Today's Password : 22.January.2017, Sunday

Essere misericordiosi

Be merciful

“God shows us, in a new and higher manner, that there is something worth more than suffering: love for others, in the form of mercy. This is the love, which stretches our hearts and arms to embrace the wretched, the poor, repentant sinners, and those whom life has ravaged. Mercy is the final expression of charity; it is what completes it. And charity goes beyond suffering, for suffering belongs to this life alone, whereas love continues into the next. God prefers mercy to sacrifice.”

Chiara Lubich

* Today is also Chiara's birthday. We thank her for saying her YES to God.

Gospel for June 11, 2015 (Thursday)

Mt 5:20-26

Jesus said to His disciples, "As you go, make this proclamation: 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 'Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.  Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.  Do not take gold or silver or copper for your bells; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick.  The laborer deserves his keep.  Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it and stay there until you leave.  As you enter a house, wish it peace.  If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let you peace return to you".

The WORD in other words

More than a hundred years ago in a Japanese village an earthquake struck.  The Japanese along the seashore thought nothing of it.  But an old rich farmer on a high plain happened to be looking at the sea and saw that a tsunami was fast rushing to the seashore village.  His thought was to rescue the people but what to do?  In his large bodega lay his crop of rice.  Piled in stacks ready for the market, it was worth a fortune.  With haste he set his bodega on fire.  When the villagers saw the big fire, they rushed and ran up to the higher plain to help put out the fire.  As they reached the plain the tsunami struck.  Four hundred lives where saved. (L. Hearn)

This is a classic example of a sacrifice: a farmer sacrificed his fortune to save lives.  The Gospel speaks of an empty sacrifice, one that is devoid of love.  If we heed St. Agustine's definition of sacrifice, then we would offer to God only what signifies our inner adherence to His will, and so our offering would be acceptable.  God's will is for us to live in harmony with others, which is worth more than a huge but empty sacrifice.

When we come to Mass, therefore, let's not come empty-handed.  Let's bring along the good life that we live.

St. Barnabas, pray for us.

                                                -Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD (DWST, Tagaytay City)

Return to Mythology

On a day like this, I prefer to just lie on my bed and daydream as hours would pass by while listening to my favorite radio station, Radio Cafe' over the internet. An SMS would make my phone beep and pull me away from my imaginings. My toes happily wiggle to the beat.  In quandary still, thinking what possibly I do to make myself mobile once and for all for a change.

My usual Sunday became something different all of a sudden as I decided to watch with my sister and cousin the Wrath of the Titans. 

The movie was the sequel of the other year's movie, Wrath of the Titans, which critics claim that the classic and older version was better. I care not nonetheless as I feel I really do not have the authority to say so. Would my opinions really matter? Who knows as I have a new dream... to be able to publish my review on movies that could on my way.

Overall, it was a movie about sacrifice, forgiveness, and the unconditional love of a father as displayed by Perseus. My insight definitely is that of knowing how things come out as a result of one's action - good or bad. We never comprehend the extent of damage or grace that things turn out to be.

Spoilers not I provide so you will see the movie for yourself. However, one thing that I can give you is the image they presented in making the labyrinth of the Minotaur well-crafted that you would feel you were also inside it. Make sure you will know how to get out.

So watch and enjoy the movie. Don't forget the popcorn =) Let me know what you think afterward.