Love Finds A Way

(it is a song written by my heart)

Heart is beating

Falling in love

The fire is glowing more

Waking your slumbered heart

And nothing you can do

But to let it to show

Soul is flying

Feeling lightened

The wind is lifting you,

Is taking your loving soul

And nothing you can feel

But hearts want to tell.

Chorus:

Love has a power, can’t able to fight it

Love has a reason, heart could only know it

‘Coz the reason is love

No matter what walls you build

Love will penetrate

‘Coz love finds its way

Love finds a way.

Words are talking

Hearing music

Ocean is waving you

Is singing out Shakespeare’s words

And nothing you can hear

But hymns from within.

(Repeat Chorus)

Mind is asking

Searching answer

The earth is shaking you

Is kindling your weary mind

And nothing you can know

But love makes you do.

(Repeat Chorus)

  

The Measure You Give Will be the Measure You Receive Back

Reading 1, Dn 9:4b-10

                I prayed to Yahweeh, my God and made this confession: “Lord God, great and to be feared, you keep your Covenant and love for those who love you and observe your commandments. We have siined, we have not been just, we habe been rebels, and have turned away from your commandments and laws. We have not listened to your servants, the prophets, who have spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, fathers and to all the people of the land.

                Lord, justice is yours, but ours is a face full of shame, as it is to this day – we, the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in all the lands where you have dispersed us because of the infidelity we have committed against you. Ours is the shame, O Lord for we, our kings, princes, fathers, have sinned against you. We hope for pardon and mercy from the Lord, because we have rebelled against him. E have not listened to the voice of Yahweeh, our God, or followed the Laws which he has given us through his servants, the prophets.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 79:8, 9, 11 & 13

 

“Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.”

 

Gospel, Lk 6:36-38

 

 Jesus said to his disciples, “Be merciful,  just as your Father is merciful.”

“Don’t be judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back.”

Ask and You Will Receive

Reflection: For March 17

“Remember us, Lord; reveal yourself in the time of our calamity. Give me courage, King of gods and master of all power. Make my words persuasive when I face the lion; turn his heart against our enemy, that the latter and his like may be brought to their end.”

On this current situation of the world, we are many but seems to be alone. The world is so big that  we could not grasp it. On these days, let us ask the Powerful Hand who can not only grasp the world but could take care of it. Let us humbly say to Him, “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” His aid is the best help that we could have. May we not understand sometimes His ways but He knows more what He is doing. Keep on praying. Have faith in Him.

“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.” God knows what we want but the recognition of our humble heart to His goodness could knock His door. He is just waiting for us to be reconciled. We could not have a precious something if we could not know how to ask and seek for it. We are needing a big help thus we need someone who could give big enough to answer the world’s current problems.

We are weak and wounded but we have Him who could give strength to us. As Queen Esther has said,  “My Lord, you who stand alone, come to my help; I am alone and have no help but you.” He is the one who can heal the world. Our world is so much wounded now by sin. Jesus said to the gospel last Wednesday as he preached to the crowd, “'This is an evil generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be a sign to this generation.” (Lk 11:29-30) There is no greater sign than anything or anyone else. Jesus Christ is the ultimate sign of Hope for us. We just need to be vigilant of His presence. Much more, we as His people should enliven His heart in us for us to be also a sign of Hope and Love as what Jonah have done. As gospel have said, “So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you.”

Reading 1, Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25

Seized with anguish in her fear of death, Queen Esther likewise had recourse to the Lord.

        Then she prayed to the Lord God of Israel:

                My Lord, you who stand alone, come to my help; I am alone and have no help but you. Through my own choice I am endangering my life.

                As a child I was wont to hear from the people of the land of my forebears tha you, O Lord, chose Israel from among all peoples, and our fathers from among their ancestors to be your lasting heritage; that you did for them, all that you have promised.

                Remember us, Lord; reveal yourself in the time of our calamity. Give me courage, King of gods and master of all power. Make my words persuasive when I face the lion; turn his heart against our enemy, that the latter and his like may be brought to their end.

                Save us by your hand, help me who am alone and have none but you, O Lord.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

“Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.”

Gospel, Mt 7:7-12

⁷ 'Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened. ⁹ Is there anyone among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? ¹⁰ Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? ¹¹ If you, then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! ¹² 'So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets.

Clover Leaf and the Holy Trinity by St. Patrick

St. Patrick of Ireland

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain”

“St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.”[1] Ireland is celebrating his life today. But, as faithful, the whole world should give him also a thanksgiving act for his courageous example of being follower of Christ.


His analogy using clover is one of the most prominent preachings being used in explaining the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity is the highest mystery of all. It could not be grasped by a human mind.  It is the mystery of all mysteries. Thus, somehow, preachers just used simple analogy in a way that people could understand it though not perfectly.   

Clover Leaf

Today, we commemorate the  feast of St. Patrick of Ireland. In his preaching of the Holy Trinity, he uses the three-leaf clover: one clover, three lobes.  Holy Trinity is a communion of three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yet, this Trinitarian Communion is but ONE GOD.  

As we pray the Apostle Creed or the Nicene Creed, do we really put in our hearts our complete faith. I believe in God, the Father Almighty,... I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,... I believe in the Holy Spirit,... Do we affirm the movement of our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in our life?

