Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Holy Family Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 The reading from Ecclesiasticus reveals a lot on how we are to love our parents and how parents are to love their children. In the gospel, Joseph, as a responsible father, led his family to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod.  In the end, Herod died and the family returned home. How do we regard our families? First, the family is the father taking the responsibility to lead the family to heaven As Joseph led his family to Egypt and back to Bethlehem upon the promptings of the angel, so too much fathers lead their family to God.  They should discern well whether every member is journeying to heaven. Second, the family is the mother having rights over the upbringing of the children The mother is Mary in full support of her husband Joseph.  It is also mothers in the Old Testament who are sources of real treasures in the family.  A mother shares all the love in her heart to her husband and children.  She is the pictu...

Real face of love Luke 2:22-35 For this 5th day of Christmas, we are confronted with the offering of Jesus in the temple.  Simeon prophesied and so did Anna. In the first reading, St. John revealed the importance of this new law which is also as old as time.  It is about loving others as God has loved us. I would like to explore aspects of loving as described by St. John; a love that is like Christmas when God was made man. Love starts with following God's commands If we truly love God, we shall follow him completely and without questions. Love is forever new It may be an old reality as old as time, yet, for love to be authentic, it makes all things new.  The pathways of love are always refreshing; it gives life to the soul.  People are transformed in the world of love. Love is not pretentious Being pretentious means attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.  Love cannot and w...

That we have heard and seen John 20:2-8  There are many themes that St. John proposed in his writings.  But all these are to strengthen develop the faith given to us by Jesus.  I would like to mention three of them: First, love Jesus said, "I give you a new command: "Love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13: 34)  and in John 15: 3: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." Love is the most supreme virtue one can live out.  And in 1 John 4: 9: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." Second, dichotomies St. John presents images as light and darkness, faith and unbelief, grace and sin.  There is a choice that he wants us to contemplate on based on the words and actions of Jesus, "And they believed."  May we sin ourselves confronting these choices and choosing the better one. Third, the Church ...

Give witness to God Luke 1:46-56 Mary, having been greeted by Elizabeth, sang the Magnificant as a sign of her overflowing spirit that gave witness to the glory of God.  This could also be our spirit as we approach Christmas, taking to mind these three things: First, proclaim God's greatness Everything is God's work and we are simply his instruments.  But everyday of our lives, let us give witness to him, not to ourselves.  Our lives are stories of God's presence. Second, give witness to God Tell others God's stories. The litanies of God's accomplishments over our lives.  These stories should inspire others to take courage. Hope, hope Hope against hope that God will bring to completion what he planned to do for mankind.  God will bring true justice.  He will straighten up things.  The poor shall see their vindication.  Those who have will see to their shame how they have not shared their resources.  We can attain true happens ...

Faith and freedom Luke 1:67-79 A faith-filled heart will always be a thankful heart that recognizes the work and the presence of the Lord. This is a fitting ending to our preparation this Christmas - the ability and the grace to detect how the Lord brings freedom into our lives and how we respond to this new found freedom. "Blessed be the Lord, for he has come to his people and set them free!" is the first utterance of Zechariah after nine months of being mute.  Now he can speak.  Before, he doubted the words of the angel, thus, he couldn't speak.  But he opened his heart to God and named his child, "John".  He is now freed from his muteness. We can only proclaim things if we live in God's ways.  Let us further distinguish the marks of a truly free person. First, recognizing that it is God who frees It is God who frees; it is He who works; it is He who sanctifies.  In the first reading God was the one who lifted David from being a shepherd to ...

The very being of John the Baptist Luke 1:57-66  Today's story brings us to the naming of John the Baptist who prepared the coming of the Lord. What kind of faith can we imitate from him? First, purifier Purifying means removing the contaminants.  We need to remove the contaminants that corrupts our relationship with God, like disordinate attachments to material things.  This leads us away from the Lord and knowing our true vocation.. Second, refiner Refining means removing the contaminants to surface the raw element.  We need to fine-tunes our hearts towards the Lord, the only reason for our existence Third, the fruit The fruit of faith is essence of our being. in relation with the One who created us, God himself.  It is mentioned in the Malachi that God will now accept the offerings of his people.  We are the offerors and our offerings are cleansed to perfection by selfless offering of Jesus. John shall be faithful follower of God who di...

Go in haste to serve God Luke 1:39-45  The reading from the Song of Songs is way too inspiring. "I hear my Beloved.  See how he comes leaping on the mountains, bounding over the hills. My Beloved is like a gazelle, like a young stag." (Song of Songs 2:8)  Could there be someone who's as excited and passionate to meet his lover than the Beloved? In the Gospel, Mary went in haste to her cousin Elizabeth.  "Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." (Luke 1:39) The next four days will help us prepare to be like a gazelle or a stag, journey in haste to serve our Lord and our brothers and sisters.  Is that how we feel we go to Church activities?  What do we need to put energy into our faith and parish lives? First, God calls The one who calls us to service is God Himself, not the voice of evil, materialism or greed.  Only in knowing the loving God could we have...

Mary's faith Luke 1:26-38 This day brings us to Mary, who by her fiat, brought the Child Jesus into the world.  What is the quality of her faith? First, the Immaculate conception Even in the moment of her conception, she was free from original and any stain of sin.  Her graces are both sanctifying and actual.  Let us be conscious of God who bestows us with the all graces we received when we were baptized and every time we receive the sacraments of penance and the Eucharist. Second, Virgin The dogma teaches Mary's real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man. In fact, Christ's birth "did not diminish his mother's virginal integrity but sanctified it.  And so the liturgy of the Church celebrates Mary as Aeiparthenos, the "Ever-virgin"." (CCC 499)  Furthermore, "Mary is a virgin because her virginity is the sign of her faith "unadulterated by any doubt", and of her undivided gift of h...

