We saw His star at its rising. We are here to do Him homage.

 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”  (Matthew 2: 2 NABRE)

The Church celebrates this Sunday the Solemnity of the Epiphany.  Epiphany means the manifestation of divine effect or power.  This is the day when the Divine Child Jesus was shown or revealed to Gentiles represented by the three Wise Men.

What lessons does the mystery of the Epiphany hold for us?   Consider these three :

#1.   Salvation is for all people, Jews and Gentiles.
#2.  The power and sovereignty of God is universal.  All people and all things obey Him. (Psalm 119:  91)
#3.  The three Wise Men brought their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus.  Bring your sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to Jesus in the Sunday Eucharist.

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Do whatever Jesus tells you.

"And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."  (1 John 5 : 14 NABRE)

In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray: "Thy will be done."  Can you compare Abba Father in wisdom, power and love with your earthly father?  There is no way your dad will give you a poisonous snake when he knows you intended a fish.

When wine ran out at the Wedding at Cana, Mary's advice to the servants was simple and precise:  "Do whatever He tells you."  (John 2: 5)  Mary did not know what Jesus would do.  But her motherly instinct knew that Jesus would do the best thing under the circumstances.   She taught the disciples to open their hearts to Jesus in confident trust.

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Whoever possesses the Son has life.

"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."  (1 John 5: 5 NIV)

We can overcome this evil world.  But we do so only through our faith.  (1  John 5 : 4)  Faith is the greatest armor the Christian needs to live the victorious life. 

How do we acquire faith?  How do we nourish and grow in faith?  God gives us the free gift of faith when we are baptized and become member of His Family.  Thereafter, we nourish it through daily prayer and feeding on the word of God.   As we exercise our faith, it grows and start to manifest.

"Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."  (1 John 5 : 12)

When you possess the Son through faith, you possess also life of God which comes with peace, power, purpose, awareness of the presence of Jesus, protection and provision.

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First Friday in January 2017

First Friday in January 2017.

12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

#11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.

How do you promote the Sacred Heart devotion?
#1.  Go to Mass every First Friday.  Soon your family and friends will notice.
#2.  Distribute the Sacred Heart Promises picture cards.
#3.  Hang an image of the Sacred Heart in your living room and office.  This is a powerful testimony.
#4.  Memorize the 12 Promises and focus on one every month.  As you are blessed, share your testimony with family and friends.

Remind the Lord often of these promises. Jesus loves to be reminded.  Not that He forgets.  It is important for you to know deeply that the Lord is faithful.

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Who is your security Manny? Lord Jesus, my destiny lies in Your Hands alone.

"Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure.
Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance."  (Psalm 16:  5 - 6 NABRE)

If you can come in your heart to own the above Scripture, nothing can ever defeat you in life.   If God Himself has carved out your portion and Inheritance, who can take it from you?  Consider again this consoling truth:  "OUR DESTINY LIES IN THE HANDS OF GOD."  (Psalm 31: 5)

No enemy, no economic situation, no tyrant, no world event can snatch it from the Mighty Hands of God.
Can you say ALLELUIA to the Mighty Power of God?

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Behold the Lamb of God.

 “Behold, the Lamb of God.”  (John 1: 36 NABRE)

A number of key Beholds in the Gospel presages a big announcement.  "Behold the Man."   (John 19: 5), Pilate said while pointing to Jesus after he was bloodied by the cruel scourging.   "Behold, thy Mother."   With blood shut eyes on the cross, Jesus nodded to John as He looked at the Mother.   "Behold, the Lamb of God."   John the Baptist said as he pointed his disciples to Jesus.   The three Beholds and the three occasions are defining moments in our Salvation History.  At Exodus, we encounter the spotless lamb sacrificed to save a nation.  Jesus is the true Lamb of God.

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In the Name of Jesus

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  (Philippians 2: 10 - 11 NABRE)

Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.   What is in a name?  Consider the following:
#1.  "Hallowed be Thy Name." (Matthew 6: 9)
#2.  "Thou shall not invoke the Name of the Lord thy God in vain." (Exodus 20: 7)
#3.  "At the Name of Jesus, every knee should bend.."  (Philippians 2: 10 - 11)

The Name of Jesus means a big deal.  Jesus is His Name.  That Name means Savior.  Jesus means what it signifies and signifies what it means.   According to St Bernard of Clairvaux, Father and Doctor of the Church, "The sweet name of Jesus produces in us holy thoughts, fills the soul with noble sentiments, strengthens virtue, and nourishes pure affections.... This name is the cure for all diseases of the soul."

