God alone suffices!

I just ran out of roads again, don't know where to turn
I started counting stars again, then I lost my way
I just ran out of time again, will I ever learn
to stop my chaste of hours again only to learn I've lost the day.

...the last thing I want is this voice that rises from within

I'll need to go home soon, I know but maybe tomorrow 

not now

when the last thing i need here and now is this lasting need for YOU!

                              - adapted from the song  "out of the road",

                                                    Jesuit Music Ministry

An awesome experience with the Holy Spirit

     One of the great minds of early Christian history, our Holy Father St. Augustine, wanted to write a book explaining the Holy Trinity, the fundamental Christian belief that God is one God in three Divine Persons. There's a legend that one day St. Augustine was walking along the beach at Hippo, his diocese in North Africa. He was trying to figure out the mystery of the Trinity. And as he moved along, he saw a boy running back and forth from the surf, carrying water in a bucket and pouring it into a small hole in the sand.  Augustine was curious. He asked the child what he was doing. The boy responded: "I'm pouring all that water" — meaning the ocean — "into this hole." St. Augustine said: "That's impossible. The ocean is huge, and your hole in the sand is tiny." The boy responded: "Then how can you expect to put the mystery of the Holy Trinity into that little head of yours?" And then the boy disappeared.

To give our very best to our friends

                                               Scripture: John 15:9-17  

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 This I command you, to love one another.

       The love of Jesus Christ compels us to give our best not only to God but to our neighbor who is created in the image and likeness of God. God's love purifies and transforms us into the likeness of Christ. The Lord Jesus promises that those who abide in his love will bear much fruit for the kingdom of God – fruit that will last for eternity as well (John 15:16).

If you seek to unite your heart with the heart of Jesus, you will bear great fruit in your life – the fruit of joy, peace, friendship, and love that lasts forever.

"Lord Jesus, make me fruitful in your love, mercy, kindness,compassion and gentleness. I thank you for all my friends in my life who colored my life.  

May you always remind me that my vocation is to love and  not to have.  

 May there be nothing in my life which keeps me from your love and joy."

I TRUST IN YOUR PROMISE (Ascension Sunday)

        Jesus’ ascension is not a question of abandonment and leaving behind but an experience of new beginning towards great responsibility. It marks the beginning of our mission to go and proclaim the good news through all the earth.  It is the time of fulfillment of Jesus’ mission to continue his saving mission not only to the people of Israel, but to all the nations as well. 

To Lose Myself

What else do I need?

but Yourself.

What else do I have?

but your Love.

What else do I seek?

but your Will.

What else do I follow?

 but your Way.

What else do I look for?

but your Eternity.

And what else?

To lose myself so as to take Yours

and live in me for the rest of my life.

Reflection on the Commentary of St. Thomas Aquinas on the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 1:3

"Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in the heavenly places, in Christ."

         The  Apostle Paul writes this letter to the Ephesians who were Asians, coming from Asia Minor which is part of Greece.  They were not initiated into the faith by the Apostle Paul but he did strengthen them in it.  This letter of Paul according to St. Thomas Aquinas were entitled encouragement and reassurance to the Ephesians.  The intention is to strengthen them in habits and spur them on to greater perfection.  The letter was divided into six parts but I have chosen only the third part.  "Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in the heavenly places, in Christ."  St. Thomas Aquinas here said that St. Paul here have mentioned the benefit of praise in two aspects.  The praise itself which should be rendered, at Blessed be God and the blessing account of which it should be rendered, which is unto God himself.  He said that God should be blessed and praised by all with all our hearts, tongues and actions.  I see this as a fundamental way of living by each one of us to bless and praised God in every way, in everything we do and in everything we say.  For me, I cannot  go on and live my day to the fullest without blessing and giving thanks to God in the beginning of the day. In every accomplishments, I praise and blessed God who is the source of all my strength.  In every failure and weaknesses that I have encountered I also praised God as the source of all good things in life, and allowing negative things to happen so I may able to learn a lesson and trust more in Him.  St. Thomas Aquinas here in saying so is giving us light of the truth that God is worthy of all our praises and honor.  He also mentioned that the copula and used by St. Paul in saying Blessed be God and Father…was not placed to designate two separate persons, for there is only one Father, but to denote what he is by essence and what he is in relation to the son.  As St. Thomas said, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is, of the Son who is our Lord because of his divinity, and Jesus Christ according to his humanity.   This is basically true.  There is no need for me to comment further on this because this is already very clear that the Father and Son is one. 

A Reflection on St. Thomas Aquinas' Lauda Sion

"Christ, Good Shepherd, bread divine, show to us your mercy sign.  Feed us still, still keep us thine that we may see your glory shine in the kingdom of good."

         A prayer, a praise, a cry, a supplication and a pleading.  St. Thomas Aquinas opened his humble heart by recognizing and praising Christ as the Good Shepherd and Divine Bread.  I too, have to say that Christ for me is my Good Shepherd and the divine bread in my life.  Night and day Christ as the Good Shepherd watches and guides me in the right path.  Christ as the Divine Bread sustains me, strengthens me and have given me food for eternal life.