God Whispers - June 29, 2012

Money takes the color and the nature of the person who owns it. A person may claim to love Me or be converted to Me but his attitude towards money is the litmus test.

 

After Your Heart,

God

 

P.S. Will you be like the rich young man who turned his back on Me because he couldn’t part with his wealth or will you be like the tax collector Zaccheaus who returned fourfold of all he had stolen?

God Whispers - June 28, 2012

There are spiritual gifts that you already have that lie latent within you. Like a sleeping giant, you can exercise immeasurable power through My Spirit if you will only seek to live in My ways.

 

Empowering You,

God

 

P.S. Start by speaking My Word and living it.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 28, 2012

Rock Solid

 

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” – Matthew 7:25

 

I lost my dad when I was 18. He died of a heart attack. He was only 54. I was a college freshman then and looked forward to learning from him as I prepared for a career. While I struggled with the loss, I realized then that the strain wasn’t so much about questioning why my dad was taken away from us too soon as much as experiencing an extreme sadness of not having him around when I needed him most.

One night, as I thought of my dad and all the could-haves, would-haves and should-haves, I had a revelation from God, a strong sense that everything was going to be all right with me and my family. I also felt an assurance that my dad was in a better place.

That was the start of a deeper personal relationship with the Lord. A few months after that, my family received Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. It was also then that we experienced a tremendous outpouring of support from family, friends, my dad’s colleagues, as well as from people we hadn’t heard from in years.

I miss my dad. But I take comfort in the memory of the greatest man that ever lived. After Jesus, of course.  Erwin Roceles (erwin_roceles@yahoo.com)

28

REFLECTION:

God gives us the strength and the will to overcome any adversity.                                                                      

 

Lord, in our times of struggle, we hold on to Your promise that You will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, and even provide a way to overcome it.

 

St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr, pray for us.

God Whispers - June 27, 2012

Here’s a law of this universe: tests are repeated until the lesson is learned. Trials are like that. They burn. But they burn for a reason: To teach us lessons we’ll never forget for the rest of our life.  

 

Mentoring you,

God

 

P.S. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.”

God Whispers - June 26, 2012

If the Apostles were alive today, they’d be using Facebook and other social networks to proclaim My fame. What are you doing to carry out the Great Commission?

 

Sending You Forth,

God

 

P.S. Today, more than at any time in the history of mankind, you can reach the ends of the earth with just a touch of a button. Go and share My Good News today!

Daily Bible Reflections - June 27, 2012

DESTINED TO BE GOOD

 

“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit.” – Matthew 7:18

 

There was a time when my work schedule allowed me to watch only The 700 Club Asia and the late night news. In one episode of The 700 Club, I saw the testimony of a wayward child who was raised up by God-fearing parents.

I wondered what made her go astray even if she had wonderful and loving parents. It made me look into our family tree and wonder why it’s sometimes inescapable to have a black sheep in the clan, even if the children are raised by God-fearing parents.

After watching the show, it dawned on me that maybe it’s because of the gift of free will. Add to that the negative influence of peers, social networking, media, etc.

Even Lucifer was an archangel before he became Satan. He chose to become evil because he allowed pride, not love, to reside in his heart. Ems Sy Chan (havenofleeanne@gmail.com)

27

REFLECTION:

We are all destined to become good people. We are children of God after all. We should never let pride have a stranglehold in our lives.

 

Lord, help us choose good over bad at all times. We don’t wantto become rotten fruits thrown into the fires of hell. We want to choose life.

 

St. Cyril of Alexandrea, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 26, 2012

THE NARROW GATE

 

“How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.” – Matthew 7:14

 

I was at the airport, waiting in line to check in. I was carrying my daughter, a shoulder bag and a baby bag that contained the things I thought the kids might need during the one-hour flight. I was also pushing a luggage that I would check in.

I was frustrated and was having a difficult time until my husband told me to just carry the essentials in my shoulder bag — a diaper for each kid, a book for my son and two milk bottles. The rest I could check in. He even suggested that I leave the other stuff since it would be available when we got to my parents’ home anyway. It made a world of a difference! I carried my child comfortably through the gates without the extra weight and hassle.

