God is a Person

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

25 December 2025

 

First Reading: Isaiahn 52:7-10

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6

Gospel: John 1:1-18

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

Ever since Lent 2024, I have been visiting the St Barnabas Cathedral near my workplace whenever I can. This goes on especially this Jubilee Year as the cathedral and Good Shepherd Church which is near where I live are among the jubilee churches in our diocese. I also join the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our parish every Friday night.

Spending a few moments with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has been a rich source of strength, guidance, and inspiration to me as I start the day or as I head home after a busy day. There were times when I was alone with the Lord which made it much easier for me to pour out my heart before Him, cry, or even sing a song. In our family bereavement this year, this beautiful devotion provided an uplifting experience. 

A story goes that one of the conversion moments for Edith Stein (aka St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) to Catholicism was witnessing people praying in church. Such action convinced her that God is not a mere idea, but a person that we can relate with. Indeed, that is what we are celebrating today: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). God’s gift of His Son - a Son who desired to be with His people - is second to none. Adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and receiving Him in Holy Communion, may we become faithful witnesses of His abiding presence in the world that “came to be through him but…did not know him” (Jn 1:10).

  

Prayer

Happy birthday, Jesus! Thank You for becoming one like us. Thank You for dwelling among us despite our unworthiness. Open our hearts to always welcome You and rejoice in the light You bring. Make us zealous in leading others closer to You so that together we may see Your saving power. Amen.

Restorer

    

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 June 2024

 

First Reading: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

Second Reading: 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15

Gospel: Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

During the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our parish church on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, there was a white cloth placed on the altar from the monstrance down to the steps of the sanctuary. Before bringing the Blessed Sacrament back into the tabernacle, the leader invited us to approach the altar and touch the cloth while gazing at the Blessed Sacrament. It was a powerful experience kneeling together with my family on the steps of the sanctuary. Touching the cloth “connected” us with our Eucharistic Lord. 

Such experience gave us a glimpse of what the woman in today’s Gospel experienced when she touched Jesus’ clothes. A healing experience! “If things created are so full of loveliness, how resplendent with beauty must be the One who made them”, St. Anthony of Padua once said. However, this state of loveliness became obscured “by the envy of the devil, death entered the world” (Ws 2:24). Sickness and death, then and now, show us the effect of sin. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 6:23). Restoring humanity to God’s image (Gn 1:27) cannot be done by any creature though. Only Jesus, who is both God and man, can do it. In fact, He has already achieved it.

“Dying, you destroyed our death. Rising, you restored our life”, goes an old version when we proclaim the mystery of our faith after Consecration. We can experience Jesus’ restorative action through the sacraments. As sinners, we need healing through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. Reconciled and healed, we need nourishment through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. St. John Bosco once said, “The devil is deadly afraid of fervent Communions and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.” How often have we received the sacraments? When was the last time we spent moments adoring our Lord in the tabernacle? Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are in a spiritual battle, which we can only win if Jesus is on our side. Remember, “Though he (Christ) was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we praise You for You have rescued us. Through our frequent reception of the sacraments, especially receiving Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion, and our devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, may we conquer the enemy so that we may share in Your glory. Amen.

Not Just a Piece of Bread

    

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

02 June 2024

 

First Reading: Ex 24:3-8

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18

Second Reading: Heb 9:11-15

Gospel: Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

"You are going to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. Not just a piece of bread", Ms. Carmelita Lopez, my Grade Six teacher used to remind us while we were queuing up for Holy Communion. Some said to themselves (or to others), "There she goes again!' Some ignored her. Yet some paid attention to what she said.

