SIGNS

Monday of the Sixthteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 12:38-42 This morning I would like to share three D’s with you. First, our gospel present a DEMAND from the Phrisees. They asked Jesus for a sign. But Jesus told them, “No sign wil be given them except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Jesus compares himself to Jonah, the prophet who preached conversion. We need spiritual transformation in our life. Friends, asking for a sign indicates a lack of faith. If we demand for signs it means we don’t believe. The Pharisees are blind to the greatest SIGN before them who is Jesus. If we forget and remove God from our life SIGNS will be turned into SINS. Friends, signs are not the means of God to prove Himself. Secondly, if the signs we demanded were not granted don’t be DISAPPOINTED! Jesus wanted us to put our total trust in Him. “There is greater than Solomon here” says the Lord. In the Eucharist, Jesus continue to reveal Himself. The Eucharist is the greatest sign of God. With deep faith let us open our eyes and welcome Him in our heart. Finally, the gospel is challenging us to DECLARE Jesus. How? Let ourselves be the greatest signs that the world can see so that others may come to know Jesus. How to be an effective sign? In our first reading we are told to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. Friends, God always show His saving power to the upright. You know what, the surest sign that you accept accept is your joy. Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God. Blessings Fr. Jhack

BE MARY IN A MARTHA’S WORLD

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 10:38-42 What real hospitality is? Today’s gospel is the story of two hospitable sisters. Martha who is busy with the work of the Lord, and Mary who is more interested in knowing the Lord of the work. Mary listened and focused on one thing while Martha talked and unfocused due to many things. Mary welcomed Jesus in her heart while Martha welcome Jesus in her womb. For Martha the priority is service, for Mary her preference is being with the Lord. Friends, true hospitality is found in giving personal attention to guest than being distracted by the duties associated to hospitality. Folks, entertain your guest with your presence not with your food. Mary has choosen the better part because shes reminding us that the best nourishment is spiritual. Authentic hospitality is listening to Jesus. You know what, we always have “Mary’s syndrome.” We work but we complain. Sometimes we love comparison too. Right? Todays gospel is teaching us this lessons: First, our service is meaningless if we keep comparing and complaining. Second, our service is empty if our priority is earthly and not heavenly. Spiritual concerns matter most than material affairs. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Mary trusted Jesus while Martha trusted her own abilities. Finally, work and prayer are not viewed as one of opposition but of complementary. It is not Mary versus Martha; it is Mary and Martha. We must have the balance. Work like Martha and love like Mary. We need to work and we also need to pray. But please let us not compromise our prayer because of our work. Friends, amidst of our busy lifestyles let us not forget to develop a relationship with Jesus. Have a heart of Mary in a Martha world. In the midst of our hectic worldly preoccupations of making a living, we should never overlook the “the best part” that is listening to Jesus. Blessings Fr. Jhack

LOVE IS THE WAY OF JESUS

Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 12:14-21 The Pharisees went out and made plans to get rid of Jesus. Pharisees were insecure people. You know what, insecure people put others down to raise up themselves. Friends, whoever is trying to bring you down is already below you. We cannot fix ourselves by breaking someone else. We cannot elevate ourselves by stepping others down. They begin to plot against Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus left and went to a secluded place. The message of todays gospel is very clear: stay away from violence. When someone is trying to destroy and despise us like Jesus withdrew and run away from that situation. When people hates us, don’t hate them in return but do a favor instead by moving away. The path of Jesus is peace and love. Let us be an advocate of peace and a promoter of love. Folks, we are warned that those who plan evil and wickedness will not prosper. Blessings are reserve only for those who follow the ways of God. Do good to those who hate you and bless those who persecute you. This should be our response towards those who want to get rid of us. Friends, dont end your day with evil in your thoughts. Let us clean our hearts and minds from hatred and violence. Conquer evil by doing good and more good will come upon you. Moreover, the gospel is also reminding us that we cannot please everyone. The best thing we can do is just to believe in ourselves and do what we think is right for us. We will never be happy if we constantly worry what others thinks about us. Be happy. Be yourself. Life is not about pleasing everybody. Blessings Fr. Jhack