Maybe the gate that Jesus described becomes narrow only because we carry so much. We think we need to do a lot to be worthy of the road towards our Lord that it becomes a difficult journey. Like the baggage during my trip, all we need is to check in everything else and only bring with us the essentials.

Maybe the gate isn’t that narrow after all.Mae Ignacio (maemi04@aim.com)

26

REFLECTION:

Do we carry a lot of baggage in our spiritual journey? Travel light and focus on what’s important. We don’t need a lot. After all, we are going home.

 

Father, help me focus on what is important in my life that I may not find it difficult to follow the path You have forged for me.

 

Blessed Raymond Lull, pray for us.

God Whispers - June 24, 2012

There’s no quicker way for you to appreciate your life than when you come face to face with death. When you realize how thin the line that separates you from death, you will put more value on the things that matter — your family, your life purpose, your relationship to Me.  

 

Conqueror of Death,

God

 

P.S. Live today like this is the last day of your life.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 25, 2012

JUDGING IN DENIAL

 

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.” – Matthew 7:1

 

Cisco did as told and followed rules out of obligation. He’s been part of Catholic Charismatic communities for almost 20 years. Punishment will find its way into his life if he disobeyed, he thought. Others may suffer consequences of his actions.

The effects? He was judgmental, but in denial. If someone didn’t go by the book, he judged them. Another thing that came with being judgmental was unforgiveness. He thought that acknowledging his need to forgive someone meant that he was saying that person was bad.

But one time, he was required to attend a two-month healing seminar for his formation program. There, he finally understood that good people with the best of intentions can offend others unintentionally, and recognizing an offense doesn’t mean he’s blaming them or calling them bad. He saw that unrecognized and unforgiven offenses pushed inside and ignored manifested in how he judged others and how he was too hard on himself.

Today, he’s no longer in denial. He’s less judgmental, more forgiving but still a work in progress.Carlo Lorenzo (carloflorenzo@yahoo.com)

25

REFLECTION:

The spirit of the law is love. Am I doing what’s right primarily as an expression of love or as obligation to avoid punishment?

 

Jesus, You suffered, died and rose again for my sins to be forgiven unconditionally though I don’t deserve it. Remind me every time I am offended to forgive in my heart, whether the person asks for forgiveness or not, whether I think he deserves it or not.

 

Blessed Jutta of Thuringia, pray for us.

 

 

Daily Bible Reflections - June 24, 2012

Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist

 

God’S LOOPHOLE

 

“He will carry out my every wish…” – Acts 13:22

 

I took the bar exams in September 2002. The results were out in February 2003 with a 19.6 percent national passing rate. By March, I took my oath to become a lawyer. This is my pretty bar exam story, but what follows is the ugly truth.

I started reviewing for the bar months before the exam. In those months, there was one prayer I couldn’t pray — the “Our Father.” When the part, “Your will be done” came, I’d just mumble. I was afraid that God’s will for me was not to pass the bar.

I was reduced to a mumbler until I remembered a loophole — my God listens to prayers! So I prayed that God’s will would be that I pass the bar. At that point, I still did not want to fail, but I was not afraid anymore. I knew that, pass or fail, I had done my part and God’s will shall prevail. And as you already know, I passed.

In today’s reading, God already declared that David would carry out His every wish. But we read in the Book of Psalms and the Books of Samuel that this did not stop David from praying for things to go his way. And as you already know, David is known as one of the greatest kingsin history. Pepper Bruce (pepper.bruce@gmail.com)

24

REFLECTION:

Am I afraid of doing God’s wish for me? Do I resist  God’s wish?

 

Lord, let me do as You will in prayer.

 

St. John the baptist, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections- June 23, 2012

WHERE SHOULD I GO?

 

“Do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself.” – Matthew 6:34

 

In 1975, John Kavanaugh traveled to India to spend a month with Mother Teresa. When they met, he requested that she help him pray for clarity, but she laughed and said, “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray that you will trust God.”

Her prayer is what we need in our lives, too. We are so afraid to make mistakes and the uncertainty of future success leaves us unable to act. I hope that this prayer from Thomas Merton will assuage your fears, as it has mine:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going,

I do not see the road ahead of me.

