Jesus does not tell us, "Follow your dreams."
Neither "Follow your heart",
nor "Follow your road".
He tells us, "Follow Me."
*Originally posted on Facebook
2014-08-29
2014-06-15
Fathers Day, 2014 edition
Sa mga naging tatay,
whether they like it or not,
whether they're "being" it well or not,
whether they're aware of it or not:
Happy Fathers' Day!
Sa mga No. 1: Sana ma-like na ninyo, kasi mas masaya ang buhay kung like ninyo.
Sa mga No. 2: Sana pagbutihan ninyo, kasi kayo rin ang kawawa (hindi lang ang iba).
Sa mga No. 3: Ignorance is never bliss, kaya sana alamin ninyo.
Special greetings to my Tatay, at sa mga pinsan, tiyo, pamangkin at kaibigan kong tatay!
At sa pinakadabest na Tatay, si God: Thank You for being the Father (and Mother) that You are, giving us the best Gift You can give, Your Son Jesus, that we may have life in its fullness, the Holy Spirit (because it's Trinity Sunday too!).
*Originally posted on Facebook
whether they like it or not,
whether they're "being" it well or not,
whether they're aware of it or not:
Happy Fathers' Day!
Sa mga No. 1: Sana ma-like na ninyo, kasi mas masaya ang buhay kung like ninyo.
Sa mga No. 2: Sana pagbutihan ninyo, kasi kayo rin ang kawawa (hindi lang ang iba).
Sa mga No. 3: Ignorance is never bliss, kaya sana alamin ninyo.
Special greetings to my Tatay, at sa mga pinsan, tiyo, pamangkin at kaibigan kong tatay!
At sa pinakadabest na Tatay, si God: Thank You for being the Father (and Mother) that You are, giving us the best Gift You can give, Your Son Jesus, that we may have life in its fullness, the Holy Spirit (because it's Trinity Sunday too!).
*Originally posted on Facebook
2014-06-09
Nothing Ordinary in Ordinary Time
With and in Christ, there is nothing ordinary in Ordinary Time.
"Because of the connotations of the term ordinary in English, many people think that Ordinary Time refers to the parts of the Church year that are unimportant. Why is Ordinary Time called ordinary?
Answer: Ordinary Time is called 'ordinary' simply because the weeks are numbered. The Latin word ordinalis, which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English word order. Thus, Ordinary Time is in fact the ordered life of the Church. It's appropriate, therefore, that the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (which is actually the first Sunday celebrated in Ordinary Time) always features either John the Baptist's acknowledgment of Christ as the Lamb of God or Christ's first miracle—the transformation of water into wine at the wedding at Cana. Thus for Catholics, Ordinary Time is the part of the year in which Christ, the Lamb of God, walks among us and transforms our lives. That's why there's nothing 'ordinary' about Ordinary Time."
~From an article in the website Catholicism
P.S. I think it's necessary to translate "Ordinary Time" properly into Tagalog, instead of the currently used "Pangkaraniwang Panahon".
See this article from Catholic Culture.
"Because of the connotations of the term ordinary in English, many people think that Ordinary Time refers to the parts of the Church year that are unimportant. Why is Ordinary Time called ordinary?
Answer: Ordinary Time is called 'ordinary' simply because the weeks are numbered. The Latin word ordinalis, which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English word order. Thus, Ordinary Time is in fact the ordered life of the Church. It's appropriate, therefore, that the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (which is actually the first Sunday celebrated in Ordinary Time) always features either John the Baptist's acknowledgment of Christ as the Lamb of God or Christ's first miracle—the transformation of water into wine at the wedding at Cana. Thus for Catholics, Ordinary Time is the part of the year in which Christ, the Lamb of God, walks among us and transforms our lives. That's why there's nothing 'ordinary' about Ordinary Time."
~From an article in the website Catholicism
P.S. I think it's necessary to translate "Ordinary Time" properly into Tagalog, instead of the currently used "Pangkaraniwang Panahon".
See this article from Catholic Culture.
2014-06-06
Carpe Diem!
Carpe diem -- Pluck the day. WHOA.
