Feast of Saint Paul, the Apostle
One skeptic posed a challenge about the resurrection of Christ: “Can you prove that Jesus is alive and is risen from the dead?” A lawyer replied: “Yes, by considering how the lives of others were deeply affected by the fact of his resurrection.”
Here the lawyer is referring to circumstantial evidence. In saying thus, he is telling us that there is resurrection because many people were changed, reformed, that is, they were deeply affected by the resurrection. Eventhough we have not witnessed ourselves the event of the resurrection by looking at those people affected by it, we can say that indeed, the resurrection did happen.
In particular, the conversion of Paul tells us that truly resurrection happened. The converted Paul who preached the Good News of salvation from Jerusalem, to the whole of the Mediterranean world is one convincing testimony of the truths of our faith--that Jesus is alive and have risen from the dead.
Actually, Paul did not meet nor see Jesus in his lifetime. What he had is the vision he experienced on the road to Damascus. Yet his zeal and dedication in spreading the Gospel equals that of the Apostles who were with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry to his death on the cross. That is why, Paul acquired for himself the name, Apostle to the Gentiles.
It is rather awkward to say that the life of Paul is an evidence of the Resurrection because it is like saying that Resurrection could not stand on its own, that it needs Paul to become convincing and be accepted in faith. What is rather proper is to say that the Resurrection was the one that empowers Paul . It is the fact that Jesus is alive and risen, or simply Jesus who puts the fire and all the energy in Paul to be such a great missionary and herald of the Good News to the ends of the world. Without Christ, his works are all in vain.
All of us in a way are like Paul. We too have not seen Jesus alive and walking in the face of the earth. What we have and hold on to is similar to what Paul had, a vision of Jesus alive which today we identify as religious experience. For us, it is the best and most valuable wealth, the best thing that we could ever have. We stubbornly cling to it, telling the rest that we cannot live without it, for Jesus is our HOPE. As we journey through life, it is Jesus who gives us the confidence that in the end we will rest in the Father’s embrace. SPE SALVI. “In hope we were saved” said Paul in his letter to the Romans.
Miyerkules, Enero 30, 2008
Linggo, Enero 20, 2008
Feast of Sto.Nino
Feast of Sto. Nino
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Feast of Sto.Nino
Feast of Sto. Nino
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Feast of Sto.Nino
Feast of Sto. Nino
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
The story of this boy goes this way. One day, upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness merited for the child not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
The story of this boy goes this way. One day, upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness merited for the child not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Sabado, Disyembre 29, 2007
Feast of the Holy Family
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
SUNDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
REV. ARNOLD C. BIAGO,SVD
Sa kwento ni Fr. Bel San Luis kahapon, may isang teacher daw na nagtanong sa kanyang mga batang estudyante tungkol sa dumadaming mga ipinapanganak na kambal sa ngayon, sabi ng isang bata, “eh kasi po teacher, natatakot po silang lumabas mag-isa.” Nakakatuwa at napakainosente ng sagot ng bata. Ngunit kung ating susuriin, ito ay puno ng katotohanan. Sa panahon natin ngayon, sa tiyan palang ng ina marami ng panganib na pagdadaanan at lulusutan ang isang batang isisilang. Nariyan ang lahat ng uri ng contraceptives na nagbabantang lulusaw sa binhi ng buhay na nasa sinapupunan. Nagkalat din ang mga doctor at mga magulang na handing ipalalag at i-abort ang sanggol na nasa sinapupunan. Contraceptives at abortion, sila ay mga tunay na panganib na kailangang lampasan bago isilang ang isang bata sa mundong ito. Kaya hindi nakapagtataka na ang batang nasa tiyan ng ina ang balot ng takot mula sa mga banta sa kanyang buhay.
