My Favourite Things

Ave Maria:)

All systems go for the season of Advent..what a beloved season, even if this is a season whose roots are in Christianity yet ..it is so powerful, it virtually infects, affects even peoples of different denominations.The joyful anticipation, hope.. the generosity that goes around in full circle -so palpable - you'd at least wonder what is the source of it all? Never mind if there is blatant materialism on the side... some are bound to abuse the season for vested interests.

 Perhaps if we preached the crucified Christ , full-blown adult God-Savior, hearts would automatically put up that resistant-discerning mode --- gingerly considering the radical proposition of Jesus -- Son of God who empties himself, willing to save mankind by first agreeing to enter into  human state and later on offer his very life thru a despicable death... But on the other hand ..if a soul were exposed to the humble birth of Jesus in a manger..the sight of Joseph and Mary.. a family just like ours..with real needs.. with real challenges..with crucial decisions to make.. that paves the way for the heart to take a close second look at this babe--> the Christ-child.

what is Advent all about?

In the Catholic Church, Advent is a period of preparation, extending over four Sundays, before Christmas. This refers, 

first of all, to our celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas;

 2)

 second, to the coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacrament of Holy Communion; and 

3) finally, to His Second Coming at the end of time.

Our preparations, therefore, should have all three comings in mind.

 We need to prepare our souls to receive Christ worthily.

So How sad then to not have an inkling that this is the proper way to celebrate Christmas, tinsel and merriment, shopping and parties, these are but perks but not the essence of it 

  ... To experience a real Christmas  we must first  enter into the spirit of Advent . Praise the Lord!

Have you heard of the old Julie Andrews song: Sound of Music movie:

My Favourite things? it starts with the line: "Raindrop on roses and whiskers on kittens; Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens;... round paper packages tied up with strings..these are a few of my favourite things: oh dear Julie with the glorious , pure voice..thank you for sharing your talent to the world.

Hey... I'm sure we each could come up with a list of our favourite things..and not just for Christmas.

Let me try and go down memory lane for my own favourite things thru the years

Admittedly some remain cherished in my heart..while others ,I can do without..or at least just have a fond remembrance of it.. but no longer harbouring that : "I must have it..I must do it mental/emotional state" Thank God for the healing. hehe.

Tita Mye's list: (forgive me , if it'll turn out too bohemian...)

1) for the longest time ever.. maybe at least 15 yrs... ballroom dancing

It mustav' coincided with mid-life crisis hahahaha... seriously, music by itself kills me, especially music I love -- ballroom presents variety: latin, boogie, waltz, tango, rhumba, disco..all of which lift our spirits -- and when coupled with the dance form --ooh-la-la--paradise on earth.... God must have gotten dizzy watching me spin on the dancefloor... don't look now, but there was a time I needed my daily/weekly ballroom fix .... towards the last few years, decided to be serious and train for amateur competition.. hahaha, you may laugh now-- oh boy , watta crazy time.... if I won't dance now and sweetly give way to other sisters on the dance floor during parties, it's becoz I've enough ballroom hours in my life, so help me God.

2) syempre naman music -- there were the endless piano lesons with my late mother Lydia. there were my uncles including my father Ramon..playing oido piano, jazzy pieces, old standards -- dear Tio Nino, Uncle Dave -- a maestro on the guitar, even Uncle Bishop Mons would regal us with is rendition of Granada or the impossible Dream... later on around 12 or 13, a cousin Cely Japson taught me my first guitar piece: Our Day Will Come --- hahaha --the ebginning of my personal relationship with the guitar  ..." No one can tell me that I'm too young to know,I love you so..our day will come...." And music especially gospel music stays in my heart forever..thank You Lord. They say in heaven it's perennial worship music..as the angels and saints give glory to God non-stop... lookin forward to that.

3) uhhh ..ice cream? remember the Old Magnolia House on Aurora blvd: where students would order the yummiest Chocolate Parfaits, Peach Melba banana splits... Ice cream is such a comfort food... cakes too... baaad for the figure and blood sugar, I know, I know...

4) Movies.. I love all genres except horror and gory films or psycho thrillers.. I have enough thrillers in my life to have to watch fright films during my rest hours.

