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My Gospel Reflections for June 4, Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:23-28

My Reflections:

To have network of friends is very important for us because there will come a time that we will be needing their help.  I think this is also the main reason why there are some who join fraternities, clubs and other organization. They join because they want to build a network of close friends who can directly or indirectly help them when the need arises.

There’s nothing wrong with it but before we join organization to strengthen our network we must ensure first that we are best friends with Jesus. We must see to it that we have this very deep intimacy with Him. For what reason? Because He is the Son of the Father Jesus has that hotline to the Father. He can aid us with our prayer request to the Father.

Jesus states in our gospel for today: ““Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.  

Just imagine if we’re best friends with Jesus, Just visualize how powerful we are if we are intimate with Jesus. …

My Gospel Reflections for May 30, Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 15:26-16:4

My Reflections:

The Holy Spirit that Jesus gave us all during our baptism it has always been there for us since we were baptized. But not everyone knows that it reside within us, it’s like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered by us.

But some of us do not discover it in our lifetime.

Jesus told His disciples that He will send the Advocate from the Father it’s the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father. He will send it to them because they’ve remained with Him since the beginning.  

If we will also be always on the side of Jesus, if we will not betray Him for the things and temptations of this world we will also feel the presence of the Advocate in our lives.

Are we always walking on the path of Jesus?

My Gospel Reflections for Tuesday; Fifth Week of Easter May 24: John 14:27-31

My Reflections:

Farewell normally involves trepidation and loneliness on the one who will leave and those who will be left behind this is always the scenario.

However, Jesus gives us a new thought about farewell that He only can give us and that is the feeling of peace and serenity. The peace and serenity that Jesus gives us is very unique because nobody can give it to us except Himself. We cannot find the peace that He gives us on any material wealth nor with any worldly possession.

If we think that the riches and trappings of this world will give us peace then we are badly mistaken it will not give us peace. Take a look at the many rich and famous people who committed suicide because their material wealth did not give them peace.  Take a look at those who take many anti depressant and sleeping pills just to buy peace for a brief moment after which they wake-up again with the same chaotic environment.

Jesus is the only one who can give us heavenly peace, discover Him and get intimate with Him.

My Gospel Reflections for April 25, Monday in the octave of Easter: Matthew 28:8-18

My Reflections:

How did we observed the just concluded Holy Week? We may have our own different observance. I for one piously observed all the laid activities of the church. 

Being summer and since Holy Thursday and Good Friday were holiday many took advantage of this break and they went on vacation to beaches and other places where they can rest and re-charge. In the process they’ve forgotten the true essence of Holy Week.  

The proper way to observe Holy Week is given to us by the two Marys in the gospel; they both gave Jesus the honor that He richly deserved. They did this by embracing His feet and giving Him homage for they both knew the importance of Jesus in their lives. He was their God thus they both fittingly gave Him proper honor and respect.

This is how it should always be during Holy Week.

Have you properly commemorated the just concluded Holy Week?

Ang Aking Tagalog na Repleksyon para sa Lunes Ikaapat na Lingo ng Kuwaresma Juan 4:43-54

Ang Aking Repleksyon:

Ang ating pananampalataya sa Diyos at hindi pare pareho, mayroong napakalalim o napakatatag na sila ay hindi bumibitaw sa Diyos kahit na ano mang pagsubok ang kanilang hinaharap sa buhay.

Meron di namang na ang kanilang pananampalataya ay base lamang sa kanilang nakikita. Gusto nila na may Makita muna silang ebedensya bago sila sumanpalataya.

Pero ang tunay na malalim na pananampalataya ay ay hindi nakabase sa kung ano ang ating nakikita. Ito ay naka base sa hindi natin nakikita pero tayo parin ay nanampalataya. Yung opisyal ng Hari ay meron nitong malalim na pananampalataya sapagkat sya ay naniwala sa Sinabi ni Jesus na gagaling ang kanyang anak.

Sana tayong lahat magkaroon ng ganito kalalim na pananampalataya, patuloy tayong sumampalataya at maniwala na ibibigay din sa atin ng Diyos ang ating mga kahiligan para sa kanya kahit ito ay hindi pa natin nakikita sa ngayon.  

Lilies of the Field - Part 1 of 9

Arch. Oscar Romero (Movie)

Devine Mercy: Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

          

A story about honesty..

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time
> > 
> > to choose a successor to take over the business.
> > 
> > 
> > Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he 
> decided to do something different. He called all the young 
> executives in his company together.
> > 
> > 
> > He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next 
> CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives 
> were Shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each 
> one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to 
> plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today 
> with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will 
> then judge the plants that you bring, and the one 
> > I choose will be the next CEO."
> > 
> > 
> > One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the 
> others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his 
> wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and 
> he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to 
> see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other 
> executives began to talk about their seeds
> > 
> > and the plants that were beginning to grow.
> > 
> > 
> > Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew
> > 
> > 
> > Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still 
> nothing.
> > 
> > 
> > By now, others were talking about their plants, 
> > but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
> > 
> > 
> > Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew 
> he had killed his seed.
> > 
> > Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing 
> > Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just 
> kept watering and
> > 
> > fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow.
> > 
> > 
> > A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company
> > brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
> > 
> > 
> > Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. 
> > But she asked him to be honest about what happened.
> > 
> > Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most 
> embarrassing moment of his life,
> > 
> > but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty 
> pot to the board room. 
> > 
> > When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown 
> by the other executives. They were beautiful - in all shapes and 
> sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his 
> colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
> > 
> > 
> > When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his 
> youngexecutives.> 
> > 
> > Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, 
> trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of 
> you will be appointed the next CEO!"
> > 
> > 
> > All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room 
> with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring 
> him to the front. Jim was terrified.. He thought, "The CEO knows 
> I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
> > 
> > 
> > When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened 
> to his seed, 
> > Jim told him the story.
> > 
> > 
> > The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at 
> Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "This is your 
> next Chief Executive Officer!
> > 
> > 
> > His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even 
> grow his seed.
> > 
> > 
> > "How could he be the new CEO?" the others said. 
> 
> > 
> > 
> > Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in 
> this room a seed.
> > 
> > I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it 
> back to me today.
> > 
> > But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not 
> possible for them to grow.
> > 
> > 
> > All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and 
> plants and flowers. When you found that the 
> seed would not grow, you 
> substituted another seed for 
> the one I gave you.
> > 
> > Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me 
> a pot with my seed in it.
> > 
> > Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief 
> Executive Officer!"
> > 
> > 
> > * If you plant honesty, you will reap trust 
> > * If you plant goodness, you will reap friends 
> > * If you plant humility, you will reap greatness 
> > * If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment 
> > * If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective 
> > * If you plant hard work, you will reap success 
> > * If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation 
> > 
> > So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you 
> will reap later. 
> > Think about this for a minute.
> > 
> > 
> > If I happened to show up on your door step crying, would you 
> care? 
> > If I called you and asked you to pick me up
> > because something happened, would you come? 
> > If I had one day left to live my life, would you be part of 
> that last day? 
> > If I needed a shoulder to cry on, would you give me yours? 
> > This is a test to see who your real friends are
> > 
> > or if you are just someone to talk to when they are 
> bored.

Fr. Philip Neri’s Ten Commandments for a Good Lenten Confession:

http://hancaquam.blogspot.com/2011/03/making-good-lenten-confession.html?spref=fb

7 Reasons to Frequent Confession during Lent.

http://cantuar.blogspot.com/2011/03/7-reasons-to-frequent-confession-during.html

My Gospel Reflections for March 6, Sunday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 7:21-27

My Reflections:

Why did Jesus said to the disciples that not everyone who calls on His name will enter the kingdom of heaven? Maybe this is in reference to those followers who invoke the name of God but they live their lives not according to what God wants it for them. This  statement may pertain also to the false prophets who use their gift of speaking to defraud gullible followers. 

There are still many of them right now in our present time; they use the name of God to advance their own personal interest. But the all almighty God knows everything about us, our selfish motives, our double speak, our desire to outwardly use His name in vain.

So what is the desire of God for us? Very simple, His desire is for us to become His true followers in words and in deeds.  We can perform many acts of healings, we can proclaim the name of God and it may be accepted by those who hear of it. But if we don’t live the teachings of Jesus then all of our acts will be in vain.   

Perhaps one of the best example if not the best human example of those who proclaimed the word of God in words and deeds is Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She magnificently proclaimed the word of God to everyone: the rich, the elite, the academics, the powerful and the poor. But she did not stop there she also lived her proclamations thru her humble deeds and acts of loving service to those who were very poor, those who were sick with leprosy, the dying and the unwanted. She humbly and lovingly took care of them all.

Mother Teresa listened to the word of God then she proclaimed and humbly lived it. She was like the wise man in the gospel who built his house upon a rock. This is the reason why she will soon be declared saint of the church. This is the reason why the congregation that she founded, the Missionaries of Charity is all over the world right now.

We are all challenged by Jesus through our gospel to be like Mother Teresa of Calcutta, to be like the wise man who built his house upon the solid rock of God. They both listened to the words of God and they both made it alive by living it through their life changing actions and though their humble deeds of selfless service for the people of God. …

My Gospel Reflections for February 21, Monday: Mark 9:14-21

My Reflections:

The disciples asked Jesus: “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” Jesus told them: “This kind can only come out through prayer.” Just like some of us the disciples obviously doesn’t have a very healthy prayer life that’s why they were not able to drive out the unclean spirit that had possessed the boy.

On the other hand the father has a very strong faith even if the disciples failed to help him he persisted and asked Jesus to heal his son and he was not disappointed.

The gospel invites us to examine the health of our prayer life maybe it’s unwell like the disciples.

How about our faith? It must always be strong and in our journey with God we must always walk by faith and not by sight.