Padre Pio - Part 1

My First Reading Reflections for June 30 Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Genesis 22:1b-19

My Reflections:

With faith Abraham obeyed the command of the Lord to bring his son Isaac to be his offering. Abraham did not hesitate he simply obeyed, then when he was about to kill his son Isaac the Lord’s messenger intervened for he already passed the litmus test of his faith.

Our faith in the Lord is also tested by Him; several of us may already give-up and just walk away from HIM.

Like Abraham, some of us will remain faithful until the very end no matter how dark and dangerous the road ahead we will be steadfast and we will stay the course.

When there’s testing of our faith the best option to take is to be steadfast, hold-on tightly to your faith and stay the course no matter how gloomy the clouds are. Let us all remember that after the clouds there shall be sunshine and that is the blessings of God for those who remain faithful. … 

ZENIT - If Mass Is Boring

ZENIT - If Mass Is Boring

My Gospel Reflections for June 7 Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter: John 17:1-11

My Reflections:

Jesus said: I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. It was mission accomplished for Jesus. In doing his mission there were also instances wherein he stopped for a while and reflected on the sufferings that he will have to go through but in spite of it all he still went through it.

How can we glorify God while we are in this world? It’s very simple: we must follow the way of Jesus. His way of sacrificial love, His way of Humility, His way of self-emptying and self-giving. Jesus was dutiful to the Father’s will; He never questioned God as to why He must pass through suffering. He simply followed the will of God for Him.

As Christians/Catholics we also have our own mission in the Lord’s vineyard. We need to share and live the good news about Jesus. 

The Touch Of The Master's Hand...

Please click on this link:

http://www.sapphyr.net/largegems/master.htm

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.