1 Peter 5:8-9a

Stay sober and alert , your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour . Resist him , solid in your faith .

Deuteronomy 4:7

What great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord , our God , is to us whenever we call upon him ?

Ephesians 4:32-5:1-2

Be kind to one another , compassionate , and mutually forgiving , just as God has forgiven you in Christ . Be imitators of God as his dear children . Follow the way of love , even as Christ loved you . He gave himself for us as an offering to God , a gift of pleasing fragrance .

Romans 8:26-27

The Spirit helps us in our weakness , for we do not know how to pray as we ought , but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that can not be expressed in speech . He who searches hearts know what the Spirit means , for the Spirit intercedes for the saints as God himself wills .

Pride dies twenty-four hours after its owner

" So when you think you are right , but you are told you are wrong by someone who has been given God´s grace to guide your soul , convince yourself that you are completely wrong ". ( J.Escriva , The Forge ,599 )

3 John 1:11

Beloved ,follow not that which is evil , but that which is good . He that doeth good is of God ; but he that doeth evil hath not seen God .

Romans 8:26-27

The Spirit helps us in our weakness,for we do not know how to pray as we ought;but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that can not be expressed in speech.He who searches hearts knows what the Spirit intercedes for the saints as God himself wills.

Romans 10:8b-10

The word is near you , on your lips and in your heart.For if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.Faith in the heart leads to justification,confession on the lips to salvation.

Ephesians 2:4-6

But God is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us he brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin.By this favor you were saved.Both with and in Christ Jesus he raised us up and gave us a place in the heavens.

Saying

Love is the source of everything . It hurts but it heals .

Saying

God will help those who are in need .

Real man

A real man can not be measured by a glass of wine but rather in the way he makes decisions .

Life is meaningful

Life is full of meaning if one has the capacity to understand the real essence of living .

ROAD TO HEAVEN

A road to heaven is a mile way to travel ; it takes one to pause until he reaches the end .

Honesty

In buying , do not ask the lowest price that a storekeeper can give , because in doing this , you are only teaching him how to cheat .

Right seed , Right season

If you want a good harvest , chose the right seed and sow it at the proper season .

Romans 8:26

The Spirit helps us in our weakness , for we do not know how to pray as we ought ; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that can not be expressed in speech .

1 John 4:12-15

No one has ever seen God . Yet if we love one another God dwells in us , and his love is brought to perfection in us .The way we know we remain in him and he in us is that he has given us of his spirit . We have seen for ouselves , and can testify , that the Father has sent the Son as savior of the world . When anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God , God dwells in him and he in God .

Deuteronomy 1:31b

The Lord , your God , carried you , as a man carries his child , all along your journey .

1 Samuel 15:22

Does the Lord so delight in holocausts and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord ? Obedience is better than sacrifice , and submission than the fat of rams .

Philippians 3:20b-21

We eagerly await the coming of our Savior , the Lord Jesus Christ . He will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of his glorified body , by his power to subject everything to himself .

James 1:19-22,25

Keep this in mind , dear brothers . Let every man be quick to hear , slow to speak , slow to anger ; for a man´s anger does not fulfill God´s justice . Strip away all that is filthy , every vicious excess . Humbly welcome the word that has taken root in you , with its power to save you . Act on this word . If all you do is listen to it , you are deceiving yourselves . There is , on the other hand , the man who peers into freedom´s ideal law and abides by it . He is no forgetful listener , but one who carries out the law in practice . Blest will this man be in whatever he does .

Galatians 6:7b-8

A man will reap only what he sows . If he sows in the field of the flesh , he will reap a harvest of corruption ; but if his seed-ground is the spirit , he will reap everlasting life .

1 Corinthians 7:32b ,34

The unmarried man is busy with the Lord´s affairs , concerned with pleasing the Lord . The virgen- indeed , any unmarried woman - is concerned with things of the Lord , in pursuit of holiness in body and spirit .

Wisdom 3:1-2a,3b

The soul of the just are in the hand of God , and no torment shall touch them . They seemed , in the view of the foolish , to be dead . But they are in peace .

Philippians 2:2b-4

Maintain your unanimity , possessing the one love , united in spirit and ideals . Never act out of rivalry or conceit ; rather , let all parties think humbly of others as superior to themselves , each of you looking to other´s interests rather his own .

