We Should be Imperfectly Mutual!

5^th Sunday of Easter

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Jn 15:1-8

“The vinedresser must carefully prune the vine before it can bear good fruit.”

As parents, masarap sigurong marinig sa mga anak natin na sabihin nilang: 

“Dad, Mom, you did a good job in me!”

Minsan kasi, isa sa mga worries nating mga parents ‘yong “feeling natin, parang hindi pa natin nagagawa yong gusto pa sana nating gawin; … yong habang binibigay mo yong best mo, you’re still worried if you have already done what God told you to do.”

But then, sometimes too, we’re asking ourselves, “what should it take for parents to do a job well?” – is it just fair to also expect our children to do their piece of the job as well?

Minsan din kasi, as parents, we’re quite being harsh on ourselves na “akuin ang lahat ng pagkukulang” when brokenness in the family perseveres; while on the other hand, as children, we’re also unfair to point our fingers to our parents when things don’t work well.

Today’s gospel is reminding us a SIMPLE TRUTH:

The Lord promises that we will bear much fruit

if we abide in Him and allow Him to purify us.

This means that, as much as parents are striving to abide by God in performing their duties to their family, the children should also listen and cooperate with their parents in making their family imperfectly beautiful.

Just as what God wants, parents would also want each child to learn what’s more important in life. Sometimes there’s no easy way to understand that we have to sacrifice certain things for our family – but it is always grand when we learn to be humble in LISTENING with our HEART.

For, in the end, our humility to strive to understand and be in unity with our family will bring us the abundance that we hope to enjoy in life — over any material things that we cannot really keep for long.   #sunset

 

*this article is published as Gospel Reflection in The Feast San Lorenzo Bulletin

  Issue #20. 29 April 2018

“True Character is who you are and what you do — even when no one is watching you!”

If Jesus Can, Why Can’t We?

5th Sunday of Lent. Pls Read God’s Silent Message: JN 12:20-33

 

Are there people in your life that have hurt you and you have not yet forgiven?

Yong mga taong kinakasamaan mo ng loob kasi ang sabi mo nasaktan ka nila …

Yong mga taong sabi mo nakasakit sayo kaya nagalit ka sa kanila …

Pero ang tanong Friend … nalaman kaya nila na sumama loob mo sa kanila?

Nalaman kaya nila kung bakit at kung ano ang iyong ikinagalit?

And kung nalaman man nila, napag-usapan nyo po kaya ng tama where to draw the line of reconciliation?

Hanggang kailan ka po kaya magagalit?  Hanggang kailan hindi magagawang magpapatawad?

Just some of the questions we could reflect on. Sometimes it’s not really all about them – but about nobody than US!

Minsan kasi, kailangan din nating masaktan para maisip natin kung kailan din natin hindi sinasadyang makapanakit. Stories always have two sides of the coin. Supposedly, when we commit, we admit; when we omit, we submit! – but in reality, when one commits mistake & omits to ask for forgiveness, we normally judge & condemn – sacrificing the relationship to death.

Pero alam mo friend, what makes us uneasy to forgive is the fact that the real enemy that Jesus came to overcome was Satan who tempts the human race to create their own destiny through sinful pride and disobedience. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains alone. But if it dies, it will bear much fruit.”  – John 12.24

Only when the seed is destroyed by burying it in the ground, can it rise to new life and bear fruit. What it means is that, sometimes we have to die to our self-satisfaction of justifying why we’re mad.

If Jesus took our sins upon himself and nailed them to the cross to set us free from destruction, why can we not give up our pride and futility?

Friend, ayaw ni God na laging mabigat ang pakiramdam mo dahil galit ka dahil sa pagkukulang ng iba!

God has been striving to bring us into an inseparable bond of love & unity with Him. Only if we would be one with God would we be able to “free others from our unforgiveness” – then it would eventually free us to extend more love and bear much fruit of encouraging relationships! #sunset

 

published in The Feast San Lorenzo Weekly Bulletin. Issue #15. 18 March 2018. UNLEASHED Series. Talk 3: Freeing Yourself.

 

 

Its Time to Free Yourself

What is your picture of God in you?

Today at The Feast San Lorenzo, we realized that our merciful God does not want us to be the greatest punisher of our self because of our mistakes in the past.

Friend, pwede tayong maglambing kay God by confessing our sins so that we can free ourself from the shadows of our own unforgiveness. Minsan kasi ang yabang natin, we keep on running away from God’s love kaya we dont get what we deserve; instead, we get what we think we deserve because of the guilt that we have in our heart kasi we do not humbly confess to God kung saan tayo nagkamali. We also do not forgive ourself the way God wants us to kasi sometimes our disorientations are being mixed up, specially when we are already guilty.

