Peace on Earth!

AT 3 A.M. By James B. Reuter Saturday, December 29, 2007

New Year’s Day, next Tuesday, January 1, 2008 is the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Peace. It was launched in 1968 by Pope Paul VI who foresaw the tidal wave of violence that is threatening to destroy us all.

The present Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has written a beautiful message for this day: “The Human Family, A Community of Peace.” In this message he says many things which are wise with the wisdom of God:

“The family is a cradle of life and love.”

“The first form of communion between persons is that born of the love of a man and a woman who decide to enter a stable union in order to build together a new family.”

“But the people of the earth, too, are called to build relationships of solidarity and cooperation among themselves, as members of the one human family.”

“In family life we experience all of the fundamental elements of peace: justice, authority, concern for those in need, mutual help, complete acceptance of others, forgiveness, love. The family is the first teacher of peace.”

“Children learn the beauty of peace from the looks and actions of their mothers and fathers, long before they learn it from their words.”

“We do not live alongside one another purely by choice; all of us are progressing along a common path as a community of brothers and sisters, called to form one great family.”

“The home of the human family is the earth, the environment that God the Creator has given us. Respecting the environment does not mean considering material or animal nature more important than man.

Rather, it means not selfishly considering nature to be at the complete disposal of our own interests.”

“It is essential to sense that the earth is our common home.”

“The problems looming on the horizon are complex, and the time is short. There is a need to act in harmony in the stewardship of the earth’s energy resources.”

“ The emerging countries are hungry for energy, but at times they are forced to undersell the energy resources they do possess. Their very political freedom is compromised by forms of protectorate which are clearly humiliating.”

“The human family needs a foundation of shared values, and an economy responding effectively to the common good.”

“Efforts must be made to ensure a prudent use of resources and a just distribution of wealth.”

“For the sake of peace, a common law is needed to protect the weak from oppression by the strong. In many situations the weak must bow not to the demands of justice, but to the naked power of those stronger than themselves.”

“The moral law must be the rule for all human behaviour.”

“Humanity today is unfortunately experiencing great division and sharp conflicts which cast dark shadows on its future. The danger of an increase in the number of countries possessing nuclear weapons causes well-founded apprehension in every responsible person.”

“In difficult times such as these, there must be an effective demilitarization, especially in the area of nuclear arms, a progressive and mutually agreed dismantling of existing nuclear weapons.”

“I invite every man and woman to have a lively sense of belonging to the one human family, and to implore tirelessly from God the great gift of peace.”

The Filipino family was praised very highly by a professor of moral theology, a layman, who taught in Catholic University , in Washington , D.C. , for more than 30 years. During a visit to the Philippines he said: “The Filipino family is so beautiful! You don’t have nursing homes! Here, when a man grows old, he is the decision maker for the whole family. Everyone comes to him to learn from his experience, and his wisdom… When a woman grows old, she is the lola, whom everyone loves. All the children come to her… The Filipino family is so beautiful! Don’t lose it! Don’t lose it!”

And it was Rizal who said to Josephine Bracken, on the day that they were married: “My people are poor… For centuries our only real possessions have been the land…the sea…the sun…the rain… But, having nothing, we discovered that our real treasure was… each other!”

The excerpts I have chosen from the Message of Benedict XVI give you a rough idea of its breadth and depth. It is a very human document on the needs of the time, rooted in the truths of the Gospel. You can get a copy of the complete message at the National Office of Mass Media, 2307 Pedro Gil, Santa Ana , Manila . Or send us your name, address, telefax or e-mail, and we’ll send it to you.

On the first Christmas the angels sang: “Peace on earth!” May that peace come to you, to your family, to the country, and to the world!

Pasasalamat !!!

Ang buong Sambayanihan po ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyong kooperasyon sa nagdaang panahon ng Adbiyento at Pasko. Sa ating mga panauhing pari at sa mga nagpasinaya (sponsors) at mga dumalo sa ating Simbang Gabi (Dec. 15-23), sa pakikinig sa mga awiting pamasko (caroling), at nakibahagi sa abot ng kanilang makakaya at sa Bihilya ng Pasko noong ika-24 ng gabi, hangad po namin ang inyong maluwalhating paglalakbay tungo sa landas ng pagpapakabanal hanggang sa sumapit ang kaganapan ng paghahari ng ating Poong Maykapal kapiling ang mga anghel at banal sa kalangitan.

Diyos mabalos!!! Amen!

Bata! Bata! Paano Bang Magmahal ng Kapamilya?

Dakilang Kapistahan ng Banal na Mag-anak:
“Ipinagdiriwang natin sa araw na ito ang Kapistahan ng Banal na Mag-Anak. Nakalulungkot isipin na habang ipinagdiriwang natin ang kapistahang ito, may ilang mga bata ang wala sa piling ng kanilang mga magulang dahil mas ligtas daw kasi sila kung malayo sila sa mga taong dapat mag-alaga sa kanila. May ilang mga babaing hindi makauwi sa kanilang mga tahanan dahil sa pambubugbog ng kanilang mga asawa. May ilang mga matatanda na pipikit na lamang ang mga mata, na hindi man lang nasisilayan ang ngiti sa labi ng mga anak na dati nilang pinaghele-hele.

May mga nakalulungkot mang mga kuwento, hindi ito dahilan upang hindi na ipagdiwang ang araw na ito. Natatangi ang araw na ito dahil walang sinuman sa atin ang walang pamilya. Bawat isa ay nagmula sa isang pamilya– buo man ito o hindi. Ang mahalaga ay pinagsisikapan nating gawing tunay na mag-anak ang ating mga pamilya at ang ating lipunan.

Gabay natin ang mga pagbasa ngayon sa tungkulin na dapat gampanan ng bawat isa sa loob ng isang pamilya:
Mag-asawa - Sinabi ni Pablo na kailangang sundin ng babae ang kanyang asawa, samantalang sinabihan naman niya ang mga lalaki na mahalin at huwag pagsungitan ang kanilang mga may-bahay. May kanya-kanyang obligasyon ang mag-asawa sa isa’t-isa. Obligasyong hindi nanunupil o nang-aalipin dahil nakabatay ito sa paggalang at pagmamahal sa isa’t-isa, tulad ng pagmamahal ni Hesus sa kanyang Simbahan, at pagtalima naman ng Simbahan sa kalooban ng Panginoon.

Mga Magulang - Mababanaag naman sa Ebanghelyo ngayon ang tungkulin ng mga magulang. Si Jose ang unang halimbawa natin. Pinangalagaan ni Jose sina Maria at Hesus. Subalit hindi siya basta nagpasya lamang para sa buhay ng kanyang mga mahal; bawat hakbang niya ay dala ng kanyang pakikinig sa nais ng ng Ama sa langit. Itinakas niya ang mag-ina papuntang Egipto at pabalik sa Nazaret matapos niyang marinig ang nais ng Diyos. Siguro, mas magiging bukas ang komunikasyon ng mag-anak kung nagaganap ito sa loob ng sabay na pakikinig sa kalooban ng Ama sa langit.

Samantala, bukod kay Jose, ang Diyos Ama mismo ang modelo ng mga magulang. Sa kuwento ng pagtakas at pagbabalik mula sa Egipto, nasaksihan natin ang presensiya ng Ama. Subalit hindi ito presensiyang namimilit; sa halip, naroroon lamang siya at nangangalaga sa atin. Sa Ebanghelyo ngayon, nadarama natin ang kanyang mga kamay habang ginagabayan niya ang mag-anak ni Jose. Walang sandali sa kasaysayan ng pagliligtas na wala doon ang kamay ng Ama. Ngunit sa lahat ng ito, nag-aanyaya lamang siya at naghihintay sa pagtalima ng tao - walang pamimilit. Siguro ganito rin ang hamon sa mga magulang. Tulad ng Diyos Ama sa langit, dapat na lagi silang naroroon at handang dumamay; tulad din ng Ama, naroroon din ang mga magulang na tatawag at gagabay sa tamang landas, subalit magbibigay pa rin ng pagkakataon upang ang anak mismo ang magpasya sa nararapat matapos na ipakita sa kanila ang tamang daan.

Mga Anak - Ipinahayag ni Moises na tungkulin ng mga anak na galangin at mahalin ang kanilang mga magulang ( Sir 3:2-6). Wika naman ni San Pablo, dapat sundin ng mga anak ang payo ng kanilang mga magulang (Col 3:18-21). At sa sandali ng katandaan ng kanilang mga magulang, tungkulin ng mga anak na pangalagaan at kandiliin ang mga ito (Sir 3:12-14).

Buong Mag-anak - Nagbigay din ng tagubilin si Pablo sa buong mag-anak. Sa isang pamilya, umiiral dapat ang habag, kabutihang-loob, kababaang-loob, kabaitan, kalawakan ng pang-unawa, pagpapatawad, pagbibigayan, at pagpapalakas ng loob ng isa’t-isa. Subalit higit pa sa mga ito, kailangang ang bawat isa ay maging tagapag-akay ng kapamilya tungo kay Kristo (Col 3:12-17). Mahirap magkaroon ng isang perpektong pamilya. Tiyak na may papalya sa pagsasabuhay sa mga tungkulin. Subalit hindi mahirap mahalin ang mga kapamilya. At ito ang mas mahalaga.

~ Atty. Arnold R. Martinez ~

Did Mary Remain a Virgin? (Series LXIX)

The Catholic Church has testified from the beginning to the historical reality that Mary, Jesus’ mother, remained a virgin all her life. Even the Protestant reformers Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli all taught that Mary was “ever-virgin.” But if that is true, why does the Bible refer to the “brothers” and “sisters” of the Lord (see Mk 6:3)?

In ancient Jewish culture, the terms “brother: and “sister” were applied not only to children of the same parents but also to other relatives. In Genesis 14:16, 29:15 and Leviticus 10:4, for example, we know from the context that these passages refer to a relative other than a brother, even though the Hebrew term for “brother” is actually used.

In a similar way, soon after the mention of Jesus’ “brothers” and “sisters,” Mark’s gospel refers to Herod’s half-brother Philip as his “brother” (see 6:17). The first Christians also spoke of each other as “brothers,” even when they were biologically unrelated (see Acts 15:13).

Meanwhile, when some of these “brothers of the Lord” are named in other biblical passages, they are identified as sons of a different Mary (see Mt 13:55-56; 27:56). So even though we may not know exactly how they are related to Jesus, we do know that they are not children of Mary’s womb.

