Faith Bites Part II

What is its Origins?

Q: I was recently asked where the Sign of the Cross comes from, but I could not give an answer. We all bless ourselves without thinking how this tradition started.

A: The words are the second half of Matthew 28:19, part of Jesus’ final words to the apostles.
I am not sure when and where this gesture was first used. My guess is that it was not until Christianity had become a legal religion in the Roman Empire (313 A.D.).

Artistic depictions of the crucified Jesus come after that date. I suspect this gesture was used soon after Christianity became first a legal religion and later the empire’s state religion (fifth century).

In the Eastern Churches (both Orthodox and Catholic), people touch the right shoulder first and then the left—the opposite of the Western custom. There are different explanations for this variation.

The cross symbolizes Jesus’ generous love, which makes our salvation possible.

Can I be Redeemed?

Q: I am a Catholic. My wife and I were married by a justice of the peace 35 years ago. I understand that means I am excommunicated. If so, what can I do to become redeemed?

A: Redemption is God’s responsibility, and only God knows a person’s heart well enough to make that awesome judgment.

Regarding marriages, the Catholic Church makes judgments on the basis of public facts. In this case, your Baptism, your marriage by a justice of the peace and your obligation to follow Catholic “form” (marriage by a priest or other previously authorized representative) are all public facts.
It sounds as if you did not follow Catholic “form.” Your baptismal certificate and your record of marriage by a justice of the peace may be enough for your pastor to determine that. Then a priest or deacon can “convalidate” (regularize) your marriage within the Catholic Church.

Even now, you can go to Mass whenever you like. The Church understands that you need to convalidate your marriage before receiving the Eucharist. I encourage you to speak with your pastor or another member of your parish staff.

Faith Bites

"In the act of death we at last attain the fullness of who we are. We become who we are—and forever. In death we at last cease to live the illusion of a separate, self-centered existence and realize that our life is—and always has been—lived with God in Christ and with our sisters and brothers."

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Q: I have been divorced twice and recently inquired about getting an annulment. The interview was a very grueling process for me. Because of ex-husbands and certain people in my past who would not cooperate, I will not be able to complete this process.

Why does the Catholic Church judge people by their past and not allow them to receive the Eucharist? If the Church tells me that God forgives the repentant sinner, why can’t the Church do the same?

I go to church and read my Bible every day. I would like to receive Holy Communion, but I will respect the Church’s laws.

Why is there an annulment process, anyway? Is there anything in the Bible about this?

A: The Catholic Church believes that a valid, sacramental marriage (between a baptized man and a baptized woman) cannot be dissolved except through death. The biblical basis for this is Matthew 19:6: “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

What appears to be a valid, sacramental marriage, however, may not be that. There are many reasons why a union between a man and a woman might be declared null. For example, one person’s “I do” could mean “as long as I like how this relationship is going.” If such an intention could be proven by testimony from firsthand witnesses, then the marriage might be declared null because one partner was not making a permanent commitment.

A valid, non-sacramental marriage (where one or both parties are unbaptized) can be dissolved under certain conditions.

You wrote that you cannot complete the annulment process because of “certain people in my past who would not cooperate.” Did the person who interviewed you about a possible annulment agree with that assessment?

Your former spouse (one case at a time) has to be informed or a reasonable effort must be made to do so, but your case can proceed even if he does not cooperate. Depending on the baptismal status of each of your former husbands and where those weddings took place, your case might be rather simple to resolve.

The Catholic Church does not say that divorced people cannot receive the Eucharist. It says that those who are divorced and remarried cannot.

Why? Because of the Scripture passage quoted above. The Church feels that any other policy would fail to recognize the sacredness of marriage and would undermine family stability.
You asked if the Scriptures say anything about annulments (declarations of nullity). The Law of Moses includes regulations about which people are too closely related to allow them to marry each other (Leviticus 18:6-18).

Jesus said that the Law of Moses was too lenient on the subject of divorce and did not reflect God’s intention from the creation of the world (Matthew 19:4-8).

St. Paul addressed the situation of Christians married to unbaptized spouses who were no longer willing to live with them because of their Baptism (1 Corinthians 7:12-16).

The Catholic Church’s thinking about declarations of nullity comes from centuries of pastoral care with people whose marriages have broken up. In fact, some people have found the Church’s process to be a healing one.

The Catholic Church is placing more emphasis on preparing men and women well for marriage.
I encourage you to investigate whether an annulment is possible in your situation. Do not be afraid to get a second opinion from a Church minister trained in these matters.

Whatever you decide, I hope you keep going to church and keep reading the Bible. God still loves you very much.

Wednesday of Easter

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 24,35-48.

Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have."

And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

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“Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me”

Saint Matthew, in his Gospel, writes that Christ took Peter, James and John, led them up a high mountain and was transfigured before them: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. But, since they were not able to bear such a vision, they fell prostrate (Mt 17,1s). This is why, in order to conform himself in everything to the Father's plan, at the Cenacle our Lord Jesus appeared still under the appearance he had before, and not according to the glory owed to him and that suits the Temple of his transfigured body. He did not want that faith in resurrection be based on other aspects or on a different body than the one he had received from the Virgin Mary and with which he had died on a cross, according to the Scriptures. In fact, death had no power over him, except on his body, from which death was to be chased away. For, if his dead body had not been raised, where would this death that has been defeated be? ...He couldn't have been nor just a soul, nor an angel, not even only the Word of God...

Moreover, the fact that the Lord came, although the doors were locked, anybody who is sensible will count this too as a proof of his resurrection. He greets his disciples with these words: “Peace be with you”, revealing in this way that he himself is peace. For those to whom he appears, receive from him a perfectly soothed and peaceful spirit. This is certainly what Paul wished to his faithful when he said:

“May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ” (Phil 4,7).

Light Hearted Holy Moments... =p

1. There was a church that had problems with outsiders parking in its
parking lots, so they put up a sign:
CHURCH CAR PARKING - FOR MEMBERS ONLY, TRESPASSERS WILL BE BAPTIZED!
That took care of the problem!

2. "No God - No Peace? Know God - Know Peace."

3. "Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!"

4. "Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."

5. "Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!"

6. An ad for one Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets
on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that
reads: "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."

7. When the restaurant next to another Church put out a sign with big
red letters that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."

8. "People are like tea bags - you have to put them in hot water before
you know how strong they are."

