tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32914468636998122672024-03-20T18:48:17.401-07:00THE WORD FOR THE WORLDFr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.comBlogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-12278603316415845132023-01-01T06:22:00.000-08:002023-01-01T06:22:15.515-08:00MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD<p> <img src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/64f1695a-b6e8-4bd9-9b7b-9a1282e972c8" /></p><p>MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD</p><p>Did you know?</p><p>1. Today, the very first day of the New Year, we honor Mary as the THEOTOKOS, the Mother of God which is the greatest of all the Marian feasts.</p><p>2. Her motherhood defines her whole being: she is the mother of Jesus, the mother of the New Humanity, the mother of the Church and the mother of us all.</p><p>3. The motherhood of Mary to Jesus which started with the Annunciation reached its peak when she stood beneath the cross as she was called “woman” by Jesus in fulfilment of the Old Testament promise of the “woman” in Genesis 3:15. From that time on, Mary became the New Eve.</p><p>4. Mary who is the most distinguished member of the Church, is personified as the Icon of the Church, hence we also call her the "Mother of the Church". Consequently all those born in the Church by the virtue of baptism is also born of Mary, hence we also call her our own Mother.</p><p>5. Because Mary personifies the Virgin-Church (who is the "bride" of Christ), Mary remains a virgin and because the Church gives spiritual birth to all the children of God, Mary is also at the same time a Mother. This is the reason why we call her the Virgin Mother!</p><p>6. “Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything." (the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe)</p><p>7. Let us entrust this New Year 2023 and ourselves unto Mary, the Mother of God.</p>Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-49947606691679422522022-11-27T07:04:00.002-08:002022-11-27T07:08:04.695-08:00GET READY (First Sunday of Advent - A)<p><img src="blob:https://www.blogger.com/2ce31209-20af-43c2-b463-f6b23800f07c" /></p><p>Entering into Advent, today is almost a “new year” in the liturgical calendar of the Church. The three readings speak about “time”. The prophet Isaiah in the First Reading prophesied about a time of peace when swords will become ploughshares, spears into pruning hooks and nation will not raise sword against nation. In the second reading St. Paul reminds us that this is the time to choose life rather than death, light rather than darkness in the way we live our lives. </p><p>The gospel this Sunday reminds us about the coming of the Son of Man! Jesus points to the time of Noah when people lived their lives without knowing the impending deluge. Except for the family of Noah in the ark, they all perished. Just like the deluge, the Lord will also come at unexpected time so He urges us to be awake at all time. Just like a thief can break into a house anytime, we have to be on guard!</p><p>From the moment we were born we entered into time and we are given a timeline to spend for the rest of our lives; some short, some longer depending on the mission entrusted to us. We say time is gold because it is up to us to turn time into something precious. Therefore time is of great value that we do not want to waste away. Given as a gift, time is an opportunity not just to develop ourselves into the being that God envisages us to be but to optimize our giftedness as well. As a gift, we have the corresponding responsibility to re-create it through our concrete acts of selfless giving. Since Christ entered into time He transforms history into a pilgrimage and continuous to incarnate Himself in the world He had created. During His lifetime, He re-created creation by </p><p>un-selfing Himself hence transforming the world into a sacred space for humanity to live in. “In the same way that Christ gives incarnate expression to divine self-surrender, so too must participation in Christ result in concrete acts of selfless giving” (Hans Urs von Balthasar). </p><p>In appreciation for the time that is entrusted to us, the best way to spend it is to give away ourself as a gift to others just like Christ who poured out totally Himself as a gift to us. </p><p>To be awake is to break away from self-enclosure into self-surrender as expressed by the Church in her mission to outpour herself out for the world. Advent brings us into that readiness to face God when we share ourselves totally to others without reserve. When that happens then we are ready to meet the Immanuel who continues to indwell in us in the here and now of our existence. </p><p>#frvladsundayhomilies</p>Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-89685656497125903142020-04-07T18:08:00.002-07:002020-04-07T18:08:41.728-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="s2">Today we take a special look at Judas Iscariot. Who was Judas? Why did he sell Jesus? What do we learn from him?</span></div>
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<span class="s2">The gospel of Holy Monday gave us different portraits of Judas and Mary (the one who anointed Jesus’ feet). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Six days before the Passover, Jesus was in Bethany having dinner with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mary expressed her super generosity by pouring in a pure nard (a very expensive perfume) unto the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair. When Judas saw this, he said “Why is this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>John the one writing the story commented that Judas said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steel the contributions. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Judas was the treasurer and was a thief!</span></div>
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<span class="s2">In the gospel of Holy Tuesday during the Last Supper we see again the difference portraits of Judas and Peter. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Amongst the twelve apostles, the two of them betrayed Jesus: Judas sold Jesus for thirty silver coins, Peter denied Jesus three times. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At the end, Judas despaired and hanged himself while Peter repented and was forgiven by Jesus. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Judas had nowhere to go in his greed, on the other hand Peter (according to tradition) went to Mary and asked for help while he was in his grief.</span></div>
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<span class="s2">Why did Jesus choose Judas as one of the Apostles</span></div>
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<span class="s2">if he foreknew that Judas would betrayed him? It’s because Jesus believes in the inherent goodness of each person. He doesn’t judge us because of the bad things in our resumes. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He even chose Judas to be the treasurer and entrusted him the money of the band. Jesus simply believes that in spite of our “bad records” we can still change for the better.</span></div>
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<span class="s2">Why did Judas sell Jesus? Because Judas was a thief, little by little he used to rob the common purse of the Apostles. Being used of doing it for the past three years that they were together, that evil scheme had already transformed him into a hungry monster. </span></div>
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<span class="s2">It is not important to ask whether Judas was saved or not but rather to learn the lesson from what he did. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We are all like Judas. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We have inherent goodness in us; we have been entrusted by God with so many gifts, resources and talents. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We always have the tendency to feed in the little monsters in our lives like the different addictions that entice us. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If we continue feeding these little monsters, we will crave for more until we are not able to control our cravings and one day those monsters will eat us up (this is the lesson we learn from “A Little Shop of Horrors”).</span></div>
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<span class="s2">Even if we have done the worst thing, we don’t have to despair. We continue to believe that God loves us in spite of our sinfulness. We hope against hope that we can still change for the better. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes we are sinners like Judas but we are loved sinners.</span></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-20880012035191206932016-11-12T00:50:00.001-08:002016-11-12T00:50:16.119-08:00PERSEVERANCE THROUGH THE END<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - C</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> We have now come towards the end of the journey in the Ordinary Time of the liturgical calendar of the Church. Next Sunday being the last is the Solemnity of Christ the King. Like any other journey, it has come to an end to give way to a new season which is Advent. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Life is cyclic!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Our gospel this Sunday belongs to a genre in biblical literature which what we call apocalyptic literature. It is a unique body of work which describes in symbols the things to come at the end of time. Because they are symbolic, they should not be </span><span style="font-size: large;">interpreted in the literal sense. One thing is sure though, that is, the world will come to an end like any other created realities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The temple in Jerusalem was considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world </span><span style="font-size: large;">during the time of Jesus. It was </span><span style="font-size: large;">predicted by Jesus that one day it would be put into complete ruins. When he was asked the time of of its occurrence, Jesus did not say 'when' but rather he pointed out the signs that would accompany its fulfilment: false prophets, wars, insurrections, earthquakes, famines, plagues and other cosmic happenings. There would be very harsh persecutions! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Because the Church brings us through a journey, it makes us realise that the end is inevitable. The signs mentioned are those that would accompany the end. They are more important than knowing the exact time of the end. They are not only pointing to the coming of the end of time but also act as warnings that the end is already at hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> If the signs like wars, earthquakes, super typhoons and persecutions are already here with us therefore the end of time is also around the corner. It means that our life and all other realities that we experience are telling us an important lesson: impermanence! Nothing will last! Everything hangs on in a borrowed time! The most important thing is not yesterday nor tomorrow but today that's why we call it present. It is a precious gift that is lent to us by God! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> To live life to the fullest</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">by doing good to others is the best way to </span><span style="font-size: large;">persevere despite the hard times ahead of us. To entrust ourselves to God, knowing that nothing will harm us despite the overwhelming darkness and pains that continue to confront us, is itself the gift of faith! To know that God is in charge of our life is itself a sweet victory!</span></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-10110735954153385252016-05-28T08:24:00.000-07:002016-05-28T08:32:19.677-07:00HOMILIES FOR CORPUS CHRISTI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">FOR HOMILIES ON CORPUS CHRISTI, PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING:</span><br />
