Sunday, June 5, 2022

Ready To Go (Pentecost 2022)


The WORD today reminds me that God equips us as we do his work. 

Before athletes join competitions, they train hard. They practice hard. And the bigger the competition, the harder and the longer they practice. For Olympics, we hear of countries that constantly prepare years before. They devote time and resources to prepare their athletes. This is something similar to what God wants us to do. 

We should prepare ourselves so it will be easier for God to equip and use us. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus appearing to his disciples and greeting them with peace. He then told them that he is sending them out to do his work. But before that, he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit to be with them as they do God's work. And in the first reading, we see this the disciples actually doing God's task and we see the mighty effect of God's blessing working through them. People heard them speak in their own languages. 

Working for God is not easy, but God makes sure that as we work for Him, we are equipped and capable. That is why he sent the Holy Spirit to be with us always and to guide us as we work for Him. 

Nothing great comes easy. But what is important is we know that it can be done. God can equip and use us to do great things through him. That is what the Holy Spirit is for.

What's the catch? What's the prerequisite for the Holy Spirit to remain in us? 

We have to prepare. We have to do our part. And part of preparing is being clean and ready to receive Him. 

We have to be empty and clean. 

Empty and clean. God and sin cannot mix. That is why if we are sinful, or are secretly living sinful lives, God cannot be with us. God cannot enter our lives. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in us. And if we are full of ourselves and do not have space for God, He cannot stay with us. Only if we are living righteous lives and if we have space for Him can we truly be equipped to serve God. We should prepare ourselves by constantly trying to build a good relationship with God. We have to know his voice so we can recognize him. 

God can only fill us if we are empty of ourselves. and we can only effectively do God's work if we are full not of ourselves, but of God. Only when we are full of God, only when we are burning with God's love can we serve him mightily.

We are still in a pandemic right now. A lot of people are still affected. However, I believe that no matter where you are or what situation you are in, you will always be in a position to help others. You are always in a position to make God alive to others. God doesn’t need grand gestures. Jesus appreciated the two coins the woman offered in the temple. There are a lot of ways to help others. We can always do something to share what we have and make others feel God’s love and provisions.

Am I living a life pleasing to God? Do I have space in my life for God? What takes up most of the space in my heart and in my life? Do I serve God? How? Do I have faith that he will equip me as I serve Him? Do I prepare and build a good relationship with Him? How am I sharing God in this pandemic situation? 

May we prepare and allow ourselves to be ready and empty so God can fill us and equip us for his work.

Father God, 
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the sun that not only brightens my day, but gives energy to me. Lord, sorry for the times I fail to prepare. Sorry for being too lazy to do my part. Sorry for not having the desire and the will to prepare myself for you. Lord, I pray that i always be reminded that you will equip me as i serve you. May I always remember too that I need to do my part as well - to be clean and empty so i can make space for you, so I can receive you. Help me humble myself and empty my heart so i can have space for you. Fill me and use me mightily to further your kingdom, Lord.  Help me make you more alive and more real now. Amen.


Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,
-g-


Daily Readings

Pentecost Sunday 
Mass during the Day

Lectionary: 63

Reading I

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven
staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”

R (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
            O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
            the earth is full of your creatures;
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
Alleluia.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
            may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
            I will be glad in the LORD.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
Alleluia.
If you take away their breath, they perish
            and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
            and you renew the face of the earth.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:
Alleluia.

Brothers and sisters:
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,
and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

OR:

Rom 8:8-17

Brothers and sisters:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a Spirit of adoption,
through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

 

Sequence

Veni, Sancte Spiritus 

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
            Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
            Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
            Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
            Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
            And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
            Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
            Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
            Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
            In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
            Give them joys that never end. Amen.
            Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

OR:

Jn 14:15-16, 23b-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”

 





Saturday, June 4, 2022

You Follow Me


The WORD today reminds me that God wants me to focus on Him as I serve Him. 

It is said that John was the favorite of Jesus, or at least that he was special to Jesus. Probably he knew that he would eventually entrust his earthly mother to John, that’s why he was special. John was referred to as “the disciple that Jesus loved,” and in the gospel today, we see Peter asking Jesus what will happen to John. This was after Jesus told Peter that he would suffer for Christ. 

Siguro medyo takot si Peter. Kaya tinanong nya si Jesus what will happen to John. Mahihirapan din ba si John parang ako? He was probably thinking.

The Jesus said to him: "What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me."

They thought John would not die, although of course, this was not the case. He died too.  But more than answering what will happen to John, Jesus wants to make a point – It is not your concern. You follow me.

Sometimes, as human beings we tend to envy others. We tend to see and focus on what others have that we don’t. We compare ourselves and our lives, with others. This is true even with those whom we serve with, sometimes we can’t help but compare. Bakit siya maganda ang career…? Bakit sya may lovelife? Bakit sya gwapo o maganda? Bakit siya masagana ang buhay…? E pare pareho naman kami naglilingkod sayo, Lord..?

Jesus is telling us today to just FOCUS on HIM, not on other people, not on what other people have. He did not tell Peter something like “E leader ka naman e, first Pope ka nga, o diba?” Instead, he told Peter to mind his own business and just follow God. You follow me, nevermind other people, nevermind what they have. You serve me. You love me. 

Ikaw.