Destroy that weak faith Luke 1:5-25 After having been exposed to the lineage of Jesus and Joseph's strong faith, in our desire to celebrate the mystery of our salvation and God's love that it is also important to learn a thing or two about the consequences of a weak faith like Zechariah's so we may not imitate him, rather, do exactly the opposite.  What are the signs of a weak faith? First, doubting Doubting leads us nowhere.  It is the exact opposite of faith.  Doubting in things unseen can only lead us to believing in material and tried and tested things.  But life is faith.  The only thing that helps us survive is our faith in God. Second, despair For Zechariah, things are too late.  He is too old and Elizabeth is both old and barren.  Hope is what keeps us going - for an OFW to hope that he would go home and realize a better life for the family; for us to hope that this world will not end in violence but there would be a better future ahe...

Payak na pananaw Matthew 1:18-24 Matapos na maiugat ang sarili natin sa Panginoon at siya lamang ang pinakadiwa ng Pasko, maraming mga bahagi ng ating buhay ang kailangang pang mapahinutulutan nating Siya'y papasukin.  Tulad ni Jose na tinataguriang matuwid dahil nais niyang maligtas ni Maria sa kapahamakan, pinakikita ang kanyang natatanging papel na bigyang pangalan ang nasa sinapupunan ni Maria upang matupad ang propesiya na "pasisibulin mula sa lahi ni David ang isang sangang matuwid, isang hari na buong karunungang maghahari." (Jer. 23, 5 - 8) Isang maka-Diyos na pananaw sa simula pa ang kailangan upang makalahok tayo sa mundo ng Diyos upang tayong maging instrumento sa paghahanda ng pagdating ng Panginoon sa ating pamilya, ka-trabaho, kaklase, kapitbahayan, atbp. Anu-ano ang mga katangian ng pananaw na ito? Una, batayang paninindigan "Fundamental option" ang tawag nito sa ingles; isang uri ng orientasyon kung tayo sa para sa Diyos o hindi.  Kun...

Rooted in Christ Matthew 1:1-17  The family of Jacob is teeming with pride.  Why?  It's because the lineage of the family dates back to Abraham's call by God to which he responded.  Thus, he became the father of many nations that are firmly rooted in God. Jesus is coming into this world with a definite lineage of families rooted in God.  This should give us something to be proud of - that Jesus is definitely human and divine. How do we root ourselves and our families to Jesus this Christmas? First, immediately know when we have uprooted ourselves If we ground ourselves in our money or power, even take the whole family with us, then we cease being rooted in Jesus.  Search all disvalues and be uprooted from them so we can be rooted in Christ. Second, know whom we are rooting upon Root the children in Christ.  We have already started doing so when we had them baptized.  But for us, be conscious if too much preoccupation in work...

Trained to be good messengers John 5:33-36 As we begin the Simbang Gabi, the nine days novena to Christmas, we need to remind ourselves that Christmas is not event of pleasure, pomp, and luxury.  It is not a story of us just giving and receiving gifts.  It is the story of Jesus entering into our world and touching our lives.  The only authentic gift is Jesus himself that we can give to others.  If we don't have Jesus, we cannot celebrate Christmas worthily. Jesus is orienting us to be good and effective messengers.  Being good and effective messengers means: Having credibility Having credibility means we can be trusted because we are living out human values - pakikisama, pakikiramay, pagtulong, katarungan, pagkakapantay-pantay, etc.  These are things we learned in home and school.  These are timeless values that we are expected to live out starting from the time we were young till the present.  Are we growing in credibility? Focusing o...

Messengers Luke 7:24-30 What is Christmas?  It is not an annual activity of merrymaking, but a once-in-a-lifetime event that we recall every year and hopefully everyday of our lives.  It is the story of God's wrath and punishment turned to forgiveness and love.  It is the story of everyday miracles of love, healing, and growth.  And Jesus caused that miracle to happen by becoming man. We haven't felt this in a long while.  All we thought is that Christmas is an annual activity of going to malls, buying gifts, and eating good food.  We haven't realized that our world is so wounded we have just covered our wounds with more wounds. In the gospel, Jesus praised the messenger, John the Baptist, who prepared for His coming, although at this point, people still didn't recognize the presence of the redeemer.  But perhaps we can correct this situation.  How do we become Jesus' messengers? First, know the message We cannot become messengers unle...

Insensitivity to God Matthew 11:16-19  In the first reading, God made a warning, "If only you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness would have been like a river, your integrity like the waves of the sea." In the gospel, Jesus made a similar warning for those who are not sensitive to God's commands, “We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn’t dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn’t be mourners.” When do we become insensitive to God's voice?  When do we start playing our songs?  When did we stop dancing to God's tunes? There are many moments we stop being sensitive to God: 1. when we are lured by money, not by poverty.  - when our primary preoccupation in this word money, not values. 2.  when we are blinded by power, not be service. - when we desire to be above all others, and not humble. 3.  when pride overwhelms us, not God. - when we become our own gods. Then we contribute to the destruction of this world. May we not be in...

Old Eve, New Eve Luke 1:26-38  Reflecting on the Immaculate Conception one cannot miss comparing the old Eve and Mary, the new Eve, and the implications it brings us as a Church. First, sin vs. grace The old Eve started sin and its transmission, hence, the teaching on "original sin."  On the other hand, the new Eve put an end to the cycle of sin in the world and brought grace.  The angel Gabriel greeted her, "Hail, full of grace." This is the manifestation of the Immaculate Conception.  God would not allow even a stain of sin to touch the mother of God. The Church's mission is to transmit grace, not sin to the world. Second, disobedience vs. obedience Adam and Eve's sin is disobedience, a defiance of God's will.  But Mary eradicated it through her absolute obedience, "I am the maidservant of the Lord; let it be done to me as you say." The Church, to be a living Church, has to have disciples or servants for its members.  It cannot...

Integrity Matthew 3:1-12  The readings for the second Sunday of Advent reflect a quality that is present in John the Baptist and of course, God himself - integrity. Integrity is a state of wholeness or completeness.  Isaiah points out a situation where the child sits side by side with a panther, symbolizing a state of peace.  God rules with justice and compassion.  There is life everywhere. Alas, we are not people of integrity.  We compromise completeness with sin.  We are a divided people according to the PCP II.  How do we attain the state of integrity? We can only do so if we align ourselves with God's plan and not our own.  God wants everyone to live; we want to live only for ourselves.  By heeding the idealism of God we shall start traveling in the path of righteousness and integrity. Second, like John the Baptist, let's walk the talk.  John lived in poverty to show to the people to cease worldliness.  If we walk th...

