What History Would Look Like Had God and Moses Both Had a Bad Day

The first reading in the gospel today talks about Moses pleading with God not to destroy the Israelites who made a golden calf and began worshiping it. God even said he would build a new nation out of Moses himself instead.

But later, God relented, and he preserved the sinful Israelites. Thanks to Moses.

Moses destroys the golden calf, as featured in biblepicturegallery.com (All Rights Reserved). Imagine God and Moses both having a bad day when the Israelites were wondering in the desert. What do you think will the world look like now?

Or should we say no thanks to him?

What would have happened if Moses agreed with what God wanted that day? Well, all those who left Egypt would have been totally wiped out from the face of the earth, leaving only Moses through whom God will accomplish his promise to Abraham.

The Secret to Mary's Obedience

The reading at Luke 1:26-38, the gospel today, vividly illustrates the obedience that Mary demonstrated to God's will, as conveyed to her by angel Gabriel. While there was a sense of wonder, there was no resistance at all! In fact, there was complete and absolute submission, as spelled out by these words: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

The only way that smoothness could happen was Mary's personal relationship with God. That was the secret to her obedience. He knows in her heart the source of the commandment for her: that she gave a virgin birth to Jesus.

The Annunciation by Rogier Van Der Weyden - c. 1452 - Louvre, Paris, as featured in http://biblepicturegallry.com (All Rights Reserved). This episode is described in greater detail at Luke 1:26-38, which is the Gospel for today. The sense of wonder and the obedience of Mary during this episode was absolutely remarkable.

The gospel reminds me of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, whose story was embossed in a bronze plate at the EDSA Shrine. For those who don't know, it's worth the trouble of going there to see for yourself.

Anyhow, as the story went, when Jaime Cardinal Sin was still a deacon about to be ordained as priest, he had a conversation with God. He asked for a sign that God wanted him to become a priest. And Jaime Cardinal Sin was very specific about this sign: the disappearance of his asthma. Otherwise, if the asthma was still there, the young Jaime Cardinal Sin would take it as God's will that he was not for priesthood.

Sin's asthma of course disappeared.

Assumptions Can Kill

We go through life with assumptions. They can either help. They can also victimize the unwary ones.

I realized that one day when a facilitator took a sheet of paper, drew something on it, held the paper up and asked us what we saw.

Jesus tells the man at the pool of Bethesda to rise (John 5:6)
Photo Credit: William Hole at BiblePictureGallery.com

Most of us said, "Of course, a dot" to the tune of, "Come on! That's a no brainer. You can do better than that."

We didn't realize it was a lesson on assumptions. The assumption, this facilitator said, was that the paper was just something to write the dot on and therefore not part of the picture. The truth was, he said, the paper was the bigger picture.

Yet we tend to ignore the big picture. Instead, we make assumptions.

Do people still act on Faith these days?

I know at least one person who acted on sheer Faith. It was Bishop Fulton Sheen, a well-known and well-loved American bishop who was at his prime in the 1950s.

Bishop Fulton Sheen, in one of his episodes at EWTN, related his story about going to Lourds, France in devotion to the Blessed Mother. He said he heard God tell him to just go there. Now, Bishop Fulton Sheen was an American living in the US mainland.

A centurion at Capernaum begged Jesus to heal his servant. The painting was done by William Hole as featured in biblepicturegallery.com (All Rights Reserved). While the gospel of today talks about an "official" from Capernaum, the scene of the encounter with Jesus was actually in Cana. But the incident was very closely similar. They went to Jesus, then Jesus spoke, and they went off believing that the sick back at home was cured.

So, with just a single journey ticket, he went to France. With no money in his pocket, he checked into a hotel in Lourds and from there went daily to the site where the Blessed Mother appeared decades back.

Three Cool Conversions That May Intrigue You, or At Least Amuse You

So much have been written about dramatic conversions to Christ: former gun runners, former hired assassins, former drug addicts, former gamblers, bla bla bla, who have now given up everything to follow their calling in the Church.