2 Thessalonians 3:10b-13

Anyone who would not work should not eat . We hear that some of you are unruly , not keeping busy but acting like busy-bodies . We enjoin all such , and we urge them strongly in the Lord Jesus Christ , to earn the food they eat by working quietly . You must never grow weary of doing what is right , brothers .

Jeremiah 22-3

Do what is right and just . Rescue the victim from the hand of his oppressor . Do not wrong or oppress the resident alien , the orphan , or the widow , and do not shed innocent blood .

1 John 2:8b-10

The darkness is over and the real light begins to shine .
The man who claims to be in light ,
hating his brother all the while ,
is in darkness even now .
The man who continues in the light
is the one who loves his brother ;
there is nothing in him to cause a fall .

James 1:2-8

My brothers , count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial . Realize that when your faith is tested this makes for endurance . Let endurance come to its perfection so that you may be fully mature and lacking in nothing . If any of you is without wisdom , let him ask it from the God who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all , and it will be given him . Yet he must ask in faith , never doubting , for the doubter is like the surf tossed and driven by the wind . A man of this sort , devious and erratic in all that he does , must not expect to receive anything from the Lord .

Natal Day and Ordination Anniversary

Today Fr. Dominic Tabal of the Sons of Holy Immaculate is celebrating his --th birthday . He is presently assigned in Stella Maris Parish in Fiumicino , Rome . Fr. Dom is the former active Catholic Youth Ministry leader in Sto Niño Chapel in Fatima , General Santos City , Philippines . He is very popular and well-loved by his former parishioners for being a loving and approachable person . A former student of MSU but was not able to finish his BSC in accounting for he entered in the seminary after finishing his sophomore year in college . Today , he is involve in the formation of children and youth in the said parish and once again God shows him His abundant mercy by giving Fr. Dom a lot of talents to be used in his ministry . He is the pride of the people of GenSan City and Filipino communities in Rome for his homilies and retreats . Father ! Happy Birthday to you !

James 1:19-22,25

Keep this in mind , dear brothers .
Let every man be quick to hear , slow to speak , slow to anger ; for a man´s anger does not fulfill God´s justice . Strip away all that is filthy , every vicious excess . Humbly welcome the word that has taken root in you , with its power to save you . Act on this word . If all you do is listen to it , you are deceiving yourselves . There is , on the other hand , the man who peers into freedom´s ideal law and abides by it . He is no forgetful listener , but one who carries out the law in practice . Blest will this man be in whatever he does .

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

A westerner sees everything thru western eyes , and an Indian sees everything thru Indian eyes . But St. Thomas Aquinas said : What is received by any subject is grasped according to the subject capacity to understand .
From an unknown speaker

PSALM 59:2-5,10-11,17-18

Rescue me , God , from my foes ;
protect me from those who attack me .
O rescue me from those who do evil
and save me from blood-thirsty men .
See , they lie in wait for my life ;
powerful men band together againts me .
For no offence , no sin of mine , Lord ,
for no guilt of mine they rush to take their stand .
Awake , come to my aid and see !
O my strenght , it is you to whom I turn ,
for you , O God , are my stronghold ,
the God who shows me love .
O God , come to my aid
and let me look in triumph on my foes .
As for me , I will sing of your strength
and each morning acclaim your love
for you have been my stronghold ,
a refuge in the day of my distress .
O my strenght , it is you whom I turn ,
for you , O God , are my stronghold ,
the God who shows me love .

ROMANS 12:9-12

Your love must be sincere . Detest what is evil , cling to what is good . Love one another with the affection of brothers . Anticipate each other in showing respect . Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit ; he whom you serve is the Lord . Rejoice in hope , be patient under trial , persevere in prayer .

The Third Sunday of Easter

The Gospel of Luke 24:13-35 describes the way how christians of today experience their faith as those of the disciples of Jesus . In their way , they have a common question that bother them most : the Resurrection . Unknowingly walking with them is the recent resurrected Christ . In our daily lives too , we have a lot of questions bothering us also and sometimes hamper our relations with Him . The Spirit of the living God which the Gospel tells us , is the same Spirit that will open our eyes also in the moment of darkness and spiritual turbulence . His Word and His par-taking of the bread opened the troubled minds and weary hearts of the disciples in that particular place and time . Are we attentive in listening the Word of God and frequently recieving His body and blood ? God blest .

