Question: Why is it that a man with no clothes is “naked,” while a chicken with no feathers is “dressed”?
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In today’s Gospel (Mk. 2, 1-12), we are told that Jesus was condemned by the scribes for healing a paralytic. He healed the paralytic and that was good, but for His critics it was not. Many times in Jesus’ life, it was a damn-if-you-do and damn-if-you-don’t situation. But Jesus went on with His vision and with His mission anyway. Why? Uppermost in His mind was always doing God’s will, with or without human approval.
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Whatever we do, there will always be people who will put us down. With all our best intentions, and with all our best actions, there will always be people who will not believe in us, will criticize us, will question us or will even condemn us. May we have Jesus’ steadfast spirit of doing God’s will, and not be distracted by the world around us! Amen!
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Jesus did not care much about “image” and public perception. He was focused on His mission. In other words, He was not paralyzed by fear or favor from people. He was His own man. What or who are those who paralyze us from doing our duties and responsibilities? How much do we let the “crowd” influence our thoughts, words and actions?
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This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. We are reminded that we are dust and to dust we will return. In the end, it is not what we say, or what others say, but what God says who we are that matters. We are dust. We need not say more.
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During the Lenten season, we have 40 days (cuaresma) to tone down our worldly and material agenda, and to upgrade our spiritual wellbeing with prayer, penance and good works. Let us not miss this time for reflection and renewal in a world that is so preoccupied with having more and having the best of it.
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“Child, your sins are forgiven.” When was the last time you went to confession? When was the last time you sincerely and truly asked for forgiveness and begged for God’s mercy? As long as we hold on to our pride and hardness of heart, we cannot experience true peace and healing. As we experience the “desert” during this Lenten season, may we also experience true renewal and peace. The key is humility. And honesty.
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It is not enough to be devotional or emotional in our journey back to God’s heart. The road is filled with people, with so much suffering. The cross reminds us that aside from our vertical journey to God, we must also take the horizontal journey toward the people around us. Let us not just fast and pray. Let us also help and reach out to others in concrete ways.
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Payback time! Unless and until we see life as a mission, we cannot be truly happy in this life. Let us live responsible lives, and be reminded that we are accountable. Somewhere down the road, we will face our God minus all our power, wealth and fame. Yes, we have a date with God and with eternity.
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Someone said that when you come to a point in your life when it seems that everyone has gone or is no longer around, it is because God has sent everybody away so that He can be alone with you and to Him alone you learn to hold on. For those who are going through a physical, emotional, spiritual or even financial desert of any kind, please be assured that the Lord is with you in the most deserted desert.
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Brother Peregrino “Silas” Tomlay, SVD, our missionary brother assigned in Botswana, Africa has been called home by our Creator last Feb. 9, 2012 at the age of 64. Brother Silas was from Sabangan, Mountain Province. He was a very simple man, with simple ways and simple dreams. His only dream was to continue to serve in the foreign missions. Like any missionary, he was buried in the place he worked as a missionary. Home is the missionary. Accomplished is his mission.
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Please remember that our journey in this world is not about going far or fast. And please remember that life is not a race, nor a contest. For those who are always on the go, do you know where you are going to? What matters most in the end is not what we carry in our hands, but what we carry in our hearts.
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All countries around us are moving up or moving ahead. What is it that paralyzes us? Who are they that paralyze us? It is saddening that with all our natural and human resources, things are not moving up or moving ahead.
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Post-Valentine thoughts: “And think not you can direct the course of love; for love, if it finds you worthy, shall guide its course.” (Khalil Gibran)
“You don’t have to ponder the hows and whys of what makes an act loving, or which situations contain the potential for love. When an opportunity to be loving presents itself, you know it. There is no doubt.”
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, remove whatever or whoever paralyzes me and prevents me from going back to You. Amen.