“Praise be to Christ” says the floor of the Church of the Beatitudes, Galilee, Holy Land, 2019.
Our loving Father in heaven:
Thank you very much for the gift of church, especially beautiful and lovely churches where we encounter you in prayers and the sacraments.
How amazing that these churches “breathe” with their walls, “whispering” to you the many praises and thanksgiving of countless people who have encountered you there.
Whenever I come inside a church, I try to feel your presence as well as those other faithful including those who have gone home to you in heaven.
Indeed, we your “chosen people as living stones” are your buildings, your temple and dwelling place.
Whenever we enter a church, we also enter you, our God as you fill us with life like those fruitful trees saw by Ezekiel in the first reading growing on the banks of the river flowing from the temple.
Forgive us when we destroy our bodies and our communities, forgetting that we are your temple.
Forgive us when we refuse to celebrate the Sunday Mass with our fellow believers.
St. John Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, our Mother Church. Photo by Arch. Philip Santiago, 2017.
As we celebrate today the Feast of the Dedication of the Mother of all churches, the Major Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, remind us also to take care of our churches, to always maintain their sacredness, do away with all profanities and “shows” so many priests and lay people are now so fond of doing forgetting it is always your house, not ours.
Breathe into us your life-giving Spirit, Lord Jesus, for us to create a space within us and in our churches for you to come and renew us. Amen.
Romans 15:14-21 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 16:1-8
Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa in Carigara, Leyte last September 2019.
Before everything else, O loving Father as we praise and thank you for this new day, we fervently pray for our brothers and sisters severely affected by the rains and floods up north in Cagayan as well as those displaced by the effects of earthquakes last two weeks in Mindanao.
Take care of them and make us more sensitive to their plights that we may be moved to do something concrete for them.
Like St. Paul, fill us with the same Holy Spirit, with zeal and enthusiasm to always do your work, Lord.
But I have written to you rather boldly in some respects to remind you, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the Gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:15-16
Fridays for everyone is the end of school and/or work, a time to celebrate and have fun; the most welcome break of the week. But with you, Lord, you never stop working for us, with us, and in us.
Like St. Paul, fill us with yourself, O God which is the literal meaning of “enthusiasm” from the two Greek words, “en theos”, “be filled with God”.
Like St. Paul, may we never stop proclaiming you and your salvation joyfully even among those who have known you, Lord.
In this world of so much competition and rat race with no clear winners at all, make us realize like the shrewd steward in today’s gospel that being wise is giving more importance to people and persons and relationships than money and wealth. Amen.
Love can never be defined because it is a reality that cannot be restricted to certain parameters unlike other words or virtues or concepts for that matter.
The most we can do about love is describe it.
And, live it — as St. Paul has been telling us this week in our daily readings.
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:9-10
Photo by Ms. Jo Villafuerte, Atok, Benguet, 01 September 2019.
There lies the beauty of love, in being sincere, being true.
Not fake as we know and must have experienced somehow.
Sincere literally means “without plaster” that came from two Latin terms, sin for without and cerofor plaster.
In ancient Rome, good sculptures were highly prized, must be “sin cero” – no plaster and purely carved out from wood or stone. Like in the usual practice today, some sculptors “fake” their work with plasters (masilya) to cover uneven surface or disfigured portion that eventually wears out.
To love sincerely means loving like Jesus without strings attached, not expecting anything in return.
But, how can we love sincerely when others are so untrue with their love to us? How can we hate evil and hold on to what is good when people continue to hurt us, or oblivious to their wrongdoing and sins? Most of all, how can we anticipate one another with honor when nobody seems respectable at all these days?
It is always difficult to love because it is also difficult to be true when everything is artificial these days.
And that makes love beautiful not only because it is true but it is something we assert and insist despite the many evils around us.
Violets in our old sacristy, 2016.
Love becomes more beautiful when it is hurt and rejected, continuing to love, doing good and showing kindness even if others are not true because it is only then in pains and sufferings when more love is born and summoned from within us.
