3 Things St.Martha Teaches Lukewarm Catholics

Today being the memorial of St.Martha, the gospel reading at Mass gives us one of two famous Martha scenes.

St.Martha

Luke 10:38-42 gives us the kitchen scene, where Martha the busybody whines about not getting any help from Mary who sits at Jesus' feet. The Lord Jesus tells her:

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."

The other gospel reading (depending on which one your parish priest chose for Mass today) is John 11:19-27 where Martha displays the blossoming of her faith when Jesus arrives four days after Lazarus has died. Instead of getting mad at his lateness, Martha displays the strength of her belief in Christ when she says:

"Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world."

What happened in between, you might ask? What caused the change?

Martha Listened to the Lord's Advice for Her

First off, she listened to what Jesus told her. She didn't just let it go in one ear and out the other.

If your boss tells you you're doing something wrong, you'd immediately work to correct it right? Well, in the kitchen scene, Martha was scolded by her Lord for being anxious about many things. Did she sit on that info and postpone acting on it? I'd venture to say she took it as a wake up call to stop being overly busy with all the things of the world (cooking, eating) and start prioritizing the things of God (praying, learning) and being closer to the Lord. But she'd never have re-evaluated her outlook had she not listened intently to what Jesus was telling her.

Martha Prioritized "BE" Before "DO"

You can tell she loves being busy -- cooking, feeding, serving. But after Jesus' words, she obviously realized there was a need for her to first BE a faithful, faith-filled follower of the Lord and not simply concentrate on DOING the work.

Too many of us are busy doing the Lord's work when our hearts are not purified, when we remain in mortal sin, when we shun the confessional and the sacraments. By doing so, we do the work relying on our own strength and our own flesh instead of being a pure, faithful follower who relies on God's grace. We DO instead of BE. No wonder we get so stressed out and ineffective at our ministries.

Martha Believed Christ had the Power to Raise the Dead

Her brother had died four days before. Jesus arrived late. She told him that had he been there, Lazarus may not have died. But note: she didn't wail, she didn't whine or wallow in self pity. She wasn't even angry or bitter. She merely stated a fact that her faith led her to believe -- if Jesus asked God to revive Lazarus, it would be done.

"But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you."

What faith! What strong convictions! And yet, as Christians and Catholics, do we have the strength of Martha's beliefs and love for God? How many of us live our lives only half-believing in the Lord's power to work miracles? We do not have because we do not ask. And sometimes even if we ask, we don't believe it will be given. (See James 1:6 "But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.")



St.Martha, pray for us!
That we may first BE faith-filled followers of Jesus before we DO all the works that fill our days.
That we listen closely to what the Lord is calling us to do.
That we may rely wholly on the Lord's strength and power to do His work.
Amen!


RELATED POSTS:
Martha Was Too Busy To Hear The Need

Christians Today Should Bring Forth the Precious Without the Vile

Today's first reading at Mass contains a poignant verse from Jeremiah 15:19 (NAB)

Thus the LORD answered me: If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand; If you bring forth the precious without the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece. Then it shall be they who turn to you, and you shall not turn to them;

Jeremiah. Photo of a mosaic by Sacred Destinations on Flickr.

I was struck by the wording: Precious versus vile. Pure versus disgusting. Repentant sinner versus proud, audacious sinner.

Once again, the reality of being used as an instrument by the Lord hit me. God was telling Jeremiah to clean up his act -- to repent and stay pure -- so that the prophet could become effective in his ministry.

It's the same challenge given to Christians today. Turn to Him! Turn away from the vile!

Why? He can't use someone who hasn't turned away from sin, or someone who hasn't been restored into a loving relationship with his creator, or someone who decidedly chooses to abandon the Lord's presence because of sin.

He can only use someone who chooses the precious, the pure, the holy over the vile at any given moment. Someone who makes a conscious decision to eschew the vulgarity of the modern world in favor of the holiness of God's word and His sacraments.

Someone who chooses NOT to use curse words and instead chooses to praise God through good times and trials, just like Job.

Someone who chooses NOT to watch lewd television shows and instead chooses to read the word of God.

Someone who chooses to pray for those in need, to do acts of charity, to forebear insults, to accept persecution with joy, to fast from pride.

May we learn to revile the vulgarity around us and instead cling to the Lord for our sustenance and power so that, like Jeremiah, we may work to bring about God's kingdom.


RELATED POSTS:
5 Reasons Why I Go to Daily Mass
Are we usable instruments in the hand of God?

Are we usable instruments in the hand of God?

We threw out toothbrushes the other night, partly because the bristles were splayed and worn out, but mostly because they had molds growing on the bottom handle. A quick look into the cup that held the brushes gave us the culprit: stagnant water that had been there for months. Probably water that dripped down from wet toothbrushes, accumulating over a long period of time. Moldy, filthy water that contaminated anything in it, defiling these tools which we use to clean out the dirt on our teeth. Ironic how those cleaning tools were made useless once dirtied.

