo magpunta. Isa ka ma'am Laniog na humubog ng akin buhay, ikaw ma'am isa sa naging gabay ko kapagtuklas ng buhay. ang iyong walang sawang pagbibigay pangaral ang patnubay ng iyon mga mag-aaal. Lumipas man ang maraming panahon...tanim pa rin namin sa aming puso ang iyon mga sinambit at ito ay bahagi ng buhay.sa huling pagkakataon... Maraming maraming salamat sa amin mahal naguro.... BB.SOCORRO LANIOG....hanggang sa pagkikita natin muli ..sakabilang buhay."

- monet mag-isa

"ang ina at ama eh nagpunta kgabi sa burol ni mam laniog, syang wala daw kyo dun, by batch ang nandun parang reunion na din daw, tapos may mga nagsasalita na mga students nya dati. exmple ng isang kwento, tinanong daw sya ni mam laniog ng sakit na makukuha pag kinagat sya ng lamok. ang sagot daw nya ay bacteria, iyon daw pla eh malaria kaya hanggang nagyon eh bacteria ang tawag sa kanya. baka kilala nyo yun kung cno mang bacteria sya hehe,."
- cune

***

MARAMING SALAMAT MISS LANIOG SA MASASAYANG ALA-ALA.

REST IN PEACE NA PO.

***

Model of goodness

15th Sunday of the Ordinary Time
The Good Samaritan
July 15, 2007
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Psalm: 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 or 19:8, 9, 10, 11
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37

Good Samaritan in the bar:
A man is having a few drinks at a bar when he looks over and notices a drunk man passed out at a table nearby. The bartender tells him the drunk is Mr. Murphy and asks the man if he could drive Mr. Murphy home. Being a Good Samaritan, the man agrees. The bartender writes down the address and gives it to him. The man walks over and tries to wake Mr. Murphy but Murphy is groggy. The man helps him to his feet but Murphy falls to the floor. "Gosh," the man says, wondering how anyone could drink so much. He takes Murphy by the arm and practically drags him out to the car. Once there he leans him against the side of his car while he looks for his keys. Mr. Murphy slides down to the ground. The man finds his keys and manages to get Murphy positioned in the car.

He then drives to the address the bartender gave him, opens the passenger door and helps Mr. Murphy out, but Murphy falls to the ground again. Angry and annoyed, the man helps Murphy to his feet and practically drags him to the front door. He lets go of Murphy, knocks on the door and Murphy falls down again. The man helps him to his feet as Mrs. Murphy answers the door. "Hi, Mrs. Murphy, Your husband had a little too much to drink tonight so I gave him a ride home." "That was nice of you Good Samaritan," she says, looking around, "But where's the wheelchair of my crippled husband?"

Introduction
We describe a person as a Good Samaritan based on the parable we heard today: a compassionate person who unselfishly helps others. The Good Samaritan person in the parable was the only person to aid a stranger person who had been beaten and robbed.

Last month we were shocked about the shooting incident in Melbourne CBD, where a 43 year-old solicitor, Brendan Keilar, was shot dead after trying to rescue Kaera Douglas. Witnesses and reporters were quick to describe Brendan as a good Samaritan, as being someone who voluntarily offers help or sympathy even to a stranger in times of trouble.

On the contrary, during the time of Jesus to say someone is a “good Samaritan” was a contradictory in itself. The Jews treated the Samaritans as heretical people, schismatic group, worst than pagans, in short, using our language today the Jews saw the Samaritans as bastard race.

There was a deep division between the Jews and Samaritans both politically and religiously that originated even in early Israelite history. They were enemies, and, in fact, the rivalry between them is reflected several times in the bible. Remember the gospel reading a week before last week, a Samaritan village refused hospitality to Jesus and his disciples on their way from Galilee to Jerusalem, where Jesus rebuked his disciples on their anger. Also there was an occasion in the Gospel when the disciples were scandalized seeing Jesus having a conversation with a Samaritan woman.

So when Jesus told the story of a Samaritan helping a Jew everyone was probably shocked. A Samaritan outcast helping a Jew would have seemed like a bad joke—a contradiction in terms.

Who is my neighbour?
Jesus told this story of the parable of the Good the Samaritan in response to the Jewish scholar who came to test him asking “who is my neighbour?”

Based the parable Jesus’ answer was clear: our neighbour is anyone in need.

But, then, Jesus twists the question back to him, “Who is the neighbour of the robbers’ victim?” The answer of course, is the Samaritan, he or she is the one who treated the person with mercy. Even people outside our religious circle are good people and van even perform great act of kindness.

Concrete challenge
Let us ask ourselves:
Who are we in the parable?
Are we aware of the needs of other people?
Third question, are we merciful and loving like the Good Samaritan even to the stranger who is need?

Jericho Road
Jesus mentions Jericho Road as the scene of the parable of the good Samaritan. Geographically speaking modern Jericho lies about 23 miles from Jerusalem via a winding mountain road which makes it a favorite haunt of highway robbers even into today.

However, Jesus is telling us, that the Jericho Road is any place where people are being robbed, whether of their dignity, their material goods or their value as human beings. It is any place where there is suffering and oppression, a place where people stumble and fall.

