KEEP SHINNING!

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Luke 4:21-30 Year C People were amazed and proud of Him. He done so many wonderful things but all of a sudden their admiration turns to rejection. All of a sudden the clapping of hands turns into furious intention of killing Him. They wanted to throw Him down of the mountain. Friends, the gospel is reminding us that we cannot please everyone. In life we will encounter more haters than lovers. We will receive more rejections than acceptance. More middle fingers than a thumbs up! That’s normal. Why? Jesus experienced it. When you are rejected move away. Once you feel you are avoided by someone, never disturb them again. Don’t force the acceptance. “But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.” Moving away is not an act of cowardice but a wonderful gesture of love. I am moving away not because I hate you, but because I care for you. “Love is kind.” Friends, rejection does not mean you are not good enough. It just mean that the other person failed to notice what you have to offer. Some people are going to reject you simply because you shine so bright for them. That’s fine. Keep shinning anyway. (You are awesome) but others are blinded by their bias and pride! In our life, I think there are many times that we reject Jesus and try to throw Him away from us by doing dishonesty, graft and corruption, deceit, cheating, unfaithfulness and many more. Today we are invited the standard of love. Blessings Fr. Jhack

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

MUSTARD SEED

Friday of the Third week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 4:26-34 Why do Jesus often used smallness in describing the Kingdom of God? “It is like a mustard seed.” What do mustard seed teaches us about God’s Kingdom? Friends, allow me to share three S with you. First, like the seed START SMALL. Start being a seed and end up like a huge tree producing more seeds. Like the mustard seed, I know you have the capacity and ability to make wonders. Do not forget this: you are an enormous giant enfold and wrapped in a tiny seed! Do not be ashamed to start small. Never be afraid to begin as a bantam. Never be terrified to start as an amateur. Remember, the biggest in the world is little in its beginning. If you want to go big, STOP THINKING SMALL. You might be small but your potentials are huge. You might be little but your undiscovered abolity is great. There is greatness in you! No matter how small you are, you have an overwhelming power to surprise your skeptics and critics. Many will see you as a seed but they never know that you are like a precious golden tree hidden inside that insignificant seed. My priestly journey was like a mustard seed. I started as an ordinary church goer who became a knight of the Altar. After several years I ended up a priest and now a vocation director of our diocese looking for more seeds like me to grow in the blvineyard of God. Second, never underestimate the value and worth of being small because it is not what it is but it is about what it become. Small can be mighty. Friends, the second S is boosting your faith, I mean SUPERSIZE your faith. Start building your empire by gathering small insignificant stones. Stop wasting your loony or peso because that’s how you start your billions. Do not be discouraged if you have only one subscriber today for that’s how you start your road to fame. Never be upset if you had only a word in your thought because that’s how you begin your number 1 selling books. For now things may small but one day they will be huge and super great. To supersize your faith, you need this three reminders. First, endure the struggles. Second, do what is right. And third, never abandon your confidence in God. Finally, from being a seed, we are challenge to provide a SHADE to others. Thats the final S stands for. When God will give you the opportunity to grow, never forget to be the refuge and shelter of others. We grow not for ourselves but for people around us. The secret of growth is helping others to grow. The end of growth is to produce more shade and comfort to those struggling to start. Keep growing my dear friends and allow Jesus to be part of your small steps towards greatness and success. Do not be stressed over the things you can not control. Like the farmer after the planting time learn to sleep and believe in tomorrow. Trust in the Lord. The results are not in our control. Just do the planting because when God is with you, what you have planted will surely bloom and be the source of more blessings. Blessings Fr. Jhack

PRODUCTION IS OUR MISSION

Friday of the Third week in Ordinary Time: Year C Mark 4:26-34 Jesus often uses images of smallness when describing the heavenly kingdom. What do mustard seeds teaches us about the Kingdom of God? I would like to share 3P’s with you guys: First, like the seed allnof us has the POTENTIALS TO GROW. It is the smallest of all the seeds but once aown it grows up and becomes the largest of plants.” (Lahat tayo ay may kakayanan at kakayahang umasenso, maging banal, maging mabuting tao at maging maayos muli ang mga nasirang relasyon) Like the seed we are invited to grow. Second, in growing we need to be PATIENT. Friends don’t refuse to grow. Take note: when we start to grow some others may destroy us, hate us, criticize us and will make our life miserable. Be patient anyway. Trust in the Lord and do good that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. Take delight in Him and He will grant you your heart desire. Be grateful if we have critics and oppositions because they are the one who will bring the best in us. Be happy if you have oppositions because one day when you are patient “they will take shelter in your shade.” Be patient sometimes we have to go through the worst to get the best. Be patient, great things take time. Finally like the seed our mission is to produce. PRODUCTION is our mission. How to produce? Dream big but start small. It is not about what it is, it is about what it become. Friends, start small and end big. The biggest in the world is small in its beggining. Value the small and insignificant events in your life. I know it may seem small but it us not about what it is, its about what it become. Friends bear in mind that success is a result of small and insignificant moment to moment choices that add to big results. Small does not meant insignificant. Small can be mighty. Little by little, little becomes a lot. Little things are big. To have big production, stay low to level up. Why? Because humility is the mother of all giants. Like a seed you have the potentials to grow. (Malaki ang potential mo). Therefore, never give up. Don’t be discouraged and don’t be dissappointed. Aasenso ka rin! Blessings Fr. Jhack

