Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Thursday of week 24 in Ordinary Time , Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest, and Paul Chong Hasang, and their Companions, Martyrs Luke 7:36-50 Who among us claim to be worthy to receive and and even demand to receive God's mercy? St. Paul admitted that he persecuted Christians before he was converted to the faith.  He then reminded the people to hold on to their faith in Christ crucified. In the Gospel, the unworthy woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears and dried them with her her may be more worthy to receive God's graces rather than the pharisee who invited Jesus to his home but in turn made more demands to him. As unworthy servants of the Lord this is what we can do: 1.  We rely totally on God's graces rather than our own This is a expression of our total helplessness vis. a vis. that world's call for us to rely totally on our own. On the contrary, only God can supply us with the graces necessary for us to live each day.  What we can do is to show...

Our Lady of Sorrows John 19:25-27 Whenever we think of Mary, it is inevitable that we always think of Jesus.  Mary is like the light of the moon that gets its light from the sun. As we have celebrated the Exultation of cross yesterday, now we recall how Mary partook of the sufferings of Jesus, her son, and eventually, shared in our sufferings as well as our way to Jesus. From the seven Sorrows of Mary, we could reflect on how the sorrows of Mary become salvific.  I shall mention three: First, "A sword shall pierce your heart" (Luke 2:33-35) From the very start, Mary's vocation is not one of glamour or fame; it's the mark of a disciple and a servant out to please God.  But Mary chose that path for us. Second, "Do you not know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2: 43-45) The pain of Mary losing her son is the pain of every mother and father to their children.  But isn't it that the vocation of every parent is to rear the children ...

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross John 3:13-17 Being lifted could be one of the most consoling things we can ever experience.  After we've fallen or been thrown into the deep abyss, or simply felt sad and rejected, there would be someone who would lift us up, embrace us, cleanse us, and inspire us to go on through life. I've seen this in competitions, in the Olympic games, where the heated passion is in the winning, but there would be someone who would look back at the last line and go back to assist the fallen. Such is Jesus to us.  He lifts us up as Moses lifts up the serpent in the desert and Jesus himself is lifted up on the cross.  He lifts us up from the following: 1. He lifts us up from our state of sin to grace No one else would forgive us than Jesus himself.  And just when others would judge us, there would be a loving God who would embrace us and erase all our sins! 2. He lifts us up from our depressions to hope When beset with anxieties and wo...

Thursday of week 23 in Ordinary time Luke 6:27-38  Taking the message of the gospel head-on, I'm sure that we will find it hard to love and forgive our enemies in an instant.  Why on earth will Jesus command us love those who've done us wrong? Perhaps the first reading will give us a clue.  It may be easy to judge wrongly eating food that are offered to the gods simply because as St. Paul explained, there are no such gods.  Only God exists.  And Jesus, the Son of God, incarnates the God's love for all of us by suffering and dying on the cross.  Thus, for God, all of humankind comprises his children who need to be saved rather than be condemned. Why must we love and forgive our enemies?  Because like us, our enemies too are children of God.  Like our enemies, we too deserve God's just punishment.  But all of us, whether enemies and friends, are subject to God's forgiveness and salvation.  In every person, enemy or friend, is the v...

The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary Matthew 1:18-23 For Mary's birthday, we reflect on the readings introduce a theme that most aptly describes not only Jesus but the Blessed Virgin Mary, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel ... " Bethlehem may be the least of the clans of Judah, but that least has brought out greatest man who ever lived and the woman who made this possible, Jesus and Mary. In the gospel, we add another "least" in the history of great men, Joseph.  A carpenter by trade, he might have planned to divorce Mary, but because of his deep love of God, he without question took Mary as his wife. Littleness, simplicity, or being the least.  Even the saints like St. Therese exult "the little way".  Mary, the least among women because of her humble status, is truly most blessed.  It's time we opt for the little way. Mary's little w...

Thursday of week 22 in Ordinary Time Luke 5:1-11 Which is wiser: to serve or not to serve? Post-modern situation priorities the ways of the world more than God's work.  Serving God may seem noble, but we don't have the time to do it. But look at what happened to Peter.  Logic tells him that it's not the time of day to catch fish. And yet, Jesus told him, " Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch ." Reluctantly, he followed Jesus. It may be a defiance of the rules of nature, but could God be pushed in favor of science and logic?  After all, God is the author of nature. Besides, could it be that God is much more concerned with giving these burnt out fishermen and their families who may be on the verge of death simply because they don't have any catch of fish.  Much more than miracles, the very nature of God is to give life.  What's wrong with that? Now, here we are, deciding not to follow the Lord because we think we can sur...

Tuesday of week 22 in Ordinary Time Luke 4:31-37 We have heard the term "Life in the Spirit".  It is coined by the the Charismatics who in accepting the gift of the Holy Spirit, reveal it every aspect of life. St. Paul emphasized the capacity of the Holy Spirit to enable us to know God and to live in his ways. Jesus revealed his power over unclean spirits to the amazement of the crowd.  What does it mean to live the life of the Spirit? First, be aware of the earthly and heavenly realities.  The first reading emphasized the folly of simply living in a world way.  But the life of the Spirit is open to the promptings of God. Second, make a choice to live in the Spirit.  There is a world of difference between a worldly person and a spiritual person.  The later gives honor and praise to the Father. Third, trust in God. The word "trust" says it all - entrusting, committing, offering everything.  It is to mirror Jesus who entrusted everything ...