What Ordinary Catholics Should Know About Feng Shui

A fellow Cool Catholic (this is how I call other passionate Catholics) sent me a private message ranting about the seemingly indecisive statement made by a cleric about the practice of Feng Shui. She sent it just yesterday through the Cool Catholics FB Page.

Given that her message concerns everyone who has ran across Feng Shui, let me paste her message here, although I won't divulge her name:

The Family: Court Room? or Confessional?

The slice of life of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the gospel today strongly reminds us about the holy institution called the Family.

It is easy to think these days about Jesus as the Son of God, the King, our Lord. But back when he was on earth, as a child, how did he grow up? Yes, he grew up in the loving arms of Joseph and Mary. That's a fact most of us don't get to reflect about.

The One Thing ALL Christians Can Learn from Mary Today

It's the 4th Sunday of Advent! Christmas is but five days away. Have you gone to Mass today? Coz the readings are simply awesome.

The gospel started with David's wish to build a house for the Ark of the Covenant. That wish resulted to another prophecy about Christ's coming, from God himself, spoken through the mouth of prophet Nathan:

3 Truths About Christ Every Catholic Should Share with Friends

In the gospel today, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist said something about Christ that we all should reflect on:

I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie. (John 1:26-27)

John the Baptist was referring to Jesus Christ who later on read in the synagogue the following verses which were written approximately 740 years earlier:

Repentance is NOT Regret, Don't be Misled

We regret about doing or saying something from time to time, don't we? We all have a list of "I wish I didn't do these" or "I wish I didn't say these". That's good. That shows that we acknowledge our faults.

As good as that may sound though, that's NOT repentance. The greek word for "repentance" is "metanoia". That word means more than just regret or guilt or shame. Essentially, metanoia means a change in mind or a change in direction. Without such change, yes, you may have regretted something, but you didn't repent.

How to Be Watchful Until Jesus Christ Returns

Today is First Day of Advent! Did you read the gospel today? It's telling us to be WATCHFUL! Check it out - http://bit.ly/11CqpZH

Here are 5 Ways to be Watchful til Christ returns.

1. Pray Everyday

Just say it and address it to the Lord, whatever it is. Pray for at least 15 minutes daily, right after waking up or right before sleeping or sometime in the middle of the day, preferably on the same location each day. But just relate with God everyday:

This is how you are to pray:Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread;and forgive us our debts,as we forgive our debtors;and do not subject us to the final test,but deliver us from the evil one.Matthew 6:9 http://bit.ly/11CBZ71

Did Jesus have to suffer and die?

I've just watched Passion of the Christ with my son during the recent Good Friday. He was one year old when the movie came out. It felt good watching it again with him 11 years after and answering his questions. But I had to grapple with my own question as well: Did Jesus have to suffer and die?

"My son, when, where, how will you choose to be delivered of this?"
Mary in a scene from Passion of the Christ (2004)

Jesus could have chosen not to suffer nor die. He could have chosen to simply ascend into heaven after the last supper. Why did he choose to suffer and die, before rising up and ascending into heaven? These thoughts crossed my mind as I was watching the movie, especially when I saw that Mary asked the question herself.

Passion of the Christ: An Easter Reflection

The Passion of the Christ was released in 2004. That year, 10 years ago, feels just like yesterday. I remember having watched the premiere show hosted by a non-Catholic denomination operating from its center in Ortigas. We watched it in one of the theaters of SM Mega Mall.

Scene from Passion of the Christ (2004)

After the show, I was irked when the pastor from this denomination went on stage to tell the people about how the crucifixion should be interpreted based on the Bible. In the next few moments, I was gone from the theater like a wind.