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-54805410586792831352016-04-02T17:14:00.000-07:002016-04-02T17:14:12.412-07:00BOUNDLESS GOD!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;">2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;"> In a world that refuses to accept reality until it is verified by the senses and empirical science, transcendence becomes passé, spirituality is useless and religion is empty. Doubting Thomas lives on until this time with his legacy of skepticism which refuses belief until proven by physical experience.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;"> Whether we accept it or not, we are born natural skeptics! We do not want to appear naïve or credulous to other people and to simply believe in hearsays, unfounded stories, cheap gossips and unverified reports. In a way natural skepticism is healthy because it protects us from falling into the pit of the gullible but it has its own limitations. All of us are standing between the real world and the boundless mystery that beckons to be explored but our human limitations bow in humility to understand and capture the unknown. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;"> Thomas as an Apostle and representing those men and women in the later generations demanded a proof: “<i>Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and place my finger in his side, I will not believe.”</i> When Christ appeared and agreed to Thomas’ condition, Thomas did not even dare to do the physical examinations, he said “<i>My Lord and my God</i>.” It was an expression of affirming both the humanity (my Lord) and the divinity (my God) of Jesus Christ. Now henceforth he would be representing all those peoples in later generations who without experiencing Jesus in the flesh will profess such profound faith. “<i>Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe</i>.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;"> The belief in the Resurrection was not founded in the empty tomb but rather on the testimony of those who encountered the Risen Christ through the many resurrection stories which have been handed down through generations until they reached us and shaped our belief. The story of Thomas is the story of us all. We have moments of disbelief when we demand for proofs of the presence of God most especially in times of darkness and fear. Often times there are no proofs given other than the invitation for a leap of faith to embrace God in the realm of the unknown. We can never capture the sense of the mysticism and mystery of God unless we let go and simply believe like Thomas did!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;"> <b> </b></span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;"><b>Divine Mercy Sunday</b></span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;"><b> </b></span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 22pt;"><b> </b>The celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday is not just about a devotion entrusted to St. Faustina and was made a universal feast of Pope John Paul II. Rather it brings us back to that mystical event on Calvary. When Jesus died and his breast was pierced with a lance, the heart of God was opened inviting all humanity to enter into the immensity of God's mercy. The Church was born from the heart of Jesus beneath Calvary! Mary and John representing the Church which was now the New Humanity, received the two great sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist symbolized by the water and blood that flowed from the heart of Jesus. But only those who profess their belief, like Thomas, can enter into the heart of God and bask in the unfathomable mercy of God.</span></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-11665410500924542772016-03-19T22:04:00.002-07:002016-03-19T22:04:31.507-07:00PALM (PASSION) SUNDAY 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<br />
PALM SUNDAY 2016<br />
<br />
Please choose any of the following refections:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://frvlad.blogspot.com/2011/04/welcome-jesus-into-our-own-jerusalem.html" target="_blank">http://frvlad.blogspot.com/2011/04/welcome-jesus-into-our-own-jerusalem.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://frvlad.blogspot.com/2012/03/abandonment.html" target="_blank">http://frvlad.blogspot.com/2012/03/abandonment.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://frvlad.blogspot.com/2014/04/welcome-jesus-to-our-own-jerusalem.html" target="_blank">http://frvlad.blogspot.com/2014/04/welcome-jesus-to-our-own-jerusalem.html</a><br />
<br /></div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-46062135057473344852016-01-09T01:26:00.002-08:002016-01-09T01:32:00.923-08:00GOD'S CHILD! GOD'S BELOVED!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">SOLEMNITY OF THE LORD’S BAPTISM</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Luke 3:15-16.21-22</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> The
Lord’s baptism is revelatory in nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It revealed who Jesus was through the manifestation of the Father and
the Holy Spirit which we call “Trinitarian theophany”. It happened before Jesus
embarked on his public ministry. The same manifestation would occur again
towards the end of the public ministry of Jesus in the Transfiguration.
Between these two theophanies was Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Kingdom through his words and works.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> During
his baptism before his public ministry, Jesus was affirmed by the Father of his
identity: “<i>You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased</i>.” As
we enter into the simplicity of this season, we are also reminded of the
profound reality of our true identity given to us when we were baptized: an adopted child of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During our baptism the Father was saying to
us personally “<i>You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.” </i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It was important to Jesus to accept his
identity which would be the reservoir of his power during his public
ministry. During his intimate moments with his Father in prayer, Jesus
would go back again and again to that special moment when he heard his Father’s
voice. In fact he needed to hear the same voice again during the
Transfiguration before he could carry on the most painful days of his earthly
life.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">During this ordinary season, like Jesus
we carry in our hearts the Father’s voice so that whatever happens to us this
year, we believe that the Father will always be there for us the way he was
with Jesus all the time. It means that we are ready to accept the
different theophanies of God in our life. We welcome him as he manifests
himself to us in life or in death, in pain or in joy, in the sunshine or in the
rain, in light or in darkness, in good times and in bad. These are the
many facets of life which reveal to us the many faces of God. We just
have to be ready to accept his creative surprises in our life.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our baptism is both a gift and a responsibility.
As a gift, we have become adopted children of God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We call him our Father and we are heirs of the Kingdom! As a
responsibility, we witness a Christian life, a life which is patterned after Jesus, his Son. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As a child of God, I am God’s
beloved!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span>t is my greatest identity!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-86912315753112594142016-01-02T18:25:00.000-08:002016-01-02T18:25:56.586-08:00EPIPHANY: GOD AS A GIFT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-TfIbcOkybiNNh1tvMRw1TUN680rnEvQedd9hyphenhyphenzFBpAxZT4oIqOBeJHcYa-gm__P0_k58EWCY2RQYoMOQHIHrrgN2jpal_rMRMmswWPuSS5ly9DF6Dii8_RqsY12G5xtZlK-Av79zFg/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-TfIbcOkybiNNh1tvMRw1TUN680rnEvQedd9hyphenhyphenzFBpAxZT4oIqOBeJHcYa-gm__P0_k58EWCY2RQYoMOQHIHrrgN2jpal_rMRMmswWPuSS5ly9DF6Dii8_RqsY12G5xtZlK-Av79zFg/s640/images.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Epiphany is the unfolding of God’s
presence; it is the manifestation or the unveiling of the face of God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">God first made manifest his presence
through creation which we call the vestiges or the imprints of the
Trinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was God’s first epiphany! It was the outpouring of God's charity!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When Jesus was born, God made manifest
not just his imprints but his very face when he showed himself again to save creation by becoming a
creature himself. Through this epiphany, Jesus showed that his was the face
of mercy! </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 32px;">This time it was the outpouring of God’s mercy!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">God offered Himself as a gift. How
did people respond to such a magnificent gift? The Israelites sneered and
rejected the gift; they would not even give him a room! Like the Israelites,
Herod did not just reject the gift but he did all he could to destroy it. The
magi who represented the Gentiles left their homes in search of “something
greater than themselves”. The star guided them in their journey.
(Those who honestly search for the meaning of life will always be guided by the
disguised presence of God be it through the persons they meet on the way or
through simple objects or even through insignificant events. Some of the
stars in our lives fade away in oblivion, we may even forget their names but
they continuously shine brightly in our hearts.) The magi offered the
baby their gifts; they searched for Jesus not to ask but to give gifts to him!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The next persons who saw first the face
of God were the shepherds because they were simple and pure of heart.
Like the magi, they were the first ones to proclaim the Word made flesh.
In the simplicity of their wisdom, they became the first prophets of the
Incarnation. Those who encounter God can not but become “evangelizers of
the Word” not only by preaching but in the witnessing of their ordinary
lives. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But the very first receivers of God’s
gift were Mary and Joseph; they were given the singular gift of gazing for the very
first time the face of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day, it
would break Mary’s heart to see that face again covered with blood.
