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THE PRIZE

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    Nobody knows the exact time or hour of our departure here in this world. One thing is sure it will come. No one is assured of tomorrow. Life is never easy most especially if we commit to a life dedicated to follow the example of Jesus Christ. It is always easier said than done but we can always focus on the reward that awaits us just like any victorious battle the champion emerges with the trophy and prize. It challenges us to always dwell on these promises that can never be broken. If a trustworthy and honest person gave his word we are confident that he/she will honor it. All the more should we be confident of God’s word. If God spoke and promised then He will surely grant it. We can never find lasting peace and happiness in this world. It is only in the Lord that we can be assured of something permanent and lasting which we could definitely not find in this world. If we think that we can always procrastinate and still be given a second time then wait and think very seri...
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANAY MARY

      Micah is considered as a young contemporary of Isaiah and well known as the prophet of authentic worship/service to God and social justice. Today's 1st reading is taken from the Book of Micah which speaks of the coming Messiah, the future perfect King of Israel which was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Whenever I hear about people who are able to tell the future I have always been skeptical and never really believed them to be true. But in the case of the prophets like Micah, we can never be in doubt for their prophecies are all confirmed and supported by other prophets in the Old Testament even those who have not lived in the same era. This is what fascinates me most when I started to join the bible study in San Lorenzo especially when presented with the timeline of the bible from the time of Adam and Eve (2000BC), the Patriarchs (1900-1700BC,Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph), Moses (1300-1200BC), the time of the Judges (1100BC), Saul, David and Solomon (1000BC), ...
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BODY & SOUL

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   Given the several times Jesus has manifested His divinity to the disciples and after witnessing His power through all the signs, wonders and miracles He did right before their very eyes they should have understood well enough. But the case is not so and this happens when hearts have hardened and have eyes and not see, ears and not hear as in Mark 8:17-18. We can not deny the fact that we too, are like that when we fail to see, hear and understand in the way God wanted us to. Today's 1 st reading speaks of the yeast. It is written in Mark 8:15, "Be on your guard for the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod." Also in Gal 5:8-10 it is said, "That enticement does not come from the one who called you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident of you in the Lord that you will not take a different view, and that the one who is troubling you will bear the condemnation, whoever he may be." The baker breaks up a solid block of yeast and spreads it ov...
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GOD OF SURPRISES

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    I was reminded to share about this very blessed Growth in the Spirit Seminar (GSS) at St. Martha. Everything turned out to be a surprise for me. All the while I thought that it would be just like any other Spirit Seminars I attended. I was wrong and even one of the organizers, Brod Pete, did not expect that a priest could come and minister to us the entire duration of the seminar. This activity was on the same day that the SCRC was currently being conducted so to be honest enough I must say that I wouldn’t had been there if I had the opportunity to be at the SCRC but I was glad I was there. We indeed have a God of surprises. Fr. Bernie Taylor gave us 2 talks and prayed over us during the in filling of the Holy Spirit. The 1 st reading for today speaks of a watchman and this priest that God sent our way in an extraordinary way became for us the mouthpiece of God who filled us with God’s wisdom and love. Amen. Hallelujah! Ezekiel 33:7-9 7 You, son of man, I have appointed w...
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GOD'S RESPONSE

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     We could never go wrong if we carefully adhere to Paul's advice in today's 1st reading. Although it is not an easy thing to do we can always be assured that it is the best thing we can do. It may not be the wisest thing to do based on the world's standard because ridicule, persecution and slander are very hurtful actions that we can't help but respond in the same manner and be offensive ourselves. What made St. Paul react differently lies in the fact that he is doing it all on Christ's account. We don’t have to be too hard on ourselves. No matter how little or insignificant the things we do we must keep in mind that whatever we do on His account will never be lost and wasted. It will surely bring about things we never thought possible. We have a God who can make all things bright and beautiful in His perfect time. Amen. Hallelujah! 1 Corinthians 4:6b-15 ...learn from us not to go beyond what is written,... "What do you possess that you have not received? ...
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BRING TO LIGHT

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     Faith alone doctrine states that justification simply means being "declared righteous" We can not just be declared righteous but instead we have to be made righteous by not continuing to sin. Whenever things become complicated and difficult with the people around us because of differences in opinion and points of view all we need to do is refer to today's 1st reading. Justification actually means being "made righteous" i.e. it entails the sanctification of his whole being (CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 1989, 1990, &1995) We are justified not by faith alone nor by works alone. Justification has its stages i.e. initial and progressive. Initial justification takes place at our baptism. We still have a tendency to backslide and during the hour of death is the period of intense spiritual battle over our soul. That is why we need to mature in our faith.    Certainty of salvation which states, "Once saved, always saved." tends to put off our...
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NO IN BETWEEN

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     What's your standard? I used to do R & D (Research and Development) work at the ITDI (Industrial Technology Development Institute) when I was in the Philippines and if there's one important thing that you've got to have that is to establish a set of standard to be used for the analysis. The same way with our life we've got to continue R & D work too, if we want to see improvement and success. As we are faced constantly with the struggles of daily life we have to discover new things, ways and strategies to come up with the best. As we go along our way we've got to carry on using the optimum parameters based on the only proven and reliable standard that is God’s. There should be no biases or indifferences among the community of God.    Today's 1st reading presents to us a problem among the disciples at the time of Jesus and even up to the present time. We should avoid taking sides and engaging in actions that instead of uniting, create factions. We s...
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