The The Lord is my Shepherd…(Psalm 23:1)
I am truly thankful. Amen.
#TuesdayMorningMusings
Become Rich In What Matters to God (cf. Luke 12:13-21)
“Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.” (Luke 12:21)
At this stage of our following Christ, our journey of discipleship, we are invited and confronted anew, as baptised Christians, as consecrated persons, with the basic question: what are we living for? what brings us real lasting happiness?
What do we consider most important in life, in our life as a Christian, as a religious?
Are there more important things for me, for us than material goods, wealth (money) and position or power? Do we consider and believe, rather, are we aware and truly convinced that the love of God and neighbor, friendship and affection, service, sharing of our God-given gifts/blessings/talents and concern for others are greater and lasting and worth living for? That these give meaning to our life at present, at this point in time?
Such is the good news and the challenge that the Word of God, the scripture invites us to examen ourselves… and, to renew as we journey on in this life of following Jesus, of discipleship.
What answer do we give to Jesus?
We pray:
Dear God, help us to become rich in your sight.
When we choose to stay in our comfort zones; When we tend to place our security in persons, in the things we have; When we become selfish and ego-centered that we become blind and fail to share with those who suffer and are in need…
Teach us, Lord God, to be generous in sharing. Help us to value and choose that which truly matter.
Help us that we may put all our trust and hope in you.
Amen.
Martha and Mary, within Us…
(Faith-lights for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:42)
Reflecting on the gospel which is close to our hearts, to our being as followers-disciples of Jesus Master, we are invited and challenged to an honest and sincere examination of our consciousness in regard to our state, stance and disposition every time, every day when we go to prayer, whenever we go for our adoration before Jesus’ Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
30 years as a professed, 10 years in formation and, the present ongoing formative journey, 40 privileged years of adoring, praying and kneeling before His very Presence, for the needs of humankind, for my own personal growth in holiness, that I may be gradually transformed into His likeness… in thoughts, words, actions, that is, in the totality of one’s being and bearing.
Such has been and still is a continuous struggle and challenge we daily find ourselves faced with: sometimes we fail, sometimes we overcome failures, and, it always feels good when we become a bit more like Him, like Jesus. That somehow, rather, yes, His grace poured in overflowing abundance, works in us!
Believe. Trust. Have faith.
The Lord Jesus once again invites, reminds, and challenges us to see how much present in our every day time for prayer and adoration are the persons of Martha and Mary.
How much do we have and bring with us the pre-occupied, busy and worried with work-responsibilities attitude and disposition of Martha? How far have we been like Mary who sits still, whose mind and heart are truly focused to listen, to simply be with the Lord?
The journeys of discipleship, of following Jesus may be long, tiring, tedious. But, consolations are always in abundance. The best consolation we can always hold and cling on to is Jesus’ words: I am with you always, yes, to the end of time. (Matthew 28:20)
We pray:
Help us, Lord Jesus, to still my thoughts, mind and heart every time, everyday we come to adore and kneel before you in prayer.
Help us to let go of all distractions (in thoughts, mind and heart) that we may truly be present to you.
Help us, please, to truly listen to your Word… and, grant us the grace to be able to see you, to perceive your Presence, to hear you speak: at prayer, in life’s seemingly daily routine, in everyone, in creation, in everything.
May we, and all peoples of goodwill, be blessed with and be given the grace to be “Like Mary who chose the better part” …until Christ is formed in me, in us.
Amen.
Deo Gratias!
Faith-bits…
La tua forza è tutta in Gesù che ti sostiene in ogni fatica e difficoltà. (Suor Maria Scolastica Rivata, prima madre delle Pie Discepole del Divin Maestro)
***
Your strength is all in Jesus who sustains you in every fatigue and difficulty. (Sister Maria Scolastica Rivata, first Mother of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master)
“Peace be with you.” (John 20:20)
The 2nd Sunday of Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday, or, Mercy Sunday in the jubilee Year of Mercy. 
Jesus’ first words to the disciples are, “Peace be with you”. This is remarkable. Because we all know that all his male disciples betrayed him. They all ran away. But, Jesus did not say, “Where were you? Why did you all run away and let me suffer alone?”
Jesus does not condemn his disciples. He forgives them. He wishes them PEACE. Such is the good news that the gospel brings to us for the 2nd Sunday of Easter.
