6. Draw 12 evenly spaced dots (4 across, 3 down) on the
Baruch 1:15-22 » Psalm 79:1-2, 3-5, 8, 9 Luke 10:13-16 THE TEST "We have neither heeded the voice of the Lord... nor followed the precepts which the Lord set before us." — Baruch 1:18
\ I'd like to ask you to make an interactive reflection today by taking this test. Look at the directions one at a time (no peeking at the conclusion).
1.Get a sheet of blank white paper.
2. Write your name at the top.
3.Read all the directions first.
4.Think of the important things in your life (family, health, work, service, etc.) and draw a pretty heart for each.
5. Fold the paper in half. Fold again.
6. Draw 12 evenly spaced dots (4 across, 3 down) on the folded paper.
7.Connect the dots to make squares.
8.Punch a hole in the middle of each square.
9. Ignore directions 5 to 8.
This is an obedience test. What does your paper look like now? Is it unblemished with just your name and the hearts
Memorial of St.
Francis of Assisi on it or is it full of holes?
The blank paper is like our soul. When we follow God's commandments, we'll be able to return it to Him in a beautiful state. When we fail to obey, our life is tarnished — peppered with ugly sins. LellaM. Santiago ([email protected])
Reflection: How well do you listen to God and follow His instructions?
Forgive me, Lord, for the times | turned a deaf ear to Your commandments.
St.
Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29 « Psalm 69:33-35, 36-37 Luke 10:17-24
LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF
GOD Turning to the disciples in private he said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see." — Luke 10:23
Meryll was feeling depressed because she still didn't have work since she migrated to Canada. She had sent her application to a number of companies but none of them were willing to take a risk on a new migrant like her.
Then one day, I was surprised to see a chat message from her. She relayed to me that she already got a job.
The biggest blessing was that her work at the new company was almost exactly the same as what she had in Manila. This helped her adjust to her work at a much faster pace. She told me that she would no Jonger question the timing of God. The delay in finding her job was well worth it. She realized that God had just been preparing the "perfect" work for her.
Most of the time, we see events that are happening differently from how God sees them. Our eyes don't immediately see the purpose behind our circumstances. We may not see yet the blessing in a trial because God is still preparing something better for us. Alvin Fabella ([email protected])
Reflection: The ability to see beyond the trial to the blessing behind it is a grace and blessing in itself.
Lord, open my eyes and heart that I may see the blessing that is hidden in the trials I am facing or may be facing in the future. Amen.
Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 « Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 - Luke 17:5-10 tf COURAGE For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. — 2 Timothy 1:7
_ [never imagined myself as a speaker or a crowd engager. My '* heart would pound madly once my feet got anywhere near
<= aplatform. Unless it was a school requirement, I would not take the center stage.
Until one day, a nun friend asked me to help them _ teach Catechism to the kids because their congregation was having a three-day conference. | agreed. When the first day of teaching arrived, I realized I was alone, but it was too late to back out. Aside from teaching the kids and their parents,
I also had to facilitate group activities for everyone. | was really nervous! I prayed to God, asking for the Holy Spirit to be my partner all throughout the day.
Before I knew it, it was already the third day. What I thought would be a disaster turned out to be fun! From that time on, I learned to submit all my strengths and limitations to God. I realized that even though we are not always confident with what we can do, we can constantly rely on the power of God's Spirit. His guidance never falls short. Maymay
Salvosa ([email protected]) REFLECTION: What holds you back from serving the Lord?
Surrender it to God today.
Lord, let Your Spirit move me to put my love for You into action, St.
Bruno, priest, pray for us.
Jonah 1:1-2:2, 11 + Jonah 2:3, 4, 5,8 Luke 10:25-37
THE POOR IN OUR HOME
"And who is my neighbor?" — Luke 10:29
Mother Teresa shared during her Nobel Lecture on December 11, 1979 an unforgettable opportunity she had when she visited an institution for the elderly. She asked a sister: "How is it that the people have everything here, (but) why are they all looking towards the door, why are they not smiling?"
And the sister replied, "They are expecting, they are hoping that a son or daughter will come to visit them."
Mother Teresa said, "That poverty comes right there in our own home, even neglect of love. Maybe in our own family we have somebody who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried, and these are difficult days for everybody. Are we there to receive them? Is the mother there to receive the child?" tae We generally think that our neighbor is somebody out there and not inside our own homes. But as Mother Teresa said, "The poor you may have right in your own family.
Find them. Love them. We must make our homes centers of compassion and forgive endlessly." Judith Concepcion ([email protected])
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Reflection: It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. (Mother Teresa)
Lord, please remind me whenever I forget that my family is also my neighbor.
Help me to strike a balance between my ministries and my service to my family.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
Jonah 3:1-10 « Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 7-8 Luke 10:38-42
BECOMING MARY AGAIN
The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things." — Luke 10:41
) Our coworker, Nova, was leaving for the US for good and the » office was giving her a despedida. Since she was from our
; department, we were in charge of the refreshments after the program. We were busy at the back of the room, making sure the food would be sufficient and distributed efficiently. But we got a bit noisy while our other officemates were honoring her that our president had to call our attention.
We got so busy with the preparations that we almost forgot the purpose of the gathering.
It's just like what happened to Martha in today's reading.
And it's what happened to me in 2011.
I got too engrossed in my work that I spent less time for prayer, for quiet recollection, for communion with God.
And it had affected the way I saw things, the way I treated people, the way I looked at events in my life.
And I didn't like the person I was becoming.
I've since decided it's time to go back to being a Mary again so | can be a better Martha. Tess ¥.
Atienza ([email protected]) Reflection: How much time do you spend each day listening to God and just being with Him?
When I lose focus on You, Lord, draw me closer.
St.
John Leonardi, priest, pray for us.
Jonah 4:1-11 + Psalm 86:3-4, 5-6, 9-10 Luke 11:1-4 PRISONER "And forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us..." — Luke 11:4
"He doesn't deserve my forgiveness!" Michie regularly posted this as her status on her Facebook account to indirectly assault her ex-boyfriend. It had been months and Michie was still bitter.
Her best friend Anna couldn't take it anymore. After one church service, she asked Michie if she prays the Lord's
Prayer with her heart, especially the part that says, "as we forgive those who sin against us."
Michie saw this as an attack. But Anna explained, "Remember when we were in college? Billy was courting me. But you made ways to be closer to him. When the two of you became a couple, I died inside but forgave you anyway. I forgave you even before you said sorry. Michie, you've been hurting people and you always think you're the victim. We all don't deserve forgiveness but it's through God's grace and mercy that we receive it — the same way I asked God to help me forgive you, again and again. Your ex is very happy now, but look at you, miserable. Don't be a prisoner of your unforgiveness."
Michie cried and embraced Anna. Carlo Lorenzo (carloflorenzo@ yahoo.com) Reflection: It is not about who deserves forgiveness. The more unforgiveness and grudges we hold, the farther our hearts move away from our Father. f j i Holy Spirit, help me to forgive. I cannot do this on my own. Help me forgive as to how much You have forgiven me, again and again and again.
Malachi 3:13-20 - Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6 Luke 11;5-13
_ A FATHER'S LOVE
"If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" — Luke 11:13
~ | My daughter's friend "desperately" wanted an iPad for Christmas. Her dad agreed on the condition that she reach a certain grade in Math, as she was failing miserably then.
The girl's grade improved but it was still way below the minimum set by her dad. In spite of this, the girl managed to get her iPad after much cajoling.
When I heard this, I struggled to appreciate the dad's gesture. I asked, What values is this guy teaching his child?
That it's OK to reward mediocrity? Then | realized maybe that's just how he shows his love for his child, regardless of how misguided it seemed to me.
This is how it is with our Heavenly Father as well.
Regardless of our imperfections and our errant ways, His love for us never wanes. His acceptance of us in spite of ourselves goes beyond all understanding.
Today's Gospel reminds us that when we turn to God and make things right with Him, He sees our hearts' intent.
He delights in that and blesses us as He wills. Erwin Roceles (erwin_roceles@yahoo,com) Reflection: How much do you think God loves you? Never underestimate His love.
Lord, thank You for reminding me of Your great love, Thank You for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the gift of eternal life St.
Francis Borgia, pray for us.
Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 + Psalm 9:2-3, 6, 16, 8-9 Luke 11:15-26
ABRACADABRA
"But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you." — Luke 11:20
When I was a kid, I loved watching TV shows of magic and fantasy, with heroes and villains, wizards and sorcerers.
With just one wave of his hand, the powerful wizard saves houses from being ruined. Poof! With lightning coming out from his fingers, he defeats the monstrous enemy and protects people from further havoc. Poof! Then he waves his hand again and disappears. Poof! He saves the day!
Our Lord is also like that. No, it's not because He performs magic or creates fantasies. With His majesty and wonder, He created the heaven and the earth, all that is in it, and man in His own image and likeness.
By His healing hand, broken hearts are mended, burdens are lightened, fears are dispelled and sins are forgiven. With His infinite wisdom and love, He bought salvation for us.
And because He is omnipotent and omnipresent, God can do whatever He wills in the past, present and in the future.
Definitely, it's more than just abracadabra! Analiza Obiasca ([email protected]) Reflection: Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place? (Job 38:12). Our mighty
God does it every single day.
Omnipotent God, I praise You because You hold ail things in Your hands, including the minor details of my life. I entrust everything to You. Amen.
Joel 4:12-21 » Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 Luke 11:27-28
BLESSED AMONG WOMEN
"Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." — Luke 11:27
/ Many of us probably know that October is the month of the / Holy Rosary. We honor Mama Mary as the mother of Jesus, and our mother as well, by praying the Rosary regularly.
_ We ask for her intercession and pray to be more like her — obedient to God's will and ever close to her beloved Son.
As the mother of the Savior, Mary was truly "blessed among women."
As a mother of two, I can testify to how carrying life in my womb and nursing both children beyond two years have blessed me in so many ways. Both my children were born while my husband and I were on mission in Timor Leste.
They are God's gifts to us and have taught us that life is indeed precious.
I only hope and pray that other women who are pregnant or are mothers will see their children in the same way — as blessings, and not burdens; as sources of joy, and not sources of stress. Indeed, to be bearers and nurturers of life is truly a gift, no matter what our circumstances may be. Tina SantiagoRodriguez ([email protected])
Reflection: Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much.
You can never love her more than Jesus did. (Saint Maximilian Kolbe) Lord, please help me to love and honor Your mother the way You did,
Our Lady of Pillar, pray for us.
2 Kings 5:14-17 « Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 2 Timothy 2:8-13 - Luke 17:11-19
THE RAINBOW FOR KCON
If we are unfaithful he remains faithful...— 2 Timothy 2:13
My husband, Ed, and I lead the Media Ministry that covers the annual Kerygma Conference, the biggest Catholic inspirational event in the country.
Covering KCon 2011 was not easy. There were seven streams that happened simultaneously in the Philippine
International Convention Center (PICC) and the other buildings nearby. I worried that if ever one or two of our reporters were absent, we would not have a complete coverage. Also, the grand closing event was held outdoors.
And my husband, who led our team of photographers, was worried that if it would rain, their cameras would get wet.
So we prayed to ease our anxieties. As Ed drove toward PICC on the first day of the conference, I sat quietly in the car wishing for a sign that the conference would go smoothly.
And then, there it was. In the clouds above PICC, a rainbow appeared in all its colors! (In the book of Genesis, the rainbow was a symbol of God's promise of grace and salvation.)
g $
Seeing a rainbow on the first day of the conference assured me that God would be with us, as promised in today's reading, and that the event would be a success. And indeed it was. (nthia U. Santiago ([email protected])
Reflection: What are you worried about?
Lord, make me faithful as You are faithful to me.
Romans 1:1-7 - Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 Luke 11:29-32
PROMISES, PROMISES
Which he promised previously... — Romans 1:2
We prayed incessantly for our son Peevee as we said our goodbyes and left him in New York to pursue his Masters in Business Administration at Fordham. He was going through life-changing experiences all at the same time — living alone in a new place so far from home, being a full-time student
~ once again, and having ended a seven-year relationship. All we could do was pray.
Unlimited free phone calls through Magic Jack and free video conferencing through Skype made the separation easier but nothing could take the place of physical presence.
His home visit on his first Christmas break brought so much joy to our family, especially to his only sister, Trina. But all good things must come to an end and visits were frequent but never long enough. Our prayers remained intense for the Lord to watch over him constantly.
Two years went by very quickly and the Lord kept His promise. "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive" (Matthew 21:22). Peevee was a straight A student and graduated summa cum laude. He immediately got a job offer from a leading multinational firm in the U.S., doing brand management, which is exactly what he loves to do.
We serve a faithful God. MariSison-Garcia (mari_sison_garcia@yahoo,com) Reflection: Have you been praying long for a special intention?
Just keep believing.
Lord, give us the grace to keep our trust in You, for Your promises are true.
St.
Callistus |, pope and martyr, pray for us.
Romans 1:16-25 (or Romans 8:22-27) Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5 (or Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11) » Luke 11:37-41
DANGEROUS KNOWLEDGE
For although they knew God they did not accord him glory...
— Romans 1:21
Ihave said and written about it before. I'm saying and writing about it again. Knowledge of God is important. But it is never enough. (Even demons know God, remember?) At best, it is a means to an end but never the end itself.
Jesus spoke against the Pharisees and the scholars of the Law in His time. (Read the Gospel today and see how fiercely Jesus denounced them.) But Jesus was not against their persons or their knowledge per se. Being a person of knowledge, especially of Scriptures, should be something good and desirable. But what He spoke against was how they handled that knowledge and what it did to them. It made them arrogant, oppressive and legalistic. They found fault in everything that the other person did (as when Jesus "failed"
$ Ss z
i & % H i to observe the prescribed washing ritual before the meal.) Yes, by all means, know, learn, study about God, His
Word and our faith. But always remember not to stop there.
Because knowing God should lead you to love and serve Him more, by loving and serving others more. Alvin Barcelona
([email protected]) Reflection: What has your knowledge about God made you?
Think about this: "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge... but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2) Dear God, may I know more about You. But may this knowledge lead me to love and serve You more. Amen.
