My Blog/jyojyo

The word of God is important since this becomes the foundation of our faith. It confers to us the light and the direction. Bible personages testify on their being victorious in their endeavor, whether in a direct or indirect way. Likewise, they also became survivors of trials.

To be triumphant, we need to contend in a good wrangle of faith. We are destined to be warriors for our Lord as we aspire to be conquerors over the test of fidelity that the Lord permits in us to occur, with Him intervening with His Divine strategy. We need to formulate a scheme of action of which we ponder over the approach provided by God. Our spiritual weapon is His word.

“We need to be champions and must aim to succeed until the battle is won,” asserted Sis. Mila Sinco in her talk in the Charismatic prayer meeting. We continue to realize that our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens (Ephesians 6:12-NAB).

Sis. Mila quoting from an old saying emphasized, “So many birds may fly around your head, but do not allow them to build nest in your crown.” We need not entertain evil thoughts in our mind or adapt an inappropriate attitude. Moreover, if we are governed by animosity, we should not allow the sun to settle with our anger remaining in us.

There are infirmities such as hypertension and some people are victims of cardiac arrest because of being used to cater anger that cause their tensions to pile up. The Lord himself said that harmful sentiments corrupt us. The thoughts in our mind were the consequences of what we seize in our hearts. Conflicts ruin our life, and we need God to intervene on certain areas of our existence as we allow Him to use His Divine technique.

In times that we are mystified, we should cloak us with the armor of God. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 it says, “Although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ.”

The weapon that is innate in us is our testimony. We depose through our life not only in word but also in action. The sword of the spirit that is the word of God empowers us to be steadfast as we are sheltered by the lineage of Jesus, of which his precious blood shields us. The gore of Jesus merits us redemption from our sinful nature as we are saved by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to submit to God by praying in silence, and to keep on beseeching sincerely in what we supplicate, as these need to be expressed from our hearts. The scripture says that, “We should conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, that we may stand firm in one spirit, with a single mind struggling together for the faith of the gospel, not intimidated in a way by others (Philippians 1:27-28).

“We should be united in prayer, and it is necessary that we should always be on-line with the Lord for it is Him that we need to hear at all times, this being expedient for us to overcome the skirmish being God’s prayer warriors,” Sis. Mila stressed. We should put on the armor of God, for us to be able to resist the evil day and, having done everything we should hold our ground (Ephesians 6:13-NAB).

We should be able to build any kind of reliable resistance that though we may not avoid bending, we still could not be displaced. For us to grow exhilarated, we should eschew the occurrence of sin. We need to persist to obtain conquest and should pursue striving for perseverance that is inspired by the sacrifice Jesus endured that we may become joyful. We should bear to a certain degree to be exultant than being harmed with the forces of the wicked.

We should not rely on our human strength, but we should remain committing ourselves to God while enjoying our Charismatic gifts. As in the life of a soldier, it says that not one who is on active service involves him in a civilian life. A disciple is committed and has only one Master. “Similarly, an athlete cannot receive the winner’s crown except by competing according to the rules,” Sis. Mila added.

The Lord knows how to reciprocate our sincerity by returning to us what we have invested, and He will give it back to us in plenty even if we won’t ask for it. We need patience to whatever were the stints that are designated to us. 2 Timothy 2:6 say, “The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the crop.”

St. Paul convinces the disciples to reflect on what he was saying, for according to him, the Lord will give them the insight in everything (2 Timothy 2:7).

I am convinced by my God to pray. Likewise I need to, that I may be guided with my undertakings. Somehow, when things seem contemplated enough, I need to consider this inner voice that helps me come up with a decision. In the time right for God and me, I am drawn to places I usually frequent to allow a little more space.

In an outset, God’s promptings are usually given the priority than my very desire. If we could only listen to God more so in the exposed Blessed Sacrament, we can find out that He has many things to say. The problem is that we listen to ourselves more than we can desire to be quiet that we may hear from God.

God usually wants to be invited and we can ask God to dwell in our hearts harkening that voice deep within, knowing well that we are nothing without Him. As much as possible, we need a prayer before any undertaking. We can accept a little more pain but that would no longer help others as their apathy increase. Somehow we need to talk to, even with strangers to clarify what were those that puzzle them in the period that we are taciturn.

We need the courage to relate, as they too are eager to hear from us. As we perceive it right, they are not happy that we consider them our enemies, since they don’t differ from us in the choice of religion. As much as we are found wanting of love and attention, they too desire to be our friends, with me knowing this as I seem to analyze.

Older people need to hear from the young, as this has become the trend. If at the start this has been corrected by our courage to speak out, things would not have been complicated, that as it is seen, some may have already lose approval irritated by the reality that they found us insensitive. I don’t know how true are these perceptions.

