AN EVERYDAY SURVIVAL KIT

Toothpick Rubber band
Band aid
Pencil
Eraser
Chewing gum
Mint
Candy Kiss
Tea Bag



Here's why:

Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in
others...Matt 7:1

Rubber band - to remind you to be flexible, things might not always go
the way you want, but it will work out...Romans 8:28

Band Aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone
else's...Col. 3:12-14

Pencil - To remind you to list your blessings everyday...Eph1: 3

Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's
okay...Gen. 50:15-21

Chewing gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish
anything ...Phil 4:13

Mint - to remind you that you are worth a mint to your heavenly
father...John 3:16-17

Candy Kiss - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug
everyday...1 John 4:7

Tea Bag - to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of God's
blessings... 1 Thess 5:18

This is my gift to you. May God richly bless you.

To the world, you may just be somebody...but to somebody, you may be
the world.

SEPTEMBER MEMOIRS

- From the Gospel of LK. 4:38-44
3 points that I learned in this gospel from the homily of the Jesuit provincial father. According, to him that this gospel is good for thanksgiving mass after the ordination.
1. This gospel tells us that priest to be should be a healer (spiritual). And in healing…..we can give hope to those who are ill.
2. JESUS PRAYS: as priest to be, all my accomplishments in my ministry should be dedicated it to God my master. I should pause for a moment to thank my Master always by praying.
3. JESUS GO TO OTHER TOWN: as priest to be I should go wherever my bishops wants me to go. I must not be attached in one place. I should not stay in a place where I am comfortable but I should be also go to the place where I am not comfortable.

These 3 points are the characteristics of the priest to be. AND I DARE MYSELF!

- INTRAMS: it was a happy and gay celebration. And these were some important quotes that I learned during the celebration.
1. “SPORTS DO NOT BUILD CHARACTER: THEY REVEAL IT”
2. “A WINNER KNOWS HOW MUCH HE STILL HAS TO LEARN, EVEN WHEN HE IS CONSIDERED AN EXPERT BY OTHERS. A LOSER WANTS TO BE CONSIDERED AN EXPERT BY OTHERS, BEFORE HE HAS LEARNED ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW LITTLE HE KNOWS”

- I should have the courage and confidence to express my identity what ever circumstances.

- OUTWARD/INWARD POWER
I was struck of this phrase during the class discussion with Fr. Manol. I realized that someday I can have this power. Maybe not the same power as the apostles have but in the other way around. As priest to be my homily should be one of my forms to express this outward power of mine. It may not heal them physically but maybe it might help them to change their lives to be a better one. To own these powers I must ask God’s grace for this. I know God will not reject what I am asking to Him because it is for His own glorification. If I have these powers I know I will become effective preacher someday.

- From the Gospel of LK. 6:20-26 “THE BEATITUDES”
• Blessed those who are poor because they seek Jesus. Woe to those who are rich because they do not seek Jesus rather they seek money, power and they not be contented enough. but for those who are poor JESUS is enough.

- From the gospel of LK. 6:27-38 “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES”
• We should love our enemies because Jesus presence is hidden from these things/persons we hate. Like what the prayer of St. Francis, “MAKE ME A CHANNEL OF YOUR PEACE, WHERE HATRED LET ME BRING YOUR LOVE.”

- Accepting who you are, where you from can help you to become good shepherd and a happy priest.

- God doesn’t call people who are qualified. He calls people who are willing and then He qualifies them (Richard parker)

- From the gospel of MK. 8:27-35 “PETER’S CONFESSION ABOUT JESUS”
• Believing in Jesus and living what he teaches us is our challenge. Who is Jesus to us must be heard in what we say and be seen in what we do.

- Life is gained by losing it. Life is lost by saving it. Jesus demonstrates this on the cross.

- SD with Fr. Vir: lesson I got from my SD was that. No one can force man to grow. Like planting a tree you cannot force it to grow rather you can only abide and guide it to be straight and firm. And that’s forming a human person.

- I got a new levi’s jean from the generous heart of my best friend Ariel Quintero.

- I finished reading the whole chapter of Genesis. And starting reading the book of Exodus.

- From the gospel of JN. 3:13-17 “THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS”
• God’s purpose in giving Jesus to the world and lifting Him up in glory was not to condemn the world. Jesus purpose was to save everyone who would believe in Him; everyone who looks upon the cross is healed.

