Unconditional Persistence

Non stop prayer. I think that is the best way I can describe the theme of this Sunday’s readings for the Eucharistic Celebration. Our prayer should be an ongoing activity. Whether we stopped doing our prayer routine and contemplation we have to constantly attune ourselves to God by doing our activities for His glory and thinking about His love and influence on life all the time. It is not that hard. If you are totally in loved with someone, you think about that person all the time. You do every thing 100% for that person. God is a person worthy of our love so we can do it. It is just a matter of discipline.

First Reading Exodus 17: 8 – 13

8 Then came Am'alek and fought with Israel at Reph'idim.
9 And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Am'alek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand."
10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Am'alek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Am'alek prevailed.
12 But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 And Joshua mowed down Am'alek and his people with the edge of the sword.


Second Reading 2 Timothy 3: 14 – 17 ,4: 1 – 2

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.





Gospel Reading Luke 18: 1 – 8

1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man;
3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.'
4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"
6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.
7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?"



Commentary

Well, I can say that the First Reading talks of the prayer that never cease in spite of fatigue and exhaustion. When the Israelites assaulted the Amelicites, it is the staff of Moses which became their signal for victory. When Moses lifted up the staff, they continued winning but he got tired so the assistants used the stone to maintain the standing. The walking stick here symbolizes prayer. A prayer of a believer. It can be a prayer of the people being mentioned together while a man of God presides. Even when we are tired of praying about something we can always be sure that continuing it will still make a difference.

Very direct is the second reading where in we get to know Saint Paul speaking of Persistence to Timothy. To continue in what he learned to be right is to persist. To be persistent in teaching the word in season or out of season. Actually, the second reading is particularly meant for the priest and the bishops. All first readings from Pentecost to Christ the King are meant for individual Christians and believers who want to grow in holiness. The second readings from Pentecost to Christ the King, if you will notice, are all meant for bishops and cardinals and other ministers of the Word of God. Mostly they are taken from letters of Saint Paul to the head of the local churches like Titus, Timothy and Philemon. The second readings give us the signs of true Christian Catholic bishops, cardinals and ministers of God’s Word. So this Sunday, both an individual Christian who wants to grow in holiness and a bishop, cardinal and minister of God’s Word is being taught to be persistent. The latter by proclaiming the word and the former by praying incessantly.

The Gospel Reading, as we all know is always the summit of the two readings. It is where the two early readings are reconciled or expounded or dramatized. Jesus gives us here a drama of a person who is practically persistent. A widow who begs for justice before a judge who fear and respect no one. The widow woman is the symbol of the Catholic Church. Even when she is conscious of the judge’s character, she persisted in asking for justice. She is totally reliant on nobody because she doesn’t have a husband anymore. She solely dependent upon God and perhaps on the mercy of the judge. The judge they say is the symbol of God but I don’t think so. The judge is very much different from God. It is a symbol of human authority which sometimes is relative and twisted. This judge is a judge who can be bribed and does not intend to give justice but only willing to receive money. It may be a symbol of a worldly economic and social system or a corrupt government. What Jesus wants us to understand is; if a government and political system which is corrupt and non objective can be softened by pleas of a persistent widow who cannot give anything how much more can God who is very merciful and gracious not give in to the prayer of a persistent faithful. The idea is very much similar to the teaching of Jesus after the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11; 5 to 13

5 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Yes, if we humans are willing to grant someone a hand just so that person may go and we can sleep, then God even more can give us anything we ask because He is kinder, actually the kindest. So again, the lesson is… non stop prayer life.

Application

How about you? How is your prayer life? There may be times you may feel that it is worthless to pray about an intention but on the other hand, we can always ask God’s guidance as we pray about it. A real Christian does not give a yes or no answer immediately. Rather, a real Christian prays about the decision and consult the Word of God. If you are not very familiar with the Word of God then consult the men of God. There is actually lessons we can learn on the way. While waiting there may be better things that we can find. Rushing is not the rule. Waiting is a process necessary for growth. As we wait, God is filling our lives with surprises.

Let us Pray,

"Heavenly Father, you are merciful, gracious and kind. May I never doubt your love nor hesitate to seek you with confidence in order to obtain the gifts, graces, and daily provision I need to live as your disciple and child."

