Maraming kapatid sa tanging Santa Iglesia Catolica ang nangalalamig sa pananampalataya sa panahon ng pag-uusig, o maging sa panahon ng pansarili o pampailyang problema.
Sa Evangelio ngayon, makikita natin si Tomas, na sa halip ay kasama ng sampung disipulo ni Jesus na manahimik sa pananalangin, ay masyadong nananangis sa kamatayan ni Jesus. Kaya nang si Jesus ay pumaroon sa kanila, hindi natanggap ni Tomas ang kapayapaang ipinagkaloob Niya sa Kaniyang mga alagad.
Gayundin sa atin ngayon, mga kapatid. Ano ginagawa ng karamihan sa panahon ng problema? Nangaroon, nagmumukmok at nag-iisip mag-isa na sa halip ay kasama ng Iglesia sa panalangin at pagharap sa pagsubok ng buhay. Mayroon pa ngang nangag-iiba ng pananampalataya, na sinasabi pang kailangan nilang hanapin kung saan sila kabilang, kung saan sila "belong" o "welcome."
Mali at nakakaligaw ang ganitong pag-iisip. Maling mali! Nasaan ang paglutas sa problema? Nasa sa atin! Sino ang makakapag-"welcome" sa atin? Siya mismo, sa pamamagitan ng ating taimtimang pananalangin! Wala sa ibang tao ang pagwewelcome sa atin, lalo na kung may problema! Sa panalangin, at tanging sa panalangin lamang, mga kapatid.
Manatili kayo sa Iglesia! Ang presencia ni Cristo ay nangasasa-atin, wala kay Manalo, kay White, kay Muhammad, o kung kani-kanino pa.
BAGO MAG-REACT:
Bagama't hindi orihinal na salita, bahagi ito ng pagtuturo ni Rdo. P. Emil Quilatan, OAR kaninang umaga sa Santa Misa.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
A CONTRARY
There was this book in the Philippines entitled "Lovestruck" which my girlfriend read to me a certain paragraph, which got me not only disturbed and alarmed by the falsities it spreads among its readers (which are mostly teenagers), but also a contrast to what God teaches.
The summary of the paragraph suggests that "Good works are like dirty rugs wiped across the floor in front of God."
How could this be, since in the epistle of St. James, Chapter 2, verses 17-19, says:
"17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder"?
See? FAITH, WITHOUT WORKS, IS DEAD!
Furthermore, DEMONS BELIEVE IN ONE GOD. How can DEMONS do GOOD WORKS?
The works condemned by Jesus is the ones without faith; the work of the Pharisees praying, fasting, and giving alms so that men may see and give them praise. Those aren't good works but hypocrisy.
The author should've clarified this, because it might spread wrong belief among the "not-so-Bible-reading" age group, or earn more criticisms.
But all in all, I commend the author of "Lovestruck." My girlfriend and I learned so much.
The summary of the paragraph suggests that "Good works are like dirty rugs wiped across the floor in front of God."
How could this be, since in the epistle of St. James, Chapter 2, verses 17-19, says:
"17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder"?
See? FAITH, WITHOUT WORKS, IS DEAD!
Furthermore, DEMONS BELIEVE IN ONE GOD. How can DEMONS do GOOD WORKS?
The works condemned by Jesus is the ones without faith; the work of the Pharisees praying, fasting, and giving alms so that men may see and give them praise. Those aren't good works but hypocrisy.
The author should've clarified this, because it might spread wrong belief among the "not-so-Bible-reading" age group, or earn more criticisms.
But all in all, I commend the author of "Lovestruck." My girlfriend and I learned so much.
Friday, April 22, 2011
To DEBATE or NOT to DEBATE?
Whether offensive, less offensive, or "not at all offensive," contradicting one's belief or ideology, say, religion, is a debate, nonetheless.
A definition of debate says, a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints. See? A mere discussion which involves two ideas on the contrary, with or without aggression, is already a debate.
The Catholic Church has refused (refused, not forbade. Because, it is by nature that if one's faith is question or offended, of course defense will come next, which will lead to a "discussion," or debate) from such useless debates, simply because it won't do any good; no matter how many history books and Biblical verses her members show as proof that she is the Church established by Christ upon Peter on the first century Anno Domini, pride, and not the sincere search for truth, prevails among the other "Christians."
Some Catholic customs, traditions, and doctrines are ridiculed by these Christian denominations. Say, the venerated images, fasting and abstinence, vow of celibacy, the Papal authority, incense, communion, Holy Trinity, One God, etc. But no matter how hard Catholics, or the so-called Catholic Faith Defenders, try to answer their questions, they refuse to believe the answers.
Hence, the saying: "Do not ask a question if you are not prepared to hear the answer, or will refuse to believe the answer."
But according to an article in a Catholic magazine published in the Philippines called "Know Your Faith: In Defense of the Catholic Truth,"
" The presence of the Catholic Church is a testament that God wishes to include all men and women in His Family. The Church therefore cannot but proclaim that salvation is for all, not an exclusive right given to her members."
In this sense, debates will just be a waste of everything, without the true desire of searching for the truth. Yet again, if the faith has been offended, there will still be those ready to defend it.
A definition of debate says, a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints. See? A mere discussion which involves two ideas on the contrary, with or without aggression, is already a debate.
The Catholic Church has refused (refused, not forbade. Because, it is by nature that if one's faith is question or offended, of course defense will come next, which will lead to a "discussion," or debate) from such useless debates, simply because it won't do any good; no matter how many history books and Biblical verses her members show as proof that she is the Church established by Christ upon Peter on the first century Anno Domini, pride, and not the sincere search for truth, prevails among the other "Christians."
