BE QUICK TO RECONCILE

Thursday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 5:20-26 In today’s Gospel Jesus is talking about holding unto grudges, anger, hurt and perhaps even hate. Friends, the Lord is inviting us to avoid unkind words. We are invited to choose love rather than hatred. Why? Because anger is one letter short to danger. It is a feeling that makes your mouth work faster than your mind. Friends, hold your words when you are upset because words spoken in anger leave a scar that can never be healed. Becareful with your words, once they are said they can only be forgiven, not forgotten. Becareful with bad-mouthing like gossip, slander, and defamation because it kills. Control your tongue! Finally, going to church for worship but having someone in life you are not in good terms with; is a fake worship. It is bigotry when we pray and make our offering to God but we keep hurting a brother or sister. “If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift”. People are more important than gifts. The best gift you can offer to God is to make peace with your enemies. Loving God but hating our brother is hypocrisy! Conclusion: People are more important than gifts. Reconciliation should not be delayed. Be quick to forgive. Reconcile right away. Friends, any material gifts are inferior to interpersonal relationships. Our offering is nothing if we keep hurting others. The best gift we can offer to God is making prace with our enemies. Today, “make peace with your brothers and sisters then come back and offer your gift to God.” Blessings Fr. Jhack

LAW KEEPERS

Wednesday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time Matthew 5:17-19 Today’s readings strongly emphasize the importance of God’s laws. In the gospel Jesus warns his disciples that anyone who breaks the law or entices another to break the law will be called “least” in the kingdom of heaven. He also tells his disciples that everyone who obeys and teaches the commandments will be called the “greatest” in the kingdom of heaven. Greatness is measured by being law abiders. Greatness is nothing more than following God’s rules and practising it everyday. When we break God’s law, we are broken into pieces. Friends, we are challenge to be doers not breakers of the law. Nowadays, we don’t need law instructors but law abiders. We need more witnesses than preachers. I remember what Pope Francis have said: “Preach by example, speak if necessary.” My dear friends, “whoever listen to the Word of God and act on it will be great in the kingdom of God.” Let me end my reflection by reminding us that rules are not made to be broken. Life without rules is a chaotic life. Life without rules is a path to danger. Life without rules leads to damnation. When we live without law, we live as if we don’t have freedom. Law puts order. Friends like Jesus let us respect any laws especially the law of God. Let us be law keepers and abiders. Move away from any law breakers because they surely are harmers. Friends, If you want to break something: Break the cycle of sin, break the bond of wickedness. Break your unhealthy relationships. Break your dishonest lifestyle. Break your vices and addictions. Break your ways of hurting others. Break your hypocrisy. Blessed are those who follow the law of the Lord. Blessings Fr. Jhack

SALT AND LIGHT

Tuesday within the Tenth week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 5:13-16 We are called to be salt of the earth and light of the world. To be salt means to give flavor to the world and zest to our community. We christians should not be the cause and reason why the world is spoiling. To be tasteless is to be next to useless. We are invited to be salt because of the following reasons. First, salt is an effective PRESERVATIVES. To avoid the food from spoiling and corruption salt is the perfect remedy. Our world is becoming tasteless that is why as followers of Jesus we are challenge to preserve the gospel values. Our mission is to preserve the virtues and teaching of the Lord. Second, salt is a potent channel for MEDICATION. It is an effective antispetic. To stop the bacteria from spreading just put salt in it. Friends, as christian we are commissioned to be stoppers of bacteria. Let us heal our world from the cintamination of sickness and infection of sin. Finally, salt is use as powerful SEASONING. Friends, wrong seasonings destroys the food. Perfect and best salt cannot be provided by entertainments and by some commercial districts. Hedonistic attachments to alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, toxic relationships and bad habits are salty seasonings. These does not guarantee a meaningful life. Our life will be turned salty if Jesus is not the right seasoning. Our life will be bland and tasteless if Jesus is not our right flavour. Blessings Fr. Jhack

STAND STRONG

Monday of the Tent Week in Ordinary Time Year C John 19:25-27 The gospel of today depicts Mary standing at the foot of the cross watching her son die a horrible death. At time, like these women mentioned in today’s gospel we also found ourselves standing at the foot of the cross. Friends, stand at the cross of Jesus and bring to mind these situation of terrible sufferings like war, family troubles, situation of hunger and etc. Let us entrust to Jesus our worries and pains. We surrender to Him our discomforts. Even at the point of death the heart of Jesus is open to those who suffer. He is dying but He remain concern to his mother and to his disciples. Jesus asked Mary and John to care each other. What I loved most in today’s reading is the last line that says: “And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.” Home is where care is. Caring each other makes our home sweet. Friends, the greatest thing we can do nowadays is to take care each other. Even if you are angry, do not forget to take care of those who makes you upset. Even if you have your own worries, do not neglect the worries of others. Let us not abandon each other. Together is a beautiful place to be. Blessings Fr. Jhack

