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.

                                                       + + + + + + +
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. …

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.  . . .

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:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2012/10/a-future-pope/

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

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:

http://business.inquirer.net/88866/no-to-rh-bill

Jesse M. Robredo, (May 27, 1958-Aug. 18, 2012)

Farewell to a great Filipino, an honest, simple and humble public servant. A model family man, a true man of God and of faith, a true man of the poor (Jessie M. Robredo, May 27, 1958-Aug. 18, 2012). 

Eternal rest grant unto him o Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

The Youth and the Birth Control Quarrel by: +SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan

Please click on this link: 

http://rcald.org/?p=674

Interview of Archbishop Luis G. Tagle by Fr. Thomas Rosica for Salt and Light TV Canada (June 2012 Dublin Ireland)

My Reflections for Sunday August 5, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time John 6:24-35

Gospel:

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.? So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

+ + + + + + +

My Reflections:

There’s a saint named Catherine of Siena, she was badly sick during the latter part of her life that she would spew out every kind of food that she swallowed. What sustained her during that crucial period of her life was her daily reception of Jesus through Holy Communion. She was sustained for a number of years by the Bread of Life until she eventually died.

Jesus in our gospel for this Sunday boldly tells us that He is our true bread of life that we must look for, the true bread of life that we must always hunger for. Why? Because once we find Jesus we will never hunger and thirst any longer for the material things of this world which in reality is very fleeting and can be taken away from  us anytime.

There are people who treat material possession, money, power, influence and the like as their own bread of life. However this is not the real bread of life but the bread of the world. There’s no satisfaction with this bread of this world because the more that we possess it the more that we crave for it. We will continuously hunger and thirst for this bread of the world until it completely possess and destroy us.

There’s a true story of a woman who complained about her pressure packed work. She grumbled that since her re- employment she is now often sick with high blood pressure, ulcer and other sickness caused by her pressure packed work. Her friend asked her why she keeps on working when she can comfortably live for the rest of her life  with her deposited money in the bank. 

Her curt reply was this: she wants to save some more because she will buy a much bigger house. This is always the scenario once we allow ourselves to be enslaved by the bread of this world: We will endlessly crave for things and possession even if we actually don’t need it anymore.

But what if we seek the true Bread of Life that is Jesus? We will be satisfied with whatever we have, we will not crave for material possession or wealth we will not experience so much pressure. We will instead be serene and peaceful because Jesus the true Bread of Life is with us.

Let us always hold close in our hearts this very powerful statement of Jesus: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." (John 6:35)

Pope speaks on stolen documents and condemns media for its amplification.

The Intercession of the Saints/The Role of the Saints/How Do Saints Hear Us?

Please click on the link:

http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap070300.htm

What is LENT?

Aggie Catholics: LENT 2012: Once again, it is time for our Aggie Catholics annual Lenten mega-post . Links, videos, and resources will be added and updated thro...

6 Things All Catholics Should Know About the Rosary

Please click on this link:

http://www.stpeterslist.com/3112/regina-sanctissimi-rosarii-6-things-all-catholic-should-know-about-the-rosary/

The Sacrament of Penance: also known as "Confession" or "Reconciliation"

Please click on this link:

http://fisheaters.com/penance.html

Archbishop of Manila, Philippines, Luis Antonio Tagle, on clerical sex abuse, in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Please click on this link: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/09/bishop-warns-of-priest-sex-abuse-cases-in-asia/?page=2#article

My Reflections for Saturday February 4; 1st reading 1st Kings 3:4-13

My Reflections:

In our first reading the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said: "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." Solomon did not ask for any material things; he instead asked for an understanding heart to judge the people and to distinguish right from wrong. Why did Solomon ask for this wisdom instead of temporary things?

Because the most important things in this world are not those that are seen or perceive by our worldly senses. The most important things are those that are felt by our hearts and minds. It doesn’t matter anymore if we are not rich if we don’t have power. It’s enough that we are able to guide, nurture and mentor those who are in our sphere of influence.

The legacy that lasts is not the structures that we’ve built but the hearts that we've touched and converted.

If the Lord will give us the same opportunity what will we ask from Him? 

My Reflections for January 6 Friday Luke 3:23-38

My Reflections:

Death is a unifying factor in the family for example during wake. We will be introduced to relatives whom we have never seen in our entire lives. Then we normally talk with them; through this we will be able to trace how we are intricately connected.

As we talk with our relatives let us take this opportunity to get to know them better. Let us be nice and helpful towards them and let us humble ourselves before them.  

Who knows with these behaviors we might be the instruments for them to get closer to Jesus. … 

May we all have a Blessed, Happy and Prosperous New Year!

My Reflections for The Feast of the Holy Family; December 30 Friday Luke 2:22, 39-40

My Reflections:

What is the best gift that a husband/wife can give to God and to their spouses? It’s faithfulness to their marriage vows; this is the best offering that we can bequeath God and our spouses. What is the best gift that we can give our children? The best gift is not the latest gadget/s but to implant In their hearts the love of God for them. Children must know that there’s a God that is in control of everything in this world.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph both spouses were faithful to each other. Both spouses presented the young Jesus to the Lord.

Are we still faithful to our marriage vows? Do we still bring our children to the church for Mass? Do we still teach them about our faith?   