Nor do I really know myself,

And the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Cecil Lim (cez_lim@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

You can face the future full of  anxiety or full of faith. You can’t have both.

 

When I don’t know what to do, Lord, give me the courage to choose a path and entrust my fears to You.

 

St. John Fisher, pray for us.

 

Daily Bible Reflections - June 22, 2012

Family Treasures

 

“But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” – Matthew 6:20-21

 

I asked for an estimate of the cost of installing floor-to-ceiling mirrors in our dining area more than a year ago. In addition to that, we had been dreaming of traveling as a family to both domestic and international destinations. But these expenses still don’t find a place in our family budget because we had prioritized more important things like tithing.

My husband and I agreed to increase our giving to 10 percent of our family income. We’ve made good progress since we made that decision but we’ve had to simplify our lifestyle as well. We ate out less often. We enjoyed simple bonding activities like visiting museums, going to parks for picnics and serving together in weekly Masses. By doing so, our appreciation for each other and for our non-material blessings grew. Most of all, we made God our greatest treasure and we stored up riches in heaven as a family.

One day we will have that home improvement and those family vacations, but not without first giving to God our best portion. Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag (teregmps@yahoo.com)

22

REFLECTION:

What’s in my treasure chest? What do I consider my greatest treasure?

 

Lord God, help me fix my eyes on the things of heaven and become less materialistic. Help me see what my real treasures are.

 

St. Thomas More, martyr, pray for us.

God Whispers - June 21, 2012

I believe problems have many purposes. And I believe the most important purpose of problems is to shape your character. I want you to rejoice not because you have a problem. Instead, I’m telling you to rejoice because of the purpose of the problem.

      

Seeking Your Best Interest,

God

 

P.S. I value your character more than your comfort.

God Whispers - June 20, 2012

You are My ambassador to the Lord. You don’t even have to go anywhere to carry out your mission. All you have to do is represent Me wherever you are. Proclaim My fame in your world.

 

Your Loving Master,

God

 

P.S. Today you’ll have many opportunities to share about My goodness. Grab as many chances as you can!

God Whispers - June 19, 2012

I never throw away anything I’ve made — even if it’s worn out, damaged or useless. There’s nothing you can do to make you unusable and undesirable to Me. That’s why I gave My life for you. Even if the whole world gives up on you, I never will.

 

Eternally in Love with You,

God

 

P.S. Your sins created a great chasm that would have separated us forever. But My cross became the bridge that restored us to each other.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 19, 2012

A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY

 

“You shall love your neighbor….” – Matthew 5:43

 

She lived alone. That night, she had a heart attack and died. It was three days later when her neighbors discovered she was dead. This true story happened in our parish. The so many “if only” remarks from her neighbours point only to one thing — no man should be an island.

Could this be one reason why Basic Ecclesial Communities or BECs have become the pastoral thrust of the Church today? If I may backtrack a bit, BEC is a neighborhood community. Members are geographical neighbors. Yes, we need to know our neighbors and love them, whoever they are, because that is what the Lord wants.

The modern world has become global. We can talk to someone living in another country every day through the Internet and yet remain oblivious of the person living next door. But the Church enjoins us to start evangelization where we live!

It’s not bad to be global in our ministries and in our endeavors, but let’s find time to know and love people living around us, too. For all we know, they just need us to make the first move. Then, we would have less tragic stories like the one I just shared. Cristy Galang (cristy_cc@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Do I know the person who lives next door? Do I pray for them and wish they know Jesus?

 

Use me, Lord, to love my neighbors the way the early Christians did that I may be an instrument to build Your Church. Amen.

 

St. Romuald, abbot, pray for us.

 

God Whispers - June 18, 2012

Don’t let your problem control you. Take control of your problem! Take charge of that sickness. Take charge of that debt. Take charge of that situation. Stand up!

 

I love you,

God

 

P.S. There’s hope. You can get out of your paralysis. You can pick up your mat and walk.

God Whispers - June 16, 2012

The devil can use fear to paralyze. When you’re afraid of something, it limits you from doing what you normally can achieve. The antidote to fear is faith. Believe in Me, in My protection, in My providence.

