Paghahanda sa Kaharian ng Diyos

Ika-28 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

11 Oktubre 2026

Unang Pagbasa: Isaias 25, 6-10a

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 22, 1-3a. 3b-4. 5, 6

Ikalawang Pagbasa: Filipos 4, 12-14. 19-20

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 22, 1-14

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

Sa susunod na buwan ay dadalo kami ng aking misis sa isang kasalan sa Baguio upang maging isa sa mga ninong at ninang. Enero pa lang ay naimbitahan na kami kaya’t halos sampung buwan na kaming naghahanda para sa kasalang ito. Ang ilan sa pinaghahandaan namin ay ang pansamantalang tutuluyan namin, ang budget na gagatusin para sa transportasyon, ang aming tutuluyan at destinasyon sa pamamasyal pagkatapos ng piging. Mabusisi rin ang paghahanda namin sa mga isusuot tulad ng kulay ng aming damit na kailangang akma sa ibinigay na tema ng ikakasal. Inaasahan din naming mas malamig na rin ang klima sa Baguio dahil sa paglakas ng hanging amihan kaya’t kasama rin ito sa paghahanda ng iba pang kasuotan. Tulad sa talinghaga ng ating Panginoong Hesus, kung tayo ay tumugon sa paanyaya ng hari, marapat lamang na paghandaan ito nang mabuti upang maging angkop ang kasuotan sa piging ng kasal. Sa pakahulugan ng ating simbahan, ang piging ay paanyaya sa kaligtasan sa lahat, walang pinipili ang ating Panginoon sa mga iimbitahan dahil nga ang kasal ay larawan ng Kaharian ng Diyos. Siguradong maraming imbitadong mga banal at kahangan-hanga ang buhay ng mga taong pinili mismo ng Diyos upang makasalo sa piging at mayroon ding mga kilala o mga sikat na personalidad na inanyayahan. Subalit hindi naman lahat ay tumutugon sa paanyaya dahil siguro’y nasilaw na sa kaharian ng mundo ang karamihan at marahil ay nagbibingi-bingihan na lamang sa pagtawag sa kanila. Sa walang-hanggang kabutihan at awa ng Diyos ay kahit paulit-ulit pa tayong tumanggi ay hindi Siya nagsasawa na paulit-ulit din tayong iniimbitahan sa Kanyang Kaharian.

Ang nakapagtataka talaga ay kahit pa tayong mga walang pangalan sa lipunan o mga makasalanang tunay na lagi na lamang nadadapa sa kasalanan sa mundo ay patuloy ding iniimbitahan ng Panginoon sa Kanyang Kaharian. Kaya nga dapat na ipagpasalamat talaga na tayong lahat ay iniimbita ng Diyos sa Kanyang Kaharian sa langit kahit pa hindi naman tayo karapat-dapat. Ang paghahanda ng ating pananamit naman sa pagdalo sa kasalan ay ang ating pagsisikap na maging mabuting Kristiyano. Ang isa sa paghahanda sa piging ay ang malimit na pagtanggap natin ng mga sakramento ng ating simbahan. Tila magarbong damit na akma sa kasalan ang pagsasabuhay ng mga sakramento para sa mga grasyang dulot ng pakikipagkaisa kay Hesus. Tulad ng sakramento ng pangungumpisal na nagpapalinis ng ating kaluluwa at nagpapaputi ng ating kasuotan para sa dadaluhang piging. Higit na magpapakinang sa ating kalooban ang malimit na pagtanggap sa ating Panginoong Hesus sa sakramento ng Eukaristiya sa banal na Misa. Hindi ba’t napakalaking biyaya ng ating Panginoong Hesus para sa ating lahat na Siya na nga mismo ang nagbigay sa atin ng mga biyaya ng kabanalan para sa paghahanda sa piging sa pamamagitan ng mga iniwan Niyang Sakramento? Ang simula ng hamon sa atin bago pa nga ang paghahanda ng lahat ng kasuotan ay ang pagtugon sa Kanyang paanyaya. Kung naging pusong bato na tayo, nalunod na sa kasakiman ng kayamanan sa mundo, nabaliw na sa pagyakap sa kasalanan, at napagkakamalan nating hindi na tayo makakaahon pa sa putikan, lagi lang nating isipin na ang paanyaya ng Diyos sa atin ay walang hanggang awa at pagpapatawad. Kung parang ang lahat ay madilim na sa ating buhay, kung halos iniwan na tayo ng lahat at wala na tayong malapitan, kung nasadlak na tayo sa mapapait na karanasan at kabiguan, ang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin ay nananatili, kailanma’y hinding-hindi tayo bibiguin ng ating Panginoon. Muli nating tugunan ang patuloy na pag-anyaya sa piging ng Kanyang Kaharian at doon sa banal na pagsasalo ay yakapin natin nang mahigpit ang ating mapagmahal na Diyos. Amen.