*

Are we usable instruments in the hand of God? Are we allowing ourselves to be used by the Lord to build His kingdom? Hopefully the answer is yes to both. And yet, how can we be useful if we are not holy? If we are not clean?

Leviticus 11:44
For I, the LORD, am your God; and you shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy.

Psalm 15:1-2
LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart;

The Lord will not use defiled instruments to acomplish His work. And neither will He bless you or answer your prayers if sin blackens your heart and resides in your life. Lent is a good time to return to the Lord. Step out of that filthy moldy water that has lain stagnant for ages, return to the Lord, and be used of God.

Lenten practices: not merely physical activity, but spiritual movement towards God

As Lent begins this week, another season of penance and return to the Lord is upon us. This is a time of abstinence from meat on Fridays, of fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, of ashes and sorrow for sins. It is a time given to us to concentrate on the finite-ness of our lives so we may more closely focus on the inifite life promised to us by Jesus, and on the infinite love of God the Father who waits for us prodigals to return to His arms from our wasteful and wicked living.

In this season however, be aware that actions are meaningless in and of themselves. If we abstain and fast and give to the poor without the proper attitude of love and obedience to God, then those actions mean little. The Lord has to be in it, in you, in your actions for them to be truly vibrant. If these are exercised without God's love, then they remain physical activities. God wants spiritual activity -- He wants your spirit to move twards Him.

Psalm 40: 7-9
...sacrifice and offering you do not want; but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts and sin-offerings you do not require; so I said, "Here I am; your commands for me are written in the scroll. To do your will is my delight; my God, your law is in my heart!"

Ps 40:7-9 reminds us that sacrifice and offering aren't what the Lord wants. Instead, He wants ears of obedience and our availability. Hence the psalmist proclaims like Samuel, like Moses, like Mary: "Here I am!"

1 Cor 13: 3
If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3 reminds us that giving away our things and self-mortification gives us nothing more than an empty pocket and a painful body if not done with love -- if not done for love of others and of God.

PRAYER
Lord, during these 40 days of Lent, allow us to give up all that does not help us turn back to you. Allow us to sacrifice these temporal things for love of you. Bless our efforts to hear your call daily and to be obedient, with ears that move our feet and hands towards Your Son.

Help us Lord not to do hollow practices with our bodies but to accomplish meaningful acts of love with our hearts -- so that what we give up, what we donate, what we fast and abstain from, may ultimately lighten our physical bodies from material baggage and allow our hearts may fly to You in love. May all this prompt us to serve You through the people around us, most especially the poor and the voiceless, the downtrodden and the persecuted.

And all these things we ask in the mighty name of Your son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God forever and ever, Amen.

To Be Catholic is to Defend Life with Love

2009 March for Life. Photo by John Stephen Dwyer.

For many years, the issue was academic to me. Abortion was the killing of unborn babies. The Catholic Church taught me that life begins at the moment of conception, and because I believe that the church was built by Jesus and entrusted to the care of Peter and the men who would succeed him, I believe that Church doctrine (regarding faith and morals) is true, and free of error. All based on the apostolic authority given by Christ to Peter, and in turn to all the Popes and bishops who have succeeded him. So, yes it is an evil. But no, I never thought it needed to be something I would need to stand up for.

Things change
Things change. I moved from my predominantly Catholic mother country the Philippines to California. Then in June of 2009, we had our first child after hoping and praying for a long time. Seeing my son react to my voice the minute he was out of the womb told me that he had heard me during those nights in the last trimester when I would read the Psalms to him through a barrier of flesh. The boy was alive long before he exited the womb. He was not a "potential life," but an actual life that had the same right to live as I did.

I found myself defending my stance on abortion being murder on the very public forum of Twitter. I found myself researching the topic in more detail. I found myself donning the label "pro-life" out of necessity, but also out of respect for the truth.


Sad story
My wife works as a nurse at an outpatient surgery center and as a born again Christian, has refused to be part of any abortive procedures done there. Taking her stand brought on the admiration of one of her fellow nurses who delved into the reasons why. My wife explained it was against God's commandments and encouraged her co-worker to ask her pastor. So this co-worker, a Catholic, went to her parish priest to ask whether she should do the same and refuse to take part in abortions. Her parish priest told her that if it were her work, then she should simply do her work and God would understand. When I heard this story, I shook my head in frustration.

Donning the label
These days, I realize that a true Catholic cannot stay on the sidelines. Being a genuine follower of Christ isn't simply claiming membership in an association, but rather, standing up to half-truths and lies with the light of Gospel truth. I realize that to be Catholic is to defend life -- especially the lives of those in the womb -- with love, prayer, education and activism.

I joined the virtual March For Life in Washington, listened to the speeches, edited a pro-life ad for the sidebar of my blog, talked with my officemate about abortion, got some to join the virtual march as well, posted some tweets about the event, and am now writing about it. It's not much, I know. But I am compelled by my love for Christ, and my love for my family to at least try to speak the truth about abortion when I am given the opportunity. I hope my fellow Christians get off their silent fences to do the same.


