Let's Drink

3rd Sunday of Lent A
Exodus 17:3-7
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
John 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

The Samaritan Woman and the Water of Life

Water
Water is absolutely essential to the survival of life on Earth. Every living organism on earth must have water in some form in order to survive. Every living cell is composed primarily of water.

When space probes are dispatched to other planets in search of other life forms, they look for the presence to water to determine if life, as we know it, is possible there. Water means life.

Have you ever noticed in public place how many people around you are carrying a bottle of water? One can live without food for several days, but not without water. We cannot go for more than a couple of hours without satisfying our thirst.

In the first reading today, the Jewish people were desperate for water. When they complained about their water crisis in the wilderness, God instructed Moses to strike the rock and a stream of fresh living water gushed out (Exodus17:6 ). Even though the Israelites did not trust God to care for them in the wilderness, God, nonetheless gave them abundant water and provision through the intercession of his servant Moses.

Gospel message
In the Gospel today, we heard an encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan women at the well. Jesus wanted to offer this woman the living water. Jesus is not referring to water that can satisfy our physical thirst rather water that satisfies our spiritual thirst. He is offering “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” This symbolizes the Holy Spirit and his work of recreating us in God’s image and sustaining in us the new life which comes from God.

The long version of the Gospel gives us background of this woman. She was longing for happiness and satisfaction, which she couldn’t find. She has five husbands (plus she has a new lover) and they hadn’t brought her what she was really looking for. She is a figure of a human being longing for spiritual satisfaction but has no idea where to find it, until Jesus found her.

At the end of the long heart to heart conversation Jesus reveals himself to her as the Messiah, which in turn leads her to faith in him.

Human Thirst
Like the woman at the well in today's Gospel, we try every kind of water under the sun to satisfy our thirst. Later in life, we recognize that our “thirst” is far more than physical thirst — it's thirst for happiness, satisfaction, peace of mind. Sometimes we "get it right," but often we look for the wrong kind of water, and we look for it in the wrong places. We often spend all kinds of money and waste a lot of time, looking for something to quench our thirsts – drinks, food, work, looks, accomplishment, other persons, sexual pleasure, and so on.

Jesus - living water
Jesus offers us the spiritual water that really satisfies. He is offering us what He offered the Samaritan woman—water far superior to anything she had ever tasted or ever dreamed of.

Jesus never despised her sinful state or bad reputation; instead offered her “a living water” that will cleanse, refresh and renew her life.

Jesus understood her hidden longing even better than she did, and so he began to lead her to where he, the healer, could astound her by the truth that indeed he is the Messiah.
When she heard this, she dropped her bucket and joyfully ran back to her townspeople to spread the good news that she has found the Messiah!

Lenten Message
Lent is a time for us to let Jesus satisfy our thirst. Like the Samaritan woman, we find real joy and satisfaction in letting the Lord fill us with the grace of the season. Like her, we find that our joy is greatest when we were accepted despite of who we are.

Our relationship with the Lord is the water of our lives: essential for our well being and the source of our joy. Without the Lord we would wither away like dried leaves.

Only Jesus, always Jesus fulfils all our desires!

“Lord Jesus, my soul thirsts for you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may always find joy in your presence and take delight in doing your will. Bring me always the spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

turning...

naks!

Constant Change

Second Sunday of Lent A
February 16-17, 2008
Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm: 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Matthew 17:1-9

Change
An ancient Greek philosopher by the name of Heraclitus said our world is ruled by the law of change. Everything around us is changing that “no one can step the same river twice.” Because different waters flow in rivers, the water are always changing.

Nothing is permanent in this world. The only permanent in this world is change. Season change and temperature change. "Cold things warm up, the hot cools off, wet becomes dry, dry becomes wet."

We human life is also governed by the law of change. Our appearance change, our weight and waistline change, our mood or emotion swings from one to another. As year go pass we grow old in age, we gain wisdom, we learn new things, we mature and developed.

Lent
Change is the call of Lenten season. We are invited during this time of the year to change our old ways, change our bad habits to conversion.

We notice various changes in the life of the Church during the time of Lent: our liturgy is simple we don’t sing or recite the Gloria; we don’t sing or say the Alleluia to welcome the Gospel; there are no flowers in the church. In some churches they cover the statues and images during Lenten season.

During the time of Lent, we change a bit our normal lifestyle - we make sacrifices, we give up something pleasurable, we let go off things that stop us following Him, so that inner change may truly happen within us. Inner change is called a conversion heart. To be converted means allowing our hearts being touched by the words Jesus through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Lent is a time when we bring our mind and heart closer to our Lord so that we can listen attentively to him attentively. Conversion of heart is the goal we want to achieve in Lent.

Transfiguration
In the Gospel reading, Peter, James and John, witnessed a sudden change in Jesus – He was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. They were dumbfounded at this dramatic vision, also with the appearance of the two great men from the Old Testament, Moses and Elijan appeared to them. As this happens they head a voice saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

In an instant the three disciples, Peter, James and John, experience a glorious moment that would change and deepen their understanding about Jesus – the person whom they were following. Up until now they knew Jesus only in his external appearance: He was not a man different from others; they knew where he came from, his habits, the timber of his voice. Now they know another Jesus, the true Jesus, the one who cannot be seen with the eyes of ordinary life, in the normal light of the sun; what they now know of him is the fruit of a sudden revelation, of a change, of a gift.

Because things change for us too, as they changed for the three disciples on Tabor; something needs to happen in our lives similar to what happens when a young man and woman fall in love. In falling in love with someone, the beloved, who before was one of many, or perhaps unknown, suddenly becomes the only one, the sole person in the world who interests us.

The Transfiguration of Jesus calls us to transfigure our hearts which means making him the sole center of our life amidst the world around us that is constantly changing. What are those changes around us? Faith and religious practice are in decline, and they not seem to constitute, the point of reference in life. There is the boredom, the weariness, the struggle for believers in performing their duties. Many young people are not attracted to the faith. There is dullness and lack of joy among the believers in Christ. On the other hand, being faithful Christian makes you unpopular and considered old fashioned.

Challenge
We should not be discouraged about this change. When Jesus allowed his disciples to see him transfigured, his purpose was not to show off his glory and power rather he wanted to encourage and strengthen their faith. So when they see him suffer on the cross they would not lose hope. And when themselves experience persecution because of their faith they would not lose their love and trust in him.

The Transfiguration of our Lord transfigures the hearts of his disciples, loving him faithfully both in times of joy and sorrow.

The challenge for us during this today, especially at this time of Lent: are you ready to transfigure your heart?

Real change of heart happens when we are no longer so much preoccupied with selfish questions such as: How beautiful is my look? How much money do I have? How much power do I posses? How much pleasures are available for me?

Real changed of heart happens when we simply ask: How can I please God? How can I serve him in other people? Will my attitude make God happy?

