All Things Are Possible

   

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 October 2024

 

First Reading: Wis 7:7-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

Second Reading: Heb 4:12-13

Gospel: Mk 10:17-30

 

Reflection

By: Fely C. Santiago

 

"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God."

Our family has experienced real tests of faith. These experiences "elevated" our faith to the highest level. My third apo was born a blue baby and was not breathing for 10 minutes. It was during CoVid time in 2022. And if that wasn't enough, three weeks after he was born he was positive for CoVid and had to be confined in the hospital again. Today he is 1 year and 10 months old and a very strong and healthy baby. Our fifth apo was born in October 2023 and was revived for 40 minutes. She lived only for four days and didn't make it. It was the saddest moment for our family. We stormed heaven with prayers but she was destined to become our angel in heaven. Our sixth apo was born premature 32 weeks because her mother was having hypertension and we had fear she might have pre-eclampsia and either the baby or the mother will not make it. We surrender everything to God. Now that premature baby is 8 months old, strong and healthy. Our seventh apo from the mother who lost our fifth apo developed PTSD and we were anxious throughout her pregnancy. The  last two weeks prior to her delivery seemed to be the longest time for our family as we await the birth of her baby. Finally on September 15 of this year, she had a smooth Caesarian section to a healthy and strong baby boy, our sixth living apo.

Our grandchildren are the joys of our heart and they are testimony of God's mercy and faithfulness. They are all our miracle babies and we are thankful to the Lord that we have been entrusted with these beautiful grandchildren. Really nothing is impossible with the Lord. Our faith is our only weapon. If we have faith as small as a mustard that is more than enough. Jesus, I trust in You.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, as I spend time with You, I am aware of how blessed I truly am. I think of Your love and Your mercy and how it has helped us overcome all the challenges in life. Thank You for always being there for me Lord and to find peace in the midst of trials and difficulties. Give me the grace to always have a childlike trust in You. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Increase Our Faith

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 06 October 2019
First reading Habbakuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.

Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.

Second reading                                                          1 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14

For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.

Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

Gospel                                                                          Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'”

Reflection

By Fely C. Santiago

“If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed”

God always writes a very beautiful story for us. We just have to trust that He is orchestrating and custom-making everything for good. We can never fathom the goodness and greatness of the Lord. We just have to stay in faith and continue to increase our faith.

Six days before the wedding of our daughter, her fiancé got afflicted with dengue and has to be confined in the hospital. My daughter really broke down. Everyone we know and we don’t know stormed heaven with prayers. Personally I kept a strong faith that 2 days before the wedding, the groom will be healed and discharged. I even borrowed the miraculous Tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe from Mexico from a prayer group friend. I kept the faith. But 2 days before the wedding, the platelets count started to go down so the couple made the most difficult decision to postpone the wedding! Otherwise they will be penalized big time. In my mind, I questioned their decision why they did not keep the faith. With the difficult task of postponing the wedding I was already thinking the implications of the postponement. So see, I thought I have a strong faith but I also had bouts of doubt!

Most of us live like this. We want to keep the faith, but trials and challenges sometimes make us waiver in our faith. That’s why Jesus is challenging us if we can only have faith as small as the mustard see we can really move mountains. To continue my story, the engaged couple were able to reset the wedding 10 days from the original date. And the greatest miracle -- all the suppliers, the entourage, the sponsors, the Church, and the venue are available on the reset date without any penalty!! Whew! Truly God works in mysterious ways. God’s grace abound. We just have to trust Him, increase our faith and never entertain any doubts. God is faithful. So the wedding pushed through on the reset date and it was a very beautiful wedding and I really saw God’s Hands at work! All by His GRACE.

Prayer

Lord Jesus it is easy to say I will trust you. But just like Peter who walked in the water and saw the great storm, we can also get overwhelmed by the storms of life. The trials and challenges we face can really haunt us and make us doubt and be full of fear. But You tell us to stay in faith. Lord, continue to increase our faith. Be the Lord of our life so we can easily surrender everything to you and trust that You are orchestrating everything for good! Thank You Jesus. All this we pray in Your name, Amen. 

Fidget Spinner

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

09 July 2017

First reading                                                                                               Zechariah 9:9-10

The Lord says this:
Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion!
Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!
See now, your king comes to you;
he is victorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will banish chariots from Ephraim
and horses from Jerusalem;
the bow of war will be banished.
He will proclaim peace for the nations.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea,
from the River to the ends of the earth.

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Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144(145):1-2,8-11,13b-14

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Second reading                                                                                                     Romans 8:9,11-13

Your interests are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him, and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
  So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.

Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!