Some reference links:
Abortion: Stand up for life! pamphlet
FAQ about abortion
Testimony of Jenni Speltz, who was born from rape

5 Ways to Prepare for Sunday Mass

I recently blogged about how sad it is to see people at Mass devoid of all enthusiasm and life. I thought about it some more and noted down five things you can do to prepare yourself for the Eucharist which is "source and summit" of all we do, and which deserves attentive preparation (cf. Lumen Gentium, 11).

1. Read the readings ahead of time.
Subscribe to the Sunday Mass readings and reflections email from Good News Ministries. Terry Modica provides both a daily email and a weekly email option, which have been blessings to me for years now. The daily email contains the list of Mass readings for the day as well as a reflection on them. Knowing and reading the readings beforehand prepares you for what you will hear.

If you want a simple listing of the readings, the entire Liturgical calendar is laid out over at the Prepare For Mass blog.

And the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has a calendar on the left side of its page with the Mass Readings for the Day. The calendar tells you what readings are on which day:

2. Bring your Bible!
I find it very useful to bring a Bible (or your very own Missal) with the readings already bookmarked beforehand. This is useful as reading material before the Mass begins and also for when you have a hard time comprehending the speech of a lector or celebrant. Note that it is better to listen attentively to the readings during the Liturgy of the Word, than read them. Although there are also those one-in-a-million emergencies where a lector or celebrant can't seem to find the reading in the book and may need to borrow your missal (it's actually happened to me before).

3. Abstain from food and unnecessary speech.
Accompany the Eucharistic fast (no food an hour before Mass begins, in order to receive Holy Communion) with a peaceful, quiet attitude. Avoid frenzy and distractions for a period of time before the Mass begins. Silence and stillness opens your heart up to God's voice.

4. Prepare your clothes, transportation and other temporal things.
Have your attire planned out beforehand to avoid rushing and fretting over what to wear. Leave for church well ahead of the time that Mass starts -- this assures you of a good seat, ample parking (or time to commute), and enough time for you to settle down at your pew.

5. Purify yourself: receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation!
Receiving the sacrament of reconciliation allows you to repair the relationship with God that you've harmed due to mortal sin. There is no better preparation to receive Christ through the Blessed Eucharist than confessing your sins and coming clean with the Lord. After all, as adopted children of God, we are called to be holy as He is holy.

There are also more tips to preparing for the Mass at Catholic Answers forums.

Everything Old is New and Delightful

After an overlong hiatus, I'm back. In the interim, I've discovered the joys and pains of fatherhood with our first baby boy, Zion -- now 7 months old -- who never ceases to amaze me.

One of his favorite toys is a cow that, when pressed, sings "Jingle Bells" in a series of enthusiastic moos and bovine grunts. I let the song play whenever I'm feeding Zion because it helps distract him from his boredom at being seated for the stretch of time it takes to finish his rice cereal. The thing is: it doesn't matter how many times he's heard the cow moo, no matter when I press the cow's head, Zion looks up and smiles with all the boyish joy he can muster. He's probably heard it several hundred times by now. And yet, once it starts making its joyful sound, the experience is new for my son every time.

I wonder why we Catholics can't have that same attitude whenever we go to Mass. It's the most magnificent thing in the world to be able to worship God through the Eucharistic celebration, and yet every week I see at least two people (sometimes more) who look like they'd rather be somewhere else. Their faces are dour, sour, sad, often ambivalent. You can almost hear what they're thinking: "Here we go again."  Or maybe "I've heard that homily before." And yet we say we are the Church of the living God?  More like the living dead.

What we have is so precious and so beautiful, this faith of ours, and we take it for granted. We think of the Sunday Mass as a weekly duty that can be easily over and done with in an hour, instead of preparing for it with an expectant heart and fully participating in it with joy and thanksgiving.

We should all take lessons from Zion, who at 7 months, can enjoy the same old thing like new every time, because he finds beauty and happiness and value in it. 

Who am I to You?

"Jesus double." Art by Sy Parrish on Flickr.

In today's scripture readings, Jesus poses this question to his apostles: "Who do you say I am?" which could be reworded as "Who am I to you, anyway?"

That same question was posed to the people at the 7AM morning mass at my parish, and there was a surprising number of people ready with heartfelt answers: He is my Lord and savior. He is my salvation. He is king, though I don't know what king means in this day and age. He is my friend who cares for me. He is the Lord whom I follow.

All of them, sincere answers. Each of them, a homily waiting to unfold.

I would venture to add that the readings taken together posit something more, and carry a warning as well as a hope.

He is almighty and powerful.

In the first reading (Gen 9:1 to 13), He is the Lord of the covenant -- the one who wiped out man's evil from the world with a great flood, and the same one who promised Noah and his descendants that He would never do so again.

