SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

       Today is "All Saints Day" and we may have wondered what set them apart from all others. Today's readings answer in a way everything there is to know about them and to do to be like them.    We must realize that it is not only them who have been given the privilege to be a saint but all of us. We are called to fulfill our destiny in being in union with God. We must remain hopeful that when that day comes we will be one of those fortunate ones bearing the seal of the Lord. God is constantly reminding us of His great love for us, calls us by name and considers us as His own. We should always be aware of this privilege and not forfeit the benefits and honor to be counted as one of these people being spoken of in today's 1st reading. Only the tough gets going and the survivor lives. This is a standing regulation in most extreme challenge game shows or high rating reality shows that are very popular nowadays. This is exciting for most of us to watch on tel...

   For those who have gone ahead of us, we suppose and hope that they have done their part and are now enjoying the eternal bliss in heaven with God. On the other hand, we who are still in this world are not just on an extended stay for nothing. We are still here up to this moment for a reason and we better make good use of this time the way St. Paul said in his letter to the Philippians. Let us not go on living our lives without realizing this very important truth that we all have to respond to achieve our highest potential for our own sake and for the glory of God. Amen. Hallelujah! Philippians 1:18b-26 ...For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. 22 If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. 23 I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary... It always make the crowd or audience laugh whenever asked who ...

   While we are still alive and breathing, there is hope. It doesn't matter what our situation is, what counts most is the truth that God will not abandon us. We are a work in progress in the hands of our Savior. We can be sure that God will not leave us without carrying out the things that has to be done in us. God is faithful and will fulfill His part of the covenant, without a doubt. God never gives up on His people. It is our part of the covenant that we should answer to in return. In the bible study in St. Lorenzo Church under the teachings of    Mr. Willy Santa Maria, he discussed about the book of Wisdom and he touched the topic about the soul. To explain further he cited Aristotle a Greek philosopher who classified the Theory of Definition into 2 : nominal and real. The example he gave for nominal is water, being such in name only, or in appearance. The real definition, he further classified into how and "what is it meant to be?" As to "how" he defined w...

     We will feel energized as an effect of praying first thing in the morning. It means that if we put God first in our lives then we are like light bulbs tapped to the power source, we will neither dim nor lose our shine. He is the mitochondria that drives each one of us, the power house that sustains every living cell in our bodies and gives us strength and stamina. When I was just new in the renewal, that was 20 years ago, I came across this bible passage in today's 1st reading in the LSS (Life in the Spirit Seminar) I attended and my life has always been guided by it. I should say this is one of my favorite bible passages because I can not easily remember the exact bible book, chapter and verse of my favorite passages but this one I always do. I always find myself quoting and advising this to people I encounter. In those years that have passed, I can attest to the efficacy of this advice. In Phil 2:12 Paul also encouraged us to work out our salvation with fear and tr...

       I love this song. "God's got an army. It's marching through this land. Deliverance is their song. There's healing in their hands. There's everlasting joy and gladness in their hearts. And in this army I've got a part!" When I first heard it I felt like I really want to belong. Well, it is our mission and call. We should really belong. It is nice to know that we are part of a family whom we can call our own and get support from. All of us want to belong to a family which can be a source of inspiration, love and strength. Today's 1st reading tells us that we are blessed that aside from the family that we have been born with we also have a holy family in which we become members of the household of God. It can be told, we are God's children and dwelling place. Thus we ought to do everything in our power to make ourselves pleasing and holy before the Lord. When we speak of physically constructing something like a temple we've got to have all ...

   There are times when we tend to forget and get carried away by our feelings, emotions or give in to temptations without realizing that it could harm our relationship with the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. The 1st reading today reminds us of this very important tip to always keep watch and guard our motives, intentions and actions.    It is not an easy task to be a true child of God. Somehow and somewhere you will encounter people who are obviously not convinced of this total and complete imitation of God. It is utterly impossible to do so on our own but if we are always reminded that as we stand before God we are holding in our hands the best offering who is none other than His most precious Son, Jesus, then there should be nothing to stop us from coming to Him and be one with Him. Amen. Hallelujah!  Ephesians 4:32–5:8  Brothers and sisters: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, fur...