March 25, 2012 – Numbers 21:5-7 - The Bronze Serpent

In his homily today, Fr. Glenn McDonald talked on how the Israelites became impatient about their plight during the time of Moses. He said we can relate this story to our lives which is full of bumps and difficulties. What we need to do is to say “I accept” to whatever difficulties and trials we are facing. We should pray for the gift of acceptance if things didn’t work out well in our lives. We should present and offer to the Lord our problems and have the gift of faith to believe that God will help us find solutions to our present situations. 

During this Lent, let us examine ourselves how we became impatient, lose hope in our sordid lives and feel sorry for the sins we have committed against God. Life is not a bed of roses or near perfection but with thorns or sufferings. God has unlimited love for everybody and he will not deny anyone who seeks help and asks forgiveness from Him.

March 16, 2012 - Mark 12:28-34 – The First Commandment

The gospel of Mark focuses on the two commandments of God, that is: To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with your all mind and with all your strength; and the other is: To love your neighbors as yourself. So how do we show our love for our neighbors? Do we discriminate other people because of their religion, background, culture, physical attributes, gender, age, etc.? Do we care for our neighbors or we just love ourselves? Do we treat doctors, lawyers, fellow workers, your boss and staff, unemployed, beggars equally? Do you see yourself as insensitive to the needs, feelings, and emotions of other people? What happiness does it bring if we just consider ourselves, protect ourselves or enrich ourselves at the expense of others? If we think only of ourselves, we detach ourselves from others and we become lonesome. Then, evil thoughts will come in which will in turn lead to a sinful life and in the end loose one’s life. What we need is the change of heart, to open our heart in loving others, to understand people’s lives, to sympathize and empathize with them. We should show our love for our neighbors by having the correct attitude towards those who are superior to us and those who are below us. If we treat others with love and respect, we will receive the same kind of treatment. Blessings and graces will abound into their lives who follow the commandments of God.

Feb. 22, 2012 – Matthew 6:1-3,4,17,18 – ASH WEDNESDAY

The reflections on the gospel is about fasting and almsgiving which are penitential rites done during lenten season. When we do fasting, we limit the intake of food and feel grateful for the food we eat everyday which are blessings from God. It then forces us to get out of our comfort zone to make some sacrifice and  become  better human beings. We should think that the money we can save in fasting can be shared to others through almsgiving especially to  those people who are deprived  of necessities in life.

 

What is also important in fasting is not the quantity of food by eating  less but by obedience to God. We follow God's plan of salvation thru the sacraments and ask for forgiveness by doing the penitence. When we recite the act of confession during the mass, particularly the words “through my faults, through my faults, through my most grievous faults”, we recognize our mistakes, errors, sins and became accountable and liable for what we have done to hurt other people. We offer our humbled hearts during the mass with the right spirit. Then, we share in the body of Christ not for human reasons but for God's reasons.

 

Fasting does not only pertain to eating less food intake but can be done thru abstaining from gossips and pursuits. It is like taming the tounge during lent. Fasting transform the renewal of our mind by giving importance to God. We focus our mind on Him and do less talking to harm others.