moments in eternity

An Easter Reflection on the Seven Last Words - 2 Hope

2009-04-27T16:33:00.005+08:00

"Today you will be with me in Paradise!"

Christians are also a people of hope. Hope is one of the three theological virtues which includes faith and charity. Hope gives a person the courage to face the challenges of life knowing fully well that "beyond the trials in the wilderness lies the promised land". That after the troubles in these earthly lives we shall be with God in Heaven!

Unloike the other thief who was hanging upon the cross together with him and the Lord, Desmas turns to Christ and full of faith entrusts his life to someone who was also suffering and dying. While the other thief swears and challenges the Lord to show His power and divinity, Desmas relies on the forgiveness and love of the Savior who has been crucified with them. In times of troubles and trials, this attitude of Desmas shows what Christians ought to manifest. We are not supposed to be angry with God or to challenge Him to show His power by alleviating our pains and our problems. Instead we ought to be steadfast in our faith and with great hope assure ourselves that amidst all the storms of life He will guide us to safety even when we're not aware of it.

Because we are a people of hope. We can overcome all troubles. We shouldn't be afraid for God is with us all the way even when He seems so absent. Remember the "footprints in the sand". While we thought He was gone bacause there was only one set of footprints, He was carrying us all along to keep from from falling!

An Easter Reflection on the Seven Last Words - 1 Forgiveness

2009-04-21T11:19:00.003+08:00

"Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do."

The first thing that we ought to thank God for is that He has sent His only begotten Son - the Lord Jesus Christ - so that we'll be saved. And being saved means being forgiven. Forgiveness is one thing that we have to thank God for and forgiveness is one thing that we ought to practice in this life if we want God to be proud of us and make us full sharers of His divine life.

It is not enough to ask forgiveness for the sins that we commit. It is quite important to be forgiving also - for the sins and mistakes that others commit against us - for this truly reflect and manifest the fullness of our being forgiven by the Father.

The late great Pope John Paul II said that we are an Easter people. It is also true then that we are a Forgiven people. If we are a forgiven people, we ought to be a Forgiving people also. We cannot enjoy God's forgiveness without us giving the same grace to others. We cannot fully enjoy the divine life - grace - if we only aspire to be forgiven but never forgive in return.

We are an Easter people but we can only be truly an Easter people if we act like Forgiven people by becoming Forgiving people!

Season of Grace

2009-04-13T13:17:00.002+08:00

Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan expressed the same observation which many before him have already made - that many Catholics seldom experience the fullness of the Paschal mystery because they only attend the Good Friday commemoration and never the Easter Sunday celebration.

The great Pope John Paul II said that we Christians are an an Easter people and alluluia is our song. We are not supposed to live our lives in the spirit of Good Friday but of Easter Sunday. It is true that God the Son redeemed us from sin on this eventful day. However, the greater celebration takes place during Easter Sunday when He rose from the dead and conquered death thereby releasing us from the bondage to sin, death and eternal damnation.

Easter is a season of grace and it is so because of the resurrection of Jesus. St. Paul said that if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, Christians would be the worst people on earth because we won't have hope of a future life in heaven. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then Good Friday won't have meaning after all we will remain bonded to death.

But Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He manifested His divinity by doing so and made available to everyone who beleives in Him the fullness of grace which we were not capable of having when we were yet sinners. Through His death and resurrection Christ saved us and made us capable of acquiring grace - that divine life which dwells in everyone who believes and accepts Him as Savior.

Easter is truly a season of grace and we ought to take advantage of this season to be closer to God to bring others closer to God. Let us maximize the blessings that God is showering upon us who believe during this time so that we could bring forth fruits that would last in accordance with the Lord's promises.

If we manifest to others the truth that we are an Easter people - a people of grace - and sing through our good - and holy - works the anthem of Christians which is the Alleluia! then we shall make a true difference in the world and possibly bring out miracles in the lives of others!

Happy Easter and God bless us always! Alleluia!

Testimony of a Friend

2009-03-23T16:51:00.003+08:00

The following is the testimony of a new Facebook friend (see her profile here).