Ridiculous Concoctions

Too much good news? Its been months since I stopped giving status in my facebook account. I am twisted at medyo naninibago. Hay... but I guess its just the way it is.

October 12 is actually a very happy day. I got my burned CD that day and noong afternoon kilig sa He's Beautiful. Kahit baduy ang love story, the same impact lang din gaya ng class. Minsan nga yung mas corny yun pa ang mas chessy di ba? Paano ba naman, napanuod ko ulit yung I'm Fallin For You nila Gerald at Kim. Maka Kim naman talaga ako. Now it has a different meaning iba noong una. Napnuod ko kasi yun sa sinehan ng SM Manila noong first day screening nito September 17, 2007.

October 13, Sobrang saya, birthday ni Sir Arwin. I saved that day to be very special. Hindi lang dahil special kay Sir Arwin kung hindi kasi special siya sa akin 4 years ago. Parang kahapon lang, tanda ko pa lahat. Simula sa paghihintay ko sa kanto ng Palayan hanggang sa pagtake ko ng exam sa Phil Literature. Nakita ko kasi siya [Empress ko] that day. 6:48 in the morning before she ride the jeepney for school. Friday noon at may exam ako in the afternoon. I have to be in Cavite by 2pm.

And then we have October 14. Siguro after 6 years mula noong 2004, ito na ang pinaka engrandeng pagalala sa araw na iyon kasi ngayong taon pumatak muli sa araw ng Huwebes ang October 14. Ito kasi ang araw na nakita ko ulit si Faye after Highschool graduation. Yes after 6 months noong 2004. Ibibigay ko lang ang mga sulat ko sa mga retreatants for that year pero siyempre one reason talaga dun yung makita siya. Napakaganda niya noon. If you can only imagine yung nangyari at naramdaman ko noon. I can't put it in words.

I spent that day in SM San Pablo. Actually half of the day lang naman. Ang saya kahit si Genesis lang ang kasama ko as back up. Sobra ganun pala ang SM sa San Pablo. Hindi naman napakaganda pero ok na. At least may SM na. Bakit nga kasi ngayon lang nagkaroon ng SM dun. Sana noon pang 2006. Sana noon pa nang nasa high school pa si Lara Faye. Talagang mahal ko pa rin siya. Ang saya ng Thursday na iyon kasi sa pagsakay pa lang jeepney ok na. Sakto yung jeep papunta ng SM San Pablo. Sa jeep na iyon nakasakay ko yung isang dalaga na taga-Bambang. Shit! As in parang rpemonition siya na on that same day pinapalipat na yung feelings ko sa ibang babae. Pero sana magkita pa kami ulit para maconfirm ko kung siya na nga yung puwede kong ipalit kay Faye. Ni hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan niya. Kilig pa rin yung afternoon. Mas maganda na ang He's Beautiful noon. At napanuod ko pa ang latest episodes in DVD ng Naruto Shippuden. What else is so lucky? Nabuksan ko yung isang pseudo account ko sa facebook and a lot of surprises on virtual world. pero walang tatalo sa isang masayang gabi with the household.

Hay... Ang dami ngang may birthday pero dahil ito ang palaging sem break noon, ang dami ring nice memories. Ngayong taon, dinagdagan ko pa. Truly, our lives are about making moments!

Faye I miss you!!!!! :-)

Someone Grateful

Before I begin the sharing for this 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Let me give the readings first...


First Reading 2 Kings 5: 14 - 17

4 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him; and he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."
16 But he said, "As the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
17 Then Na'aman said, "If not, I pray you, let there be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth; for henceforth your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD.

Second Reading 2 Timothy 2: 8 - 13


8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel,
9 the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.
11 The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;
12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny himself.


Gospel Reading Luke 17: 11 - 19

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama'ria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
13 and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."
14 When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed.
15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
17 Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
19 And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

Commentary

God is naturally a giver. Ever wonder why He created the universe? Because He wants to give. To share his love to persons He loves and owns. We are all dependent to God. His providence is the only source of our life. The oxygen, water and sunlight do not come from any factory or enterprises, they are given freely by God. God is generous.

