20 oct 2016 mla
fr: st. ambrose (+397, bishop of milan & doctor of the church), dailygospel.org
"... religion comes first and filial devotion second.... For if we have duties towards our parents, how much more to the Father of our parents to whom we owe thanksgiving for our parents?...
He doesn't say, then, that we must give up those we love BUT that we must PREFER God before all....
... our blood relations are among God's blessings and no one is to lose the good things they have received more than the GOD who (gave) the blessings...."
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
buddhism vs christianity
19 oct 2016 manila
> human experience
yesterday, i (prophetically) dialogued with an early adult (age 26) returnee student of ours who's good-looking, well-groomed, well-proportioned and exercised body who:
(a) openly admitted being gay -- having lived in with an older partner (age 39) for 8 years (5 years together, separate houses in the last 3 years but get together on weekends), and (b) is into yoga & eastern breath meditation and is slowly regarding buddhism as a religion as he frequents the fo-guang-shan temple at c. ocampo st. (former vito cruz).
re: (a), i just listened with stunned acceptance as he said it with confidence; ah, although, he said he started getting attracted again with women but felt he needs to be "faithful" to his long-time partner.
re: (b), i clarified between philosophy (buddhism) and religion (christianity) which has REVEALED truths which philosophy cannot reach on its own.
> divine confirmation
this is confirmed by the first reading today!
-- ephesians 3
[4] "... my insight into the MYSTERY of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has been REVEALED to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit."
> human experience
yesterday, i (prophetically) dialogued with an early adult (age 26) returnee student of ours who's good-looking, well-groomed, well-proportioned and exercised body who:
(a) openly admitted being gay -- having lived in with an older partner (age 39) for 8 years (5 years together, separate houses in the last 3 years but get together on weekends), and (b) is into yoga & eastern breath meditation and is slowly regarding buddhism as a religion as he frequents the fo-guang-shan temple at c. ocampo st. (former vito cruz).
re: (a), i just listened with stunned acceptance as he said it with confidence; ah, although, he said he started getting attracted again with women but felt he needs to be "faithful" to his long-time partner.
re: (b), i clarified between philosophy (buddhism) and religion (christianity) which has REVEALED truths which philosophy cannot reach on its own.
> divine confirmation
this is confirmed by the first reading today!
-- ephesians 3
[4] "... my insight into the MYSTERY of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has been REVEALED to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit."
Sunday, October 9, 2016
naaman the leper
fr: readings for the 28th sunday in ordinary time (2016 oct 8)
2 kings 5
[v 15] naaman (an aramean general) "...'now i know that there is no god in all the earth, except in israel.... [17] ... your servant will no longer make burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the LORD.' "
2 timothy 2
[v 12] "... but if we deny him he will deny us. [13] if we are unfaithful he remains FAITHFUL, for he cannot deny himself.' "
2 kings 5
[v 15] naaman (an aramean general) "...'now i know that there is no god in all the earth, except in israel.... [17] ... your servant will no longer make burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the LORD.' "
2 timothy 2
[v 12] "... but if we deny him he will deny us. [13] if we are unfaithful he remains FAITHFUL, for he cannot deny himself.' "
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
love god: aim high!
Re: Commentary on Matthew 22:34-40 (The Greatest Commandment) by Fr. Gil Alejandria, SVD (2015). The Word in other words: Bible diary. Manila: Logos.
"You shall love the Lord, your God, with ALL your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." -- Matthew 22:37
"... To love God with ALL heart, soul, and mind implies a COMMITMENT to spend all your life for God.
It is an ideal that most of us can only do part of the time. We are distracted and tempted by many things and often fail. Perhaps even the most saintly among us cannot say that they can declare 100% compliance to this directive.
I am reminded of the ARCHER who wanted to hit a lofty goal but could not. But at least by aiming high, his arrow would land at a height of glory.
... Our declaration of love for and faith in God becomes credible and visible only when we do CONCRETE ACTIONS of good towards our brothers and sisters...."
"You shall love the Lord, your God, with ALL your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." -- Matthew 22:37
"... To love God with ALL heart, soul, and mind implies a COMMITMENT to spend all your life for God.
It is an ideal that most of us can only do part of the time. We are distracted and tempted by many things and often fail. Perhaps even the most saintly among us cannot say that they can declare 100% compliance to this directive.