We should move on from our past that our wounded selves especially when provoked, leave our lips sealed, not knowing what to say, not even sure who was the one they want to hurt or if those babblings were meant for us or for others. It even puzzles us if it is wrong to be quiet or we need to interpolate joining their mode of conversation that they may become our friends.

We fail to be like Jesus if we don’t have the guts to speak that their hearts will be freed from the burden of being unanswered. If we had been generous with our speech once in our lifetime, even with us being into a different episode, this incident would not mar us from availing our presence to others not only bodily but vocally. Healing does not make us locked in solitude. Somehow, we can use the recent episode to involve others talking to them and hearing from them also.

We should think how Jesus had been generous with his advices and concern over other’s welfare, treasuring the moment, with us not tormenting our fellows by our indifference. It’s nice to bring back the times when we become a friend to all even with us being at first erratic. Why could we not apply it now? What’s the difference being with high school students than those who have already the wisdom to secure themselves?

This is just the episode of trying to process again similar incidents, just as we are used to this before. We only are dealing with brilliant entities that even had the experience of attending recollections and even in fact have the access of these in their institution. Why should we deprive them with their kind of enjoyment, as these were the forms that make them forget their problems?

We will be tested of our mirth by being able to muster courage to involve others in our life. It will become our failure if we cannot concede. After all, life continues to be a brotherhood to many, just like before when we are disquiet. They being persons are truly gifts to us. By relating, we can once more unseal our smiles and laughter, and even those of others’ mirth.

It may be difficult for us who suffered the pain, but we need to be real and not reel. After all this is the reality that we need to regard others if we also desire their kind of happiness more than our aspiration that we can be classified as sane. As the song goes, “It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark…and if every one lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.”

We need to further our acquaintance with others; after all it is not their fault that they saw much from us, even seeing us in our most shameful moments. So why should we bar them from speaking even if we ourselves does not know the truth behind their accusations. Thus there’s a need for us to reflect over and restate incidents, even restore their confidence toward us.

Knowing well that they are no longer high school students, we should consider the measure of their intelligence and our ignorance over their form of refreshing as we hear laughter not solely for us but for friendship. They are still our brothers and we should be a little more kind to them who desires to hail us up from torment, from anger, even from the very bondage of life as God desiring to efface the evil that we had encountered before tests us.

By being too open in trying to relay to others, the bondage is smashed broken, and we become triumphant laughing at our own mistakes and being in mirth that we are released from what blocks our friendly ties with others. Sometimes we need to practice what we think and write as we are restored to health. Though we so desire to experience the pain that Jesus endured, with our hearts being pricked, we also need to protect others from being stained by our affliction.

Other people don’t desire to intimidate us for they only want us to unseal the voice that pursues a healthy exchange of pleasantries for us to lighten our mood. They don’t really mean to offend us with their jokes. They just want that we should include them to what runs in our head with each party involved being happily reciprocated by the other’s presence.

Our neighbors are just like us. If we can afford to laugh in the presence of other friends, these youth have the right too to hear laughter from us, they being easily captured by fun than the mature ones. We cannot be too serious in their presence to consider that the time of winning them had been long overdue.

Jesus too had craved to be understood though he was perfectly healthy. He tried his best to explain to Philip his nature that he was in the Father and that the Father is in him. To make it clear, I would say that though Jesus has the nature of the Father, he also was perfectly human. He did eat, felt thirst, slept on the boat, perspired, sensed hunger, did pray, was injured, and died on the cross.

With the spirit of the Father being apparent in him (Isaiah 11:2), he transformed the water in the jars into the sweetest wine; he cured the sick, made whole the lame, caused the mute to sing, fashioned the blind to have sight, healed the broken-hearted, raised the dead, was transfigured in the mountain, walked in the water, forgave sins, and ascended into heaven.

Similarly, we all experience resurrection from our wounded souls and the brokenness of our hearts. We too are subjected into different purposes with the nature of the Trinity apparent in our homes, to mention were the role of the father, the task of the mother, and portrayal of the children. This even extends to the characterization of our relatives and friends.

We should always look at others as the ones who are attempting to help us even with us being disconsolate. They act as pastors too and priests who are endeavoring to mitigate us by using the word, this even actualized as the two-edged-sword cutting through our souls and healing it afterwards. By the word of God growing in us, we are purified of our sins, with God manifesting apparently even in our visions that have sharpened day by day.

We should not blame God as the one who have caused our anguish. Day by day, we will see that He manifests perfectly in our midst even in times of laughter and fun. By being sentimental about the issue in our life, we pass the pain to others. Why then should we hurt them too or cause the least bit to be in pain in the same way? This would only make them feel irritable towards us.

