4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

YOU’VE GOT THE POWER!

Ang akong nahibal-an nga mga gamhanan diha sa mga salida sa telebisyon; silang Superman, Wonderwoman, Darna, Lastik Man, Captain Barbel ug daghan pang uban. Kini nga mga karaan nga mga salida sa telebisyon nakadani ug daghan kaayong mga viewers tungod sa naangkon nilang tagsatgasa ka powers. Atong mahibal-an nga ang tanan nga gitagaan ug powers sa mga salida kadto lamang mga maayo ug buotan nga tawo. Sa katapusan sa maong pasundayag o salida nagmadaugon ang mga good and powerful.

Today, we celebrate the 4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time and our gospel speaks about the powerful words of Jesus Christ or it shows how powerful the Lord is. He speaks with authority and expel demon in the midst of the people. The action of Jesus shows that he is the Lord, the all powerful God. His words are encouraging, motivating and powerful.

My dear friends, as adopted sons and daughters of God, we also share the power of God. In baptism, we received the power as Christian believers. All baptized Christian are powerful. Knowing good or evil is power.  Helping other friends solving their own problem is power. You can even expel demons if you have such faith and this is power. Your words are powerful, especially if your words will be accompanied with your actions.

My dear friends, we've got the power and we will use these powers to help those who are in need. Use your power to help those people who are suffering from problems. Use your power to encourage those who have lost hope. Use your power for those who felt that they are alone and it seems that nobody cares for them. Use your power to light the ways of those who are in darkness.

In contrary, do not use your power to discourage other people to live. Do not use your power to destroy trust and distort the truth. Do not use your power to please your selves or your personal interests. Do not use your power to create demon inside you. 

Kon ang salida sa mga powerful heroes sa mga sinehan had encouraged many viewers then, let your power be an instruments to live a good life. Be careful with your powers since you are powerful. Use it wisely!

 Remember you've got the power!

3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

YOU ARE CALLED BY GOD

When I was still a child, I have no ambition to become a priest. It was not in my dream to be a man of God. In my elementary years, I just enter the church twice; one when I was baptized and the other one when I took a mango fruit from my neighbor without asking permission. The owner went after us, and we decided to hide ourselves at the church since during that time there was a Flores de mayo. 

When I went to high school, I joined a gangster in our school and become a braggart. The call of God came only in my late 20’s. During that time, I was already a member of the Diocesan youth apostolate in the diocese of Malaybalay, when a priest recruited me to be part of the shepherd of the church. But, you know, I hesitated to joined, since, during that time I also have a girlfriend with me. My dream is to have a family with many children but God calls me in this kind of life.  Now, I become a priest and  a good man in the community and I am not ashamed of it.

The gospel today remembers the call of some of the disciples first to Simon Peter and his brother Andrew and without hesitation they followed him. Then, to James and John and immediately left their nets and followed him.  I am always amazed at their response to the call of God; they left everything even their parents, properties and works just to follow the Lord Jesus.  There is absolutely NO hesitation on the part of the fishermen when they hear the call, “The immediacy of the response is remarkable. 

My dear friends, we are all called by God. Understanding the call is not only refers to those who are called to a religious life or consecrated life but to all. We know that to have a family of your own is also a call. Those who are marriage are also called to serve the family. This is the reason why you have been working very hard to support your family

Being single is also a call. We call it: single blessedness. This call is for those people who wanted to serve the flock of God in their own way of life.

Since every one of us are called by God. We must take seriously the responsibility given to us by our God. For those who have a family of their own, please take good care of your family. For those who are single be responsive also to the need of the people around you. For those who live religious life or consecrated life, be serious with your vocation.

Today, we also challenged the young to reflect and meditate your own vocation in the future. Reflect of what you want to be in the future. If you hear the call of God don’t hesitate to answer Him.

We are all called bad and good alike. We are all called.

BAPTISM OF THE LORD JESUS YEAR B

BE PROUD TO BE A CATHOLIC

Last October 2014, I attended the National Conference for Youth Ministers (NCYM) at Kalibo, Aklan. During the break, I saw printed t-shirts for sale that captures my attention. The print says: “I am proud to be a Catholic”. Without hesitation, I immediate bought two of them. “I am proud to be a catholic” these words are amazing. I am catholic since birth and I am happy of my religion.