Mary would have to give that gift to others as a supreme offering for to
withhold the gift is to perish. She teaches us that the supreme joy of
receiving will lead to the excruciating pain in giving. That is the true
essence of a gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">God’s greatest gift is himself! He gives it through
many creative and unexpected ways, often in great surprises!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-19548555193601777412016-01-01T06:59:00.000-08:002018-01-01T00:32:16.100-08:00MARY: MOTHER OF GOD, MOTHER OF MERCY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fOmccgq9D4242in3s-Hy9aamL1eW8Sfw-9Dm0PmIFsWavoGGzjAyea57kKFDz8cJa7XGN0_T7sm2Wj_SPjz0hExM8DduRngreojkywHmbGvttZWUQKOw03EDSJKHvZAIuc91B9PwDpE/s1600/Mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fOmccgq9D4242in3s-Hy9aamL1eW8Sfw-9Dm0PmIFsWavoGGzjAyea57kKFDz8cJa7XGN0_T7sm2Wj_SPjz0hExM8DduRngreojkywHmbGvttZWUQKOw03EDSJKHvZAIuc91B9PwDpE/s640/Mary.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Today, the very first day of the New
Year, we honor<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary as the <b>Theotokos</b>,
the Mother of God! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;"> Her motherhood defines her whole
being: she is the mother of Jesus, mother of the New Humanity, mother of the
Church and mother of us all. Vatican II affirms the place of Mary in the
history of salvation: "truly the mother of God and mother of the redeemer,
in subordination to Christ along with him, by the grace of almighty God she
served the mystery of redemption" (<i>Lumen Gentium</i> #56).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;">The motherhood of Mary to Jesus which
started with the Annunciation reached its peak when she stood beneath the cross
(Jn 19:25-26). In his dying moment, she was called "woman" by
Jesus which was the fulfillment of Gen. 3:15 ("I will put enmity between
you and the woman…") and in reference to the woman during the wedding at
Cana: "Woman what concern is that to you and to me?" (Jn.
2:4). The same woman now clothed with the sun will be mentioned in
the later part of the book of Revelation (Rev. 12). After addressing her
"woman", Jesus now turned to John and entrusted his mother to him:
“Behold your mother”. From that time on, Mary became the New Eve who is
mother of the new humanity. This will become her new role as the Vatican
II puts it: "By her maternal charity Mary cares for the brethren of her
Son who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until
they are led to their happy fatherland' (<i>Lumen Gentium</i> #61). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Mary who is the most distinguished
member of the Church, is personified as <b>the icon of the Church</b>, hence we
also call her the "<b>Mother of the Church</b>".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consequently all those born in the Church by
the virtue of baptism is also born of Mary, hence we also call her our own
mother. Because Mary personifies the virgin-Church (who is the
"bride" of Christ), Mary remains a virgin and because the Church
gives spiritual birth to all the children of God, Mary is also a mother.
This is the reason why we call her the Virgin Mother!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;"> It is because of the Church and
Mary that we participate in the divine sonship of Jesus hence we have all
become adopted children of God: "Then God sent his Son born of a woman
that we should become adopted sons" (Gal. 4:4). The proof that we
are sons is the fact that God sent into our hearts the spirit of his Son which
cries out 'Abba Father'! (Gal. 4:6).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18.0pt;"> Here are the very words of Our Lady
of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego during the earliest Marian apparition: <b><i>"Hear
me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or
grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any
other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under
my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What
else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 18pt; text-indent: 36pt;"> Let us
entrust ourselves unto Mary, the Mother of Mercy!</span></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-46979959981255711812015-12-25T21:09:00.002-08:002015-12-25T21:50:51.028-08:00GOD'S DREAM FAMILY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_FFC-UJlsUl3k802hNJshrMCVtrUpYnTy4gysj-u7rMPZURUDurrab-9ggq0vYBZi_c_DCTAH7KI2jIz0fshknpz14wteC1ep7WsI-kaBnJwkYV6a7BLXdZZ2p58xxCX8jUiaKkk57k/s1600/mary-film-the-holy-family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_FFC-UJlsUl3k802hNJshrMCVtrUpYnTy4gysj-u7rMPZURUDurrab-9ggq0vYBZi_c_DCTAH7KI2jIz0fshknpz14wteC1ep7WsI-kaBnJwkYV6a7BLXdZZ2p58xxCX8jUiaKkk57k/s640/mary-film-the-holy-family.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">HOLY FAMILY</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Luke 2:41-52</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> The
Trinity is the primordial family in perfect love. From the outpouring
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> God's </span>charity the first
human family of Adam and Eve was born. It was meant to mirror the Divine
communion and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet far from being
perfect, human frailty, infidelity, greed and anger destroyed the once happy
human family. But God did not give up and promised to re-create a
new community that would mirror the family of the Trinity once again. God
conceived this “dream family” for a long time through a people he had chosen to
be his own. Jesus gave birth to the Church out of his pain and suffering
on the cross. The Church became the God’s new family. God continues
to give birth to his children on earth in the context of the Christian family
which is called the “domestic church”. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> The family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus is the ideal
family; they are called the Holy Family not just because they were good
people but because Jesus was the centre of their lives. Like any other
ordinary family, they also experienced the hardships, anxieties, rejection,
suffering, tragedies and other problems that we experience within our
families. Their lives were not at all roses in bed; humans as they
were, most of the times they did not even understand why strange things were
happening to them. They were as ordinary as we are but because of the
presence of Jesus in their midst, they had a different way of looking at
things.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Under normal circumstances, each one of us was born in
a family hence belonging to a household. It is through our family that
we experience God's love by loving and being loved by our parents, brothers, sisters and kins. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Because of our human weaknesses, our families are far
from the ideal. Just like the first family of Adam and Eve, our
families have our own share of frailties that make us vulnerable to faults and failures. Some of us come from broken homes, others are victims
of misfortunes that continue to beset our families; we also have skeletons in
the closets and dark secrets of our parents and ancestors. But in
the midst of all these grim realities is the hope that the grace of God will triumph. Our faith makes the difference, knowing that life is beautiful
because of the silent presence of Jesus in our lives. He is the beacon
light of our families when tragedies strike us and everything is dark…</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> It is through the Church that we manifest the reality
of the family of the Trinity in our world today. When we come together as
a Church to celebrate the Eucharist, we gather in the altar of the flesh and
blood of Jesus just as we gather as a family to partake our meal in our
homes. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> One day we will all be gathered as one Family of God
when we see each other together back in the womb of God. This is the Father's dream!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-88642663182536898052015-12-24T02:38:00.000-08:002015-12-25T20:31:37.783-08:00CHRISTMAS: BIRTHING OF GOD AND MAN!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FmrOmqNdloYkjmZThnImuKG9CPgLuxSFH4TM1cLPRtAbcQwdCNaS2R1va3Fx8278C8HQtfNacPhbdR37YOqjj5BKzCHIDI1E3qp3yoTmSPQ9dsr0R5KhwKuwY9os6k1ee3VJkPSFMSs/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FmrOmqNdloYkjmZThnImuKG9CPgLuxSFH4TM1cLPRtAbcQwdCNaS2R1va3Fx8278C8HQtfNacPhbdR37YOqjj5BKzCHIDI1E3qp3yoTmSPQ9dsr0R5KhwKuwY9os6k1ee3VJkPSFMSs/s640/image1.jpeg" width="492" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 24pt;">CHRISTMAS 2015</span></div>
<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 24pt;">Today Jesus was born as a man; </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 24pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">today we are born as a child of God!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 24pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">.... we adore at his birth in the Eucharistic crib; </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 24pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">.... we rejoice at
his birth in the heart of humanity; </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 24pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">.... we celebrate his birth in the soul of
the cosmos. </span></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 24pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 24pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For the full homily:</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://frvlad.blogspot.ae/search?q=christmas" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">http://frvlad.blogspot.ae/search?q=christmas</span></a></div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-76121368836125906502015-12-18T05:01:00.002-08:002015-12-18T05:01:57.007-08:00GOD'S VISITATION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3tC2hyOAr7oR3CB3jkCI8Xozeg2FpyZx1gXDOmcHIKOSONQKV2yyLi4QYWapeRILYJvyonZLWJ_XfknIGIZBXXQcyHYnMJhKfS_bINPxllNXKR-3tE29j6zKOar8B9gWCPds2A_wOno/s1600/the-nativity-story-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3tC2hyOAr7oR3CB3jkCI8Xozeg2FpyZx1gXDOmcHIKOSONQKV2yyLi4QYWapeRILYJvyonZLWJ_XfknIGIZBXXQcyHYnMJhKfS_bINPxllNXKR-3tE29j6zKOar8B9gWCPds2A_wOno/s640/the-nativity-story-03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24pt;">FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT - C</span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24pt;">Luke 1:39-45</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Mary,
upon receiving the message from the angel Gabriel that her cousin Elizabeth was
conceiving, did not waste her time and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>went as quickly as she could to lend her a
hand. She being the <b>first evangelized</b> became the f<b>irst evangelizer</b>. She
did not just bask in the glory that was announced unto her by the angel but
went out of her way to translate the message into concrete service. This
is the greatness of Mary! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary and Elizabeth are iconic representations
of the New Testament and the Old Testament: Mary, being
young and fertile represented the New Testament while Elizabeth was old and
barren represented the Old Testament. Both representing the People of God,
they were agents of the Incarnation. The Visitation was the coming
together of the two eras in human history represented by the two women
