God's Word and Daily Life

By Mel Jasmin

On Sunday, the Church commemorates the solemnity of the Corpus Christi (Latin, it means the Body of Christ). The body of Christ is the living bread from heaven which he gave to us as his ultimate oblation during the last supper.

The body of Christ in a form of bread should be shared with everyone so they may have life. And when one eats the body of Christ, he/ she will live in the Lord and will have life eternal until the last day. The assurance of Jesus to the people that if they will live their lives in accordance to God’s will and will take Jesus as their bread of life, they will be with God forever.

Every organic being eats. Eating is a very important biological activity in life in order to live. One cannot live without eating. In our gospel reading, Jesus had made a very intriguing remark which provoked the Jews to react. There was confusion that led to a quarrel among the Jews especially those who heard Jesus’ exhortation about himself. The image of the living bread from heaven is absurd for them. And whoever would eat the bread will live forever as the bread would sustain him/ her till the end of time.

Jesus is the bread of life. Jesus declared that He is the living bread that came down from heaven. The living bread is referred to Jesus’ flesh, his body to be eaten by those who want to live forever, and his blood as the drink. This statement was not acceptable to the Jews as it was blasphemous for one to claim that he is from God and to declare that he is living bread from heaven. The bread that gives life and sustains life, unlike the bread that the ancestors of the people of Israel who ate manna (food) in the wilderness but died. It is because they have not known God fully well as they murmured and always complained.

By Mel Jasmin

Next Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. We remember during this Feast the God is one in three divine persons – the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, reveals Himself in the Bible. The Bible clearly tells us there is only one God. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one”. At the same time, we encounter multiple passages in the Bible that show that the one God consists of more persons. This is hard for us to understand. We should realize that is not because of a logical contradiction, but because of our limitations. That the complexity and beauty of God’s being surpasses our understanding is not strange. He is God and we are man.

The third chapter of John’s Gospel John proclaims that the Father loves the world and sent His Son to share eternal life with all who believe. The God, we contemplate today is present in, with and for us. The story of God’s love, Jesus, the Word Incarnate, draws us into His relationship with God as Father.

If you notice, Jesus as the “Son” is referred to three times in this passage, but the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. We come to know and recognize the Spirit in the love that is poured out into the world through the oneness of the Father and Son.

The first reading (Exodus 34:4-9) and the Gospel emphasize the power, mercy and love of God. In the second reading (2 Corinthians 13:11-13), Paul confirms that God is a “God of love and peace”. The reading from 2 Corinthians is the only one that mentions all three Persons of the Trinity. The Alleluia verse reminds us that all three Persons of the Trinity share in glory: “Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit: To God who is, who was, and who is to come.”

A bit of interest: The Doxology was instituted in 1674. The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity was instated in the Third Century.

By Mel Jasmin

This Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the birthday of the Catholic Church.

We are the Church. In an amazing paradox, the Holy Spirit unites us as one, despite and because of our differences. Each of us is a unique reflection of God. Each of us has his or her own gifts, our own manifestations of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit; and yet, we are all the same.  Each of us and all of us are the Church. We are transformed into a Living Body, the Body of Christ, just as the first disciples on Pentecost Sunday were transformed by the Holy Spirit into Church.

Like those disciples who, once they received the Spirit, became apostles, we have to leave the Upper Room, the false security of our own little worlds, and dive into the world, leap into the world, bring who we are, Church, to the world. And we do this. We preach with our lives and, as St Francis of Assisi said, if necessary, with our words. We proclaim the eternal life offered for all who are willing to confess Jesus and accept His Gospel, live His Life.  And others hear a language touching their hearts, yelling inside their hearts.  We speak as Church and the Holy Spirit animates, brings life to those seeking meaning for life.  We live as the Church we are, and others are drawn by the Spirit to be Church. 

And yes, sadly, we can reject the Holy Spirit. We can close our ears and our hearts to His call to affirm the Gospel, to His call to reach out to others, to His call to embrace the Way with our lives, but then we are not just rejecting a particular grace, we are rejecting God. Simply put, I do not have the right to treat my Catholicism merely as though I am a member of a group. None of us has that right. I have a responsibility to the world; we have a responsibility to the world, to be Church.

By Father Bernard Holzer, aa

May starts with Labor Day!

In this time of pandemic, it’s a moment to reflect on a reality.

Let’s take some minutes to refocus on our life.

Work is an essential pillar of spiritual life.

That's the great lesson of the monks. Anthony the Great, the first of the fathers of the desert and father of the monks asked God: "How can we be saved?"

And God answered him: "Ora and Labora" (Pray and work), which became the motto of the Benedictines.

Work allows us to live, to help those in need, it also raises the soul because it gives meaning to life. Giving someone work is allowing them to live and grow.

“Work should be the setting for this rich personal growth where many aspects of life enter into play: creativity, planning for the future, developing our talents, living out our values, relating to others, giving glory to God.” - Pope Francis in “Laudato Si”

How do I consider the work I do?

Does it allow me to live and give life? Is it flourishing?

What do I need to change?

By Father Bernard Holzer, aa

On May 1^st, Pope Francis inaugurated a “Marathon of Prayer” for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In communion with the 30 sanctuaries in the world associated to his initiative, let us pray every day with him:

"O Mary, Comforter of the afflicted, embraces all your children in tribulation and obtain from God to intervene with his all-powerful hand to free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life may resume in serenity its normal course."