Mas marami ang banta at panganib sa buhay ang bata paglabas niya sa tiyan ng kanyang ina. Nariyan ang lahat ng uri ng sakit na kumakalat. Kahit mga pagkain ay kailangan ng pagiingat, kung pababayaan, dilekado ito sa kalusugan. Subalit ang pinakamalaking panganib para sa isang batang isinilang ay ang kanyang pamayanang kalalakihan. Sabi nila, marami sa mga communities ay hindi “child-friendly”. Ang tinutukoy ay ang kawalan ng kaligtasan at proteksyon ng mga bata sa lipunan. Tingnan po natin kung saan malimit maglaro ang mga bata: kalsada. Hindi lang ang lugar ang mapanganid sa mga bata, pati na rin mga tao. Ngayon, malimit nating marinig ang salitang “child abuse”, na walang ibang tinutukoy kundi ang ibat-ibang uri at paraan ng pang-aabuso ng mga matatanda sa mga bata. Kaya masasabi natin na totoo ang sinabi ng bata na, “natatakot ang sanggol lumabas mag-isa.”
Ang kapistahan ng Banal na Mag-Anak na Maria, Jose at Hesus at isang malinaw na pagpapaalala sa ating lahat ng ating makadiyos na tungkulin na pangalagaan ang bawat bata mula sa sinpupunan ng kanyang ina at hanggang sa kanyang pag-laki. Kung si Hesus ay nabuhay sa panahon natin ngayon at sa mga makabagong magulang malamang baka walang nangyaring pasko. Kaya sa pamamagitan ng kanilang matapat na pagganap bilang magulang ni Hesus sa kabila ng lahat ng panganib at banta sa buhay, sina Maria at Jose matatawag nating mga huwarang magulang sa kanilang walang katumbas na pagmamahal kay Hesus. Kaya, sana ang bawat mag-anak ay sumunod sa yapak ng Banal na mag-anak na Maria, Jose at Hesus.
Ang pagkakaroon ng modelo na ating susundan ay isang napakahalagang bahagi ng buhay. Naalala ko ang isang kilalang kwento ng isang tatay at ang kanyang malikot na anak. Isang araw habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo ang Tatay ay ginawa niyang picture puzzle ang isang page ng dyaryo may picture ng mundo at ibinigay nya sa kanyang 4 years old na anak para may pagkabalahan at di maging malikot. Laking gulat niya nang wala pang 5 minutes ito ay lumapit sa kanya para ipakita ang nabuong larawan ng mundo. “Paanu mu nagawa yan?” nagtatakang tanong niya. “Dad, di ko po masundan ang picture ng mundo kaya ang picture na lang po ni Jesus sa likod ang binuo ko. Di ba, pag nabuo si Jesus, buo din ang mundo.”
Sa ating buhay, pag si Hesus ay ating sinundan magiging buo at makahulugan ito. Gayundin sa bawat tahanan, pag ang ating sinundan ang yapak ng Banal na Mag-Anak, tiyak na magiging maayos ang takbo ng ating pamilya. Si Kristo na ating Diyos ay dumating bilang liwanag ang gabay at tanglaw ng isang buo, nagkakaisa at nagmamahalang pamilya. Sina Maria at Jose ay matapat na gumanap na magulang ni Hesus sapagkat nasa piling nila ang Diyos. Ganun din ang bawat mag-anak, ang tapat na pagmamahal sa bawat isa ay magaganap kung nakikilala at nakikita ng bawat isa ang Diyos sa kanilang mga magulang, kapatid at anak. Kung nasa ating piling ang Diyos, kung ang bawat tahanan at puno ng pag-ibig ng Diyos, ang bawat batang isisilang ay di kailangang matakot, sapagkat ang mga magulang ay buong pusong magmamahal at babantayan ang kanilang mga anak katulad nina Maria at Jose sa kanilang pagkalinga kay Hesus.
Sa lahat ng mga magulang na naririto. Mabuhay po kayo at pagpalain kayo ng Dios. Para sa lahat ng mag-anak patuloy tayong manalangin pang kanilang sundan ang Banal na mag-anal sa pagmamahal at pagpapalago ng buhay.
