Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Priests Day Matthew 14:22-36 It brings joy to my heart as a priest that in the Feast of St. John Marie Vianney, patron of parish priests, people would celebrate this day and call it "Parish Priests Day" and remember their priests through prayers and give tributes to them. But let us also remember that we all in a way priests, sharing in the priestly function of Jesus Christ. And this is the priestly spirituality of a laity, that through sacrifices, people might be consecrated to God and witness of the offerings of life. The three things that give joy to my life as a priest are the following: 1. Conversion - We priests are witness to metanoia or radical change from sin to grace.  St. John Marie Vianney stayed in the confessional everyday for more than 12 hours to witness the conversion of people. 2. Consecration - the joy of the priests is the overflow of consecrated people. made holy by God himself.  St. John Vianney restores holiness to people in the...

Salvation in Jesus alone Mark 3:7-12 In as much as the readings give a distinction between the priest and Jesus, one should make the proper distinction as follows: 1. the priest of the Old Testament is different from the priest of the New Testament.  The priests of the Old Testament make their self-atonement for the sins committed against God.  The priests of the New Testament act on behalf of Jesus to save us through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 2. the priests of the Old Testament offer as many as possible different gifts for the atonement of sins.  The priest of the new Testament give witness to Jesus' once-and-for-all offering of the expiation of sins. 3. The priests of the Old Testament offer on peoples' behalf while the priests of the New Testament configures himself toward Jesus who is himself the offering. We are all called to the universal priesthood in these ways: 1. to lead others to the very action of salvation of Jesus; 2. to capit...

On the occasion of the 19 years of priesthood As I celebrate the 19th anniversary of my priesthood, I have come to celebrate it in a most peaceful way.  For my only consolation is to be in communion with God. I have come to realize this during the times I was studying in Rome.  I didn't have any big celebrations such as this one.  But to wake up early in the morning and go to St. Peter's Basilica to celebrate mass with Fr. Greg Gaston is enough for me to feel deep consolation that God loves me and His love goes on forever.   Despite my sinfulness and unworthiness He sanctifies me and makes the priesthood fruitful. Here in the parish, my delight is to receive the sincere prayers of people filled with compassion.  For them I am truly grateful.  This also gives me the reason to go on and on until God recalls me from this life.  But know that I am eternally grateful.  The priesthood is Jesus; but the priesthood is composed of countless men a...

This day, March 27, both of us priests, Fr. Maico Rescate and I, are celebrating our priestly anniversary.  I am 18 years in the priesthood while Fr. Maico is 1 year befor he celebrates his silver anniversary. Taking the gospel of Jesus and the Samaritan woman as my point of reference for reflection, allow me to reflect on  our priesthood as the outpouring gift of the Holy Spirit like a stream of living water promised by Jesus to the Samaritan woman. I was inspired by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Solemnity of the Annunciation when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her and she conceived Jesus our Lord.  I believe that when we said yes to this vocation, the Holy Spirit allowed us to conceive Jesus also.  I could still remember when Jesus asked me, "Do you love me, and I answered like Peter did, "Yes, Lord, I love you."  Then Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."  We need to say "yes" before the outpouring of the living water can ensue. Secondly, like the Sama...