Learned it from this article, which makes sense. Lots of it. Reminds me of Pope Francis and his refrain of mercy and tenderness, aside from sense and sense and sense (instead of, or beyond, freewheeling and following one's feelings and feeding one's ego).
Read on...
"Carpe diem" doesn't mean seize the day — it means something gentler and more sensible. "Carpe diem" means pluck the day. Carpe, pluck. Seize the day would be "cape diem," if my school Latin servies. No R. Very different piece of advice. What Horace had in mind was that you should gently pull on the day's stem, as if it were, say, a wildflower or an olive, holding it with all the practiced care of your thumb and the side of your finger, which knows how to not crush easily crushed things — so that the day's stalk or stem undergoes increasing tension and draws to a thinness, and a tightness, and then snaps softly away at its weakest point, perhaps leaking a little milky sap, and the flower, or the fruit, is released in your hand. Pluck the cranberry or blueberry of the day tenderly free without damaging it, is what Horace meant — pick the day, harvest the day, reap the day, mow the day, forage the day. Don't freaking grab the day in your fist like a burger at a fairground and take a big chomping bite out of it.
~Lifted from this article from the Esquire website
Thanks to my educators Frs. Robert Paul and Joel for this (and for the many hours of learning)!
Learned it from this article, which makes sense. Lots of it. Reminds me of Pope Francis and his refrain of mercy and tenderness, aside from sense and sense and sense (instead of, or beyond, freewheeling and following one's feelings and feeding one's ego).
Read on...
"Carpe diem" doesn't mean seize the day — it means something gentler and more sensible. "Carpe diem" means pluck the day. Carpe, pluck. Seize the day would be "cape diem," if my school Latin servies. No R. Very different piece of advice. What Horace had in mind was that you should gently pull on the day's stem, as if it were, say, a wildflower or an olive, holding it with all the practiced care of your thumb and the side of your finger, which knows how to not crush easily crushed things — so that the day's stalk or stem undergoes increasing tension and draws to a thinness, and a tightness, and then snaps softly away at its weakest point, perhaps leaking a little milky sap, and the flower, or the fruit, is released in your hand. Pluck the cranberry or blueberry of the day tenderly free without damaging it, is what Horace meant — pick the day, harvest the day, reap the day, mow the day, forage the day. Don't freaking grab the day in your fist like a burger at a fairground and take a big chomping bite out of it.
~Lifted from this article from the Esquire website
Thanks to my educators Frs. Robert Paul and Joel for this (and for the many hours of learning)!
2014-05-28
Groping for God
O Paul of Tarsus, how you bless me!
"The God who made the world and all that is in it,
the Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,
nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything.
Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
He made from one the whole human race
to dwell on the entire surface of the earth,
and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,
so that people might seek God,
even perhaps grope for him and find him,
though indeed he is not far from any one of us."
[Acts 17:24-27]
Have you ever searched for, longed for, groped for God? And then have discovered He was there all along? I have.
*Originally posted on Facebook
"The God who made the world and all that is in it,
the Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,
nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything.
Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
He made from one the whole human race
to dwell on the entire surface of the earth,
and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,
so that people might seek God,
even perhaps grope for him and find him,
though indeed he is not far from any one of us."
[Acts 17:24-27]
Have you ever searched for, longed for, groped for God? And then have discovered He was there all along? I have.
*Originally posted on Facebook
2014-05-02
Let us rise with Him
Hear ye! Hear ye!
"For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God."
~Gamaliel, a pharisee and teacher of Jewish law, speaking about the early Christians
While we believers can take consolation on this, given the longevity of our Christian history, we should also take this as a challenge to always root ourselves, connect ourselves, with God and His ongoing work in His Son's Body, through the power of the Spirit.
The Lord is risen! Let us rise with Him!
"For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God."
~Gamaliel, a pharisee and teacher of Jewish law, speaking about the early Christians
While we believers can take consolation on this, given the longevity of our Christian history, we should also take this as a challenge to always root ourselves, connect ourselves, with God and His ongoing work in His Son's Body, through the power of the Spirit.
The Lord is risen! Let us rise with Him!
