Longest Gospel Reading Today, Palm Sunday

The Gospel Reading today, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, is the longest of the year. Brace yourself. Pray that the priest is a good reader, so you won't fall asleep. But if you do, take heart. The apostles slept too.

One would wish the long gospel reading today is a happy one. But it isn't. Check out Luke 22:14 to 23:56. The reading relates the story starting from the last supper all the way to His death on the cross. That includes the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, the mock trials and the carrying of the cross.

You might as well watch the movie The Passion of the Christ coz it portrays the very same story in the gospel today.

I watched the movie Passion of the Christ in SM Mega Mall, Metro Manila, during its premiere showing. That showing was organized by a non-Catholic Christian denomination active in Ortigas, whose pastor immediately stood at the stage at the close of the showing and called everyone's attention.

Covenant Orientation: A Spiritually Refreshing Moment

It's spiritually refreshing to sit in a room with twenty plus others, while a set of speakers talk about the covenant in Couples for Christ. The first time I sat in this session was eight years ago. Now, I'm here because of the new members we seek to go through this standard orientation.

Husbands and wives embraced each other as the speaker sang a song during the CFC Covenant Orientation in Quezon City, Philippines

I'm greatly enjoying this chance of being re-oriented. It is surprising that I'm really "regurgitating" this moment. I have this strange sense of being smack in the middle of "home."

The gospel today alludes to this feeling that I have about the Covenant Orientation.

My 2009 Reflection of the Prodigal Son Gospel Got 20% of Page Views This Month

I wrote my reflection on the gospel about the prodigal son a year ago. Today I just realized that 20% of page views in coolcatholics.org this month went to that page. The rest of my 200+ posts enjoyed 5% or less each. (Thanks to Google Analytics for these figures).

Here's the post I wrote in March 14, 2009: Three Stories in One Prodigal Son Gospel.

http://oneyearbibleimages.com/prodigal_son.jpg

What was weird was that nobody left a single comment. That was the frustrating part.

But let me dwell on the 20% figure to rejoice and be thankful. After all, today, exactly a year later, the gospel is about the prodigal son, again. My reflection today would look the same as the one I have written a year ago; except for one more dimension -- GRATITUDE.

CFC GK Volunteer Expressed Confusion

Someone who identifies himself as "CFC GK Volunteer" left an interesting comment in my blog, "CFC Sector Leaders Explained ANCOP to GK Project Directors." as follows:

Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP) and Couples for Christ (CFC) work together in Ligaya Escopa 3 Gawad Kalinga (GK) Village. The image above was taken in 2007 as shown. CFC spun off from LNP in early 1990. Today, GK has spun off from CFC.

If indeed the intention of ANCOP is PURE to help the poor, why compete with GK? There are many avenues in helping the poor. Actually, there are still millions of poor Filipinos who need help. Why not just divide the work and collaborate with GK? Does IC have a grand plan to kill GK? Why not just create new sites?

Let's not forget that we are Christians doing good works with the poor. GK is God's work with the poor. ANCOP as the IC said is a work with the poor too. If you combine two good works ineque same areas doing the same programs will surely create fear, confusions, hatred and even threats to both volunteers and GK residents. Again, If the IC's intention is true in helping the poor, why divide GK? I need answers. Thanks and God Bless.

I thought of simply replying in that post, but his questions are so prevalent among "hard core" GK volunteers among CFC ranks that I thought of just writing a separate post about it.