9. "Fight truth decay - study the Bible daily."

10. "How will you spend eternity - Smoking or Non-smoking?"

11. "Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives"

12. "Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and
the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this
world."

13. "It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin."

14. "Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church."

15. "If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."

16. "If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."

17. "Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal
fire insurance soon."

18. "This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?" ----- (U R)

19. "In the dark? Follow the Son."

20. "Running low on faith? Step in for a fill-up."

21. "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd."

the heart bleeds for love..yearns for attention....but dies dry...

found this frm my friend's bloggie...rather meaningful...hope she doesnt mind...hehez..enjoy...


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Imagine this. In your hand is a very precious creation, so fragile, so valuable that if you keep on holding, it would either stay or fall apart.

But you loved this creature so much, so much that letting it go would be like letting go of your life as well.

So much that sometimes you wished it would be there forever.

So much that you tend to be selfish at times so as you could make it stay for as long as you like.

Don't we all wish something "so good" could be forever?

Don't we all hope that happiness is there to stay?
~_~_~_~

There comes a time in our lives when we chance upon someone "so nice" and "almost perfect" and we just find ourselves getting so intensely attracted to that person (sometimes without even realizing it).

This feeling soon become a part of our everyday lives and eventually guzzles our thoughts and actions to the extent that we tagged it as one of those "too good to be true" thing.

The sad part there is when we begin to realize that, this particular person feels totally nothing but friendship.

A "thing" that would be forever, a "thing" nothing more, nothing less...just a thing!
You're just a friend, And that's the fact!

~_~_~_~

Then in our desperate attempt to get closer (or at least Be noticed), our efforts are still futile and we end up sorry for ourselves.

One person said, never ever let your heart run your life, as much as you can, always be sensible and let your mind speak for itself.

Try to listen not merely on what your feelings is invoking on you as a person but more importantly listen to reason as well.

~_~_~_~

Letting go of someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to stop loving,
it only means that you allow that person to find his own happiness without expecting him to come back.

~_~_~_~

Letting go is not just setting the other person free (in the real sense of it),
but it is also setting yourself free from all animosity, revulsion, and resentment that was long kept in your heart.

~_~_~_~

You have to let go because the bitterness often puts away the strengths and weakens the littlest hope, making our lives more miserable than ever.

Worst, presenting yourself as the "most affected one" sets the nastiest impression of all time--whatta a loser!

The trick there is... always remember that 'if you lose someone today,
it means that someone better is coming tomorrow.'

~_~_~_~

If you lose love that doesn't mean that you failed in love...right?

Just regard it as another mismatch of heaven!

Well, you can cry of course, or whine or shout (growl even) if you have to,
but make sure that after those outbursts you have washed away the hurt and the bitterness that the past Has left with you (easy said than done I know!).

~_~_~_~

We can all survive with just beautiful memories of the past but real peace and happiness come only with open acceptance of what reality is today.

~_~_~_~

You really don't have to forget someone you love ('cause it's hard).

What we need to learn is how to accept the verdict of reality without being bitter or sorry for what we have become.

I think it's better that we give off that dedication and love to someone more deserving.

Hmmm..."Who could it be" is the next interesting question to ponder.

~_~_~_~

Let go of yesterday and love will find its wayback to you.
And when it does, pray hard that it may be the love that will stay and last a lifetime.

Imagine this happening to us...

One Sunday morning, as church bells rang just before mass began,a 2,000 member congregation was surprised to see two men enter, both covered from head to toe in black and carrying submachine guns.

One of the men shouted, "Anyone willing to take a bullet for Christ remain where you are!" Immediately, the choir fled, the deacons fled, and most of the congregation fled.

Out of the 2,000, there only remained around 20. The man who had spoken took off his hood, looked at the preacher and said "Okay Father, I got rid of all the hypocrites."Now you may begin mass. Have a nice day!"And the two men turned and walked out.

Faith bites....

"The life of the risen Jesus was indeed a new creation, immeasurable by time, because it was not a “coming back” from the dead. It was a going beyond death.…It was entrance into the life of God. "

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Recognising Jesus: How often do we try to “see Jesus in others and in our experiences?” This way of living requires deep faith in the person of Jesus as our Saviour. What type of emotions usually prevents you from living in this manner? Is it anger, pride, jealousy, insecurity, hurt etc?

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Q: What is the Church’s teaching about work on Sundays? Many factories, utilities, retail stores, hospitals and other business are open on Sunday.

A: Work on Sunday should be avoided as much as possible.

Most hospital departments, however, must be staffed on Sundays, cows must be milked each day, firefighters, police and many others need to work on Sundays to ensure public safety and health.

From ancient times until our own day, Jewish people have realized that everyone is entitled to the Sabbath rest—from the richest individual to the humblest person. The Sabbath recognizes a rhythm in creation, inviting us to rest, pray and gather with our families and friends.

One of my favorite quotes about this comes from Rabbi Abraham Heschel (d. 1972): “Six days a week we seek to dominate the world, on the seventh day we try to dominate the self.”
In his 1998 apostolic letter The Day of the Lord, Pope John Paul II wrote that our relationship with God “demands times of explicit prayer in which the relationship becomes an intense dialogue, involving every dimension of the person.

“‘The Lord’s Day’ is the day of this relationship par excellence when men and women raise their song to God and become the voice of all creation. This is precisely why it is also the day of rest.”
Without the Sabbath rest, we are in danger of seeing ourselves as valuable only because of what we produce or what we own. The Sabbath rest is a built-in reality check worth maintaining as best we can.

Christians observe the Lord’s Day on Sunday, the day Jesus rose to new life.

Wednesday of the Easter Week

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 24,13-35.

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast.

One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?"

And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see."

And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over."

So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?"

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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“He took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.

With that their eyes were opened”The image of the disciples on the way to Emmaus can serve as a fitting guide for a Year when the Church will be particularly engaged in living out the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. Amid our questions and difficulties, and even our bitter disappointments, the divine Wayfarer continues to walk at our side, opening to us the Scriptures and leading us to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of God. When we meet him fully, we will pass from the light of the Word to the light streaming from the “Bread of life”, the supreme fulfilment of his promise to “be with us always, to the end of the age” (cf. Mt 28:20)...