Some Christians claim that the words “her firstborn son” (Lk 2:7), as applied to Jesus, imply that there must have been other children as well. But in biblical culture, “firstborn” was simply a legal term referring to the child who first “opens the womb” (Ex 13:2). If a child were termed “firstborn” only when other children followed, how could the law of Moses have required that the “firstborn” be consecrated soon after birth, before other children arrived (see Ex 13:2, 12, 15; Lk 2:21-24)?

Finally, when St, Matthew in his gospel says that Joseph “had no relations with [Mary] until she bore a son” (1:25), he does not necessarily imply that such relations followed afterward. In the same way, when Jesus says at the end of this same gospel, “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (28:20), he by no means implies thereby that after the end of the age, he will no longer be with us. Similar uses of the word “until” appear throughout Scripture.

Why Christmas?

(Retold by Keith Phillips)
There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays, like Christmas. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments.

One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve church service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused. “That story is nonsense!” he said. “Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That's ridiculous!” So his wife and children left, and he stayed home. A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax in front of the blaze in the fireplace.

A short while later, he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the storm let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.

The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe. They could spend the night there, and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just scared them further away. He went into the house and came out with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on. Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.

Why don't they follow me?!” he exclaimed. “Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?” He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. “If only I were a goose, then I could save them,” he said out loud.

Then he had an idea. He went into the barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. When he released it, his goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn. One by one, the wild geese followed it to safety.

The man stood still and silent as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: “If only I were a goose, then I could save them!” Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. “Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!” Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the wild geese—blind, lost, confused, dying. So God had His Son become like us, so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized.

As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow and prayed his first prayer: “Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!”

Landas ng Pagpapakabanal

Sulat Pastoral ng Kapulungan ng mga Obispong Katoliko ng Pilipinas-Sa mga Pilipinong Katoliko

91. Kaya’t sa bahaging ito, sa ngalan ng Guro at Panginoon na naghugas din sa aming mga paa, hayaan ninyo kaming mangahas na bigkasing muli ang kalooban Niya, iguhit muli ang landas Niya. Anong uri ng landas ang landas ni Kristo? Ito ang aming pinaninindigan bilang “matatanda”: ang pagpapakabanal ay ang patuloy na pakikipagtagpo sa kalooban ni Kristo. Samakatuwid, ang buhay-kabanalan (spirituality) ay buhay-pakikipagkapwa-kalooban kay Kristo.

Pagpupuno (Juan 2:1-11)
92. Itinuro Niya ito sa kasalan sa Cana, Galilea. Itinuro Niya kung ano ang dapat gawin kapag tayo’y naubusan ng alak. Di ba’t napakadalas din nating “maubusan ng alak” sa buhay natin? Di ba’t sa buhay natin, sa pamilya, sa pamayanan, sa lipunan - kung minsan, o madalas - para tayong nasasaid, para tayong nauubusan ng alak ng pang-unawa, alak ng tiyaga, alak ng patawad, alak ng malasakit? Sa mga sandaling ito, kailangan nating matutunan ang landas ni Kristo. Ano ang dapat gawin kapag naubusan ng alak?

93. Ang unang sagot ay mula sa Mahal na Birhen: “Gawin ninyo ang ipag-utos niya sa inyo.” Ito ang ibubulong ng inang mapagmalasakit. Lagi at lagi, siya ang unang makapupuna sa ating problema, katulad ng ating sariling ina. Kaya’t hindi nakapagtataka kung bakit ganoon na lamang siya kamahal sa atin. Ngunit hindi siya mismo ang lulutas sa problema. Ilalapit niya tayo sa anak niya at bubulungan nang buong giliw at pagtitiwala: Gawin mo ang ipag-utos ng anak ko. Ituturo niya sa inyo ang paraan: “Punuin ninyo ang mga bangang walang laman.”

94. Sino’ng Pilipino ang hindi nakakaalam sa paraang ito, na sa kasamaang palad ay madalas lamang nating malimutan? Di ba’t sinasabi natin, “Kayo na po ang bahalang magpuno sa aming pagkukulang.” Ito ang landas ng pagpupuno. Kahit tubig na lang na walang lasa at espiritu ang natitira, magpuno. Hangga’t kaya pa nating magpuno, hangga’t kaya pa nating ibigay, ialay ang natitira sa atin, may kalutasan pa rin ang anumang suliranin. Siya ang magbibigay ng bagong lasa, bagong espiritu sa ating tubig upang ito’y maging alak na masarap.

Paglalakad sa Tubig (Mateo 14:23-33)
95. Itinuro Niya ito sa may lawa ng Tiberias, nang minsa’y inabot ng bagyo’t unos ang mga alagad habang sila’y naglalayag, at si Hesus nama’y nasa bundok, nananalangin. Lumakad siya sa tubig. At niyaya din Niyang lumakad sa tubig si Pedro. Hindi nga lang siya kaagad natuto. Mahalagang aral ito lalo na sa ating mga Pilipinong batbat ng mga kalamidad sa buhay. Madalas din nating matagpuan ang sarili sa gitna ng mga bagyo’t unos ng buhay, at tulad ni Pedro, para tayong lulubog dahil sa takot.
Itutuloy...

Nutrition and Alzheimer's Disease (3rd of a series)

WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland ClinicWebMD Medical Reference.
Referrals to other professionals, such as a physical therapist, who can help you create your own personal exercise program. The type of exercise that works best for you depends on your symptoms, fitness level, and overall health. The final precaution, when you get the OK to begin exercising, is to go slowly.

Tips For Exercise
· Always warm up before beginning your exercise routine, and cool down at the end.
· If you plan to work out for 30 minutes, start with 10-minute sessions and work your way up.
· Try water exercise, such as aqua aerobics. These exercises are often easier on the joints and require less balance.
· Work out in a safe environment; avoid slippery floors, poor lighting, throw rugs, and other potential dangers.
· If you have difficulty maintaining your balance, exercise within reach of a grab bar or rail. If you have trouble standing or getting up, try to exercise on the bed rather than on the floor or an exercise mat.
· If at any time you feel sick or you begin to hurt, STOP the activity.
· Most of all, select a hobby or activity you enjoy and stick with it.

Some suggestions include: Gardening, walking, swimming, water aerobics, yoga, and Tai Chi.
Alzheimer's Disease and Counseling and Support

Alzheimer's Disease:
Counseling and Support Alzheimer's disease, as with many chronic illnesses, will affect you both physically and mentally. It is important to realize that you are not alone and that if you feel you need help coping, you should consider seeking counseling.

The decision to seek counseling is an important step. Too often, people don't get help because they feel ashamed, guilty, or embarrassed. By deciding to get help, you make the choice to feel better and improve your life. Counseling services should be chosen with care so that you find something that best meets your needs. Working with a trained mental health care provider, you can develop the right treatment plan.

Where Do I Start?
Ask your doctor to refer you to a person with expertise in mental health. The person will assess your situation to determine if there is cause for concern, diagnose the problem, and determine the best treatment. Specialists trained in mental health care include family therapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other professionals.

During the initial interview, you will be asked to describe why you want counseling, any symptoms you have (emotional, mental, and physical), and your medical history. You may be given a question-and-answer survey.
… to be continued

Why Iraq? (10)

by Edwin Corros
continuation...

During the time that he was actually moved to Iraq, I did consult OWWA on how to go about my brother’s problem. A friend of mine from OWWA gave me the name of the Labor Attaché whome my brother consulted later. Nothing could be done about my brother’s transfer to Iraq from Dubai as Domeng had agreed to sign a document of such transfer.

His departure from Baghdad was not that simple though. To get out of Iraq, he needed to obtain an exit permit which was not easy for them to procure since the company had practically abandoned them. Due to the tough procedures that they had to undergo, one of his companions decided to remain in Baghdad and did not report back anymore to their company in Dubai. That means, he simply overstayed in Iraq.

On the very first attempt that they wanted to leave Iraq, they were not successful. They were not permitted to leave because the two of them did not have any exit permit. They were told earlier that an exit permit could also be obtained from the immigration office at the airport. Through the help the help of the Canadian colleague using his own connection in Baghdad, they were finally issued their exit permits only after the second visit to the immigration at the airport. After obtaining the needed exit permit, they were told that there was no seat on the plane for them… To get a seat in war torn countries among commercial flights was extremely difficult, besides they were in an emergency situation. The worst part of not being able to leave the country on those times was to move from the airport to the US military base or back to the airport again. Each time they needed to go to the airport, a convoy of military escorts was requested to accompany them, as ambushes and kidnappings were common occurences. They had to goback to the US military base as no one could stay inside the airport as it closes at five in the evening. And no one was allowed to saty around the premises too for security reasons, besides the cold winter temperature goes down further as night descends.

Finally, my brother landed safely back in Dubai. On his arrival in Dubai, he was treated well by the company. His salary for over seven months was given without any hassle including his annual bonus. The company allowed him to take a rest for two days. While taking his rest, he gave me a call informing us that he arrived in dubai safely. However, he told us that he was very anxious as well to talk to the company manager about their attitude towards them while in Iraq. He told me that he wanted to confront their company concerning their lack of concern for them while they were in Baghdad. My brother felt that they were practically abandoned by their company when they had repeatedly sought help to be repatriated to Dubai when their visa were about to expire. He believed that being in a war torn country, a war damage claims could also be demanded, the fact that he had undergone much emotional sufferings. He was aware that his contract has a provision on a war damage claim.

Subsequently, he went to the personnel manager
… to be continued

Christmas Message from Fr. Dong

Dearest Companions & friends,

.

The greatest joys in life are the simple things that we might have taken for granted to offer, like a simple hello and smile that we could share to friends and loved ones or the little prayer perhaps that we could offer them, despite our distance and passing of time. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury to do this as they might not be in the best of health, or simply their situation prevented them from feeling so.I hope that my little peace will also be yours. That’s more or less the same prayer that I will offer for you this Christmas, especially in my masses.

I hope you and your loved ones are simply enjoying each other’s company and enjoying the gift of life!

Have a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

Your co-journeyer,

Fr. Dong, msp

"Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight."
~Lance Armstrong~

ANO ANG “PASALUBONG”?

“Ang “adbiyento” ay hango sa salitang Latin na “adventus” na ang ibig sabihin ay “pagdating” na lagi naming hinihintay noong maliliit pa kaming magkakapatid: ang pagdating ng aming ama mula sa Maynila. Sabik na sabik namin siyang hinihintay, pero higit sa lahat, dahil sa dala niyang pasalubong na mainit na pandesal na gustung-gusto namin. Kaya nga minsan, tinanong niya kami” “Ano ba talaga ang hinihintay ninyo?”

