Dead no More

Ave Maria:-)

The phone rings, a long-distance call, another aunt on my father's side died..just the other day we attended burial of a dear friend's mother, and counting a month ago, a neighbor too was buried at the same cemetery.

I can't count the number of wakes and burials attended, on a personal and familial commitment..there are many..but this number has greatly increased because of being part of the parish prayer group (Catholic Living Word) at Mt. Carmel.. the family, the circle of friends has grown beyond biological lines and we find ourselves joining even more souls in their time of bereavement.

It helps too that we have a music ministry, named so.. because we are called to sing not just for holy mass or prayer meetings, but to visit wakes, burials, the sick... vist the sick at hospitals or sometimes visit and sing at  schools.. prisons... anywhere where the healing love and salvation from Jesus can be shared thru music .

Music after all is a powerful medium, less intimidating than regular speech..and especially when the message we deliver is important and can be  life-changing, it greatly helps that melody and  musical instruments contain the actual message.Many times it is even more potent, as the music enters somewhat in a different less guarded entry point of brain and heart.IT DISABLES HUMAN DEFENSES.Praise God for that. 

there are wakes and there are WAKES... there are burials and THERE ARE BURIALS.

Be sensitive to how these are conducted.

How heart -wrenching it is to attend wakes where family is literally at a loss: no one or few come to console.. there seems to be no remembrance of goodness of the one who died, worst of all..there is no spiritual dimension to the situation.. no priests come to offer mass and given strength and hope to bereaved family.. no prayers offered, the death is not related to our life in GOD , and how in the Christian context..death is not feared.. but in a manner of speaking even welcomed because ..we pass from our earthly life to eternal heavenly life..enjoying the presence of God , Jesus, the Blessed mother Mary  and all angels  and saints in heaven... 

as some often exclaim:the life beyond is  "a place or condition  where there are no more tears..no more suffering..no more pain and distress..." I'm sure heaven is like that AND MUCH MUCH MORE.... for our human minds could not possibly comprehend the full scope and beauty of eternal life with GOD.  

This morning we chanced upon this passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 6:1-10  .. how very timely it is as we celebrate All Saints and All Holy Souls' Day Nov. 1 and Nov.2 ..respectively.

It reminds us of the impact of our sacramental Baptism... how moving is the way St. Paul describes it... it is so visual ..so vivid... how as we are baptized.. it allows us join Jesus in his "death... he was entombed for 3 days" of how his death corresponds to our own death to sin!" 

I never fully understood how baptism impacts us until reading this passage today, talk about wisdom growing on installment basis... in my little mind and heart.. I begin to understand how..even without US DOING ANYTHING YET..even without US DOING ANYTHING YET....

 THE MOMENT WE RECIEVE THE SACRAMENT GRACE ENTERS OUR BEING... we are cleansed and delivered from the power of sin.. it is DELETED FRoM OUR SYSTEM BY JESUS SAVING POWER...!Hallelujah!
Thank You Lord!

As we respond to this gift from God given to us in our Baptism... this gift is cultivated and then we grow in our hearts a commitment to turn away from every sin and evil.... Indeed we have the inherent power because the Holy Spirit has already been given to us in our baptism..

How frightening and tragic beyond words then for someone to have been baptized and to go on living in life NOT KNOWING WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO GOOD , TO BE GOOD..TO GROW IN HOLINESS until we have become like Jesus. 

To have power over the enemy.. satan and all dark powers , to have the ability to defeat the enemy AND TO NOT KNOW ABOUT IS..NOT BE ABLE TO USE THIS POWER... HOW TRAGIC CAN IT GET... ?It's like losing without a fight.. like losing due to technicality.. maybe a boxer uses wrong gloves or missed hitting the weight by half a pound... terrible ..terrible!

Later on the passage describes how as Jesus resurrects from the dead..so too the baptized Christian rises to new life... all the graces, the power, the love , the victory flowing form the Resurrection of Christ is ours for the claiming..ours to harness and use wisely and lovingly -- humbly too during our earthly life -- that we continuously share with others this precious gift of salvation in our oh so short lifetime.

As many ponder on what costume to wear for Halloween.. as many stock on dvds about horror, gory ,scariest movies to watch during this long week-end ---- as many rush to that longed for R & R (rest and recreation) ..is it not far more meaningful to ponder on our own baptism which happened so many years ago... of how we have benefitted from a life joined to JESUS CHRIST..? Of how whether we have been aware or not, grateful or not.. wise or not.. God has not withdrawn the divine life flowing in our being? 
God is truly Perfect Love. Perfect Goodness.

the talented Michael Jackson who regaled us with hit after hit, such a volume of musical achievements has passed away... Steve Jobs for all his genius has passed away... I pray that their life's work has led them to eternal happiness and peace, only God knows.