soon to be mothers. It was also the meeting for the very first time of
the two men who would soon change the course of history: John the Baptist and
Jesus!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The pregnancies of Mary and Elizabeth
were out of this world: a very young lady of fourteen conceiving without a
human father and a woman in her seventies who used to be barren. Both of
them perplexed and confused needed each other to understand the very unusual
events that were happening to them. Mary needed the wisdom of an older mother and Elizabeth needed the
physical help of someone younger than her. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the Old Testament, the two tablets of
the Ten Commandments were kept in a wooden box called the <b>Ark of the Covenant
</b>which represented the physical presence of God among the Isrealites. When
the Ark of the Covenant was being carried to Jerusalem, David danced in front
of the presence of God (2 Samuel 6). In the New Testament, the Word
who became flesh was kept in the <b>New Ark of the Covenant</b> which was the womb of
Mary. John the Baptist like David leapt for joy in the presence of
God being carried by Mary. John the Baptist acknowledged the new presence
of God among his people in the person of Jesus.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Visitation was not just an
historical event between Mary and Elizabeth or Jesus and John the Baptist, it
is the continuous manifestation of God amongst us in the present time. We
are the new agents of the Incarnation. God sends us people to extend us a helping hand
in our darkest moments. God may also send us to help other people just like
Mary to Elizabeth. Sometimes we are not aware when God uses us to
touch other people; at other times, God also uses other people to touch us,
too. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">During human tragedies, many accidental heroes are born without them wanting
or knowing it. They are the people who go out of their way to lend a
helping hand to those who are in need. Like Mary, we are
also privileged to be “arks of the covenant” in our own little ways when we act
as agents of the Incarnation through our service to to the poorest of the poor. Through us,
God’s presence shines once more in the world; like David and John the Baptist, in the coming of Jesus ,creation dances with joy…..</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-19266389069839482862015-12-12T01:33:00.001-08:002015-12-12T01:33:20.652-08:00ADVENT: ENTERING THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE GUTTER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsAKKiYjBd06oSsHUM0aEdqDl_YC1VVfYm9tqOxNRtSmyVnM4UccP5kafqnRbASmK4mehNj-IYCzH_8qHH1SQcs7fpQCHgNYfoygAhE4zYPCT5dHkDPiHApxkFixLxig-If4ZMwM4gtY/s1600/003-john-baptist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsAKKiYjBd06oSsHUM0aEdqDl_YC1VVfYm9tqOxNRtSmyVnM4UccP5kafqnRbASmK4mehNj-IYCzH_8qHH1SQcs7fpQCHgNYfoygAhE4zYPCT5dHkDPiHApxkFixLxig-If4ZMwM4gtY/s640/003-john-baptist.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – C</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Luke 3:10-18</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Today
is GAUDETE SUNDAY, a day of rejoicing!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are many creative ways to spend
the time while waiting for a person or an event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can be romantic and enjoy daydreaming
while anticipating the arrival of a special someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the interior aspect that caters to the
emotions and feelings of the person in waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can also be busy in external preparations like physical arrangements
and decorations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the exterior
aspect that occupies our attention most of the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Advent is a different waiting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is sacramental!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is more than a cosmic time when we
commemorate a past even like birthdays or anniversaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is rather a liturgical season that opens a
holy door that beckons us to enter into <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kairos</i>,
a sacred time of grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After entering
this door, like the people asking John the Baptist in the gospel this Sunday, we also ask WHAT SHALL WE
DO? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First of all, the call to holiness is
universal as Vatican II teaches us; it permeates the different strata of our society. Discipleship is the call to
holiness within the secular or religious lives that we have chosen as long as we follow the
gospel value of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Secondly, the voice of John the Baptist
is not only heard during Advent although it becomes more relevant during this
season when we stop in our life’s journey like a spiritual retreat in order to
evaluate our value system before we step further on. Because conversion is a
continuous call, like a journey, it will always be an on-going process of
transcending the old self towards a better way of living. It is like a
pulsating energy that draws us closer to perfection. If this is
true, then conversion is not just about feeling good, not even being
“spiritually high” but something that we work on even after having done
something good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Holiness is not just limited in the confines
of the church, it permeates through the ordinariness of our secular lives
beyond piety. It is the “holiness of the gutter” hardly found in the
forgotten peripheries of life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tend
to forget it because it is too ordinary!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What shall we do while waiting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We do things right and just in all the strata of our being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goodness is diffusive because it is a vestige
of the pulsating Ultimate Good that seeks expression in the holiness of the
ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this, we can all be
saints in the eyes of God only if we are able to live the way God wants us to
be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Later on Jesus would be praising John
Baptist by saying “<i>No man born of a woman is greater than John the Baptist</i>…”
and yet the greatness of John the Baptist did not get into his
head. He knew his place and would not grab the opportunity of
self-canonization: “<i>I am not worthy to untie his sandals</i>…”
John the Baptist is the perfect example of Christian humility.
He acknowledges his prophetic mission but he puts Jesus in the centre of
things. He gives a lesson most especially to people who are given more
opportunities in life: the higher we go up in the ladder, the smaller we become
for those who are below us. We may call this as <b>“diminutive
spirituality.”</b> We do not become bigger than others just because we
have more in life. On the other hand we do not falsely accuse
ourselves of being close to nothing simply because we are at the base of the
ladder. The self should never be the standard to measure up
things. Jesus should be the centre which is the ultimate criterion
by which someone or something is judged or recognized. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> If we are able to
do things right and just, we can truly rejoice because we are emerging ourselves into the
resemblance of Christ.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-60322793103313673742015-12-08T23:24:00.002-08:002015-12-08T23:30:14.179-08:00POPE FRANCIS' HOMILY FOR THE INAUGURATION OF THE JUBILEE OF MERCY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="border: 0px; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="content: ' '; display: block; margin-bottom: 1.5em;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;">Inauguration of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy</span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Brothers and Sisters,</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In a few moments I will have the joy of opening the Holy Door of Mercy. We carry out this act, so simple yet so highly symbolic, in the light of the word of God which we have just heard. That word highlights the <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">primacy of grace</span>. Again and again these readings make us think of the words by which the angel Gabriel told an astonished young girl of the mystery which was about to enfold her: “Hail, full of grace” (Lk 1:28).</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Virgin Mary was called to rejoice above all because of what the Lord accomplished in her. God’s grace enfolded her and made her worthy of becoming the Mother of Christ. When Gabriel entered her home, even the most profound and impenetrable of mysteries became for her a cause for joy, faith and abandonment to the message revealed to her. <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The fullness of grace can transform the human heart</span> and enable it to do something so great as to change the course of human history.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The feast of the Immaculate Conception expresses the grandeur of God’s love. Not only does he forgive sin, but in Mary he even averts the original sin present in every man and woman who comes into this world. This is <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the love of God which precedes, anticipates and saves</span>. The beginning of the history of sin in the Garden of Eden yields to a plan of saving love. The words of Genesis reflect our own daily experience: we are constantly tempted to disobedience, a disobedience expressed in wanting to go about our lives without regard for God’s will. This is the enmity which keeps striking at people’s lives, setting them in opposition to God’s plan. Yet the history of sin can only be understood in the light of God’s love and forgiveness. Were sin the only thing that mattered, we would be the most desperate of creatures. But the promised triumph of Christ’s love enfolds everything in the Father’s mercy. The word of God which we have just heard leaves no doubt about this. The Immaculate Virgin stands before us as a privileged witness of this promise and its fulfilment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace. To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them. This will be a year in which we <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">grow ever more convinced of God’s mercy</span>. How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy (cf. Saint Augustine, <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">De Praedestinatione Sanctorum</span>, 12, 24)! But that is the truth. We have to put mercy before judgment, and in any event God’s judgement will always be in the light of his mercy. In passing through the Holy Door, then, may we feel that <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">we ourselves are part of this mystery of love</span>. Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved. Instead, let us experience <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the joy of encountering that grace which transforms all things</span>.