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Gospel	Matthew 11:25-30

Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
  ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

Reflection

by Nats Vibiesca

Minsan, nagpapabili sa akin ng fidget spinner ang anak kong nasa grade 12. ‘Di ba pambata lang ‘yun?, tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi raw, uso raw ‘yun, kahit nga mga teenager nagpapaikot nun at pang tanggal daw ‘yun ng stress. Tanong ko’y ba’t mo kailangan nun, stressed ka ba ngayon? Hindi naman daw, libangan lang daw, ang sabi niya. Sabi ko nama’y pauso lang ‘yan ng mga negosyanteng Intsik para madagdagan ang produktong binibili natin sa kanila.

Kailangan nga ba natin ng libangan para matanggal ang mga stress o problema sa buhay? Mahirap daw kasing magpatong-patong na sa dami ang mga stress sa buhay natin.  Kadalasa’y pati kalusugan apektado ng stress, dagdag problema pa nga naman kung magpapa-ospital.  Kaya nga kung anu-anong stress reliever ang nabibili na ngayon: may stress ball, stress tab, fidget spinner, comfort food, etsetera. Kahit na ang pag-iinternet ay ginagawang libangan natin ngayon, nakakatanggal nga raw kasi ng stress. Halimbawa’y ang social media, napapako tayo nang matagal sa Facebook dahil  kung nababagot sa buhay, napapagod sa mga gawain, o ang daming iniisip na problema’y nagsisilbing libangan ito.

Pero ang libangan ay panandalian lang naman. Kung tutuusi’y hindi naman talaga natatanggal ang stress o problema natin. Lalo na kung puro negative na ang nakikita sa Facebook.  Dati kasi’y masasaya ang nakikita sa Facebook, may reunion ng pamilya, kaibigan o barkada na matagal nang hindi nagkikita, nakakatawang mga moment, mga inspirational na post, at iba pa. Pero nagbago na ito ngayon dahil puro fake news na ang newsfeed, larawan o video ng mga nadisgrasya, nagsapakan, holdapan, pati nga pagpapakamatay ay naka-live stream na rin sa Facebook at milyung-milyong tao ang nanonood na para bang isang nakatutuwang palabas ito para malibang.

Patuloy nating hinahanap ang tamang libangan upang maibsan ang suliranin sa araw-araw. Pati nga ang pag-aalaga ng aso na may lahi ay nagiging pangtanggal stress din, pati pagkain sa mga eat-all-you can o drink-all-you-can pang-divert ng mga karanasang negatibo, kaydami ring mga travel and tours na ginagawang libangan kahit hindi pa naman panahon ng pagbabakasyon o minsa’y ipinapangutang pa nga kaya’t nagkakapatong-patong lalo ang problema imbes na masolusyonan. Hindi naman masama ang mga ito kung hindi inaabuso, nakakatulong din naman ito para maibsan nga ang masamang nararamdaman ng damdamin pero lagi na lang hindi sapat ang lahat ng ito. Hanggang saan umaabot ang lahat ng libangan natin para manatiling masaya at mapayapa ang kalooban ng ating buhay? Wala nga sa mga ito ang makapupuno ng ating pangangailangan. Kaya’t lagi tayong naghahanap at lagi ring napapagod sa buhay, karamihan ay nawawalan pa ng pag-asa, binabalot ng kalungkutan kahit lagi namang naglilibang, patuloy pa rin ang pagdadalamhati kahit natamo na ang mga pinapangarap noon, at ang iba’y halos tinatabangan na sa buhay.

Mula noong bata pa ay nakadama na tayo ng samu’t saring paghihirap sa buhay. Hanggang sa naging bagahe natin ang ilan sa mga ito at hindi nga matanggal sa ating katauhan. Bukod dito’y patuloy pang dumadami ang mga alalahanin ng ating buhay. Matatanggal nga ba natin ito ng sarili lamang nating lakas? Talino? Kakayahan?

Hindi. Ang grasya ng Diyos lamang ang makakapawi ng lahat ng paghihirap natin. Saan natin mahahanap ang tunay na kaligayahan, kapayapaan at kapahingahan? Sa kapangyarihan ba? Sa kayamanan? Sa atin boss? Sa taong iniidolo ba natin? Sa mga anak o asawa ba natin?

Tanging kay Jesus lamang ang ganap  kapahingahan. Tanging kay Jesus lamang ang ganap na kaligayahan. Tanging kay Jesus lamang ang ganap na kapayapaan.

Prayer

Panginoon Jesus, akayin Mo kami sa Iyong kanlungan at yakapin Mo kami ng Iyong kapayaan para sa ikagiginhawa ng aming kaluluwa't katawan. Amen.

Keeping Faith Amidst Trials, the Living Witness!

