tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18787144546700599912024-03-25T22:05:49.067+08:00God-speakUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger929125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-88613891784922591372024-03-16T21:26:00.002+08:002024-03-16T21:28:25.836+08:00The Best Time to Praise God<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtp5CRBDiyheZZcfRiJ6CQZtrs1ld96EbPsaUnpej20v7Sg88zpfSMmQAVjnCDor3DPep84OAboRuiU4cRFNy5wU03RnHDIlaget8PkxTcGlX8eZ5KZay-91w4sH9aA-eJ354PZZFQ6DUnWiIyb2GjtejFDhMl0URLIgWVOZDK27PCHTGtsQ3tVaNX_44/s1024/preachit-image-media-3593-slide1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtp5CRBDiyheZZcfRiJ6CQZtrs1ld96EbPsaUnpej20v7Sg88zpfSMmQAVjnCDor3DPep84OAboRuiU4cRFNy5wU03RnHDIlaget8PkxTcGlX8eZ5KZay-91w4sH9aA-eJ354PZZFQ6DUnWiIyb2GjtejFDhMl0URLIgWVOZDK27PCHTGtsQ3tVaNX_44/s320/preachit-image-media-3593-slide1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Fifth Sunday of Lent</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana;">17 March 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">First Reading: Jer 31:31-34<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">Second Reading: Heb 5:7-9</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Jn 12:20-33</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Gharri Tulabut</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">When I was still actively promoting financial literacy by teaching personal finance, I usually use five or six steps to financial independence. One of the steps which I usually skip is the part of managing or eliminating debt. Often I would proudly say that I don’t know anything about debts because I never had debts in my life. But that was true until… </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">…I got married. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">No, this is not one of those stereotypical jokes about husbands and wives. Let me tell you the story.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Our wedding last year was just a simple one. Still, we borrowed a little amount from friends and family and we took advantage of whatever we can loan from SSS and PAGIBIG to add to our budget. These loans are supposedly manageable thru our regular income. But two months before the wedding, my fiancé lost her job due to office politics. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">A few months after the wedding, when we started paying our debts, we really had a hard time. We tried borrowing from banks and lending institutions for debt consolidation. But since only one of us had a regular income, we are always rejected. Again, we asked friends and family, and even went to some referred individuals we do not know (a.k.a. 5-6). </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">I would not say we hit rock bottom. I still have a job. We have a home. We never skipped meals. Just a bit tight than before. We just experienced abstaining from eating out; We prioritizing things to buy; There were times we gas up our car with only 200 pesos just to make it home from work. Look, we still have ride.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">One sad thing about our situation was that we cannot give our regular tithing.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">But throughout this downside in our finances, we never ceased to praise God, to serve in our community.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">And little by little we see small provisions from Him. We see small help such as when a friend and former colleague sending me money out of nowhere. I did not know who told her of our current predicament that time but she just reached out to us just when we do not know anymore how to pay our next due date. Or one time, when two friends who initially just “seen” my messenger message asking for a loan, at the same time just messaged me asking if I still need the loan. And this was while I was attending a worship event, of all times.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">As one of my preacher friends always say, “The best time to praise God is when you don’t feel like praising God.”</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">I and my wife never ceased praying, asking and praising at the same time. And God took care of us even with little things.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Kumapit lang kami. And continued to give glory to Him with the best that we could do. And God did not let go of our hands.</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">All Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-43122893444223275362024-03-10T08:38:00.001+08:002024-03-10T08:39:19.353+08:00What Pain?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_vzHxxFfLRQ-9t9kGyZh2w_Zr3-o6kZBszKZNI8Z5YglQo59XcUdh3_GCmhfSk5abE_fJQiLk-ocslyWeCdRM7i8hS9ZDaNDgNgP8WBbcQ8-t5Gdd6GMMeHJxlkeSUOneT2JNMS3SnbM4cB92yxBEA2LYDiSuCFZsN9VFId9h2xrxVvmSvSROxs9nas/s554/images.jpeg-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="554" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_vzHxxFfLRQ-9t9kGyZh2w_Zr3-o6kZBszKZNI8Z5YglQo59XcUdh3_GCmhfSk5abE_fJQiLk-ocslyWeCdRM7i8hS9ZDaNDgNgP8WBbcQ8-t5Gdd6GMMeHJxlkeSUOneT2JNMS3SnbM4cB92yxBEA2LYDiSuCFZsN9VFId9h2xrxVvmSvSROxs9nas/s320/images.jpeg-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Fourth Sunday of Lent</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-family: verdana;">10 March 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-size: small;">First Reading: 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-size: small;">Second Reading: Eph 2:4-10</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Jn 3:14-21</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Gharri Tulabut</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span><br /></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">One of the great practices that my charismatic community, Light of Jesus Family, started practicing recently is culminating its big events with the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This was also the case last November at the Feast Conference.</span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">At the adoration, I decides to kneel the whole time the Blessed Sacrament was venerates</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">—</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">from the moment the procession started, up until the lights were put off. And the whole time, my knees ached. Because the event took like what, 30-45 minutes? (And I forgot I have a leg handicap.</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-align: start;">😁</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">)</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Several worship songs were sung at that time, contemporary and traditional; even Latin like Tantum Ergo.</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">And as the pain on my knees' became unbeable, tears continue to fall from my eyes like water falls (hagulgol ba?), epecially when these lyrics were sang:</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">"You left the glory of Your throne</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">And chose to make a home</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Here in the mess so You could walk with the unworthy</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Almighty Son of Man</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">You chose a crown of thorns</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">So by Your blood we are redeemed and be made worthy" (Worthy, Holy be Feast Worship)</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">What is the pain in my legs compared to what the Son has endured for me?</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">What is an hour of sacrifice compared to what the Father endured looking at His Son's suffering?</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">That night, I was crying and smiling at the same time. I was crying asking for forgiveness for my sins after what He has done. Smiling knowing that God truly loved me so much that He gave His only begotten Son for me, for us.</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #d856a2; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Thank You God for everything!</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Glory be You Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-36852439699259387482024-03-02T19:56:00.001+08:002024-03-02T20:07:54.634+08:00Getting into Jesus' "Nerves"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HW8cg9Y2ojvL2ALoas9E218z_8GQoYgbXo73g1GHIYQWj-4vobxkd1nHPN3w59Nv_htokcjWKqZZBcRi8ianOATgrv_D9sktQR4cKjN7VxHmO6FcHwfWwGBadUD1lMLihz8YworLtk-nk1ZBt4osMFhAxrWETWeyW7IBfb8I-Tf3-UenYN3kSPZU22I/s640/RV4349_Articolo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="640" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HW8cg9Y2ojvL2ALoas9E218z_8GQoYgbXo73g1GHIYQWj-4vobxkd1nHPN3w59Nv_htokcjWKqZZBcRi8ianOATgrv_D9sktQR4cKjN7VxHmO6FcHwfWwGBadUD1lMLihz8YworLtk-nk1ZBt4osMFhAxrWETWeyW7IBfb8I-Tf3-UenYN3kSPZU22I/s320/RV4349_Articolo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Third Sunday of Lent</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana;">03 March 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">First Reading: Ex 20:1-17<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:22-25</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Jn 2:13-25</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Gharri Tulabut</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">In some of my lectures in management, whenever we talk about cheating in business, I usually vent, rant, or even lament asking the question, “why is it better for others to cheat on a first time customer, than to build the trust of a potential 'suki'?"</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Example: cheating with the net weight of a sale of meat products; cheating on expiration dates, ingredients, and many other fake claims about the products they're selling; or just not telling everything a customer must know.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Because I’m sure that when these customers learn that they’ve been cheated on or have been had, they are not going to make a repeat purchase. Just a one time deal.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Today in the Gospel, Jesus was furious of traders in the Temple vicinity, driving them away.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">When I was younger, I thought that God just didn’t like turning the house of worship into a market place. Though I still believe that’s true, but listening to homilies and talk about that incident, I’ve learned that there was a deeper root to it. That Jesus was concerned about the corrupt temple officials during that time, rejecting the people’s offerings, and forcing them to buy “unblemished” animals at a higher price. These people cheated upon are usually poor and those who have no voice in society. If you want to get in Jesus “nerves?”, abuse His favorites—the least, the last, and the lost.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Yet another important significance of our Gospel reading is Jesus' declaration of his passion, death, and resurrection which we are commemorating in this Lenten season.</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Father, make our motives pure that in everything we do, we bring glory to You, Amen.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-87645345862172689882024-02-25T23:28:00.001+08:002024-02-25T23:36:23.179+08:00Transfiguration, Confession, Reconfiguration<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jEYVj7mJYESjdHP2-ZIfLS6sWM4xX9wJe-8m7ZrNFnvtlzZuxK71nF1nGxVM9ygAWRZFEj3yNPqw5E8RBGEPxmpHCIoL5eCOHxEm10uiuMJxeFA2nzyXa5LT4tZkbuZyO63CXHrAs-AGTH4HRmgGgZlJ5LLnUxrsgJlsIaqoE5I0xSlZT7vM125VKWo/s617/images.jpeg-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jEYVj7mJYESjdHP2-ZIfLS6sWM4xX9wJe-8m7ZrNFnvtlzZuxK71nF1nGxVM9ygAWRZFEj3yNPqw5E8RBGEPxmpHCIoL5eCOHxEm10uiuMJxeFA2nzyXa5LT4tZkbuZyO63CXHrAs-AGTH4HRmgGgZlJ5LLnUxrsgJlsIaqoE5I0xSlZT7vM125VKWo/s320/images.jpeg-3.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Second Sunday of Lent</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana;">25 February 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">First Reading: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">Second Reading: Rom 8:31b-34</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mk 9:2-10</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores</span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Last week, my fellow lector requested to swap schedule with me as he had a work-related travel. I instantly said yes, though that would mean, I might have to attend two Masses in a day, first at the Manila Cathedral for my service, then in Quiapo Church for my Friday devotion.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">On Thursday night before going to sleep, I was not quite sure if I be able to attend Mass in Quiapo. Justifying my thoughts, I kept telling myself that maybe Jesus would understand if I just drop by Quiapo after my serve at the Manila Cathedral, at least, I still went, even for a visit.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">On Friday morning, I came to realize that since I was feeling lazy to hear a second Mass in Quiapo, then I might just go to confession, instead, timely for the season of Lent. But the problem, I was not yet ready to face the Lord in the sacrament of reconciliation. I was not spiritually and emotionally prepared to admit my sins before the priest. So, I prayed to God on my way to the Manila Cathedral saying, "Lord, please disturb me and give me the courage I needed in order to go to confession." Immediately an answered prayer, upon hearing the word "turn", I could not contain my heart from its burning desire, I badly wanted to go to confession, NOW.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">After the Mass at the Manila Cathedral, I went straight to Quiapo Church, uttering another prayer, </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">to be at the shortest queue for confession, so that temptation of shyness and laziness will not deter my reconciliation with God.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Entering Quiapo Church, I was second in the line to the confession box, and in less than five minutes, I was there mentioning my sins to the priest. And that, I could say was my transfiguration moment, Jesus made me and my plans even more beautiful. I did not only hear Mass but also got the chance to be reconciled with Him on that Friday.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Jesus' transfiguration in this Sunday's Gospel brought peace of mind to Peter, James, and John that urged them to just stay on the mount. In our Modern world today, may the transfiguration of Jesus shake us so we be led to changing our ways of life.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">In the Transfiguration, a voice was heard from the cloud, declaring Jesus as the Father's beloved Son and we must listen to Him. In Confession, we get back our identity of being beloved children of God, ready to amend our lives and align our paths to Him.</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Dear Lord Jesus, may Your transfiguration inspires us to reconfigure our lives so we may always be united to Your will. This we ask in Your Holy Name, Amen.