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, as we pass through the Holy Door, we also want to remember another door, which fifty years ago the Fathers of the <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Second Vatican Council</span> opened to the world. This anniversary cannot be remembered only for the legacy of the Council’s documents, which testify to a great advance in faith. Before all else, the Council was an encounter. A genuine <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">encounter between the Church and the men and women of our time</span>. An encounter marked by the power of the Spirit, who impelled the Church to emerge from the shoals which for years had kept her self-enclosed so as to set out once again, with enthusiasm, on her missionary journey. It was the resumption of a journey of encountering people where they live: in their cities and homes, in their workplaces. Wherever there are people, the Church is called to reach out to them and to bring the joy of the Gospel. After these decades, we again take up this missionary drive with the same power and enthusiasm. The Jubilee challenges us to this openness, and demands that we not neglect <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the spirit which emerged from Vatican II, the spirit of the Samaritan</span>, as Blessed Paul VI expressed it at the conclusion of the Council. May our passing through the Holy Door today commit us to making our own the mercy of the Good Samaritan.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">POPE FRANCIS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rome</span></div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-58628110167496647782015-12-05T03:57:00.002-08:002015-12-05T04:34:36.113-08:00BE THE VOICE OF ADVENT!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61CMxor124tImKTiWr1q4AhLspEh-Ps6vhXAG6n24a48bHOmzH_nApk3fCqpx01EtSdWiP_j0pTkD83N1TgrwnD4xIglZMXE8Bdl6cHesIon5tQM_kHWR7f392IMR_rUkzxh6-y2zXHI/s1600/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61CMxor124tImKTiWr1q4AhLspEh-Ps6vhXAG6n24a48bHOmzH_nApk3fCqpx01EtSdWiP_j0pTkD83N1TgrwnD4xIglZMXE8Bdl6cHesIon5tQM_kHWR7f392IMR_rUkzxh6-y2zXHI/s640/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - C</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Luke 3:1-6</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> John
the Baptist has always been the “Voice of Advent”. The
Church once again calls our attention to listen to his words and embrace his
message with expectant joy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Prepare
the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Every
valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
winding roads shall be made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of
God.” </span></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before, during and after the world had
heard the voice of John the Baptist, the messianic longing remains not just
among the Jews but in the very heart of humanity. There is an emergence
of an incomprehensible mystery which draws the desire of every man and woman
into an unspeakable realm beyond himself/herself. It is because the Absolute One which used to
be a transcendent reality far beyond our reach has become immanent in an almost
scandalizing manner of the Incarnation.
In short, God finally revealed his face to us in the person of Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yet this mind-blowing revelation in Jesus entails a radical response on
our part if we want to truly encounter God. If God experienced
eternal kenosis in becoming man in order to give us fullness of life, we are
also challenged to break away from our imposed self-enclosure in order to
welcome new life. True conversion is turning away from false existence to
true way of living, from selfishness to selflessness, from emptiness to
fullness, from separateness to communion. We all have the tendency
to draw the world to ourselves and to make the world revolve around our selfishness
for the sake of egoism. But only those who are willing to break
away from the constricted slavery of selfishness are able to encounter Christ
in his many creative comings. The message of St. John the Baptist
poses a real challenge to take it into our hearts and make it our own. If
we take to heart seriously his message, it demands not just a dying to one’s
self but by becoming prophets ourselves like him in our present generation. But we don’t need to shout like him because we
shall be preaching the same message, sometimes in silence, through our
lifestyle. Then we join the other
prophets in breaking away from a particular addiction that continuous to
enslave us or by getting away from sinful circumstances that stifle
us. When we are able to do it, we clothe ourselves and the world with
purple during this time of waiting. Purple is not merely a liturgical
color in our churches, it is something we put on to symbolize a deeper reality
that is waiting to emerge.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
Beneath the repentant purple of Advent is the white Christmas awaiting to
be born only if we endure the pain of birthing. The
voice of John the Baptist becomes our voice in shattering our false identity as
we share our birthing together in the eternal generation the Son, making us
adopted children of the Father. What we are awaiting for is not just the
celebration of Christ’s birth but also our emergence as children of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Our life is the medium and</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> the message of Christian hope! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-35071506476416165582015-11-27T20:49:00.002-08:002015-11-27T20:49:52.949-08:00GOD IS COMING!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlC0KUi7wtEWqZC3hrvo0ABe0QDWpHwfZsEdafGXDtgePE2ToTMmkrYfRaF1cmvAUSRwlwGKAvO7ggz3Szm_WBumFwi4cJsbCvOQTnk1ByIa2yOKkAEPZHZlpJv2_ezS5NWhFPRI-s26Y/s1600/VHP_2014-08-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlC0KUi7wtEWqZC3hrvo0ABe0QDWpHwfZsEdafGXDtgePE2ToTMmkrYfRaF1cmvAUSRwlwGKAvO7ggz3Szm_WBumFwi4cJsbCvOQTnk1ByIa2yOKkAEPZHZlpJv2_ezS5NWhFPRI-s26Y/s640/VHP_2014-08-18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1<sup>st</sup> Sunday of
Advent – C<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Theologians
say that God is an event!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because God is
a trinity, he comes to us in a Trinitarian event!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is totally transcendent and yet he
reveals himself to us in a historical context hence God’s self-revelation is a
historical event!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To say God is an event
is not to depersonalize nor stripping him of the divine being but rather to see
the dynamism of his being as he interacts with the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As
we open the new liturgical calendar this Sunday with the season of Advent, let
us reflect on the word “coming” as found in the three readings this Sunday.
First Reading: “See, the days are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">coming</i></b>…” Second Reading: “…when our
Lord Jesus Christ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">come</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">s</i> with all his
saints. Gospel: “And then they will see the Son of Man <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">coming</i></b> in a cloud with
power and greater glory.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The
pervading spirit of Advent is the spirituality of waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what/who do we wait for? Why should we
wait? We wait for a reality that is absent and is about to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Precisely Advent is a season of waiting
because God is coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wait for him
not because he is absent but because in this season, we enter into a cosmic
time where we re-live a past event and make it present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes God has indeed come in the person of
Jesus Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the whole content
of divine revelation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God in the past
being transcendent was distant but now in Jesus Christ has become immanent
since he has come in the present. This is the mystery of the Incarnation which
the season of Advent opens its door to for us to contemplate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are still waiting for him because Jesus did
not just come in the past and as if we are re-living his memory in
remembrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He continuously comes
because he is always in the present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Theologically we say, he is not only begotten by the Father in eternity
but continuous to be begotten in the “eternal now”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because this begetting finds its locus in
the historical context, we also experience a continuous re-birthing in our
waiting. Jesus lifted up the veil that concealed the face of God hence we enter
into the truth (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aletheia</i>) of the
revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The apocalyptic images that
we encounter in the readings signal the destruction of the old order to give
way to the re-birthing of creation brought about by the coming of God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Advent
is here and it opens a sacred door that leads us to encounter God in his many
surprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because his coming shatters
our image of the divine beyond our expectations, he invites to be always
vigilant in the many ways of his self-revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes he comes in pain, thick darkness
and even<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in death; he also comes in joy
and in the ordinariness of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Advent
beckons us to embrace God in Jesus who continuous to come in the forgotten and
dirty peripheries of life to bring the gifts of the Kingdom to the poorest of
the poor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It</span> also invites us encounter him in the
Eucharistic crib in celebrating his begetting and our re-birthing together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-12021451773724905782015-11-20T15:19:00.000-08:002015-11-20T15:19:17.228-08:00KING OF THE UNIVERSE; KING OF OUR HEARTS!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">John 18:33-37</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A</span></span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 39px;">t the end of our life’s journey, Jesus will be our King. </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 29pt;">The
celebration of the Christ the King signals the end of the liturgical calendar
of the Church. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> The gospel this Sunday
brings us to the judgment drama between Jesus and Pontius Pilate in the Passion
Narrative. Pilate was the prefect of the Roman province of Judaea
from 26-36 AD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Jewish religious
leaders brought Jesus to Pilate because the Sanhedrin which was the equivalent
of our Supreme Court did not have the power to sentence and execute political
prisoners. By bringing Jesus to Pilate, the religious leaders ensured
that Jesus would be crucified through the hands of the Romans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Pilate represented the
Roman Empire who practically owned the whole world during that time.
