Watch!

First Sunday of Advent Year B
November 30, 2008
Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1, 3-8; Cor 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

Stay Awake!
(Be watchful! Be alert!)

Introduction
Have you seen the Australian game show “The Singing Bee”? This game show is originally from America and because of its popularity it has now many international versions.

The basic rule of the game is simply to sing lyrics to songs correctly or risk being eliminated immediately. In a karaoke challenge each contestant sings the blanks in the lyrics being displayed on the screen with correct words. For every word correctly sung, the player is given a point.


The player who finishes with the least amount of points for instance in Round 1 and 2 combined is eliminated from the game.

Let's try this game. I will sing a song and you sing the missing word.

We wish you a merry _ _ _
We wish you a merry _ _ _
And a happy New Year!

You better watch out you better not cry
You better not pout I am telling you why
_ _ _ _ is coming to town!

It’s hard to believe that today we begin the first week of Advent leading us to our four weeks of preparation before Christmas. It's hard to believe we can now hearing again Christmas carols on radio, tv and in shopping malls.

Look around us, everyone is getting ready for Christmas. Too often, however, people are so busy with the material preparations that we lose sight of the real reason for Advent season: the coming birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Many times I really would like to change the lyrics of this Christmas carol.

You better watch out you better not cry
You better not pout I am telling you why
Jesus Christ is coming to town!
Jesus Christ is coming to our homes!
Jesus Christ is coming to our hearts!

Jesus – is - Christmas.
It – is – Jesus – who – is coming – this - Christmas

I am not against Santa Claus. He was in fact a Catholic bishop known for his generosity especially to the poor. We love Santa Claus because of goodness. But let us remember that Santa Claus was generous because he loved Jesus. Let us be watchful not to be misled by our consumer society that is making Santa Claus a mere symbol of consumption of material things during Christmas.

Be watchful
Be watchful. It the call of today's Gospel reading on this first week of Advent. Be watchful in preserving the spiritual focus of Christmas amidst our prevailingly secular and consumer-driven society.

The Lord teaches us in today’s Gospel reading to “wake up”, be watchful and be alert because like a master of the house who traveled abroad He will come back anytime without a warning. We must be always ready and alert for his arrival.

What it means to be watchful? To be watchful means to understand the call of Advent Season, thus the true message of Christmas. First of all we have to understand the history of salvation. Advent Liturgy celebrates beginning today the history of Israel, pointing us and leading us towards the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies - the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

As for today’s readings – the First is a poem entreating God to come and save his people. It recalls God’s past goodness, and acknowledges the ingratitude and sinfulness of his people.

The Second Reading and the Gospel talk about the final coming of Christ, something that early Christians believed was imminent. For the faithful, the Lord’s coming is not something to fear, only if you are ready, watchful and more conscious of our actions – the way we treat other people, in our words, and in our thinking.

Three times in today’s Gospel Jesus urges his disciples, so us, to ‘watch!’ To 'watch' is a word we need to remember as we ready ourselves for the coming of the Lord.

How to watch?
We are watchful even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, when we strive to keep Advent a season of waiting and longing, of conversion and hope, meditating often on the incredible love and humility of our God in taking on flesh of the Virgin Mary.

In our shopping, we are watchful when we remember to purchase and prepare something for the poor. We are watchful when we clean our homes, we remember to distribute some of our possessions to those who lack many necessities. While we are decking the halls of our homes, we become watchful when we don't forget to prepare a peaceful place in our hearts wherein our Savior may come to dwell.

Singing bee
Let’s imagine Christmas like The Singing Bee game show. Jesus is giving us the missing lyrics we need to know by heart, watch! Let us memorize it, keep it, learn it and practice it if we don’t want to be eliminated from this beautiful season of Advent.


photo: My friend Stacy's two friends singing at KTV in Taipei.

Kakaibang Kaharian

Christ the King 2008
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46
November 21-22, 2008

A Unique Kingdom

With the feast of Christ the King, we come to the end of the Calendar of the Church or the culmination of the Liturgical Year. Next week is the first of week of advent Season, the beginning of our four-week preparation for Christmas.

As the Church concludes today its liturgical year with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King, the Gospel call us to mind the concluding moment of human history: Judgment Day. At the end of the day, Jesus Christ, our universal King, will be our universal judge who will judge us according to our good deeds on earth as the Gospel illustrates, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Judgment Day is not something to be scared rather it should be something we must look forward to because it assures us that injustice and evil will not have the last word. It is Goodness and not Evil that will prevail. Therefore, the reality of Judgment Day is a constant reminder for us to live in holiness, justice and peace so that we shall not be condemned, but rather receive salvation, and we can be those to whom Christ will say: Come, you who are blessed by Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you.


Universal Hope
Jesus Christ the King, who is our final Judge, is also our universal hope. One of the greatest challenges we face each day is hopelessness. Many people suffer hopelessness on their present situation or to their future. Our hope against hope often times leads us to depressions. We face dreadful uncertainties and hopelessness in life to name a few we worry about our own individual struggles and fears, in addition there are growing threats around us such as violence, climate change, global financial recession, and so on.

Only in Jesus Christ the King we can find hope for the salvation of our fallen and sinful humanity. Pope Benedict XVI said in his book Spes Salvi, The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life. We Christians are people of hope. We cannot be touch by any forms of depression when we hope. We cannot be deaden loneliness when there is at least a spark of hope in our hearts.

Our hope lies on the Kingdom of God. His Kingdom is not about royal castles, knights in golden armor, and grand military battles. God's Kingdom concerns not the glory, power and popularity that only enslave people and bring false hope. God's Kingdom is Kingdom of hope that doesn’t enslave people but sets them free. Jesus liberates us from sin and sets us free to be the person God intends us to be. Jesus gives us the truth about our life, about ourselves, about our future. This is the Kingdom we celebrate today.

My Kingdom does not belong to this world, says Jesus to Pilate. Its power is not from the world, but from the grace and life of the Risen Christ. Every Sacrament we celebrate points us to this Kingdom. We become royal member of God's Kingdom through Baptism. We are made faithful soldiers of His Kingdom through our Confirmation, Penance and Holy Communion. And we serve God's Kingdom through our vocation as married couple, single people, and priests or religious.