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-79257877915385145282024-02-17T23:10:00.005+08:002024-02-18T19:28:03.307+08:00Joyful Preparation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nVRCUawQV_Os0mbE60KlLAxh1BkIUcYVEeNgEq__vBV-yHzr2zqlpsxpOaf1kbXMkcCN-bJfhFrgIENEQ_3FZ7_HZ6lITm4C0TWc4dD_OUXQgLxwcUlTtQQSnlfUYmJTGGDy32OrriO7gK_uFxFQAjZn_uY9pjJk7koAtHliJiKZ9W_UBiBtWRP78y0/s280/Jesus%20Temptation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="280" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nVRCUawQV_Os0mbE60KlLAxh1BkIUcYVEeNgEq__vBV-yHzr2zqlpsxpOaf1kbXMkcCN-bJfhFrgIENEQ_3FZ7_HZ6lITm4C0TWc4dD_OUXQgLxwcUlTtQQSnlfUYmJTGGDy32OrriO7gK_uFxFQAjZn_uY9pjJk7koAtHliJiKZ9W_UBiBtWRP78y0/s1600/Jesus%20Temptation.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">First Sunday of Lent</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: verdana;">18 February 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">First Reading: Gn 9:8-15<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Pt 3:18-22</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mk 1:12-15</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #800180;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">When Christmas is approaching, everyone gets excited counting down the days, playing Christmas songs, buying gifts, going to parties, preparing full blast for the occasion, exclaiming "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!"</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">But it is the exact opposite for the Lenten season. People tend to be quiet and could not wait any longer for the Holy Week to start so it will soon end.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Attending a Lenten formation this afternoon, I became more convinced that the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ which we commemorate during Holy Week is the heart of our liturgical year, the summit of our Catholic faith, the most joyful season because God gifted us the most precious present, our salvation.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Being aware of this joyful celebration that will happen on Easter Vigil, Rev. Fr. Genaro Diwa invited today's Lenten formation attendees to empty a big portion in their lives, ready for the huge gift from God.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The call to have a happy disposition this Lent is actually supported by the Gospel Reading on Ash Wednesday saying that the Lord requests us to not look gloomy even when fasting, to not neglect our appearance just like what the hypocrites do. The three pillars of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving should be complied with a cheerful disposition looking forward to God's promise of salvation.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">This Lent, surely, we have already decided on the sacrifices we wish to offer as a penance. But more importantly, may we be guided of St. Benedict's quote "Let each one deny himself some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing." Let us savor the Lenten journey to Easter.</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Lord Jesus, thank You for the season of Lent, please accompany me in my 40-day preparation so that I may celebrate joyfully the Easter and Your Resurrection. This we ask in Your Name, Amen.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-82697427302220993292024-02-10T21:23:00.003+08:002024-02-10T21:29:07.243+08:00Connect Not Discriminate<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLap6YQywbHqMP32nC06DnUqOa3d2gNKhZzKktYm1jQMVugAeCBXKRbOsnFMIzxi1FP9EwK1U5wTe20G3g_JRJJiQ136BQlj9eIpYL90hWlb7Foz5gFTHea2dQtEbEi-EgfvaODnXOun6EZii8gixAZC999G9G737oMiC5oQ5M6joYbVS3a50A0zEL0o/s898/4-26_orig.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="713" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLap6YQywbHqMP32nC06DnUqOa3d2gNKhZzKktYm1jQMVugAeCBXKRbOsnFMIzxi1FP9EwK1U5wTe20G3g_JRJJiQ136BQlj9eIpYL90hWlb7Foz5gFTHea2dQtEbEi-EgfvaODnXOun6EZii8gixAZC999G9G737oMiC5oQ5M6joYbVS3a50A0zEL0o/s320/4-26_orig.png" width="254" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana;">11 February 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">First Reading: Lv 13:1-2, 44-46<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Cor 10:31-11:1</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 1:40-45</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span><br /></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><div class="innerblock"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Leprosy as described in the Bible is a contagious disease that caused people living with it be isolated from the society. Up until now, though leprosy is already curable, the stigma remains.</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">It was in 2015 when I was enlightened about the illness after being the staff assigned on the partnership between the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and Philippine Leprosy Mission, Inc. It is the discrimination that impacts the life of the leper more than the complication of the disease.</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Our First Reading and Gospel for this Sunday show us the clear picture of the suffering a leper has to endure because of his state of uncleanliness. Moved with compassion, Jesus made the leper clean so he may be reconnected with his community.</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">On February 14, Valentine's Day is Ash Wednesday, and we will officially begin the season of Lent. Let us examine ourselves, our lives, our relationships. What are the circumstances that we tend to discriminate others? When was the last time we are moved with pity to help our fellow human being? In this age of modern connectivity, can we actually say that we become more connected with one another?</span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Inspired by Jesus' example in today's Gospel, may we empathize with the people suffering from discrimination. Let us embrace and love our neighbors regardless of their illness, status, physical looks, beliefs, or ideologies.</span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></div></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Lord Jesus Christ, help us to end any form of discrimination made worse by our selfishness and indifference. May You open our eyes to see the reality, our ears to hear the silent suffering, our hands to welcome those in need, and our hearts to love especially those already forgotten by the society. All these we ask in Your Mighty Name, Amen.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-24810084499456798152024-02-04T22:28:00.001+08:002024-02-10T11:08:13.472+08:00The Enlarged Heart<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVDYGLpkaQBNQ1RBJZVU0-LljtpTiQIsRL4wnoMGIh8yFciP_mLZoRx7t_yfGsfoYSSGB_QPOSmRkSKxNAGy4NAXfnwm33NSWLsk1Mps0nrDeO2j2XrW-xWayuTACw9Gs34gTShobFEAnpo2kr5scEv_bzF4BQwLad2VDoyog0D0WPL7N7soOk7lbj9g/s546/1354227555_logo-hhm-working.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="546" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVDYGLpkaQBNQ1RBJZVU0-LljtpTiQIsRL4wnoMGIh8yFciP_mLZoRx7t_yfGsfoYSSGB_QPOSmRkSKxNAGy4NAXfnwm33NSWLsk1Mps0nrDeO2j2XrW-xWayuTACw9Gs34gTShobFEAnpo2kr5scEv_bzF4BQwLad2VDoyog0D0WPL7N7soOk7lbj9g/s320/1354227555_logo-hhm-working.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana;">04 February 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">First Reading: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mk 1:29-39</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores</span></span></b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Last year, my annual physical examination x-ray result showed I have an enlarged heart. I was disturbed, I kept on thinking what went wrong, wishing that it was just a machine error.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">To confirm the findings, the cardiologist advised me to have a treadmill test, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and holter monitorings, and 2D echo test. The earliest schedule for the abovementioned tests is a month and a half later after my doctor's consultation, to which I dared to avail.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Day after day while waiting for my tests schedule, I was anxious about the possibilities. What if the tests confirm the diagnosis? I am too young at 33 years old to have a heart problem. Apart from that, I just recently recovered from bell's palsy, and now, another health issue is knocking on the door. Oh Lord, if this is what you call favoritism, please don't make me an apple of your eye.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Like Job in the First Reading, I was restless, I was looking for answers in prayer. Until one night, while contemplating, God made me realized to again surrender myself to Him, the same way I entrusted my bell's palsy healing journey in 2022. And if this heart condition when confirmed, will be a way to unify myself to Jesus' suffering on the Cross to save me, to save us, then I will gladly suffer as my simple share for the reparation of sins.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">From that night on as I surrendered my life and future to the Lord, waiting for the schedule of my heart tests and results became bearable. Of course, I still have fear but I know Jesus will never abandon me. I also learned to counter my negative thoughts with the affirmation that maybe God is enlarging my heart to be able to accept His love and be capable of loving others more. A smaller heart cannot contain the overwhelming love of God for me so I needed a bigger one.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The day has come and I have undergone the required medical tests. Thanks be to God, the results are normal! I do not have an enlarged heart. God touched my heart and I rediscovered Him.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">We all have our own life's challenges and sufferings that made us lament to God day and night, similar with the experiences of Job and those sick and possessed by demons in today's Gospel. But may these life's challenges and struggles lead us closer to God, the source of healing and all blessings. May we also learn to thank God for our sufferings as we rediscover our faith and trust in Him especially during the lowest points of our lives.</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Lord, thank You for the blessing and suffering. Help us to always acknowledge Your presence may it be in good or in bad times. Make us also living testimonies of Your love and bearers of Your light. Amen.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-62148817825218087502024-01-26T22:58:00.000+08:002024-01-26T23:00:03.403+08:00God's Authority<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOUXK6yWbrERCoE1uf1Q6i-OCOqeF7wGAfMI2fHcrJTYfWCCf4wglm81Y9Bju23YIRvSMwPz53Jb1ZOtwVEnYg2coWuqp5-bYks5ZxoaadVzZsssVWdKWpJa8JVhS7KIpCMB7ysbwGt6pl2eB99u0O0OO3jrkeTdqdz-YjZm7fyWf3O6jbM_jsoqe86s/s664/FB_IMG_1706280870765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="664" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOUXK6yWbrERCoE1uf1Q6i-OCOqeF7wGAfMI2fHcrJTYfWCCf4wglm81Y9Bju23YIRvSMwPz53Jb1ZOtwVEnYg2coWuqp5-bYks5ZxoaadVzZsssVWdKWpJa8JVhS7KIpCMB7ysbwGt6pl2eB99u0O0OO3jrkeTdqdz-YjZm7fyWf3O6jbM_jsoqe86s/s320/FB_IMG_1706280870765.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">28 January 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">First Reading: Dt 18:15-20<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Cor 7:32-35</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mk 1:21-28</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Jose Paulo Gonzales</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">How great is the Lord that no power in the heavens, on earth, nor under the earth can dare hold a candle to Him. Speaking with authority such that dignitaries would beam with astonishment upon seeing Him, He also had the ability to cast out evil spirits with a single command; for they know who He is. They know the power He wields. They follow Him as they are subject to Him. This is our King: the King of kings, the Lord of lords. His Name is above every other name. He is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The authority with which Jesus spoke perceivably springs from His confidence in the Father, for theirs is a bond unbreakable from of old. Jesus has been with God the Father from the beginning, and Jesus is the One through Whom all things were made (John 1). To interpret (as we cannot speak completely on the Lord’s behalf), Jesus’ authority comes from His eternal divinity with the Father and is not only a result of divine bequeathment, and such naturally translated into the quality of His preaching.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">So special is the place Jesus occupies that entire lives are worth being lived for Him, as in today’s Second Reading. Such reading provides basis for why celibacy is practiced today in the Catholic priesthood; for a life lived entirely for Christ is a life not encumbered by the cares of the world and is thus a life undivided in Christ. This is why the priesthood maintains a special place in vocation as do other types of vocation: marriage, religious life (to include the diaconate and nunhood, which are other types of religious calling), and single blessedness. Whatever vocation a person chooses and lives up to in good faith is a rife space God can bless for His commissioning.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">A life of stalwart spiritual zeal is one Christ has lived such that He did not withdraw from doing good on the Sabbath. While in today’s Gospel, Jesus has not yet done anything the pharisees can squarely condemn (as He was only preaching on the Sabbath which was apparently acceptable to the pharisees), in Mark chapter 3, Jesus, on Sabbath, would heal a man’s withered hand. Encounters such as this are what usually land Jesus in hot water, for the pharisees maintain a rigid disposition towards the conduct of Sabbath, namely they hold it to an absolute degree that one must resist doing any action on the Special Day. While the originative feeling is not one to be repudiated completely as the pharisees and the like may be ‘coming from a good place’, in the wisdom of the Lord, the prospect of doing good especially for the benefit of those whose needs do not pick any day significantly outweighs the stringent observance of the day of rest. After all, can a person of good heart and sound discernment maintain the composure of rest at the sight of a brother or sister in need? We have the answer in Jesus when He posed to the pharisees this rhetorical question: “which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4) We could not save everybody every day; but where our hands can help, they are appreciated… as per the Lord, they can even save!</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Lord God, thank You for the gift of discernment that nevertheless with You has brought us this far in our Christian walk of life. Please continue to shower upon us Your wisdom and love to make for us a way of life guided not only by sound judgment but ultimately, love. May we continue to be Your hands that care for others so that we can live authentically as Your living tabernacles.</div><div class="innerblock">Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-87138681839663921172024-01-19T20:47:00.001+08:002024-01-19T20:48:59.211+08:00The Road to Conversion<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wBW2Rhblx2fVq3CYzbppDYgxREiCNFS3FK6o2R7U1U-DpDd8KHdgkJxE5EVY0vS6q4gvKqZX2mVYXGo5nx9U06_HU9cMTajOWc9UmZqe0ORhY-hpEYt5QZeVK3KP9BGKIUW7e2V1N8FFNRU2tUz1mlJBlfkgo34sG98ANIqYryU_WQSuOVhG4bf6xbM/s600/follow-me.