Dec. 31, 2011 - NEW YEAR'S WISH LIST

It has been a wonderful year in 2011 for most of us although we encountered difficulties and struggles along the way. We cannot deny that there are negative forces that exist in our world and therefore we have to do something to counteract these things. It is through prayer and faith in God that will keep us strong and have meaningful lives.   

My wish list for the coming New Year includes the gifts that changes lives such as the following:

• blessings and encouragement for parents to perform their duties at home and for children on their studies;
• more satisfying jobs for the unemployed;
• peace, healing and justice for all those who are sick and suffering, victims of injustice, oppression, harassment, maltreatment;
• good health and God’s grace to those who are servants of the Lord with wisdom, compassion and faith;
• charity and generosity to the poor, depressed and underprivileged,
• compassion, wisdom, courage and  strength for leaders and workers to find cure and solution to major problems in Canada and the world. 

My New Year’s resolution are to be more aware of the things I say to others, be conscious of my diet and ever more mindful of my relationship with the Lord. What is in your New Year’s wish list?

MARYS PHARMACY WISHES EVERYONE TO

HAVE A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR IN 2012!

Dec. 29, 2011 – 1 John 2:8 - A New Commandment

The message of the reading is about Jesus as the light of the world. Whoever follows Him will never be in spiritual and moral darkness. God created us in His image and likeness. God made us for beauty, truth, love and light. He gave us the light of reason and conscience which serves as tools we can use to help us  live wisely in the present world. There is science and technology which is a stumbling block in our lives that causes us to fight one another and as a result we become economic slaves. As it is written "Whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness and does not know the way to go because the darkness has brought on blindness." But if we have faith in God and embrace His ways, we live in the light of God.

Dec. 25, 2011 - CHRISTMAS DAY

What does Christmas mean to you? For me, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! As the song goes, so our expectation about the holiday season of gift giving. It is a time of sharing most especially, for the children. When we give to children, we must remember that whom we are giving is the baby born in the manger. Christmas is a historical event and we have to understand what had happened in Bethlehem. It is a time to reflect our journey in life as we become closer to God.

We’re so caught up in the busy world of shopping, partying, exchange gifts and the like. But we have to realize that the true meaning of Christmas is about the nativity of the Lord. We have to worship and rejoice at the miracle birth of the Saviour who brought us into this world.

Mary’s Pharmacy wish you all a

Merry Christmas!

Joyeux Noël

Feliz Navidad!

Maligayang Pasko!

The Birth of John The Baptist

The message for today’s gospel is about obeying God’s will. We can ask why and how do we go about what God wants us to do in our life. If we disobey God, we are committing a sin and must ask forgiveness. Therefore, we should accept God’s will and carry our cross. When we carry our cross, we rely on God for strength and as we become closer to him, we develop a deeper kind of relationship with Him. And in the silence of our hearts, God speaks. Just like Zechariah who doubted the wisdom of God, he was given the cross of being mute. In our life situation, how do we carry our own cross?

The Eternal Covenant of Peace

In today’s reading taken from the Book of Prophet Isaiah, also called the Book of Salvation, God speaks to us telling us not to fear nor be discouraged.  God has promised that His love is steadfast and His covenant of peace shall not be removed.  The Lord is compassionate for those who suffer shame and disgrace. We must remain faithful to God to enable us to live our life with hope and strength in times of troubles. Have you encountered shame and disgrace in your life and put back yourself into God’s hands?

Dec. 5, 2011 - Luke 5:7-26 - Jesus Heals a Paralytic

The gospel for today speaks about how God cured a paralysed man. In our present world, our body becomes paralyzed because of fear and despair. We become slaves in our own world and cannot move because we are afraid that something might happen to us. 

What we need is for someone who would help us remove the stumbling block of fear; someone who have strong faith in God who will carry us to Jesus. And by our faith we will be healed. Has someone helped you to be closer to God?