He is holy and merciful.

In the Responsorial Psalm taken from Psalm 102, He is the Lord who looks down from heaven upon the earth, the one who regards the prayer of the destitute, hears the groaning of prisoners and releases those doomed to die.

He is Messiah and Lord.

And finally in the Gospel of Mark 8:27-33, Peter speaks for us when he says that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Lord whom we follow. And yet, a few moments later, concerned about Jesus revelation that He would suffer and die, Peter goes on to rebuke Jesus.

Rebuke is a strong word, one that means to criticize and censure angrily. And I imagine the all-too-human Peter disagreeing with Jesus, asking why this has to be so, wondering if there were a way to protect Jesus from death and suffering.

Jesus turns around and rebukes Peter in return, calling the apostle "Satan," one of the most vehement declarations from the mouth of the Lord. And why? Because if indeed He was Lord, then Peter had to trust in the divine plan, had to submit his human will to the divine will of God.

Therein lies our challenge as Catholics and Christians.

If we say He is Lord of our lives, the leader whom we follow, the almighty who cared enough to save us from sin... then do we relinquish control to Him? Do we trust in Him when the chips are down and trials surround us? Do we follow Him completely despite not understanding how we could be suffering so?

If we don't trust Him then we impose our own selfish wills on our lives and, like Peter, begin to think as humans do instead of as God does. We become "Satan" because we oppose God by going our own way and trusting our own strengths and schemes.

If indeed He is Lord to us, then His wishes are our commands. And His wish is for us to know Him, to love Him and to follow Him... even as He leads us through the dark valleys.

What Simeon and Anna Teach Us

The Presentation of our Lord

Today is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord at the temple, known as Candlemas, and also one of the joyful mysteries of the Rosary. The Scripture readings give us a picture of the two holy characters whom Jesus and the Holy Family meet on the day of the consecration.

First there is Simeon, who is described as righteous and devout, and patient! Luke's gospel portrays him as one waiting patiently and prayerfully for Israel's consolation. In return for living a life in the will of God, the Holy Spirit has revealed to Simeon that he will not die till he sees the messiah. In fact, it says Simeon even comes into the temple "in the Spirit."

Then there is the prophetess Anna, an 84-year-old widow who lives and worships in the temple day and night with prayer and fasting. She sees the child Jesus and cannot hold in her joy.

What did the two have in common?

• They both led lives of continuous prayer. Simeon was described as devout and righteous, Anna as prayerful and pious. Anna never left the temple because her life was entirely devoted to prayer and worship.
  
  
• This continuous prayer led to the constant presence of the Lord in their lives. Anna devotes her years to nothing less than the things of God -- away from the world, away from obsession with material goods, away from sin. Simeon lived his life in the Spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead his steps and enfuse his character. What a close relationship! Thus, the Lord is ever-present in their lives.
  
  
• As gifts, they both were given communicative powers which allow them to share their testimonies with others -- ultimately allowing them to be vessels through whom God speaks. Anna gives thanks to God and speaks about the child to all awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. I can imagine her excited voice, her praise and thanksgiving as she shares with strangers the fact that the messiah is come. Simeon bursts out in his canticle of joy, his beautiful prayer of praise at seeing the child Jesus. At the same time, his words to Mother Mary contain prophetic statements that could only have come from God.
  
  
• Finally they both had a consecrated pleasure, a holy peace and joy in their lives. With the Lord in their daily walk, they had everything they needed or wanted. By allowing God to work through their talents and their availability, they experienced the most special gift of all -- being able to see the Lord Jesus face-to-face.

"Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples..."
- Luke 2:29-31 -

Lord, How Do I Serve You?

Reposted from Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

For some time now, I've been wrestling with this problem: how do I serve the Lord more fully with the talents given me? There are so many ways I could. The possibilities burn in my heart and roll around in my guts, mainly because I know these blessings were given in order to be used for furthering the Kingdom. And yet there are so many obstacles. And so I asked Him:

How do you want me to serve you, Lord?

"Dark Prayers." Photo by Stuck in Customs on Flickr.

You've given me the ability to teach in a classroom setting. If it is Your will, I'd love to become a catechist or a missionary one day, and share my faith with others. But I'm afraid I don't know enough, I'm afraid I don't have the maturity with which to defend the faith against those who would attack it. And how do I do make time for this?

You've given me the gift of music. I would love to play music for You in Your church on a full-time basis one day, perhaps, if You so desire. But how do I do this without sacrificing time for my family?

You've given me the ability to write and I would one day love to work as a full-time writer for a publication that spreads the faith to others, if You but will it. But I'm afraid of applying and leaving the comfort of the status quo. How do I provide for my family on what I understand to be a lower wage?

You've given me the ability to create music and audio and I would one day love to do so for a broadcast medium on a regular basis. But how do I start?

I love you and wish to serve you but I have no idea why You aren't giving me any insight onto how to do all these grand things for You.