God has that magic detergent that would wash away our sins which is called “forgiveness!” Out of His great love, He is telling us now that WE HAVE NOTHING TO PAY — for there at the cross, He already paid for our sins.

Kaya friend, wag na tayong pakipot, let’s free ourselves na from that thing that has been punishing us for the longest time! God loves us so much that He wants us to change our picture of Him in our life. Let us forgive ourself because God has already forgiven us. 🙂

That time we change our picture of God,

Would be the moment we will appreciate and enjoy God’s love. God will protect us from any sort of dirt in pir life and asure us that WE HAVE NOTHING TO PAY because He loves us unconditionally.

#youareloved #cometogether #thefeastsanlorenzo #unleashed #freeingself

“We Can Still Align”: The Antidote to Future Regrets

 2^nd Sunday of Lent

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Mk 9:2–10

 

Hello, MILLENIALS!

Have you heard some at your age, with these lines?

“Sana pala, I didn’t give in that much, di sana ako na-broken hearted!

Sana pala, I didn’t keep secrets from my parents, na-guide sana ako!

Sana pala, di ako nagmadali, na-enjoy ko pa sana ang pagka-bata ko!

Sana pala, nakinig ako, di sana …”

 

Guess what, would you know that your parents share the same sentiments with you

“Kung sana lang nasabihan namin sya, di sana sya nasasaktan ngayon!

Kung sana lang nalaman namin, di naman nya kailangang maramdamang mag-isa sya!

Kung sala lang di kami na-awkward na masabihang stage parents, we could have enjoyed TIMES TOGETHER!

Kung sana lang, nakinig sya at napakinggan namin sya, di sana…”

 

Ang daming “sana”, ang daming time na parang nasayang na!

If dadating ka sa point na parang kulang na ‘yong time, saka mo lang masasabi sa sarili mo:

“Sayang, ‘di sana ako naghesitate na tingnan ang dapat kong makita,

‘di sana ako nagdalawang isip na sabihin ‘yong dapat kong sabihin;

naging humble sana akong ipakita at iparamdam na kailangan ko ng tulong;

kailangan kong maramdamang di ako nag-iisa.”

 

Millenials and “Me-linya” … come to think of it, “to each his own!” … sometimes, we just don’t realize and recognize that we both share the same sentiments towards each other in the so-called “generational gap.”

Madalas kesa minsan, we fail to make “both ends meet” kasi we are focused on our own emotions and expectations.

Today’s Gospel is reminding us to be spiritually awake and not miss God’s glory in action:

“The Lord Jesus not only wants us to see His glory –

He wants to share this glory with us.

And Jesus shows us the way to the Father’s glory: follow me – obey my words – take the path I have chosen for you and you will receive the blessings of my Father’s kingdom – your name will be written in heaven.”

We would miss God’s glory and action if we wouldn’t strive to obey “as children” and submit to the path that God has chosen for us “as parents.” The Antidote to future regret is to align as parents & child NOW!  

Life is too short, we should maximize time, appreciating and enjoying “having each other” while we still have all the opportunity to “make things up with each other”. #sunset

============================================================================

Article published in: The Feast San Lorenzo Bulletin. Issue #12. 25 February 2018. The Light of Jesus Family in San Lorenzo, Sta Rosa, Laguna. The Feast San Lorenzo

Your Cross is a Symbol of Life

Are you having difficult time right now?  Do you feel that you’re carrying a cross at this point in time? 

Don’t feel too low Dear Friend, God can transform your difficulties to grace!  

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenged His disciples to collaborate with His mission by carrying their cross. 

In our life, we too are called to carry our cross and to follow Jesus. 

That cross which is a symbol of life and of our being saved. 

“We will not die forever bec we do not belong to death, we belong to God.” — Fr. Erwin dela Cruz

The call is for us to keep on trusting our God — for if we do, nothing could keep us apart from Him. 

Walang pagsubok at paghihirap na hindi natin kayang paglabanan because our weapon is the ressureccion of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Paying this forward, to you dear friend,  as inspired by Fr. Erwin Dela Cruz’s homily during the Mass @ The Feast SM Sta Rosa this morning, July 2, 2017. 

Photo credits: Earl Pascua, The Feast SM Sta Rosa

You Can Heal Your Own Wounds

6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Mt 5:17-37

photo credits: http://www.stephaniedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Forgive-Yourself.jpg

 

Would you know one of the reasons why some wounds don’t heal?