St.
Teresa of Avila, virgin, pray for us.
Romans 2:1-11 - Psalm 62:2-3, 6-7, 9 Luke 11:42-46 BIASED Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. — Romans 2:1
Young children have no biases. I've seen kids play with _ other kids just because they are kids. They do not care what
_ their new playmates look like. They can play even if their languages differ. They overlook their differences in the way they dress. They do not ask how much money they have.
_ They do not mind that their families barely know each other or that their fathers have grudges against each other. All they care about is that they have someone to play with.
It's a pity that many grown-ups condemn other people based on what they hear on the news or see on social networks, only to find out that the media just wanted to sell more papers or that a malicious person was great at manipulating digital images. I almost joined a petition against a beauty queen who allegedly said bad things about our country, only to find out that none of it was true.
We judge too harshly, too fast. We fail to practice due diligence. We do not exercise restraint and instead unleash the vile from our mouths or the venom from our keyboards.
When will we learn not to judge? Jun Asis ([email protected]) Reflection: How many times did you judge someone today?
Lord, teach me to withhold my judgment. Allow me to have an open heart and an open mind and to see Your face in everyone I meet.
Blessed Marguerite d'Youville, religious, pray for us.
Romans 3:21-30 + Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Luke 11:47-54
THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS
"Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge." — Luke 11:52
A key is a very simple tool with two basic functions — to lock and to unlock a door.
In each one of us lies a key that performs the very same functions.
There is a key inside of us that locks. And this is shown through a negative mindset that we may unknowingly have.
It gives in to arrogance, bitterness, hopelessness, worry and hate. Such a key hinders us and stops our growth. It kills our spirit.
Then there is this other key inside of us that unlocks.
And this is manifested through having a positive mindset.
It opens countless doors towards having more wisdom, joy, hope, faith and love. It nurtures our growth. It strengthens our spirit.
Always use the key that unlocks. And be the key that opens the door for others to God's amazing love and grace.
g : iB :
E :
Orange V. Garcia ([email protected]) Reflection: What key will you use today?
Lord, may | always use the key in me that unlocks so that I may open for others the door that leads to You.
=| :
2 Timothy 4:10-17 + Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18 Luke 10:1-9
| RELATIONSHIP EXPERT
_ But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed...— 2 Timothy 4:17
) My toes curled as I read the description before my name.
_ "Relationship expert." Yikes! Was he referring to me? Bo Sanchez had asked me if I could join him as he launched his
¥ OneTrueLoveClub.com. It's a website that provides support and lots of resources for the single person in search of his
_ or her lifetime partner. Since the success of my first book, Confessions of an Impatient Bride, | knew that the Lord had called me to minister to single women. So I readily accepted
Bo's invitation.
But I had to contest Bo's write-up about me in the website.
"Me? A relationship expert? I'm the one who gets into snags with my closest friends, remember?" I wrote him in an email.
Bo simply replied, "The best of us learn the most from our mistakes." Ay. There he goes again with his simple, cutto-the-chase wisdom.
Feast of St.
Luke, Evangelist When I think about it, that's how God is with us. We're not yet the expert that we're described to be, but in His eyes,
He already sees the finished product. As He pours out His grace upon us and as we respond, we are tranformed from glory to glory into the very image of His Son. Rissa Singson-Kawpeng
([email protected]) Reflection: God has a great plan for your life, a destiny to fulfill...
Nothing will be able to keep you from becoming all that God created you to be. (Joel Osteen) Jesus, teach me to cooperate with Your grace that | may grow into the person
You've called me to be. Amen.
St.
Luke, evangelist, pray for us.
Romans 4:13.16-18 - Psalm 105:6-7, 8-9, 42-43 Luke 12:8-12
TAKING A STAND
"But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God." — Luke 12:9
Many teens play online games — boys, especially, are into action, sports and war games.
One young teen I know takes exception to some of the game titles. If he thinks a title includes the name of Jesus in an arbitrary way, he makes sure to comment to his friends that he thinks it's blasphemous.
I applaud the way he makes his stand. It's not every day one sees or hears a teen defending the Lord even amid his leisure activity.
Are we that vigilant? I'm sure we don't brazenly disown the Lord but we may inadvertently do so when we choose to be silent before acts of moral indecency or corruption. Let our actions lend themselves to the glory and the name of God. Gina Verdolaga ([email protected]) i | é Reflection: Do you remember to honor the Lord through your words and deeds?
Lord, give me the courage to be a strong voice for Your name. Amen.
Exodus 17:8-13 + Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 - Luke 18:1-8
BIGGER THAN MY INCONVENIENCE
Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. — 2 Timothy 4:2 a It was December 26, 2011 when my family went on an outreach for the kids of Smokey Mountain. We played
_ softball with them, had a dance workshop, and I gave a talk about God's love and having big dreams.
I'm used to giving talks but in English. So my problem was I had to talk in Filipino and I wasn't good at it. (I got a flashback of my 5th grade Filipino remedial classes.)
Although I can speak conversational Filipino, I found it hard to express my thoughts in the vernacular. That's why weeks prior to the outreach, I started to worry.
However, I knew that the need for these kids to hear God's Word for their lives was bigger than my inconvenience to give a talk in Filipino. So in spite of my limitations, I did it.
I know not everyone is called to be a preacher, but everyone has a call to share God's Word and serve, even in inconvenient circumstances. In spite of the challenges, let's live out His Word and love others. We never know the impact we can make in someone else's life. Mike Vifias ([email protected])
Reflection: Demand is all the needs in the world. Supply is all of God's resources to meet those needs. Have you ever wondered what's in between demand and supply? You are.
Father, lam Your channel of blessing and grace to Your people. May my life be Your satellite to broadcast Your Word of faith, hope and love to others, especially to those who need it the most. Amen,
St.
Maria Bertilla Coscardin, pray for us.
Romans 4:20-25 - Luke 1:68-69, 70-72, 73-75 Luke 12:13-21
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
Abraham did not doubt God's promise in unbelief: rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God. — Romans 4:20
For more than 30 years, parts of my family life were in darkness, then in semi-darkness. My children and I were in the shadows of violence.
During that "walk through the valley of darkness," I did not fear for I knew God was at our side. His rod and staff gave me courage (Psalm 23) to lead the family towards the light of love, forgiveness and understanding.
I clung to the promise of Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called to his purpose."
My eldest is now a lawyer. The second works at the United Nations. The third is a doctor. The fourth is a French major and the youngest is in his last year of Commerce.
We are all glorifying God in our divine purposes here on earth. The experience shaped me for the work I do for the Philippine feminized labor migration which is sometimes an escape from domestic violence. Grace Princesa ( [email protected])
Reflection: Do you doubt God's promises when the dark night is too long?
Please, Lord, always reassure me that You carry me in the palms of Your hands when life is at its darkest.
3 3 :
Romans 5:12, 15, 17-19, 20-21 « Psaim 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 17 Luke 12:35-38
KEEP THE FIRE BURNING!
"Gird your loins and light your lamps." — Luke 12:35
1 used to be a strong distance runner. Life then was all about running: wind against my face, heart rate in an upbeat tempo, lean body and sturdy legs built to run for hours on end. | thought I would be strong forever.
Until I gradually stopped running. I lost the "fire" and ge enjoyed vices with wrong friends. Undisciplined days turned into months, then years. Worse, I had the illusion that I was - still strong. t So when friends challenged me to run, I sneered and underestimated every opponent. When the gunshot signaled the start of the race, I ran as confident as a racehorse.
Competitors ate my dust. But just as I passed the 100-meter mark, | started panting. | had difficulty breathing, then I got dizzy. I had cramps in my chest and was brought to the hospital. If not for the doctors, | would have been dead meat!
Pride ruled. | started strong but ended wrong. I repented and made a resolve to follow God. Now I run a new marathon
— the marathon of faith. With Him, I'll finish strong!
Empowered by grace and the Holy Spirit, all of us can win the gold! Champions, let's get it on: "Ready, get set, go!" Obet Cabrillas ([email protected])
Reflection: God's love is fire; and it is our mission to spread this fire to all His people. (St. Vincent de Paul)
Lord, keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in my heart.
St.
Peter of Alcantara, pray for us.
Romans 6:12-18 + Psalm 124:1-3, 4-6, 7-8 Luke 12:39-48
FINISHED OR UNFINISHED
"You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." — Luke 12:40
Teachers often say to their students after a test, "Finished or unfinished, pass your papers." This reminds me of my elder sister who died at the age of 31.
My sister, mom, brother-in-law and I were talking in the car on the way to get her MRI results. Out of the blue, I told her about the organ donor card I had gotten, just to be ready when my time comes. I even encouraged her to get one before her operation. She didn't want to talk about death. It was too morbid for her. I told her she didn't have to be scared to die because we're all headed for heaven. I sensed the fear in her voice when she told me I wouldn't understand because she had three small kids to leave behind.
Two days before our father's 57" birthday, she had an unsuccessful operation from a benign tumor (meningioma).
She passed away unprepared.
Even though I know that the Lord has me covered for eternity, | am now working doubly hard to buy myself life insurance and memorial plans for practical purposes. I even know what I want to put on my epitaph: Emerald, a simple child of God who searched for love and found it in the arms of her Father. &ms Sy chan ([email protected])
Reflection: We don't have to fear death when we're prepared to go anytime and when we know what awaits us on the other side.
Father God, prepare us for our death. Prepare our loved ones, too. May we be able to say, "We finished" before You call us home.
Romans 6:19-23 - Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4,6 Luke 12:49-53
5 HAVE FUN BUT SIN NO MORE
But now that you have been freed from sin... — Romans 6:22
As a teacher, I have observed that most students during class __ are shy to actively participate in recitation and even in school presentations.
I would ask them why and they would reply, "Nahihiya _ po ako" (Lam shy).
Every time I would hear this, I remember the saying of one Dominican priest when I was still in college at the _ University of Sto. Tomas.
He would always say to Thomasians who were shy, "Kasalanan lang ang nakakahiya" (Only sin is shameful).
Those words give me a sense of relief regarding my faults and weaknesses — that God is indeed merciful and forgiving.
It serves as a gentle reminder that in everything I do, as long as it is not a sin and it brings more glory to God, then all the more I should do it.
Friends, since God has prevailed over sin and death, let us run and have fun... but sin no more. sCLibiran ([email protected])
Reflection: Where our sins increase, His grace increases all the more.
Lord Jesus, because of You | am free to run and have fun St.
Anthony Mary Claret, bishop, pray for us.
Romans 7:18-25 - Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94 Luke 12:54-59 SPITFIRE Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. — Romans 7:20
I didn't want to confront her, but I needed to come to my niece's rescue.
A 27-year-old woman whacked my teenage niece's face after a heated basketball game where they rooted for competing teams. Face to face, this hostile stranger reasoned that she had the right to hit anybody she wanted to hit.
That did it. Hell broke loose.
No, I didn't touch her, but I spat fire like I had never done before, so much that she ran out of words to throw back at me.
Back home, I couldn't stop crying. My friend Vincent called and asked why I was crying when I had done right by defending my niece. I heard myself say, "This isn't like me. I was so mean."
There are times when anger is the right response to a situation. But there is still a right and a wrong way of showing our indignation. It says in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
In angry moments, may we learn not just to exercise selfcontrol, but to unceasingly seek the guidance of the Holy
Spirit to overcome sin. Nova Arias-Sevilla ([email protected]) H g :
é Reflection: Are you the master of your emotions?
Forgive me, Lord, for the times when I was uncharitable to. my neighbor.
Remind me to be gentle with words when my emotions et the better of me, Amen.
Romans 8:1-11 - Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Luke 13:1-9
A DROP IN THE OCEAN
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. — Romans 8:1
I was walking along the beach one day and I decided to pick up a few stones to see how far out to sea I could throw them.
I hurled one so far that I didn't even see it hit the water. | was captivated by the vastness of the ocean before me.
» I've committed a lot of sins in my life. A number of _ them, I said to myself I'd never get into — but I did. For a long time, I condemned myself. I walked around with a _ heavy heart and a guilty conscience.
One time I went to confession, the priest told me that God allows us to experience failure so we will know His mercy. After confessing my sins, he told me that my penance was simply to be grateful for my blessings. Instead of focusing on my sin, he asked me to focus on the goodness in my life. That helped me a lot.
Our sins are like a mere drop in the ocean of God's mercy. God notices them, but He doesn't focus on them.
He focuses on our potential — on the vast goodness in us that comes from His overflowing heart. He doesn't want us
to be complacent about sin, but He does want us to always = remember that His forgiveness is ready and available for g those who sincerely repent and return to Him. George Tolentino
E Gabriel ([email protected]) § Reflection: Nothing can separate us from His love.
Lord, | repent of my sin and return to You now, Thank You for Your love that does not condemn.
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 - Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 - Luke 18:9-14
TRUST FUND
The Lord is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. — Sirach 35:12-13 It is often said that it is easier to surrender your life to God than to surrender your wallet. A person will consecrate himself when he is touched by a moving worship song but may struggle when the love offering basket comes. Just like the rich young man who obeyed every law since he was a child. He couldn't obey that one thing he lacked to have eternal life: to give up his riches.
You see, surrendering your wealth is not about obedience. It's about trusting.
That's why tithing is a sacred act. You shouldn't tithe because your elder tells you so. You tithe because you're declaring: "Lord, I'm trusting You to provide me with what
I don't have yet by giving you what I have right now."
That's when something becomes sacred — when you turn over to God what is yours. There's not much return of investment if you are merely being obedient. But when you give because you trust Him, the returns are out of this world.
Ronna Ledesma ([email protected]) Reflection: There is a thin line between obedience and trust in everything we do.
| Abba, Father, let not my trust in You waver or falter when I. am in need.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (or Romans 8:12-17) Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5 (or Psalm 68:2, 4, 6-7, 20-21)
Luke 6:12-16 (or Luke 13:10-17)
YOUR SONG
When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles...— Luke 6:13
Beatles road manager Mal Evans accidentally found John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "A Day in the Life," the haunting final song on the 1967 No. | album Sgt. Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band. This double-sided page of writing went under the hammer at the auction house Sotheby's on June 19, 2010 in New York, and sold at $1.2 million!
