POINT OF REFLECTION: ONLY THE HUMBLE CAN COME BEFORE GOD

According to St. Therese of Avila, one of the shortest and powerful prayer before God is 'Help'

'Suffering and trials are part of being a disciple of Christ. God never promised a life without burden. Because it's like a camel with no humps, is not a camel at all! 
- Thursday mass, EDSA Shrine (Matthew 11:25-30)

What is the Gospel according to me?

Point of reflection: We call ourselves Christian - Everyday, we are writing a new chapter of the Gospel, by the deeds that you do, words that you speak...What is the Gospel according to you?

Are we living the Gospel daily? - Mark 16:15-20, Solemnity of Ascencion of our Lord Jesus Christ, mass PICC Feast 

(aba,napaisip isip ng kailaliman...am I, am I not?)

I was struck by the message of the priest during the Eucharistic celebration. Those words spoke directly to me, and into my heart. 

In the gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples, Go out to the world and tell the Good News. (Mark 16:15) This was the mission Christ has given to each person who exclaim, "I am Christian."

Let me share to you some reflections I had:

First, I am a Christian. 
Therefore, am I living the greatest commandment to love my neighbor as Jesus loved me? (John 15:12)

As I recount how I value others as myself, I begged for His infinite mercy and grace. I admit, I was a hypocrite at times (quick to judge or consider myself more righteous), talk about others, proud,felt fear, frustrated, impatient, and on and on for all those failures. But praise God, He does not focus on my sin but on how much He loved me. He focuses on is Love, because He is Love Himself.  Therefore, if I focus on how much He loved me....may I learn to love others more also, as Jesus loved.

Second, the Gospel. How do I live the Gospel if I don't even manage to study more about the Gospel? 

            I was happy, during the mass..I was sitting with one of my favorite friend named Rem, short for Rem me Dios. Who's presence at that moment reminded me of the Bible - The Good News. I asked myself, "how well do I know about the Gospel?" 
I realized, for a while that i was taking my Bible for granted, even though she was with me everyday. She wants to show me more!

Third, is my time with God my PRIME priority? Do i nurture  my relationship with Him daily through Sacred Half Hour? (Sacred half hour is 30-minutes period meditating on God's Word and prayer. An intense moment with the Lord. Learn more about this on Prayer  and Life Workshops ) Do I value "me and my God" time?

Fourth, I am His disciple a friend of God. How much do I serve? Do I serve for our Father's glory or my glory?

 Do I seek every opportunity to speak about Him, about His love? 

Do I listen through inspired teachings through the priests during mass, Bro. Bo's talk at the Feast, inspirational books and songs, learning well from mentors and life experiences of my brothers and sisters?

Living everyday and in every situation, "What would Jesus do in my place?"

Fifth, I am a member of the Light of Jesus Community. Do I live as I should? Loving as God's beloved and God's powerful Champion. Blessed and sharing blessings to the world and every stranger? 

Lastly, the priest said. "Batiin mo ang katabi mo at sabihin. Kapatid, may mission ka!" Yes, the great Commission as the song goes "TAKE CHRIST TO THE WORLD, SHOW THAT WE ARE HIS BY THE WAY WE LIVE..." (this includes the special mission He planted in our hearts according to our skills for His greater glory.)

As one of the talks says, not everyone knows about the Love of Christ, much less read about the Bible and learn about the Good News of our salvation...we tell the world  by the way we live. When we begin to transform ourselves, we transform the world.

Let's pray. 

 Dear Lord, You called me by name to take part in this great Commission to tell the Good News of our Salvation....You loved me, simply because you Love me. 

I pray dear Father, that I commit myself to know more about you. Take time to get to know more of You through the Bible, life experiences, talks and participating in the Holy Mass.

 I thank you for all you've done. For saving me. May my soul always hunger and be thirsty of you, of your love...knowing that You are my Bread of Life. The Living Water who cleanses me and quenches this dryness in me. 

Holy Spirit, guide me, inspire me, strengthen me.  That as I continue to uphold the Light of Jesus to every soul I meet, every soul I serve. I am serving through Christ. Lord remind me that if I suffer. I don't suffer alone, because Christ is in me. 

