GOD LOVES US!

The love of the Lord for us is manifested in the Holy Spirit sent forth upon us, in the daily bread we receive, and in the strength that moves us to love others. His love for us is ever present in our midst. It never leaves us. Though we look around us and see the misery and suffering of some our neighbors, we need not doubt about the Lord’s abiding love for us all. He care for us His children in this valley of tears. He provides our daily bread. He moves us to act towards the alleviation of the suffering of our brothers and sisters. The first community of disciples experienced the Lord’s love for them, and allowed Him to empower them to comfort those who mourn and weep in their midst.

The Lord sent forth the Holy Spirit upon His disciples, gathered in the upper room, ten days after He ascended to Heaven. Tearful, confused and afraid, the disciples prayerfully waited for the promised of a Paraclete. The Lord did not fail them. The Holy Spirit descended upon them as promised. That very moment, the disciples felt the care and love of the Lord for them. The fear, confusion, and thoughts of being abandoned were banished and were replaced by the Lord’s love and care for His disciples.

The community of disciples, with the converts for Judaism to Christianity never lacked the things they needed for the good Lord provided. No one kept the blessing he had received from the Lord for himself alone. They held all things in common, making available everything that they had to the disposal of those in need. They learned how to share.  

The lord’s love for the primitive Church did not remain within the community of disciples. The love they received from the Lord moved them to help those who are in need around them. They manifested the love of the Lord through concrete acts of justice and charity. They distributed alms and healed the sick.

The Lord loves us. This is evident in the past experiences of our forebears; in the first community of disciples. The suffering and tragedies around us, in our midst, should not discourage to believe that the Lord care for us. Let these be our inspiration to call for the Holy Spirit and to remind us of the Lord’s immense love for us, greater than the harsh realities of life we see and experience today. Let His love moves us to do something to lift our neighbors from their miseries, just like what the first disciples did. Let His love permeate in us, because in the end it His love that would save us.  

GOD WAITS

Ang ating Panginoon ay Panginoon na may plano para sa Kanyang sannilikha, lalong-lalo na para sa ating mga tao. Nais Niyang mapabuti, maligtas, at makapiling ang lahat.

Sa ating kasaysayan bilang isang bayang Kanyang tinawag mula sa pagkakasala, maraming beses na tayong sumuway sa kanyang plano. Gumawa tayo ng sarili nating mga plano para sa ating buhay, planong taliwas naman sa Kanyang mga plano para sa atin. Di naglalaon, lumalapit tayo sa Kanya, bitbit-bitbit ang sarili, na hapong-hapo mula sa kakulangang sanhi ng ating mga maka-mundong mga plano sa buhay.

Sa kabila ng ating kawalan ng tiwala sa Kanyang plano, patuloy tayong tinatawag at tinatanggap ng Panginoon na tumalima sa kanyang paanyaya na sumunod sa kanyang mga yapak, sumunod sa kanyang mga plano para sa atin.

Naiintindihan Niya tayo. Naiintindihan Niya ang ating mga pagkukulang at pagkakamali. Naiintindihan Niya na di madali para sa atin na iwan ang pamilya at mga mahal natin. Naiintindihan Niya na di madali para sa atin ang iwan ang lahat at tahakin ang daan tungo sa bundok ng Golgotha; ang magsakripisyo (mamatay sa sarili) para sa pagmamahal sa kapwa. Naiintindihan Niya na di madali para sa atin ang tumugon sa Kanyang tawag, ang tanggapin ang kanyang mga plano para sa atin. Naiintindihan Niya tayo.

Kasama sa plano ng Panginoon ang maghintay sa atin. Hinihintay Niya ang panahong tatalikdan natin ang lahat, ang ating mga planong di ayon sa kanyang ibig.

Hinihintay tayo ng Panginoon. Hinihintay Niya ang ating pagtugon sa Kanyang tawag, pagkat kasama tayo sa Kanyang plano. 

God vs Technology

Today nothing seems to be impossible. Advances in human technology promise endless possibilities. Centuries ago, who would ever, thought that a man could talk to someone million of miles away from him? Who would ever thought that knowledge can be possible in just a click of a finger? 

Today all these seeming impossibilities years ago, are possible through the so called human technology. For many, human technology had become a necessity. In fact, for some, human technology had become a god to whom nothing is impossible.

There is Someone, greater than human technology, that promises endless possibilities — the one true God. In the gospel, we hear the angel Gabriel said, “For in God nothing is impossible.”

Human technology, created by man, can be put side by side with the God, who created everything. Human technology can do many works of wonder. God is all works and wonders. Human technology, with all its possibilities, fails us most often if not always. God, with all His actualities, assures us with His great plan for us. Human technology plans for us. God has a plan for us even before our birth.

God’s plan for us makes him God of endless possibilities yet of certainties. God needs you in to put into reality his plan for you. God needs your “YES” to make his plan real.   

We are confronted today by two Gods; the one created and the other the Creator, the possibilities and the other the all actuality, the one who is planning and the other who has already plan prepared for us since the beginning of time. To whom then will you keep your faith with? To whom then will you say “YES?”