SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

  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...

  We should love God with all our mind, heart and soul. We know that it would be well for us if we will do this above anything. We are aware of some people who became obsessed with money and forgot that only Jesus can satisfy our longings. We can not deny the fact that we all need money so money in itself is not evil but the love for it is what makes it evil. This happens especially when we become too consumed by the desire for it. We must always put God in everything that we do and strive to always be detached from the things in this world that separates us from God. Amen. Hallelujah! 1 Timothy 6:2c-12 ...For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble co...

    I've been privileged to watch shows about our Blessed Mother Mary and almost all of the other shows in EWTN have always something about her. Mama Mary just celebrated her Feast of the Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15). We have a mother in Mary who understands every single sorrow and anguish we are going through. There is nothing that she wouldn’t understand because she experienced the killing of her son. Mary accepted to become Mother of Jesus whom only a woman full of grace is highly honored and privileged to be called. When she responded "Yes" and obediently accepted the plan of God in her life she faithfully submitted to God's will like a handmaid to her master. She did not only accept the honor and privilege that goes with it but also the 7 sorrows which pierced her heart. She left us an example of how we should ponder in our hearts, the word of God that is being conveyed to us through our daily lives. We are God's children and He is calling us in the same wa...

 It is very encouraging to have brothers and sister in the community who look out for each other and reflect and perpetrate the love of Jesus Christ. Just like in today's 1st reading in the 1st book of Timothy where Paul hopes to give his fellow Christians a visit of love and his concern of a possible delay. Their devotion to each other is very heart warming and inspiring. We as faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ should also strive to develop this kind of relationship with our fellow brothers and sisters in the community. I am sure that we get very touched by the gesture of relatives and friends who really go out of their way to help us out in the same sincere way the first Christians were to each other. Amen. Hallelujah!   1 Timothy 3:14-16 Beloved: I am writing you about these matters, although I hope to visit you soon. But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation ...

  The people who are chosen to lead and play an active role in the several activities and ministries that the Church promotes must really be a good follower of Christ keeping in mind the noble task entrusted in their hands. Today’s 1st reading is a clear guideline as to what kind of person is most worthy to serve the Lord. May we all find ourselves subscribing and obediently following what the Church teaches us. At the time when I was a newly appointed Lector I experienced a dilemma with regards to my commitments that might get in the way of this noble task that I have just taken responsibility of. We all encounter situations when we are having second thoughts on the decision we just made. The best thing we could do is pray to God to bless our decision and if ever it was not the best thing to do then we ask God to show us His ultimate will. God is indeed a God of order that the moment we pray for guidance and direction as to what exactly does God want us to prioritize we would sure...

  Paul's knowledge of Christ though he did not see him in the flesh is a revelation not of human origin but divine. If we are to read very carefully what he wrote in this letter to Timothy, we can see that he encourages all believers to be a people of God working to acquire a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This as he said can never be attained through anger and argument thus we all must be careful in conducting ourselves before other men and believers as to truly reflect the values of Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah! 1 Timothy 2:1-8 1 Beloved: First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, 2 for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. 3 This is good and pleasing to God our savior, 4 who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Chri...

   We have some fairly easy questions in life that we can answer right away but the committing part is the one thing we all have difficulty in doing. In this regard we can start by heeding the warning in today's 1st reading. We have to abandon all our hurts and injuries to the Lord, be turned to compassion for those who have caused us so much pain and forgive. God who is full of mercy and love is the one who did it first for us and we ought to follow. We must surrender and abandon everything to the Lord especially when we go through suffering and trials. We will do well to learn the basic thrust of this reading and apply it in our lives. Amen. Hallelujah! Sirach 27:30-28:7 30 Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. 28: 1 The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. 2 Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. 3 Could anyone nourish anger against his fellows and expe...