I had heard about the Conversion Experience Retreat and was encouraged to participate but I never expressed any interest, no matter how good the comments were. After attending the 12th Conversion Experience Retreat, I now know why it came so highly recommended.

The highpoints of my retreat would definitely be the carrying of the cross and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Carrying of the Cross

As I looked at my brothers and sisters crawling on their knees with the cross on their shoulders, to be honest, I thought it was silly - I was thinking if only I could humble myself down, let go of my pride and have the courage to do it, I would be able to make a true confession of my sins which I never have the guts to confess.

As I was contemplating whether to do or not to do, then Jesus asked, “Would you carry it for Me?” I replied, “Ok, I would do it for You but you know my knees are weak, would You be with me?” There was no answer from Him. When I was in the queue, just when I was thinking of backing out, then The Father ask, “Would you carry the Cross that My Son has carried for you?” I cried, how can I say No to The Father?

When I saw a small cross coming my way, I was very happy as I ready myself to get in position instead I was directed to another line. When I saw the cross I was supposed to carry, my first reaction was, “Huh?? A big cross!!” Anyway, I knelt down and positioned the cross on my shoulder and started to crawl forward.

First Fall

I had only begun to crawl a few crawls before I stumbled and fell, I broke down and cried, I wanted to stop the tears because of my pride, I didn’t want to be seen crying in front of so many people, but I couldn’t stop the tears; it gushed down like a waterfall.

Image of Jesus Alone and Weary and Abandoned

After the crying stopped, I continued my crawl till I reached a point where I couldn’t crawl forward anymore no matter how much strength I gathered and no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t move forward. With all of my strength I dragged my knees forward again but could only managed a tiny crawl, till I stumbled and fell again, I stopped and cried because I saw Jesus alone, abandon and weary, I was not there to help Him carried His Cross, but when I alone and weary and felt abandoned, He is always there helping me to carry my cross.

Blessed Sacrament

As I near the Blessed Sacrament, I simply crumbled inside, crying out to Jesus, I was pouring out everything in my heart to Him. As I continued my way, both my knees were in great pain, I couldn’t kneel in an “upright” position instead I had to bend down and used my left hand for support in an attempt to crawl forward with my right hand holding onto the cross.

The Floor

When I did move, I felt that the floor wasn’t smooth anymore, it felt coarse, it felt sharp, I tired to kneel “upright” and crawl forward but an excruciating pain shot through both my knees and up towards my body. In bended position, I continue crawling very slowly; the pain on my knees were so painful, it was so unbearable that I felt I couldn’t go on anymore and wanted to give up.

For You Jesus

But each time I wanted to give up because of the pain, I held onto the cross tightly and said to Jesus “For you Jesus, I would do it for you, just for you.” When I reached the end, I broke down and cried because I realized I had just experience what Jesus had gone through on His way to Calvary. This is how much He loves me that He would go through all what He had gone through for the love of me.

Confession

For the first time, I looked forward to Confession; when my turn came, I sat in front of the priest! Loudly, boldly and slowly I confessed my hidden sins as if I was afraid that the priest couldn’t hear me! When I walked out of the room, I felt LIBERATED! I told the enemy, I am NO LONGER in your control anymore, you have no control over me now! Jesus is now the MASTER of my life.

On reflection, I realized that the tags that I fished out from the basket daily were God’s words of comfort and consolation when I carried the cross.

John 15 :4 – 6 …apart from me you can do nothing

John 15 : 9 – 11 Remain in my love….An eternal love that will give you comfort and shelter when you are in pain and hurt.

Psalms 18:32-34 This God who grids me with strength, who makes my way free from blame.

Brothers and sisters, I stand here to share with you this Good News of God’s love for each one of us because God’s word speaks to my heart and says Simply proclaim the Lord Christ holy in your hearts, and always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope you have 1 Peter 3 : 15 – 16.

Andrew (one of the facilitator) called me up on Wednesday 18/03/09 and asked me to share my testimony on Saturday. Though I gave my consent, I was afraid, later, that night at Adoration Room, I took out the Bible and looking Jesus I said, “Lord, I am here, Speak to me, I want to hear your voice.” I flipped through the pages till I stopped at Acts 23 : 11, Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.

