Good penance

Christ in the person of the Priest said, after I confessed my sins, "Thank you. Thank you because you responded  (pinaunlakan) to the call of God. You responded to His call of reconciliation."

This is my very first time to hear a Priest after my confession. I almost cried that moment and said, "You, oh  God is really good and loving. Thank you."

And the penance? It was also my first time not hearing a Priest telling me my penance, directly. I say so because for all the Priest I attended for confession they gave me my penance, as a sign of my reconciliation and amending of sins. Usually Priests would let me be praying one Our Father, three Hail Marys and Glory be. The Priest just told me, "Do good. Do good to the people you hurt. Do good to the persons you made wrong. If you could not see them anymore, do good to the people you know and you do not know, that is, people around you. Share the love you have received (today). If you are tempted try to avoid them. If the temptations are not leaving you and still presenting the act it wants you to do and when you are almost giving your consent; do not depend on your own strength. Ask for God's strength. Ask Him to come and help you."

The Praying Hands

                                                        
Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on their table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.

Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.

After many long discussions at night on their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg.

Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.

When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."

All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No ...no ...no ...no."

Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look ... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late."

More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.

One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands."

The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one - - ever makes it alone!

-Source Unknown


Many says that this story is fictional. In whatever case, the factuality should not be questioned. The message instead should be appreciated.

A man with a withered hand

Matthew 3:1-6

"... It is lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it? ... Stretch out your hand ..."

For Jews the sabbath is a holy day for the Lord. There is no reason to argue with that. However, for them there are dos and don'ts during sabbath. Don'ts are plentier than dos, such as, you can only walk as far as for a kilometer.

Jesus taught us to good even in the sabath, that is the day of ethe Lord. You might ask me, why Jesus is going against the Law? But I might ask you, who does the Law? God's Law is greater than natural and man's law. Jesus is God, whatever He taught us to do is a law greater than the created law of man. It is therefore be followed. You might again ask me, but the it is stated in the third commandment that, "Remember to keep holy, the Lord's day." It came from God through Moses. Let me answer that in this way, in a house who can amend the law of the house? It is the father isn't it? Why? Because he is the who made the law, in his family. He has the authority to amend his house rules. What I am trying to tell you is that, one can only amend or even change a law, only if he is the one who made it. Or somebody who is greater than him can change the law. I am not saying that Jesus is amending the the "Ten Commandments". I would like to quote these passages from St Luke 10: 25-28, "There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." The ten commandments is summarized in this way, Jesus did not change the law. He just simplify to make it very clear and simple. As you know, the Bible or Holy Scriptures is actually the love story of God and man.

The greatest among of Law is to love God and can only be and should be manifest with the love we have to our neighbor. Jesus taught us to love, to love all the time. He DID NOT say, "You can only love from Monday to Saturday and on Sunday you cannot. So if anyone who needs help on Sunday do not help eventhough it is a matter of life a death."

Do good and love everytime.

A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger

Proverbs
Chapter 15

1

A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2

The tongue of the wise pours out knowledge, but the mouth of fools spurts forth folly.

3

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4

A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse one crushes the spirit.

5

The fool spurns his father's admonition, but prudent is he who heeds reproof.

6

In the house of the just there are ample resources, but the earnings of the wicked are in turmoil.

7

The lips of the wise disseminate knowledge, but the heart of fools is perverted.

8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

9

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves the man who pursues virtue.

10

Severe punishment is in store for the man who goes astray; he who hates reproof will die.

11

The nether world and the abyss lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of men!

12

The senseless man loves not to be reproved; to wise men he will not go.

13

A glad heart lights up the face, but by mental anguish the spirit is broken.

14

The mind of the intelligent man seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

15

Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast.

16

Better a little with fear of the LORD than a great fortune with anxiety.

17

Better a dish of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

18

An ill-tempered man stirs up strife, but a patient man allays discord.

19

The way of the sluggard is hemmed in as with thorns, but the path of the diligent is a highway.

20

A wise son makes his father glad, but a fool of a man despises his mother.

21

Folly is joy to the senseless man, but the man of understanding goes the straight way.

22

Plans fail when there is no counsel, but they succeed when counselors are many.

23

There is joy for a man in his utterance; a word in season, how good it is!

24

The path of life leads the prudent man upward, that he may avoid the nether world below.

25

The LORD overturns the house of the proud, but he preserves intact the widow's landmark.

26

The wicked man's schemes are an abomination to the LORD, but the pure speak what is pleasing to him.

27

He who is greedy of gain brings ruin on his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

28

The just man weighs well his utterance, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.

29

The LORD is far from the wicked, but the prayer of the just he hears.

30

A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart; good news invigorates the bones.

31

He who listens to salutary reproof will abide among the wise.

32

He who rejects admonition despises his own soul, but he who heeds reproof gains understanding.

33

The fear of the LORD is training for wisdom, and humility goes before honors.

Star of Truth

I – Intro:

     A story by Buddha:

     A young widower, who loved his five-year-old son very much, was away on business when the bandits came, burned down the whole village, & took his son away. When the widower returned, he saw the ruins & panicked. He took the charred corpse of an infant to be his own child, & he began to pull his hair, beat his chest, & cried uncontrollably. Then he cremated the charred corpse & put the ashes in a beautiful velvet bag. Working, eating, sleeping, he always carried the bag of ashes w/ him. Then one day, the real son escaped from the bandits & found his way home. He arrived at his father’s new cottage at midnight, & knocked at the door. The Father asked: “Who’s there?” And the child answered: “It’s me Papa. Open the door, it’s your son.”  In his agitated state of mind, the father thought that some mischievous boy was making fun of him, he shouted at the child to go away. The boy knocked again & again, but the father refused to let him in. Some time passed, & finally the boy left. The Father & son never saw one another.

