Inspirations at your Fingertips!

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...