Challenged and Changed by God

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Spirit Moments

I can often be so wrapped up in my own world, I forget the bigger world around me. In recent months, I met and saw old friends and family whom I have not seen or met for a long time. In my mind, they have remained the same as when I last saw them. But I sooner realize how much they have grown and changed. They had their own lives to live and their own world to create. They went ahead without me.

The Pharisees had their own worldview from which they saw and interpreted the world and everything around them. Whatever and whoever did not conform to that worldview was condemned as immoral, blasphemous and contrary to the will of the God in theirs minds. When Christ came declaring that people were more important than the Sabbath, they called Him a blasphemer. They feared Him for He was destroying their world as they saw it.

Today, Jesus still challenges my own worldview. When I become too engrossed with myself, he challenges me to think of others instead. When I wallow in self-pity, He makes me aware of the many blessing He has bestowed upon me and my loved ones. When I become too full of myself and proud, He shows me that everything is gift from God and I am filled with gratitude and humility. When everything seems to be going wrong in my life, He shows me the cross and how it leads to the Resurrection. And when I am happy, He dwells and abides with me in solitude and with His presence.

“Lord, keep my spirit from becoming withered. Come and stay in my life with your life-giving presence.”

He said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees,
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
Mark 3:1-6

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A Compassionate and Sensitive Heart

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Spirit Moments

We can sometimes get so caught up with our rites and rituals that we lose sight of the weightier and more important things. People spend hours on their knees in prayer but turn a deaf ear to the cries of the poor and the oppressed. There are those who spend money to beautify their places of worship and have nothing left to help feed the hungry or clothe the naked. We can indeed be so taken up by something good and forget all about the bigger picture.

The world today is driven by businesses and financial markets. The balance sheet and the quest for the bottom line drive most of the decisions of many in daily life. Such an obsession for profit and gain has created a situation where the upper 1% owns half of all the assets and resources in the world. The richest 85 persons own more than the bottom 50% of the population. Pope Francis laments such a situation, which is intrinsically evil, “Not paying a fair wage, not giving a job because you are only looking at balance sheets, only looking to make a profit, that goes against God.”

My prayer today will be, “Lord, I will keep your Sabbath holy; but let me not be blind to the poor and needy around me.”

Then he said to them,
“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Mark 2:23-28

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Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Spirit Moments

At my age, I feel like I am an old wineskin, a bag of old bones. But I have discovered the power and the magic of sleep. I can see and feel now how the Lord makes me anew every night in my sleep so that I am good as new when I wake up in the morning, ready to take in new wine. Sometimes, He fills me with the best old wine – fully aged.

As I lie on my bed waiting for sleep to come, I go over my day. If it was a happy day; I think of and thank God for all the people who have been His angels and have brought me great joy, love and happiness. If it was a terribly bad and challenging day; I go over all the pains and stresses I had to go through during the day and offer them up to the Lord, asking Him what He would have wanted me to do differently. If it was just an ordinary, uneventful day; I mull over the moments and try to see where and when and how I encountered the Lord even in the ordinary events of daily life. Sometimes, I would zero in on particular moments I would want to long remember – be they happy or painful ones – and carry them with me in my sleep to continue them with the Lord even as I am fast asleep.

Always, I wake up refreshed. I feel I just went on a refreshing walk and talked with God. I usually remember my dreams. But what I wish for is to be able to remember just one specific moment during my sleep that the Lord is with me.

Jesus said, “No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
Mark 2:21-22

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Bless the Children

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Spirit Moments

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The Philippines, unique in all of Christendom, celebrates today the Feast of the Holy Infant. We as a people have always had a lively devotion to the Santo Nino since Magellan gifted the wife of Rajah Humabon with an image of the Infant Jesus. Our faith as a people has often been childlike in it simplicity and tenacity; as it has sometimes been been also described as childish in its shallowness and fatalistic resignation to one’s lot in life. During the month of January, many place in the Philippines celebrate the feast of the Santo Nino with numerous mardi-gras-like festivities.