Today, we celebrate the feast of the baptism of the Lord. In today’s celebration, we end the Christmas season and begin the 1^st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our gospel today presents the baptism of the Lord Jesus by John the Baptist at the Jordan River. Jesus in his baptism was being honored by the Father in heaven by the working of the Holy Spirit and hearing his voice.

As baptized catholic, are we also honored by the gift we have received in baptism?  Are we proud to be a catholic by virtue of what we are now?  What it means, when saying, “being proud”? Are you acting as catholic in words and in actions?

My dear friends,  there are many catholic today who doesn’t even make the sign of the cross when they ate at the public places, like for example in a restaurant. Di ba mag-ampo man daan ang catholic before taking their meal?  Are you doing this or not? If you are doing it then, that is what I mean by the words, “I am proud to be a catholic”.

Jesus, in his baptism receives the Holy Spirit and in our baptism we also received the Holy Spirit. If the baptism of Christ is the beginning of his mission, in our baptism also, we begin the mission given to us by the Lord. In baptism we receive the kingly mission, prophetic mission, priestly mission of Christ. All we have to do is to show it to the whole world that we are really a baptized catholic Christians.

Today, we are challenged to do the mission of Christ entrusted to us by the church. This may mean to learn from our own faith so that we will not be tempted to embrace another one. Work for our faith so that other people may see us as real catholic Christians.

Do the kingly mission by helping other people; do the prophetic mission by preaching and witnessing the truth and do the priestly mission by being prayerful.

Don’t be afraid and don’t be ashamed of what you have received from God. Show it! Learned from it! And believe in it! Be proud to be a catholic!

But the questions always remains, are you proud to be a catholic?

Solemnity of the Epiphany

STAR NG BUHAY KO

Dinhi sa kalibutan daghan na kaayo ang mga tawo nga ginganlan ug mga star: naa tay gitawag ug “star of all season”- si ate V man ciguro na! anaa pod tay ginganlan ug “mega star” si ate shawe; super star nga si nang Nora; aduna pod ngalan nga mga “child star”, wala lang ko kaila’; bisan gani mga “bold star” daghan pod kaayo.  Daghan na kaayo ang mga star sa kalibutan. Mao na nga kon masubrahan ra pod imong kahambog, unya masumbagan dayon ka makakita pod ka star. Weheheheheh!

Greetings!

Mga igsoon karong adlawa atong gisaulog ang kapistahan sa epipanya. Sa atong ebanghelyo karon atong nahibal-an, ang tulo ka mga haring mago nga nangita sa lugar nga natawhan sa atong Ginoong Hesukristo.  Atong nasayran nga ang naggiya kanila usa ka bitoon, “star”. Tungod sa paggiya sa bitoon nakaplagan nila ang batang Hesus didto sa pasungan. Misimba sila sa Ginoo ug naghalad ug mga gasa.

Ang mga stars dinhi sa kalibutan, nahimong stars tungod sa ilang kasikat, popularity or because of their talent, beauty. Apan, sa atong pamalandong karon, atong tan-awon ug ipakita kon unsa ang mabuhat sa stars. Kasagara sa stars nagproduce ug kahayag, kahayag nga maoy hinungdan sa ilang pagshine. Pero atong hinumduman nga kining tanan gihimo sa atong Ginoo, though some scientists does not agree about it. However, we Christians believe that everything is created by God.  Kita nagatuo nga ang atong Ginoo mao ang tinuod nga kahayag nga magbanwag sa atong dalan. Nagpakatawo siya sa kalibutan ug nahimong manluluwas sa tanan ilabi na niadtong anaa sa kangitngit. Tungod niini makaingon kita nga ang Dios mao ang tinuod nga source of light.

Niining atong pagsaulog sa epipanya, atong hinumduman nga pwede usab kitang mamahimong stars pinaagi sa pagpadan-ag sa atong kaugalingong kahayag ngadto sa uban. Apan, hinumduman nato nga dili kita ang source sa kahayag kon dili si Kristo lamang. Pwede ikaw nga mamahimong kahayag pinaagi sa pagpaminaw sa mga problema sa uban, pag-uban niadtong anaa sa kaguol ug pagpaambit sa atong mga maayong kasinatian ngadto sa uban.