Let us remember nothing is not permanent in this world, all things we see, taste and touch are all but temporary, including ourselves, we will all leave this world.

There is one thing that is more permanent than change. The unchangeable love of God to us is the only concrete and permanent in this world. We can enjoy the permanence and eternity God’s love, but first we need our hearts transfigured.

Evil Exists

First Sunday of Lent (YearA)

February 8-9, 2008 Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
Romans 5:12-19
17-19Matthew 4:1-11

Temptation...Temptation is something that allures, excites, and seduces someone. Temptation has many form, it exists anywhere at any time (mostly in the kitchen table, even in the church and during Mass). Some people are tempted to leave just before the Mass finished. Temptation by its nature distracts our attention and focus in doing what is right and good and what is pleasing before the eyes of God.

Human as we are, anyone is prone to temptation we lose our attention in doing the will of God. Even the most holiest priest can be tempted.

There was once a young, pious priest waiting for a taxi at a street corner. Suddenly rain started to pour down and the poor priest was getting soaked to the bones. Luckily a car came a long and stopped to offer him a ride. As the priest got in, he found out that the one behind the driver was a young, very attractive lady.

For spiritual protection, the devout priest prayed to himself: “Lord, deliver me from evil.” As they drove on, a freak accident happened causing the car to slide and swerve out of the road falling into a ditch. The car overturned, knocking off the two unconscious.

A few moments later… The young priest regained consciousness, he saw his hand resting on the smooth, tender hand of the lady, of course by accident. Seeing the compromising situation, the pious priest looked up to heaven and prayed: “Lord, thy will be done!”

We do not know the end of the story. Did the priest give in to temptation or not?

Lent begins
The celebration of Ash Wednesday four days ago marked the beginning of Lent. The imposition of ash on our foreheads reminded us of our own mortality in order to help us focus on Christ’s self-sacrifice and more eagerly to celebrate his Resurrection.

Lenten season is a 40-day journey. It's a 40-day of discipline not lose our focus and attention to our Lord who is the destiny of our earthly journey. The purpose of 40 days is to ready us to celebrate Easter with ‘mind and heart renewed’. We begin the first Sunday of Lent with the reading of today’s Gospel – the Temptation of Jesus. Yes, Jesus himself was tempted. Jesus is like us in every way, he was tempted as we are, but always with this one exception: He did not sin. In contrast to Adam and Eve, from the first reading, Jesus remained faithful to God when he was tempted and never lose his focus to obey God, even though it would lead him to the Cross and the Tomb.

Sin
Sin is not a popular topic in our modern culture, but during this time of Lent we are called to face up to its reality in our lives and to the devastating effect it has had on the world around us. Sin always had an effect not in our personal life but also has social implications – it affects our family, children, community…

The logic is this: Temptation leads to sin, sin leads to death. Thus the best way to avoid sin is to prevent temptation as we always pray when we recited the Lord’s pray we say, “Lead us not to temptation but deliver us from evil.”

In our modern culture the greatest temptation we are facing is the attitude that denies existence of evil. The demon’s greatest trick is to make people believe that he does not exist. Evil tells us that sin is not a big deal, everyone does it anyway: it’s ok to swear; it’s ok to commit adultery; it’s ok to abort a fetus it’s not a baby; it’s ok to live together outside marriage it’s common now; it's ok to have sex before marriage; it's to sometimes disobey our parents; it's ok not to pray; it’s ok not to go to confession; it’s ok not to church on Sunday, God is everywhere anyway and I will go to church when I feel like going;

It’s ok to sin. Not a big deal.

But we know it’s not ok to sin. When we sin deep in our heart there is an little voice (conscience) that tells us "something is not right" and guilt confronts us. No matter how hard we justify ourselves we feel it's not ok.

We all know from our personal experience the bad effect of sin, again to our family, loved ones, children, community, even to our economy.

Jesus conquers Sin
Evil exists, it’s a fact. The devil roams around and within us. Yet the most important thing that the Christian faith has to tell us is not that evil exist, but that Christ has defeated evil. Christ is more powerful than the devil. With Christ we have nothing to fear. Nothing and no one can do us ill, unless we ourselves allow it. Satan, said an ancient Father of the Church, after Christ's coming, is like a dog chained up in the barnyard: He can bark and lunge as much as he wants, but if we don't go near him, he cannot harm us.

In the desert Jesus freed himself from Satan to free us! This is the joyous news with which we begin our Lenten journey toward Easter.

Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving
During these 40days of Lent we acknowledge our sinfulness before God. We trust his loving mercy and forgiveness to renew our lives and set us free from our past mistakes and wrong decision.

This week, Archbishop Denis Hart, Archbishop of Melbourne, wrote in his Pastoral Letter for 2008 some guidelines how we make this season of Lenten a meaningful journey. His letter is available for us to read.

He presents us what the Gospel calls us to do during this time of Lent – to pray, fast and almsgiving or works of love.

The archbishop invites us to be faithful in our prayer life most especially the celebration of Mass. We are invited to observe silence in our churches before and after Mass to provide each other with opportunities to reach out to the Lord in prayer. He encourages us also to walk with Jesus during this time of Lent by attending Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Way of the Cross and the Rosary.

Archbishop Hart briefly mentioned the importance of fasting as discipline which enables us to focus our attention to God and the needs of others, rather than our own needs.

Lastly he encourages us Catholics to continue our strong tradition of helping the poor as an expression of our love. He says, We who live in a land of plenty are given the opportunity to think of others who lack the abundance that we have. Each year we contribute financial help to alleviate the poor through Project Compassion.

The core of almsgiving is love and justice. We donate something to the poor not because we are rich and they are poor. We do not give because of pity but we give, we help, not merely because they poor but because they are our brothers and sisters, and we love them.

Conclusion
We pray as one family that together we make this Lenten season an opportunity to overcome temptation, an opportunity to say sorry for the many times gave in to temptation, an opportunity of renewal and growth and a real pilgrimage that we may reach the destiny of our journey, no other than our Resurrected Lord. Amen.

Happiness

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time A
February 2-3, 2008
Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13
Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
1 Corinthians1:26-31
Matthew 5:1-12a

What is happiness? What makes you happy? Happiness is a feeling of contentment and satisfaction. A simple definition of happiness can be described as a pleasurable feeling, joy and contentment. An outward sign of being happy is a big beautiful smile.

A student will say, “I am happy to go to school when homework was done.”
A mother will say, “I am happy to see my children eating well and healthy.”
A grandmother will say, “I always feel fulfilled and happy after hearing Mass on Sunday. I am incomplete not going to church.”
A lover will say to his beloved, “I am happy only if she is are happy.”

Happiness… Isn’t it happiness our goal in life? Anne Frank writes on her diary, "We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same."