What's worthless trash to a simple street sweeper is a gold mine to an art collector and a fanatic follower.
Ordinary as fisher folks of their day, Jesus saw immeasurable beauty in His disciples. Unnoticed from the "shelves" of society, Jesus singled them out. He knows He was calling back to Himself fantastic poetry written by God
Himself.
: é Z I know of a love song that has infinitely more value than all auctionable musical pieces. It's entitled "The Song of Your Life." It's written by God. It may be marred by your sins and mistakes, but He still put in a bid to have it back. It cost Him not just millions of dollars but the blood of His Son.
Friend, God is humming in His heart "The Song of Your Life." Hear Him sing His love for you today. Jon éscoto
([email protected]) Reflection: God sings His song for you today. What do you think is a fitting "title" for this song?
Father, let me remember that You have created a happy ending for the "song" You wrote about my life. Thank You.
Sts.
Simon and Jude, Apostles, pray for us.
Romans 8:18-25 - Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 Luke 13:18-21
MY GOD, MY BOSS
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
— Romans 8:25 lama singer. The year 2001 was when God revealed strongly His desire for me to use my talent in a massive way. In 2002,
I started singing background vocals for "Asia's Nightingale"
Lani Misalucha, and soon after, for "The Concert King"
Martin Nievera and "Asia's Songbird" Regine Velasquez. I now remain a freelance session singer.
Freelance work is never easy as it tests one's patience and perseverance big-time. Often, I've waited for projects to happen without knowing that they had already been cancelled. Yet, even more frequently, projects that I never even knew were being conceived come my way. There are the sudden free trips to the US, the Middle East and Asia — where I get to sing and earn at the same time!
It all happens while I just maintain a hopeful disposition believing that my God, who is my Boss, has my entire career planned well for me. Eugene Cailao ([email protected])
Reflection: Why is it so difficult for you to trust in God's promises?
g Father, You are my Creator and God. Allow me to believe and hold on to Your words. You have the best in store for me.
: a
Romans 8:26-30 - Psalm 13:4-5, 6 Luke 13:22-30
INTERCESSOR
The one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the ) Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. — Romans 8:27
I was already asleep in my parents' room but I was awakened in the middle of the night by someone's controlled weeping.
In the dark, 1 could see my mom's figure with her arm around my eldest brother, who was then in his twenties. He was hunched and crying. I couldn't make out what they were talking about but what I knew was that my brother faced a problem big enough to make him cry.
I'm sure that wasn't the first time — or the last — that he got into trouble. All of us had more than our share of misdemeanors in our younger days. But thank God we had a mom who was a prayerful woman. | grew up seeing her attend Mass daily, pray the rosary before she slept and went to prayer meetings every week. Now that I'm a mother, I wonder if she was doing all that because she had six children to pray for! We were blessed to have a mom who was also an intercessor and knew what to pray for us.
Now think about this: the Holy Spirit constantly prays for you and me. And His prayers are perfect because He prays according to God's will! So the next time you get into trouble and don't even know what to pray, call on your Intercessor.
He'll know what to do. Rissa Singson-Kawpeng ([email protected]) Reflection: God sent us His Holy Spirit so He can be with us in every moment of our lives.
Holy Spirit, pray for us.
Romans 8:31-39 - Psalm 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31 Luke 13:31-35
A COMPLIMENT COMPLEMENTS
I will speak my thanks earnestly to the Lord, and in the midst of the throng I will praise him. — Psalm 109:30
I have been married for 31 years. One of the ingredients to our durable marriage is my many ways of complimenting or honoring my wife. Today, she celebrates her birthday and I will do just that — honor her with a verse from the book of Proverbs 31:10, which says: "When one finds a worthy wife, her value is beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize." She is God's gift to me, a suitable partner and a part bigger than myself.
Complimenting somebody has a big effect on the recipient. It raises self-esteem, encourages, energizes and invigorates. It brings joy and gladness, it honors a person.
The person giving the compliment is drawn closer to the recipient and vice-versa. In the process, a relationship is developed and strengthened. And that is life's biggest wealth
— relationships.
The person who honors others, honors God because we follow His commandment to honor one another and encourage each other. God rewarded my honoring. I have a wife who makes my journey in life joyful, meaningful and complete. Rolly Espana ([email protected])
$ & = Qa g
i a Reflection: When was the last time you gave a person a true and meaningful compliment?
Lord, let me be a Barnabas, a person who encourages and builds relationships.
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 + Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 1 John 3:1-3 - Matthew 5:1-12
DO YOU REFRESH OR RIDICULE?
"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you..."
— Matthew 5:11
When I was a kid, I was never good in sports. So I dreaded Physical Education. Whenever I had P-E. class, 1 always wished ' that I'd get sick that day. Because in almost every class, kids
_ would ridicule me. It didn't matter if it was basketball or volleyball or soccer. I was always so uncoordinated.
When I was nine years old, my P.E. was baseball. And I was even more terrified.
True enough, at practice, I couldn't catch the ball — _ even if I had an oversized glove. I was so bad at catching, the teacher assigned me to the farthest spot in the field. And with his booming voice, he told everyone, "Try to hit your ball towards that kid over there," pointing to me. "Because he won't catch the ball, and you'll get a home run!" He laughed loudly, slapping his knee many times. And all the kids laughed with him.
Solemnity of All Saints I pretended to laugh, too. But my little heart was crying inside. For the next 15 years, I never joined any sport.
Be careful with ridicule. Be careful with negative humor. Here's my realization: Nothing hurts more than words. Nothing can be more hurting than humiliation. 80
Sanchez ([email protected]) Reflection: On this All Saints Day, use your words to upbuild, not destroy.
Tame my tongue, Lord, that | may speak only good words to others.
All Saints, pray for us.
2 Maccabees 12:43-46 (or Wisdom 3:1-9) Psalm 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6 (or Psalm 103:8, 10, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18)
Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 (or Romans 6:3-9) John 14:1-6 (or Matthew 25:31-46)
DEATH WORRIER
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me." — John 14:1
I was once a chronic worrier. I would worry about a lot of things. The sad thing about it was that almost all the things
I fretted about were out of my control.
Perhaps the most worrisome of all topics for me was the topic of death. Going to the cemetery reminded me of the inevitable end of my life. The thought of dying scared me.
Having an imaginative mind, I always worried about the way I would die. I sometimes even had nightmares of the most horrible and gruesome way of dying.
But that changed when I realized that what triggered my anxiety was the fear of the unknown. Not knowing what lies in the future made me anxious and restless. It's not a good feeling if you ask me.
But when I came to know Jesus Christ, everything changed. He gave me the best gift ever — peace. I felt so loved, so significant and secure. He calmed my heart by making me focus not on the unknown things surrounding my life, but on the truth that He loves me. His love that transcends even after death. Erika Pauline Mendoza ([email protected])
Reflection: Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrows; it only saps today of its joy. (Leo F. Buscaglia) Lord, thank You for bringing peace to my heart.
All Souls, pray for us.
Wisdom 11:22-12:2 « Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 « Luke 19:1-40
A FRIEND OF GOD
Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." — Luke 19:5
I received a call from an irritated customer because of his poor Internet connection. I did my best to assist him with his query but all I heard were foul words. He called me horrible things that brought my ego down to the pits.
After that call, | was stunned. I talked to my manager about the incident. To my surprise, she told me that she's
_ had similar experiences, some of which were worse than _ mine. I clearly recalled what she told me, "Just brush it off and step up." Then she reminded me that I was one of the top agents in her team.
Maybe you have done wrong in the past. You' ve tagged yourself as a nobody, a sinner.
You cannot undo your past even if you wanted to, Today, Jesus knocks at your door and calls you friend.
Be a Zacchaeus. Invite Him into your heart. Forget your past and start anew with your friend , Jesus. Jan GarloSilan ([email protected])
Reflection: The Heavenly Father welcomes us with open arms into His Kingdom. When was the last time you opened your heart to Jesus to receive His mercy and grace?
Dear Lord, 1 am forever grateful that You accepted me as Your friend, Grant me the grace to extend the same to my fellow brothers and sisters, Amen,
St.
Martin de Porres, religious, pray for us.
Romans 11:29-36 - Psalm 69:30-31, 33-34, 36-37 Luke 14:12-14
MORE BLESSED TO GIVE
"Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be." — Luke 14:13
My friend Susan loves the poor so much and she is so generous. When we were in college, she was our class president. She would organize outreaches for our class. We went to orphanages, homes for the aged and prison cells.
When she got married and had a child, we celebrated the first birthday of her daughter, Yannah, my goddaughter,
. - inan orphanage. The kids in the orphanage had so much fun.
They ate to their hearts' content. We helped feed the little ones. They played games. Smiles, laughters, shouts of joy filled the whole place.
Before we left, the kids serenaded us with some songs and some dance numbers. We went home so blessed.
There's truth in the saying, "It's more blessed to give than to receive."
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son." God always gives the best. He gave us His Son, Jesus. If we want to be like Him, let's give the way He gives by giving our best and giving it generously.
Meann Tee ([email protected]) Reflection: Do you want to be blessed? Give and be a blessing to others.
Father, thank You for all the blessings that we receive from You. Teach us to be generous like You.
St.
Charles Borromeo, bishop, pray for us.
Romans 12:5-16 - Psalm 131:1, 2, 3 Luke 14:15-24
NO BIG OR SMALL ROLES
> Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, _ each of us is to exercise them accordingly. — Romans 12:6
- Lonce had a wound in my right big toe. It wasn't a big wound but the cut was deep. It bled for some minutes before I was able to stop it. But my worries didn't end there because the pain stayed on. The discomfort was too much that I had to make a few adjustments. | stopped wearing closed shoes for a couple of days. I avoided activities that required long walks and I was more cautious about the things around me so that I wouldn't accidently bump my wounded toe. The wound bothered me for a number of days. It was amazing how a small wound located in a trivial part of my body could create a big impact on my daily routine.
This is similar to our individual roles in the church or community. We may think that our role is insignificant. We may think that we don't create any impact. If we don't hold any leadership position or aren't part of any ministry, we assume that our absence won't matter.
But each one of us has a role to fulfill in the church. There are no big or small roles. Like the wound on my toe, the whole body is affected if one "small" part is not working properly.
Be involved in your church so that the Body of Christ may function like a well-oiled machine. Alvin Fabella ([email protected])
Reflection: Are you doing your part in building up the Church of Jesus and are you doing it well?
Jesus, use me to help build up Your Body here on earth.
Venerable Solanus Casey, pray for us.
Romans 13:8-10 - Psalm 112:1-2, 4-5, 9 Luke 14:25-33
THE VALUE OF THINGS
"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." — Luke 14:26
If | slapped a friend just for kicks, she'd probably never talk to me again. If] did the same to my boss, I'd likely be suspended.
Still, if J hit the President, I'd be thrown in jail or shot on site.
See the pattern? Even if the offense is the same, the weight of punishment follows the rank of the person offended. So what do you think happens when we offend God?
As the weight of punishment varies according to the person we offend, so should our love and loyalty naturally change according to the responsibility we have towards people. While my kids were having a conversation, one of them asked, "Who is more important, Mommy or God?" My other kid replied, "God, of course, because Mommy wouldn't be around if it weren't for God."
In being called to follow Christ, we are also called to know the weight and value of our relationships. We are tasked to grow in knowing each person's place in our lives.
God most certainly should always be first. It is not, after all, worthy of being called Christianity if it isn't Christ-centered.
= :
Rod Velez ([email protected]) i= = & z Reflection: If you were to stack rank the people you love, where would God be in the list? No, really?
Ss :
$ s 3 What does it mean, Lord, for the psalmist to say, "A day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere?" He must have really loved You to want to be in Your presence so much. 1 want to love You that way, too.
Romans 14:7-12 + Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 Luke 15:1-10 REUNITED "Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." — Luke 15:6
Babita's biggest nightmare came true: her five-year-old - daughter, Suhani, was missing.
She left her alone at home because she went to visit a nearby hospital while her husband, a vegetable vendor, had already gone to the market early that morning. Together with her husband, they looked for Suhani but she was nowhere to be found. Later, they went to the police station to report the missing child. The police informed them that their child was in the safe custody of Childline. A good Samaritan noticed their frightened-looking daughter around 12 noon. He took her in his custody before he handed her over to the police.
After seven agonizing hours of frantic searching, the child was reunited with her parents.
Just like the parents of Suhani, God searches for those who are lost. And He never stops until He finds them and brings them back to His fold. Each person is valuable to the Lord. No matter how far deep you are in your sins, He continues to love, search and woo you. And when He finally finds you, He rejoices together with His angels and saints.
Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo,com) Reflection: Has someone lost his or her way because of your own doing? What should you do to bring that person back to the right path?
Teach me Your ways, Lord, that | may lead others to You.
St.
Didocus, pray for us.
Romans 15:14-21 - Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 Luke 16:1-8
THE MISSION
A minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the Gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable...— Romans 15:16
Many years ago, I watched The Mission, a movie about three Jesuit priests who brought the Good News and evangelized the Guarani natives in South America. The priests, headed by Fr. Gabriel (Jeremy Irons), established a mission that became a sanctuary and a place of education for the Guarani natives.
By God's grace and the perseverance of the missionary priests, the pagan Guarani natives embraced Christianity.
But trouble began when the land upon which the mission stood was ceded to the Portuguese. The mission was to be closed, and sadly, the Portuguese intended to enslave the natives. Fr. Gabriel and Fr. Rodrigo decided to fight and taught the Guarani natives the art of combat. For a while they were able to defend the mission but they were outnumbered.
The Jesuit priests and their converts perished in defense of the mission, in defense of their faith.
The Jesuit priests brought the Gospel to the pagan Guarani natives. Their martyrdom inspired more missionary priests to serve and defend indigenous people all over the world so that : j Christ's mission may continue to this day. DinaPecaia(dpecana@yahoacom)
Reflection: God is a God of missions. He wills missions. He commands missions. He demands missions. He made missions possible through His Son. He made missions actual in sending the Holy Spirit. (George W. Peters) i God of missions, grant me the courage to go wherever You lead me that 1 may be Your hands and feet in serving those who have yet to know You.
Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 « Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17 - John 2:43-22
_ HOUSE OF GOD
"Zeal for your house will consume me." — John 2:17
The Binondo Church is one of the most beautiful churches in the Philippines with its amazing frescos, intricate altar, and Spanish baroque architecture that dates back 400 years.
In contrast, the Binondo Chinese Parish, located just at the back of the Binondo Church, seems so small, boring and utterly plain. Then I started to notice the fresh flowers that _ are beautifully arranged every week. I began to appreciate the different choirs who shared their talents and made every
_ Mass more vibrant and sincere. I learned to value the lectors and commentators who took extra care to pronounce the i < English words clearly despite their Chinese ancestry. The work of volunteers transformed the plain parish into a warm and welcoming place of worship, a place to call home.
Church architecture and design does matter. It shows how we try to reflect God's glory by praising and honoring
Him through the material things He has provided. But each of us should contribute something so that the church will not just be a museum of art, but a living Church proclaiming the ! i goodness of God. CecilLim ([email protected])
REFLECTION: What was done here, as these walls were rising, is reproduced when we bring together those who believe in Christ... by catechizing, baptism and instruction they are, as it were, shaped, squared and planed by the hands of the workers and artisans.
Nevertheless, they do not make a house for the Lord until they are fitted together through love. (St. Augustine)
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings; that in all our works begun, continued and ended in You, we may glorify Your Holy Name.
St.
Benignus, pray for us.
2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 + Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 - Luke 20:27-38
HAPPY AND SAD DAY
"He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for to him all are alive." — Luke 20:38
My dad would have turned 73 years old yesterday. I can imagine him waking up early to get ready for Mass. He would wear a red polo shirt with his favorite jeans. Over the years,
: _ Dad would wear a red top for his birthday because he says it's a color for celebration. In church, he would sit at the left side, the area beside the park from where the cool breeze blows. Mom and I would be with him as he gives thanks to the Lord for the blessing of another year in life.
Yesterday, November 9, was both a happy and sad day as I remembered my beloved dad who passed away four years ago. Yesterday, it was only my mom and I who woke up early for Mass. Yesterday, it was only Mom and I who thanked the Lord for giving us 40 years with Dad.
But I believe Dad also celebrated his special day ina different way. I believe he wore white for purity. Instead of Mass, I believe Dad is at the heavenly throne room, singing praises to God with the angels and saints.
Dad may no longer be with us in this earthly life but I know he lives eternally in heaven. Praise the Lord, the God of the living, for to Him all are alive! Dina Pecaiia ([email protected])
Reflection: Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Psalm 23:6) Lord, give me the grace to live a life worthy of spending eternity with You in heaven.
St.
Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church, pray for us.
Wisdom 1:1-7 « Psalm 139:1-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10 Luke 17:1-6
CAN'T HIDE THE TRUTH FOREVER
Because God is the witness of the inmost self.— Wisdom 1:6
Last year, the hearings on the impeachment case against _ Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona filled the daily news.
This isn't the first time that we have witnessed - investigations like this. We've seen it all — Ninoy's assassination, the Vizconde massacre, Maguindanao
- massacre, Estrada's impeachment, and even the much- - celebrated Katrina Halili-Hayden Kho sex video scandal.
Despite voluminous evidences and countless testimonies presented, we cannot know for sure the truth behind the cases.
A poor set of lawyers, even if they possess the truth, can still be outwitted in court. No matter how glaring the truth is, legalism and, sadly, corruption still rule.
But there's one Judge who doesn't need all those evidences and witnesses to know the truth. He knows everything — and one day, His court will open and no one can escape His brand of justice.
Let's make sure we have not denied others their right to life and freedom by concealing the truth, Tess
Atienza (svp_tvatienza@ yahoo.com) Reflection: Do you have a tendency to conceal the truth when you're pushed against the wall?
Forgive me, Lord, for the many times | have suppressed the truth to save myself, St.
Martin of Tours, bishop, pray for us.
Wisdom 2:23-3:9 - Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19 Luke 17:7-10
MY PARKING ATTENDANT
"We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do." — Luke 17:10
"Your unworthy servant..." I was struck with these words as the Archbishop of Port Moresby was saying the prayer at a Mass referring to himself being Bishop of the Diocese.
Maybe this is a regular prayer but this time, it rang differently in my ear.
On another occasion, the good Archbishop, who arrived a minute ahead of me at a Talleres Convent, guided me with hand signals as I parked my car.
"This is too much!" | mumbled to myself. "The Archbishop as my parking attendant?"
Considering his stature, the Archbishop's humility and readiness to serve his flock touched me deeply.
As a servant-leader, it's natural to delegate the "dirty jobs" to the "low ranking" servants. But not with this man of God. He really lives up to the title of "servant." He lives up to what Jesus said, "If anyone serves me, he must follow me"
(John 12:26). Just like our Lord, He "came not to be served but to serve" (Matthew 20:28). Danny lariman ([email protected])
Reflection: Are you following the footsteps of the Lord whom you serve?
Lord, I am sorry for being "title-oriented" as I serve You. Grant me the grace to serve You in others. Amen.
St.
Josaphat, bishop and martyr, pray for us.
Wisdom 6:1-11 - Psalm 82:3-4, 6-7 Luke 17:11-19
LIBERATING HOPE
Desire therefore my words; long for them and you will be instructed, _ — Wisdom 6:11 i Every New Year's Eve, | seek God's message through a word from Scripture, with my mind focused on receiving it as an instruction. This year, | got Lamentations 3:21. 1 didn't understand it at the beginning. But not too long after,
J aserious situation caused me to resign from my real estate company affiliation. | had worked with that company for over a decade and leaving it was not easy.
But God's Word from Lamentations rang in my mind. He promised that the "favors of the Lord will not be exhausted,
His mercies are not spent; these are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness." Many other messages from Him made me peaceful in my decision. I even felt a sense of liberation and freedom. He placed hopeful joy in my heart through His Word.
I claimed His promise that "to the faithful, He is faithful." | know in my heart that when I put my hope and trust in Him, the God of the universe will cause prosperity and abundance to fill my future. Donna £spaia ([email protected])
Reflection: The Lord's Word is alive and effective and He is faithful and true in fulfilling His promises.
Help me, Lord, to be grateful and glad when Your gracious hand is upon me.
St.
Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin, pray for us.
Wisdom 7:22-8:1 - Psalm 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175 Luke 17:20-25
ON WISDOM
She is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness. — Wisdom 7:26
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
I love this prayer. I was in college when I first heard it from my professor and, for some reason, I fell in love with its wisdom.
When I was active in a Charismatic community, I would often ask the Lord for this particular gift of the Holy Spirit.
I've read quite a number of biographies and autobiographies of saints and holy people. If there is anything common among several of them, it is wisdom. With gentle courage, they wouldn't budge from the right thing to do.
Using saints as my model, my formula of wisdom is: an active prayer life + total surrender to the Lord = wisdom.
That's because on our own strength, power and resources, I'm convinced it is next to impossible to be wise. Gisty Galang
([email protected]) Reflection: Do you value intelligence, popularity, achievement and other mundane things over the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Lord Jesus, help us to tune in to Your Holy Spirit all the days of our life so g that we may be endowed with wisdom and win the Father's deep friendship.
Wisdom 13:1-9 - Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5 Luke 17:26-37
FIND GOD IN ALL THINGS
For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen. — Wisdom 13:5
_ My spirituality is summed up in the title above: "Find God in = ail things." (No, that's not my original writing.
The Ignatians ® and Jesuits beat me to that.) Because yes, God can and should be experienced in His creation. In fact, we should see God in every person — God's highest creation.
But no, you shouldn't start worshiping everything and every person as God. That's what some people initially thought I was — a long-haired New Age guru who promoted pantheism, the belief that "all things are God." That's not what I believe. That's not what the Catholic Church believes.
I believe that the beauty of creation should point you to its Creator. "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm
19:1). It would be foolish to marvel at a work of art and miss knowing and appreciating its artist.
Above all, the greatest honor we could give the Creator is when we become faithful caretakers and responsible stewards of the creation He has entrusted to us. Alvin Barcelona ([email protected])
Reflection: For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its Lord? (Wisdom 13:9) O Divine Creator, lead me to see Your majesty, Your greatness, Your goodness and love in the beauty of Your creation. Let me honor You in Your work by taking good care of it. Amen St.
Albert the Great, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.
Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 - Psalm 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43 Luke 18:1-8
INDESCRIBABLE
For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew...
— Wisdom 19:6
_ There was a time that I asked myself if there was a God. I was in my teens, and the pressure of adolescence and the y _ need to find my own identity was at its peak. I was young in * my faith and had a streak of asking.
One night, I had an epiphany. I was looking at the stars '7 and marveling at creation — and there I knew that God was revealing Himself to me. Thinking of the complexity of the human body and the life cycle of plants and animals, I knew in my heart that God was real — He created all these things. I began to think that what I see all around me could not have been caused by some random accident. The song
Indescribable by Laura Story captured what I felt then:
Indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing, God. All powerful, untameable, Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim You are amazing, God God manifests Himself in creation, at Mass and in people. Do you feel His presence? Jun Asis ([email protected])
Reflection: God reveals Himself daily. Are you aware of His presence?
Lord, help me to see You in Your wonderful creation. And most especially, help me to see You in people, Your most wonderful creation.
Malachi 3:19-20 « Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 - Luke 24:5-19
ALMIGHTY ALLY
"Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you..." — Luke 21:12
When I was still working, I was never an aggressive person when it came to my career. I just did my work to the very best of my ability. When I got appreciated and promoted, thanks be to God! When I wasn't, it was alright.
You could say that it was my superiors who drew my career path. They believed in me, and appreciated and acknowledged my efforts. | went up the ranks without really aiming for it. | was never threatened when there were new incoming officers. Competition was never in my mind. I just enjoyed my job and worked my heart out.
But even if | only desired what was good for everyone, there were still some coworkers who didn't like me and eventually persecuted me. They interpreted my intentions negatively, they questioned my capabilities, and they looked down on my accomplishments. Yes, | got hurt, but, with God's grace, I remained loving and kind to them. As our
Lord promised, though everyone may hate us, with Him we shall not perish. We just have to stand firm and we will win in life, because we have an Almighty Ally who shall always stand for us! Sof Saura ([email protected])
Reflection: Are there people who are persecuting you? Don't worry for God is with you.
Lord, thank You for we know that You are always with us. You will never leave us or abandon us.
St.
Elizabeth of Hungary, religious, pray for us.
Acts 28:11-16, 30-31 (or 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63) Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 - Matthew 14:22-33 (or Luke 18:35-43)
STAGE FRIGHT
"Lord, | want to see," he replied. — Luke 18:41
I don't preach as often as my friends who are Feast builders.
While they preach almost every day, I do so only when a company, prayer group or school invites me. So compared to them, I'd say I'm more nervous when I am onstage.
At the same time, I suffer from another form of stage fright. Whenever I go up on a platform to preach, I know that the spotlight shines, not just on me as I deliver my talk, but on my whole life as well. People can freely scrutinize
— and even criticize — me and how I live.
I take the stage with holy fear and awe knowing that I am merely a spokesman of the Lord of the universe. I don't want to misrepresent Him or give Him a bad reputation for choosing His spokespersons so poorly.
So I pray for the grace to see the truth behind my motives and actions. To see the areas in my life where I do not practice what I preach. To see that when people applaud or praise me, the glory is the Lord's, not mine.
Paul, Apostle Because ultimately, the only applause that matters is that which comes from my audience of One. Rissa Singson-Kawpeng
([email protected]) Reflection: Practice what you preach. But even better, preach what you practice.
Lord, let me see the darkness in my life that | may let Your light shine.
St.
Rose Philippine Duchesne, pray for us.
2 Maccabees 6:18-31 + Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 Luke 19:1-10 se {
THE CHASE
| _ "For the son of man has come to seek and save what was lost."
— _ — Luke 19:10
= The gate was left open.
She stormed out of the house and ran as fast as she could.
She prayed repeatedly while cars were honking furiously at her. Her bedroom slippers were hard to run in but she didn't
| care. She shouted like a crazy woman while beens. in the don' die!"
Twix and Oreo were my family's Shitzu dogs, and the woman running after them was my sister who hated our
Shitzu dogs.
— If my sister risked her life for two dogs she doesn't even like, can you just imagine how fast Jesus will run after you,
His most loved creation?
You may be drowning in sin right now. Everything may be falling apart. You might be stuck in idleness, or simply, tiredness may have consumed you.
Whatever state you are in right now, don't panic. The Lord will never lose sight of you. Know that you're precious and He will do everything to fill your life with overflowing love and peace. Climb your sycamore tree of troubles today and allow the Lord to save you! Pia Angelica Suiza ([email protected])
Reflection: What is hindering you from climbing your sycamore tree?
— TE My Savior, look into my heart right now and see how much I long for You.
Lift me up today! Amen St.
Agnes of Assisi, pray for us.
2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 » Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15 Luke 19:11-28 INBOX Will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law. — 2 Maccabees 7:23
One time, I was waiting for important messages on my cell phone, but my inbox was full. The problem with a full inbox is that you can't receive any more incoming messages. So I hurriedly erased a lot of messages. After a while, a deluge of messages came in. After reading them, I was so frustrated because I could have responded immediately or availed of opportunities had I received those messages earlier. Lesson learned: you have to empty yourself first before you can have your fill again.
Do you feel empty? Perhaps it's because you are full — full of your former ways of thinking, your frustrations, your sins, your hurts and bad habits. I have a suggestion.
Why don't you let go of them so you can be open for what can come after? Let go of your past in exchange for your possibilities. Let go of what is good in place of what is better.
It's only when we empty ourselves that we will understand how greatly and how desperately we need God to enter our lives.
Let your life be filled up by your giving up!
How's your inbox lately? Jonathan Yogawin (jyogawin@gmailcom) Reflection: What is that one thing you need to give up and let go?