Be a disciple Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6-8  Isaiah's reading is filled with promises.  What is remarkable is that it is God who fulfills all those beautiful promises of peace and plenty. Today's gospel compliments the first reading.  To fulfill those promises, God needs workers for the harvest.  We are all called to be disciples and workers in the vineyard of the Lord.  We need to orient ourselves as a community of disciples if we regard ourselves as Christians. Disciples are invited.  The call is from God Himself.  Disciples learn from the Master.  Disciples DO the Master's will.  Their lives would be fruitful. Be Jesus' disciple.

Liberation Luke 21:20-28  I would like to focus on what is to come: liberation.  What is liberation? First, liberation is the triumph of good over evil The trials are nothing as compared with what is to come, the sure triumph of God over evil. Second, liberation demands personal conversion Liberation starts with us as we accept the freedom Jesus offers: freedom from sin. Third, liberation is societal Here, social conversion and heaven become one and the same.  Let us think of our involvement in the societal change in its quest for true liberation.

Secularism vs. Secularity Luke 16:1-8  It's significant that the Lord will not make an accounting based solely on how we prayed and did our religious practices. We will have an accounting of our lives on how we've used all gifts given to us, whether spiritual or material. Too much preoccupation in material things is called materialism or secularism.  This ideology says that only material things matter. In the gospel, the lesson is not in the corruption of the corrupt steward; it's how effectively he used his expertise of transacting businesses. The Christian should also know how to deal with the world without being eaten by the affairs of this world.   This is called "secularity". Secularity is recognizing the good of this world, because they come from God. Secondly, the goods of this world are to be used for the good of peoples and not for selves.  We will always come to know that accumulation of things has no value in themselves.  They are wast...

Where is heaven? Matthew 5:1-12 There seems to be a dichotomy between heaven and earth.  People on earth are concerned with earthly cares while people of heaven enjoy eternal bliss. It may be true that there is a dichotomy like for example, people are still struggling to be holy while those in heaven have already reached eternal life.   But the readings seem to point otherwise.  Heaven is here on earth among people struggling to live saintly lives.  The vision of John regarding the 144,000 was before the angels destroy the earth.  St. Paul also mentioned that we are already children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed.  And in the gospel, Jesus narrated those who are truly blessed; all they are all in the world. Friends, we are still in the world.  We are saints in process. The things we say and do now account for our entrance to heaven.  Why must we continue to be lost in the daily affairs of life...

Choices Luke 12:49-53 In today's gospel, Jesus wants us to choose between evil and good, activity and passivity, life and death. He wants us to choose goodness which is the very quality of God.  He wants that all of our actions are based on God's goodness and not our own concept of goodness. In desiring to do good, he wants us to choose the better part, like St. Ignatius, "for the greater glory of God."  Passivity has no place in the Catholic faith. Finally, he wants us to choose the best portion.  For there are no other choices except life or death.  Choose the least, the easiest, and the most comfortable and we still die.  The only life is found in carrying the cross, dying, and rising with Him.

Formula for life Luke 11:47-54 The greeting of St. Paul to the community of Ephesus reveals an inspiring overview of world of Christianity - our lives before, during, and after Christ.  "God chose us in Christ before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight."  At the end, "he would bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth."  and in the middle, how Jesus "through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins." The gospel however gives us a sharp contrast of how Jesus reprimands the pharisees for killing the apostles and prophets. One path leads us to Christ; another path leads us away from him. The things that lead us away from Christ are: sin, the self, and the lures of this world.  We have to watch out for them.  We cannot know, love, adore, and serve God if we are filled with selfishness, if the world entices us, and most of all, sin overwhelms us.  We close our...

An familiar mix Luke 11:37-41 The first reading calls us not in excessive observance of the external law but in following Christ.  In the gospel, Jesus also reprimands the Pharisees not because of their external practices, but what lies in their hearts. Then Jesus focuses of alms as manifestations of what lies in the heart.  No one can give alms unless there is mercy and compassion.  And no one elicits mercy and compassion unless his or her heart is filled with the presence of God who is love. For everything starts with interior conversion brought about by an authentic encounter of love. This is faith.  It opens us to God's world. Second, we cannot give to others what we don't have.  If we don't have love, we can never share it to others.  Faith converted to action is love.  God gives us his love.  Love is the measure of faith. Love is converted to many forms - service, compassion, generosity. Faith, love, service - in a welcome, fam...

The readings tell about an image of the great war by which God would emerge triumphant: the man as white as snow will triumph, and the story of Jesus ascending and descending with his angels. The Archangels give an image of the ultimate battle between good and evil.  But they will never be destroyed. This has a direct implication in our lives  As we allow evil to thrive; and we even make it a lifestyle; we have to anticipate that evil will come to an end and in a definitive way we will Jesus, triumphant, ascending and descending between heaven and earth. At this point, let's clarify: are we instruments of good or evil?  Why is it so hard for us to follow Jesus?  We need to make a decision: first, to follow good and avoid evil; second, to follow Jesus, not Satan; and third, for God to triumph and we come his instruments, not us becoming the enemies of God. The Archangels personifies the triumph of God: the medicine of God (Raphael), the image of God (Michael),...

The face of the resurrection Luke 8:1-3 The issue raised by St. Paul is about the resurrection of Jesus which is central to the faith, "If Christ had not been raised from the dead our faith is useless." In the gospel, there were women who assisted Jesus from their own resources.  If they hadn't believed in Jesus, why would they spend from their resources?  Would we also do the same for Jesus? We need to reflect if all our actions result from Christ's resurrection.  If an action is selfish, there is no resurrection. An action inspired by the resurrection is overwhelmingly generous; it seeks the life of another and it is worth spending every time, talent, and treasure for the sake of the conversion of others. Second, a resurrection-inspired action is marked by hope that there will be change and new life. Third, a resurrection-inspired action reveals the face of heaven even in our smallest action.  Be it in the secular world, if in our actions and decision...