5)as of last 5 years... the computer: internet, making powerpoint presentations.. blogging, but you already know that hahaha... what can I say, addiction to this--computer use-- can make or break us... so may the Lord give us a prudent heart.May extended hours on the computer not destroy us or our relationships with others.

6)being an only child ..I actually love peace and quiet and am not frantic if I'm by my lonesome self-- if at all -- I have to make an effort to go out and mingle with people..as this is what God requires of us --to fellowship with others.... otherwise, alone with a good book, or tv movie is enough to while the hours happily.

7)non=stop bonding with beloved friends or cousins/relatives/ community brothers and sisters..... this is awesome, it is so cheap.. in fact it is free... you just need a telephone or face to face encounter..and bingo: Joy is in the air.. I'm sure Jesus invented this as He too had great bonding time with Mama Mary and the apostles --His buddies for sure

8)my late mother and father, Lydia and Ramon

9) my husband Dilbert and son Josh

10) daily prayer:the rosary meditated, holy mass if possible or visits to the Adoration chapel, pouring over the bible for the latest treasure find of wisdom and joy.....the prayer meetings.....! 

I haven't listed other things traveling, cooking,flea markets (ang cheap ano?)... or basically staring at trees and the skies seated on a monobloc chair with a footstool -- try it, it is so soothinggggggg.... libre pa.:-)

ALl these favourite things..whatever they may be..may they serve to lead us to what or Who must be our Most Favourite Being of All : our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

thanks for reading till the end..Let's enjoy the Advent season...God bless you dear Swee'peas... te mye E-mail me your own top 10... or whichever comes to your mind first... it makes you smile.

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Spiritual Fullness in Christ

 ⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

 ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world rather than on Christ.            

SHINING STARS

Ave Maria:)

Pacquiao boxing madness... hmmm again for the nth time, almost everything stops as millions watched Manny's latest boxing match - am not a boxing guru ( was somewhere else while the Pacman-Marquez fight was goin on) - tho' am fascinated by a sport where you win and score more points as you plummel your opponent, the bloodier the better, and if you do knock him out and the daylights leave  him, that makes you a champion , a winner, the strongman... And for a country that sorely needs major victories..is hungry for respect and admiration (our famine is of a different kind) - Manny sure fits in a magic hole that very few Filipinos have succeeded in filling. 

We hate it when we land front-pages because presidents behave poorly in governance - we cringe when a hostage situation is beamed wroldwide by CNN, BBC, FOX news showing how inept we are at handling hostage situations --- remember the Luneta incident, how that one and repercussions dragged on and on and on --- till you wished you yourself had enough training and knowledge to lead the police or be the negotiator, hehehe. 

So when a Manny comes along, how multitudes adore him..it helps too that not only Filipinos are a-ga-ga over Manny but geez, he's famous worldwide , and if there was a tv set in Neptune, Neptunians would be just as enthralled over Pacman.

Which brings us to our timely reflection... what is it really that we Filipinos want to be known for?

When we honestly admit our dark side, the ff. would be the accusations hurled at us: crab mentality, manana habit (postponing work) , dishonesty, dirty habits ( this is weird - we used to be called the Ilog People, we were so squeaky clean, our women would bathe 3 times a day, homes so shiny and clean , you could sleep on the floor - rivers perfect for bathing and washing clothes, no need for tough detergents and downy then) and then  the decades passed by , we supposedly became modern and techy - yet alongside with it, you see a filthy metropolis mushrooming -- so which is which? We're known for being sleuths with Immigration -- haha , perhaps the Pinoy excels in how to dodge Immigration wherever the country may be, but especially in the U.S... and well ---we do find work and how!

It must be a throwback to the centuries of being under colonial rule:you name it, Spaniards, Japanese, American --- and even if there is no official war going on -- the richer countries lord it over us anyways.

We want to be overcomers ourselves.

So ang Pinoy GIGIL ...JUST DYING TO FIND HIS PLACE IN THE SUN. that's why we exult when an Arnel Pineda...Charice...Efren.. and especially Many P. comes along.

We wanna shout :

" WE'RE WINNERS... WE'RE SPECIAL... AND YOU CAN'T PUT US DOWN, SO THERE!"

Tell you what Swee'pea. We are special..we are winners..and they can't put us down but for another reason..a reason we have overlooked... not given its due importance.