Give it to God today. And let Him heal and complete you.
Lord, grant me the honesty and courage to submit to You all areas of my life. J trust You to fill me up. May Your miracles happen!
St.
Edmund Rich, pray for us,
Zechariah 2:14-17 (or 1 Maccabees 2:15-29) Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55 (or Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15) «
Matthew bested oe Luke 19:41-44)
A NEW EXPERIENCE
"You did not recognize the time of your visitation from God."
— Luke 19:44
I floated in the deep as the sun set over the South China Sea.
An amber sky faded to deep purple, stars hanging overhead.
"God is here," I thought to myself — here in the wild, miles from where I was used to finding Him. In awe of my Creator, i I felt energized to share Him with others. i i ' a I had long been used to experiencing God through religious programs. I'd tell my friends, "Come and experience God at this Christian event." And it was true.
They would experience God there.
But for years, I had grown lazy to seek God elsewhere, reinforcing the idea within myself that the world outside my religious bubble had less of God's presence.
God is waiting to be found everywhere. In Scripture, Jacob exclaims, "Surely the Lord is in this place — and I did not know it!" (Genesis 28:16). As I floated in the ocean one evening, I learned that venturing out to find God outside conventional walls can make for beautiful moments of worship. kiddo Cosio (twitter. com/kiddocosio)
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Reflection: Find God in a fresh experience. For some, that might mean climbing a mountain, or for others, going back to Mass after a long absence. What is it for you?
Dear God, give me the diligence to seek You everywhere.
St.
Gelasius, pray for us. e
1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59 (or Hosea 2:16, 17, 21-22) 1 Chronicles 29:10, 11, 11-12, 12 (or Psalm 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17)
Luke 19:45-48 (or Matthew 25:1-13)
TEMPLE MAKEOVER
"Tt is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.'"— Luke 19:46
People want change. But they're confused as to what needs to be changed. This confusion is the reason why modern-day people are dissatisfied.
They're dissatisfied with their face. They're dissatisfied with their complexion. They're dissatisfied with their waistline. They're dissatisfied with their height (ahem).
They're dissatisfied with their relationships. They're dissatisfied with their friends. They're dissatisfied with their boyfriend or girlfriend. They're dissatisfied with their school or job. They're dissatisfied with their gender.
The result? People are robbed of real joy! They're contaminated with the "out-there-icitis." They look for the beauty out there. Some do the absurd: they have a facelift, nose-lift, tummy-tuck, botox, bariatric surgery, even a sex change! They pay costly amounts for a major makeover.
They don't know that God is the Ultimate Beauty Secret.
You are the Temple of God. Let Him give you an internal extreme makeover. Because God doesn't look at your appearance but your heart. Then inner beauty grows from the inside out! obet Cabrillas ([email protected])
Reflection: What does love look like? It has hands to help others.
It has feet to hasten to the poor and the needy. It has eyes to see the misery and want. It has ears to hear the sigh and the sorrows of men. (St. Augustine) St.
Cecilia, virgin and martyr, pray for us.
Jesus, let me be a beautiful temple of Your presence. Amen,
1 Maccabees 6:1-13 + Psalm 9:2-3, 4, 6, 16, 19 Luke 20:27-40
LIFE BEGINS AT 80
"He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive." — Luke 20:38
; Many people usually get ready tedie when they hit their 60s.
_ Sister Madonna Buder, a Roman Catholic nun, born July 24, 1930, began physical training at age 48 and completed her first Ironman competition at age 55.
She is well-known in the triathlon community for her achievements in her age group races. She has completed over 325 triathlons, including 45 Ironman distances. At the 2005
_ Hawaii Ironman, at age 75, this nun became the oldest woman ever to complete the race, finishing one hour before the 17-hour midnight cut-off time.
At the 2006 Hawaii Ironman, at age 76, she again became the oldest woman ever to complete the race, finishing with a time of 16:59:03. Was it easy? No! At one point, the wind on the big island of Hawaii was so strong that it lifted her from her bike and she became the "flying nun"!
On October 5, 2010 Sister Madonna released her autobiography, The Grace to Race: The Wisdom and Inspiration of the 80-Year-Old World Champion Triathlete known as the Iron Nun. A year later, in October 2011, at age
81, she completed an Iron Man triathlon in less than 17 hours.
She is not yet done. Neither are we.
God is truly the God of the living!
Praise God for life! Ariel Driz ([email protected]) Reflection: Are you truly using your life to live?
1 am thankful, Lord, for people whe inspire me to live life to the full. May ! do so for Your glory! Amen.
St.
Clement |, pope and martyr, pray for us.
2 Samuel 5:1-3 - Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 Colossians 1:12-20 - Luke 23:35-43 IL DUCE He is the image of the invisible God. — Colossians 1:15
When we think of the majority of kings throughout history, we think of rich men decked out in fur and gold who order servants around day in and day out — often wasteful, arrogant and vile.
An example of one of these kings is the duke of fascism, Benito Mussolini. He was an Italian dictator who claimed dominion over the world in the twentieth century by using brutal force and suppressing personal liberties to create his idea of a perfect state. Also known as // Duce (Italian for "the duke," not "the douchebag"), it was because of him that Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King in 1925
— as a reminder to all Christians that Christ's Kingship in heaven trumps any ruler on earth, however humanly powerful they may be.
As we celebrate Christ the King, let us reflect on how we share the Good News to those around us, especially those who are skeptical about our faith. Let the celebration be a reminder that lavishness, force and arrogance were never
Christ's ways for evangelizing others, although He is an all-powerful King. RiaMacasaet (ria [email protected])
Reflection: Think of ways to share Christ with others without self-righteousness or force.
Lord, give me the humility to serve others in love, simplicity and acceptance.
St.
Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, pray for us.
Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 - Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Luke 21:1-4
7] ALIFE WELL LIVED
"But she, from her poverty, west offered her whole livelihood."
— Luke 21:4
Paul Aguas, my father-in-law, was a man who loved God.
When he was young, he was a man of the world. He married at a young age and had a family, He earned his first million at the age of 23. He was successful in his endeavors
_ and enjoyed life to the hilt.
In 1972, he was invited to attend a prayer meeting.
; Along with his family, the Lord touched them and changed their lives forever.
Paul Aguas and his family chose to live an austere life similar to that of St. Francis of Assisi. He gave up his material wealth and spent the rest of his life preaching and teaching the Word of God.
In 1993, Paul Aguas passed away.
But to this day, the lives he has changed, the lives he has enriched, and the people he has touched continue to tell us that he was a man who gave up everything for the sake of the Kingdom of God. His was a life well lived.
Just like the widow in the Gospel reading today, he gave everything he had as an offering to God. Marisa Aguas (jojangaguas@ yahoo.com) Reflection: Think of others more than yourself — today and always.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous St.
Columban, pray for us.
Daniel 2:31-45 + Daniel 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61 Luke 21:5-11
THE RIGHT VOICE
"See that you not be deceived." — Luke 21:8
[had the biggest crush on her, but I never actually met her. One day, my phone rang and her friend told me my crush wanted to speak to me.I got a sudden rush of excitement. "She wants to talk to me?!?!" But before I could piece that puzzle together, she said hello. We chatted for a few seconds, but it seemed
> like eternity. I couldn't believe we were conversing for the first time! After a while, though, I started to hear giggling in the ____ background. Then I realized her whole barkada was there. All
_ of a sudden, the first girl who called me got the phone from my crush and laughingly apologized for the prank they had just pulled. I didn't just have a conversation with my crush.
She was someone else. I wept a bit, but I eventually got over it. After all, I was only in grade six.
Why didn't I recognize her voice? Well, because I never actually talked to her before. It's the same in our spiritual life. When we lack familiarity with God's voice, we tend to be fooled by what other voices tell us. We get misled. But there are many ways to know Him better: reading the Bible and supplementary readings, hanging out with good friends in the faith, spending time in prayer, and attending gatherings like The Feast. If we know Him, we will recognize His voice.
And when we do, we can be led by His words of eternal life.
George Tolentino Gabriel ([email protected]) Reflection: Do you make an effort to know God's voice better?
Oh, I want to know You more. Deep within my soul, 1 want to know You.
Lord, I want to know You. (Steve Green) St.
Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us.
Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 + Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 Luke 21:12-19
GOD IS MY VINDICATOR
Q "Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand."
S -Luke 21:14
; It was March+2003 when I became president of a sports organization. At first, the members were all excited, but as months went by, I heard that my vice president was spreading rumors that I was a corrupt leader and I was using my position to solicit money for my personal use.
I tried to explain my side and presented documents to _ prove my innocence. But I was outnumbered because the other officers believed him and were already planning a coup
_ d'etat to oust me. When | learned that, I immediately resigned _ and gave up my position to my vice president. | prayed hard because God knows the truth and my conscience was clean. I promised Him that I wouldn't take revenge because
] believe that He is my vindicator. True enough, two months later, a friend told me that the group I had organized was dissolved because nobody believed in the leadership of the vice president and he had just been envious of my position,
People approached and even told me that the association was better during my term. I felt vindicated after hearing them say that. Monty Mendigoria ([email protected])
Reflection: When the world is against you, don't despair. They hated Jesus, too.
Lord, thank You for Your everyday protection. Send Your Holy Spirit to be my guide in managing Your business here on earth.
Cover me with Your armor of love always. Amen.
St.
Francesco Antonio Fasani, pray for us.
Daniel 6:12-28 - Daniel 3:68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 ' Luke 21:20-28
BUY A SADDLE
"But when these signs begin to happen, Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." — Luke 21:28
Wise words from the old American West read, "If somebody calls you a horse's rear, ignore it. If two people call you a horse's rear, look in the mirror. If three people call you a horse's rear, buy a saddle."
God, by His grace, sends "signs" to call our attention. He doesn't necessarily use falling constellations, or the splitting of mountains in the middle, or an apparition in the grotto, but simple reminders from people you love.
If three of your respected and trusted loved ones say, "You've been workaholic and you need to give time to your kids" — buy a saddle. If another three of their kind say,
"You're neglecting your husband" — buy a saddle. If they say, "Get serious about your financial life" — buy a saddle.
If they say, ""You've been failing and you need to get serious with your studies" — buy a saddle.
Advent means "more of Jesus' victory coming into your life" this season. He may be sending signs. It's never usually the dramatic or the headline kind, but it's convicting nevertheless. So rejoice, for "redemption is near" in that specific area of your life. Obey Him. Work and pray hard.
Your miracle is coming! Jon Escoto ([email protected]) Reflection: What signs have God been sending you recently?
Jesus, | need more of You in the areas of my life that need breakthroughs.
Let me be sensitive to Your "signs."
St.
James of Marche, pray for us.
Daniel 7:2-14 - Daniel 3:75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 Luke 21:29-33
ALWAYS TRUE
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." — Luke 21:33
I got pregnant for the second time without any medical intervention, despite my condition of having polycystic ovaries. Thus, we consider our second baby boy another gift from God. That's orie reason also why we named him Mateo.
But as most parents know, especially those with newborns, having another child means another mouth to feed, clothe and care for. It means another child who will go through a series of vaccines almost every month during his first year of life. Sometimes I am tempted to worry if my husband and I would be able to give our newborn son all that he needs. But remembering God's promise of provision and how faithful He has been in giving us timely provisions for our first child helps me overcome this doubt.
Also, the many opportunities that God gives me to earn from home through my passions such as writing and HR consulting are testaments to God's Word being true
| i : at all times. No matter how many trials and temptations I encounter, I know that they will eventually pass away while the promises of my Lord and Savior will always hold true.
Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag ([email protected]) Reflection: How much do you trust in God's promises to you?
Does it serve as your life's anchor during turbulent times?
Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to believe every word that You say so that whatever | encounter in life, 1 will stand firm, confident that You will save me,
Romans 10:9-18 - Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 14 Matthew 4:18-22
THE PRICE AND PRIZE OF
0 OBEDIENCE
The ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. — Psalm 19:10
1 am a sucker for rules. Maybe it has something to do with my melancholic temperament. Maybe it has something to do with positive punishment, which was reinforced in school all throughout my childhood and adolescent days.
The OC (obsessive compulsive) in me wants to follow rules because I want a sense of predictability and control over my environment. I also long for peace and order. God is a God of order after all.
Before I became a part of a Charismatic community, I used to obey God out of fear. Now, I strive to obey Him out of my love for Him. Even though I prided myself as an obedient daughter of my Papa God, boy, was it hard to obey
Him, especially whenever He'd ask me to let go of someone I really thought I wanted. But it was all worth the pain, tears and sacrifice. i i As I write this, I have found my OTL (One True Love) after 30 long years of patiently waiting for him. God is skillfully writing my love story as my OTL and I take our time. &ms Sy Chan ([email protected])
Reflection: I know the power obedience has of making things easy which seem impossible. (St. Teresa of Avila)
"Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold..." (St. Andrew Christmas Novena) St.
Andrew, Apostle, pray for us.
Isaiah 2:1-5 - Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Romans 13:11-14 - Matthew 24:37-44
DO IT GOD'S WAY
Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. — Romans 13:12
Tom was a medical representative for a pharmaceutical company. In his province, it was standard procedure that med reps drank with doctors and gave them women. Being the 2 rookie in the job, he was ashamed to decline, even if his bs conscience was telling him it was wrong.
So he went along and would drink only three bottles at the most. And while his companions would take their bar girl to a motel, he'd just chat with his the entire evening. But one day, he asked himself, "Am I more concerned about losing my face over losing my soul?" So he went to his boss and said, "Sir,
I've decided I won't be drinking and offering women to my clients anymore." His boss was shocked. He asked, "Are you crazy? Why?" Tom said, "I'm a renewed Catholic. I can't go against my faith." The boss told him sternly, "Mark my words, you'll lose your job." Tom said, "Watch how God will work."
The next day, Tom gave Kerygma magazines to the doctors. Then he gave them Didache and then
Companion. He also worked doubly hard. In three months, Tom became the top-selling, top-performing med rep in the entire region.
It takes courage to go against the tide and stand up for what you believe in. But in the end, God will reward you a thousandfold. 80 Sanchez ([email protected])
Reflection: Are you doing something against your faith? Pray for the courage to stop now.