Well, whether we be popular/rich or not... the stakes are the same upon death..It's the time of accountability and making a safe return to our Creator.

May we find time to ponder on this passage this vacation and find time to pray , All Saints is a holyday of obligation, must hear mass... and All Souls Day a great time to pray for the dead..to bond with the living and to remember  our Borrowed Life. Happy All Saints and Holy Souls Day to All.!

God bless us all............. te mye     

1

¹ What then shall we say? Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound? Of course not!

2

How can we who died to sin yet live in it?

3

Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

4

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

5

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.

6

We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.

7

For a dead person has been absolved from sin.

8

If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

9

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.

10

As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God.

Unhappy Bonsai

Ave Maria:)

In high school.. we'd hear this particular teasing for short people : "Uy ..ang cute , parang bonsai."

 Sometimes it would be uttered with just light teasing..other times a bit derogatory... like when a student with seemingly long limbs..yet  strangely did not grow to the anticipated height,as tho' the process of growth was stunted.

A friend from way back did suffer an accident in childhood..this hit the spine so that the boy did not grow as tall as his other siblings.. tho' his limbs were long... a bit painful to look at him because you can imagine the possibilities had he not suffered the accident.

Browsing thru ..here are tidbits of info about bonsai before we borrow the term for today's reflection....

The purposes of bonsai are primarily contemplation (for the viewer) and the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity (for the grower).^[3]

 By contrast with other plant cultivation practices, bonsai is not intended for production of food, for medicine, or for creating yard-size or park-size gardens or landscapes. Instead, bonsai practice focuses on long-term cultivation and shaping of one or more small trees growing in a container.

To the the Chinese a bonsai can be a contorted misshaped tree representing a shape or symbol rather than a natural tree. 

 To the lazy gardener a bonsai may often unintentionally be that plant in the pot that should have been planted into the garden 10 years ago and has had to survive on total neglect.  

Whichever description we consider.. it remains true that the original form of the plant as well as its purpose was not fulfilled. Sometimes on purpose..sometimes as mentioned above ..the plant simply didnot grow to typical height due to neglect.

I'm also struck by this phrase: bonsai is not intended for production of food, for medicine, or for creating yard-size or park-size gardens or landscapes...............

Hmmm which brings us to our reflection today............ a Christian who has preferred to be, or to remain a Bonsai Christian .

Stunted growth.

If a fruit -bearing tree say the famous coconut tree is planted and grows in a ideal environment.. it will in time yield sweet coconut fruit..and as everyone knows this plant is useful for producing soap, oil, wood for furniture or decor... and many, many other things. Old relatives who lived in a far-away Bohol family farm would say they survived on coconuts, during the Japanese occuppation--- yes,that's how nutritious this tree's fruit is.. ahh I could use a cool buko juice  drink right now. But if we "control" the growth of the tree...  none of its purposes will be fulfilled... no cooking oil, no soap, no food, no juice, no virgin coconut oil taken as medicine , no shampoo... but well... you do have the pretty -to- look- at bonsai palm tree..pleasing to the eyes... but that's just about it. 

Why compare ourselves to the bonsai plant?

Man has this proven ability to choose other plans for himself.. other than what God has intended for him.

With the intelligence and free will God has given us..plus the countless opportunities and blessings thrown our way..we have this tricky crossroad in life: To claim and be immersed in God's plan for us - a glorious plan made possible when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.. or to decide otherwise -- to choose other routes, other goals, other timetables.. to be any personality we want to be, except that of being a child of GOD. 

If God could have His way, He'd make sure we would be well on our way to the path of righteousness..and hey, who knows still be the career professionals, parents, artists, even priest or nuns we want to be --- we'd be singing the same tune our Creator has been singing from the beginning of time..a song of love, a song of rejoicing.. a song beckoning us 

to belong to GOD and GOD alone.

If God could have His way.. tho' the process could take years..and tho' it could entail pain and suffering... dying to one's self, shedding our old sinful skin, so that the new spiritual man comes out... we'd be on the exact spot on earth we were meant to be , with all our talent , treasure, time used wisely to fulfill the Lord's prayer: " Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

We would be aware of the Holy Spirit and yield to His promptings.. the Spirit guiding us in every aspect of our life: how to parent our children... how to conduct our business.. how to be an honest , industrious employee.. how to be a doctor or nurse who can truly , truly heal. How to be a teacher forming young minds in the image and likeness of GOD , yes even if it be Algebra or Physics equations you're teaching 

If we were poets, songwriters, screenplay writers, movie directors -- it doesn't mean than everything you produce is pure gospel...  we can write, produce , mount anything but never desecrating Christ, nor 

belittling our self-concept -- hence no room for porn please. 

