- TRANSFORMING OUR DESERTS -
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Posted:Dec 6, 2008 7:28 pm
Last Updated:Dec 8, 2008 4:31 pm 2021 Views
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John the Baptist appears in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: "Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths."
The prophet's voice should awaken us from spiritual lethargy. Like the people who listen to him, we should get us on our own feet and go to meet the Lord. But first we have to look deep within us and realize that we are unprepared to meet him. The mountains of our pride and our sinfulness, the valleys of our preoccupation with the things of this world, make for an uneven path. We have to make ready a straight path for the Lord by renewal and conversion.
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- FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT -
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Posted:Nov 29, 2008 10:57 pm
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 5:40 am 1330 Views
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The first Sunday of Advent begins a new liturgical year. Advent means "coming" the coming of the Lord Jesus. Advent looks back to the past and prepares us for the Feast of Christmas which commemorates Jesus' first coming as man among us. Advent highlights the present and reminds us of the varied ways by which Jesus comes into our lives. Advent finally points to the future: the glorious coming of Christ at the end of the age.
May we stand ready so that when the Lord comes our hearts are wide open to receive Him.
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- SOLEMNITY of CHRIST the KING -
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Posted:Nov 22, 2008 11:19 pm
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 5:40 am 1317 Views
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The last Sunday in the liturgical calendar of the Church celebrates Christ, the King of the universe. The Lord Jesus, through whom and in whom all things were made, embraces within His redemptive power the whole human race. He is the same "yesterday, today and forever." All times and seasons belong to Him. He is the King of kings who reigns over "a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, kingdom of justice, love and peace."
The King is a shepherd who cares for all of us and protects us. He is the first fruits to whom everything is subjected. And Christ is the King who judges the nations on the basis of care and concern for the needy.
We are true subjects of Christ the King when we minister to the needs of the least in our midst, for whatever we do for them, we do for Christ.
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- YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD -
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Posted:Nov 8, 2008 9:51 pm
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 5:40 am 1284 Views
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Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Pope's official church and therefore the "MOTHER OF ALL CHURCHES." This feast celebrates our filial ties to the people, the successor of the apostle Peter in the service of love and unity.
Our readings (John 2:13-22) remind us of the different kinds of temple: the temple made of stone, the temple which is Christ's body - the CHURCH, and our body as the temple of God. Even as the feast reminds us of the beautiful structure where the Lord is worshipped, we realize that our body is the dwelling place of God through the Spirit, and so we should give it due respect.
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- WE SHARE THE FULLNESS OF LIFE -
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Posted:Nov 2, 2008 7:06 am
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 5:40 am 1260 Views
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The day after the Solemnity of ALL SAINTS, We commemorate all the Faithful Departed. Some of them are our loved ones who went ahead of us. Our belief in the Communion of Saints means that our relationship does not end with death. Those who are now in heaven intercede for us before the Lord. Those who still need purification are benefited by our prayers, but most especially by the Holy Eucharist that we offer in their behalf. Let us not forget to offer them prayers, masses with devotion that the departed souls will soon be welcomed to the joy of paradise.
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- GOD REMAINS WITH US -
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Posted:Oct 4, 2008 9:41 pm
Last Updated:Oct 11, 2008 5:38 am 1398 Views
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The Lord has given us grace in abundance. God has endowed us with natural life, bestowed on us spiritual life in Christ and make available to us the means to maintain and nurture both lives. As today's reading (MATHEW 20:1-16) remind us, after doing His part, the Lord expects from us fruits in the form of good and meaningful lives. Let us pray that we may be worthy of the good things that the Lord has done for us.[/SIZE]
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- The "YES" and the "NO" are rooted in the HEART -
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Posted:Sep 27, 2008 9:33 pm
Last Updated:Sep 29, 2008 1:57 am 1287 Views
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We speak of split-level Christianity when our day-to-day living does not correspond with our faith. The Gospel (Mathew 20:1-16)today dwells on the necessity of putting our commitment to the Lord into action. It is the person who ultimately goes to work in the Lord's vineyard who pleases him and will receive his reward.
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- THE STANGE GODS IN OUR CHURHCES AND IN OUR HOMES -
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Posted:Sep 20, 2008 9:03 pm
Last Updated:Sep 22, 2008 11:11 pm 1494 Views
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Jesus is continually inviting us to work for His kingdom. Some respond to this call early in life. For others, conversion comes later.
God is generous and gives us more than we can ever deserve. In turn we have to mirror this generosity to others, going beyond the limits of strict justice. When we see the "latecomers" our brothers and sisters who turn to God after living a dissolute life, we must encourage them in their struggle to change their ways rather than wish that they be made to pay for their sinful past. We should rejoice that God gives each of us the opportunity to work for His kingdom.
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-THE CROSS OF JESUS : A Sign that Saves, A Sign that Challenges -
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Posted:Sep 13, 2008 9:20 pm
Last Updated:May 6, 2024 5:40 am 1438 Views
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The cross is the most recognizable sign of our faith. Many times a day we sign ourselves with the cross: at the beginning and end of our prayer, or when we find ourselves in a tight situation. We give and received blessings with the sign of the cross.
The cross used to be a symbol of shame and death. But the redeeming death of the Lord made the cross a symbol of glory and redemption. It is the sign of the love of the Lord who died on the cross that we might have life to the full.
As we celebrate the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross and offer the Eucharist, let us join ourselves to Christ who renews on our altar His sacrifice on Calvary.
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- HEAL and RECONCILE -
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Posted:Sep 6, 2008 9:45 pm
Last Updated:Sep 9, 2008 7:22 am 1280 Views
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We get easily turned off by others' mistakes and wrongdoings. We can become indifferent to persons in the wrong and stay away from them.
In the Gospel today (Mathew 18:15-20), Jesus teaches us to help our erring brothers and sisters and lead them to conversation and reform. Let us pray that the Lord may soften our hearts and fill them with patience and love. And may the Holy Spirit dispose the hearts of our erring brethren to our patient urgings and concerned admonitions.
with prayers,
_SWEET ANGEL -
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