 

Panalangin

Panginoong Hesus, pasasalamat at papuri ang aming dalangin para sa walang hanggang pagmamahal mo sa amin dahil sa patuloy na pag-anyaya sa amin sa iyong Kaharian kahit pa hindi kami naging karapat-dapat. Kami po ay mapagpakumbabang tumutugon sa Inyong paanyaya at pahintulutang kaming makapaghanda para sa pakikipagkaisa sa aming Panginoong Hesus. Amen

Duty of Love

Sixth Sunday of Easter

9 May 2021 

 

First Reading:  ACTS 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

Second Reading:  1 JN 4:7-10

Gospel:  JN 15:9-17

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

"As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in His love. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."

The theme of the last Sunday Gospel and this Sunday continues to be that of LOVE. Actually, the whole Bible from beginning to end is about God's Love! In fact, in today's Gospel, the word LOVE is mentioned nine times. Jesus made it clear how to show love. He laid down His own life for us! And He commanded us to do the same. Not just for people who are related to us like our parents, siblings, or children, but for friends! Personally, to fight and die for my family would be a natural instinct. But to lay down willingly my life for a friend will take a lot of courage. A lot of real love.

In the midst of pandemic we are facing today, I believe that front liners are concrete example of authentic love. They put their health and life for the sake of others. We see and hear in the news that many of them served willingly for others. Enduring long work hours, the pain of seeing their patients suffer and die. And even to the extent that they themselves contract the virus and die! I am sure they will reap their reward in heaven.

I saw in a news a doctor lamenting the sad situation of those who were afflicted with CoVid-19. She had seen patients dying while waiting in the makeshift tents for a space in the ER. She cries out her heart seeing patients die because the hospital equipment and facilities needed are already exhausted. And these are people she isn't related to. She simply showed her unconditional love and care to people she encounter. She did everything possible for these people even putting her on life on the line.

But, I guess we can also show love not just by literally putting our lives on the line, or giving up our life out of service for others. I believe we can also show authentic Christ-like love by putting other people's needs and priorities ahead of ourselves. Tough challenge for most of us. But it's the only way to show we follow the commandment of LOVE!

 

Prayer

 

Dear God, we pray that we never give up in loving others. We pray for our front liners, that they may be healthy and safe as they perform their duty of love. Help us to put other people's needs ahead of ourselves. We pray that we continue to love unceasingly our family and all the people we meet. In Jesus' Name, we pray. AMEN.

 

 

 

Love Unconditionally!

Fifth Sunday of Easter

2 May 2021 

 

First Reading:  ACTS 9:26-31

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32

Second Reading:  1 JN 3:18-24

Gospel:  JN 15:1-8

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

"We have confidence in God and receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. And His commandment is this: "We should believe in the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as He commanded us."

 

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever your want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

 

On this Fifth Sunday of Easter, we are reminded of the commandment of Jesus before He ascended to heaven to "love one another". And along with this commandment is a promise: "we will receive from Him whatever we ask".

 

In the world we live today, we are so much challenged in all aspects of our life. The pandemic had caused a lot of people to lose their livelihood and for some even their lives! We are all being called to act in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic to show love for one another.

 

In the Gospel reading today, the call to LOVE unconditionally is super needed to be heeded by all of us! From those that are in power and from those who are powerless. From government leaders to the lowliest level of the citizenry.

 

How do we do it? I believe that it can be done by putting the welfare of others ahead of ourselves. We all need to do for others what is good for them regardless of whether they have done good to you!