The fulfillment of God's Kingdom is where our hope rests. We end today the Church Calendar filled with hope that as we begin a new Season, we become a better person, more worthy to share God's Kingdom. As we begin very soon Advent, let us take this our fresh start to begin and to unite ourselves more deeply with Jesus our King. Let the power and peace of Christ the King remain with us, stay with us and guide us. May we all hear clearly our Lord's shepherdly love for us, so that like His good sheep, we may "hear His voice and follow Him" (Jn 10:27) until the end. Amen.



photo: Sr Beth & Sr Maria walking back to their convent in St Augustine, Baliuag, Bulacan.

To Our Departed Loved Ones

All Souls Day

Isaiah 25:6-9; Rom 5:5-11; Mt 11:25-30
November 1-2, 2008

All Saints Day
Yesterday the Church celebrated the feast of All Saints. Every year, on the first day of November, we give honor to all the saints in heaven, both canonized and not canonized, who are now sharing Christ’s Risen glory.

Canonized saints are holy people officially recognized and acknowledged by the Church to be models of holiness. On another hand, un-canonized saints are those faithful departed who are now enjoying the beatific vision or in heaven known to God alone. Some of them shed their blood or left them homeland & loved ones or denied their personal dreams for the sake of their love to Jesus.

On All Saints Day we congratulate all of them and we thank them for being exemplars of our Christian faith.

Saints were ordinary human beings like us, they were rich and poor, parents and celibates, students, professionals, scholars, there were also illiterates, but we call them “saints” because they lived extra-ordinary lives of holiness. They showed us the beauty and majesty of a life of fidelity to Christ that is not measured by publicity or by the flash and glamour but by fidelity.

The saints are not only models of Christian holiness, but because they are now in Heaven they are also our intercessors, helpers in prayer, partners, and patrons. In our parish we have St. Andrew as our patron saint. Through his intercession he is helping us to be heroic parishioners and faithful in our life whilst we ware still here in this world.

All Soul’s Day
And today we celebrate All Souls Day or the commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. It is a time in the year when we remember all our departed loved ones and all our friends who have gone before us in prayer with deep love and faith.

In this Mass we recall all those people whose lives have deeply affected us, people who have traveled a part of life’s journey with us, we also remember those people who from our childhood have assisted us in our life.
Our special prayer for them today can be a way of showing gratitude for their contribution for what we are now.

We remember our departed loved ones not as perfect beings but as human persons with limitations much like we have. If some of those who died may have failed us, they are much in need of our prayer and forgiveness. For this reason, our prayer can be an instrument of reconciliation with those from whom we had become distant or even resentful.

Today we also remember in our prayer, most especially in this Mass, all the souls unknown to us who are still on their journey to the gates of heaven. They are the souls in purgatory undergoing final purification until they become “capable of God and thus capable of unity with the whole communion of saints” in heavenly Kingdom.

Far from being morbid, far from many scary images of death, ghost and spirit we see in television every year during Halloween, All Saints Day and Souls Day are two wonderful occasions of remembering, healing and praying. It is a great day of reconciliation and spiritual reunion with out departed brothers in sisters.

Last night I had a feeling of being a little bit of nostalgic because I missed celebrating All Saints Day in the Philippines. In the Philippines All Saints Day has become a deep-rooted family tradition handed down from generation to generation. It is a national holiday to allow people go to their hometowns to visit the tomb of their loved ones to pay respects. Families spend time at to cemeteries to offer prayers and flowers and light candles at the grave of their loved ones. Many families stay until night time and that makes occasion become a bonding moments or family reunion with relatives and friends.

Praying for the Dead
The feasts of All Saints’ Day and All Souls Day have something in common, and for this reason, have been placed one after the other. Both celebrations speak to us of what's beyond.

All Souls Day invites us to a wise reflection: Death is certain. One day we shall leave this world. All Souls’ Day should remind us that we are but pilgrims, we are mortals, one day we shall leave everything in this life. We leave this world carrying nothing except the love that we shared while we were still alive.

Although death is certain, although death brings us tears, although just to think of death scares us to death, it always has a positive side. Death is the only passage leading to something entirely wonderful. Death leads us to the door of heaven, to immortality, to eternal life with the God of life.

But death can only be meaningful when we believe in Christ’s resurrection. As Jesus promised: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in, even if he dies, will live."

We heard from the readings today the trumpet sounds of our Christian faith calling us to mind that God is more powerful than death.

First reading: (The Lord God) will destroy death forever…he will wipe away the tears from all faces.

Responsorial Psalm: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid

Gospel: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Our final resting place is the hands of God. Death will always remain a mystery and will cause us pain. Yet as Christians we live in faith and hope. If we had enough faith, we would face death without fear and welcome it as a homecoming in the house of the Father. God will not let us perish for ever. In Christ we have God's promise that we will rise from the dead for glory and eternal joy.

In this hope we commend today all the dead into the hands of the living God. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Bohol

Breakfast namin sa Panglao, Bohol island.

He's back

I just came back from a beautiful pilgrimage.
Let me settle a bit.
I'll see you soon.

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notice:
don't take notice of the date in the picture it's not correct. If you didn't notice the wrong date then ignore this notice. Peace! :)

Do not worry

Saturday of the 11th Week A
Mt 6:1– 6, 16–18
June 21, 2008

Do not worry

In today’s Gospel our Lord wants us to remember and keep in mind that God created us to be happy and enjoy this life. If there is an enemy in our lives to pleasure and enjoyment, it would have to be worry. It is amazing how much we worry in this life, even when we know that it accomplishes nothing. We still keep on worrying.

I would like to read a little poem that I guess summarizes the way most of us go through life. But it describes how futile it is to worry. It says:

Worry never climbed a hill,
Worry never paid a bill,
Worry never dried a tear,
Worry never calmed a fear.

Worry never fixed a heel,
Worry never cooked a meal,
Worry never composed a song to sing,
Actually, worry never did a worthwhile thing.

Another word of being worry is “being anxious”. Anxiousness weakness our confidence that we have God who is provident cares so much about us. We have a God – who’s all-powerful, infinitely wise, and full of mercy.

St. Paul wrote to the people of Phillipi from his jail cell not to worry but Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. (Phil 4:6).

In the two thousand years since Christ walked the earth, the Church has continued to echo this sentiment. Over and over again we hear the words Jesus in the four Gospels “Be not afraid.”

Likewise, every time we go to Mass, we hear these words. "Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin, and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ." This is an ancient prayer of the Church that reminds us that the Lord desires to "Protect us from all anxiety."

