Hope in the Lord

“Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

I love these verses. If we put them together with another of my favorite verses, Isaiah 40:8, we can be unstoppable. “Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the Word of our God stands forever.” Forever. How many times have I heard, “Walang forever” (There is no such thing as forever)??? No wonder our world is in such a mess! If we don’t believe in forever, we think everything will pass away, we will live day to day with no thought of tomorrow. Without an eternal perspective, the world is doomed to selfishness, entitlement, consumerism, running after fleeting joys, one-upmanship, despair, hopelessness and aimlessness. What is the antidote? God and God alone. 

When we believe in God, His Word and His promises, we are well able to handle what life throws at us. We will be able to accomplish the impossible. I see it in my life. I am not smart and I lack any business sense whatsoever. I am fully aware of my limitations. But I am obedient and I made myself available to what my mom wanted me to do. I believe that if we honor our parents, blessings follow (Exodus 20:12, Proverbs 1:8, Ephesians 6:1-3). Growing up, I was always by her side, helping her, working beside her. When our business grew, she did not teach me and my siblings business principles, she taught us life principles. What we sow, we reap. Pray, pray, pray. Nothing is impossible with God. Yard by yard, life is hard, inch by inch, it’s a cinch. God will make a way even if there is no way. Work hard and leave the rest to God. 

Today, even if we were not ambitious to start with, we have 21 branches, an online presence, and the 22nd store in Alabang Town Center coming up, right on time for Christmas. It can be tiring, it can be frustrating. After 57 years in business, we see there is still so much to improve. But I’ve lived those 57 years and I’ve seen God work miracles, and I know He will continue to be the wind beneath our wings. If I look around me, at the condition the world is in, I feel sad, frustrated, and hopeless. But when I look to God and focus on His Word, I get exhilarated. Yes truly, we that hope in the Lord will never be disappointed! 

The Grass Withers

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8

When I look around me, it seems as if I am safe. My house has a strong foundation, the building where I worked has withstood earthquakes and storms, and the people around me have my good at heart. The truth is my house may have termites gnawing somewhere in secret. Some time ago, my helper who has apparently very good hearing, heard termites attacking her bedroom door and we were able to call a pest control company. As for our building, the fire alarm sounded twice in the past! My only brother recently passed away. We never know when the fragility and impermanence of seemingly solid things around us suddenly breaks through our consciousness. 

Of all we know in this world, only the Word of God stands sure and eternal. In 1 Peter 1:23, it says that we can be born anew, not from perishable seed but from imperishable seed, “through the living and abiding Word of God.” Our eternal spirits crave eternal food, and there is only one, the living bread of life, the Word became flesh. So this Advent, let us try not to satiate ourselves with what the world can offer, but spend more time in pursuit of what our soul hungers for.

Ark of the New Covenant

"Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son.." Luke 1:31

Why do Catholics call Mary the Ark of the New Covenant? There are many parallels in Saint Luke's gospel that show us why. Here are just a few.

The Holy Spirit overshadowed and then indwelled the Ark just as the Spirit overshadowed and indwelled Mary. Both Mary and the Ark became the dwelling place of the presence of God. Just as Mary traveled to the house of Elizabeth and stayed there for 3 months, so was the Ark brought to Obed-Edom, only a short distance away from Ein Kerem (Elizabeth's place in the hill country), and remained there for 3 months. John the Baptist, of priestly lineage, while in his mother's womb, leapt at the approach of Mary. So too David, dressed as a priest, leapt and danced before the ark. 

Inside of the Ark of the Covenant, were the stone tablets of the Law, the manna from the wilderness, and the rod of Aaron, the proof of true priesthood. Inside Mary's womb, was the Word of God made flesh, the Bread of Life, and the actual and eternal High Priest.

Just like Elizabeth, I ask, "Why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord shall come to me?" Just like David, I ask, "How can the Ark of the Covenant come to me?" (2 Samuel 6:9). Indeed He comes to each of us at Advent, ever new, ever faithful. 