Coming soon

To answer some inquires in this blogsite for the possibility to have a Spanish section , I do try to create a site for those who have difficulties to understand the English language . I am an amateur in this job and what I need is patience in the part of the blog users . Let us share our talents , time and treasures . That is what the Lord is asking from us everyday . Just surrender to Him your 10% of these 3Ts you have and He will recompensate you more than 100% . Just send me your suggestions to make this blog an informative and interested one . In this connection , we are trying to make this blog as simple as it is .Thank you very much and may the Lord illumines our minds and hearts today .

Romans 14:12-13,17-19

Everyone of us will have to give an account of himself before God . Therefore we must no longer pass judgment on one another . Instead you should resolve to put no stumbling block or hindrance in your brother´s way . The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking , but of justice , peace , and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit . Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God and wins the esteem of men . Let us , then , make it our aim to work for peace and to strengthen one another .

AMICUS PLATO , SED MAGIS AMICA VERITAS

It is translated in English in this way : I am a friend of Plato , but much more of the truth. To all my Italian readers : " Sono amico di Platone , ma piú ancora della verita ". A volte bisogna sacrificare anche le amicizie personali quando siano contrarie alla veritá , alla giustzia . Quoted in the book of Fr. Augusto De Angelis ," The Best Italian And Latin Proverbs ". Vi prego siempre . Che Dio ci bendica e ci da la vita eterna . Salute a tutti .

HAPPY TRIP FR.MAURO BOLANTE,SHMI

Fr. Mauro Bolante is a Filipino religious missionary of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate and is presently assigned in Santiago as a Vicar parish priest . This energetic young priest is well-respected by his parishioners both young and adults for his unique jolly personality. Religious missionary specially this congregation in which he belongs , take their 2 months vacation after 3 years in Mission . Fr. Jes as his companions call him is from the Province of Abra . Happy trip Fr. Jes . May you will enjoy your vacation in the Philippines . He will be leaving April 6 and expected to arrive there in the 8th of this month. Good luck Fr. Jes .

A YOUNG FIL-BRITISH MOTHER FROM DUMAGUETE CITY

Yesterday I met a young Filipino wife in Santiago City , Chile . She came from Dumaguete City , Negros oriental , Philippines . She married to a British citizen and presently living in that remote island of Falkland or Islas Malvinas as the Argentines call those islands in the early 80´s in which until now , Argentina is still claiming her sovereignty over those mentioned islands in the Atlantic . She has 2 growing children and a good , and loving husband who is working also in Falkland . Mila is still in Santiago for her medical check-up and is planning to return back to her family pretty soon . Mam Mila ! Courage ! Thank you so much for the foods you served us yesterday . Talagang lasang pinoy.

Psalm 34

They call and the Lord hears
and rescues them in all their distress .
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted ;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save .
Many are the trials of the just man
but from them all the Lord will rescue him .
He will keep guard over all his bones ,
not one of his bones shall be broken .
Evil brings death to the wicked ;
those who hate the good are doomed .
The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants .
Those who hide in him shall not be condemned .

1Peter 2:21-24

Christ suffered for you
and left you an example
to have you follow in his footsteps.

He did no wrong ;
no deceit was found in his mouth .
When he was insulted ,
he returned no insult .

When he was made to suffer ,
he did not counter with threats ,
Instead he delivered himself up
to the One who judges justly .

In his own body
he brought your sins to the cross ,
so that all of us , dead to sin ,
could live in accord with God´s will .

By his wounds you were healed .

Morning has broken

Morning has broken

Like the first morning ,

Blackbird has spoken

Like the first bird ,

Praise for the singing !

Praise for the morning !

Praise for them , springing

Fresh from from the Word !

Sweet the rains new fall

Sunlit from heaven ,

Like the first dew fall

On the first grass ,

Praise for the sweetness

Of the wet garden ,

Sprung in completeness

Where his feet pass ,

Mine is the sunlight !

Mine is the morning ,

Born of the one light

Eden so play !

Praise with elation ,

Praise every morning ,

God´s re-creation

Of the new day !

By : Eleonor Farjeon ,1881-1965

Romans 14:7-9

None of us live as his own master and none of us dies as his own master . While we live we are responsible to the Lord , and when we die as his servants . Both in life and death we are the Lord´s . That is why Christ died and came to life again , that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living .

Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 13:11b-14

You know the time in which we are living . It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep , for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted our faith . The night is far spent ; the day draws near . Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light . Let us live honorably as in daylight ; not in carousing and drunkenness , not in sexual excess and lust , not in quarreling and jealousy . Rather , put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh .

EPHESIANS 3:10

It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Jesus Christ ; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend this lives in helping others .

Missing my Classmates

Fr. Raymond Estillore of the Diocese of Talibon , Bohol ,who is presently assigned in Santiago , Chile as a parish priest , told me recently about the whereabouts of my former classmates in UST during my Theological studies. They are Frs. Jose Conrado Estafia , Edward Karaan and Jose Perez. Pads ! kon ugaling buhi pamo ! pagsulat mo sa akoa ! ugaling kong patay na ! padamgo pod mo oy ! ! I remember so much of our experience in that prestigious university. Good luck in your respective jobs. God will make our way . I miss you all Fathers .

A Million Thanks

I would like to extend my heartful gratitude to all my parishioners of Our Lady Of Hope Parish , Valparaiso ,Chile in the last 2 years that I am the parish priest of the said parish . I do hope that your continous support will be my strenght in this coming years if God permits . The last Holy Week activities which showed a lot of patience and works , unite us in our common goal : to built His Kingdom of love. May God of Mercy bless us all.

Morning has broken

We experience recently the joy of being resurrected with Christ in this Octave Monday. Morning has broken like the first morning , as the song goes to say by Cat Stevens . In the darkness of our personal sepulchere , the true Light of Jesus shines into it and took us out from this horrible situation . Shine! Jesus ! Shine !

God bless Latin America

In the Resurrection of Jesus today , He will bless us all specially the inhabitants of Latin America. Long live Jesus ! A mis amigos y amigas que camina en la fe : Felices Pascuas a todos vosotros , especialmente en la Parroquia de Ntra Sra de Loreto en Avellanida , en la provincia de Buenos Aires . Claodia en la comunidad Neo-catecuminal de El Salvador , Lole de Nicaragua y Profesora Adriana de Argentina . Cristobal de Chile y a todos ustedes que caminen : Que Dios os bendiga y ilumine tus vidas.

The Resurrrection of Jesus

The Resurrection of Jesus from the tomb , is also the resurrection of anybody who believeth in Him . Resurrection from the darkness of sins that engulfed us from so many years that still destroying our life and family and our society as a whole. .He is the true Light that shines upon us always in our daily life. That illumines our limited thinking and brings us back to the presence of the living God. As we celebrate this feast with enthusiasm , we must ask the Lord for more strenght and increase our faith in Him everyday. Happy Easter Sunday.

ACTION SPEAKS BETTER THAN WORDS

" All humans are dead except those who have knowledge , and all those who have knowledge are asleep , except those who do good deeds , and those who do good deeds are deceived , except those who are sincere ".

Imam Shafi

In this Lenten Season , God is inviting us to pray without ceasing but with sincerity in doing it. Not for obligation but for necessity and a must. As we walk together , let your head up high ! and do not be afraid of the dark . Jesus is the true Light and salvation . He is the solution of the world crises. Humbly , we beg Him to grant us Peace.

Lenten Season

Lent 2008 begins on 6 of February 2008 and ends at sundown on 20 March 2008 ( Holy Thursday ), with the beginning of the mass of the Lord´s Supper. It is a period of preparation for Easter, season for reflection , season of soul-searching and of course a season of repentance. God is inviting us all to conversion. An invitation to immitate His withdrawal into wilderness for 40 days in prayer and fasting. It is therefore an invitation to salvation. In this period of Lent, christian must live humbly accompanied by prayerful dialogue with God. Because prayer nourishes hope and hope that is not accompanied by prayer is just mere illusion and an escape from reality said Pope Benedict xvi in his homily in the mass celebrated on Ash Wednesday Feb. 6 at Rome´s Basilica of Santa Sabina.

He further said that prayer is a powerful weapon with which to " victoriously face the battle againts the spirit of evil ". In his homily he said that without prayer , the human individual " ends up closed inside oneself, and the conscience which should be God´s voice, risks reducing itself to being a mirror of the I , so that the inner conversation becomes monologue, giving rise to thousands of self-justifiacation ".

May the Spirit of Lent be with us all.

