SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

  The word humility is very often misused and misunderstood. It has always been referred to in a very different way that sometimes there is a tendency for people to practice it in an ill mannered way. Instead of attracting or drawing other believers nearer to the faith, they shy away because of this wrong notion about humility. We do not have to undergo the extreme conditions needlessly. It is not the outward situation and circumstance that can attest to our humility but the disposition of our heart and mind while doing an act of humility. This is regardless of the status and influence of a person. We may have associated humility with someone who is materially poor, insignificant and belongs to the lowest in the social ladder. More often than not we seldom associate it with such people. We are greatly misled if we are to limit our definition of humility to just the physical. Today's 1st reading guides and leads us to its proper conduct. Humility should always be practiced in r...

    I could never forget that day when my computer was bugged down but in less than 24 hours, was restored back to normal and in good running condition. This happened many years ago from now and vowed to always share this for God’s glory. Hendrie is the person I am talking about. He fixed my computer at that time when he was still residing in  Cerritos  which is almost an hour drive from our place. Everything just happened so quickly because he happened to be online and chanced upon him in the Yahoo messenger. It was really a blessing that even before my computer totally crashed he was already there giving me the necessary instructions that helped me to still keep it functioning even in safe mode. Aside from the fact that Hendrie is indeed a brilliant and talented computer fixer, I should say he was just exactly when, where and how I needed him since he was at the right time, place and situation. He told me that he will be around the area in the evening of that day i...

      I have always heard how a lot of people get amazed at the stories of conversion of some very despicable people who still turned out to be saints. It was almost like an impossibility if we were to look at the kind of lives they were living back then. It took a while as in very long years that seemed like forever before some of them finally got into perfect shape before the eyes of God. The likes of St. Augustine whose feast day we celebrated a couple of days ago is an example of this long process of conversion through the persistent prayers of his mother St. Monica. Nothing is a lost cause or a hopeless case for the Lord. Now, he is one of the greatest minds the Church has known and the most quoted of all writers in Church documents. The depth and breadth of his writings is truly a testimony of his commitment to seek out the truth. We could really get a lot of inspiration from saints like them. If there’s one thing we could learn from this then it is the truth that G...

    I am reminded of the time when I was able to connect with a friend and brother in Christ whom I haven't seen and talked to for a long time already. It was very timely indeed that he was in  Singapore  that time when my son was scheduled to go there. He gave his number so that my son was able to contact him while he was in  Singapore . Every time I encounter him I am always blessed especially by his devotion and dedication to the Lord. Bro. Hendrie is a good man with a strong faith in God. He is always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need and would never hesitate to go out of his way even to the point of inconvenience. I could never forget how he had helped me several times with problems regarding my computer which has brought me to the point of calling him Mattathias. Mattathias is a bible character in the Old Testament who fought hard for his faith during that severe time of trial and hardship for the people of God. He eliminated the enemy of his f...

    God loves everybody but more so those who are being oppressed.    Do not despair. If we sometimes feel that life is so unfair and things have become so unfortunate that nothing or no one can help us then still be thankful that we've arrived in this situation for God who sees all things will definitely not allow such injustice and will surely uphold what is right and the truth.    Thus on our part, it is not enough that we follow and obey without understanding. There is a need to know our motivations and intentions in doing something. We should live by example. It is not enough that we claim to be good Christians for there is something more to that than just being called one but to live like one is another and most important at that. Amen. Hallelujah! First Letter to the Thessalonians 2:9-13. 9 You recall, brothers and  sisters, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. As...

  We should all strive to be pleasing before the Lord. No matter how much the world, the flesh and the enemy try to lure us away from our God given destiny we must not give in. The saints did it and we are also invited to live a life headed for that destiny and must not be deceived into believing that we are meant for anything less. As it is written in John 10:10 A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. Let us guard well and not allow ourselves to be robbed of our true identity as the beloved children of God. We may ask ourselves how saints do it?    St.  Therese had the habit of smiling whenever her work was interrupted by a nun coming whether with or without good reason to ask for help. Most are annoyed and impatient especially when they don’t have a good reason. Just like St. Therese we have to master a willed reaction like a habit of smiling when she is annoyed. She does it quite natur...

    Today’s 1 st  reading which is a letter of Paul to the Thessalonians reminds me of my thesis experiment in  Japan  about transformation of this microorganism I worked on. It was very difficult in itself to transform it but it was even more difficult to maintain it. It is much more difficult to make it functional since there is really a need to nurture it for growth in appropriate and optimum conditions. It took me almost a year to establish the right medium that will be most favorable for its growth and there is no room for neglect, it should always be kept that way. In the end, all of the sacrifices really paid off. I was able to finish my thesis, successfully defend it and obtain my Master's degree. The price that God paid for our sins is really great, the death of His only begotten Son, Jesus. Let us not waste this priceless gift and reap the entire benefits by maintaining the gift in us and render it functional in our lives. The benefit of this is far gr...