Linggo, Disyembre 9, 2007
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
SOLEMNITY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
REV. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD
Today is the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception
Immaculate conception calls our attention to the special privilege of Mary to be free from all sin from the moment of birth. Mary was exempted from the pain and difficulty of being separated with God. God was always with Mary from the beginning.
Also, Immaculate Conception directs us to that noble role of Mary of being the Mother of God. If Mary was (in all her life) always in the presence of God it was due to this very significant role she has to assume. By being the mother of God, Mary then is rightly our mother too. Indeed, she was the best of all mothers. She was never tired of caring for us all her children. Remember what we say in the prayer, Hail Mary: “Pray for us sinners NOW and at the HOUR of our DEATH.” Mary never gets tired of us, she wants us all to come close to her Son Jesus, that is why, she is always praying for us.
With Mary, we are reminded of who we are and what we shall become. First, Mary personifies what we are supposed to be as followers of the Lord, that is, as Christ’s disciples. Mary was the first to accept the Good News of Salvation by her “fiat”, “yes” to the announcement of Angel Gabriel that she will be the mother of the Son of God. Later, Mary spends all her life faithfully and literally following Jesus up to the Cross. Like Mary, God is offering us the Good News of Salvation and asking us to follow the Son of God in Jesus Christ. And like Mary, God is waiting for our “fiat”, our yes to the Good News of Salvation and hoping that we follow Jesus until and even on the Cross.
Second, Mary provides us the hope of finally coming to be with God at the end. Here I am referring to the Assumption of Mary. Because Mary was free from sin, we strongly believe that at the end of her life on earth, Our Mother did not experience the corruption of death. At the Moment of Mary’s death, God assumed her body into Heaven. That is also what will happen to us. We will be with God when we are freed from sin, when we have faithfully followed the Lord and remained in God.
Mary is especially chosen by the God to be the Mother of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. She is our model in faith and in her we see our future. If God trusted Mary to be the Mother of the Son of God, the more we should trust that she’ll help us get close to God, to her Son.
I have my own reason for entrusting myself to Mary. I remember, as a small kid, I like to accompany my grandmother in her regular house visit to the house of a family of a bereaved to pray the rosary for the repose of the soul of the dead. Initially, I do not understand what it was all about. What I was very much interested was the merienda served after the praying of the rosary. But later, I came to know that it was a prayer… That was my first experience of God, praying the rosary, praying through Mary. Looking back at that experience, I can convincingly say that it was Mother Mary who introduced me to God. Mother Mary awakens in me an awareness of God, an awareness of Jesus, her Son and our Lord. Being our Mother, I am confident and unafraid that Mary will never get tired of interceding for us once we entrust ourselves to her motherly care, because she will pray for us… Now and at the hour of our death…
REV. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD
Today is the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception
Immaculate conception calls our attention to the special privilege of Mary to be free from all sin from the moment of birth. Mary was exempted from the pain and difficulty of being separated with God. God was always with Mary from the beginning.
Also, Immaculate Conception directs us to that noble role of Mary of being the Mother of God. If Mary was (in all her life) always in the presence of God it was due to this very significant role she has to assume. By being the mother of God, Mary then is rightly our mother too. Indeed, she was the best of all mothers. She was never tired of caring for us all her children. Remember what we say in the prayer, Hail Mary: “Pray for us sinners NOW and at the HOUR of our DEATH.” Mary never gets tired of us, she wants us all to come close to her Son Jesus, that is why, she is always praying for us.
With Mary, we are reminded of who we are and what we shall become. First, Mary personifies what we are supposed to be as followers of the Lord, that is, as Christ’s disciples. Mary was the first to accept the Good News of Salvation by her “fiat”, “yes” to the announcement of Angel Gabriel that she will be the mother of the Son of God. Later, Mary spends all her life faithfully and literally following Jesus up to the Cross. Like Mary, God is offering us the Good News of Salvation and asking us to follow the Son of God in Jesus Christ. And like Mary, God is waiting for our “fiat”, our yes to the Good News of Salvation and hoping that we follow Jesus until and even on the Cross.