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Solemnity of the Pentecost John 20:19-23 We have a beautiful responsorial psalm today. “LORD, SEND OUT YOUR SPIRIT AND RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH.” The Solemnity of the Pentecost reminds us of our mission: “RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH.” How? To answer this profound question, let me use our readings as our guide for a better solution. First, the first reading reminds us of the power of language. “All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages.” Friends, let us not be afraid like the apostles because the “Breath of God” gives us the power to penetrate the hearts of the people. The disciples from being timid and fearful they became brave and courageous proclaimers. When we open our life to the Spirit there will be dynamism, energy, vitality and power in us. Language can change people. Language can move the heart. Friends, the power to tear down or build up lies in the power of your language. Remember that words can inspire and can destroy as well. Renew the face of the earth by your kind words. Suffice it to say, to renew the face of the earth speak the language of God alive in different languages. Second, to renew the face of the earth let us be an agent of unity. The Holy Spirit guarantees unity. Diversity should leads to unity. Unity is strength, division is weakness. When there is team work and collaboration wonderful things can be achieved. My dear friends, as church we don’t need to be perfect, we just need to be united. As family, we don’t need to be perfect, we just need to be united. There is no perfect husband, no perfect wife, no perfect priest but we can be a channel of unity. Individualism is a cancer to our community. Individualusm is like a virus. To transform the world we need different minds to work together. Diversity must lead to unity. Take note, unity cannot be spelled without “U.” Please never isolate yourself from your community. Our church is not exclusive! It is not only for brown people nor for the white nor for the black. It is for all and for everybody. Finally, to renew the face of the earth let us be an agent of forgiveness by being a medium of love. “Forgiving is the highest form of loving.” Hiding in the locked door Jesus transformed His apostles by breathing them the Spirit. He recreate dynamism by forgiveness of sin. Forgiveness of sin restore us back to God and the Holy Spirit opens the way back to God through reconciliation. When there is forgiveness of sin peace is serve. Conclusion: Bring a heart that never hates. Carry a smile that never fades. Bring a touch that never hurts and always carry a love that never breaks. Happy birthday to all of us. Let us continue to walk in the road of holiness. Blessings Fr. Jhack

FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter Year C John 21:20-25 Peter in today’s gospel is describe as a meddler-“pakialamero” in tagalog. He is getting into other people’s business! “Lord, what about him” was his comment. Peter is known as an inquisitive person! Today, we are invited to concentrate on our personal calling and mission. God’s call is personal. Do not meddle in the affairs of others. Life is easier if we mind our own business. Successful people never worry about what other people are doing. Sometimes we have a tendency like Peter but let us be aware that getting into other’s bussiness is not our business. Just do what God has assigned you to do and be blessed. Stop troubling yourself. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Finally, at the end of the gospel it says: “There are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” This is telling us that our God is an awesome God. His providence goes beyond what is enough. My dear friends, I would like you to believe that God has store something special for you. I want you to believe that God’s blessings for your life are beyond the limit. Just look up, smile and say: Lord thank you! I deserve nothing but You give me everything. Blessings Fr. Jhack

DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter John 21:15-19 Year C Do you love me? This is an important question. Friends, how much of the things we do, we do it out of love? Do you do things out of love or do you do it for the sake of fulfilling an obligation? Jesus ask Simon: Do you love me more than THESE? The “these” was refered to the fruits of their hard labor in fishing. In short, Simon Peter was asked to choose between Jesus or the income. The gospel for today is very timely because we too are ask to make a better decisions in life. Choosing Jesus is a decision you will never regret. Choose Jesus over the things of this world. Moreover, we are also reminded to do all things with love. Friends, never do things out of money. Avoid doing things just to earn recognitions and praises. If we do something just to receive a recompense it will surely deplete us. But if we do what we do out of love, it will energize us. Mother Teresa once said: “Do small things with great love.” Love demands a loving response. Today, our gospel challenges us to prove our love by feeding and tending the lambs. Love for Jesus must be the foundation of our service. To follow Jesus we must be a person of love. If Jesus were to ask you, Do you love me? How would you respond? Blessings Fr. Jhack

