SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

  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 pe...

     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...

    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...

   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 a...

   I just found out today that one of the common idiomatic expressions that I've come to know is also 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 the building up of 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 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 natio...

    Around  this time is kind of hectic for the Filipinos in St. Martha's Church and I guess for the rest of the Churches with Filipino parishioners since it was the feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia and also the upcoming feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz. Novena prayers are common in St. Martha in honor of him and a feast and special celebration is usually scheduled during this time. People were asked to take part and were assigned various tasks in setting up the Church. Some were assigned to decorate the Church, others werea part of the stage play, while others were in charge of the food to be served after the mass. St. Lorenzo Ruiz is the 1st Filipino Saint and Filipinos make sure it always become a celebration with so much joy. Amen. Hallelujah!   Ezra 6:7-8. 12b. 14-20 ...The Israelites — priests, Levites, and the other returned exiles — celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy... Today's psalm reminds me of this popular game called, "Trip to  Je...

    It is through the trials and hardships in life that we manifest God's power and victory in our lives.    According to St. Rose of  Lima , "Without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase." We may want to reflect on the following questions, What is the relationship between afflictions and the height of grace? Do I make use of such opportunities or do I rail against them? In the battles that we face in our lives, we inevitably get hurt in the process but we can be assured of winning the fight if we are on God’s side. Today’s 1 st  reading has a caption in Companion with the following statements. “ The Prophet Jeremiah had prophesied that the children of  Israel  would be in captivity in  Babylon  for 70 years and after this time would return to their homeland. This text from Ezra tells us of the proclamation of King Cyrus of  Persia  in all...

   Amos the prophet where today's 1st reading is taken, is not just a shepherd and dresser of sycamores. He is a herdsman, rancher and a wealthy person. He lives in the garrison city a place dominated by people of power who live in luxury. He lived in affluence and belonged to the clan system which is a guild or crusade to maintain the purity of the tradition of the temple (Ark of the Covenant). He was well educated,    and embraced the clan wisdom.    Although he experienced a luxurious life he was also aware of the injustice and plight of the people being a sycamore dresser who worked in close contact with the people. When God called him he was already aware of both worlds. And the Lord took him from what he was doing and summoned him to prophesy to the people. If I must say he came to a point when he no longer owned the choices and decisions he made. This, I guess is given once you take upon yourself the duty of a prophet much more the will of God in our...

  When athletes train hard and focus well on their goals they have one thing in mind, to win the prize. It is something that every sportsman aim and work for. It is just the same for a man of God as today's 1st reading tells us. This also reminded me of a very special person in my life who had been instrumental in the building up and growth of my faith during the first year of my Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Her name is Mrs. Teofista Tan Tena or Sis Pat, she was my boss in the very first regular job I had. We worked for more than a year and continued to keep in touch with her for years even after I transferred to another company. She had always been very enthusiastic in sharing to me a lot of things about the Catholic faith. One of the things that she shared to me  was about what happen to our souls after death. She said that the moment we breathe our last, our souls will automatically and immediately return to God our Creator and the source of the breath of life. She sa...