As a matter of fact, the Jericho Road may be our own home, the place where we take care of our parents, husband or wife, or our children. The Jericho Road may be our work place, or our parish community where we see people, ailing person, mother, young people, children, “wounded” by bitter words, criticism, prejudices, abuses and so on.

May we all be inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan and be challenged to respond lovingly to command of Jesus: “Go, and do likewise.”

Peace Be With Us

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C
July 8, 2007
Isaiah 66:10-14c
Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
Galatians 6:14-18
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 or 10:1-9

Introduction
When I was a student in the Philippines, I remember a friend of mine who was only a deacon then, telling me that when priest is delivering a sermon he must have a bible at his right hand and a newspaper at his left hand. It took me a while before I could undertand what he meant.

Well, I guess what he was trying to explain me is that a priest must reflect on the Word of God and try to see its message or significance on what is happening in our present time.

As I was reflecting on the Sunday readings I was particularly struck by the aspect of peace. So I tried to see how the scripture's aspect of peace be relevant in today's time. So I looked up the latest news in our newspapers:

Herald Sun: there are at least fifteen reports about crime and violence: hit and run, terrorism, robbery, rape charges, tax scam.

The Age: violent machete attack at St Albans on Friday night in which eight people were injured.
Philippine Daily Inquirer (one of the leading newspapers in the Philippines): updates about Fr Giancarlo Bossi an Italian missionary, who was kidnapped by some terrorists group in southern Philippines.

New York Times: US military special operations against Al Queda.

This is the world we live in today.
Someone says, “Even if one just limits his reading to newspaper headlines this week, it will not take him more than a minute to conclude that this is not a peaceful world.”

The world is still longing for peace. How can we achieve peace?

In today's First Reading (Isa 66:10-14c), prophet Isaiah speaks of peace that God will bestow on His people who suffered strife, defeat and humiliation. But what is peace? For the prophet Isaiah, peace is not merely the absence of war. One does not create a desert and call it peace. Using the image of the new Jerusalem as a mother who consoles the returning exiles at her breasts and cradles them on her lap, the prophet describes peace in terms of experiencing comfort, spreading prosperity over the land, and all inhabitants being joyful in mind and heart. Isaiah uses a beautiful image of wholeness and integrity, the right relationship between the people and God, to describe peace.

In the second reading St Paul gives his readers a blessing of peace and mercy, that the believers may be re-created into existence of a new life with Christ.
But what does the Gospel wish to teach us about peace? Jesus his sending his 72 disciples to bring peace (or shalom in Hebrew word), to people, not only in our individual lives, but also in our community, in the nation and in the world.
Jesus instructs: "On entering any house, first say, 'Peace to this house'. If there is a peaceable man there, your peace will rest on him" ( Luke 10:5-6). What Jesus meant here is not a simple greeting that one gives to people he meets on the way, but an announcement of the peace that the salvation of Jesus brings.

Traditionally, this Gospel has been used to talk about vocations to the priestly and religious life. We take time today acknowledge the many missionaries who have come to do their mission to different countries to spread the peace of our Lord. We remember them with gratitude for leaving their loved ones, for braving deprivation, loneliness and even persecution for the sake of the Gospel.

At the back of envelope which we use to support missionaries we have a concrete story of Sr Dorothy Stand who was a victim of violence as she work for peace.
While the Gospel today can be applied specifically to labourers in the harvest as missionaries, priests and religious, the Gospel message applies to us all. Actually these 72 disciples represent all of us in our different vocations.

Jesus needs men and women to spread his message of peace. Peace always involves relationships within families, communities and between peoples; it is always about their unity and harmony. If Jesus gave his peace to his disciples, (cf John 14:27), his disciples must bring it to others. As spouses, parents, teachers, priests, friends, students, political or civic leaders, we open the way for others to meet God, and experience and bring forth the peace of Christ.

We, Christians must be peace-bearers. We are to be vehicles of peace for it is only through the communities of disciples that real peace come upon earth. We have to be involved in the peace process. The process of peace begins with reconciliation first with God by asking forgiveness, then by making peace with our loved ones, our family, and friends, then extending to our wider community. For peacemaking is not an optional commitment but it is a requirement of our faith as Christians.

Let us pray therefore in the Mass, that peace that only Jesus can give will be present in our hearts, in our family and community and we will be more aware that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

St Saint Francis of Assisi wrote a beautiful prayer of peace, let us end our reflection with his prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury,pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console;to be understood as to understand;to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Hard challenge: To Follow without delay

13th Sunday In Ordinary Time
June 30-July 1 2007
1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21 Psalm: 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10,
Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Luke 9:51-62

Introduction
A young man was very excited because he just won a ticket to the footy. His excitement lessened as he realized his seat was in the back of the stadium. As he searched the rows ahead of him for a better seat, he saw an empty one right next to the field. He approached the man sitting next to the empty seat and asked if it was taken. The man replied, "No." Amazed the young man asked, "How could someone pass up a seat like this?" The older gentleman responded, "That's my wife's seat. We've been to every Football Match together since the day we were married but she has passed away." "Oh, how sad," the man said. "I'm sorry to hear that, but couldn't you find a friend or relative to come with you?" "No," the man said, "They're all at the funeral."*

Commitment
The readings today have a general theme of commitment but it’s not about a commitment to our personal passion such as sports. They remind us today to focus our commitment to God divine call: his call to follow Jesus, to serve him through one another. Commitment is an act of being involved or engaged in an obligation; living up one’s promise to be faithful in all circumstances. A commitment to the divine call always requires detachment to one’s personal happiness, security, and even one’s family in order to attach oneself totally to God.