We have that sparkling faith, knowledge and love for GOD. (dun talaga ang punta ano?)

It is what makes us tick as a people.

It is what has helped us survive centuries of abuse whether at the hands of aliens..or ouch..from our own wrongdoings -- how masochistic can we get? but it has happened and continues to happen.

They say we have the weirdest way of coping with crisis: whether it be calamities, corruption, coup d'etats... poverty... you name it, we've had it , except for nuclear extermination ( God, spare us)...   Our patented  coping mechanism is ---> we turn to the Living God, we pray and try to submit to Him as a people, we are on bended knees especially at the times when we know we have gone way overboard with our sins and unfaithfulness ( we're like the 'new' Israelites --stubborn , unfaithful but still in our heart of hearts still we choose to belong to GOD)... and this explains how we are able to rise up again and again ... as we encourage, remind, scold each other to return to the Lord... and even have the ability to smile through our hardships......... The Pinoy still has that awesome , robust faith in God..hallelujah , thank You Lord.

where was I and a couple of borthers and sisters during Manny's boxing  bout?

Oh , we were also engaged in a boxing match. 

Praise the Lord..we had the second batch of Filipina  OFW's ( leaving for work as domestic helpers in Kuwait ) fifty plus young Pinays...yes they were materially poor, but how the Lord made them rich in faith, hope and love that day.

We look to the stars to find our importance, not realizing We are the stars... we can shine like stars when we are able to give to the world Christ.In God's wisdom.. He has allowed us to be materially poor, forcing us to be uprooted from our homeland , to venture in foreign shores --- but to be in strategic position to share the gospel... Perhaps, we cannot do this openly as bibles and rosaries are prohibited ..but with our thoughts, words, deeds--- as we exude the Christ in us... we become potent instruments of reconciliation. "THEY WILL KNOW AS BY OUR LOVE... " Is this not what pagans used to say when they observed the early Christians -- there was not necessarily outright preaching..but their actions spoke much louder, more powerfully than words. As our fellow Pinays serve at households...

help raise children , we make the best yayas ever they will win souls for Christ.

And this goes for all Filipinos who migrate or work abroad... we can carry the message of salvation to all the ends of the earth. As a bonus, we probably get to earn and provide for our families but the greater agenda is sharing God's love to the best we can.

Shining as Stars Philippians 2

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out^c the 

word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

the devil suffered a knock-out that day.... these young Pinays recieved Jesus anew.. whatever fears and apprehensions they had were subdued as they realized their worth in the Lord and the commissioning He gave them. as the priest told them at the mass --don't say " DH LANG AKO"  for it is not work to be ashamed of. The world would not run smoothly without domestic helpers.

Here is a video during the commissioning............. God bless you all...let us shine like stars for Jesus.........

.WILDFIRE....Wildfire

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

STOP-OVER

Ave Maria:)

Last day of a long week-end,and it's Holy Souls Day.

I guess we don't pay much attention to this feast.. yes we do take note that "Hey, Nov.1 is the special feast for 

ALL SAINTS (Church Triumphant)-all canonized and non-canonized but saints nonetheless) ..and then the ff. day is set aside by Mother Church for 

the Holy Souls (Church Suffering).."

 Perhaps some would be tempted to exclaim... "Geez.. you Catholics make it so complicated... why not just simplify things and say that everyone who did good are automatic in heaven... and the rest are still journeying on earth.?

............. and why.....

Why divide your 'universal' church into 3 categories: Triumphant , Suffering and Militant (the last one being the category we belong to, those of us still alive and trying best to live our life for the Lord)?

How could you ever believe in a Purgatory... the concept is downright unfair...Complicated... Complicated Catholics.....!"  

But what would our answer as Catholics be? "Oh dear brother/sister...the Church didnot complicate our salvation.... rather ..Mother Church stresses all the more how priceless is this free gift of salvation that God gives us thru His Son JESUS CHRIST... that it can't be taken lightly.. that precisely because Jesus suffered much and invested His very life that we can be restored to GOD -- that it requires us believers to give our salvation much thought.... much love , gratitude ... and to always humbly approach GOD as we claim this salvation in JESUS.