 

Protecting You,

God

 

P.S. When you were a child afraid of the dark, didn’t your fear go away when Mom or Dad held your hand? I’m always with you holding your hand.

Daily Bible Readings - June 18, 2012

FIGHT INJUSTICE WITH LOVE

 

“If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.” – Matthew 5:40

 

In Jesus’ time, when a man loaned something from his neighbor, he would have to give his tunic as collateral. But the tunic would have to be given back to him at night so that he wouldn’t freeze in the cold. Oftentimes, the tunic was not returned. In order to fight this injustice, Jesus suggests that the borrower give his cloak as well in order to shame the lender into realizing his unjust act. Jesus was teaching the people to fight injustice with loving acts.

Nelson Mandela, an opposition leader in South Africa in the 1960s, was imprisoned and persecuted by the majority white government for his fight against apartheid — the political and economic separation of blacks and whites. But when he was released 27 years later, he was the first to reach out his hand to reconcile with his persecutors and actively worked for a coalition government between blacks and whites. He eventually became the first black president of South Africa.

The love we show in the midst of our persecutions can bring about the change we need in our society. Jay Catral (jaycatral@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Are you being persecuted? What act of love can you do in order to point out the injustice?

 

Lord, we pray for the wisdom to show Your love and justice. Amen.

 

Venerable Matt Talbot, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 17, 2012

PLANTING SEEDS

 

“A farmer planted seeds.... As the days went by, the seeds sprouted and grew without the farmer’s help.” – Mark 4:26-27

 

“We are never on holiday from our faith,” Fr. Steve Tynan once wrote. How true. Everything we do, say or think is like a deposit in a bank or like a seed that is planted. In time, it will yield an interest or a harvest. There is no such thing as “not counted,” like in kids’ play.

Everything we do produces a ripple effect in the sea of life. It may affect us or others whether directly or indirectly, whether we know it or not. Its effect may be positive or negative but for sure there will always be an outcome.

Take for example when children are rude or impolite. It embarrasses the parents and they wonder from where their kids learned it. Duh? Children are usually a product of their home environment.

Thanks be to God who gives us second chances. He allows U-turns. He provides a way out if we have planted some not-so-good seeds. So let’s take advantage of that chance before life declares: GAME OVER.  Ronna Ledesma (ronnaledesma@email.com)

17

REFLECTION:

Did you plant some bad seeds in the past that you want to uproot now? Do it while there is still time.

 

Father, may my children be a testimony of the seeds I’ve planted.

 

St. Joseph Cafasso, pray for us.

Daily Reflections- June 16, 2012

Memorial Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

MAMA’S HEART

“And his mother kept all these things in her heart.” – Luke 2: 51

My mom is a strong and feisty woman. She has gone through a lot in her life. But many years have already passed. Now, she is based in Sydney, Australia living a much peaceful life.

Her coming home at least once a year binds us all together. And guess what she would talk about?

It would be about us — her children — our achievements, our most unforgettable moments together, our funny memories, and, yes, our hurts and pains that, like her, made us who we are now.

My mom kept all these things about us in her heart. And I know these are her greatest treasures.

For that, and more, I will love and honor her all my life.

Mama Mary kept in her heart all the things about her Son, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. It would be exciting to hear her stories about her Son. She would surely know a lot more. After all, she was His mother!

For that, and more, I will love and honor her all my life.

I love you, Mom.

I love you, Mama Mary. Alvin Barcelona (alvinbarcelona@gmail.com)

16

REFLECTION:

Think of your own mother now. What could be the things she is keeping in her heart about you? Pray for her. Honor her. Love her more.

Mama Mary, I pray to you. You are the Mother of my Savior, Jesus. I honor you. I love you. As I pray now for my own mother… I love her, too. Amen.

St. John Francis Regis, pray for us.

God Whispers - June 15, 2012

For many people, their suffering becomes their safe zone. They’ve gotten used to the pain. And what is familiar is safe — no matter how painful that situation is. That’s why the most dangerous place is your safe zone. 

