Monday, April 30, 2012

The Far Greater Things


When confronted with decisions, letting go of what we are used to, is difficult because we tend to look only on the things that we are to give up, without looking at the far greater things that we are about to receive.

by aats

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Desire is not Enough


So many young people talk a lot about how they love going on mission and doing something for God and others but when confronted with the call, they back out.

You asked them how they feel about the mission, they would reply with an exciting sharing of passion and conviction and yet when asked if they are going fulltime for the Lord, they got cold feet.  They would tell you that they would love to go all out for the Lord, that is there desire, in fact, there deepest desire. But it seems like, when considerations of so many things are included already; the calling is less heard anymore and soon ignored.

If we summarize all the reasons, we can sum it up in two:

1.    Fear of the unknown – we don’t know what will happen to us in the mission. Something unknown is scary.

2.    The things to give up – there are so many things that we had accustomed to that has become a comfort zone for us. Giving it up is hard.


Two things that may help us overcome these reasons:

1.    Trust – all of us, whether in mission or secular works, faces situations were we had to decide on something we are not so sure of; new job to take, new work place, new relationships. All we need is trust. If we want to be sure, then we can never be surer than to decide with and for God. If we can trust our own instinct, how about including God in our decisions?

Come to think of this, when we ride a plane, we trust the pilot that he will take off and land the plane safely. No matter how safe the seat belt is, overall safety still lies in the hands of the pilot. How much more should we trust our heavenly pilot who will take us off and land us safely in this journey called life? We will never know what lies ahead if we don’t try.

2.    Courage – when we are confronted with decisions, the tendency is to look at the things that we have to give up. The moment we count on the things that we have to leave behind, we cannot afford to give up anymore because we will think it’s too costly for a call.  But come to think of it, when we answer the call, yes, we are leaving some things behind, but we forget to look at the things we are actually about to receive.

We all have different kinds of blessings in our hands and we don’t want to let go of them, but how can we receive new ones if we don’t empty our hands? There are far greater things that lie ahead and all we need to experience them is a little courage to say yes.

The desire to go on mission is not enough; it will not take us to the finish line. We have to do something with our desire. We have to act and work for it. 


by aats

Friday, April 27, 2012

Dominus Est!



John 21:7

Dominus Est! It is the Lord! Our theme taken from John 21:7 is one of the most dramatic scene after resurrection of our Lord. Peter probably a bit sleepy and worn out because they had been fishing all night and caught nothing, suddenly was caught off guard and only found out it was Jesus who caused the large number of catch when He said, “Cast down the net.” It is good to note, that when Peter was told that it was the Lord, he right away jumped into the sea to meet Jesus. In the midst of sorrow because their savior was crucified, he was still very much connected to Him.

Doing what they used to do before they were called to be fishers of men, they returned to the sea. Isn’t it frustrating, here you are, already in sorrow because your Lord has just been crucified, fishing all night long and not even a single fish you caught? It might have been tiring, wearisome and frustrating. It was almost daybreak, when suddenly a man out there in the beach said to them, “Cast down the net.” And they did, probably saying, well we have nothing to lose we had been fishing all night and might as well give this a last chance. When they did, they caught large numbers of fish! It was a surprise but for Peter it opened his tired, wearied and frustrated eyes to the miracle and recognized rightly that it can only be Jesus who can do it.

What a faith! What a holy longing for a second chance, knowing that Peter had denied Him 3 times. Here comes an opportunity to correct the wrongs and ask for forgiveness. Imagine, you did something wrong to someone and you were not able to catch a chance to ask for forgiveness because the person passed away already? And then suddenly it turned out that the person is alive after all? Dominus Est experience indeed! For Peter it was beyond the miracle of the catch, it was personal redemption. A second chance to right the wrong! God indeed is a God of not just second chances but of infinite chances.

Isn’t it affirming that after all night long without catch in this life, we are tired, wearied and frustrated, when things seems to be hopeless and without mercy, comes the Lord?

May we like Peter and the disciples, recognize God in our tiredness, weariness and frustrations of life, knowing that it is in these very situations that the Lord comes. The challenge for us is to recognize Him in these circumstances, for indeed what we may think as a catchless night will actually end with a bountiful catch and what we may think as breaking point conditions are actually breakthroughs.

Grant us o Lord the grace to recognize you, in our tiredness, weariness and frustrations in life, for it is in these very situations that You come. Amen.

by aats

Thursday, April 26, 2012

7 Point Guide to Self Fulfillment


CNN’s Piers Morgan interviewed the Dalai Lama. Listening to the answers of a holy man like him is such uplifting experience. Simple and little things are what we need to be happy. Morgan at the end said that in America they spend $11 billion on the self-help and self-improvement industry. He further said, “We look outside ourselves to find happiness that we forget to look within our own actions and practices. But the Dalai Lama has a cheaper way of finding happiness.”

