here we are right now, trying to grasp of the air left for our laid back bodies exhausted by the Holy Week. Yes we were busy every Holy Week. It is a prayerful week but it is also a week where we made family bond and friendship stronger.
I made it a point that Daniell Coby will experience his first Semana Santa this year. He was able to attend all the liturgical activities in Church for the Holy Week starting with the Last Supper Mass last Thursday, the Veneration of the Cross which happened last Friday including the end of the procession at the Church grounds. Lastly the Easter Vigil which happened last Saturday night. The only activity which he wasn't able to attend was the Salubong because he was dropped at bed sleeping.
Coby was also able to experience the swimming getaway which happens every Black Saturday here in the province. Just like me, he is a person who enjoys water a lot.
On the part two of our swimming party I did not let him join it because our initial venue of choice was Bunga Falls. However, we weren't able to get in there because of the high volume of tourists already enjoying the waters. We decided to move to another venue in Sabang which is RGO Resort. There, together with Jay-r and Joseph, we met Gilbert and his family. We had fun eating and drinking and swimming. This Holy Week is something to remember for the rest of the year and perhaps for the rest of history.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Jesus Love Supreme Over Everything
In this very Holy Week I write about the love of Jesus. I don't want to dwell in the sinfulness of man. I just want to praise the greatness of Jesus' love which enabled all of us to attain heaven. The eternal life promised is now possible because of Jesus. How marvelous!
In the Bible, the august Word of God, the record of this all encompassing love has been repeated over and over. In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we read of the first man and woman who sinned and used the leaves as covers for their bodies. God eventually has to kill an animal so that He clothe them back to their dignity. That symbolic act of putting back their dignity is a precedent sign as to how Jesus will be killed so that the dignity of sinful humanity may be restored.
Still in Genesis we read about Abraham asked by God to offer Isaac, his only son, in a holocaust. Abraham became the picture of the Almighty Father who because of His great love for the world, offered His son for forgiveness of sins. This thesis of the Divine offering of God is summed up in John 3 verse 16. Many times in the Old Testament, one will be amazed by how the picture of Jesus Christ is shown as its most prominent figure. Everyone was waiting for the Savior. The Old Testament is a very long Advent Season of Christianity. More than that, it is a detailed account of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection.
However, the Love of Christ is experienced all the more by humanity when assumed our nature. Jesus incarnated. He took the form of our lowly being and became one with us, among us. Truly Emmanuel in all senses of the word. Jesus is God who became man but i also believe that Jesus is Love who became Grace. None of us deserve to be near him. None of us deserve to be treated by him. Yet he exploded compassion when he came here. He has made pity a normal act. He became Prince of Mercy to everyone. And in return what did humanity disbursed him? We wrecked havoc in his humility. He was tormented, he was mocked, spitted, and tried without system. He was disdained and accused. He was lashed in pillars and crowned with piercing stems. He walked in shame and contempt, dropped three times while carrying a heavy crossed. Stripped of his garments. Made a laughing stock by soldiers drinking soaks and lastly died beside two criminals.
Jesus deserves to be your redeemer. For at every time you feel like the world torments you and cast you out you can rely that He knows how it feels. He has been there. There is nothing in this life that Jesus wasn't able to penetrated let alone he doesn't know. Nothing in reality that Jesus is ignorant about. When you feel like everyone you loved turned their backs on you. You will know how Jesus felt like when all his friend ran away as he was arrested by the Roman soldiers. When you feel like you are unfairly tried by board members and authorities. You know that Jesus had been there and he was tried without evidences or right for counsel. When you feel like you are dying and afraid of it you know that Jesus begged the Father for his life too and he died. He died. There is nowhere that Jesus wasn't able to go. He went through death for you and he conquered so that you have nothing to fear. The love of Jesus reigns supreme over all the tragedies and miseries of life. You wouldn't have time to think of all catastrophes in life because His love trumps it every time.