Unity in diversity Luke 7:11-17 St. Paul oriented the Church of Corinth as having different parts but consisting of one body of Christ. In the gospel, Jesus gave back the son to the widow Nain. Our lack is always filled with others.  Know that our lives are always meant for others and not ourselves.  For through us, others live. And how do we live?  Through unity and diversity. We all need one another.  That is unity.  We are all important in God's eyes. In diversity, we contribute our share so others may live. We all have a role to do in the work of salvation.  Our mission in this world is to fulfill what God wishes us to do in this world. How do we know our mission?  This needs discernment. Discernment is being open to the Holy Spirit.  It means reorienting our lives to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to respond appropriately to the Holy Spirit.  This is the particularity of who we are.  This is our co...

Firm foundation Luke 6:43-49 A disciple is built on a firm foundation.  What makes a firm foundation?  Communion with Christ, strengthened by the teachings and life of Jesus, and fruitful in his works. Right this early, we need to regard ourselves as disciples of Jesus and not just simple churchgoers.  A disciple is not simply moved by the miracles of healing or spectacle of the faith but on a lively charity. St. Paul talks about an authentic disciple: he is in communion with Jesus just as we partake of His body and blood instead of being in communion with idols. In the gospel, Jesus reminds us to build our faith on a firm foundation.  Jesus is that firm foundation, both his life and teachings.   We need to root ourselves in this. Finally, the disciple becomes fruitful or barren based on what lies in his heart. On St. Nicolas of Tolentino Nicolas of Tolentino at a young age of 18 became a monk.  He became a priest seven years later.  ...

Mary is eternal! Matthew 1:18-23  Listen to this anecdote of Pope Francis: "On (a) Saturday evening, in the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens, Pope Francis was with a group of young people from the Diocese of Rome who are involved in vocational discernment. Pope Francis said he feels said when he hears Christians say they do not seek the Mary or pray to Mary. He recalled a conversation with two young catechists in the seventies, a couple with young children, who spoke beautifully about Jesus: “At one point I said, ‘And devotion to the Madonna?’ ‘But we have passed that stage. We know Jesus Christ so well, that we have no need of the Madonna.’ And what came into my heart and my mind was ‘Oh… poor orphans!’ … because a Christian without the Madonna is an orphan. And a Christian without the Church is an orphan. A Christian needs these two women, these two women who are mothers, two women who are virgins: the Church and the Madonna." (source: airmaria.com) It...

Investing in God's work Matthew 25:14-30 It seems odd that Jesus would consider putting the money in the bank rather than entrust the talent to the lazy lout.  Even Jesus has a financial sense. Let's look at the faith in terms of investment and utilize financial sense to enrich the spiritual sense. There are three components to this: Capital - what we have that we can give Gain - what we want to attain in the future Time - how much time we spend It is simply the offering of our time, talent, and treasure that can make up for this.  And if we are truly intent on leading our children to heaven (gain), we would invest our time, talents, and treasure (capital) in doing God's work, not our own. When do we start? Future is already too late.  Past is long gone. What we have is now and invest our lives in doing God's work.

Assumption and discipleship Luke 11:27-28 What was described in the the book of Chronicles was how the people revered the Ark of the Covenant which contains the eternal relationship between God and man.  "You will be my people and I will be your God" is the core message of the relationship and all the duties and responsibilities that it implies.  This is the blueprint of our salvation now sealed in the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel talks about being blessed, not because of the principle attribute of physical motherhood, but in discipleship, "Happy are those who heed the Word of God and keep it." All these are geared towards the perfection of that relationship between God and man.  It is who we are, where we have been, and where we are going. The Assumption prefigures what will also happen to us given the conditions of discipleship.  As Mary was assumed into heaven because she received the gift of the Immaculate Conception, so too we...

God's power Matthew 14:22-36 God's power is manifest in fulfilling his promise to save Israel and restore its lost glory. In the Gospel, Jesus manifested his power over the storm and back on land, he cured the sick. Never doubt God's power.  He has power over all creation.  He even has power over our lives.  God's power is manifest in his desire to save us, forgive us, and bring us to everlasting life.  We cannot produce all these by ourselves.  But God can do them for us.  We just need to believe in God's power.

The kingdom of God Matthew 13:47-53 We have been reflecting on the Kingdom of God; better yet, the kingship of God. We may have our definitions and concepts about the Kingdom of God, but there is nothing like it when we allow God himself to define His own Kingship.  Our role is simply to discern and adhere to God's kingship over our lives. In the gospel, the fisherman gets all sorts of things in his net.  He collects those that are of use while throws away those that are useless to him.  Likewise, the kingdom is likened to a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both old and new. What is common to these two images is the owner - the fisherman and householder who is in full control of all things they choose. Such is the Kingship of God.  He is in full control over all things including us.  What makes the difference is our uselessness or usefulness to him. Are our lives a series of our usefulness to the Lord?  Do we always say "y...

Election Matthew 9:32-37  Election of God is different from man's election.  God's election springs from his knowledge of the person's heart.  Man only relies on externalities. Second, election means God elects us to do his mission on earth.  It simply means doing what God wants and not what we want.  If we respond favorably to being God's servants, then the "rich harvest" would be fully realized. Pray that we respond to the election of God and become his trusted servants.

Discerning our mission Luke 1:57-66,80  The readings speak of John's call or mission.  From the Old Testament, Jeremiah mentioned one who would prepare the way of the Lord: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.’ The gospel verifies this with the announcement of Angel Gabriel to Zechariah. The Eucharist enables us to fulfill our mission.  Our regular reception develops in us the gift to discern the mission God wants us to do in this world.  Discernment entails the following processes: First, accepting the basic orientation to live good lives through the reception of the sacraments.  St. John lived in a disciplined way and urged the people to repent in preparation for the coming of the Savior. Second, going farther by imitating Christ.  St. John preached to the people the ways of Christ even if he hadn't seen him.  This is brought about by h...

