JOY in LENT

My journey of Faith has not be that of a perfect transformation.  But it a slow (very slooowww perhaps) as well as full of the ups and downs of my oh-so-colorful life.

But what struck me were the questions of: humility, forgiveness and obedience.

HUMILITY to accept ones mistakes, shortcomings.  When to be humble and all.  What will force you to be in this state amidst the power and possessions that one might have.

FORGIVENESS to oneself foremost, then to family and to our persecutors.  Is there a quota or should we say a limit as to when we forgive?  Can we just not to forget the wrong that have done to us?  

OBEDIENCE on who to follow?  When to follow and maybe we tend to question as well do we really need to OBEY?

I began to reflect on these three virtues and lemme say this-- truly a mind boggling reflection I did!  

HUMILITY should be at all times present and forever be made in order for us to be warriors of Christ.  There are times, when we feel that we are powerful because of, say a position we hold in our family, school or community, we tend to lose grip of this and try to justify our self righteous actions as serving our God.  Humility is not being the last being timid but stepping down on the pedestal and connect, relate and serve the least of our brethren.  Humility is not sitting in the corner, sulking and trying to act like you are humble enough to be a wallflower.  It is making yourself a Servant for the least of our brothers and sisters. Not a Master or Royalty.  It is seeking out and being grounded and seeking the Glory of our God.   I ask The Blessed Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit to guide me on this road to be a Humble Servant of our Father.  

FORGIVENESS is a very strong word.  We tend to be mathematical wizards on forgiveness.  Counting all the right and wrong a person has made.  Making a tab every time a person fails to meet our expectations because of  (let's face it!) weaknesses and fears.  Yes, these two are the factors why a person commits mistakes.  But are we to judge that?  When we commit mistakes, does our Father tell us "Hey you!  You've done your 4,161,996 mistake!  Am counting! Just so you know"  phrase... Hah!  We are people not divine as always been said by us.  We can forgive but will never forget... Our God is not such!  He willingly gave his LIFE in our for us to be forgiven of our sins. Right up to his last breath, He uttered such beautiful words 

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do...”(Luke 23:34)

As beautiful as these words, we Men are still not contented.  We still have to ask "  How often shall we forgive?  As many as seven times?" and our Father had answered "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).  That says it all, there is NO QUOTA ON FORGIVING...  Whew!  Truly a strong word that is!  

I read a theory of Fr. J and I quote "The only way for us to even begin to forgive is to remain connected to the person who has hurt us or gone astray." Uhhh!  So the question lies To Forgive and Forget or to Forgive and NOT Forget?  Many among us will truly place our mind and heart on the first, but what is divine is the second.  We shall truly be elated if we hear our "I forgive you and forget everything you've done wrongly".  

May I use this message to end the virtue of FORGIVENESS...  It’s similar to what the poet Rilke wrote in his Letters to A Young Poet: “Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” Change the word “frightens” to “hurts,” and hopefully you get the picture.  

LAST is OBEDIENCE.  As what I said to my class,  there are only two things in life "black and white" not gray (nor red).  Either you do good or evil.  Whom do you obey?  These very words frightens me so much that even I tremble on the very thought.  Our GOD is a merciful, loving Father.  We obey him and we get life eternal.  

In all humility, I truly can say that I am a repentant sinner and will always work my way up to be the transformed daughter of the God of goodness.  I am learning the hard way but I count them as blessings and graces that my Father God wants me to learn for me to be stronger day by day.  

Full of trust and love, I can now say, peace be with my God and will  LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL MY HEART, AND WITH ALL MY  SOUL, AND WITH ALL MY MIND, AND WITH ALL MY STRENGTH.'

Our Lady of Guadalupe

My Mother Guadalupe

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe... 
My mother...  Fifteen years have passed... And I was in shambles... But then you carried me... Took care and never left my side since then... You have treated me like your own daughter... I am a sibling to your Son... 
My mother... I was astray but then you wrap your arms around me... Protected me from evil... Instinctively saved me from the pit...
My mother... Now, that my own daughter is all grown up...I ask you to wrap your arms around her as you did to me... Protect her from the snares of temptation and evil... Clothe her with your robe of joy, love and purity...
My mother... I ask you solemnly to grant the desires of these women who are filled with longing for a child...
My mother... Thank you for making me your special and favored daughter...
I thank you my dearest Mother of Guadalupe and will continue to be your devotee throughout my life...