God wants us to enjoy the gift of life he gave us. Let us not worry rather let’s be grateful for every graces we receive from God in every single moment and minute of our life. We are in God's hands. God loves us and cares for us and knows what we need.



source: http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/index.html

Follow Me

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Hosea 6:3-6; Psalms 50:1, 8, 12-13, 14-15
Romans 4:18-25; Matthew 9:9-13
June 8, 2008

The Call of St. Matthew

SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT WITHOUT Jesus, the seven days of the week would be “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.” *

There is something moving about today’s Gospel. It is a story of Matthew’s conversion when “he got up” as soon as he heard the words of Jesus, “Follow me.”

We can say that the Gospel passage today is the day when Matthew said goodbye to his “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

When Matthew realised how important he is to Jesus his whole life dramatically changed. Instantly his eyes were open and discovered his true self.

Reflection
Let us see briefly the profile of each character in today’s Gospel and hopefully learn something from them. We have Matthew, the Pharisees and Jesus, as the main characters in today’s Gospel story.

Matthew
Matthew as clearly mentioned in the Gospel was a tax collector. In the Jewish society during the time of Jesus tax collectors were considered ‘unclean people’, public sinners and traitors to their own country because they collaborated with the Roman occupying power in the gathering of taxes. Their profession was often marked with corruption and dishonesty.

Jewish people hated them, particularly the religious leaders, so much so that they were forbidden to join them in public worship in the synagogues or to act as witnesses in court. Matthew couldn’t care less; he loved money enough to have defied all that. But not until when Jesus called him up.

Matthew is a person who doesn’t procrastinate. He answers Jesus’ call at once; he didn’t think twice or Hemake any excuses. He leaves everything and follows with great joy and gratitude. And this is a remarkable character of Matthew who is considered notorious by his own people.

To celebrate his personal conversion, he instantly organized a farewell dinner with his friends, his fellow tax collectors, and all his gang who were considered public outcasts.


The Pharisees
It was on this occasion when the Pharisees, the second character of today’s Gospel story, entered the scene. The Pharisees were group of pious religious leaders during that time. They were extremely shocked (probably they nearly had a heart attack!) when they saw Jesus partying with Matthew and with all his friends (or mates).

It was a general custom for the Jewish people not to eat with public sinners such as tax collectors. Any association with them will make you ‘unclean.’ The Pharisees complained to the disciples “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”


Jesus
Jesus, overhearing their complaint answers back the Pharisees with the core message of today’s Gospel: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do;” “I desire mercy, not sacrifice;” “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

In three simple sentences Jesus expresses the true image of God – a compassionate, a forgiving, and most of all a loving God.

Jesus is not interested in preserving his social status but he is more interested in helping sinners. Jesus hates sin but loves sinners and wishes to set them free. Jesus hates our sinfulness but not our being as a person. No matter how grievous our sins or how long our list of sins may be Jesus loves us just the same. We are important and precious ones before his eyes. He loves us individually as if we are the only person on earth.

Reflection
No matter how sinful we are, you and I, all of us are candidate to be saints.

Who would have think that a tax collector like Matthew, would be become one of the gospel writers (in fact he himself is the author of today’s Gospel)?

There is a saying: “Every Saint Has a Past, Every Sinner a Future.”

We pray today that we may imitate St. Matthew who promptly left his past and joyfully followed our Lord.

Our Lord assures us today that we can be saints and joyful people. This possible only when we follow him everyday, this means – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.





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*joke from Fr Gerry Orbos inquirer.net; larawan kuha sa bukid sa Pagkabuhay at ilog sa Lumbac, Pulilan.

The Call of St. Matthew

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Hosea 6:3-6; Psalms 50:1, 8, 12-13, 14-15
Romans 4:18-25; Matthew 9:9-13
June 8, 2008

The Call of St. Matthew

SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT WITHOUT Jesus, the seven days of the week would be “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

There is something moving about today’s Gospel. It is a story of Matthew’s conversion when he got up as soon as he heard the words of Jesus, Follow me.

We can say that the Gospel passage today is the day when Matthew said goodbye to his “Mournday,” “Tearsday,” Wasteday,” “Thirstday,” “Fightday,” Shatterday” and “Sinday.”

When Matthew realised how important he is to Jesus his whole life dramatically changed. Instantly his eyes were open and discovered his true self.

Reflection
Let us see briefly the profile of each character in today’s Gospel and hopefully learn something from them. We have Matthew, the Pharisees and Jesus, as the main characters in today’s Gospel story.

Matthew as clearly mentioned in the Gospel was a tax collector. In the Jewish society during the time of Jesus tax collectors were considered ‘unclean people’, public sinners and traitors to their own country because they collaborated with the Roman occupying power in the gathering of taxes. Their profession was often marked with corruption and dishonesty.

Jewish people hated them, particularly the religious leaders, so much so that they were forbidden to join them in public worship in the synagogues or to act as witnesses in court. Matthew couldn’t care less; he loved money enough to have defied all that. But not until when Jesus called him up.

Matthew is a person who doesn’t procrastinate. He answers Jesus’ call at once; he didn’t think twice or make any excuses. He leaves everything and follows with great joy and gratitude. And this is a remarkable character of Matthew who is considered notorious by his own people.

To celebrate his personal conversion, he instantly organized a farewell dinner with his friends, his fellow tax collectors, and all his gang who were considered public outcasts.

It was on this occasion when the Pharisees, the second character of today’s Gospel story, entered the scene. The Pharisees were group of pious religious leaders during that time. They were extremely shocked (probably they nearly had a heart attack!) when they saw Jesus partying with Matthew and with all his friends (or mates).

It was a general custom for the Jewish people not to eat with public sinners such as tax collectors. Any association with them will make you ‘unclean.’ The Pharisees complained to the disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?

JESUS, overhearing their complaint answers back the Pharisees with the core message of today’s Gospel: Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do; I desire mercy, not sacrifice; I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. In three simple sentences Jesus expresses the true image of God – a compassionate, a forgiving, and most of all a loving God.

Jesus is not interested in preserving his social status but he is more interested in helping sinners. Jesus hates sin but loves sinners and wishes to set them free. Jesus hates our sinfulness but not our being as a person. No matter how grievous our sins or how long our list of sins may be Jesus loves us just the same. We are important and precious ones before his eyes. He loves us individually as if we are the only person on earth.

Saints in the making
No matter how sinful we are, you and I, all of us are candidate to be saints.

Who would have think that a tax collector like Matthew, would be become one of the gospel writers (in fact he himself is the author of today’s Gospel)?