People look for happiness in family life, in ones career, etc. We sometimes believe that a change of circumstances will make us happy: restoration of our health, winning a tattslotto, an improved financial situation, a better job or perhaps a new romance.

It is natural for us to spend a lifetime search for happiness, hoping to fill the emptiness, incompleteness or sadness we have deep within. The problem is sometimes we do not know where to find real happiness.

Searching for happiness story
The story is told about a man who searched for gold all his life. His one preoccupation, devotion and obsession in life was to accumulate more and more gold believing this would make him happy. He was spending so much time of his life, sacrificing his health, his family, his friends, his values, his faith and even his very soul for precious, precious gold. When he died, St. Peter showed him the road to heaven. To his surprise the road to heaven was all paved with gold with the words: “That which you considered valuable and precious on earth is just asphalt here.

Gospel
There are two ways to achieve happiness: one is the way of the World, and the second way is the way of Jesus. The way of the World to achieve happiness is the accumulation of the 4 P’s namely, power, prestige, possessions and popularity. The way of the World promises us that these 4 P’s are keys to be happy. But in reality they are not based on tragic experience of many people we’ve know who had achieved power, prestige, possessions and popularity.

The second way to achieve happiness is the way of Jesus. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a rather different road to happiness. Contrary to the way of the World, Jesus gives us a prescription for real and genuine happiness in a number of short sayings which we call the Beatitudes.

The word beatitude comes from the Latin root word beati (beatitude, happiness) means blessed but a more literal translation of beatitude into contemporary English is “happy.” The Beatitudes imply that people not normally considered blessed (happy) on Earth are in fact blessed by God and will experience the Kingdom of Heaven, where there is eternal and real happiness.

Jesus' way of happiness, contrary to the way of the World, do not require accumulation of material things, however, demands a transformation from within — a conversion of heart and mind – the search for happiness is begins from within.

First Four Beatitudes:
The first set of four beatitudes: Happiness of the poor in spirit, the gentle, the mourners and the righteous.

Humility, being poor in spirit, is the fundamental condition of a relationship with God. Poverty in spirit is the first condition for real happiness. Being poor in spirit is not trusting in ourselves but trusting in God instead. We are poor in spirit when we surrender our plans to God asking for his help. Poverty in spirit makes us free to seek God alone not on material things or prestigious titles that we have.

If we are to be happy we are to be gentle, to be gentle means to self controlled and God controlled. To be gentle does not mean being soft or quiet, rather it also has the ability to be angry with the right people about the right things at the right time to the right degree.

Jesus says that we will be happy when we mourn for our sins and the sins of others.

We will be happy when we are hunger and thirst for what is right. A righteous person is someone who only desires the will of God and one who has a profound respect for others and wants to treat others with equal dignity. So when we see other people abused in one way or another, we hunger and thirst that their dignity will be respected.

The Second Set of Beatitudes
The second set of beatitudes: The happiness of the merciful, pure of heart, peace makers and the persecuted. All the second set of four beatitudes is best interpreted as the ability to give unconditional forgiveness and the generosity to ask pardon for our offences against others.
Jesus gave the example of the forgiving love of a merciful heart from the cross by praying for his executioners. As long as we hold something in our hearts against somebody we are not free, we are not happy.

Purity of heart makes one happy. The pure in heart are morally pure, in body, speech and in mind.

Balance
What way of happiness are we following: the way of the World, or the way of Jesus? Jesus is telling us today, that a happy person is the person for whom God is the most important thing in life – whether one is poor or rich, popular or not, powerful or weak. If our first thought in the morning and the last thought in the evening are of how to desire God, then we are happy.


"Lord, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting happiness and peace. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will."

Sa Dapit Hapon

T’wing dakong dapit-hapon,
Minamasdam ko lagi
Ang paglubog ng araw,
hudyat ng takipsilim;

Ganyan ang aking buhay,
Kung may dilim ang buwan
Hihiwat sa baybayin pagsapit ng dilim

Kung magawa ko lamang
Ang hangin ay mapigil
At ang dilim ng hatinggabi,
Huwag sanang magmamaliw.
Upang ang palakaya ay laging masagana;
Sa tangan kong liwanag ang kawa’y lalapit.

Nang dakong dapit-hapon,
Piging ng Panginoon,
Sa mga kaibigan ay manghuling hapunan.
Sa bagong salu-salo,
nagdiriwang ang bayan,
Ang tanging Kanyang hain
Ay sarili niyang buhay.

FR. EDUARDO P. HONTIVEROS, SJ
(20 Dec 1923 – 15 Jan 2008)

Sa Aking Pagtanda

Sa aking pagpunta sa simbahan ng San Agustin sa Baliwag, Bulacan, nuong isang taon, nagulat ako nang makita ko ang dalawang libro na ang una ay may pamagat na "Vitamin C" at ang isa naman ay "Multivitamins" na parehong isinulat ni Fr Ariel Robles. Hindi ako sa pamagat nagulat subalit sa pangalan ni Fr Ariel. Naging guro ko kasi si Fr Ariel nuong 1994, diyakono palang si padre nun, unang taon ko iyon sa seminaryo ng Inmaculada Conception sa Guiguinto, Bulacan. Bago ako magtapos sa Philosophy Department taon 1999 si Fr. Ariel ang aming college dean.

Tahimik lang si Fr. Ariel ngunit pag nagsalita ay makabuluhan at talagang makikinig ka. Simple ngunit malalim ang kanyang homilya. Nakakatuwang isipin na may nalathala na pala siyang libro ngayon. Pagkabili ko ay pinabasa ko muna ito sa ina ko. May isang parte daw dun na naiyak siya, itinuro niya sa akin iyon, at ito ay isang liham na mula sa magulang na marahil ay uugod-ugod na. 'Di ko lubos maisip na marami pala ang naantig sa sulat na ito kaya mabilis itong na nalathala ("kumalat") sa internet.

Sana ay magkitang muli kami ni Fr. Ariel upang siya ay pasalamatan at i-congratulate.

Sa Aking Pagtanda
Rev. Fr. Ariel F. Robles

Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensyahan.

Kapag dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan o nakatapon ng sabaw sa hapag kainan, huwag mo sana akong kagagalitan.

Maramdamin ang isang matanda. Nagse-self-pity ako sa tuwing sisigawan mo ako.

Kapag mahina na ang tenga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, huwag mo naman sana akong sabihan ng “binge!” paki-ulit nalang ang sinabi mo o pakisulat nalang.

Pasensya ka na, anak, matanda na talaga ako.

Kapag mahina na tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong tulungang tumayo, katulad ng pag-aalalay ko sa iyo noong nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad.

Pagpasensyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ay nagiging makulit at paulit ulit na parang sirang plaka. Basta pakinggan mo nalang ako. Huwag mo sana akong pagtatawanan o pagsasawaang pakinggan. Natatandaan mo anak noong bata ka pa? kapag gusto mo ng lobo,paulit-ulit mo ‘yong sasabihin, maghapon kang mangungulit hangga’t hindi mo nakukuha ang gusto mo. Pinagtyagaan ko ang kakulitan mo.