ON SOCIAL MEDIA/NETWORKS:

Yesterday, I was watching a talk show regarding social media... Twitter and FB... Celebrities were on the hot seats... My stand point on this...

Once you accepted a person as a "friend"; the person is privileged to place their comments, responses or suggestions to their "friends". - TRUE!

However, there is a demarcation on the above statement. This is true on constructive and positive criticisms, comments, 
responses. But how about those insensitive, rude statements. 
Does the comment above still holds true?

I believe, that as Christian Men and Women, we should put it in good use. We should inspire instead of destroy. We should learn how to be a good Citizen of Social Network. We will never get anything from bashing, lashing out crude words for our own satisfaction. 

There was a statement from the talk show host that, some people blame the parents of these people. I am saddened by this view. I pity those parents who instill good values and morals to their children. Let us not forget that even they are children-they too, have their own mind to speak. And yes, i agree, parents have a major responsibility but PARENTS do not HOLD and CONTROL their children's decisions and actions.

What harms people will eventually destroy not them but to the person who harms them. Remember what goes around; comes around.

Why do people always forget this very statement.. I too, at times, tend to forget this... :( 

Let us aspire to inspire until we expire...

In everything we do, there will always be a HIGHER & SUPREME BEING who SEES EVERYTHING.

Let us all be advocates of Good Network Use...

Motherhood...

I attended a Sunday Mass commemorating the Feast of the Our Lady of Penafrancia... And I have been enlightened once more... Thank you to my very good friend, Fr. Dan Viola who has inspired once more the church goers...

There are three stages of Motherhood namely:

1. To bear a child for 9 months
2. To give birth
3. To be a nurturing and tenderly loving Mother.

As our Faith enfolds we partake in our Mama Mary's Motherhood...

1. To bear a child for 9 months- This reflects Jesus Christ. We conceive our life with Jesus as a Christian. We want to be like Jesus, so what we do is We imitate and conceive our Faith in Jesus.
2. To give birth- Giving birth is painful. So does it mean we as Christians give birth. This simply means when we embrace Jesus-conceive Jesus and take PAINS in the sufferings of Jesus. Take pains in bringing Jesus to others. Why Pains? a lot of men and women, tend to look sideways (as if they are looking for somebody else) when you talk about Jesus. Does it hurt? Definitely, but as true Christians, we do not stop there...
3. To be nurturing and tenderly loving Mother means we Christians need to be as loving as our Mother Mary in terms of taking care of the least of our brethren. Brothers and Sisters are we.. Who take care of the sick and the dying , who visit the prison, feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give a home to those homeless and last bury the dead.

Sounds easy? Nah... Difficult they are... But when we look at this view, what if I am a Mother to this person-shall I abandon? The answer there lies in our hearts. We know what is righteous and not. We know what is in our Heart. Mind you-not brains! But our inner core- our Heart...

Blessings of Miracles and grace be with you all

INA de PENAFRANCIA

Samahan mo si INA, sa paanan ng kanyang Anak na nakapako sa krus. Duon mas malapit ka sa pagmamahal ng Diyos ang iyong Kaligtasan.

Ang katagang ito ang muningkahi ng isang pari sa isang maysakit.

akalain mo, nakagawa ang isang Pilipino ng isang dekalidad na pelikula na walang halong kalaswaan, malisya..

puno ng pagmamahal, pagkukumbaba, patawad, puno ng mga katagang pag ibig at pagmamahal.

maganda ang pelikula dahil sa pinanghuhugutan ng lakas ng mga taong bumubuo nito. dahil sa mga dasal ng mga bawat character na umiikot sa pelikula.

ang ganda ng pelikulang ito. nakakatuwang isipin at nakaka balik-pananampalataya.. sa mga bicolanos malaking bagay ito... Viva La Virgen! Viva de Penafrancia...

September Five

Monday...had my DD (daily dose)... got lots of things to do... but one thing is for sure... i know what needs to be done...

BOOK REVIEW: Have a Little Faith

I wonder why it took me a long time and my friends I say quite a long time to open this book. It is now appealing but what struck me was that...i need to read this because me daughter read it... this book might be good... so i did what i need to do.. opened the book and started reading... as what the title says-- i believe it is all about FAITH... what is this little faith... i need to find this out for myself...

first page: in the beginning...hmm... "will you do my eulogy?" and that was the beginning of the END of LIFE right? So I am struck by that... i shall go back to the book and read it..ciao for now... (0905:08:16)