Friday, March 18, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
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. …
Monday, February 21, 2011
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.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Eternal repose grant unto the soul of Gen. Angelo T. Reyes dear Lord...
Gen. Angelo T. Reyes my have his own human weaknesses, just like all of us he may have erred on his judgments but he also has serve our country. We may not know it but in his own little way he may also have offered his life for our country.
Dear Lord we entrust to you the soul of Gen. Angelo T. Reyes. We do not judge him for we too are to be judged, we too are sinners. ...
Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord,: and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. ...
Let us remember him in our prayers...
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Cab Ride...
I arrived at the address and honked the horn.
after waiting a few minutes I walked to the
door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a
frail, elderly voice. I could hear something
being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in
her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress
after waiting a few minutes I walked to the
door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a
frail, elderly voice. I could hear something
being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in
her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress
and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody
out of a 1940's movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment
looked as if no one had lived in it for years.
All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks
or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a
cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said.
I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned
to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked
slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing',
She took my arm and we walked
slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing',
I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way
I would want my mother to be treated.'
'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we
'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we
got in the cab, she gave me an address and then
asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry.
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry.
I'm on my way to a hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were
glistening. 'I don't have any family left,'she
continued in a soft voice.. 'The doctor says I
don't have a very long time to live.' I quietly reached over
and shut off the meter.
'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
She showed me the building where she had once
worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she
We drove through the neighborhood where she
and her husband had lived when they were
newlyweds She had me pull up in front
of a furniture warehouse that had once been
a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a
particular building or corner and would sit
staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon,
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon,
she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
It was a low building, like a small convalescent home,
with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon
as we pulled up. They were Solicitous and intent,
watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to
the door. The woman was already seated in a
wheelchair.
'How much do I owe you?'
She asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to
the door. The woman was already seated in a
wheelchair.
'How much do I owe you?'
She asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
She held onto me tightly.
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,'
'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,'
she said. 'Thank you.'
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into
the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.
It was the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift.
I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that
day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had
gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient
to end his shift?
day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had
gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient
to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run,
or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have
On a quick review, I don't think that I have
done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives
We're conditioned to think that our lives
revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us
But great moments often catch us
unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others
may consider a small one.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Scripture and Tradition in the Catholic Church
Please click on this link:
2nd Thesalonians 2:15
http://www.catholic.com/library/Scripture_and_Tradition.asp
2nd Thesalonians 2:15
http://www.catholic.com/library/Scripture_and_Tradition.asp
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