11
Sep
“If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment…” - Luke 6:34
Papa was one of the Indians or Bumbay who pioneered lending (”5-6″) in Manila.
He would come home before the sun sets, empty his pocket with all the money he collected that day, then my elder brother and I would count them, arrange them, and give them back to him. We grew up doing that every single day.
7
Sep
“When I say to the wicked: ‘Wicked man, you shall die for sure,’ if you do not warn the wicked man to turn from his ways, he will die because of his sin, but I will also call you to account for his blood.” - Ezekiel 33:8
I have close acquaintances and treasured friends in a religious community. My exposure to them allowed me to better appreciate the essence of their vocation, the beauty of their service, the depth of their sacrifices, and yes, their human frailties, to. Full of the idealism from a Catholic education and upbringing, I was mesmerized by their unwavering commitment to the Lord but was left dumbfounded by the reality that they too commit mistakes just like us “ordinary” people.
5
Sep
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. - 1 Corinthians 4:4
“God was with us when we did it.”
An actress said this on national television years ago. She was referring to the sexual act that she committed with an actor boyfriend who eventually sired her first child. Apparently, she must have thought that premarital sex is something that God approves of.
4
Sep
Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become fool so as to become wise. - 1 Corinthians 3: 18
He who asks is a fool for five minutes. He who does not remains a fool forever. A lot of people think they are wise yet they do no ask.
3
Sep
At sunset, people suffering from many kinds of sickness were brought to Jesus. Laying his hands on each one, He healed them. - Luke 4:40
Arbularyo. Booze. Crime. Drugs. Sex.
It’s baffling what people resort to or seek out to cure the different illnesses of their body, mind, heart and spirit. To whom do they turn to for cure of their sickness? What do they take to slip past depression and loneliness? What do they do to fight poverty and hunger? What do they do to escape their troubles? Most of the time, after a run of hits and misses, and hitting rock bottom, only then do they stumble at the hard truth.
2
Sep
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. - 1 Corinthians 2:12
I always looked forward to reunions with my Dad’s side of the family. My cousins and I are in the same age bracket and we share many interest. However, the highlight of the evening would inevitably be a debate about Christianity between my dad and my cousin, Ramon.
1
Sep
“… he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.” - Luke 4:18
In 2006, I was named one of The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM).
I was awarded an individually chiseled TOYM statuette by national artist Abueva, from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Honestly, awards don’t figure high in my priority list. All these years, I just busied myself serving God and serving God’s people, especially the poor.
31
Aug
He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” - Matthew 16:23
When I read today’s Gospel, I tried to imagine what Simon Peter felt after Jesus’ response. Imagine, after expressing concern about his friend and mentor’s grim outlook, he ended up being called Satan. Ouch, that must have hurt!
But you know, while we are mostly aware when we are being used as God’s instrument, we are barely conscious of being used by the Father of Lies as the way of the devil are often more tricky. For example: Have you covered up for a friend as your way of “helping” him out?
30
Aug
… so that no human being might boast before God. = 1 Corinthians 1:29
“I’m proud to be humble!”
Have you ever heard somebody declare this? It’s like a big joke, right? Bu there’s a tiny grain of truth in it. Humble people are so inspiring. They actually have a sweet-smelling aroma about them. Boastful people are difficult to be with, to say the least.
One of the 20th century’s greatest spiritual thinkers, Thomas Merton, in his book Thoughts in Solitude , writes:
28
Aug
“Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” - Matthew 24:42
When I was in school, we had a regular recollection called the “Exercise for a Happy Death.” It sounds morbid but what it really means is that we should always make sure that we are always in a state of grace. A regular examination were the prescribed antidotes to being caught by death unawares.
©2007-2008 dralnuX: beyond the box