Christian Love

1 CORINTHIANS 13

THOUGH I SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN AND OF ANGELS , AND HAVE NOT CHARITY , I BECOME AS SOUNDING BRASS , OR A TINKLING CYMBAL. AND THOUGH I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY , AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE MYSTERIES , AND ALL KNOWLEDGE , AND THOUGH I HAVE ALL FAITH SO THAT I COULD REMOVE MOUNTAINS , AND HAVE NOT CHARITY , I AM NOTHING. AND THOUGH I BESTOW ALL MY GOODS TO FEED THE POOR , AND THOUGH I GIVE MY BODY TO BE BURNED , AND HAVE NOT CHARITY ,IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING. CHARITY SUFFERETH LONG , AND IS KIND , CHARITY ENVIETH NOT, CHARITY VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF, IS NOT PUFFED UP. DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY, SEEKETH NOT HER OWN, IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED , THINKETH NO EVIL. REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY, BUT REJOICETH IN THE TRUTH. BEARETH ALL THINGS, BELIEVETH ALL THINGS, HOPETH ALL THINGS, ENDURETH ALL THINGS. CHARITY NEVER FAILETH , BUT WHETHER THERE BE PROPHECIES , THEY SHALL FAIL, WHETHER THERE BE TONGUES, THEY SHALL CEASE ; WHETHER THERE BE KNOWLEDGE , IT SHALL VANISH AWAY. FOR WE KNOW IN PART, AND WE PROPHESY IN PART. BUT WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME, THEN THAT WHICH IS IN PART SHALL BE DONE AWAY.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPAKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD, I THOUGHT AS A CHILD : BUT WHEN I BECAME A MAN, I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS. FOR NOW WE SEE THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY ; BUT THEN FACE TO FACE:: NOW I KNOW IN PART; BUT THEN SHALL I KNOW EVEN AS ALSO I AM KNOWN. AND NOW ABIDETH FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY, THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS CHARITY.

The Second Coming of Christ

2 Thessalonians 1:7-2:2

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. That yet be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled , neither by spirit ,nor by word , nor by letter as from us , as that the day of Christ is at hand.

DEARLY CHOSEN

Seed scattered around the field

grass and wheat together

Nurtured by the same hands

Sunlight for all.

Time has come

when wheat is ripe

He harvests the wheat

and burns the grass.

Bread of the finest wheat , He made

He feeds the flock and birds as well.

You are chosen among the grasses

wheat even covered by thick-thorned bushes

He choses one by one by His loving hands

Because He loves you, Oh man.

GOD EMBRACES THE HUMBLE WITH GREAT CARE

The world is full of wonderful things and yet man is always trying to destroy its beauty through his own selfishness. Man is not satisfied for what he has in his hands, he even manipulate things through his knowledge. Despite of his selfish inclinations, God understands us and embrace us with His divine comprehension.As a manifestation of His love , God is always trying to recreate things everyday so that this wonderful planet could recover from its gradual destruction.World stability is good but we need to consider also the effect of what we are doing .If we do for the benefit of others, Praise the Lord.Man must be humble before God. " Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up ".
James 4:10
In this lenten period , I am inviting you to join the whole world in active prayer so that we could witness the real resurrection of Christ in our personal life.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER 4:7- 8

CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; FOR HE CARETH FOR YOU. BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL , AS A ROARING LION , WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR : WHOM RESIST STEDFAST IN THE FAITH , KNOWING THAT THE SAME AFFLICTIONS ARE ACCOMPLISHED IN YOUR BRETHREN THAT ARE IN THE WORLD. BUT THE GOD OF ALL GRACE , WHO HATH CALLED US UNTO HIS ETERNAL GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS , AFTER THAT YE HAVE SUFFERED A WHILE , MAKE YOU PERFECT , STABLISH , STRENGTHEN , SETTLE YOU.

MAINTAIN YOUR EQUILIBRIUM

" Life is like riding a bicycle.To keep your balance, you must keep moving ".
Albert Einsten

Man in his nature has limitations: to love, to fulfill promises, to be patient, to persevere, to understand , to comprehend, etc. and his difficulty to know who he is and his purpose of living.In this blog we do not need words where ordinary people can not understand , that is why in sharing our daily life, empty words have no space, words that kill instead of giving life and hope.There are a lot of people around us who think they are " Superman ", that is ; they think that with their educational attainments they can solve the problems of the world. But history tells us many times.If we trust so much in our limited intelligence , we will someday fall in so many ways. If we will never consider ourselves as dependent in His absolute knowledge, we will someday be a victim of spiritual miscarriage.To maintain our life in equilibrium is to walk always with my emperical experience and letting our head up high ( transcendental ) to heaven. To make it simple to understand: foot= head :daily ordinary life = faith in God.