Kingship of God Matthew 6:19-23 We need to make clear which king we are following: the earthly king or the heavenly king? The earthly king would stress on acquiring all power and wealth of this world but eventually, he accounts to nothing. Jesus said, "Do not store for yourselves treasures on earth, where the moths and woodworms destroy them." God's heavenly kingship on the other hand, lasts forever.  He also grants his followers everlasting life.  His kingship is based on love. In the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, we are invited to imagine ourselves following the divine King and not be swayed by the lures of the earthly king. In summary, be clear on the kind of king we are following.  Second, discover the heart of the divine king.  Third, don't lose sight of the banner of the divine king.

The way to perfection Matthew 6:7-15 The reading from Ecclesiastes presents a song attributed to Elijah, a great prophet of his time who was taken up to heaven, like Jesus who ascended to heaven.  His deeds pleased the Father. In the gospel, Jesus taught us how to pray to the Father.  This is the prayer that helps us to attain perfection as sons and daughters of the Lord. This is how we should pray: Take the relationship with our Lord to the deepest level possible, between Father and son; Take adoration to the deepest level possible, towards fulfilling his will on earth; Ask just what is needed with fullest trust in him, knowing that the Lord provides for all our needs; Seek perfection through humility and asking for forgiveness and to forgive in return; Deliver us towards the ultimate goodness of our lives, heaven itself. We do not exult ourselves; it is Jesus who exults us and leads us to Himself.  That is heaven.  That is perfection.

Our task on earth Matthew 5:43-48  Jesus is the one atoning for our sins.  He also gives us human hearts so that we might have compassion even for those who have wronged us. Today's gospel talks about loving one's enemies.  It is a way of atoning for our sins by cutting off all cycles of violence. We can cut off all tendencies to sin by being faithful to Jesus, learning from his ways, and possessing his own heart. Just as Jesus' task is saving, not condemning, so too should our mission be on earth.

Recognizing God's presence Matthew 5:27-32 God's power is not manifested in big things, but in the most unexpected places.  The more important thing is that we recognize His presence and follow him. Maybe we have missed a lot of opportunities that God is communicating with us. First, we might be entertaining this world's values and not God's.  We have succumbed to materialism, fleeting pleasures, and even power instead of being faithful to Him.  Let us recognize what belongs to God and what belongs to this world. Second, we have failed to look deeply into the heart of Jesus.  We haven't seen what goes deeper in God's law.  Probably we have compromised God's laws with what we want.  Learn to see the wisdom of God's laws. Finally, we might not have oriented ourselves to follow His divine will.  We have our own lifestyles, forgetting that eventually, it is God's will that we should be living out. Learn that the only essence of life is one th...

God's true power Matthew 5:17-19 God's power is unquestionable.  It just seems that he's absent, thus, power from men started coming up, seemingly more powerful than God's, but also prone to corruption. But Jesus' power can be seen in his total obedience to the Father, his humility, and his service.  He fulfilled every bit of law in the Old Covenant to enable the people to live in justice and peace.  His heart, if emulated by all, will cause this world to be humane and be filled with compassion. God's power is seen in his service to bring salvation to all people.  If this is in our hearts, God is in all of us and this world can become a better place to live in.

God provides absolutely Matthew 5:13-16 If we have faith, we shall know deep in our hearts that God provides for all our needs.  Even in the most impossible circumstance, God is capable of not letting food go empty. How can we know this?  I shall focus on the gospel - God created us as salt of the earth and light of the world.  We are the life that God created to take care of the earth and to make it full. We are the salt to give flavor to the bland or dull. We are the light to bring people out from the darkness.  We influence people by the power of Jesus' words to change course from death to life and from darkness to light. Imagine if the whole world would only heed God's call to become his stewards.  This world will never grow hungry.  There will always be food and life for everyone.

The immaculate heart Luke 2:41-51 In the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we are invited to enter into a process of constant purification of our hearts until they beat in consonance with the pure hearts of Jesus and Mary. There are three things that we need to enter into the purification process: First, seek not for anything else except Jesus alone.  Like Mary and Joseph who sought endlessly for the Child Jesus, we are to seek Jesus amidst the noise and confusion of this world.  We need to empty our hearts with vain things.  Start seeking for Jesus. Second, realize that Jesus will always be in the Father's house.  He is never lost.  We are invited to enter always and find ourselves in the Father's house where we would always be safe in the arms and care of the Father. Third, Jesus' words can be interpreted as: "Do you not know that I must be busy with my Father's affairs?"  If our hearts are pure, our preoccupation is not in doing our own ...

Following the true law Mark 12:28-34 In the gospel for today, Jesus explains the commandment by which every person of goodwill should follow.  We know that Jesus further deepened this by giving a new command, "Love one another as I have loved you." The basis for following the law is Jesus himself.  That's why in the first reading, St. Paul focused on following the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  The basis for following the law is Jesus himself. There are three things worth fulfilling as we orient our lives to following God's law: 1. Know what is good and bad.  Follow what is good.  Detest what is evil. 2.  Know what is better.  Leave everything behind to follow Jesus.  Know him in the level of the heart why He is who he is.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning the end.  He is the way, the truth, and the life. 3.  Live Him out.  Be sent and travel on the path of salvation.  The gauge is to s...

Time Mark 11:11-26 The readings seem to speak of time and how we are to use it. In the first reading, St. Peter wrote, "Everything will come to an end.  So, pray better and keep a calm and sober mind." In the gospel, there are two stories, each complementing each other - the story of a fig tree and the driving away of the sellers and buyers.  The main message of these stories lie in being barren or lacking fruitfulness. When our time stops, we shall be held accountable either for the fruitfulness or barrenness of our lives. Every Eucharist presents to us an eternal or perpetual presence of Jesus.  Here, time almost stops so we may experience the joy of being with Jesus, and knowing, loving, and serving him.  From here comes forth a fruitful life or a life dedicated to God. Suzy Welch authored a book titled "10-10-10" for effective decision making.  She theorized the rule of deciding by asking this question: "What is the consequence of my decision ...