     After telling this story, Buddha said: “Sometimes, somewhere, you take something to be the truth. If you cling to it too much, & when the real truth comes & knocks at your door, you will not open it.” Thus, you will never know the truth.

II – Message:

     Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord. As we know Epiphany is a Greek word which means – to manifest. Manifest what? Manifest the truth. That is why in this feast, God breaks through & God reveals the truth to the gentile world represented by the three wise men. Because as St. Paul tells in our 2nd Read. (Ep. 3:2-3, 5-6): “they are now our co-heirs & partners – our fellow travelers to salvation.” The truth in this Magi story is represented by the star that they followed.

     We call it the STAR OF TRUTH.

     The star in Matthew’s story of the Magi is the symbol of Christ & His Church. And we can say in our day & age:”If we ever lose that star, then we are lost. Without that star, the world is lost. Without that star, there is no truth, no hope.” What the star is for the Magi, we must be for our world today. St. Paul says in his letter to the Philippians (Phil. 2:15): “You will shine like the stars in the sky.” For today, Christ is to be found not in Bethlehem, but in the hearts & souls of every believer.

     Brothers & sisters, always remember, everytime we forgive someone, a light shines in the darkness of our world. Everytime we open the door of our hearts to the lonely or the homeless, a light shines in the darkness of our world. Everytime we reach out a hand to feed the hungry, a light shines in the darkness of our world. Everytime we do things as a community or in the spirit of the B.E.C., a light shines in the darkness of our world (at hindi pakanya-kanya & still clinging to the velvet bag of ashes like the man in our story). Everytime we obey the Lord & his Church, a light shines in the darkness of our world.

     Brothers & sisters. You & I must be the stars now shinning in darkness of our world, as (Prophet Isaiah would say it in our 1st Read., Is.60:1-6), but all of these should point to one direction only -  to Christ’s truth.

III – Conclusion:

     This is what the Solemnity of the Epiphany is all about. It is not just a story about a star that lit up the darkness of the ancient world. It is also a story about you & me becoming STARS OF TRUTH in the darkness of our world today & leading other Magi to Christ. Are you ready to accept this noble mission that God is giving you now? I hope you will answer “YES” like Mary, as we pause for a moment of reflection.

Excerpt from:
Epiphany Homily by Msgr. Boy Villaruz - Diocese of Paranaque
 http://www.dop.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53:epiphany-homily-by-msgr-boy-villaruz&catid=35:homilies&Itemid=72

Find comfort in pain

Many people haven't been able to recover from their brokenness. It will even be a part of their system which will just be popping out of their lives, (like they will just simply shout, cry, ect). These will be the results when they remember the incident that really affected their life. One might be an accident or trauma or any circumtances in their life that left them behind or experiences that stained their lives. These such things are always coming back to their minds that will cause them uneasiness, discomfort and irritation. Some might have phobia.

However, some have learned to face their problems and mastered overcoming their failings and feelings. How happy and peaceful their mind is! They are very blessed, mature enough to face such certain difficulties!

My dearest friend (special someone) had asked me, “How do you feel when you are hurt? Why some people, thought
 they are hurt still not crying? Why me, I cannot control, but to cry? It seems I cannot breath if I don't. (I hope I have good translation (",),  in Tagalog: ‘Tol, ikaw po ba pag kunyari nasasaktan ka, anu ba yung pakiramdam mo? Bakit yung iba kahit na nasasaktan sila kaya pa din nilang di umiyak? Ako, hindi ko kaya ang hindi umiyak. Para kasing hindi ako makahinga.’)”

Here is how I replied: " I feel like? Heavy... always thinking and thinking... I am experiencing (living) the experience of being lonely... I am just enjoying first the experience as it is (experiencing the feeling of the existence of pain). Just like, it will be a waste if I will avoid being lonely, so I am just letting myself to feel it, because when I am happy already, loneliness will be gone.. I do thank loneliness becuase of it I learned something. It seems that, loneliness became a friend. A friend as of feeling happiness. Loneliness turns to be like happiness. Loneliness will be a friend that gives positive effect. Like negative becomes positive; when a sinner becomes a holy man."

Loneliness and happiness are two extremes to which they comes along together. You cannot feel being happy if you have'nt felt being lonely. Loneliness is taken/thought the other way around. Extracting the positive effect of it, that is, in an optimistic way. Loneliness will become an abstract feeling which should not be avoided, but welcome it instead. Loneliness is seen as a bridge to happiness. But I would like to clear here that we should desire to be lonely. I am pointing here that loneliness should be viewed in special way, in which means to let us realize certain things that will  help us grow as human, as person specifically.

This is finding comfort in pain.

A cry of assumptions

Why do people cry?

Emotions such as pain, sorrow, depression etcetera are usually the causes why a person cry. Going into the cause of these causes, there are many things that will let those emotions be felt. Some of which are death of loved ones, separation from relationship and being hurt physically, mentally and emotionally. Many times, some people will feel pain in their hearts because of the words that are coming out from other people that points onto the specific person. Words that hit and strike a person's ego, that makes him feel insecure, cast away, rejected and down. But sometimes he just simply assume these inferiority complexes that hurt himself. Assumptions is one of the truths that hurts him, and that makes him cry. In The Four Agreements said, "Making assumptions in our relationship is really asking for problems. Often we make the assumption that our partners know what we think and that we don't have to say what we want. We assume they are going to do what we want, because they know us as so well. If they don't do what we assume they should do, we feel hurt and say, 'You should have known.'"

Why are you crying?