LISTEN

Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 13:16-17 Today’s gospel is so short but we are challenge to listen to it. Folks, listening is important. People start to heal the moment they feel heard. There is only one rule for being a good talker-learn to listen. You know what, listening is the secret to discover great stories. There is so much we can learn when we just listen. Today’s meeting with Pope Francis here at Edmonton Alberta Canada may open our ears to hear God's word and open our eyes to understand God's action in our life. May our heart never grow dull and may our ears never tired of listening to the voice of Christ. Friends, listen to God in a world full of noise. As we celebrate the feast of St. Joachim and Anne we are reminded to take care of our grand parents. Friends, never despise the elderly. Our grandparents are not leftovers. Love them. Take care of them. Blessings Fr. Jhack

DESIRE FOR BIG

Feast of St. James Monday of Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 20:20-28 Most mothers have innate dreams and desire for the wellbeing and welfare of their children. Mothers aims for the future of their children. In today’s gospel the mother of James and John wanted to have a promotion for her sons. She thought that Jesus is building an earthly empire that is why she wanted her sons to be second in command and next to super power. The gospel of today reminds us of this: when you ask, don’t ask for small things. Never ask for the minimal. When you dream, dream big because God’s plan for us is not minimal. Desire for big because God’s plan for you is bigger than what you imagine. However, if you received what you desire for, remain humble. Greatness in the standard of God is not determined by what we have but on what we can give. “If you want to be first make yourself the servant of all.” Friends, if we wanted to go up, we need to go down. Service is the ladder that will elevate us. Service is greatness! Blessings Fr. Jhack

THE POWER OF PRAYER

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Luke 11:1-13 Today’s gospel reading is reminding us the importance of persistence and perseverance in prayer. Friends, the habit of persistence is the habit of victory. Be persistent! Be persevering. It does not matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop. Do not be afraid of rejection. It is difficult to wait but it is more painful to regret. Folks, just kept nagging God until He said yes. If you’re asking and no answer, then ask again. If you seek and you dont find, then search again. If youre knocking and nobody is responding, then try again and again. Instead of giving up, try again. God’s help is only a prayer away. Approach Him in prayer. Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement. “...because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.” We have a loving God who is waiting for us to ask. Persistent prayer, is the weakness of God. Friends, if you are persistent you will get it. If you are consistent you will keep it. Keep trusting God. He is always in control even when your circumstances may seem out of control. God never disappoints anyone who places his trust in Him. Blessings Fr. Jhack

KEEP GROWING

July 23, 2022 Saturday of the Sixthteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Mt 13:24-30 Four points I would like to share to you today. First, the gospel is reminding us that God planted good seed in us. Yes, everything that is good is from the Lord. Second, if there is negative in us surely it is not from God. “While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.” Jesus tells us that this is the work of the enemy. The enemy’s plan is to destroy what God has planted. If there are miserable things happened in us do not put the blame on God. Friends, there is always presence of evil but don’t be afraid for at the end good always triump over evil. Third, the gospel presents two ways of thinking. The ways of man and God’s. Man is impatient. “Do you want us to go and pull them up? Today, God is teaching us patient. When there is a presence of evil revenge is not the right behavior. Finally, we see the logic of God. “Let them grow together until harvest.” There is God’s mercy but there is also God’s justice. Conclusion: Friends continue to grow. Never give up. Never be discouraged by the presence of evil. Blessings Fr. Jhack

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD

Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Feast of Mary Magdalene Jn 20:1-2, 11-18 Why are you weeping? Today the gospel is reminding us the the time for tears is over. Friends, whatever sorrows we have in life today when we encounter the Lord our sadness will be turned into joy. You know what, Jesus is the only person that can stop us from crying. Stop weeping because grief is for the dead and Jesus is not dead. Rejoice! “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Today, believe that the crucified, risen, and ascended Savior will turn our sorrows into hope. We must look to God not at our disappointments. Put period to your sorrows folks. Tears are only for the losers and we are not! Finally, the time to tell the Good News has come. Mary does as Jesus says and tells the Apostles “I have seen the Lord!” Anyone who has a true encounter with the Living Lord in faith will have a need to tell others. When we felt the presence of the Lord we can’t contain it ourselves. Friends, we don’t need to be told to evangelize. Pray that like Mary, God will open our hearts that to be truly sorry for all our sins. May, like Mary Magdalene, we can lead others to Jesus so that they too can experience His love and forgiveness. Blessings Fr. Jhack