Pagpasensyahan mo na rin sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda, amoy lupa. Huwag mo sana akong piliting maligo. Mahina na ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag nalamigan, huwag mo sana akong pandirihan.Natatandaan mo noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kitang habulin sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mong maligo.Pagpasensyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako’y masungit, dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan mo rin.

Kapag may konti kang panahon, magkwentuhan naman tayo, kahit sandali lang. inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong nag-iisa. Walang kausap. Alam kong busy ka sa trabaho, subalit nais kong malaman mo na sabik na sabik na akong makakwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong hindi ka interesado sa mga kwento ko. Natatandaan mo anak, noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kong pakinggan at intindihin ang pautal-utal mong kwento tungkol sa iyong teddy bear.

At kapag dumating ang sandali na ako’y magkakasakit at maratay sa banig ng karamdaman, huwag mo sana akong pagsawaan alagaan. Pagpasensyahan mo na sana kung ako man ay maihi o madumi sa higaan, pagtyagaan mo sana akong alagaan sa mga huling sandali ng aking buhay. Tutal hindi na naman ako magtatagal.

Kapag dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo sana ang aking kamay at bigyan mo ako ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang kamatayan.

At huwag kang mag-alala, kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagapalain ka sana … dahil naging mapagmahal ka sa iyong ama’t ina…

Listen to his radio interview on SBS Radio

An Aging Parent's Plea To His Child
English translation by Edecat Manila

As I grow old,
I seek your Patience and Understanding.
Despite Hard-of-Hearing - notwithstanding,
"Love me". You're told.

If I spill Soup or break Plate,
My Eyesight could be dimming.
Look upon me with no hate.
Lest, I get a bad feeling.

If I am slow to stand,
My Knees could be weakening.
Quickly give me your Hand,
For I did teach you - Walking.

If I'm slow to understand,
My Hearing could be failing.
Write down or Motion-by-Hand,
So I could get the meaning.

If I sound like a "Broken Record",
My Memory could be lapsing.
Please do not laugh at me - nor be bored.
Bear with me - just by listening.

If I feel so alone,
My Spirit yearns for your presence.
Although busy at work,
Find time to be with me at home.

If I become hard-to-please,
My Consciousness favors the familiar.
Be careful and not amiss,
I'm exacting on particulars.

If I emit an unpleasant smell,
I could have the Odor-of-Old.
A daily Bath could make me unwell.
My weak Body could get a Cold.

If I urinate and move my bowel in bed,
Persevere still in loving me.
My Life is ending and farewells would soon be said.
Memories last eternally.

And if my Moment-of-Death is near,
Hold my hand and embrace me dearly.
Your love for me brings "God's Blessings" here.
You and I are truly family!

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Edecat_Manila

Tula Para sa Pulilan

Natagpuan ko ang tulang ito sa blogs ni Mr Rene C. San Andres na kapwa ko taga-Pulilan

Bayan kong sinilanga’y dili iba’t ang Pulilan ,
Mga binata’y makikisig ,
dilag nama’y maririkit ,
Sa tahanan nitong ama ,
palamuti’y nangagsabit ,
Tanda ng kasaysayang walang patid iniukit.

Sa pagpasok mo sa Longos,
kalabaw na nakaluhod,
Ang sa iyo ay bubungad,
masdan mong buong lugod,
Sagisag ng isang lahing,
sa D’yos Ama nananalig Paniwala sa Maykapal ,
lahat yao’y binubunyi.

Ang Longos na nuong una’y tahanan nitong PI,
Eskwelahang humubog din,
isip mandi’y pinapanday,
Kahit tabi nitong ilog,
at sa isip na mahusay,
Hindi na rin malilimot,
ang talino sa pagsikhay.

Dumako ka pa roon,
at Sto Cristo’y sasapitin,
Lugar ng mga Ochoa,
dakilang tao’t pinuno rin,
Mga tao’y mababait,
bukas-palad sa pagtulong,
Katangiang sadyang likas,
karangalang yumayabong.

Kung lalakad pakanluran,
sa Cut-cot ay magagawi,
Dito dati ang kiskisa’y ang hilera’y walang patid,
Inaning palay sa kabukiran,
dito lahat gigilingin,
Sa pagdating ng tag-ulan,
ay kaysarap na sinaing.
.
Read more...

.

Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara* (at mga bata)

Para sa ala-ala ni Cune

mula kina Ato, Jaya,

Joshua.

Ipinakikilala Osang at Buruknoy.

I love you, I love you

Sindakin shower scene

May tao ba dyan?

Ayan na

* Patayin sa Sindak Si Barbara

A New Beginning

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time A

January 29, 2008

Isaiah 8:23—9:3

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

1 Corinthians 1:10-13,

17 Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17

Always a Beginner
There is a Chinese proverb that goes: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Lao Tzu). We can name famous athletes, actors & actresses, political leaders, and all other influential people, who started from a humble beginning before they rose to popularity. Before their glourious triupm they had to start from the scratch and really worked hard. As Plato said, “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”

We don’t have to go far, let us ask ourselves, how can you compare your life today compare to what you were ten or twenty or thirty years ago? I’ve met lots our parishioners who love to tell their story when they first came to Australia. They love to recall how they came here as migrants – no friends, no family, no big houses, no cars, and no English! Look at them now. How they have achieved a lot and made a difference in this country.

Today I looked up what I wrote in my diary ten years ago, the date was January 10, 1998, the time was 12:55 am. I was deeply in love with this girl, I couldn’t sleep and I eat because of her. Today, ten years later, I am deeply in-love with Jesus. I sleep a lot and I eat a lot!

In every chapter of our life there is a new beginning.

Readings
Today’s readings present us series of beginnings among the lives of God’s people in the Old Testament, to the lives of early Christians in the New Testament, and to the ministerial life of Jesus.

The first reading from Isaiah speaks of the coming of light which will break the burden and oppression of God’s people. The dark days of oppression and deportation of the God’s people will finally be transformed into the light of joy and salvation. The prophecy of Isaiah vanquishes all the darkness of war, violence, suppression and captivity to give way to the experiences of joyful festivals. A new beginning of hope and joy.

In the second reading St Paul begs the Corinthians, in the name of Jesus, “to be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” They must change their old ways, to stop their quarrelling, end their misunderstanding and be united in Christ! A new beginning of unity and peace.

Today’s Gospel marks a new beginning of Jesus’ ministry. It tells us of the first public ministry of Jesus. You will notice John the Baptist is no longer in the scene. It signals the beginning of the New Testament; Jesus began preaching in Galilee and working out of Capernanum; and as he begins his mission the Gospel presents him as the light of the nations.