Sometimes hearing these stories make some Cool Catholics feel like, "Oh, Sorry Lord, I'm not evil enough to merit your mercy."

Good grief!

Moses made a bronze serpent. This episode was referred to by Christ in John 3:14-15, "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." Many Cool Catholics have lifted up Christ in their personal lives and have dedicated their lives to Him. This particular painting was done by Flemish artist Frans Floris (1517-70), as featured in biblepicturegallery.com. All Rights Reserved.

You may instead want to consider what may be better called as "cool conversions." These are conversions of people who aren't bad at all, as I presume most readers of this blog are (is this a safe assumption?). They're very cool people, living their lives, but who simply had experiences that brought them much closer to Christ, WITHIN the Catholic Church.

Ahhhh! That's the interesting part, isn't it? Finding Christ within the Catholic Church? Cooooolllll! But wait a minute. Is there such a thing?

Here's a Story That Can Help You Hate God Less

It was shocking to sit as part of the audience while a well-known leader in the community admitted he hated God for two months for the death of his daughter early this year.

This testimony happened during the "Forward in Christ" Echo Conference of the Couples for Christ West B sector at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman exactly a week ago, March 14, 2009. The hall was full and the atmosphere was lively, thanks to the very spirt-filled music ministry.

Icon of the pharisee and the tax collector by Tatiana Romanova Grant, as featured in spiritualpaintings.com. All Rights Reserved.

Then came this leader who gave his testimony.

It is easy to sympathize with him because, after all, he served the community for more than ten years now, he brought his entire family into the community and his youngest daughter became very active in Youth for Christ. Then tragedy struck the daughter early this year and the Lord took her back. She succumbed to a bacterial disease.

If you don't know "The Five Love Languages" you would hate yourself later

For those in relationships, the book "THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES" by Gary Chapman is simply a MUST READ! But to those who have not bought and read the book yet, this is your day. I'm sharing in this post the slivers of wisdom my wife and I got from that book ... which made the nine years of being with Rhia (girlfriend for two years, wife for seven and counting) a very loving one.

Cover of the book "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman, as featured in Ebay Australia. This book is available at our very own National Bookstore. I presume the book is also available at Power Books and Fully Booked. It won't hurt to at least scan its pages, especially at the Fully Booked branch at Bonfacio High Street (right across Serendra) in Global City.

But before going there, let me quote something from the gospel reading today from Matthew 12:31

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Pretty cool commandment, isn't it? I look at that commandment as a two-step process:

Step 1:
LOVE YOURSELF

Step 2:
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

Is Fatherhood an endangered art?

I talked about Fatherhood to quite a number of friends recently; and, frankly, I got quite alarmed that many men seem to have lost the art!

How many of you disagree? How many do? If you agree, don't you think that's quite alarming?

This is a touching image of a child being mentored by a dedicated father. The Bible did not quote a single word from Joseph, yet his obedience to God and dedication to the task given him was clear. The image is from the painting "Joseph the Carpenter and the Child Jesus" by Georges de la Tour (1593-1652), Louvre, Paris; as featured in www.biblepicturegallery.com. All Rights Reserved.

The concept of Fatherhood per se is hazy to many people these days. In contrast, many people have greater clarity about the concept of motherhood. Well, prove me wrong, prove me right. All you have to do is get a pen and paper, make two columns, list down what motherhood means to you on the left column; and then list down what fatherhood means to you on the right column. Then compare the two columns. Which one is longer? Which one is full of 'motherhood' statements?

But . . . didn't Jesus come to break some of the Laws of Moses?

Didn't Jesus cure break the Law by curing people on the Sabbath? by touching people afflicted with leprosy? by not washing the hands before eating? and many other things? Don't these suggest Jesus was changing the Law?