ZERO TO HERO

Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Mark 4:21-25 Our first reading for today speaks about the prayer of David. His prayer shows how God keeps His promises. Let me rephrase the promise of God to David in this way: “Dahil pinagawan mo ako ng BAHAY, aayusin ko ang iyong BUHAY.” David’s life had been full of ups and downs. His story is typical drama of rag to riches chronicle. Like David we have an entire book of promises that God has given us. God promise good things to us and His promise is to bless us. Friends, the Lord is not slow to fulfill His promises. I am pretty sure that you can be the next David too. Believe that God will raise you up from rag to riches. God will move you up from zero to a hero. God will boost you up from nothing to something. Friends, start unknown, finish unforgetable. How to be a blessing in return? Let me share 3L according to what the gospel for today says. First, we are invited to be a LIGHT. Darkness exist but do not dwell there. Using the lamp as an analogy the Lord reminds us to expose the invissible. “For there is nothing secret that will not come to light.” Friends, we all stories we’ll never tell but remember what’s done in the dark will come to the light. Our world is in need of sunshine and hope. Be the light. Share some sunshine with the people you met today. Second the gospel reminds us to LISTEN. Pay attention! “the measure you give will be the measure you get.” People start to heal the moment they feel heard. We have two ears ans one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. Everytime we listen we reveal the power of God. When we pay attention we see what dont see. Today refrain from talking much and I think that will solve everything. Open your ears and close your mouth. Finally, the gospel reminds us to LOVE. “The measure you give will be the measure you get.” Friends, what goes around comes around. I am cinvinced that life is like an echo. What you send out it comes back. What you give you get. What you see in others, exist in you. What you sow, you reap. If you give a blessing, blessing will be your reward in an outstanding accuracy. Friends, give good energy and it comes back to you “For to those who have, more will be given.” Doing good and favors to others is not a duty. It is a joy for it increase your own happiness. NB: Blessing operates when we start to be LIGHT. Blessing flows when we LISTEN. Blessing achieved when we promote LOVE! Like lamps our purpose should not be hidden. Blessings, Fr. Jhack Diaz

YOU ARE NOT A WOLF!

Feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus Luke 10:1-9 “See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves” My dear friends we are called to behave like lamb in the midst of wolves. Wolves were considered dangerous, deceptive and desirous of the weak. Who are they? This might sound judgmental and harsh but their is certain truth with what I am going to say. Wolves are those false teachers within the Church. They love to Lord over the ignorant and the weak. They are those somebody who love to spread fake news in the cyber world. They are those people in the government taking advantage of their power and position. They are those parents and guardians who abandon their parental responsibility. They are those abusive individuals. They might be someone close to you. Be wise! There are presence of wolves everywhere. That is why we need someone to help us to fight for this kind of enemy. How? Never walk alone. Shun individualism. “And He sent them two by two.” Friends, learn from this: “Alone we can do little, together we can do so much.” Be part of something bigger than yourself. There are wolves in the church, in the government, in the schools, in our family and basically around us. “Take courage” says the Lord. We will surely meet hostility and hatred because of Jesus but continue to bear witness to God’s values and teachings. Behave and act like a lamb because you are not a wolf. Blessings Fr. Jhack

BRING JESUS.