This is far from the nature that Jesus bears in his heart. He transcended from mere human emotions. But even with his attempt, he was found crying before the tomb of Lazarus, whom he loved most, which indicate that by feeling love and been into tears, it was shown that he was perfectly human. It is the season for us not to be reduced to being lachrymose but for us to bring love and consider others as our kin by blood with which we can enjoy many happy moments.

Though we know we can be happy, we sometimes avoid occurrences that would give us jubilation by still carrying the burden of other’s sin on our shoulders. Though we may not feel sinning, we incite others around us to sin. In the turn of events, we become irritants to their eyes; though we can’t leave them for it is our belief that we can continually learn from them. We need those hurtful comments too, if we desire to grow and advance to their level.

Moreover, we should live our own existence, and not that we occupy others’ lives. If we become lost in their sight, we continually evade from similar situations that follow us all through. We’re not deranged too to cut our wrist just to get the point across. As long as there are others who still believe in us and are concerned of our welfare though we are in want of love, then the sparkle in us must go on.

Life is an existence of love and fun, and not of remorse and bitterness. As long as they can’t see progress in us or haven’t heard from us vocally as we are hesitant too being timid, we can’t avoid being criticized. We have to wait for the perfect time, the very moment meant for both of us. Meanwhile, life must go on even with our priorities, for God is just on our side.

You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving. Jesus clearly pointed out, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” One of the commandments is, “Give and you shall be given back in return.” Obedience is better than sacrifice. In Isaiah 1:19, it says, “ If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.

If you obey and serve the Lord, you will spend your days in prosperity. Ezra has devoted himself to the study about God. It will do well for us if we allow ourselves to be influenced by the work that God placed in his church in the last days. Be able to hear gospel songs frequently. If we look closely to what God is doing, he is encouraging local churches to be partners in trying to write about him, and that we should all join forces together.

Devotion to his work in this new age should start from within us as we ask individuals to help us with the analysis on trying to understand the nature of God and of his work. We ought to be teachers, as we are reminded of this by St. Paul. We should try to affect many to grow in knowledge, and more likely be molded in character. God’s word should sharpen the ability of those that benefit from our wisdom being yielded to become leaders that should help in church activities.

God has given everyone the capability to lead. A growing leader devotes him to the study of the word, which will result to the growth in knowledge and understanding. It means that he having an ardent, intense, passionate, zealous search is able to relay the essence to the implications of what wonder God’s word can do.

Even in the New Testament, people are really serious in the search for God’s word. In Acts 18:24, it was relayed that a certain Jew named Apollos, an eloquent man who came to Ephesus manifested a thorough knowledge of the scriptures. He was apprehended as one being instructed in the ways of the Lord for he speaks in great fervor, though he only knew of the baptism of John in contrast to what the disciples knew.

If we see one having this interest, we should teach him more, and equip him more for him to have more space to learn and work on God’s word. We should continue the study in searching the word of God, as we desire to see the true picture of God’s word. We should prepare the way of the one who is to come and ask from among us who are his subjects. Jesus came not to baptize with water but with fire, that we may have the full knowledge through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit in His indwelling to us as likened to that in the Pentecost.

In Acts 19:4, John as relayed by Paul, baptizes in the baptism of repentance. With them hearing the word, they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. The baptism of John was the preparation in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thereafter, the disciples were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 19:5).

Apollos was known to be the person of eloquence. We have to enhance our own knowledge or learning of the word of God, and dig on for a deeper understanding of the truth focusing ourselves to the study and observance of the wonders God’s word can do. Ezra has deep affection in the ministry of the word. If we look back, there are plenty of people that followed Jesus, and have been freed from the slavery of sin because of his accuracy and wisdom in trying to explain the insights he derived from the Father.

Everyone has this responsibility to search for the truth for us to be able to have the kind of knowledge regarding God’s word, and become a growing leader devoting ourselves to the study of the scriptures. As we do this, we become inclined in dedicating ourselves to the observance of the word. We ought to love God’s word and statures. We should reflect in our buoyancy the eagerness to know the truth about the word and cogitate in our being the kind of love God has for his dear ones. You have to love to see God’s statures fulfilled in you.

In our life, each of us has the fruit of the Spirit. As we start to grow, we are drawn to yearn for a deeper wisdom. We should grow in peace and self-control, and start to desire that God’s word be manifested in our lives with us obtaining righteousness and purity. Spiritual gifts will be abundant in the learning of God’s word as this value from the scriptures becomes lucid in our existence.