May pananabik sa ating mga puso at hindi maipaliwanag ang galak kapag dumarating ang panahon ng Adbiyento. Tulad ng aming ama, nagtatanong din ako ngayon: “Ano ba talaga ang hinihintay natin? Ang maydala ng pasalubong o ang pasalubong? Ano kaya ang pasalubong?

Sa unang pagbasa, ayaw tanggapin ni haring Ahaz ang “pasalubong” - ang maka-Diyos na tandang inilalahad sa kanya ni propeta Isaias: “Maglilihi ang isang dalaga at manganganak ng lalaki at ito’y tatawaging Emmnuel” 97;14). Ang tinutukoy na anak dito ay si haring Exequias. Ngunit sa halip na magtiwala sa mabuting balitang pasalubong ng propeta, mas pinagtiwalaan pa ni haring Ahaz ang tulong ng ibang mga bansa tulad ng Asiria sa pakikipaglaban niya sa mga hari ng Damasco at Samaria.

Tulad ng mga unang Israelita na tumanggi sa inialok sa kanilang tagapagtanggol, hindi rin tinanggap ng maraming mga Hudyo ang Mesiyas na kaloob ng Diyos sa katauhan ni Hesus. Sa katunayan, marami pa ring mga Hudyo ang naghihintay hanggang sa kasalukuyan sa pagdating ng Mesiyas.

Binibigyan tayo sa ebanghelyo ng mga huwaran ng angkop na pagtanggap sa “pasalubong” sa atin ng Ama sa langit– si Hesus na Tagapagligtas ng buong sanlibutan. Ito ay sina Jose at Maria. Sa kabila ng kanyang pagtataka kung paano magaganap ang lahat, sumang-ayon si Maria sa kalooban ng Diyos: “ Narito ang lingkod ng Panginoon, mangyari nawa sa akin ang iyong sinabi”(Lc 1;38). Matapos naming ihayag sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng isang panaginip ang kalooban ng Diyos, ginawa ni Jose ang sinabi ng anghel ng Panginoon (Mt 1:24).

Kahit para kina Jose at Maria, hindi naging madali ang pagtanggap sa kalooban ng Diyos. Dahil nangangahulgan ito ng pagpapakasakit at pagharap sa pag-uusig ng marami. Isang mahalagang bagay ang itinuturo sa atin nina Maria at Jose. Ang paghihintay at pagtanggap sa pasalubong ay nangangailangan ng PANANAMPALATAYA– ng kakayahang magTAYA sa kabila ng kawalan ng katiyakan kung ano ang nagaganap sa hinaharap. Mahalagang Makita natin na ang hinihintay nating tagapagdala ng pasalubong na hinihintay. Si Hesus na inaasahan nating maghahatid ng kaligtasan ay siya rin mismong kaligtasan natin. Hatid niya ay kagalakang hindi matutumbasan ng galak na hatid ng kahit na anong iba pang pasalubong at “kaloob” ng Diyos sa atin ay hindi kailanman lilipas. Dahil siya ang Anak ng Diyos, ang Emmanuel, ang “Diyos-kasama-natin,”si Hesus lang ang makapagbibigay sa atin ng tunay at walang hanggang KAPAYAPAAN AT KALIGAYAHAN na siyang inaasam ng bawat isa sa kaibuturan ng kanyang puso.

Dumating na noong unang Pasko ang Mesiyas, pinaka-dakilang “pasalubong” ng Diyos sa Sanlibutan. Maluwalhati siyang darating muli sa wakas ng panahon. Nananabik ba tayong sumalubong at handang-handang tumanggap sa walang-hanggang “pasalubong”- si Hesus na Tagapagligtas?

~ Sr. Maria. Cecilia . Payawal, PDDM ~

Do Catholics Preach the Gospel? (Series LXVIII)

St. Mark begins his account of our Lord’s life: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mk 1:1). “Gospel” means literally “good news.” The first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are called gospels because they announce the “good news of great joy” (Lk 2:10) - the coming of a Savior, God himself in the flesh.

Some Christians claim that the Catholic Church doesn’t really “preach the gospel,” because they believe that salvation by “faith alone” is the substance of the gospel. (See “Does the Church Teach Salvation by Works?”) But what exactly is the substance of this “good news” that must be preached?

St. Peter’s first sermon, which is preached on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:22-40), summarizes Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. Then he instructs his hearers: “Repent, and be baptized … for the forgiveness of your sins” (2:38).

In this address, the notion of salvation by “faith alone” does not appear at all. Instead, the gospel preached is the proclamation of who Jesus is and what he has done. Salvation (including God’s forgiveness of sins) comes to the hearers through their response of repentance, baptism, and a subsequent life of obedience to God. When St. Paul preaches the gospel, he makes the same kind of proclamation and calls for the same kind of response (see Acts 13:16-41; 1 Cor 15:1-11).

According to Scripture, then, the gospel is what the Catholic Church has always preached: a proclamation of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, which calls for our response of repentance, baptism, and a life of obedience to God.

In fact, every Mass is an instance of preaching the gospel. A passage from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John is always read publicly at Mass so that we can hear and respond to God’s good news. In addition, at every Mass the fruits of Christ’s work are re-presented to us in the Eucharist, to help us live lives pleasing to God. (See also “Were Other ’Gospels’ Banned From the Bible?”.)

Experiencing Failure

Experiencing failure is inevitable on the highway to success.

Every defeat is merely an installment to victory.

People who try to do something and fail are infinitely better

than those who try to do nothing and succeed.

You won't be judged by the number of times you fail,

but by the number of times you succeed.

And the number of times you succeed

is in direct proportionto the number of times you fail and keep trying.

Failure is nothing but education,

nothing but the first stepto something better.

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.

A Poem by Zack

YOU -… 8 years of absence

Eight years, its already eight years of waiting,

I never knew you would still show up in my life's worthless being.

I’m already thirty two and I think I’ve been used to,

Not having you around, I think I survived after all I’ve been through.

I could still remember the last one hurts so much,

As if destiny couldn’t save her as if it is just as such,

But life has never been the same since she is gone,

I have to face this life, everyday no sight of dawn.

Since she was gone I’ve been smiling so seldom,

Even had a hard time eating my favorite food occasionally,

I’ve become aloof and only talk or chat a little,

My world has fallen apart... torn, crushed and brittle.

Now you came unexpectedly, I am quite in a surprise,

Never felt this happiness, I am starting to realize.

You gave me hope in this ever so lonely shattered world,

The sun begins to shine, I know its you I’ve got to hold.

I promise you I would treasure you like a gift from above,

Always make sure you’re always taken care of,

shower you with love.

I shall never let you go as I made mistakes in the past,

Even got to change my lifestyle just to ensure our relationship would last.

I love you so much, its true, I wont be shy,

Soon I can face the world, no more of those unanswered sigh.

I love you, my wisdom tooth, thank you for filling the gap,

Oh wisdom tooth thank you so much, soon I know,

I’ll be able to laugh again.I love you....

LANDAS NG PAGPAPAKABANAL

Gabay sa Pagninilay at Diskusyon
1. Papano maiiwasan ang mga kalabisan sa ating pagbibigay halaga sa pa milya, salu-salo, pagdurusa, kabayanihan, at espiritu?
2. Sa papaanong paraan natin maaring itaguyod ang mga kahalagahan ng pa milya, salo-salo, pagdurusa, kabayanihan, at espiritu upang ang mga ito ay maging tapat sa kalooban ng Pilipino, at nang sa gayo’y magsilbi ang mga ito sa pakikipagtagpo sa kalooban ni Kristo.
3. Papaano sinisira o pinalalakas ng ating kasalukuyang kalagayang pam pulitika, pang-ekonomiya at pangkultura ang mga kahalagahang ito.

III. PAMANTAYAN SA PAGPAPAKABANAL: ANG LANDAS NI KRISTO
Isang Halimbawa
88. Pagsunod sa landas ni Kristo. Ito - sa pagkakaunawa naming - ang pinakabuod ng layunin ng pagpapakatao at pagpapa-kabanal para sa Kristiyano. Ito ang pinakabuod ng pagpapaka-Kristiyano: paano ba magpakatao at magpakabanal ayon sa halimbawa ng Panginoong Hesukristo? Bilang mga alagad niya, ang layuning ito’y dapat nating hangarin hindi lang para sa ating mga sarili at mga pamilya, kundi para na rin sa ating mga sama-han, sa ating mga kilusan, sa ating lipunan, sa ating bayan, at - marahil, kahit paano - para na rin sa buong sangkatauhan. Lagi’t lagi, ugaliin nating balikan, gunitain, at unawain ang halimbawang ito.

89. Noon pa man, hindi nabura sa alaala ng mga sinaunang alagad Niya nang minsan isang gabi, sa gitna ng hapunan ay hinugasan Niya ang kanilang mga paa. Isang bagay na ikinasindak nila ito dahil gawain ito ng mga alipin. Ayon kay San Juan, sinabi daw Niya: “Nauunawaan ba ninyo ang ginawa ko sa inyo? ‘Amo’ at ‘Panginoon’ ang turing ninyo sa akin… Kung ako na amo ninyo at panginoon ay naghugas sa inyong mga paa, sana kayo rin, magawa ninyong hugasan ng paa ang isa’t isa. Isang halimbawa ang iniwan ko sa inyo na sana’y gawin din ninyo kung paano ko ginawa sa inyo.” (Juan 13:12-15)

90. Sa halimbawang ito’y ipinahayag ng Panginoon ang kalooban Niya, ang landas Niya. Sa naunang bahagi, sinikap naming ilarawan ang kalooban natin, ang landas natin - na sa maraming mga paraan at pagkakataon ay nagkurus na sa landas ni Kristo, nakatagpo na ang kalooban ni Kristo. Ngunit tulad kay Pedro, hindi rin laging malinaw sa atin ang landas na ito. Tulad niya, nais nating itanong kung minsan, “Panginoon, bakit mo huhugasan ang paa ko?” Ipinahayag lang ni Pedro ang tapat niyang saloobin, ang tunay niyang pagkagimbal sa nais gawin ng kanyang Guro at Panginoon. Alam niya ang ibig gawin ng Panginoon, ngunit hindi niya matanggap, hindi niya mapangyari dahil hindi niya lubos maunawaan. Tayo rin - alam na natin kahit paano, ngunit kailangan nating marinig kung bakit.
Itutuloy...

Nutrition and Alzheimer's Disease

WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland ClinicWebMD Medical Reference.