Wednesday within the Third weeknin Ordinary Time: Year C Feast day of Sts. Timothy and Titus Luke 10:1-9 The readings today all point to the central theme of proclaiming the Good News. In the Gospel today, Jesus sends out pairs of two on a mission in order to preach together where Jesus plans to go. Why two by two? Because proclaiming the kingfom of God is not a solitary mission, its not a one man show, nor individual activity but a COMMUNITARIAN MISSION. In going for mission, we don’t need to bring our temporal and material possesions. People don’t need it. What they need is Jesus. People don’t need our achievements and recognitions. What they need is Jesus. Temporal possessions brings artificial happiness but Jesus gives us real joy. If we have Jesus, peace is assured and hospitality of people is secured. Jesus also told his disciples, I am sending you “like lambs among wolves”. Friends, what are you? Do you behave like lamb or are you like a wolf? Simetimes I feel guilty because I felt like I am a wolf sent to the group of innocent lambs. Instead of bringing Jesus to others I brought with me my pride, my selfishness, my achievements. These things sometimes distract the imperative tasks of spreading the goodnews. Today, our gospel is telling me, "Fr. Jhack like the disciples you are sent to go out to spread God's kingdom but carry no purse, no bag, bring no sandals."Why is this? To bring nothing means to save me and you from the trap of materialism. All we need to bring is JESUS. Only Jesus, always Jesus. If we bring Jesus we can cure the sick. If we bring Jesus, we can cast out demons. If we bring Jesus we can be the source of healing and peace. If we bring Jesus people will welcome you and give you something to eat. Suffice it to say, if we have Jesus, we have everything so why bother to carry those unnecessary stuffs. Right? Please don’t be ashamed to proclaim God's message for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but power of love and self-discipline. Let us asked Jesus that those who are called for mission especially the (bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians) will behave like lambs not as wolves. May they bring the Bible not their iphones. May they will bring the cross not the sword. As you go out, bring Jesus with you, ONLY JESUS, ALWAYS JESUS. Blessings Fr. Jhack

BRING THE WORD NOT THE SWORD

Conversion of St. Paul Mark 16:15-18 Today we celebrate the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. From being Saul who was once a great notorious persecutor of the early christians; he became Paul and turned to be a great apostle to the Gentiles. Three points that I would like to share today. First, conversion is not impossible. If God himself has called Saul who caused the suffering and misery of many early christians, he can also transform us from being beast to best. Friends, like St. Paul our life is constantly under construction. God is not finished yet with us. (Read Philippians 1:6) Let us be reminded that God is still putting our life in it’s proper place and perspective just the way He planned it. God is not done with us. It is not over until He says it is over. There is always something to improve in us. Everyday God is giving us the opportunity to better ourselves. Friends, if you are not aware that you are the cause of the misery and suffering of others; God will surely give you a Damascus” experience so that you will become a great source of joy, healing, unity and blessings. God is not finished writing your story. Second, encounter with the Jesus will change us instantly. When we encounter the Lord, He will change the way we think. He will change our perspectives. He will make our vission clearer and sharper. He will give us new heart, new passion and new interesting mission. Just be aware that every goods that comes to ourlives are the result of our connection with Jesus. Now, what what do we need to do? Today’s gospel is telling us to believe. Have faith! You will not be condemened if you believe. You can work miracles if you believe. What miracles? Those who believe in Jesus can cast out demons. You can speak in new tongues. You can cure sickness and no deadly drink can hurt you. Suffice it to say, God will give you the ability to transform the world and make it a better place to live in. Paul conversion does not only change himself but it also change the world. Finally, the conversion of St. Paul is inviting us to break away from our former evil ways of life. Nowadays, our world needs “St. Paul’s” who will take the goodnews to all the world. Be reminded that conversion is not a solo flight. It is not a one man-show. We need someone to guide us. We need the help of others around us to better ourselves. In the same way, God will always give you someone to accompany you to the road of conversion. Friends, never be discouraged because God will always sent you an Ananias to guide you to start your new journey. God will never sends you into a situation alone. He will always send yoy the right one at the right time. And most importantly, never forget that God is with you forever to finish your race. Go out to all the world and proclaim the goodnews.Bring the WORD not the SWORD. Blessings Fr. Jhack

BEAST TO BEST.

Tuesday within in the Third Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Mark 16:15-18 Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle Our gospel reading for today speaks about the importance of believing. “The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.” Friends, never stop believing because miracles happens everyday. There is always hope even when we are at the lowest point of our life. I am a living testimony for that. You know what, there was a moment in my life when I thought it was the end of everything. I felt like my dreams was shattered and I felt like miracles are impossible. Im hoping against hope but I was mistaken because life taught me that failures are not final. Brethren, believe in what you pray for. What we believe, we receive. Friends, the world change when we change our perspective. Saul was once a Christian persecutor turns to be Paul and became great apostle to the Gentiles. Have patience, God is not finish yet. The conversion of St. Paul is reminding us that our life is constantly under construction. There is always something to improve. Your miracle could be just around the corner. Everything is going to be okay at the end! NB: Like St. Paul, let us transform ourselves from BEAST TO BEST! Switch from BITTER TO BETTER. Believe that what is IMPOSSIBLE will become POSSIBLE. Blessings, Fr. Jhack