...the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.

The Gospel is fitting as we celebrate today Australia day. It’s a day when we as nation how this beautiful country Australia began to welcome people from different nations, races and culture. What we are celebrating today are all the things that make us “young and free” as Advance Australia Fair goes. We thang God for being happy and blessed to be Australian, and to live in Australia (I am not Australian citizen).

Challenge of Secularization

Today, we acknowledge the beauty of our country, but as a Catholic Church in Australia and as Christians, we also need to acknowledge that there are certain things in our country that needs transformation through the light of Christ. We have to acknowledge that we are also facing “spiritual” problems cause by modern secularization, materialism, and abuses of morality.

With our prayers and firm trust in God a new beginning is possible.

One of the most significant events in Australia this year is the World Youth Day in Sydney. We pray that this historical event would mark a new evangelization and a new Pentecost to our country particularly to our young people.

Let me read an excerpt from the letter of invitation of Pope Benedict XVI to the young people to attend World Youth Day in Sydney.

My dear young friends, I hope to see very many of you in Sydney in July 2008. It will be a providential opportunity to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power. Come in great numbers in order to be a sign of hope and to give appreciative support to the Church community in Australia that is preparing to welcome you. For the young people of the country that will host you, it will be an exceptional opportunity to proclaim the beauty and joy of the Gospel to a society that is secularized in so many ways.

During the Holy Communion we will play for the first time in our paristh the theme of World Youth Day 2008, entitled Receive the Power. It is built around the theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Let us pray in the Mass that we may make another step closer to Jesus. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let us allow the Light of Jesus to lead us step by step to our day to day journey with him, until our faces reflect his goodness and love. Amen.

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Photo: undated picture of my father

Lamb of God Ads

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time A

January 19, 2008

Gospel: John 1:29-34

Fr Ngo-ngo

When I was preparing my homily yesterday I suddenly remembered my old parish priest in the Philippines when I was just a young boy. Although I was around 6 years old then I could easily remember the way he talk. His name was Fr. San Juan. His voice was very low and monotonous, and his homily was long and boring.

I still remember how easy it was to fall asleep in his Mass. And I still remember how some people used to make their trip to the toilet during his homily.

I feel guilty now that I become a priest like him. It’s now my turn to see from the pulpit those who are struggling to stay awake in the Mass.

It’s amazing how there are people who were not gifted to be a good public speaking, on there other hand, there are people who are very good in delivering speeches. There are people who can talk for long hours and yet you won’t lose your concentration and interest. There have special charisma to attract people. This is quality is very common to good salesperson.

I read somewhere that a successful salesperson is one who is not only a good talker or enthusiastic about his/her product, but when he or she speaks, he or she looks directly to your eyes as if you are the only person in the world.

John the Baptist: A good salesperson
In the Gospel today we can compare John the Baptist to a good salesperson. But unlike any other salesperson, John the Baptist’s sale’s talk was always honest, humble, sincere, and direct.

John the Baptist endorses Jesus to people with an eye-catching title “Jesus – the Lamb of God.” When John saw Jesus coming toward him he proclaims loud and clear to people, “Look, the Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world.”

John’s purpose is not to put up Jesus for sale rather he is giving a powerful testimony to Jesus, a testimony that will mark forever our Christian understanding of who Jesus is.

In the Bible we find several titles given to Jesus, such as the Messiah; the Greater One; the Chosen One; the Son of God; Son of Man; the Christ; and so on. For the John the Baptist the most precious and meaningful title ascribed to Jesus is the loving and lonesome image the Lamb of God.

It is used 29 times in the book of Revelation. It’s the best advertising material to describe Jesus because its sums up his the love, sacrifice and the triumph.

It points us directly to the mission and identity of our Lord – the vulnerable Lamb of God, who suffered innocent death so that we might live.

Lamb of God
However, the title of Jesus as Lamb of God will not make any sense to us if we are unable to see the traditional Jewish sacrificial lamb since Old Testament period.

1) The Lamb of Atonement (Lev. 16: 20-22). A lamb was brought to the temple on the Day of Atonement. Placing his hands over its head, the high priest transferred all the sins of his people on it. It was then sent into the forest to be killed by some wild animal.

2) The Lamb of Daily Atonement (Ex. 29: 38-42; Numbers 28: 1-8). It was the lamb sacrificed on the “Black Altar” of the temple every morning and evening to atone for the sins of the Jews.

3) The Paschal Lamb (Ex. 12: 11ss.). The Paschal Lamb whose blood saved the first born of the Jewish families in Egypt from the ‘Angel of destruction’. It reminded them also of the Paschal Lamb which they killed every year on the Passover feast.

Jesus the Lamb of God
Jesus as the “The Lamb of God” is the Son of God. It’s the Lamb that God gives to take away the sin of the world. He is empowered to undo the world’s evil because God is giving what is so intimately his own, namely, his Son.

John the Baptist compared Jesus to a lamb led without complaint before the shearers or butcher, an image of a life giving sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

(Are you all still awake?)

In every Mass, before we receive Jesus in Holy Communion the priest invokes this title saying: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world happy are who are called to his supper. This reminds us that our Saviour surrenders his life to nourish us, in love, innocence, and at his own cost.”

Witness to the Lamb
The challenge for us now, after hearing John the Baptist’s testimony, is to sincerely believe him and to be a witness to the Lamb of God.

We may not be gifted in talking or pretend to be good in sales talk to become a witness of Jesus, but we can still advertise Jesus to others as the Lamb of God using our own examples as a disciple of Jesus.

We can be good advertisers, preachers and promoters of our Lord the Lamb of God when we when we bring to others the gift of love, peace, justice, tolerance, and mercy to others.

We can be witness to Jesus the Lamb of God, when we live like a lamb: leading a pure, innocent, humble, selfless lifestyle obeying Jesus’ commandment of love.

Most of all, we give witness to Jesus the Lamb of God when we die like a sacrificial lamb in our own ways. We do this by making sacrifices for the sake of other people without expecting anything in return. We die like a Lamb when we share our blessings of health, wealth, time and talents with others. We die like a Lamb when we bear our personal suffering, illness and pain for Christ’s sake and without complaining.

Jesus is the Lamb of God let us receive him in our hearts. Amen.

You are my beloved

Baptism of the Lord A

January 12-13, 2008

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

Psalm: 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

Acts 10:34-38

Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus’ Baptism: the beginning of his mission

Beginning today, the church calendar closes Christmas season. Through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord we gently say good bye to the infant Jesus whom we waited during Advent and adored during Christmas season. We see indeed a very quick transition in the life of Jesus today. We shift our reflection today from an adorable, loving and cute baby Jesus to a thirty-year old man Jesus. Our Church calendar seemingly makes Jesus mature so fast probably to emphasise us his eagerness to fulfill his mission on earth – bring us salvation.