- Ang di mag-antos di ma santos. Ang dim aka-antos pamutos.

- Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Since my mother’s name is also Mary that’s whay it came up into my mind to text her and ask her what are her sorrows in life as mother. Then she replied.
1. A good future for my children is my great concern as mother.
2. One present sorrows I am facing today is our financial debts incurred during school time and it is still unpaid.
3. A new debts/loan created to solve the problem. A continual utang.
4. Causes sleepless night, stress, depression that even affects my health.
5. Worried how to pay; no source of income.
6. Health-sickly body needs money
7. I want to witness your success and that is my great happiness.

- This is what I learned from the class with Fr. MAnol:
• PAGTOO- pag ‘oo’ sa +(cross)
• I was enlightened about the book of revelation. The main thought of this book is to give hope.
• Religious experience is not just a feeling. God’s revelation in ordinary days and man’s response of that experience.
• Christianity is a religion of personal encounter with God.

- MK. 9:30-37: who is the greatest? Whether you are a prince or a pauper, president or a farmer as long as you serve in truth, in love and humility, you are great.

- Only when there is faith does it finally become the truth.(dragon heat movie)

- MK. 9:38-48…Christ’s measures of goodness. 1. Real goodness goes with charity for all. 2. The value of goodness is not in the act, but from the heart. 3. Goodness edifies. 4. Eternal good is above all.

GOD SAID

GOD SAID

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I'm a Healer?

If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I'm a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?

If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I'm a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I'm forgiving?
If you knew it all, how would you know that I will answer your

questions?

If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you never were broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what Jesus went through?

If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?

If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect, then what would you need Me for?

THANK YOU, GOD!

The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation

(Intro to Scripture class with Fr. Manol SJ)

It is an apocalyptic literature that was present from 200 BC to 200 AD. Apocalyptic in Greek means ‘disclosure’ or ‘revelation’. This genre came out at the period when the believers were suffering terrible persecutions under the hands of the great world empire (Jews under the Greeks and the Christians under the Romans). So it was a response to this challenge encountered by God’s people. Its purpose was to encourage and support those undergoing persecution and suffering because of their faith.

Apocalyptic literature used a good deal of imagery and symbols to convey the message of encouragement and hope.

Examples: Daniel, IV Ezra, II Baruch (contemporary of Rev)

John Randall: “The Book of Rev is at least 95% concerned with the events of the 1st and 2nd centuries. So instead of being [a book for our times that outlines what the future will be], it is a book mostly about past history where we might see applications and parallels and learn a good deal for ourselves.”

Rev as a book has a prophetic element in the sense that it is speaking for God rather than predicting the future. It is written to console and encourage. The author in symbolism and imagery presents God as vindicator, as savior who will ultimately lead the persecuted and those who suffer to the freedom of a new life.

Rev are reflections on events of the times when believers were undergoing thru persecution and suffering because of their faith. Like any apocalyptic literature Rev makes use of end-of-time symbolism to describe what was taking place during Christianity’s 1st century existence. This called attention to now God will ultimately redeem His people who were unjustly persecuted.

The persecutors are described in symbols (usually fearful symbols) and so once they are understood properly, the book can be seen in its true light.

In Rev the persecutor is the pagan Roman empire that caused havoc to the young Church. The events and symbols described in the book happened for the most part in the 1st 200 years of Christianity. The ‘future’ predictions are actually the future in a very broad sense: evil and good will always be at war, but good will eventually conquer.

Unfortunately, many readers have forgotten the 1st century addressees and not knowing the nature of apocalyptic literature, they think that Rev is an exact prediction of the future, especially of the end of the world. Indeed, there will be an end to our present world somewhere in God’s plan (‘transformation is a better world). But the point is, no detailed outline can be found in Scripture, not in Rev.

Symbolism pervades the Bible; it is one of the media through which God conveys truth. Symbols serve as a vehicle for expressing depth of insight into realities difficult to describe in a more literal way (Good Shepherd to express God’s patient tender compassion and care).

Just about everything in life can be given a symbolic meaning, and that is just what the bible authors did. Throughout the Bible symbols are used to convey truth. Today, in order to understand the author’s meaning, readers must translate the symbols back into the mind of the author. Sometimes it is difficult to grasp the meaning of the symbol. The key to unlock the meaning of symbols lies most often in human understanding of the historical situation at the time the author wrote. Part of this understanding lies in grasping the common symbols used by people of Jewish times.