Therefore, would you wonder why this statement of Jesus in the gospel today is somewhat baffling? "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17)

An artist's rendition of Moses delivering the Law into the hands of priests, as featured in biblepicturegallery.com. After seemingly breaking at least some of the rules during his time, Jesus says in the gospel today, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17). Some of us Cool Filipino Catholics might blurt out, "Ano ba yan!"

Have you ever teared down someone's life?

After being spared of his life, the servant goes around tearing other people's lives?

There ARE such people? Oh yeah, right. I saw one of them staring at me in the mirror earlier today.

Frankly, the gospel today makes me nervous.

A painting of Matthew 18:28 by Harold Copping, as featured in biblepicturegallery.com. The servant in orange has just been pardoned, but he refused to give the same clemency to his fellow servants. Notice the shocked faces of other servants who are witnessing the event. In the Philippines, you'd hear the other servants muttering, "Walang hiya ito, a! Yari ka kay boss mamaya."

You see, each of our stories may be different, aren't they? But at some point, someone--a priest or a preacher, an article or a blog--talks about a parable and then we say, "Hey, that's me! Oh no, that's me!"

The Three 'Secret' Steps to Getting What You Want

Wouldn't you want to know how to get what you want?

There are three steps described in the gospel today, and, wow, you better believe it. People talk about it a lot these days, and they don't even seem to acknowledge that it's in the Bible!

An artist's rendition of Elisha. Naaman, the Syrian, is in the background, washing in the river upon the instructions of Elisha in order to get healed of leprosy. The Syrian's Hebrew maid-servant suggested Elisha to Naaman.The image is a portrait by Guy Rowe, as featured in biblepicturegallery.com

Have you seen "The Secret"? It's a great DVD about the Law of Attraction. That movie also talks about the three steps to getting what you want. I found those steps absolutely cool. It's now available in both DVD and book formats. Boy, if you haven't seen that yet, or haven't read it yet, go and check it out at the National Bookstore.

Of Faith and Diabolical Claims

Isn't faith knowing inwards what you don't see outwards. To "know" that Jesus is God is by itself a diabolical claim, isn't it? How much more if you go around saying Jesus is Lord? You better have real faith! And Jesus better be real God!

Don't you think so?

Would your faith be jolted if someone suddenly drives away everyone from the Church, saying, "Take all this away and stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!" (John 2:16). Would you say, "Amen" or would you rather say, "Anong 'K' mo?"

Haven't we asked this question before? Or do we just "assume" that Jesus is Lord?

Three Stories in One Prodigal Son Gospel

The first time I heard about the story of the Prodigal Son, I really thought the story was all about the ungrateful son. No, it wasn't. There were three stories: yes, the son's story; the father's story; and, the elder son's story.

Story #1. The Prodigal Son.

By asking for his inheritance, he appeared to have wished his father dead. Then by squandering this inheritance, he completely displayed his lack of entrepreneurial skills that his father had. His saving grace was the humility that crept into him and overcame him, which was why towards the end of the story he was on his way back to his father.

The father ran with glee towards the approaching prodigal son. Image courtesy of BiblePictureGallery.com

The loving father welcomes back his prodigal son (Luke 15:20). Take note of the elder brother leaning on the tree. He may have been thinking, "Buti nga sa yo." The painting is by Harold Copping as featured in biblepicturegallery.com.

Lessons for Cool Catholics?

1. Be an Entrepreneur! You think I'm kidding? I'm serious. I know our priests and bishops do not specifically teach us this, but, hey, fix your attitude about money, then go ahead and create wealth. Read the books by Rober Kiyosaki, especially Rich Dad, Poor Dad; Cashflow Quadrant and Rich Dad's Guide to Investing.

God's Word for You Today, March 14, 2009
Saturday in the Second Week in Lent

1st Reading: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
Response: The Lord is kind and merciful.
Gospel: Lk 15:1-3, 11-32


Verses are taken from the Lectionary for the Holy Mass. They are read in all Holy Mass celebrations throughout the world today.