“Most loving Mother, grant that the sense of belonging to one great family, in the awareness of the bond that unites us all, might grow in the world; so that, with a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we might come to the aid of the many people who are poor and the many situations of misery. Encourage firmness in faith, perseverance in service, constancy in prayer.”

                               “Hail Mary, full of grace…”

 And let us continue the marathon of the community pantries to help the poor and to be for them a sign of God’s care: « Give what you can, take what you need. »

By Mel Jasmin

Mass unemployment is a problem during this year’s Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. Covid-19 has deprived millions of Filipinos of their jobs.

“He himself at some point would have been unemployed in the Flight to Egypt,” Father Calloway said. “They had to pack up everything and go to a foreign country with nothing. They didn’t plan on that.”

Calloway, author of the book “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father,” is an US-based priest of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception.

He suggested that St. Joseph “at some point was surely quite concerned: how is he going to find work in a foreign country, not knowing the language, not knowing the people?”

In March this year, government sources there are approximately 4.5 million Filipinos who are jobless. Many others are working from home under coronavirus travel restrictions, while countless workers face newly dangerous workplaces where they may be at risk of contracting the coronavirus and taking it home to their families.

Father Sinclair Oubre, a labor advocate, similarly thought of the Flight into Egypt as a period of joblessness for St. Joseph—and also a period that showed an example of virtues.

“He remains focused: stay open, continue to struggle, do not get broken down. He was able to build up a livelihood for him and his family,” said Oubre. “For those who are unemployed, St. Joseph gives us a model of not allowing the difficulties of life to crush one’s spirit, but rather trusting in God’s provide

May our jobless brothers and sisters find consolation in Saint Joseph the Worker. Saint Joseph, pray for us!

By Mel Jasmin

On Sunday, April 25, we will celebrate the Good Shepherd Sunday.

Sheep are followers. Following isn’t something sheep have to think about—it’s an instinct. Sheep remember faces. They recognize faces of other sheep and even of humans who work with them regularly. They are almost human, because sheep remember who treats them well— and even more, they remember who handles them harshly. Sheep find safety in numbers, and when grazing, sheep will keep at least 4-5 other sheep in view. They are very social and extroverted animals, for they do not do well alone, and they value supporting each other by sticking together at all costs. A lost sheep is critical because they do not do well alone.

When Jesus begins a statement with "Amen, amen I say to you” it means serious business in the Gospel of John. Twice Jesus says this to make a strong point, and he also says he is the gate twice—for he is the true gate. The Pharisees who deny Jesus as the way are no better than thieves trying to climb over the wall of a sheepfold, instead of entering through the gate.

To be in the Lord’s flock is to be in a life-changing, transformative relationship with the Lord. To know the Lord is to see our life changed by that very relationship. It is to know the voice of Jesus and be able to distinguish it from others, so that in all things God may be glorified.

On April 14, we celebrate the 500^th anniversary of the first Catholic Baptism in the Philippines that took place in Cebu.

It is an opportunity to thank the Lord for the gift of faith, the gift of the Good News. It is also a commitment for us to announce and live this Good News today!

Philippines, what did you do with your baptism?

Let us listen and meditate again on the encouragement of Pope Francis in his video message on April 4 for the Jubilee celebration of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines:

“During this jubilee year, let the words of Jesus guide you: “Without cost you received; without cost you are to give” (Mt 10:8). These words are an invitation to thank God for all those who handed on the faith to you. […] Be grateful for the gift of faith. Thank God for the people who gave you the faith and for all those to whom you will pass it on in turn. Renew your enthusiasm for evangelization. Reach out to others and bring them the hope and joy of the Gospel.

Do not be afraid; you are not alone in this mission. Two great saints of your land accompany you: Saint Pedro Calungsod and Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. Two holy catechists who knew how to give without cost what they had received without cost: life and faith in Jesus.”

Let us remember our own baptism, God's love for us, the gift of the Holy Spirit that gives us to be disciples of Jesus, all the blessings.

Let us pray:

“Renew in us the grace of your Spirit

That impels us to be witnesses of Jesus your Son,

To a world broken by greed, violence, injustice, sickness and suffering.

May our faith bring us to unity as your children

To care for and love one another.

May the Holy Spirit empower us

To be proclaimers of the Good News

To our brothers and sisters in Asia and to all nations.” - Amen

(Mission Prayer for the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines)

By Father Bernard Holzer, aa

Last Easter Sunday, Pope Francis sent us a Video Message for the 500^th  anniversary of the Evangelization of the Philippines.

You could watch it on http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2021/documents/papa-francesco_2021

Pope Francis is encouraging us to be with the Lord and to give what was given to us: the Gospel, the Good news for our time! Let’s listen to him.

“Dear friends: I recall my visit to your country with great fondness. I cannot forget our final meeting, with almost seven million people present. You are generous and you know how to celebrate the feast of faith. Never lose those qualities, even in the midst of difficulties. In those massive gatherings, those who spoke about receiving the gift of faith said they wanted to continue sharing it and proclaiming it to everyone.

Do not be afraid; you are not alone in this mission. Two great saints of your land accompany you: Saint Pedro Calungsod and Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. Two holy catechists who knew how to give without cost what they had received without cost: life and faith in Jesus.

Keep moving forward; the Pope is always at your side. May Jesus bless you and bless all the Filipino people. May the Holy Virgin watch over you and the Santo Niño be always with you. I ask you, please, to remember to pray for me. Thank you very much.”