I await Him and He comes. 

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Without Cost You Have Received

“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Matthew 10:8 

Jesus sends out the twelve apostles with instructions to announce that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand, that the Kingdom is very near. As Jesus has freely given this good news of salvation and fullness of life, they were to give the same without cost to anyone who would listen. 

A couple of years ago, a funny incident occurred. Funny to most people but not to the man it happened to. The man was fixing an electronic lock in a Bank of America branch in Corpus Christi, Texas, when the door slammed shut and he was trapped inside the room of the ATM machine. He had left his phone in his truck so he resorted to sending SOS notes through the receipt slot. “Please help. I’m stuck in here and don’t have my phone. Please call my boss at 210- - -.” Everyone who withdrew money laughed and thought it was a great prank, until someone took it seriously and called the police for help. 

There are people all around us sending out invisible SOS notes. Sometimes they hide behind a door of nonchalance, odd humor, even irritability. Do we try to reach out and give what we have received from God without cost, or do we walk away? We live in a world that is full of broken, hurting people. God can use us, as broken vessels ourselves, to heal the broken hearted, to bind their wounds. It may just take a listening ear, a Telegram message, a food package, a comment on Facebook to say we are praying. We may never know that our prayers, our encouragement, a positive word, was a gift at the right time to a person in need. Sometimes the best way to heal our brokenness and our neediness is to reach out to others and give whatever we can. 

I Want to See

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” The blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. (Matthew 9:27-31)

The blind men in the 9th chapter of Matthew asked Jesus to heal them and He did. Their eyes were opened and they could see. 

I can see. You can see. But we can still ask Jesus, "I want to see." 

There are things happening in the spiritual realm, wars and deceptions, strategizing and maneuverings targeted against us that influence our lives more than we know. There's a bullseye on our back, for goodness sake!!!! We want to know, so we can use weapons that are made for the enemy and not the puny ones we throw at them. When someone at work talks behind our back, when our neighbor annoys us, when things go wrong all at the same time, what weapons do we use? We become quarrelsome, indignant, vengeful, we fight back. BUT if we know that our office mate is not the enemy, our neighbor isn't either, or any one making us feel hurt or defeated, we should pull out our manual, find out what weapons we have in our arsenal to fight the unseen enemy. Ephesians 6:12 in our manual tells us our war is not against flesh and blood, physical opponents, but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. 

The preacher, Priscilla Shirer, tells a story of her cousin Jonathan who sometimes stands the prescribed distance from a Planned Parenthood center near his office. He can't go near, and has to wait for someone to approach him before he can talk to them. Most of the time he gets a lot frustrated because he feels so useless and ineffective. One time, he saw a van pull up to the parking lot. There was a young girl inside, 17 years old maybe, and a grey haired man driving. He realized there was a discussion going on, because the engine would go on and off. That's when he realized that he didn't need to talk to anyone. He could use the weapon of prayer, and fight for LIFE, right where he was. He prayed, and prayed, and prayed, until the van finally roared off. 

Lord, I want to see. I want to see what the enemy is trying to do in my life, in my family, in my workplace, in my community, in the church, in my country. Help me to pray constantly so I may activate the armor and weapons You have provided me with. Thank You that evil will not triumph, and You have made a way for us to be victorious, not only in the end, but even now! 

Building on Sand

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” Matthew 7:26

I like building sandcastles on the beach. I remember when Josh was a toddler we made a complicated sandcastle but it was too close to the water. When the waves crashed on it, nothing was left of our hard work! The same is true with what we do with our life. We may work hard without realizing we are building sand castles easily destroyed by the waves of adversity. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." We have to make sure we are building our life, our family, our business on rock, the Word of God. 

