What you do is important. It will be more significant if it reflects the glory of God and make way for Jesus to be seen - Daily Bible Reflections December 15,2013

FRONT ACT

 

“Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you.” – Matthew 11:10

 

I love John the Baptist. He’s Jesus’ “front act.” He knew when it was his time to shine, and knew when to fade out. No wonder Jesus said, “There has been none greater than him.”

       I am used to being introduced as someone who was once a front act of the legend, Freddie Aguilar. And I usually quip that as a front act, I’m the one who performs while there aren’t many people yet. And when a sizable audience has gathered, it’s my cue to exit so that the main act, the real star of the show, comes in.

       When I began preaching as one of Bo Sanchez’s Kerygma preachers I would always get the question, “Where is Bo? Is he coming?” It was as if my role was simply to make way for him. Yet, even now, after decades of preaching and teaching about God, I do believe I really am and really should “simply” make way as an “advance messenger.”

       Because when you’re in the limelight where people look up to you and applaud you, it’s very easy to fool yourself that it all stops with you. Thank God I had good practice as a front act so that I would always remind myself, “Hey, what you do is important. But in the end it’s not about you. It’s about Him – the Real Star — Jesus.”Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

 

 

Reflection: What you do is important. It will be more significant if it reflects the glory of God and make way for Jesus to be seen.

 

Dear Lord, thank You for the blessed privilege to make my work a reflection and message of Your goodness and love. Amen.

 

Blessed Mary Frances Schervier, pray for us.

 

Are you being asked to let go of someone or something that means a whole world to you? Let go and let God - Daily Bible Reflections December 14,2013

IS THIS THE LITTLE GIRL I CARRIED?

 

… to turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons. – Sirach 48:10

 

Our daughter Trina and her dad have a special bond. When she was growing up, Raul would drop anything he was doing to drive for his only daughter. She was the apple of his eyes, his precious jewel. Trina is all grown-up now, a beautiful young lawyer, and the role has reversed. She is now a doting daughter to her dad, constantly watching over his diet and gifting him with a new laptop and many other surprises.

       As she walked through the church doors looking like the most radiant bride in the world, I caught a glimpse of Raul holding back his tears as I was. Bringing her to the altar where her handsome groom, Jang, also a lawyer, stood waiting, our hearts were bursting with mixed emotions.

       “I don’t remember getting older” goes the song, and that’s exactly how every parent feels on the wedding day of their daughter. “And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:10). Hard as it was, the time has come for us to let go.

       We were beaming with pride and joy at what our only daughter has become. On that special day, our fervent prayer was for the Lord to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23) Mari Sison-Garcia (mari_sison_garcia@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Are you being asked to let go of someone or something that means a whole world to you? Let go and let God.

 

Lord, bless us with the spirit of detachment from all that You have given us, knowing that we are merely stewards of Your resources.

 

St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

The practice of our faith doesn’t end when the prayer meeting or the Mass finishes. In fact, that’s where it just begins - Daily Bible Reflections December 13,2013

A GOOD HARVEST

 

He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season. – Psalm 1:3

 

My husband and I had just finished serving at the Kerygma Conference in Davao. We had prayed over several attendees and came back late at the hotel really tired. We wanted to sleep long and wake up late the following day. But not too long after we had slept, the blare of a public address system woke us up abruptly. When we looked out the window, a group of people were assembling and playing loud music that kept us awake. We noted that it was a Red Cross-sponsored marathon which was happening nationwide early that day.

       Instead of being irritated with them, our conclusion that this was for a good cause calmed our hearts. We hummed and sang the loud songs like a lullaby and we got our sleep despite the noisy condition. We knew that they were doing good work for others, which was also why we were in Davao — to bring people to the knowledge of Christ. By doing so, we thanked God for allowing us to reap the fruit of the Spirit: especially peace, patience and love (Galatians 5:22), a good response to an otherwise adverse situation. Donna España (donna.espana@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: The practice of our faith doesn’t end when the prayer meeting or the Mass finishes. In fact, that’s where it just begins.

 

Dear Jesus, may You give me the grace to see that in every situation, You give me the opportunity to bear the fruit of the Spirit.

 

St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, pray for us.

Do you allow God to use you just like He did with Saint Juan Diego? - Daily Bible Reflections December 12,2013

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

 

That all may see and know, observe and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. — Isaiah 41:20

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you are unfamiliar with her story, here it is in a nutshell:  

       Despite the presence of Catholic missionaries in Mexico over a period of many years, there were very few local converts to the faith. Not until 1531, when our beloved Mother Mary appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian. The signs that accompanied her apparitions — of the roses, of the uncle miraculously cured of a deadly illness, and especially of her beautiful image on Juan’s mantle — convinced the people there was something to be considered in Christianity. Within a short time, six million native Mexicans had themselves baptized as Christians. (Source: www.catholic.org)

       The conversion of six million people in such a short time surely must have been done by “the hand of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel!” Our Lady was His instrument of conversion, and so was Juan Diego. It just goes to show that we human beings, imperfect as we may be, can be used powerfully by the Lord, especially when we serve Him hand in hand with our Blessed Mother. Tina Santiago-Rodriguez (teachermamatina@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: Do you allow God to use you just like He did with Saint Juan Diego?

 

Lord, use me as Your instrument of conversion every day — and may Mama Mary be my guide every step of the way.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe