April 30 Gospel Reflections

April 29 Reflection for April 30,2020

2:30pm

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and Thou shall renew the face of the earth.”

**

Here are some questions that we can ponder on for today’s scripture readings:

“ Do you understand what you are reading?”  Acts 8:30

This was the question Philip asked the Eunuch reading Isaiah in today’s first reading.

Next, how much grace do you need in your life today?

Often times, we read scripture without much understanding. There are times, it is a much enlightening experience, when we feel the words jump out of the page and resonate with us in a deep manner.

Perhaps, it answers a specific query we may be having.

Other times, it  makes us more aware of the wonderful working of God in our lives.

But, beyond understanding of the words of scripture…we can still move  beyond mere understanding to the actual living out the gospel…or the manifestation of the word in our lives.

After all, understanding is just left within us…but when we act it out, make it visible in our lives…love in action.

When we decide to forgive and let go of a  past hurt…that is living out what Jesus did as He hangs on the cross and asks the Father to forgive His persecutors.

When we give without counting the costs or expect any returns, we live out the Jesus’s example of feeding the multitude and His directive to Peter, feed my sheep.

When we pray with people or with them in their needs,  we are examples of Jesus’s teaching us the Lord’s prayer.

When we bring people to Mary, The Mother of our Savior, we fulfill His instruction to John, to take Mary as his Mother and the Mother of all humanity.

Understanding of scripture, demands more from us today…it demands the manifestation of it in many ways of acts of love to people around us and those especially who are challenging to love.

My prayer:


Lord, by your most wonderful favor, grant us the grace and the wisdom from the Most Holy Spirit, to know your will for our lives, every minute of our lives, so we do not go around in circles...but be more intentional and fruitful in the Spirit and in works of mercy. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

O Taste and See How Great Our God Can Be

April 28,2020

12:10am

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of Thy Divine Love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.”

**

Reading 1, Acts 8:1-8

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7

Gospel, John 6:35-40

**

"...there was great rejoicing in that town."

"How awesome you are! "

"Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst."

In the first reading, we learned about the early Christians, bravely proclaiming the gospel to as many people as possible despite the threat of death to their lives as experienced by Stephen.  Despite the fact that Saul was heavily persecuting them, even endorsing the death of Stephen, the early Christians, like Philip continued to do what they needed to do and that is to spread the work and words of Jesus.

How about us? What is stopping us from fulfilling the great commission of Christ to us, to spread His message, His good news, far and wide?

Are we experiencing too much hunger and thirst that we are not able to do what is expected of us?

Are we allowing the threat of COVID 19 to keep us in the chains of darkness and fear?

God is still in control and for this we should give thanks.

He still gives us each day to wake up. He still provides for our daily bread and water to sustain us.

He provides for us shelter.

Basic things He has provided for us.

Should we not give thanks by doing us we are told?

God is so awesome and powerful that he…

My thoughts were cut short when I received a call from my friend at this time.

She told me she just placed an order for a 6 seater  Bjursta Ikea dining set to be delivered to me soon.

How awesome is our God in deed!

This comes at the heels of another friend who just said out of the blue, I will take care of your fee of 80 CAD so I can start my training to become a Financial Advisor plus the  janitor of this property calling me to say he brought the corner lamp he wants to give us.

Thank you God for sending angels among us to give us messages of your hope and providence.

Alleluia !

Praise to you now and forever Oh Lord!

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us who have perpertual recourse to thee.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle.

April 28 Reflections

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.”

**

This morning, I am doing the reflections for April 28 gospel reflections questions.

 What do you hunger and thirst for the most? Come to Jesus, the Bread of Life and Living Water.

What controls you? Are you the master of your instincts and drives?

The first reading tells us about Stephen being stoned to death. It describes to us  the act of love he showed before he breathed his last. He prayed that  God may forgive his persecutors, he believes that the people stoning him to death didn’t know better.

He had no need for self preservation. Nor the need to seek retribution or vengeance.

I on the other hand, have not yet properly overcome certain tendencies in me to have the last say.

To express my thoughts and feelings.

To seek justice when there is wrong doing especially implicating me in a very bad light.

Several weeks now, I have been reminded to forgive the unforgiveable, to love the unlovable and to keep hoping in the midst of this cover of darkness called COVID 19.

I continue to fail.

I seek my redress in the  giver of life, the living water, the bread of life…Jesus.

He reminds me to forgive and let go of the pain and hurt.

Jesus reminds me to surrender everything at the foot of the cross.

Jesus reminds me to immerse myself in His precious blood of mercy…so that my family and I will continue serving Him, confident of His protection and guidance.

He reminds me that He is in control and with that  knowledge, I do not worry, and instead TRUST in His greatness, power and strength.

Mary, the Mother of God, pray for us.

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle.

April 21,2020 Gospel Reflections

" Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth."

April 21,2020

12:14pm

How is your Christian life? Is it marked by involvement or indifference?

The Christian life is a journey from conception to death to the afterlife.

The Christian parents can introduce/withhold  this life to the life of the child in vitro by their active or inactive involvement in the life of the church, their own prayer life, individually and as a couple.

This life can be either a life  filled with stations of the crosses moments or it could have it’s joyful and glorious moments and  hopefully, it can have clarity and determined purpose with the wisdom  obtained from the mysteries of  LIGHT of the holy Rosary.

My life today, as in all global citizen’s life is facing unprecedented challenges because of an invisible and yet clever virus.

This is the moment of testing. Is my Christian life authentic as gold?

Do I reveal the face of my maker in the moment to moment challenge of saying YES to life and NO to the snuffing of life?

Do I make choices that are compatible to Christian morals of right versus wrong?

Do I have love as my underlying motive and intent?

These are just some of the  questions I have to contend with in doing my daily examination of conscience…so that the God who knows everything will truly see the heart of my heart.

WHAT IS INDIFFERENCE AND INVOLVEMENT?

When I am actively acting and expressing love in all my ways...then I can say, I have involvement in the  communal life of my immediate family.

I also can apply this in my interior life of prayer and communion with my Maker.

When I refuse to be in a relationship with anybody or my Maker, then, I can be labeled as INDIFFERENT.

When one does not care or have no concern whatsoever, that is choosing a different path..that  diverges opposite to where my end goal is.

Now, as a Christian, I am challenged to use my free will to choose God’s will in my life..and that in the end, is the best for me…which gains me the reward of heaven, after my valley of tears experiences in the toggling back and forth of being involved or indifferent in the challenge to love the unlovable, forgive the unforgiveable and to hope when all things are hopeless.

Mary, Mother of  God, pray for us.

St. Michael, pray for us.

All Praises and Thanksgiving Belong To the Risen Christ

April 14,2020
6:56pm


"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and you shall renew the face of  the earth."

**

Starting tomorrow, we will not be having any internet connection for several days until BELLMTS will set us up with it. We are moving into our new accommodations nearby.

Thus, for tonight, I shall focus on the wonderful Psalm verses that has truly made my heart burn in the love that our Great God has for all of us.

Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

R: Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. (R) 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! 4 Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant that he made binding for a thousand generations, 9 which he e

R: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

4 Upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. (R) 18 See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. (R) 20 Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield. 22 May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in you. (R)ntered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

R: Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; 2 I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” 5 O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. (R) 7 I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. 8 I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; 10 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R) 11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

R: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 16 “The right hand of the Lord has struck with power; the right hand of the Lord is exalted. 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. (R)

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us always.

Easter Monday

April 13,2020

9:22am

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.”

**

Yesterday, I decidedly  to affirm words that can hopefully manifest in my life.

Words of patience, kindness, calmness to permeate my thoughts, words and actions.

I forgive myself for failing hours later.

I lost my cool when Lilli started to whine and pine in protest to the single task I made her do with her sister.

Marina kept reminding her that when she was Lilli’s age, she would obey without much complains when I make her do 100 sentences as a result of some infraction.

Theirs was just 50 sentences of 2 complex sentences, trying to affirm the need for order in our days.

I think it was more than 3 nights ago that they went beyond the limit of two movies for the night before lights off.

I announced the following day that there will be a corresponding action to that.

But then, it was only yesterday that I made them do 100 sentences of affirming the action of promoting order in our days and being obedient to instructions.