In conclusion, I have just 2 words to say about this retreat – SIMPLY AWESOME!!

Feast of the Black Nazarene

2009-01-09T10:25:00.003+08:00

It's January 9 and it's the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

It's the fiesta of the Seminario de Jesus Nazareno at Barangay Campesao, City of Borongan.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is exhorting us to make the Nazarene as our model of simplicity and selflessness.

People mgiht say that Jesus lived in a time that was very much less complex than our own. His was a time when there were no computers, no cellular phones, no IRA, no global village, etc. But perhaps one doesn't have to go back in time in order to discover that they have their own complexities then. History will tell us so much about how complex the time of Jesus was: Israel being under the Roman Empire, their religion which was the center of their very lives being regulated by the conquerors, etc.

Or perhaps people might say that it was easy for him to make a choice because after all He is the Son of God and he already know everything that will happen.

That's the point. God knows everything and He actually has destined us all to be with Him in His kingdom in Heaven. But of course the final destination of each of us depends on how we respond to His invitation of friendship with Him, that is, of knowing His will and following it.

In a world and at a time when complexity seems to invade every facet of life, we are called to be simple and selfless. It is hard to be, really. But it is only in simplicity that we can really overcome the many troubles of life. It is only by being selfless that we can overcome the temptations that abound wherever we go and look.

It is not that easy but it isn't that hard too. God has provided as the answer already, just being faithful to Him. The Nazarene Himself said that with God nothing is impossible. Let us trust in Him and offer Him the year 2009 and beyond and we shall see how He works wonders in our lives.

A Baptism in Kandalakit

2009-01-07T10:58:00.004+08:00

It was the fiesta of Barangay Kandalakit, the most far-flung barangay of Sulat, Eastern Samar, about eleven kilometers away from the interior Barangay of Sto. Tomas. In going to Kandalakit you have to pass through ricefields, walk along a creek and even cross it on foot, hike a medium sized mountain that is muddy on one side and a slippery gray limestone on the other, and then walk through coconut fields before reaching the community.

We left the parish convent at midday and reached Kandalakit just before sunset. We took a dip in the cool waters of the shallow river just at the back of the house of the kapitana, the village chief, in preparation for the vesper mass. After the mass we had our supper and were invited to the vesper night dance. We didn't stay long because we had to wake up early to prepare for the feast day mass.

The following morning we had a nice feast day mass. It was to be followed by baptism. As we were calling and waiting for parents and godparents to register their babies for baptism, an middle-aged mother came forward holding on her arms her baby.

Babies to be baptized are supposed to be brought by the parents themselves with the godparents. But she was alone with the baby. When we asked her to call her husband and the godparents she told us it was impossible because they lived in Sto. Tomas and it was her alone who came for the baptism of her child. We asked her why she did it and she told us that it was because of a vow.

Our parish priest gave her some lessons on making vows. He told her that it is not good to put a child in danger - physically and spiritually - in making vows. Furthermore, she was told that it was not proper to baptize the child without at least one godparent as witness and as a spiritual guide in times the parents fail to lead the child as a Christian.

Since she wasn't able to provide a godparent for the child as she didn't know anyone from the place, we told her that her child may not be baptized. But then in order not to imperil the spiritual welfare of the child, we volunteered to stand as godparents for him.

The mother shed tears and though she was speechless, we know that she was very thankful for what we did.

Granting a Child's Wish to Enjoy

2008-12-22T10:27:00.005+08:00

Last Saturday we were invited to a christening party at the new Mabaroca beach resort in Barangay Cabong, City of Borongan. Initially we were apprehensive in attending the party because our three-year old son, Lance Raphael, had a fever the previous day and he was still a bit feverish the morning of that celebration - add to it the fact that it was a rainy morning!

But we had to attend the celebration as my wife, Cherry, was the one in charge with the preparation of the food.

One of the reasons why the venue was chosen is the availability of a swimming pool and such amenity was intended for the children to enjoy. Since our son was sick, we didn't allow him to join the kids who were enjoying their swimming. But he was so interested in enjoying with the kids that we were not able to restrain him from going out of the cottage and stand along the side of the pool - protecting himself from the rain with an umbrella.

