(Guide to Life)
There’s a popular proverb of some great writers of the past, namely: “I fear the man of one book” (in Latin writes thus: Timeo hominem unius libri). Why so? Because you gain mastery when you concentrate on a topic or book, instead of shifting from here and there. As the popular proverb runs: “a rolling stone gathers no moss.” Sometimes people who read all the books that get in their hands turn out confused and mixed up.
It’s the reason why the Church campaigns for a ‘Bible in every home’. It’s the Word of God, a guide for everyone seeking the secrets of everlasting life, or even success in our transitory life on earth. The world tends towards selfish thoughts while the Bible tells us of Jesus’ ways—“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back” (Lk. 6:38).
Such simple words of the Bible, but ask yourself— Isn’t that the secret to success even in simple business deals? People will flock to your store when they know the goods you sell are truly to their satisfaction and gratification. And what more can we ask for? After the trials of this life, the Bible promises eternal life and happiness if only we follow God’s laws and decrees.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sad Farewells and Goodbyes
When we look back at our life’s history and the caring people who crossed our lives, it somehow brings a recollection of sad goodbyes and farewells, more so when they have already gone back to the Creator in the after-life. Of course, it’s no use lamenting over what’s already gone or past but we must have more faith in God’s assistance for future things to be done for His kingdom. After all, that’s what is supposed to be for all of us. We are just passing guests of this passing life – Naturally, a last kiss or embrace of anyone close to us is ever etched in our emotional memory. But let’s look at it positively. Consider that even God’s Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, did die for our sakes. All the saints underwent such experience of death as all peoples that ever lived before our times. It’s an occurrence that happens to everybody.
If there were loved ones and friends who cared for us and ever since our childhood days, they have become close to us like our own parents, brothers and sisters. Yes, those kind of people somehow leave an imprint in our memory and emotions. After all we just live a passing life in this world and God keeps on reminding us we were made for an eternal bliss with God in heaven. “What will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? “…For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behavior” (Mt. 16:26). Let us pray for all the people that crossed our lives because after all, if they already passed away, they are part of God’s loving providential hand to care and guide us towards the heavenly kingdom where we all desire to be with all those we love and pray for. We are God’s creation and are destined to serve God in this life and be with him in the next. God desires our final attachment to be only for him. So regarding the people we esteem and love as our own parents, brothers, sisters, and children, God’s infallible word teaches this: “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 10:37-38).
In all circumstances, therefore, let our lives and prayers be to the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us thank the Lord for all the wonderful people that ever came across our lives.
If there were loved ones and friends who cared for us and ever since our childhood days, they have become close to us like our own parents, brothers and sisters. Yes, those kind of people somehow leave an imprint in our memory and emotions. After all we just live a passing life in this world and God keeps on reminding us we were made for an eternal bliss with God in heaven. “What will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? “…For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behavior” (Mt. 16:26). Let us pray for all the people that crossed our lives because after all, if they already passed away, they are part of God’s loving providential hand to care and guide us towards the heavenly kingdom where we all desire to be with all those we love and pray for. We are God’s creation and are destined to serve God in this life and be with him in the next. God desires our final attachment to be only for him. So regarding the people we esteem and love as our own parents, brothers, sisters, and children, God’s infallible word teaches this: “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 10:37-38).
In all circumstances, therefore, let our lives and prayers be to the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us thank the Lord for all the wonderful people that ever came across our lives.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Against Conscience
It would be good for our legislators to reconsider their efforts in pushing for laws or bills that run counter to conscience, more specifically in the case of the Reproductive Health Bill. Since it runs contrary to the Catholic conscience of which the Filipinos are the majority, surely some resistance will be oncoming.