The account of the Risen Jesus appearing to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus helps us to focus on a primary aspect of the Eucharistic mystery, one which should always be present in the devotion of the People of God: The Eucharist is a mystery of light! ...Jesus described himself as the “light of the world” (Jn 8:12), and this quality clearly appears at those moments in his life, like the Transfiguration and the Resurrection, in which his divine glory shines forth brightly. Yet in the Eucharist the glory of Christ remains veiled. The Eucharist is pre-eminently a mysterium fidei. Through the mystery of his complete hiddenness, Christ becomes a mystery of light, thanks to which believers are led into the depths of the divine life...

The Eucharist is light above all because at every Mass the liturgy of the Word of God precedes the liturgy of the Eucharist in the unity of the two “tables”, the table of the Word and the table of the Bread...In the account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Christ himself intervenes to show, “beginning with Moses and all the prophets”, how “all the Scriptures” point to the mystery of his person (cf. Lk 24:27). His words make the hearts of the disciples “burn” within them, drawing them out of the darkness of sorrow and despair, and awakening in them a desire to remain with him: “Stay with us, Lord” (cf. v. 29).

Minute moments...

"It was God’s love that raised Jesus from the dead. God’s love would not let him perish. And it is God’s love that will not let us perish, that will enable us to live forever. "

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Q: What is the Church’s teaching about work on Sundays? Many factories, utilities, retail stores, hospitals and other business are open on Sunday.

A: Work on Sunday should be avoided as much as possible.

Most hospital departments, however, must be staffed on Sundays, cows must be milked each day, firefighters, police and many others need to work on Sundays to ensure public safety and health.

From ancient times until our own day, Jewish people have realized that everyone is entitled to the Sabbath rest—from the richest individual to the humblest person. The Sabbath recognizes a rhythm in creation, inviting us to rest, pray and gather with our families and friends.

One of my favorite quotes about this comes from Rabbi Abraham Heschel (d. 1972): “Six days a week we seek to dominate the world, on the seventh day we try to dominate the self.”

In his 1998 apostolic letter The Day of the Lord, Pope John Paul II wrote that our relationship with God “demands times of explicit prayer in which the relationship becomes an intense dialogue, involving every dimension of the person.

“‘The Lord’s Day’ is the day of this relationship par excellence when men and women raise their song to God and become the voice of all creation. This is precisely why it is also the day of rest.”
Without the Sabbath rest, we are in danger of seeing ourselves as valuable only because of what we produce or what we own. The Sabbath rest is a built-in reality check worth maintaining as best we can.

Christians observe the Lord’s Day on Sunday, the day Jesus rose to new life.

Tuesday of the Easter week

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20,11-18.

But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been.

And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him."

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher.

Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and what he told her.


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“Have you seen him whom my heart loves?” (Sg 3,3)

“Why are you weeping?” You are the cause of your tears, you are the one who makes yourself cry...You cry because you do not believe in Christ: believe and you will see him. Christ is there; he never misses out those who look for him. “Why are you weeping?” Tears don't serve you any good; you need to have faith, a live faith, and worthy of God. Do not think about mortal things and you will stop crying...Why shall you be crying for what rejoices others?

“Whom are you looking for?” Can't you see that Christ is the strength of God, that Christ is the wisdom of God, that Christ is holiness, that Christ is chastity, that Christ is purity, that Christ was born of a Virgin, that Christ comes from the Father and is with the Father and is always in the Father; born and therefore not created, not rejected but always loved, true God from true God? “They have taken my Lord and I don't know where they laid him” You are mistaken, woman; you think that Christ has been taken away from the tomb by others and you do not believe that he has risen by his own power. But nobody can take away the power of God, nobody takes away the wisdom of God, nobody can take away his venerable chastity. Christ is not taken away from the tomb of the just man nor from the intimacy of the virgin and from the secrecy of his faithful soul; and even if there were someone who wanted to take him away, they could not take him away.

So the Lord tells her: “Mary, look at me”. As long as she does not believe, she is called “a woman”; when she begins to turn towards him she is called “Mary”. She receives the same name of the one who gave birth to Christ; for it is the soul that spiritually gives birth to Christ. “Look at me”, he says. Who looks at Christ, corrects himself; we lose our way when we do not look at Christ. Therefore, as she turns around, she sees him and says: “Rabbouni, which means Teacher”. The one who looks, turns around; the one who turns around, is able to seize better; the one who sees, progresses. This is why she calls “Teacher” the one she thought was dead; she found the one she thought was lost.

A second in time.....

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised aglass of water and asked, "how heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.""

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for anhour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day,you'll have to call an ambulance. "In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden become sincreasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on." "As with the glass ofwater, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can." "Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!

And then he shared some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
* Never buy a car you can't push.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Clarity and Freedom

"Death is a moment of absolute clarity and complete freedom. In the divine presence, all the things that might distract us in this life are gone. We shed them as a serpent sheds its skin."

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Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 28,8-15.

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples.And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened.They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.' And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble." The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present (day).

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Jesus met them on their way and greeted them”

“Come and see the place where he lay” (Mt 28,6)...Come and see the place where the act that guarantees your resurrection was composed. Come and see the place where death was buried. Come and see the place where a body, a seed not sowed by man, produced a multitude of spikes for eternal life...”Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and they will see me. Tell my disciples the mysteries you have seen.”

This is what the Lord told the women. And now once again, he stands at the edge of the baptismal pool, invisible, near the faithful, he hugs the newly baptized as his friends and brothers...He fills their hearts and their souls with jubilation and joy. He washes their sins in the fountains of his grace. He anoints with the perfume of the Spirit those who have been regenerated.

The Lord becomes the one who feeds them and he becomes their food. He provides for his servants their part of spiritual nourishment. He tells all the faithful: “Take and eat the bread from heaven, receive the source that comes out from my side, the one from which one can always draw without it ever drying up. You who hunger, satisfy your hunger; you who thirst, get drunk with a sober and healthy wine”.

The Easter Season :The Resurrection Narratives

The Resurrection of Christ is at the center of our faith. The Church devotes eight days of worship to retelling the Resurrection narratives. From Easter to the following (Low) Sunday the readings at Masses present one by one the many New Testament accounts of the appearances of the risen Lord.

Our four Gospels, written 30 to 70 years after the Resurrection, tell us what happened in different ways. Each Gospel narrative should be allowed to contribute its own wealth to what we know and believe about the risen Christ.