Blessed john of Vercelli, pray for us.
Grant me the grace, Lord, to follow You at all costs.
Isaiah 4:2-6 - Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Matthew 8:5-11 S.O.S.
"Lord, 1 am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." — Matthew 8:8
I must admit I have the $.0.S. syndrome. The "Same Old Sins" syndrome. Many times, I would catch myself going to confession bearing not new sins, but old, repeated ones. And each time, I would feel guilty because I know I should have stopped myself from doing them, but I had failed again. I ask myself, "Should I even dare say sorry to God after all these?
Is my sorry sincere? Am I sure that I won't do it anymore?"
But I know that these are all insults to God's immense ~ Jove for me. Who am I to doubt God's mercy and forgiveness?
Once again, I am reassured that my sins are a tiny speck compared to the healing and transforming love of God! It is by this reassurance that | humbly ask for God's pardon through confession.
I know that I will never be worthy of God's love. But the beauty of His love is that He makes you worthy. He forgives you so that you forgive yourself. He transforms your Same
Old Sins because He is the Savior of Souls.
The centurion knew that, too. He was not worthy of God's healing. But because of his faith, Jesus entered his life and changed him forever! Migs Ramirez ([email protected])
Reflection: Have faith in the immense mercy of the Lord and allow Jesus to change your life forever.
Dear Jesus, as we prepare for Your birth into the world, may You also be born in my heart. Help me make myself worthy of Your coming, so that I may enjoy Your presence fully, Amen.
Blessed Rafael Chylinski, pray for us.
Isaiah 11:1-10 - Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Luke 10:21-24
a AND THE WINNER IS...
"T give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although j you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike." — Luke 10:21
~ The clock ticked to... 3 seconds... 2 ... then the buzzer _ sounded. Game over. The crowd jumped from their seats.
- _ We were the champion for the second time in a row in the — Altar Servers Basketball League. High fives, big hugs and _ jumping here and there showed our joy. We went home and celebrated.
During the party, our parish priest congratulated the team and gave each of us words of affirmation. He reminded us that all things come from God, and that our skills and talents that helped us win the championships are blessings
He bestowed on us. With this in mind, we began and ended our celebration with a prayer to show our gratitude for the God-given talents He entrusted to us.
What blessing did you receive today? Maybe you've been promoted or closed a high-paying deal. Maybe you just passed an exam or received recognition. Or you just feel extra blessed today. Remember this, at the end of the day, may we have the heart to acknowledge that all our blessings came from the Lord and we should glorify Him. Jen Garo Silan
([email protected]) Reflection: "Thank you" is commonly known but barely used.
Have you thanked someone today? Have you thanked God today?
Dear Jesus, grant me a grateful heart so that in all things, | will see Your glory in my life St.
Francis Xavier, priest, pray for us.
Isaiah 25:6-10 - Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5,6 Matthew 15:29-37
IMMORTAL'S LONGGANISA
Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast. — Isaiah 25:6
Since we're from the Quezon province, a favorite breakfast fare in our home is the Lucban longganisa (native sausage).
My elder son loves this so much; it's the only longganisa he eats. He's actually very particular about food and has funny descriptions for things he doesn't like.
Once I cooked another kind of longganisa. He asked, _ "Mom, why do we have mortal's longganisa?"
"What is mortal's longganisa?" I wondered.
"It's the one that unfortunate people eat," he replied, feeling privileged to always eat the Lucban longganisa. As a mother, I want to give my children the best, so I've since
_ removed the other kinds of longganisa from my grocery list.
Our Father God also delights in giving us the best. He prepares a feast with His choicest blessings and finest graces every day — better than ambrosia or immortal's /ongganisa.
His most precious offering is something we celebrate this month: the gift of His Son, Jesus.
Before we get drowned by the holiday frenzy, let's pause to thank God for the blessings He put on our table this year.
Let's make Jesus the center of all our festivities. Lelia M.
Santiago ([email protected]) Reflection: Is there a more meaningful way to celebrate Christmas this year?
Father God, thank You for Your lavish gifts, especially for sending Your only Son to save us.
St.
John Damascene, priest and doctor of the Church, pray for us.
Isaiah 26:1-6 - Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27 Matthew 7:21, 24-27
THE POWER OF A SONG
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. — Isaiah 26:14
J It was the birthday of Tess, a sister in community, that day.
Her birthday coincided with our community's monthly ty assembly. So Tess received a shower of personal greetings a and honoring from brothers and sisters. | am sure she also
~ had a lot of greetings via text, email and phone calls that day.
But one of the more special greetings she received that day was a song. Around 15 kids from our community lined up in front of her to sing for her. Each of them also offered
_ her a flower. I saw the glow on her face as the kids sang.
What song did the kids render? Nothing extraordinary.
They sang the regular version of "happy birthday!" It was a simple and familiar song. A performance by kids with zero rehearsal but offered with sincerity and love. The offering was simple but the joy it gave Tess was incredible.
I think offering a song to God also makes the same impact. It allows the one offering the song the chance to present his sincere love to God in another form.
As the saying goes, "One who offers a song to God in worship prays twice."
Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo,com) Reflection: Offering songs of worship to God is also a form of honoring and thanking Him. Put some variety in your prayer time today by singing your praise to God.
Let my life be a love song to You, Jesus.
St.
Sabas, pray for us.
Isaiah 29:17-24 - Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 Matthew 9:27-31
WHY WAIT?
As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, "Son of David, have pity on us!" — Matthew 9:27
My friend Patricia used to be a youth leader, one of the best and inspiring in fact. But when she started working, things slowly changed. She stopped receiving nourishment from her spiritual family and her life revolved around her high-paying, high-stress job and her boyfriend. Her world crumbled when her boyfriend ended the relationship and she eventually found out that another girl was part of the reason. It was only after that when she started attending the prayer meeting regularly.
Some people wait for their lives to crumble or for their problems to become so complicated before they start looking for Jesus.
Some' people wait to get sick literally or figuratively before they look for Jesus to help them.
Some people will wait until they're at the end of their rope before they think of turning to Jesus.
Of course, the Lord will never say no to us, but why do you have to allow yourself to experience such anguish and suffering?
Didn't the doctors say that prevention is always better than the cure? JPaul Hernandez ([email protected])
Reflection: What are the areas in your life that you think are not healthy?
Jesus, remind me to seek You first even before trouble comes.
Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 - Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5, 6-8
THE GUIDING VOICE
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: "This is the way; walk in it." — Isaiah 30:21
Lea was sent by her company fo Xian, China for a four-day business trip. Since there was no direct flight to Xian, she z _ made a stopover in Shanghai and spent the night in a hotel.
_ The following morning, she went to the domestic airport to catch her flight. But many flights were canceled due to a blizzard, causing many passengers to be stranded. Because of the language barrier, she couldn't figure out where she should check in her baggage. Fearing that she might miss her flight, she prayed to the Lord for guidance.
Then she heard a voice-over announcement in Mandarin.
Surprisingly, she somehow understood what was announced.
Three people out of the multitude of stranded passengers stood up and ran, and she followed them... to the check-in counter for the flight going to Xian.
In today's first reading, God spoke about His promises for the people of Jerusalem. In verse 21, God assures us that He will give clear direction as to where we should go.
In our world full of confusion, it's hard to know which way to go. But if we are attuned to the voice of God at all times and follow His ways, He will lead us to the right path. Judith
Concepcion ([email protected]) Reflection: Whose voice do you hear and follow?
Lord, help me to be sensitive to Your leading that | may not stray from Your path St.
Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.
Isaiah 11:1-10 » Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Romans 15:4-9 . Matthew 3:1-12
THE LIVING WORD
Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.— Romans 15:4
The Word of God is alive. How else are we able to draw wisdom to guide us in the same way that people from the time of Moses, Jesus and the Apostles did? It amazes me that even though the problems and circumstances that people faced in the past are different from what we experience today, Scripture remains constant in teaching us that love — the love of God and the love of neighbor — is the solution to our concerns.
Even more amazing is that in spite of the chaos, desperation and confusion our problems bring us, Scripture continues to convey to us a message of hope — hope in Jesus who'rose victorious over death and sin. Our Blessed
Mother Mary placed her hope in God's Word to her during the Annunciation. That is why she gave her fiat wholeheartedly and in joyous anticipation of the great things God will do through her simple yes.
Like Mary, let us put our hope in God's Word and see the amazing things He will do in our lives. Dina Pecaia ([email protected])
Reflection: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) :
; é i Lord, give me the grace to immerse my heart and soul in the deep wisdom of the Scriptures that I may live my life in accordance to Your will.
Genesis 3:9-15, 20 + Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 - Luke 1:26-38 Mary said, "Behold, | am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. — Luke 1:38
Growing up I thought the Immaculate Conception was about Mary being pregnant though she was a virgin. Many
Christians still think that. But, it's actually about Mary being ; conceived in her mother's womb without sin. She was born
_ free from the original sin! It was her destiny to be that sinless woman who would be the mother of the Messiah.
In today's Gospel, that moment came when her free will played a major role. Angel Gabriel announced what would happen. Was Mary greatly confused? You bet. But she agreed.
At the back of my mind I asked, "What if she said no?"
1 don't know the answer but I'm just so happy she said yes.
My role here on earth cannot be compared to Mama Mary's, but like her, I can say yes. | have the power to say yes to smile more. Yes to listen to others. Yes to forgive.
Yes to remain quiet when I'm about to burst in anger. Yes to counting my blessings. Yes to serving the Lord. Corlotorenzo
([email protected]) Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary Reflection: What will you choose to say yes to today?
Heavenly Father, 1 affer You the "yeses" | will make today to glorify You.
May | reflect You, my God of love and merey St.
Juan Diego, pray for us.
Isaiah 40;1-11 - Psalm 96:1-2, 3, 10, 11-12, 13 Matthew 18:12-14
THE LOST SHEEP
"Tt is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost." — Matthew 18:14
Rene Vargas, a drug addict who wouldn't admit it, would sing Basil Valdez's song "Lift Up Your Hands" in beerhouses.
But one day, while he was undergoing drug rehab, he heard the same song. It was as if the Lord Himself was singing to him, "Cast your burdens upon Me those who are heavily laden ... come to me and I will give you rest."
At that moment, Rene's rock-solid heart softened.
_ Who was this Stranger inviting him to cast his addiction upon Him? Then Rene felt God's warm embrace and heard a whisper, "That's enough, son. I'll take care of you."
Overflowing tears melted the scales in his eyes and Rene began to see things clearly. He was at peace.
This amazing testimony of my humble mentor in the Extraordinary Ministry of the Holy Communion deepened my respect for him and intensified my conviction that there is a God. Rene is a living testimony of how God searched for His lost sheep.
There is no sin so big that our God cannot forgive and there is no lost child that God will never find. Leo Villaric (leovrico@ yahoo.com) Reflection: In this season of Advent, bring to the Lord your burdens that drive you away from Him.
O Lord, sing to me. My heart is restless until it rests in You.
St.
John Roberts, priest and martyr, pray for us.
Isaiah 40:25-31Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10 Matthew 11:28-30
TAKE A BREAK!
~ "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28
Christmas break of 2011 was not a break at all for me. I _ brought home lots of work. Instead of spending it in quiet recollection, which I usually did in years past, 1 was working, catching up on deadlines.
But one day, when | felt that my mind was getting drained and I could no longer write, I went out of the house and headed to the Greenbelt Chapel.
There, I sat before the Crucified Christ and allowed Him to soothe my tired spirit.
There, I went back to His arms and availed of the sacrament of reconciliation.
There, I thanked Him for all the blessings and trials of the year about to end.
There, I talked to Him of my hopes and wishes for the next year.
After a few hours, I was back home — more at peace and inspired to face the coming year.
Before the year 2013 ends, I hope to do it again and take a break in His presence. I hope you do, too. Tess v, Atienza ([email protected]) Reflection: How do you usually take a break? When was your last retreat or recollection?
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for always being there, ready to comfort me and soothe my sagging spirit St.
Damasus |, pope, pray for us.
Isaiah 44:13-20 (or Zechariah 2:14-17 or Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10) Psalm 145:1, 9, 10-11, 12-13 (or Judith 13:18-19)
Matthew 11:11-15 (or Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47)
MG OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
That all may see and know, observe and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.
— Isaiah 41:20
=o Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
If you are unfamiliar with her story, here it is in a nutshell:
Despite the presence of Catholic missionaries in Mexico over a period of many years, there were very few local converts to the faith. Not until 1531, when our beloved
Mother Mary appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian. The signs that accompanied her apparitions — of the roses, of the uncle miraculously cured of a deadly illness, and especially of her beautiful image on Juan's mantle — convinced the people there was something to be considered in Christianity. Within a short time, six million native Mexicans had themselves baptized as Christians. (Source: www.catholic.org)
The conversion of six million people in such a short time surely must have been done by "the hand of the Lord, the Holy
One of Israel!" Our Lady was His instrument of conversion, and so was Juan Diego. It just goes to show that we human beings, imperfect as we may be, can be used powerfully by Feast of Ourtady of Guadalupe = '§-§- «FH the Lord, especially when we serve Him hand in hand with our Blessed Mother. Tina Santiago-Rodriguez ([email protected])
Reflection: Do you allow God to use you just like He did with Saint Juan Diego?
Lord, use me as Your instrument of conversion every day — and may Mama Mary be my guide every step of the way.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Isaiah 48:17-19 - Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4,6 Matthew 11:16-19
A GOOD HARVEST
_ He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season. — Psalm 1:3
My husband and I had just finished serving at the Kerygma - Conference in Davao. We had prayed over several attendees and came back late at the hotel really tired. We wanted to sleep long and wake up late the following day. But not too
2 long after we had slept, the blare of a public address system woke us up abruptly. When we looked out the window, a group of people were assembling and playing loud music that kept us awake. We noted that it was a Red Cross-sponsored marathon which was happening nationwide early that day.