 

A lady friend of mine who is a Lawyer and Financial Educator has a stay out helper who had asked for salary advances but did not show up to serve her services for many months. But just recently, the same helper contacted her asking for support. Guess what? She still provided the help in spite of the helper's wrongdoing. Atty. GJ showed me a concrete example of how to LOVE unconditionally.

 

We all need to put CARE above MONEY!

 

I hope and pray that people who have the power over what directions and actions to take to fix the pandemic, must have an open heart to CARE for what is good for all and not for what MONEY they would get.

 

And for us; who are continually blessed with good health of mind, body, pocket, and spirit, let's continue to contribute to all that we can to help others. To give CARE. To LOVE as He has commanded us!

 

Finally, stay safe. Spread not the virus but LOVE!

 

Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for the continuing good health of our minds, body, and spirit. Lord, we pray that we may be continually inspired to serve others specially those who are sick and are in need. May we continue to serve with unconditional love. In Jesus Name, we pray. Amen.

 

 

 

God's Plan

Fifth Sunday of Lent

21 March 2021 

 

First Reading:  JER 31:31-34

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15

Second Reading:  HEB 5:7-9

Gospel:  JN 12:20-33

 

Reflection

By: Emerson C. Maala

 

Once a year, my high school best friends were able to gather just to have a moment of friendship and talk about ourselves. It is just like a mini-reunion. Most of them are already professionals and have stable jobs. It was only I who was still studying because of my chosen vocation. We asked one another what was our plans and wishes after five years. In his sudden reaction, one of my best friends realized that he was turning 30 years old at that time. He said he wants to pause his age at 25 years old because he still wants to do many things and enjoy his life. Similarly, they asked me a question if I don't have any regrets that I was not able to enjoy my life outside. Excitedly, I answered them saying, "This might be God's plan for me and I love what I am doing and I enjoy things that I have right now.

 

In the Gospel, Jesus is aware that the hour has come. It is the time of His passion, death, and resurrection; the return to His Father and His glorification. However, Jesus was troubled. He knew that He will suffer from pain and anguish and He knew that this was the way. Instead of complaining, that the chalice of suffering passes Him by, Jesus prayed, "Father, glorify Your Name." And the Father's glory was manifested by Jesus in His loving disciples and all the people at the very end.

 

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that aside from our plans, there is God's plan. We might not be certain of the future or we might want to be still in our younger age or to pause our age so that we might be able to do things and enjoy our life. However, these were all just things that we want and not what God want for us. We might experience pain and suffering on our way, but Jesus would always be on our side, to fulfill God's plan for us. For what God wants for us will always be for our sake and a fruit of His love for us.

 

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to accept what Your Father planned for You. By this, we begged You to grant us the grace to have a humble heart so that we could also accept what God planned for us. Help us on our journey to fulfill Your Father's plan for us and always lead us on life. Amen.

 

 

 

Worthy or Not, Pray!

 

 

 

Second Sunday of Advent 

6 December 2020

First Reading IS 40:1-5, 9-11

Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.

 

A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

 

 

Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care. 

 

Second Reading 2 PT 3:8-14

 

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved,

that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years
and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,”
but he is patient with you,
not wishing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar
and the elements will be dissolved by fire,
and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.

Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,
what sort of persons ought you to be,
conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion,
waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him,

at peace. 

Gospel MK 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

 

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle Payod-Balla

 

Christmas is definitely in the air!

Christmas decorations and Christmas trees are up.

Some gifts are already wrapped

and some are on their way from the online shops.

(Glad I have those sentences rhymed 😌)

 

I pray everyday and I say a lot of prayers. Because I have so many things to pray, I normally can't finish them all in one sitting. I have to say as much prayers as I can when I wake up in the morning, and say the others during lunch time, and before going to sleep at night. I have prayer lists for all those who are sick, for married couples I know, for the souls of each of our departed family members, and for the family, friends, relatives, and neighbors of school mates and others. These are on top of the three religious books I read and the seven novena-like prayers I say daily.

There are times when I paused and thought that I may not be worthy to call upon the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit to request and say my prayers. When this happens, I would change the way I say my prayer, asking Jesus and the Father to allow me to pray in behalf of others though I am unworthy to talk to them.