Jesus we trust in You.  Have mercy on us and the whole world.

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Remain in Jesus.

"Remain in Him."  (1 John 2 : 27 & 28)

One of the words the Spirit gives the Churches today is:  (1 John 2 : 22 - 28)  Several places in this Scripture, the Spirit urges us to "remain in Him."   (1 John 2 : 27,28)
That is to say: please, please do not forget Jesus.

How do we remain in Jesus?
#1.  We remain in Jesus when we remain in His word every day.  Jesus is in His word.
#2.  We remain in Jesus when we converse with Him in prayer.  When we pray, we talk to Jesus.  When we read the Word or a spiritual book, Jesus talks to us.
#3.  We remain in Jesus when we encounter Jesus in the Eucharist.  The Eucharist is the source, center and summit of the Christian life.
#4.  We remain in Jesus when we serve Him in the poor and needy.

"And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming."  (1 John 2: 28)

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Abba Father shine Your Face upon us and be merciful to us.

The LORD said to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites and I will bless them.”  (Numbers 6:  22 -  27 RM)

This is the word of God.  May the Lord shine His Face upon you and your family all through 2017.

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Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in your heart.

"But you have the anointing that comes from the holy one."  (1 John 2: 20  NABRE)

Can this be my word to live by for 2017?  I don't know about you.  At this point of the year,  I search for this word.   I like (1 John 2: 20) by because in truth, I am seeking desperately for this anointing that comes from the Holy One.

Let us see what this anointing is and what it can do:

#1.  The Anointing is the Holy Spirit Himself.
#2.   The Holy Spirit is the Source of inspiration and power.
#3.  The Holy Spirit is the power of Evangelization.  Without Him, no ministry.
#4.  He is the Spirit of love and holiness.
#5.  He is the Spirit of joy and consolation.
#6.  He is the Spirit of Jesus.  Where He is, there is Jesus.

"But you have the anointing that comes from the holy one."  (1 John 2: 20  NABRE)

Lord, is this my word for 2017?  What a beautiful word!  Thank You Abba Father.  I accept it with my whole heart.  Brothers and sisters,  grab your word for 2017.  Let this word of Christ dwell in you richly.  (Colossians 3: 16)  Please grab your word for 2017 and run with it.  Happy 2017!

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Imitate the Holy Family of Nazareth.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."  (Exodus 20: 8 NIV)

Today is the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The Church puts this family up as a shining example for every family.  How do you rank your family?  Good, OK, Work-in-progress?  No matter the ranking, your family is a microcosm of God's grand Family, the Church.

Someone said to Jesus: "Lord, heal the brokenness in my family."  Jesus said to him: "My friend, don't you see that my Family is also broken? Together, we shall start healing the two." 

Remember:  Jesus submitted Himself to the authority of Joseph and Mary.  A family that prays together stays together.

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Abba Father thank You for Jesus.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  (John 3: 16 NIV)

We love You Jesus.  We trust in You.  Have mercy on us and the whole world.

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Broken was the snare, and we were freed.

"Had not the Lord been with us,
when people rose against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive, for their fury blazed against us."  (Psalm 124:  2-3 NABRE)

Psalm 124 is attributed to David.  David's faith in God grew during the many years he was on the run for his life.   How do you invest your crisis?  Moaning, pity partying? Or stepping out to reap the rich harvest of faith which is the reason the Lord allowed the problem in the first place.

If God is with you, who can be against you?  The answer is simple.  Nobody!  Jesus Himself promises to be with us 7/24 always and everywhere.   If crisis is the only way this truth will penetrate your heart, Lord send us crisis.  Amen.

If the Lord is with you, then it is accomplished.

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The Foundation of our Faith is an Eyewitness Account

"What we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you so that you too may have fellowship with us."  (1 John 1: 3 NABRE)

John the Evangelist whose feast is today saw Jesus, heard Him speak and touched Him several times.  He leaves us a compelling eyewitness account of the solid basis of our faith.  We can better appreciate what St Paul says to the Ephesians:

"[Our Household is] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."  (Ephesians 2: 20)

Brothers and sisters,  won't you rejoice in the truth that our faith is sound, safe and secure?

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Happy Birthday Jesus. We adore You and worship You our King.

"Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."  (John 1: 17 NABRE)

Law and order came through Moses.  And then more laws from the Pharisees.  Nobody could observe the laws.  They remained all the same.   Then Jesus Christ was born and He created a new path for our salvation.  This new path is grace and mercy.  The formula to obtain this grace and mercy is wonderfully very simple:

#1.  Ask for Mercy
#2.  Be Merciful
#3.  Completely trust Jesus for Mercy

We celebrate today the birth of Mercy.  Happy Birthday Jesus, Face of Mercy.  We love You Jesus.  We trust in You.  Have mercy on us and the whole world.

Happy Christmas to everyone.  Trust in His Mercy.

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Come O Son of David. Come and have mercy on us.

"Go and tell David my servant, Thus says the Lord:"  (2 Samuel 7: 5 NABRE)

Today is the last day of Advent and Christmas eve.  We hear so much of David in the Scriptures read in the Church this day.  Why is David such a pivotal figure in the history of salvation?  Consider the following verses from these Scriptures for today: (2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 and Psalm 89 and Luke 1: 67 -  79)

#1.  "I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to become ruler over my people Israel."  (2 Samuel 7: 8)
#2.  "I was with you wherever you went, and I cut down all your enemies before you."
#3.  "I will give you rest from all your enemies."  (2 Samuel 7: 11)
#4.  "Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever."  (2 Samuel 7: 16)

#5.  "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: I will make your dynasty stand forever and establish your throne through all ages.” (Psalm 89: 4-5)
#6.  He shall cry to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock of my salvation!"  (Psalm 89: 27)

#7.  "He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant."  (Luke 1: 69)

Come O Son of David.  Come and have mercy on us.

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O Come O Come Emmanuel, King of Kings.

"Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John." (Luke 1:  13 NABRE)

"She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1 : 21)

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.”  (Matthew 1: 23)

What is in a name?  In the Scriptures, name and mission are always linked.  A special name is often a pointer to one's destiny.

John the Baptist and Jesus are among the seven people named before their birth in the Bible.  Each proved to be a person of destiny.

If you do not have the sense that the name given to you by your parents at birth was inspired by God, ask the Holy Spirit.  If you still don't feel sure, how about your Confirmation name?  You chose the name yourself.  Why did you choose that particular name?

Come O King of all nations and keystone of the Church.

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God's Name is holy.

"And holy is His Name."  (Luke 1: 49)

Mary in her Magnificat, proclaims God's Name as holy.  What is holy is sacred, consecrated and therefore set apart intentionally for sacred functions.  The Altar is sacred and cannot be used for ping-pong.  The Chalice is consecrated for sacred duty and therefore cannot be used to drink beer.

Consider the following Scriptures on the Name of God:

#1.   "Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name."  (Matthew 6: 9)
#2.  "You shall not invoke the name of the Lord, your God,  in  vain.   For the Lord will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain."  (Exodus 20: 7)
#3.  "You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word."  (Psalm 138: 2)

We learn from the above Scriptures, that God's Name is indeed holy, sacred and must be revered at all times.

Come O King of all nations and keystone of the Church.

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When you pray well, you live well.

"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  (Luke 1: 45 NABRE)

Mary was richly blessed because she believed in the promise of God to her.  God has also made several promises to us.  How do we tap into the power of faith in order to appropriate what God has promised to us?

#1.  Prayer opens our heart and mind to God.  When we pray, we talk to God.
#2.  When we read the word of God or good spiritual books, God speaks to us.
#3.  As you repeat steps #1 and #2 every day,  you come to sense if the promise is truly yours or not.
#4. If God is asking you to wait for your answer, you add praying for patience to your daily prayer.

It took a long time before God answered Sarah and Elizabeth.  Nobody knows how long it will take for God to answer your prayers.

Come O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law.

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All things are possible for God.

"No word from God will ever fail.”  (Luke 1: 37 NIV)

Nothing will be impossible for God.  God Never Fails!  This truth is so rich that we can hang our life and hope on it.   The Incarnation is possible.  All things are created twice.  The first creation is from below, earthly.  The second creation is from above, the Holy Spirit.  How is this possible?  All things are possible for God.   Who can be saved?  How can we be saved?  Nothing will be impossible for God.

Think of all the prophecies.  The child will play with the cobra.  The wolf will entertain the lamb.  There will be universal peace and well-being.  All things are possible for God.

And your dreams and desires?  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding of things.  Know and believe that all things are possible for God.

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