Looking back, Ms. Lopez's reminder hit on me last weekend when I distributed the Precious Blood of Christ during Communion. After drinking from the chalice, I saw my own reflection on the Blood of Christ. It was as though Jesus is reminding me of what He said in today's Gospel, "This is my body...this is my blood..." This is far more superior to the holocausts and young bulls that served as peace offerings during the time of Moses as mentioned in the First Reading. It was not just a piece of bread or a drop of wine that I am receiving and distributing to others. As I was waiting for people to approach me and drink from the chalice, I kept on looking at my reflection and asked the Lord, "Is this how precious am I in Your eyes that You poured out Your blood for me and for all? Who am I, who are we to merit such a wonderful gift as Your very self, Lord?"

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving Your Body and Blood for me and for all Your people. Sorry for those times when we took Your gifts for granted. Help us to realize how precious we are that You willed to be our food and drink. Strengthen us in our resolve to give due reverence to You in the Blessed Sacrament. Grant us the grace to mirror Your generosity to others especially to those in need.

O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. Amen.

What Pain?

    

Fourth Sunday of Lent

10 March 2024

 

First Reading: 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

Second Reading: Eph 2:4-10

Gospel: Jn 3:14-21

 

Reflection

By: Gharri Tulabut

 

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.

At the adoration, I decides to kneel the whole time the Blessed Sacrament was venerates—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.😁)

Several worship songs were sung at that time, contemporary and traditional; even Latin like Tantum Ergo.

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:

"You left the glory of Your throne

And chose to make a home

Here in the mess so You could walk with the unworthy

Almighty Son of Man

You chose a crown of thorns

So by Your blood we are redeemed and be made worthy" (Worthy, Holy be Feast Worship)

What is the pain in my legs compared to what the Son has endured for me?

What is an hour of sacrifice compared to what the Father endured looking at His Son's suffering?

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.

Prayer

Thank You God for everything!

Glory be You Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.

Tempus Fugit

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.

In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land.

In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: "The LORD our justice."

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

Second Reading: First Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. (Amen.)

Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God--and as you are conducting yourselves--you do so even more. For you know what instructions  we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."

"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man."

Reflection

By Nats Vibiesca

If Jesus is coming in a cloud with power and great glory in December, I imagine that many of us will get caught unaware because it is the month when we are too preoccupied by partying, shopping spree, and many merry making activities to celebrate the birth of Jesus. At least some people are preparing for something big on December 12, 2012 (12/12/12), as they say that the ancient Mayan calendar's cycle will stop and then restart, and that something significant will take place.


But the Gospel gave us a clear warning: Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap!

It simply means that we should focus on doing what is really important.

Let me share some points about using time wisely from the two books that I’m reading this Advent season: “Managing Your Time, Energy, and Talents in Ministry” by John P. Flanagan and “Love Without Conditions” by Paul Ferrini.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen wrote a reply to Deacon Flanagan asking the Archbishop to share his secret on how he manages his time and talents so effectively in ministry: “In my book, Those Mysterious Priests, you will find a development of the idea that I have used for sixty years, in managing a busy life and allowing time for God, namely, the Holy Hour.” In his book, Sheen credits this practice of spending two hours each morning before the Blessed Sacrament as the source of his spiritual strength.

Most priests have mastered the art of managing time to spend an hour a day in the adoration chapel, but for a number of busy lay sinners like me, spending two hours or even one hour a day before the Blessed Sacrament is really a struggle. Nonetheless, in the book “Love Without Conditions”, Ferrini in the mind of Jesus, narrates: I do not ask you to meditate or pray for an hour a day, although there is nothing wrong with this. I simply ask you to remember your Divine Essence for five minutes out of each hour, or for one thought out of every ten. Let your remembrance of God be continual, so that you do not get absorbed in the soap opera of your life. For six days you could be absorbed in the drama of work and struggle, but on the seventh day you were to remember God. The seventh day was to be a day of rest, of turning inward. When you eat, God will sit at your table. When you speak with your brother, God will remind you to say something encouraging to him. And when you forget all this and yell at your wife or husband, God will reach out and touch you gently and say with good humor: “Welcome to the soap opera.” And you will learn to laugh at yourself and not take your self-initiated drama so seriously.