We donot bonsai our self..but we allow room , surrendering our human will to the loving guidance of  the Holy Spirit... and this is not spiritual mumbo-jumbo... it's the plain, simple truth , that once we are baptized in Christ sacramentally, that our original sin is forgiven and we recieve the gift of the Holy Spirit... and it is the Holy Spirit who can cause GROWTH THAT COUNTS... GROWTH THAT MATTERS... GROWTH OF LASTING VALUE.

We grow for the love of God ..and we strive to express this love by loving, serving others. We won't be content stroking our egos (for those achievements whateverrr) we won't strut and say: "Well here this... I am a cool bonsai.. I am a real beauty and so self-sufficient."

No..no..no.... we are meant to grow and bear fruit..and Jesus specifically says...the fruit we bear must be" fruit that must last." 

Galatians 5:22 lists this as:But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Time to reflect and check our life's journey.. our walk with the Lord, if indeed it is His Hand  we are holding.... time to ask ourself if  our actions, words and lifestyle will make people believe and turn to Jesus -- because if not  then we might be steadily growing into a perfect bonsai plant.

To understand more about Christian Growth..listen to this young preacher ...Sis. Gwen, she may appear petite and frail..but I assure you she is no bonsai Christian... Gwen tells it like it is.....praise the Lord, enjoy the video taken last LSS at the  National Kidney hospital. ...........Hey Soul Sister

God bless you.............................................................................................................te mye

TIGHTROPE ACT

Ave Maria:)

Tightrope acts are usually one of the best-loved acts in the circus ring. Everyone holds his breathas the tightrope artist does his death-defying walk across the wire..some even dare to do it without a net to catch them..and this makes the show even more thrilling and whoo..scary.

What makes this circus performer able to do this stunt... repeting it night after night till the circus run ends? Of course it takes years of practice and training.. muscles, sinews bones honed to make precise movements - stamina is a must... and most of all, the spirit and the utmost Focus.

SHEER, PURE UNADULTERATED CONCENTRATION... for not all the talent and skills can save you from falling..it's really Top-of-the-List CONCENTRATION -- all your senses, your mindset so zoomed in on what needs to be done and how to do it. There is no room for other thoughts: the tightrope artist can't think of bills to pay..the recent fight with his manager... a sick child... or the next circus gig... it doesn't even matter if he is physically ill -- for as long as his strength permits..he will walk the tighrope and he will..must succeed.

Maybe time stops the moment he starts the walk.. there is probably such a flow of energy and a certain wisdom released so that the artist knows how to use that energy -- after all he won't be doing a sommersault or cha-cha his way across.. he is walking.. or some even bicycle their way along the wire... amazing really.

FOCUS... STAYING WITH IT... WANTING IT... FIGHTING FOR IT.. LIVING FOR IT..AND IN THE END EVEN DYING FOR IT.

Life is a tightrope.

But we can make it a worthwhile walk.

We can walk towards the Lord.. back to our Heavenly Father, the Giver of life.. the One who has blest us with manifold talents , graces opportunities in life. The Tightrope is a reminder how very narrow indeed is the path that leads to salvation. Any ominous fall (becoz of our sins) spells disability or death and that is the end of the walk..the end of our life..with no salvation in sight.

 The One who accompanies us during this walk is Jesus Himself... we fix our eyes on Him, we seek His counsel, we lean on Him..we humbly ask Him to carry our burdens, we ask for forgiveness for our lack of faith..and our death-defying arrogance..our inclination to sin, again and again and again... how death-defying can man get???.how persistent, insistent and downright foolish are we to throw away life? ..and to Say IN HIS FACE , CHRIST'S FACE:

 " BUT I DON'T NEED YOU LORD... I CAN HANDLE MYSELF WELL.. LIFE IS HAZARDOUS BUT REALLY..I'LL BE OK... NO NEED FOR A SAVIOUR."

So we gingerly , othertimes brazenly "do the walk" .... eyes not on Jesus.. but eyes, heart and mind centered on our self ... idiotic really..and pure kayabangan on our part.

Sooner or later..we do fall... if we don't fall..it's even more terrible, becoz we are bound to believe in our own capabilities..our own powers...Lalong lumala.

There is a certain kind of walk... a new way of doing things.. a new lifestyle.. attitudes, reactions, emotions all geared toward the new person the Lord wants us to be ---- If God is our Father..then we are called to be..to act like His child.. To Be Like JESUS. 