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Mark's Narrative

Throughout the Gospel Mark emphasizes how difficult it was for those who followed Jesus to believe in him fully because they did not understand that suffering and rejection were an essential part of the identity of God's Son. But pain leads to light.

The added ending (Mark 16:9-20) recognizes how an encounter with the risen Jesus brought about faith. We also hear how those whom Jesus upbraids for lack of faith and hardness of heart are entrusted with preaching the gospel to the whole world.

These are messages pertinent to our own lives. Mark's Gospel reminds us that Jesus' first disciples were struggling human beings like ourselves.

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Matthew's Narrative

As always, Matthew, although he draws on Mark, is the more skilled teacher, kinder to readers who do not always see implications.

One of the tragic elements in Matthew's Christian experience is a hostile relationship between synagogue authorities and Christian believers. Matthew reminds us that the Christian proclamation of the gospel will not be without struggle.

Matthew describes what Mark only promised: the appearance of Jesus to the disciples. From a mountain in Galilee the risen Jesus sends his disciples forth to teach "all nations," making them disciples by baptizing them.

Matthew is careful to show that God's plan for Jesus was consistent from beginning to end. The revelation given about Jesus before he was born (1:23) proclaimed that he would be Emmanuel ("God with us"); Jesus' last words are "I am with you all days to the end of time" (28:20).

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Luke's Narrative

Like Matthew, Luke follows Mark in the basic story of the empty tomb, but then goes his own way in the appearances he reports.

Luke sees the Resurrection as fulfilling the Scriptures. The risen Jesus teaches the Eleven about his death and resurrection by explaining the Scriptures, "All the things written about me in the Law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms must be fulfilled" (24:44).

Luke spotlights Jerusalem as the setting for Jesus' appearances and ascension. For him the Gospel began with the appearance of Gabriel to Zechariah in the Jerusalem temple; it ends with Jesus' disciples in the temple blessing God.

Jesus' return to God begins the life of the Church that starts in Jerusalem (Judaism) and extends to Rome (the Gentile world).

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John's Narrative

John's Gospel narrates a series of encounters as character after character comes to meet Jesus and reacts to him. Peter and the Beloved Disciple, Mary Magdalene, the disciples and Thomas encounter the mystery of Jesus' Resurrection.

The last word of Jesus is about the Beloved Disciple. He is given no role of authority, but he retains a primacy in being loved, which is more important in this Gospel. To this disciple is held open the possibility of being there when Jesus returns. Symbolically that would be the final fruit of the Resurrection: a believing community of Christian disciples that would remain until the last days.

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Diverse Messages

What can we learn from the fact that the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection differ from one another? Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever; but the world addressed by God's revelation in Christ is varied indeed. By the way the Church preserves the varied Gospel messages, it lets Jesus speak to the differing needs of the audiences of our times.

Transformed by Easter

reflections by Richard Rohr, O.F.M. Enjoy..

Christian history reaches its crescendo point in the Resurrection of Jesus. The risen Jesus is the final revelation of the heart of God—a God who teaches love rather than hate, forgiveness rather than blame, nonviolence rather than violence.

Recall Jesus' encounters with his disciples following his Resurrection. He comes to the circle of followers with whom he had spent three years, the people closest to him who had nevertheless rejected, betrayed and abandoned him. Following his Resurrection Jesus has the opportunity to chastise them. And yet, in all four Gospel accounts of the risen Christ we see that Jesus neither berates nor blames his disciples. Indeed, Peter, the disciple who had betrayed him three times, is given three chances to say, "I love you" to his Master.

There is nothing to be afraid of in the risen Jesus. We have in him the perfect icon of a God who is safe and a universe that is safe. We have a God who does not blame, does not punish, does not threaten, does not dominate. We have a God who breathes forgiveness. The whole biblical tradition has been moving to this moment where God is identified with universal forgiveness.

The Resurrection of Jesus tells us that there is no victory through domination. There is no such thing as triumph by force. By his life, death and resurrection Jesus stops the cycle of violence and challenges the notion of dominating power. This is a power that seeks to change things from the top down, from the outside in. Instead, Jesus invites us to relational or spiritual power, where we are not just changed but transformed. And not transformed from the top down but from the bottom up, not from the outside in but from the inside out. Transformed into God….

We see in Jesus the divine being who is also the perfect human being. Jesus comes in a human body to show us the face of God, the One who is eternally compassionate and eternally joyous, who stands with us in our sufferings and our joys. As Christians, our vocation is to unite with both Christ crucified and Christ risen.

Jésus le Christ est levé ! Alléluia!

Jésus le Christ est levé ! Alléluia! (Jesus Christ is risen! Alleluia!)

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20,1-9.

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

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“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad” (Ps 117,24)

The Sun of Justice (Mal 3,20) that had disappeared for three days, today rises and shines on the whole creation. Christ in the tomb for three days and in existence before the centuries! He comes up like a vine and fills the earth with joy. Let us look at the rising sun that will never set; let us anticipate the day and may we be filled with the joy of this light!

The gates of Hell have been broken by Christ, the dead wake up from sleep. Christ rises, he, the resurrection of the dead, and comes wake Adam up. Christ, resurrection of all the dead, rises and comes free Eve from malediction. Christ rises, he who is the resurrection, and he transfigures in all its beauty what had “no stately bearing to make us look at him” (Is 53,2). As a sleeper the Lord woke up and confounded all the trickeries of the enemy. He was raised and gave joy to the whole creation; he was raised and the prison of Hell was emptied; he was raised and transformed what is corruptible in incorruptible (1 Cor 15,53). The risen Christ clothed Adam with incorruptibility, his first dignity.

Through Christ the Church today becomes a new heaven (Rev 21,1), a more beautiful sky to contemplate than the visible sun. The sun that we see every day cannot compare with this Sun: as a servant filled with respect, he eclipsed in front of him, when he saw him hanging on the cross (Mt 27,45). It is of this Sun that the prophet said: “For you who fear my name, there will arise the Sun of Justice with its healing rays” (Mal 3,20)...Through him, the Christ, Sun of Justice, the Church becomes a beautiful sky filled with plenty of stars, that come out from the baptismal waters in their new light. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad” (Ps 117,24), filled with the joy that comes from God.

Easter Time!!

