PURIFY YOUR HEARTS

Tuesday of Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 7:1-13 Our gospel speaks about ritual purity:sanitary concerns. The Scribes and Pharisees questioning Jesus for violating their tradition and practice of purity-washing hands before meals. It is very clear for Jesus that it is not what goes into our mouths that makes us unclean. Friends, the gospel is telling us that the problem is not the stomach but the heart. Sanitize your hands but never forget to purify your hearts. Cleanliness is not only an external concerns but primarily on internals affairs too. If we are clean externally but dirty internally that is hypocrisy. For Jesus, if we want to know the things that defiles us let us look into our hearts. I hate to say this but my dear friends, if our hands are clean but we are stealing stuff we dont own, we are dirty. If our hands are pretty but our thoughts are adulterous, lustful possess a pornographic memory, we are dirty. If our hands are spotless but we are malicious, greedy slanderous, dishonest and gossipers, we are dirty. Remember this: sin does not begin in the stomach but it starts in the hearts. What we eat may make us dirty but it won’t make us a sinner. Its unhealty but not unholy. Cleansing our hands does not make our hearts pure. Friends, moral cleanliness is more important than ritual purity. I love people with dirty hands than people with dirty mouth. Today be cautious with someone whose actions does not match with their words. What defiles a person is his own actions no the food he eats. Sorry to say this: It is hypocrisy when we are smiling but deep within we are upset and angry. We are fake if we praise the Lord but cursing other people. It is hypocrisy if we are praying in the church but swearing at home. It is hypocrisy when we say I love you but our actions shows hurts and hate. Hypocrites claim to know God but their actions deny Him. Hypocrites love to wear white robes but live in darkness. Hypocrites have clean hands but with dirty hearts. “This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Fellow sinners our heart needs help of heaven. Let us cry out to Jesus right now and ask Him to make us clean both in and out. Amen! Blessings Fr. Jhack

GOD’s GRACE IS ENOUGH.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 5:1-11 When God calls someone for a mission the feeling of unworthiness is always the immediate response. Isaiah finds himself not worthy of God’s invitation because of his unclean lips. Paul judges himself to be unworthy of the call because of his past as former persecutor of the believers. Peter doubts the words of Jesus telling him to drop his net one more time. These three men in today’s readings acknowledged their inadequacy, weaknesses and vulnerabilities. However, amidst of their excuses God qualifies and sanctifies them. Friends, when we start to be aware of our unworthiness and nothingness that is the perfect time to take a first step into deep water and follow the Lord. The moment we recognized our sinfulness that is the perfect indication of God’s active presence in our life. Our sins does not disqualify us to continue the missionary work of Jesus. At times we feel like Isaiah Paul and Peter in today’s reading. We feel so unfit, however let me tell you my dear friends that perfection is not a requirement to follow the Lord. Just like Isaiah be ready to say “Here I am Lord, send me.” Your dirty mouth can be used by God to speak the truth. Sometimes our mouth is dirty because we fed it with gossips. We fed it with dirty and bad words. We swear. We curse. We insult people. We use our mouth for profanity. Our mouths are sometimes dirty because we use it to complain and vehicle of spreading dishonesty. Just like Paul believe that it is God’s grace who makes us deserving. “I am what I am because of God’s grace.” God’s grace will sufficiently uphold us amidst of our limitations. Like Peter just drop your net. Friends, never allow your dirtiness, fears, and doubts paralyzed God’s trust in you. As Rick Warren once said: “In God’s garden of grace, even a broken tree can bear fruit.” The grace of God makes everything possible. We may think we are not good enough but God’s grace is beyond our imagination. God’s grace is enough. Blessings Fr. Jhack