There is a saying: “Every Saint Has a Past, Every Sinner a Future.”

We pray today that we may imitate St. Matthew who promptly left his past and joyfully followed our Lord.

Our Lord assures us today that we can be saints and joyful people. This possible only when we follow him everyday, this means – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fundraising for World Youth Day

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*image designed by rikka

Minsan lang sila bata

Nakatanggap ako ngayong umaga ng newsletter ng Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Poress na ipinadala ni Fr Boyet Concepcion. Si Fr Boyet ay pari sa Bulacan na kilalang-kilala sa kanyang kabanalan. Tagapaglingkod siya ng mga mahihirap, mahihina, matatanda at mga batang lansangan sa Bulacan at maging sa Metro Manila. Itinayo ni Fr Boyet ang Emmaus House sa Malolos, para sa matatanda; Galilee Rehabilitation Center sa DRT; Ephesus Home para sa mga "abused children"; at ang Bethlehem House of Bread, sa Baliuag, na nagkakalinga sa batang iskwater.

Ang kasalakuyang proyekto ni Fr Boyet ay ang St Martin de Porres sa Bustos, Bulacan, na kumakalinga sa 70 batang paslit na walang pamilya o tahanang matutuluyan. Nuong isang taon ay nagkapagmisa ako kasama ni Fr Boyet sa Pulilan. "Hindi ako nag-asawa" sabi niya sa homilya, "ngunit tignan ninyo ang daming kong anak na inaalagaan."



Nakaraang buwan sa aking pag-uwi sa Pulilan napansin ko ang mga batang ito na namumulot ng mga karton sa tapat ng simbahan. Hanggang tenga ang kanilang mga ngiti. Parang hindi nila dama ang kahirapan at mga bagay na ipinagkait sa kanila ng lipunan - ang pagkakataong mag-aral, mag-laro, kalinga ng magulang, at maging mga bata. Naalala ko si Fr Boyet. Kung nakita nya siguro ang mga batang ito baka isinama na nya sa kanyang tahanan.

Watch this video to learn more about the work of St. Martin de Poress

and the children who live there.

Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porress
Claro Santos St.,
Bonga MenorBustos,
Bulacan, 3007Philippines
For Correspondence: P.O. Box 6231, Bustos, Bulacan
website: http://www.stmartinproject.org/
Fr. Boyet's email: boyetcon@yahoo.com

House of Rock

9th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32
Psalms 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25
Romans 3:21-25, 28
Matthew 7:21-27

"House on Rock"

Commonsense will tell us that building a house built on loose foundation is lack of commonsense. Any house without good foundation is naturally vulnerable to natural disaster. One need not be an architect or structural engineer to know this basic principle of building.

During the time Jesus, everyone knew that it was foolish to build your house on sand at the bottom of the valley rather than on the rock high above. After every heavy rain a torrent of water forms almost immediately that sweeps away everything in its path.

Our Lord uses this observation to create today’s parable about the two houses that, as a parable, has two meanings.

These two houses in the parable describe two groups of humanity, specifically we Christians who are trying to follow the footstep of our Lord.

Jesus classified the first of group of his disciples as wise people:

Thus, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
 But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

Changing only a few words, Jesus presents the second group of his followers, the foolish ones:

And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined (Matthew 7:26-27).

Are You Stable?
Which group can we find ourselves? Naturally, our Lord wants all of us to be his wise followers with a strong foundation in life.

We all know that our life on earth is not always easy. Like our Melbourne weather, our own life can be unpredictable and at times without any warning it can turn to a powerful storm. Likewise life unfortunately can be devastating.

Storms in our life may appear as financial setbacks, health problems, marital difficulties, depression, personal crisis, or the death of a loved one. Are stable enough to face such 'storms' in life?

Today our Lord Jesus shares with us his divine wisdom and reminds us all “to build our house not on sand but on rock.” In order to survive we need to cling on to something stable, strong and permanent.

Building your house on sand means placing your hopes and certainties in unstable and unpredictable things that cannot stand the whips and scorns of time. Money, success and personal health are such things. They are all good but they are one of those things that will not last forever.

Building your house on rock means, on the contrary, to stake your life and hopes on that which “thieves cannot steal nor rust corrode,” on that which does not pass away. “Heaven and earth will pass away,” Jesus said, “but my words shall not pass away.”

Building your house on rock means quite simply building on God. We try our best to commit our life and trust in God as our Rock. In the Old Testament rock is one of the Bible’s favourite symbols for God: “Our God is an eternal rock” (Isaiah 26:4); “He is the rock, his works are perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Our response to the Psalm today “Lord, be my rock of safety.”

God is our rock. He is our sure foundation and our ultimate security in life. God alone is our stronghold when waves of trials and disaster threaten us. As long we cling firmly to our Rock no big storms can ever blow us away.

Church: House Built on Rock
God loves us, that he himself had built a house on rock for us, through his Son Jesus. All we have to do is to go inside his house built on rock, it is the Church. The house built upon the rock is the one about which Jesus spoke to Simon: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18).

When we say Church we don’t talk about its physical structure. It is not the one built of bricks and mortar but that made up of “living stones.” These living stones are we who are built upon the cornerstone, who is Christ Jesus.

We are the Church, everything that Jesus has told and revealed, his teachings and miracles and including the stories of his first disciples, they all belong to us.

So to build one’s life upon rock therefore means to live in the Church in unity, not staying outside forever pointing our fingers at the inconsistency and defects of the human side of the Church.

To build one’s life upon rock most of all is when devoutly practice what we believe as Christians. When we are not only familiar to the Church's teaching but also faithfully obeying its provisions, we are building our life on God. For our faith and belief must be consistent to our lifestyles.


May Christ’s words and wisdom today abide in us, so as to become in us principles of life… If our life conforms to the teaching of Christ, we shall be like the wise man who with his mind and will built upon Christ as upon a firm foundation.

Prayer
"Lord Jesus, you are the only foundation that can hold us up when trials and disaster threaten us. Give me the wisdom, foresight, and strength of character I need to do what is right and good and to reject whatever is false and contrary to your will. May I be a doer of your word and not a hearer only."



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Quasi-Parish of Our Lady of MiraculousVirgin, Balatong, Pulilan, Bulacan. Readings Fr Cantalamessa's homily www.zenit.org; daily reflection at www.rc.net

Lets Eat Together

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
May 25, 2008
Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
Psalms 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58

Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.