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Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a new beginning in Jesus’ life. For thirty years Jesus had lived at home where he daily performed his duties to Mary and Joseph and relatives at Nazareth. Now is the time for Jesus to leave home, he is now leaving the comfortable presence of his friends and loved ones. It must have caused some pain to Mary to let go her son and see him leaving. Likewise Jesus must felt the same sadness, leaving her loving mother.

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Jesus would now be facing new challenges of life and what lies ahead in his future: Jesus will have nowhere to lay his head, the shadow of Calvary will haunt him, and he will have experiences of defeat and outright hostility of his enemies.

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Letting go

So, reluctantly this Sunday, we let go gently the child Jesus, and take up the Man Jesus who’ve got an important mission in this world. It’s not always easy to say good bye but sometimes we have to because we need to grow mature and bear fruit.

I am sure we all have experienced the feeling of sadness and loneliness after saying goodbye to our loved ones. People say good bye to parents when entering married life. People say good bye to loved ones when moving to a new home, to other state or to other country. Sadly and lastly we say good bye to our loved ones at the funeral.

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Sometimes we need to let go people including the comfort of our past lifestyle in order to fulfill our mission in life. I remember the first time I left home to enter the seminary. I was only sixteen then and I still remember I hardly slept on my first night at the seminary. I felt homesick during the first few months. Every time my mother would visit me at the seminary to bring me clothes or food it was always sad to see her leaving the gate of our seminary building. My only consolation was the food at the seminary!

Jesus' mission, our mission
Jesus must have felt the same human sadness and loneliness because of the sudden changes in the pattern of his life. However, there is something that empowers our Lord today as he begins his public ministry. When Jesus allowed himself to be baptised by John, a voice was heard from the heavens as he rose up from the water, it’s the voice of the Father: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

It’s the voice of love. It’s a voice of assurance. It’s a voice of the divine presence that glorifies our Lord. Sooner we will enter the Lenten season and we will re-enter the consequences of Christ’s coming into this world. This voice of the Father will constantly be the source of his strength and his loving obedience until his death.

The baptism of Jesus reminds us of our identity and mission. Jesus actually don’t need baptism because He himself is God and sinless. But he allowed himself to be baptised to embrace the fullness of our humanity. As St Paul says, “God's beloved Son entered the murky waters of human sinfulness and sanctified it by his divine presence (2 Cor 5:21).

Our own Baptism
Today’s feast is a beautiful reminder that each and one of us are special. We are God’s beloved sons and daughters blessed, chosen and anointed. Today is the day to remember the graces we received by baptism and to renew our baptismal vows: On the day of our baptism, the late Pope John Paul II explains, "we were anointed with the oil of catechumens, the sign of Christ's gentle strength, to fight against evil. Blessed water was poured over us, an effective sign of interior purification through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We were then anointed with chrism to show that we were thus consecrated in the image of Jesus, the Father's Anointed One. The candle lighted from the paschal candle was a symbol of the light of faith which our parents and godparents must have continually safeguarded and nourished with the life-giving grace of the Spirit."

Every time we dip our fingers into holy water font and blessed ourselves as we enter the church we remind ourselves of our baptism. When I bless myself with holy water, it’s meant to remind us how special we are, that I am a child of God, that I have been redeem by the Cross of Christ; that I have been made a member of God family; that I have been consecrated to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So today we rededicate ourselves to Jesus. We ask God’s grace that day by day we grow mature in our faith as baptised Christians. To grow daily in intimacy with God deepening our prayer life, by reading the Word of God, by making Sunday Mass our priority and by frequenting the sacrament of reconciliation.

Jesus is no longer a baby in our midst; he is now a full grown man saying to us loud and clear “follow me” for we are all God’s beloved sons and daughters of the Father with whom He is well pleased.
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*Nicola, Jaya and Ato shopping cheap toys with tito Joel at "Reject Shop" in Sunbury.

Need Your Help

I received today a message from Fr. Robert del Rosario. I knew Fr. Robert during my seminary training in Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Bulacan. Fr. Robert was ordained priest early last year by Bishop Socrates Villegas for the Diocese of Balanga in Bataan. Bataan is part of the province in Central Luzon in nothern Philippines. It is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north.

Fr. Robert has just been appointed to be a director of a new Catholic highschool in Morong, Bataan. One of his greatest challenges is the lack of funds in acquiring books for the school library. If you happen to be reading this blog and would like to help start Fr. Robert's new school by donating old/new books or offer some financial support please contact me at jjev78@yahoo.com. Thank you!

musta na ang aking kapatid na pari? i hope everything is going on well and good. nakauwi ka ba nitong Christmas season dito sa Pilipinas?

well, today i am celebrating the 1st day of the 11th month of my priesthood hehhehee...everything has been a blessing to me despite my shortcomings and sinfulness...well, pinag-UUBRA lang naman tayo talaga ng Diyos for his purposes and plans. but im trying to be an OBRA of his hands, a beautiful masterpiece of his. let's contunue praying for each other for us to be always docile to him.

bro, aside from making pangungumusta my second purpose is to ask you a favor and may be you can tell it to Fr. Lawrence also. My bishop has assigned me to be the pioneer director of a school in Morong, Bataan...and frankly and practically speaking, i am starting from zero...so i am asking you for some help. is it possible, baka may mga friends ka jan na pwede mag-donate ng mga libro for high school students... these will be for our library. or pwede rin naman na in form of cash to buy books. sana po... maybe fr. Lawrence can help me also kasi nasa school din sya diba? anyway, i am just hoping... ngayon pa lang ay nagpapasalamat na ako sa iyo, pagpalain ka nawa ng Diyos at ang iyong paglilingkod!!!

in Christ,

Fr. Robert

Lakasan ang Loob

Ebanghelyo: Marcos 6:45-52
Agad na pinilit ni Jesus na sumakay sa bangka ang mga alagad at pinauna sa Betsaida sa kabilang ibayo habang pinaaalis niya ang mga tao. At pagkapaalis niya sa kanila, mag-isa siyang lumayo papunta sa kaburulan para manalangin.Nasa laot na ang bangka nang gumabi at nag-iisa naman siyang nasa lupa. Nakita niya silang nahihirapan sa pagsagwan dahil pasalungat ang hangin. Kaya nang madaling-araw na, pinuntahan sila ni Jesus na naglalakad sa dagat at waring lalampas sa kanila. Nang makita nila siyang naglalakad sa dagat, akala nila'y multo siya. Kaya sumigaw sila. Nakita nga siya nilang lahat at nasindak sila. Ngunit agad niya silang kinausap: "Lakasan ang loob! Ako ito, huwag kayong matakot."Nang nakasakay na siya sa bangka kasama nila, tumigil ang hangin kaya lalo pa silang namangha. Hindi nga nila naunawaan ang tungkol sa mga tinapay, kundi sarado ang kanilang isip.