May mga sugat na halos ayaw mong gamutin kasi masakit kapag nililinis; to the point na magagalit ka pa sa naglilinis ng sugat mo kasi nasasaktan ka!

We have doctors all around to tell us how to heal our wound; we have nurses to assist and loved ones to care for us while we’re hurting…yet we end up offending them; we don’t listen to the doctor’s instructions because we’ve focused on our pain and we kept on doing the wrong thing.

What we do not realize is, we can actually HEAL OUR OWN WOUND if we would be brave enough to CLEAN IT UP BY OURSELVES by following how we were instructed.

In today’s Gospel, God  wants us to understand His intention for giving us His commandments which He yearn to be fulfilled in us. All that He expects is for us is to strive to do the right thing: overcome negativity with possibilities; triumph against every temptation to be weak; reach out to forgive those who’ve offended us and look within to forgive our own self from our wrong doings.

Our heart is the seat of our motivations. If only we will find that inspiration deep within to allow God’s love to move in our life, we would then comply as directed, follow as instructed! We won’t have to hold back the pains caused upon us, as we will no longer offend carelessly – then we wont have to endure our wounds at all! #sunset

Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.  But I say to you, do not swear at all.  Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’  Anything more is from the evil one.”   

Don’t Dilly-Dally

Cor Dei 1.  3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: MT4:12-23

 “the people living in darkness have seen a great light…” — Matthew 4:16

photo credits: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

CHANCES … grab or drop it! 

Once in a while we’ll first have to be despicable before we’d realize that we’ve already missed a chance!  Sometimes we fall short of foresight that we overlook what should have been done at a certain required time.

I was recently bereaved by a friend who had been sick. I wasn’t able to visit her again when I started battling against mine.  I had her in my mind several times last December. I planned to call her up too, but scheds and events had just piled up until I ended receiving that sad news; Facebook feeds were filled with posts, mourning for her.  I felt so guilty; I should have told her, “let’s fight together!”; I should have made her feel stronger knowing that she’s not struggling alone. I cried hard in regret; I was just consoled when a friend told me, “marami pa kami!; we also want to hear from you!”

When you come to that breaking point that you wouldn’t want to miss chances, your only choice would be to MAXIMIZE TIME! Each time we wake up for a day, God is giving us “that invitation” to come after Him and leave our comfort zones of excuses.

Friends, today let’s IMPLEMENT that decision: REACH OUT, DO NOT DELAY!

Days may be dark at times, but if we will only consider God’s calling to “come after Him”, we will surely see the LIGHT that will mark the turning point in our life. More Dreams & Plans will materialize which will make our BEST YEAR EVER! #sunset

==========================================================================Published in FeastSMStaRosaBulletin. Series of 2017. Issue #2, 22 January 2017. Light of Jesus’ BEST YEAR EVER: Imagine Your Future Now Series. Talk 3: Implementation

also posted in: http://gailmontero.blogspot.com/2017/01/dont-dilly-dally.html?spref=fb & https://profgail67.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/dont-dilly-dally/

“True Character is who you are and what you do — even when no one is watching you!”

Let us not be Caught “Off Guard”

 

photo credits: http-//markryman.com/BLOG/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/matthew24-44

 

Let’s grab the chance reflecting for the First Sunday of Advent

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: MT 24:37-44

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Ready ka na ba?

Ready ka na ba to receive more of God’s blessings?

How prepared are you to answer na “ready ka na nga?”

What if tomorrow never comes? What if today is your last chance to answer this question?

While struggling to survive, I’ve been asking this to myself. Everyday, I would reflect: “Am I really ready should this day be my last?

Anong blessing pa kaya ang pwede kong tanggapin na dapat kong ika-ready?

Today is the First Sunday of Advent which means “Coming” – a time when we have to be reminded of the reality that we are living in the end times. The coming of Jesus which we celebrate at Christmas should be a constant reminder that we have to personally prepare ourself for His final return on the Day of Judgment – which no one really ever knows when!

Thing is … how PRODUCTIVE have we been as we prepare for such day?

That feeling of rush and persistence when you anticipate that you’re at the brim of such end, ang hirap din pala. It’s as if, you want to exert every extra effort just for you to make up for the lost chances. Haisst…ganito pala, when you feel that you don’t have plenty of time, you would as much strive to be watchful of your own thoughts and decisions in embracing God’s way instead of giving-in to your weaknesses and lame excuses. It has been useless pala allowing yourself to be pressured by financial problems while you sacrifice your health – for when your health already suffers, that’s the only time you’d realize that you have actually sinned against God because your “productivity mindset” has not been for “longtime perspective”!