A little later, we called him. Cherry has brought Lance's paracetamol and as eager as he is to be able to enjoy the pool, we didn't have difficulty in making him drink the medicine. But still we didn't allow him to enjoy the water. Then after a few minutes we saw him running from one side of the pool to the other crossing the short bridge that separates the pool into two areas. He was no longer using the umbrella though droplets of rain still fall. I uttered a short prayer that God may grant him healing that very moment so that he would be able to enjoy with the other children.

Of course there were no dramatic sound effects that followed not even a rainbow of colors that appeared. But a few moments later, Lance was already enjoying the pool with his cousins as if he had no high temperature just a few hours ago. It was a little miracle - I believe - which God has granted to him because God love's children very much He doesn't want them to be left behind during times of fun and enjoyment.

God granted our son his wish to enjoy! It was truly an early Christmas gift which He bestowed upon our son!

The Boy Fetching Water

2008-12-19T10:13:00.001+08:00

I was standing in front of the house of one of our Parish's choir members waiting for her for their scheduled practice that day when I noticed a young boy fetching water under the heat of the sun.

He had a dirty shirt and I thought this young kid of about five or six years must be from a poor family which probably does not have enough resources to give the children clean clothes and most probably does not have enough time to teach their children good manners. I was thinking of so many young children who at their very tender ages already know how to say bad words because that's what they hear from their parents or neighbors.

He had placed a small container with a small opening below the mouth of the jetmatic pump trying to position it several times so that water from the pump would fall into the small mouth of the small container. However since the mouth of the container was too small, each time water gushes forth from the pump, instead of filling the small container the water pushes it away. He certainly had a small chance of filling up his container and by the time he gets it filled up he probably would be sccorched by the noontime sun.

I walked towards the boy and helped him to fill up his container. He wasn't looking at me but he knew that I came to help especially when I took the pump's handle from him and told him to hold the container steadily under the pump's mouth. At last the small container got filled up and he soon was on his way home.

But before he went his way he did not forget to say thank you. Which made me realize that poverty is not a hindrance in making children grow up with good manners and right conduct.
God must have appreciated very well not my act of kindness but the boy's act of gratitude.

a prayer for my father

2008-12-17T16:11:00.002+08:00

today is the death anniversary of my father, Juan.

i do hope that God in his mercy would someday reunite us all under His fatherly love and protection for all eternity.

God be praised forever!

Giving Thanks

2008-12-16T11:03:00.002+08:00

today is Tuesday, December 16, the first day of the dawn masses, and the Chritsmas Party of our agency.

the Holy Mass said for the purpose of giving thanks for all blessings received during the year has just ended and before going to the venue for the party i took time to share a little about giving thanks.

giving thanks is such a natural tendency of every man. i guess it is a normal consequence of being a "requesting" creature. man asks for anything and therefore normally shows gratitude if ever the request is granted.

...

i have so much to write but it seems that my mind is off to the party already. will be back to finish what i have started though ...

God bless us all!

a trip to sulangan

2008-12-15T09:03:00.002+08:00

yesterday we visited the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Sulangan, Guiuan, Eastern Samar. it was a trip that we originally wanted to do last October but had to be postponed until yesterday due to lack of funds.

before the Holy Mass started the list of people sponsoring the mass was read. the list included those who were asking for St Anthony's intercession for various reasons (healing from sickness, enlightenment during the taking of exams, working abroad, and others), those who were giving thanks (healed from sickness, passed exams, worked abroad, and others), those who are praying for the dead, etc.

most of those who were there were surely fulfilling vows they have made while others were first timers who were making vows to return in case their requests are heard.

making vows is one of the natures of man. and fulfilling them seems to be a natural tendency too. but while it is a lot easier to fulfill a vow of returning to Sulangan it seems harder to keep vows that involve a change of heart, a conversion from sinfullness, and a commitment to be holy. it seems really much easier to hurdle physical obstacles than spiritual and moral challenges.