“The Trinity is complex but there is no reason to believe that God does not want us to search out its meaning and to begin to use our reason to explore our faith. If we are open to God and meditate on his mysteries, he will teach us “all things”. So we rely on God who works through revelation, not mental gymnastics or inert models.”[2]

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[1] http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89

[2] http://www.examiner.com/catholic-issues-in-detroit/the-holy-trinity-beyond-the-three-leaf-clover

  

Ash Wednesday: "Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."

"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."

1^st Reading: Jl 2:12-18

Res. Psalm: 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
2^nd Reading:2 Cor 5:20-6:2
Gospel:Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

“But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your alms-giving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. ...But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

“Ash Wednesday, in the Western Christian calendar, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days (40 days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It is amoveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as February 4 (February 5 on leap years) or as late as March 10." [1]This year, this day falls on March 9, 2011. " [It] marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption."[2]  "Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice."[3]

On this day, we are being reminded of the humility of our existence. We are only like a dust, and unto dust we shall return. We are weak yet we are blessed because on that weakness, we come to realize that what we absolutely need is the supreme goodness of God.

On this day also, we are being asked of a little sacrifice that we could offer not really for Him but for the benefit of us. We are asked to fast and abstain from worldly things not really to make us isolated from it but to make us strong in terms of our spirituality that we may realize that what more important is God’s grace than any material possesion. This will aid us also for us to be strong in occasion of sin.

This beginning of Lenten season, we may reflected upon the importance of God’s Love and mercy despite of our wickedness and sinfulness. God give us so much value in creation. Having started from the dust, God has clothed us with splendour. He wraps us with His love. Thus, lenten season, as the gospel has said, is not about wearing gloomy gaces like the hypocrites do. It is our way as silent manifestation of our love to Him with so much joy in our hearts. In that way “your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you”.

I pray that this Lenten season may be filled with deepest and meaningful prayers, sacrifice, penance, reflection, fasting and joy which will prepare us for Christ's Resurrection.

Holy Reminder: Fasting and Abstinence

Catholics who are over the age of 18 and under 60 are required to fast, which means that they can eat only one complete meal and two smaller ones during the day. Catholics who are over the age of 14 are required to refrain from eating any meat on Ash Wednesday.[4]

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday

[2] http://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/ashwed.php

[3] Ibid.

[4] http://www.catholic.org/clifea/lent/abfast.php

  

Treat Ni Tabeth

Last February 19, 2011, we went to SM North Edsa. We had this place to plan the next day activity. Through the generosity of our friend, Krizta treated us with a meal at Kenny Rogers. So, in behalf of Karen, and the whole Trip-let's Trip staff (sino ba ang mga yun? hehe), I want to say thank you for the great meal.

Click here for more trip of Trip-let's Trip.

Adieu Makalu

This  poem was inspired by my officemates

in Project Makalu when I worked in Accenture.

I wrote this as sign of my thanksgiving & goodbye

as I give due significance to the memory we shared

as friends. I reminisce the time when I was still there.  

On the third monday of the year twenty-ten

I did exploration in Himalayas mountain range.

Dreaming to climb the highest peak of Everest.

Eventually, destiny had brought me to the mountain called Makalu.

Together with me was the first batch of strangers.

Our lips were all sealed because of unknown scenario.

But after the first word was uttered, the friendship started

Which even after now is strongly bundled.

We were trained to survive the Makalu’s tribal trend.

Igniting to us the light that would help to sustain mountain’s life.

On certain period, we had joined the Makalu tribe at large.

Yes, from that time, we had saw and lived the true mountain culture.

As time went on, many batches of explorers arrived.

They were first strangers and turned to friends,

Altogether, we did our works until we had love what we were doing.

All the Makalunians strived to sustain the mountain’s stability.

Here, I learned a lot of things

Not just the work, but the determination and closeness of everyone.

I had  started to be attached on this mountain

Not because of the environment but because of the friendship.

A few months staying here is a memory to be treasured.

I will miss every emotion I experienced here,

Those laughters and joy would give me tears,

Those sadness and pain would give me smile.

I do not intend to leave the Makalu as soon as this

But probably, life has something best for me to go.

I do not know what lies ahead – better or worst.

But I had to decide because the act of choosing making it the best.

Staying long would be better but it is not always the best.

Saying goodbye would be hard but staying long would be harder.

Life is a constant flux.

In every goodbye, there is always a beginning.

I came here as stranger and no one

But I will leave as friend to everyone,

Then I will go to other place as stranger again

And hopefully, to build another friendship once more.

Our memery we shared is already part of my story

You constructed paragraphs in the book and pictures on my album.

Thus I will miss you ‘coz I will leave

But I will miss you not ‘coz I will bring you in my heart.

Thank you,

Arjanmar, Arjan, Jan, Gab IS SIGNING OFF!!!!

 Trivia: (Source)

Makalu (8,481 m; in Nepal officially मकालु, in China officially Makaru; Chinese: 马卡鲁山, Pinyin: Mǎkǎlǔ Shān; Makalungma in Limbu) is the fifth highest mountain in the world and is located 22 km (14 mi) east of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and China. One of the eight-thousanders, Makalu is an isolated peak whose shape is a four-sided pyramid.