At the moment of death, in a way that bystanders cannot see, a person stands before God, stands face to face with divine Goodness, divine Beauty and says “yes” to God.

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**phew**.....what a week...kinda tired after many happenings for the past week....above is some words for reflection...read and think about it carefully..they are rather meaningful...will post somethings abt easter perhaps tomorrow...after a goodie night of snoring..haha....till then..take care everyone..... happi and blessed easter....

Is Confession Based on the Bible?

Q: I cannot find anything in the Bible about Christians confessing to another human being, like a priest.

My understanding is that we are to confess our sins to Jesus and ask for his forgiveness, which he gives to those who are truly sorry.

Even though I was brought up Catholic, I haven’t gone to Confession in years because I do not believe in telling my sins to anyone, including a priest.

Why doesn’t the Catholic Church have open confession during weekly Masses?

A: The Sacrament of Penance has evolved over the years, always in harmony with its biblical roots.

After his Resurrection, Jesus told the apostles, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:23).

The Letter of James says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful” (5:16).

Confessing one’s sins to someone designated by the Church reaffirms our belief that God can act through created things and through people. That belief helps us understand Jesus’ Incarnation and the sacraments.

During his earthly life, Jesus was a visible sign, a sacrament, of God’s love. After Jesus’ Ascension, the Church continues that sign, although imperfectly this side of heaven. The Sacrament of Penance flows from Jesus’ Incarnation and his followers’ sense of communion with God and each other.

“Open confession” may sound good, but would it be the personal encounter which the present practice offers?

At a time when we see a tremendous flight from personal responsibility, do we want personal repentance to become “...and for whatever I may have done wrong”?
You may not intend that, but I suspect that’s where the open confession you describe would probably lead.

Last August, approximately two million young people attended World Youth Day in Rome. Many of them went to individual confession in the Circus Maximus. Would they have had a stronger sense of God’s love for them as individuals if a priest or bishop had given general absolution instead? Probably not.

Confession has been the occasion for many people to appreciate how much God loves them and how much they have resisted that love.

Most parishes schedule a Penance service during Lent/Advent, with opportunity for individual confession. Why not participate in one of them?

Easter Vigil

Holy Saturday is a time of waiting and watching, trusting, hoping that Jesus’ words were God’s promise. Wait and watch with the women in belief, and rejoice!

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Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 28,1-10.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.

His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow.

The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men.

Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.

He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you."

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples.

And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

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“Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day” (Ps 138,12)

We, who are mortal, need to sleep to restore our strength and therefore interrupt our life with this image of death that leaves us at least some scraps of life. In the same way all those who live in chastity, innocence and fervor prepare for themselves the life of angels; in exchange for this burden of death, they will receive grace in the eternal life...

Now, my brothers, listen to these few words I want to tell you about this coming night we are going to live...Our Lord Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead on the third day: no Christian doubts about this. The Holy Gospels testify that this event occurred during this night...

It is not from light to darkness but from darkness to light that we struggle to come out. The apostle Paul warns us: “the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 13,12)...

This is why we will stay up this night when the Lord was raised and when he started in his flesh the life of which I talked to you before, the life that has no death nor sleep. And the flesh that he raised from the tomb will not die anymore, and will not fall under the laws of death anymore.

The women that loved him came at dawn to visit his tomb; instead of finding his body, they heard the voice of angels announcing his resurrection. No doubt then that he was raised the night before this dawn.

In this way, the one of whom we celebrate the resurrection in our long vigils will make us reign with him in an everlasting life. And even if, at the time we were on watch, his body were in the tomb and would not have been raised yet, our watch would still have all its meaning, because he slept so that we may be awakened, he died so that we may live.

Who set up the 14 Stations of the Cross and why? When did this devotion begin?

Since the first century, Christians have been making pilgrimages to the land where Jesus lived. St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, made a famous pilgrimage in the fourth century, trying to identify where Jesus was born, died and was buried.

For a short time after 1199 when the crusaders captured Jerusalem and nearby territory, visiting these sites was easier. After the crusaders lost this territory in 1291, pilgrimages became much more dangerous and expensive.

The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, bring the Holy Land both to people unable to travel there and to those who have made that pilgrimage.

Francis of Assisi had two great devotions: Jesus’ Incarnation and his passion, symbolized in the crib and the cross.

The Franciscan friars popularized the Way of the Cross devotion, starting in the 14th century. People erected small stations inside churches and sometimes life-size ones outdoors. Soon, almost all churches had a Way of the Cross. A Franciscan wrote the Stabat Mater lyrics, often used during the Stations in the original Latin or in translation.

The number of stations and the events commemorated have varied over the centuries. Pope Clement XII (1730-40) fixed the present number and list.

Whether you pray the Stations alone or with a group of people in a parish church or outdoors, this devotion makes Jesus’ passion and death very real.

How Do Churches Get Their Names?

Tech bites on the church...enjoy... =)

How does a parish decide what to name the church? How was a name decided for a local church, say, 100 years ago?

Canon law is minimal on the naming of churches. Canon #1218 says only that each church is to have its own title which cannot be changed after its dedication. Commentaries then direct the reader to the current liturgical books which are more explicit on the titles of churches and are to be followed.

The Ritual for the Dedication of a Church states that every church to be dedicated must have a titular. This titular may be the Blessed Trinity, our Lord Jesus Christ invoked according to a mystery of his life or a title already accepted in the liturgy, the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary (likewise invoked according to some appellation already accepted in the liturgy), one of the angels or a saint inscribed in the Roman Martyrology or in a duly approved appendix (to the martyrology). A blessed may not be a titular without an indult from the apostolic see.

The ritual also indicates a church may have only one titular unless it is a question of saints who are listed together in the calendar of observances (for example, Cosmas and Damian, Peter and Paul). The ritual then gives to the bishop the responsibility of dedicating to God new churches built in his diocese.

The chancellor of the archdiocese in which I live tells me that, from a canonical point of view, the bishop alone has the authority to establish a parish. Part of the act of establishing a parish would include the dedication of that parish to God under a particular title. It is, therefore, the bishop who has the final say about the name of a new church. In practice, I am told, the bishop sometimes asks the founding pastor to recommend a name. In this instance, I would surmise that the pastor may sometimes consult the members of the new parish on a patron or title.
But sometimes the bishop has his own list of favorite names. Or he may want to be sure names are not duplicated. And it may be that someone who contributes greatly to the building of a church requests that it be dedicated under a particular title.