Numbers

One type of symbol that is common in the Bible is numbers. Scholars have discovered that numbers had a special meaning for the Jews: 7 meant totality or perfection; 6 meant imperfection; 12 meant Israel; 1000 meant immensity; 4 meant the world; 40 meant something like “sufficient for the purpose,” as in Acts 1,3 where 40-day period before Jesus’ ascension meant that he spent the ‘time needed’ to instruct his followers before his appearances stopped.

Another use the Israelites made of numbers is called Gematria—adding the numerical value of the letters that make up a name: e.g., a=1, b=2, etc. (AD 79 Pompeii, the lover hid the name of his loved one by giving the numerical value of the letters of her name. We will see how this Gematria helps us to understand the mysterious ‘666’ image of Rev 13,18.

The apocalyptic book of Daniel was written to encourage the Jewish people, who were on the verge of despair because of Antiochus IV. The 3 ½ years of persecution they underwent under this man caused them to use this number (3 ½ years, 1260 days, or 42 months) again and again as a symbol of any period of crisis.

Cosmic Imagery

Rev 6,12-17 is a dramatized portrayal of the end of the persecution. This is not the end of the world being described here. It is simply another example of what can be termed apocalyptic imagery: symbolic and colorful descriptions that are tools (not to be taken literally) used by the biblical author to dramatize the end of the persecution and the victory that will come over Rome itself.

In a sense it is the end of a world, i.e., the world of Rome and its misused of power and unjust persecution. The reference is only indirectly to the end of the world as we understand the world now. Additionally, these verses are to be taken only in the broad sense: at the end of time God will be clearly shown in His sovereignty and power as the forces of evil are finally silenced/overcome (Unfortunate misinterpretations).

Mark 13,32.

The Millennium

In Rev 20,1-6 John speaks of a thousand-year period or millennium. For some this is a precise period of time in the future in preparation for or immediately following the 2nd coming of Christ (Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that it was inaugurated with the ‘invisible’ return of Jesus to earth in 1914).

For us Catholics, we follow the meaning biblical scholars find in John’s own thoughts (literal meaning). For him, it was symbolic—not literal—period. Thousand in Scripture means fullness, completeness. It is the indefinite length of time that began with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and continues until his 2nd coming and the final judgment of humanity. It is synonymous with Christianity, that faith-experience that stretches through history and is now in its 2000th year.

End times and eschatology relate to the same period. History is perceived by Christians as a series of events leading eventually to the final event, the eschaton in which Parousia or 2nd coming of Christ will take place ‘to judge the living and the dead.’

The ‘end times’ are thus a combination of ‘already’ and ‘not yet’. ‘Already’ because the decisive victory over evil has already been accomplished by Christ; ‘not yet’ because its full realization in our lives and in creation is still not arrived yet.

With this scriptural understanding of ‘end times’ as something already upon us today, we can better understand many images in Revelation such as ‘Satan chained and released,’ ‘Gog and Magog’, ‘666 Beast,’ ‘Antichrist,’ and ‘Armageddon.’

Satan Chained and Released (20,7)

What does John mean when he says that at the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released after being chained for that time? Are we to believe that God will allow evil to run rampant again after Jesus conquered evil by his death and resurrection?

Perhaps the best answer we can give is to say that evil is stubborn and persistent. Evil still remains in our midst even though Jesus overcame it (Satan chained). It’s something like war: even after victory, there is still mopping up to be done. The same is true in our own lives. Although we’ve been converted to the Lord and really changed our former selves, we’re not perfect! Many effects of the evil we and others have done still remain. And if we’re not careful, evil can still pop up its ugly head, especially when our defenses are down.

Satan released is John’s way of describing this reality. He is not telling his readers that at some distant period in history God will set Satan free to mislead us on a grand scale. Rather, he is reminding us that evil can spring up once again in our lives if we’re not careful, and that despite all that Jesus has done for us, we can still finally be lost.

Gog and Magog (20,8)

John says that after one thousand years Gog and Magog will be permitted to attack the people of God. There was a time it was claimed by Hal Lindsey that Gog and Magog refer to the Soviet Union. However, scholars see them as simply ‘mythical summaries’ of evil.