Instead of being irritated with them, our conclusion that this was for a good cause calmed our hearts. We hummed and sang the loud songs like a lullaby and we got our sleep despite the noisy condition. We knew that they were doing good work for others, which was also why we were in Davao — to bring people to the knowledge of Christ. By doing so, we thanked
God for allowing us to reap the fruit of the Spirit: especially peace, patience and love (Galatians 5:22), a good response to an otherwise adverse situation. Donna £spaiia ([email protected])
Reflection: The practice of our faith doesn't end when the prayer meeting or the Mass finishes. In fact, that's where it just begins.
Dear Jesus, may You give me the grace to see that in every situation, You give me the opportunity to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
St.
Lucy, virgin and martyr, pray for us.
Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 - Psalm 80:2, 3, 15-16, 18-19 Matthew 17:9, 10-13
IS THIS THE LITTLE GIRL I CARRIED?
J ...to turn back the hearts of parents toward their children.
> —Sirach 48:10
Our daughter Trina and her dad have a special bond. When she was growing up, Raul would drop anything he was doing to drive for his only daughter. She was the apple of his eyes, his precious jewel. Trina is all grown-up now, a beautiful young lawyer, and the role has reversed. She is now a doting daughter to her dad, constantly watching over his diet and gifting him with a new laptop and many other surprises.
As she walked through the church doors looking like the most radiant bride in the world, I caught a glimpse of Raul holding back his tears as I was. Bringing her to the altar where her handsome groom, Jang, also a lawyer, stood waiting, our hearts were bursting with mixed emotions.
"I don't remember getting older" goes the song, and that's exactly how every parent feels on the wedding day of their daughter. "And there is a time for every event under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:10). Hard as it was, the time has come for us to let go.
We were beaming with pride and joy at what our only daughter has become. On that special day, our fervent prayer was for the Lord to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23) Mari Sison-Garcia ([email protected])
Reflection: Are you being asked to let go of someone or something that means a whole world to you? Let go and let God.
Lord, bless us with the spirit of detachment from all that You have given us, knowing that we are merely stewards of Your resources.
St.
John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church, pray forus.
Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 + Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 James 5:7-10 « Matthew 14:2-41
FRONT ACT
"Behold, 1 am sending my messenger ahead of you." —~Matthew 11:10
_ I love John the Baptist. He's Jesus' "front act." He knew when it was his time to shine, and knew when to fade out. No wonder Jesus said, "There has been none greater than him." lam used to being introduced as someone who was once a front act of the legend, Freddie Aguilar. And I usually quip
_ that as a front act, I'm the one who performs while there ' aren't many people yet. And when a sizable audience has gathered, it's my cue to exit so that the main act, the real star of the show, comes in.
When I began preaching as one of Bo Sanchez's Kerygma preachers I would always get the question, "Where is Bo? Is he coming?" It was as if my role was simply to make way for him. Yet, even now, after decades of preaching and teaching about God, I do believe I really am and really should
"simply" make way as an "advance messenger."
Because when you're in the limelight where people look up to you and applaud you, it's very easy to fool yourself that it all stops with you. Thank God I had good practice as a front act so that I would always remind myself, "Hey, what you do is important. But in the end it's not about you. It's about Him — the Real Star — Jesus." Alvin Barcelona ([email protected])
Reflection: What you do is important. It will be more significant if it reflects the glory of God and make way for Jesus to be seen.
Dear Lord, thank You for the blessed privilege to make my work a reflection and message of Your goodness and love. Amen.
Blessed Mary Frances Schervier, pray for us.
Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 « Psalm 25:4-5, 6, 7, 8-9 Matthew 21:23-27
SPEAK OUT ANYWAY
"By what authority are you doing these things? — Matthew 21:23
"What you will do is not right," I told my friends who were about to cut classes to watch a movie. The reactions I got were some laughs and stares as if they were saying, "Killjoy!
Who are you to lecture us? You are not our parents."
In a statement, the Pope said that same-sex marriage is a threat to the future of humanity. He was branded as a homophobic. His authority was criticized with comments like, "The leader of the Catholic Church is not in tune with the times. He is discriminating against homosexuals. He has no right to say that. If that is where they will be happy, he has no reason to criticize and say it is wrong."
It is hard to justify yourself to people whose perspective of right or wrong changes with the season, with what's in or what's out.
We live in a very relativistic society. Ultimately, the future of humanity will rest on God and on God alone. He is the standard by which everything will be measured.
When you speak out about things that are against God's will, you will encounter resistance that will question your authority. Speak out anyway. God is on your side. Jun Asis
([email protected]) Reflection: God is the only authority of what is right and true.
Don't listen to what this world tells you.
Lord, many ideas and people undermine Your authority and clamor to get my allegiance. Help me to always hear Your voice and follow it.
Blessed Honoratus Kozminski, pray for us.
Genesis 49:2, 8-10 + Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 17 Matthew 1:1-17
A PEOPLE MADE PERFECT
| Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.— Matthew 1:16
When we read the genealogy of Jesus, there are two things that stand out. First, it is full of imperfect people. As we go
_ through the list, the stories behind each name is sometimes grim. Jacob was a liar. Rahab was a prostitute. David was
_ an adulterer and a murderer. Solomon worshiped idols.
Rehoboam was a tyrant... and the list goes on. But in all their imperfection, God continued to bless them according to His will.
There is a Spanish proverb that says, "God writes straight with crooked lines." No matter how sinful or unworthy you think you are, you are unique in all the world and you have been placed here for a mission that no one else can accomplish but you. God has blessed you to see it through.
Second, the story ends in redemption. At the very end of the genealogy, buried in all the names, titles and positions, we see the reason these ancestors were redeemed. In fact, we see reflected in this list our own story of redemption and salvation. Because at the end of it all, everything rests on the Messiah; everything comes together in Jesus. fod Velez (rod [email protected]) Reflection: When the song says, "Let all who come behind us find us faithful," how true is that in our own lives?
Master, | was born for a reason, Enlighten me to know what that reason is and equip me with strength te accomplish it, May | always reflect Jesus in my life.
St.
Lazarus, pray for us.
Jeremiah 23:5-8 - Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 Matthew 1:18-25
OBEY NOW!
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. — Matthew 1:24
Through the years, I've read and heard Bo Sanchez talk about investing and entrepreneurship. As part of his advocacy on financial literacy, he has been coaxing his readers and listeners to have their own business, to get into real estate and the stock market, and not be afraid to fail.
Ihave to confess that I have not been quick to follow his advice all the time. But I know someone who is.
When Bo says, "Start a business," she looks for a franchise and starts a small food chain. When Bo says,
"Invest in real estate," she goes out and buys properties.
When Bo says, "Invest in stocks," that's exactly what she does. Because she is quick to obey, she immediately harvests her profits. Her food business is doing well. She now owns a number of properties. And she has been earning from her stock investments.
Now I understand why the Lord wants us to be quick to obey His commandments. We don't realize it, but when we take our time in doing what He tells us to do, we miss out on blessings that could have been already ours. But the minute we obey, we reap blessings that we didn't know had just been there waiting for us. Rissa Singson-Kawpeng ([email protected])
Reflection: Be like Joseph who acted immediately at what the Lord had told Him to do.
Jesus, let me hear Your voice and be quick to obey You.
Blessed Anthony Grassi, pray for us.
Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 +- Psalm 71:3-4, 5-6, 16-17 Luke 1:5-25
mf DIRECTOR'S CUT
"How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is _ advanced in years." — Luke 1:18
"Sabi na nga ba eh!" (1 knew it!) You will hear this every time my family watches a movie. With a know-it-all tone,
someone will narrate the next scene with conviction, as if that person wrote the script.
This is my personality even outside the movie house. I always need to know everything so I can control everything.
I plan ahead. I see to it that everything's fixed. Uptight and restless are my traits. But eventually, | got tired.
The Lord threw in challenges in my path that reminded me that I'm not the director of my own life. He is. | can't control everything that happens: | can't bring my mom back to life nor could I dictate what people think. The Lord assures me that all I need to do is to sit back and trust Him, even if I don't understand as of the moment.
Our faith in God starts when we concede to His plans.
It may be difficult now, but a life lived in total dependence on God, is a life of comfort and peace.
Make God the director of your life and, rest assured, it will be a box-office hit! Pia Angelica Suiza ([email protected])
Reflection: Where is God leading you?
Jesus, make my faith in You grow bigger than all of my worries combined.
Show me the way to You. Amen.
Blessed Pope Urban V, pray for us.
Isaiah 7:10-14 « Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Luke 1:26-38
LOST TICKET
"For nothing will be impossible for God." — Luke 1:37
I was about to go home when I realized that the parking ticket was missing from my pocket. Wah! A P20.00 ticket will turn into a P200 charge plus all the hassle of accomplishing
_ registration documents!
"Lord, nothing is impossible. Please let the ticket be = returned to me," I prayed. I went back to the mall with no i , idea where to start. I hummed a worship song, eyes on the : _ ground, until... voila! A tiny folded paper from afar. Could ie it be my ticket? I picked it up and yes! It was my ticket!
~ Thank you, Lord!
A year later, just as I was sharing this incident, it _ happened jagain. It could have slipped from my pocket. I smiled and prayed "Sorry, Lord, it happened again, but I _ know we can find it." I went back where we dined, and there i it was! Amazing!
When I ask God if He will love me no matter what, He gives me a promise, "If you can find that very small folded paper in the middle of a very large mall, I will always find you no matter how big the world may seem to you."
Nothing is impossible for God. He who created everything can do anything. Dreus Cosio (andreus.cosio@gmailcom)
Reflection: Are you tired of using your own strength? It's time to turn to God and let Him handle it.
Lord Jesus, | lift up everything to You. I open myself to Your greater plans for me. Amen.
St.
Dominic of Silos, pray for us.
Song of Songs 2:8-14 (or Zephaniah 3:14-18) Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 + Luke 1:39-45
DO NOT FEAR — 365 TIMES
The sorrows for the appointed feast I will remove from you: they are a burden and a reproach to you. — Zephaniah 3:18
The words, "do not be afraid" appeared 365 times in the _ Bible. It's as if God is telling us not to fear each day of the year that comes with a heartbreak, a struggle, failed dreams,
. unsuccessful plans or loss of money, loved ones, health, etc.
A long time ago, I had more than 365 days of sorrow.
_ Each day that came would bring me tears and fears of the unknown. And when the night would come, I would lay my head on the pillow with more fear for the darkness and what it would bring. My problem seemed insurmountable, and there seemed to be no rainbow at the end of the storm.
Today, as I look back on those dark days, | realize that my God was there for me and my family all throughout that time — even on those days when I didn't want to talk to Him at all. He was faithful even if I was not. And when the time came, He moved slowly, through situations and events, peeling off the hurts and sorrows, and replacing them with joy and gladness.
Really, we should not be afraid, for He will remove the burdens in our heart. Chelle Crisanto ([email protected])
Reflection: There is no such thing as a bad day. Just bad moments we choose to carry with us all day long. Take a deep breath and let them go. Have faith that everything will be OK. (Author Unknown)
Lord, I cast my fears and doubts on Your shoulders and accept Your love, And as I hold Your hand, bravery. strength, trust, love and faith shall flow from You to me. And all these will be my shield.
St.
Peter Canisius, priest and doctor of the Church, pray for us.
Isaiah 7:10-14 - Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Romans 1:1-7 - Matthew 1:18-24
CHRISTMAS IS...
"She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." — Matthew 1:21
"C is for the Candy trimmed around the Christmas tree.
H is for the Happiness with all the family.
R is for the Reindeer prancing by the window pane.
1 is for the Icing on the cake as sweet as sugar cane.
S is for the Stocking on the chimney wall.
T is for the Toys beneath the tree so tall.
M is for the Mistletoe where everyone is kissed.
A is for the Angels who make up the Christmas list.
S is for old Santa who makes every kid his pet.
Be good and he'll bring you everything in your Christmas Alphabet."
The more you sing this, the more you discover that this alphabet doesn't really spell out Christmas. Don't get me wrong. I love this song. Yet subliminally, the definition above spells out the modern-day view of Christmas:
Commercialized. Harassed. Rushed. Irritatated. Swamped.
Trapped in traffic. Money-wasting. Apathetic. Stressed.
Merely two days to go. Let's bring back the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is Christ + mas = Christ + His people
= Emmanuel = God is with us. Christmas is the birth of our salvation. Heaven born to earth. The Birthday of Jesus. obet
Cabrillas ([email protected]) Reflection: Let's re-spell Christmas not just in a song but in our lives!
Jesus, You are the Reason for the season. May You be the center of my celebration.
Blessed Jacopone da Todi, pray for us.
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 - Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 Luke 1:57-66 ASAP Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his
_ great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. — Luke 1:58
"Do you already have a boyfriend?" My relatives would _ often ask me whenever they'd see me. They kept asking me that question for many years. They would advise me to _ find a boyfriend fast, get married and start a family ASAP because I was getting old. They were afraid 1 would have difficulty conceiving, or worse, I wouldn't have a child.
Actually, even my neighbors, officemates and some of my friends were worried.
Then, I had my first boyfriend at 31. We got married the following year and, in a couple of months, I got pregnant.
My parents, relatives, neighbors, colleagues and friends shared my joy. We praised and thanked God for enabling me to conceive right away even though I was a bit old and had polycystic ovaries. As of this writing, | have just given birth to my second baby, Mateo. His birth brought much joy once more to many, not only to me.
God has shown me mercy repeatedly and I eagerly share my story at every opportunity, even through a magazine and a TV show. It's just one way I show my gratitude to God so that others may rejoice when they learn that God shows mercy to those who trust in Him. Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag ([email protected])
Reflection: Are you excited to share with others how God has blessed you? Or do you hesitate?
St, John of Kanty, priest, pray for us.
Teach me, Lord, to boldly proclaim the good that You've done in my life.
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 « Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27,29 Luke 1:67-79
ENJOYING THE EVE
"And to remember his holy covenant." — Luke 1:72
According to my grand timeline, I would go to law school straight from college graduation, become a lawyer and work for humanitarian causes from there on out. It was the normal, noble thing to do.