Then, too, it is appropriate to consider the reasons alluded to by the Catholic Church, which are primarily for the defense of life, in the privacy of family and home, which is the prerogative right of private families, as regards matters of size of the family and sexual relations between husband and wife. Hence, the Church only wishes to remind couples of God’s original decrees on the propagation of life. “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’” (Gen. 1:28). That’s in the first book and chapter of the Bible. There are instances of God’s punishment on those who dare violate God’s laws concerning family, marriage, and sexual morality. Read chapters 18 and 19 of this very first book of the Bible: GENESIS, in those chapters they tell the true of what happened to two cities Sodom and Gomorrah that disappeared from the earth by fire and brimstone that rained from the heavens, because of their sin against God’s laws regarding sexual morality.. Do not forget the warning words of St. Paul: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
Then, too, it is appropriate to consider the reasons alluded to by the Catholic Church, which are primarily for the defense of life, in the privacy of family and home, which is the prerogative right of private families, as regards matters of size of the family and sexual relations between husband and wife. Hence, the Church only wishes to remind couples of God’s original decrees on the propagation of life. “God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it’” (Gen. 1:28). That’s in the first book and chapter of the Bible. There are instances of God’s punishment on those who dare violate God’s laws concerning family, marriage, and sexual morality. Read chapters 18 and 19 of this very first book of the Bible: GENESIS, in those chapters they tell the true of what happened to two cities Sodom and Gomorrah that disappeared from the earth by fire and brimstone that rained from the heavens, because of their sin against God’s laws regarding sexual morality.. Do not forget the warning words of St. Paul: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Humility that Saves
Many saints (St. Therese, for example), following the theme of Our Lord Jesus Christ, have often said: Humility is Truth. Jesus has repeated several times: “The person who humbles himself shall be exalted, the person who exalts himself shall be humbled” (Mt. 12:11; Lk. 18:14). Yes, Jesus humbled himself, preferring to work His miracles without much propaganda (see Mk. 9:9, and Lk.9:21)).
We too should follow that system of doing good works for the sincere love of God and the neighbor, not for show-off and propaganda, nor for the prospect of money and power, which become temptations for corruption.. After all, this is the more successful way as God Himself has promised. “Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing; your almsgiving must be in secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you” (Mt. 6:1-4). Remember that the only true reward comes from God above. Naturally genuine humility must always be based on truth and discipline, not on false ambitions and laxity or insubordination.
We too should follow that system of doing good works for the sincere love of God and the neighbor, not for show-off and propaganda, nor for the prospect of money and power, which become temptations for corruption.. After all, this is the more successful way as God Himself has promised. “Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing; your almsgiving must be in secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you” (Mt. 6:1-4). Remember that the only true reward comes from God above. Naturally genuine humility must always be based on truth and discipline, not on false ambitions and laxity or insubordination.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Poverty Issue
It seems putting the blame on poverty for most of the nation’s woes is out of place. Why did that expression of benediction come out? “Blessed are you poor; the reign of God is yours” (Lk. 6:20).
Actually the poverty issue reverts to oneself or one’s inmost honest efforts. If only we did what we should or could do to think, to study, to do some honest service to humanity, somehow the result would be what Jesus aptly described, saying: “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back” (Lk. 6:38). You can see and observe closely how true these words of Jesus are. Most successful businesses are those that deep in the heart tend to sincerely give good quality products and services to the customer, while those that just think of making money from the customers are usually left out or losing in the business rat race.
Jesus does not want us to worry too much about material things (read this in Mt. 6:25-34). “That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it….Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life?” Jesus says the same thing about thoughts on clothing and drinking needs. It is those who lack faith that worry too much on those things. His solution is: “Set your hearts on his kingdom first and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:25-34). To verify for yourself how true are the words of Jesus concerning our quest to do God’s will always and ever trust in His loving care for each of us, let us ask and observe people who sincerely believe and put to practice Jesus’ words. God can’t tell a lie nor be mistaken. And His words come to us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
Actually the poverty issue reverts to oneself or one’s inmost honest efforts. If only we did what we should or could do to think, to study, to do some honest service to humanity, somehow the result would be what Jesus aptly described, saying: “Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back” (Lk. 6:38). You can see and observe closely how true these words of Jesus are. Most successful businesses are those that deep in the heart tend to sincerely give good quality products and services to the customer, while those that just think of making money from the customers are usually left out or losing in the business rat race.
Jesus does not want us to worry too much about material things (read this in Mt. 6:25-34). “That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it….Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life?” Jesus says the same thing about thoughts on clothing and drinking needs. It is those who lack faith that worry too much on those things. His solution is: “Set your hearts on his kingdom first and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:25-34). To verify for yourself how true are the words of Jesus concerning our quest to do God’s will always and ever trust in His loving care for each of us, let us ask and observe people who sincerely believe and put to practice Jesus’ words. God can’t tell a lie nor be mistaken. And His words come to us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
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