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="600" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wBW2Rhblx2fVq3CYzbppDYgxREiCNFS3FK6o2R7U1U-DpDd8KHdgkJxE5EVY0vS6q4gvKqZX2mVYXGo5nx9U06_HU9cMTajOWc9UmZqe0ORhY-hpEYt5QZeVK3KP9BGKIUW7e2V1N8FFNRU2tUz1mlJBlfkgo34sG98ANIqYryU_WQSuOVhG4bf6xbM/s320/follow-me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Third Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana;">21 January 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">First Reading: Jon 3:1-5, 10<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Cor 7:29-31</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mk 1:14-20</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Jose Paulo Gonzales</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Today’s Gospel cues us into the spectacle of conversion. Conversion is comparable to the ‘toss and turn’ we run through as we try to sleep and go in search for the spot that gives us the greatest comfort; do we sleep on one side? On our bellies? On our backs? The shuffling on bed we experience gives us that: the chance of finding which position is most comfortable. While conversion involves quite a longstanding series of toss and turn… of trial and error, in the story of conversion, comfort is where we depart, as the road to conversion is anything but comfortable.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">John the Baptist is associated strongly to conversion. As he earnestly called people into repentance, he was labeled rather harshly. His zeal for service among other things that would have him living so austerely such as going from place to place homeless, wearing camel hair over his body, and feeding on locusts and wild honey would brand him upon others a madman; but all this would only bring more attention to his untamed fire for evangelization.</div><div class="innerblock"> </div><div class="innerblock">Special was John’s relation to the Lord that the Lord would find Himself weeping strongly upon his later execution; but the Lord we see in today’s Gospel did not steer away from service, despite John being delivered up to his captors. Jesus went on to continue His mission, proclaiming to people the Good News of salvation.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In mission, Jesus would find two of His early apostles – Simon who would be called Peter, and his brother Andrew, who would believe in His Messianic Identity. The brothers were casting their nets into the sea, only to be told they would be fishing for much bigger catch – people themselves. If only they knew how much more baffling it would be to perfect the self, let alone to lead others to a life that is spiritually spotless, their ‘yeses’ could have been a more difficult give; but it remains – people are in for some spiritual reeling.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Here, the amazing display we could emulate is how instant Simon and Andrew were to follow the Lord. While not all instant things are good and at times being instant could mean the lack of preparation or thoroughness, Simon and Andrew’s instant ‘yes’ in this case signifies the abandonment of self in the Face of One with Whom they can place their trust in confidence and childlike innocence.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The road to conversion is not always to be spoken of in third person as written accounts of conversion would have us think instantaneously. it is not for the people only – those outside us – to undertake. In the First Reading, in the story of Jonah, it was revealed: the prophets themselves (as are we) may be just in equal need of conversion, if not greater.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In more expounded accounts, Jonah would be shown to be rather obstinate. God would tell Jonah to call Nineveh to repentance, and Jonah, repeatedly, would turn away from the Lord, going into a place he thought he would not be found. He was angry with God for giving importance to Nineveh enough for him to be instructed to deliver God’s message there personally, and so because God was patient with the Ninevites and gave them considerable leeway to correct themselves. These were grating for Jonah to see; but the Lord would later lovingly reply: “is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4) “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left? […]” (Jonah 4:11) The Lord would send a big leaf to grow over Jonah’s head, sheltering him from the sweltering heat (Jonah 4:6) – all this love for the dissenting and angry Jonah.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Does this story remind us of anyone familiar? I am welling up with droplets as I am writing this. This show of complicated feelings represents us all. The road to conversion is not at all easy and as others are called to it, so are we. Conversion does not mean perfect – as a standard that impeccable would have everyone falling short; it points instead to the unyielding zest to lay down our arms, to relinquish all defense, to turn back to the Lord with contrite hearts over and over, seventy times seven, the only perfect thing here being God’s love… God’s patience… God’s mercy.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">On the road to repentance, does it matter if we start perfectly? Not so. For in the eyes of heaven, who is the son obedient to his father’s request? The son who has said “no” but had a later change of heart and went to follow his father’s wishes, or the son who said “yes” but later recanted his decision? The hearers of the parable would say: “the first.” (Matthew 21:28-32)</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Lord God, thank You for Your being patient with us in our conversion.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Though we have hearts of stone, please help us gain hearts of flesh and please send within us Your Spirit to help us live in Your statutes. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Though our sins be like scarlet, please make us white as snow; though our sins be like crimson, please make us white as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In all these, please shower Your love upon us, to make our yokes easy and to make our burdens light. (Matthew 11:28-30)</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">These we ask in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.</div></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-18754230766070155282024-01-12T23:21:00.001+08:002024-01-12T23:24:44.805+08:00Great Men of Faith<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIWVLRpRPaLxPMQo3qbT2Hy0CPuxWI1STylNIBj4ENGfb9xiXSitFlzpQzKmCrU5qoWD0zwp0Uw3SxD4tNlDOsm58DUHcN9qYdYYN0aOwZ7i5LqiVPLtdUtFY4JhTeqhfM-rt7saZXmbl-QDhNB6Z0fjt80tK3fdAYccnoJLCHZI_pH5FWlVLfMi8taw/s775/793780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="775" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIWVLRpRPaLxPMQo3qbT2Hy0CPuxWI1STylNIBj4ENGfb9xiXSitFlzpQzKmCrU5qoWD0zwp0Uw3SxD4tNlDOsm58DUHcN9qYdYYN0aOwZ7i5LqiVPLtdUtFY4JhTeqhfM-rt7saZXmbl-QDhNB6Z0fjt80tK3fdAYccnoJLCHZI_pH5FWlVLfMi8taw/s320/793780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Second Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana;">14 January 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">First Reading: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Jn 1:35-42</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Jose Paulo Gonzales</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Featured in today’s Readings are great men of faith – called to undertake a special service for the Lord, and whose ‘yeses’ resounded in characteristic honor. In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist, deemed by Jesus Christ Himself as one who, born of women, would find relative to himself no one greater (Matthew 11:11) was to go before Christ to direct our paths to Him – to predispose ourselves for the Christ to come. When John the Baptist saw Christ passing by, he was quick to turn the attention of his disciples Andrew and Simon to Christ, making no short work of the mission assigned to him. Andrew, compelled by Jesus’ Identity as the Messiah, eagerly recounted this news to Simon, who would then be called Peter – the rock from which the Church would be built. Such an exchange is overall reminiscent of how we are called into Church – with one having testified, us being convinced, and we all pulling each other invitingly into community.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In the First Reading, we see Samuel, a model character himself. He was to act as prophet and judge among God’s people, leading them towards repentance and providing them with counsel over spiritual and civil affairs. On many accounts, Samuel was touted an impartial judge, arbitrating fairly among God’s people, listening day in and day out to their myriad disputes, and turning them away from their evil ways.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Samuel’s call to service is one we could find some fascination in. He was sleeping in church – an act others would look disapprovingly upon; but the way he was called repeatedly by the Lord nevertheless tells us that the circumstance we find ourselves in when we are called does not matter so much as the purpose for why we are called – and the purpose for which we are beckoned into service is a piece of knowledge only God holds in full. Although appreciated when known, what matters is that we are called, and what we actually do about our calling. John the Baptist and Samuel were model characters of this calling set into proper motion.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">To align our bodies with the purpose they were intended for, that is, to run abreast with Christ’s mission, lends us to a life in unity with the Lord and His community – the Church. In today’s Second Reading, not to fornicate is [only] an example of how to preserve the sanctity of our bodies. Anything we do that maintains our body’s honor is homage to the rightful state in which God wants us to treat our bodies – as His very temples or tabernacles; and in so far as we live in consonance with the community around us, being social creatures that we are, the good we do to ourselves is generosity extended to our brothers and sisters.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">As we assess our whereabouts for the day, a question we could ask ourselves – one simple enough that we can take with us conveniently would be: “how Christlike have I lived my life today?” Or as we go through the day when we are right in the middle of everything, a variation of this would be the more popular: “what would Jesus do?” In all these, may the Holy Spirit be our ever-living Counsel.</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Lord God, thank You for giving us good examples to emulate for the conduct of our personal lives.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">As we go through each day, may we pattern our lives after Your shining example; and in all the times we fall short of Your golden standard, please give us the grace of forgiveness for the shortcomings with which we have no way else than to make peace, or the grace to persist for those with You we can amend. Please give us the wisdom to know the difference.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">These, we ask, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-70866021024915955442024-01-04T22:43:00.001+08:002024-01-04T22:47:16.173+08:00God is with us always<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wIcj226YV4QfmTIDyalGyiD_elqNygXAzVleMbfqLEvMlnNiOP9hWq8AkEQlAjib8tljVjNxYGuabGikMBCLB6UHgVN2bTIXoRoUEt0eFFgMPt0XfY4X5vWte1skq-CKWQkDeNtSY5hPqAXvXPWIPXzV5Qf_7rZ1ZthcCs_5eoJBIXZZltzm823B1CE/s783/images.jpeg-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="783" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wIcj226YV4QfmTIDyalGyiD_elqNygXAzVleMbfqLEvMlnNiOP9hWq8AkEQlAjib8tljVjNxYGuabGikMBCLB6UHgVN2bTIXoRoUEt0eFFgMPt0XfY4X5vWte1skq-CKWQkDeNtSY5hPqAXvXPWIPXzV5Qf_7rZ1ZthcCs_5eoJBIXZZltzm823B1CE/s320/images.jpeg-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The Epiphany of the Lord</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">07 January 2024</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">First Reading: Is 60:1-6<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second Reading: Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 2:1-12</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Jose Paulo Gonzales</span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Have you ever had someone inquiring after your affairs? This could be anything from an innocent check-up plainly curious about your current whereabouts – and this may come from genuine concern; but alternatively, there is also what Herod displayed towards the Christ to be born – an inquisitive prodding with hidden motives. Herod told the wise men to go into Bethlehem to see the Child so he may “come to adore Him”, which we later come to know is an incipient attempt at having Jesus killed shortly after His birth.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The Gospel today shows us that despite the different reasons people come to check on us, there is much Cause for rejoicing in the birth of Christ. I could remember Nathaniel asking challengingly, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). We know Nazareth to be the place where Jesus grew up, and not unlike Bethlehem, Nazareth was a quaint town from which townspeople and village folks of then would not expect something good would originate.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The highest jubilation is only fitting for this eventful occurrence as the Savior that would bear all our sins, the One that would expiate our sins through His death, the One that would rise again to destroy the stronghold of death to win us salvation and eternal life in Heaven… He is here, Emmanuel: God, indeed, is with us.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Such joyous was the moment of Christ’s birth that it made little distinction whoever came. The urge to come must have been too significant that it mattered only little how worthy anyone felt about joining in! Such is Christ’s cohesive quality. Truly, people from different walks of life felt nonetheless welcome to witness and participate! The noble wise men, the shepherds, and even stable animals were all part of the heavenly entourage! Interestingly, the welcoming atmosphere surrounding Christ’s birth in the manger we would also find interspersed in the Bible… in the very language He would use to refer to and ultimately to invite us all – then, the Jews, and now, the Gentiles, too!</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Scrolling through our Facebook or Instagram feeds, we could have seen the different ways the Christmas belen or crèche was set up – all embodying the fundamentals of Jesus’ birth, but some have been so enthused as to include today’s significant social events. I remember a belen that was pressed right in the middle of dilapidated slabs of concrete with steel bars jutting out – all to depict the wreckage of war – but more especially so – the undying presence of hope. <i>The belen was posted on Facebook by Rev. Fr. Treb Futol and is situated in the Our Lady of The Pillar in Pilar, Sorsogon.</i></div><div class="innerblock"><i><br /></i></div><div class="innerblock"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6047QAChCT8sOfssy5ahNrZRB8l6q-PgQizoAlDWzo2Rxw6DTfZjjZAWK6Bx4osTOhF4K1YPBhG4xH6K7_sr3i8FsD44nL-vdSC7URBCPalaL2elJoqLgkrbv8mgCt0Ixycqj-2SzwXu3dZjUXNenLOILzrUGqD0kNtZ2iTKI1sE-Y279wAI-K9jjKgU/s720/FB_IMG_1704377150732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6047QAChCT8sOfssy5ahNrZRB8l6q-PgQizoAlDWzo2Rxw6DTfZjjZAWK6Bx4osTOhF4K1YPBhG4xH6K7_sr3i8FsD44nL-vdSC7URBCPalaL2elJoqLgkrbv8mgCt0Ixycqj-2SzwXu3dZjUXNenLOILzrUGqD0kNtZ2iTKI1sE-Y279wAI-K9jjKgU/s320/FB_IMG_1704377150732.