NEVER GIVE UP

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 5:1-11 Most of the disciples of Jesus were fishermen. Of course, fishing is their way of life. When Jesus called them to be fishers of men, they stop fishing and followed Jesus for three years. But when Jesus died, they were frustrated and they went to their old ways of living:they went back fishing again. The problem was, they caught nothing. “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing.” Maybe they are trying so hard, giving their best, tried every possible means but end up nothing! For Peter it was a fruitless night. The effort does not corresponds to the effects. Friends, we may be like these disciples. Perhaps there are moments in our life that we tried everything but nothing happened. We give our best but seems our best are not enough. We try but we failed. We felt frustrated, disappointed, discouraged and seemingly wanted to give up. Maybe some of us here are undergoing difficult and hard time in our spiritual life, frustrations with our financial life, emotional imbalance or perhaps troubled marriage. Today the gospel is telling us: “Don’t give up, try something new.” Cast and lower your net again and you will find something. Three points I would like to share with you guys. First, when you are disappointed, discouraged and frustrated, never give up. Raised your hands to the Lord and let Him take over. Surrender your problems to Jesus. Don’t give up because great things take time. Remember, life has two rules. Rule number one, never give up. Rule number two, always go back to rule number one. If your plan A didn't work, stay cool for the alphabet has 25 more letters. Second, when you are frustrated, do not try to be tempted to go back to your old ways.(fishing to fishing). Try something new! The Lord wants us to grow. Start something new and fresh because life is great and amazing amidst of failures. Try to be better version of yourself everyday. Take this in mind: success is a journey not a destination. Try something new for old ways won’t open new doors. Friends, when you are tired passing through the doors, tried to get in the window because some windows are wider than doors. Finally, when we allow Jesus to come into our lives; amidst of our imperfections and unworthiness, we will no longer be dragging the burden of problems but we will enjoy the overflowing blessings of God. Amidst of our sins, we have a God who is ready to turn our frustration to celebration. God will always transform our burden into blessings. He will change our sorrow to joy. He will turn our cross to a crown Our trials will be changed into triumphs. If Jesus is all we have, we have all what we need. In our nothingness God will be our everything. Friends, never get frustrated by our emptiness. “Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on.” Duc in altum! Here I am Lord send me. Blessings Fr. Jhack

JESUS THE ROCK STAR

Monday of Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 6:53-56 The magnetism of Jesus is extraordinary. He is like a rock star: a very famous healer that attracts the crowd anywhere. Many sick people went to him to be healed. In fact, they recognized Him everywhere. “As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.” They flock to Jesus because they wanted something-healing. Friends, it is good to reflect on our own motives why we go to the Lord or why we pray. Do we go to church because we want something or because we love Him? Do we recognized Jesus in the Eucharist? St. Ignatius of Antioch thus calls the Eucharist, “the medicine of immortality, and the antidote to prevent us from dying, which causes that we should live forever in Jesus Christ.” Lord, help us to recognize your voice, help us not to be allured by the madness of the world, so that we will never fall away from you. Friends, live in such a away others may recognize that you have been with Jesus. Finally, people flock to Jesus because they wanted to be healed. Today, we are reminded that broken things can be blessed if you let Jesus do the mending. Let God work on you in your journey in life. Friends, healing begins when we let go of the past hurts, forgive those who have wronged you and learn to forgive yourself for your mistakes. Give God your weakness and He will give you His strenght. Blessings Fr. Jhack

TOUCH

Monday within the Fifth week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 6:53-56 The gospel reminds us of two important realities. First, many desperate people were sick and in dire need of healing. Sick people were everywhere. They’re in market places, in villages, in the cities and even in the farm. The world turns to be a portrayal of a hospital. Second, Jesus is like a magnet. He attracts many followers especially the needy. Wherever he goes people sticking towards him. They wanted to touch him because they believed that by merely touching Jesus it will bring them healing and speedy recovery. Nowadays, many were sick because nobody cares. Many were suffering because nobody touch them. Many were hospitalized because we lost our sense of sympathy. Friends, touch has a healing effect. Touch is the magic wand of healing. Touch is a deep expression of care. Touching people allows the grace of God to overflow. My dear friends, when you do kot know what to say, a simple touch is enough. Touch were invented to let people know that care doesn’t need a word. A touch can be expressed in a form of embrace, hugs, holding hands or tapping one’s shoulder. Never underestimate the power of touch. Touching is healing. Let me end by giving you guys the meaning of accronym of TOUCH. Touch is…. T-eraphy O-pportunity to care U-se it C-ure H-ealing. Blessings Fr. Jhack

OFFLINE IS THE NEW LUXURY.

