Get on your knees!
Prayer is a powerful weapon, and when used properly, blessings rain down abundantly. Know for sure, even the heart of a hardcore criminal will transform, when touched by the power of prayer. Mahatma Gandhi would say, "Prayer is a key in the morning and lock at night." Therefore, get on your knees and learn to pray with sincere heart and mind, for your Creator is just a prayer away.
There are different forms, methods, dispositions, and literature to connect in prayer, which are vital for our growth in our spiritual and moral life. Jesus takes us to another level of relationship with our Creator, inviting us to engage in a filial relationship with God calling Him "Our Father". The relationship with God, as father-child is a paradigm shift from the whole concept of relating to an unknown deity residing in an unknown place.
The revelation of Jesus and the mystery of our salvation are weaved so beautifully together in order to create a profound relationship with our Eternal God. In Jesus, we have become the children of God and heirs to eternal Life in His Kingdom. Therefore, only Jesus could teach us to pray by calling God,"Our Father."This relationship then leads us to build a just and egalitarian society with brotherhood of men.
The void in our societies is the reflection of the emptiness in the hearts of individual people.Without our knowledge, this vacuum then unleashes a series of unwarranted consequences, which bend our knees, without us realizing the reason for our misfortune. Therefore, it is an imperative to fill the emptiness with true faith in God our Creator. It has no cost, but offered freely to all men of goodwill.
Get down on your knees and pray, for your Creator is just a prayer away. Build a healthy filial relationship with God, Our Father, who cares for us at all times, and loves us unconditionally. He offers forgiveness, and grants us mercy and pardon that we may rejoice in His embrace.Why do you want to miss out on this opportunity, and go about with pride? In humility, bend your knees in prayer, and peace will flow into your heart without measure. Amen. ( Fr. Peter Fernandes, sfx.)
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
A Lector's prayer...
Merciful Father help me to follow;
lead me to Thy eternal meadow
where life-giving and healing water flow
be my Guide, my Light and let me glow.
With you by my side I will walk;
Father be with me like a dove
hovering and watching while I talk
to spread and share the message of Love.
I will follow Thee and Thy ways
so Thou will be with me always
enlighten me, make me not to falter
guide me, be with me, now, here and after.
Merciful Father help me to follow;
lead me to Thy eternal meadow
where life-giving and healing water flow
be my Guide, my Light and let me glow.
With you by my side I will walk;
Father be with me like a dove
hovering and watching while I talk
to spread and share the message of Love.
I will follow Thee and Thy ways
so Thou will be with me always
enlighten me, make me not to falter
guide me, be with me, now, here and after.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
An Addendum on Hospitality
I grew up in a country where hospitality echoes in the air. We trust everybody. We love to be visited by somebody we don't know. Even in our humbleness and country homeliness we still have the heart to dress a chicken, prepare a meal for the hungry, and a drink made up of a native concoction to quench a thirst.
When I went to college away from my place of birth, I encountered friendly people from all walks of life. There was that reciprocal intent of being accommodating. During my time, I am always welcome by strangers as I always welcome them. I was in a diverse world so to speak, far from my parents, no cell phones, no phone calls rarely a land transportation, mostly on water. And all I have was a prayer injected in my cranium by Catholic school education and of being hospitable to anyone.
I grew up in a country where hospitality echoes in the air. We trust everybody. We love to be visited by somebody we don't know. Even in our humbleness and country homeliness we still have the heart to dress a chicken, prepare a meal for the hungry, and a drink made up of a native concoction to quench a thirst.
When I went to college away from my place of birth, I encountered friendly people from all walks of life. There was that reciprocal intent of being accommodating. During my time, I am always welcome by strangers as I always welcome them. I was in a diverse world so to speak, far from my parents, no cell phones, no phone calls rarely a land transportation, mostly on water. And all I have was a prayer injected in my cranium by Catholic school education and of being hospitable to anyone.
On Hospitality
Indeed, the hospitality shown by people towards others, especially to strangers is a noble act. A friendly welcome breaks the ice of coldness and builds lasting relationships of friendship and trust. The tourism industry thrives because it has created a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in their surrounding, as well as among the workers by greeting all the guests with warmth. All are welcome but at a price. It is artificially created for the sole purpose of profit.
St. Timothy parish (located in the West Rogers Park which is in the north side of Chicago) is composed of different ethnic communities, which is a challenge, as well as being the beauty of a Catholic parish. It was a natural outcome for this community to be hospitable and welcoming. The first Sunday of the month- we call it Hospitality Sunday here at St. Timothy parish- gives us an opportunity to go out of our comfort zone, to associate with others, especially those whom we do not know.