Though I pray as often as possible, I know that it may not make me "fit to kneel down and undo the strap of His sandals". Only His grace can do that, if He allows it. I do believe though that prayers can help others, can change my heart, and can keep me grounded on Him. It helps purify my intentions and deepens my resolve to grow in Him, to connect with Him as often as possible.

I trust that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit hear my prayers and your prayers too, even if we are undeserving of Their presence.

May you find time to spend meaningful moments with God this Advent season.

 

Prayer

 

Father, though we are unworthy to be in Your presence, please hear our cry for help and accept our offer of worship and thanksgiving. Please grant us forgiveness and healing this Christmas season. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

The Forgiving Father

 

Fourth Sunday of Lent

06 March 2016

First reading                                                                             Joshua 5:9-12

The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have taken the shame of Egypt away from you.’

  The Israelites pitched their camp at Gilgal and kept the Passover there on the fourteenth day of the month, at evening in the plain of Jericho. On the morrow of the Passover they tasted the produce of that country, unleavened bread and roasted ears of corn, that same day. From that time, from their first eating of the produce of that country, the manna stopped falling. And having manna no longer, the Israelites fed from that year onwards on what the land of Canaan yielded.

 

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 33:2-7

             

Second reading                                                         2 Corinthians 5:17-21

For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here. It is all God’s work. It was God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the work of handing on this reconciliation. In other words, God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, not holding men’s faults against them, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. So we are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God.
 

Gospel                                                                       Luke 13:1-9

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

  ‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

  ‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

  ‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

  ‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

  ‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’

Reflection

By Grace B. Madriñan

The parable today is more popularly known as “The Prodigal Son”.  I need not elaborate further what this is all about as I believe you have read and heard of this many times over.

      

To tell you honestly, there are actually times when I am having a hard time accepting how the prodigal son can easily move back to the comfortable life after squandering half of his Father’s wealth. I cannot blame the “responsible son” for reacting the same way.  If I were him, I could have acted the same way, maybe even gave him cold shoulders for a few weeks just to make him suffer a bit more.

     

Recalling one of the talks at the Feast (Catholic prayer gathering of the Light of Jesus family), our preacher shared that most Christians (including Catholic Christians), who are in the ministry or community, are like the “responsible son”.   We tend to be self-righteous to the point that we feel that we should be more privileged or more blessed because we have been good to our service. Even if we admit or not, we tend to get awry and even doubtful when a rebel returns home.

     

Over the years, I realized that the parable is neither about the prodigal son nor the better son. It is about the forgiving Father. The love and mercy of a Father is something that we cannot fully define. The only truth that we know is that no amount of sin is greater than the love of a Father. This is how our God is -- ever loving, ever forgiving. His love overwhelms our soul. His love cleanses and leads us to conversion. Sooner enough, His love magnifies our lives.

    

Who am I, then, to deny such love?

 

Prayer

 

Ever loving Father, we thank and glorify You for Your stubborn love for us. Never let us go from Your hold, and let Your love and generosity rub on us so that we can do the same for our returning brothers. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

The Only Way

“ I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.”

First Reading:  Acts 6:1-7

          Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Psalm: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9

          Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame."

          To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner," and "A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall"; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Gospel: John 14:1-12

          "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him."

          Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves."Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.

Reflection
By Benj Santiago

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

After Christ resurrected and ascended into heaven, the early Christians continually grew in numbers as the disciples spread the word of God. People from different countries and faith were converted to Christianity. But most of them were still confused as to how to find God the Father and they wanted to see God. Even the disciples, in spite of the closeness they have with Jesus, they still did not have the faith to see God the Father in Him. I can sense the frustration Jesus had when He said: “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me”.

Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him! Jesus is the only way to the Father. We cannot go to the Father if we don’t follow Jesus. Jesus is the truth that will set us free, He is the true God that we need to believe in. Jesus is the life that is everlasting. 

In my own journey of finding God, there were also confusion and doubts that clouded my mind if Jesus is really one with the Father. The Holy Trinity remains a mystery I cannot fathom. But as I study the word of God, my faith is strengthened and my belief is renewed. I no longer doubt but believe that Jesus is indeed the only way to the Father and that the Father is in Him.

Jesus is God and our Savior. Let us strengthen our faith in Him. Let us be Jesus for other. Let us be firm in our belief that Jesus is the only way, and His words are the truth, and that if we follow Him, we will have life everlasting.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, we thank You for coming to this world to redeem us from our sins. We thank You for showing us the way to Your Father. We thank You for Your words that gives us everlasting life. We ask You Lord to strengthen our faith in You and make us like You for others. That we may also lead the people we love to Your Father in heaven. Amen.

God Knows Best

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
25 July 2010


Come, let us rejoice in the Lord: let us acclaim God our salvation, alleluia.

First reading Genesis 18:20-32
The Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’
The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’
Abraham replied, M am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’
Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 137:1-3,6-8

Second reading Colossians 2:12-14
You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.
He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.


Gospel Luke 11:1-13
Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:
“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”’
He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.
‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Reflection
By Patty De la Rosa-Paat

PRAYER on its literal meaning means: An act of the virtue of religion which consists in asking proper gifts or graces from God. In a more general sense it is the application of the mind to Divine things, not merely to acquire knowledge of them but to make use of such knowledge as a means of union with God. This may be done by acts of praise and thanksgiving, but petition is the principal act of prayer. (New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia)

I would say that the “Lord’s Prayer” is a perfect and beautiful prayer from which we honor God’s name but we address Him as our “ Father” , God is God and God is our Father. No one can break our relationship with Him. This is what we receive in the Sacrament of Baptism - we are freed from original sin and we become the adopted children of God.

Like a Father-child relationship, a child seeks comfort from His father. His presence is very important before a child’s eyes for the child knows he is protected and nobody could hurt him. The essence of being a father is to sacrifice his own life and happiness for the interest of his children. He doesn’t give everything for he knows what is good for them. A father is the one who molds his children for them to become better persons. Though, sometimes he can become tough in some of his decisions but just like a mother, father knows what is best for his children.

And so as God, He is our Greatest Provider in all aspects and our Creator, and we are His masterpiece. God provides everything that we have. The food that we eat, the air that we breathe and, water that we drink. In short all our basic needs were provided by God. What you see on earth is God’s perfect creation.

When we pray, we believe in God’s name, power, presence, and holiness. He is the Supreme Being and the ruler of the universe. He is our protector. He is the loving God, the Faithful One.

Sometimes when things go wrong or something bad happens to us we easily lose our faith in Him. When we struggle God doesn’t punish nor betray us. Whatever we are going through, God give us strength and direction that we need. God is always there even if don’t ask. He knows every single detail of our lives and He has not abandoned us.

Life is beautiful but it is full of challenges. Prayer is the best thing we can do. God doesn’t see our flaws and weaknesses. As Jesus said “For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”. We should prepare ourselves for a long journey. God rewards for those who seek Him. A dialogue with God is very important for He knows what is in our hearts. We must live according to His will and the kingdom of heaven will be open to us.

In every prayer that we made, we are having a privileged conversation with God. It is not just a simple conversation it is our way of strengthening our faith in Him.

Prayer is powerful let us bow our heads and pray...

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen.

Next on God-speak
Be Greedy To Bless Others

And Lived Among Us

Nativity of our Lord
25 December 2009


Christ has been born for us: come, let us worship him.

First reading Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful on the mountains,
are the feet of one who brings good news,
who heralds peace, brings happiness,
proclaims salvation,
and tells Zion,
‘Your God is king!’

Listen! Your watchmen raise their voices,
they shout for joy together,
for they see the Lord face to face,
as he returns to Zion.

Break into shouts of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord is consoling his people,
redeeming Jerusalem.

The Lord bares his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 97:1-6

Second reading Hebrews 1:1-6
At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is. He is the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command; and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Majesty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name.

God has never said to any angel: You are my Son, today I have become your father; or: I will be a father to him and he a son to me. Again, when he brings the First-born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God worship him.

Gospel John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word:
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be,
not one thing had its being but through him.
All that came to be had life in him
and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness could not overpower.

A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
only a witness to speak for the light.