The names come from the OT prophet Ezekiel 38-39. Genesis 10,2 lists Magog as a northern nation. They are for Ezekiel not really historical but personifications whose features are drawn from the kings who conquered Israel, often coming from the north. John simply borrows these images. They remind us, as above, that we must never let our spiritual defenses down. For the forces of evil will again play havoc in our lives just as they have done in the past.

The 666 Beast (13)

The beast and its 666 number have been in the past destructive of church unity. Critics of the Catholic Church tried to show how Italika Ecclesia (in Greek) meaning Italian Church, comes to 666 when the numerical value of all the letters (gematria) is added together. Catholics counter argued by showing the Greek for Luther, Loutherana and Saxoneios (Saxon, meaning Luther) also equals 666. Futhermore, Maometis (Mohammed) and Nabonaparti (Napoleon or Hitler) show the same result.

Going back to the historical setting of the book of Rev, one needs to identify the person referred to by the number 666 and must look to the contemporary time of the author. Who best summarizes in the late 1st century the evil reflected in the image of the beast? Who was responsible for the persecution of the Christians with which the book of Rev deals? As special person now comes to the fore: Emperor Nero!

In July 64 AD, a terrible fire broke out in Rome. It is said that Nero, seemingly a madman, started the fire. He blamed the Christians and a persecution began. During this 1st persecution of the Church, both Peter and Paul were executed. Bishop Eusebius, the 1st serious Christian historian, in his History of the Early Church (early 400’s) tells us: ‘It is recorded that in Nero’s reign Paul was beheaded in Rome itself, and that Peter likewise was crucified, and the record is confirmed…by a churchman named Gaius.’

The name of Nero totals 666. Cesar Nero is written in Hebrew KSR NRWN. Giving the proper gematria to these Hebrew letters (K=100, S=60, R=200, N=50, R=200, W=6, N=50) a total of 666. In his person, Nero represents all the evil of the Roman empire (the beast). He together with the pagan Rome is the infamous Antichrist!

Why does the author of Revelation speak in such hidden symbolism? It was not because he was referring to some mysterious person centuries away in history, but, according to one explanation, because of his fear of being accused of treason. If the material happened to fall into Roman hands, even sterner measures might be taken against the Church. However, recent scholarship suggests that hidden symbolism was not used to avoid persecution and detection, but that it was just part of the literary genre.

MAGPAPARI AKO

     MAGPAPARI AKO

  By: Roimar Montezo

I

Sa libu-libong tao sa mundo

Bakit ako pa ang tinawag mo

Di karapat dapat at makasalanang tao

Di bagay na maging sundalo mo

Refrain

Mahina’t marupok

Tong’ puso’t isip

Koro

Pero bakit? Bakit ako

Isip koy litong-lito

Ano ba ang plano mo sa buhay ko

                                                         Panginoon ako’y may tiwala sayo

                                                         Ikaw na ang bahala sa buhay ko

                                                           Tinawag mo ako at oo ang sagot ko

                                                          oo…oooooooooooooooo

                                                                koro2

                                                         magpapari ako, dahil sayo

                                                   magpapari ako, dahil ako ay tinawag mo

                                                magpapari ako, dahil ito’y kagustohan mo

                                                     magpapari ako, panginoon ko

                                                           ohhhhh….

                                                                   II

                                              Kaya’t sa aking mga syota’t nagkakagusto

                                          Pasensya na may nag mamay ari na tong puso ko

                                               Ipagdasal nyo nalang ako

                                                   Kasi mahinat marupok tong

                                                           Puso’t isip ko

                                                          Koro1 & koro 2

                                                                   coda

All Souls Day Homily

All Souls Day Homily

(Some of the reflections are taken from the reflection of Fr. Abet and Fr. Vir)

MAAYONG BUNTAG KANATONG TANAN!

Karon ang simbahang Katoliko sa tibuok kalibutan nagsaulog sa All Souls Day o adlaw sa mga patay o kalag-kalag. Gihandum nato ang mga nangamatay nga magtutuo sa Ginoo.