 

Looking Out for You,

God

 

P.S. Get out of your safe zone if you want growth in your life. Because your safe zone is the place for dead people.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 15, 2012

Solemnity of the Heart of Jesus

 

above all else

 

Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. – John 19:31

 

Our prayer meetings then were on Saturday nights. We were mostly teenagers and young twentysomethings serving as music ministers in our parish-based community. After the prayer meeting, it was normal for us to go out, have a late dinner and continue with the fellowship. It was good, clean fun for us who were slowly moving away from a worldly lifestyle into a closer walk with the Lord. Of course that meant a late night out but that was OK, even if we would also be serving as the choir for Mass the next day.

But it wasn’t OK for Mikey. After the prayer meeting one Saturday night, he begged off from our gimmick. “I’ll just gohome,” he said, “so I can wake up early for my prayer time tomorrow.”

I was stunned by his decision. I knew he wanted to go out with us and enjoyed our company, but he knew his priorities. He valued his relationship with God first — above friends and fun. He valued it so much that he made early choices to ensure that he could give his best to the Lord the next day. Mikey didn’t just love the Lord today; he used today so he could love the Lord more tomorrow.

Wow. Rissa Singson Kawpeng (justbreatherissa@gmail.com)

15

REFLECTION:

“A heart resolved after due reflection will not flinch at the critical moment.” (Sirach 22:16)

 

“Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself.” (A. W. Tozer)

 

Servant of God Orlando Catanii, pray for us.

How To Be A Leader In Life

by Anthony  Fernando 

 

As a new manager in a multinational corporation, Donna Peterson’s main focus in life was to prove that she had the skills and talent necessary to succeed in a male dominated industry. 

After graduating from Harvard, summa cum laude, and completing her MBA at the Stanford school of business, Donna was confident in her knowledge and ability.

However, even with a strong academic background, Donna’s first year as a manager was tough.

Daily Bible Reflections - June14, 2012

WHEN THE GENTLE ME EXPLODES

 

“Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” – Matthew 5:22

 

In my family, expressing one’s anger is not an ordinary thing. We were raised up in a gentle environment. So it’s no wonder that we all grew up soft-spoken.

But anger is a human emotion that visits us now and then. I had (and still have) my own share, and like bombs they explode when I try to keep it to myself for long.

Once, I had a difficult group mate in a class project. I was supposed to be the leader and had to facilitate the completion of the project. But her behavior was not helping the group — she’d come late or not at all to our meetings, and when she did, she’d question everything.

It came to the point that I could no longer contain my anger and I exploded. She was shocked, as was the rest of the group. I, too, was shocked that I could be that angry.

It was a most excruciating weekend for me. I couldn’t eat and sleep well. But thank God, at that time I had friends who helped me process my feelings. And thank God, too, we were in a retreat setting that weekend and I had time to confess it. Most of all, I was able to say, “Peace!” to the object of my anger. Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com)

14

REFLECTION:

How do you handle your anger?

 

Lord, teach me how to handle the negative emotions in my life. Grant me patience, gentleness and compassion.

 

St. Albert Chmielowski, pray for us.

 

God Whispers - June 14, 2012

Parents have no way of choosing their biological children. But parents who adopt have the unique privilege of choosing the person they will love, cherish and call their own for the rest of their lives. You are my adopted child. I choose you. I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. That’s how much I love you.

 

Crazy for You,

God

 

P.S. An adopted child is legally entitled to all rights and privileges of a natural-born child. Whatever belongs to Jesus belongs to you too!

God Whispers - June 13, 2012

When you ask Me for something, don’t dictate how I will answer your prayers. Believe and trust that I have your best interest at heart, and that I will do as I have promised.

 

Working on Your Prayers,

God

 

P.S. My ways and not your ways. And need I say that My ways are infinitely far better than yours?

God Whispers - June 12, 2012

Suffering people are ambivalent. Many sick people aren’t sure if they want to get well. Many poor people aren’t sure that they want to get rich. Many problematic people aren’t sure that they want all their problems to be solved. How do you know if someone is ambivalent? If he gives excuses for not doing what he’s supposed to be doing.