GENERAL TIPS
Eat slowly.
Cut your food into small pieces, and chew it thoroughly.
Do not try to eat more than 1/2 teaspoon of your food at a time.

What To Do If You Have A Dry Mouth
As we age, our bodies often signal us less when we are thirsty. In addition, some medications can dry you out, so it's important to keep drinking plenty of fluids.
Drink 8 or more cups of liquid each day, 10 or more cups if you are feverish (unless you are fluid restricted).
Dunk or moisten breads, toast, cookies, or crackers in milk, hot chocolate, or coffee to soften them.
Take a drink after each bite of food to moisten your mouth and to help you swallow.
Add sauces to foods to make them softer and moister. Try gravy, broth, sauce, or melted butter.
Eat sour candy or fruit ice to help increase saliva and moisten your mouth.
Don't use a commercial mouthwash. Commercial mouthwashes often contain alcohol that can dry your mouth. Ask your doctor or dentist about alternative mouthwash products.
Ask your doctor about artificial saliva products. They are available over-the-counter or by prescription.

Maintaining Your Weight
Malnutrition and weight maintenance is often an issue for those with Alzheimer's disease.
· Eat smaller meals more frequently. Eating 5-6 times a day may be easier than eating the same amount of food in three meals.
· Take a daily vitamin/mineral supplement.
Liquid diet supplements may be helpful.

Exercise - For people with Alzheimer's disease, physical activity should be continued for as long as possible. This will help prevent muscle weakness and health complications associated with inactivity. Exercise also promotes a normal day-and-night routine and may help to improve mood.
Repetitive exercises -- such as walking, indoor bicycling, and activities such as folding laundry -- may decrease anxiety in people with Alzheimer's disease because they don't have to make decisions about the activity or remember what to do next. While exercise does not stop Alzheimer's disease from progressing, patients do receive the emotional satisfaction of feeling they have accomplished something.

You should check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Your doctor may make recommendations about:
· The types of exercise best suited to you and those to avoid.
· How hard you should be working out.
· How long you should work.

... to be continued

Why Iraq? (10)

By Edwin Corros
continuation…...

Since then, my other siblings and myself decided to unite ourselves in prayer as our way of consoling each other amidst the anxiety that we felt toward my brother Domeng’s working in Iraq. We felt very helpless. There were not too many options left to us, even if the only thing left actually was for him to come home. We made it a point to offer our chain of prayer for his safety. My youngest sister offered a rosary everyday for him. On my part, the Eucharist was my daily offering. I did not bother of course to ask my other siblings to offer the same, but I am sure that the rest of my siblings were saying special prayers for his and his companions’ safety.

For over seven months, our family was in constant state of fear and anxiety. He was not allowed to receive a phone call or even letters. We only had to content ourselves with his long distance calls, which came in mostly on Fridays. Each time I heard or read in the papers about the bombing in Baghdad, I had to pray even more that his name was not among the victims mentioned. I had been looking forward for his safe return to Dubai where he was originally contracted to work. On the six months in Baghdad, Domeng along with the two other Filipinos were told that they will soon go home, but that never happened until their working visas were about to expire. He did try his best to contact their company in Dubai, but they were not assisted. Nobody attended to their repeated requests.

Amidst the constant bombing within Baghdad inside a US military base where they were actually working, he was telling me that they started doing odd jobs which were no longer part of their contracts. He even described his work as really dehumanizing. Imagine them cleaning the pipes running from residences to the septic tank that has exploded. Sensing that his company was disinterested to get them out of Iraq, my brother decided to find a way how to leave Iraq before their visa will finally expire. This made me more worried and upset. Our conversations were very limited to his brief and untimely calls. Sometimes I got to know of his condition through his brief calls to any of my siblings. Maybe he was trying to reach just any one of us to let us know that he was safe. Nevertheless, I was always anxious of his critical situation.

God must have a way to help people who try their best to help themselves. Accidentally, my brother met their Canadian supervisor who had resigned earlier from their company, but came again to Baghdad, but this time working with another company. “He must have been an angel,” I told him in one of the long distance conversation we had. After being informed of my brother’s condition, his former Canadian colleague immediately assisted them to go out Iraq just before their visas expired. In our last conversation before he departed Baghdad, I instructed him to go to the labor attachè of the Philippines in Dubai.

During the time that he...
… to be continued

"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You don't blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the President. You realize that you control your own destiny." ~ Albert Ellis ~

Paghihintay at Ligaya sa Ipinangakong Darating

“Kayo po ba ang ipinangakong darating?” Ang katanungan ni Juan Bautista at ng kanyang mga alagad ay katanungan din ng ating henerasyon. Sa gitna ng paghihirap, kawalan ng kapayapaan at katarungan sa lipunan, naghihintay din tayo kung kailan nga ba tayo pagiginhawahin ng Panginoong inaasahan natin.

Subalit ang katanungang ito ay tila unti-unti na ring nahahalo sa mga pangakong napapako, mga panandaliang kaginhawahan at lumilipas na kasiyahan. Sa panahong ito ng Adbiyento, ang tunay na diwa ng paghihintay sa ipinangakong darating ay unti-unti nang nilalamon ng mga materyal na pangangailangan natin at nang tila walang katapusang paghahangad na bumili, gumamit at magpasasa (konsumerismo). Unti-unti, mas pinahahalagahan na natin ngayon hindi ang pangakong darating, kundi ang pangako ng ating sariling galing at produkto ng ating gawa. Waring itinuturing na natin ang ating sarili bilang mga Diyos “na mayroon ngang mata, ngunit hindi makahinga; may tainga ngunit hindi makarinig; may daliri ngunit hindi makadama; may paa ngunit hindi makalakad” (tingnana Kar.15:15)

Subalit tinitiyak ng mga pagbasa natin ngayon ang ipinangakong darating at hinahamon tayo na tibayan ang ating loob at umasa sa Tagapagligtas. Pangunahing itinuturo ng ebanghelyo ayon kay Mateo na “dumating na sa inyo ang paghahari ng Diyos”(12:28)- si Hesu-Kristo. Sa ebanghelyo natin ngayon pinatutunayan ni Hesus na siya mismo ang paghahari ng Diyos. Ipinakikita niya na ang kanyang paghahari ay hindi panghuhusga at pamumuno, kundi biyaya ng kanyang pananatili sa piling ng mga nangangailangan. “Nakakakita ang mga bulag, nakakalakad ang mga pilay, gumagaling at lumilinis ang mga ketongin, nakakarinig ang mga bingi, muling nabubuhay ang mga patay, at ipinangangaral sa mga mahihirap ang Magandang Balita.” (Mt 11:5). Pinatutunayan ni Hesus na siya at wala ng iba ang ipinangakong darating, at sa katunayan, siya rin ang Diyos na buhay na aktibong nakikilahok sa kasaysayan ng sangkatauhan.

Sa pagdating ni Hesus ngayon sa hiwaga ng Eukaristiya, pinaaalalahanan tayo na huwag sumuko sa mga pagsubok. Sabi ni propeta Isaias; “Huwag kang matakot, lakasan mo ang iyong loob; narito, dumarating na ang inyong Diyos” (35:4). Kailangang tatagan natin ang ating loob at huwag magsisihan sa kabila ng hamon ng buhay (tingnan Jaime 5:8-9). Ito ay sa kadahilanang patuloy na lumalaganap ang paghahari ng Diyos sa daigdig. Maaaring tahimik, ngunit mabisang kumikilos ang Diyos sa piling natin at sa buhay natin.

Tinitiyak ng Panginoon sa ebanghelyo ngayon ang kaligtasan ng mga tumatanggap sa paghahari ng Diyos: “mas dakila (kay Juan) ang pinakamaliit sa kaharian ng langit” (11:11). Kaya naman ang paalala ni Santiago:“maging huwaran ninyo ang mga propeta...tingnan ninyo ang kanilang pagtitiis at pangaral” (5:10).

Sa piling ng Panginoong Jesu-Kristo– ang ipinangakong darating na “dumating na” nga-”mamumulat ang mga mata ng mga bulag, mabubuksan ang mga tainga ng mga bingi; luluksong gaya ng mga usa ang mga pilay; sisigaw sa galak ang dila ng mga pipi” (Is 35:5). Hindi na natin kailangang magtanong kung “kailan darating”; magalak na tayo at magdiwang sa kanyang pagdating!

~ David O. Reyes, Jr. ~

Were Other ‘Gospels’ Banned from the Bible? (Series LXVII)

Are the four gospels in the Bible — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — the only ancient books that claim to be authentic records of Christ’s life? If there are others, why don’t they appear in Scripture? Is it true, as some have claimed, that the Catholic Church hierarchy (or perhaps the fourth-century Roman emperor Constantine) “banned” these other books from the Bible to cover up certain uncomfortable “truths” about Jesus reported in them?

The authentic teaching of the Church about Jesus began, not as a book, but as an oral tradition — preached and passed on by the apostles and others who knew him personally (see “Why Are There Four Gospels?”). Once the faith had spread throughout the Roman world and beyond, portions of this oral tradition were committed to writing and circulated among the scattered local churches. The resulting books were recognized by these churches as reliable and authoritative accounts because they judged them to be in keeping with, and rooted in, the genuine apostolic Tradition they already possessed.

Three criteria were used to evaluate a book for which a claim to divine inspiration had been made: First, was it written by an apostle or an associate of an apostle? Second, did it conform to the “rule of faith,” the doctrinal Tradition, affirmed by churches throughout the world? Third, had it been read publicly and regularly in Christian worship, especially in those churches with apostolic beginnings?

Writings from the generations of Christians just after the apostles show that they quoted as authoritative the four gospels we now have in our Bibles. By the mid-second century, teachers living as far apart as St. Ignatius in Syria, St. Justin Martyr in Rome, Tertullian in Africa, and St. Irenaeus in what is now France had all accepted as reliable and divinely inspired the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This judgment was later confirmed authoritatively by formal Church councils, but certainly not by a Roman imperial decree.

A few other ancient writers did indeed claim to tell about Jesus’ life; St. Luke himself noted some of them (see Lk 1:1). But their books were not “banned” by the “hierarchy.” Rather, they never gained acceptance by the Church as a whole in the first place because they failed to meet the reasonable criteria described above. Books such as the “Gospel of Thomas” were thus rejected as later products of eccentric teachers. The genuine apostolic Tradition exposed them as a false “different gospel” (see Gal 1:6-9).

CHRISTMAS RUSH OR CHRISTMAS REASON?