Pagninilay-nilay

May maganda tayong salitang ginagamit para sabihin na sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap at problema sa buhay, patuloy pa rin tayong nabubuhay nang may pag-asa at tiwala na magiging mabuti pa rin ang lahat.

Sinasabi nating "nakakaraos" pa rin tayo sa kabila ng patuloy na paglalakbay natin sa buhay pasalungat sa malakas na alon. At para sa ating mga alagad ni Jesus, nararanasan din natin na sa piling ng Panginoon, nagiging payapa ang dagat ng paghihirap at suliranin sa buhay. Naglalakad siya sa ibabaw ng alon para sabihin sa atin na wala tayong dapat ipangamba dahil kasama natin siya, kasabay natin siya at lagi niyang pinalalakas ang ating loob




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* Teksto hango lahat sa website na ito
* Larawan ni Sr Maria Melinda Comiso RCM

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Epiphany Sunday 2008
January 5-6, 2008
Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Matthew 2:1-12

Oldies Joke
Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turned to the other and said:

"Jack, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age.
How do you feel?"

Jack said, "I feel j ust like a newborn baby."

"Really? Like a newborn baby?"

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

Joyful mode
We are still in Christmas season. The Church is still in a joyful mode of adoring the newborn baby lying in a manger whom we have waited patiently during advent season. The radiance of the infant Jesus remains the center of our reflection and meditation.

Today’s celebration is called the Solemnity of Epiphany, it is like a second Christmas. It is, in fact, the Christmas of the Eastern Churches. It proclaims that the child Jesus belongs to and is given to the whole world as its Savior. We, in the Western Church, Christmas season ends after the Baptism of the Lord, which is next Sunday.

Epiphany Sunday in some countries is also called “Three Kings Sunday.” The Three Kings or Magi according to the Bible journeyed from the East following the Big Star leading to the place where the child Jesus is born, so they could worship him.

The Gospel reading we have this Sunday has many symbolisms.
The Three Kings or the three Magi, traditionally named Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar represent the Gentile world or non-believers. They were looking for the King of the Jews. Although they were not Jews, they must have felt they belonged somehow to his kingdom, too. “We have come to do him homage,” they said. They did not care if they were foreigners, strangers, pagans from the East. They are pagans but they are also members of God’s children.

Being the first ones to receive the news of the birth of Christ, they signify that the coming of the child Jesus in the world is not only for a particular group of people but for the whole human race.

The birth of Christ is God’s gift of salvation for Gentiles or Jews, and for all people.
The importance of the three Wise Men in our faith as Christians is not only their perseverance to pursue relentlessly the “Big Star” that led them to the Child Jesus. But more than their patience and stamina, it is their act of homage and respect to the child Jesus that we need to follow. They recognise the Child as the newborn Messiah king, prostrate themselves, do him homage.

The three Magi expressed their act of worship to the baby Jesus by bringing him special gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These three precious gifts brought by the Three Kings tell us something about the life and ministry of the Child Jesus: Gold signified his kingship; frankincense signifies his priesthood; a sign his offering/sacrifice to God; and myrrh a symbol Christ’s saving death (myrrh, used in anointing a body).

Then, we have King Herod, a figure of someone who cannot accept the Child Jesus as the King of World. King Herod who in the beginning pretended to be a “Christ friendly” politician, ended up trying to kill the Christ-child. Herod's advisors told him that the prophet Micah foretold the birth of a Messiah in Bethlehem, the birthplace of David where he was also anointed king (Mi 5:2). Herod feared that this child would be a threat to his throne, and he sent the magi to search for him on the pretence of offering him homage. He will do everything for his love for power. He will compete directly with God in order to stay in power. He doesn’t want to see the glory of God’s manifestation. He doesn’t want God to be part of his life for he is full of pride.

Our Journey to find the Star
If we are going to put ourselves in the today’s reading, how can we relate ourselves to the characters and their activities we heard from the Epiphany story?

Can we see ourselves like the Three Kings? Like the Three Magi we have our own journey, we are looking for enlightenment, we are searching for answer, we are longing for happiness. Are we persevering enough on our life’s journey? How motivated are we in reaching our goals in life?

Could we see ourselves perhaps like King Herod, who instead of welcoming Christ’s humbly and wholeheartedly, sometimes we prefer to accept values contrary to his teachings?

What gifts can we offer to the Child Jesus? As year 2008 unfolds what gift or resolution we could offer to God? We don’t have to buy the expensive gifts of the wise men. The most inexpensive gift but the most precious gift we could give to God is a pure and contrite heart. We are not perfect but we can allow the light of Jesus to enlighten the darkness of our hearts and thus renewed our lives.

We are all invited to discover the Lord through the different journeys in faith we undertake. But after encountering Christ we cannot return to our old ways. We must travel in a different direction by the way we live our lives.

Prayer
Christ, Help us now to come to you,
We want to walk in your light and rest in your warmth.
Please keep us on the right road,
heading toward your radiance,
bringing our treasures, our assets,
our gold, frankincense and myrrh, of our hearts.
Christ, be born again and again in us.
Be the gift we bear, the treasure in our hearts.
Amen.

* This is a recycled reflection of my homily last year.

Ang Sukli Ko

Nakakabato kanina
Hindi dahil sa walang ginawa
Nakakabato lang
Umalis ako ng bahay at nagtungo sa Footscray Market
Isa itong asian wet market

Diretso ako sa Pilipino take away store
Bumili ng masarap na tanghalian
Isang order ng kain at dalawang ulam
Menudo at bistik

Nagbayad ako at humingi ng patis.
Nakalimutan ko na tuloy ang sukli ko
dahil sa excitement
Hala diretso na sa lamesa

Sabi ng tindera sa kustomer pagkaalis ko
"Naiwan nung mama yung sukli nya"
Sumagot ang ale, "hindi mama iyon
si pader yun!"

Masaya kaming kumain ng ale
Nagkataon na isang parokyano
Kasama niya ang kanya asawa at kaibigan
Lahat sila miyembro ng koro Pilipino

Nagtatawanan sila at tinawag daw akong mama
Nye, balewala sa akin yun
ang mahalaga
may Filipino food ako ngayon.

Pagkatapos kumain
Kahit busog na di ako nakuntento
Gusto ko ng turon panghimagas
Bumalik ako sa tindahan at bumili ng turon
Papunta pa lang ako
Abot tenga ngiti ni aleng tindera

"Ang bata bata mo pa!" tanong nya
"Ilan taon ka na?"
"29 po"
"Kaidad mo lang ang anak ko"
"Hehe." sa isip ko
"Eto ang isang balot ng pandesal
bigay ng may ari."