The more tears we shed, the more love flows to clean the mess.
Love never runs out, never dries up like a well or a river. It is the greatest virtue and gift we can have as St. Paul tells us in another letter because in the end, only love remains as it is from God who is Love himself.
When our love is true, no matter how untrue are the people around us, for as long as we love in Christ, the more we are able to love, the more love we have to share and give. The more we love, the more love we receive; withhold love, keep love to yourself, that is when you lose love.
Photo by Mr. Chester Ocampo, multi-media artist, and teacher (October 2019).
Brothers and sisters: owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8
During his last supper, Jesus mentioned to his Apostles about his new commandment of loving each other as “I have loved you”.
Though other ancient sages have taught about love or similar attitudes especially in the East long before Jesus Christ’s coming, his commandment was new because it is a love rooted in God. More than a moral prescription or a code of conduct as seen in other religions and cultures, Christian love is so unique because it is rooted in God who is love himself.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s first encyclical issued on Christmas 2005.
Love is the only thing asked of us by God; hence, any failure to love is always a sin.
How sad that in this age of affluence and sophistication in terms of technology and knowledge, men and women are getting more isolated and alienated, giving rise to hosts of mental illnesses that lead into rising incidence of suicides worldwide.
One usual complaint of many people, young and old alike, is the lack of love. They always ask “where is the love?” even in the midst of every relationship that have become transactional in nature, forgetting the human face longing for affection, crying inside, alone.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another because it is love that defines us; without love, we are nothing.
To live is essentially to love.
If you have love in your heart, you have been blessed by God; If you have been loved, you have been touched by God.
Romans 14:7-12 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 15:1-10
Betania Tagaytay, August 2017.
Dearest Lord Jesus:
It seems more rains are coming today as I watched the rains last night amid dark skies with only a few stars above to accompany the moon. What a sight to behold as darkness enveloped us with the trickling of rains calming my soul while listening to St. Paul:
Brothers and sisters: none of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
Romans 14:7-8
Thank you very much Lord for your wonderful gift of self to us!
Indeed, you are the gift and the giver at the same time.
Thank you for making each of us a small universe, self-contained but not totally complete if separated from you and from others. May we always share this gift of self with others by keeping us one in you and with you.
You are our “deep space”, our “big bang”, always expanding, ever growing, bursting with life and meaning.
May we not be bothered like the Pharisees and scribes when people seek you more than us for we are mere stars leading them to you.
May we search and bring back to you the other dead stars and lost stars of this universe we call life. Amen.
Yaman rin lang naumpisahan ko nang balikan natutunan sa pagdidilig ng mga halaman, narito naman aking kinamumuhian sa nilalang na luntian.
Hindi ko malilimutan noon sa aking kabataan nang ako'y mapagalitan ni inay nang pagmuntikanan ko nang maluray alaga niyang halaman kailan ko lamang nagustuhan.
Tuwing aking dinidiligan aming mga halaman palagi kong iniiwasan maski mawiligan mga cactus dahil aming napag-aralan namumuhay mga ito sa disyerto kahit walang ulan.
Hindi ako nahiwagaan sa naturang katangian bagkus aking pinagtakhan bakit ang cactus inalagaan di naman pala kailangang diligan bukod sa di kakitaan ng kagandahan?
Doon nagsimula itong aking kalokohan o kademonyuhan, wika ng aking ina nang unti-unti kong hiwaan berdeng laman iniiwasan mga tinik na nakatirik gamit bago kong laseta na nabili sa bangketa pagkagaling sa eskuwela.
"Ano ngayon iyong laban?", pahibang kong binulungan itong cactus na aking sinaktan habang pinagmamasdan mga dagta tila baga luha ng halamang nasugatan.
Nang ako'y kinagalitan ng aking inang, iisa lamang kanyang tanong at wala akong naitugon: "Inaano ka nitong halaman, bakit mo ginawan ng ganyan?"
