Entering the second week of the Lenten Season, based on the readings, the Catholic Church reminded us the baptismal promise that opened the door to our sacramental journey for the glory of God and the sanctification of our souls.
On the first reading, it reminds us the calling of Abraham, and the reshaping of his future, his future mission and participation in the God's plan of salvation. And in fact, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, that he will be called as the father of all nations and his children and ancestors will be blessed. But it requires his full submission and hsi fiat to the Father.
Today's second reading, in the bookd of Timothy, God is reminding us that He called us to become holy. And it also reminding us that we received our life's immortality if we actively participate in the Gospel.
We have learned in our catechism classes way back from our elementary years that our sacramental journey begun when we received the Sacrament of Confirmation, that which we were having been perfectly bounded to the Church and enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit, as true witnesses, as we became more strictly obligated to spread and defend the Catholic faith by our words and deeds. And in fact it was strongly emphasized that we should suffer for the Gospel, as we are called to share in the sufferings of the Body of Christ, which is the Church.
In our sufferings, we are called to rely on the power of God. When St. Paul appealed to God about his suffering, the Lord answered: MY grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2Cor 12:9 Following the footsteps of St. Paul we could say: So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therfore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12:9-10 In other words, through physical sufferings, we are spiritually strengthened in our daily communion with Christ.
God's calling for us to be holy is not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace. Sometimes, it will give us confusion and misleading point of view, which pushed us that salvation is not intertwined with good works, only by God's grace and faith. St. Paul's emphasis is that by God's grace we all be saved not in good works because, so that no one may boast to what he has done to the least of his brothers.
AS a member of the Singles for Christ and as being a herald of the Gospel of truth, today's three readings remind us that the Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, so we may be saved through the grace and mercy of a loving God who never abandoned us to sin and death.
Instituted by Christ Himself, the Holy Catholic Church commands us to prepare ourselves for the great feast of Easter that approaches. So we may be holy on that day as Jesus is holy, we are called to repent of our sins and receive the Sacrament of Confession. Then, having been made righteous in Christ, the Lord God will no longer rmember our sins.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
When the Rooster Crows
Oftentimes we misundertood that who is a black sheep of the family is always be a blacksheep. We assumed that the imperfections of a son is always construed to his being self centered and self-righteous. And no room for a change. Who we are is always what we wanted to be. This narrow idea widened and became the stumbling block that hurdled man's growth- his spiritual growth and it became his own comfort zone and a home.
Is man's nature evil? Most often than not, man's wrongdoings are already geared towards the idea on his own imperfections. His being is enveloped with the vast ocean of imperfections, yet even bounded, still he has the prerogative, the prerogative that keeps him able and alive. And God plays a major role on this ultimate option.
Let's track the Parable of the Lost Son. As Jesus taught about changes and repentance, He told the story of a man who had two sons. the older son was obedient and faithful. The younger son asked for his share of his father's property and left home. He soon wasted all his money in sinful living, and he became very hungry. Realizing he had been wrong, the younger son decided to return home and beg forgiveness. As the son neared home, his father saw him coming and was overjoyed. The father celebrated his son's return with a feast. This made the older son angry. The father explained to the older son that he would be given all the father had but that it was right to rejoice over the younger son's repentance.
Because of his own wickedness, he is considered as a an outcast of the boundary of God's kingdom, yet he has the freedom to change and God is ready to accept. Repentance and faith are greatly intertwined and no one can separate it. Man needs to return to God in repentance and faith. God does not compel us, so it must be a personal decision.
God's forgiveness is not gained through high spiritual achievements, such as attaining merits through compassionate living or developing high skills in meditation, but only by repentance. The price for our reconciliation with God was paid by Jesus Christ, through his death on the cross. There is nothing more to add, but at the end, His death on the cross will not be meaningfully given or sacrificed without man's participation.
To continue heeding this call needs man's active participation by showing and living man's lives in values and teachings of Jesus Christ and by sharing the great love that Christ has manifested on the Cross. Thus thru man's active participation, he might somehow change for the better and there is always room for perfection.
Is man's nature evil? Most often than not, man's wrongdoings are already geared towards the idea on his own imperfections. His being is enveloped with the vast ocean of imperfections, yet even bounded, still he has the prerogative, the prerogative that keeps him able and alive. And God plays a major role on this ultimate option.
Let's track the Parable of the Lost Son. As Jesus taught about changes and repentance, He told the story of a man who had two sons. the older son was obedient and faithful. The younger son asked for his share of his father's property and left home. He soon wasted all his money in sinful living, and he became very hungry. Realizing he had been wrong, the younger son decided to return home and beg forgiveness. As the son neared home, his father saw him coming and was overjoyed. The father celebrated his son's return with a feast. This made the older son angry. The father explained to the older son that he would be given all the father had but that it was right to rejoice over the younger son's repentance.
Because of his own wickedness, he is considered as a an outcast of the boundary of God's kingdom, yet he has the freedom to change and God is ready to accept. Repentance and faith are greatly intertwined and no one can separate it. Man needs to return to God in repentance and faith. God does not compel us, so it must be a personal decision.
God's forgiveness is not gained through high spiritual achievements, such as attaining merits through compassionate living or developing high skills in meditation, but only by repentance. The price for our reconciliation with God was paid by Jesus Christ, through his death on the cross. There is nothing more to add, but at the end, His death on the cross will not be meaningfully given or sacrificed without man's participation.
To continue heeding this call needs man's active participation by showing and living man's lives in values and teachings of Jesus Christ and by sharing the great love that Christ has manifested on the Cross. Thus thru man's active participation, he might somehow change for the better and there is always room for perfection.
Friday, February 11, 2011
The morning ends... evening comes
It was a hard thing to accept the decision which is contrary to your ideology. But sometimes, we need to give up and to get out from the shell which i were keeping since the time being. Leaving my family is like tearing off my self into pieces. Most often than not, i always shared to them that, i have to go out from the place where i was born and I need to continue this life i have chosen, not only for my own benefit but also theirs. There are series of misfortunate events that i have encountered, and looking back where i started is like a misdemeanor and feeling like it is killing me. Never let go, never gives up.
Staying alive in the place where nobody believes that God is a merciful Being is the most important for an expat can do for the sake of his loved ones whose homes are across and miles away from the dessert and crossing our fingers that there is still hope out from this barren and dry land.
Working and tilling the land which i did not own and in this country which i have never been accepted is like a continuous pain that lingers me momentarily. Working and serving these people quite painfuf. I stayed here in the desert just because i need to tend my family's vineyard. And this is where God leads me to be near to my family and to Him. No other road in life that is sweet and encouraging than this road that leads me to where i am now.
Staying alive in the place where nobody believes that God is a merciful Being is the most important for an expat can do for the sake of his loved ones whose homes are across and miles away from the dessert and crossing our fingers that there is still hope out from this barren and dry land.
Working and tilling the land which i did not own and in this country which i have never been accepted is like a continuous pain that lingers me momentarily. Working and serving these people quite painfuf. I stayed here in the desert just because i need to tend my family's vineyard. And this is where God leads me to be near to my family and to Him. No other road in life that is sweet and encouraging than this road that leads me to where i am now.