Second, Mary provides us the hope of finally coming to be with God at the end. Here I am referring to the Assumption of Mary. Because Mary was free from sin, we strongly believe that at the end of her life on earth, Our Mother did not experience the corruption of death. At the Moment of Mary’s death, God assumed her body into Heaven. That is also what will happen to us. We will be with God when we are freed from sin, when we have faithfully followed the Lord and remained in God.
Mary is especially chosen by the God to be the Mother of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. She is our model in faith and in her we see our future. If God trusted Mary to be the Mother of the Son of God, the more we should trust that she’ll help us get close to God, to her Son.
I have my own reason for entrusting myself to Mary. I remember, as a small kid, I like to accompany my grandmother in her regular house visit to the house of a family of a bereaved to pray the rosary for the repose of the soul of the dead. Initially, I do not understand what it was all about. What I was very much interested was the merienda served after the praying of the rosary. But later, I came to know that it was a prayer… That was my first experience of God, praying the rosary, praying through Mary. Looking back at that experience, I can convincingly say that it was Mother Mary who introduced me to God. Mother Mary awakens in me an awareness of God, an awareness of Jesus, her Son and our Lord. Being our Mother, I am confident and unafraid that Mary will never get tired of interceding for us once we entrust ourselves to her motherly care, because she will pray for us… Now and at the hour of our death…
2nd Sunday of Advent
Pagsisisi Bilang Paghahanda sa Pagdating ng Dios
REV. ARNOLD BIAGO,SVD
Noong January 1995 dumalaw sa Pilipinas ang Santo Papa, Juan Pablo II para dumalo sa 10th world Youth Day sa Manila. Alam n’yo po ba na ayon sa PNP bumaba daw ang crime rate sa Metro Manila noong mga panahong yon. Naisip ko tuloy, baka natakot ang mga kriminal na gumawa ng kalokohan dahil darating ang pinakapuno ng Simbahan at nakiisa sila sa paghahanda sa pagdating ng Santo Papa.
Ngayong Pasko, isang mas dakila pa sa Santo Papa ang darating sa ating piling, Si Hesu-Kristo na Anak ng Dios at ating tagapagligtas. Darating ang Dios na tagapagligtas, ito ang sigaw ni Juan Bautista sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon. At itong pagdating ng Dios ay kaganapan ng katarungan at puno ng mga di kapanipaniwalang bagay sabi ni propeta Isaias. Sa pagdating ng Dios sabi ni propeta Isaias, “maglalaro ang bata sa tabi ng ahas, sususo ang tupo sa inang lobo, at magsasama ang leon at batang guya.”
Natatakot ba tayo sa kanyang pagdating o nakiisa sa paghahanda sa kanyang pagdating? 16 araw na lang ay pasko na. Handa na ba kayo sa pasko. Anu-anu ang inyong mga ginagawang paghahanda?
Noong nakaraang lingo, napanood ko sa TV ang interbyo kay Fanny Serrano. Tinanong siya ng Host ng Mel and Joey kung paano niya dinedecorate ang kanyang napakalaking bahay pag pasko. Sabi niya, “Eh, karamihan naman sa mga decors ko ay recycled at August pa lang bumibili na ako ng mga Christmas decors para mura at makatipid.”
Marami sa ating na talagang pinaghahandaan ang Pasko. Katunayan, pagdating ng Ber months nagsisinula na silang maglagay ng mga Christmas decors. Ang iba naman ay namimili na agad ng mga pangregalo sa divisoria o 168. Kailangan ba talaga nating ang lahat ng mga paghahandang panlabas na ito. Oo naman, sapagkat ang mga Christmas decors ay mga simbolo, mga tanda na magpapaalala sa atin ng dakilang gawa ng Dios, mga tanda ng pagkakatawang tao, at pakikiisa sa buhay natin ng Dios. Higit sa lahat, ang mga ang mga Christmas decorations natin ay nagsasabing isabay natin ang paghahandang pangsarili, pangkalooban. Kung inihahanda natin ang ating bahay, dapat din nating ihanda ang ating mga sarili para sa okasyon ito.
