Inspirations at your Fingertips!

On loving others Matthew 5:20-26 Jesus deepened the knowledge of the disciples by going deeply not only through the external observance of the law, but to its spirit. To those who are angry and they belittle others, they are liable to judgment. If one is offering and remembers something against another, leave the gift behind and be reconciled with the other.  The law covers both our obligation to God and fellow human beings. As a Christian, let us be committed to love one another as Christ love us.  Let us struggle to see the face of God in the other before we can lead them to sin or to grace. Reflecting on the ten commandments, the reason for honoring one's parents is not in simply respecting them because of their age but it is precisely through the parents that we get to know about God.  Thus, we should honor them. "Thou shall not steal."  It is not simply in respecting other's property that is the issue here; but rather, God has given us enough for u...

How to pray Matthew 7:7-12 In the readings, Jesus taught about prayer while Queen Esther prayed. It seems that prayer is automatic for all of us.  But how is prayer like when it is a way of life? St. Benedict has a very popular idiom for prayer: ora et labora, "pray and work."  For St. Benedict believed in the combination of contemplation and action.  For St. Ignatius, there is what we call "contemplatives in the world" for people who are actively participating in the transformation of the world. Prayer is a life of active relationship with the Lord. It is not just about asking for intentions.  Rather, my own personhood is marked by a life of unconditional relationship to God and my every action proves it. "Ask and you will receive" involves total faith in the providence of God while "the Father knows what to give to his children" implies that even before praying for something, we believe in the innate good intentions of the Father t...

Trust only in God Mark 8:14-21 Jesus reminded the apostles to trust real food comes only from God not from yeast of the Pharisees or any other.  How do we put our trust on God each day? Trust in its etymology means "strong", like a sturdy foundation, that's why we can depend on the structure. Our skill is how to slowly build our trust in God.   As long as we continue to rely on other things, we haven't totally relied on God. Can we rely on our food? Can we rely on our reputation? Wealth? Power?  Trust in God causes food on the table.  Trust in God brings forth trustworthy persons.  Trust in God brings wealth and power specially for those who can be trusted.

On endurance Mark 4:26-34 The kingdom of God in today's gospel is attained by people who practice endurance in their Christian lives. There is endurance among Christians when they struggle to be faithful to God. Endurance is also felt in the consistency of the process of continued growth in the Lord.  Endurance is a process of perfection of Christian communities.

Do God's will Mark 3:31-35 The scriptures never emphasized it enough "Do God's will." Do God's will instead of focusing on offerings or holocausts.  "Do God's will" for us to be rightfully be called the mother, brothers, and sisters of Jesus.  What does it mean exactly to do God's will? Only one point - when we prioritize above all God's will and not our own.  The late Fr. Tom explained it with a parable.  Imagine a situation where the birthday celebrant was asked by a greeter, "Tell me what you want for your birthday and I will give it to you.  Do you want a land? Vacation? New car? Tell me." The celebrant says, "I want blue cheese." "But no one wants blue cheese for his birthday." "But that is what I want," is the response. Which one should we do? Work for God or doing God's work?  Grant that we may move away from ourselves so we can freely do God's work.

In the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the old Eve is replaced by the new Eve, the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are three attributes that separate the new Eve from the old Eve aside from the title "Blessed Virgin" which is the mark of the Immaculate Conception as well as the perfect holiness of God. First, learn us learn for her obedience and not from the disobedience of Eve. Second, learn from the responsibility of Mary vis-a-vis the irresponsibility of Eve.  Eve blamed the serpent while she was the one who was responsible for the choice she made.   Thirdly, Mary's fruit is Jesus while Eve became the mother of humankind.  What kind of fruits will we produce on this earth - weak or strong youth? Be strong to follow Jesus.

Homily for the bereaved I would like to see this world as pure gift and therefore, I am always thankful. If I have a thankful disposition, I have no time to complain or to worry, because I know, everything has been provided for by God who loves us. A thankful heart seeks to thank the many persons in one life.  He will always thank God for the gift of people. And for this one particular person, thankfulness comes in because of the innate goodness of someone who has been a gift to us.  I thank you for your presence in my life. Second, I thank the person for what he has made me become.  I'm sure I can be anyone else.  But with the loved one, my heart is transformed into something beautiful. Third, a real thankful heart is when the person passes away, but his memory will last a whole lifetime.  I will keep the loved one in my heart as long as I live because I am thankful. Eventually, a thankful heart opens oneself to God who is the author of all these...