Deuteronomy 8:5b-6

The Lord , your God , disciplines you even as a man disciplines his son. Therefore, keep the commandments of the Lord, your God, by walking in his ways and fearing Him.

HUMILITY IS TRUTH

ST TERESA OF AVILA SAID : HUMILDAD ES ANDAR EN VERDAD. " HUMILITY IS TO WALK IN TRUTH "· HUMILITY IS TRUTH : THE TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES AND OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD( CHARLES BELMONTE, DO YOU WANT TO BE GREAT ? p.142 ) ". TRUE TO OURSELVES MEANS TO ACCEPT OUR CAPACITY AND LIMITATION TO DO THINGS. BY CONSIDERING OUR LIMITATION , WE ARE ALL DEPENDENTS ON GOD´S MERCIFUL LOVE. HUMILITY IS TO WALK ; TO WALK MEANS TO ACT AS WE SHOULD. AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING THE TRUTH ABOUT OUSELVES , WE MUST BE CONSISTENT, MAKING OUR ACTIONS MATCH THE REALITY OF OUR CONDITION THE AUTHOR CHARLES BELMONTE SAID. IN THE WORLD WHERE WE LIVE IN , MAJORITY OF US IS STILL STRUGGLING TO DEFEAT PRIDE WHICH IN ITS NEGATIVE SENSE, CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEM IN OUR PERSONAL LIFE AND IN THE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. HUMILITY MEANS TO EMPTY OURSELVES AND TO ALLOW GOD TO WORK IN US IN HIS GRACE.

THE YEAR 2008 YEAR OF HOPE AND CHALLENGE

I REMEMBER IN MY NATIVE ISLAND OF MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES. IN THE PREPARATION TO GREET THE NEW YEAR. WE HAVE A PARTICULAR PRACTICE WHEREIN WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE OLD YEAR TO END, ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY MUST STAY IN VIGIL AND FOR THE KIDS WHO CAN NOT ENDURE THIS LONG HOURS OF WAITING, SOME OF THEM ARE IN THEIR BEDROOMS, SLEEPING.THE TIME COMES WHEN ALL OUR EYES ARE FOCUS AT OUR RESPECTIVE WATCHES. DING DONG ! IT IS 12:00 OCLOCK SHARP ! NOISY ATMOSPHERE FROM OUTSIDE CAUSED BY FIRECRACKERS, SHOUTINGS, BLOWING OF HORNS, ALL EQUIPMENTS MUST START FOR A LITTLEWHILE, ETC., AND THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IS THE SHARING OF FOODS AMONG OUR NEIGHBORS. EVERY PLACE AND CULTURE HAS ITS OWN WAY OF EXPRESSING THEIR GRATITUDE TO GOD.ASKING HIM MORE PROSPERITY IN THE BODY AND SPIRIT. THERE ARE OF COURSE SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD, BUT MIND YOU ! HAVE FAITH IN HIM AND OF COURSE WE NEED TO WILL IT .PEACE WILL COME IN THIS LONELY WORLD WHEN ALL MEN OF GOOD WILL, WILL RECOGNIZE GOD AS THE SOURCE OF EVERYTHING. WE MUST ERASE THE GREAT ENEMY OF PEACE : HATRED. HE INVITES US TO SOW SEED OF CARESS SO THAT WE COULD REAP IN THE FUTURE: LOVE. IN THE MONTHS AHEAD, LET THERE BE LOVE IN ACTION. FAITH ,HOPE AND CHARITY MY DEAR BROTHERS ARE THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR THIS YEAR 2008.LONG LIVE THE WORLD! THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE. FILL IT WITH HIS LOVE. BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

Isaiah 55 :8-9

My thoughts are not your thoughts , nor are your ways my ways , says the Lord . As high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts .

Romans 5:20-21

Despite the increase of sin , grace has far surpassed it ,so that , as sin reigned through death , grace may reign by way of justice leading to eternal life , through Jesus Christ our Lord .

Year 2009 Hope and Challenges

As we say Goodbye 2008 ,we welcome also the first day of the new year 2009 today with hope and joy but above all more courage to face challenges that are lying ahead this 365 1/4 days that the year 2009 comprises .Days of intense work and prayers ,profound faith in God and long desires to real conversion.Happy Prosperous New Year to all.