Anyway, we got into a deal with Lilli, much to the dismay of the older sister, that she will do her 100 words in installments of 20/day.

Good enough for me.

**

This morning, during prayer time, I reviewed again the psalm readings for the past days which have really resonated with me so much..let me share them here:

PSALM 118:17   “ I will not die, but live and  declare the wonderful works of the Lord.”

Alleluia!

Alleluia!

Alleluia!

Jesus, King of Mercy, I trust in you.

Easter Sunday Reflections

Easter Sunday

12:18pm

April 12,2020

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.”

**

The Lord is risen!

Let us rejoice and be glad!!!

Blessed Eastertide one and all!!

May the peace and joy of that first Easter morning bring light to the darkness, freedom from captivity, sight to our blindness and  warmth to the coldness of our hearts as we continue to face the challenges of this pandemic.

By the mighty and glorious resurrection of Our Lord Jesus, COVID 19 cease and halt your spread.

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the raging battles and storms of our lives and assist us into our resurrection each time we fall and suffer the blows of the evil one.

**

Today, I affirm the LOVE our Lord Jesus has shown my way, by His passion, death and resurrection through the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthian 13:

I write and speak with the LOVE of Our Lord Jesus experienced in my heart and life.

I have faith that can move mountains and with LOVE I share this to others.

I give and share unselfishly of myself to others with LOVE.

I am patient.

I am kind.

I am calm.

I am happy for the blessings of others in their lives.

I boast of the LOVE God has for me and what He did for me and my sins.

With love in my heart, I will give honor to those who require of it  and need it the most.

I will try not to seek to be understood as to understand others more with the LOVE of Jesus.

With love for myself and others, I will be more patient and not easily irritated by the shortcomings of others.

With love in me, I will  not count their wrongs.

I will rejoice in the truth.

With faith and hope in our God who grant me the peace that surpasses all human understanding, and graces to do His will, I will give LOVE to those who need along the journey I walk.

Mother Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

I KILLED JESUS by Christina Mead

April 11,2020

7:07am

Black Saturday

“ Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine Love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and thou shall renew the face of the earth.”

**

This is the 2^nd consecutive day I wake up with my super parched throat. Ruel gets me ginger,lemon and honey hot water in one mug…and  in another steaming water with salt.

I breathed and swallowed the salty water for as long as I could stand it, with covered towel over my head.

I salute and continue to pray for all frontliners and those who do not have a choice but to go out each day for their important errands.

I continue to hold on to the promise of  Our Great God, Our Creator’s mighty protection in these very challenging times.

**

After having my fill, getting dressed for the day, I roused Marina asking her to help me locate my eyeglasses.

I kept looking around everywhere I have been since I woke up…only to hear her say, “ Mama, you are wearing it!”

I hear the BeeGees in the background  crooning like birds : Tragedy…lalalalalalaalaa…Tragedy.

Am I so used to seeing the world in blurry glasses?

Am I so absent minded to put in the right perspective of the world around me?

And so, we shall see.

**

Christina Mead’:I KILLED JESUS

 I think it’s easy to read the Bible like it’s a history book. Moses parted the sea, Jesus died on a cross, Columbus sailed across the ocean.

I know it’s more than an account of historic events but I often struggle to see how it applies to my life.

“They” (that collective, scholarly, holy group of people) say that when you read the Bible you should place yourself in the story. So the other day I was doing that while I read the story of Christ’s passion and death in the gospel of Matthew. I was looking for myself in the story. Which character am I? What is God trying to teach me? Well…

I think that I am every character in the story of the passion and death of Christ. And I think that’s the whole point.

Let me explain…

I am an apostle, sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:40). I’m prone to give in to laziness in the presence of holiness. In the most sacred places, like before Christ in the Eucharist, I allow my flesh to dictate how attentive my soul is. I don’t put up a fight against the pull of distractions or sometimes even sleep.

I am Judas. Jesus has every right to call me both “friend” and “betrayer” barely 30 seconds apart (Matthew 26:46, 50). My heart is fickle and weak and sometimes my commitment to being Jesus’ friend is blown off on the whim of an emotion.