We celebrate today the solemn feast of Corpus Christi. It is a doctrinal feast formally established in 16th century for three purposes: 1) to honor Christ who is present in the Holy Eucharist, 2) to strengthen our devotion to the Eucharist, that makes us one. 3) to appreciate and make use of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist.

The Eucharist teaches us the importance of communion – being united as One Body of Christ. Just as numerous grains of wheat are pounded together to make the host, and many grapes are crushed together to make the wine, so we become unified as one Body.

Our Lord chose these elements in order to show us that we ought to be united with one another and to transform ourselves into Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is symbolized by our sharing in the same bread and the same cup. Hence, Holy Communion strengthens our sense of unity and love.

Communion means exchange, partaking or sharing of oneself to become one. We know the fundamental rule of sharing: that which is mine is yours and what is yours is mine. It’s entirely different from the animal instinct of survival of the fittest: what is mine is mine, what is yours is still mine.

I remember I used to have three dogs at home. Feeding time was always difficult especially if you had three dogs bullying each other. I had to feed them miles apart from each other as they always fight over their food. They were not content of their share. They wanted others' food. They were willing to fight over it. They dont follow the basic rule of sharing and partaking. For them is this, what is mine is mine, what is yours still mine.

We, humans have to intellectual capacity to know the value of communion, sharing and partaking - what is mine yours and what is yours is mine. We will see its greatness when we try to apply this rule to Eucharistic Communion.

What do I have that is truly “mine”? Human as we are what do we really have? Misery, failure, sin, worry: This alone belongs to us exclusively.

What does belong to Jesus? What does Jesus have that is “his” if not holiness, the perfection of all the virtues?

So, communion consists in the fact that I offer Jesus all that I have my sin and my poverty, my loneliness, sinfulness, fear and everything, and in return he gives me holiness, love, healing and peace. This is what the Church Liturgy defines in Latin the “admirabile commercium,” or “wonderful exchange” that being is realized in Mass.

In the every celebration of Mass there is a “wonderful exchange” happening. We offer our time to God, we offer everything in our mind and hearts, and then Jesus offers his Body and Blood to give us eternal life.

Pope John Paul II
The late Holy Father wrote beautifully in one of his daily meditations what our disposition should be whenever we celebrate the Eucharist:

How important it is, then, for the faithful, as they take part in the Eucharist, to assume a personal attitude of offering. It is not sufficient that they listen to the word of God, nor that they pray in common. It is necessary for them to make Christ’s oblation on their own, offering up their pains, their difficulties, their trials, and even more themselves, together with Him and in Him so as to make this gift rise even to the Father, with the gift which Christ makes of himself.

Priest’s Silent prayer
This wonderful exchange (admirable commercium) in Mass is beautifully expressed when the priest mixes the water and wine during the preparation of gifts. Have you ever wonder why the priest does it? While the priest mixes the water and wine he says this prayer quietly:

By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

We, the people are designated by water, the blood of Christ by wine. Mixing water and wine in the cup shows our union with Christ, and all the believers' union with Him in Whom they believe. After the mixing of water and wine after in the Lord's Cup they become closely united that they cannot be separated one from another. In just this way that nothing can separate us (the Church) from Christ, that is, we become firmly and unshakeably joined together in Christ by God’s eternal love.[1]

Conclusion
Our Lord Jesus loves us so much that he will do everything possible for us to always belong to him, to be closely united with him. For the last two thousand years the People of God has always been nourished by our Lord’s Body and Blood at the altar of God.

Jesus says in the Gospel: “I am the living bread come down from heaven. [...] My flesh is true food. [...] Whoever eats my flesh will have eternal life.”

We can only receive our Bread of Life in the Eucharist. It is only in the Eucharist where we can offer intimately ourselves to God. If every Catholic would realise the mind blowing reality of what we receive in the Eucharist no one will ever miss Sunday Mass. We will make Mass as our number priority in life. It is only in the Eucharist where we can enter the mystery of communion and the “wonderful exchange” between God and humanity. What is mine is yours, what is yours is mine.

Let us ask the Lord to strengthen our will to make the Eucharist the center of our life and our the lives of our loved ones.

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Painting by Fr Conrado "Badong" Santos

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[1] St. Cyprian of Carthage (Letter to Cacaelius)
Readings Fr Tony's homily, Fr Cantalamesa, Daily Meditation of Pope John Paul II
http://www.zenit.org/

VIP

I met yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard

Kakatuwa wala man lang siyang body guard.

Let's Go Up!

Solemnity of the Lord's Ascension
Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 16:15-20
May 3-4, 2008
Goodbye Forever?

As we do every year, forty days after Easter, we celebrate the feast of the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven. In the first reading the Apostles heard as they looked up towards Heaven from the two men dressed in white garments (Angels) saying: This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven (Acts 1:11).

Is Jesus up in the sky or floating somewhere in heaven or in the galaxies? It is important to clarify what we Christians mean when we profess "Jesus ascended into heaven" or when we pray "Our Father who art in heaven," or when we say that someone "went to heaven."

In talking about heaven as God's dwelling place we understand it more as a state of being than a place. That God is "in the heavens" means that he "dwells in inaccessible light," that he is as far beyond us "as the heavens are above the earth."

We recite in the Creed. "He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Christ’s ascension marks the definitive entrance of Jesus’ humanity into God’s heavenly domain… (CCC 665).
That Christ has ascended into heaven means that he "is seated at the right hand of the Father," that is, as human like us, he has entered into God's world and brought our humanity. His Ascension thus brings us great hope – “where He has gone, we hope to follow.”



Farewell
At first glance, the Ascension seems to be a sad “farewell” to Jesus. We all know Jesus spent three years with his disciples, teaching them about the kingdom of God, instructing each of them how to show love, compassion and justice, showing them miracles. For the last three years Jesus and his disciples created a strong bond tested by trials, betrayal, death and victory. It’s sad to hear that Jesus is apparently leaving his disciples and Mary.

Airport
I was in the airport last Thursday night to send off my eldest sister and her three children who are now in the Philippines. Last night I went to the airport again to say good bye to other sister Marsha, who also went to the Philippines with her family for holidays. (During this part of year fiestas are celebrated in the Philippines).

For two consecutive nights that I was in the airport I noticed two kinds of group of people – happy and sad. Those who are waiting at the arrival, you see people, families, children, parents, they are happy and excited and waiting patiently as they wait for coming of their loved ones. Once they found each other they embrace and kiss with joy.

