Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Priorities Luke 10:38-42 If only we can focus on what is most important in our lives, then the whole world would not experience the useless anxieties and pain it is experiencing today. Niniveh might have been a busy city of commerce, but when Jonah came to warn them about the city's end, they repented. In the New Testament, Jesus reprimanded Martha for not "choosing the better portion." How do we know in our life's decisions which ones are important and not? The most obvious is to choose good over evil. The second one is from among the good, which will serve others and not just the self? From the actions that serve others, which decision will glorify God and save our souls? If we are able to answer all these questions favorably, then we have prioritized well.

Mary in our midst Luke 1:26-38 Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary.  I would like to express that I found myself at the right place and at the right time to be the jubilee parish priest of Sto. Rosario de Pasig Parish. There are three major events we are celebrating: 1. We are celebrating our 50th anniversary.  50 years of a parish dedicated to Mary is a blessing indeed. And considering that the blessed image of the Our Lady of Sto. Rosario de Pasig is more than 50 years old; the image is practically symbolic of the faith life of the people.  It is 50 years of growth in faith. 2. We have opened the jubilee year in our parish.  Whenever we think of the jubilee year we think about the remission of sins, a time of grace and freedom, and the mercy of God would be manifest.  Let us think about a year of grace for our beloved parish and how we can be instruments of grace to one another.  It is a time of remission or universal pardon. 3.  W...

What are angels? Matthew 18:1-5,10 From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, St. Augustine says: "'Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do, 'angel.'" 188  With their whole beings the angels are  servants  and messengers of God. Because they "always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" they are the "mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word". The existence of angels is a truth of faith.  To believe that they are spirits reflecting the very nature of Father verifies our faith and trust in God himself whom the angels are serving. Second, their office verifies that utmost calling of an angel to do His will and serve Him with all their being. Third, their love manifests in all their actions to lead men and wom...

Leadership Luke 7:1-10 In today's reading, St. Paul asks Timothy to pray for leaders and those in authority so that people may live a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.  He also sets himself as an example of a leader who gives witness to God in Jesus Christ. Leadership is also the theme of today's gospel where a person of authority respects the dignity of Jesus as the Messiah and that instead of Jesus going to his home, only the power of his word can cure his servant. What is a leader then?  In summary, a leader should have fear of the Lord.  Second, he should take the responsibility to be God's steward and put order into creation.  Third, her should take up the mission of responsible leadership and bring his subjects to a greater knowledge of Jesus, the source of leadership and salvation.

Cross John 3:13-17 As we celebrate the exultation of the cross, remember the serpent that caused the downfall of man becoming the symbol of healing for God's people during the time of Moses.  Now, the course of the world reached its full cycle, not in sin and downfall, but in the passion and death of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection. We need to appreciate the crosses of our lives, offer them to Jesus, and look for ways to use them specially for the salvation of people.

Who is a minister? Luke 6:39-42 From the Google dictionary, a minister is either a member of the clergy or someone who attends to. The word being taught by the Church refers to the ministry that is passed on by the Apostles and by which persons safeguard and continue the work of salvation coming from Jesus Christ.  The ones who safeguard and continue the saving work of Jesus passed on by the apostles are ministers. Perhaps, the gospel can provide us with the light to know the minister in the level of the heart. First, the minister himself is a student; a follower of his teacher.  Second, the minister never intends to harm or fall into destruction the one is ministering.  And third, the minister also ministers himself before he can minister to others. If we allow ourselves to be touched by the Lord, definitely, we shall be ministering our brothers and sisters with the very heart of Jesus.

Comunio Luke 6:27-38  I would like to focus on "comunio".  It simply means "one heart and mind". Comunio is the communion that we receive during communion; our Lord and we become one.  His mind become our mind; his heart, our hearts as well. Comunio is heaven itself when we become one heart and one mind with one another and with God. It's about time we evaluate the kind of Christians we are; the ultimate test being, "Could we really feel the anguish and sufferings as well as the joys of neighbors?  Could we really say that we are one with God and with one another? To our brothers and sisters, Jesus commands us to love even our enemies.  That is comunio.  To our brothers and sisters, let justice and mercy be two sides on one coin; justice being the minimum requirement of mercy; and mercy being the fullness of justice.  This is the world of comunio - justice and mercy with God as our supreme Lord.