+ + +

Today, after Mass, at the adoration chapel, on my knees in prayer, I felt the Lord telling me one thing:

"Serve me where you are."

And the rest of this came tumbling out of my fingers at a frightening pace:

"You want to share your faith with a classroom? I gave you 120 students over 2 years in a Catholic college, and how did you do? Not very well. So I took that away from you and now I give you one student whom I am asking you to teach to read and write in English. He's already Catholic but doesn't understand the faith too well. How are you doing with him? Serve me by serving him.

"Besides, you don't need to be in a classroom to share your faith. All you need to do is use that mouth I've given you, and fear not what others have to say. Speak up instead of cowering in fear. '...But do it with gentleness and reverence.' (1 Peter 3:15-16) Serve as my missionary to the people you meet daily: fellow commuters, officemates, your own family.

"You want to play music full-time for me? You're asking me for something you already have. I've given you the daily morning Mass at your parish to minister to. There are no obstacles there. The organ works, the song books have beautiful songs, your brothers and sisters in Christ love to sing. So... why were you not at your post last week? How do you expect me to give you more when you cannot even be faithful in a little? (Matthew 25:29) If you will serve me, then I don't want wishy-washy volunteers who disappear when they're lazy or can't wake up for the 7 AM Mass. I want full-time dedicated workers who will make it a point to be at their post.

"You want to write for publications? Is this really for me, or for the chance to see your own name in print? If you want to write, you already have this blog which I have blessed you with. I've made this blog possible by asking a friend to donate the server space and bandwidth, and what have you done with it? I see you've turned it around from what it once was -- an altar to all that was worldly-- and are now doing your best to serve me through it. You don't have to be employed by a publication to write about me. Serve me where you already are!

"You want to make music and audio that can promote the faith and speak of me? What are you waiting for? A record contract, an external green signal to tell you when to create? You have the tools and the knowledge. Use them. Now. Serve me with what you already have.

"The problem you have is you seek grand gestures. You want to build great things for me and while that is well and good, I'm afraid you're way too proud to be of use to me at this point. I seek no burnt offerings but ... 'the lowly (humble) and afflicted (contrite) man who trembles at my word.' (Isaiah 66:1-2)

"How have you been a servant to your wife? Do you love her and support her in all she does, despite your differences? Do you serve your mother-in-law with humility? Do you serve my church with faithfulness? Do you serve your workplace with honesty and excellence? There are so many ways to serve me fully in your daily life.

"Serve me where you already are. With what you have. There is no need to look elsewhere."

We are priests with a small "P"

From today's Good News Reflections:

Thus, Jesus our High Priest is present with us at every Catholic Mass in the Word, in the Eucharist, and in the priest through whom Jesus preaches the Word and through whom Jesus changes the bread and wine into the Eucharist.

When we — the common priests and the ministerial priests — eat his body and drink his blood, we are united to Christ's sacrifice and the salvation that it gives us. Thus united to Jesus, we all become Christ's body on earth for the continuation of his ministry. Are we continuing his ministry well?

May we then be holy priests, holy vessels, holy tabernacles Christ, who through our actions and our speech continuously lead people to Christ and glorify His name through our lives.

Saint Agnes's Zeal for Christ was No Teenage Crush

"St. Agnes." Flickr Photo by Truus, Bob & Jan too!

Today is January 21st, the feast day of St. Agnes, the Roman teenage virgin-martyr who, as tradition tells us, refused marriage proposals claiming she was betrothed to none other than Christ. She was young, beautiful, pure, born of a rich family, and even at the young age of 14, totally surrendered to the Lord. Because this was during the time when Christians in Rome were being persecuted, fed to lions, and publicly executed, all these spurned suitors decided if they couldn't have her, then no one could. She was reported to the authorities who threw her into a brothel to torture her. But no man dared approach her. Her purity was too awesome. And her faith throughout it all so totally different. Irritated, the Roman governor had her executed. And even then she encouraged her tormentors to finish the job as she despised the physical beauty she possessed that made the Roman suitors lust after her.

• She could have had her pick of any of the young influential suitors that were hounding her door and married into a powerful family and even multiplied her family's wealth, had she been looking for earthly power or earthly possessions. But she was not.
  
  
• She could have had any of the handsome, probably muscular, young men as husbands had she been looking for mere earthly pleasure. But she was not.
  
  
• She could have stayed quiet about her Christian convictions, and hidden it from people and stayed safe, and stayed alive, had she been looking for earthly security. But again, she was not.

Instead, she loved Christ the only way she knew how: vibrantly, loudly, boldly, purely. This was no fragile teenage crush, no infatuation with a teen idol, no puppy love that would fade after a season. This was a love that allowed a teenager to face torture and death fearlessly because it was focused totally on the God who became man, on the God who died on a cross for our sins, on the God who by His death and resurrection promises us life beyond this earthly life.

This was true fervor and zeal, proclaimed boldly, proclaimed unto death.

