NEVER FORGET TO PRAY

Friday after Epiphany Luke 5:12-16 I would like to focus my reflection on the last paragraph of today’s gospel. “The wird about Jesus spread abroad, many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured if their diseases but he would WITHDREw to deserted place and pray.” The healing that Jesus did attracts great crowd including non-believers. Pagans were also attracted to Jesus. The news went viral. It spread abroad. Jesus was not only the talk of the town but also the topic abroad. People wants to be with him but I loved what he did. “He withdrew to deserted place and PRAY.” Three points that I would like to share. First, The life of Jesus is reminding us that it is more important to do good than to be known. To do good is much better than to be famous. Friends, do good not to be popular but because it is the right one. Jesus withdrew because he wanted to reminds us that good deeds should be done with intention not for attention. Do your good deeds quietly. Showing off, displaying our acts of kindness, boasting and flaunting our achievements, posting our charities and bragging or flaunting are NOT the ways of Jesus. “He WITHDREW to the deserted place and PRAY.” Second, when the world gives you the chance to be popular, NEVER FORGET TO PRAY. When the world gives younthe opportunity to be famous, NEVER FORGET TO PRAY. When you reach the zenith of prominence and the peak of prestige, NEVER FORGET TO PRAY. Why? Because our first reading reminds us that God’s testimony is greater that man’s. Friends, God’s clap is better than the world’s thunderous applause. The testimony of God is the best! Today try to find your deserted place and pray. Finally, when you pray imitate the leper’s example. “He bowed with his face to the ground and begged Him, Lord if you choose, you can make me clean.” Ask for cleansing rather than for healing. “If you choose you can make me clean.” Pray for cleansing. Why? Because many were healed but not cleansed. Many recovered but still dirty. This is the grace that we ask today. Lord make me clean. If it is your will so be it. Amen. NB: Kindly share this to your fb friends and tag those who are hungry of God’s Word. Let us clean the dirt and mess in social media by being a cyber missionary. Be a channel of change. Make God’s Word viral. Help me spread the goodnews of our faith😇 Blessings Fr. Jhack

Be made clean

January 7, 2022 Friday After Epiphany Luke 5:12-16 “I do will it. Be made clean.” All of our sickeness can be healed if we humble ourselves and beg God for healing. Nowadays, there is an illness worst than leprosy and I called it SIN. It is more dreadful than leprosy. Friends, sin makes us dirty but our gospel present to us the love and mercy of God. “I do want to heal you!” It is good to ask ourselves: What areas in my life that needs cleaning and healing? We might be the modern leepers of today but our God always come near to us. We have a God who touches the untouchables and love the unlovable. Friends come to Jesus. Give Him your weakness and He will give you His strenght. Give God your sins and get ready to be healed right away. Friends, don’t repeat what we can’t repair. Finally, the healing that Jesus did attracts great crowd of people. The news went viral. It spread all over. He was the talk of the town. But I loved what Jesus did: “He withdraw to deserted places to pray.” Jesus is telling us that it is more important to do good than to be known and popular. Being famous has its benefits but fame is not one of them. Brethren, when the world give you chance to be popular never forget to pray. God’s clap is better than the world’s applause. Work for a cause not for an applause! NB: Isolation is the problem now. Many are isolated. The cure for isolation is compassion. Couple please sleep together. Your bed should be double not single. Sleep in a double bed. Never be comforted in sleeping alone. You are meant to be with one another unless you made a vow of celibacy. Blessings Fr. Jhack

July 30, 2021 Friday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:54-58 When Jesus returns home, he immediately goes to the temple and begins to teach the people. Many were amazed and astonished. But they could not accept who he had become. “And they took offense at him.” Our gospel presents to us that in our life, there are insecure people who put others down to raise themselves up. Great people will always be mocked by those who feel smaller than them. They can’t stand the success of Jesus so they were envious. My dear friends, there will always be people who are jealous of our accomplishments. When people throw rocks at you because you are shinning, keep shinning anyway. The world needs your light. Friends, envy is a declaration of inferiority. Run away from it. Finally, the less you respond to negative people the more peaceful your life become. The gospel tells us that Jesus moves away when He was not accepted by His countrymen. “And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.” Lack of faith will steal lots of blessings. God can’t work in us if faith is lacking. If we want Jesus to perform wonders in our life; keep on believing. Better things are coming, have faith then! Blessings Fr. Jhack