Every good things we experience in life is an initiative of God. Foremost is our redemption. Every good things we do are all responses to the goodness of God. The readings for this Sunday is a testimony to this graciousness and initiative of God.
God cares for everybody, even to those outside the Church. If they are repentant and they are believing in God's capacity to forgive their sins, they will be listened to. To make it clear, only their prayer for forgiveness can be heard. That is the first step. That is a response to God's redemptive initiative. Naaman who was outside the Kingdom of Israel was healed. The ten lepers who were outcasts of society were healed by Jesus also. Healing is equivalent to God's forgiveness. The physical sickness of the lepers is only an imagery of the spiritual sickness which is sinfulness. Naaman and the ten lepers are examples and imageries of people outside God's Church.

Here we can see a clear model of God's plan and economy of redemption. God will initiate the process for redemption by sending a man of God. Elisha to Naaman and His Son to the ten lepers. But before they get cured, they need to respond to God's preliminary act. Naaman traveled from Syria to Jerusalem just to meet the prophet. Likewise, the lepers need to shout so they could be heard by Jesus [they are outside the Church]. People inside the Church don't need to shout because the have access to the Lord. Sometimes they don't even have to say their prayer.

But you see, in the readings, healing does not end with physical recovery. The healing is fulfilled when there is emotional, personal and spiritual wellness and transformation. Naaman aware of God's work of graciousness returned to Elisha and offered something out of his gratitude. In the Gospel, one of the lepers returned to Jesus and answered generosity with gratitude. Jesus looked for the other nine but found no one but the Samaritan who was get cured on the way. Vividly, we know that he is the only one who is healed completely. The other nine may cured physically but still as numb as lepers in heart and spirit. Maybe they never really knew they were healed.

So this Sunday, we don't have to center immediately and solely to gratitude as a good act of a Christian but more that that, reflect on the goodness, graciousness, and initiative if our God. Healing starts with God's generosity and clemency. Then comes the charity and mission of the Church... to make tactile [through the sacraments] the act of God which is spiritual and heavenly. It is the recipient who will complete the process. How? By celebrating the triumph of God with testimony to prove the healing. When a person express one's gratitude through the lips, the works, and worship then the healing is done.

Application

Gratitude is a virtue. As we discussed, it is the response of the believers to the generosity and clemency of God. Our lives should be lives manifesting this gratefulness to God. I always thank God for the gift of life, the gift of new mornings. I thank God for giving me trustworthy and true friends though they are not that great in numbers. I thank God for giving me a loving and supportive family. I thank God that he made himself known to me, that at early age I learned about Him. I thank God for constantly loving me even in my failures and shortcomings. I thank God for forgiving me. I thank God for the heaven that awaits me.

There are so many things we can thank God. To borrow from David Foster "There's so much to be thankful for." What do you want to thank God? Each of us should be grateful for the things God has given us. Thank Him now.

Progressive Flux

Last Monday and Tuesday I was in Manila. My very first time to enter Christ the King chapel of SVDs in Quezon City. I had my confession last Monday and still attended the 6:00 evening mass the following day. I spent half hour in the Adoration Chapel also.

That experience is quite satisfying. It is very liberating to have reconciliation with the Lord. To see that something is happening with my faith. We will try, through the aid of the three readings, to look at how the Christian faith is productive and evolving.


First Reading Habakkuk 1: 2 - 3

2 O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear? Or cry to thee "Violence!" and thou wilt not save?
3 Why dost thou make me see wrongs and look upon trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.

Second Reading 2 Timothy 1: 6 - 8, 13 - 14

6 Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands;
7 for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.
8 Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God,
13 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus;
14 guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

Gospel Reading Luke 17: 5 - 10

5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, `Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
7 "Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down at table'?
8 Will he not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'?
9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?
10 So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"


Commentary

How do you like the prayer, increase our faith. Do you still pray this? We need to be recharged everyday. I know that the disciples asked this because they need to be refilled with faith. Not only do we need to ask for increase of faith but so too for increase of knowledge, self control, wisdom, hope, and most of all love.

Always remember this, IT IS NOT THE SIZE OF OUR FAITH THAT MATTERS BUT THE SIZE OF THE GOD WE BELIEVE IN.

Application

Here are ways on how we can apply a little faith but a large God with us.