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
24 July 2011


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

First reading 1 Kings 3:5,7-12
The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you.’

Psalm: Psalm 85:5-6,9-10,15-16

Second reading Romans 8:28-30
We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

Gospel Matthew 13:44-52
Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’

Reflection
By Fely Santiago

...all things work for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.


What I will share today are excerpts from my journal or my Diary for the Lord which I started in 1999 in order to see the workings of the Lord in my life.

You will see how things really work for good to those who love God and called according to His purpose. My life right now is a total surrender to God. After going through the various trials in my life, today, I am able to accept by the Grace of God, whatever comes to our lives, good or bad. This is because I believe that behind every event or circumstance, is a blessing from God. As Fr. Ruben Tanseco SJ, our Spiritual Director in Magis Deo Community would always say, "Good Luck, Bad Luck who knows?" You only have to see it in the eyes of FAITH. Be blessed.

Fri, 1/7/2000

It must have been Your will Lord that we attend today’s first Friday gathering of the Magis Deo Community. Sometimes, I wonder why should we attend coming all the way from Cavite to Guadalupe, Makati? What for? Just to hear mass, make little chit chika-chika (chit chat) then what? But tonight is a different night. We had Fr. Ruben Tanseco, SJ once again to celebrate the mass. And proceeding the teaching on the third look of Jesus, “of guavas and golf courses”. I was touched Lord, and got the courage to share our real life experience on living the 3rd look of Jesus, of making a new earth here on earth. I shared about our life today in Sherwood. Sometimes, I still wonder why You brought us here Lord. In the first place why did Intel move to Cavite, in this far-flung place where we have bad roads, far from all the malls, etc. But little by little I am getting an answer. Our life today Lord in Sherwood is such a simple and peaceful life. Yes, we may be far away from all the high tech amenities – internet, cable TV, etc but we do have a life that is able to share with our poor neighbors. Our house doesn’t have any fences so everybody is welcome. It is a house not just made of stone and bricks but a house, a home with a heart. And we enjoy the peace and serenity of the place, with the beauty of nature around us, with our vegetables and fruit-bearing trees. We enjoy the abundant fruits of the land. Lord, whatever it is still that You want us to do, guide us Lord. Let kindness make its abode in our hearts to be light to others, to the hopeless, to the poor, to the oppressed....

Monday, April 02, 2001

Lord, last Sat we again receive a notice from Sherwood regarding our lot amortization balance. Honestly Lord, we don’t know how we’d be able to settle this and it worries me again. I can only lift it up to you Lord knowing that You will help us in this time of need. Reading for today on Psalm 23 somewhat lifted me up, for You are indeed my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want…And then there’s also the story from chicken soup on a twelve year-old who died of cancer where he promise to make his mother a rainbow and during his last moments his mother asked the Doctor if she could cuddle him. I cried Lord, because I felt so blessed to have my kids, how precious they are to me. They are Your gift to me Lord and again show me how much You care for me..I am still lucky even if we still have so many bills to pay. I am still blessed…with good health, with healthy children, with my family, will the food we have, with the job that we still have, with our relatives and friends and the list go on and on…thank You Jesus!

Sunday, August 01, 2004


Dear Lord, significant things happen last week Lord. My boss told me I did not get the promotion. My sister Popi’s working status in the US seem uncertain and my diamond ring got lost .I cried so hard last Friday when I learned that my promo did not get through. I was rated O (outstanding) but it didn’t matter because I was after the financial gain. But Lord, You must have other plans for me. With this closure of a DOOR You opened a window. My boss lend me money just at the right time to be able to send some to Papa who was equally grateful for this unexpected blessing. I will be able to pay BPI credit card which is above 18K over the credit limit. Lord, Your help just arrived in time. Our loan with Asian Cathay was also approved and we will now be able to pay Citibank and be rid of the very high monthly interest. Lord, thank You very much. You continue to love me unconditionally..Grabe! .And I continue to count my blessing amidst all these trials and difficulties. I’m able to overcome it Lord, with Your grace and mercy. Thank you Lord…