Some Catholic customs, traditions, and doctrines are ridiculed by these Christian denominations. Say, the venerated images, fasting and abstinence, vow of celibacy, the Papal authority, incense, communion, Holy Trinity, One God, etc. But no matter how hard Catholics, or the so-called Catholic Faith Defenders, try to answer their questions, they refuse to believe the answers.
Hence, the saying: "Do not ask a question if you are not prepared to hear the answer, or will refuse to believe the answer."
But according to an article in a Catholic magazine published in the Philippines called "Know Your Faith: In Defense of the Catholic Truth,"
" The presence of the Catholic Church is a testament that God wishes to include all men and women in His Family. The Church therefore cannot but proclaim that salvation is for all, not an exclusive right given to her members."
In this sense, debates will just be a waste of everything, without the true desire of searching for the truth. Yet again, if the faith has been offended, there will still be those ready to defend it.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The LAW exists, ABIDE by it!
Law, written, natural, human or divine has one purpose: to keep our lives on track, not to make them hell.
But still, there are those who carelessly violate it. They, who they think for themselves that they are always right.
They, who hypocrtically follow the "observances" of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, like abstaining from eating meat and fasting on "Lenten Fridays," receiving the Holy Eucharist, etc.
They, who interfere and dictate the lives of other people, which the law doesn't allow, by the way.
Take this as an example. There's this lesbian who's been staying with her "live-in partner" (which the Catholic Church strictly prohibits) in the house of her married sister.
Of course, her sister, married, has two lovely and intelligent daughters, which the lesbian raised with her sister. But as time went on, and upon the death of their mother/grandmother, everything changed.
The lesbian was more agressive. She was not disciplining (which should only be the case, but still a violation of PD 604, Title II, Chapter I, Section A, Art. 17) the children, but abusing them (violation of entire PD 604), emotionally, verbally, physically, and even spiritually (violation of Revised Penal Code article 133).
Mind you, she once confiscated the laptop (property of the children's father) used by her nieces, and willfully and consciously threw the modem (which is almost a foot high, half foot wide, and an inch thick, and some "3-digit gram" heavy) at one of the minor-aged girls. Good thing she wasn't hit.
She also slapped her niece loudly when the girl couldn't resist the treatment of their lesbian aunt. The girl mentioned their rights (which was the right thing to do) and, stepped on, the lesbian reacted violently.
The other things were of the same "intensity."
If she really knows what the law is, she'd abide by it. She should act according to her age, and status as an adult.
But I guess she doesn't know what the simple, three-letter word "law" means, or actually is. By then, her observance of all the Roman Catholic customs and doctrines (that includes prayers), are all in vain.
By the way, in Matthew 7:12, it says:
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
But still, there are those who carelessly violate it. They, who they think for themselves that they are always right.
They, who hypocrtically follow the "observances" of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, like abstaining from eating meat and fasting on "Lenten Fridays," receiving the Holy Eucharist, etc.
They, who interfere and dictate the lives of other people, which the law doesn't allow, by the way.
Take this as an example. There's this lesbian who's been staying with her "live-in partner" (which the Catholic Church strictly prohibits) in the house of her married sister.
Of course, her sister, married, has two lovely and intelligent daughters, which the lesbian raised with her sister. But as time went on, and upon the death of their mother/grandmother, everything changed.
The lesbian was more agressive. She was not disciplining (which should only be the case, but still a violation of PD 604, Title II, Chapter I, Section A, Art. 17) the children, but abusing them (violation of entire PD 604), emotionally, verbally, physically, and even spiritually (violation of Revised Penal Code article 133).
Mind you, she once confiscated the laptop (property of the children's father) used by her nieces, and willfully and consciously threw the modem (which is almost a foot high, half foot wide, and an inch thick, and some "3-digit gram" heavy) at one of the minor-aged girls. Good thing she wasn't hit.
She also slapped her niece loudly when the girl couldn't resist the treatment of their lesbian aunt. The girl mentioned their rights (which was the right thing to do) and, stepped on, the lesbian reacted violently.
The other things were of the same "intensity."
If she really knows what the law is, she'd abide by it. She should act according to her age, and status as an adult.
But I guess she doesn't know what the simple, three-letter word "law" means, or actually is. By then, her observance of all the Roman Catholic customs and doctrines (that includes prayers), are all in vain.
By the way, in Matthew 7:12, it says:
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
As SLAVES..
In our world today, the Biblical term "slaves" may refer to maid or menservants, "katulong" in Filipino.
What does the Bible teach about them, err, teach them?
In Ephesians chapter 6, verses 5 to 8, we read,
" Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. "
Obey with what? Respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. But mere violation of their master's (which includes their heirs or descendants) privacy is not, and never will be obedience with the aforementioned traits. Never shall it also be obedience to CHRIST.
How shall they obey, and serve? Obey [them] not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
But, arrogance, back talking, interference to family affairs, bearing false testimony, is a contrary to what was written above. Moreover, the Lord won't be rewarding them if they continue to do evil deeds.
Speaking of evil deeds, here's what the Bible, in the book of Proverbs, chapter 5 verse 22, says:
"The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
the cords of their sins hold them fast."Ensnare, as in the evil deeds hold the wicked as captives. Captives from the grace of the Lord. Common sense, you chose to live wickedly, away you are from the Lord God.
But oh yes, I recalled, again in Proverbs, this time in chapter-verses 23:9 and 24:7,
" Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice."
" Wisdom is too lofty for fools.
Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say."
Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say."
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