Readings
The first reading describes how Elisha committed himself whole-heartedly to God’s call to be a prophet, in spite of his initial hesitation when God called him through the prophet Elijah. Upon receiving God’s invitation, Elisha responds promptly, he expresses his total detachment to his former living by slaughtering his oxen he had been plowing with, and then cooking them (using the yoke and harness) as fuel for neighbors to eat, and kisses his father and mother goodbye.

Actually the responsorial psalm, “You are my inheritance, O Lord," has traditionally been used to exemplify the commitment to ordained ministry or religious profession. But it more accurately reflects the commitment we made on our baptism
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Gospel
The Gospel today has two parts: First part deals with the beginning of Jesus’ journey from the northern town of Galilee to the southern city of Jerusalem through the land of Samaria. It invites us to discover what the call to discipleship means. We hear the hostile nature of Samaritan territory, the villagers wouldn’t welcome Jesus, which infuriated, James and John, that they requested Jesus to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias had done (II Kings 1:9-12). Jesus rebuked them, however, because he was not a destroyer, but a Savior. So far at this stage the apostles have so little understanding of their commitment as followers of Christ. Commitment to Jesus also means detachment to violence and harmful thoughts against others, even to enemies. They already forgot what Jesus taught them, to bless those who curse them and pray for their love enemies.

Now the second part of the Gospel gives us in tight sequence three cases of would-be followers of Jesus. Three different characters who would like to commit their lives to Jesus. Jesus warns them that to follow him requires total dedication and complete self-surrender. It will not be a bed of roses. We do not know if they ended up as faithful followers of Christ. What matters is the message of the Gospel: how does one follow Jesus; how can we be fully committed to Christ.

Those who are to follow Christ are asked to follow him totally and immediately, without any reservation by giving up everything they have. First, one must give up security, one must subordinate everything without delay to the duty of evangelizing, and one must forget the past and face the future. In short, if one wants to follow Jesus, one must act decisively – fully committed by words and examples.

A life of commitment to all

A life of commitment to a divine call, as explained in today’s reading, is not restricted to saints, priests and the religious, but it’s for all. As baptised Christians we are called to be living prophets to our families, community, Church, and society by listening to and putting into practice what Jesus says to us.

We are here this morning because, in one way or another, we would like to say to Jesus, “I love and I will follow you.” Sometimes we have been faithful to him and other times because of our weaknesses we have not. But the good news is that we are following him as best as we can, aren’t we? If not you wont sacrifice one hour of time today to come to Mass and worship our Lord. In a few moments, 30 minutes or so, we will all leave this church, we will go our own way and return to the world with all sorts of tough choices and difficult demands. Tomorrow most of you will to your workplaces, our students will be starting their school holidays, and tomorrow I will spend my day off.

Hence in this Mass we have come together, to pray for strength that we will able to faithful with our commitment to follow Jesus, to live up his values and imitate his examples. It will never be easy to follow Jesus but we will do it. So we have to ask for forgiveness when we fail, and we have to renew our determination to walk with Jesus.

My dear friends, let us pray for strength to honor our commitments that we may all resolved to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and follow him to the end. Amen.

*story adapted from Fr Tony
* Hanggang tenga ngiti: A-so-happy-moment-taken-in-1997-with-my-very-good-friend-Sr-Maria-Comiso- RCM. She's an inspiring example of a faithful follower of Christ.

Good nite

Daily Awareness Examen

Place yourself in the presence of the Most Holy Trinity.

I first turn to God the Father.
I Thank you Father for my gift of life; “It is good to be alive.”
I Thank you Father for today – another day of life, and…
I ask you Father for Light to see my day as You see it.

Now I turn to God the Son – Jesus
Where today did you walk with me?
For what moment today, am I most Grateful?
Where today did I block your presence?
For what moment today, am I least Grateful?

Now I turn to God the Spirit
Most Holy Spirit be with me for tomorrow,
help me to be open to your guidance.
Glory be to the Father
Glory be to the Son
Glory be to the Spirit
Now and forever.
Amen


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*from my Spiritual Director

Film Critic

Film review na naman tayo. Last Monday night nanuod ako ng Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Ang ganda ng lahat ng effects at ang kintab nung silver surfer man kaya eto comment ko.

"It's fantastic!"

- myself

Pero mas nag-enjoy siguro ko kung napanuod ko ang 1 to 3.* Uwian na, uwian na. Uwian na. :)

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*Di ko pa rin napapanuod ang Ocean 1 to 12.