Corpus Christi: The Greatest Proof of His Love

One secret to happiness they say (at least I've read this from a children's anecdote book) is to know that one is loved. To know a certain degree that I am loved contributes much to personal happiness. To know that somebody loves me changes my whole disposition towards life and towards the world.

Today is Corpus Christi Sunday, or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord. Personally I think what we celebrate today is that knowledge of being loved. St. Ignatius Loyola in His Spiritual Exercises states that "the Holy Eucharist is none other but the greatest proof of God's love" (SE 289). I am convinced of this reality simply because of two things: (1) Jesus loves me so much that He willed to be "contained" (He who is omnipotent and omniscient) in this piece of bread and in these drops of wine so that He can concretely enter into my life; and (2) Jesus loves me unfathomably since He desired to be with me "physically" day in and day out in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar even to the end of time.

So let us be true to our celebration then. When we participate in the Eucharist today in our parishes and/or when we join the solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament, let us celebrate love -- God's love made incarnate in Jesus. And as we celebrate this love, let us fill the world with love, transmit this love to others and make a difference. We hope that in the end, we may resound with Pope Benedict XVI, "Deus Caritas Est!"

A Share in the Life of the Trinity

Today is Trinity Sunday. There are many theological explanations about the Blessed Trinity and most of us will find it difficult to digest all of them. But what does the Trinity really mean, for us as persons and as Christians? What does it mean to be immersed in the life of the Trinity as baptized individuals?

For me, the simplest explanation perhaps is that the Trinity is a Community of Love. The relations between the Father, Son, and Spirit is in knowing and in loving. The Trinity then becomes the perfect model of a community -- that based and rooted in genuine love and concern for each other. And we perfectly share in the Trinity is our very knowing and loving!

As we celebrate the Liturgy, it might be helpful if we ask ourselves whether we have been faithful in following the example of the Trinity. Have we been communities of love and unity, or are we, as individuals, causes of dissent and disagreement.

Let us ask the Blessed Trinity then to make us living models and bearers: Persons, then ultimately, communities grounded and centered in genuine Love and concern for others. Amen.

Pentecost Sunday: "Renew the face of the Earth!"

We experience a lot of catastrophes in our lives, both natural and man-caused: El Niño, La Niña, floods, typhoons, food shortage, war, epidemics, etc... and many times in our lives we are discouraged and we just want to lurk in the corner in sheer hopelessness thinking that we can do nothing. But tomorrow's Solemnity of Pentecost, the remembering of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the Blessed Mother should, as followers of Christ, change the picture for us. The Holy Spirit is not only with the apostles and the Blessed Mother, precisely, the Holy Spirit is in us!

Dear friends, in the Gospel Jesus told His disciples: "Receive the Holy Spirit." This spurred them on to share the story of Jesus to the ends of the earth, fearless and zealous even amidst persecution and martyrdom. As we celebrate Pentecost, let us ask the Spirit to fortify our hearts and make us courageous in facing whatever concerns that come our way -- H1N1 epidemic, food shortage, corruption, problems, etc... -- with new eyes, with the eyes of the Holy Spirit. And as we are fortified and renewed by and in the Spirit, may we fortify and renew our world. Amen.

Ascension Thursday

Tomorrow is Ascension Sunday. We celebrate with great solemnity the Lord Jesus' ascension into heaven. After several weeks of reflecting and praying over the Lord's 'ministry of consolation' to His disciples who were grieved by His death, we remember Jesus ascent into glory.

Perhaps it is helpful if we look at this Solemnity in the light of hope. Jesus ascended into heaven not so much to leave us but to empower us. Remember His words that when the time comes for him to go, "the Paraclete will come to us to help us," and that "He will always be with us until the end of time." Ascension I think is a milestone for all of us as Christians. It is Jesus' constant and living invitation for us to continue His mission: Jesus is no longer here physically to heal, console, forgive, and love... ergo, as friends and followers of Jesus, the Solemnity of the Ascension is the reminder for us to "heal, console, forgive, and love" all men and women in the name of Jesus.

Let us pray then that we become faithful to this mission entrusted to us and that by doing our "mission," we make Jesus Christ more present and alive in our midst. Amen.

The Work of Christmas Begins...

Most of us think that after December 25, Christmas is over. I mean the parties and gatherings have ended, gifts have been given away or received already. And for most of us, the excitement of Christmas has gone down due to hang overs, upset stomachs, and sheer exhaustion. But is Christmas really over for 2008?

I wish to share with you a very nice literary piece from Howard Thurman. He said that Christmas isn't over... Christmas, the work of Christmas has just begun:

When the song of he ANGEL is stilled,
When the STAR in the sky is gone,
When the KINGS and princes are home,
When the SHEPHERDS are back with their flock,

The work of CHRISTMAS begins:

To FIND the lost
To HEAL the broken
To FEED the hungry
To RELEASE the prisoner
To REBUILD the nations
To BRING PEACE among brothers and sisters~
To make music in the HEART.

May we never forget that the spirit and the message of Christmas will never be over. May we have the grace to continue the work that Christmas has just begun. AMEN.

A Blessed Christmas to All!

Why Do We Celebrate Christmas?!

REMEMBER:

Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited

JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO! HO! HO!

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

Santa is a myth

But Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life

While Santa puts gifts under your tree

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

A Blessed Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Reflections: Salvation Has Come!

I know all of us are very busy with the final preparations for our Christmas Eve dinners and gatherings. But I think it would be profitable for us to stop awhile and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas -- the true meaning for the holidays, the dinners, and the gatherings -- which is none other than the birth of our Savior. I wish to share with you a Christmas Reflection by the late Father Horacio de la Costa, the first Filipino Provincial of the Society of Jesus.

"There is no room in an Inn for Him who made room and to spare, for the Milky Way, and where God is homeless, all men are at home.

We were promised a savior, but we never dreamed God Himself would come and save us. We know that He loved us, but we never dared to think that he loved us so much as to become one of us.

But that is the way God gives. His gifts are never quite what we expect, but always something better than we hoped for. We can only dream of things too good to be true; God has a habit of giving things too true to be false. That is why our faith is a faith of the unexpected, a religion of surprise.

Now, more than ever, living in times so troubled, facing a future so uncertain, we need such faith. We need it for ourselves, and we need to give it to others."

- Fr. Horacio de la Costa, S.J.

A Blessed Christmas to All!