Inspirations at your Fingertips!

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...

Thursday of the 2nd week of lent; Gospel: Luke 16:19-31 We have come to rationalize that life is neither black nor white but shades of gray.  Actions are justified as neither moral or immoral.  We appeal in the end that God would understand us in the end. The readings for today are filled with binarisms or opposites - the just and the foolish man, the rich man and Lazarus, the rich and the poor, the sumptuous food above the table and the scraps down below, and heaven and hell. It would thus seem that for God, life is indeed black and white and not shady as we claim.  There are norms that God wants us to live out and sins that he despises. There are only 2 responses to God's offer to us - to accept or reject; to listen to remain dumb; and to be hot or cold in our faith.  Take your pick.  After that, in everything, God is the ultimate judge of all our actions. Choose what will bring us life and salvation.  Choose God.

Gospel: Mark 10, 46 - 52 From the gospel of St. Mark, it may seem almost unbelievable for God to ask us the same question a waiter would, "What can I do for you?"  since he is God and does not deserve to be treated as a servant. But God chose to be a servant and to be totally available for us, to help us, to fill us up with His graces. There was a time when I stopped asking God what I wanted.  It may be because I realized He answers prayers not exactly as I wanted it but how He wanted me to receive it for my greater good.  But I learned a valuable lesson on prayer - I ended up not thinking about myself but more about asking what He wants.  I realized that He will would always be better than mine and that even now, He is fulfilling what is best for me.  His question therefore would connote the deepest sense of service one could ever receive, "What can I do for you?"  as if He is saying, "I am and will always be with you, answering your every prayer a...