Daghan kaayong mga tawo karon nga anaa sa kangitngit busa kinahanglan lamang nga ato usab silang tabangan pinaagi sa pagpadan-ag sa atong kahayag nga nakuha gikan sa Dios. Kon  kini imong mahimo ikaw ay magiging stars ng buhay ng isang tao.

Busa, ayaw na paglangan, become a star ng buhay ng ibang tao.  Share your light that you have received from the Lord. Not a “star of all season”, not a “mega star” or a “super star” but star ng buhay ko, ng buhay ng tao.

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOTHERHOOD OF MARY

REMOTE CONTROL NI MAMA

Sa panahon sa home visit, kaniadto sa seminarista pa ako, mouli ako sa balay aron sa pagbisita sa akong mga ginikanan. Kon didto ako sa balay, mahilig ako sa pagtan-aw sa cartoons nga salida sa usa ka estation sa telebesyon.natingala ako kay ang akong mama nagdali pag-adto sa sala diin ako nagtan-aw sa kingkoy ug unya iyang gikuha ang remote control sa tv ug gibalhin niya ang channel kay nagsugod naman diay usab ang drama series nga iyang gisundan. Tungod kay wala pa ako nahuman sa pagtan-aw ako usab nga gikuha ang remote control ug gibalik sa akong channel nga gitan-aw. Unya, gikuha napod niya ug gibalhin na usab sa laing channel kay nagsugod na lagi ang drama series. Nag-ilog mi sa remote control ug sa dihang iya na kining nakuha iyang gilabay sa salog ang maong remote control ug haskang pagkabuaka. Wala ako maka lihok kay nasuko naman diay ang akong mama.busa, milakaw ako ug nilaag, sa kasakit sa akong dughan mipalit ako ug beer aron mahubog aron mawala ang akong gibati. Ang nagbalikbalik sa akong panumduman mao kini: “nganong akong napasakitan ang akong mama sa simple lang nga butang. Nakahilak ako sa paghunahuna sa maong hitabo. Miuli ako sa balay gabii na ug mideretso sa akong kuarto.

Pagkaugma akong giduol ang akong mama ug akong giagbayan, wala nay pulong nga gikinahanglan. Nagbasol na ako.

Kamong mga babae, mutuo ba kamo nga kamo ang unang nagpakasala? Sumala pa sa Genesis si Eva ang unang babae maoy unang natintal sa pagpakasala. Iyang gikaon ang prutas didto sa harden diin gibawalan sila sa Dios. Pagkahuman niya ug kaon iyang gitintal ang iyang kauban nga si Adan.makaingon ako nga kamong mga babae ang unang nagpakasala, ang unang natintal sa Yawa. Apan kon ang babae mao ang unang nagpakasala, babae usab ang unang hinungdan nga naluwas kita sa sala. Kini gihimo ni Maria ang inahan sa atong Ginoo.

Karong adlawa atong gisaulog ang solemnidad  ni Maria isip inhan sa Dios. Mga igsoon dako kaayo ug kalambigitan si Maria sa lauwasan sa tawo. Tungod sa iyang pag-ingon ug “oo” ngadto sa Dios natawo kanato ang atong manunubos. Bisan pa sa hulga kaniadto kon magmabdos ka nga walay bana, wala igsapayan kini ni Maria. Misanong lang gihapon siya sa kabubut-on sa atong Ginoo, Tungod niini naluwas kitang tanan.

Babae ang unang nagpakasala, babae usab ang unang hinungdan nga naluwas kita sa sala.

Ang usa ka inahan balaan nga babae busa dili angayan nga pasakitan kon dili panggaon gayud. Hilabihan ang ilang pag-antos aron lamang kita mabuhi sa sakto gayud niining kalibutan. Busa niining pagsaulog nato sa kapistahan ni Maria ang Inahan sa Dios atong pamalandungan ang ato usab nga tagsatagsa ka inahan nga nag-antos alang kanato. . Hunahuna siya kay siya ang hinungdan naa ka dinhi karon. Sama ni Maria siya usab ang hinungdan nga natawhan kita ug manunubos busa angayan lamang nga atong siyang pasidunggan.

sa atong pagsugod sa bag-ong tuig atong iapil sa atong mga new years resolution ang kaimportate sa atong tagsa tagsa ka inahan ug ang atong pagpadayon sa pagdebosyon kang Maria.  Atong hinumduman nga Siya adunay dakong kalambigitan sa atong kaluwasan. Atong ipadayon kining maong debosyon tungod kay ato mang gusto nga maangkon ang kaluwasan nga atong gipaabot.