Here are the Dalai Lama’s words of wisdom in his 7 Point Guide to Self Fulfillment:

1. The practice of love can be expressed in one sentence: ‘Do not harm others’.
2. The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.
3. The point of our existence as human beings is that we live purposeful, meaningful lives.
4. If we want spiritual development, then the practice of patience is essential.
5. We have the ability and the responsibility to choose whether our actions follow a virtuous path or not.
6. With inner strength or mental stability we can endure all kinds of adversity.
7.  Love, compassion and concern for others are real sources of happiness.

Very practical guides indeed from a Monk like him. This holds true no matter what our religion is. Live, laugh and be happy. 

by aats

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Relationship


Relationship has to be anchored on truth or it will not last.  Relationship anchored on lies always ends in brokenness, hurts and pains. There can never be real relationship without truth.


by aats

Monday, April 23, 2012

To see is to Believe


John 10:31:42

We want to see first before we can believe. We want to be assured. Focusing on what we see, can never sustain our faith. Faith goes beyond seeing. It is closing our eyes, so when we open it we can see with the eyes of Christ. No amount of words can persuade us to believe something if deep in our hearts we already concluded something else. We must first open our hearts and entertain some healthy doubts, so that we can examine further a situation or thing. In this way, we are allowing ourselves to be open to the endless possibilities that our faith offers. There is more than what our eyes can see.

Lord, teach us to be open so we can receive more. Amen.


by aats

Friday, April 20, 2012

Finding Yourself Against God


“If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will not only be unable to destroy them, but you might find yourselves fighting against God.”  Acts 38-39

Some people might be able to hide there true intentions by there good works, but eventually the works will show what is real in the heart. We may not be able to see the head of the serpent but the tail cannot hide. If the intentions are well and good then the works will flourish but if it is not, it will die on its own. So rather than go against those who are doing good works but whom we think are not completely honest, we rather let them continue, for we might be wrong with our judgment and ending up fighting against God.

Never judge it’s only for God. 

by aats

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

You Cannot Jail Love


Today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us about how the disciples were arrested and locked up in a prison cell. An angel rescued them and told them to go to the temple and share the new life. When the high priest checked the prison cell, they found the door locked and the guard standing on duty, yet the apostles were nowhere to be found.  A man came over and told them they are at the temple preaching to the people. Acts 5:17-26

Jesus whom the apostles are proclaiming can never be contained. Others may try to stop them from sharing but the truth whose time has come can never be stopped.  The truth is, God who is love is more powerful than any power in the world. There is no prison cell that can lock up love. God who is love triumphs! You cannot jail love; it will always find a way out because love can never be but free.

May we be envelop by your love O Lord, so we will be free. Amen.

by aats

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Nothing Else Matter


I was listening to the choir practicing in the church while waiting for the mass to start. They were singing “Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia” in such a beautiful blend of voices that I felt being lifted up. Then the songs continue, “Nothing can separate me from the love of God”. O Glorious King, Splendid Glory, Indefinable Presence, Indescribable Feeling! Glorious above yet within reach for us below!

To be in your presence nothing else matters. Thank you for the glimpse of joy that saints and martyrs tries to describe yet we failed to comprehend because to be with you is beyond what words and languages can explain. O Beauty and Love, embrace, fill and lift me up, in you I am complete.


by aats

Monday, April 16, 2012

Lonely Exile


Mission is home and at home you are not alone. But from time to time, mission, being away from your home cannot help but make you lonely.

I look at it as an affirmation that we are made for something and someone beyond our present situation. Our human incapacity to fully comprehend everything makes us lonely. We try to give meaning to every experience and encounter we had, but there are just things that are far deeper than our mind can comprehend. But just because it is mysterious does not mean it cannot be fathomed. God in all His goodness has given us glimpses of the future that we need to experience rather than try to rationalize.

As Saint Augustine had written, “My heart is restless until it rests in You.” We will be rightly lonely from time to time to remind us that we belong to something and someone beyond this earthly existence. 

by aats

Sunday, April 15, 2012

On Spratly Issue



China will never listen, honor and respect smaller countries such as the Philippines, its an old ways of big countries bullying smaller ones. It’s a wake up call for us to shape up, unite and help one another instead of pulling each other down, so we can build up our economy enough to develop our own security and stand up against harassment such as from China.

Our only hope is for China to be contented with what they have. That instead of harassing its neighbors help them develop like a big brother does.

This latest stand off is a manifestation of mans capacity, at least in this instance, shown by the Chinese leadership, is never contented. Having some is not enough; they want everything of South China Sea. Power corrupts. But history also showed us that there is limit to greed and power.

As for the United States of America, it has never been a trusted ally and never will be. It’s only the Philippines that is trying to hold on a Mutual Defense Treaty that is not at all honored by the other side. Just observe the reaction or silence of the American government in this latest stand off with China. America will always look only after there own interest, never in the interest of democracy. They always trumpeted that they are the defenders of freedom loving people and upholder of laws. Well, only if it suits their interests.