Ay lumaki tuloy ang sukli ko.
Naalala ko tuloy ang sinabi ni Kristo
"anyone who leaves father, mother,
sisters, home will gain a hundredfold"

Ang pandesal kaya ay isa lamang sa hundredfold
Ano kaya ang susunod?
Hehe kahit wala basta salamat na lang
Kakatuwa
Kanina ay nakakabato
Ngayon ang bato naging pandesal
Tara magselebreyt tayo.

Our Common Vocation

First Friday Mass
January 5, 2008
1 John 3:7-10
Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9
John 1:35-42

“To live a holy life is to be holy just as God is holy” writes St John in the first reading today. Holiness is our main calling in life, holiness is our vocation. We may be different in state of life: married, single, religious and priest, yet God has only one invitation to each one of us – to be holy.

There is a document in the Second Vatican Council called Lumen Gentium. In chapter five of this document the Council Fathers stated the call to holiness of every Christians. They said, Christians in whatever state of life they belong are “called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love” (LG 39).

What is to be holy? Is being good and nice person or in Aussie slang “a fair dinkum bloke” holiness? Is being respectful, nature lover, just and friendly be called holiness?

There is a difference between natural goodness and holiness. An atheist person, a non-believer, a philosopher, a non-Christian, a philanthropist or anyone can be a nice and good moral person to eyes of many but it doesn’t mean such person is holy. Because holiness requires more than good qualities; holiness is not just an attitude or a philosophy of moral goodness.

Holiness gradually develops into the heart of the person as a result of an intimate relationship with God in the person of Jesus. In the Gospel today, John divert his disciples’ attention to Jesus, he said, “Look, there is the lamb of God.” What follows was a conversation with Jesus. Jesus turned to them and asked, “What do you want?” They answered, “Rabbi” – which means Teacher. They asked Jesus “where do you live?” and he replied “Come and see.” They stayed at the place of Jesus and to cut the long story short one two became the very first disciple of Jesus, and his name was St Andrew, our very own patron saint.

Holiness is a journey. As followers of Jesus we are all in a journey to holiness. When were baptised we began that journey and we were established among the People of God to become one body of Christ. We participate in the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ. This means journey to holiness requires us to take part in the Eucharist, to share the word of God and to do pastoral care for the people.

As we begin the year 2008 let us pray that our fellow Christians in all walks of life those in the world of business, politics, hospitals, factories, markets, and so on may take part faithfully to God’s call to holiness so that we may all contribute to the sanctification of the world according to the Gospel. In this Mass, let us pray for the grace that we may begin this task first of all, by making ourself holy.

Happy New Year Trippings

Atin atin lang ito. Ganito po nag-celebrate ng Bagong Taon ang mga probinsyanong taga Bulakan na dumayo sa siyudad ng Melbourne. Trip na trip!!!

Jologs pero kwela.

Oha, kasali kami sa crowd. Put your hands up in the sky daw.

Kainis hanggang tingin lang kami sa fireworks dito. Sa Bulacan abot kamay ang paputok namin dun, minsan nga e kasama ang kamay na sumasabog.

Uwian na po. Balik na po kami sa aming sakahan.

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Isang mapayapang Bagong Taon satin lahat!

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Mga tauhan: Fr. Ato, Fr. Lawrence, Odra at ako.

Drive safely

I bought myself a Christmas gift a brand new Apollo/Raceline Pave Road Bike

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Result: Ouch..A brand new souvenir!

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New Year's resolution: Perseverance, perspiration and patience

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Happy 2008

Mary Mother of God
January 1, 2008

Numbers 6:22-27

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8.

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:16-21

Today as we begin another new year, we, like many, may be reflecting on what this past year has brought. It is a time to consider what may be coming in the future and for many it is a time to resolve to be different.

Knowing where to begin or end can be a little problematic sometimes, and so our Mother Church shows us the way.

We begin the New Year focusing on the love of God who became Man through the love and devotion of the obedient and humble virgin. All begins with love, all proceeds with love and all will end with love.

The Blessed Virgin Mary receives the Word of God into her person in a way that is unique among the human race, for she is given the great honor of being the mother of our Lord Jesus, true God and true man. As she holds the child Jesus in her arms, she treasures the tremendous gift of the Word of God and continually ponders over its mystery. In so doing, she is a model for all who listen attentively to the Word of God, especially through the reading of the Holy Bible.

It was during the Council of Ephesus (430) when the Church officially affirmed the title of Mary as “the Mother of God.” When the Church formally decrees Mary’s Divine Maternity,[1] she not only uplifts Mary’s dignity as the Mother of God, but also preserves the fundamental truth that Jesus is both human and divine. So, Mary did not only give birth to a man Jesus, but she gave birth to the Second Person of the Trinity, hailed as the Christ, known as Jesus of Nazareth.

Intimately connected with Mary’s divine motherhood is the truth that she also becomes the mother of humanity as well. Mary is the New Eve restoring the broken dignity of the human race caused by Eve’s disobedience.[2] So whenever we reflect and call upon Mary as Mother of Jesus, and our mother as well, we recognize the gift of salvation we received from the mystery of the coming of the Son of God into the world.

Last night I joined thousand of new year's eve revellers who poured into the city for last night's fireworks display and family entertainment. Searing temperatures did not deter even some families with little kids not to enjoy this long-standing tradition of welcoming New Year along with massive crowds.

As I looked up the sky with sensational fireworks rocketing up and exploding with bright colored glittering showers I imagined them as God showering us from heaven His gracious blessing for year 2008 -- BLESSING that you and I desperately need in every single day and all throughout the year 2008. Today's readings allow us to heed for God's blessing. The first reading from the book of Numbers is a prayer of blessing:

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly andgive you peace!

Many people are reflecting today what a New Year's resolution. Often people resolve to get slim and fit, promise to avoid chocolate, try to be on time, quit smoking, and so on and on.

This year 2008 will give us many opportunities to live God’s Good News with Mary as our inspiration. Perhaps its a good idea to make a new year's resolution that is something spiritual. Why not praying the rosary each day be our New Year's resolution? Whenever we pray the rosary, the Blessed Virgin Mary brings us closer to her Son, Jesus. Also, what better New Year’s resolution could we make than to adopt Mary’s stance before the Word-made-flesh: making her contemplative gaze our own and keeping the incarnate God constantly before our mind and heart.


Today the Church also celebrate World Day of Peace. Pope Benedict XVI delivers a beautiful message of peace for the whole humanity particularly for every family.


Dear friends, as we journey together the year 2008, may our heart be daily inspired, challenged, consoled, and uplifted. Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, may we all be drawn closer to the living presence of her Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Happy New Year To All! :)

Sources:www.bible.claret.org/, www.daily-meditations.org/

[1] The Council of Ephesus (430) affirms the validity of the divine truth that “Mary is the Mother of God.” Mary is predestined to be the Theotokos. It is a Greek term which expresses the title of Mary as the Mother of God or a God bearer. [2] Cf. LG 56.