we are defined ultimately by what is in our hearts

Luke 11:37-41
37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and  wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.

Reflection

Be clean.
We always wanted to be better. you see, all of us wanted to be clean in life. We know for a fact that there are many things that makes us unclean. Many of our actions had led us into sin. Jesus in our gospel today shows us that He is not concerned of the outside but what is inside us.

today, we are asked by the Lord to allow our hearts to touch other people's lives. what matters in the end is what is inside us.

 as we receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, may we have a heart ready to accept him. He alone can answer our thirst. He alone can make us whole again.


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Sometimes, laws can lead us into hardness of heart. We see law as the main ingredient to all certainty. The Gospel presents to us and reminds us that what matters most is to let our hearts become real and effective. God is not so concerned about how we dress or look. He looks rather on what is in our hearts.

Today, may we be reminded again to be more loving and compassionate to others. God wants us today to search others hearts. God wants us today to us our hearts.



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For us, it is very easy to perceive and recognize what our eyes see, what our ears hear. But God sees what is hidden from us. God sees what is in our hearts. and he is most concerned about that.



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IN all our actions, may we always have the benefit of the doubt. it is not what we see that we can get. sometimes, our senses can fail and deceive us. may we see the goodness of others rather than focusing on the weakness and failures of others.


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there is a saying that we are defined according to our actions. but i rather say, we are defined ultimately by what is in our hearts.

My Daily Reading and Reflection: Luke 11:29-32

Signs are what we always look for in life. signs are measures and gauges in our thoughts, words and deeds. what we miss oftentimes in life is the true signs that makes life work. In the old testament, the Ninevites repented just by listening to the words of Jonah. Jonah prophesied the destruction of Ninevites if they fail to repent. interestingly, the scripture tells us they repented from their old ways. in the Gospel, the queen of Sheba also came to see the wisdom of solomon. and jesus used these stories to make a clear truth to the Pharisees that he is more than Jonah and the queen of Sheba. but the Pharisees were stiffed-neck. they never believed the words of Jesus; they never believed Him as the true living sign.

In our life, we are already given the sign. from our baptism, we were marked as children of God. In confirmation, that sign was strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And in the Eucharist, we share in the living sign of God. what more do we seek? what sign do we need?

Jesus is the source of all truths. He alone can lead us to where our life tread. he alone is the ultimate desire of our hearts. he is the heartbeat of our heart. he is the song in our ears. he is the true sign that we hoped for, the sign for a better life.

Let God guide you today. Let his word overpower you. Let the Spirit move you. Let Jesus help you that you may also be a sign for others to live.

July 12, 2012 (Daily Reflection)

Our first reading from the book of the prophet Hosea gives us a picture of a God who never relent his goodness but continues to be faithful even His people are running away from Him. This kind of relationship in which God portrays wonderfully depicts a gracious God whose generosity, love and forgiveness are never dwindling. 

In our gospel from Matthew, Jesus commissions his apostles to share God’s graciousness to others by acts of charity, preaching, healing and exorcism. They are commissioned to begin the work of evangelization – “to preach the Kingdom of God.”  Jesus said, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” We have to reach for others without expecting any return or reward. “No walking stick, no sandals, no extra tunic, no sacks, gold or silver.” When we are commissioned by the Lord we have to set aside our material concerns, instead trust in God’s providence for he will send us people who will provide us our need.

July 13, 2012 (Daily Reflection)

What does it mean to evangelize? Who is called to be an evangelist? As we ponder the word of God today we are invited to reflect on the new evangelization. How can we participate in evangelization and how can we evangelize people? 

 To evangelize means to bring the good news of the Lord to the people. It is to bring people encounter the Lord who is “the way the truth and the life.”

All of us in virtue of our baptism are called to become evangelists. We are all called to support and promote the new evangelization. “Do not worry about what you speak...” With this Jesus assures us of his guiding presence among us.  Let us then be courageous to be witnesses in God’s love and become active agents of this new evangelization. Yes, there may be times when we are afraid to speak of our faith, not sure of our faith whether they are enough to inspire people. We may doubt our words, or the sacredness of our lives, yet we are invited to set aside all our doubts and fears.  It is the Lord who gives us our words to speak. It is the Holy Spirit who guides our actions. 

 Today let us renew our commitment to evangelize in words and deeds. In our families, offices, in relationships and faith communities and society, may we be faithful witnesses of our faith in Jesus. “Do not be afraid” for the Lord is with us.

Have a blessed day!

July 11, 2012

“The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Central to Jesus’ mission is the building up of the kingdom of God. It sums up his ministry, life, passion, death and resurrection. The Kingdom of God is at hand! This is not simply propaganda but an imminent truth to the world - a direct proclamation of God’s plan for the salvation of the world and humankind.

The choosing of his twelve apostles etches a universal dimension of God’s action in the world. He appoints men (or women) to be his companion in the mission. In other words, God is not alone. He invites people, worthy or unworthy, mostly simple and ordinary ones for his missionary journey. This is a wonderful gift for it is God who offers us; a God who never deceives and therefore worthy of our faith. May our lives become beacons of faith, hope and love in building God’s kingdom here on earth.

July 11, 2012 - daily reflection

“The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Central to Jesus’ mission is the building up of the kingdom of God. It sums up his ministry, life, passion, death and resurrection. The Kingdom of God is at hand! This is not simply propaganda but an imminent truth to the world - a direct proclamation of God’s plan for the salvation of the world and humankind.

The choosing of his twelve apostles etches a universal dimension of God’s action in the world. He appoints men (or women) to be his companion in the mission. In other words, God is not alone. He invites people, worthy or unworthy, mostly simple and ordinary ones for his missionary journey. This is a wonderful gift for it is God who offers us; a God who never deceives and therefore worthy of our faith. May our lives become beacons of faith, hope and love in building God’s kingdom here on earth.

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
As baptized Christians, we share the three-fold mission of Christ as prophet, priest and king. this reminds us of our responsibility as co-prophets, co-priests, and co-kings of the Lord. These are Christ's special gifts to us his children not to be kept but to share with others "to bear much fruit."

Unfortunately, many of us spared much of time in our personal whims, dreams and ambitions disregarding our main purpose in life. If there is concern, it is too shallow and lacking in commitment and love.

Today, the world needs people who are willing to sacrifice for the greater glory of God, willing to labor for the awaiting great harvest. Just like Jesus, we can be instruments of healing, hope, service, peace and love to others.