Unsaon ba nato paghandum sa atong mga patay isip buhi nga magtotuo? Igo nab a ang pagpintal ug bag-o sa pantiyon? Igo nab a ang pag guna sa sagbot sa palibot? Sakto ba nga maghubog sa paghandum nila? Okay nab a kun g halaran ug suman, biko,litson,tanduay ug uban pa? ing-anaon ba nato sila paghandum?

DIILI! Kay ang sakto nga paghandum kanila mao ang paghalad sa PAG-AMPO. Kabalo kita nga ang misa ang pinakataas nga pag-ampo. Busa kita nga mga buhi katon nga naghandum sa atong mga minatay karun sakto kini atong gibuhat nga naghalad tau g pag-ampo alang kanila. Ang beer, suman, pintal ug uban pa di makadala kanila sa gingharian sa Dios. Apan ang atong pag-ampo makadala kanila sa gingharian sa Dios.

Busa kita karun mga buhi nga magtotuo nag-ampo sa mga kalag sa purgatorio aron malangit sila…samtang ang mga santos sa langit nag-ampo alang sa mga buhi arun makasugakod sa kasakit ug mahimong bulahan.(connection sa All saints day)

Busa ang pag-ampo gamhanan. Ang pag-ampo makaluwas ug makabag-o

Isip nga magtotuo, kita gitodluan sa simbahan nga ang kinabuhisa tawo gasa sa Dios. Matag adlaw, matag minute, matag Segundo sa atong kinabuhi gasa sa Dios. Ug tungod kay gasa man kini sa Dios, ato kining gamiton sa mayo sumala sa iyang kabubut-on. Dili nato kini abusaran, dili usab nato kini usikan.

Ang kinabuhi sa tawo mubo lamang.

Ang kamubo sa kinabuhi dinhi sa kalibutan makapabalaka sa tawong kalibutanon, apan dili sa mga tawong matoohon. Kita nga mga sumusunod ni Kristo mitoo sa iyang gipamulong: “amg motoo kanako dili mamatay kon dili makabaton sa kinabuhing dayon”. Gihimo kita para makig-uban sa Dios. Dili aron magpabilin ning kalibutana. Ang atong pagpangandam dili ra kutob dinhi kondili sa kinabuhi nga giandam sa Dios kanato.

Ang tinuod nga magtotoo angay madasig sa paghatag ug bili sa matag Segundo ning kinabuhi sa kalibutan. Gamiton nato ang matag gutlo sa atong kinabuhi sa paghimo sa kabubut-on sa Dios. Dili nato usikan ang mga adlaw sa pagpakigaway, pagpakigdumot ug pagpakigbungol sa atong mga igsoon ug silingan. Dili nato kawangon ang daghang oras sa pagsugal, pag-inum ug ubang dautang mga bisyo. Hinoon, gamiton nato ang matag panahon sa mga butang nga makahuluganun sama sa pag-alagad sa usag-usa, paghigugmaay, pagpinasayloay ug uban pa. dili nata maghulat og matigulang para magtinarong. Dili nata maghulat nga masakit para mabag-o sa batasan. Dili nata maghulat nga moretiro para motabang sa simbahan. Kon duna tay gusto nga buhaton para sa Dios ug sa isigkatawo, buhaton na nato karon kay basin ugma ulahi na ang tanan.

Sa atong Ebanghelyo karun si Jesus maghukom kanato. Unsaon man nato arun kita maluwas? Kon kita sa matag higayon nagahimo niining mga butanga sa usa ka labing ubos nga igsuon:

• Ang pagpakaon sa gigutom

• Pagpainum sa giuhaw

• Pagdawat sa balay

• Sa pagbisti sa hubo

• Pagalima sa nay sakit

• Pagbisita sa bilanguan

Ug mangutana mo kanako karun. Brother unsaon man namo pagpakaon, painum, pagbisti ug uban pa nga pobre man mi kayo.

Hinumduman nato kini nga WALAY POBRE NGA TAWO NGA WALAY MAIKAHATAG UG WALAY DATO NGA DILI NA MANGINAHANGLAN

Ang Ginoo maghukom kanato dili sa atong physical appearance, kurso nga nahuman, posisyon sa katilingban ug uban pa. kon dili si Jesus magahukom kung unsa atong mga binuhatan dire sa kalibutan.

Nag pakaon kaba, nagpainum, nagbisti, nagdawat, nagalima, ug nag bisita ka ba sa ubos mong mga igsuon?

Hinaut unta!