He was love from the beginning. He is grace through it all. I like to point out how many times did Jesus became Grace to humanity in different ways;
1. Jesus is the Grace of Dignity. No one deserves him. And yet the first thing he did to start his ministry is to do a humble posture of baptism. He allowed John the Baptizer to baptize him even amid the reluctance of John to do so. John knew that no one is worthy to untie the strap of his sandals and yet Jesus was willing for it. He puts dignity to our lowly humanity. He respects us in spite of our sinful being. He chose his twelve inner circle councilors. These are people of terrible backgrounds. They were nobodies except for the Sons of Zebedee who are elite-recognized in their respective communities. They were not politicians nor are they Levites, just nobodies. Jesus was able to make a somebody out of a nobody.
2. Jesus is the Grace of Fulfillment. In the New Testament, Jesus comes as the perfection and fulfillment of all laws and prophecies. He actually did. He made the perfect law out of the many Mosaic laws constructed by the scribes throughout the years. He embodied all the prophecies of the Old Testament. He quenched the thirst of the woman at the well. He fed the 5,000 when he multiplied the bread and the fish. He completes every thing and he satisfies everyone. He is food for the hungry, sight for the blind, light for the weary and savior of the lost.
3. Jesus is the Grace of Victory. Jesus is the triumphant Lord of all. He is praised by the angels as the victor. He is champion of humanity. He conquered the force of nature. Many times Jesus controlled the events of nature in his lifetime. Once, he was sleeping at the boat, his disciples woke him up only to chide him that they are perishing from the storm that hit them in the middle of the lake. Jesus stood up and commanded the storm to shut up. The storm immediately cease and it earn the tremble of the disciples asking themselves who this man could be. Not only did Jesus conquered the force of nature. He conquered death. Even before he resurrected he was able to resuscitate three dead persons. First, the daughter of Jairus. Second the son of a widow he met while walking on the road. Lastly, he raised his best friend Lazarus. He can defy death and death submits to him.
The power of Jesus only became applicable to mankind because of the love of Christ. The love of Christ is always pre dominant to his power for without his love, no one can ever experience the power of Christ shown in redemption history. As we continue reflecting on the Holy Week message, we concentrate more particularly not on the process of redemption but on the love of Christ poured out for our heavenly and earthly welfare.
In the Bible, the august Word of God, the record of this all encompassing love has been repeated over and over. In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we read of the first man and woman who sinned and used the leaves as covers for their bodies. God eventually has to kill an animal so that He clothe them back to their dignity. That symbolic act of putting back their dignity is a precedent sign as to how Jesus will be killed so that the dignity of sinful humanity may be restored.
Still in Genesis we read about Abraham asked by God to offer Isaac, his only son, in a holocaust. Abraham became the picture of the Almighty Father who because of His great love for the world, offered His son for forgiveness of sins. This thesis of the Divine offering of God is summed up in John 3 verse 16. Many times in the Old Testament, one will be amazed by how the picture of Jesus Christ is shown as its most prominent figure. Everyone was waiting for the Savior. The Old Testament is a very long Advent Season of Christianity. More than that, it is a detailed account of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection.
However, the Love of Christ is experienced all the more by humanity when assumed our nature. Jesus incarnated. He took the form of our lowly being and became one with us, among us. Truly Emmanuel in all senses of the word. Jesus is God who became man but i also believe that Jesus is Love who became Grace. None of us deserve to be near him. None of us deserve to be treated by him. Yet he exploded compassion when he came here. He has made pity a normal act. He became Prince of Mercy to everyone. And in return what did humanity disbursed him? We wrecked havoc in his humility. He was tormented, he was mocked, spitted, and tried without system. He was disdained and accused. He was lashed in pillars and crowned with piercing stems. He walked in shame and contempt, dropped three times while carrying a heavy crossed. Stripped of his garments. Made a laughing stock by soldiers drinking soaks and lastly died beside two criminals.
