Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Friday of the 7th week of Eastertide John 21:15-19 We follow that which we love.  It may be a person or an object. Following entails an offering of life itself, inclusive of all time, talent, and treasure for that which we love. Following Jesus entails the following: First, that we follow Jesus in the world of goodness.  This implies a direct choice to follow what is good and avoid what is evil.  It implies our sincere desire to enter into heaven in the realm of goodness. Second, following Jesus implies that we follow Jesus in his words and actions as the path to the ultimate good.  We heed Jesus' command to sell everything we own, give them to the poor, and come follow him.  Are we ready for it? Third, following Jesus entails following him even to the cross.  St. Paul's life is exactly like that of Jesus.  The moment he enters into Jerusalem, he would be tried and put to death like what happened to Jesus.  He even appealed to b...

Saturday of the 1st week of Lent Matthew 5:43-48 This 11th day of Lent, we are reminded of our responsibility to deepen our commitment and relationship to our brothers and sisters most especially our enemies. The glorification that God will extend to man does not simply apply to individuals but to an entire nation.  It is to lift up our state above others if we do what he wills.  And what does he will?  That we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  I believe that "enemies" here are not just the enemies but all others whom we consider "insignificant" - all others outside our circle of friends and family.  Jesus commands us to love them as much as we love ourselves. How do we love the unlovable?    First, remember that all of us are created with the same dignity as sons and daughters of the Lord.   So, rue all possibilities or compartmentalizing people according to race, creed, economic status or even affiliations....

5 January John 1:43-51 It seems that the Filipinos are preoccupied with themes of love, kilig, hugot lines, and forever.  But for love to be authentic, it should root itself in God who is love. St. John the Evangelist never failed to express Jesus' commandment:  "Love one another as I have loved you."  This love encapsulates all loves.  Love becomes not a sentiment but a commitment.  Love is an active verb that mirrors the very heart of God. The call of Philip is a call to love by which we can learn from.   Let's reflect on the story. First, the invitation to love.  Jesus said, "Follow me."  Philip responded to Jesus' invitation.  He might have doubts; nevertheless, he followed.  Would we do the same?  Or would we rather lose the opportunity to love authentically as Jesus loves? Second, deepening love.  "Could anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Nathaniel asked.  The question may connote insult to...

5th day within the octave of Christmas Luke 2:22-35 Blessed are those whose Christmas did not end on December 25; rather, is just starting as of December 25 till today and forever. In the First Reading, St. John reminded the Christians to make their faith tangible and practical instead of being profound and abstract.  The one who knows God keeps his commandments. We are presented with two sets of commandments, the old and the new.  The old command are practical norms of serving God and others.  The new commandment is declared by Jesus, "Love one another as I have loved you." In the Gospel, Simeon was waiting all his life for the consolation of Israel through the coming of the Messiah.  The Jews are generally expecting a temporal Messiah; but Jesus brings much more.  He brings about the total redemption of men and women from sin. This Christmas Season, its truly lasting effects are found in the hearts of men and women.  We may be following all co...

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...

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...

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 deep is your love? John 21:15-19  It all boils down to love.  If we truly love God, all things will spring out from it. "Do you love me more than these?" Jesus is also asking us whether  our love for God would be higher than our families and our own lives.  If the answer is "yes", then all else will follow. The life of loving, if defined only in human terms is not really love.  First, if a man loves a woman, it should be as faithful and as responsible as Jesus' love for us, his Church. If we claim we have love, our love should transcend familiar and social ties; it should reach out to the poor. If our love is truly authentic, then we would really end up following Jesus to the cross, all for the sake of mankind.  That's why Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."  Those who may have love in the family but do not love the poor may not have any true love at all. How far would our love for Jesus go?  Do we really love him more than all these? ...

The bible and I John 15:12-17 I believe that quite analogically, my life should be the living bible of the Lord. Whatever happens to the bible happens to my life. If there are things that don't have any connection with God's word, it is not coming from the Holy Spirit. I am the embodiment of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit works in me.  I should be an instrument of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel message is so beautiful.  "Love one another as I have loved you."  Whatever love is in our hearts, it should mirror Jesus' love for us. "I call you friends, not servants..." marks our relationship with one another. "I chose you..." simply means that it is Jesus who leads us.  Every task we do in this world should arise from being chosen to do Jesus' task.

