SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

      We may have heard of this story of a mountain climber who fell and was hanging on a rope and prayed to God for help. He heard a voice telling him to let go of the rope. It was dark and could not see what’s below him and so did not follow the voice. It was already morning when he found out that he was just one foot above the ground. How attached are we to our own rope? Examples of most common attachments are the following: The belief that they were born poor and lowly with a low self worth.    They forget that they are children of God and become weak. God wants to bless the poor to have a rich and comfortable life. We have some unpleasant character and attitude that we find hard to believe can still be changed. We must believe that by the grace of God everybody can change. We have to overcome bad practices like being habitually late, TV addiction and gossiping. Vices and sins like smoking, drinking, drugs, gambling, fornication and illicit sexual relationsh...

   We are God’s people. In Isaiah 64: it is written, Do not be so very angry, LORD, do not remember our crimes forever; look upon us, who are all your people! We have to grow deeper in God’s presence as in  Colossians 2: 6-7 , So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. If we have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord we have to live in union with Him and keep our roots deep in Him. We have to build our lives on Him and become stronger in faith as we were taught and be filled with thanksgiving. An example is a bamboo tree. It takes 5 years to grow the roots and grow deeper. In order to grow deeper we need to pray and read scriptures. We have to develop an attitude of gratitude and be thankful for everything in all circumstances. Statistics say that around the globe more than 2,000 people die in their sleep each year. In 1  Thessalonians 5:16  it is wr...

   Whenever we make plans we try to make it brief and simple to make it work and ensure success. This is due to the fact that we only have limited capacities and capabilities to carry it out. When we know that we've done everything then we just have to entrust it to God. We could plan all we want but the truth remains that our plans are simply no match with that of God's. It is a consolation to know that He is the Master Planner. He is Superior and Perfect in every way. We can count on Him at all times in every period, era or generation. Whatever major decisions we come up with are not just on our own but we should have the conviction that they are a reflection of our confidence and assurance that we get from the word of our God making us stand firm and not doubt. This bible passage from today's 1st reading amazes me. It shows how the scriptures written at the time of Isaiah connect to the New Testament and how things have fallen perfectly into place as announced by John ...

     Today we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To some Filipinos it may not mean any more than a town fiesta. But it gives me a lot of great thoughts that we are celebrating this special day. Everything that is attributed to Mary points to Jesus all because she accepted the will of God to happen in her life. We, like Mary are invited too, by the Angel Gabriel to conceive Jesus in our hearts. It is by our own decision that we should answer God's call just like what Mary did. We thank Mary for her obedience. She did not disobey God like what Adam and Eve did in today's first reading. The Catechism of the Catholic Church instructs that "Genesis 3:15 is called the Protoevangelium -first gospel: the first announcement of the Messiah and Redeemer, of a battle between the serpent and the Woman, and of the final victory of a descendant of hers." Even before the time when Mary was not yet born, she can already be found in the scriptu...