2. Do not burn bridges! You need people more than you know, especially those whom you think make your life miserable.

3. Be humble now, not later. Frankly, many of my life's lessons revolve around this issue.

4. Humble too late? Be humble anyway. Ask help. Life goes on, you know. Eat your pride. Swallow your ego. There's much more to life than pride.

5. There are consequences for every action. In the story, not even forgiveness from the father erased the fact that the younger son lost his inheritance.  The good news to that is, he earned back his father's respect, which is more precious to any son than inheritance. You won't believe that, do you? Better believe it. And with that renewed self-esteem, the son can go out and create for himself wealth that's even greater than the one he lost.

Story #2. The Loving Father.

At first I thought the father was stupid. He could have just disowned the son and drive him away. Imagine this ungrateful son seemingly wishing him dead? Come on! Get real! But the father did not disown the son!

As I matured in faith, I realize this father was not stupid at all. In fact, this father was smarter than I thought. He saw that the only way he could teach values to his son was to let this son and go and make his own mistakes and learn life's lessons on his own. We don't know the father in the story. Who knows he learned his lessons the same way? Maybe he saw younger himself in this younger son and knew letting him go was the only way to go!

As far as the father was concerned, he was successful! Don't you think so?

It was a great risk this father took. What if this son won't return? What if his "experiment" would fail? He must have been looking out of the window everyday wanting to find out! Or, why else did he run towards his son the moment he saw him walking back towards home?

Smart, I think. Very, very, very cooooool!

Lessons for Cool Catholics?

1. Sometimes, we just have to let go of people. Sometimes, letting go of people is the most loving thing to do!

2. When we let go of people, let's wish them well. This can hurt, but let's wish them well. You haven't let go of people in your heart when you don't wish them well. So, wish them well.

3. When they come back (sincerely), let's embrace them back. I know this is hard to do. But hey, you might like the reformed person much better than before! Who knows?

4. People do change. The emotional reward for being part of it is priceless. Let's play our part very well. Don't be casual about it. Filipinos are guilty of being casual, and casualness led to casualties. Tell me I'm wrong.

5. I must add this...Sometimes, people just don't come back. Admit it, part of #1 above is the possibility that people will no longer come back. Either they have made it on their own, or ... they just don't want to come back at whatever cost. Sometimes, it's you, the father, who need to change.

Story #3. The Elder Son

I'll be short in this one. The elder son represents the pharisees, the "perfect" people in society. They follow everything in the books, and thinks of the rest as inferior and despicable. Gosh, need I say more?

The younger son squandered the money. Can you guess what the elder son squandered?

His heart, the seat of wisdom.

Well, I guess the elder son just almost squandered it. If he listened to his father, then he would have retained it. If he didn't, it would show up in his bottom line one day.

To be judgmental is the greatest folly that Jesus was telling the Pharisees that day. Come to think of it, is there a chance you are a pharisee too?

Lessons for Cool Catholics?

1. There's more to life than money. In fact, money is a creation. If you miss the "more to life" part, you might lose out on the "money" part too, if not now, then later. Look at the financial geniuses in the USA today. Have they learned their lesson? When they missed out on the values that USA represented, look what happened to their economy? Too bad when USA sneezes the rest of the world catches colds, including the Philippines.

2. Entrepreneurship comes from the heart, not from compliance. I could almost hear with my own ears the elder son complaining about not being able to celebrate with friends. Come on! It should be clear to the elder son right there and then that he did all those simply out of compliance and not out of full understanding of the entrepreneruial lessons his father gave him. That was why his heart was full of hate. If so, wasn't he much different from his younger brother after all?

3. People are valuable. To despise people doesn't pay dividends. Grow them!

That's my take on the gospel today. Hope it helps.

Comments and objections are welcome, in the spirit of growth.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

What you don't use, you lose

Filipinos are a proud race. We constantly say, "we are a gifted people!" That claim is very true!