"See through everything" Mk. 10, 46 - 52 "Lord, I want to see", is not just a prayer of the physically blind; it is also our prayer.  We want to see through our decisions whether they are geared towards good or evil, life or death, and heaven or hell. Through our faith, Jesus teaches us real values of life such that in every heart and every person is guided by right reason and virtues.  This constant exposure to Jesus' words and actions mold us to really be the Christians that God desires of us. In asking for the prayer of seeing, may we know where our intentions are leading us to.  See beyong ourselves - are they leading us to love one another or just selecting whom we want to love? Second, look for the core of our intentions, do we intend to go beyond time into eternity or are we just concerned with the here and now and eventually not concerned with the values of the next generations? Third, look deeply inside the self - do we really want to reach o...

Religion, vocation, and life Mark 10:28-31 The more we get to know about Jesus, the more we get to know who we are and our vocation in God. From lessons coming from Jesus' teachings, he gives us a template of life.  This is the basic definition of religion, our life in God.  We cannot simply believe in God without translating the lessons in our lives.  Our lives reflect our faith in God. Vocation demands three things: that we aim to do what is good and avoid what is evil; second, that we aim for that which is better, God's will and not our own; thus we follow Jesus.  Third, we do what is best of all: be sent to do His will.  This is the essence of vocation, religion, and life.  Our lives reflect the will of God.

Humility marks the Church Mark 9:30-37  The mark of a true Church is humility among its members. Just as Jesus humbled himself by taking the form of bread and wine, he also converts the humble into his own body and blood. The proud have no Jesus in their hearts.  They think they own this world, the Church, and their lives.  Humility eradicates all these.  Through humility, we realize we are not the beginning of this Church; Jesus is. Through humility, we realize we are not the end of this Church; Jesus is. Finally, we realize we don't own this Church; Jesus owns us.  May our Church be a humble Church that always looks up at Jesus and serves Him as He pleases.

Four Cardinal Virtues John 15:9-17 1805  Four virtues play a pivotal role and accordingly are called "cardinal"; all the others are grouped around them. They are: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. "If anyone loves righteousness, [Wisdom's] labors are virtues; for she teaches temperance and prudence, justice, and courage." 64  These virtues are praised under other names in many passages of Scripture. 1806   Prudence  is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; "the prudent man looks where he is going." 65  "Keep sane and sober for your prayers." 66  Prudence is "right reason in action," writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle. 67  It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is called  auriga virtutum  (the charioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by set...

Becoming instruments of salvation John 17:20-26  From the first reading, Paul received Jesus' command to go to the center of the earth - Rome.  This is in contrast with the confusion of the Pharisees and the Sadducees over the issue of the resurrection.  The truth is not a matter of opinion.  On the contrary, it is an issue of discerning the Absolute truth that sets us all free - God himself. In the second reading, Jesus prays for all the children of God to be one as he and the Father are one and that we might be kept safe until we are totally united to the Father. These events all lead us to who we are: disciples molded according to the very heart of Jesus to lead all people to salvation.  We are the instruments of Jesus' salvation to the world. How do we become instruments of Jesus' salvation?  We become one by being catechized by the Eucharist, the Word, and the teachings of the apostles. Let, we are concerned with the good of others through...

Sacrifice John 16:20-23 There are two kinds of sacrifices as there are two kinds of poverty.  There is poverty caused by selfishness and unequal distribution of goods.  But the other kind of poverty is one freely chosen by religious and saints, that of evangelical poverty.  In this, a Christian wants to align himself or herself with the poverty of Jesus and focus on the work of salvation as Jesus did. Same is true with sacrifice.  The negative form of sacrifice is caused by injustices people experience from oppressive systems.  But the positive form of sacrifice arises from one's free decision to offer time, talent, and treasure and opt for poverty and to suffer with the poor with an intention to help free them from slavery. A person who freely embraces a life of sacrifice aligns his life with Jesus who sacrificed everything just to free us from sin and save us.  That's why he became flesh, carrying with him all human imperfections so as to enter in...

The Gospel John 14:6-14  Remember the gospel. When we remember the gospel, it becomes a part of us.  We are transformed into living gospels of Jesus. This is what we are celebrating today on the Feast of Sts. James and Philip.  St. James the less' life is a mystery.  With Philip, it is more of a developing faith until these two are immortalized in history as two of the twelve apostles who were sent to proclaim the Good News. How do we become Jesus' good news to others?  We can only do so if we cling to no one else except Jesus, not to the material things or power, but only to Jesus.  Desire to know Jesus in the level of the heart.  Do not just ask for prayers, but seek to know and love him above all else. Second, know what his good news mean.  Why are people not involved wholeheartedly in Church?  Because they have their own views of good news.  It may be according to wealth or power.  But all of these come to naught unle...

Be God's servants John 13:16-20 When was the last time we placed ourselves under the total service of the Lord? Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us the way, by making himself a servant. Everything in the Eucharist serves us so that we might serve God.  The fruit of the Eucharist is the offering of ones life to God. In order to live out the life of servanthood, we have to know our Master through and through.  We have to lose ourselves to fall in love with the Master and to follow him at all cost. To be a servant also means we now know who are are: servants entrusted with a task.  Obedience is a mark of a true servant. Finally, we have to live out servanthood in our entire lives.  All time and space become opportunities of service, giving life to others and glorifying God. In a world where people want to serve themselves let us show how to gain true life and happiness - by being God's servants.

Eucharist and martyria John 6:30-35  Martyria simply means witnessing.  We give witness to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist through his body and blood. We give witness to Jesus as the bread of life that comes down from heaven to save us and to free us from sin. We give witness to Jesus' words and actions and take them as our own. We give witness to Jesus to lead us and other loved ones to salvation. We give witness to Jesus even if it means offering our lives to him. Our participation in the Eucharist means that we take upon ourselves the very body and blood of Jesus and that we too become his body and blood for the salvation of the world.