Memories of love John 5:31-47 What is it really in the the people of Israel that is worth loving?  According to the scriptures, "These are stiff-necked people." But Moses reminded God of his covenant.  It is God's love itself that is worth saving.  Remember the words: people are worth dying for; or in Olaf's case in "Frozen", people are worth melting for.  God relented and did not punish Israel. In the Gospel, Jesus becomes the living reminder of the Father's love for us.  He bears witness because he loves the Father and the Father loves him.  Through this "human action", Jesus is in fact saving us and sparing us from the eternal wrath of God. Apparently, study of religion is simply not enough; nor are religious practices.  As Jesus loved, do we have a concrete memory of the Father's love and we love him back?  What memories on earth are we collecting? Let us increase our encounters with Jesus.  Let us remember to the detail all...

Preparing for Lent Mark 10:28-31 As we approach Ash Wednesday, let us remember that this is not a story of our sins; this is not even our asking for forgiveness.  A real preparation for Lent would be this: First, that we overwhelm ourselves with the love of Jesus.  Lent and Holy Week are simply about the never-ending love of Jesus, reflecting the Father's love to us and saving us in the process. Second, it is the story of the life that Jesus offers.  Those who leave home for him will receive a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land... oblation is a story of life and fruitfulness. Third, it is a story of Jesus' reflection of the Father - holiness, obedience - qualities that the old Adam destroyed.  And now, they are offered to us. Pray to embrace these things tomorrow and the entire Lenten season.

Unity and division  John 15:9-11 The Church has always found itself in conflict - with principles, personalities and beliefs. But it also has its way of uniting peoples, especially for God. The reading from the Acts of the Apostles reflects a resolution; there would not be any circumcision, but there would not be eating of food from animals offered to idols.  Christianity now focuses on internal dispositions and not outward expressions. The gospel emphasizes the result of unity and a united heart - love.  Love comes from the Father and the son.  Love enables us to follow Jesus.  True joy comes in loving rightfully the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We should stop looking for things that divide us.  Instead, look for things that unite us in love.

The end times Reading:  Luke 17:26-37 This does not apply only to businesses or companies that we should begin with the end in mind, but on life itself. Just what is our end?  Jesus and Jesus alone.  If he is our end, then we should try our best to align all our actions and orientations to him and what he wills.  He wills us to have life, that is why he gave us this command, "Love one another." He wills that every moment, he may find us loving and serving one another and not ourselves.

Husband and wife: mirrors of Christ and the Church The Church is a picture of God.  But a way to explain it is through the love that is happening between the husband and wife.  It is so sad to see wounded relationships today. The picture of the husband and wife is the exact picture of Christ and the Church.  The relationship of husband and wife is governed by love, obedience and unity.  These three should also be the qualities of a living Church - with members totally united to God in Spirit and Truth; it totally abides to God's commands in Jesus Christ; and it is governed in every way by faithful love.  If we want to know what Church means, reflect on the love of husband and wife and their relationship to God.

Always love in our hearts It may seem impossible for us to think only of positive things that we can do for others, starting from our thoughts to our actions, considering that we are born in an imperfect world and concrete persons have done us more good than bad. In the world of movies, it is impossible that all characters appear good.  There will always be someone who would take the role of a contrabida. But loving our brothers and sisters is precisely what Jesus commanded us to do.  And we can start the ball rolling by not judging them.  We too have fallen short of the glory of God.  Thus, we have no right to treat others in a judgmental way. But the main reason is that Jesus has loved us and continues to love us, even our enemies.  This is the very source of our salvation. Thus, be preoccupied with repairing relationships rather than destroying ties, building bridges rather than walls, and healing rather than inflicting.  By this, we are shari...

Love heals all wounds This is the start of the application of Christianity: will the newly baptized Christians be circumcised or not?  Will they be warned against eating the blood of the meat or not? These and other things can only be resolved by those who have faith and love.  If there is love among people, all problems can be solved. In the gospel, Jesus commands not only the apostles but all of us to "love one another as I have loved you."  In this kind of love, we are not slaves but friends.  In this love, we know our reference point: Jesus himself who sends us to go forth and bear fruit that will last. The remedy to sin and division is love.