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10160646264657928&set=pcb.10160646265462928</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">While different interests of today would instigate in some the drive to wage or prolong wars, may we never forget the always gleaming hope we have in Christ. This does not mean to diminish our hardships or mute them as if they are not felt or are not there. In this world, we will have trouble (John 16:33), and the poor, we will always have with us [which does not only mean financially poor but also the circumstantially poor – those impoverished by difficult encounters] (Mark 14:7); but if we do not give up, in due time with the Lord, we will reap our harvest if we continue to do good (Galatians 6:9-10) – to us, this means to step out in faith, spurred on no less by hope, ignited all the way by love. There is cruelty in the world not because there is an absence of God, but rather, there remains good however desperate it can get because God is here – with us, always… Emmanuel, Emmanuel.</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Lord God, thank You for the Present of Yourself this Christmas. If it were not for Your birth, passion, and resurrection, we would not enjoy living, whether here on earth or where we will settle for eternity if You will – in Heaven.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">While living on earth, may we not forget to live for you and others; and in times we fail, please give us the drive, the courage, and the follow-through to restart and recommit ourselves to You and others.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">May we live Christmas in our hearts as we live for You and Your beloved every day.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.</div></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-75222005292225808882023-12-31T11:39:00.003+08:002023-12-31T12:03:44.930+08:00Parents' Wonders<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepX5I70soCzfx88xxsNqf2fDUdwLr457XsXXUVecroVht3Dsl8UVtu1CRZvGG9kCfcDBIJxX2sUjrzoh_HDa0qKiO8iyUDikLWybfIncBipb5YBdev5HOIA2_KrKaxw4V1jwE3-mHSfAVV_UxMwxDLDiZajsUhSQp61LdfsmkYh5JJjJjuwfPs3jjPMk/s696/13st044c-696x696.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="696" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepX5I70soCzfx88xxsNqf2fDUdwLr457XsXXUVecroVht3Dsl8UVtu1CRZvGG9kCfcDBIJxX2sUjrzoh_HDa0qKiO8iyUDikLWybfIncBipb5YBdev5HOIA2_KrKaxw4V1jwE3-mHSfAVV_UxMwxDLDiZajsUhSQp61LdfsmkYh5JJjJjuwfPs3jjPMk/s320/13st044c-696x696.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">31 December 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">First Reading: Gen 15:1-6, 21:1-3<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second Reading: Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Lk 2:22-40</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Bernard C. Borja</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">A couple talks about the milestones of their 2-year-old son with their relatives during a family reunion. From birth to toddler, they try their best to enumerate (and exaggerate) all the good developments that their son had as the relatives listen in amazement. Milestones such as crawling on the third month, speaking words on the fifth month, walking on eight months, reading books on fifteenth month, playing soccer on twenty-second month, and so on. The child even demonstrated kicking a soccer ball inside the house. The proud parents would lift each of their own chairs (nagbubuhat ng sariling bangko) as they also argue with each other. “Mana sa akin 'yan,” said the father. But the mother disagrees saying, “Sa akin nagmana 'yan kasi matalino.” Then the child shocked everyone when he intentionally kicked the ball directly to the dining table and laughed aloud. After a brief silence, the couple then continue arguing with each other, “Manang mana sa kakulitan mo!” said the mother. “Sa iyo niya nakikita 'yan mahilig magpapansin” refuted the father.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Sometimes, I wonder how some parents could not realize their ability to influence their own children with their traits and values. Being a new parent, I have yet to understand this when my son grows up and I may also admit or deny which qualities he gets from me. But there are many things that I was only able to understand when I became a parent, like being able to answer one of the most intriguing questions often addressed to parents, “How come you are sleep deprived? Your baby sleeps 20 hours in a day and you should sleep when the baby sleeps.” I can even answer this wondering, “How can I, especially my wife, are able to do a lot of things even with little sleep?” Perhaps it will remain a mystery and an exaggeration for now, but I will always be amazed at how parents are able to do beyond their own perceived capabilities when it comes to taking care of their children.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Today is The Feast of The Holy Family. The readings today are some of the guidelines that we can follow for our children to grow and be filled with wisdom. I believe that being obedient to God, Mary and Joseph were able to raise Jesus wonderfully to honor and take care of His earthly parents. I also imagine the challenges that Mary and Joseph encountered in taking care of The Messiah Himself. When God chose to be a fragile infant to dwell with us, I can imagine how overwhelmed Mary and Joseph were during the moment Jesus was born. They knew that they will be teaching Jesus not just about the laws, but also kindness, compassion, and justice. They knew that even in Jesus’ divinity, His humanity remains, and He still needs to be guided as He grew up. I believe that the guidance and imparted wisdom of Mary and Joseph helped Jesus a lot during His mission as a grown up. And I can imagine today how Mary and Joseph, because of God’s grace, are still amazed how they were able to raise the One who redeemed the world.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Saint Paul reminds us to let Christ richly dwell in us with gratitude in our hearts. Inspired by the Holy Family, may we be able to continue receiving God’s wisdom through bearing one another in heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. May we, as sons and daughters, continue to honor our parents in obedience according to God’s grace and mercy.</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY</div><div class="innerblock">(Pope Francis, 29 December 2013)</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Jesus, Mary and Joseph,</div><div class="innerblock">in you we contemplate</div><div class="innerblock">the splendour of true love,</div><div class="innerblock">to you we turn with trust.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Holy Family of Nazareth,</div><div class="innerblock">grant that our families too</div><div class="innerblock">may be places of communion and prayer,</div><div class="innerblock">authentic schools of the Gospel</div><div class="innerblock">and small domestic Churches.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Holy Family of Nazareth,</div><div class="innerblock">may families never again</div><div class="innerblock">experience violence, rejection and division:</div><div class="innerblock">may all who have been hurt or scandalized</div><div class="innerblock">find ready comfort and healing.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Holy Family of Nazareth,</div><div class="innerblock">may the approaching Synod of Bishops</div><div class="innerblock">make us once more mindful</div><div class="innerblock">of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,</div><div class="innerblock">and its beauty in God’s plan.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Jesus, Mary and Joseph,</div><div class="innerblock">graciously hear our prayer.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">* Special intentions for my friend who recently got engaged. May God’s grace continue to fill her heart with joy and bring fulfillment to her longing to build a family of her own. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-68360572985805604672023-12-25T00:10:00.001+08:002023-12-25T00:10:27.647+08:00Same Old Story<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvmEhsNWegky8sIAwYPSOsxsd1vXr-hWSUhc3sm5wV3nZCUVazbJpl-lPcVKFc8lf-rc5IIb2frAS87VTYE0EmgwGFICI1WMypsfg8_Ts9_LSeZMpn1l8vwWxJu2nZypzBBkmYb_-oD3p61RL-b5gKJV9TXxr81wRopaAFO94xF2eBengDdgtSRi6lEU/s552/FB_IMG_1481903381952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvmEhsNWegky8sIAwYPSOsxsd1vXr-hWSUhc3sm5wV3nZCUVazbJpl-lPcVKFc8lf-rc5IIb2frAS87VTYE0EmgwGFICI1WMypsfg8_Ts9_LSeZMpn1l8vwWxJu2nZypzBBkmYb_-oD3p61RL-b5gKJV9TXxr81wRopaAFO94xF2eBengDdgtSRi6lEU/s320/FB_IMG_1481903381952.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The Nativity of the Lord</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">(Christmas)</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">25 December 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">First Reading: Is 52:7-10<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second Reading: Heb 1:1-6</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Jn 1:1-18</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Bernard C. Borja</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">It's eleven thirty in the evening, a single mother of two is rushing to get home from her work in Makati City. She works as a staff in a shopping mall, which extended its hours of operation during the holiday season. The heavy traffic, worse than the usual rush hours during ordinary days, won’t even let her sneak a nap on a bus. When she gets home, she still needs to prepare meals to be shared by her children for their Christmas party at school on the next day. With a sigh of relief whenever the bus moves a few meters, she stares at the red lights ahead as she plans in her mind every detail of what she needs to do for the next 12 hours, which includes short naps and taking her children to school, before going to work again.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">A young man has been selling Christmas cards and gift wrappers all day in the streets of Divisoria. He prepares to leave as he made his last sale of the day. He rode his bicycle that he used to go around one of the busiest districts in Manila. As he passed in between cars and large vehicles, he can’t help but smile while thinking, “May panghanda na kami ni nanay sa Noche Buena.”</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In the other side of the world, a father carries his infant as he walks with other migrants to a nearby shelter to spend the night and maybe ask for some food. When they got to the shelter, it was already full, and they were told that they cannot be accommodated along with the long line of fellow migrants. The displaced migrants set up their own tents using whatever they had – blankets, jackets, large boxes, etc. Talking to his baby, the father kept saying the same words trying to calm his crying daughter, “It’s okay my dear. It’s okay my love.” Tears came down from his eyes when a fellow migrant shared a quarter of the milk that her child was not able to drink.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">I wrote this reflection in the quiet of the night, thinking about the shepherds in Bethlehem during the first Christmas. Just like other silent nights when the shepherds do their usual night routine. Maybe keeping watch for those sheep that may go astray, or maybe for wolves that may injure or kill some of the lambs. I imagine their surprise when an angel appeared at a moment when they were looking out expecting for wolves. Their fear was immediately replaced by hope as the angel proclaimed the good news of great joy. As I looked up at the dark sky and listened to the silence, I thought of the mothers who are giving up a big part of their basic needs for their family’s well-being. I thought of the young men who are eager to do everything they can for a simple but meaningful time for their loved ones. I thought of the people who all their life move day to day without a place to call home, but still share a little hope with those who need it the most.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">It’s all the same old story. Like Joseph when he was looking for a temporary shelter for Mary, and when he went out of his hometown and became a migrant. Like the shepherd who watches his flock and hopes for a peaceful night among the sheep. Like the people who had heard the news and glorified God with the shepherds. God dwells among us - the same old story that continues throughout all time. God has always been with us. From the mother who struggles to keep the house together, the smiles on the faces of her children will always remind her of God who continues to give her strength every day; with the young man who continues to look for ways to bring simple joys to his loved ones, God is there to celebrate with him and tell him that all his efforts are worth it; to the father who continues to look for a home for his daughter, God has been carrying him all his life through the people around him.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">This is Christmas. We celebrate this season through the same hope and joy that the shepherds heard from the angels. The same old story that continues to renew the story of our life and continues to renew our hearts. This is when we are greatly reminded that the same God, the Word became flesh, will continue to light the world and dwell among us, especially in the midst of all the chaos, fears, and struggles. Today, we also recall how we point to the Lord in all humility during our preparation to make straight his paths. May we continue to humble ourselves and rejoice in having the honor to testify to Jesus who never takes a break to be mindful of us especially on our hopes and dreams for our family. We take part in celebrating the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, especially in the simplest hope and joy, for us to wholly share in his dwelling with us. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Glory to You, dear Lord! For despite all our sinfulness, You chose to be with us and be a fragile infant who continues to be born in our hearts. May we share with one another the fullness of Your grace and truth that we also proclaim along with the angels. With grateful hearts, may we see the shepherds within us and go in haste to help those in need. With Joseph and Mary, we pray for all families who celebrate Christmas differently this year. We also pray for peace and end of war in Ukraine and Gaza, especially those who lost their loved ones and who are still looking for home. These we pray in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-79829075182756558792023-12-17T11:08:00.000+08:002023-12-17T11:11:22.286+08:00"Testi"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAf3Kdb3gq6MVz0VVQqPcmBqxZYD4DHsDpBv4vBjTiQitPOrbWyfRn2uhhD3iuAgr5t2WJKho6D0Jh-wJzAEhlFWPODdQ6_CGZg_fW7knFvY-mdhJvLVSG_TNnrTrJEnF8YftwyZx5CgRuWxU4hZT7OGq4v0vbFl4IbGG8YcNTgJqKoL8Idaku7yrEcl0/s735/john-1-23-aa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="735" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAf3Kdb3gq6MVz0VVQqPcmBqxZYD4DHsDpBv4vBjTiQitPOrbWyfRn2uhhD3iuAgr5t2WJKho6D0Jh-wJzAEhlFWPODdQ6_CGZg_fW7knFvY-mdhJvLVSG_TNnrTrJEnF8YftwyZx5CgRuWxU4hZT7OGq4v0vbFl4IbGG8YcNTgJqKoL8Idaku7yrEcl0/s320/john-1-23-aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Third Sunday of Advent</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: verdana;">17 December 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-size: small;">First Reading: Is 61:1-2A, 10-11<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Thes 5:16-24</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Jn 1:6-8, 19-28</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Bernard C. Borja</span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Friendster, anyone? Yes, I am probably one of those “people growing in wisdom” who once enjoyed reading testimonials in one of the first social media ever existed. “Pa-testi naman dyan!” A friend asked me to write something about him on his online profile where people in his friends list can read it. Not thinking much about it, I only wrote “Mabuting kaibigan.” I told him that I already wrote and posted a testimonial and asked him to also write one for me. The next day, his post came up. It was something more like a short biography. He wrote things that I used to do from our elementary days that I could barely remember especially weird things like, “Kumakain ng chalk”. Okay, I do remember munching on a piece of chalk during third grade, but I could have chosen the blackboard eraser for a soft chewy texture, right? Anyway, from the weird things during elementary, to dreams of being a rockstar musician that I once dreamed of during high school, my friend wrote like a five-page life-excerpt-thesis Friendster testimonial. It is obvious that he really enjoys writing testimonials for his friends. Most of my friends during college who read it laughed and somehow had an idea of how weird I can be. But some of them read through on how passionate and eager I was to dream of something that does not reflect my quiet and timid image. I did not even realize that, and I only looked at how weird I was and how I looked like a lizard because of being too skinny. Today, I remember how in that moment my old friend somehow shed light for me to glance at something I rarely see about myself.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Testimonials are based on truth. If it is not, then it’s just hearsay or <i>“tsismis”</i>. It can also be known as Feedback or Review in today’s term. Feedback or Reviews, like the ones in products being sold online, can help other people have an idea of something if it is good or bad. In short, it can make or break a person as some of his or her character is revealed. In today’s Gospel, we are reintroduced on John the Baptist’s humility, and his gladness in having the honor to testify to Jesus.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">John knew that he was sent to prepare the way of the Lord. He was not the light, but somehow shed light to those who are preparing the way by repentance and baptism. The Gospel tells us how curious the people are about John that they sent Priests and Pharisees just to know more about him. Maybe they already heard some testimony from those who were baptized, but they still want to ask him themselves. Throughout his ministry, he redirects their curiosity and constantly points to the Messiah who is to come after him. All his life, I believe he never felt inferior for being a “shadow”, but he rejoices for testifying for the Lord. He knew he was not worthy, but he gladly proclaimed that the Lord God has anointed him.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">If anyone today can read the Friendster testimonials I have written for my friends, they would probably just read it plainly, or scroll to the next, because it’s very short and generic. I realize now that giving testimony to someone, especially a friend, is an honor. My old friend somehow taught me about it as I reflect on those times. He took the opportunity to shed light on people’s hopeful trait despite the weirdness, and really enjoyed writing about it. Like John the Baptist, my old friend knew his assignment when giving testimonials – to take delight in having the honor to testify and shed light for others to see the good about the person he is testifying to. Today, let us rejoice in our testimony to Jesus as we prepare to share in God’s mission of bringing His light this Christmas.</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f485ba; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Dearest Lord, we thank You for granting us the grace of Your light for us to see ourselves in Your image. We take delight in sharing to the world all the blessings that You continue to pour unto us. We pray that in honor of being anointed to testify, may we remain humble in being generous to others and rejoice in knowing that we do Your holy will. In Jesus’ Name we pray, AMEN.</span></span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Dear Lord Jesus, as we prepare for Your birth,</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-28173675607769133662023-12-09T22:55:00.001+08:002023-12-09T22:57:17.068+08:00Destructive Backer System<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT6PcR78ZlEK0zhJ2i_vycztDlvXf4BmYUG1_GgGSDlUWDCOPz4dncJ76KM2Je64ytZ8l1MdgeKbch3Zb14ikN-yYgwMyB0829AG3u3kfFrV-sH15bo378ubshPzI3ZfPGUIlaNjoT_bVUGc4WnDWcCqom_Jp9D45XyOpu7ddb35br7p3vXjBxWWYFqk/s480/BJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT6PcR78ZlEK0zhJ2i_vycztDlvXf4BmYUG1_GgGSDlUWDCOPz4dncJ76KM2Je64ytZ8l1MdgeKbch3Zb14ikN-yYgwMyB0829AG3u3kfFrV-sH15bo378ubshPzI3ZfPGUIlaNjoT_bVUGc4WnDWcCqom_Jp9D45XyOpu7ddb35br7p3vXjBxWWYFqk/s320/BJ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Second Sunday of Advent</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">10 December 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;">First Reading: Is 40:1-5, 9-11<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 2 Pt 3:8-14</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mk 1:1-8</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Bernard C. Borja</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">A driver was flagged by a traffic enforcer for using a lane in the highway which is exclusively for buses. As the vehicle stopped, the window rolled down with the driver shouting at the enforcer, “Why did you stop me? Don’t you know who I am? I am the nephew of Admiral Lieutenant five star over-the-moon under-the-bridge Officer General Juansim P. Le (fictional name, of course)! My uncle is a high-ranking official of this country, and he will fire you for not letting me pass!” He caused a scene by trying to hurt the traffic enforcer and left immediately. The day after, a video went viral on social media which was a recording of the incident. Two days after the incident, the driver was in a press conference publicly apologizing. He never got a reprimand or a violation ticket.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">A manager was interviewing an applicant for a vacant position in the company. When the applicant introduced himself, he added and emphasized that his family is a friend of the vice president of the company. The applicant demanded a supervisory position and a higher salary, even though he does not have the skills required. The manager was ready to turn down the applicant, but the senior manager gave in to the applicant’s terms and hired him. A year after, the company dissolved the department where the hired supervisor worked because of too many problems that occurred since he was hired. He was transferred to another department, but the manager was fired.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">How many times have we seen people resort to the backer system just to get ahead? Are we also guilty of mentioning famous people or those with high authority to be able to go through some procedures? Sometimes, people let the pride of being in the circle of someone higher go to their heads. They have the tendency of using someone to selfishly benefit in their own ways. In the Gospel, we are reminded that one person has all the humility to be worthy of preparing the way of someone mightier than him.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">John the Baptist is the cousin of Jesus Christ. He preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People come to him to be baptized and they recognize him as a prophet. Yet, he never introduced himself having the same privilege as the Messiah. With a humble heart, he never lifts himself higher than the people whom he baptized just because he is a relative of Jesus. As he baptizes with water, he believes that this is a way of purifying the hearts of the people who repent and seek forgiveness, to be ready to receive the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Many of us may be guilty of a destructive backer system even when we serve in the church. As we learn to know God deeper, we tend to develop a spiritual pride. This pride can either lead us to seek God more for us to be able to share His love to others or make us look at ourselves as more deserving of God’s love than others. Sinners that we are, we are not worthy of God’s love, and we never deserve the saving grace of God. It is only through repentance, and the love of Jesus Christ that we are able to receive God’s love fully, even though we are not worthy of it. There are also many times that we tend to use God as our backer and forget that we ought to prepare the way of bringing God to other people. One example of this is to take literally and out of context what the Apostle Paul said in one of his letters: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…” A strength that harms other people can never come from a loving person, especially if it’s used only for self-gain. If we are not bringing Christ to others, or even preparing His way for others to receive Him, such strength is shallow and is only self-focused.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">As we continue our journey this advent season, may we humble and remind ourselves that we need to prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight for those who need most of God’s love and mercy.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">We also ask Our Lady of Loreto to pray for us today. One of the most revered relics within the Christian world is the Holy House of Loreto. This small house, which measures 31×13 feet, rests today in Loreto, Italy, inside the Basilica of the Holy House. In the first century, the Apostles revered the Holy House when it was attached to the opening of a cave that completed the home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Nazareth. It is also believed to have been the place where the Annunciation took place, making it the location where the Word became flesh within the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary (source: Our Lady of Loreto — My Catholic Life!).</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Dearest Lord, teach us to be generous and humble, for us to be able to serve You as we should. May we always remind ourselves that we are also sent ahead as messengers to be able to prepare the way of the Lord. We beg for the grace of humility that, like John the Baptist, we will be able to lead others to Christ, without being prideful of knowing that we continue to receive God’s love even though we are not worthy. We ask this in Jesus Mighty Name, AMEN.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-85928328282645478392023-11-30T22:45:00.000+08:002023-11-30T22:46:16.362+08:00We were on a Break<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZtAA3zTOf-FhZuGoNWwSKoIpehoxJdJEhOwYnnM5MMocp5th9oeG0GNnyURxCM2D8BOmGI0AtOpcpL9Go9-Uw9BycKzRJDnjQOMOhsn0-fo8QRTWuMb1PVby_fm3H2EBe5UP4W7KVpV7KJibi8UCya4VCL6Kpc0m_e_bbYPVaBnfqgy0pzSSYGxvmxk/s680/En_DiX4WMAAxro8.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZtAA3zTOf-FhZuGoNWwSKoIpehoxJdJEhOwYnnM5MMocp5th9oeG0GNnyURxCM2D8BOmGI0AtOpcpL9Go9-Uw9BycKzRJDnjQOMOhsn0-fo8QRTWuMb1PVby_fm3H2EBe5UP4W7KVpV7KJibi8UCya4VCL6Kpc0m_e_bbYPVaBnfqgy0pzSSYGxvmxk/s320/En_DiX4WMAAxro8.jpeg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">First Sunday of Advent</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">03 December 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;">First Reading: Is 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:3-9</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mk 13:33-37</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Bernard M. Borja</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Some TV shows have an impact in such a way that even part of a dialogue or script can make a core memory in a viewer’s heart and mind. It can be carried on to the next generation of viewers where it continues to be talked about and even debated. Perhaps one of the most famous examples of these is the 90’s TV show Friends. The famous dialogue, “We were on a break!” was from the character Ross addressing his love interest Rachel. For some context and for those who aren’t familiar with the show, Ross and Rachel were a dating couple. Their complicated feelings and desire for each other developed in the first two seasons of the show. Fast forward to the third season when they were about to celebrate their anniversary. Rachel’s job took away most of their time together, Ross became jealous of Rachel’s boss, then they had a huge fight that ended with “we should take a break”. That “break” would go on to mean differently to both, which lead to Ross getting drunk and sleeping with another woman on that same night. The reasoning of Ross “We were on a break!” would go on until the last season of the show.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Disclaimer: the recap was a very short detailing just for the context (for the fans, please don’t bash me). There are many factors other than job, time, or relationship with other people, that affect how people deal with relationships. Some may say that if Ross truly loves Rachel, he will understand the amount of time that her job takes. Others may also say that Rachel should have assured Ross and distanced herself from her boss. But if we really think about it, were they mindful of each other often? And if we also ask ourselves, how are we being mindful of our loved ones when they are not around?</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Jesus said to his disciples, “Be watchful! Be alert!” He instructed them of the need for watchfulness by also saying, “May he (the master) not come suddenly and find you sleeping.” What if the master caught a servant, whom he placed in charge, sleeping and failed to watch his coming? Will saying, “I was on a break.” excuse him from being watchful? What if the gatekeepers “took on a break” and failed to open the gate when the master returned? Are they still considered mindful of their master when he’s not around?</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">One of the verses in the first reading that struck me were, “Would that you might meet us doing right, that we might be mindful of you in our ways!” During the day, I do my best to make the house clean and orderly so that when my wife comes back home, she won’t have to worry about doing most chores (though she still redoes the cleaning sometimes). A small gesture of “I got this.” and doing what needs to be done so that our loved ones won’t have to worry about it, is being mindful of them.