July 23, 2021 Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:18-23 Our gospel for today explains about the parable of the sower. We are invited today not only to grow but to be productive. We are called to be fruitful not only thirty, not only sixty but hundred fold. There are three major reasons why people are not producing fruits. Perhaps these are the reasons too why you are not producing and improving in life. First, they think TEMPORARY. You know what, the way we think defined who we are. The way we think shaped our future. Friends, nothing good will come out on a short term period. You can’t build a long term future on a short term thinking. If you think about long term then you can really make good life decisions that you won’t regret later. If you want to engage into relationships think long not short. If you start a business, think long not short. Long term is the key to success. Another reason why people don’t bear fruits is that they give in into TRIALS. Friends, there will always be tribulation and afflictions. “My son if you wish to come after me, prepare yourself with trials.” Friends, do not be scared of trials. Face them. Be strong like wall before any trials because our biggeat problems will sometimes our biggest blessings. There is a hidden treasure in every trials. There is an opportunity in every crisis. Third reason why people don’t bear fruit is they give in into TEMPTATIONS. Friends, the devil’s job is to choke us with an apparent good. When in front of your weaknesses always remember that temptations are opportunity to do good. Every temptation is a chance to do good.To produce fruits we are challenge to be faithful. Be firm. TENACITY is the term I would like to share. Inspite of the birds, rocks, and tnorns of life, keep sowing. Don’t be discourage and never give up. Keep sowing even people laugh at you. Keep planting even they don’t believe in you. Keep scattering the seeds even if nobody is interested. Friends, you have the capacity to bless the world. Your passion will pave a way to the success of your mission. Struggles can’t stop us to produce a hundredfold. Blessings Fr. Jhack

July 22, 2021 Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Jn 20:1-2, 11-18 Why are you weeping? Today the gospel is reminding us not to keep our pains because the time for tears is over. Friends, whatever sorrows we have in life today when we encounter the Lord our sadness will be turned into joy. You know what, Jesus is the only person that can stop us from crying. Stop weeping because grief is for the dead and Jesus is not dead. Rejoice! “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Today, believe that the crucified, risen, and ascended Savior will turn our sorrows into hope. We must look to God not at our disappointments. Put period to your sorrows folks. Tears are only for the losers and we are not! Finally, the time to tell the Good News has come. Mary does as Jesus says and tells the Apostles “I have seen the Lord!” Anyone who has a true encounter with the Living Lord in faith will have a need to tell others. When we felt the presence of the Lord we can’t contain it ourselves. Friends, we don’t need to be told to evangelize. Pray that like Mary, God will open our hearts that to be truly sorry for all our sins. May, like Mary Magdalene, we can lead others to Jesus so that they too can experience His love and forgiveness. Blessings Fr. Jhack

July 21, 2021 Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:1-9 This parable speaks about the seed, the soil and the sower. But in today’s reflection I would like to highlights on the seed and the one who sow it. You know what, it was the same seeds sown in different spot. What is interesting is that the condition of the soil-(hard path, rocky, thorny and good soil). Folks, our reception to God’s Word can be compared to the different kinds of soils that received the seed. The types of soil represents our struggles and difficulties but with Jesus all obstacles are not a hindrance for us to be productive. With Jesus we can bear more fruits. Production is our mission! Friends, when God releases us from His hands He wanted to unleash our potentials. God knows and is aware that some of the seeds will fall in different types of ground but He keeps on planting. Why? Because He knows we will grow and bear fruits. Folks, we are those seeds. God keeps on sowing because He trusts and believes in us that amidst of the struggles we will meet at the end will remain fruitful. We grow when we face challenges. Keep going and keep growing because God’s hands is holding and protecting you. Let me end by saying: like the seed you have so much potentials than you know. Set big goals and believe in yourself. The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. Friends, you have unlimited potentials within you. Inside of every seed is the potential for an incredible harvest. Your potentials are limitless. Go, do what you were created to do. Never allow those obstacles prevent you from reaching your full potentials. Blessings Fr. Jhack A

July 19, 2021 Monday of the Sixthteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 12:38-42 This morning I would like to share three D’s with you. First, our gospel present a DEMAND from the Phrisees. They asked Jesus for a sign. But Jesus told them, “No sign wil be given them except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Jesus compares himself to Jonah, the prophet who preached conversion. We need spiritual transformation in our life. Friends, asking for a sign indicates a lack of faith. If we demand for signs it means we don’t believe. The Pharisees are blind to the greatest SIGN before them who is Jesus. If we forget and remove God form our life SIGNS will be turned into SINS. Secondly, if the signs we demanded were not granted don’t be DISAPPOINTED! Jesus wanted us to put our total trust in Him. “There is greater than Solomon here” says the Lord. In the Eucharist, Jesus continue to reveal Himself. The Eucharist is the greatest sign of God. With deep faith let us open our eyes and welcome Him in our heart. Finally, the gospel is challenging us to DECLARE Jesus. How? Let ourselves be the greatest signs that the world can see so that others may come to know Jesus. How to be an effective sign? In our first reading we are told to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. Friends, God always show His saving power to the upright. You know what, the surest sign that you accept accept is your joy. Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God. Blessings Fr. Jhack