Saturday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 6:30-34 “You must come away to some lonely place…. And rest for awhile.” In our very busy world the Lord is telling us like His disciples to have a short break. “Rest for a while” means we have to relax, get refresh and recharge. Human as we are we need to take a break from being too hectic activities. Find a quiet, private time. Allow yourself to slow down and you will gain the benefit of a quiet mind. Friends, we cannot give our best unless we learn to stop for a moment and get refreshed. Today have a day off and be rejuvenated. We have to invest in rest. We need to rest. Offline is the new luxury! How to rest? Go to pray. Find a desserted place to commune with God. A prayerful person is like a magnet that attracts people. We need to pray because the more we pray the powerful we become. Why do we need to rest? Because there are so many people like sheep without a shepherd that needs our time, energy and support. Be a good shepherd. Forget about your phone and spent time with your love ones. Make no room for regrets. “And He began to teach them many thing.” Blessings Fr. Jhack

REST FOR A WHILE

Saturday of the 4th Week in Ordinary time Year C Mark 6:30-39 “Rest a while in a quiet place” The apostles had their “reunion” after a successful mission tour. They reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. Jesus noticed that his apostles were weary, tired and exhausted so he invited them to a place of solitude to rest for a while. Our world is a crazy hectic place that is why our gospel for today is teaching us one important lesson-WE NEED TO REST. Call it a rest day, day-off, we need it!(But only if you’ve been working-out). Rest is a sweet sauce of labor and hardwork. If we don’t rest we won’t be able to take care of others. When we take time to replenish our spirit, it allows us to serve others from the overflow. Remember, we cannot serve from an empty vessel. Brethren, relax, rest, turn off your alarm clocks and unwind you need it but “REST FOR A WHILE”. The best way to rest is to spent it in prayer. Like the apostles tell Jesus the story of your success in your prayers. There is weariness in ministry but tiredness is not an excuse not to pray. Rest but don’t quit! Blessings Fr. Jhack

HOW TO TELL THE TRUTH?

Friday within the Fourt week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 6:14-29 How to tell the truth? Let me suggest 3B’s BRAVE- be fearless infront of the abusive giants. Be like David in the face of a proud Goliath. Like John, have the ability to move forward inspite of the horror of fear. Never allow the threats paralyze you. If you smell something fishy, have the courage to expose it so that you will not be suffocated by its own stinks. BOLD- break the culture of hypocrisy. Mute the fake. Silence the impostor. Inform the dumb and the rectify the pretender. Friends, push yourself and be comfortable being uncomfortable. Be a daredevil. Let the truth sets us free. BELIEVE IN GOD Truth will always prevails no matter how powerful the one who hides it. In the face of evil, God has plan. Give it to Him including your fears, your worries and all that makes your night sleepless. Friends, God is still good even if life is not. God will be our strenght. You know what, I would rather lose my head for the sake of truth like John than to keep it by ignoring justice. Are you ready to lose your head too for the sake of truth? Blessings Fr. Jhack