The Word was the true light
that enlightens all men;
and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had its being through him,
and the world did not know him.
He came to his own domain
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to all who believe in the name of him
who was born not out of human stock
or urge of the flesh
or will of man
but of God himself.
The Word was made flesh,
he lived among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth.

John appears as his witness. He proclaims:
‘This is the one of whom I said:
He who comes after me ranks before me
because he existed before me.’

Indeed, from his fulness we have, all of us, received –
yes, grace in return for grace,
since, though the Law was given through Moses,
grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God;
it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart,
who has made him known.

Reflection
By Jeanne Therese Hilario-Andres

Nine months, she had waited.

Nine months, a mere flicker in time compared to the entire history of a waiting world. An old, weary world suffering the darkness of sin and separation from its Creator. An anxious, self-destructive world which desired, whether knowingly or not, that which it had never seen, but had only dreamed of — light and salvation. A tired, wounded, waiting world.

But it wasn’t just the world which waited. On the other side of the chasm, a loving Father waited, too. How much He wanted to cross this gulf of sin and scoop up His long-estranged children in His arms! How fervently He yearned to care for them, to reveal Himself to them, to wipe away every tear that had fallen from their eyes, to hold them in His arms and let them know that He loves them, has always loved them, and always will. Relentless, changeless, ageless, the Father waited on the brink, His tender gaze never leaving His children, ready to bridge the abyss that separated them from His love.

The Father waited. The angels waited. Heaven and earth waited. The whole universe waited. Indeed, mankind was never alone in hoping and waiting for this divine birth that would split history in two.

Now, Mary was sure, it was time. The Babe inside her womb knew it was time, and her body miraculously set in motion the intensifying waves of contractions to usher in the birth of this bundle of pure light, of perfect love in human form.

With each tightening, with each push, came a heightened longing to see, touch and hold the child she had carried inside her. For nine months, she had fed him with her own body’s food, nourished him, shared the same bloodstream. For nine months, He had been hidden inside the warmth and protection of her womb. Now, very soon, her Baby would no longer be sheltered in its blessed hiding place, but would at last be one with the world it had come to save. Very soon, the wait would be over. Very soon, the chasm would be bridged. Very soon, all the ends of the earth would see the saving power of God.

A final push, and as creation holds its breath, the Son of God is born. The silence of the night is pierced by His first lungful of air, His first cry. Mary holds him in her trembling arms, speaks His name, and as she looks into His eyes, He becomes silent, seeking the familiar voice He has known from the womb, gazing for the first time at the face He has loved forever. His eyes meet hers, and unable to contain her joy, Jesus’ young mother softly begins to cry. As her tears fall, Mary praises God in her heart for this beautiful child, born to save mankind, entrusted to her for a little while. Joseph dries Mary’s damp cheeks and celebrates quietly, marveling at the wonder of this birth. The angels rejoice! The universe exults! One can almost picture the Father, still standing at the brink of the narrowing chasm, dancing, laughing, wiping away His own tears, saying, “At last, at last, my children, I am with you once more.”

Advent was not just about us waiting for the birth of Jesus; the Lord Himself has been waiting for this moment. The moment when He is, at long last, one with His people. The moment when His children will recognize Him, know Him, and love Him back. The moment when we will realize how much we mean to Him, and how much He has given up to save us.

Today, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord, we hear these words: “The Word was made flesh, and lived among us.” Right now, at this moment, what does this truth mean to you? How does this affect the way you live your life? The choices you make? When you feel alone, alienated, separated from the love of God, reflecting on these words can remind you that by being born as one of us, by living as one of us, by taking on our humanity, Jesus forever tore down the barrier between you and Him. When you feel worthless and insignificant, this truth reminds you of how valuable you are in God’s eyes, that for Jesus, you are worth saving, you are worth coming down to earth for, as a tiny, helpless baby.


Dear Jesus, I want to thank You for coming down to earth to save me. When You chose to be born as a man, You made it possible for me to be reconciled with the Father. You have shared in my humanity in all ways except the darkness of sin, and thus, you can feel how I feel, you know my limitations, you understand my heart. On Your birthday, Lord Jesus, help me to offer my life, my heart, my choices to You, my Saviour. As we celebrate Your birth, may I always remember that You came down from heaven out of love for me. Help me to love You back, Lord, with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Amen.