most of those who visit Sulangan seems to be after earthly treasures alone and the vows that they do seems to be so easy to perform. i wonder if there are people who go to Sulangan - and give thanks afterwards - for the sake of spiritual not just physical healing, for enlightenment in fulfilling one's profession or occupation in accordance with the spirit of true service, for the sake of earning even just enough so that there would be no need of leaving family, and more.

many times when those who make their vows are not capable of fulfilling them and something happens to them or a family member, they or other people think that it is because of breaking the vow. but have we thought about the other vows that we have promised to fulfill and yet we violate many times in our lives such as our baptismal vows, marriage vows, might even include priestly and religious vows.

vows are not meant to make us fear bad luck or any negative effect. they are supposed to be commitments to make true to what we do and promise. and it is not only about going to somewhere or doing something. it is more about living our lives in accordance with the greatest purpsoe - of opraising God and giving glory to Him each moment of our lives and in every thing that we do, in every word we speak and in all that we ever think.

God bless us all.

Holiness is Not that Difficult

2008-12-12T13:30:00.002+08:00

(Originally written July 26, 2007 at the now inactive lance.meryes Friendster blog)

many people think that being holy is an impossible thing. that it is not an easy task to be like St Francis, St Ignatius, St Dominic, etc. well they really are big names in terms of holiness. but we also have little names like St Bernadette, St Dominic Savio, St Therese, though they become magnified due to the impact of their simple lives on the world. everyone of us is called to holiness, in fact, even those who do not know Christ could become holy. it is true that Catholics pride in having the so-called deposit of faith. but let us debate over that now. what matters is that everyone could become holy if only we could LOVE. you see, love is what really matters in this world. without love we could observe and experience indifference, conflict, war, hatred, anger, and many other negative things. but when we love there’s no room for anything negative. when we are friends there’s no reason for conflict, even competition. you know, only humans love to compete. but God doesn’t really care about the records we glory about such as being the fastest runner, the athelet with the most medals in an Olympic, the person whose feat has not been oveshadowed in the Guinness Book of World Records, or the perosn whose capability becomes a subject of Ripley’s. of course God has given us various skills, talents, etc. but these are not for the sake of glorifying ourselves but of giving honor to Him and uplifting the lives of our fellowmen who have less in life. God is not unfair. if He is He would not have made heroes out of children like David. He would not have chosen a poor couple like Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of His only begotten Son, Jesus. He would not have given this Son to be crucified on the Cross for our sake. God’s only concern is the good of everyone and He is opening up His doors to everyone through the invitation to Divine Friendship. hence I would like to encourage you to become one of those who respond to this invitation. let us be friends of God for holiness is not that difficult. we only have to LOVE. it might not so appealing or easy to do at first but when you get the feel of it, just like being a great athlete, a record holder, or a famous subject of Ripley’s, you can live your life as holy as others have been while on earth. come one, let us be holy and be God’s friends!

Why have you forsaken me?

2008-12-11T12:51:00.004+08:00

(Originally written last March 30, 2008 at the now deactivated lance.meryes Friendster blog.)

Sounds familiar? It is already Eastertide and my topic is about a Lenten question.

But it is a question which could still be lingering in the minds and hearts of everyone of us.

Many times we feel very distant from God, as if God is no more, as if God does not exist anymore. And yet at the back of our minds we know (for sure even those who deny God has that feeling which they just can’t understand) that He is still there, somewhere there in what we call Heaven. But we just can’t seem to get to Him.

Why?

It is not because He wants to be distant. It is not because He does not want to be close with us.

In fact He really wants to be close to us. That is why He has sent His only begotten Son so that God and man might become one.

And yet we feel alienation, separation, perhaps even divorce from Him.

Why?

It is because of SIN!

Sin is the single most negative thing that keeps man from God. That makes man experience being away from God. That separates man from the eternity which God wishes him to have. That seem to divorce man from being united with his Maker.

Why?

Because SIN is a denial of God, an alliance with the Devil who was the first to alienate himself from his Maker.

Sin is the opposite of GOOD. Sin is bad, evil, dishonesty, unbelief, treason, lie, untruth, immorality, infirmity, moral and spiritual disease, etc. etc.

And since God and sin, Good and evil, truth and lie, cannot go together, man experiences alienation from God when he sins.