Do we have a mental block with this Purgatory ? -- the state or place where those who have died and are not fully cleansed nor prepared to meet GOD stay -- do we resist this teaching..? do we think it is so unfair that there is such a place...Is GOD cruel..? is Jesus not faithful to us : "that all who believe in Him, will not perish but will have eternal life"......... Why can't Jesus, being All-powerful..simply put all those who believe in Him in heaven.... isn't faith all that matters?

  

Why a possible stop-over in purgatory? I don't buy it.

My brothers and sisters with the above violent reaction.. perhaps the better reaction is:"THANK GOD , THERE'S PURGATORY."

It is yet another concrete expression..that God will use all possible avenues so that we can make a safe return to Him.

think.... where will we put souls who have not heard the gospel , they didnot become criminals..but they have had their share of committing cruelties ,of hurting their neighbor... of disobeying God countless times.

...where do we put soldiers who died instantly, without benefit of spiritual preparation/holy confession-- those  who obediently fight wars for their country.. they could be Christian, yes ... there is a basic faith, yes..but they didnot have time to cultivate this faith and grow in the knowledge /faith and love for Jesus...

 We can't just say arrogantly :"Well I was baptized Christian..a Catholic..so I guess I'm qualified for eternal life with GOD, the angels and saints...?"

how about those who died during calamities, accidents..victims of crimes ... this is the virtual  "death comes like a thief in the night" ..these souls may or may not have lived a life obedient to Christ's teachings... 

We can count people of other faiths/religions... Buddhists, Moslems.. who might have lived lives so patterned after Jesus.. what would be their place in God's Plan? surely the Lord has a plan for them too... 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

 He is Perfect Love..Perfect Wisdom.

the list goes on and on... we are faced with cases of people who are not perfectly good/holy... as with people not outright bad and evil....

the in-betweens if you wish to describe it

Purgatory then expresses God's love and holy justice..His mercy too.

Purgatory may not be enjoyable..but those who are there would not give up their place in Purgatory just to return to earth - No way they'd  do that ..because one who is in Purgatory is already assured of His place in Heaven.... It really is just a place where one waits..and humbly prepares to meet GOD.Think of it as the Ultimate Beauty Parlor 

Twas the Beatitudes gospel yesterday ..and a line there goes "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see GOD...... " Matthew 5:8

Stains of our sins... unrepented/unacknowleged sins... unforgiveness, lust, pride...dishonesty in all its forms.. materialism.. selfishness ..other sinful bondages..these donot disappear in the twinkling of an eye..we donot just attend one spritual retreat... or a year of formation..on a number of masses..or count our service and heave with relief, waive our badge 

and say : "YEP, solve na ako... I made it...heaven here I come, tra-la-la ..." 

It takes humility and prudence to await God's actual verdict.

Must we be afraid? Is our faith then totally useless, pointless?

Oh no... our faith in Christ's redeeming love makes us expect that as we recieve grace upon grace upon grace..that we are being transformed -- that inspite of ourselves, our unfaithfulness, our fears... our imperfect "yes" to God's Will..that still Jesus hears our prayers , sends the Holy Spirit Who in turn helps us grow in holiness.thank You Lord.the impossible becomes possible, Yes!

If we have run the race well..if as St. Paul, we have fought the good fight of faith.. we can be sure that when our eyes close on earth..we will wake up with St. Peter welcoming us and giving us a Tour of Heaven.. oh boy..this is literally To-Die -for 

  but if we have some unsettled business.. like some enemies we just cannot find the heart to forgive... sticky, sticky deeply entrenched pride... etc..etc...  then let's pray that we be given a make-over in Purgatory...earnestly desiring to present ourself pure and holy beofre our Maker... surely that is better than living our earthly life all over again.?

Earthly Life might be a blast for many.. but the joys we taste here are incomparable to the joys that await us in heaven.

Meanwhile we are the Church Militant.. and we are on active duty.. let's not waste time, shall we...? let's heed our marching orders from no less than the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords..Christ Jesus , Hallelujah to the Lamb!

Hope to post some pictures of our ALL Saints Day celeb.. twas really sweet and meaningful as those who made it were able to have a deeper understanding of the Beatitudes, Matthew 5... be blest ..be blest.. Jesus is so near love, te mye