MAXIMIZE YOUR GIFTS

Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:10-17 “For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” My dear friends the gospel of today is reminding us that if we use properly what God has entrusted to us it will lead us to the place filled with milk and honey. When we maximize what God has entrusted to us for His glory we are doing what we are fulfilling our purpose and mission in life. If the Lord entrusted us something, we have the responsibility to use it as best as we can or else it will be taken away from us. God has given each of us a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well for others. Friends if we operate our resources like our potentials, talents, gifts and capability we will swim in the stream of blessings. Never mind if it is meager and insufficient just raise your trust on Him. Never tired to open your eyes and listen to God. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and He will establish your plans and direct your steps.” (Proverbs 16:3,9) As an ordained minister the gospel of today reminded me that the gift of priesthood is not a special power to enjoy but a responsibility to carry on. My responsibility is to protect my place and its people from defilement. It is my duty to remind people not to forget God. It is my task to safeguard my people from the plague and horror of diabolic attacks. Friends, it is your task too. Sometimes we don’t understand what we heard, we dont perceived what we see but never be disappointed but rather continue ask the Grace from the Lord to give us the needs we deserve. Lord you are the source of life in you we trust. Friends do not forsake the fountain of living water. Attune your life to abundance by recognizing the Lord. There is fountain inside you folks. Do not walk around with an empty bucket. Lord thank you that you make my life bursting with infinite blessings. Blessings Fr. Jhack

GROW

Wednesday of the Sixthteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 13:1-9 Our gospel for today speaks about the parable of the sower. The story is not about the dirt but the ability of God’s word to survive amidst of the struggles. In today’s reflection I would like to highlights on the seed and the one who sow it. You know what, it was the same seed sown in different spot. What is interesting is that the condition of the soil-(hard path, rocky, thorny and good soil). Friends, our reception to God’s Word can be compared to the different kinds of soils that received the seed. The types of soil represents our struggles and difficulties but with Jesus all obstacles are not the hindrance for us to be productive. With Jesus we can bear more fruits. Production is our mission! Friends, when God releases us from His hands He wanted to unleash our potentials. God knows and aware that some of the seeds will fall in different types of ground but He keeps on planting. Why? Because He knows we will grow and bear fruits. Folks, we are those seeds. God is keep on sowing because He trust and believe in us that amidst of the struggles we will met at the end we will remain fruitful. We grow when we face challenges. Keep going and keep growing because God’s hands is holding and protecting you. Let me end by saying: like the seed you have so much potentials more potentials than you know. Set big goals and believe in yourself. The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. Friends, you have unlimited potentials within you. Inside of every seed is the potential for an incredible harvest. Your potentials are limitless. Go, do what you were created to do. Never allow those obstacles prevent you from reaching your full potentials. Conclusion: Never allow your problems and worries stops you from being productive. Like the seeds, we have the potentials for greatness. Blessings Fr. Jhack

GOD’S FAMILY

Tuesday of the Sixthteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus identifies his mother, sisters and brothers as those who do the will of God the Father. “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Friends, doing God’s will is belongingness to God’s family. To be with God is the most perfect belongingness. Jesus promises that his family would be determined by obedience—not blood, not genealogy, not politics, not power, and not money. Friends, do the will of God. The will of God is the best! Follow it and experience no regrets. Amazing things happen when the family of God bands together. Suffice it to say, we are related because of faith bonded through the Sacrament of Baptism. I am so glad that I am part of God’s family. As brothers and sisters our top priority is to put God’s will into concrete actions. Let us demonstrate God’s command by doing and fulfilling His precepts. If we claim that we belong to God’s family but not obeying His will, we are liar. ”Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” If we do His will, He will do everything for us. The will of God is the best! Follow it and experience no regrets. Amazing things happen when the family of God bands togethere. Blessings Fr. Jhack

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