It's hard to say how particular churches came to be titled in the course of history. But the chancellor reminded me that after the definition of the Immaculate Conception (in 1854) many churches were named for Mary under this title. I'm sure the same was true of the dogma of the Assumption (an ancient dogma solemnly defined in 1950). And often enough after a new saint is canonized a church will be named for that saint, for example, St. Elizabeth Seton or St. John Neumann.

When religious orders build churches, those churches may well be named for their founders or saints of their order.
In some ways naming a church is like naming a baby--lots of people can get into the act.

Yet ours were the sufferings HE bore...ours the sorrows HE carried

Jesus’ blood washes across the centuries as a salve for sin. Yet we cannot stand to watch his suffering in our mind’s eye. Allow yourself to know his suffering, and keep that sense of compassion for all who suffer

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Christ was humbler yet,
even to accepting death,
death on a cross.

But God raised him high,
and gave him the name
which is above all other names.

Good Friday

Come, all of you who love God; come see what our Lord has done for us. Come, all of you who have been redeemed by the very pure blood of the innocent Lamb; look and understand what he has suffered for our sin. Today the Book of Life is opened for us; the seven seals are broken open (Rev. 6). Truth shines, in it all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are revealed (Rom 11,33); a spring containing the mysteries of God is opened for us.

Today the veil of the sanctuary is torn in two (Mt 27,51); all images give way to reality. The Holy of Holies opens wide open, thanks to Jesus, the chief priest. The sacrifice that he offers is nothing else than his own blood. Today in Jesus Christ all symbols find their meaning, all mysteries are revealed. Today the Father's great treasure is disclosed and all the poor, the weak, the oppressed will pick from it, hands full. Everybody can draw from the open wounds of the Lord the grace he needs...

Today the admirable mystery, that is above all the other mysteries, is revealed: the king of men made himself the scum of humanity. The Highest made himself the last of all; the Only Son of God offers himself freely on the cross for the poor sinners that we are. He wants to nail our sin to the cross, kill death and through his precious blood obliterate the bound against us (Col 2,14)...

Didn't he say: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (Jn 12,32)? Everyone, meaning all men, on whom every one looks alike. Many men encounter the cross; through many trials God leads them to this cross, to draw them to him. Then they will bring their cross willingly and in this way become his true friends.

Maundy Thursday

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 13,1-15.

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.

So, during supper,fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me."

Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all."For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean." So when he had washed their feet (and) put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.

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Reflection:

Jesus – Service: The deeper meaning of “service” is to give ourselves selflessly for the sake and good of others. Christ-like service is done out of love for God and without seeking any reward. Our motives can be purified if we become more aware of our need to love God more daily.

Jesus did not come into this world to be served, although he is God and surely deserves it. He came to serve. He came to serve YOU. And through you, he wants to serve everyone you know.

After inviting us to sit back and enjoy being served by our wonderful God, Jesus says in tonight's Gospel reading: "I have given you a model to follow -- what I have done for you, you should also do." His foot washing ceremony is a model of service.

Such a Godly model is hard to imitate, very difficult. It means loving others so much that we do good deeds for them, including the people we dislike, those whose feet are dirty and disgusting. In other words, while we're upset about the folks who have not served us the way we think they should (and probably we're right), we unite ourselves to Jesus by becoming Eucharist for them.

What does it mean to "be Eucharist"? Receiving the body and blood of Jesus unites us to him and to his whole Body, the Church. We walk up to Christ in the communion line as individuals, responsible for our own conversions, saying, "I am not worthy to receive you...", but after we receive the Eucharist, we return to our pews as members of the Body, "with union" (the meaning of "communion"). As part of Christ's body, we are now as much the Eucharist as that bread and wine have become. At the end of Mass, we're commissioned to go out and be Eucharist -- be the real presence of Christ -- in the world.

Years ago, while Joshua was suffering from a failing relationship, God drove home to him this point. In a prayer meeting, he surprisingly found himself washing the feet of a friend who had betrayed him and was causing his family a lot of hardship because of his alcoholism and related problems. His feet were ugly! But uglier was the pain of this friend's refusal to accept the truth about his addictions and sins.

What did the foot-washing accomplish? It made a clear statement that Johsua's love was real and that he was willing to serve his friend if he was willing to accept it for his healing process. He wasn't, but the gesture healed Joshua of my his unwillingness to love unconditionally. Jesus washed HIS feet along with his heart. And Joshua gained a much greater understanding of the love that Jesus has for him every time he washes his ugly feet (his/our sins).

Take a step forward to Calvary with Jesus: To be able to do good for others when it's not pleasant, first understand why Jesus washes your feet. Spend some time in prayer today visualizing your own private foot-washing ceremony with Jesus. Imagine him kneeling in front of you gently rinsing off the dirt from your feet. Then go to Holy Thursday Mass with a question for Jesus about how you are being called to serve others.

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Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), Carmelite nun, doctor of the Church
Prayer to obtain humility:

O Jesus, when you were a traveler in this world you said: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves” (Mt 11,29). O Almighty King of Heavens, yes, my soul finds rest when it sees you “taking the form of a slave” (Phil 2,7), humbling yourself to the point of washing the feet of your apostles. Then I remember the words you pronounced to teach me to practice humility: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do...No slave is greater than his Master...If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it” (Jn 13,15-17). I understand, o Lord, these words coming out from your meek and humble heart; I want to put them into practice with the help of your grace

...Nobody, o my Beloved, had rights over you, nevertheless you obeyed not only to the Virgin Mary and to Saint Joseph, but also to your hangmen. Now it is in the host that I see your annihilation reach its peak. What humility, o King of Glory, to submit yourself, without distinction, to all priests, to those who love you and to those who instead unfortunately are lukewarm or cold in their service of you. In answer to their call you come down from heaven...O my Beloved, under the veil of the white host you appear to me so meek and humble of heart! To teach me humility you couldn't humble yourself more...

But, o Lord, you know my weakness; every morning I make a resolution to practice humility and in the evening I recognize that I still committed many sins of pride. And I am tempted to become discouraged, but I know that discouragement too is a form of pride. Therefore, I want to put my hopes in you alone, my God; since you are the Almighty, allow this virtue to grow in my soul. To obtain this grace of your endless mercy, I often repeat this prayer to you: “O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart similar to yours!”.