I am Caiaphas, the high priest. I want Jesus to prove Himself to me (Matthew 26:63). I want signs and wonders to know that I really can trust Him. I want my prayers answered in my way. I want concrete proof over humble faith.

I am Peter. Sometimes I deny Jesus (Matthew 26:72). I deny Him in the face of the homeless when I chose to look away. I deny that I know Him when I don’t pray before eating in a restaurant. I deny Him when I am afraid of being judged and condemned by those around me.

I am in the crowd yelling, “crucify Him” (Matthew 27:21-23). And I say it again and again every time I knowingly choose to sin.

I am Barabbas. I am chained in sin and holed up in the prison of my own pride. And instead of suffering the full punishment for my sins for which I am guilty… Christ takes my place (Matthew 27:26). And I often forget to thank Him.

I am Pilate. I want to give up when life is too challenging (Matthew 27:24). I’m ready to wash my hands of Christianity when being a follower of Jesus means pursuing virtue over mediocrity, a life of prayer over a life of pleasure.

I am Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32). I suffer reluctantly. I will take the cross but I won’t seek it. I’ll only take it if it’s been placed on my shoulders… and I don’t love it.

I am a passer-by. These passers-by mocked Jesus while He was hanging on the cross (Matthew 27:30). How quickly they had forgotten all the good works He had done among their cities and towns. When popular opinion about Jesus changed, they followed suite. How quickly I forget the good He’s done for me. In a brief moment of pain all my gratitude is forgotten and replaced by resentment.

I am one of the Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:35). I killed Jesus. My sins were the reason He was nailed to that cross. It was my fault and I know it.

But sometimes…

I am the centurion. My eyes are opened to who Jesus is in my life (Matthew 27:54). My heart swells with the truth that God became man and died for me. And this knowledge brings me peace and a resignation to amend my life.

I am one of the women standing by the cross (Matthew 27:55-56). When I’m open to God’s grace, I can be a faithful and constant Christian. In the midst of pain and suffering, I can stay close to the cross. Jesus, my beloved, is my strength and He’s all I need.

I am Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:59). Again, only by God’s grace, I can be selflessly compassionate, putting others’ needs before my own. Moved by God, I will use what He has given me in the service of others. My time, talent, and treasure are all for Him.

I am every character in the story of the passion and death of Christ. And I think that’s the whole point. Why wouldn’t every dimension of the human heart be represented in the greatest story of all time? It only makes sense because the story is timeless. We have to apply it to our lives today because the reality of it’s events matter today.

This isn’t just a story in some history book. It’s the story of your salvation… how God saw the good and the bad in our humanity and He came anyway. He died anyway.

I killed Jesus. But I am also the reason He rose from the dead.

Do you have the courage to see yourself in these characters? Can you blame yourself for the nails in His hands? The stripes in His flesh? Do you realize that your sins killed Him, also? And that because of you, because of His intense, unending love for YOU… He rose again.

(reprinted from LIFE TEEN website)

Good Friday Reflections

April 9,2020

12:18pm

GOOD FRIDAY REFLECTIONS

My confessor, my high school classmate, Father Tim Ruben  asked me for my Good Friday reflections. I comply with  a little bit of trepidations…but I seek the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance.

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine Love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and thou shall renew the face of the earth.”

The world today is spinning as if out of control. People are exposed to an invisible virus that is almost pushing everyone to the brink of paranoia and despair.

News of hundreds to thousands souls dying all around us is such a very frightening reality.

Do we cower in fear and hide under the rock until this is all over? Will it ever be?

Where do we go for direction and guidance and salvation?

Is it to CNN to tell us what to think or do?

Is it to our politicians to seek blame?

How do we fix the problem of an invisible virus?

Do we have the means to?

There are murmurs of vaccines being produced in  laboratories  making use of fetal remains of aborted babies.

There has been talk of ID2020 where everybody is going to be inserted a microchip like vaccine that has serial numbers for easy tracking and monitoring.

Are we now entering the final days of REVELATIONS that people will have to submit to the number of the beast being imprinted on their foreheads or some other part of  their bodies?

If you don’t have it, you are doomed to  suffer and die?