We have to grow not only in our desire for things of God; not only in knowledge, but in our observance of what life we ought to abide. Devoting us to teaching about the word results to skill and ability. Ezra is not a pastor or a priest but he devoted himself to the study and observance of the law. King David on the other hand, being a devoted servant of the Lord became established, mighty, was feared by his enemies and has a prosperous kingdom.

We ought to have a deeper love of the scriptures and give time in learning about the word and the things that are of God.

In the celebration of the Eucharist, the whole body of Christ unites. With the Bible then in our homes, the word of God impels us to unite the neighborhood. The word of God does not separate us from the Eucharist.

The word must steer us towards the Eucharist where our holy indication of accepting the body and blood of Jesus in the form of a host move us to totally gain Jesus in the Eucharist Tran-signified.We cannot separate the word from the Eucharist for the Mass is indispensable.

The Eucharist constrains us to transform our readings into action. As we initiate Bible-sharing this moves us to actualize our faith by receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. It is for us how to begin a Bible-sharing in our area. This could revitalize the companionship that must be governed by the love of God. It is because of the fondness that Christ became man therefore increasing affection.The Basic Ecclesial Community opening a form of Bible sharing is a new way for the church to spread the word in the neighborhood.

Salvation should dwell in the basic unit of our society, which were our homes where we can be revitalized through a deeper Christian community. Its structure emerges from the families where each home is concerned of what was the basic interest of the community. Hence, the homes become functional as they propose Christ into the neighborhood.

The underlying family is where the word can come into being as Jesus is the Word that became flesh. Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) is the local incarnation of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church. It is in the neighborhood that we progress in our credence having faith in the One God but having three persons.

From a holy gathering, we receive a touch of the Divine. The word Catholic means universal where each of us is linked with the wider Church. The word Apostolic means action, where we are inspired to spread the Good News.

The word takes flesh in BEC, where BEC is the local incarnation of the genuine Church. With the BEC, we can feat being the Church and establish our ministries as it introduces a new way of being a church. Our small cell should bring an unfolding, which will lead into a production of other more cells, starting in our neighborhood.

The Basic Ecclesial Community is the puny cell of the big church, where we all are composed of families. Bible sharing through BEC is the celebration of our faith, which is the extolling of life. As our Bible sharing gives us competency, we discern what God wants us to do. The power to do what God desires is the action of the Holy Spirit.

As the days pass by, we throng coming together to pray and to ponder on the inspiration of the word. In a place of worship, we become active pilgrims as we generate strength from Bible-sharing. However, prayer is not enough, we have to do what God wants us to commence. We have to undergo stages and welcome these to sharpen our way of thinking even improve our theological viewpoint.

We should also have a report sharing that enriches our initiative not much in our preparation but relying on our experience as enhanced by our reading of the word. Through every new encounter with the word, we need to retrospect on our theological output. By right attitude, we are challenged through our gospel lifestyle.

We should look into ourselves to the point of examining how can we improve our attitude towards service to God and concern to our fellowmen. Our relationship should improve our disposition of purifying our lifestyle towards being gospel-oriented. If we are leaders, we should safeguard our commitment.

Discipleship is not an excursion but a commitment. We should love the word for only through this endearment with the scriptures that we can truly love God, harnessing our capacity to ameliorate our spiritual life. As we have the wisdom, we are inspired to grow through the propagation of the word. We need to increase as we ourselves, in a spiritual application, distribute the loaves of bread and share the fish making it enough to feed the spirit of many through Bible-sharing.

To harness our expertise we need to procure Bibles for our homes and faithfully read it and learn from it. By going forth and sharing its message, God impels us to unite the neighborhood. The word of God does not separate us from the Eucharist but likewise lead us toward accepting Jesus in the mass.

We need to have the will to start our mission, living like the disciples true to their faith and with credence being coupled by action. Love is itself God, this rooting in our spirit, as we improve our attitude in restoring friendly ties with others with us concerned of their welfare and salvation.

The Holy Trinity by consistent revelation of their identity strengthens the community composed of families. They uncover a desire, which corroborate family relationship as they reveal their nature. They are consistently One God though each of the Trinity differs in function. They renew cooperation and confirm intimate ties that merge from God’s nature of being One.

Reflecting from our daily lives, we are encouraged to learn more from the word of God. Likewise, we are motivated to pursue a common action of participation in community duties as a Church while being inspired by the word. We then see that while being propelled by the word of God, we find revealed in our actions that we are intimately an adjoining, just as the passages serving its function are closely connected as we read the Bible.

Neighborhood and community are centered in Christ as they are rigidly seen in the common action of the celebration of the word. Results of our readings are considered as long as we do not depart from the dogma or doctrines approved as the teachings of the Church. We need to prioritize knowledge of God’s nature that sustains our Bible sharing promoting our knowledge in the doctrines of the Church.