I really hope to be your angel,
spread my wings and hold u in my arms.
I'll promise u happiness and enternal bliss.
I'll fill our story with heavenly bits.
But would i have a chance to do so,
before u float away with the flowing wind.....

Alterated Ponderations....

Jesus – Betrayed: If someone we love lets us down we will feel deeply hurt. If he/she were to betray us, we might even be devastated. God’s love for us is so deep that He was willing to die for us, yet how many times have we “betrayed” Him through our self-centred ways? Pray to be more selfless like Christ.

Words of wisdom....

Seek to keep peace. Protect widows and orphans as you have done before.Such care gives the greatest joy possible on earth since it isthanksgiving to God, and it gives God greater joy in heaven. You must also prevent public sins and always personally insist on justice. You should carry the passion of God in your hearts, for it will be your consolation in your last home.

- St. Nicholas of Flue (1417-1487)

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Fidelity: Peter was sure that he would not deny Jesus. Yet he did so when his life was threatened. While we should not live in fear, we should not be too proud to admit that we have sinful ways that can weaken our faith and love for God. Pray for the grace and wisdom to live fully in God’s ways daily.

Reflections for the day....

The mind is purified by spiritual knowledge (or by holy meditation andprayer), the spiritual passions of the soul by charity, and theirregular appetites by abstinence and penance.

- St. Serapion the Scholastic (d.370)

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Holy Week: Today we enter into the most intense period of the liturgical year in which Jesus shows His unconditional love for us. He willingly went through His suffering, death and Resurrection, in order that we can gain eternal life. Ponder more deeply to value how much Jesus loves you.

Palm Sunday

Reflections for Palm Sunday

“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord”

Today’s feast presents us two very different aspects of the one a soul yearns for (Is 26,9), “the most handsome of men” (Ps 44,3). He attracts us in both ways; in one form and in the other, we are attracted by him and we love him, for in both of them he is the Savior of men…If we consider at once today’s procession and the Passion, we see Jesus, on one hand, sublime and glorious and, on the other, humiliated and suffering.

For in the procession he receives royal honors and in the Passion he is mortified as a criminal. In one, glory and honor surround him; in the other, “there was no appearance that would attract us to him” (Is 53,2). Here he is the joy of man and the pride of his people; there he is “scorned by everyone, despised by the people” (Ps 21,7).

Here we acclaim: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the King of Israel who comes!” There we cry out that he deserves to die and we mock him for he made himself King of Israel.

Here we run towards him with palms; there they give him slaps in the face and strike him on the head with a reed.

Here they fill him with praises; there he is covered with insults.

Here they rival to spread their cloaks on his way; there he is stripped of his clothes.

Here he is received in Jerusalem as the King and Savior; there he is chased away from Jerusalem as a criminal and impostor.

Here he rides a donkey, rallied round with tributes; there he hangs from a cross, torn by the whippings, pierced by the wounds and abandoned by his own folks…Lord Jesus, that your face be glorious or humiliated, we always see wisdom shining in it.

On your face shines the refulgence of eternal light (Wis 7,26). O Lord, may your light, the light of your face (Ps 4,7), always shine upon us, in sorrow as in happiness…You are the joy and the salvation for all, when you ride a donkey and when you hang from a cross.

Black and Gold Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded his words, and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I store
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black
I wanted to find out why
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile at me.
"My child, they're all here with me."
I asked, "God, why give me the boxes,"
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?""

My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go."

Barriers to God

The Master would insist that the final barrier to our attaining God was the word and concept "God."

This so infuriated the local priest that he came in a huff to argue the matter out with the Master.

"But surely the word 'God' can lead us to God?" said the priest.

"It can," said the Master calmly.

"How can something help and be a barrier?"

Said the Master, "The donkey that brings you to the door is not the means by which you enter the house."

Comes the Dawn

After awhile you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to understand that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head held high and your eyes wide open.
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.
You learn to build your roads
On today because tomorrow's ground
Is too uncertain for plans, and futures have
A way of falling down in midflight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate
Your own soul, instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure,
That you really are strong.
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn...and you learn
With every goodbye you learn.

The Swamis and the Mysterious Light

A long time ago, there were two swamis who lived in two neighboring caves. They spent most of their time in deep meditation, except the time they ate or were visited by devotees. The people who visited them revered both swamis, and enjoyed listening to them or just being in their proximity. They sought their company, as they always felt more peaceful and happy when near them, and for a long time after they left them

One cave was dark, as caves usually are, but in the other one there was sometimes a peculiar golden light illuminating the cave. It was not strong, but enough to be noticed and to mildly illuminate the cave. The phenomenon of the light bewildered the visitors, but they could not come to an agreement about the causes of the light. Both swamis were rather silent most of the time, and did not want to discuss the phenomenon of the light.

The company of the swamis aroused calmness and peace in the visitors. Their minds slowed their incessant chatter, and they experienced a pleasant inner peace and inner happiness. The visitors admired both swamis, but believed that the one living in the illuminated cave possessed supernatural powers and was more advanced. He certainly seemed to them more mysterious

One day a great sage was passing by a near village, and being recognized by the villagers, one of them approached him and said:
"Great master, we have a question to ask. There is a mystery which you might solve for us."
"I will be glad to help you, if I can", answered the sage.

"There are two swamis living here on the hill...", the villager started to recount.
"Yes, I know", answered the sage, "and you inquire about the light in the cave."

"Yes, great master, that is true. It is something that has been a riddle for us. Can you please tell us also, if the swami in the lighted cave is more advanced, and if he really possess supernatural powers?"

"Pay attention to your inner self and not to outer phenomena. The outside world always changes, but inner self is constant. When in the presence of a teacher, listen to what he says and be aware of the influence of his words on you. Watch yourself, and see whether under his influence you become calmer and more peaceful, and your thoughts, at least for a while, slow down their mad race."

"Yes most revered master", said one of the devotees, "but please enlightens us on the mysterious light."

The sage sat down, and started to explain: "Sometimes, when one works intensively on the spiritual path, and concentrates and meditates a lot, various phenomena may occur around him, such as lights, sounds or visions. This is not supernatural. The mind has a creative power, and when concentrated, can produce various phenomena even unintentionally."