Because he was a man of supreme authority, the life of Jesus depended<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>upon his judgment. When Pilate asked
Jesus if he was the King of Jews, Jesus did not respond in the affirmative,
instead Jesus explained that his Kingdom is not of this world: “<i>If my
kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me
from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here</i>.”
So when Pilate asked Jesus if he was a king, Jesus answered “<i>You say I am a
king.”</i> Now Pilate had spoken and had given the Roman confirmation
that Jesus was indeed a king. Jesus explain further “<i>For this reason I
was born and this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” </i> Because
Pilate never understood a thing, in his utter ignorance he said “<i>What is
truth</i>”.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 21px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 29pt;">True enough Pilate did not find any political
fault with Jesus and he wanted to free him. He made Jesus sit down
in a stone pavement called Gabbatha, a judgment seat because in John’s thought
Jesus was the real judge of the world. It was also Pilate who had the
inscription INRI (<b>Iesous Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum</b>) which meant as a
mockery that Jesus who was from Nazareth was the king of the Jews. When
the Jews saw it, they demanded that it be changed to “I am the King of the
Jews”. But Pilate insisted “<i>What I have written, I have written</i>”
which means that Rome had indeed confirmed the kingship of Jesus. John’s
polyglot character of the inscription was made sure that it be understood by the
languages of the Roman Empire being written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 29pt;">Jesus being raised on the cross which was his throne,
was the height of paradox when he was finally exalted as the King of the
Universe although in the eyes of the world he was a total failure.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’
Kingdom is not of this world so it does not have an army, courts, palaces nor
boundaries. It does not have the riches and the power of an earthly
kingdom because it is spiritual and eternal. When we were baptized, we
shared in the kingly office of Jesus. We also assumed our new identity: as
heirs of his Kingdom. Whenever we pray the Our Father, we always
say “Your Kingdom come…” Every time we witness to truth, justice, love,
peace and when we celebrate our inner goodness as a human person, God’s Kingdom
has indeed come and Jesus reigns in our hearts…..</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-31753755138331581302015-11-13T16:35:00.000-08:002015-11-13T16:38:17.704-08:00BIRTHING: NEW HEAVEN, NEW EARTH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQdgg_ScGZF7HB8CzHlrfd1D2YAI5i_vYmtye3WOlUtOhhToB-7B45aIfkD_Om-eJlQH7qTXDZ6772R2HFn7nAkyXu9Q5KP89nAXrGUzPWBowklWM5xd8mxR_Qpfu5vxRCPEfktIMs7U/s1600/NewHE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQdgg_ScGZF7HB8CzHlrfd1D2YAI5i_vYmtye3WOlUtOhhToB-7B45aIfkD_Om-eJlQH7qTXDZ6772R2HFn7nAkyXu9Q5KP89nAXrGUzPWBowklWM5xd8mxR_Qpfu5vxRCPEfktIMs7U/s640/NewHE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - B </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Matthew 13:24-32</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
now at the end of the liturgical calendar of the Church, hence almost at the
end of Ordinary Time<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the liturgical
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next Sunday which is the last Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the reason why the readings are taken
from the apocalyptic literature which features about the destruction of the
world to signal the end of time. Jesus the universal King will reign at
the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The symbols like cosmic catastrophes
used in the apocalyptic literature should not be taken literally. Vatican
II calls them “<b>signs of the times</b>” that we need to read and interpret
under the guidance of the Church. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> In any form of giving birth, there is a breaking of the old to give way
to something new. Life in different forms experiences birthing all the
time, a continuous flux of life-processes resulting in the advances of many
life forms. The natural calamities can be explained by the
geological movements of the earth resulting in the many changes of land
formations or weather conditions. Man-made catastrophes are the result of our
politics, greed, irresponsibility and improper use of our resources.
Either man-made or natural, the world around us is not just changing all the
time but also will come to an end just like any other thing. This
inevitable reality should not frighten us but instead inspire us to see
our life moving forward unto our final destination. We don’t dwell in
fear about the end of the world but rather in hope! Until we become a
person of faith, our existence is just like a tourist who simply enjoys
sightseeing and will never reach his destination. As a pilgrim, being a
member of the Pilgrim Church, Vatican II reminds us “…<i>men and women are
performing their activities in a way which appropriately benefits society.
They can justly consider that by their labor they are unfolding the Creator’s
work</i>….” (<i>Gaudium et Spes</i> #34). Each one has a mission to
fulfill, that’s why we are here. Big or small, our contribution to the
world is our own way of re-creating this world towards a better place not just
for us and our loved ones but for generations yet to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the works of our hands, God continues
to re-create creation until it finds its culmination in the birthing of the new
heaven and a new earth.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 29.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
person that I am today is the result of my own and collective effort of other
people and so I have the responsibility to give back whatever good I have
received in my lifetime to the world. As<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pilgrims we owe the world every bit
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>goodness before we reach the final
destination of our pilgrimage….</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-71911111375724270372015-11-06T16:48:00.001-08:002015-11-06T16:49:34.338-08:00TOTAL SELF-GIVING<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_LQOYh_Wmtpa_vOqnnkY8MKbNc14Ou1UDCDpvLEkuiPul3__Nnb_fwmpJn6-p1zC3ol0cp2SvXelusaHq2jZD1ALVp2xUgGMgotJZM9kkDKe55E0G1u4Xl8xxnD0yt2n4HTp-V6K-Os/s1600/Michelangelo-creation-of-adam-index.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_LQOYh_Wmtpa_vOqnnkY8MKbNc14Ou1UDCDpvLEkuiPul3__Nnb_fwmpJn6-p1zC3ol0cp2SvXelusaHq2jZD1ALVp2xUgGMgotJZM9kkDKe55E0G1u4Xl8xxnD0yt2n4HTp-V6K-Os/s640/Michelangelo-creation-of-adam-index.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">32</span><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ND</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mark 12:38-44</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> It is the nature of God
to give!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he gives, it is total
because he gives everything of himself unconditionally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
widows in the readings this Sunday showed us the true spirit of giving through
their overwhelming generosity. The widow of Zarephath in the first
reading was about to bake the last bread for her and her son when the prophet
Elijah asked her to share it with him. She obeyed the prophet and did not
run out of flour and oil till the famine was over. Another widow in the
Gospel gave her last two coins in the temple and was praised by Jesus.