We should be meek in rendering our share of wisdom even from simple revelations. By sustaining a projected learning, we are guaranteed of new enlightenments, which we derive from our readings. We need trust in each other correcting our attitudes. Discipline is weak without a purified standpoint, as we need to protect our visions, which we render individually.

We need sacrifice if we are to think of the welfare of other people and their foreseen salvation. Attitude is the heart of conversion. We should unite the family possessing effective integral wholeness of modified learning which create the molding of our person. The presence of God must be felt existing in our community especially the neighborhood community. We must influence our environment or the neighboring township. Our unity must not be underestimated like the unity of the undivided Trinity.

The living word is the person of Jesus as he is the Word from the beginning that became flesh. The life of Jesus makes the word living establishing connection between the life of a person and the word. We, Catholics, believe in the power of the word for our decisions and actions should depend on this. The appropriate process is to erect a Basic Ecclesial Community or BEC. This should be founded on individual families in the neighborhood.

The domestic Church is the basic foundation of the big Church as a whole. Home comes from the Latin word “domus” as domestic helper means housemate. The group of believers in the house or a home is the conceptual womb of the Roman Catholic Church as a whole. Each member of the household is not isolated from the other members but they are closely connected as a family as the Trinity is in unity. Immediate connection should be established in the neighborhood as the proximity of this is revealed as all the families in the world.

BEC in the neighborhood is a community. We bridge love in the immediate vicinity. BEC neighborhood communities are composed of the neighboring families that may not be too large or too small. Ecclesia is an assembly of the people in worship purposes, which are gathered in adoration for God. Ecclesia is the church that makes our family ecclesial. Without adherence to the Church, you cannot be considered or recognized as an ecclesia.

The community of appropriately avowed members of the church can be substantiated as the moving force for religious purposes, especially propagation of the word of God. This can heighten participation in the celebration of the word. We must not live in our individual interpretations for we cannot elucidate our ideas separate from the doctrines of the Church. We should seek the advice of our priests regarding inspirations, as they should guide our enlightenments.

If we don’t follow the magisterial teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, we are considered as a different religion, much more if we deny the Church’s teachings. It needs adherence for us to be regarded as an ecclesial community. BEC can substantiate reverence for the word of God especially in the Catholic community. We need a dynamic Church to maintain and sustain the faith in the community.

“Revelations should be inspired by no other than the Holy Spirit. BEC is the movement of the Holy Spirit,” explained Fr. Sau David in the Basic Ecclesial Community seminar in the Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus in Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan. Our Parish Priest is Fr. Frederick G. Malacas. “We cannot hear and apply the word of God without the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” Fr. Sau added. This can be attained through neighborhood community.

Some say that maybe I was hallucinating with all the spiritual episodes I experienced, and the visions and mirages I see both with open eyes and in my internal sight. But it doesn’t matter; I can’t force them to believe. I only have to let these things out for the moment has come, and I cannot keep it all into my self forever. Somehow, I have to share it to others.

This is a form of unfolding, which takes flesh in Bible sharing, for you can’t help but share the scripture texts and the transformation that you experienced, I for one in my escapade. Somehow God gave these to me not for myself but that I may be a witness to others about the wonders and the good things that God permits in our lives.

Somehow these seemingly supernatural experiences was intensified by the Hindu form of meditation particularly yoga which I have ceased to practice already. Likewise, its effects remained with me, which helped me think clearly and see some things that others don’t perceive. There are moments that I seem to live in the world of spirits with the flow back of thoughts serving as my guide on what to do in some particular instances and which way to go or whether I have to proceed in a certain place or not.

On a hand, there are times that God seems to allow me to be placed on the spot that I may learn from that experience and subdue my pride even if I have to face some painful accusations. However, there are times that I need to be prudent enough to maintain my respect to my self in a way that it won’t offend others. Somehow, it is my nature to be silent if I am thinking on what to write about while on the computer. I may be misinterpreted in this way, and I might not win their sympathy, thus, I need to devise a way for communication to proceed.

I might not be able to resolve this problem easily with me somehow prevented in a way as the scenes of my past flashes back. I need to be strong enough to exist transcendent from the hesitation I feel that I may restore my being friendly and that I may be happy too with their company. By being too open enough I may be relieved of the stain, but it is my hope that even now, I will efface in my memory those sad experiences and only retain what is the good.

I need not be in pain by appearing indifferent choosing secrecy than I would have to open some sensitive facets of my life, though these increase their doubts. I should take enough courage to face even those that are hard to please by being too tangible with my presence. It may not be easy to do so but they too deserve to be enlightened even be clarified with the things they bother to presume. It is better to appear an intruder than being unconcerned with their portion of tranquility. I might not be good in trying to appease their feelings, but I may serve as a being tangible enough to provide answer to their questions.