I was standing in the doorway of a department store a few Christmases ago, enjoying a lovely nativity scene in a store window, when a mother and a little girl came hurrying by. Catching a glimpse of the beautiful scene, the child grabbed by her mother’s hand and exclaimed, “Mama! Mama! Please let me stop for a minute and I look at Jesus. But her mother replied that they weren’t even half through with their shopping & didn’t have time to stop – and walked on dragging her disappointed daughter behind her.

The child’s words rang in my heart for a long time after that. Please let me stop for a minute and I look at Jesus. I thought of all the minutes that had sped by me in that busy Christmas in the mad rush of life that is accelerated at the height of the shopping season.

How many minutes had I spent shopping and buying presents and preparing decorations and food in the great wind-up to Christmas, and how many had I spent with the One whose birth and life is the true meaning of this celebrative season.

His birth is the essence of Christmas. His gift to all - peace, love, and joy of heart – is the essential magic of Christmas. But these we will never receive if we forge on, endless shopping and to-do lists in hand, too busy to stop and even notice He’s right there.

Like the old saying, “Dew never falls on a stormy night,” we rarely experience the sweetness and joy of time spent with Jesus while in an anxious and feverish rush of accomplishment.

But the dew of Heaven and the blessings of Christmas fall and live peacefully in our hearts when we stop for a moment to get quiet and remember Him. To go on without Him is forfeiting the only real, and lasting joy and perfect love that can be experienced in this life and shared forever.

Cut down our tasks list. Enjoy the beauty. These are so many wonderful things about Christmas and so many beautiful things to see. Why don’t we stop and enjoy-really enjoy- what Christmas means? The true presence of Christmas is found in Jesus. Let the celebration of his birth touch your heart in a new way this year.

LANDAS NG PAGPAPAKABANAL

85. Inilalarawan sa atin sa ebanghelyo ang Espiritu bilang ibon. (Markos 1:10; Mateo 13:16; Lukas 3:22) Marahil ipinahihiwatig lamang ng paglalarawang ito na tulad ng ibon, mailap ang Espiritu, hindi basta dumadapo, hindi basta namumugad. Kailangang akitin upang manatili ito at mamalagi sa ating piling. Humihinga ng ganap na pagbabago - isang buhay na kaakit-akit pamugaran ng Espiritu. Kung gayon, hindi ang wisik ng tubig na nabasbasan ang magpapalayas sa masasamang espiritu, kundi ang isang uri ng pamumuhay sa pananampalataya, pag-asa, at pag-ibig ang magtataboy sa mga ito sa pamamagitan ng pamumugad ng Banal na Espiritu sa ating piling.

Ang Mahal na Ina
86. Walang duda, tayo’y isang bayang maka-ina. Ang likas na pagpapahalaga, paggiliw, at pagsuyo sa ating mga inang makalupa ay madaling nalilipat sa gayunding pagpapahalaga, paggiliw at pagsuyo sa ating inang makalangit: ang Mahal na Birhen. Pati ang turing sa kanya bilang Mama Mary ay pagpapahayag ng isang payak na kaugnayan ng paslit sa kanyang nanay. Maraming beses na tayong napuna tungkol dito, lalo na ng ibang mga kapwa Kristiyanong hindi-Katoliko. Maraming beses na rin nating naitanong sa ating mismong sarili, kung di ba tayo nalilihis, kung di ba tayo nalalayo kay Kristo dahil sa malabis na paggalang at pagpipitagan sa Mahal na Birhen. Binigyan din ito ng masusing pansin ng ating Katekismo (CFC # 45-48), na sa kabutihang palad ay nakatulong ng malaki upang maipaunawa sa atin itong likas nating pagmamahal sa Mahal na Birhen.

87. Simula’t sapul, bahagi na siya ng kasaysayan natin, at hindi siya kailanman maihiwalay sa ating pananampalataya sa kanyang Anak. Patunay dito ang mga nabanggit na nating mga tradisyon tuwing Pasko—ang Panunuluyan, at tuwing araw ng muling Pagkabuhay—ang Salubong. Parang hindi kumpleto ang mga pagdiriwang na ito kung wala siya, kung paanong laging kasama ang ina sa mga mahalagang sandal ng ating sariling buhay bilang mga pamilyang Pilipino. Kung may isang bagay na namumukod-tangi sa landas ng pagpapakabanal ng Katolikong Pilipino, ito marahil ay walang iba kundi ang paglapit natin kay Kristo sa pamamagitan ni Maria. At dahil tanggap na natin ito, hindi na natin ikinababahala. Sa katunayan, sa maraming sulok ng bansa, naging isa sa mga pinaka-epektibong paraan ng paghubog at pagpapalaganap sa Mabuting Balita ng Panginoong Hesukristo ang debosyon sa Mahal na Birhen, ang pagtitipon ng mga mananampalataya upang magrosaryo. Ang malalim na debosyon sa Mahal na Ina ay nananatiling isa sa mga pinakama-tinding lakas na nagpapanatiling buhay sa pananampalatayang Pilipino at Katoliko. Si Maria, kumbaga, ay parang pataba sa lupang inihahandang matamnan ng binhi ng Mabuting Balita ng Kaharian ng Diyos. Madalas, tayo rin ang nagkukulang sa pagbibigay-panahon upang mahasikan ng binhi ang matabang lupa na matagal nang inihanda ng Mahal na Birhen.

Gabay sa Pagninilay at Diskusyon
Itutuloy…

Nutrition and Alzheimer's Disease

WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland ClinicWebMD Medical Reference.

Alzheimer's Disease:
Nutrition: While there is no special diet required for people with Alzheimer's disease -- unless they have another condition, such as diabetes, that requires a particular diet -- eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet is extremely beneficial. With the proper diet, our bodies work more efficiently and we have more energy. This article addresses the basics of good nutrition.

The Basics
· Eat a variety of foods from each food category.
· Maintain your weight through a proper balance of exercise and food.
· Choose foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
· Try to limit sugars.
· Moderate your use of salt.
· Drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day (unless you are fluid restricted due to another medical condition, such as congestive heart failure).
· You may drink alcoholic beverages in moderation (but always consult your doctor).

Medications
· Ask your doctor if any foods can interfere with the medicines you're taking.

Preventing Constipation
· Eat foods high in fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Fiber and water help the colon pass stool. Most of the fiber in fruits is found in the skins.
· Eat bran cereal or add bran cereal to other foods, like soup and yogurt.
· Drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water and other fluids a day (unless you are fluid restricted).
· Exercise
· Move your bowels when you feel the urge.

Tips to Relieve Constipation
· Drink 2-4 extra glasses of water a day.
· Add fruits and vegetables to your diet.
· Eat prunes and/or bran cereal.
· If needed, use a very mild stool softener or laxative. Do not use mineral oil or any other laxatives for more than two weeks without calling your doctor.

Dining Environment
· Minimize distractions in the area where you eat.
· Stay focused on the tasks of eating and drinking.

...To be continued

Why Iraq?

by Edwin Corros

In the mid-eighties when I entered the seminary to check if ever I really had the vocation to the missionary life, one of the reasons why I decided to join the Scalabrinian Congregation was due to my family situation. My father was then working as a mechanic in Saudi Arabia. I also had a brother in Kuwait and another brother who was a seafarer. That time, there were also my aunties who were working as nurses in Canada who later on asked their families to join them as immigrants. Later did I realize that we will become a family of migrants.

We are nine siblings and only one did not have a chance to travel outside the country. After my ordination, my eldest sister decided to migrate to Canada while my second youngest brother after finishing his contract in Kuwait decided to move to the US with his wife. So migration has almost been a part of our lives. Sometimes, we go to the airport without anyone accompanying us. Except for my youngest sister, all of us have our own stories to tell about living, working or vacationing in other countries.

What then is the big deal about working abroad? It was the recent unpleasant experiences of my younger brother who was in Dubai as an OFW, and later moved to Iraq that gave us many problems. Why Iraq? Let me tell you the story of the ordeals of my younger brother.

Domeng, my younger brother was contracted to work in a factory in Dubai last February 2005. This is his nth time to go abroad as an OFW,. He left just a week before our second eldest brother died of a lingering illness in 2005. He was a seaman and it was in fact Domeng who took care of him before he met his Creator. But I am not going to tell the story of my seafarer brother even if his was another interesting one, but my story is about Domeng who was posted in Iraq against his will. Being a newly deployed contract worker he was not allowed to go home to attend the burial of an elder brother.

Four months after working in Dubai, he was requested to go to Iraq along with two other Filipinos and a Canadian supervisor. A week before he was moved to Baghdad, he called by long distance informing us that he will be moving to that turbulent country. As I listened to him, he was voicing his concern. He had never shown any fear in his life as he was strong and a brave man. However, listening to him over the phone made me feel he was a different person. His voice was more solemn and serious yet subdued when he called all of us, particularly myself. I asked him if he could back off from the assignment. He responded he could, but if he did he was likely to lose his job. He had no choice, but to accept the illegal deployment to Iraq. On my part, I really wanted him simply to pack up his luggage and return to the Manila, but I had nothing better to offer him once he comes back in terms of a job. I just assured him our prayers as we ended the long distance conversation.

Since then, my other siblings and myself decided to…

… to be continued

Simbang Gabi and Mass Sched

Venue:.. Priest Presider:.. Sponsors:

December 15 ..Catholic Center.. Fr. Dong Marcaida,MSP ..- Shiony & Shiela
December 16 ..Catholic Center.. Fr. Gerry Matalamban,CFIC ..- Mely & Mel
December 17 ..Catholic Center.. Frs. Froilan Cruz/Sebastian..- G.Dombi,Cindy,
PJ,Armel& Arman
December 18.. Catholic Center.. Fr. Alvin Parantar,MSP ..- Helen & Bong
December 19 ..Catholic Center ..Fr. Dong Marcaida,MSP.. - Monet & Friends
December 20.. Chasan-ri.. Fr. Alvin Parantar,MSP.. - Conching&Danah
December 21.. Catholic Center.. Fr, Jun Nohara, OSA.. - Lyka & Harold
December 22 ..Kagumni.. Fr. Dong Marcaida,MSP ..- Rannie & Tess
December 23 ..Catholic Center.. Fr. Dong Marcaida,MSP.. - Liezl & Josie
December 24 ..Catholic Center.. Fr. Dong Marcaida,MSP ..- Community (All)

SIGAW-TUGON SA SARIWANG USBONG

“Magbagong-buhay kayo…!” Ito ang sigaw-paanyaya ni Juan Bautista sa ebanghelyo natin ngayong ika-2 linggo ng Adbiyento. Si Juan Bautista ang tinutukoy ni Propeta Isaias—isang tinig sa disyerto na sumisigaw na maghanda ng daan para sa Panginoon.