Way to make ourselves ready? Here’s what I’ve realized: “the currency in heaven is never any amount of money” — BUT LOVE — which we need to share while preparing for His “coming”. It’s our ACT OF GRATITUDE to such love when we have accepted to play part in God’s great plan which is to make everyone of us “walk in the light of the Lord”.

Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed. — Proverbs 16:3

This is it I guess – the blessing that we need to be ready about! God wants us to flourish as a tree – so that we can continually give even when we’re no longer personally around to still give. #sunset

 

Published in FeastSMSantaRosa Bulletin. 27 November 2016 Issue.  Series: MONEY PAKYAW. Knocking Down Your Biggest Financial Problems.  Talk 3: Productivity.  The Blessings of the Lord Bring Wealth

you can also read this in:

https://profgail67.wordpress.com/2016/11/27/let-us-not-be-caught-off-guard/

Let God Direct.

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Luke 19:1-10

photo credits: machano.blogspot.com

Have you ever thought of the truth na kung minsan “ang tigas ng ulo mo?”

And have you ever had that feeling na minsan you dread yourself for caring less sa mga bagay na dapat ginawa mong mahalaga pero binalewala mo lang?

After all these years, I had to come to such realization … “how could I have focused a lot on certain things, yet actually “care less” on more important things?”   I’ve done all the “one-act-play” of making things perfect as I give my best; yet, I came to the point of sacrificing what could have been best for my health. With all the might of sleepless nights, I strive accomplishing more than a lot; only to regret the days that I could not even put a check mark on any task in my “to-do-list.” How could I have been so stubborn justifying on things that I want to get done with the vindication that I am actually doing it for a good cause?

With all these FLAWS, all the while I was a “Jonah”! — who had a small heart for God’s directions, yet whom God saved!–

For all a period of time, how dare me for not really being passionate about what was entrusted to me. I had to go through some dark episodes in my life, not wanting to loose what I did not take care of for the longest time — before I could realize how insensible I was to God’s love and silent messages.

Buti na lang, ang buhay, parang isang pelikula.

There could be some occurences na kahit minsan parang “series of unfortunate events” ang pinagdaanan, pero pwede pa din maging “epic” ang flow that would lead to an impressive ending.

BUT HOW?

… only if we could be HUMBLE ENOUGH to ALLOW GOD TO DIRECT the story of our life! Bawal “matigas ang ulo” kahit na ikaw pa ang main character ng istorya mo! The way we submit ourselves to our Life Director, while we submit ourselves to God in PRAYER would make a lot of difference which would make our story a BLOCKBUSTER to those whose lives we’ll touch — because we chose to empty ourself to God’s love & mercy while we strive to overcome our flaws. #sunset

==========================================================================Published in The Feast SM Sta Rosa Bulletin October 23, 2016 Issue. Light of Jesus Family BLOCKBUSTER Series: Epic Stories That Changed The World. Talk 4. Finding Jonah.

Miracles Happen There “Within”.

Some of us may have all the unanswered questions that may shatter us instead of making us whole again.

But why? … maybe because we just tend to stop rising above our weaknesses that tend to pull us down, then we delimit all the opportunities that are given to us to believe that we could actually perform our own miracles with the love and mercy of God.

Sometimes, situations tend to paralyze us in our own comforts — that we are almost blinded to see how we can touch others’ lives. Sometimes some of us are reluctant to use our sensitivity to others’ needs; yet, some of us are persistent and keep on striving for SURVIVAL just to inspire others who are already losing hope.

Friends, we may be at our weakest at this point in time. It may be more comfortable to just give in to whatever difficulty we’ve incurred because of our own lapses; it may even be easier to close our eyes and never fight against any pain – BUT it’s not God’s original design in our life!

When occurrences make us broken, we need to strive to be WHOLE AGAIN. For the times when we’re right there at the edge of giving up, we should have all the humility to seek for an ounce of Miracle — if we want to still be there for the ones we love who would never want to see us just giving up.

Yes friends, MIRACLES ARE JUST THERE IN THE DOORSTEPS OF OUR HEART – we just need to make it happen there “within” – then declare in our actions that we’re giving our battle a good fight because we want to give hope to those who are also struggling to live for some missions yet to accomplish. “Laban lang!” #sunset

photo credits:http://www.thequotepedia.com/images/102/its-not-about-what-god-gives-to-you-its-about-how-you-handle-what-god-gives-to-you-miracles-quote.jpg