Let us preserve the values of the Holy Family in our own respective families. …   

My Reflections for December 14 Wednesday Luke 18b-23

My Reflections:

Many are looking for happiness and fulfillment; they try to look for it within their wealth but they failed. We also look for our happiness and fulfillment in the many facets of our lives and we end up holding an empty bag.

The disciples of John were sent by him to Jesus to ask this question: 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?' Jesus answered them by citing His many miracles and healings. 

We know that Jesus is the one who can cure us with everything that is bothering us. Let us not look elsewhere; let us focus our sights on Him. 

Vigil on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

Procession on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, St. Joseph's Parish Carmona Cavite

My Gospel Reflections for Monday November 21, Luke 2:1-4

My Reflections:

Pureness of intentions is always first with Jesus, He doesn’t care who you are, even your social status in life it doesn’t count on Him. What is important with Him is our  desire to help regardless of the amount that we give.

This is what we must follow when we treat people; because we are easily awed by the rich and we oftentimes look down on the poor. We must not judge based on their life’s status we rather judge them based on how sincere they are. But how can we decipher that an individual is sincere and true with his intention to help when we don’t have power to read a person’s mind?

This is very simple: We must always be true and sincere with whatever we say and do. ...     

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Basis of reverence of relics of saints in the bible.

Acts 5:15 and Acts 19:11

The fragility of our lives...

The Fragility of our lives...

by: Marino J. Dasmarinas

Last night our parish secretary informed me that I have a scheduled funeral blessing; I said OK I’ll go.

So I went there, upon finding the place I introduced myself to the relatively young wife then I said: “I will now bless him please gather all the relatives.” As I was saying the blessings and prayers I noticed that the wife was crying profusely.

After I was through, I asked her: “what was the cause of death of your husband and how old is he?” She said: “His fifthly (50) years old and his death is totally unexpected.” He just arrived from work then after a few minutes of rest in the sofa he suddenly died. ... After our short conversation I told her:  “I have to go now” and she said: “Thank you very much” I said in return: “You’re welcome and pray for his soul’s eternal repose.”

As I was walking away from their house, I can’t help but reflect on the fragility of our lives, that it can be taken away from us any time and any place. As I glance back at their house, I told myself maybe she was seriously crying because, there were loving words left unsaid, there were loving embraces left undone and there were loving moments left to pass them by. ...

As an afterthought: Express your love to your relatives and don’t hold back on doing good to everyone.

Remember the fragility of our lives…

The Dash...

THE DASH

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,

but he said what mattered most of all

was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

that she spent alive on earth

and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matter not, how much we own,

the cars...the house...the cash.

What matters is how we live and love

and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

to consider what's true and real

and always try to understand

the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

and show appreciation more

and love the people in our lives

like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

and more often wear a smile...

remembering that this special dash

might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read

with your life's actions to rehash,

would you be proud of the things they say

about how you spent your dash?

My Gospel Reflections for Saturday September 24: Luke 9:43-45

My Reflections:

The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant when He said that He was to be handed over to men. I think they did not understand it because they were all used to Jesus the miracle worker and Jesus the healer. Even us if we were with the disciples at that time we will not also understand these utterance of Jesus.

But now we know what Jesus meant when He said that He was to be handed over to men.

What does this mean to you and me? It simply means that as we follow Jesus there shall be moments of seamless life, glory and triumph.  But let us not get drunk with these for there shall come a time that our discipleship shall be tested by the fire of trials and sacrifices.

Will we be able to steadfastly hold on to our discipleship when that time comes? 

The Window from which we look ... by: Anonymous

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.

The next morning while they are eating breakfast, 

The young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.
"That laundry is not very clean", she said.
"She doesn't know how to wash correctly. 
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, 
The young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a
Nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:
"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and
Cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others
Depends on the purity of the window through which we look!

The Brothers Karamazov (1969) (English subtitles). Part 1/3 (1/8).

mo

The Word Exposed - Catechism (The Cross of Jesus)

The Word Exposed- Catechism ( Mary, Model of all Christians)

The Word Exposed - Catechism (Heroes of Faith)

The Word Exposed- Catechism (The Church)

Homily for July 27, 2011 via EWTN: Homily Topic about the Sanctity of Life and the Reproductive Health RH bill pending in the Phil. Congress - Bishop Ramon Villena, d. of Bayombong PHL - Weekday

My Gospel Reflections for Friday July 29 Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 10:34-42

My Reflections:

What was the better part that Mary did according to Jesus? Mary gave her time to Jesus by listening to Him. How about Martha? She was preoccupied   with worldly things that she had no time to sit down and listen to Jesus.

Martha is essentially very much like all of us very busy with worldly things such as to earn a living, to do our house chores, to take care of our family, to go on vacation and many more worldly activities.  There’s nothing wrong with these activities because we are presently citizens of this world.

But let us not give our everything to this fleeting and temporary world let us allocate precious time with Jesus let us allow Him to speak to us. There are some of us who complain that Jesus is deaf to our pleadings perhaps this is so because we very seldom sit-down and listen to Jesus. …

Beautiful All Audio Bible for everyone to listen and share...

http://www.youtube.com/user/ALLAUDIOBIBLE

King David [Richard Gere] Full Movie Part 1 of 15

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)