Because I didn't plan for detours, I grew bitter when my parents asked me to try living in another country after college. I was so attached to my comfortable life that leavin g it all behind — the support system, house help, the grand plan —seemed like an unjust weight on my shoulders.
Only when I let go of my timeline and enjoyed the detour did things fall into place. Soon, after learning how to earn and seeing a little more of the world, I was right where I wanted to be: a student of law making her dream come true.
Waiting is one of the hardest things we must deal with.
Often we fluctuate between hope and despair, tension and anticipation, especially when what we're waiting for is extremely important to us. But God's promise is that our deepest desires will bear fruit in His perfect time, regardless of any detours and road blocks that come our way. Ria Macasaet
([email protected]) Reflection: Today, offer all your eves to the Lord—whatever it is you're waiting and praying for—and let your detours work for you.
: g :
Lord, may I learn to enjoy all the eves of my life, especially tonight, as I await the gift of Your birth.
Isaiah 52:7-10 (or Isaiah 9-1-6) Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 9 (or Psalm 9611-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13)
Hebrews 1:1-6 (or Titus 2:11-14) + John 4:4-18 (or Luke 2:4-14)
THE BELEN
... and made his dwelling among us.— John 1:14
For me, Christmas is best celebrated in the Philippines.
Here, we play Christmas carols as early as October. We put Christmas decors in our homes way ahead of anybody
_ else. But a favorite custom we have that I really love is our tradition of having a belen (créche) at our homes.
A belen is a set of images that we place at a designated part of the house depicting the Nativity of our Lord. A makeshift barn with animals, shepherds, the three kings, a bright star,
Mother Mary, St. Joseph, a manger filled with straw grass and Baby Jesus lying on top of it.
Some families I know have done some innovations for their belens. Everything is complete except the grass straw where Jesus is supposed to be lying on. Then for every good deed or sacrifice they will make as an offering to Jesus, a grass straw will be placed underneath the Baby Jesus. On Christmas day, the manger is filled with grass where Jesus is laid, signified by offerings of good deeds and sacrifices that the family members have done for others.
I love this tradition. Because in this way, every member of the family is aware to prepare their hearts for Jesus to make
His dwelling among us. Marisa Aguas ([email protected]) Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ Reflection: Today, make yourself aware of Jesus in every endeavor that you undertake.
Lord Jesus, 1 pray that You make Your dwelling in my heart not only today but for every day of my life.
St.
Eugenia, pray for us.
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 - Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16, 17 Matthew 10:17-22
HOMING INSTINCT
"Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.... Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" — Acts 6:56, 59
My wife, Dinah, loves to doze off in the passenger seat while I'm driving. All throughout the trip, she'Il sleep. But without fail, whenever we arrive home, she miraculously wakes up. I call it her homing instinct. Somehow, her body knows when she's home.
The words above are the last words of the martyr saint Stephen right before he was stoned to death. All his life, his eyes were fixed on the prize of heaven. He was determined to stand up for his faith even at the cost of death, perhaps because he knew he didn't belong to this earth in the first
- place. He was a temporary visitor, as all of us are, too.
Because of that, he confidently knew he would go to heaven — his home, where he truly belonged.
The Philosophy term a priori refers to a prior knowledge embedded in the deepest recesses of our being that we belong to God. That's why when we sin, it doesn't feel right. It may bring momentary pleasure, but in the end, we somehow know that something is wrong. It's our homing instinct. And although we often go astray in this life, I believe our inner compass will always lead us back to Him because He is our true home. George Tolentina Gabriel (george [email protected])
Reflection: Are you at peace right now? Check your homing instinct.
Lord, when I stray away from You, may You always lead me back home to Your heart where | truly belong.
St.
Stephen, Protomartyr, pray for us.
1 John 1:1-4 + Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 John 20:1, 2-8
ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him." — John 20:2
I spent more than half of my life doing bad things. | grew up as a spoiled brat and a battered child. I spent my adolescent years as a problem teenager. A few years later, I focused my attention on doing bigger sins.
I married at the early age of 20 and soon started _ womanizing. I got into pornography and sex addiction. That was also the time I started beating my wife. But after many years, she finally left me and took our children with her.
During those days, I felt that my soul was already dead.
But one time, while riding my motorcycle on the way home, I prayed to God and asked Him to bring me back to life.
After having uttered that prayer, my life started to change day by day. I rose from the dead. I reconciled with my wife and family and asked them for their forgiveness.
Today, I am a changed man. God gave me a brand new life for Jesus has resurrected in me. Monty Mendigoria (montymendigoria@ yahoo.com) Reflection: Move the stones away from the tomb and let Jesus
— resurrect in your life.
Dear Lord, I'm so grateful with what You have done in my life. Your resurrection gave me hope to live my life according to Your will. Amen.
St.
John the Apostle, pray for us.
1 John 1:5-2:2 +» Psalm 124:2-3, 4-5, 7-8 Matthew 2:13-18
'| THINK YOU STILL SHOULD'
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. — Matthew 2:14
Nola Ochs should have been just one of those students graduating with a degree in history at Fort Hays State
University in Kansas. Except that, at 95 years old, she is __ the world's oldest female college graduate. Stunned? Don't be so amused yet.
While there will be many graduates alongside Nola, there is one in particular who holds a special place in her
_ heart — her 21 -year-old granddaughter, Alexandra Ochs. The two will receive their diplomas on stage, together.
People, circumstances and other competing desires may have conspired to put Nola's dream of a college diploma to death, but it didn't die. After the dream's "years of exile in Egypt," Nola summoned it back. "Should I still pursue my dream? But isn't it too late?" she asks. "I think you still should!" was her heart's answer. "But people would laugh at me!" "I think you still should!" was the same answer.
"But I'll fail in the course of the journey!" "I think you still should!" her heart continued.
Could it be that God didn't allow your dream to die?
Maybe you can still summon it back from exile. Then hear your heart say, "I think you still should. .."" Jon£scoto (faithatworkion@qmailcom)
Reflection: What dream have you long forgotten but has recently caught your memory? Start praying about it again!
Father, give me the silence to hear the dream still breathing, and the courage to pursue it. Thank You.
Holy Innocents, pray for us.
Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14 - Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 Colossians 3:12-21 « Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 BRAD Kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sin. — Sirach 3:14
I was not very close to Brad. Being the youngest in a brood of seven, I didn't find it easy to understand his ways, his words and especially his temper. | was oftentimes thrown off by it so I chose not to speak to him at all. We were so distant and different.
Ironically, 1, of all my brothers and sisters, would spend most time with him. At home or outside traveling, I found myself being in his midst the most, allowing me to experience him in his truest form, imperfections and all.
October 2009 was when God called Brad to join His army of angels in heaven. My mom and I were by his bedside when he was gone all of a sudden.
Then I finally understood the reason why things were so with him. Because all along, I totally loved, cared for and honored Brad, my father. fugene A. Cailao ([email protected])
Reflection: How is your relationship with the persons in your family right now?
Father God, please allow Your Holy Spirit to come upon me that I may honor mry parents the way You want me to. Let me establish peace, love and healing with them and my brothers and sisters, May my family be in Your presence all the days of our lives.
St.
Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr, pray for us.
1 John 2:12-17 - Psalm 96:7-8, 8-9, 10 Luke 2:36-40
A SIMPLE LIFE
Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.—1 John 2:15
"Live simply so that others may simply live."
This had been one of the memorable lessons I learned in my RELSFOR (Religion 4 — Social Responsibility) course back in college.
Although I relatively led a simple life prior to one of the biggest setbacks in my life, supertyphoon Ondoy
(a.k.a. Ketsana) taught me to let go of most of my material possessions and the mundane things in life. It taught me the art of giving up trivial stuff.
The deluge that inundated my entire house on my 28th birthday taught me to prioritize storing riches in heaven instead of accumulating material wealth on earth. It taught me to prioritize relationships more than career. It taught me to be humble enough to accept help from other people.
It taught me that in the face of calamity, loved ones matter most, and God sends angels along my path. I only have to cling to His promises. Ems Sy Chan ([email protected]) Reflection: Don't wait for calamity to strike or accidents to happen before you simplify your life and show your loved ones how much you love them.
Father, thank You for Your wonderful gift of life. May I spend my borrowed
: life wisely by building strong relationships and storing riches in heaven.
1 John 2:18-21 - Psalm 96:1-2, 11-12, 13 John 1:1-18
ADDITION TO OUR TRADITION
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and : the Word was God.—John 1:1
2 The celebration of New Year's Eve is filled with tradition.
_ People wear polkadots, serve 12 kinds of round fruits on their tables and light firecrackers to usher in prosperity and drive
_ evil spirits away. The traditions have a more commendable . side to it— it makes the evening colorful, it brings families
__ together in emotional reunions and many other good things.
May I suggest an additional good thing to add to our traditions? May I propose that we dedicate the first hour of the year to worship and prophecy?
At the stroke of midnight, my household would worship and raise our voices to honor God in an attempt to drown the "noise" of the world. Instead of driving away spirits, we invite the Holy Spirit to join us in thanking God. Then we open our
Bibles and receive a verse as a guide for the New Year, even as we consult Scripture again and again throughout the year.
This additional tradition has brought me closer to God's Word and has taught me to be guided by it. It makes my every day a New Year's Day — a celebration of the Word!
Rolly Espatia ([email protected]) Reflection: Take stock of your habits and traditions. Is it a bane or a boon?
Father, remove all my bad habits and replace it with good ones that are led by Your Spirit.
St.
Sylvester, pray for us.
DIDACHE WRITERS
PROFILE ] Bo Sanchez George Gabriel )) Catholic Lay Preacher Writer/Director/Preacher 4} and Author [email protected] bosanchez@ kerygmafamily, com Rissa Singson-Kawpeng Chelle S. Crisanto Writer and Editor SVRTV Administrator / [email protected] Coordinator for External Affairs [email protected] Alvin Barcelona Joy Sosoban Preacher, School Owner [email protected] Big Events Manager, Writer }) and Editor § [email protected] Obet Cabrillas Rolly Espafia Director, Ympact & Radical Businessman and Lay Leader Training Course; Preacher and [email protected] Author [email protected] Randy Borromeo Jon Escoto Preacher/Director Corporate Training Consultant; SVRTV Vice President [email protected] Preacher and Author [email protected]
DIDACHE WRITERS
PROFILE Dina Pecaiia Nova Arias-Sevilla Freelance Writer/Editor [email protected] Writer/Former Broadcaster [email protected] Tess V. Atienza Managing Editor/Writer Alvin Fabella IT Company Manager [email protected] [email protected] Cynthia U, Santiago Cecilia Lim Feast PICC Media Ministry IT Projects Coordinator [email protected] Editor-in-charge [email protected] Judith M. Concepcion Donna Espaiia E Real Estate Broker and Lay [email protected] Freelance Writer [email protected] Mari Sison-Garcia Jane Gonzales-Rauch Freelance writer [email protected] Servant Leader for Management, Bukas Loob sa Diyos Covenant Community mari_sison_garda@yahoo. com
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PROFILE Marie C. Franco, PIE Mirella Santiago Management Consultant Feature Editor/Writer [email protected] [email protected] Ariel Driz Dr. Henry L. Yu Engineering Manager Physician [email protected] [email protected] Jun Asis Sol Saura eLearning Professional Wife and Mom [email protected] [email protected] Cristy Galang Carlo F. Lorenzo Psychologist/Counselor TV Host/Blogger [email protected] [email protected] Ronna Singson Ledesma Emerald Sy Chan Dentist/Audiologist ronna_ledesma@yahoo.
Educator, Freelance Writer and Translator com.ph [email protected]
Josiel Erica 4 me Pia Angelica Suiza Copy editor and Writer Writer [email protected] [email protected]
DIDACHE WRITERS
PROFILE | Tina Santiago-Rodriguez Marjorie Ann Duterte Writer/Editor/Blogger Writer/Editor [email protected] [email protected] Beth A. Corral Ta Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag SVP Employee Freelance HR Consultant/Writer/ [email protected] Motivational Speaker/Blogger Es [email protected] Grace Princesa Eugene A. Cailao Phil. Ambassador to the Session Singer/Vocal Coach United Arab Emirates [email protected] [email protected] Mary Mae M. Ignacio Erwin Roceles IT Consultant Assistant Vice President, [email protected] Bank of America [email protected] — G. Catral Danny Tariman eacher i Head, Project Management [email protected] dtariman [email protected] Orange V. Garcia ; Analiza Obiasca } Businessman/School Owner ¢ > Call Center Employee Fay °'[email protected] [email protected]
'DIDACHE WRITERS
PROFILE Douglas Wilfred Rimando Meann Tee Lay Servant Freelance Sales and Marketing [email protected] Agent, Worship Leader, Preacher and Trainer [email protected] Marisa G. Aguas Ma. Luisa dela Cruz Consultant [email protected] Christian Author/ Entrepreneur " [email protected] Rod Velez Gina Verdolaga IT and Operations Manager Published Book Author/ [email protected] SVP Contributing Writer [email protected] Migs Ramirez Campus Missionary LOJF [email protected] Emmanuel Calayan IT Analyst [email protected] Erika Pauline Mendoza JPaul Hernandez Social Worker/Administrative Self-employed Assistant SVRTV + [email protected] epaulmendoza@gmail:com r re
DIDACHE WRITERS
PROFILE me | Mike Vinas Ria Macasaet Law Student Investment Trainer, Preacher/ Worship Leader [email protected] [email protected] Martine De Luna Jan Carlo Silan Award-winning Blogger and Associate Builder for Makati Feast Editor of Daintymom.com [email protected] [email protected] Maymay R. Salvosa JC Libiran Missionary, Speaker and Facilitator Writer [email protected] [email protected] Andreus Cosio [email protected] Tour Leader [email protected] A Monty Mendigoria Financial Advisor Sun Life Kiddo Cosio Jonathan M. Yogawin '3
Editorial Director, Honeycomb
Trainer/Consulant Communites, Inc.
HA [email protected] Nae Te twitter.com/kiddocosio L Leo Villarico Audee Villaraza Civil Servant, LOJ Feast Servant Businessman : A [email protected] [email protected]
te 'Quench your thirst with Cours) S42) — —S4sty day?
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