BE STILL!

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 4:35-41 Our gospel for today shows and demonstrate Jesus authority over the power of nature. Our God has dominion over nature’s wrath. Storm melts before Jesus. Just for a little context: most of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen by profession. They are very familiar with sea life. As fisherman ofcourse they were experts of the movements of the sea. However, today’s episode we heard in the gospel how terrified they were. And the irony, Jesus a carpenter by profession was very relax sleeping in the boat. Sleeping because perhaps he’s tired doing his ministry. What an irony fishermen sought help from a carpenter. Lo and behold the wind, the sea obey him. Be still! Today’s gospel is reminding of this truth. First, if Jesus is riding withnus in our boat, no storm can destroy us. Never be terrified by your storm. Seek the help of Jesus. He is not sleeping. He is waiting for your call. Keep calm, Jesus is in the boat. Friends, I do not know the nature of your storm but I definitely know who can calm it. His name is Jesus. If you are tormented b bthe storm of suffering, He can ease your pain. If you are distressed by sorrow, He can comfort you. If you are slaved by sin, He can set you free and deliver you. Call Jesus! Second, we live in a world filled with storms figuratively speaking. Noawadays we face storm such as sickness, war, depression, disppointments, broken relationship, etc. We experience storms because God wanted to strentghen us. It is just a test of your faith. Be mindful that the sun always shines after the storm. Let me end my reflection by saying: let your faith be bigger than your fears. Face your fears with faith. Our fear will sink us but our faith will lift us up. Our fear will break us but our faith will fix what was broken by fears. Fear ends where faith begins. Keep calm, relax for Jesus is in the boat. Be still! Blessings Fr. Jhack

THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas Mark 4:26-34 Year C Today is the last friday of the month and our gospel for today speaks about the farmer who scattered seed on the ground. After planting, I loved what he did: SLEEP. Why sleeping after the planting? Friends, sleeping is a gesture of trust. Sleep because God is in control. Relax because once our job is over God will take of the rest. Keep in mind that God is working when we are sleeping. After you have done evrything, take a rest. If you don’t sleep it will lead to more issues, troubles and problems. Look at what happened to David. He is suppose to sleep but he never did. He is suppose to take a siesta but he walk at the roof top. That failure to sleep leads him to find a woman taking a bathe. And it was the start of his adulterous act with Bathsheba. He is suppose to sleep but he never dis and the consequence was grave. He impregnated Bathsheba and he organize the planning of murdering Uriah. Today, it is good to take a nap for a while. Take a short siesta sometimes to guard your eyes from sinning. In today’s gospel Jesus speaks aboutbtue kingdom of God and compared it to a mistard seed. Why compared God’s kingdom to a seed? For several reasons. First, God wanted us to grow. He wants us to start small and end big. Second, to remind us that all biggest stuff in the world starts in a small beginnings. And finally to tell us that the best is yet to come. Friends, do not stress about things you cannot control. Like the farmer trust the Lord because the BEST IS YET TO COME. Blessings Fr. Jhack

SLEEP LIKE JESUS

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 4:35-41 Storm is part of our journey. It is inevitable. Storms in life teaches us to trust in Jesus while we are in the midst of a troublesome expedition. "Storm" figuratively speaking might be our problems, our insecurities and our fears. Storm perhaps represent our arguments with someone. This virus what they called ‘corona virus’ now mutated and became another variant is a concrete face of a storm. Perhaps your storm may appear as an economic storm, emotional storm, financial storm, spiritual storm, storm of a broken relationships, etc. Friends, remember this: storms will only frightens us but it can’t sink nor drown us. No storms can drop a person like you. You are mightier than any storms. Friends, the gospel is reminding us that our journey may be stormy but it’s only temporary. Be still, the Lord will fight for you. When we encounter the surge of horrible intimidation in life, just SLEEP like Jesus did. Maybe you are tossed up and squeezed in by big waves but don’t panic because God is in the boat. Have courage for God is working even His sleeping. Wave with the waves for Jesus is behind you. Smile amidst of the big surf for Jesus is with you. My dear friends, when you are praying stop doubting. Just because it is stormy it does not mean that you are not headed for sunshine. Stay positive, bitter days will be gone and better days are on their way. The peril of tidal waves infront of us is transitory. It won’t last. There is always comfort in knowing that everything including storm is temporary. Conclusion: Storm will try to sink you but Jesus will save you. Just sleep because God is your captain! Be still enjoy your sail. You are safe and secured. Be not afraid. Blessings Fr. Jhack