MERCY NOT SACRIFICE

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 12:1-8 For the Pharisees sabbath is more on observing the laws and keeping regulations. Sabbath is equated to legalism: standard of regulations and ordinances. Inshort, sabbath is like this- DO THIS, DO THAT. They thought that keeping the laws are more important than helping someone in need. They thought that following the rules are far better than providing food for the hungry. Friends, put more value in people than rules. People are more important than laws. The greatest law is the good of the people. Pharisees were law orriented people but relationships destroyers. They were law abiders but charity breakers. They were faithful to the laws but don’t have love for the needy. Friends, legalism is futile if it lacks the supreme sense of worship. It obeys but it does not adore. Are we this type of people? My dear friends, if we keep on attending daily mass, faithful to our novenas, excellent in praying the rosary but blind to the needs of others there is something wrong in our spiritual life. God desire mercy not sacrifice. Friends, our belief does not make us a better person, our behaviour does. Conclusion: Our religion is not all about rituals and regulations. It is not about worship and sacrifices but most importantly itbis about mercy and compassion. Mercy is not a feeling of pity or sympathy for others. Rather, mercy moves us to action inorder to change the situation of suppression to freedom and wellness. Mercy is not pity but irrational kindness and generosity. Mercy is the essence of sabbath. Today, do not allow Sabbath limits your capacity to multiply mercy. Necessity has no law! Blessings Fr. Jhack

COME TO JESUS

July 14, 2022 Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 11:28-30 Friends are you tired? Exhausted? Worried? Overburdened? If yes then take a rest and surrender all your anxieties, fears or worries in His hands. Place all your concerns to Jesus. He promises that if we come to Him, He will give us rest. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” And the rest He gives will renew, strengthen and restore us. When you are tired vices like drinking, smoking, partying are not the longterm answers. When you are tired sex is not the remedy. When you are tired, vacation and holidays are not the perfect mollification. When you are tired sleeping is not the relief either. Folks, when we are tired the only solution is coming to Jesus. The road to the right refreshment is towards Jesus. Life outside Jesus is burdensome and chaotic. Come to Jesus for He intends rest not stress. If we come to Jesus our stress will be wiped out and we will be blessed. Remember this: you are fully bless not stress! Blessings Fr. Jhack

BE SIMPLE AND HUMBLE

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 11:25-27 In today’s gospel Jesus is condemning intellectual pride. What matter for Jesus is not the head but the heart. Brain is nothing without the heart. Brain is useless if our heart is empty. Friends, IQ has no value if all that we have learned make us forget God. Do not then let our intelligence prevent us from recognizing the Lord. It requires humility to know the Lord. “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” Stay away from intellectual pride. It closes the truth about God. For Jesus the clever and the well-educated people are those who look themselves as infants. Those who are willing to learn new things are the wise and intelligent. A great man is always willing to be little. Folks, the measure of intelligence is the ability to be receptive to God’s teaching. Remember this: Intelligence without spirituality is like a bird without wings. Be childlike no matter what age you are. Behave like infants regardless of your age. Friends let your inner child turn up for it is the gateway for God’s grace and favor to overflow. Blessings Fr. Jhack

NEVER POSTPONE YOUR CONVERSION

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 11:20-24 "Woe to you" means grief, sorrow, misery, terrible calamity will come upon you if you do not repent. The sin of Chorazin, of Bethsaida, and of Capernaum was the sin of doing nothing. I called this indifference-an absence of good deeds! We know and we are very much aware that its bad but we no longer care. We know it is a sin but we don’t care. Indifference! Nowadays, we lost the sense of sin. We don’t care what God and anyone else think. Jesus was so furious and upset with Charazin and Bethsaida because they were not interested in repentance. No signs of changing their evil lifestyle to Godly habits. These towns were not afraid of God. Friends, repentance is not only turning from sin but running to God for forgiveness. You know what, God is not please if we continue to ignore the call to repentance. Friends, repentance pleases God. Today we are reminded that not to repent is a shameful act. It makes God bent out of shape. Conversion is urgent! All of us are obligated to repent of our sins because sin is a transgression of God's law. This is not the final judgement yet. There is still a delay. Friends, there is still time to repent. The sun may rise tomorrow but you nay not. Repent today. Let us not delay our repentance. The most beautiful blessing we have been given is the chance to repent. Warning: If we dont repent, the greatest of all curses, all badlucks and miserable events will fall upon us. True repentance is seen not heard. Offer prayers for the city where you live. Ask God to bring a city wide repentance starting from your local and national leaders. Blessings Fr. Jhack

