THREE S

Monday within the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 5:38-42 Let me start with this story: From his death bed. the husband called his wife and said, "One month after I die I want you to marry Samy." "Samy! But he is your enemy!" "Yes, I know that ! I've suffered all these years so let him suffer now ." Let me share 3S for today’s reflection. First, Life is SHORT. Our life span is 70, 80 for those who are strong. Friends, since life is short the purpose of life is not to live long but to live well. Better short but memorable than long but miserable. Remember that! We threfore are challenge to make the rest of our life the best of our life. How to live a memorable life? 1. Eliminate hatred in your life. Hatred, anger and resentment are the reasons why people suffer from highblood pressure, depression and hopelessness. 2. Take no revenge. Abstain all forms of retaliation. 3. Forgive. Not to forgive is like drinking a poison and expecting others to die. Second, let us make our life SACRED everyday. Live a holy life. How? 1. Be mindful that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Dont destroy it with drugs, alcohol, sex and toxic relationships. Your body is sacred. Respect it. Dont destroy it with over eating, over sleeping. 2. Life is sweet if there is no division. Unity is a sign of holiness. We have to avoid faction and division. There is no holiness in division. Unity is power, unity is strength. 3. Spent your heaven by doing good things on earth. Friends, ARE YOU GOOD? Finally, God wants us to be SAINTS. Be holy as I am holy. Be perfect as our Father is perfect. How to be holy? 1. Love your enemies. 2. Pray for them! 3. Return evil with good. Love is the weakness of the enemy. Be holy by being good and be good by loving. Blessings Fr. Jhack

THE GOSPEL IS NOT FOR SALE

Saturday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 10:7-13 Today our gospel is telling me personally, "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." As a priest, my primary interest is God not material possessions. My mission is to proclaim the message of God not to accumulate things of this world. All I need to bring is JESUS. Only Jesus, always Jesus. Friends, 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 a source of healing and peace. If we bring Jesus with us people will welcome you and give you something to eat. Suffice it to say, if we have Jesus, we have everything. 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. Friends let us renounce wealth and possessions and start spreading the good-news. Let us stop worrying about clothing, money, shelter because God will provide. We should only take what is essential and leave behind whatever would distract our mission. Renouncing the treasures of this world will free us from greed and from the danger of materialism. The lesser our possessions the more we become effective evangelizers. Remember, like the disciples we are sent to bring life, healing and renewal. Everything we received are free so let us return it back without payments. "Freely you have received, freely give." Friends, the Gospel is not for sale. It is free of charge! As a man of God I am called to serve with full of charity and live a life with utmost simplicity. Blessings Fr. Jhack

PURITY OF HEARTS

Friday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 5:27-32 “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Adultery is a pandemic. The weapon it brings is a virus called lust. Lust is an addiction that begins with the thought that something physical can instantly fill up our emptiness inside. Because of lust families were destroyed. Because of lust healthy relationships were shattered. Because of lust good number of children transformed the street as their homes. Because of lust, cheating became a passion. Because of lust people were deprived of a genuine joy. Because of lust the world were filled with so much tears and regrets. And you know what, lust creates a long line up of people towards the gate of hell. Remember my dear friends, the price of dishonesty is always self-destruction. Friends, lust is a self destructive drug. To medicate ourselves from this addiction let us fill our life with the vitamins called love. Love is the prescription from the Divine Physician. The desire of God is to save us from being drowned in the ocean of destruction flooded with disoriented sexual fantacies. The desire of God is for us to grow in love. Friends, let me share the difference of love and lust. Love is of God and lust is devil’s. Love is eternal and long but lust is temporary and short. (Invest in a long term love not is a short term lust.) Love is the rose and lust is the thorn. Lust shouts but love whispers. The desire of love is to give but the desire of lust is to take. Folks, do not let lust consumed you. Do not let it be a sharp knife that will only kill you in the end. You know what, a man and woman controlled by lust is a foolish individual. When you allow to express your emotions in lust it will surely drain you. The more lustful you are the more weak you become. But if you reorrient and refocus your sexual energy to your passion amazing things will surprise you. Great is the reward for those who transform lust into love. Friends, today long to see the face of the Lord as our Reposorial Psalm is telling us and not look at the woman lustfully. Save yourself from the pit of destruction. Nowadays, people don’t want to hear the truth because they dont want to destroy their illusion. God’s version of reality is very beautiful that no man can make it. Friends, adultery is a grave mortal sin. Becareful of the devil’s trap. Just because someone desires you, it does not mean they value you. Read this again and again. Let those word sink in your mind. This could be the day you stop doing that self-destructive thing you do. Whatever causes you to sin, destroy it. Adultery can be avoided if you always remember who you are! Blessings Fr. Jhack

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