St. Agnes, pray for the youth of today, that they may be strong against temptation and keep their eyes and hearts focused on our Lord Jesus who gives us the strength and the grace to face all tribulation boldly.

My 2009 Bible and CCC Reading Challenge

Reposted from Friday, January 9th, 2009

It took me a while to truly get into this. Partly because of stubbornness, laziness, and mostly because of sinfulness. But I’m in it now, I’m sticking to it, and maybe by blogging about it here and telling you what I’m up to, I can help others get into it as well.

Into what exactly? I’m reading the Holy Bible (NAB version) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church in a systematic manner, daily, in order to get through both books by the end of 2009. And despite my original hesitation, I’m thoroughly enjoying this study and this challenge, finding joy in the things I read.

• I found this print-ready reading guide [PDF download] on www.chnetwork.org which has a daily checklist of chapters to read from both books.
  
• And I finally bought myself a cheap, second-hand copy of the CCC and opened it with a mechanical pencil in hand, ready for margin notes.
  
• To top it all off, randomly reading some Catholic blogposts, I stumbled across a free Catholic Holy Bible software with concordance and a module for the CCC. It’s called Jerome, named after St.Jerome, and is a freeware project born out of the eSword Bible project. Lovely!

“120 year old Bible title page (as of 2005) American.” Flickr photo by Wonderlane. Follow the link and read about how she donated the old bible to a church in Mexico.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been reading my Bible regularly this past year, more than any other year in my life, primarily going over the scripture readings for the daily Mass. But never have I finished reading it from cover to cover. What’s more, I’ve never read the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), relying mainly on websites and compendia of the CCC rather than going through the original text. Which in a word, is shameful. More and more, I am discovering I do not know enough about my faith to give a reasonable defense of it. So, how else to know God’s Word than to study it daily?

Psalm 1:2-3 says it so wonderfully: (1:2) Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God’s law they study day and night. (1:3) They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.

Why not try a new year’s resolution that’s more meaningful? Why not read the Bible this year?

May we all grow towards the Lord this 2009 in mind and heart, that by doing so, we may hide His law in our hearts and make His words come to life in our daily actions.

Answering God’s Invitation to the Banquet

Reposted from Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

Today’s Gospel reading gives us a lot to think about in the realm of invitations and feasts. At Mass this morning, our priest asked us to share our experiences as guests or hosts — what happens when someone you invite doesn’t make it? Or how do you feel when you’re singled out, asked to come to a meal that is special?

I shared about how I have two former officemates who I invited to my wedding in 2000. They never made it. They never tried to contact me either to tell me they couldn’t go or that they had no transportation to get to the church. They simply didn’t show up. Possibly, they felt they would be just one more person in a crowd. I wanted to share our blessed union with them– a day unlike any other — and they didn’t go.

Eucharist. Flickr photo by shioshvili.

To this day, it’s a running joke during those rare times when we get to communicate, that they didn’t come to my wedding and thus get no free favors from me. But the truth is, at the time, it felt … insulting. Almost like, hey, we have more important things to do. Because really, what it boils down to is priorities. If you refuse an invitation, you’re saying something else is more important, is more of a priority.

Which is pretty much what the three characters in today’s Gospel reading (Lk 14:15-24) did: they told the host that they had more important things to do than attend a great dinner. One was concerned about the field he’d just bought (material possessions), one was concerned with oxen he’d just purchased (livelihood, career), and the last was concerned that he’d just been married (relationships). These three were saying “Master, this concern of mine is what’s keeping me from your dinner. Sorry, I’m out.”

How sad the Father must feel when we refuse His invitation. Because it’s a free dinner He calls us to share in. One where all we need to bring is a humble and contrite heart. One where we are called to join our large, celestial family of Heaven-dwelling and Earth-bound saints in the praise and worship of the eternal Bread of Life, who is Jesus. Jesus present in our brethren gathered around the table. Jesus in the Word of Sacred Scripture. Jesus come down to Earth in the Blessed Eucharist.

Maybe it’s time we stop letting our obsession with material possessions hinder us from “tasting and seeing that the Lord is good.” Maybe it’s time we stop making our careers and livelihoods the central focus of our energies instead of following the Will of God for our lives. Maybe it’s time we stop making relationships and other people as our excuse for not getting to Mass or church or synagogue or chapel, for not fostering our relationship with Him.

Maybe it’s time we heed the call.

Donut Birthday & Morning Mass

Reposted from Sunday, October 19th, 2008

I was walking to Mass last Wednesday morning in the dim morning light. Rosary nearly through, the clock exactly at 7 AM. I rounded the corner at the local donut shop and saw a sight I don’t normally see that early in the day. A group of people were gathered around a table, patrons and donut shop crew alike, singing "Happy Birthday" to someone. A birthday party at 7 AM in the morning! As the birthday song died down, someone — probably the celebrant — brought out a harmonica and started blowing a tune I did not recognize.