“I love the tiny green island surrounded by the sea,” was the echo from my being. Somehow I concocted a world of my own with many brothers to help me even with the lashes of their tongues. But that was before, and at present it seems I have lost my guts to befriend them as I appear indifferent to the purity of their discussion while hoping to relate well with them and scale to their level knowing well that the way they think is unique with me seemingly left by time as I was caught in the realm of Gen-X progress acting like a grandfather to them.

Here as I paused, I’m bothered if I’m really rejected, a nuisance in their eyes even with my eyeglasses on. Somehow those who loved me with these were my friends, have gone away and had their own lives, even my newest friends, since I could only find them now in my friendster. Some had gone abroad or busy with their married life while I was left alone in the midst of the seemingly sea. Likewise I feel glory that I have my mother, even dad has died recently, and my sisters too even my only brother already passed away, moreover my in-laws by my kin, which include my nieces and nephews, and my relatives and friends.

I’m caught in a sort of alienation that I felt when I’ve attempted to commit suicide in Boracay. But though I was debilitated, I am in mirth that I was tranquil and composed with my depression being gone. Somehow time will come that I would be convinced that I am part of these young though I’m older, and would feel their affirmation and concern, and we be the same birds with similar feather as I also speak their kind of language.

Love begets love, but I’ve detected that rejection is itself an affirmation because they care to speak while others prefer to be in cliché. I’m only hesitating to be vocal because I do not know their names unlike my friends in RMCAT that I have a complete list of their names and other info about them. Time will come, we’ll relate in the gut level, helping one another do what is preferred and enjoyed in the circle of love and affirmation.

Love? When was the last time I thought about love? I felt love when I too was forgiven of my offenses in the time that I hated much my self and those who ruined my life. As I am dispensed, I am bound to forgive. With my resurrection, I did enjoy the flowers of springtime forgetting that once in my life, I had a share of Job’s sorrow.

The Holy Spirit does not only provide us the revelation but also bestow unto us the power. It is a living force or power for us to do what God wants us to consummate. Like the experience of the first Christians, we are given the occasion to share similar occurrence. In the same way, we are emboldened to amplify a deeper commitment and supply what is lacking in our vivacity.

For us to become closer to God, it is but practical to relate and commune with each other as Christ taught love for our neighbor and supply the needed compassion. Through the word of God, we could purify the church for us to obtain the needed salvation with us pilgrims constituting the church. Likewise as the church is the source of action, teachings therein should be practical, structural and theological. We need to live out the gospel. Moreover, as families need unity with this being essential, we should develop closeness to God and those within the parish, and bring the same attitude to our homes as we apply the word of God in our daily lives.

We should motivate availability within the neighborhood with which we can share and exchange each of our blessings and impart the word of God to them. Through this, we can help them obtain the needed moral support through extending our compassionate love where through interchange of stories, we become intimate with each other. We need to exist in the context where we can participate in perceiving the concern in the neighborhood and extend sympathy. We need to affirm each other and relay clearly our support comforting whoever is in misery.

In the neighborhood, we need to respect each other and value the existing friendship, generous with each of our resources. We also need to unburden our problems with whoever were those within our reach. We must be aware of what will bring happiness to each other. Meanwhile, in the church, by the inspiration we obtain from the Holy Spirit, we should participate in church activities and do our share in the work of God allowing our presence to be felt.

In spite of different backgrounds with each of us being unique from each other, we should bear in mind that we are all brothers and sisters similar in culture and does not differ much in principles as we commune together in the family of God. We should be aware that each of us shares our part in the church family that God cares for and love. Moreover, as Disciples of Christ, we need to know through the Bible his life as embedded in its contents.

The Lord invites us to follow him and be aware of our role in a growing church. Wherever the presence of Christ is felt, there we should settle. This is an invitation for us to be devotees with us being aware that Mary is the first disciple. We should hear and receive the word of God and allow His will to be vibrant in us just as the reality we discover from the scriptures. If possible, we should be harnessed in a lifestyle based from the word of God or the gospel lifestyle.

The Bible is the manual of our Christian life, and through the word of God, our life can be changed making us good Catholics. It is up for us to multiply God’s blessings by extending our share of generosity to others. In the same way as based from the life of Jesus, we should also imitate how he thinks, speaks, relates that we may grow and bloom like him.

We should live life having constant reflection of the word of God and be not ignorant of the teachings of the church. We should revive our lifestyle not only on the spiritual aspect but also on the whole integral appearance with our deeds being apparent in the society. In the same way, we should be militant pilgrim church, active and at the same time contemplative receptacles of the concern of saving souls.