When you go to the departure gate the atmosphere is different, it is rather sad. You see people, families, lovers, hugging each other with tears in their eyes as they say goodbye to each other. Some people couldn’t let go their loved ones perhaps they knew that it would be a long time before they see each other again.

We learn from our experience that there is always sadness in saying goodbye.

Difference: Disappearance & departure
The feast of the Ascension is not really goodbye. There is an apparent contradiction in this leaving of Jesus: while leaving, he assures us that he is staying with us. While Jesus’ body and spirit ascended into heaven he promised us, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Mt.28:20)

Ascension is not a sad "farewell," but rather a true feast. There is difference between a disappearance and a departure.

Jesus has not departed, he has not become absent; he has only disappeared from our sight. Those who leave are no longer here; those who only go out of our sight, however, can still be near us.

Jesus does disappear from the apostles' sight at the ascension but he does so to be present in another more intimate way through the Holy Spirit. He is not exclusively belong to his apostles alone – he belongs to everyone.

We heard from the Second Reading St. Paul reminds us of the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to give us wisdom and understanding, to enlighten our hearts and minds to clearly the presence of Jesus.
Jesus is no longer outside the apostles but He is within them in their hearts.

Eucharist – Jesus is here
This is similar to the Eucharist. So long as the host is outside of us we see it, we adore it; when we receive the host we no longer see it, it has disappeared, but it has disappeared to be within us. Through the Holy Spirit, our Lord becomes present in us in a new, more powerful way.

When First Communion Students receive our Lord in a short while, their hearts will become a living tabernacle, where our Lord rests to strengthen them in their faith. You will help your friends to see Jesus.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.
Jesus is no longer visible, but through the Holy Spirit Jesus wants himself to be known to everyone – to our friends, loved ones, neighbour, people we know. Jesus wants all people to discover him, to have relationship with him, to be closely united with him.

When we are baptised, our eyes, our ears, our tongue, our hands and feet, becomes the eyes, ears, toungue, hands and feet of Jesus.

Let us pray that through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we can obey the commandment of Jesus to to make disciples of all nations. Let us help others to make Jesus known and to make Jesus loved, and together we will share the joy and happiness in heaven. Amen.

Readings: Gospel Commentary for Feast of the Ascension by Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, www.zenit.org

Our Advocate of Love

Sixth Sunday of Easter A (Filipino Mass)
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Psalm: 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21
April 27, 2008

Holy Spirit: Our Advocate of Love

Story
One time there was a Pinoy attorney who went on vacation in a small farming town during the long-weekend. While walking through the streets and enjoying the beautiful countryside scenery, he noticed that a car was involved in an accident. As expected, a large crowd gathered (mga usisero).

“A propect client” the attorney said to himself. The Pinoy attorney was excited and eager to get to the injured, but he couldn't get near the car. Being a rather clever person, he started shouting loudly, "Let me through! Let me through! I am the son of the victim. Let me through. "

The crowd made way for him. Lying in front of the car was a donkey.

Advocate of the Apostles
In today’s Gospel the Lord promises his disciples that he will send them an Advocate to be with them always. Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit, the Second Person of the Trinity, as an Advocate, it means counselor, protector. The Holy Spirit is like an attorney (but a much clever one compared to the lawyer from the story) who will pleads for our case, to stand by us and defend us in time of need (without fee!)

In Greek, Holy Spirit is translated as “parakletos” which means a lawyer or a witness who will testify in your behalf. It also refers to a person who gives comfort, counsel or strength that we always of need. [I’m not sure if the word “parak” in Tagalog comes from “parakletos”? Parak is pulis tagapaglitas. Of course not! :) ]

Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit as he prepares his disciples for the day when He will no longer be with them physically. It is through the Holy Spirit, their advocate, that they come to have a deeper or mature understanding of the teaching of Jesus, his mission, his miracles, and the purpose of his Birth, Death and Resurrection.

Our Advocate Too!
Inasmuch as the Holy Spirit is the apostle’s Advocate, the Holy Spirit is also our Advocate! It is through the Holy Spirit that we can feel Jesus’ loving presence in the Church, in the sacraments, in our community, his loving presence in each and one of us even we can not see him physically (Look the person next to you. Can you feel the presence of Jesus to the person next to you? If not, pray more for the Holy Spirit.). The Holy Spirit comes to us for the first time in the sacrament of baptism. The Holy Spirit’s in us is perfected and strengthened on the day of our confirmation, when the Bishop said to us, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” This is why confirmation is called the sacrament of our maturity in faith.

Commandment to Love
Before our Lord promised his disciples that He will send the Advocate, he first spoke one of his final words, his final reminder was (o huling habilin) – If you love me, you will keep my commandments. We need to ponder his words deeply in our hearts. And we know that his commandments are: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength. Love one another as I have loved you.

Let us ask ourselves… What makes us sure that we really love Jesus and our neighbour? What makes us sure that we obey his commandment of love?

To Jesus real love is something difficult and it must be expressed not as sentiment or emotion but as real obedience to God. The word ‘obedience’ means ‘to listen carefully’. The more obedient we are to Christ's commandments, the more we are listening to the Holy Spirit’s call in our lives

Checking Spiritual condition
I read in a book 3 practical questions we should ask ourselves to check our spiritual condition if we really love God both in words and deeds:

First question: Are you yapping?
Yapping means “to bark, to yelp, to talking noisily”. We yap when we always criticize people, when we always find fault to others. A yapping person discourages, hurts and destroys people rather than seek to be helpful.

Second question: Are you yawning?
Some people go to church as if sleeping, they hear nothing, see nothing, and do nothing. (I must admit I was guilty of this when I was young). St Paul says, “we must be alive unto God – revive our hope, increase our love, and work our faith” (Rom 13:11-12).

Third question: Are you yearning?
Are you yearning or seeking for material pleasures, excessive wealth (40Million jackpot?) rather than yearning to fill your spiritual emptiness that Christ alone can satisfy? When we consecrate ourselves to love God, we only yearn for a more effective, meaningful and holy life, and for the Holy Spirit to fill us with divine love.

Conclusion
If your answer is to these questions is three big yes that means we need to be more open to the Holy Spirit, our Advocate. We all have our personal faults, imperfections, wrong decisions, sinfulness, lust, etc., that prevent to obey faithful God’s commandment of love, but the Holy Spirit will help us grow towards maturity and wholeness.

