Inspirations at your Fingertips!

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Luke 1:39-56 I will focus my reflection on the Visitation of our Lady with the reality of the "daughter". Stated in the first reading are "Daughter of Zion" and "Daughter of Jerusalem"; they are commended to shout aloud and rejoice; for what? First, rejoice in the the daughter's relationship with the Father.   Mary said, "May soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Learn to deepen the mystery of our special relationship with the Lord. Second, being forgiven by Father "The Almighty had done great things for me"; there is nothing in our human lives which is not formed by the presence of God.  Recognize the Father as the giver of life. Third, responds in love to the Father Mary recognized the work of the Father towards the poor and fulfillment of God's promises.  Elizabeth appreciated Mary's prompt service. Let's be faithful ...

Thursday of the 6th week of Easter John 16: 16 - 20 As we near Ascension Sunday, Jesus underscores the value creative absence.  It's a kind of skill that focuses on improving the talent in the midst of an absence of a mentor or someone whom we are totally dependent on. Children improve on their skills on the creative absence of a parent.  Definitely, a faithful Christian perfects his holiness even in the midst of sufferings and trials upon the creative absence of God even though he is eternally present in and with us. Creative absence is responsible stewardship, like St. Paul who continued to preach the Good News even when the Jews persecuted him. Creative absence is faithfully living in the presence of God, living holy lives and doing his will till the very end.  They will experience eternal joy in heaven. With full hope, let's rely on the graciousness of God while growing in his grace.

Wednesday of the 6th week of Eastertide John 16:12-15  Truth may be as simple as ABC.  However, in practice it isn't, especially if a person started a pattern of lies since childhood.  Lies translate to philosophies that bring havoc to orientations of life for example, "Money is the source of happiness." The readings offer a truth that comes from the resurrection of the Lord. Furthermore, Jesus orients us to the Holy Spirit, our guide to the truth.  So, how do we live in the truth? First, "The truth shall set us free." Start living a life of honesty.  Stop cheating.  By knowing where we stand, we shall know who we really are and move from there. Second, know the Lord.  God, even from the creation of the world, continues to be a God or order.  Moreso, Jesus is the only One who resurrected from the dead.  His whole life is a testimony of rising from deaths.   Third, give witness to the Resurrection.  We have a ...

Tuesday of the 6th week of Eastertide John 16:5-11 The Holy Spirit guides us each day, revealing to us the presence of the Lord and teaching us how to stay close to Jesus. This is what happened to St. Paul and his companions.  Though subjected to all sorts of persecutions, they didn't cease preaching the Good News. They were honest.  They didn't escape prison although they could have done it.  This caused the conversion of the gaoler. We may experience many things each day, but let us be aware of spending each day with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  What can our typical day be like? First, each day is an opportunity for us to follow the Holy Spirit. Second, each day is an opportunity to serve others instead of self. Third,  each day helps us to endure sufferings for love of God. Rejoice then, the Lord continues to be with us!

Saturday of the 5th week of Eastertide John 15:18-21 The Word of God continues to expand to Asia.  And in a dream, Paul met a Macedonian who pleaded, " Come across to Macedonia and help us. " St. Paul and his companions were fully convinced it was God who commanded them to go to Macedonia.  In the Gospel, Jesus warns but at the same time encourages the apostles and disciples as well as us to be single-hearted in proclaiming the Good News and becoming worthy disciples.  These are the reminders of Jesus: 1. Don't be affected by adversaries - "You do not belong to this world", thus, you don't possess their disavalues.  Continue to adhere to a godly life. 2. Continue the life of a servant - happily serving his Master and treating him as such. 3.  Be open to mirror the Master - even in persecution, be faithful.\ This is who we are, unworthy servants and disciples of the Lord on the way to heaven!

Saturday of the 4th week of Eastertide John 14:7-14 The Church's journey is not smooth-sailing.  Even St. Paul was persecuted in his time being subjected to ridicule and false accusations.  He had to go to the Gentiles to evangelize. A Church in conflict is farthest from our thoughts considering that it is a sacred institution rooted on Jesus himself, with the apostles as the foundation. Jesus as head of the this Church gives us teachings on how to go about being Church: be totally united with God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He said, "He who as seen me has seen the Father." How do we see God in our lives then? First, learn from Jesus as the mirror to the Father.  Learn from his words and actions.  Detect God in action: the Holy Father kissing the sick and teaching about mercy and compassion are direct pictures of the Father. Second, in those who do the same work as Jesus.  Though we find hard to do this, but with God, nothing is impossible.  ...

St. Matthias John 15:9-17 We come to know the apostle who replaced Judas.  Though apostles are irreplaceable, there might be a reason for filling up the 12.  What we're more interested in is how this apostle was chosen.  The reading pointed two requirements: first, "that he was with us" and second, "that he also witnessed the resurrection of the Lord". Today's gospel gives more insights on the qualities of an apostle: First, "loved by Jesus" - an concrete experience of Jesus' love as the Father loves Jesus. Second, "loves Jesus" - our capacity to respond to Jesus' love by becoming his friend Third, "loves as Jesus loves" - our capacity to love others as Jesus loves us even if it means laying down one's life for one's friends.

Thursday of the 3rd week of Eastertide John 6:44-51 In the first reading, the eunuch was baptized because Philip the Apostle gave him an instruction based on his testimony of Jesus.  In the Gospel, Jesus presented himself as the "Bread of Life": "He who eats this bread will live forever." We need a mediator.  A mediator is one who intervenes between two entities.  Definitely, Jesus is the Mediator between God and man; he intercedes on our behalf and leads us to the Father. The eunuch had not seen Jesus; but he was moved to faith because of Philip who mediated so that the eunuch's faith in God would come to life.  Philip mediated for the eunuch's conversion.  What is our role then in the salvation of all of God's beloved children? First, let's pray that we may respond to Jesus' call to evangelize others.  Second, let us use our concrete time, talent, and treasure to be Jesus' bread of life to others. Third, let us accept Jesus...