I was out of earshot a few seconds later, smiling from ear to ear. I was heading towards my own morning party, my own daily celebration of life and love and sacrifice. I was heading towards the 7 AM Mass which had started already, and which would commemorate Christ’s death and suffering, but even more, would bring Christ present to us physically, in the form of the Blessed Eucharist.

“Dark Church.” Photo by Wiros on Flickr.

Upon arriving, I switched on the electronic keyboard in the daily chapel ready to sing my own version of a celebratory song — the Alleluia before the Gospel.

Praise God for every daily blessing. Praise God for morning parties and for the overflowing blessings — all of which are reasons to celebrate joyfully, with praise and thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:4 reminds us: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

God Sends Me a Black Cat in the Organ

Reposted from Monday, August 25th, 2008

You can sum up my entire life in this sentence: God likes sending me black cats in the organ.

I arrived late for Mass this morning because I couldn’t seem to find the donations flyer I got in the mail for a convent of Benedictine nuns. Apparently, someone’s been throwing out my mail for me. This brought up irritation and a hint of bitterness which made me mad but also guilty. How do you worship the Lord with weight like that in your heart? So, en route to church, trusting in the Lord to deliver me from evil thoughts and irritation, I brought out the rosary and prayed the second half of the Glorious Mysteries since I was unable to finish the night before. Reflecting on Christ’s resurrection then ascension brings things back into perspective to tell you the truth. And by the end, the Lord lifted it from my heart.

“Metaphor the Dusty Cat,” photo by acid42 on Flickr.

I positioned myself at the aged electronic organ, despite my lateness, powering it up. And by the time the Agnus Dei came around I was ready to play. Except the volume pedal seemed stuck. It was at full volume and didn’t want to move. I took a look at it and there seemed to be some black foam blocking its path? So I jammed my foot on the pedal hoping to force it to move, and as it did…

A black cat came running out of the hole housing the pedal, racing for the nearest exit. I uttered an “Oh!” which was thankfully drowned out by people greeting each other with a sign of peace.

Looks like the church has a resident feline organist.

The organ worked okay after that. I just realized that some of the noise problems the organ displays, may be due to the cat scratching or biting down on the wires. Who would’ve known?

Thus says the Lord: “Stop taking your bitter pills, Lionel, and laugh. See? I sent you a black cat to lift your spirits. Now try to be more positive.”

St.Bridget of Sweden - princess, wife, mother, widow

Reposted from Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

St.Bridget of Sweden

Strong women impress me. Saint Bridget of Sweden is one of them. She persevered till the completion of her race. That we are all called to holiness no matter what our station is in life, is a given in the Christian journey. Still, having eight children, even while being a princess, was probably no walk in the park. No wonder then she is patron saint of widows… and Europe. And yes, her fourth child Catherine would later be known as St.Catherine of Sweden. Which goes to show you: the first apostolate is the family. If we can inspire the people closest to us to look upon the Lord, then we are living out our faith. May we all learn to be bright beacons of faith in our respective homes.

Here is a link to her booklet of 15 beautiful prayers entitled Pieta. While the prayers are beautiful and definitely have been used by the faithful for centuries, the other material (the promises) in the booklet are private revelation to St.Bridget. Catholics are free to believe in them or not. They are not officially accepted by the Catholic Church. Just for your info.

Five Reasons Why I Go To Daily Mass

Reposted from Saturday, June 21st, 2008

1. Receiving Christ in the Blessed Eucharist gives me the strength to fight selfish pride and sin.
I’m not saying I’m a saint. The truth is far far away from that. Ask my wife. But I do know that pride and my ego are the two constant demons I must battle. I want my pleasure, my sleep, my comfort, my free time to do what I want. It’s a constant struggle to kill these impulses especially when they impede on other priorities and other relationships. And I already know I cannot win alone. I wasn’t made perfect. I was made weak and frail and egotistical so that I can acknowledge that any good that happens is from God.

Because it takes supernatural strength to combat ego. And I get that strength from my Lord as He is present in the Eucharist. The sanctifying grace that pours through me when I receive the consecrated host allows me to stop before uttering a word of anger, or engaging in a selfish sin. And truly, those days when I fail, the days when my weak flesh regains control, are the days when I fail to receive communion, or decide not to show up at the morning mass.

The back of the cross at Saint Joachim’s. My photo.

2. Praising God first thing in the morning is the most important thing on my daily calendar.
First things first, as they say. And since I’ve been blessed to live a mere walking distance away from my parish, I take it as a privilege and a gift that I can make God the first thing in my day literally by worshipping Him in His temple. Add to that the fact that God asks for the first fruits of your harvest, the first tenth of all your blessings. Going to Mass is offering the first part of my day to the Lord who is the source of all my blessing.