Alter Christus John 3:31-36 Eventually, the goal of ever Eucharist is to make us "Alter Christus" or another Christ.  This can only be attained if we desire to be close to Christ and follow his will unreservedly rather than our own.  This is the conviction of Peter, "Better to follow God rather than man." We need to be fully convinced why God's will is better than ours.  It brings about social order.  God's will is for the common good.  It brings about development.  But most of all, it causes our salvation when we adhere to God's will unlike our first parents who disobeyed God.  Jesus leads us to the new creation of the Father.

The Eucharist and rebirth in the Spirit John 3:7-15  The Eucharist is the instrument of God's loving mercy in the world. It is also a powerful tool for interior conversion and of being filled with the Holy Spirit. We who participate in the Holy Eucharist and receive the body and blood of Jesus are called to live him out 24 hours a day.  We are called to a deeper sensitivity to a Spirit-filled life. The Christian who patterns his life after Jesus becomes an "Alter Christus" and not just a "good person".  One could be good, and yet, not adhere to the will of Jesus nor follow his path.  They are good in themselves and not according to how Jesus forms them. A life patterned after Jesus is living a life of the Holy Spirit.  We can only ensure this life if according to St. Ignatius, our discernment starts in the Holy Spirit, proceeds in the Holy Spirit, and ends in the Holy Spirit. It starts in the Holy Spirit if in the very start, it is objectively good a...

The fruitfulness of the Resurrection John 21:1-14 The Easter experience has produced 5,000 converts.  It also caused Peter to gain wisdom and with the gift of the Holy Spirit, proclaim the Good News of salvation.  Also, the Easter experience enabled the disciples to have a continuing direct encounter with Jesus even after his death. What can Easter make of us? Our adherence to the Eucharist enables us to have a direct experience of the Resurrection of Jesus that no other religious activity can supply.  This is the sacrament of Jesus' direct presence in the world as he commanded, "Do this in memory of me." Second, the power of the Eucharist enables us to proclaim a message of hope for the hopeless and a conversion experience that will have an eternal effect in all people, including us. Finally, the Resurrection of Jesus can enable us to experience Him even after 2,000 years.  Jesus is here and now; we just need to continue opening our eyes to His presence ...

Christian witnessing Luke 24:35-48 Our actions always reflect a way of life, a set of belief, adherence to culture, a certain conviction. But let our actions be formed, not by the world, not by the preoccupations of daily life, but only with the words and saving action of Jesus. These are the marks of a Christian witness patterned after the Eucharist: 1. Docile to the words and actions of Jesus with Jesus as model. 2. Judging what is true and what is right. 3.  Performing the words and actions of Jesus in one's own decisions and actions. Only then can we regard ourselves as Christian witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus.

Availing of the graces of the Eucharist John 13:21-33,36-38 Jesus' role as the Messiah was prophesied in Isaiah 49:1-6 as "being called even before I was born" and "a servant with whom I (God) will be glorified", and "I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." In other words, Jesus would be the one to heal the wounds of alienation and bring back the children of God to the Father. In today's Gospel, Jesus revealed that one of the apostles would betray him.  But he will be glorified nevertheless. The Eucharist is a steady food for the pilgrim people of God.  Unfortunately, not all are receiving this tremendous grace from Jesus.  Either they lack the knowledge of the Eucharist enough to appreciate it or they are so entangled with the world affairs that they forget the true affairs which consist of the Father's affairs. Our regular attendance at mass makes us beneficiaries of the...

Ending violence John 10:31-42 "There is terror from every side," says the first reading for today.  Even in the gospel, the Jews want to stone Jesus to death. But in the end, the Lord will triumph. He is also showing us why there is violence and how violence can be counteracted with the power of the Lord. There is violence simply because people do not know Christ and his ways.  They don't recognize him as God's only Son.  Secondly, they don't recognize his works as coming from God the Father.  They simply don't recognize him as One with the Father.  When we encounter violence with other people, notice any of these three things lacking.  However, the Lord will triumph with people who know Jesus, follow His will, and produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, and peace, among others. Let's pray for the conversion of this world.  Consequently, violence will end.

The covenant John 8:51-59 Just as God changed Abram's name to Abraham, so too God gave us our names when we were baptized. When God changed Abraham's name and He made a covenant with him, so too God made a covenant with us that we would His sons and daughters of God and He would be our Father. When God made a covenant with Abraham, he promised that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and that he would be blessed forever.  When God made a covenant with us, remember that God promised us eternal life and blessings.  What happened to us? Do we still feel we are living up to the demands of the covenant?  Do we realize that it is God who gave us our meaning here on earth? Let our lives reflect our total obedience to Jesus who is the way to the Father.

Water John 5:1-3,5-16 Water is the underlying theme of the readings from Ezekiel and today's gospel. Water is necessary element for survival.  Our body is composed of seventy percent water. When Jesus cured the sick man, he need not hurry to dip in the pool.  Jesus is the water that heals him. I would focus then on life rather on death.  Our bodies are dying each day; but with enough boost of water and its daily supply, we will continue to live. Others seem to inflict death more than inspire others to life.  They think that if they do it eveytime, they live.  When will we realize that all of us need water, not judgment or ridicule?  Let's pray that we may serve as water to each other. Second, let us focus on the One who is our water.  Just as water is important for our survival, so too do our livees depend on Jesus alone for healing, strength and life.

The consequence of following God Mark 12:28-34 What exactly happens when we don't go back to the Lord? what would happen if after all this time of receiving the Lord in the Blessed Eucharist, we are still back to our own selfish, vindictive, materialistic ways as if there's no significant change whether we receive Him or not?  What would happen?  The Lord will still pour to us his overpowering love and blessings, enabling us to really change. In the Gospel, Jesus laid out the template for real life, "Love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind."  This invitation calls us to leave nothing for ourselves, but to offer our entire being to God for his greater glory and honor.  Unless we live this out, our lives would redound to nothing. Second, Jesus calls us to love one another as we love ourselves.  This is in the area of giving to others what is due as signs that we are all special in God's eyes.  And it is our desire to ...