In a desert-like area, where Abraham resided in the land of Canaan, hospitality is sacred even today. A person asking for shelter is never turned away; to do so, would amount to condemning the person to die of hunger and thirst. Abraham would have fulfilled his duty of hospitality towards anyone coming to him, but something in his heart told him that these were no ordinary people. In fact, he soon discovered that they were God's messengers, nay, God himself accompanied by two angels.
In today's gospel (Luke 10:38-42), Luke tells us of the visit of God to another family, this time, not "in the form of man" but truly became a man Jesus. This Jesus desires to come into every person's heart in the form of bread and wine. Therefore, we should be joyful like Abraham and Martha and prepare our hearts with love and gratitude. to receive Him. It is an august moment! Like Mary, we should recognize the gift of eternal presence and listen to the words of wisdom.
Nevertheless, Jesus wishes that we welcome all, especially the poor, the orphans, the widows, the strangers, and the most vulnerable of society in His name. For Jesus said, "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you have done it unto me." Let us never close our lives to anyone, but welcome people with faith and joy.
( Fr. Peter Fernandes, sfx, July 18/2010}
Indeed, the hospitality shown by people towards others, especially to strangers is a noble act. A friendly welcome breaks the ice of coldness and builds lasting relationships of friendship and trust. The tourism industry thrives because it has created a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in their surrounding, as well as among the workers by greeting all the guests with warmth. All are welcome but at a price. It is artificially created for the sole purpose of profit.
St. Timothy parish (located in the West Rogers Park which is in the north side of Chicago) is composed of different ethnic communities, which is a challenge, as well as being the beauty of a Catholic parish. It was a natural outcome for this community to be hospitable and welcoming. The first Sunday of the month- we call it Hospitality Sunday here at St. Timothy parish- gives us an opportunity to go out of our comfort zone, to associate with others, especially those whom we do not know.
In a desert-like area, where Abraham resided in the land of Canaan, hospitality is sacred even today. A person asking for shelter is never turned away; to do so, would amount to condemning the person to die of hunger and thirst. Abraham would have fulfilled his duty of hospitality towards anyone coming to him, but something in his heart told him that these were no ordinary people. In fact, he soon discovered that they were God's messengers, nay, God himself accompanied by two angels.
In today's gospel (Luke 10:38-42), Luke tells us of the visit of God to another family, this time, not "in the form of man" but truly became a man Jesus. This Jesus desires to come into every person's heart in the form of bread and wine. Therefore, we should be joyful like Abraham and Martha and prepare our hearts with love and gratitude. to receive Him. It is an august moment! Like Mary, we should recognize the gift of eternal presence and listen to the words of wisdom.
Nevertheless, Jesus wishes that we welcome all, especially the poor, the orphans, the widows, the strangers, and the most vulnerable of society in His name. For Jesus said, "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you have done it unto me." Let us never close our lives to anyone, but welcome people with faith and joy.
( Fr. Peter Fernandes, sfx, July 18/2010}
Saturday, July 17, 2010
On a Friday afternoon by the Park
On a hot summer afternoon
by the park sitting on a bench
I met Kahn of Pakistan alone.
A man of fourscore years and kind
nipping his life with Marlboro,
politely asked me if I don't mind.
Smoke curls out of four sections
happily, children play and grow
sans the formal introductions.
Bereft of suspicion and strife;
innocence, acceptance, and love
surfaced in the playground of life,
that everybody's music resounds
in any park or stage of life;
and camaraderie abounds.
The mind creates noble ideas;
let the heart speaks of unity,
mercy,compassion,forgiveness.
When the heart speaks; the mind listens
making this world a paradise
rancor will vanish, justice glistens.
My outlook of this high-tech globe
on that afternoon by the park
led me to renew, to get involved.
Yonder on a bench two lovers
enjoy the moment like a lark
and the vision of life hovers.
On a hot summer afternoon
by the park sitting on a bench
I met Kahn of Pakistan alone.
A man of fourscore years and kind
nipping his life with Marlboro,
politely asked me if I don't mind.
Smoke curls out of four sections
happily, children play and grow
sans the formal introductions.
Bereft of suspicion and strife;
innocence, acceptance, and love
surfaced in the playground of life,
that everybody's music resounds
in any park or stage of life;
and camaraderie abounds.