3. The Mass is my ongoing spiritual formation.
The beautiful thing about the Mass is that is so drenched in scripture. And attending it every weekday allows me to soak in God’s Word. Since I play the organ as well and get to pick the songs each day, it means I am forced to read each day’s readings ahead of time so that the music fits the liturgy. Add to this the enriching homilies put forth by the trio of SVD priests who pastor our parish, and you get a full Catholic education in Christ, stewardship, the sacraments, the saints, and evangelization 260 days a year. Growing in the Lord a day at a time.

4. The Mass heals.
Every Mass is a healing experience. It heals wounds caused by our sinful nature, it heals our relationship with God and one another, bringing us closer to our Lord, giving us opportunities to draw near and receive Him not only in the Word, but also in the Blessed Eucharist.

Back in my first two years of high school, I used to curse quite foully. Every other word was dirty and spiteful, and it was affecting me, tainting my mood, keeping me in a constant state of anger and impatience. I started going to the daily mass in third year and after a while, without my noticing, the foul vocabulary died away. In fact it only came to my attention when my classmates started wondering why I wasn’t cursing anymore. These days I pray for healing of a different kind. And I have faith that the Lord will grant it to me as long as I stay faithful to Him.

5. I meet my creator, my friend and my love.
As Saint Augustine says: my heart is restless until it rests in You. I find shelter in the wings of the Lord. Every morning, I find it at His temple. During the day, I find it in silent prayer wherever I am. I yearn for Him every morning knowing my day is incomplete without worship, finding no other solace but His Word and His sacraments. And in surrendering to His love, in accepting the daily challenge to get up early and meet Him in the Eucharist, I find ever more joy.

Easter Vigils: A Year of Service

Reposted from Tuesday, March 25th, 2008

Easter Vigil at St.Joachim Church in Hayward

Last year was the first time I attended the Easter Vigil at St. Joachim Church here in Hayward CA. I’d just migrated here from the Philippines, and was still getting used to Stateside life. Plus I had been coming to the daily morning masses intermittently, finding solace and spiritual reconnection once again in baby steps, when suddenly Holy Week was upon me. The Easter Vigil which I attended with Agnes, crept upon me unawares.

It was just so vastly different from the other vigils I’d attended in the past back in Manila. Maybe because, for the first time in a long time, I was on the other side. I was in the congregation as a fully cognizant participant instead of in the choir as a music minister. Maybe for the first time in ages, I was finally meaning the words I prayed. Maybe the difference simply lay in the liturgy used.

Whatever it was, the difference was palpable and awesome. From the blessing of the fire to the procession through the darkened church with the blessed flame lighting the way, to the beautiful singing and the 7 readings each done in a different corner, I was awestruck and captivated. The liturgy of the celebration was unusual and new and beautiful, and through it– through the readings from Sacred Scriptures, through the ceremonies and symbolisms, through the experience and the Spirit — I felt the prodding of the Lord to return to His service. I volunteered soon after, and began playing music for the daily masses. And re-committed myself to growing in the Lord.

Friends in St. Joachim (clockwise from Upper Left): with Jose of the Spanish choir, Choir Director Ed Magistrado studies a piece, the pipe organ which is my battle station, Fr. Jimmy Aguilar preaches, posing with Tita Luz Datayan and Fr. Hieu

This year was different maybe because I was on the other side of the fence as part of the music ministry and in the middle of a sea of activity that never seemed to wane.

Yes, many things were the same: the liturgy was just as beautiful as I remembered, the experience of prayerful reflection on the Word of God was as moving as ever.

What changed? This time around, I was less a visitor to a church in a land I was not born in, but more a family member celebrating the joyful truth of Christ’s resurrection in a church that has become my home.

Being Prepared vs Being Blocked

Reposted from Saturday, January 12th, 2008

This arrived in my email reflection for this Sunday’s Gospel readings:

“…And if you feel frustrated because you’re not yet doing what you’d like to do, as long as it’s something that God wants you to do, you’re being prepared, not blocked. You have been chosen by the Father and he is very pleased with you!” — Terry Modica (Good News Ministries )

What it all comes down to is perspective. And this perspective can be altered only by personal choice. Do you choose to see the silver lining or do you see the rain-filled cloud? Half-empty or half-full? Blessing or curse?

Ignatius at Pamplona experiencing cannonball pain

Having faith in God’s plan for your life means seeing temporary setbacks as preparation time: a warm-up before a major race begins. Having faith that God only has good intentions for your life and your welfare means accepting situations wholeheartedly no matter how disappointed or frustrated you might immediately feel. It means letting go of all of that disappointment, and trusting in the Almighty that He has something good for you to learn through all of this.

You think the cannonball that ripped through his leg stopped Ignatius of Loyola from doing the work of the Kingdom of God? Nope. It just forced him to re-assess his career path, and read the Bible and the Lives of the Saints while bed-ridden, and come to know his true life’s mission. And he emerged from it, choosing to see it as a blessing, as a preparation for becoming a global missionary.

May we all trust in the Lord’s plan for our lives. For from him comes all good. And every trial is a chance to become perfect in the eyes of our Creator.

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. –James 1:2-4