2014-04-25
It is the LORD.
In the yearly, awesome remembrance of the God who humbled Himself,
of a Master who washed feet,
of Perfection being taken, blessed, broken and shared that we may be perfected,
of Heaven visiting hell,
of the ultimate triumph of Goodness,
of New Life visiting us as gardener, as cook, as wounded person--like openings of the Divine into our ordinary lives and transforming them,
all of which enable the Baptized to renew and live their promises.
In the wonder of these all:
Work that participates in the grand renewal of creation,
Gatherings that provide fuel to the fire, that blaze trails,
Breaking Word, Bread and Life to sustain the journey,
Love of family and friends which dares, hopes, endures,
Lives which shine as if lights to guide, illuminate, inspire...
It is the Lord.
of a Master who washed feet,
of Perfection being taken, blessed, broken and shared that we may be perfected,
of Heaven visiting hell,
of the ultimate triumph of Goodness,
of New Life visiting us as gardener, as cook, as wounded person--like openings of the Divine into our ordinary lives and transforming them,
all of which enable the Baptized to renew and live their promises.
In the wonder of these all:
Work that participates in the grand renewal of creation,
Gatherings that provide fuel to the fire, that blaze trails,
Breaking Word, Bread and Life to sustain the journey,
Love of family and friends which dares, hopes, endures,
Lives which shine as if lights to guide, illuminate, inspire...
It is the Lord.
2014-04-07
The one You love is ill
"Master, the one you love is ill."
My older sister brought me to a deeper appreciation of these words of Martha of Bethany to our Lord Jesus. This is her prayer to the Lord whenever she feels unwell, especially emotionally. I have come to embrace this too in like manner, as well as in situations where a dear one, who I know the Lord holds much dearer, is in a troubling situation.
It is such a consoling, endearing, heartwarming thought that Jesus loves. Of course, we know and believe that God is love, and that He has created everything and sustains them out of love, and that the Holy Spirit is the Person which that shared love between the Father and the Son brings forth as Power... But to read from the Gospels how Jesus, both in His divinity and humanity, was driven to love: that filial love to Mary and Joseph, that loving gaze to the rich young man, that question of love to Peter, that loving compassion to Zacchaeus and the woman caught in adultery, and now, this love for Lazarus.
I am ill. Physically, I am constrained about things which, ten years ago, I would still be able to do. Some relationships in my life are staring a blank wall, begging for clarity, begging the question "What now?" Since the year started, I am overwhelmed with the magnitude of concerns at work and in ministry, both in my day job and in my parish involvement. While I acknowledge shafts of heavenly light here and there on the terrain of my faith, I assess a drying up of some sort, at times wallowing in sin if I may say while pretty much hanging on to precious, necessary grace.
And sometimes, the Lord permits this illness, "for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it".
In my prayer these holy days of Lent, I remember dear ones who are ill, perhaps even dying in some way, and remind the Lord about these loved ones of His who are ill. You who read this, pray too for me please. And already, let me thank you for being like Martha, praying to the Lord for me, telling Him that the one He loves is ill.
Together, let us trust Him who is life to bring new life into the dry deserts of our days, who will come to us even if He has to be stoned or be crucified again. And when He calls us out of our illness or even our deaths, may we be brave enough to come out of our graves, to be untied and live in the splendid and solemn freedom of God's children, to give glory to Him who loves us into wholeness.
My older sister brought me to a deeper appreciation of these words of Martha of Bethany to our Lord Jesus. This is her prayer to the Lord whenever she feels unwell, especially emotionally. I have come to embrace this too in like manner, as well as in situations where a dear one, who I know the Lord holds much dearer, is in a troubling situation.
It is such a consoling, endearing, heartwarming thought that Jesus loves. Of course, we know and believe that God is love, and that He has created everything and sustains them out of love, and that the Holy Spirit is the Person which that shared love between the Father and the Son brings forth as Power... But to read from the Gospels how Jesus, both in His divinity and humanity, was driven to love: that filial love to Mary and Joseph, that loving gaze to the rich young man, that question of love to Peter, that loving compassion to Zacchaeus and the woman caught in adultery, and now, this love for Lazarus.