 

Dedicated to bringing out the best in you,

God

 

P.S. Stop giving excuses and start doing what you’re supposed to do. If you want something bad enough, nothing much can stop you.

God Whispers - June 11, 2012

I want you to prosper. I give you good things for you to enjoy. But don’t fall for the trap of the devil and the world that wants to suck you into the vortex of materialism and consumerism. The more things you want, the more you’ll have to work for it. Before long, you won’t even have time to enjoy the blessings you already have.

 

Guarding Your Spirit,

God

 

P.S. Can I tell you a secret? When you live to give, you enjoy My blessings even more.

God Whispers - June 10, 2012

A fish will die apart from the water. A bird will crash without the wind beneath its wings. A human being will perish without oxygen. I am your water. I am your wind. I am your oxygen.

 

Life Giver,

God

 

P.S.  I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in Me, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).

God Whispers - June 9, 2012

It’s so difficult to say, “All is well” when trials come upon our lives. But that’s the truth. No matter what happens, believe that all things will work for good to those who love Me (Romans 8:28).

Your Champion,

God

P.S. Today may be Good Friday in your life, but your Easter Sunday is coming.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 13, 2012

The Ultimate Fulfillment

 

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” – Matthew 15:17

 

Kids would say, “When I grow up, I want to be….” How frustrating it is on my part because I didn’t grow up. I remained vertically challenged (a euphemism for “shorty”).

Kidding aside, I wanted to become:

A teacher, to teach lessons to students.

A lawyer, to defend the underprivileged.

A priest, to lead people to the Lord.

A soldier, to fight for the nation’s sovereignty.

A doctor, to heal people.

Well, nothing above was fulfilled. Frustration set in. Then Jesus came to the rescue. He is the Ultimate Fulfillment.

I didn’t become a teacher but today I teach people godly life skills. I didn’t become a lawyer but today I spread the Law of Love. I didn’t become a priest but today I am spiritual dad to the youth! I didn’t become a soldier but today I defend the faith and rescue souls for the Lord. I didn’t become a doctor but today I heal broken hearts and lives only in the name and grace of Jesus!

I didn’t become anything yet I became everything. For only Jesus fulfills.

Solo Dios basta. God alone is enough. Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

13

REFLECTION:

Does my plan contradict Your master plan, Lord?

 

Too long have I known Thee, oh Lord. My heart is restless until it rests in You. – St. Augustine

 

St. Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 12, 2012

SHINE!

 

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. – Matthew 5:14

 

There’s something about people who are at peace with God that makes them shine. Their joyful countenance, maybe? Their gentle manner of speaking? Their kindness? Whatever it is, they simply radiate. You can easily spot them from those who wear their weary heart on their sleeve.

Now, imagine how much brighter their light shines when they speak about their love for God. They must be bursting like firecrackers brightening the night sky. To be surrounded by them makes me feel loved, and they constantly open my eyes to the beauty of life and the magnificence of the Almighty.

Matthew 15:16 says that our “light must shine before others.” And this tells us that we each have a light within us that needs to be switched on. How? By doing good deeds so that others may glorify our heavenly Father (Matthew 15:16). It isn’t too hard to do because all of us were created good.

It is not enough that we be merely shone upon. I challenge you to shine! Nova Arias (nova.svp@gmail.com)

12

REFLECTION:

What good deed can I joyfully do today?

 

Jesus, teach me to be as good as You.I want to shine with You.

 

Blessed Jolenta (Yolanda) of Poland, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 11, 2012

Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle

 

DETOXIFY

 

“Blessed are the clean of heart for they will see God.” – Matthew 5:8

 

There was a vain Emperor who busied himself with acquiring new clothes and flaunting them to his subjects. Two conmen who presented themselves as weavers promised to make him the finest clothes made from a magical fabric, visible only to those who are worthy and wise. When the new wardrobe was finished, the Emperor pretended he could see it. He had a parade to show off his new outfit. The crowd also pretended to see the magical suit. Suddenly, a little child, in all his innocence, shouted, “The Emperor is wearing nothing.” The Emperor failed to recognize that he had been tricked.