We don't need a circus to entertain ourselves.. our life.. the direction we choose.. the principles we live by.. the finish line we aim for... that is the greatest adventure of all.  

and we mustn't be afraid of the tightrope.. because Jesus will walk every step of the way with us.. the moment we want to back out frightened out of our wits..He will hold us, urge us on and we feel His arms on our shoulders balancing us.. His hands on our knees about to buckle and crumble... He steadies our gaze toward the end of the tightrope..."THERE...THERE, Child...WALK NOW... Fear not, you will not fall...I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS TILL THE END OF TIME."

TO ALLOW OTHER THINGS TO OCCUPY OUR MIND AND HEART IS DETRIMENTAL to our total health, our well-being..our life... especially when these "other things/interests" take the primary place that should be the Lord's.

For our heart is His throne..and we are His temple.

It is alright to love..raise a family.. enjoy leisurely moments , work hard... serve in church for as long as JESUS weaves all of these in perfect harmony.. with the end being that we grow holy becoz of what we do. If it does not lead to holiness...it does not lead us back  to God and we probably suffered a terrible fall from the tightrope.

Let them chide you when they think you are overdoing this Christian thing too much.

OA ka daw that's ok.. but let the Spirit also guide us lest imbes maka convince tayo ay lalung lumayo sila, hahaha. Teach us to be humble Lord lest we get carried away. Remind us , we wouldn't even make the first step of the ladder without Your merciful help.

John 15:5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Tell them gently and with love....that you have a walk to accomplish, and that you donot intend to fall.

WALK ON BY.

GOD BLESS US.......................................................................................te mye

Mystery Revealed!

Ave Maria:-)

Have you fallen in love ..then just as quickly fallen out of love..betcha did

Everyone has a passion.Of course we're tempted to think..ahh love? passion..it must be a person..hey, it's gotta be romantic love...where your Walt Disney dreams come true..you wish upon a star..you could start out as poor, ugly, a frog, imprisoned in a tower (you guessed right: (Rapunzel) but almost always, and I have to search for a fairytale love story, a Walt Disney movie that ended tragically -- but 9 out of 10... the hero and heroine defeat all their enemies and live (sigh!) happily ever after.

One of our youth shared at one youth fellowship..she's now working abroad , that she grew up so absorbed in the Walt Disney screenplays.. and along the way believed the Walt Disney myth... as she grew up  ( and especially when she entered the renewal, attended prayer meetings, listened to teachings..and at the same time endured  the reality route of "young girl grows up"--she soon learned " Ayayay..it ain't a simple Walt Disney Technicolor thing" after all.... Real love...real time..real life hurts and can be quite complicated.. You don't get to enjoy the "You take my breath away.. you've stolen my heart.. i' m yours forever..."  BUT COULD BE "You snuffed life out of me...thanks to you my heart is completely broken..I'll never -ever love again, what a stupid mistake to trust and give myself to you." 

then there are other loves... a mother so devoted to her child.. to the point if she doesn't watch out "she lives her life a second time thru her child -- where mom makes sure what dreams/wishes  she didn't pursue will now be fulfilled thru the child."

Anak: "I DON'T WANT TO BE AN OPERATIC SINGER MAMA..I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR." 

Mom : " Oh but you do..you do.. and you have the talent for it.. come now..focus so that you will be oh so successful and rich."

Others will not waste time and feelings, treasure and sacrifice on people - who turn out to be UNRELIABLE  anyways... and would rather give their all to their chosen profession.. "married to my craft, my career..my talent... I don't have time for relationships "

For these souls... there is nothing too painful to endure, to give up, to spend..that they wouldn't do if only to perfect the craft.

this is how we churn out geniuses, artists who will not settle for anything less than perfection -- how scary then ..when one ages.. or is past his prime, and whether you like it or not, your voice cracks... your hand trembles and you cannot perform that delicate operation.. and your mind and body just won't work in perfect rhythm, or someone better comes...truly, if one's heart is not in the right place .. you could end up a basket case... so much so for being married to one's craft.

How wiser it is to offer one's work.. as a form of service .as one's way of contributing for the good of society..as one definitive way to glorify the God who has provided us generously the intelligence, talent and opportunities.

Some are just a-ga-ga over physical health, physical beauty --- one time a renowned plastic surgeon related how he grew afraid everytime a famous Beauty Expert would visit his clinic.Thru the years, she sought out all possible, latest procedures that would make her look younger. Eye tucks, lipo... laser beams... chemicals.. face-lifts.. bust-lifts... even a new mouth ala Angelina Jolie... until her age really caught up , and there was nothing the poor doctor could offer our granny beauty. The passion for pursuit of outer beauty died quite a natural death. SOME THINGS GOTTA GIVE.

but there is a hunger inside of us that cannot be quenched by mere people, possessions, fame and glory...  this hunger stems from our very soul.. and can only be Filled BY GOD HIMSELF.  