Pagkaraan ng mahabang panahon akala ko'y nakalimutan ko na 'yon ilang pagkakataon kalooban marahil ng Panginoon sa aking pagdarasal at pagninilay sumasagi sa aking atensiyon halamang wala akong pakialam noon.
Katulad ng kanyang mumunting tinik nakasalubsob na tumitirik, sumasagitsit ang sakit sa aki'y cactus nagtatanong, ibig makasumpong maliwanag kong tugon: "Hindi mo ba ako kayang tanggapin, kilalanin at mahalin sa ganang aking sarili?"
Sa cactus din nasasalamin karunungan at kabutihan ng Diyos natin lahat ng nilikha niya sadyang mabuti magkakaiba man ng uri at itsura lahat tumanggap ng kanyang hininga nakikibahagi sa buhay niyang nakabibighani.
Paalala ng cactus sa atin tanggapin bawat isa sa atin hindi sagwil pagkakaiba-iba natin bagkus marahil ito magpapabuti sa atin upang buksan kalooban natin sa maraming inihahaing pagkakataon itong buhay natin.
Romans 13:8-10 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 14:25-33
Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa, market in Carigara, Leyte, September 2019.
Glory and praise to you, O God, for this Wednesday!
Your words through St. Paul today are very encouraging and reassuring as well.
Brothers and sisters: owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8
How sad, O Lord, that these days, one of the cries and questions we either hear or ask is “where is the love?”.
Even in our personal relationships, we have forgotten love and kindness, mercy and forgiveness, always insisting on the letters of the laws disregarding the human face crying for help, crying in pain.
We have become so materialistic and legalistic, going into the details and other nitty-gritty in life forgetting the warmth of a human face, of a person.
It is love that defines who we are; without love, we are nothing!
Love speaks well of you, O Lord our God whom we believe in; without love, then, we have become monsters and Antichrists!
In the midst of our many transactions today, let us keep in mind to “owe nothing to anyone except to love one another”!
As I start this day, fill me with your Holy Spirit to cleanse and purify me with your breath, with your life, with your joy. Empty me of my pride, fears, insecurities and replace these with your humility, justice and love.
Help me renounce things that I am supposed to own yet possess me in reality so that only you, Jesus, always you, Jesus whom I shall only have and share. Amen.
Romans 12:5-16 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 14:15-24
Photo by Mr. Chester Ocampo, October 2019.
Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you in darkness, desolate and sad with so much pains and fears. And anger.
You are the only one I can turn to, Lord.
You alone are the one who can heal me and console me.
You alone can fill me with life and love.
Like the psalmist, it is only in you, O Lord, can I find peace.
Help me to respond to St. Paul’s call today:
Brothers and sisters: Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:9-10
How can our love be sincere and not hate evil or even show honor to those who continue to do evil against us?
O sweet Jesus, give us the courage to come to your “banquet”; enable us to let go of our many excuses like those you have invited to your banquet.
It is only in communing in you, in being with you can our love be sincere, Lord, when we are able to disarm ourselves of our doubts and anxieties, fears and hatred to receive you and share you with others. Amen.
Lawiswis Ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-04 ng Nobyembre 2019
Mga lumot sa Malagos Gardens, Davao City, Agosto 2017.
Mula pa sa aking pagkabata naroon na aking pagkabighani sa mga lumot na tila baga may naghahabi mumunting alpombra sa mga gilid at tabi-tabi.
Hindi gaanong naabot ng liwanag mga mumunting halaman ang lumot mahiwagang sumusulpot maski sa mga sulok madaling lumalaganap waring sila'y mga nalimot.
Kay lamig sa paningin itong mga lumot kung susuriin tila baga nagpapahiwatig himig ng lilim at dilim, tinig ng mahalumigmig.
Mga lumot sa St. Paul Spirituality Center, Alfonso, Cavite. Setyembre 25, 2019.