Material attachments are common distractions to be always in God’s presence. But God is not asking me to give up all my attachments. The Lord simply asks me to become aware of my attachments in life. It’s not easy to get rid of the many excess baggage and material attachments but the wise use of time will remove anything that make us hardhearted. We can best prepare for a happy death and meet the Lord by living as though each minute, hour, and day is the most important and most precious gift from God.

Why wait for the coming of the Lord in the end of time when God can be with us all the time?

Tempus fugit et nos fugimus in illus. (Time flies and we fly with it.) –Ovid (23-18 B.C.)

Prayer

Generous and ever loving God, You have given us the gift of time with great responsibility to use it according to the talents You have entrusted us. Thank You for helping us remember You every minute of our lives especially when we are tired of our work, burned out with problems in our family, and afraid of the things that will separate us from Your Divine Presence. Keep us always vigilant and sober to strengthen our hearts in love and faith in You. Amen.

Nowhere But Here...In Christ's Embrace

First Reading: Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: "If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

But the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

Second Reading: Eph 5:21-32

Brothers and sisters:

Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

Gospel: Jn 6:60-69

Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."

As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

Reflection

By Fidji Rivera-Sarmiento

May I be honest and say that I’m at the lowest point in my life right now. I would not go into details, but I am trying to alleviate my depression through the Lord’s Words and through praying to our Mother Mary.

Inner emotional pain is much worse than any physical pain there is, for me. Mind you, I have 3 kids and this emotional ache, if I may call it such, does not compare to giving birth. There is a concoction of feelings of being neglected, of loneliness, of desperation, and even regret that makes you feel like your innards will bulge into your chest. It so palpable that my eyes just want to shut off, I wanted to sleep all the time. But being the mother of 3, all under 7, you know that I cannot just lock the door and nurse my spirit’s wounds, more so cry my eyes out. I have to be strong, to keep it together, and be the sun in the eyes of my kids.

And each time I feel like throwing myself to the floor, I remind myself of Jesus’ promises. I soak myself in the grace of the Lord though praying and reading the Bible. If at times I cannot stop crying, I immediately go to the Blessed Sacrament, and instantaneous relief and comfort fills me up. I have to stand firm and be the person the Lord ought me to be. I have to pick up myself and go to Jesus, for there is nowhere else to go. I can seek friends who I can party with; or maybe find a new sport that I can exhaust all my energy on; or go on a shopping spree to temporary lift me up. But I realized that I have to go through this phase and just completely trust the Lord’s will.

So for you out there, who may be undergoing the same phase as I am, know that you are not alone. I pray that the Lord touches your soul, as much as I felt His Hands on my head, giving me a pat, validating my efforts. I pray that you too may find comfort in His promises, and by seeking inspiration from His Mother who surrendered everything to God. May we always mouth, “Your will be done,” and to totally trust His plans. Complete and utter trust. No more worrying. No ifs and buts. This is what the Lord is asking of you, to believe in His mercy. No human embrace or words can surpass what the Lord has for you. He will give you the comfort you long for and the peace that passes all understanding. There is nowhere to go but to the Lord who’s always ready to welcome you into His arms.

Now ask yourself:

1. Have I sought band-aid remedies for my difficulties?

2. Have I replaced praying with partying and playing?

3. Have I forgotten how the Lord loves me so much?

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for always being available to embrace us when we need Your comfort and love. Thank You for giving us Your mother, Mama Mary, who also inspires us to surrender ourselves to the Father’s will. Amen.

*Tip from a wounded soul: Surround yourself with people who also believe in the goodness of the Lord. If you are the kind who needs to be in a company of friends, seek a community you can pray with. Should you rather want to be alone, like I am now, reading will help you a lot. Do away with your tablets in the meantime and smell the scent of real books, turning each page with a hopeful heart. Bring the Bible everywhere you go. Nothing compares to the comfort of knowing that God will fight the battle FOR you. In the end, try to write. Journaling, blogging, and laying your emotions out help a ton. May God bless you as His plans continue to unfold.