We should help the church just as Christ offered himself for our sake. He died for us that exist in the neighborhood, of which we can echo this good example through contemplating on the word of God and applying to our lives what we have read. We should participate actively in the church activities. As neighbors, we can gather together and lay our concern for the welfare of the neighborhood. Very often, we should talk about the goodness of God despite the trials we face in life.

Through healthy ties established in the neighborhood, we can relay how we obtain strength from the word of God, and how the gospel changes our life. We should devise a way where we can share the word of God, contemplating daily on the scriptures. We should practice a form of Bible sharing as we struggle in explaining the identity of the Trinity that sustain unity. We also should grow in the love of celebrating the word and sharing the changes that we obtain by frequently attending the mass.

We should connect our faith to our experience, as these two should not be separated as we grow in love of the word. The word of God with all its facets is a precious diamond where it’s many sides give off many wonderful insights and realizations.

God prepares a place for us, and He intently reserves this, as He knows that we desire to conquer over the problems in our life. As God is with us, He will ferry us to the desired place even a place of worship. In the midst of impetuous journey, we should be assured that finally we should come to the place we long for and even be tranquilized having rested in that place. Then as we have reached this place, we shall burn the boat that ferry us that we may not look back to our past.

We should not yield to any instance that may give us the temptation to look back, and now be determined, as we avoid being ruined to the memory of our past. We desiring to obtain repose must rest away from sufferings and be effaced of troubles as we settle to our choice. Likewise, even with the preempting occurrence of death as we pursue our goal, we shall still hound settling to our choice as the glory of God is hefted. As we seem to perceive, it is a reality that victory await us. In the times of assault, we should be strong to face apprehended instances as we keep holding on to the Lord. The promise of heaven will give us strength, as we also want to go in an empyrean or paradise.

We should be burning with desire even attacked by what we assume to be the Devils, as even these fiendish creatures, though seemingly treated as a state of mind, unless he is indeed true in existence, will not also surrender his territory, that’s why we need to evade from his region. As we once wanted to be helped, even discouraged, we should pursue our goal seeking compassion in our ministry, as victory is ahead of us. The darkest time of night is the hour before dawn for it is an irritating period of waiting. In the time that we cannot stand robust, with the help of our friends we can still be substantiated.

God will be with you to the point that we shall assimilate victory. Just keep sustained, and be enlightened that even with compulsion, we shall finally claim jubilation. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus be also manifested in our body (2 Corinthians 4:8-10). The puzzle is that, we have seen in the evening of our life that the dint of the problem is ruining us, and as its rapidity is very cogent, we cannot help but be annoyed. Likewise, we should not lose the mark that the journey imprints in us, even amidst problems and frustrations as we take a firm hold to the strength from God.

We should focus our eyes to that mark that by our sufferings, entwined in us is the assurance of God as we endeavor to complete our goals. Even if we avoid all measures that demure us, we are in a journey and are sustained to ride on to the predicament as it is the will of God that we are in a mission, even facing hard situations that we need to pursue giving in to occurrences of life as we depend to our sight by God’s guidance, even to the presence of miracles giving us various opportunities to grab.

Upon hearing the assurance, in the time desired for us, we shall come back fully resurrected, and a new being even becoming the man of God. So we are admonished not to turn behind in every wake but to grab willingly the promise in our life. We should not be deluded by situations as we have Jesus who lays the greatest gift, which is the bestowal in our vivacity, that we may endure, even battle the whiles of the Devil if he really exists. With us feeling sadness now and then, let us be open to Jesus and relate our troubles to him, even with closeness as we feel the nearness of his return.

It is high time that we should believe that we are facing a battle against the many problems in our life. We shall fight and we will claim victory. We need to stand and conquer even in the territory away from our desire. Though it is heavy for us to experience this, we need to claim the vow as many depend upon us, even the souls that are lost. The Lord comforts us with these words, “Just keep holding on my child, even the presence of Jesus is only grasped in our mind.” We would be glad to feel his embrace, much more, we will likely rejoice if we shall see him with our sight.

We need to pursue with our life and we need to tighten the loose belt even our girdle. Life is hard as trials come rapidly in our life, for in this present time, we are in the brim of the promise. Ahead of us is heaven, somehow almost by our grasp. It’s time to decide whether to serve the Lord or not. We should commit ourselves, as victory is not far off. Before we know it, we are already enjoying the blessings of God. The Lord wants us beside him when he comes.

