They shall look at Him whom they have pierced

Today, the Universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is good to remember that the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) has been entrusted by the Church through the popes to spread the devotion and spirituality of the Heart of Jesus.

What is the spirituality of the Sacred Heart? For me, it is simply to love as Jesus loves. Sounds very ordinary yet it demands all the gutts in us to do so. Jesus' love encompasses all evil, all limitations, and Jesus continues to love even if He is not loved in return. Jesus' love is unconditional, not waiting for something in return. Considering our fallen human nature, it is impossible for us to love as Jesus loves. Yet, the wonder of this spirituality is... Jesus gives to us His heart in the Eucharist to enable us to love as He loves. But still, it remains a challenge and a gentle invitation: To love as our Lord loves.

Let us beg Jesus then to give us the grace to love as He loves. If only we have the love of Jesus and share this love to others, what a wonderful world it would be! So we pray:

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, filled with unconditional love,
broken by my ingratitude and pierced by my failings,
yet you continue and never tire in loving me.
Make my heart more like unto thine. AMEN.

Take...Eat...Drink...

It is Corpus Christi Sunday (Solemnity of the Body & Blood of Christ). We honor in a very special way today the Holy Eucharist -- Christ's Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity present in the most holy Sacrament. We remember today Jesus' total oblation of Himself for the life of the world.

In the year 2003, the Holy Father, John Paul II (1920-2005), isued an encyclical on the mystery of the Holy Eucharist and its relation to the Church's life. He reminds all Christians that the Holy Eucharist is the center and the summit of the life of the Church. He admonishes all Catholics then to love and venerate the Holy Sacrament and to receive it more often.

It would be beneficial if we ask ourselves on this great Solemnity if we are truly devoted to the Holy Eucharist. But more so, to ask ourselves if we are ever sensitive to the "real presence" of Christ in the world in His BODY -- the Church. Do our devotion and participation in the daily/weekly celebration of the Eucharist make us more keen on the needs and struggles of the poor? Are our lives centered on this great mystery so as it has become the source of our "life?"

We hope and pray then that as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist on this great Solemnity, the Lord may renew in us the fire of love and devotion to His real presence in the Holy Eucharist so as to celebrate it with more attention, love, and reverence.


*Today, the Parish of UP (Holy Sacrifice Parish) celebrates it's fiesta. We join them and the Jesuit Chaplains and campus ministry volunteers in prayer for a fruitful work in the Parish/Chaplaincy.

Three in ONE

Today, The Universal Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity, commonly known as Trinity Sunday. We will hear from the Gospel passage for today's liturgy how Jesus commissioned His apostles to procalim the Good News throughout the whole world and baptizing peoples "... in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

As Christians, we were all baptized in the name of the Triune God. I know it would be quite difficult for us to grasp the theology of the Blessed Trinity for indeed it is a mystery! It takes total faith for one to believe in the doctrine that there are three persons in ONE GOD -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

ButI think it would be helpful if we just apply the Theology of the Trinity in our daily lives rather than debate and discuss much about it. For me, it is very simple. We, who were baptized in the name of the Triune God are invited to live out the wonders of the Trinity. We are invited to emulate the goodness and compassion of the Father, practice the charity and teaching of the Son, and live in the unity and communion of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray that as we make the sign of the cross our desire to be transformed in the likeness of the Triune God may be fulfilled. Amen.

Send Us Your Spirit

Last Sunday, the Catholic Church celebrated the great Solemnity of Pentecost, the "birthday" of the Church. We remember the time when the promised "paraclete" came to the fearful apostles and to some women, including Mary the Mother of Jesus, in the upper room. When they have received the Holy Spirit, their was renewal and revival, making them bold to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Last Monday, the Philippines had the first day of classes. I consider this very providential -- beginning the school year with Pentecost. As most universities will be celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit to formally begin the school year, we beg the Holy Spirit to continue to guide us in all our endeavors.

Good luck to all the students and teachers and may you all have a fruitful school year.