Dirty but loved.

Thursday of the First Week of Ordinary Time Mark 1:40-45 Year A Lepers were outcasts. They were socially and religiously isolated. Nobody wants to be with them. Why? Because they were considered dirty and dangerous to be with. Its like being infected of COVID 19. Their presence is risky and deadly. Thus, keeping your distance from them is the only safest way to do. (Social distancing) But I love what Jesus did: “Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand and touched him.” Jesus knew that touching a leper will made him ritually unclean but His compassion is more powerful than what the law prescribed. He goes beyond the law. Jesus is showing us that love is the greatest law. Friends place your trust in Jesus for He will not fail us. Just approach Him and say: “Lord if You choose, you can make me clean.” Nowadays, we do not have leprosy issues literally speaking. However, countless number of people are and were suffering from isolation. Perhaps, you are one of them! Good number of individuals were ignored, avoided and neglected. Many children wants to be isolated from their parents. They found their parents annoying and irritating. On the other hand, many parents too are distancing themselves from their parental responsibility. Many company fired their workers for financial instability. Many individuals were isolated from each other because of different reasons perhaps because of anger, pride, social status, beliefs, sin, addictions, etc. Isolation is the modern leprosy. Today, Jesus is challenging us to reach out and touch those individuals we typically avoided. Friends, do we have the courage to be with the people ignored and isolated by many? Move and strech out your hands. Do not be comforted in living life invisibly. Today is the right time to approach the one you have been avoided and ignored in life. Friends, what keeps you or separates you from each others? Conclusion: God loves dirty people. God is here to cleanse us. You know what, we dont need healing, what we need is cleansing. “Lord if You choose, you can make me clean.” Friends, we have a compassionate God. He wants to be with the outcast. Today, Jesus is teaching us this lesson: Compassion is the solution not condemnation and isolation. Compassion is a verb with no boundaries. Never mind if you are dirty, come to Jesus. Why? Because to be far away from Jesus is the saddest isolation. Blessings Fr. Jhack

Don’t be Lazy

Wednesday of the First week in Ordinary Time Mark 1:29-39 Today’s gospel reading present to us how busy and productive Jesus was. He was nit tired of healing the sick. From sundown to sunrise he makes himself available preaching and teaching, casting out demons and spending time in prayer. Indeed it was a hectic and productive day. Today allow me to share 3P’s with you. First, like Jesus always remember your PRIORITIES in life. What is your goal? Execute your purpose. Focus onnyour targe. Know what matters most and invest your time feeding your focus. Like Samuel in today’s first reading serve the Lord and be ready to answer Yes when He calls you. Like Jesus never waste your time. Like the mother-in-law of Peter when your body is physically able and fit spend it in serving those who help you. Friends, it is wonderful to be blessed but it is more awesome to be a blessing. Second, when you know your priorities you will always be PRODUCTIVE. That’s the second P stands for. Production will destroy the influence of laziness in our life. Whether we like or not, sometimes we have the tendency to do nothing. There is in us the unwillingness to use our energy. We have dull moments. We lost our passion and interests. Keepmthis in mind that laziness is the mothers of all evils. Three signs to determine that you are influence by laziness. One, you have an excuse for everything. Two, you always procrastinate and third, you are allergic to change. You hate commitments and no lists of specific tasks. Never be lazy because there is no holiness in laziness. Final P is PRAYER. Jesus amidst of his hectic schedules he never forget to refuel. Prayer is our spiritual battery. Like Samuel just say: “Speak Lord your servant is listening.” Friends, don’t be lazy to pray. Time spent with God is priceless. Time with God is time well spent. Blessings Fr. Jhack

CARE IS CURE

Wednesday of the First week in Ordinary Time Mark 1:29-39 Our gospel present to us how busy Jesus was. After He left the synagogue He went to the house of Simon and He heals Simon’s mother-in-law. I love how Jesus did the healing. “He came, grasped her hand and help her up.” Today we are reminded that miracles and healings are possible when there is an encounter (personal touch.) When someone is sick the most effective medicine is our presence. Friends, when we care we can cure. Care is cure! After all His hectic ministry, Jesus went to a deserted place and there He prayed. Friends, Jesus is reminding us that amidst of our busy schedules let us not forget to spent time with God. Nobody is too busy, it is just a matter of priorities. Nobody is ever too busy, if they are interested they will make time. Let us always start our day with consultation with God through prayer. Friends, never start your program without an opening prayer. Don’t eat without thanking God first for the good in your table. Never start driving without praying. Today find time to go to your desserted places and there speak to the Lord. Time spent with God is priceless! The way we spend our time defines who we are. NB: Don’t be lazy. There is no holiness in laziness. Blessings Fr. Jhack