I am ill. Physically, I am constrained about things which, ten years ago, I would still be able to do. Some relationships in my life are staring a blank wall, begging for clarity, begging the question "What now?" Since the year started, I am overwhelmed with the magnitude of concerns at work and in ministry, both in my day job and in my parish involvement. While I acknowledge shafts of heavenly light here and there on the terrain of my faith, I assess a drying up of some sort, at times wallowing in sin if I may say while pretty much hanging on to precious, necessary grace.
And sometimes, the Lord permits this illness, "for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it".
In my prayer these holy days of Lent, I remember dear ones who are ill, perhaps even dying in some way, and remind the Lord about these loved ones of His who are ill. You who read this, pray too for me please. And already, let me thank you for being like Martha, praying to the Lord for me, telling Him that the one He loves is ill.
Together, let us trust Him who is life to bring new life into the dry deserts of our days, who will come to us even if He has to be stoned or be crucified again. And when He calls us out of our illness or even our deaths, may we be brave enough to come out of our graves, to be untied and live in the splendid and solemn freedom of God's children, to give glory to Him who loves us into wholeness.
2014-02-16
Sister Death
Death.
First day of this month, my aunt died. I visited the wake of the father of my workmate 2 days later. A neighbor died yesterday. A couple of requests for prayers appeared on Facebook for deceased relatives.
These days, I noticed Sister Death making her presence felt. Should I be afraid? Only if she meant the end. Should I be dismissive? Only if she meant nothing.
What then should I be? It really depends on how I see her. And I pray I see her, always, through my Maker's eyes, in Him who has given me life.
First day of this month, my aunt died. I visited the wake of the father of my workmate 2 days later. A neighbor died yesterday. A couple of requests for prayers appeared on Facebook for deceased relatives.
These days, I noticed Sister Death making her presence felt. Should I be afraid? Only if she meant the end. Should I be dismissive? Only if she meant nothing.
What then should I be? It really depends on how I see her. And I pray I see her, always, through my Maker's eyes, in Him who has given me life.
2014-01-25
Conversion
"I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day... The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk... Now is the time to say to Jesus: 'Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace'... God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy."
Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium
Today, the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, I am reminded that conversion is a daily affair, a personal decision while always, always, a grace from God who is infinite mercy.
Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium
Today, the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, I am reminded that conversion is a daily affair, a personal decision while always, always, a grace from God who is infinite mercy.
2014-01-16
Litany of gratitude for the Filipino laity
God our Father, we thank You for the gift of the Filipino laity for the Church.
After every invocation let us say: We praise You and we thank You!
For the motherhood of Mary, first among the disciples, Mother of the Philippines, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For crowning our countrymen Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod with the grace of holy martyrdom, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For calling us to be saints and sending us as heroes, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For the zeal of the youth, the joy of our children and the innocence of our infants, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For the tenderness and love that You bring to every Filipino family, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For our Filipino laity at work in distant foreign lands, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For civil servants, businessmen and professionals who work with honesty and integrity, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For labourers, farmers and fisher folks who bring dignity to human work as stewards of creation, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For the sick and the elderly, our handicapped and troubled friends, for the hope and courage they teach us by their lives, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For all unknown Filipino saints and heroes, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
Father, we celebrate the dignity and mission of the Filipino Catholic laity. Help us to be faithful. Teach us to be brave. Increase our love through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From http://www.choosetobebrave.org/litanyofgratitude.html
For the motherhood of Mary, first among the disciples, Mother of the Philippines, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For crowning our countrymen Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod with the grace of holy martyrdom, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For calling us to be saints and sending us as heroes, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For the zeal of the youth, the joy of our children and the innocence of our infants, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For the tenderness and love that You bring to every Filipino family, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For our Filipino laity at work in distant foreign lands, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For civil servants, businessmen and professionals who work with honesty and integrity, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For labourers, farmers and fisher folks who bring dignity to human work as stewards of creation, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For the sick and the elderly, our handicapped and troubled friends, for the hope and courage they teach us by their lives, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
For all unknown Filipino saints and heroes, we glorify You.