Jesus deserves to be your redeemer. For at every time you feel like the world torments you and cast you out you can rely that He knows how it feels. He has been there. There is nothing in this life that Jesus wasn't able to penetrated let alone he doesn't know. Nothing in reality that Jesus is ignorant about. When you feel like everyone you loved turned their backs on you. You will know how Jesus felt like when all his friend ran away as he was arrested by the Roman soldiers. When you feel like you are unfairly tried by board members and authorities. You know that Jesus had been there and he was tried without evidences or right for counsel. When you feel like you are dying and afraid of it you know that Jesus begged the Father for his life too and he died. He died. There is nowhere that Jesus wasn't able to go. He went through death for you and he conquered so that you have nothing to fear. The love of Jesus reigns supreme over all the tragedies and miseries of life. You wouldn't have time to think of all catastrophes in life because His love trumps it every time.
He was love from the beginning. He is grace through it all. I like to point out how many times did Jesus became Grace to humanity in different ways;
1. Jesus is the Grace of Dignity. No one deserves him. And yet the first thing he did to start his ministry is to do a humble posture of baptism. He allowed John the Baptizer to baptize him even amid the reluctance of John to do so. John knew that no one is worthy to untie the strap of his sandals and yet Jesus was willing for it. He puts dignity to our lowly humanity. He respects us in spite of our sinful being. He chose his twelve inner circle councilors. These are people of terrible backgrounds. They were nobodies except for the Sons of Zebedee who are elite-recognized in their respective communities. They were not politicians nor are they Levites, just nobodies. Jesus was able to make a somebody out of a nobody.
2. Jesus is the Grace of Fulfillment. In the New Testament, Jesus comes as the perfection and fulfillment of all laws and prophecies. He actually did. He made the perfect law out of the many Mosaic laws constructed by the scribes throughout the years. He embodied all the prophecies of the Old Testament. He quenched the thirst of the woman at the well. He fed the 5,000 when he multiplied the bread and the fish. He completes every thing and he satisfies everyone. He is food for the hungry, sight for the blind, light for the weary and savior of the lost.
3. Jesus is the Grace of Victory. Jesus is the triumphant Lord of all. He is praised by the angels as the victor. He is champion of humanity. He conquered the force of nature. Many times Jesus controlled the events of nature in his lifetime. Once, he was sleeping at the boat, his disciples woke him up only to chide him that they are perishing from the storm that hit them in the middle of the lake. Jesus stood up and commanded the storm to shut up. The storm immediately cease and it earn the tremble of the disciples asking themselves who this man could be. Not only did Jesus conquered the force of nature. He conquered death. Even before he resurrected he was able to resuscitate three dead persons. First, the daughter of Jairus. Second the son of a widow he met while walking on the road. Lastly, he raised his best friend Lazarus. He can defy death and death submits to him.
The power of Jesus only became applicable to mankind because of the love of Christ. The love of Christ is always pre dominant to his power for without his love, no one can ever experience the power of Christ shown in redemption history. As we continue reflecting on the Holy Week message, we concentrate more particularly not on the process of redemption but on the love of Christ poured out for our heavenly and earthly welfare.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
She Still Remains
As I spend the day with my family in a very critical yet memorable date, I can't help but reflect on how much of an impact Lara Faye has made into my life.
For 13 years now there has been no other woman who made drastic changes in the way I live my life than she. The first person I can think of when I hear the word "wife" is she. All the best romantic memories and dreams that I have belongs to her person. Though I have moved on and let go of many things about her and her connection to my life, it is very hard to just unlearn some habits that are actually embedded into one's soul. As a claim from scholar says "You only fall in love once, the rest are product of infatuation." Could it be that the only time I fell in love is when I did fell in love with Lara Faye? However, that will sound so tragic given the very limited romance that happened between us.
As an existential person, it is my duty to make more meaningful events in my life which means augmenting more meaningful persons who incorporate with my life. I wish a happy birthday for Lara Faye. It doesn't mean I want her back in my life. She is happy wherever she is now. I know that in my heart. She is meant to live without me. If I will be asked, do I still love her I'd answer yes. But this is a very different love now. The love that doesn't desire her to be my wife. She will always remain in my heart. Still the most special girl until the woman of my life arrives.