Tungod kay si Maria atua na sa langit, naglaum usab kita nga adunay motabang kanato nga inahan aron kita makasulod sa langit. Ang inahan mahigugmaon kaayo sa iyang mga anak ug dili gayod kita niya pasagdan tungod kay kita iya usab nga mga anak.

One fine day, the Lord God went out on patrol of heaven just to make sure that everything was running according to His will. Everything was fine, the hedges trimmed, the grass cut, the fountains clean, the shopping mall neat.

The Lord stopped by to listen to the choir of angels sing and they were in great form. Then, on one side of the street he encountered people who had no business in heaven. Some of them should have been serving a long sentence in purgatory; and others would have made it to heaven only with an extraordinary appeal. So, the Lord confronted Peter about this mess.

“What is going on here? Have you been negligent again with your duties at the gate?”

“No, my Lord, I try to keep watch all the time,” Peter defended himself.

“Then, why are there illegal aliens inside?” asked the Lord.

And Peter said, “I did not let them in. But what can I do. They went to the back door and your Mother opened the kitchen door and allowed them in.”

(The story is from an unknown author)

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

GIVE TIME TO YOUR FAMILY

This story is not mine; I encountered this story from one of my readings. The story goes like this:

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked.

My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded. “Just the two of us.” She thought about it for a moment, and then said, “I would like that very much.”

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed, “she said, as she got into the car. “They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,” she said. “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.

“How was your dinner date?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: “I paid this bill in advance. I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates – one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.”

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: “I LOVE YOU” and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time.”(Stephen)

Today,  we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Joseph and Mary. In this occasion, we are encouraged to give time to our family. Don’t be bothered by the busy days that you have. The most important in life right now is to show to your family how much you love them. This can only be possible, if we give them our time.

In this modern world, there are many obstructions that will persuade you to ignore some family members. However, don’t allow those temptations to be the source of conflict to one another.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, I want you to remember that our families are the most treasured people in the world. There are no other people that would understand us in time of problems and difficulties, only our mother and father. For the parents, only the children can ease our pains and problems that we experience. Give them more time, more time than your works, more time than your friends.

My dear brothers and sisters, give more time to your family.

4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B

YES TO GOD!

Have you been invited to join church choirs? Did you say YES or NO?

Have you been invited to be part of the catechists in your Parish/Chapel? Did you say YES or NO?

Have you been invited to take part of the ministry of the young people in your parish/chapel? Did you say YES or NO?

Have you been invited to participate in the sessions of your BEC or Selda? Did you say YES or NO?

Have you been invited to attend a prayer meeting? Did you say YES or NO?

Mary was invited by God to be part of the salvation History and she said YES!

Today we celebrate the 4^th Sunday of advent. The gospel tells us about the well known story of annunciation. Mary was told by an angel that she will bear a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Without hesitation Mary said yes to the invitation of God. When Mary agreed that the child Jesus will be born on her, Mary started the salvation of all people.  We have Jesus in our midst because Mary said YES to God. Without her yes, salvation is not possible because Jesus will not suppose to be born. YES, Mary changed the course of salvation history forever. God becomes one of us. God is present among us.

Today, we are excited to await the coming of the birth of Jesus. We are about to enter into the season, where we celebrate the joy of his coming. Before we will feel this joyous celebration, let us consider the presence of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Mary has been presented to us, to be our model, model in everything that we will do. Let us follow her example of faith and holiness, of humility and simplicity, of obedience and surrender to the will of God.

Since, Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of his only begotten Son. God has also chosen all of us for something special. Maybe he has chosen you to be a good mother to your children, to be a good father to your kids, to be a good son/daughter to your parents. Let us reflect on this invitation, do we say YES to the invitation of God? Saying YES may mean: “I play my role as a good model to my own family”.  What has been our response to God's choice of us? Consequently, like Mary, we are challenged to use our freedom and respond with our yes to God's call.

Do you have an invitation right now to glorify and develop our relationship with God? If you have received an invitation from your friends and love ones, then said YES To God.

Let us all say, YES to God! And Yes to my family!

Happy 4^th Sunday of Advent!