It is the way we were "built" -- created in the image and likeness of God ALmighty hence to not have Him..to be alienated from Him..to not experience His presence and love creates this void inside of us too painful and empty for words.... and sadly, many are not even aware that THIS IS THE PROBLEM.. but would rather relate one's UNHAPPINESS to lack of romantic love, friendships, financial success etc... the unhappiness is related to Anything BUT GOD..  it happens all the time.

In the Catholic setting, depending on which group you are affiliated with , there is spiritual  formation.. Some lay groups like the Mother Butler, CWL...hold regular retreats... The Couples for Christ/Marriage Encounter hold live-in retreat seminars for married couples.. Neo Catechumenate is centered in bible teachings and celebration of the Eucharist..the Opus Dei -- oh my this is one group that will not lack in nurturing.. but for charismatics..both Pentecostal, Protestants and Catholics..there will always be the Life in the Spirit (LSS) seminar.

I can't help but thank GOD for one anointed speaker who was a "regular" at our LSS in the 80's.. Bro. Joe R. He never failed to zoom in on the 1st chapter of Colossians, St. Paul's teaching about Jesus , His Supremacy and Mission --- everytime Bro. Joe would give his talk ---I'd wait for the highlight WHEN HE'D DRAMATICALLY POUNCE ON THE GREAT MYSTERY..THE GREAT MYSTERY KEPT THRU THE AGES.... I thought back then that I fully understood what Bro. Joe was trying to impart: how Jesus Christ -God and Saviour was this Mystery hidden for ages and generations but now disclosed to God's people ---  BUT MUST ADMIT TIS' ONLY MANY MANY YEARS AFTER..PERHAPS THESE LAST 10 YRS. THAT THIS WONDERFUL REVELATION OF ST.PAUL HAS FULLY DAWNED ON ME.

The impact of Jesus... the glory of Jesus ..the purpose of Jesus... His victory over sin and all evil and how this changes our destiny.... AND OF HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT WILL BE FOR US TO DREAM, ASPIRE , HOPE OF ANY LASTING JOY APART FROM HIM.

So when Bro. Joe would talk...I'd tease a sister : " Hey there he goes again about the Mystery..... why oh why is he so entranced by this passage.? " 

thank God for the Holy Spirit who patiently makes us understand.

there is no new life for mankind without Jesus.

With all due respect to Mr. Steve Jobs, many attribute to him how he improved the quality of life..but I beg this proposition:
human being can help improve quality of life BUT..
only Jesus ....

JESUS GAVE US BACK REAL LIFE! 

A LIFE IN UNION WITH GOD, free of sin.. A LIFE THAT ENJOYS FELLOWSHIP, INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP WITH THE GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE, awesome, awesome.. A LIFE WHICH GIVES US A BUILT-IN NEW HEART AND NEW SPIRIT.. A LIFE THAT SEGUES FROM HERE TO ETERNAL LIFE... it is ours to claim

HOW I WISH PEOPLE WOULD MOURN MORE WHEN THIS GREAT MYSTERY remains  A SECRET TO MANY. 

For as long as Jesus is "hidden"... we will not only suffer poor quality of life..we have NO LIFE WHATSOEVER. Here is the passage from 
Colossians 1.. it would be great if we could read the beginning of this chapter, but read with the heart of Bro. Joe and THEN BELIEVE..! 

Paul’s Labor for the Church

 ²⁴ Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 ²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

We have a Life in the SPirit seminar Oct. 15 (8-5pm), Sun.Oct.16 (8-11am) at National Kidney Hospital.. You are all welcome as participants, just e-mail. Or if you wish to serve contact Margarette Pangilinan or Faith Santos thru Facebook...For our brothers and sisters based abroad, even if we have different affiliations but share the basic Christian belief , be our splendid prayer warriors.. this is the battery of the seminar..all undertakings for the Lord rely on prayer...It is our prayers of faith and repentance that make the angels send us grace upon grace upon grace TILL GOD'S LIGHT FILLS AND EMPOWERS US. You are not without duty... you can pray for us, you can donate time or food, bibles, rosaries. It'll be wonderful, Jesus will be there..Hallelujah!How good Thou art oh Lord!

God bless you all...........always remember how so very near Jesus is..right in your aorta 

Just thinking about that makes us feel invincible.

Enjoy these videos..............

Because of who you are - Martha Munizzi

...................................... te mye