TELL THE TRUTH

Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 6:14-29 John publicly criticized Herod for having an illicit union with his brother’s wife named Herodias. Friends, the gospel for today is telling us that having an illicit affair with someone outside marriage is not pleasing with God. Hebrews 13:4 reminds us of this: “Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.”Friends, let me say this loud and clear; adultery, premarital sex, cheating, concubinage, sodomy and other forms of inordinate sexual tendency is morally wrong and sinful. Today, let us be like John the Baptist. Let us not compromised the moral principles with fear. Speak the truth even if your voice shakes. Make it a habit to hurt someone with truth than comfort them with a lie. Let us shame the devil by loving the truth. The only people who mad at you for speaking the truth are those people living a lie. Nowadays, we are surrounded with so many Herods including ourselves. John is a wonderful great model and guide for all of us. He was never afraid to blew the whistle in the face of injustice. He put his life in danger for what he believed is morally right. We have to become like John-strong in the midst of evil and injustice. Like John we have to speak honestly, boldly and courageously and not be afraid of the consequences of the right thing we’ve done. Dare to speak the truth to shame the devil. As I always tell you friends, “Telling the truth and making someone cry is better than telling a lie and making someone smile.” NB: John was beheaded because of a dance performance. Today, try to dance not take one’s life but dance to praise the Lord. (Psalm 149:3) Express your prayer in a form of dance. If you wish your intentions to have an immediate result, accompany your prayers with a choreography of truth. Blessings Fr. Jhack

DROP IT.

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 6:7-13 Jesus sent his disciples two by two with an instructions to cast out demons, to proclaim the gospel and to remind people to repent. In doing so, they were told to BRING NOTHING. No money, no food, no bad and no extra clothes.Three points that I would like to share. First, like the disciples we too are reminded to bring nothing because our security does not depend on our properties. What we have sometimes are the major reasons for the DELAY of our mission. It could also lead to the DESTRUCTION of our goal. And what we have may sometimes DISTURB us of our spirititual expidition. Avoid these stumbling blocks to your operation. Never put your trust in your properties. They are false securities! Second, keep trusting the Divine providence. Friends, you will never be hungry if you work for God. You will always have a place of refuge if you serve the Lord. As missionary our trust to God includes also in trusting people’s generosity and kindness. Trust the Lord and you will not be put to shame. When was the last time you tell the Lord: “Lord in you I put my trust.” Finally, we are invited today to dump and cast aside the non essentials. Friends, what makes your journey heavy? What gives you so much weight that burden your journey? DROP IT OFF! I am sure there were horrible memories that keep on haunting your beautiful life, forget about it. All those sorrowful and tragic events in the past, don’t carry it with you. Abandon those traumatic and distressing remembrance in your life. Forget those people who makes your life journey complicated. Disown those abusive partner you uhave in the past. Dump those barbaric friends who drained your energy. Ditch those monstrous collegues in your life. There are properties of yours that gives you headaches everyday, let it go. DROP ALL OF THEM! To make your journey light and easy, bring Jesus with you instead. Conclusion: Travel light. Trust the Lord Testify to Jesus. Blessings Fr. Jhack

TWO BY TWO

Thursday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 6:7-13 “Take nothing for the journey” God send the twelve for mission and their assignment is to drive out demons, to proclaim the gospel and to tell people to repent. “Bring nothing: no money, no food, no bag etc.” Our gospel is telling us one important reminder: Our security does not depends on our property. Folks, ALWAYS TRUST IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. Never mind of the temporal and ephemeral things just have the conviction that the Lord will take care of you and your needs. Money, foods and other supplies cannot drive out demons. Money, bread etc. cannot transform and heal people; only God. Money, food, etc makes the life of people complicated. Friends, people dont need money, they need God. Perhaps they have more money than what you have so bring nothing. Trust God not in your belongings. Like the twelve our focus is to eliminate the evil around us not to filled our life with “unnecessary extras”. Like the twelve our mission to provide healing. Friends, how many people has been hurt by you because of your carelessness and aarogance? Our mission is to heal people not to hurt them. In extending a support or a help please never be tempted to receive a recompense. “You received without payment; give without payment.” Friends, service is free of charge. Healing is free. When you demand for payment you are healing but hurting them. Remember, the gospel is not for sale. Finally, my dear brothers and sisters, dont worry for God is never blind to your tears, He is never deaf to your prayers, He is never silent to your pains. He sees, He hears, He will deliver. God will always provide, IT JUST MIGHT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN MIND. As a missionary we are challenge to depend on the Providence of God through the generosity of others. Friends, believe me; you will never be hungry if you will work for God. You will always have a place to stay if you will serve Him. Today find your buddy and start your journey! Blessings Fr. Jhack