Believe me it is true. I have been away from God so many times i do know the feeling. But though I always fail Him, he keeps reminding me that i have to go back because it is only when I am under his grace that I can enjoy His friendship.

Many times i ask Him "why have you forsaken me?" especially when I fail to give my best in what I do, when I fail to get what I think I deserve, when I fail to be what I wish to be in life.
But then He asks me back, "you, why have you forsaken me in the first place?"

Then I realize it is not He who has forsaken me. It is my being sinful which keeps Him from giving me all the blessings that i could have as one of His adopted sons in His Son Jesus Christ our savior!

What a time to realize it than this very season of new life, of new hope and new being!
So each time you feel so far away from God, don’t ask anymore "why have you forsaken me?" instead ask yourself: "why did I forsake my God, Father and Friend?"

God is greater than Sin

2008-12-11T12:43:00.003+08:00

(This was originally written last July 27, 2007 in my lance.meryes Friendster blog which I have deactivated now.)

just like anyone else i am a sinful man trying to overcome every temptation in my life though many times i fail. but it is not because God has not given enough courage or strength. it’s because i fail to respond each time to His call and invitation to remain in His love.

this is what most of us usually claim - that we are merely humans and therefore we cannot resist evil or the commission of sins. and we seem to be comfortable in the thought that somehow most if not all persons have the same trouble so why worry? after all we are not alone if ever God will finally destroy the world and send evil men and women to hell!

but it is not a good idea. God is greater than sin and if only we will aske His grace we can overcome anything evil in this life. God would not have given us another human as an example of faithfulness if He knows it is futile for man to fight evil and sin. yes it is true that Christ is not merely human, He is also God. but he "took the form of a slave and died on the cross" for us.
Christ himself was tempted not only three times but even when he was about to accept the cup of suffering already. it would have been easier for him to just do miracles and turn the people against the Roman Empire and the Jewish Nation. but God has other plans for us and He doesn’t want us to be complacent and comfort-seekers.

God wants us to understand that life is not that easy and only in Heaven will we finally enjoy the fullness of life.

God is greater than sin so we must not think that we shall never conquer temptations and evil. we only must truly rely on Him and not on our own. let us accept His offer of friendship and we shall conquer!

Mary, Our Help and Model in Overcoming Sin

2008-12-09T15:01:00.005+08:00

(This is the editorial I wrote for the 2008 Borongan City Fiesta Souvenir Program which the Finance Committee of the Fiesta ExeCom published.)

This year’s theme emphasizes the religious dimension of the fiesta celebration. Amidst the various cultural, athletic and social evolution of a patron, there remains the fact that it is fundamentally an occasion to acknowledge God’s providential care in the lives of men, and women, through intermediaries which in this case is the Blessed Virgin Mary whose birthday Boronganons celebrate on September 8.

Many times in our lives we forget that everything has its origin in One Divine Power and to whom everything else will be subject in an appointed time. We only remember our limitation in times of distress, disasters and danger. During happier times, we thank God but in a less generous way, much more insignificant than when we seem to recognize His almightiness while we are experiencing trouble.

Sin most of all is somehow an irrelevant term nowadays. While our ancestors would weigh things in terms of whether it is good or bad, that is, holy or sinful, nowadays we only seem to ponder whether something is useful or useless – a very utilitarian or pragmatic point of view. Many times something is useful but is not good, but who cares? Well, God cares a lot. The Virgin Mary is a testament of such concern. Why would He chose a lowly handmaid to be the mother of His only begotten son if he does not want to lead us to the realization that we can attain communion with Him, that is be holy, through simple ways and means. That we do not need to make world records, or break world records, or be one of the world’s richest or most famous, or be the world’s brightest and most beautiful!

We are only called to be holy and not even superholy in the likes of St. Francis, St. Ignatius or St. Dominic – the great founders of the leading religious orders. We can just be simple persons doing our simple roles in life such as St. Monica, who prayed for the conversion of his son St. Augustine, or St. Bernadette Soubirous, that simple farm girl whom the Virgin Mary made an instrument of healing at Lourdes, France, or of St. Isidore the simple farmer, or our very own San Lorenzo Ruiz, the humble sacristan from Binondo who was even implicated in a crime. Or maybe we could just accomplish our own little responsibilities as public servants, elected officials, bank employees, coop members, street cleaners, parents, children, and what else.