Kamakailan ko lamang napagtanto aral na ibig ipaabot marahil ng mga lumot sa atin na laging nalulungkot, nakasimangot lalo na't kung ating buhay ay masalimuot.
Paalala marahil sa atin ng mga lumot hindi man maabot at mabaanaagang lubos ng sikat ng araw, sa lilim ng kadiliman maaaninag pa rin busilak na luntian.
Katotohanan at ganda nitong ating buhay bumubukal saan man ilagay ng Maykapal pahalagahan, pangalagaan dahil walang kapantay paalala ng lumot huwag sanang malimot.
Patak-dugo at lumot, St. Paul Spiritality Center, Alfonso, Cavite. Setyembre 25, 2019.
Monday, Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, 04 November 2019
Romans 11:29-36 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 14:12-14
Sculpture of a homeless man sleeping on a bench fronting the Franciscan Fathers’ Residence in Capernaum, the Holy Land. On closer examination of the sculpture, one realises it is in fact Jesus Christ living in our midst! Photo by the author, May 2019.
Praise and glory to you, our heavenly Father!
Thank you very much for never changing your mind regarding your gifts and call to us as St. Paul reminds us today in our first reading:
Brothers and sisters: The gifts and call of God are irrevocable.
Romans 11:29
It is always a struggle with us to come to grip with this truth and reality.
Very often, we tend to forget your gifts and call to us to be holy, to be like you in Christ Jesus, always kind and loving, forgiving and merciful, just and understanding.
There is always that inner temptation within us to think too much of ourselves, to have our rewards or share of the fruits of our labor.
Help us to keep in mind like St. Charles Borromeo, who despite his very colourful and illustrious background, he lived out his call and vocation to the priesthood exactly as your servant, Lord.
Help us to forget our selves so we may always see you, Lord, among the poor and needy, the ones who cannot pay us back, or invite us to dinner. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music, 03 November 2019
My cousin Joyce Pollard-Lopez with Tony during their honeymoon 40 years ago in Greece, still together and very much in love with each other!
It’s the end of a long weekend of bonding and prayers for the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day that ushered in the penultimate month of every year that is November.
Let us not forget that on these days dedicated for our departed loved ones, we are also reminded to remember more of God and those people he sends us to experience his immense love for us.
They are the people who have profoundly changed us into who we are today, that made us live like we never existed before…
So you ask me what do I see When I look in your eyes I see things that have never existed before Shall I tell you all that I find In those beautiful eyes I can try But it never existed before
The silvery moon… a walk in the park The tunnel of love… a kiss in the dark The light of the stars… the clouds in the sky The fireworks on the fourth of july And you ask me what do I hear When you whisper my name Music plays that has never existed before
Oh, and I don’t know why But it’s there just the same And it’s plain that it never existed before The song of the rain the flowers in spring The wind in the willow trees murmuring The laughter that falls the children at play Like church bells that call all the people to pray So you ask me why do I glow Well, I think you should know I’m in love and I never existed before
Minnie Riperton co-wrote this song released in May 9, 1979 as part of her fifth and final album called Minnie.
Two months later, Minnie died of cancer at the age of 31.
Never Existed Before speaks so well of how Minnie had experienced the great love of her husband Richard Rudolph especially in her long struggle against cancer.
The song leaves no trace of her great sufferings as Minnie herself was filled with joy by actively working for her advocacies in cancer prevention and research.
Beautiful voice, beautiful woman, and beautiful song.
Just like Zacchaeus.
He only had one desire – to see Jesus who surprised him by coming into his house as a guest!
It is a story of faith, no matter how little it may be for as long as there is that desire for God.
Jesus comes first in our hearts, to those who truly seek him in their hearts.
And the mark of being saved and loved by Jesus is to be filled with joy like Zacchaeus who promised to change his life and even repay those he had cheated.
Truly, any encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ can change us deeply to live differently, like we never existed before.