Friday, July 20, 2007


Dear Lord, right now am still worried about my job. I still lack the motivation, the fire and even the confidence. I have a lot of fears and doubts. What if I get a BE (below expectation) or IR (improvement required)? What will happen to my retirement? Will I end my career in a negative way? Lord I lift up all my fear and worries to You about my job. I am trying to look for another job but until now I have not received any response. There was a job which I felt really fit my qualification but it was already taken. If I really just listen to You I know the message is still “ have FAITH..TRUST the Lord”. Lord, please help me to let go of these fears, doubts, and worries. Help me to truly TRUST in You knowing YOU always want what is BEST for me. Help me to fully place myself in Your care, to abandon myself to You. You have never failed me in the past. I know You will never abandon me. Help me to be always positive, the see the light at the end of the tunnel, to go through these dark moments of my life with complete trust and confidence in Your love, in Your abiding mercy. These past few days Lord, I have seen the rainbow so many times. It’s a sign that You are there. Lord please take care of me and my family. Help me to focus not in this life but more so in the life after this, the life with You in HEAVEN. Life is short. Help me to really treasure each moment, remove all remorse and hatred in my heart even to my children, my son Rjay. Fill my heart with love and mercy for You desire mercy not sacrifice. Thank You Lord for everything. I know I am still blessed with this job. I don’t have to work overtime. I still have time to work from home. I have time to play. I can take a vacation any time. I can work at my own pace. Help me not to be too attached to my performance but to do the best I can with Your guidance and grace. Help me Lord to be truly humble. To learn as much as I can. Thank You Lord for friends who understands. Thank You for good health, for love in our family, for a good husband, for our relatives who help us at home, who worked for us and make our lives easier, thank You for our BCGG (Basic Christian Growth Group), for our community. Thank You for our badminton mates. Thank You for the food we eat everyday. Thank You for all the trials that come our way for I know they will make us stronger, better persons. Thank You for the death of some friends for they remind us that life is too short that we are not really in control of our life. We can go anytime. We need to always be ready. And when that time comes, we won’t need our jobs, our money, our possessions. We only need Your Love and Your salvation Lord! Help us Lord to prepare for life in heaven. May it also be the goal of our family! Thank You Lord for everything…I love You Lord!!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008


Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your words on TRUST. Your call for us is to TRUST. Lord I’m feeling inadequate because I am not getting to where I want to be. I am again confused. What do you really have in store for me? I am discouraged at how things are going on with my business in IMG (International Marketing Group). I want to become an MD (Marketing Director) but there are so many obstacles. But I know life is good Lord. What else do I want? I have everything. The key I think is really just PATIENCE. Lord I will wait for Your leadings. Help me Lord! I will TRUST in You! Thank You Lord….

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Salamat Panginoon, Salamat.(thank You Lord, thank you) .Lord this is what’s really in my heart! I cannot describe the joy I have in my heart these days! My heart’s desires are what I am experiencing right now. We are on our way to become National Marekting Director (NMD). We are earning 6-figures/month onwards to our goal of 7-figures/month! Truly Rich Makers team is growing exponentially! It really feels good to have lots of money Lord. Before my journal and diary to you Lord would always speak of financial struggles, our financial needs, so many bills to pay, debts to settle. We were really buried in debts. But now I can really feel the abundance!! Thank You, thank You Lord for bringing us to IMG and using us to share this to others! I hope they will also experience the same abundance I am now experiencing Lord. Mas masarap nga talaga tumulong Lord pag meron kang pera na pwedeng ibigay! (Is is truly nice to help others when you have some money to give) This is being TRULY RICH!! Salamat Panginoon Salamat!! (Thank You Lord, thank You!)

Really, all things work for good to those who love God and called according to His purpose.

Here’s another excerpts from an article “The BEST is yet to come”

The Lord reminds us that He hasn’t made us yet – He’s making us! GOD isn’t finished with you yet, and the Master craftsman should never be judged by an unfinished product. GOD loves you, GOD has a plan for your life, and GOD will finish what He has started.

Do you know why GOD saves the best till the last? GOD save the best till the last so we can grow in our spiritual character and really enjoy the best when it comes. GOD doesn’t want us to be spoiled children who get too much too soon. He wants to us to grow in character and in spiritual appreciation. He starts with the good – then He gives the better – then He gives the BEST! One reason GOD is permitting trials and difficulties today is that we may be prepared to appreciate and enjoy the blessings of tomorrow.

Don’t run ahead of GOD – let Him direct your steps. He has His plan and He has His time. GOD’s clock is never one minute early or one minute late – it always strikes right on time. The heart of man cannot conceive the wonderful things GOD has prepared for us. The BEST is yet to come. And when it comes, we will look back at the difficulties of life and say, “It’s been worth it all.”

And that’s exactly how I am feeling these days looking back to all the pains and sufferings, the trials and difficulties that I went through knowing that I never gave up! I just trusted the Lord because He tells us many times – “Be still. Do not be afraid.” The joy I am feeling these days is just beyond words! Praise God!

Dear Lord thank You for molding us, making us experience all the pains and sufferings, the trials and difficulties in life because just like gold tested in fire, so are we to become the person that You want us to be. Continue to give us the grace and wisdom to go through life with deep faith and trust in You. Amen.