In the gospel (John 20:19-31), Jesus shows his example of being merciful. He is also inviting us, his followers, his disciples to be merciful. Just as He is forgiving, he invites and asks us to forgive, to extend understanding toward others, toward one another.
Peace, true peace is brought about by mercy, by forgiveness.
So, let us pray for the longed-for gift of the risen Christ’s PEACE in in our own hearts, in our communities, in our homes, in our broken world.
Let us pray for peace, mercy and forgiveness in hearts wounded by harsh words and careless insensitive actions.
Let us pray for peace, mercy and forgiveness in hearts wounded by the senseless terrorist acts we see and daily hear in the news.
Let us unceasingly pray for the conversion of hearts hardened and blinded by ideologies.
O risen Christ, grant us your peace.
O Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in you. Have mercy on us.
Amen.
The Father’s Boundless Love
“I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” (Luke15:18) 
The 4th Sunday of Lent liturgy reminds and gives us anew the good news of God the Father’s infinite, merciful and welcoming love as we see in the parable of the Father and his two sons.
The father welcomes the repentant son back home with joy, but the self-righteous elder son, the same with the scribes and the Pharisees, refuses forgiveness.
The repentant son was blessed with deep self-awareness of the sin, of the wrong he had done. He was graced with true humility to admit and to ask forgiveness from his father for his wrong-doing, thus, did happen the real conversion of heart.
Journeying through the Lenten season, let us ask from the Lord the same blessing that the repentant son had: the grace of a deep self-awareness to truly know ourselves, to know the wrong or sins we may do or have done that is displeasing to Him.
Let us ask for true conversion of heart not only for ourselves, but, for all, for the Church, for our leaders…
Despite repeated lapses and failings in our Christian life, in our life of discipleship, God would always, unconditionally, take us back with joy. He holds no grudges, loves us no less. For this, may we always be awed and be truly grateful.
So, we pray:
Make our love deepen and grow more mature as we continue to experience Your forgiving and merciful love, Lord God.
In turn, may we too forget and forgive, without condition and with joy, those who may have caused us hurt or pain.
Amen.
Of patron Saints and spiritual companions!
So begins my 2016 pilgrim-journey with my spiritual companions! 
My 2016 Saint protector, the Saint who would like to be my friend… and, Mary’s title I identify with the most: St. Francis of Assisi and Mary, Theotokos! 
O Most Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Happy New Year, All!
As we usher in 2016, with hearts overflowing with gratitude for 2015’s many blessings: learnings, pains and joys – our gracious, merciful and loving God reminds us anew (lest we overlook or forget!)—
God says to each and us all:
I am for you.
I love you.
I believe in you.
I will not fail you.
I will be with you.
I will provide for you.
I will bless you.
I will give you rest.
I will strengthen you.
I will answer you.
—
May God’s abiding Presence make our new year 2016 truly grace-laden, full of His mercy and peace.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The Christ is born… in our hearts!
‘What good is it that Christ was born 2,000 years ago if he is not born now in your heart?’ (Meister Eckhart)
“Lord, we do far too much celebrating your actual coming in our hearts.
I believe in God, but do I believe in God-in-me?
I believe in God in heaven, but do I believe in God-on-earth?
I believe in God out there, but do I believe in God-with-us?
“Lord, be born in my heart. Come alive in me this Christmas! Amen.”
At Christmas, and, everyday throughout this Jubilee Year of Mercy, may CHRIST be born and come alive in our hearts.
A Blessed Christmas!
Maligayang Pasko sa lahat!
… on St. Joseph.
Let us reflect on St Joseph
who played a key role in our salvation history. (cf: Matthew 1:18-25) 
St Joseph, the righteous man, whom we always see in the Gospel as a silent man, the man who dreams, the man who always does the will of God.
Two things the Family and its members can imitate and learn from Saint Joseph:
– to always dream: Dream for our family, for our community, for our brothers and sisters, for the future.
– To rest in prayer in our difficult situations.
Pope Francis words to the families on St Joseph: “Like St Joseph, Make a home for Jesus… Rest in the Lord.”
Let us all learn from St Joseph: be silent, be a man of dreams, do the will of God.
Faith-Lights ... 