THAT WE MAY BE ONE

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter Year C John 17:20-26 Our Gospel for today shows unto us what prayer is all about. Jesus prays not for himself but for His apostles. Friends, today we are challenged to remember others before we pray for ourselves. Nothing proves that you love someone more than mentioning and remembering them in your private prayers. When we pray for others God listens to us and blesses them. So when you are healthy, successful and happy remember that someone is praying for you. If people spent more time praying for others instead of talking about them they’d get better results. If we love someone, let us pray for them. Pray for peace and unity. Pray for their growth. Pray for their protection. Pray for their happiness. When we pray for each other, something supernatural takes place. Never doubt the power of prayer. I am bless and lucky because I know someone is wasting time praying for me. In today’s gospel Jesus prayed thrice asking the Father that we would all become one as He and the Father are one. There are divisions eveywhere. We live in a world full of divisions. Our lives were fragmented not only by division but also by opposition. Our gispel is very timely and opportune because it is calling us to unite. Oneness is not about evading diversities and eliminating differences. Oneness is all about love. Love is the most powerful weapon that can unite those divided by hatred and hostility. Unity is a sign of God’s presence. Where there is unity division will be gone. No hatred and dissension can rule in a world full of love. Friends, let us unite in love together. Let love be the name of our vaccine. Blessings Fr. Jhack

THE PROMISES OF JESUS

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Year C John 17: 11b- 19 “We are in the world, but not of the world" My dear friends, today’s gospel reading reminds us that our belongingness is not on this planet. As follower Christ we must not be possessed by the worldly cares and concerns. We cannot improve the world if we conform to this world. The world’s values and priorities are less important than that of God. Thus, we are challenge not to conform our life to the standard of this passing world. We can never influence this universe by trying to be like it. This world of ours cannot give us complete joy. Three things to that inspired me after reading the gospel for today. First, God always protecting us “I guarded them and none of them was lost.” Brethren, never think that God does not care for us. He always do! God is fighting our battles, He is arranging things in our favor and making a way even if we dont see a way. God is our protector. Second, He always share His joy with us. We were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, unworthy and condemened. We were created to be victorious. Friends, the joy of heaven outweighs the passing pleasures of this world. God is the only true source of joy. And finally, we belong to Him. Nobody can snatch us away from the Lord. All in us is His. We are no longer of this world. Conclusion: It is better to be child of God than to be king of this world. Blessings Fr. Jhack

MAGNIFICAT

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Luke 1:39-56 “Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country.” Mary is from Nazareth and she had to travel by foot to Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Biblical scholars says, it will take days of travel (2-3days maybe) going to Judea. Travelling before is not fun compared today. It was their tradition before that travellers had to carry with them their gods to protect them from any danger and harm along the way. But for Mary she never carry any gods because she bring with her the God of gods-Jesus in her womb. She too is pregnant! “And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” The visitation episode is telling us that if we carry Jesus with us we don’t need any amulets for protection. We don’t need lucky charms to carry. Jesus is enough! If we bring Jesus, we will be the source of joy for others. “For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy.” Today, its my prayer that all of us will be pregnant of Jesus. (Mabuntis sana tayo at ang batang ating isisilang ay si Hesus.) Like Mary and Elizabeth, if we say yes to God, He can turn the impossible to possible. He can make your burdens into blessings. He can transform your trials into triumphs. Your mourning will be change into rejoicing. We need to have faith like Mary and Elizabeth. When we trust God the blessings He promised is from generation to generation. Finally, the Magnificat is the record of God’s mighty things done to Mary. God always favor the lowly than the arrogant. God loves the humble than the proud. Today, the gospel is inviting us to be humble and recall the great things God has done for us. Be grateful for all of them. Dont complain just be grateful. Friends what is your Magnificat? Blessings Fr. Jhack

TAKE COURAGE

May 30, 2022 Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter Year C John 16:29-33 What makes you depress? Are you frustrated by your failures? Are you broken hearted? Are you tired of everything? This message is for you! Today, the gospel is reminding us to continue to trust that with God we can overcome all obstacles and challenges in our life. “Take courage; I have conquered the world!” Folks, keep going no matter how hard life is. It maybe a bad day but its not a bad life. Remember, every difficulty is an opportunity in disguise. Don’t quit but do it. Moreover, peace and courage are two gifts that Jesus wants to leave with us. “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.” Peace is knowing that we have company. We are not alone in our struggles. And courage is acknowledging that God’s strength will shine out even in our human weakness. Friends, don’t let fear stops you. Bravery is the solution to regrets. Guys, go forth and be fierce. Blessings Fr. Jhack