But here's the stinging warning for all of us, individuals and as a people: if we don't use our gifts, that gift may as well be given to someone else who can produce the results.

• We have the gift of democracy right within our hands. Is it producing the results we desire?
• We have the gift of an economic environment that's one of the resilient economies in Asia these days. Is it producing the right results?
• We have the give of having a very loving and caring people. How are we taking care of them?

Look at America. By forgetting its values, it created a dent in its own economy and jeopardized the economies of many nations across the world.

To one who doesn't believe, no explanation is possible

My father used to tell me: For someone who believes, no explanation is necessary. For someone who does not believe, no explanation is possible.

Then I learned later in life that at least 80% of the people are in the middle of these two.

Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:31

I guess that's all I can write about the gospel today. Clearly that was the point made by Luke.

What's in that for us?

Let me say this, Francis Magalona died a sudden death. What if that happened to you? Would you be ready?

I guess no one is ready. But what if?

What if there is indeed a place or a state called Heaven? What if indeed such a Heaven has a King, and He meets us and greets us, and asks us what we have done during our stay on earth? Did we feed Lazarus?

Who's the Lazarus in your doorstep right now?

Whose example are you following?

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. Matthew 23:3

"What am I in power for?" In six short and crisp words, my elder brother described to me his impression of many political leaders once they get into office. I was around 13 years old that time.

Fast forward 16 years later, I heard these words from the little tyrants of the new President: "Kami naman! Kami naman!" The same words came out of the little tyrants who were with the next President two years later.

God's Word for You Today, March 10, 2009
Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent

1st Reading: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
Response: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

* based on the Holy Mass readings designated by the Church to be read in all masses across the world today.

"Kami naman! Kami naman!" (It's our turn! It's our turn!)

It's their turn to ... what? to serve the people? Come on! Who are you kidding?

Stop Judging! Oh yeah?

Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

Oh! What a verse.

Upon reading it I wanted to tell every politician--at the top of my voice: "Your Honors, stop judging! Stop condemning! Forgive! And...please, oh please...GET TO WORK! Can't you understand English?"

God's Word for You Today, March 9, 2009
Monday of the Second Week in Lent

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 9:4b-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Gospel: Luke 6:36-38

Based on the Holy Mass Readings designated for today

Bishops, please stop me, but ....... oh, never mind. This is supposed to be a blog about the Word of God. And I'm supposed to be a "cool" Catholic.

You can choose not to listen to Jesus

We can choose to listen to Christ. We can also choose not to listen to Him. Don't we know that? Or why would God need to speak on Mount Tabor that way? ... This is my beloved Son. Listen to him. (Mark 9:7b) If God has willed that we listen to Jesus, and we have no choice about that issue, then He did not need to say that!

But God has given us free will! You can choose not to listen to Christ! Do you find that liberating?

Congratulations!

God's Word* for Us Today, March 8, 2009
This is my Son, the beloved; listen to him. Mark 9:7

Second Sunday of Lent

1st Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
Response: I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
2nd Reading: Romans 8:31b-34
Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

* based on the Lectionary for the Holy Mass

Oh yeah? But what will happen to us when we don't listen to Christ? He will come to judge us, right? And the Catholic Church says, if we don't listen we will go to hell! Oh my, Oh my.

Calm down with me, my dear cool Catholic brother or sister. It's not what you think it is!

What has been your most recent prayer for your enemy?

But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

Today Christ us to love even those whom we hate to love: our enemies and those who persecute, who make our lives miserable.

In the latter part of the Bible, Jesus tells us to "love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37) as well as to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39).

Love, love, love, love, love...

God's Word for You Today, March 7, 2009
Saturday of the 1st Week in Lent

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119: 1-2,4-5,7-8
Response: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

The Pope says, Love. The priests and bishops say, Love. Mother Teresa says, Love. The Catholic Church say, Love. But how do these compare to the voice inside us that say, "I hate it! I hate him! I hate her! bla-bla-bla...."

