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. 

Feb. 8, 2012 – Mark 7:14,15-23 - The tradition of the Elders

The gospel speaks about the difference between external observance of the law of God and the spirituality of the heart. Christianity tells us the state of the heart and the importance of the laws of love. Loving thy neighbor is the second most important commandment of God. If we show loving kindness to one another, we are following his commandments. Keeping the law at the expense of others is not following the law of God. Jesus said that the holiness, purity and wholeness of a person come from within. It is not just the external things that we do that makes us holy like fasting, alms giving and attending mass. It is necessary that we must show our love to others, care for them and do good things. If we disregard these things, we think only of ourselves and evil things will come out from us.   

Feb. 6, 2012 – Mark 6:53-56 – Healing the Sick in Gennesaret

The gospel talks about Jesus’ tremendous compassion to those who are sick. Compassion means “to suffer with” so one who is compassionate is one who is sensitive to the needs of others. When we see children in distress, we are alarmed so we become compassionate. Everyone has the ability to compassion. But there are other people who are so pre-occupied with many things that they don’t know care about the agony of others. By following Christ, we can become compassionate and concerned of others than ourselves.

Compassion is not only knowing but feeling the sufferings of other people. By just knowing or noticing how people are being maltreated and tortured is not enough. We have to relive and to act something about the sufferings we see around. We must seek in our hearts what Christ wants us to do those who are being tormented. Christ will help us open our hearts to compassion and let people know that we care for them.

Feb. 4, 2012 – 1 King 3:7,9-13 - Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

The message of the reading is about an understanding mind and heart which is wisdom, the ability to discern between good and evil. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of wisdom. He gives not just knowledge or information but wisdom to those who ask and are entitled for it. Once we have the gift of wisdom, God wants us to share it with others thru evangelization. The gospel is a nursery of wisdom. It speaks about how to live, love and die in peace. So we have to share the gospel and use our wisdom to control our lives. 

Feb. 3, 2012 – Sirach 47:7,811 - David

God chose sinners to lead the church like David, Peter, Paul, Isaac, Jeremiah and other prophets or saints. He used these people to accomplish His purpose. He picked ordinary persons as His instruments to do extraordinary things. God wants these persons to be something of value for the building of His realm. What God liked about David is his humility of being able to recognize that he is nothing without His Saviour. David knew that all the good things that happened in His life came from God. David realized his faults and asked for forgiveness. 

In the present days, God also choses ordinary and extraordinary people to proclaim His kingdom. If we feel we are chosen by God thru our vocation, we just have to imitate these people in our biblical history to do what we are supposed to do. Our sins don’t hinder God’s plan for us if we realize that it is our faults. So what we need is to be humble and ask forgiveness from God.

Feb. 1, 2012 – 2 Samuel 24:10,14,15-17 - Judgement on David’s sin

The reading speaks about why is there suffering in our lives. Suffering reveals who we are; it pushes us to the limits as we try to break the bondage of slavery of sin. When we come to our senses we ask ourselves why this is happening. Just like Jesus who suffered as He carried His cross, we also have suffering in our lives, our own cross to bear. Suffering creates something like a vocation, a way of life or a calling from God. He sends messages thru our suffering what He wants us to do by following His footsteps. Once we understand what these suffering means to our lives, we can continue to live and keep going. It is not money or power that can remove suffering but prayer. We can prove to God that we can endure it despite the hardship and pains we are undergoing.

Jan. 28, 2012 – Feast of the Holy Infant Jesus

Senor Santo Nino

Father Felix Linatoc advised the laity in his homily about our continued devotion to Senor Santo Nino, the Holy Infant Jesus, during the anniversary mass at St. Ambrose Church.  Our devotion to the Holy Infant Jesus reminds us of our love for our children. When we love our children, we create an atmosphere of affection.  We have to tell them to remember the word FAMILY (Father and Mother I Love You) so they would know the value of having a family.  We must make it a habit to show our love for our children thru words and actions like kissing them and saying nice words when we tucked them into bed. We should also teach them how to respect elders and priests and to attend mass every Sunday. Moreover, our devotion does not excuse us from illness and disease but it symbolizes our openness to God’s blessings and protection.