I am reminded of the ARCHER who wanted to hit a lofty goal but could not. But at least by aiming high, his arrow would land at a height of glory.
... Our declaration of love for and faith in God becomes credible and visible only when we do CONCRETE ACTIONS of good towards our brothers and sisters...."
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
vows 1
source: dailygospel.org 07 sept 2016
re: celibacy
fr: 1 corinthians 7:28
"if you marry, however, you do not sin...; but such people will experience AFFLICTION in their earthly life, and i would like to spare you that."
re: obedience and poverty
fr: st. gregory of nyssa (C.+395), monk & Bishop. The beatitudes, 1.
"as almost all men have a natural tendency to pride, the lord begins the beatitudes by casting aside the original sin of self-sufficiency and by counseling our imitation of him who is truly blessed, the genuinely voluntary POOR man... so we might become like him in voluntary poverty that is according to our measure so as to share his blessedness, his happiness. 'have among you the same attitude that is also yours in christ jesus. who, though he was in the form of god, did not regard equality with god something to be grasped. rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave' (philippians 2:5-7)
re: celibacy
fr: 1 corinthians 7:28
"if you marry, however, you do not sin...; but such people will experience AFFLICTION in their earthly life, and i would like to spare you that."
re: obedience and poverty
fr: st. gregory of nyssa (C.+395), monk & Bishop. The beatitudes, 1.
"as almost all men have a natural tendency to pride, the lord begins the beatitudes by casting aside the original sin of self-sufficiency and by counseling our imitation of him who is truly blessed, the genuinely voluntary POOR man... so we might become like him in voluntary poverty that is according to our measure so as to share his blessedness, his happiness. 'have among you the same attitude that is also yours in christ jesus. who, though he was in the form of god, did not regard equality with god something to be grasped. rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave' (philippians 2:5-7)
Friday, September 2, 2016
loving self as god loves us
1 corinthians 4:3-5 (NAB)
> others
[verse 3] "It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
> self
"I do not even pass judgment on myself;....
> God
"[4] ... the one who judges me is the Lord.
Conclusion:
[5] "Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes... and then everyone will receive PRAISE from God."
> others
[verse 3] "It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
> self
"I do not even pass judgment on myself;....
> God
"[4] ... the one who judges me is the Lord.
Conclusion:
[5] "Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes... and then everyone will receive PRAISE from God."
loving Love
02 sep 2016
source: st bernard of clairvaux (+1153) (cistercian monk & doctor of the church). sermons on the song of songs, no. 53. Classics of Western Spirituality. dailygospel.org
A. Stimulus
> "In love alone, of all the movements of the soul and the senses and affections, can the creature respond to its Creator..."
> ... the Bridegroom, who is Love, asks only the commitment of love and faith.
B. Response
> "So, rightly renouncing all other desires, she gives herself up wholly to Love, for it is in responding to Love that she is able to return love...
> "For ever if the creature loves less because it is lesser, yet if she loves with all her heart, nothing is lacking where all is given..."
>"This love is nothing other than
-- holy and chaste love,
-- love sweet and tender,
-- love as tranquil as it is true,
-- mutual, close, deep love,
which is not in the flesh but which joins two in one spirit, making two no longer two but one.
As Paul says, "He who is united to God is one spirit with him" (1 Corinthians 6:17)."
source: st bernard of clairvaux (+1153) (cistercian monk & doctor of the church). sermons on the song of songs, no. 53. Classics of Western Spirituality. dailygospel.org
A. Stimulus
> "In love alone, of all the movements of the soul and the senses and affections, can the creature respond to its Creator..."
> ... the Bridegroom, who is Love, asks only the commitment of love and faith.
B. Response
> "So, rightly renouncing all other desires, she gives herself up wholly to Love, for it is in responding to Love that she is able to return love...
> "For ever if the creature loves less because it is lesser, yet if she loves with all her heart, nothing is lacking where all is given..."
>"This love is nothing other than
-- holy and chaste love,
-- love sweet and tender,
-- love as tranquil as it is true,
-- mutual, close, deep love,
which is not in the flesh but which joins two in one spirit, making two no longer two but one.
As Paul says, "He who is united to God is one spirit with him" (1 Corinthians 6:17)."
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