Are you angry with your brother?

But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Matthew 5:22

Lee Iacocca is a Catholic, and he tells everybody about it. In fact, in page 8 of his autobiography*, he says,

It took me a number of years to fully understand why I had to make a good confession to a priest before I went to Holy Communion, but in my teens I began to appreciate the importance of this most misunderstood rite of the Catholic Church. I not only had to think out my transgressions against my friends; I had to speak them loud. In later years, I found myself completely refreshed after confession.

I've been taught about confession too, since childhood.

God's Word for You Today, March 6, 2008
Friday of the 1st Week in Lent

1st Reading: Ezekiel 18:21-28
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8
Response: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

But something about the words of Lee Iacocca made confession a lot clearer for me, especially in the present context. Perhaps the word "refreshed" resonated in me. True, I feel refreshed after every confession...and that's something that isn't just nice, we need that feeling!

Does the Catholic Church teach faithfuls to ask big time?

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

What an overwhelmingly generous God! Ask and you shall receive? Wow! But do we teach our faithfuls in the Catholic Church to ask big time?

Sign of Abundance by Phillipa Willitts

Many Catholics have a hard time grasping this concept, and I am not sure if the clergy of the Catholic Church has been very helpful in promoting this concept to its faithfuls.

God's Word for You Today, March 5, 2009

• 1st Reading: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25
• Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
• Response: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
• Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

I do know at least two lay Catholic pastors who teach this concept to their flock: Mike Velarde of El Shaddai and Bo Sanchez, founder of the Light of Jesus Community, leader of the Kerygma Feast, author of many books, etc.

Are we heeding the Sign for us today?

"Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation." Luke 11:30

We don't like warnings. We tend to deny what's up and coming, even if they're already written on the walls.

How we wish policy makers and fund managers listened to warnings that a great crash was up and coming. They would have fixed the problem in the subprime sector in the USA and, at least, mitigate what was up and coming.

God's Word for You Today, March 4, 2009
Wednesday of the 1st Week of Lent

1st Reading: Jonah 3:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,18-19
Response: A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

Well, we are in the middle of that crash right now, and every economy in the world seems to be feeling its impact, especially the countries in the west.

To forgive is to be forgiven

But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:15

It's either our heart forgives, or our hearts resent. We either cultivate one, or the other. When one gets fed, the other starves in us.

Which one is it?

It's a choice.

God's Word for You Today, March 3, 2009
Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent

1st Reading: Isaiah 5:10-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:4-5,6-7,16-17,18-19
Response: From all their distress, God rescues the just.
Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

One fallacy about resentment is that people we resent will live miserable lives, on the sheer force of our resentment. Some people subscribe to this idea (including me at one point) and nurture their resentment like a treasured plant, until this plant grows and chokes whatever room for forgiveness there was left.

Six Ways to Please the King

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

Clearly, today, the Gospel says there's no such thing as loving God without loving our neighbor.

Difficult.

Can't we just love God and leave our neighbors alone to love God on their own time and resources without any inconvenience to us?

It takes a saint to follow this commandment as a way of life.

God's Word for You Today, March 2, 2009
Monday of the First Week of Lent

1st Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8,9,10,15
Response: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Incidentally God demands for nothing less: 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Indeed, nothing less.

How do we go to that level of Christianity?

Do you resist repentance? or embrace it?

This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:15

Repentance is really about change, for the better. It's about going back to the essence with which one is born.

Christians believe man is made in the image and likeness of God. We are not God. But we are God's essence! And God is good, right? That makes man inherently good too!

In fact, anyone, Christian or otherwise, say that man is inherently good! No one is inherently bad! I learned that in a dialogue with one of the inmates during a visit to the Cagayan de Oro prison when I was in high school.

God's Word for You Today, March 1, 2009
1st Sunday of Lent

1st Reading: Genesis 9:8-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5,6-7,8-9
Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

But why do we see people sabotaging themselves and others?