God is powerful

January 11, 2022 Tuesday of the First week in Ordinary Time Mark 1:21-28 Our gospel speaks of three important reality. First, evil spirit exists. They are real. Devil is at work and its around us. Their job is to destroy us, to discourage us, to make our life miserable and seduce us not to believe and worship the true God. Every Tuesday night during my priestly duty to pray the Liturgy of the Hours (night prayers) the reading from 1 Peter 5:8-9a is reminding me to: “Stay sober and alert because our opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. “ Friends, evil spirits exist but do not be scared! They will only scare us but cannot defeat us because we are God’s children. Second, noise is the laguage of the devil. The devil loves to shout. They like to scream and to yell. Today the gospel is teaching us to appreciate the importance of silence. Friends, stop yelling. Raise your words but not your voice. Dont raise your voice just improve your argument. Speak quietly so that everybody can hear your message. If everyone is yelling no one can be heard. Raising our voice will never make things better. Friends, shouting is the language of the devil. Shouting and yelling silences our message. Let us speak quitely so that other people can hear our words instead of our voice. Stop yelling and avoid swearing please. Third, the devil knows God. “I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” They knew God but they dont obey and follow Him. Friends, knowing God is far different from obeying Him. Most of us had the evil in us because we are only good in the knowing level but failed on the doing stage. The greatest gap in the world is the gap between knowing and doing. Friends, doing is far better than knowing! Conclusion: Yes evil spirit exist but God is more powerful than them. God is stronger than them. As a matter of fact our gospel present to us how terrified the evil spirits are with Jesus. Friends, there are always an influences of evil in us but do not to be afraid because God is more powerful than them. God is here to drive them away. No evil can destroy the Son of God. Combat evil with good. Lord keep me safe from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet. Blessings Fr. Jhack

“Come. Follow me.”

Monday of the First week in Ordinary Time Mark 1:14-20 “Come. Follow me.” The invitation, “follow me,” is the invitation to leave behind our nets, our boats, and even our family. Today we are reminded that to change our life we have to change our priorities. “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” We never get anywhere new as long as we’re unwilling to leave where we are. We accept Jesus’ invitation to follow, not by packing up but by letting go. The call to follow Jesus is the call to discipleship. It means that we have to put Jesus first; we have to give Him our total loyalty, unquestionable obedience and complete trust. Friends, God promise us new life don’t exchange God’s invitation with something else. Finally, when we choose to follow Christ, it means we choose to be changed. May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. People don’t realize how important decisions are until they make the wrong ones. Friends, choosing to follow Jesus is a decision we will never regret. Take note of this: When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place. Our decision defines our destiny. Who youbare yoday is the product of your choice. You know what, I have no regrets with my decision in life. Blessings Fr. Jhack

Live life to express not to impress.

Saturday After Epiphany John 3:22-30 John clearly understands that his mission is to prepare the way for the Christ. He knew who he was in the sight of God: A precursor! He considered himself as someone working happily at the background. Friends, John the baptist is teaching us this message: everything we do, does not need to be seen or heard. Work behind the scene. Live life to express not to impress. John clearly understands that the Christ will “increase” and his role will “decrease.” Friends, as Christians, our mission is to make Christ known and not ourselves. Our mission is to promote Jesus. Today, we are challenge to rejoice in decreasing. Work even nobody noticed you. Never stop doing your best just because someone does not gives you the credit. Work hard in silence. Let success make the noise. Stay humble. People who shines from within does not need a spotlight. Friends, do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Climb the mountain so you can see the world not so the world can see you. The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk; for a great man always willing to be little. “He must increase,I must decrease.” Blessings Fr. Jhack

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