God did not choose a superhero to be our model of goodness and holiness. In fact, most of the heroes of faith are simple men and women in history, and when some great people become saints it is because they acted like simple men and women too. Many times we think we ought to do so much in order to be great, but most of the time we mean to be great in the eyes of others and not in the eyes of God. Being great in the eyes of men is not very bad. But when such aspiration leads to separation from God, that is, falling into sin, then it becomes evil. Reflect on this because when the appointed time comes, God will never ask how fast you have covered the century dash, or how high you have conquered the world, or how many recognition you have received from award giving bodies, or how much money you made in your entire stay on earth, or how lofty you position in government and other institutions have been, and the like. The only thing that will matter to him is whether your heart is pure and how you lived.

The Virgin Mary is our model and help in keeping ourselves from sin. I don’t understand why so many try to discredit her when she only manifests goodness and holiness. But this is another issue to tackle. For now let us concentrate on how we could follow in her steps and like her be able to make God great in the eyes of those who believe and those who wish to believe.

Amen.

The Immaculate Conception

2008-12-08T08:34:00.003+08:00

Today is December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Concepcion.

This day is very important because it is the celebration of one of the most important dogmas of the Catholic Church. And it is not just a belief but an article of faith. The dogma of the Immaculate Concepcion simply means that the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived free from original sin. Many non-Catholics canot accept this teaching but the reason is so simple: since God and sin cannot be together, how will the Son of God - who is God himself too - be born of a woman tainted by sin? The next question was, how will Mary be free from original sin if it was Jesus who freed us all from the stain of sin? God is so powerful that He could "retroactively" effect the saving grace gained by Jesus by dying upon the cross on the Blessed Mother just to ensure that Jesus would be born of a woman who is sinless.

This day also invites us to reflect again on the importance of holiness and sinlessness. If only humanity would once again consider the gravity of sin then most of the problems that we are encountering would be eliminated. As of now we are only concerned so much about utility - whether one thing, even an event or a person - could fit into out plans for our personal intentions of gaining wealth, power and popularity! The sense of sin is already lost as the late great Pope John Paul II observed.

This day let us reflect on our relationship with God and meditate on the importance of holiness and maintaining our holy friendship with Him.

Prepare the Way

2008-12-07T15:08:00.003+08:00

Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. The Gospel reading speak's about preparing the way.

To be continued

Friendship with God

2008-12-04T16:37:00.005+08:00

According to the Holy Bible, only Abraham was ever called as a Friend of God. Other biblical heroes and great personalities such as Moses, King David, Isaiah, Elijah and many others were only considered as servants (or they only considered themselves servants and dared not to make claims of being God's friends).

But in John 15: 12-17, the Lord Jesus Christ stated that His apostles -who represented all Christians - are now God's friends because He told them everything about the Father. Yes, knowledge is an important factor in friendship. No one could be a real friend to someone if he or she does not share about him or herself. Trust and confidence are important ingredients of friendship and so knowledge about each other is important.

How can we know God? By reading the Holy Bible. Read, reflect, meditate on and live out the Bible. It is full of God's living Spirit leading us to grow in His love and peace and showing us eternal life. Without reading the Holy Bible it is impossible to know about God. St. Jerome said that ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. And ignorance of Christ is ignorance of God for God and Christ are One, according to our Lord Himself.

Hence it is good to start (and for those have done it already, maintain) our commtiment to the Word of God in order to know Him more and become open to His divine call for Holy Friendship.

God bless us all!

Moments in Eternity - an Introduction

2008-11-21T15:19:00.001+08:00

What are moments in eternity?

These are times when you feel the special presence of God through other people, events in your life, and in every little thing and act of kindness that you do and done to you.

God's presence is felt when we are open to it, that is, when we make our hearts and minds receptive to His Spirit.

Each moment of our lives, let us make it as an opportunity to be with God and make it as a moment in eternity.