May anything and everything every day be a dare (challenge) for me to be a Gospel and a Testimony. That Jesus lives forever in me, through me. Create in me a clean heart, Oh God. That my every intention would never be about my personal glory..But for your glory Father God. All through Christ our Lord with great joy. Amen.

This week, His love overflowed in me. I can't contain the joy inside me. His goodness overwhelmed me...

His Love was simply waiting for you. Right here, right now... He loves you too, How can you not love?

God bless us all! :)

Prayer Time - Prime time

I too am guilty of being busy..sometimes too busy to pray. Prayer should always be our everyday commitment.

Sharing you...

 MOMENTS:Prayer Time by Fr. Jerry Orbos

In today’s Gospel (Mk. 1, 29-39) we learn Jesus’ secret refuge:  “Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed.”  In the thick of grinding sparks and flashbulbs, Jesus did not miss candle glow moments with His Father. He knew how to retreat, recharge and renew in prayer.

* * *

Someone once said that Satan cannot make you sin, he will just make you very busy until you can no longer pray, and that, for him, is already a victory. Our biggest downfall is when we no longer take time nor make time to pray because we are too busy. Prayer time is prime time!

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Jesus’ whole life was a constant letting go and letting God. He did not, so to say, sit on His laurel’s, nor did He bask in His fame and popularity. He moved on to other villages to do His mission.  And He moved out from the crowd and even from His disciples when it was time for Him to commune with His Father in prayer. Without prayer, we begin to move out from our true center.  Prayer makes us focused, brings us back to what is basic, and removes from us illusions and delusions.

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Every night, many of us charge our cell phone batteries before we sleep.  If only we were as steadfast and conscientious in charging ourselves in prayer at the day’s end!  Also, many of us are so religious in taking our morning coffee and in getting our morning updates from the newspaper, radio or TV.  If only we were as religious in spending some time for prayer and meditation at the day’s beginning!

* * On a personal note, I always begin and end my day with prayer. The first moments after I wake up are spent on my knees in prayer. The last moments before I sleep are also spent on my knees in prayer. When we kneel, we know who we are, and we know who God is. When we bend our knees, everything falls into place.

* * *

Let me share with you my favorite prayer:  “Jesus, I trust in you. Mama Mary, I love you!”  Say this prayer with so much trust and with so much love, and you will experience peace.  It is such a simple, but an assuring prayer.

* * *

Rurick Santos, brother Fr. RJ Santos, SVD, our Filipino missionary working in Japan, texted me last Jan. 30, 2012, how he whispered the prayer “Jesus, I trust in you. Mama Mary, I love you” into the ears of his brother Regnault who was unconscious due to multiple stroke and heart attack.  He held his hand and just kept repeating the prayer. Lo and behold, the next day, Regnault was conscious. He was even singing.  And he will be discharged from the hospital this week.  Yes, prayer is powerful!

* * *

When I was younger, I thought I could “fix” things, and get things done with sheer wisdom or hard work.  Older now, and hopefully wiser, I know that there are a lot of things I can’t fix, so I just say to the Lord: “Help! I can’t fix it.  Please fix it for me. Amen.”

* * *

February 11 is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  It is also the World Day for the Sick.  We express our solidarity, and we offer our prayer for those who need physical, emotional and even spiritual healing. We pray also for those who are involved in the care and support of the physically, emotionally and spiritually sick.

* * *

Those who go through any form of sickness or illness experience God in a very real way.  Moments of sickness are moments of tremendous grace. Yes, in everything that happens in our lives, there is a reason.  And there is a mission.*

“My suffering is my offering.”  May those who go through any form of suffering find meaning and comfort in the thought that they can suffer vicariously for others, i.e., their sufferings can become a source of tremendous blessings for others.

* * *

Remember the cartoon character Popeye?  Remember how he becomes strong whenever he eats his spinach?  Remember his song?  “I’m strong to the finish, ‘cause I eat my spinach, I’m Popeye the sailor man!”  Let Popeye remind us that we need prayer to keep us strong, and we can defeat whatever “Brutus” that comes our way if we know how to pray.

* * *

Please be reminded that when you get too busy and it seems that everyone is looking for you, don’t forget that the Lord is also looking for you!  Something is wrong, something will go wrong if you become too busy and you put God on the side and at the periphery.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, remind me to make prayer time prime time of my life.  Amen.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/22423/prayer-time