Monday, March 18, 2013

My Reflections for March 19, Tuesday Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mathew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Gospel: Mathew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
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My Reflections:
When Saint Joseph discovered that Mary was already pregnant he decided to quietly divorce the Blessed Mother. Why quietly divorce? Why not broadcast it to their whole community so that Mary will be embarrassed and severely punished by stoning to death.

Joseph decided to quietly divorce Mary because deep in his heart he already loved the Blessed Mother. Deep in his humble and righteous heart Joseph already loved the baby in the womb of Mary. That is why Joseph wanted to quietly divorce Mary so that Mary and the baby Jesus would avoid the punishment of death by stoning. But his plan did not push through for the simple reason that Joseph listened to the angel of the Lord. Who told him that the Blessed Mother conceived by the grace of the Holy Spirit.  

The love that Saint Joseph exercised towards the Blessed Mother and the baby Jesus must also be the love that we must always give to our family. We must at all times first take into consideration the welfare of our family more than our own selfish interest.

In his heart Saint Joseph was always quietly praying for guidance and enlightenment. This may be the reason why he never said a single word. He was always waiting for the voice of God to tell him what to do during that critical moment of his life. Humility, selfless love, obedience and prayerful silence these are the values of Saint Joseph.

Are we like Saint Joseph? Or do we have some of these values of Saint Joseph?

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

My Reflections for March 8, Friday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 12:28-34

Gospel: Luke 12:28-34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
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My Reflections:
A homeless man was basically alien to the word love of God and neighbor until someone pitied him. The good Samaritan helped the homeless man by means of teaching him how to love God and neighbor through his selfless actions.

Many are like the homeless man but only a few of us are like the Good Samaritan. We are averse to be in contact with the homeless and those who stray in the streets. Thus they don’t know how to love God and neighbor.

If only we would listen to Jesus two greatest commandments about love. …

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Gospel:
The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.
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My Reflections
A boy was taught by his father that there was only one way to be happy and it was none other than to accumulate wealth. He imbibed his father’s teachings so he studied very hard and he eventually became one of the very rich in their town. On his quest to acquire worldly treasures he stepped on the toes of many people, he created many enemies on his way up and upon reaching the pinnacle of his ambition he became greedy and he subsequently discovered that it was very lonely at the top.  

He was on his quest once again to find the magic formula to happiness so he went to a wise old man in the mountain to seek his advice. The wise old man gave him only one advice: Learn to share whatever you have for it is in sharing that you will find happiness. He followed the wise advice and he felt happiness as he had never felt it before.

In our gospel the crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?" (This was in response to John’s call for them to repent) John said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Perhaps the crowds were becoming self-centered already. They only cared for their own needs and never on the needs of their fellowmen.

The season of Christmas is not about what we will receive. It is about what we can freely share. The real essence of Christmas is in sharing not in receiving. Let us try to wholeheartedly share and we will feel the highest degree of happiness that we would not be able to feel when we accept gifts.

On this third Sunday of advent John the Baptist message is loud and clear it is about learning to share no matter how little so long as it comes from the bottom of our hearts. Let us share to the poor, to those who are badly in need, let us share to those who cannot pay back our generosity. There are many of them in poor communities and in places affected by disasters and calamities. Like our brothers and sisters who were badly affected by the devastating  typhoon named Bopha or Pablo in Mindanao.
  
Let us bring Jesus to them by generously sharing whatever we can give. …

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Milagros Mila O. Dasmarinas November 28 1948 - November 27, 2012)



Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.  Amen. 

Please offer Mass for her intentions and please remember her in your prayers.

Thank you for everything and Farewell to you my Dear auntie Mila.  . . .

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Cardinal-designate Luis Tagle, 55, of Manila, Philippines. A future Pope?

Excerpt: 
The second youngest of six cardinals announced Oct. 24 is widely lauded for his theological gifts and his humility. Cardinal-designate Luis Tagle, 55, of Manila, Philippines, “really takes care of people … he’s so simple and generous and there’s no class structure when he deals with people; everyone is equal in his eyes,” said Nemie Anciado, a longtime custodian at the cathedral in Imus, Philippines, where the cardinal-designate was bishop from 2001 to 2011.


Please click on this link for the whole article:

Cardinal-designate Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle’s feelings regarding his appointment and his views on the topics in the current (October 2012) Synod.

Please click this link:


http://media01.radiovaticana.va/audiomp3/00340269.MP3

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

No to Reproductive Health (RH) Bill: By Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas

Excerpts: 
A recent report from Bloomberg (one of the leading business news agencies) was just headlined “Philippines Leads in Demographic Dividend of Supply of Young Workers.” The very bullish article about the Philippines—just echoing many others that have come out since the beginning of the current year—pointed out that the so-called demographic dividend from a rising supply of young workers is one reason Japan’s second-largest shipbuilder expanded in the Philippines, where workers are on average half the age of its Japanese employees.  Passing the RH Bill would literally be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Already China and Thailand—still with relatively large populations—are suffering from labor shortages because of the rapid aging  of their populations over the last decade or so. According to Nobel prize winner George Akerlof, who combines the study of economics and psychology, contraceptives tend to degrade marriage and lead to more extramarital sex, more fatherless children, more single mothers and more psychologically troubled adolescents. Harvard Director of AIDS Prevention, Edward C. Green, once wrote that according to the best evidence available, condoms give a false sense of security and prompt people to be more reckless in assuming sexual risks, thus worsening the spread of the sexually transmitted diseases. Thailand, which has the highest incidence of AIDS-HIV in East Asia, could be cited as a testimony to this.

Please click this link to read the full article: