What Praying is for Me

Our little altar

Prayer.

I learned back when I was a child that to pray is to talk to God.  Growing up, I find myself always talking to God, - how my day went, friends I met, games I played.  Then I also learned from the way of life of the Focolare (Work of Mary) community where I belong that even a simple "For you Jesus", in everything we do is already a prayer.  Every Wednesday, I would go to the Adoration Chapel with my mother and spend an hour praying and meditating.  But that habit ceased when I get to move and to study in Cebu and my schedule totally changed. Instead,  I get to pray the Rosary with my Aunt,

In college, I learned that to PRAY means - Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield. I also found a very simple and easy to understand article on how to pray.

Now that I am on the family way and most of the time just staying at home with lots of free time, I find myself praying for people and for their intentions.  At night, with my Aunt, we pray the Rosary.  How we both feel that our day has been complete spending less than 30 minutes to praise, thank, adore, and thank God for the many many graces and blessings and even trials that come our way.  The light of the candle focuses our attention to prayer and reminds us that praying gives us the Light.

Aside from going to the Adoration Chapel and praying the Rosary, I also have special prayers or what we call Novena. These are prayers done for 9 days straight to a particular saint, to Mary, or to the Persons of the Holy Trinity. However, I am not only for 9 days straight because I also felt that I badly need the help of the Holy Spirit these days. Slowly, I felt so much peace and grace that He promised to give which I wish to continue just the same.

I have always believed that even at times I get to forget, God knows what is in my heart.  Yet, I also felt more close to Him whenever I really focus and just talk to Him.

Gospel for June 19, 2015 (Friday)

Mt 6:19-23

Jesus said to his disciples,  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.  But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there also will your heart is.

"The lamp of the body is the eye.  If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.  And if the light in you is darkness,  how great will the darkness be".

The Word in other words

A newspaper carried this article about a young man who once found a five-dollar bill on the street.  From that time on, he never lifted his eyes when walking.  Through the years, he accumulated 29,516 buttons, 54,172 pins, 12 cents, a bent back, and a miserly disposition.  He lost the simple joy of the sunlight and blue sky, the glow of the moonlight or the stars, the smiles of friends, and the entire joy of living. (Roy B. Zuck, The Speaker's Quote Book)

I guess, what Jesus said about the eye being the lamp of the body goes with a caution to be careful where we fix our eyes on.  What can be said of the eye could be said of our mind's thoughts as well.  Indeed, what catches our attention by sight often fills our thoughts.  And the longer we allow ourselves to be drawn to the object of our desire, the sooner it consumes us.  As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be".  This applies to many things or persons in life, but more so towards money and the so-called treasures on earth.

Why do we tend to store up or covet things, sometimes even beyond what we need?  It is not to have a sense of security?  But Jesus' advice in the gospel today challenges us: where does our real security lie?  It is not in money, power, prestige, nor even in relationships or our own strength.  If we over-rely on these things, the wise and truly rich will tell us that we are foolish indeed.  For, as the bible describes, they are life flowers that blossom in the morning and wither in the evening.  More pointedly, none of these earthly things is of value in heaven and eternity.

Our real security and treasure lie in our union with Jesus Christ.  Jesus made a promise that if you seek first the Kingdom of God and entrust yourself to Him, then He already assumes full responsibility for you and for all your needs, on earth as in heaven.  Can you name any one thing that God has come up short with and failed us?  None! Trust Jesus, fix your eyes on Him, put Him first over everything, and all the rest will fall in their proper places.

                             - Fr. Emil Lim, SVD (Hong Kong)

Gospel for June 18, 2015 (Thursday)

Mt 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples, "In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them.  Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  This is how you are to pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. "Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us  to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. " If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

The Word in other words

As a missionary, in Timor Leste, I realize that one that one of the most difficult gospel lessons to preach on is "forgiveness".  This is due to the Timorese people's terrible, horrible, bitter and painful experience with Indonesian soldiers during the war 13 years ago.  Before this country finally won her independence, thousands of lives were sacrificed.  Today, people always recall and retell their experiences.  One memory that causes pain is of fellow Timorese who were pro-Indonesian government and who participated in the killing of their own Timorese brothers and sisters.  Today, many of them are still roaming around the country.