Noong nakaraang lingo, narinig natin ang babala ni Hesus na magbantay at maghanda sapagkat darating ang “Anak ng Tao” nang hindi inaasahan tulad nang dumating ang baha noong panahon ni Noe. Ang sigaw paanyaya ni Juan Bautista na “Magbagong-buhay kayo…”ay isang propesiya sa babala at paalaala ni Jesus. Paanyaya ito sa pagsisisi sa kasalanan at pagbabalik-loob sa Diyos—isang tawag na lumayo sa landas ng paghahanap ng kaligayahan at kapayapaang makalupa. Hinahamon ni Juan Bautista ang mga Pariseo at Saduseo na patunayan ang kanilang pagbabagong-buhay, at “sibakin” ang anumang “punong hindi namumunga nang mabuti.” Magbibigay ng hatol ang Panginoon hindi ayon sa panlabas na anyo., o sa mga sabi-sabi (Is 11:3). Hahatulan tayo batay sa ating kalooban.

Ang pagbabago ng isang tao ay isang desisyon–isang salitang nagmula sa Latinong “decidere” na ang kahulugan ay “putulin” o “sibakin”. Ang bawat desisyon ay may katumbas na “pagpuputol”ng mga hindi mabuti at kung kinakailangan, kahit na ng mabuti. Ito ay ang pagtanggi rin o pagbitiw maging sa magagandang pagkakataon, upang makamit ang mas makabubuti para sa nakararami. Ang pagputol o pagsibak ay laging may kalakip na sakit at may hinihinging pagtitiiis o pagpapakasakit. Halimbawa na rito ang pagsusuot ni Juan ng balahibo ng kamelyo at pagkain ng balang. Ang pagpapasya ay isang pagpili. Ayon nga kay Padre James Alberione, ang tagapagtatag ng Pamilya Paolino, anumang pinili mo (bokasyon) sa buhay na ito ay siya na ring pinili mo para sa kabilang buhay.

Matagal nang dumating ang usbong ng pagmamahal ng Panginoon upang sa atin ay matanim at manirahan. Dahil nga sa kagandahang-loob ng Diyos ay paulit-ulit siyang bumabalik sa ating kaloob-looban bagamat nalilihis tayo ng landas. Walang sawa niyang pinatitibok ang ating mga puso upang ang pag-ibig niyang doon umusbong ay lumago at magkabunga sa atin at sa pamamagitan natin. Ito ang diwa ng Emmanuel—”Diyos -kasama natin.”
Ngunit mangyayari lang ito kung una sa lahat, magpapasya tayong maghanda sa pagpasok ng Diyos sa ating buhay: ang pagpuputol ng mga talahib ng sama ng loob at pagdidilig ng tubig ng pagpapatawad upang ang sariwang usbong ng pagmamahal ng Diyos ay magkaroon ng puwang sa atin. Ang pagbabagong-buhay ay nangangailangan ng katapatan at katatagan sa desisyong ating pinili.

Sa paghihintay at paghahanda natin sa pagbabalik ng Panginoon sa ating “ka-loob-an” suriin nating muli ang ating mga puso. Ano nga ba ang kailangan nating baguhin sa ating buhay upang mangibabaw ang kabutihan at kagandahang-loob ng Diyos? Ano ang kailangang putulin o sibakin upang ang sariwang usbong ng pag-ibig ng Diyos ay magkaugat at mamunga sa atin? Ano ang bagong landas na dapat tahakin upang matagpuan ang tunay na kaligayahan at kapayapaan? Mangyari nawang maging bahagi naman ito ng ating sigaw-tugon sa Panginoon.
~ Sr. Mary Anthony E. Basa, PDDM ~

Series LXVI: Why Are There Four Gospels?

The New Testament begins with four books that proclaim “the gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ” (Mk 1:1): Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Though they are not biographies of Jesus in the strict sense of the word, they provide accounts of his earthly life and an interpretation of its meaning for the world.

Why are there four such accounts instead of one? Jesus wrote no autobiography, nor did he designate any of his followers to write an “official” biography. Rather, the primary mission he gave his apostles was to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19) through preaching, teaching, and providing the sacraments of the Church (see also Mk 16:15-18; Jn 20:21-23; 21:15-17). This first “witness” to Christ (see Acts 1:8) was thus oral rather than written, with an emphasis on the demonstration of its truth through the holy lives of believers and the wonders worked among them (see 1 Cor 2:1-5).

In time, however, several of the first Christians concluded that it would be useful for the new community to have a written account of Jesus’ life and works. Luke’s statement of method and intention in producing his gospel suggests how they went about the task:

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you… so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received. [Lk 1:1-4]

Not surprisingly, the four evangelists (gospel authors) used some of the same sources. But each seems to have drawn as well from sources not employed by the others, and each seems to have drawn as well from sources not employed by the others, and each arranged his material in a distinctive way. At the same time, no one of them could tell the whole story; as John’s gospel notes: “There are also many other thins that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written” (Jn 21:25).

The result is that the four gospels, though telling essentially the same story, differ in many ways in content, perspective, emphasis, and style. The resulting variety provides the Church with a wonderful richness of insight that would be lacking if only one of the gospels had come down to us.

My Story

By: Stupid girl

As I try to look back at my life,

memories of hardships and sorrows embraces me once again...

I've lived my life here alone with no one to lean on
I thought I couldn't make it on my own
Sacrifices been made and lies been told
Secrets been kept not to unfold

Life's not been so easy and kind
Makes you overwhelmed and unbind
Leaving your heart broken
And your mind kept unspoken

I've loved but all I’ve given are not enough
'Coz loving and caring is quite tough
Loving should not blindly believing
For heaven sent it truly unpretending

Been cheated and didn't complain
Deep pain and tear drops fall like rain
My world's been torn and apart
Wishing every misery has its ending part

My soul's been to hell and back again
Was tired of life's inescapable den
Took some wrong turns and faith was tested
But courage's been busted and wasted

I've lost and missed half of my life I know
Gave one more shot no matter how it goes
For each day is a constant battle
Filled with hopes and dreams uncontrolled

... all of these I wouldn't have made it through

if there hadn't been God, my true best friend.

You Are What You Repeatedly Do

First you make your habits,

and then your habits,

make you.

You become a slave to your constantly repeated acts.

What at first you chose,

at last compels.

Your thoughts lead you to a purpose.

Your purpose moves you to take action.

Your actions form your habits,

Your habits determine your character,

and your character fixes your destiny.
Your habits are either the best of servants

or the worst of masters.

Once in motion,

a pattern tends to stay in motion.

How Strong Is Your Desire For Success?

You accomplish things by directing your desires,

not by ignoring them.

You're always motivated to the degree

that the decisions you make are your decisions.

To be honest with yourself,

to sincerely knowwhat you really want,

is the key to your motivation.

You're always in a position to decide.

You can decide to do something

or you can decide to do nothing.

The choice will always be yours.

It's so hard when you have to,

and so easy when you want to.

LANDAS NG PAGPAPAKABANAL

82. Kay Kristo, ang kabayanihan ay hindi na panawagan sa iilan lamang kundi para sa lahat. Ito’y nagsisimula sa pagtanggap sa ating abang kalagayan bilang karaniwang tao at mamamayan na hinahamon niyang tumulad sa kanya sa pagpapakumbaba, sa paglilingkod, at sa pag-aalay ng buhay alang-alang sa kapwa. (Filipos 2:6-11) Katulad ni San Pablo, tayo rin ay nasisiraan ng loob sa ating mga kahinaan sa gitna ng paghahangad sa kabayanihan. “Ang alam kong mabuti ay hindi ko magawa, at ang alam kong masama ang nagagawa ko… Sino ang magliligtas sa aba kong kalagayan?” (Roma 7:19,24) Dahil hindi natin mapagsama ang kahinaan at kabayanihan tulad niya, nais nating hilingin na mawaksi sa atin ang kahinaan. “Binigyan ako ng tinik sa laman, upang hindi ako maging hambog… Tatlong beses kong hiniling sa alisin niya ito sa akin, ngunit ang sabi niya sa akin: sapat na sa iyo ang biyaya ko, sapagkat sa kahinaan nagiging ganap ang lakas.” (2 Corinto 12:7-8).

Espiritu
83. Bahagi ng ating abot-tanaw bilang Pilipino ang paniwala sa mga espiritung sumasanib sa mga lugar, sa mga tao at mga bagay-bagay. May mga espiritu sa kalikasan, mga espiritu ng yumao na bumabalik at nagpaparamdam, espiritu ng mga ninuno, espiritu ng mga santo’t santa na sumasanib sa mga makagiliwan ng mga ito at nagdudulot ng lakas na magpagaling sa maysakit. Mayroong mabuti at masamang espiritu. Nabanggit natin sa naunang bahagi ng sulat na ito ang kahiligan ng Katolikong Piliupino sa pagpapabasbas ng halos kahit ano, na ang karaniwang hangarin ay ang pagpapalayas pa rin ng maligno, tikbalang, aswang, multo, kamalasan at iba pang masasamang espiritu. Para sa atin, ang mga banal na larawan na nabasbasan ay nagtataglay na ng mabuting Espiritu kung kaya’t nagiging mahalagang sangkap ng ating buhay, tulad ng palaspas sa mga bintana ng bahay, mga istampita ng Holy Name sa mga pintuan, rosaryong nakalawit sa may salamin ng sasakyan, eskapularyo sa leeg, panyolitong El Shaddai sa bulsa, atbp. Noon pa man, bago dumating ang mga misyonero, taglay na ng ating mga ninuno ang pangamba sa masasamang espiritu at kahiligan sa mga anting-anting bilang panlaban sa mga ito. Ang pakikihamok sa mga espiritu sa paligid bilang normal na bahagi ng ating mundo ay isang bagay na hindi kailanman binura ng Katolisismo. Bagama’t may agam-agam tayo tungkol sa bagay na ito, nabanggit na natin na hindi rin marahil angkop na basta na lamang itatwa ito bilang pamahiin ng mga walang pinag-aralang mga Katolikong Pilipino, sapagkat kapansin-pansin ito kahit na sa mga Pilipinong mataas ang pinag-aralan. Sa kabila ng ating hindi-pagkapalagay sa ganitong umiiral na kaisipan sa modernong panahon, kailangang aminin na ang mismong Banal na Kasulatan ay puno ng ulat tungkol sa tunggalian ng masasamang espiritu at mabuting espiritu.