Lord, life is filled with uncertainties. But You have a plan for us, a wonderful future prepared for us. May we read Your Word, listen to Your still small voice, and obey You. May we walk with You, trusting that where You lead, is the best place we can be! 

How Many Loaves Do You Have?

“How many loaves do you have?" Matthew 15:34

In the 15th chapter of Matthew, Jesus sees the crowd following him, and his heart is moved with pity. He says, “I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” His disciples were dismayed and wondered, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?”

We would say the same, don't you think? In the 8th chapter of Mark, there were about 4000 people. The disciples asked the same thing, but with less incredulity. "How are we supposed to find enough food for them here in the wilderness?"

Undaunted, Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do YOU have?" And they answered they just had 7 loaves and a few fish. Too little to feed the crowd! 

I like these passages about the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, because it shows that miracles START with what we have in our hand. What we have available. I always remember when our little group giving the Good News every week in QC Jail was asked by the prison administrator to prepare 200 gift bags for the inmates for Christmas. I was just as incredulous as the disciples! How would we do that? But that Christmas we were able to prepare 300 bags! And what a wonderful sight to behold the inmates' faces as they opened their bags to find a pair of shorts, food, shampoo, laundry soap, etc. They told us it was like they received 2 bags! It was more than they expected! And we were able to do this for several years until the pandemic put a stop to the visits to the jail. I know many of my friends who just give what is in their hand. And God is able to use that and multiply it!

How many loaves do WE have in our hand? Let us put it in God's hand and see miracles!

Living Expression of God’s Kindness

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” Luke 10:23-24

Father, help us to see with Your eyes, and to understand with Your heart. I know this is well nigh impossible, but perhaps with the gifts of the Spirit, we can achieve this little by little. Mother Teresa is my model here, she who said she was just a little pencil in God’s hand. Mother Teresa could not have loved the way she loved, hugging people with maggots nibbling at their flesh, visiting rat infested hovels, and even not being intimidated at all the high ranking people she had to talk to. Her focus really was on the purpose God gave her to do. Her eyes were on the prize. 

How about us? Perhaps for Advent we need to take time to assess if we are accomplishing here on earth what our Father wants us to do? Whatever it is, it should always be done with love. That is what Mother Teresa would advise:

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”

Perhaps we have big dreams, a vision and mission that is far beyond our comfort zone. That is all very well, just let us never forget to always “see” the people Jesus loves and do for them what needs to be done. Mother Teresa said that if we give ourselves fully to God, He will use us to accomplish great things on condition that we believe much more in His love than in our own weakness. 

Stinky Hearts

Jesus was amazed and said to those following Him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” Matthew 8:10

I wonder of how many people in the Philippines or in the world, will Jesus be impressed enough to say this? The man was not even a Jew, he was not even one of the priests of the Temple! He was a centurion, an officer of the Roman infantry who commanded a centuria composed of anywhere from 100 to 1000 legionaries. He was a pagan, but certainly not an unbeliever. 

The centurion approached Jesus and pleaded with Him to heal his servant who was paralyzed and suffering dreadfully. From the first, we see he is no ordinary man. He is a compassionate man who does not look down on others. Jesus sees his heart and immediately answers, “I will come and cure your servant.” Then the centurion says, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” Every time we attend mass, before we receive the Eucharist, we say the words of this centurion who knew more about Jesus than the Jews around him. 

“I have soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go’ and he goes. I say to another, ‘Do this’ and he does it.” The centurion understood that Jesus need not go anywhere near his house to heal his servant. “Just say the word!” How do we get a faith like this centurion? 

First, we need to approach Jesus in humility, knowing He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We need not be afraid that He will spurn us, whatever kind of person we are. The centurion was a man of war, but he knew in his heart of hearts that if he had compassion for his servant, more so would Jesus have it. We need to trust that Jesus will help us, even if we are unworthy.

Yesterday, I was listening to Bishop Robert Barron’s homily on Advent. He quoted Dorothy Day, best known for her social action efforts with the Catholic Worker Movement. She said, “I’m so grateful that Jesus arrived in this sort of filthy stable some 2,000 years ago. How come? Because that’s what my heart is like, a filthy stable. It’s not beautiful, it’s not altogether, not well arranged, full of all kinds of stinky things. I mean, that’s what my heart is.” 

We are all unworthy to have Jesus under our roof. Let us have faith enough to know that Jesus wants to come and visit us this season of Advent, no matter how stinky our hearts are!

Let Faith Open the Door

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from … the anxieties of daily life…” Luke 21:34

I don't know why but it is so much easier to dwell on the negative. To be anxious about the future. To go over and over thoughts about what CAN happen from here to eternity!!!

And definitely so many bad things CAN happen to us and our loved ones. As it happened to 26-year old Sydney Thomas on that fateful March day just this year. Sydney was routinely driving her huge semi delivery truck across the Clark Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky. A pick up truck swerved into her lane without warning because Trevor Branham, the driver, tried to avoid a stalled car on the bridge. 

Sydney’s semi crashed through the bridge railings and the truck hung 100 feet over the river. Sydney was thinking this was a crazy way to die, and what was going to happen to her 5 year old son, Mason?! For 40 minutes, Sydney prayed. "Please, Lord, just give me another chance," she repeated over and over.

God sent a brave fire fighter named Bryce Carden, who specialized in high-angle rescues. He managed to rappel down from the bridge to Sydney. He asked her through the window, “Are you a praying woman?” She answered yes and he led her to pray together. “Heavenly Father, we ask You to guide us, to protect us, and to bring us safely back to the ground. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Bryce pulled her through the window, and brought her back up the bridge slowly. Talking about this harrowing incident, Sydney said, "Sometimes you pray-and I've been guilty of this-you pray, and you think God isn't listening. But He definitely was that day."

She added, "God brought me through this for a reason. I have a purpose to fulfill, and I can't let fear keep me from doing what He has planned for me. He didn't bring me out of that truck to let me live in fear. He saved me, and I trust Him to guide me."

We don’t experience these heart stopping occurrences in our life usually, but we should always remember God is listening to us, whatever our circumstance.

When fear knocks, 

we should let faith open the door.

When anxiety knocks,

we should let faith open the door.

When insecurity, inadequacy,  knocks, 

we should let _________ open the door!!!

Catch Men!

“Come after me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

I will always remember my dad for being eternally young and enthusiastic. Even when he was 90 plus years old already, he would not let his feeble frame stop him from going out on a fishing boat in Batangas with fishermen to find fish. He walked slowly to the boat with someone to support him. He was put in a chair to be carried inside the boat. He was out in the sun for 6 hours looking for fish. His fish finder conked out but he came back still convinced there was much fish to be caught off the coast of Batangas. He was not discouraged after hours under the sun.

We too are called to be “fishermen”, but not of fish, but of men. Do we easily get discouraged after people don’t respond to our invitation to join an online prayer meeting or attend an inspirational talk? I listened to a woman share about how she found the Lord after a neighbor just kept persistently listening to her problems. They would be sitting down at a coffee shop or on the steps to her home, and the neighbor would patiently encourage her and pray for her, until one day she decided to go with her to a Life in The Spirit Seminar. 

I just finished this old book I found among my things, “Miracles in Sin City” by Howard Cooper. In it this reformed alcoholic recounts story after story about men and women who passed through the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission. More than 20,000 lives did an about face from being criminals, alcoholics, thieves, ex cons, into Bible believing, Jesus following Christians. All it took was God changing the life of Howard, and Howard saying yes to God’s invitation to be a fisher of men. 

If I can’t start a gospel mission, I can pray for people on Facebook, Instagram, Viber, Telegram or x. So many people to catch! 😊

The Kingdom of God

“…when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:31

Here in the Philippines, we never had a monarchy, a kingdom, unless we consider the multiple kingdoms and sultanates before the arrival of the Spaniards. We never had a King over all the Philippine Islands, so it's hard to imagine belonging to a Kingdom. But nevertheless, every Christian is part of a Kingdom, God's kingdom. We too, like the Jews in the Bible, were chosen, handpicked by God to be part of His own special people. It's hard to see God's Kingdom here on earth, especially with the news of all the bickering in Congress, about violence against the Jews, Christians, and women and children around the world. 

But God's Kingdom manages to break through- in people who serve, people who love, people who sacrifice their lives for others. After all, our God is a servant King, the King who saves. We see glimpses of God's kingdom in those who go to the prison regularly to bring not only real bread but the bread from heaven. We see it in anyone who goes out to mingle with the poor and give them dignity. We see it in young people visiting the Aetas in far off Pampanga to feed them and play with the children. We see God's Kingdom in those who tutor street children, give them books and school supplies. We see the Kingdom shining in Africa's little Christian communities, in the underground churches in China, and in Iran’s growing Christian population in 6,000 churches.

Lord, show us Your kingdom is all around us, and show us how we ourselves can bring Your Kingdom to our little corner of the world.

Great and Wonderful!

“Great and wonderful are all Your works, Lord, God Almighty!" Revelations 15:3

Some people think that faith is like "positive thinking". You claim good over evil, prosperity over need, the fulfillment of all wishes and desires. But faith, real uncompromising faith, glorifies God because you see the reality of your true condition. You face sickness and you proclaim, "Praise God even now!" An 'I can't do anything about this' situation taunts you and you shout out, "Great and wonderful are You O God, still!" You face your loved one’s imminent death after prayers of healing and deliverance, and countless visits to so many doctors, and you are able to say at his or her death bed, "You are soooo soooo good, Lord!"

Does faith come first or does praise? If your faith is weak, praise will give it strength. There is a story of a poor black pastor who grew up among slaves. Charles A. Tindley, was pastoring a small church when a blizzard struck his town. His baby had died and his family did not have anything to eat. In spite of all that, he praised God mightily!

"Set the table mama," he instructed his wife who knew there was nothing but stale bread to put on it. In a while a member of his congregation arrived, laden with groceries to the delight of the children! Reverend Charles Albert Tindley, later became known as the "Prince of Preachers", and founded one of the largest Methodist congregations serving the African-American community in Philadelphia. A grandson of his father's master was even converted by him. We can say that his gratefulness and thankfulness made his faith strong, stronger in adversity!

Lord, may my praise transform me! May my faith turn my challenges into blessings!

May Praise Transform Me

“Great and wonderful are all Your works, Lord, God Almighty!" Revelations 15:3

Some people think that faith is like "positive thinking". You claim good over evil, prosperity over need, the fulfillment of all wishes and desires. But faith, real uncompromising faith, glorifies God because you see the reality of your true condition. You face sickness and you proclaim, "Praise God even now!" An 'I can't do anything about this' situation taunts you and you shout out, "Great and wonderful are You O God, still!" You face your loved one’s imminent death after prayers of healing and deliverance, and countless visits to so many doctors, and you are able to say at his or her death bed, "You are soooo soooo good, Lord!"

Does faith come first or does praise? If your faith is weak, praise will give it strength. There is a story of a poor black pastor who grew up among slaves. Charles A. Tindley, was pastoring a small church when a blizzard struck his town. His baby had died and his family did not have anything to eat. In spite of all that, he praised God mightily!

"Set the table mama," he instructed his wife who knew there was nothing but stale bread to put on it. In a while a member of his congregation arrived, laden with groceries to the delight of the children! Reverend Charles Albert Tindley, later became known as the "Prince of Preachers", and founded one of the largest Methodist congregations serving the African-American community in Philadelphia. A grandson of his father's master was even converted by him. We can say that his gratefulness and thankfulness made his faith strong, stronger in adversity!

Lord, may my praise transform me! May my faith turn my challenges into blessings!

The Things We Keep

“I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” Luke 21:3-4

What a lesson this poor widow teaches us during the biggest spending season of the year! It’s a pity she is unnamed for there are not many like her. There are many saints who came from rich families, and were inspired to live in poverty, preferring to make the Lord their wealth. There is of course the well known story of St. Francis of Assisi- Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone was the son of a prosperous silk merchant and a French noblewoman. While he was in the army, he had a vision which caused him to return home and refrain from all his former indulgences. So startling was his change in habits, that a friend asked him if he was thinking of marrying. He answered, “Yes, a fairer bride than any of you have ever seen", meaning his "Lady Poverty".

Princess St. Elizabeth of Hungary, heiress St. Katharine Drexel, Russian prince Demetrius Augustus Gallitzin, highly born St. Norbert of Xanten are examples of those who gave up their wealth like the merchant in search of the pearl of great price. They deliberately left behind their high ranking families, renounced their inheritance, or used their wealth to start schools, etc. It would be enriching for us to walk beside these saints this season, and think of how we can help others. 

As I’ve always said, I write these meditations not to make an example of myself, but to preach to myself. I am always in need of reminders to stop buying stuff instead giving to those who need. After all, the only things we get to keep are those we give away. 

Piniga

“Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this small matter, take charge of ten cities.” Luke 19:17

My mother used to say she used up all the gifts God gave her. “Piniga niya.” She squeezed every bit of talent God gave her and used it. I can say the same for Robert, my brother. God gave him an enormous talent and he used it to help others, to inspire others, to build them up, to share love and light. 

Before, he used to have these desires to be a great artist, making paintings that would hang in museums, but then he sort of accepted his gift was different, he made people happy, delighted with his drawings and illustrations. We saw this beautiful world God gave us through his eyes. Like when even I followed him drawing during his pandemic online workshops. I thought to myself, I can follow his drawings, and make cute dogs, cats and owls, by imitating, but putting together those simple lines to draw those whimsical characters! That was genius! He could draw any animal without a reference, without a pencil sketch, I’d seen him do it many times! The murals you see on our papemelroti walls, he did it without any draft or pattern. 

I remember when we went boating in Halong Bay, Vietnam, and one of the things that affected Robert during that ride was the old woman paddling the boat. She was so old already, and she did that backbreaking work every day. He wanted to do something for her and he used what was in his hands. He always had a pen and paper. And he sketched her. At the end of the boat ride, he gave the sketch to her, and we all remember the old woman’s smile. Beatific! Her wrinkled face lighted up with her big toothless smile! And Robert did that many times. He had a wonderful habit of surprising strangers with his delightful drawings. People at a restaurant, sampaguita vendors, kids at a party, people he met in his travels, etc. So many have been recipients of his largesse. 

He was so generous with his talents. Many times without asking for anything in return. He would make logos for friends starting businesses, he painted the murals in the Angat Buhay Museum even when he was so weak already. He had to call on hidden resources to climb scaffoldings to do it. “Piniga niya”, even his strength. 

I asked him to make designs for labels for a poor man trying to make a living out of selling polvoron and sweets. He did not discriminate. He had so many friends among the rich, the famous and among the poor and forgotten. He loved going to the ‘laylayan’, to the cemetery, the squatter areas, and encourage  the kids to draw and make crafts. Any time I asked if he could do a workshop for poor children, he never said no. He loved to mentor, and he was always kind, never stingy. 

His generosity with his talents and resources was just so overwhelming! It would take a long time to enumerate. And even when he sometimes got disheartened by corporate people who were unfair or government entities that did not pay him, he just moved on and continued to do his best at any project, big or small. 

If we can say at the end of our life, “Piniga ko lahat ng binigay ng Panginoon sa akin”, (I used up all God gave me) I think God would say at the end of our life, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30