Though it is very challenging, I as a missionary must preach and live 'forgiveness'.  Otherwise, as stressed by Jesus in the last part of today's gospel, our heavenly Father will not forgive us.  There is a line in the "Our Father" that says in Tetun, "Haraik perdua mai ami sala, nudar ami perdua ba ema halo aat ami" (Forgive us our since, as we forgive those who sinned against us).  This means that our Heavenly Father can only forgive us if we are able to forgive those who have done us wrong.  May you be one with me in praying for our Timorese brothers and sisters so that God will give them the courage to forgive those who killed their loved ones.

We may not have the same experience as the people here, but isn't is that we have also our so-called 'enemies', who may be our family members, officemates, fellow religious, classmates, or friends?  During my novitiate year my classmate became my enemy for many reasons.  I was not brave enough to talk to him personally.  I was then so disturbed that I was forced to approach my spiritual director for help.  After listening to my struggle, my director suggested that I pray everyday for my 'enemy'.  Though it was not easy, I did pray for him every morning.  As I woke up in the morning I would offer a short prayer for him.  I did it for several months and, believe it or not, in the end we became good friends.  This is what we call the ' the power of prayer'.

Let me suggest that, starting today, as children of our heavenly Father we should try to do the same.  Let us offer a short prayer everyday for our so-called enemies, believing that with God's grace a miracle will happen, the miracle of forgiveness.

               - Fr. Reniel Lumiwan Nachimma, SVD ( Timor Leste Region)

Gospel for June 17, 2015 (Wednesday)

 Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples, "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people  may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.  When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others.  Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.  Bu when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be a secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that others may see them.  Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.  They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting.  Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden.  And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."


The Word in other words

We are familiar with our "Panatang Makabayan" (Pledge of Loyalty to our Country): "Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Filipino, sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa". (I will strive to become a true Filipino in thought, word, and in deed).  Are we truly living this pledge in our day-to-day life?

Today's Gospel gives us practical tips or reminders on how to perform righteous deeds, how to pray and how to fast.  In short, it presents to our consciousness how to truly live our Christian life.  When we do good, whether by charitable works, prayer or fasting, we should do them with the right motive and right intention and not for self-satisfaction or self-aggrandizement - to be praised, to be honored and to attract people's attention to us.

For our actions to be truly meaningful and helpful, we must aim at the good of all. Our prayers and actions must express our sincere gratitude to God for His countless blessings and our sincere desire to help build one another in love and responsibly care for the development of our environment.  We should fast with an honest heart and fast from gossip, rumor-mongering and dishonest deeds so as to promote peace, justice, and harmony in society and the world.  With St. John the Baptist, let our lives proclaim: "He must increase, I must decrease:.

As God has so wondrously blessed us in Jesus who is our Way, Truth, and Life, and as He continuously blesses us through the Holy Spirit, may we, in turn, be a blessing to one another and to the world.  He has gifted us through the things we honestly do in thought, word and deed.  May God be praised forever.

                    - Sr. Elena Rosa Salonga, SSpS (CHS, QC)

Gospel for June 16, 2015 (Tuesday)

Mt 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?  Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that?  Do not the pagans do the same?  So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Word in other words

When our lives and even that of the Church's are ranged against the demands and standards of the Gospel, they will always fall short.  There will always be a big gap between the fulfillment of its demands and the expectation inherent in the demand.  No wonder the theme of conversion is a constant one.  It is because we try to do as much as we can.  This also gives reason why reforms are a never ending desire and dream of an individual and of the church.  It is because we have done enough or we have veered off far enough from our goal.  The church is semper reformanda, as the saying goes.