Offering and life Matthew 18:21-35 In the first reading, the offering Azariah mentioned in his prayer should be congruent to his repentant heart.  It's time that we also see the parallelism of the offering we do at every Eucharist we celebrate to the offering of our everyday lives to God. In the gospel, the degree of forgiveness to others should be seen in the extent of God's forgiveness to us.  And how does God forgive us? Absolutely and without conditions. Then how should be serve others?  Absolutely also without conditions as well!  This is to mirror in our lives what God has done to us that we should also do to others.

Authentic conversion Matthew 5:43-48  We are reflecting about genuine conversion.  We have talked about three movements of conversion: selfishness to communion, individualism to sharing, and from self to God. The gospel tells about a more authentic conversion - that of being converted to according to the very heart of Christ. Not only does it say, "Do not kill"; now, we are to love and pray for our enemies.  The very basis of conversion is Jesus Christ. In this Eucharist, Jesus converts us to Himself constantly in mind, heart, and being.  He molds our thoughts according to how he sees mankind; his heart and being to be filled with mercy.  Thus, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.  And our actions? Filled with the compassion of God. We should see this world in a new light.  Seeing at it through the eyes of the Lord that indeed, this world is worth saving.

True fasting Matthew 9:14-15 When was the last time we fasted?  Do we really mean it when we fast? In the Old Testament, the Israelites fast as a sign of penance.  In the book of Isaiah, God demands not simply fasting, but works of social justice as a sign of penance - letting the oppressed grow free, sharing bread with the hungry, and helping the homeless poor. Jesus further perfected the motive of fasting to manifest one's relationship with God and more specifically with the saving action of Jesus. Let us ponder whether all our actions fasting or any other activity possess this very intention of loving God and aligning ones life to the saving work of Jesus.  Only this way can we truly ascertain that every action is consecrated - that is, duly offered to the Lord.

Real prayer Mark 7:1-13 Solomon's prayer shows his utmost respect to God and his temple.  However, in the Gospel, it seems that the Pharisees have lost all sensitivities to God's presence.  Instead, they relied on age-old written tradition. Faith in God is not simply based on tradition.  Rather, it depends on a dynamic relationship with the living God. The Eucharist is also not a series of rubrics.  Rather, each moment opens us up to the real presence of Jesus who now involves us in His own sacrifice.  We must adjust to a living, dynamic form of prayer that is truly reflective of an active relationship of love with God.  The Word of God read to us symbolizes that deep intention of God to remove the blindness from our eye, deafness from our ears, and hardness from our hearts caused by sin.  The Liturgy of Eucharist if Jesus' way of celebrating His incarnation, that in a way, after the whole celebration, He is incarnated in each one of us. ...

How do we wish to be remembered? Mark 6:14-29 If we are to imagine a time when our loved ones, family and friends, would give a eulogy to us, what do you think would it be? David in the Old Testament was presented with a litany of accomplishments.  In the New Testament, a lot of characters were mentioned, but their names are passed on in infamy.  Again, how do we want to be remembered? We want to be remembered for our good deeds.  But more than than, we would want to be remembered as humble disciples of Jesus and not as hard-headed Christians who define salvation according to what we want and not what God wants.  And third, that we are used totally by the Lord that all fruitfulness of life is because of the direct action of God in our lives and people experienced heaven in the midst because we allowed it to happen. Good deeds may be good; but they are not enough.  Unless we succumb to be instruments and servants of the Lord, all actions and accomplish...

Pass on! Mark 6:7-13 It would be nice to learn from David's life.  After all the weaknesses and sinfulness, at the end of the day, it will still redound to passing on the knowledge and love of God. In the Gospel, knowing that he would not stay in the world for long, but eventually would pass on his very presence in all generations, he instructed the Twelve and sent them to proclaim his Good News. We are sent to pass on to others and to the next generation all the things that we have experienced from Jesus.  There is so much to share from the love of Jesus. All goodness and sharing; memories that will last forever, especially ones that will lead all people to heaven. Stop passing on sin and hatred.  Pass on the Lord.

A pure heart Mark 1:21-28 In the first reading, the priest Eli hinted that Hannah may be drunk for offering her child if the Lord would grant her request but she defended that she wasn't.  In full control of her intentions, she said what she meant.  And the Lord granted her the request. In the gospel, Jesus taught with authority and he expelled demons with great authority.  What could be the secret behind Jesus' authority?  The secret is the same as Hannah's - a pure heart. We might be asking from the Lord, but a pure intention moves us to a deeper level - we would like first and foremost to consecrate our lives to Him and to offer ourselves to serve Him. These are the marks of a pure heart.  They manifest in words and actions that reveal the power and authority of God himself. Let us pray that we may possess a pure heart in our service to God.

We as stars of Jesus Jn. 3: 22 - 30 As Christmas officially ends, our absolute relationship with him is our primary concern. As John gave himself totally to Jesus, we need to also do the same. The only star is a life lit by God in Jesus Christ make complete our unbreakable bond with him. For John, who committed to giving all of himself for God's work, now sees Jesus baptising.  He said, "You know I am not the Messiah, but I testify to Him who I now see.  Now, I must decrease while he must increase." How do we see our new selves as stars of the Lord for others?  First, establish our relationship not based on functions but on an unbreakable bond with the Lord; second, aim to be transformed to be Christ-like; third, give witness to Jesus through the conduct of life.

True love Mark 6:34-44 In the Philippines, a recent hit of the couple "Aldub" composed of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza Tandem confirmed that Filipino are truly love-oriented people.  But how many of us actually know what real love is? The first reading tells of the mystery of love, "God is love."  Moreover, real love is not our love for God but God's love for us through his Son. The Gospel qualifies more what true love means.  It is Lover practicing mercy upon the Beloved.  Jesus is the epitome of love itself.  He was so filled with mercy for the large crowd that not only did he teach them, he actually commanded his disciples to feed them as a fruit of that love. Love, to be authentic, should always be on the giving end.  The rest of the action words "take", "raise", "bless", "break", "give back", "share" are all manifestations of a love as pure as Jesus. Let us live out this love anywhe...

How do we know which come from God? 1. test the spirit 2. acknowledge Jesus 3. follow his word