The Philippines is indeed the land of babies and children. Some social observers have commented on the young population of the country as a boon; others say it is a bane. The former say that the young and growing population of the country is an asset that will augur well for the country, citing the demographic winter that the rich and developed countries are now facing. The latter cite the lack of resources both on the part of the government and of poor families to provide a decent and healthy future for the indigent children.

The feast of the Holy Infant is a reminder for us to be both welcoming of all and any new human life – no matter the circumstances – and at the same time be seriously responsible when being instruments of new life coming into this world. Every time a child is born, God acts again in our world in a very special way. “Let the children come to me.” Jesus says. For children, more than adults do, know how to go to God’s presence.

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
He said to them, “Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God
like a little child will never enter it.”
And he took the children in his arms,
placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16

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A Prayer for Life

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Spirit Moments

I have always sought perfection and wholeness/holiness even as I am deeply aware of my imperfections, shortcomings and sinfulness. But when this fact should be the source of my hopelessness, it is in fact a source of hope and encouragement for me. For my God is a God that seeks out sinners, the weak and the wrong so that He can bring me to perfection and heal me of my infirmities. He came not to condemn me but to bring me the fullness of life. He did not come to bring retribution but salvation.

Pope Francis echoed this recurrent Gospel theme in his Exhortation when he said: “The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”

Today is the feast of the Infant Jesus ( Santo Nino ) in many places in the Philippines. It is amazing how we Filipinos have found great faith, consolation and joy in the Child Jesus, in His littleness and defenselessness, in utter dependence and trust in other people. God works out His mysteries in the most unexpected places and in the most unlikely ways.

My prayer today shall be: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

While he was at table in Levi’s house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Mark 2:15-17

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Limitations and Possibilities

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Spirit Moments

I am bound by many limitations; but I am also a bundle of almost limitless possibilities. Because of my body, I am tied down to my here and now. But with my mind and imagination, I can be anywhere and any-when I choose. I can transform my here to everywhere and my now to every-when. There have been many with physical disabilities but who with their faith and indomitable spirit have accomplished more than what the ordinary physically unimpaired could. There are those who have been dealt by life with insurmountable difficulties and limitations but who their love and passion have overcome and succeeded in life.

People crowded around Jesus to hear Him speak and have their infirmities healed. There was hardly anymore room to get closer to him. Four men wanted Jesus to heal their friend, who was a paralytic. But they could not get through because of the crowd. So, they opened up the roof over the house and let down their paralytic friend.  Because of their faith, Jesus first forgives their friend’s sins. And then later, He also healed Him to show that He had the power to forgive sins as well as make the lame walk.

I am often overwhelmed by problems and difficulties even before I start. Then, I have already suffered defeat. I will choose to see what I can do before I am overcome by what I cannot do. I will focus on what I have rather than on what I do not have. I will appreciate who and what I am and not be discouraged by who and what I am not. I will choose to give rather to receive. And I will choose to serve rather than be served.

Today my prayer shall be: “Lord, let me see my possibilities and my blessings, rather than my limitations and my miseries.”

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:1-5

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A Proactive Spiritual Life

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Spirit Moments

The mark of human beings, which distinguish us from the rest of living creatures, is our capacity to choose. The hallmark of the proactive person is the constant and conscious practice of this capacity to choose. The important things in a proactive person’s life are all the results of decisions, consciously taken and done. Therefore, love more than just being a wonderful emotion is a conscious and constant decision. Similarly, happiness is not only a condition to be wished for but more importantly a decision to be made and done everyday. Success is not something that happens to me but something I decide and make happen in my life. Likewise, if I have a miserable and disappointing life, I probable have somehow made the decision to be miserable. 

Yes, I can just allow things to happen in my life. And indeed they will even without me doing anything. But how I respond and what I do because of what happens in my life is entirely within my control. Thus, I can choose to see the brightness and happiness of life or to be overwhelmed by the gloom and doom around me. I choose to see and live by that which is bright and happy. I can choose to focus on what is wrong and evil in people or to see and appreciate the goodness and love in them. I choose to see the many loving people in my life and the good they do for me and for others.