These two widows gave lavishly and unconditionally out of their poverty and are
immortalized and celebrated in our liturgy as true witnesses of self-giving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t it
normal to think first of ourselves and our security before others because of
survival instinct? Under normal circumstances, it is the way we
preserve ourselves and has been the norm in the secular world: “Myself first
before others!” The widow of Zarephath could have told Elijah “Why I should
share with you our last bread when this is our last meal before we die?” The
widow in the gospel could have just given one coin and kept the other one for
herself. Both of them had given out of their utter poverty everything
they possessed. In the eyes of the world this is sheer madness! It
even sounds almost a suicide! But in the eyes of God, it is an offering
more acceptable than all the riches given out of surplus.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God the Father showed us what total giving is
when he made himself destitute by sharing everything of his God-head to his
Son. That is how the Son was begotten by the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 32px;">He does it again when he created each one of us his children.</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt;">God again shared everything of himself when
he created the world. Jesus gave the world more than what the widow had given
when he offered himself in total self-giving on the cross. </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt;">This is why we say, giving belongs to the
nature of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us give a part of ourselves in
many forms of giving every minute of our lives for the sake of the people we
love. There are also those who, for their love of Jesus, give up their
lives and career, leave their families and homeland and follow him. </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt;">Worth
mentioning is the </span><b style="color: #535353; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24pt;"><i>poustinik</i></b><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt;"> in the Russian Orthodox tradition who
</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24pt;">sells everything he/she owns, gives the
money to the poor, becomes a beggar and dedicates his/her entire life to God in
prayer and solitude.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
through these people that God truly incarnates himself once again in the spirit
of loving and total self-giving. When we give, love becomes charity and where there is charity God shines!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i>You give
but little when you give your possessions. It is when you give of yourself
that you truly give.</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are those who give little of the much which they
have and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their
gifts unwholesome.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And there are those who have little and give it
all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their
coffer is never empty.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And is there ought you would withhold? All you have
shall some day be given; Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be
yours and not your inheritors’.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You often say, “I would give, but only to the
deserving.” The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your
pasture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Kahlil Gibran “The Prophet”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-12962468532674404362015-10-30T23:44:00.000-07:002015-10-30T23:44:49.294-07:00HEAVEN IS OUR GOAL!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtz7GQawdZABbbNt3uncPNsTs9NwxKAQd809x1-C4irIomX7FM7DHqSXK6jasjZU6VxgALg0-A_tL0rDenHhfp1mZ_O2-i1hR4wDAdXth_bEU8O_6rs0Ns403Ml-h_ZZfzdil4eg98XM/s1600/all-saints-graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtz7GQawdZABbbNt3uncPNsTs9NwxKAQd809x1-C4irIomX7FM7DHqSXK6jasjZU6VxgALg0-A_tL0rDenHhfp1mZ_O2-i1hR4wDAdXth_bEU8O_6rs0Ns403Ml-h_ZZfzdil4eg98XM/s640/all-saints-graphic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">ALL SAINTS' DAY and ALL SOULS' DAY </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Once I
had a wonderful conversation with an atheist-friend about heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him a good news: heaven is also for
atheists!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he is not a fan of
heaven with images of souls wearing white, plucking harps and singing
praises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I said it is a bit
constricted view of heaven, he asked me to enlighten him of a correct one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was my response to him: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-effects-shadow-align: topleft; mso-effects-shadow-alpha: 40.0%; mso-effects-shadow-angledirection: 2700000; mso-effects-shadow-anglekx: 0; mso-effects-shadow-angleky: 0; mso-effects-shadow-color: black; mso-effects-shadow-dpidistance: 3.0pt; mso-effects-shadow-dpiradius: 4.0pt; mso-effects-shadow-pctsx: 100.0%; mso-effects-shadow-pctsy: 100.0%;"><i><b>Heaven is the greatest mystery that engulfs us; never a place! It is already here and now and yet still to be revealed in its
fullness so we can bask in the highest Good ever in a timeless realm!</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
a more wonderful and sublime reason in the celebration of life in the present
and beyond death. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Solemnity of All the Saints (November 1st) and the Commemoration of the
Faithful Departed (November 2nd) are Christian celebrations to remind us of an
important article of our faith which is the Communion of Saints. The Communion
of Saints is the super-natural unity of all the members of the Mystical Body of
Christ namely: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Church Triumphant,
the Church Suffering and the Church Militant. </b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven is
our goal! We believe that those who had been faithful to Christ until the
end are rewarded with eternal bliss in heaven (the Church Triumphant); they are
triumphant because they are given the crown of glory by God. There
are those who are still expiating their sins in purgatory (the Church
Suffering); they are being cleansed of the impurities caused by sin.
We the living belong to the Church Militant because we still continue to
fight against our sinfulness as we strive to live holy lives.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
a wonderful exchange of spiritual goods among the members of the Church: the
saints in heaven are praying for us here on earth and for the souls in purgatory.
We pray and offer sacrifices/masses for the souls in purgatory and in return
they also pray and intercede for us. All of us share in the “treasury of
the Church” which are the inexhaustible merits of Christ and the prayers and
good works of the saints. This exchange of charity overflows to all
the members of the Church so that at the end, free from sin, we are able to
have our final communion with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we celebrate All Saints’ Day, let us reflect on the
lyrics of the Disney song: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>GO THE DISTANCE</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I have often dreamed of
a far off place<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where a great warm
welcome will be waiting for me<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Where the crowds will
cheer when they see my face<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And a voice keeps saying
this is where I'm meant to be<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I will find my way, I
can go the distance<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'll be there someday if
I can be strong<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I know every mile will
be worth my while<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I would go most anywhere
to feel like I belong<span style="color: #2a2f3c;">.”</span></span><span style="color: #535353; font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-63598878884078930382015-10-23T23:54:00.001-07:002015-10-23T23:54:34.499-07:00LORD I WANT TO SEE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObkYzvLLEtVbXdk6c2slrVgbdrjyDx2CEqSjNutda8WPIE_UowuaNYpvJDqUaCxktlCuCo8p5FxX9mnNZgOvgjx3_1a3hhMUam7TzC5msbriW7zmcEIS6jooy41mcJQNfdpyoRgNcmD4/s1600/Bartimaeus.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObkYzvLLEtVbXdk6c2slrVgbdrjyDx2CEqSjNutda8WPIE_UowuaNYpvJDqUaCxktlCuCo8p5FxX9mnNZgOvgjx3_1a3hhMUam7TzC5msbriW7zmcEIS6jooy41mcJQNfdpyoRgNcmD4/s640/Bartimaeus.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">30</span><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">TH</span></sup><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mark 10:46-52</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let there be light!” In
the book of Genesis, the very first thing that God created was light. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of light, we are able to see the world
and its wonder and beauty. Darkness symbolizes death, emptiness and
evil. Jesus said <i>“I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” </i>(John
8:12). Our eyes are the windows of our souls. What a sad
thing if light is taken away from us so that we are not able to
engage with life. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bartimeus
was blind and he was sitting on the side of the road! The
road was a symbol of dynamism of life and Bartimeus sitting on the side of road
meant that he was not part of the movement of life. His encounter with
Jesus who is the “Light of the world” would change his life forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> When
Bartimeus heard that Jesus was passing by, he knew it was the opportune moment
that he had been waiting for and began to shout and cried out “<i>Son of David,
Jesus, have pity on me</i>.” There were two kinds of crowd in the story:
the first one scolded him and told him to keep quiet, the second one encouraged
him and brought him to Jesus. Bartimeus caught the attention of
Jesus. Jesus a) stopped 2) asked the second crowd “<i>call him here</i>”
3) and asked Bartimeus: “<i>What do you want me to do for you</i>?”
Bartimeus’ cry could not be simply ignored by Jesus amidst the pushing crowd;
when Jesus heard him, he stopped and gave him his full attention. When we
cry to God in our utter humility and desperation, our voice pierces the heart
of God and he stops and listens to our pleas. Jesus asked the assistance
of the crowd to bring Bartimeus to him. Our encounter with God, although
personal, always involves the community which either hinders or assists
us. Are we a wall that obstructs people to encounter God or a bridge that
brings others to God? Jesus knew that Bartimeus was blind and he
knew what he needed but he still asked him “What do you want me to do for
you?” Why? Because Jesus did not want to impose what he wanted so
he asked Bartimeus to express his freedom of the will. Bartimeus knew
what he wanted all his life and this was now the moment he had been waiting
for; it would be very remiss of him not to say what he wanted:<i> Rabbuni, let
me see again</i>.” Jesus said “<i>Go, your faith has saved you.”</i>
Once he had his sight back, he followed Jesus along the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> We
might not be physically blind like Bartimeus but we might experience spiritual blindness
through our arrogance, self-centeredness, sensuality, addictions and sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
time in our life, we may experience the darkest night of our souls. Like
Bartimeus, we just have to admit in utter humility our need for God and we cry
out: “<i>Lord, I need you in my life. Take me out of this darkness.