We praise You and we thank You!
Father, we celebrate the dignity and mission of the Filipino Catholic laity. Help us to be faithful. Teach us to be brave. Increase our love through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From http://www.choosetobebrave.org/litanyofgratitude.html
*Originally posted on Facebook
2014-01-14
Hannah in my life
I remembered you today. Hannah, mother of Samuel the prophet, who I heard about in today's liturgy, reminded me of you.
I have listened to your pain, to your dashed hopes, to your sufferings and confusion. We have explored your doubt, we have traversed the seemingly rough landscape of your life, and have sometimes even cried in near despair. We faced these situations soberly at times, while at another in crazy abandon. Sometimes, I have been like Eli, only because I could not fully understand you. But I love you, and with you and for you I strive to bear hope, if only by my listening, by my heartfelt praying, by my remembering.
And like Eli too, let me bless you with his own words: Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.
I have been unhappy too. That I share with you. But aside that, let us share a life of hope together. Let us share a life of prayer together, sometimes relying on words older than us, but more often using raw emotions, laying our hearts bare, consoled and affirmed by the testimony of those who have gone ahead of us like Hannah, like Zechariah and Elizabeth, like Josephine and many others.
I think kindly of you always, and love you. A far greater Love enables me to, and who loves you too, far beyond ourselves. And who feeds the hope that I am able to bear, and share.
[My very first post this 2014: when you read this, may I kindly ask you to say, even a short heartfelt prayer, for this Hannah in my life. Thank you.]
In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously, and she made a vow, promising: “O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me..."
I have listened to your pain, to your dashed hopes, to your sufferings and confusion. We have explored your doubt, we have traversed the seemingly rough landscape of your life, and have sometimes even cried in near despair. We faced these situations soberly at times, while at another in crazy abandon. Sometimes, I have been like Eli, only because I could not fully understand you. But I love you, and with you and for you I strive to bear hope, if only by my listening, by my heartfelt praying, by my remembering.
Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, “How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” “It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left. She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downcast.
And like Eli too, let me bless you with his own words: Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.
I have been unhappy too. That I share with you. But aside that, let us share a life of hope together. Let us share a life of prayer together, sometimes relying on words older than us, but more often using raw emotions, laying our hearts bare, consoled and affirmed by the testimony of those who have gone ahead of us like Hannah, like Zechariah and Elizabeth, like Josephine and many others.
I think kindly of you always, and love you. A far greater Love enables me to, and who loves you too, far beyond ourselves. And who feeds the hope that I am able to bear, and share.
[My very first post this 2014: when you read this, may I kindly ask you to say, even a short heartfelt prayer, for this Hannah in my life. Thank you.]
2014-01-13
Ordinary Time
Today, we begin Ordinary Time in our liturgical calendar.
The term "ordinary" in "Ordinary Time" can lead us to think that this time in the church calendar is--uhm--ordinary: regular, uneventful, even unimportant. Why then is Ordinary Time called ordinary?
Mr. Scott Richert, in catholicism.about.com, tells us:
Thus for Catholics, Ordinary Time is the part of the year in which Christ, the Lamb of God, walks among us and transforms our lives.
Thus, there is nothing "ordinary" about Ordinary Time.
The term "ordinary" in "Ordinary Time" can lead us to think that this time in the church calendar is--uhm--ordinary: regular, uneventful, even unimportant. Why then is Ordinary Time called ordinary?
Mr. Scott Richert, in catholicism.about.com, tells us:
Ordinary Time is called "ordinary" simply because the weeks are numbered. The Latin word "ordinalis", which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word "ordo", from which we get the English word "order". Thus, Ordinary Time is in fact the ordered life of the Church. It is appropriate, therefore, that the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (which is actually the first Sunday celebrated in Ordinary Time) always features either John the Baptist's acknowledgment of Christ as the Lamb of God or Christ's first miracle—the transformation of water into wine at the wedding at Cana.
Thus, there is nothing "ordinary" about Ordinary Time.
*Originally posted on Facebook
Quote from http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/Why-Is-Ordinary-Time-Called-Ordinary.htm
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