Paano tayo maghahanda sa pagdating ng Dios? Ang sigaw ni Juan Bautista sa ating Ebanghelyo: “Pagsisishan ninyo at talikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan.” Sapagkat darating na ang kaharian ng Dios. Ito rin ang ating gagawing paghahanda: ang Pagsisisi at pagtalikod sa Kasalanan--sa madaling sabi tanggapin sa ating sarili at buhay ang Dios. Kung ang kasalanan ay pagtatakwil sa Dios, ang pagsisisi at pagtalikod sa kasalanan ay pamumuhay kasama at sa piling ng Dios. Magiging madali ang umiwas sa Dios kung nasa sa atin ang Dios, madaling itakwil ang kasalanan kung tayo ay nakasandal sa Dios, kung nasa atin ang Dios.
May tatlong kabataang lalaki na namasyal sa Katedral ng Notre Dame. Sila ay nagkahamunan, kaya isa ay pumunta sa kumpisalan at doon ay nagkunwaring magkumpisal. Napansin ng pari na siya ay niloloko ng nagkukumpisal kaya ang ibinigay niya ang ganitong penance: “Tumayo ko sa harap ng malaking crucifix sa altar, tingnan mu si Hesus sa mata at tatlong ulit na sabihin mu: Ginawa mo yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.”
Ang batang lalaki at ang kanyang kaibigan at nagtatawan habang sila ay naglalakad palapit sa sanktuwaryo. Tiningnan niya sa mata si Hesus at sinabi niya: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.” Sa pangalawang ulit nanginig na ang kanyang boses: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wa... la akong pakialam.” At sa pangatlong ulit, hindi na niya ito masabi...
Yuko ang kanyang ulo, ang batang lalaki ay bumalik sa kumpisalan at buong-pusong nagsisi at humingi ng pagpapatawad ng Dios. Ang batang lalaking iyong ay naging pari, at kaluunan naging Arsobispo ng Paris, na walang iba kundi ang nagbahagi ng kwentong ito.
Mga kapatid, si Hesus na isinilang sa Pasko ay siya ring Hesus na ipapako sa krus at mamatay para sa atin. Si Hesus ay Dios na nakiisa sa buhay natin at nagalay ng kanyang buhay. Talikdan nating ang kasalanan sapagkat ang Anak ng Dios ay kaisa at kasama natin upang lupigin ito. Pagsisishan natin an gating mga kasalana, sapagkat si Hesus ay nag-alay ng kanyang sarili upang tayo ay magwagi laban sa kasalan.
REV. ARNOLD BIAGO,SVD
Noong January 1995 dumalaw sa Pilipinas ang Santo Papa, Juan Pablo II para dumalo sa 10th world Youth Day sa Manila. Alam n’yo po ba na ayon sa PNP bumaba daw ang crime rate sa Metro Manila noong mga panahong yon. Naisip ko tuloy, baka natakot ang mga kriminal na gumawa ng kalokohan dahil darating ang pinakapuno ng Simbahan at nakiisa sila sa paghahanda sa pagdating ng Santo Papa.
Ngayong Pasko, isang mas dakila pa sa Santo Papa ang darating sa ating piling, Si Hesu-Kristo na Anak ng Dios at ating tagapagligtas. Darating ang Dios na tagapagligtas, ito ang sigaw ni Juan Bautista sa ating ebanghelyo ngayon. At itong pagdating ng Dios ay kaganapan ng katarungan at puno ng mga di kapanipaniwalang bagay sabi ni propeta Isaias. Sa pagdating ng Dios sabi ni propeta Isaias, “maglalaro ang bata sa tabi ng ahas, sususo ang tupo sa inang lobo, at magsasama ang leon at batang guya.”