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Being mindful of Jesus’ ways should remind us to grow more like Him. That even in non-convenient situations or standing up for what is right should not make us bail from Him. When we stand up for justice which Jesus fought for, we should not “take a break” by being silent. When we witness oppression and cruelty, we should not put exceptions on who to be compassionate with. If one can say that he or she found Jesus in the church, surely, he or she can bring Jesus to wherever he or she goes. How would Jesus feel if I go someplace and do something that offends Him, and then say to Him when I go back to church, “We were on a break”? Jesus has ever been mindful of all of us, and He does not take a break in it. Saint Paul said, “In Him you were enriched in every way… so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are being continually equipped as servants and gatekeepers to be watchful. May we remind ourselves always to be mindful of Jesus so we can remain vigilant in our ways.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">We also remember Saint Francis Xavier (whose feast day is December 3), one of the greatest Roman Catholic missionaries of modern times who was instrumental in the establishment of Christianity in India, the Malay Archipelago, and Japan. His legacy involves that he always provided for the continuing pastoral care of the communities he founded and did not abandon them after baptism. The areas he evangelized in India have remained Catholic to the present day.</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Dear Father in heaven, our Lord and forever Redeemer, we thank You for keeping us in Your ways and letting us turn to You in our difficult times. May we always remind ourselves of the good deeds that we ought to do as we wait for the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ. Teach us to be mindful to prepare ourselves and look forward to celebrating the Christmas season with grateful hearts. We pray with our dear Mother Mary, whom you have chosen for Your Son and be our inspiration in being mindful of Your ways, Amen.</span></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-10714629636737079432023-11-22T19:53:00.001+08:002023-11-22T19:58:40.660+08:00The King's Call<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc7bMWNzHXOm-w-3CtduPQZawZuGdXtw5__iEFGHuLKjlN5dNhdgdjbivPpnTJg0NGE2yEpO09JRzVKWIBX8ct9JhDEXNjuf8LJTYIQk5uaUblC4o99o8XO6QFetJIxviVTIrjKnGDYR_kLxY4C4yqk8AP_ZVN6frNqfBzuCq7TZMxWy_IdrrLgJ7KnU/s1267/cking-feast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1267" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc7bMWNzHXOm-w-3CtduPQZawZuGdXtw5__iEFGHuLKjlN5dNhdgdjbivPpnTJg0NGE2yEpO09JRzVKWIBX8ct9JhDEXNjuf8LJTYIQk5uaUblC4o99o8XO6QFetJIxviVTIrjKnGDYR_kLxY4C4yqk8AP_ZVN6frNqfBzuCq7TZMxWy_IdrrLgJ7KnU/s320/cking-feast2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">26 November 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">First Reading: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 25:31-46</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan</span></span></b></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">We have come to the “end” of the liturgical year. And what is more fitting but to celebrate it with a feast of a King whose kingdom does have no end. A very striking imagery of this Gospel passage is the act of separation - the distinction made between the “sheeps” and the “goats” - of those who have lived according to God’s commands and to those who have rejected it. This passage makes a distinction not only between those who have compassion and those who do not, but between those who are in a position to help, and those who are in need.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Christ has made a distinction. Not because He is a cruel judge but He will judge us according to the path we have chosen. Each one of us goes to the place we have chosen. Those whose lives were oriented to love and mercy come to the love and mercy of God. Those who excluded people in need from their lives have excluded themselves from God’s kingdom where there is only acceptance and love.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">There are two kinds of people mentioned in the parable. First, the people who performed these deeds with no idea that they were actually serving Christ. Jesus says that whenever they gave food to the hungry, welcomed a stranger, clothed the naked, or visited the sick or imprisoned, they acted in kindness toward Jesus himself. Jesus can identify with the least of these because He has walked in their shoes. On the other hand, those who have failed to see the needs of the disadvantaged have acted as though they have never seen Jesus. They have not followed in Christ’s footsteps. They have not heed to do the work that the Master has called them to do.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Jesus has only one “basic” criteria: our love for others. Can we see the true humanity, the image of God, in the needy people of this world? The problem is we lump problems and people together: the homeless, the welfare class, welfare queens, the Third World, the mentally ill, the unemployed, illegal immigrants. There is scarcely a human face to be seen in any of those broad categories. We summarily size up, categorize, characterize, and sometimes dismiss literally millions of people via a blanket label. We reduce all the homeless or all the unemployed to one basic sub-heading. We assume every person in a given category is more-or-less the same. But can we put a name or a face with anyone who actually lives in one of those segments of life?</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Once a priest told me: You will never find Christ in the church (he is referring to the building), if you cannot find Christ in His Church (he is referring to the people). “Lord, when did we see you?” Jesus’ answer will quite probably be, “When not?”.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">There was a beautiful anecdote about Mother Teresa. She would spend hours in prayer, her hands covering her face - she was talking to Jesus. But when someone would call her immediate attention, she would smile to that person unbothered and undistracted in her time of prayer and solitude. Her reason was, I was talking from Jesus to Jesus! The same Jesus of her prayers is the same Jesus she finds in other people.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Jesus is not suggesting that we innovate excessively creative programs, that we do the social equivalent of a circus high-wire act or that we perform miracles. He simply asks us to see Him in the people around us. </div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Jesus, open not only our eyes but also our hearts to see You in every person we encounter, to lend our hands to those in need, and to do Your greatest command which is to love.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-70281283087225792322023-11-17T20:43:00.002+08:002023-11-17T20:44:33.241+08:00What Talents Do You Have?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jQotVYBCe6SQ1aDuDwzAyM8EYCKnGGnABm0XLeYsW7DGMtoJNGM0v3fI87nRZfWVkqTX8NBNehaEL8oiEs98K9n1y1vTFvuwadh34cPPc3w7LwmhE2ExY67y9kaTAnRJ6qWAsRVykMsVmK9XkzJnfM7jHFYT9Snqu1Dc3YmENzf6aecy-y8Ycheink8/s832/FB_IMG_1700224945831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jQotVYBCe6SQ1aDuDwzAyM8EYCKnGGnABm0XLeYsW7DGMtoJNGM0v3fI87nRZfWVkqTX8NBNehaEL8oiEs98K9n1y1vTFvuwadh34cPPc3w7LwmhE2ExY67y9kaTAnRJ6qWAsRVykMsVmK9XkzJnfM7jHFYT9Snqu1Dc3YmENzf6aecy-y8Ycheink8/s320/FB_IMG_1700224945831.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">19 November 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">First Reading: Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Thes 5:1-6</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 25:14-30</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">The Gospel for today is a continuation of the parables told by Jesus. Last Sunday, we saw the parable of the ten virgins who waited for the Bridegroom with their lamps. Today, we are presented with the parables of the talents. The parable tells us that each servant is given a different amount, according to their ability. It is a wonderful lesson of how we are called to use God’s gifts for His glory. It’s also a firm reminder of God’s expectations of His children and how His expectations vary according to our ability.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The Parable of the Talents taught by Jesus is urging us to be ready for the master’s return. Jesus is that master who went on a journey when He ascended to heaven. After a long time, the master, Jesus, will return which is either at the moment of our death or at His Second Coming. Whenever He comes again, we will stand before Him with our talents. The talents were not distributed to each servant equally in the parable. However, we have to understand that what we have received from God is not something small but is gigantic. A talent as well, as being a unit of weight, was also currency, and its value was 6,000 day’s wages, twenty years wages. The servants are receiving something that is gigantic in their times. What God gives us is equally colossal and priceless. We have received so much from God that we take for granted.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">We are asked to make most of the “talents” we have received from the goodness of God. How so? Through sharing. The talents given to the three servants are not so much monetary gifts or personal capacities; they are a share in the goodness of God, a participation in His divine love. They are meant to be shared. In fact, they will increase precisely in the measure that they are given to others. Most of the time, we have failed to see and cultivate the gifts that were given to us. It is because we are afraid to explore our capacities or worse, unwilling to share the grace we have received. The problem with the timid servant who buried his talent is not that he was an ineffective venture capitalist but that he fundamentally misunderstood the nature of what he had been given. The Divine Mercy—received as a pure gift—is meant to be given to others as a pure gift. Buried in the ground, that is to say, hugged tightly to oneself as one’s own possession. Burying it or keeping to oneself loses the very essence of the gift we have received—it fails to grow, it remains stagnant and futile. How often we are paralyzed by fear or false prudence into doing nothing, into trying to preserve ourselves! Sometimes, we don’t take God’s gifts seriously or think we have been given very little, and we use that as a rationalization for making no effort or producing little for God. We blame circumstances or others, but the fact is we are neglecting to produce the fruits God wants. The servants who invest their talents and make a return on them have understood the purpose of their lives and the time they have at their disposal. These servants were generous with everything their master had given them, making it bear fruit, and they received from him the reward of greater intimacy and more responsibility.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">There is no difference between those who have received more and those who have received less. All have their gift according to their capacity. What is important is that this gift be placed at the service of the Kingdom and make the goods of the Kingdom grow. These gifts are love, fraternal spirit, sharing.</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">God, Our Father, help us to see the gigantic talents that You have given to each of us so we can cultivate it, share it to others, and bear fruit when You return. All these we ask through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-41421928832914660332023-11-11T11:35:00.004+08:002023-11-11T11:35:56.229+08:00Keep the Fire Burning<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLrLGU5zgMtuhgOdUMJs_m-kC5hknTD8jGIdkuSHhnuW6-QDFzuXNzvUGsilvuYjSdUIJXE_W5ZSp0UqjVDQ61m__TVCTGrrZ6g7cFQTZk2xnqZQ1YB3tX5IRtfU2UGrhVin2Fywt4hbUkGOGamwivJaUYvNd-e2JdsgghZ5Io5keLYEMpKwjfn_wCH8/s640/meaning-of-matthew-25-1-131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLrLGU5zgMtuhgOdUMJs_m-kC5hknTD8jGIdkuSHhnuW6-QDFzuXNzvUGsilvuYjSdUIJXE_W5ZSp0UqjVDQ61m__TVCTGrrZ6g7cFQTZk2xnqZQ1YB3tX5IRtfU2UGrhVin2Fywt4hbUkGOGamwivJaUYvNd-e2JdsgghZ5Io5keLYEMpKwjfn_wCH8/s320/meaning-of-matthew-25-1-131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">12 November 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">First Reading: Wis 6:12-16<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Thes 4:13-18</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 25:1-13</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">We are getting closer to the end of the liturgical year, for this the Gospel presents us the Parable of the ten virgins. The theme that is being presented to us is vigilance and lukewarmness. Lukewarmness is a sin that most of us would fall into without even noticing. Being “lukewarm” means being neither antagonistic (“cold”) or passionate (“hot”) in the pursuit of Christian duties. Lukewarmness could sometimes feel like “I will go to mass in the afternoon because I don’t feel rising early in the morning… I will say my prayers before bedtime… I will help the community charity drive the following week because this week is too hectic…” and ending up not doing so or sometimes it is about committing the same sins again and again complacent with the thought of God’s mercy - “God will forgive me anyway!” or in praying to God only when in times of need - “God will understand anyway!”. We lack “oil” for our vigil lamps, we lack “ardent love” in our hearts. The lukewarm soul tends to neglect the duties of its state in life. To always strive for the bare minimum fulfilment of temporal and spiritual commitments is to be lukewarm.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">What is the cure for lukewarmness? A heart that is fully alive! A heart that is filled with compassion and an eagerness to share that very sentiment of his heart to every person, in every circumstance, in every possible way is a vigil lamp filled with oil. The ardent desire of the heart to keep its flames burning lights the path of the coming of God’s kingdom. And only with a burning flame, one may be able to contemplate the face of God. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The wise virgin brought with them an extra oil while the foolish did not. In our spiritual life, we have to come equipped. We must not let our “oils” run out hence we should always get our jars filled. In the testimonies of one of the Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa, she said that it was Mother Teresa’s explicit instruction that before the sisters perform their charity work or apostolate, they should begin with the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus, present in the Eucharist, is the source of their strength, the cause of their mission and the recipient of their charity. Otherwise, they would fall into despair in the face of tremendous poverty and suffering they are dealing with everyday. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">An intimate relationship with Jesus is the oil that fills our heart. An intimate relationship that is fueled by constant prayer - a prayer that does not simply ask but tells, a prayer that seeks the grace to involve God in our everyday dealings, a prayer that opens up the greatest secrets of our hearts. An intimate relationship that is moved by actions and deeds - a deed that goes beyond sentiments and emotions but truly cares for and acts for the welfare of others, actions that will enrich the lives of other people. An intimate relationship that is deeply rooted in faith - not of wishy-washy feelings, not moved by mere conveniences nor benefits but a faith that would stand firm against all odds. These are the oils that will keep our fire burning until the coming of the Lord.