Ikaw ang gusto ng Diyos. Ang buong pagkatao mo. Ang buong sarili mo. Not your accomplishments on earth. Not your beauty. Not your richness. Ikaw mismo. And for us to be able to give our whole selves to Him, we should be happy with whatever blessings we have, we should be contented and thankful for everything. We should focus on Him.

Do I feel that way too? Am I like Peter who looks around and compare my life with other people? Am I envious of other people’s lives? What does it take to make me realize that God wants me, my whole self? What can I do to be able to focus on God? How can I strengthen my personal relationship with Him so I would be able to focus on Him more? What does he want me to do during this pandemic to help other people?

May we always remember what Jesus said to Peter. You follow me. Let us focus on God and offer our whole self to Him

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this weekend. I thank you for giving me another opportunity to rest and recharge. Lord, sorry for the times I act like Peter. Sorry for comparing myself with others. Sorry for focusing on others instead of on you. Lord, I ask that you help me give myself to you.  Help me build my relationship with you so I can focus on you and not compare my life with that of other people. Help me serve you with love. May I never be envious of what other people have, and just follow and serve you. All this I ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,
-g-


Daily Readings

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter 
Mass in the Morning

Lectionary: 302

When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself,
with the soldier who was guarding him.

Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews.
When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers,
although I had done nothing against our people
or our ancestral customs,
I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.
After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me,
because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty.
But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar,
even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation.
This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you
and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel
that I wear these chains.”

He remained for two full years in his lodgings.
He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance
and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Responsorial Psalm

R.        (see 7b)  The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD is in his holy temple;
            the LORD’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold,
            his searching glance is on mankind.
R.        The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD searches the just and the wicked;
            the lover of violence he hates.
For the LORD is just, he loves just deeds;
            the upright shall see his face.
R.        The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved,
the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper
and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”
Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours? 
You follow me.”
So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.
But Jesus had not told him that he would not die,
just “What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?”

It is this disciple who testifies to these things
and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
There are also many other things that Jesus did,
but if these were to be described individually,
I do not think the whole world would contain the books
that would be written.




Friday, June 3, 2022

Rebanse

 

The WORD today reminds me that God will always give us an opportunity to redeem ourselves and get right with Him. 

In Philippine street basketball, the term "rebanse" means that a losing team will be given a chance to redeem themselves. It means that the losing team will play another ballgame with the winners - a rematch to allow them to redeem themselves or take "revenge" for their loss. 

This is similar to what Jesus gave Peter in the gospel. 

When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied him three times, just as Jesus predicted. He not only left Jesus, but also denied him during the time Jesus needed his support the most. And after that, Peter felt so bad for what he did to Jesus.  So when Jesus rose again, he did not just tell Peter he is forgiven and asked him to work for God's kingdom. He first gave him a chance to redeem himself, to tell Jesus "I love you" three times, one for every time he denied Jesus. Then he was told to follow him. 

God gives us a chance to redeem ourselves, so we can be more confident and be more at peace with ourselves. Then he gives us a chance to follow him again.

Jesus also gives each one of us the chance to redeem ourselves. Our own rebanse from our sins towards him. He calls us to live right, and when we fall, we have the sacrament of reconciliation where we can confess and receive forgiveness, so we can again follow Jesus. He calls us to serve him always. And even if we say no he continues to call us, until we say yes to him. 

God is not a "one-false-move-you-die" God. God is a God of second chances. One mistake will not be enough to keep you from following Him. He will always be the gracious winner, giving us a rebanse - a chance to redeem ourselves and do things right. 

We all sin. We all hurt God. And as God gave us the sacrament of reconciliation, he is also giving us a chance to make up for it. To do good. To spread his love to others - especially during this challenging time. We should take the opportunity and make it up to him. 

When was the last time I hurt Jesus? When was the last time I sin? What do I feel about it? Did I do something about it? When was the last time I confessed? As I receive forgiveness, do I make the most out of it and do my best not to sin again? What is God telling me today? With the pandemic, how can I serve him better? 

May we always make the most out of the opportunity God gives us to be on track and live right with Him. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Friday. Thank you for being so generous and merciful. Lord, I thank you for being so patient with me. Thank you for loving me so much. Lord, thank you for always giving me a chance to redeem myself from my sins, from hurting you, and from saying no to you. Thank you for giving me a chance to be at peace with myself so I can love and serve you better. Sorry for hurting you. Sorry for bailing out on you when the going gets tough. Sorry for all my sins and for all my excuses. Help me make the most out of your goodness. Help me live right as you forgive me. May I take every opportunity to get back to you and to be used by you. Use me mightily, despite all my weaknesses and failures, to glorify your name. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-


Daily Readings

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

Lectionary: 301

Reading I 

King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea
on a visit to Festus.
Since they spent several days there,
Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying,
“There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
I answered them that it was not Roman practice
to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers
and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
So when they came together here, I made no delay;
the next day I took my seat on the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought in.
His accusers stood around him,
but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus who had died
but who Paul claimed was alive.
Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy,
I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem
and there stand trial on these charges.
And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody
for the Emperor’s decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”

Responsorial Psalm

R.        (19a)  The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
            and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
            and forget not all his benefits.
R.        The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
            so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
            so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R.        The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
            and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
            you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
R.        The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”


Christ is Risen!

The WORD today reminds me that  Christ is Risen and has won over sin and death. The gospel tells us different accounts/stories about Christ’...