GOD’S WORD IS LIKE A SWORD

Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Mt 10: 34-11:1 “I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” Jesus’ presence automatically causes division because not all in our family shows loves in Him. The Word of God is like a sword: it separates and divides. This is indeed true because if we try to look at our own family, others express their faith by going to church but some members dont mind going to church at all. Others are prayerful but others are not expressive of their faith. Others believe but others are doubting. I called this as domestic spiritual struggle. My dear friends, we are challenged to witness to our faith in Him. How? First, take up your daily crosses in life and follow Jesus. Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get into heaven. Second, be sensitive to the needs of the insignificant people those we called the “little ones.” Finally, receive Jesus in your life. Blessings Fr. Jhack

JERUSALEM TO JERICHO

Fifthteen Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 10:25-37 “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.” Friends notice the direction of this man:from JERUSALEM to JERICHO. This kind of movement indicates a very deep significant biblical interpretations. One interpretation is like this:Jerusalem is a place of prosperity, abundance, luxury, fortune and plethora of blessings. Why? Because it is where the temple of God resides. On the other hand, Jericho is a sin city. I was in Jericho last year for a pilgrimage. One of its attraction is the Mount of Temptation. You know what, there are gallery of temptation in Jericho. It is like Las Vegas of our time:a city the never sleep. People who resides in Jericho during the time of Jesus were not afraid of God. Biblical scholars considered it as a place of damnation, doom and torment. That is why, when this man moved from Jerusalem to Jericho, he was robbed and beaten unto death. Friends, the gopel for today is challenging us to find our Jerusalem and stay there. Never be tempted to exchange your everlasting Jerusalem with temporary Jericho’s. When we move away from Jerusalem we will surely experience similar misery like that of man in today’s gospel. When we trade our Jerusalem to Jericho surely plagues, afflictions, harassments and misery is our final destiny. In Jerusalem however blessing collides. Friends, stay in your Jerusalem. Our Jerusalem is our Sunday worship. Never trade your Sunday with a day of Jericho like recreation, work, sleeping, shopping and travelling. To all husbands, your wife is your Jerusalem. Never trade her with a false and fake lover. If you trade your wife a mistress that mistress will be your “miss” for a year but she will be your “stress” forever! To all students, your studies is your Jerusalem. Never trade it with Jerichos like playing long games and hanging with atrocious company. Conclusion: Pope Francis once said: “Like the good Samaritan may we never be afraid to touch wounds of those who suffer but heal them with concrete acts of love and mercy.” Let me end this reflection by saying: To help your self is good. To help a friend is better but to help a stranger is the best. Blessings Fr. Jhack

NEVER SELL YOUR SOUL

Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 10: 24-33 God has three essential attributes. First, God is Omnipotence meaning all powerful. Second, He is Omnipresence, meaning He is everywhere at once. And finally God is Omniscience meaning He is all knowing. He knows all that there is to know and all that can be known. “Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.” If you dont want anyone to find out then dont do it. Time discover truth. There are no secret that time does not reveal. Friends, God knows everything. Secondly, our reading proved to us that we have a God who really cares for us. “Even all the hairs of your head are counted.” No matter how small, vulnerable and insignificant we may feel at times, we are always supported and valued by a loving, caring God. If God provides for the sparrow, much more support will be given to us because we are His children. We are worth more than sparrows. So worry not, for God will sustain us. We are the apple of His eyes. Finally, we are reminded that the soul will last, but the body will die. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Friends whatever good for your soul do that. Take time to do what makes your soul secures heaven. Never sell your soul to the devil. Blessings Fr. Jhack

HATED BY MEN BUT LOVED BY GOD

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 10:16-23 Following Jesus is not an easy way. There will be hostility, lack of support, betrayal, opposition and severe persecution like imprisonment and eventually death. “Everyone will hate you because of me.” Friends, what should be our response to these? First, be cunning as the snake and be gentle as the dove. Behave like a snake. Be wise! You know what, persecution is just a threat but it cannot defeat us. It will scare us but cant overpower us. It will shake us but cant break us. Second, when persecuted and arrested, stand firm. Be steadfast. “Whoever stand firm to the end will be saved.” Friends, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Stand firm for the Lord. Never give up. When our feet are on the right place nobody can break us for the Lord will be our strenght. Finally, when we are persecuted, oppossed and criticized behave like a sheep. Never be wolf to a wolf. “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.” Friends, do not force people to accept your beliefs. There are three solutions to every problem. Accept it. Change it. Leave it. If you can’t accept it, change it. If you can’t change it leave it. Blessings Fr. Jhack