I want to see</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> The
most important thing is not just having our sight back, but to be able to walk
again in the road and celebrate the dynamism of life. The only way we can
do this is to follow Jesus “The Way” who will lead us to life eternal.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-47019216238328949082015-10-16T16:43:00.003-07:002015-10-16T16:43:39.913-07:00GREATNESS THROUGH SERVICE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY76iN5w8xrfFrSss0sLnVGEEPFfxZd2AhLx48GNzcGqRGOacZ4H1CaOpujF4g2j3rl4w-YYUfPBRDKtojujPHrkMoJVycr3-6I2oMzh-6wgYd3laFSvZwSIMDM8dItEVI8knfjOzzni8/s1600/servingothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY76iN5w8xrfFrSss0sLnVGEEPFfxZd2AhLx48GNzcGqRGOacZ4H1CaOpujF4g2j3rl4w-YYUfPBRDKtojujPHrkMoJVycr3-6I2oMzh-6wgYd3laFSvZwSIMDM8dItEVI8knfjOzzni8/s640/servingothers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - B</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mark 10: 35-45</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> What we want to become in the future
gives us the innate urge towards a purpose-driven life! Our dream to
become the person we want to be gives us the power and determination to achieve
something that will sustain us through life. Achieving that goal defines
our career and status in the community we live in.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
Our ultimate end is the highest goal that defines our being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our religion facilitates and directs us
towards this ultimate end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For us
Christians, our ultimate end is heaven no wonder why the brothers James and John wanted to ask Jesus for the
assurance of their place in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus explained that the ticket to heaven is not a matter of “religious
connections” but depends on personal effort and the grace of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> The apostles were no different from the
other Jews who thought that authority is the way to greatness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus had to correct that wrong notion by
showing it the way he lived: he came not to be served but to serve and offered
his life as a ransom for humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
way to greatness in the eyes of God is through service to others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> This constricted and selfish way of
understanding greatness is what defines worldly authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have seen some world leaders like Hitler,
Idi Amin, Marcos, Polpot (to name a few) who lord it over their countries
through dictatorship by having their authority felt through whimsical caprices
and abuses. Leadership without charity is tyranny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christian leadership hinges on
servanthood. Authority is given to us in the context of
service. Our church leaders have authority over us only because
they are our servants: “<i>It is not ourselves we preach but Christ Jesus
our Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake</i>” (2 Cor. 4-5). One of the titles of the pope is <i>"servus servorum Dei"</i> (servant of the servants of God).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Christian
service is the giving of self to others because of one’s love to God and
humanity. We don’t have to think big to do something explosive in
changing the world for the better. One little act of goodness can change
the world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
belief in the basic goodness of mankind explodes beyond proportion if each
person shares his kindness towards others. Then it goes beyond religion,
race or color which transforms the world when love is expressed in charity
through service to others. Because goodness is inherent in each one of us we
have the power to change the world for the better than we first found it.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Achieving our ultimate end is not a
matter of amassing coupons like tickets that give us more points to enter
heaven but celebrating goodness which makes heaven already present now.</span></div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-12980531058495287552015-10-09T20:20:00.001-07:002015-10-09T20:24:16.623-07:00RICH YOUNG MAN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1Xa6OYmV2mpRrjeHUt2j8JLqFGYghpVODVrOaqIJjHZQgeHeo6Dj1q3_bPcDc5CzoMgKNTbp8a_l99ijAZQk_7kQwiX5Kcqkvk5f7_ji7mAYGXq8kM77h3peXFgkSQyktt6iRBh2jqQ/s1600/IMG_2536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1Xa6OYmV2mpRrjeHUt2j8JLqFGYghpVODVrOaqIJjHZQgeHeo6Dj1q3_bPcDc5CzoMgKNTbp8a_l99ijAZQk_7kQwiX5Kcqkvk5f7_ji7mAYGXq8kM77h3peXFgkSQyktt6iRBh2jqQ/s320/IMG_2536.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><img src="webkit-fake-url://f8956869-4b46-476f-b184-91719dbdb518/imagejpeg" /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME-B</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mark 10: 17-30</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> The rich young man (RYM) ran up, knelt before Jesus and asked: “<i>Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life</i>?” </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Who was RYM? Why did he run, kneel and ask Jesus? Why was he rich? </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> RYM was </span><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">spiritually rich:</b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “</span><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Master I have kept the laws since my earliest days</i><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">.” It means that RYM was a very righteous man hence very pious in the eyes of the Jews! He was </span><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">materially rich:</b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> because he had so many possessions, he was believed to be blessed by God. He was </span><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">intellectually rich: </b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">because he was concerned about the seriousness of life and was asking about eternal life. He was </span><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">youthfully rich:</b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> he was young man!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Here was a man who was at the top of the world. When Jesus saw him, Jesus loved him because RYM was a very lovable person. Jesus did not see the richness of RYM but rather the total emptiness in him so He said to him: “<i>You need to do one more thing; 1) go and sell your possessions 2) give the money to the poor 3) come follow me</i>.” Upon hearing this, RYM’s face fell because he was a man of great wealth.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> In the Jewish world, RYM was a symbol of grand success, a fulfillment of everybody’s dream, an idol. But behind his perfection was a defect; behind his huge success was a complete failure; behind his happy face was his unspeakable sadness.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> When Jesus asked him to sell all his possessions, he could not let go of his material riches because those were his idols. Therefore he could not follow Jesus who offered him the true riches in heaven. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Now who is RYM in our present time? He is every young man and woman whose success defines one's existence and yet finds life empty! RYM is the lost youth of today who longs for the higher purpose in life when his/her achievements and accomplishments cannot give the satisfaction of the inner self. RYM is a symbol of pious yet constricted selfishness which defines success that glorifies the ego but without compassion to others! It is the apex of a success story without a genuine spirituality and charity! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Material things in themselves are not evil; they are evil when they become our idols and we worship them either consciously or unconsciously as if our lives totally depend on them. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jesus wants us to be free so that we can follow Him. </span></div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3291446863699812267.post-8876270048307777962015-10-02T17:12:00.001-07:002015-10-02T17:31:43.362-07:00MARRIAGE: complete, exclusive and forever!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fd8gphnqsrZqx0-JwBLU3At50lB7FNifiHTB6GRPJMrY972hmguFn0BTbQ_3ztiul7_SfRYhqJv1h4InaEH2XB4dZj1XqREuVi5i3NLhyphenhyphenUZxrELX21wBeb9RwSX0BkSeeuOIwRJvqdM/s1600/Marriage_after_babies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fd8gphnqsrZqx0-JwBLU3At50lB7FNifiHTB6GRPJMrY972hmguFn0BTbQ_3ztiul7_SfRYhqJv1h4InaEH2XB4dZj1XqREuVi5i3NLhyphenhyphenUZxrELX21wBeb9RwSX0BkSeeuOIwRJvqdM/s640/Marriage_after_babies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - B</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mark 10:2-16</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Is
there a FOREVER in love? Some say “none”, our gospel says “there is”!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus in
our gospel this Sunday teaches the meaning and purpose of marriage: it is a
covenant between a MAN and WOMAN with GOD which is ordered toward the goodness
of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. In a nutshell it
is both UNITIVE and PROCREATIVE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
teaching took place when the Pharisees asked Jesus a question about
divorce.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
being the author of marriage intended it as a vocation which is intrinsic to
the very nature of humanity. Because it is a vocation, it is fundamentally
centered on love. This mutual love between a man and a woman is a reflection of
God’s absolute and unfailing love for humanity. The book of Genesis in the
first reading attests to the indissolubility of marriage from the very
beginning of time: that man leaves his mother and father and becomes attached
to his wife and the two become one flesh. Jesus affirms it when he said:
"What God has united, human beings must not divide." Because of the
permanence of marriage, Jesus in the gospel took a strong stand against
divorce. It is not just based on a legalistic approach when the children suffer
and it then<u> </u>jeopardizes their future happiness nor on the presence of a
law that forbids or allows divorce. Rather as the author of marriage, God
intended marriage to be a permanent and lasting relationship between a<u> </u>man
and a woman.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God saw
in the beginning that man was not complete so He created the woman. It is
through this marital union that one complements the other thereby completing
each other’s incompleteness. In marital sex, one gives himself/herself to the
other <b>completely, exclusively </b>and <b>forever</b>. When this happens they
really become one flesh. Because of human failure, certain situations are far
from ideal like re-marriage after separation and divorce which the Church deals
with compassionately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From this
union based on love comes the secondary purpose of marriage which is the procreation
and education of children. It is the fruit of love when given unselfishly. To
safeguard this purpose, the Church is against the deliberate obstruction of
life through artificial birth control and direct abortion which are contrary to
the moral law. Children are not an intrusion on married life but rather the
completion of its mission which is expressed in joy. For married couples who
are unable to have children, their witness of love to each other can also be
profoundly life-giving to the Church and to the community in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adoption is always a welcomed option!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
marriage is a sacrament, it is geared towards the sanctification of man and
woman through their married life. It is a life that is centered in God; in
reality it is God who completes and blesses the union. That is why it is
imperative that a man and a woman who love each other should be united by a
sacred bond that can only be given through the Church. With this blessing, they
will form a family, be it naturally or through adoption. This family is called
the “domestic church” because it is the miniature version of the whole Church</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> During this time when the family is under attack, l</span>et us
safeguard the unity and sanctity of marriage as God intended it to be.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Fr. Vladimir Echalas, SOLThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910840414739581942noreply@blogger.com0