St Paul says in his First Letter to the Corinthians that the Holy Spirit is already in us as, he writes, “Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? Each of us are sacred, we are temple of God.”

We just need to allow ourselves to the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us see the truth and beauty of ourselves. Like the good Advocate the Holy Spirit will enable us to become stronger, will aid us and guide when we face difficult and painful situation, and will help to love truly.

I invite you to bow your heads and pray with me:

Come Holy Spirit, renew me with your gifts.
My life will be more joyful and fulfilling with you action in me.
Heal my brokenness, pour down your wisdom.
Instill your peace within me, inspire my every need.

Amen.

Do not be afraid

5th Sunday of Easter
Do not be afraid

Jesus Is the Way
"Where are you going in life, or what are you living for?" is the most important question to ask ourselves, one another, the Church, our people. Even, we, Christians at times feel lost. Yet we shouldn't, for we have Jesus who shows us the way, who is our way, to God, to ourselves, to people. Jesus is not only our way but he is our companion on the road.

Modern Martyrs
I received an email today about the persecution of Christians around the world. In our modern world it’s hard to imagine how our many fellow Christians suffer a lot, beaten and tortured simply for their faith in Jesus Christ.

In Sudan, a Christian boy, Damare, has his knees and feet nailed to a board and he is left to die just for attending a church service. When rescued he says he forgives the man who did this because Jesus was also nailed and forgave him.

In Vietnam, a Christian pastor is sentenced to two years in prison. When he is offered an early release, he declines stating that he has a group of new Believers in the prison – they thirst for the Word of God.

A Colombian missionary is kidnapped and told she only has two hours to live. She tells her captors that if she only has two hours to live, she wants to spend it telling them about Jesus.

The Way to God, to People, to Ourselves
Although life had been uneasy for them, they clearly know where they are going. They know their destination; they know the beautiful end of their journey; because of their faith.

We learn from their stories of faith practical help and encouragement to welcome Jesus in our hearts.

Isn’t it sad even if we have everything in life, we sometimes feel totally "lost"; when we do not know where we stand in life, when we all looks confusing and senseless.

Today Jesus speaks to us, who says not only "I will show you the way, but: "I AM THE WAY." Go with me, follow me, I will lead you to your goal in life. I will bring you safely to the Father and to your loved ones, yes even to your own true self. Live as I have lived, for I am the way and the truth and the life.

Jesus is the way to God, that he is the truth of God and in him is God’s own life. Let us loving embrace, treasure and live out the beauty of our faith.

Teary

will make you teary

Watch

Wanted: Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd Sunday A
April 12-13, 2008

“..the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and lead them out..”

The Good Shepherd image in the New Testament:
In Palestine the word "shepherd" was a synonym for selfless love, sincerity, commitment and sacrificial service. Hence Jesus selects it as the most fitting term to denote his life and mission.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd and we are his flock, however Jesus is also calling us to be good shepherds to one another – most especially to those people who are entrusted to our care.

In that sense, priests, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials and the politicians are all shepherds. The teacher who really loves the children in her charge, the nurse who carefully tends to the sick, the friend who listens attentively to another's problems, the nona or nono who looks after grandchildren during holidays -–all these remind us of the abiding presence of the Good Shepherd among us.

The parents become good shepherds when they provide the means for their children to grow both physically and spiritually. Parents are good shepherds when they become the role models for their children, encouraging them in their prayer and sacramental life.

This Sunday, we join Catholics around the world praying for the increase of shepherds whose task is unique from those I mentioned earlier. We pray for shepherds who will the spiritual needs of God’s people. Thus we pray for the increase of priests in the church.

Nick (guest seminarian from Corpus Christi) later on will speak briefly about the mystery of the priesthood and his personal response to our Lord's calling.

Lost two shepherd
We are saddened about the death Archbishop Frank Little. He was our shepherd for 22 years as Archbishop of Melbourne. We thank the Lord for all his worked in the church.

Yesterday a friend priest of mine, Fr Robert del Rosario, was buried in the Philippines. He was the priest who asking for books early this year for the new school he was building. Last March he celebrated 1st year anniversary. Though his ministry was short, we thank his example of saying “yes” to our Lord to follow him.

Pray for new shepherds
We join our prayer today in this Mass that the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd will be heard by many young men and adults today called them to be shepherds of souls.

May I also ask you to pray for us priests, young and old that we may constantly be faithful to this beautiful ministry entrusted to us by our Lord in the loving service of his flock – his Church.

Paalam Fr Robert del Rosario

Don Robert,

Musta na?

Pasensya na di ako nakapunta sa Misa Pasasalamat sa iyo kanina. Pero nakapunta naman kahapon dyan sa Balanga ang Ama't Ina ko. Nakausap daw nila ang Tatay at Tita mo. Gustong gusto ko talagang pumunta sa iyo kanina para magpaalam. Sayang si Bishop Soc pa naman ang nag-misa. Pinagpala ka at isang banal na obispo ang nagmisa sa iyo. Di ba binanggit ko sa iyo dati hinahangaan ko si Bishop Soc at lagi kong nagagamit ko ang mga libro niya sa homily ko dito.


Sayang ipapakilala mo sana ako sa kanya ng personal pag-uwi ko: if narito ka uli sa Pilipinas, just tell me and maybe we can arrange schedule for a visit to Bishop Soc. he is very much cordial and warm to receive you. (Jan 15 2008 3:08pm) Di bale, makikila ko din si Bishop Soc sa ibang pagkakataon.

Natutuwa ako at nakarating ang mga libro na ipinadala ko sa iyo. Salamat sa walang hanggang pasasalamat sa email mo sa akin kahit nakapasimpleng bagay lang ang naicontribute ko school na itinatayo mo dyan:

thank you po ng marami and pls extend my sincerest gratitude din sa mga friends mo na nagbigay ng book for our school! rest assured of my prayers for you and for them!!! thanks po uli (March 26/2008 1:23 pm)

Pasensya na Don Robert itinawag ko sayo kasi lang nuong mga nakaraang araw binalikan ko ang mga ala-ala mo nuong nasa ICMS pa tayo. Sa seminaryo Don Robert ang tawag ko sa iyo, bihira kitang tawaging kuya kahit senior ka sa akin ng ilang taon.