We know before how they deceived us in 1898. History showed us how they wanted Parity Rights. What kind of independence was it when your former colonizer has equal rights in full utilization and disposition of Philippine natural resources? One even only had to look at how America deal with Filipino veterans serving in the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). History will show America never honors its commitments. For the most part, ‘Palabra de Honor” (word of honor) was and is never in there vocabulary. We better look internally and start shaping up. No one will help but us.

God bless the Philippines.

by aats

Thursday, April 12, 2012

To be Shared


On the night He was betrayed He took the bread and wine and shared it to His disciple. Christ body and blood shared at the very night of the Passover. The One, who came to save us, shared everything. Like Jesus, our life is meant to be shared.

by aats

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Waste


There is one good old formula that never changes.

Good Planning + Proper Execution = Excellent Result

There are so many wastes because of either poor planning or bad execution. The worst is executing without planning. In anything that we do, being prepared matters a lot.  

Unnecessary waste of time, money and efforts is always the result. We do big favor to others and ourselves if we use this formula.

Never wastes plan ahead and execute well.

by aats
 
 

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Glory to God in the Highest


“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of goodwill.” So was the proclamation of joy of all Christians celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

There is something unique about Easter Sunday. It’s because of all Christian celebration; it is the only one that no human being had come back to life and share the experience of resurrection. We can relate about Christmas, because everyone has birthdays. We can relate on the washing of the feet, or of suffering and death but not about human experience of resurrection. It is indeed a celebration of faith and hope, faith that there is life after death and hope that everything will be well in the end. Our life here is not an accident and we are part and parcel of the greater plan of God.

It maybe so hard to relate to resurrection but it’s the central mystery of our faith that makes Christianity. Without resurrection life is hopeless and existence meaningless. I believe in it as much as I believe in the God who made me for eternity.

He is risen indeed, glory to God in the highest!

by aats

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Are You Really Busy?


Busyness is never a reason of not serving God. Was He busy in answering your prayers? There is no such thing as busy, only right priorities. What is your priority? Are you really, really, really busy? Don’t wait for God to tell you He is busy to even bother your prayers. We can never demand an answer to our prayers when we cannot even find time for Him. If you can find time for family, friends, and works, then, why not for God?

by aats

Attending Mass and Leaving Early



There are people who go to mass every Sunday and then right after communion are racing already in going out of the church because they don’t want to catch the traffic in the parking area. This is a worst tragedy! Here you are trying to spend time with God an hour or so of your entire week and not finishing it. It’s like going into a movie house and not watching the last few scene of the movie.

How many hours do you have for yourself in a week? And even for an hour or so, you cannot give to Him? Worst you even shortchanged it for a lame reason of wanting to go first away from the parking area because of traffic.

Don’t go to mass, if you plan ahead of not finishing it. How dare you received Christ in communion and never finish the mass. Are you not ashamed of yourself, you partake in the meal and leave right away? Do that to a friend who invited you for a meal or imagine you inviting friends for a dinner and they leave right after they eat without even bothering to tell you that they are leaving! Here we are partaking in a heavenly banquet, more than any highest banquet we can experience on earth. We totally missed the whole point!

We cannot shortchange God. How dare are we to receive the communion and leave as soon as we received it. Gatecrasher! How dare you shortchange the God who has given you everything, good life, good job, good family, and good country! You will say, you are busy, and the priest has so many announcements. So what now, what is additional 30 minutes? It’s not even 10% of your total time for the entire week that you spent for yourself. Be warned of what is written in the Gospel of Luke chapter 12:13-21, it says, Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Let us not wait for trials to come before we acknowledge Him. Let us change our ways before it’s too late. Never shortchange God.  

by aats

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Overwhelmed


God is a God of surprises. He loves to overwhelm us with blessings. You will just be ashamed of how good He can be despite of what we have done contrary to His will.

We bow down in thanksgiving acknowledging our unworthiness to received such blessings and with deeper resolve to use it all for His greater glory.

Let us not just be good giver, but good receiver as well. 

by aats

Monday, April 2, 2012

Passion Sunday


Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, commemorating the triumphant entry of our Lord in Jerusalem. It is also called Passion Sunday because the gospel reading is the narration of the passion of Christ. It marks the start of the holiest week in Christendom. Passion according to Merriam-Webster website is an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction. Furthermore its origin as a word says Dictionary.com, comes from 1125–75, Middle English  (Old French), Medieval Latin, which means Christ's sufferings on the cross.

It was Jesus passionate love for each person, deep and abiding desire to save humanity and intense conviction that His own example is the only way for mankind to be saved from themselves, that leads Him to the cross.  The effects reverberates even today thousands of years after His death.

Passion drives us to do something beyond what society may define as foolishness. May our intensity in proclaiming His message of love, be matched and even be surpassed by the intensity of putting it into practice in our lives.

Grant us O Lord the grace to be passionate in making real and concrete Your gospel in our lives. Amen.

by aats