One day,all of us will understand why our paths crossed and why did it all have to be a frustrating story. Up to that point, all we can do is hope for the best for each other. I ma praying for her every night so as to whoever is the guy who makes her happy. I know that Ronel takes good care of her. Her family is also special to me. All the memories. My high school life is one color brighter because of her memory. I could not have survived my college life if not for my dreams to pursue her. In every step of the way during my college life, she is a part of it. I can never be grateful enough.
Now, she's a part no longer. I have decided to continue it without her. She remains in the heart but not in my life anymore. She needs to be free. She can never be free if she's still the object of all my goals.
To the woman who added the best colors in my life;
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
For 13 years now there has been no other woman who made drastic changes in the way I live my life than she. The first person I can think of when I hear the word "wife" is she. All the best romantic memories and dreams that I have belongs to her person. Though I have moved on and let go of many things about her and her connection to my life, it is very hard to just unlearn some habits that are actually embedded into one's soul. As a claim from scholar says "You only fall in love once, the rest are product of infatuation." Could it be that the only time I fell in love is when I did fell in love with Lara Faye? However, that will sound so tragic given the very limited romance that happened between us.
As an existential person, it is my duty to make more meaningful events in my life which means augmenting more meaningful persons who incorporate with my life. I wish a happy birthday for Lara Faye. It doesn't mean I want her back in my life. She is happy wherever she is now. I know that in my heart. She is meant to live without me. If I will be asked, do I still love her I'd answer yes. But this is a very different love now. The love that doesn't desire her to be my wife. She will always remain in my heart. Still the most special girl until the woman of my life arrives.
One day,all of us will understand why our paths crossed and why did it all have to be a frustrating story. Up to that point, all we can do is hope for the best for each other. I ma praying for her every night so as to whoever is the guy who makes her happy. I know that Ronel takes good care of her. Her family is also special to me. All the memories. My high school life is one color brighter because of her memory. I could not have survived my college life if not for my dreams to pursue her. In every step of the way during my college life, she is a part of it. I can never be grateful enough.
Now, she's a part no longer. I have decided to continue it without her. She remains in the heart but not in my life anymore. She needs to be free. She can never be free if she's still the object of all my goals.
To the woman who added the best colors in my life;
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Friday, March 11, 2016
I'm Not The Myth
I wish I am the man you've always wanted to be.
I wish I can agree to all the accolades you want to give me when I celebrate my birthdays.
I wish I was the man you were talking about when you speak of ideal things in your life.
Sad that I am just a man. I am no extraordinaire. I am a man who depends on God's grace more than I depend on my wherewithal. I am no greater than anyone I once thought I was.
I have encountered things that I can't even do which for others are just as easy as ABC.
This is the reason why we need to find our core gift. In realizing that not all of us can make it to success by ourselves, we look for mentors who will help us find our core gifts. When we focus on our core gifts, we worry less. We see more possibilities than struggles.
Just last Sunday, Coby and I went to the Mass in OFM Novitiate house. There was something in my nephew that makes me admire him. He has a special core gift. He has natural woo ability. He treats other child as playmates and never as enemies. Many times I have encountered toddlers who naturally have tendencies to hurt other children. Coby has natural kindness and solidarity.
I am not the myth, you're grandma told you about. But I know I was born to help form the myth which one day will stun the world.
I wish I can agree to all the accolades you want to give me when I celebrate my birthdays.
I wish I was the man you were talking about when you speak of ideal things in your life.
Sad that I am just a man. I am no extraordinaire. I am a man who depends on God's grace more than I depend on my wherewithal. I am no greater than anyone I once thought I was.
I have encountered things that I can't even do which for others are just as easy as ABC.
This is the reason why we need to find our core gift. In realizing that not all of us can make it to success by ourselves, we look for mentors who will help us find our core gifts. When we focus on our core gifts, we worry less. We see more possibilities than struggles.
Just last Sunday, Coby and I went to the Mass in OFM Novitiate house. There was something in my nephew that makes me admire him. He has a special core gift. He has natural woo ability. He treats other child as playmates and never as enemies. Many times I have encountered toddlers who naturally have tendencies to hurt other children. Coby has natural kindness and solidarity.
I am not the myth, you're grandma told you about. But I know I was born to help form the myth which one day will stun the world.
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