I believe my being here is also the result of a loving decision by God when He choose to create me. The whole of creation is a wonderful idea in God’s mind which He chose to make real. “Let there be light” He said and there was light. “Let the universe be.” He said and indeed it was. “Let us make man in Our image and likeness.” and I am. And God is not yet done creating me. My prayer for today will be: “Lord, if you choose, you can make me whole and complete.” I strain my ears in prayer to hear Him say: “I do choose. Be made whole and complete.”

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you choose, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him,
“I do choose. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Mark 1:40-45

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Daily Prayers

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Spirit Moments

Prayer was an integral and essential part in the life of Jesus. He always made time for it and was constantly in touch with the Father – almost like He never left home, because of their constant and on-going conversation. He continually felt and always invoked the presence of the Father in His life.

I resonate deeply and feel the truth of what Henri Nouwen has written about prayer:

“Prayer is the bridge between our conscious and unconscious lives. Often there is a large abyss between our thoughts, words, and actions, and the many images that emerge in our daydreams and night dreams. To pray is to connect these two sides of our lives by going to the place where God dwells. Prayer is “soul work” because our souls are those sacred centers where all is one and where God is with us in the most intimate way.”

And because He prayed daily, Christ was able to do what He was sent to do.

Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.
Mark 1:32-39

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In My Inviduality is the Universe

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Spirit Moments

On the surface of our existence as human beings, there are a lot of differences and disturbances among us. People come in many different sizes, shapes, colors, dispositions and aspirations. Often, what drives people would bring them in conflict with one another. But there are also times when people can come together and accomplish something great and admirable, with each one contributing something unique and different. There is a lot of activity and hustle and bustle, with each one going his own way to do what he believes he needs to do.

But as we go deeper into who we really are, we sooner realize that deep inside each one of us there is unity and peace. Deep, very deep inside us, we are all the same. We are all driven by essentially the same force. We all want to be happy. We all want to be good. We all seek the truth and that which is real. We seek and create that which is beautiful. And the deeper we go, the more there is peace and quiet as we draw away from the noise and disturbances on the surface.

Fr. Abe, of happy and blessed memory, often said that our life – especially out spiritual life – is like the ocean, “full of conflict, full of change”. On the surface, there are a lot of movements, like the waves or the tides or the streams. Sometimes, there may even be storms. But the deeper one goes into the ocean, the more one experiences calmness, quiet peace and unity – no matter what is happening on the surface. The more I go deeper into who I am, the more I discover and learn the truth, the goodness and the beauty of my existence. Indeed, it is when I am most individual that I am most universal. Then, I discover and learn my true and real blessedness.

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,
and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. . . .
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28

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Proclaiming My Beloved-ness

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Spirit Moments

When I realize that I am the Beloved, I want to tell the world about this good news and to proclaim the goodness and greatness of the Lord. Being the beloved, I also come to truly appreciate what it means to have been created in the image and likeness of God. This is the the source of the worth and value of every person.

If every person is beloved, he has intrinsic value and is endowed with fundamental goodness. It has taken man a long time to learn this fact. Man’s value and his goodness is determined not by what he has or what he has done but by the fact that he comes from God. And yet, even to this day, people are discriminated against because of what they have or do not have, because of what they do or do not do. But slowly men are learning that we are all equal in our beloved-ness and there cannot be any discrimination nor prejudices based on color, shape, size or any such physical characteristics.

Our beloved-ness includes the earth and the environment – our Eden – that sustains and makes possible our unique life-form. We used to hunt and kill other living creatures with wanton abandon. We are now realizing that these are also essential and part of who we are. Animals are today better cared for and people work to the preservation of all living animals specially those threatened by extinction. This awareness for the environment now extends also to everything alive like trees and plants. People now realize that the richness of our lives is dependent in our ability to preserve and maintain the rich biodiversity in nature. We now worry and work to correct what we have been doing to cause climate change and the massive pollution in nature.

Indeed, when we listen to the voice deep inside us that says “You are my beloved.” everything around us takes a different look altogether.

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Mark 1:14-15

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