84. Sa malakas na kontekstong animista, na ating kinabibilangan bilang Pilipino, marahil nararapat lamang na mapalalim pa ang ating pag-unawa sa pangunahing papel na ginagampanan ng Banal na Espiritu na ating natanggap sa binyag bilang kaloob ng Diyos Ama sa pamamagitan ng Panginoong Hesukristong muling nabuhay: na ito’y Espiritung nagdudulot ng paglaya mula sa pagkaalipin na bunga ng pagkakasala (Roma 8:14-17), Espiritung nagbubuklod sa atin bilang isang pamayanang kumakatawan kay Kristo (1 Corinto 12:4-31) at nagpapatuloy sa kanyang gawaing pagliligtas.

Itutuloy…

Nutrition

Do Exercise Daily
The best tonic for physical fitness is taking exercise. Regular exercise improves the efficiency of heart and other body parts and we live longer. Without a daily dose of exercise your body becomes weak and lazy. Its wall of immune system becomes weak. Studies show that regular exercise reduces the risk of death due to heart trouble and stroke, prevents diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and some forms of cancer, and strengthens our bones and immune function. Playing outdoor games is also a good exercise.

Control Weight
Obesity is one of the most common diseases of modern world. Overweight people are always at the risk of getting diseases. Regular exercise is the best method to control weight. You also need to change your dietary habits. Use less oil and butter. Take more vegetarian diet like fresh fruits and vegetables. Many clinics or organizations sell quick weight loss programmers or equipments. They are meant to extract money from you. Never go to them without consulting your doctor.

Keep Your Stomach Light
Today if you fill your stomach with all sorts of unhealthy things just because of taste, tomorrow you will get dangerous diseases and repent. So it is better to discipline your dietary habits and keep your stomach light. Always eat less then your hunger. Modern research has also proved that if you starve yourself a little it prolongs our life-span.

Water Is Better
Fresh water should be the best cold drink for you. Keep away from sweetened cold drinks. Many tests have proved that most of the cold drinks contain caffeine and pesticides. You become addicted to them and spoil your health. And alcoholic drinks not only rob you out of your wealth, family peace and health but also drag you to early death.

Break The Shell Of Tension
It is necessary to keep your mind relaxed and positive to maintain a good health. To relax, solve
the problem, pursue a hobby, go for traveling (out of your city) at least once a year, listen to music, talk to your intimate friends.

Meditation
Adopt the habit of doing meditation. It is also becoming a fashion in the high society - and it is a good trend. Meditation twice a day helps you to save on medical bills. You not only get a better body but a peaceful mind too. Hard Work Is Like Nectar
We must learn to work very hard in life. Various emotions in varied degrees rise in our mind all the time. Hard work never harms anyone in life but laziness does kill many. They need to be utilized to keep our mind and body in tune. Therefore we need to work hard to achieve our goals or to fulfill our wishes. It will streamline the functioning of our body and mind, and improves the immune system of your body.

Empower Your Mind
Our mind can not only help us to become successful in life but also heal our body. Faith in the healing powers of our mind is also necessary to keep ourselves healthy and fit. Heart-break, disappointments, negative thinking and crushing tension break the wall of our immune system reducing its defense or healing power.

Use Love Medicine
In his book ‘Love Medicine and Miracles’ Dr. Bernie Seigal declared that hope is the main ingredient in fighting cancer. The hopeful individual appears to be most resistant to cancer or any other serious disease. Love your family and other people. In return you will get their love which will make you emotionally strong and healthy.

Have Fun
Having fun is a good method of relaxing and strengthening the healing power of your body and mind. Every person has his or her own method of fun. Many people pursue some hobbies and enjoy them. There can be various ways of having fun like, playing games, watching TV or movies, talking to children, listening to music, traveling, and sitting in the garden, romancing near a lake, etc. Choose the fun you like and forget everything for some time.

Finding God After Working Abroad

by Nelson Pastor Ajos
...continuation

I joined the Saint Paul Marriage Encounter Pampanga Series. Things started to come into its proper perspective. It was a long struggle. There were moments in our relationship that almost ended up in tragedy, but I believe in the loving forgiveness of our Lord. Forgiveness from my wife was not served in a silver platter. I had to win her back and proving it to her that all of us do some glitches in our lives one way or the other. Likewise our conversion took quite a while. The ME community gave us their full support and understanding that mostly inspired us to give our best without expecting things in return. It is for this reason that we give back our time, talent and efforts to serve others who are in the same fate we have been.

Our marriage journey was never that smooth. I had to bite the bullet for what I had done. Knowing that being an OFW and had been gone for a long time, things could not be that easy in my reintegration with my family, the community, and work. I found it difficult until now to reach out to my children and express myself. I know I am not alone in this predicament. There are lots of OFW parents giving their children the best education and financial stability. But some children fail to consider the sacrifices of their OFW parents to provide for their financial needs. We can never be at the same time at two places. But we can be of use at one place even at a distance.

I know that I was not at my children’s sides when they needed me most. I was not there when they marched receiving their diplomas. I was not there when they were jilted by their friends nor was I there when they wanted to share their triumphs. I was not there when they sick. Painful as it was, we could not do anything about it, for me we were far away earning money to provide exactly for their daily needs, school; tuition and other needs which for a fact could not have been provided had we stayed in the Philippines.

Do I feel morally right when providing the best for my family was my first priority? I was hoping I was right. But after finding and experiencing it first hand and knowing what it costs, keeps me pondering, possibly also the parents who are planning to work abroad, that not a chance that I would exchange the money for the destruction of my relationship with my family. For until now I am still wooing my children to be close to me.

As I have said time and again, we are traveling in the destiny of our own for the rest of our lives. My wife and I never realized that we would be involved in an apostolate for the Catholic Church until we were called upon by then Msgr. Robert Mallari, now a Bishop as the Director of the Commission for Family and Life in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga. We were invited to represent the Archdiocese in the EXODUS 4th Wave: Asian Seminar for Pastoral Workers of the Migrants’ and Itinerant People held at Tagaytay on March 21-27, 2004. From here, the new apostolate called the Migrant's Desk came to life. The Bishop’s simple yet sacrosanct approach could not make us say No. From that point on we decided to stay and help him and the CBCP-ECMI to form the Diocesan down to the parish level of organizing the Migrants’ Desk.

It is rough sailing, sometimes knowing that the stressors in our mission are the very people in the parish we are trying to help, giving us hard times and at some points putting us in awkward situations. But we already have pledged an oath to the Lord that we are giving our best time and efforts to help other OFW families. What makes us different from the missionaries giving themselves for the Glory of God? To some extent, we became fired up by the inspiring words of our very own Archbishop Paciano Aniceto to move on undemanding for this is where the Holy Spirit comes in as an inspiration.

To us, the work ahead has just started. A small difference is looming up so that we can make the dysfunctional families of OFWs perform their best in spite of the odds. We are working hard to discourage them in forming up a culture of money in the future. A long shot? It is. But it is not impossible with God’s help.

And looking back at all these experiences, I can’t but say I owe these all to my wife that in spite of the pains I gave her, she remained loyal to me. They way she raised my children, all performing well in school and of good moral standing in spite of the peer pressures besetting this teenage world now. They themselves have their own families now and eventually will have children to become future migrants “disciple.”

As we continue to struggle to be a good couple, we sustain our strength by clinging to each other’s strength and remembering always that God’s love to us is greater than our own frustrations.
— END —

Narito na Siya!

Sinisimulan natin ngayon ang panibagong taon ng liturhiya sa Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento . Ang Adbiyento ay tumutukoy sa “pagdating” ng Diyos. May tatlong “mukha” ang pagdating na ito ng Diyos. Una, hinihintay natin ang maluwalhating pagbabalik ni Hesus sa wakas ng panahon. Ikalawa, ginugunita natin ang unang pagdating ni Hesus mahigit na dalawanglibong taon na ang nakararaan– ang pagdiriwang ng unang pasko ng pagsilang ng Anak ng Diyos. Ikatlo, ang pagdating ni Hesus sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay.

Inaalalayan tayo ng mga pagbasa sa Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento sa muling pagdating ni Hesu-Kristo sa wakas ng panahon. Sa ating pagsisimula, ipinaaalala naman sa atin ng ebanghelyo ang wakas. Nakakatakot na paalala ang nangyaring Baha noong panahon ni Noe na pumatay at pumawi sa lahat ng nabubuhay at umiiral sa balat ng lupa maliban kay Noe at mga kasama niya (tingnan Gen. 7). “Gayundin sa pagdating ng Anak ng Tao,”magiging mga abala ang mga tao sa napakaraming mga bagay at Gawain at wala silang kamalay-malay sa darating na wakas (tingnan Mt 24:37-41). Kaya nagpapaalala ang ebanghelyo tungkol sa paghahanda: “Kaya magbantay kayo sapagkat hindi ninyo alam ang araw ng pagdating ng inyong Panginoon” (b.42).

Sa pagdating ng Panginoon, ano ang mga bagay na dapat “wakasan” sa ating buhay upang maging ganap ang paghahari ng Diyos? Malinaw na ipinahahayag ni Propeta Isaias sa Unang Pagbasa na “sa huling araw...isasaayos (ni Yawe) ang mga bayan...Wala nang bansang magtataas ng tabak sa kapwa bansa; wala na ring magsasanay pa para sa digmaan”(bb.2,4). Samakatuwid, magkakaroon ng kapayapaan at kasaganaan dahil sa ang mga tao ay magtatanim sa halip na pumatay (“gagawing asarol ang kanilang mga sibat”). Magkakaisa na ang lahat ng bansa sa pagsamba kay Yawe at pagsunod sa kanyang landas at mga aral (tingnan b.3).

Makatotohanan ba ang pahayag na ito? Nasaan ang katuparan ng pangako habang patuloy nating nararanasan ang digmaan, kahirapan, at karahasan. Nananatiling watak-watak ang mga tao, nagkakagulo, nalilito, nagdurusa. Dumating na ang Anak ng Diyos. Natupad na ang ipinahayag ng Banal ng Kasulatan sa bibig ng mga propeta. Ano pa ang kulang?