It’s time to burn our past, even the ship that ferry us to the seemingly empyrean place, and not turn our backs from the Lord. We to defeat our reluctant spirit must pursue the battle towards victory. It’s time to give us to the Lord; no turning back sailing down to the isles for our life is with God, as He is our tower, a strong perfume of our delight. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

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God gave intelligence to humans
that his message would be spread, to cover all bounds of the earth. It is man’s
desire to reach heaven and that he need to be subjected to the will of God. By
the grace of God we are saved as our faith humbles us making us tranquil souls
dealing intelligently the situations in our life. Two thousand years ago, Jesus
being compelled to follow the will of the Father has to be sacrificed as a form
of Passover, and he has to suffer for the sake of his dear ones. Diligently, he
tried his best to mend the ways of his disciples, as he desired to save them
from the bondage of sin. Jesus having fulfilled his mission sighs, “It is
finished!”

In a different context, Noah built the

Ark

in preparation for the coming flood.
Likewise, since during the time of Noah, there is no rain, the people ridiculed
him. Noah preached about the coming flood for 120 years with God giving a grace
period. As the people whose hearts were hardened to the last minute did not
accede to Noah’s warning, God closed the door of the

Ark.

We noticed here that the people had a
very hard time in believing Noah’s words. In a separate situational, Thomas,
the apostle of Christ withholds reliance to the resurrection of Jesus whom his
fellow apostles are telling of having risen, because he wanted to personally
see Jesus with the wounds in his hands and side, for him to believe.

The greatest problem among Christians is the teaching, since we
differ in each of our own analysis. Thinking intently, we should realize that
we are the targets of the Devil that he may prove that our testimony is but a
mockery. If a Christian lives a life that is not in accordance with the will of
God, he is held responsible not only for his deeds but also of the welfare of
other people whom he influences. Since in the desired period all of us will be
giving an account of all his works, we should not speak any evil to each other,
if we could only avoid. We have in our perceptions mirrors of others’ lives but
we should not be discouraged of their works and words.

We should aim for heaven and not speak evil to one another.
Instead, captivating various insights, we should enjoy the word of God. In our
desire to be lifted up, we should not forget that we must settle our
misunderstanding the earliest possible time. Rather than judge each other, we
need to subdue the influence of their wrong doing that we capture in our
experience of listening from these other people. We should be reconciled to our
brothers to refresh the fellowship, renewing generous hearts in our acts of
forgiveness and humility. We should also avoid being exposed to places, which
rupture the wounds even places of worship in other congregations. We should
avoid breaking relationships, and evade from the evil that someone would accuse
us. We in our worship need to consult our hearts, as it is our desire to settle
differences that our worship will be acceptable to God, our Father.

Problems when prolonged and left to worsen will result to delusion
and misunderstanding. Even small holes when left aside enlarge the damage. We
should be prayerful so that when problems knock in our doors, we know then what
to do. If our problem is pride as we see others in their wrongdoing, we should
not be overcome by our emotions as not to end up hating them. Being blinded by
our heartaches, as we are helpless, we should be alarmed not to ride on in the
situation of the problem but to divert to other means that can alleviate our
hatred. In an effort to baby-sit pride, King Saul wanted to kill David, as he
knows that David is capable of being the next King.

Jonathan in an effort to take David away from danger safeguarded
him eluding him from dangerous areas, this because they were close to each
other. David in a situation where he had Saul closely captured as the latter
was within his reach, was warned by God through his conscience not to stain
God’s anointed, this even David had all the chance to rebel against Saul.
Moreover learning that David had been in close attack but had been merciful to
him, Saul bended down and admitted that he has sinned.

In that very hour that Saul was almost assaulted if David had been
tempted to lure him, the latter received an advice from Abishai, one of David’s
generals, as this man whispered to him, “God has delivered your enemy into your
grasp this day. Let me nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I
will not need a second thrust (1 Samuel 26:8).” David had these words: “Do not
harm him, for who can lay hands on the Lord’s anointed and remain unpunished (1
Samuel 26:9).” Saul admitting his mistakes said, “I have sinned.” There is a
problem between two persons but one of them humbled. They struggled for the
Kingdom, but King Saul humbled.

We should renew our ties every time and admit to ourselves that we
can still forgive our brother. With him insisting on his fiery words, we can
avoid the person to refrain from being polluted of his words and be hurt.
Somehow, we should leave to God’s hands his mete. We should be enlightened that
we are Christians, as we need to cleanse us seeking fresh waters and by God’s
mercy, we should know well that in our salient grounds, we could still find
true friends, those who will not ruin us and is ready for their comforting advice.
Likewise, we should thank God for the grace period and for the many people who
still loves us, that we may be willing to suffer even to offer our life for the
sake of our dear ones.

- Jose Constante I. Nartatez