"It does not mean that one is more advanced than the other. Not all minds produce these things. Some do, and some don't."

"Some of the people who produce these lights may be aware of the light, and some may not. It depends on their psychic sensitivity. So it is also with the people who watch them. Not all see this light. In any case, it has nothing to do with whether one swami is more advanced or less advanced than the other one."

"Thank you great master, you have solved for us this great mystery", exclaimed the devotees of the swamis, who were standing by, deeply relieved and happy to understand the mystery that has been troubling them for a long time.

I need to let it all go...again.
Isn't it obvious that i like you.
Yet you twirl me around your finger like a string.

Isn't it obvious that i want your company?
Yet you play me around like a fool.
Isn't it obvious that i'm always there for you?
Yet you only need me when you are lonely.

Perhaps i'm thinking too much,
perhaps i'm paranoid.
But i am Human afterall.
You make me smile and laugh at the most unexpected of times.
Yet when i do, i feel bad inside.
Happiness felt void, it felt temporary.

As of now, i've decided to let it all slide.
I cannot continue on like this, bad karma, bad logic, everything is bad.
I do not want to be the wedge, i do not want to be the fool.
I do not want to be the substitute. i do not want to be "that guy"
I want to be the real guy to you.
I'm sorry, but I'll have to rant it out of my heart.....as much as i do not want to.....Again.

He washed my feet

Supper was special that night.

There was both a heaviness and a holiness hanging in the air.
We couldn't explain the mood.
It was sacred, yet sorrowful.
Gathered around that table eating that solemn,
holy meal seemed to us themost important meal
we had ever sat down to eat.

We were dwelling in the heart of MYSTERY.
Though dark the night,
Hope felt right---as if something evil was about to be conquered.
And then suddenlythe One-Who-Loved startled us all.
He got up from the tableand put on an apron.
Can you imagine how we felt?
GOD IN AN APRON!
Tenderness encircled us as
He bowed before us.

He knelt and said, "I choose to wash your feet because I love you."
God in an apron, kneeling.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
I was embarrassed
until His eyes met mine.
I sensed my value then.
He touched my feet.
He held them in His strong, brown hands.
He washed them.I can still feel the water.
I can still feel the touch of His hands.
I can still see the look in His eyes.

Then He handed me the towel and said,"As I have done, so you must do."
Learn to bow.Learn to kneel.
Let your tenderness encircle everyone you meet.
Wash their feet-- not because you have tobut because you want to.
It seems I've stood two thousand years
holding that towel in my hands."
As I have done, so must you do,"keeps echoing in my heart."
There are so many feet to wash," I keep saying.
"No." I hear God's voice resounding through the years.
"There are only My feet.

What you do for them, you do for Me."

The Elephant and the Fly

A disciple and his teacher were walking through the forest. The disciple was disturbed by the fact that his mind was in constant unrest.

He asked his teacher: "Why most people's minds are restless, and only a few possess a calm mind? What can one do to still the mind?"

The teacher looked at the disciple, smiled and said:
"I will tell you a story. An elephant was standing and picking leaves from a tree. A small fly came, flying and buzzing near his ear. The elephant waved it away with his long ears. Then the fly came again, and the elephant waved it away once more".

This was repeated several times. Then the elephant asked the fly:
"Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can't you stay for a while in one place?"

The fly answered: "I am attracted to whatever I see, hear or smell. My five senses pull me constantly in all directions and I cannot resist them. What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still?"

The elephant stopped eating and said:
"My five senses do not rule my attention. Whatever I do, I get immersed in it. Now that I am eating, I am completely immersed in eating. In this way I can enjoy my food and chew it better. I rule and control my attention, and not the other way around."

The disciple's eyes opened wide and a smile rose on his face.
"I understand! If my five senses are in control of my mind and attention, then my mind is in constant unrest. If I am in charge of my five senses and attention, then my mind becomes calm".

"Yes, that's right", answered the teacher, " The mind is restless and goes wherever the attention is. Control your attention, and you control your mind".

The Villager and the Happy Man

In a small village in the valley, there lived a man who was always happy, kind, and well disposed to everyone he met. He always smiled and had a kind and encouraging word to say whenever necessary. Everyone who met him left feeling, better, happier and elated. People knew they could count on him, and regarded him as a great friend.

One of the village dwellers was curious to know what his secret was, how could he be always so kind and helpful? How is it that he held no grudge towards anyone and was always happy?

Once, upon meeting him in the street he asked him: "Most people are selfish and unsatisfied. They do not smile as often as you do; neither are they as helpful or kind as you are. How do you explain it?"

"When you make peace with yourself, then you can be in peace with the rest of the world. If you can recognize the spirit in yourself, you can recognize the spirit in everyone, and then you find it natural to be kind and well disposed to all. If your thoughts are under your control you become strong and firm. The outer mask of the personality is like a robot programmed to do certain tasks. Your habits and thoughts are the programs. Be free from these programming and then the inner good that resides in you will be revealed."

"But a lot of work is necessary. Good habits have to be developed. The ability to concentrate and to control the thoughts has to be strengthened. The work is difficult and endless. There are many walls that need to be to climbed. It is not an easy task." Lamented the villager.

"Do not think about the difficulties, otherwise that what you will see and experience. Just quieten your feelings and thoughts and try to stay in this peace. All the abilities and powers awaken spontaneously. You do not work on them directly. They are by-products of your peace of mind. Just try to be calm and do not let yourself be carried away by your thoughts."

"Is that all?" Asked the villager.

"Try to watch your thoughts and see how they come and go. Stay in the quietness that arises. The moments of peace will be brief at first, but in time they will get longer. This peace is also strength, power, kindness, and love. When you realize that you are one with the Universal Power, you begin to act from a different dimension, not from the selfish, small, limited ego."

"I will try to remember your words," said the villager and continued, "there is another thing that I am curious about. You do not seem to be influenced by the environment. You have a kind word to everyone and are helpful. Yet people do not exploit your goodness, and they treat you well."

"Goodness and being kind do not necessarily point to weakness. When you are good you can also be strong. People sense your strength and do not impose on you. When you are strong and calm inside, you help people because you can and you want to. You then act from strength and not from weakness. Goodness can also go with power and strength, it is not a sign of weakness as some people erroneously think."

"Thank you very much for your advice", said the villager and went away happy and satisfied.