1. be confident after prayer. While it is good that we are self reliant we have to be prayerful before facing all the challenges of life everyday. It is our connection to God that should be trusted and not our own selves.

2. perform duties without expecting merits. If you believe that God will reward you, then you will not wait for something in return. God will provide for you if you are diligently working and toiling. People may not notice you but the attention of God is enough for a faithful who trust.

3. love God when it seems like there is nothing happening. Remember that God appointed right time to everything. You might feel like nothing is happening but every second, our large God is at work in your life.

Legislative Pressure

It is the conscience still which is foundation of all enacted laws and legislation

Narito ang ilan sa maiinit na usapin at ang mga official statements ko hinggil sa mga ito;


On SK and Barangay Election

Marapat lamang na ito ay matuloy. Isang magandang training ground ng kabataan sa pamamahala ang Sangguniang Kabataan. Mainam kung sa maagang panahon pa lamang ay mulat na sa kalakarang pampulitika ang mga bata. Bukod pa rito ang mga inihalal noong 2007 para sa pamunuang Barangay ay inaasahang magtatapos ang panunungkulan ngayong taon.

On Reproductive Health Bill

Sa malinaw at malalim na pagiisip, tinututulan ko ang hakbang na ito ng Kongreso. Ito ay magiging panimula ng sunod-sunod na pagpapasa ng mga batas na lalabag sa kaugaliang malinis ng mga Pilipino. Ang ating kultura ay nagpapahalaga mismo sa buhay at disiplina. Ang pagkakaroon ng opsiyon upang hindi magkaanak ang nagtatalik ay pagpapakawala rin ng disiplina.

On Divorce

Lalo ko namang tinututulan ang panukalang ito. Hindi ugali ng sinaunang Pilipino at ng kulturang Asyano ang diborsiyo. Ang pagpapahalaga natin sa katatagan ng pamilya ay isang bagay na hindi dapat ipagtabuyan ng ating batas.


Ano't ano pa man, nakasalalay sa marunong na pagiisip ng mga mambabatas ang kahihinatnan ng ating bukas. Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit kailangang ang mga tao ay bumoto ng tama.

Additional Souvenirs

These are the other photos called as pahabol to my entry entitled "Souvenirs"

Talagang enjoy ang mga araw na ito...




Hay kelan kaya ang ulitan ng mga ito


















ang saya naman ng videoke dito...

I am wishing for more barkada moments in the near future.

September Rediscovery

As we enter the new month of October which I guess will be another successful month, maganda siguro if we pause and recollect the learnings and experiences we have had last month.

September is a busy month. Ito yata ang may pinakamarami akong nabalitaang symposium at lectures and seminar na ginanap. September 5 nag birthday si Kuya Anthony and the following day, September 6, nakita ko si Lara on national TV sa Showtime. Audience sila sa set.

Ganoon pa rin, Aprile's birthday fell on a Wednesday followed by Joy Arnuco's. Si Fegz, na-greet ko naman siya sa facebook.

Nagbigay ng talk si Sir Alvin sa Ateneo de Manila noong September 11 Saturday about Technology. The following day, birthday ni Bryan, nagpunta ako ng Manila to attend a seminar too.

Naganap din ngayong September ang pinakamalaking event sa PR world dito. Ang Philippine PR Congress with key note speaker, Sec. Sonny Coloma. Grabe, September 25 yun. Nanalo ang Ateneo Blue Eagles against FEU Tamaraws last Thursday sa UAAP Finals.

Noong 25, isinilang na ang pangatlo kong pamangkin sa magkakapatid nila Lizzeth, si Lian. Nag celebrate nanaman ako magisa ng September 25 success and memories. As always.

Lumuwas rin ako noong 27-28 for some business and nagbukas na ang SM San Pablo, one we waited for so long now coming to reality.

Kahapon is the birthday of Ma'am Nikki. Sobrang saya siyempre kahit na may gulo nanaman dahil sa nangyari sa La Salle noong Sunday.

Ang dami ng mga experience ko this month. We are still after some reflections, siguro later this week I can be able to post some. Ang masasabi ko lang lahat yun, I kept in my heart para mas mag grow bilang isang mabuting tao.