SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

    We should be very careful of the kind of company that we keep. In today's 1st reading we are told of the fate of King Solomon because of his intermarriages with women from other faith. We may not be practicing polygamy the way King Solomon did but we could be married in a sense to a person or thing if we have become joined in such a way as in blended flavors, which the dictionary uses as an example to further elaborate on the word, marry. In fact, I have often heard this joke in the  Philippines  when someone likes a person and they are always together, are very good friends although not romantically linked, they would say, " E di pakasalan mo" In English, marry him, her, or it because it could pertain to a person, place or thing.  Now it makes better sense if I would hear somebody throw a similar joke. To marry is a very strong word that it requires loyalty and total devotion. No wonder, the Catholic Church maintains its position regarding marriage and divo...

    We are all prompted to pray, be vigilant and wise at all times. Today's 1st reading tells us of Queen  Sheba  who went out of her way to find out for herself the truth about King Solomon. We, too are encouraged to be pro-active and take part in the activities of our community so that people will know that we have a God who blesses us tremendously each day. Amen. Hallelujah!  1 Kings 10:1-10 ...“The report I heard in my country about your deeds and your wisdom is true,” she told the king. 7 “Though I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes, I have discovered that they were not telling me the half. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I heard. 8 Blessed are your men, blessed these servants of yours, who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom. 9 Blessed be the LORD, your God, whom it has pleased to place you on the throne of  Israel . In his enduring love for  Israel , the LORD has made you king to carry ou...

   I remember there were times at St. Martha when  they got so busy during homeless sheltering and feeding. This kind of activity is a picture of love and compassion for our needy brothers and sisters in Christ. People who are able to serve them in such an activity have always the same thing to say which is it gives them a sense of fulfillment to be part of it. It gives a feeling that God is so pleased with such activities. On top of these civic works that we do for our less fortunate brothers and sisters it is also imperative that we pray for them hoping that someday they would be able to rise up from their present situation. It is not just a prayer for them but for each one of us to strive to not just become a better person for the Lord but the best. Amen. Hallelujah! 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 ...Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God, and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant, utter before you this day... Have you ever fel...

  I remember the time when  St. Martha's Church sponsored the sheltering and feeding of the homeless. In fact several volunteers coming from different ministries and prayer groups in the parish made themselves available for this activity. It was a pooling of resources which amounted to something big. It became a venue of good works where the Lord abides forever for where there is love there is God. Amen. Hallelujah! 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 ...Then Solomon said, “The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud; 13 I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you may abide forever.” There is no doubt that God is able to fulfill all His promises and carry out everything that He said. A confirming event that I consider very special was whenever we chance upon Fr. Mike Barry. We have been following him wherever he has a healing session nearby and to have an unexpected chance of attending mass celebrated by him is something I consider a great blessing and indeed a very pleasant...

   Nothing that we do for our brothers and sisters especially for the least of them would go unnoticed by our Heavenly Father. He knows and sees all. Thus it is always for the best that we strive to be good not only to ourselves but to others as well. We can never out give God. He is generous beyond our comprehension, as in Luke 6:36-38, Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful. "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."  The Lord is calling us to go much further from the fast that we have all been used to doing. We need to come up with concrete effects within ourselves and the people around us when we fast as specifically stated in today's 1st reading. We can not just go on fa...

  It is a good idea to follow Solomon's wisdom in today's 1st reading. And consequently this sharing from Didache. It is definitely just the right story that we needed to hear. Here it is entitled: Wise Discernment   “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” – 1 Kings 3:9a  The group of companies I worked for was closing down and I was about to lose my job. Some people with whom I had former business dealings offered me more than double my salary to manage their company. Upon closer scrutiny, I learned that this company didn’t pay minimum wages and didn’t pay the right taxes. But I desperately needed a better job then and lifted my cause in prayer to God. Through my wife’s prayer, God told me not to take the job. A few years later, a multi-billion tax scandal landed on the front page of the papers. At the center of the scandal was this same company. Its owner, who had offered me the job, was on the run...