In the same way, if we constantly sin in mind and heart, and preoccupy ourselves with the things of this world, it would be hard for us to see God and recognize His presence with our spiritual eyes.

A priest said, “People with pure hearts unceasingly think about God. They are free from passions caused by self-centeredness, egotism and pride.”

Want to have a pure heart? Remove all rubbish and garbage that pollute your soul… and then you will see Him. Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo.com)

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REFLECTION:

Have you done some “house” cleaning lately?

 

“A clean heart create for me, O God; renew in me a steadfast spirit.” (Psalm 51:12)

 

St. Barnabas, Apostle, pray for us.

 

Daily Bible Reflections - June 10, 2012

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

 

Driving Passion

 

“This is my body… this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” – Mark 14:22, 24

 

A priest greeted us as we entered a chapel for Sunday Mass in a remote area in Infanta, Quezon. It seemed like an ordinary Sunday service until this Carmelite missionary celebrated Mass and gave the homily.

He started by saying that he hadn’t slept the whole evening. He went on to explain that he missed his flight in Cotabato and had to travel almost five hours to take a flight in Davao. He arrived late in the evening in Manila and took another three-hour ride to Infanta. He was the only priest in the vicinity and did not want the people to miss the Mass on his account. His driving thought was that he treated every day as if it was his last day.

Not long after, I read a front page newspaper article about the same priest. He had died saving others during the deluge that killed many at Infanta and Real, Quezon that year, not too long ago. His driving passion is still in my mind — to serve other people. Rolly España (rnespana@nwineskin.com)

 

REFLECTION:

What drives you? Your dreams? Or have you stopped dreaming?

 

I pray that You plant the passion in my heart that will drive me without hesitation.

 

Blessed Joachima, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 9, 2012

THE RICH IN LOVE

 

“They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on.” – Mark 12:44

 

You said “I love you” and you gave me P20. Am I supposed to believe your love? If you are burning a hundred dollar bill to light up your cigar, and your name is Bill Gates, I don’t have to believe your love. If you are a poor beggar, who digs fastfood trash bins for leftover food to heat for dinner, and you weren’t so lucky tonight and the other scavengers pushed you out when they reached the garbage can ahead of everybody else; and that P20 is your only hope for food tonight, yet you still gave it to me, then I think there’s not much room for me to doubt that you love me.

God is rich in everything! Therefore, doubting the love of this rich God is justifiable, right? Wrong! Yes, God is rich in everything. But He has only one Son.

When Jesus saw the poor widow, He saw His Father. When the sacrifice was demanded for the salvation of all, God slipped His hand into His cosmic pocket, His two copper coins is Jesus. And He gave Him up for you and me.

Jesus didn’t just give everything He has. He gave Himself for us. Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

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REFLECTION:

Have there been times in your life when you doubted the love of God for you? His answer to all doubts is the Cross.

 

Lord Jesus, may I experience the uncontainable love of God in my heart every time I look at Your Cross. May You give me that grace today. Amen.

 

St. Ephrem, deacon and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - June 8, 2012

Making a Stand

 

All you who want to serve God in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil persons and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. – 2 Timothy 3:12-13

 

As I write this reflection, the proposed Reproductive Health (RH) Bill remains to be very controversial. The debate for its passage has disturbingly polarized a country that is predominantly Catholic. It has put to test the core values of the nation and the will of the faithful to remain steadfast in the tenets (not selectively) of the Church.

I have not read the entire bill nor have I sat through public hearings on the bill to be able to offer a sound opinion. My awareness is limited to what is published and corridor discussions amongst colleagues. I don’t have the answers to the economic challenges the bill is supposed to address. And I am still in a quandary as to what extent the bill was crafted and supported with the purest intention, or tainted by political pressures, personal ambition or profit.

One thing is clear. The proposed RH bill, in the form and content as of this writing, is strongly being opposed by the

Catholic Church. As the bastions of my faith, I believe them, and that is enough for me to make a stand against it. Marie Franco (mariefranco_pie@yahoo.com)

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REFLECTION:

When my faith is attacked, will I stand up or will I remain to be a passive bystander?

 

Continue to guide the bastions of our faith, Lord.

 

St. William of York, pray for us.