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In the end of our lives, we will be judged by our lamps. How we have brought light to the world through the small lamp that we have. How we have tried and toiled to remain fully alive in faith. How we have used our lights to light the lamps of other people around us. And when Jesus saw the lights of our hearts, he will welcome us to participate in His banquet for eternity.</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Lord, in times of lukewarmness, help us find the fire that will again ignite our hearts to pursue our Christian duties. This we ask in Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-46886808100351902522023-11-02T22:38:00.002+08:002023-11-02T22:41:02.826+08:00Humble Children of God<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVZRpDZD9hdHfokvzZwu-sUZCfcb1YJBqZb9gababHN3BF_Plho7yu-BjFMMFwYr0WdYUuwc-O23753tXICLTPPLRiyPHXIO9W_GInlTBKg0DNLGPly0peM4Y3eVYp0cMFWkE0p4obY17eDfVJgVEpt1UDR3gJBhdQWOhvRKfrwkfQRH8RBrGb_3KjzI/s876/matthew-23-12-whoever-exalts-himself-2-mach-2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVZRpDZD9hdHfokvzZwu-sUZCfcb1YJBqZb9gababHN3BF_Plho7yu-BjFMMFwYr0WdYUuwc-O23753tXICLTPPLRiyPHXIO9W_GInlTBKg0DNLGPly0peM4Y3eVYp0cMFWkE0p4obY17eDfVJgVEpt1UDR3gJBhdQWOhvRKfrwkfQRH8RBrGb_3KjzI/s320/matthew-23-12-whoever-exalts-himself-2-mach-2021.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">05 November 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">First Reading: Mal 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 131:1, 2, 3<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Thes 2:7b-9, 13</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 23:1-12</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">You have but one Father in heaven! For a Christian, this is not just a way of speaking, or a designation. Mindfulness of divine filiation is rooted in a divine gift that transforms a person from within. St. John puts it this way: "See what love the Father has for us, that He has called us sons of God, and so we are!...We are truly children of God" (1 Jn 3,1-2).</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Have you ever noticed that new-born babies would often resemble the physical characteristics of their parents? And as they grow older, they would adapt their behaviours and mannerisms? For this, Jesus tells us: You have but one Father in heaven! A Father from whom we came from, and whose image and likeness we are formed and created. As we are created in the image of God, we are called to be like Him in every way, to participate in His sanctity in our everyday encounters. As Saint Matthew would tell us, “But you are to be perfect, for as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Mt 5,8).</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In the Gospel for today, Jesus warns his disciples not to look for other “teachers”, rather points us to a perfect example. The Lord explicitly tells us to become humble. The greatest among you must be your servant (Mt 23,11). And who is the image of perfect humility? Jesus. He says, “learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Mt 11:29). Most of the time, it is not easy to be humble. It is way easier to assert ourselves. We always want to be heard and seen. We always want to have an impact. And humility seems to be blocking the way for us to be “known”. But, on the contrary, humility is not an act of self-rejection nor self-deprivation. Saint Thomas Aquinas defines it this way: “Humility means seeing ourselves as God sees us: knowing every good we have comes from Him as pure gift” (Summa Q161). As pride is an excessive response to cover-up our own lackness and emptiness, humility is realising our own belovedness rooted in the goodness of God. Adam, the first man turned away from God through pride and disobedience and ruptured the loving relationship of God and humanity. Jesus, who is the perfect Son of the Father understood humility perfectly the he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness (Ph 2,7) in order for humanity to come to the Father as sons and daughters. Humility, impulsed by love, brings us back into the communion with God.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">As Christians, we participate in this loving action of love and humility by “deeply caring for others and by sharing with them not only the gospel of God but also our own selves”, says Saint Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. Offering our own selves for the sake of others is an act of humility and perfection. What God has given us through his generous donation, through what Christ has shown us exemplary on the cross and through the creative action of the Holy Spirit within us- we are too called to participate in this self-giving as children of the Father in Christ through the Holy Spirit. In our small and daily activities, in thinking of the welfare of those around us, in a thoughtful action of kindness and charity - there we are able to become more and more the “image and likeness” of God, our one Father in heaven.</div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Jesus, help us to become humble like You so that in our effort to do so, we continue to become the image and likeness of our one Father in heaven.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-71559779878752427202023-10-28T00:05:00.001+08:002023-10-28T00:07:25.336+08:00How To Truly Love God?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbj0Y5aUJuGgKP54cQQgQOdGsJswfXVXH2tDAEPHZq1N94CQWkqrYr7YpxCX5AG0j88cUS1N-ZXaLonsCo0-IvBqWEeJXxR_wKgx5xm8iUfGM8XVUb5-wtoUJoZNit0u-_ar4bLr7jRnI2YbSUaXcNkdiS6nGIv29Ld3WBKlTgFnr9rKlqtjXb4L_gnI/s585/images.jpeg-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="585" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbj0Y5aUJuGgKP54cQQgQOdGsJswfXVXH2tDAEPHZq1N94CQWkqrYr7YpxCX5AG0j88cUS1N-ZXaLonsCo0-IvBqWEeJXxR_wKgx5xm8iUfGM8XVUb5-wtoUJoZNit0u-_ar4bLr7jRnI2YbSUaXcNkdiS6nGIv29Ld3WBKlTgFnr9rKlqtjXb4L_gnI/s320/images.jpeg-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">29 October 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">First Reading: Ex 22:20-26<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Thes 1:5c-10</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 22:34-40</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Anton B. Ocampo</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Throughout the course of history, the Lord God has repeatedly shown His love for humanity. Despite humanity falling into sin, which was caused by the disobedience of Adam and Eve, not once has God became tired or had enough of showing His love for us. Yes, humanity does not deserve the love of God because of our sinful nature. In spite of that, God chose to truly love us. This was the main reason why in various Churches, we see images of the Suffering Christ such as the Black Nazarene and Crucifixes or images of Christ dying on the Holy Cross which are either usually displayed on the main or side altars. We are constantly being reminded by these images of the great love God has for us. Because of His great love for us, God came to this world to save us through Christ Jesus who died on the Cross for our sake and rose from the dead on the third day. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">As Christians, we are also called to express our true love and devotion to God. The readings for this Sunday focuses on this topic teaching us that true devotion, worship, and adoration for the one true God comes only from those who truly love Him. No one can just plainly say that they truly love God and leave it at that with no action to back it up. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In the First Reading, the Lord God Himself directly states that He despises affliction and oppression of the innocent. No one deserves to be oppressed and abused. God values everyone, no matter what race or group they belong to. Taking advantage of others, especially the lowly, is despicable in the eyes of the Lord God. In the Second Reading, the Apostle Saint Paul reminds the Thessalonian Christians to follow their example in order for their love and relationship with God to continue to grow and deepen. Now, we must remember that this lesson Saint Paul the Apostle teaches in the Second Reading is not only for the Thessalonian Christians at the time but for us who form the one true Church in the present day. We also have many Saints who form the Communion of Saints. They are examples that we must follow as Christians who form Christ’s Church. In the Gospel, Jesus recites the greatest commandment in response to a question posed to Him by a scholar of the law. As stated, one must also love their neighbor as themselves aside from loving God. Love of God and love for neighbor are connected to each other and cannot be separated. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Genuine love for the Lord God is reflected and expressed in the words of the Psalm for this Sunday: “I love you, Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:2). If these words in the Responsorial Psalm are our wish, we must begin by discerning what the will of God is. We must humbly open our hearts and ears to the will of God and obey it. By doing this, we make the words in the Responsorial Psalm our prayer. We will be able to express our true love, devotion, and adoration for the Lord with our actions, thoughts, and words. </div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Teach us to truly love You, O Lord, You who has loved us first. Make Your will for us known so that we will be able to humbly obey it and express our true love, devotion, and worship for You. Amen. </div></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-67394080997791347692023-10-21T17:29:00.000+08:002023-10-21T17:32:00.113+08:00To Speak Up Or To Remain Silent?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVIxYDowXOLya2PuNHUrSXjhK7TDuGg0wDoC2FJBGiEl5MUMwxP3-ctnTW-Zokec4N_aNzFjjZLjGAYRuebkD-g5vybmJuxOr8bXWlsj4yeFNBcqECGD3fY59C3YaMT3JyS1579dQe_PGEyVAX1n3dZHnXuigC9MQqZm4nKtAvXgMimknOVhYULNhT3k/s259/download.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVIxYDowXOLya2PuNHUrSXjhK7TDuGg0wDoC2FJBGiEl5MUMwxP3-ctnTW-Zokec4N_aNzFjjZLjGAYRuebkD-g5vybmJuxOr8bXWlsj4yeFNBcqECGD3fY59C3YaMT3JyS1579dQe_PGEyVAX1n3dZHnXuigC9MQqZm4nKtAvXgMimknOVhYULNhT3k/s1600/download.jpeg.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">22 October 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">First Reading: Is 45:1, 4-6<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Second Reading: 1 Thes 1:1-5b</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 22:15-21</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Anton B. Ocampo</span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). These words of Christ in response to the test of the Pharisees in today's Gospel are used by the opponents of the Church, especially those who are very loyal supporters of very famous and controversial politicians, to support what is known as “separation of Church and state.” For them, it means that the Church should stick to prayer and reflecting on the Word of God which is the Bible and stay quiet in topics and issues relating to politics and government. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">However, is that what the Lord Jesus meant when He said those words in response to the Pharisees who tried to test and trap Him? Did Jesus mean that the Church should remain silent on various issues relating to politics and government? Should the Church just keep quiet in the face of evils like corruption, injustice, and murder? What did the Lord Jesus Christ mean when He uttered “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” in the Sunday Gospel? </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In the First Reading, it is stated that it was the will of the Lord God that Cyrus was anointed king. God Himself gave Cyrus the power and authority to rule and lead. As stated in the Responsorial Psalm: “Give the Lord glory and honor” (Psalm 96:7b). If not for God, leaders such as Cyrus would not have power and authority as kings and rulers. This also stresses the fact that the one true king is none other than the Lord. Only the Lord God reigns supreme forever. Not a single ruler or leader in this world will possess the withstand or even match up to God because their leadership is only temporary while God’s leadership and kingship is forever. This is the truth that Saint Paul the Apostle, Timothy, and Silvanus proclaimed to the Thessalonian Christians in the Second Reading. Besides, Saint Paul the Apostle also highlighted the fact that they were just instruments that God used to introduce Himself to the Thessalonian Christians, as stated in the end of the Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 1:5b). </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">What is the lesson being taught to us today? Respecting government leaders is very important. However, our respect for them should not make us blind and deaf to the fact that they are human and not gods. If our admiration and respect for leaders in this world has caused us to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the different injustices in our communities and society, then that is no longer respect but worship that is completely blind and deaf. By doing this, we have replaced the Lord God and denied Him the things that He deserves. Once this happens, we will indeed have a problem that is very serious. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Our responsibility as the one true Church is to offer worship, glory, and praise to the one true God by faith and works. We fail our mission and duty as the one true Church if, as the ones who form it, remain silent in the different faces of injustice in our communities and societies like corruption and murder. Because of our failure to fulfill our mission and duty as the one and true Church that Christ Jesus Himself established, which is to offer Him worship, glory, praise, and honor, we would fail Him. Why? Because by remaining silent in the different faces of injustice, we have chosen another god. </div><div><br /></div></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lord, You know our frailties and weaknesses as humans. Strengthen us, O Lord, so that we may be able to fulfill our mission and responsibility as Your Church to give You praise, glory, and worship by speaking out against injustices and living a life of holiness, just as You will. Amen. </span></div></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-27457833913811469402023-10-14T18:53:00.001+08:002023-10-14T18:54:59.543+08:00A Limited Time Offer<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlM7n5e86ePY6V9OLoTBDUwoJFFvG7tLHyFFE-9Mle79goIPod0geJnwcQN9jxEFWLO5k6jLOBXxcvBZ1gldxfv1p5XX8DVX5zlqOMDySmYqfXsj7eVJ2MxZSQnNB7NgVKJVWNLVS6ZYLIG6jpWZ_rW7e96uGHjgyOEnqngc88_y3z3Y-69gfaWM2238/s1200/3088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlM7n5e86ePY6V9OLoTBDUwoJFFvG7tLHyFFE-9Mle79goIPod0geJnwcQN9jxEFWLO5k6jLOBXxcvBZ1gldxfv1p5XX8DVX5zlqOMDySmYqfXsj7eVJ2MxZSQnNB7NgVKJVWNLVS6ZYLIG6jpWZ_rW7e96uGHjgyOEnqngc88_y3z3Y-69gfaWM2238/s320/3088.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">15 October 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">First Reading: Is 25:6-10a<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Second Reading: Phil 4:12-14, 19-20</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 22:1-14</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Anton Ocampo</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">As someone who has lived in Canada for the majority of his life, I would often see some commercials of promos, whether it be fast food restaurants, banks, cars, or plane ticket sales, which would end with the voiceover saying something along the lines of “Hurry, this offer is for a limited time only.” These commercials invite viewers to purchase any product that is being sold. However, they must make a very quick decision because the offer will end some time soon. In fact, there is absolutely no guarantee that a similar type of offer will be available in the coming months or even the years to follow. Yes, television in the Philippines may also have these types of commercials, but most of the commercials that come to mind came from the many Canadian television stations. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The theme of the readings for this Sunday’s Eucharistic celebration is stated in the Responsorial Psalm: “I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6cd). These words highlight the opportunity God gives us everyday. Each day of our lives here on earth, we are given an opportunity to choose Him so that we may be able to be with Him and dine with Him in the eternal banquet in His heavenly kingdom, just like what is being stated in the First Reading and the parable narrated by Christ in the Gospel. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">One important detail that must be given attention to and taken note of is the last part of the longer version of the Gospel for this Sunday where Jesus narratate that the king punished a man who was not dressed in a wedding garment by having him sent out by the guards and casted out into the darkness (Matthew 22:11-13). What does this last part of the longer version of the Gospel teach us? Every opportunity that the Lord gives us to choose Him needs to be valued. Yes, the Lord will continue to give us numerous opportunities to choose Him by choosing to live holy lives, but we must value each and every one in preparation for eternal life with Him in His presence forever in heaven where He has prepared a feast for all of us. Just like what was said in the First Reading, the banquet of the Lord in heaven is open to all. The Lord God continues to give us many chances to choose eternal life with Him in the heavenly banquet for as long as we live in this earth. However, we must not waste these opportunities because we will not live here on earth forever. Our lives may seem to be long, but we must remember, there will come a time when we must leave this earth and move on to the next life. We will not find eternal life on earth because the life here on earth is limited, short, and temporary. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In a way, the opportunities God gives us to choose Him and the path of holiness so that we will be able to join Him and dine with Him forever in the eternal banquet in His eternal heavenly kingdom are limited time offers. Yes, He does for us daily for as long as we live here on earth, but, given the fact that our lives here on earth are not eternal but temporary, the opportunities God gives us are limited time offers. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">How must we respond to these limited time offers given to us by God? The example that Saint Paul the Apostle exhibits in the Second Reading is something we must follow. In the Second Reading, we hear the famous words of Saint Paul the Apostle “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We hear these words being quoted by many people, but many people tend to forget the context of these words. Saint Paul the Apostle, when he wrote these words, was referring to the numerous struggles he faced in his mission as apostle and missionary to the Gentiles. If we were to make educated guesses on what should have happened to him, without knowing what already happened, there was absolutely no way we would think Saint Paul the Apostle would or should have been able to withstand and conquer these challenges and hardships in life. However, he was able to do so because he became open to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Now, how would the example of Saint Paul the Apostle in the Second Reading apply to us in the modern age? Choose holiness. By choosing holiness, we choose the Lord God wholeheartedly. It is in choosing to walk the path of holiness that we open ourselves to Him wholeheartedly. We allow the grace of the Lord God to move us and see how wonderful the opportunity to be with Him forever in the heavenly banquet truly is. Through this, we accept the limited offers God continues to give us each day of our temporary lives here on earth. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">We are reminded this Sunday that our lives here on earth are temporary. No matter how many times God gives us opportunities to choose eternal life with Him in His eternal kingdom in heaven, the opportunities God gives us are limited time offers. Thus, we must think carefully and value each opportunity the Lord God gives us to choose Him and eternity with Him in His heavenly kingdom. </div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Lord, as we continue to live our lives here on earth, You continue to give us multiple opportunities to accept this limited time offer of eternity with You in Your heavenly kingdom. Help us recognize the value of Your offer to be with You forever in heaven and may we be open to Your grace, love, and mercy so that we may be able to offer You our wholehearted “Yes” as our response to Your invitation. Amen.</div></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-5316932124138001462023-10-06T22:19:00.000+08:002023-10-06T22:20:01.925+08:00Only the Humble<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv60qn2eHuDJECNKQH5kdOwteg29ImyJfjzAiVX5tDIiRpaeqef8_tz7EYD0j8ZAEyM43DJLvIsc1dWQI1zw2AcHGGSy1Y5DJpVGKXL4tIQ8DxbE8BbbzL4qJgMCu0VHjq4TLfzq35u9Dn3eGO1teKZC97KAOlSwcmV3MPSHFPuZLAvVn6hsTjJxJ81E/s836/images.jpeg-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="836" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv60qn2eHuDJECNKQH5kdOwteg29ImyJfjzAiVX5tDIiRpaeqef8_tz7EYD0j8ZAEyM43DJLvIsc1dWQI1zw2AcHGGSy1Y5DJpVGKXL4tIQ8DxbE8BbbzL4qJgMCu0VHjq4TLfzq35u9Dn3eGO1teKZC97KAOlSwcmV3MPSHFPuZLAvVn6hsTjJxJ81E/s320/images.jpeg-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">08 October 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">First Reading: Is 5:1-7<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Second Reading: Phil 4:6-9</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 21:33-43</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Anton Ocampo</span></span></b></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock">Both the First Reading and the Gospel for this Sunday involve the use of the image of vineyards. The image of the vineyard is used in the First Reading to highlight how the people of Jerusalem and Judah refused to listen to the will of the Lord God. Instead of fresh grapes, wild, or, in other translations, rotten grapes were found in this specific vineyard, which is none other than the vineyard of the Lord (Isaiah 5:2, 4). With this statement, the Lord, through the Prophet Isaiah, points out only one thing. Despite God loving and valuing His people, they refused to listen to Him due to the hardness of their minds and hearts. This is very ironic, given the words of the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, which also comes from the First Reading: “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel” (Isaiah 5:7). Despite being chosen by God, they refused to listen. A similar image of the vineyard was also used by Jesus in the Gospel for this Sunday. Like the words in the First Reading, the Lord Jesus Christ uses the image of a vineyard to highlight the hardness of the hearts and minds of the people of Israel at the time. The difference is that the focus is not on the vines or grapes itself but on the tenants. Instead of opening their ears, minds, and hearts to the messages of the messengers and even the son of the landowner, the tenants refused to listen and beat up and killed the messengers and even the son of the landowner. Not even the son of the landowner was spared from the violence and bloodthirstiness of the tenants in the parable narrated by the Divine Nazarene, our Lord Jesus, in the Gospel. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">What is the lesson for us? The people in the First Reading and the parable of Jesus in the Gospel both chose to not humble themselves before the Lord. Despite being chosen and cared for by God, despite all the things He has done, they still chose to harden their hearts and minds to Him. Yes, their ears were open, they heard all the messages of the Lord God, which were sent to them by the prophets, but they refused to open their hearts and minds to Him, humble themselves, listen to Him, and obey Him. Even today, this is still evident. We hear the Word of God everyday, yet there are instances where we harden our hearts and minds and reject it. Admit it or not, this often happens. Even though there are many times that this happens, this does not make it the correct thing to do. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">The lesson for us this Sunday is found in the Second Reading. Saint Paul the Apostle reminded the Philippian Christians at the end of his lesson in the Second Reading for this Sunday: “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me” (Philippians 4:9). Of course, Saint Paul the Apostle is not the only one who did this given that there are many holy men and women who are part of the communion of Saints. However, he only means one thing – be humble, open our hearts and minds to the will of God, listen to it, and obey it. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">In order to be able to open our hearts and minds to God, listen to Him, obey Him, and follow Him, we need humility. Humility is necessary in listening, obeying, and following God. With the help of humility, our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds are open to understanding the perspective of the Lord and recognizing its beauty. It is only in being humble that we will be able to appreciate, believe, and trust the way of God wholeheartedly. This is what God wants from us. </div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Yes, it is hard to be humble and listen to the will of God and obey it. However, if we truly love God, we will be willing to do this. No matter how difficult it is, we will be willing to humble ourselves before the Lord and listen to His will and obey it if our love, devotion, and worship for Him is genuine. Like our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, who Christ Himself praised when He said in response to a woman: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Luke 11:28), as Christians, we should be humble because it is only in being humble that we will be able to truly offer our genuine faith, love, devotion, and worship to the Lord God. Only the ones who humbly and genuinely believe, trust, love, and worship God will be able to hear His word and obey it.</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Lord, there are times in our temporary life here on earth where we find it to be very difficult to humbly listen to You and obey You. Teach us to be truly and genuinely humble so that we may truly love You, O Lord, with all our heart, mind, and soul. Amen. </div><div><br style="font-family: "Century Gothic";" /></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1878714454670059991.post-84264813474796681882023-09-30T21:03:00.000+08:002023-09-30T21:05:02.910+08:00Sumunod Ka Sa Akin<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwZEKHPiWSK0t2OEQ42dNET8UY3LevtKCciqdQgoRMaUgPDH2kUhNjxtvPf7wTU1ujB0POFQlvkZ5OMGEB4l0Owj38cMaG_I7EWiZEC7XB4B8YwQAy39GxIM7rqd3pqmzRxJ13NQu5F4SilGDMaCnHlpS_SiRSYXek1RNe7C0wr5fK_1BklnABCn1mes/s727/images.jpeg-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="727" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwZEKHPiWSK0t2OEQ42dNET8UY3LevtKCciqdQgoRMaUgPDH2kUhNjxtvPf7wTU1ujB0POFQlvkZ5OMGEB4l0Owj38cMaG_I7EWiZEC7XB4B8YwQAy39GxIM7rqd3pqmzRxJ13NQu5F4SilGDMaCnHlpS_SiRSYXek1RNe7C0wr5fK_1BklnABCn1mes/s320/images.jpeg-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Twenty-six Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ika-26 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon)</span></h1><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">01 October 2023</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></h1><div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">First Reading: Ez 18:25-28<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9<br /></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Second Reading: Phil 2:1-11</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"><span>Gospel: Mt 21:28-32</span><br /></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Reflection</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores</span></span></b></span></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">May magkaibang kahulugan ang pangungusap na "Sumunod ka sa akin", depende kung nasaan ang diin, kung paano sinabi, at sino ang nagsabi. Sumusunod tayo sa utos, sa batas, sa pakiusap o kaya sa taong may awtoridad.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Sa ating Ebanghelyo ngayon, ang nakatatandang anak ang sinabing sumunod sa kalooban ng ama bagaman noong una ay ayaw niya, nagbago ang kaniyang isip at sa huli ay tumalima. Hindi tulad ng pangalawang anak na umoo nga subalit hindi naman pumaroon.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Kung ating susuriin ang ginawang pagsunod ng dalawang anak na lalaki sa Ebanghelyo, parehong may pagkukulang. Ang una hindi agad umoo, 'yung ikalawa naman, sa salita lamang sumunod, kinulang sa gawa.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Paano nga ba ang tamang pagsunod? Salamat sa Panginoong Hesus na Siyang huwaran natin sa pagiging masunurin. Sinabi Niya sumunod kayo sa akin, kung paano Niya sinunod ang kalooban ng Amang nasa langit, ganoon din ang paanyaya sa atin. Ito ay pinatunayan sa sulat ni Apostol San Pablo sa mga taga-Filipos, sa pagpapakababa ni Hesus, Siya ay itinampok ng Diyos. Ganap Siyang nakasunod bunsod ng pag-ibig sa Amang nag-utos at sa sanlibutang pinag-alayan Niya ng buhay.</div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div><div class="innerblock">Ang pagsunod ni Hesus ay hindi dahil sa takot sa awtoridad ng nag-utos, bagkus ay nag-ugat sa pagmamahal sa Diyos at sa kapwa. Kaya naman napakadali para kay Hesus ang pagsunod dahil ginawa Niya ito sa konteksto ng pagmamahal. Magiging ganap lamang ang ating pagsunod kung tayo ay tatalima bunsod ng pag-ibig. Sundan natin ang huwaran ni Hesus. Mahirap pero kaya kung nanaisin natin at kung tayo ay nagmamahal.</div></span></div><div class="innerblock"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Century Gothic;">Prayer</span></span></b></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Ama, hindi madali ang pagtalima sa Iyong kalooban lalo na sa panahon namin ngayon na napakadaling magreklamo, subalit sa awa Mo at sa huwarang ipinakita ni Hesus, sisikapin naming maging masunurin. Amen.</div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><div><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></div></div><div class="innerblock" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=s237" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="237" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXV61VwIldHnbCei_9r4IrPot8Aeb_Jt6OKhIJbS6R8CGWimkqRV-CHQHmipCFUDGS9fyoZ0K-72NKPNr2vlWa0pThCd5w0qZOjBHA1FaEbDdiVstLzGQ-Gisv9-tXnMgXOinzg_gyoHrR55Jv1epPLusL955LBhN8iYjBR_Y8nvFyOd85ZtPpSAnf=w93-h73" width="93" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16268430692022334506noreply@blogger.com0