Difficult questions to reflect on.

Does it make us even more hopeful about the future?

Do we even have to consider these possibilities in dealing with COVID 19?

All of us sooner or later  will have to die.

So are we all going to be reckless and avoid and deny any protocols that can possibly prevent the spread of this virus?

I guess, the life of anyone, whether a Christian or not is designed to have troubles and challenges.

From the moment we were brought into this world, pain was present.

Suffering came as natural as learning how to walk, growing our first set of teeth, learning how to speak and navigate the world around us.

Danger was ever present, anytime and anywhere.

Now,  most of us believe that the physical world is just one part of our existence. We believe that there is a life beyond this world.

There exist a spiritual world.

Now, more than ever is the time for us to improve our spiritual intelligence.

The intelligence that will help us discern our design and purpose in this life, based not on what we think or feel, but what the  Creator intended for us from the beginning.

After all, we all do not see the wind, and yet, we know it is there.

We look into the skies and heavens and know that we are just part of a huge body of creation that is so awesome and  magnificent.

Till now, despite the advancement of science and technology, there are still things man is incapable of doing nor creating out of nothing.

Thus, we have to really acknowledge, that there is a God in all of these.

We need to humble ourselves at the foot of  the cross of His Only Begotten Son, who came to show us the way, the truth and the life.

He who suffered such a terrible death to show that we too can overcome whatever struggles we are facing, knowing that God has allowed it so His purpose and glory may be permitted to shine through.

Jesus was able to withstand terrible blows and lashing, big nails crushing though flesh and bones, hanging on the cross, having each and every breath cause Him extreme and excruciating pain…just like so much of COVID 19 victims as the lungs were being challenged by the ravages of the virus and Jesus' terrible crucifixion.

All our sufferings and pain can have meaning if we offer it to Jesus, offer it for others, so that we can all gain the merit to be called heirs to eternal life with our great God and Creator.

Out of our love and gratitude to Him who loved us first we do this.

These are the times more than ever that  fruits of patience, kindness, understanding, self control be manifested in all our ways especially to those who are hurting  and the most fearful ones.

These are the times that we be extensions of  Jesus, to try to show light to those in darkness and who are held captive by their fears and worries and doubts.

These are the times that we should espouse truths found in following a  Savior who taught as many things, and one of which is to love and pray for our enemies and those who persecute us  for our beliefs .

These are the trying times where we should not be arrogant and proud of what we can do on our own without the need of a savior, but our pride  should only rest in the knowledge that we accepted God in our lives and we are His children. And as such, we should never rejoice in wrongdoing, like slandering and dishonoring others, or keeping a record of hurts and pains from others…and lastly but not least, we , should allow  God to hold us in the palm of His Hands, trusting with FAITH, HOPE and LOVE in our hearts, that He will protect us come what may.

JESUS, KING OF MERCY, I TRUST IN YOU.

MARY, Mother of God, pray for us who have recourse to you.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Maundy Thursday

April 9,2020

11:38am

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine Love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and thou shall renew the face of the earth.”

**

Today is Maundy Thursday.

Checking my messages over at Whatsapp, Viber and FB Chat shows the different ways people and friends are dealing with this crisis while  Christians all over the world are trying to find creative ways to observe Lenten traditions and practices.

When I was much younger, the Triduum or these following 3 days were simply observed with  visiting 7 churches, going to church to seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation from the priest, observe the washing of the feet, listening to the 7 last words of Christ while trying not to misbehave and obey my dad's directive to keep quiet.

Later on, when my dad discovered the Divine Mercy chaplet, he encouraged us to start the novena on Good Friday every 3pm till the following Saturday.

Grudgingly I joined.

Fast forward to the very early morning of December 30,2015, dad slipped quietly into the next life while I was playing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy ( from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5TGfisOKMM ) in the background.  It was so quiet and peaceful. My  2 brothers, my sis in law and I were spared the vision of the  agonizing last breath like in the case of my mom. It was painful to watch.

The first reading for today recalls the first Passover meal celebrated in Egypt by the wandering people of God.

Today, quiet eerily, a lot of households are similarly huddled inside homes, trying to quell their fears of the future, by trying to deal with the challenges of the moment.

The blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the believers shielded them from the passing of the angel of death..which was the last of the plagues sent to Egypt.

Again, past forward again to now, many observe these rituals mechanically, forgetting a lot of things , the most important of all is probably this:

We are nothing without God, Our Creator in our lives.

He is the author of our lives. When He decides to get back our life, are we ready? If He prolongs it and answers our prayers, will we remember His goodness and mercy?

Will we easily forget and go back to our old ways of not having Him as the center of our lives, to give Him proper reverence and honor.

Jesus came to show us the way.

Jesus came to show us the life He wants us to live, following Him as our very good Shepherd.

We are all blind as lambs, exposed to all sorts of  wolves around us, and yet, when we come into an intimate relationship with Him, we will know His voice and never falter and lose our way.

He is the truth. All else are lies fed to us by the devil and our flesh.

Thus, if He calls us to repent from our sins…let us humble ourselves and do so. 

Lord Jesus, we cry out to you to forgive us…have mercy on us for our many many sins….Grant us the grace to sin no more.

I adore and praise You O Lord Jesus Christ.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Michael, the Archangel, Guardian Angels, pray for us.

St. Padre Pio, pray for us.

Gospel Reflections

April 8,2020

3:13pm

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in them the fire of thy Divine love, send forth your Spirit, and it shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.”

**

Today, will be copying from my handwritten reflection. ( side note: I hate rewriting a finished piece so I had to mention it.)

**

April 7 Gospel Reflection:  In what way have you abandoned Jesus just like Judas?

Beginning at the Passover meal, Jesus experienced a series of rejection from His close group of followers. Judas betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver.

Peter denied Him three times before the  rooster crowed in the early morning.

The people who welcomed Him with palm fronds shouted at Him in anger to have Him crucified.

 I too can exchange Jesus not for silver or gold, but  even for a lesser value.

When I don’t honor Him with how I take care of my body, when I over eat, when I don’t sleep and exercise enough, I can reject Him like Peter.

When I do not acknowledge Him in situations that require me to admit I am His follower.

I can crucify Him over and over again when I commit my favorite sins of pride and anger.

April 8 Gospel Reflection:  How many doors have you opened to the devil to come in your life? Doors of anger, pride, hatred, lust, avarice, envy, scandal?

Every time I lose my cool, my patience and give in to frustration, irritation, disdain/dislike of myself or another, is giving the devil a foothold in my life.

When I hold on to my way of thinking as only I am correct or hold on to a grudge, I am PRIDEFUL.

When I over indulge in anything be it food, tv, rest, recreation, my thoughts that is in excess = avarice.

When I do not discipline my body and thoughts, that is being lazy= sloth

When I am not happy with the blessings of others= envy

When I see others as enemies= hatred

When I do not give good example=scandal

Lord Jesus, by your grace and mercy, help me.Restore these areas to wholeness and spiritual health. Shield me with your Word, armor, love and angels.

Holy Angels and guardian angels help me do good until I reach my best.

Psalm 91

You who live in the secret place of Elyon, spend your nights in the shelter of Shaddai,

2 saying to Yahweh, 'My refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust!'

3 He rescues you from the snare of the fowler set on destruction;

 he covers you with his pinions, you find shelter under his wings. His constancy is shield and protection.

5 You need not fear the terrors of night, the arrow that flies in the daytime,

6 the plague that stalks in the darkness, the scourge that wreaks havoc at high noon.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, you yourself will remain unscathed.

8 You have only to keep your eyes open to see how the wicked are repaid,

9 you who say, 'Yahweh my refuge!' and make Elyon your fortress.

10 No disaster can overtake you, no plague come near your tent;

11 he has given his angels orders about you to guard you wherever you go.

12 They will carry you in their arms in case you trip over a stone.

13 You will walk upon wild beast and adder, you will trample young lions and snakes.

14 'Since he clings to me I rescue him, I raise him high, since he acknowledges my name.

15 He calls to me and I answer him: in distress I am at his side, I rescue him and bring him honour.

16 I shall satisfy him with long life, and grant him to see my salvation.'