Sa pagdating ng Diyos, kinakailangan ang pakikiisa ng tao upang maging mabisa at mabunga ang pakikipagtagpo ng Diyos sa tao. Pinangangaralan ni San Pablo ang mga taga-Roma at ang bawat isa sa atin “dito at ngayon”na “itakwil ang mga gawa ng kadiliman...huwag isantabi ang mga sandata ng kaliwanagan; mabuhay ng marangal...nang walang katakawan at paglalasing, walang kalaswaan at kahalayan, walang pagtatalo at inggitan; huwag sumunod sa hilig ng laman at sa mga pagnanasa nito” (13:12-14)

Walang nakaaalam sa tiyak na oras ng maluwalhating pagbabalik ng Panginoon sa wakas ng panahon. Ang pinakamabisang paghahandang magagawa natin ay ang pagiging mulat sa kanyang pagdating sa bawat yugto ng ating buhay sa araw-araw. Laging handa ang taong nakakakita at tumatanggap sa makapangyarihan at mapagpalang pagkilos ng Diyos sa bawat karanasan ng kaligayahan at kalungkutan, ng tagumpay at kabiguan, ng kalusugan at karamdaman, ng buhay at kamatayan.

Sa panahon ng Adbiyento, nagsusumamo tayo; “Halina, Hesus, halina! Marana tah!” Ang totoo, dumating na SIYA. Narito na siya! Handa ka na bang tanggapin siya?
- P. Alex Balatbat

Series LXV: Why Do Catholics Have Crucifixes?

Answers to the Questions of the Catholic Faith

Many non-Catholic Christians are uncomfortable with the display of a crucifix — a cross with an image of Christ’s crucified body. They prefer to display an empty cross. If Jesus was raised from the dead, they reason, why would we depict him still on the cross?

First, we shouldn’t forget that Catholics also sometimes display simple crosses without the corpus (image of Christ’s body). Next, we must note that historically, discomfort with the crucifix has often had more to do with anti-Catholic sentiment than with genuine concern that Jesus’ resurrection is being forgotten. Despite clear references throughout the New Testament to the importance of the cross as a sign of Christ’s victory over evil (see 1 Cor 1:17-18), many early Protestants rejected any use of the cross at all — even an empty one — as a sign of “popery.”

Nevertheless, those who are genuinely concerned that, in the crucifix, the resurrection is unduly overshadowed by the Crucifixion should read the messianic prophecy of Zechariah: “They shall look on him whom they have thrust through, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn” (Zec 12:10). St. John confirms that this passage represents a foretelling of Christ’s crucifixion (see Jn 10:37).

When the people look on their crucified Lord, the prophet says, God “will pour out” on them “a spirit of grace and petition” (Zec 12:10). Catholics have long found this to be true whenever they gaze with love on this image of Jesus’ sacrificial death. The crucifix inspires in them the graces of a deeper gratitude for this greatest of gifts (see Ps 116:12-13), as well as a more intense aversion to sin, which led him to the cross (see Rom 6:1-12).

No wonder, then, that in the old legends, the demons, vampires, and other evil creatures cannot bear to look at a crucifix. It reminds the forces of darkness that they have been defeated by Christ’s death on the cross (see Col 2:13-15).

Finally, we should note that when we are suffering, meditation on a crucifix comforts us by recalling that Christ suffers with us (see 2 Cor 1:5-7). Our sufferings have great value when we join them to his (see Col 1:24).

Inspirational

by Kaycel

I love looking at those expressive eyes which are now staring blankly at me...I tried to say something...but instead, I uttered a sigh...so many words I wanted to tell him......so many questions I wanted to ask...but I never had the courage to put them into words....I was deeply mesmerized by his blank stare....then memories of yesteryears filled my heart and mind…``````I met Sachee in 1999...he was so kind…and being good-looking is an add-on. I was never surprised when I saw how all girls drool over him....he was such a looker……….I was the exception because I know he won't even bother to look at me and give me at least a second glance....I would not talk to him...and not even look at him. But when I needed someone to talk to and all my friends were so busy...he was there...ready to listen to me....from that time I opened up myself to him we would talk often whenever we had the chance to……..and by knowing him deeply, in my young heart...I secretly fell in-love with him...We would spend time together with our friends talking and I can feel the fondness he has for me...but I guess it was not love....it was just a brotherly affection for his sister....I would often catch him staring at me but I was afraid to preempt and give meaning to those glances....he would not even tell me why....Until we had to go our separate ways...to pursue our own careers...to find our lives...and the people we want to share our days with....until I never saw him again........And now after seven years...with just a simple twist of fate, our paths crossed again....and I couldn't believe that what I felt for him 8 long years ago was still here in my heart for I know I have already forgotten about it. And now, right before my very own eyes is my Sachee....nothing changed…….only we've become more mature. He was still MY SACHEE....more good-looking...more sweet...more caring........We talked and talked and spent time together making up for the lost times.....it was the happiest day of my life...being with him even just for a short time...with him I feel happy...I feel safe and cared for...no one has put a sweet smile on my face except him……. no one has ever made me very happy except him......and if there's one person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with…...I know it would be Him, my Sachee.......my friend whom I fell in-love with in the past........the friend I am falling in-love with again......but this time…...deeper. Many things happened with our lives, I know…but am I to blame if I felt this way? I was even surprised to know that he feels the same way for me too...even in the past..............most especially today........right now that we're together, I can feel that our hearts beat as one...........our two hearts crying out each other's names…….I know I should be happy………we should be happy….because so many questions and issues in the past were clarified were answered….I regret the lost times......the days we were both victims of our cowardice and pride...but I know this time, this is it.......that we can be together in each other's arms finally.......But I guess love alone is not enough to be back into each other's arms.......it's been 8 long years...so much have happened....Now, simply by just staring at him...with those eyes blankly staring at me,,, I can see LOVE…….regrets.......happiness and most especially, sadness…...we love each other now, yes……but it has to be stopped......it has to end.........because of the WHITE ENVELOPE I am holding in my hand that he gave me before we part ways....
- Without even opening it, I can guess that it's an invitation to a special event that will happen in his life...a very important occasion which is a reminder for me to stop loving him and just be friends with him...it's a wedding invitation...meaning, he's not free anymore.....I tried so hard not to cry in front of him...I tried so hard to hide the tears in my eyes because I don’t want him to feel sad...I don’t want him to see me hurting....I managed to smile and told him I’ll be coming to witness that event...to see him for the last time.....he held my hand and said " you know I want you to be happy...your happiness is mine.....On my way to the church...I cried my eyes out and promised myself that it would be the last time I’ll cry...I have to be happy for him...there are many "what ifs" in my mind...what if I told him what I felt before? What if he told me what he felt? Maybe we're both happy now....OR ARE WE? But as I was looking at him now...at the altar...all dressed in white....celebrating his first wedding mass....I know Father Sachee made the right decision. I know he would be happier and happiest serving the Lord. I was hurt because we were not given the chance to share the love we had for each other...but I'm even happier because he chose to share that love with the Lord who made Sachee be a part of my life....Before the wedding mass ended, Father Sachee caught my eye and we smiled at each other...slowly I walked away while whispering these words..."Goodbye Father Sachee...you will always have a special place in my heart....thanks for the love....." ......I know you know it's for you.

LANDAS NG PAGPAPAKABANAL

78. Sa aspetong ito, may punto rin ang mga pumupuna sa ating kahiligang itampok ang krus na para bang sa Biyernes Santo nagtatapos ang Mahal na Araw at wala nang muling pagkabuhay. Hindi kailanman inaayunan ng ating pananampalataya ang isang malagim na pagyakap sa sakit, dusa, at kamatayan na hiwalay sa matagumpay na gawaing pagliligtas ng Panginoong Hesukristo. Hindi rin kailanman pinahahalagahan ng ebanghelyo ang karukhaan at kadustaan na hiwalay sa pagtuklas sa kayamanang isinasagisag ng Kaharian ng Diyos. (Mateo 5:1-12; 13:44)

79. Sa marami sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino, kung gayon, nararapat lamang na ipahayag na hindi kalooban ng Diyos na sila’y isilang na api at naghihikahos. Hindi tamang ayunan ang “isip-dukha” na dali-daling yumayakap sa dusting kalagayan bilang kapalaran: “mahirap lang po kami, wala po kaming pinag-aralan, walang-wala po kami…” Sa ganitong pag-iisip, magandang babala ang talinghaga ng mga katiwalang pinagkatiwalaan ng iba’t-ibang halaga. “Sapagkat napagkatiwalaan ka sa maliit na halaga, ngayon nama’y pagkakatiwalaan kita sa mas malaki…” (Mateo 25:14-30)

Kabayanihan
80. Hindi “karaniwang tao” ang tingin natin sa mga bayani at martir. Malakas sa atin ang kahiligang itampok sila sa pedestal bilang kakaiba sa atin. Kaya marahil mas marami sa ating mga Pilipino ang “tagasunod” lamang. Madali sa atin ang sumunod sa mga pinunong nagpapakita ng kabayanihan at pagka-martir. Mahirap ang tumalima sa isang “kapwa” lamang natin sa kahinaan at karupukan. Marahil isang dahilan ito kung bakit isang bagay na kinatatakutan ng marami ang maglingkod bilang lider o pinuno, kahit na may kakayahan pa sila. Mataas ang inaasahan sa pinuno kung kaya’t iniiwasan ang pananagutang ito. Malakas din sa atin ang takot na magkamali at mapahiya. Hindi madali para sa atin ang tanggapin ang kahinaan, pagkakamali at kahihiyan ng mga itinuturing nating bayani at martir.

81. Sa Kristong Hari, sa Mahal na Birhen, sa mga santo’t santa, nakakatagpo tayo ng mga bayaning huwaran sa buhay. Subalit napakalakas din ng kahiligan nating ipakalayo-layo sila sa ating sarili, itampok sila sa napakatayog at makalangit na pedestal na hindi natin maabot at sapat nang haplusin natin upang tayo’y mabahiran man lamang ng kanilang kabanalan at kabayanihan. Sa aspetong ito’y malayo pa tayo sa tunay na diwa ng pagkakatawang-tao ng Anak ng Diyos; sa kanyang pakikiisa sa ating abang kalagayan. Sa madaling salita, dahil nagsimula tayo sa pagpapalagay na ang Panginoong Hesukristo ay Diyos, kaya nating tanggapin na siya’y naging tao. Ngunit kung tayo rin marahil ay nalagay sa sitwasyon ng mga sinaunang Hudyo, hindi malayong mahihirapan din tayong tulad nila na maaninag kay Hesus ang Diyos dahil sa isang abang “kapwa-tao” lamang ang tumambad sa kanilang paningin. “Hindi ba ito ang karpintero, ang anak ni Maria, kapatid nina…” (Markos 6:3)
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