SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

 Problems, trials and difficulties are all part of the life we live here on earth. They are present whether we accept it or not. What's most important is that we realize that in the midst of all these things is a God who is with us. He is strong and faithful and would always help us overcome whatever comes our way. If we really believe in this then we can get over all our fear, depression and grief. If this is the case, then there is no reason for us to be sad and weep but instead rejoice in the Lord who is our strength and follow exactly what is written in today's 1st reading. The insights in the Companion Journal wrote, "As we read this text from Nehemiah, it is important for us to recognize the awe and respect with which the Jewish people held the Word of God. If only we had the same respect for God’s Word. We all ought to have at least one Bible in our homes and it ought to be read often. If we are not taking up the Word of God and reading it regularly our minds and he...

  Today is the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels. Gabriel means ‘messenger of God’ Raphael means ‘healing of God’ and Michael means ‘strength of God.’ It is so reassuring that as Catholics we believe in their existence as the bible tells us so and can call upon their intercession and help in our lives. For example, we invoke Michael for protection in our lives. I have already shared this several times and I will not hesitate to share it again in order to give due recognition to the angels that God sends our way to help us. I can never forget when I attended a prayer healing in the  Holy   Family   Church  here at  Glendale  headed by Bro. Carmelo from Sta. Maria Bulacan. He gave each one of us a fresh white rose petal which he placed on our chest and after praying we were told to remove it in order for us to take a look at it. At first, I thought I was seeing a butterfly but when I looked at it closer I saw an image of an angel. It...

 We should take time to be part of the activities in our communities and parish ministries that are spirit filled. In doing so we would find that these gatherings ministered by priests and very gifted preachers are indeed blessed gifts from the Lord. He sends them in the service of God’s people. Amen. Hallelujah! Zechariah 8:20-23 Thus says the LORD of hosts: There shall yet come peoples, the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another, and say, “Come! let us go to implore the favour of the LORD”; and, “I too will go to seek the LORD.” Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”  It is just overwhelming whenever peo...

  God assures us time and again that He will never forsake nor abandon but instead rescue His people. There is no doubt to this because God is always our God and He is faithful but with regards to other part of the covenant that we shall be His people, are we faithful to this part of the bargain? Let us closely examine ourselves and find out if we are fulfilling this part of the agreement. We might as well ask ourselves, how we can become God's people in the truest sense of the word. Amen. Hallelujah!  Zechariah 8:1-8 ...Thus says the LORD of hosts: Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun, and from the land of the setting sun. 8 I will bring them back to dwell within  Jerusalem . They shall be my people, and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice.  I could never forget the topic for the Lenten Retreat which was about prayer. Our speaker started the talk by stating that life is a mystery. Faith is a mystery. I. The Church professes the ...

 We should always hope to see all people come to know and believe in God. If this happens then this world will become a much better place to live in. We should remove jealousy and ill feelings toward one another. At the slight hint of these negative feelings we should at once put a stop to it. We are all guilty of it one way or another because we all have this tendency to be self centered but if we closely guard ourselves against it and really make an effort to be self conscious of this very destructive attitude then we can be as firm as Moses by not succumbing to this self centeredness and sincerely hope for the betterment of all people. Amen. Hallelujah! Numbers 11:25-29 ... “Moses, my lord, stop them.” 29 But Moses answered him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!” It always pays to be watchful and alert at all times. Although we sometimes fail to measure up due to our own sho...

  Today's 1st reading reminds me of the game I used to play with my sons when they were still young. During weekends when I was at home with them we played a lot of games together. Since they are boys and have been watching a lot of those Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles stuff, one of the games was to pretend that we were in a battle field just like those super heroes they see on TV and a monster was going to attack us. I used to tell them to come close to me and embrace each other tightly and huddle as close as possible so that we can envelop ourselves into a ball while a shield forms around us to protect us. I would assure them that we were safe once we're inside the shield and used to imagine it just like what the Lord is telling us today as an encircling wall of fire that nothing or no one can go past it to harm us. Amen. Hallelujah!   Zechariah 2:5-9. 14-15a ...But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.” 14 Sing a...

  There is a time for everything. Our God is a God of order and He places everything according to His perfect scheme and plan. All we have to do is completely trust Him that He will do what He has promised and set to do in accordance to His goodness, mercy, peace and love. As in today's 1st reading He assures us that He is our Creator, the King of the entire universe and the one and only Supreme God who can make all things happen for good. Amen. Hallelujah!   Haggai 2:1-9 For thus says the LORD of hosts: One moment yet, a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the LORD of hosts. Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give you peace, says the LORD of hosts!  I have already...

I found out that one of the common idiomatic expressions that I've come to know is biblical. In the Philippines we used to say this if we are unable to make ends meet. It goes like this, "We earn wages but earned them for a bag with holes in it." I used to hear people complain especially nowadays about how hard is it to earn a living. Everything seems to be not enough at all. It's almost like no matter what we do all our wages go down the drain. It's interesting to find out that Haggai the prophet has an antidote to this bag with holes in it which I used to always say, before I even found out that it's in the Book of Haggai. Today's 1st reading encourages us to put right before the eyes of God, all the things in our life and not to neglect our duties and responsibilities in building up the Church of God. Haggai 1:1-8 ... Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your wa...

    The 1st reading today reminded me of the bible study we had in St. Lorenzo Ruiz with Fr. Tony Astudillo. He illustrated to us the ushering of Jesus Christ in the New Testament by establishing a time line from the time of Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, the time of Exile until the birth of our Lord Jesus. He also mentioned Ezra as one of the prophets after the exile who were considered as ministers who promote the rebuilding of the temple and obedience to the laws. There is a trend that follows the period of exile. Prophets before the exile were giving warnings or forth telling instead of foretelling so as to avoid the worst circumstances if they continue to disobey God. In exile, the prophets presented the existing situation as a product of their disobedience but gave hope to the people that God has not abandoned. True enough during the time after the exile, prophets like Ezra and Nehemiah who are considered as historical books in the bible, with a nationalist...