July 18, 2021 Sixthteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 6:30-34 Our gospel for today is a continuation of last sunday’s gospel. The previous sunday we remember Jesus sent His disciples by pairs on a mission. Now, the mission was completed and the apostles reported to Jesus all that they have done. Jesus saw how tired they were and He invited them to rest awhile. “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Friends, only the hard working individual had the right to relax. Learn to slow down. Never be a slave of your work. You need a day off! Learn to deactivate. Rest your mind and calm your heart. It is necessary to be replenished after a productive day at work. Offline is the new luxury. Today, Jesus is telling us to have a moment of “rest.” Everytime I visited a cemetery I often saw R.I.P letters engrave in a stone or at the cross. We know that R.I.P stands for “Rest in peace.” Right? The message of today’s gospel is inviting us to REST IF POSSIBLE (R.I.P) or else we will be RIPPED INTO PIECES. Friends when you are tired, change your atmosphere-go into solitude. Isolate and communicate with God- (R.I.P) REST IN PRAYER. Allow God to replenish your soul. He is our Good Shepherd. “In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.” Conclusion: When you are tired the solution is not drugs. Come to Jesus. Alcohol cannot solve our weariness. Feed yourself in the Eucharist. When you are tired hedonistic pleasures are not the password. Go to Jesus. When you are exhausted shopping malls are not the right place to rest. Go in solitude and communicate with God. Friends, find your deserted place and rest for awhile. Blessings Fr. Jhack

July 16, 2021 Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 12:1-8 For the Pharisees sabbath is more on observing the laws and keeping regulations. Sabbath is equated to legalism. Day of rest for them is a standard of regulations and ordinances. Inshort, sabbath is like this: DO THIS, DO THAT. They thought that keeping the laws are more important than helping someone in need. They thought that following the rules are far better than providing food for the hungry. Pharisees were law orriented people but destroy relationships. They were law abiders but charity breakers. They were faithful to the laws but they don’t have love for the needy. My dear friends, legalism lack the supreme sense of worship. It obeys but it does not adore. Are we this type of people? Brethren, if we keep on attending daily mass, faithful in our novenas, excellent in praying the rosary but blind to the needs of others there is something wrong in our spiritual life. God desire mercy not sacrifice. Friends, our belief does not make us a better person, our behaviour does. Blessings Fr. Jhack

July 15, 2021 Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 11:28-30 Many of people nowadays are exhausted and seemingly tired! Life can certainly become burdensome at times. What in your life wearies you? What wears you down or exhausts you? Have a break and rest with Jesus. Surrender all your burdens to Him. Give God a chance to carry your worries. Place your anxieties, doubts, fears, troubles or worries in His hands. Trust Jesus for He will truly lighten your burdens. If you get tired learn to rest not to quit. Jesus promise relief and refreshment to weary souls. Come to Jesus for He will surely bring us a true sense of rest. Let me end my reflection with 3R’s. First, learn to RELAX. Never be a slave of your work. We are not machines. The world will not stop spinning to let us going. Learn to deactivate from all that make your life heavy and stressful. Give time to your self. In short have a space empty for your self. Second, REFLECT. Refocus your mind. Come to Jesus. Think of what is most essential. Value what matters most. Remember that you have enough, you do enough and you are enough. When we rest, our energy is restored. Finally, REPLENISH and REBUILD who you are. Friends, I know your tired because you make your day 25 hours. Friends, if you felt life is burdensome, today’s gospel is right for you. Relax, Jesus’ invitation is this- “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.” True and genuine rest can only be found in Jesus. So don’t look for it in alcohol. Real rest can’t be found in recreation, nor in sexual pleasure, nor in travels. Come to Jesus and surrender all your burdens and allow Him to take up the weight of your struggles. Blessings Fr. Jhack

July 14, 2021 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 11:25-27 In today’s gospel Jesus is condemning intellectual pride. "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants.” What matter for Jesus is not the head but the heart. Brain is useless if the heart is empty. Our I.Q is nothing if all that we have learned prevent us from knowing and recognizing God. There are so many clever and well-educated people around nowadays. Friends, we don’t need to be intelligent. We are called to be simple and humble. Stay away from pride for it closes the truth about God. Only the humble can receive true wisdom from above. Child-like simplicity and humility are the keys we need to keep. My dear friends, let our intelligence be a medium to learn humility and simplicity. To know Jesus it requires humility. It is only the simple and humble recognizes the Lord. Today’s gospel is teaching us this message: Be simple and be humble! The clever and well educated people are those who look themselves as infants. Like infants have a room in your heart to accept new things and learn about Jesus. Unless we can be like infants we can’t be happy. Blessings Fr. Jhack