Reforms have also dotted the history of the church.  The religious orders like the Benedictines (they put order into the prayer life of the church), the Franciscans (they pushed for simplicity into the lifestyle of the church), the Dominicans (they revived the primacy of the word and its preaching), the Agustinians and Carmelites (they mined the ideals of their founders and applied them to their actual situations) --- they have all contributed in bridging the gap between reality and the Gospel demand.  The Councils at Pisa (1490), Constance (1414-1418), Sienna (1423-1424), Basel-Ferrera-Florence (1431-1439) and Lateran V were all aimed at strengthening the unity within the church by the conciliar definition of papal primacy in its legal and political senses.  A stronger leadership meant a credible one and therefore would inspire.

When Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as elected to the Papacy and had acted or spoken with what could be construed as novelty, even if in the same mold as John Paul II and Benedict XVI, the clamour for reform within the Curia and in some other areas of Church governance and teaching became even louder.

The above examples are just small snippets at how the church tried to fulfill the demands of the gospel.  Definitely, they are inspiring stories because they show the human spirit at its best.  It is a never ending attempt to be faithful. Yet, it could also be seen as an effort doomed to fail and perceived as rejoicing only at our own suffering.  It might appear that frustration, failure, and disappointment are the lot of a Catholic.

                     - Fr. Joey Miras, SVD (Toronto, Canada)

Labor of Fun and Creativity

It started in 2006 when my sister purchased a desktop and printer that she commenced making simple invitations for wedding occasions.  Her then boyfriend, now her husband of five years, was her creative partner and together they ventured in this hobby-turned-income-generating activity.  Now, their products and services reached parts of Mindanao, Luzon, and even Calgary, Canada!

They used to name their 'company', TamWorks but in 2013, they re-branded it as Rookiehands-Crafts and Prints.  Maybe because they still consider themselves as rookies for this kind of endeavor yet I already consider them as genius in this field - spare you me having to patronize, hehehe.

I am featuring their arts and crafts as they also made our wedding save-the-dates and formal invitations for our December 2014 wedding.  How my then fiance appreciated the amazing designs and well-crafted details!  We had a Filipiniana theme wedding and it was one-of-a-kind. Even my sister was quite ecstatic as she worked on the project.

                                                          Our Save-the-Date Invitations

                                                              Our formal invitations

Here are also some of her creations...

                                              During her 2nd baby shower for Rookie

                                                                      Wedding favors

                                                                      Wedding favors

                                                                    For a kiddie party

If  you want personalized and hand-crafted invitations, programs, or favors, my sister will be more than happy to discuss with you.  She can deliver your project given the 2 week window otherwise there will be an add on fee for rush jobs.

Here are her latest projects...

You may reach Rookiehands- Crafts and Prints at 085-342-2294 or 0912-378-9501.

Gospel for June 15, 2015 (Monday)

Mt 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples, "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'  But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.  When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.  If anyone who wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.  Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.  Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow".

The Word in other words

Now and then, we read in the newspaper that a certain airport personnel or taxi driver returned to its owner a bag of money found in the airport or a taxi,  The finder could have used the money to answer some personal or family need, but she/he stood by her/his principles and returned that money. Such honesty is nowadays a rarity and for that reason the finder's story becomes a national news item.

Can we correctly say that such an honest guy loves his neighbor?  Certainly, for he did what he knew to be good for the other person.  And that is love--- to do what is good for the other.  In returning the money to its owner, he did what love requires of him to do in such a situation.  How about us? When making a choice or a decision, do we tell our self that we should do what love requires?

In today's readings, Jesus warns us against the unloving attitude of revenge - an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.  Our Lord is telling us we should love our neighbor.  And love means not just refraining from revenge but taking an extra mile for the one we love.  Jesus tells us that when we love others, we should also love our enemies.

Doing things which are good and beneficial to the one we love is the language of love. And doing things out of love should not be burdensome to a loving person.  And doing things out of love should not be burdensome to a loving person. Where there is love, there is no labor but delight: ubi amatur, non laboratur;  aus si laboratur, labor amatur.  When we speak the language of love, we do not preset or predetermine how far or to what extent we will show our love and concern for the other.  Look at Jesus "our Tremendous Lover" --- He loves us without measure.  Indeed, in the words of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the only measure of love is to love without measure.

                               -  Fr. Ernesto M. Lagura SVD (USC, Cebu City)