Naalala ko tuloy sa seminaryo lahat na lang napapansin natin at ginagawang katatawanan, kaya masaya tayo kahit na nasa "loob". Kahit sino may kanya-kanyang tukso. Tulad mo – Don Robert, Jaworski, at higit sa lahat ang di mo matanggap na kalbo. Maaga kasing umangat ang hairline mo e. Tampol ka lagi ng biro dahil lagi kang cool (minsan/madalas din ay pikon). Natatandaan ko nung first year college ata ako nun pagkatapos ng community night prayer natin e bigla kang nagsalita ka sa lecturn. Sabi mo sa community bawas-bawasan na natin ang biruan. Tulad ng inaasahan nagpalakpakan at nagsigawan pa kaming lahat! Sigurado akong walang pari nung oras na iyon.

Isa pa, tuwing ikaw ang tutugtog sa Misa kabisado na namin ang recessional song - ang walang kamatayang “Tell the World of His Love” (kahit apat na taon nang lumipas ang World Youth Day!).

Ngayon ko lang din naalala lagi kang nakatuck-in at laging puti ang tshirt mo. Style.

Tsk tsk. Matagal nang lumipas buhay natin sa seminaryo. Lahat ng iyon lilingunin na lang sabay tawa. Mga pari na tayo ngayon...

Hindi ko na hahabaan pa ang sulat na ito. Hindi mo naman ito matatangap e. Saka di naman ganito ang style ng mga sagot ko sa mga email mo sakin. Inaaliw ko lang ang sarili ko dahil hindi ako naka-attend sa Misa Pasasalamat at libing mo.


Hindi ko maitype ang salitang “libing” para kasing di bagay kasi parang buhay ka pa.

Nagdadasal nga pala ako ng night prayer nang magtext sa akin si Patrick nung Lunes. Sabi nya “Fr. Robert del Rosario passed away. Pls. Pray 4 his repose.” Hindi ko ito agad pinansin tinuloy ko lang ang dasal ko. Siguro mali ang balita. Siguro ibang pari iyon. Siguro hindi ikaw iyon. Matagal bago tumimo ang katotohan. Pero nang tinawagan ko si Patrick sabi nya ikaw nga.

Nakakalungkot pala ang mamatayan ng isang kapatid na pari. Lalo na iyong halos kasabayan mo lang maordenahan. Gusto kong i-quote dito ang isang parte ng sulat mo sa akin dati. Pabiro iyon pero may lalim.

musta na ang aking kapatid na pari? 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.(Jan /10/2008 12:18 pm)

Ako din araw-araw pinag-uubra lang. Isa ka ng OBRA ngayon kapatid! Kahanga-hanga namatay kang isang pari. Congratulations!

Hanggang dito na lang Don Robert, alam ko daig mo pa ang totoong Don diyan dahil nakamit mo na ang tunay na kayamanan.

May you rest in peace with our Good Shepherd.

Pray for us Fr. Robert!

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Read the report of his death

Our Meeting Place

3rd Sunday of Easter A
Acts 2:14, 22-33;
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 1 Peter 1:17-21;
Luke 24:13-35 April 5-6, 2008

Road of Emmaus

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Our Scripture readings this Sunday have one common, an encouraging theme: “No matter what happens in our lives, our Risen Lord is always with us.” We must not feel we are abandoned or alone, Jesus is always with us. We encounter Jesus day by day but because we are preoccupied or busy, oftentimes we don’t recognise him most especially to unexpected persons or events.

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The risen Lord with the most beautiful smile

A young boy was walking home through the park after attending a Sunday school class. Somehow, he couldn’t stop thinking about the lesson for that day about Jesus’ teaching on the Last Judgment. What impressed him most was what the teacher said, "When you give something to another person, you’re really giving it to Jesus and you will find the risen Jesus in every one you meet." As he continued through the park, he noticed an old woman sitting on a bench. She looked lonely and hungry. So he sat down next to her, took a chocolate bar he had saved and offered some to her. She accepted it with a beautiful smile and he watched her smiles as she chewed the chocolate.

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Then they sat together in silence, just smiling at each other. Finally, the boy got up to leave. As he began to walk away, he turned, ran back to the bench, and gave the woman a big hug. When he arrived home, his mother saw a big smile on his face and asked, "What made you so happy today?" He said, "I shared my chocolate bar with God." Before his mother could ask more questions, he added, "You know, she has the most beautiful smile in the world." Meanwhile, the old woman returned to her little apartment where she lived with her sister. "You’re all smiles," said her sister. "What made you so happy today?" She replied, "I was sitting in the park, eating a chocolate bar with Jesus. And, you know, he looks a lot younger than I expected."

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The message of the story is simple – Jesus is with us and he always desires to stay with us. He wants to join us in our travels of life.

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He is with us; Jesus desires to walk always on our journey…

It’s the same message of the Gospel story today. The road to Emmaus story illustrates that Jesus is with us even when we do not recognize him. It tells us how our Lord always desires to walk with us on our journey.

Jesus is present in the Word of the Scripture
Jesus remains with us in two ways: in the Eucharist and in his word. He is present in both: in the Eucharist under the form of food, in the Word under the form of light and.

The Scripture is the Word of God. When God speaks a word he always means it. His message is always sincere, reliable and true. When Jesus says, “Do not be afraid; or do not worry” he means it. Jesus wants to assure us his protection. When Jesus says “I am with you always” he fulfills that promise. Jesus is our companion both in ups and downs of our life.

For instance, in today’s post-Easter story, we heard how the two disciples of Jesus, Cleopas and his companions, were discouraged and devastated, as they set out on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were met by a stranger going along the same road. Because they were so preoccupied with their own disappointment and sorrow at the death of Jesus they didn’t recognise that it was Jesus himself, who was walking with them!

Jesus is present in the Eucharist
Secondly Jesus is very present with us in the Eucharist. In the Gospel, the disciples recognize him at the breaking of the bread, then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us…”

Jesus is with us in every celebration of Mass, the celebration of the breaking of the bread. Jesus says it lovingly, “Whoever eats my body and drinks my blood shall live with me eternally.” It a pity that sometimes don’t realize what is happening during Holy Communion.
The Eucharist is soul food, the bread of life for eternity. It feeds us and fills our spiritual needs. It is a pity that sometimes we take going to Mass on Sunday for granted.

Conclusion
The Eucharist is our meeting place with our Lord, it can be our Road to Emmaus. Let us pray in this Mass that our eyes and heart will recognise Jesus’ presence in our midst. May all of us be nourished with His life-giving Word and with the Bread of Life. Amen.

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story from Fr Tony