My Reflection for May 22, Wednesday of the Seventh Week: Mark 9:38-40

My Reflection:

Arrogance and superiority complex is something that enslaves us every once in a while. We sometimes think that we have the monopoly of knowledge about Jesus. But Jesus tells us that we don’t have it all, His name is not exclusively for us it’s for every believer.

The same is true with our daily personal lives. There are times that we fall to the trap of self-righteousness. We look down on our less educated and materially handicapped brothers and sisters. But that is very wrong; before the eyes of God almighty we are all equal none of us have an upper hand as far as He is concerned.

So let us at all times be tolerant, humble and gentle towards our fellowmen. Most especially with those who have less in life. …  

My Reflection for May 21, Tuesday of the Seventh Week: Mark 9:30-37

My Reflection:

Service or popularity? Sacrifice or honor?  As far as Jesus’ disciples were concerned in the gospel it’s popularity and honor. Many of us fall to this kind of trap we join church organization only to use it for our own selfish ends. It’s music to our eyes and ears when we are seen in the church hobnobbing with its leaders.

But this is not the true essence of following Jesus. Jesus never asked His disciples to follow Him because they will become popular and earn honor for themselves.  Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).

This statement of Jesus to the disciples echoes to our ears up to this very day. He is urging us not to use the church for our selfish ambition. He tells us to embrace humility and be ready to sacrifice everything for His church’s sake. ...

Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

My Reflection for May 20, Monday of the Seventh Week: Mark 9:14-29

My Reflection:

Faith is to believe even if we don’t see yet what we believe. It is something that we firmly hold-on even if nobody believes in us.

When Jesus cured the possessed boy the disciples asked Him why were they not able to do what He had just done. All though Jesus did not told them that they lacked faith it was very obvious that it was the cause of their failure to cure the possessed boy. What was the cause of their lack of faith? It was the disciples’ inadequate prayer life as told to them by Jesus (Mark 9:29).

In the midst of our busy life we must always find time for prayer. … 

My Reflection for May 19, Pentecost Sunday: John 20:19-23

My Reflection:

An old man was wondering how he will have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. He was often murmuring to himself, “I’m already old yet I don’t feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.” This old man is not alone in this predicament because many of us have no awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

What is the secret for us to become aware that the Holy Spirit is alive and working in our lives? The secret to unleash the presence of the Holy Spirit is a prayerful life. Not an intermittent prayer life but a life disposed to daily prayer. Perhaps we can allocate five to ten minutes everyday for prayers and meditations. Then slowly but surely the Holy Spirit will manifest its presence within us.   

In our first reading we read about the disciples and the Blessed Mother who were together  in one place. What were they doing there? They were praying until God the Holy Spirit blessed them with its indwelling presence in their lives.

The same occurrence happened in our gospel. The disciples were in one room because of their fear of the Jews and they were praying to Jesus. Then suddenly Jesus appeared to them. He greeted them with peace; afterwards He breathed on them and gave them the  presence of the Holy Spirit.

If we want to have an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit there’s no other way for us to do but to have a regular prayerful life.  Let us strongly pray for it so that we will be blessed by its presence and gifts such as: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude/Courage, knowledge and Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).  

Do we already feel the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Ang aking repleksyon para sa May 19, Linggo ng Pentekostes: Juan 20:19-23

Ang Aking Repleksyon:

May isang matandang lalaki na nag tataka kung paano niya malalaman ang presensya ng banal na Espiritu Santo sa kanyang buhay. Minsan ay nasasabi niya sa kanyang sarili ang ganito: “Matanda na ako pero hindi ko parin nararamdaman ang pag kilos ng Espirtu Santo sa aking buhay.” Ang matandang lalaki ay hindi naman nag-iisa sa ganitong sitwasyon. Sapagkat marami parin po sa atin ang hindi nararamdaman ang pag kilos ng Espiritu Santo sa ating mga buhay. 

Ano nga ba po ang sekreto para malaman natin na buhay at kumikilos ang Banal na Espiritu Santo sa ating sarili? Ang Sekreto para maramdaman natin ito ay isang buhay na may pananalangin. Hindi pananalangin na kung kailan lang natin gusto kundi isang buhay na palaging kasama ang pananalangin. 

Marahil ay pwede po tayo mag laan ng oras para dito kahit na lima hangang sampung minuto muna bawat araw. Ilalaan natin ito para gamitin natin para tahimik na makipag-usap at makipag-ugnay sa Diyos. At unti-unti ay mararamdaman din natin ang presensya ng Banal na Espiritu Santo sa ating mga buhay. 

Sa atin pong unang pag-basa ang mga alagad kasama ang Mahal na Birheng Maria ay nagkatipon sa isang lugar. Ano ang ginagawa nila sa lugar na iyon? Sila ay nananalagin hangang silang lahat ay napuspos ng Banal ng Espiritu Santo.

Ganon din po ang nangyari sa ating mabuting balita. Nang dahil po sa takot ng mga alagad sa nga Judio sila ay nasa isang bahay at nananalagin ng tulong kay Jesus. Ngunit bigla na lamang na si Jesus ay nag pakita sa kanila at iginawad niya ang kapayapaan sa kanila. at pagkatapos ay hiningahan niya sila at  ibinigay ni Jesus sa kanila ang Espiritu Santo.

Kung gusto po natin na maramdaman ang pag kilos ng Banal na Espiritu Santo sa ating mga buhay. Ay kailangan na tayo ay palaging maging madasalin. Dahil sa pamamagitan lamang nito unti-unti nating madarama ang pag kilos ng Banal na Espiritu.

Pakilusin natin ang Espiritong Banal sa ating buhay na iginawad sa atin ng tayo ay bininyagan. Nang sa gayon ay tayo ay mabiyayaan ng mga bigay niyang mga katagian na tulad ng: karunungan at pang-unawa, mabuting payo at kalakasan, kaalaman at pagsunod at paggalang kay Yahweh (Isaias 11:2).

Nararamdaman na po ba natin ang pag kilos ng Espiritung Banal sa ating mga buhay?

Guidelines for a Happy and Peaceful life...