The mind creates noble ideas;
let the heart speaks of unity,
mercy,compassion,forgiveness.
When the heart speaks; the mind listens
making this world a paradise
rancor will vanish, justice glistens.
My outlook of this high-tech globe
on that afternoon by the park
led me to renew, to get involved.
Yonder on a bench two lovers
enjoy the moment like a lark
and the vision of life hovers.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
on bondage... By: Greg In Trabanca
I still remembered distinctly my first flight to a big world beyond my small world. I have traveled to different places but this one pumped my adrenaline. In the mirror of my mind I could visualize the flashes of my dreams, the pictures of what will be but will it be?
What really clung to the very fiber of me on that day was freedom. I knew what that word meant but I have yet to savor the new beginning, the new changing, the new environment, the new me.
I was on a big plane , Northwest 747. I was blinded by excitement. What I was thinking was nothing but to savor freedom, to be free from the bondage of so many pressures that pester me and like an arrow ready to hit my Achilles heel.
I saw in my horizon looming questions.
Many questions. Will there be answers? Solutions? On this new frontier? I doubt it.
Deluged with these unknown feelings, I was. Now I am free. This territory that I have known through books, radio, and stories from people. Now it is real. I touched it. I felt it. My body tingled.
The years floated by like the birds of prey in the sea of my yearning-to-learn life. I love to learn. Life is full of hidden treasures.To me, learning stops when my new life begins.
Now I learn that I am still in bondage in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Like so many of us from foreign shores, and don't tell me you are not.
When we step the soil of this new found land, we are readily welcome with open arms by the media, the merchants, the advertisers, the car dealers, the real estate agents, the banks, the mortgage companies.They all want us to be in debt; we are chained to the debt bondage. We are not aware of that. And they like that.
Truth and the deadly consequence!
Are we really homeowners? condo-owners? townhome owners? Do we all hold the titles of home, the car? How about the things that gave us instant gratifications - the big TV, the furniture, etc. Are they not paid by checks and credit or debit cards?
That was April 5 of '74 when I glimpsed the beauty of Seattle because I was not sleepless on that trip. That was cool. Only a couple of questions on the port of entry. I passed as I only answered yes or no. I am a few word person. I hate long speeches.
Chicago, here I come. Al Capone. Carl Sandburg. Sears Tower. Daley City. And Chicago is the Windy City. Later, I found out that the city is really windy and the politicians, too. Am I politically correct?
Freedom or bondage?
I still remembered distinctly my first flight to a big world beyond my small world. I have traveled to different places but this one pumped my adrenaline. In the mirror of my mind I could visualize the flashes of my dreams, the pictures of what will be but will it be?
What really clung to the very fiber of me on that day was freedom. I knew what that word meant but I have yet to savor the new beginning, the new changing, the new environment, the new me.
I was on a big plane , Northwest 747. I was blinded by excitement. What I was thinking was nothing but to savor freedom, to be free from the bondage of so many pressures that pester me and like an arrow ready to hit my Achilles heel.
I saw in my horizon looming questions.
Many questions. Will there be answers? Solutions? On this new frontier? I doubt it.
Deluged with these unknown feelings, I was. Now I am free. This territory that I have known through books, radio, and stories from people. Now it is real. I touched it. I felt it. My body tingled.
The years floated by like the birds of prey in the sea of my yearning-to-learn life. I love to learn. Life is full of hidden treasures.To me, learning stops when my new life begins.
Now I learn that I am still in bondage in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Like so many of us from foreign shores, and don't tell me you are not.
When we step the soil of this new found land, we are readily welcome with open arms by the media, the merchants, the advertisers, the car dealers, the real estate agents, the banks, the mortgage companies.They all want us to be in debt; we are chained to the debt bondage. We are not aware of that. And they like that.
Truth and the deadly consequence!
Are we really homeowners? condo-owners? townhome owners? Do we all hold the titles of home, the car? How about the things that gave us instant gratifications - the big TV, the furniture, etc. Are they not paid by checks and credit or debit cards?
That was April 5 of '74 when I glimpsed the beauty of Seattle because I was not sleepless on that trip. That was cool. Only a couple of questions on the port of entry. I passed as I only answered yes or no. I am a few word person. I hate long speeches.
Chicago, here I come. Al Capone. Carl Sandburg. Sears Tower. Daley City. And Chicago is the Windy City. Later, I found out that the city is really windy and the politicians, too. Am I politically correct?
Freedom or bondage?
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