Inspirations at your Fingertips!

December 18, 2019, Simbang Gabi Matthew 1:18-24  The message of the first reading is that it's a matter of looking back at history from the first moment God led Israel out of the land of Egypt to leading back the dispersed sons back home to Israel. Joseph is part of that life history; he who contains the leniage of David in his blood.  He is a true Israelite as Jesus would also be. I'm going to dwell on the dream, becuase that dream changed his mind. It could also change ours. When was the last time we dreamt or even thought of spiritual things?  How will the spiritual enter our lives?   I am not discounting sickness, death, or accident.  But these are sometimes the only things we ever had encounters of the spiritual.  When did we encounter the spiritual in our daily lives - the presence of our religious parents who never wearied in their obligation to show us God's presence? And if ever they have failed, how about the presence...

Thursday of the 1st week of Advent Matthew 7:21,24-27 What constitutes a strong city?  What constitutes a strong house? First, it is built on rock - the firm foundation of faith; weak faith is built on sand.  If we cannot distinguish between tradition and Tradition, of faith passed on to the apostles till today, we have a weak faith.  If we think we can buy the faith or rely on our own actions, our faith is weak; second, it is built on  ramparts ; security walls on the sides; it means we are on a lookout against all evils and enemies; a city is set on a hill to watch out for incoming enemies.  If we give in easily to temptations and immediately say, "We're just humans," we have a weak faith; third, fortifying whatever is weak; act of repairing those wounded by sin like going to confession.  We are aware of any weakness in our faith and do omething to strengthen it.  We may be strong in devotion but we are weak in charity, our faith is weak. ...