Natatakot ba tayo sa kanyang pagdating o nakiisa sa paghahanda sa kanyang pagdating? 16 araw na lang ay pasko na. Handa na ba kayo sa pasko. Anu-anu ang inyong mga ginagawang paghahanda?
Noong nakaraang lingo, napanood ko sa TV ang interbyo kay Fanny Serrano. Tinanong siya ng Host ng Mel and Joey kung paano niya dinedecorate ang kanyang napakalaking bahay pag pasko. Sabi niya, “Eh, karamihan naman sa mga decors ko ay recycled at August pa lang bumibili na ako ng mga Christmas decors para mura at makatipid.”
Marami sa ating na talagang pinaghahandaan ang Pasko. Katunayan, pagdating ng Ber months nagsisinula na silang maglagay ng mga Christmas decors. Ang iba naman ay namimili na agad ng mga pangregalo sa divisoria o 168. Kailangan ba talaga nating ang lahat ng mga paghahandang panlabas na ito. Oo naman, sapagkat ang mga Christmas decors ay mga simbolo, mga tanda na magpapaalala sa atin ng dakilang gawa ng Dios, mga tanda ng pagkakatawang tao, at pakikiisa sa buhay natin ng Dios. Higit sa lahat, ang mga ang mga Christmas decorations natin ay nagsasabing isabay natin ang paghahandang pangsarili, pangkalooban. Kung inihahanda natin ang ating bahay, dapat din nating ihanda ang ating mga sarili para sa okasyon ito.
Paano tayo maghahanda sa pagdating ng Dios? Ang sigaw ni Juan Bautista sa ating Ebanghelyo: “Pagsisishan ninyo at talikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan.” Sapagkat darating na ang kaharian ng Dios. Ito rin ang ating gagawing paghahanda: ang Pagsisisi at pagtalikod sa Kasalanan--sa madaling sabi tanggapin sa ating sarili at buhay ang Dios. Kung ang kasalanan ay pagtatakwil sa Dios, ang pagsisisi at pagtalikod sa kasalanan ay pamumuhay kasama at sa piling ng Dios. Magiging madali ang umiwas sa Dios kung nasa sa atin ang Dios, madaling itakwil ang kasalanan kung tayo ay nakasandal sa Dios, kung nasa atin ang Dios.
May tatlong kabataang lalaki na namasyal sa Katedral ng Notre Dame. Sila ay nagkahamunan, kaya isa ay pumunta sa kumpisalan at doon ay nagkunwaring magkumpisal. Napansin ng pari na siya ay niloloko ng nagkukumpisal kaya ang ibinigay niya ang ganitong penance: “Tumayo ko sa harap ng malaking crucifix sa altar, tingnan mu si Hesus sa mata at tatlong ulit na sabihin mu: Ginawa mo yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.”
Ang batang lalaki at ang kanyang kaibigan at nagtatawan habang sila ay naglalakad palapit sa sanktuwaryo. Tiningnan niya sa mata si Hesus at sinabi niya: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wala akong pakialam.” Sa pangalawang ulit nanginig na ang kanyang boses: “Ginawa mu yan sa akin? At wa... la akong pakialam.” At sa pangatlong ulit, hindi na niya ito masabi...
Yuko ang kanyang ulo, ang batang lalaki ay bumalik sa kumpisalan at buong-pusong nagsisi at humingi ng pagpapatawad ng Dios. Ang batang lalaking iyong ay naging pari, at kaluunan naging Arsobispo ng Paris, na walang iba kundi ang nagbahagi ng kwentong ito.
Mga kapatid, si Hesus na isinilang sa Pasko ay siya ring Hesus na ipapako sa krus at mamatay para sa atin. Si Hesus ay Dios na nakiisa sa buhay natin at nagalay ng kanyang buhay. Talikdan nating ang kasalanan sapagkat ang Anak ng Dios ay kaisa at kasama natin upang lupigin ito. Pagsisishan natin an gating mga kasalana, sapagkat si Hesus ay nag-alay ng kanyang sarili upang tayo ay magwagi laban sa kasalan.
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