SIMBAHANG LUMA, MADUMI AT MAINIT

Old, dirty & humid. That's the Church that I go to. The old paint on its wall peels off like dry skin. The dust from the repairs looked like white powder on some of the pew. The fan blades were moving but one can barely feel any wind.

And that's only the visual defects. Marami pa akong depekto na nadinig tungkol sa Simbahang Katolika.

"Makaluma na ang turo dyan!"

"Madumi ang mga pari!"

"Mainit sa Misa, boring ang sermon, pangit ang mga awit"

Some people asked me the same question over & over - "Why are you still with that Church?"

I reply back with a smile & two words. "Why not?"

OLD. Yes, my Church is old. It's 2,000 years old. Actually, it’s 1985 years old if you want to be exact about it. But I don't care if it’s old because Jesus founded this Church. In Matthew 16:18 He installed Peter to lead it, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church"

DIRTY. Yes, a few of our priests did not make the right, moral choice. A few means limited, not many. Pero sabi ng iba, "kahit konti meron pa din kaya hindi na banal yang Simbahan". Ang tao po hindi banal pero ang Diyos ay parating banal. The men that lead the Church may not be perfect but God is perfect. Even the men that Jesus personally appointed failed. One betrayed Him, another denied Him & a lot of them left Him. The Church is Holy not because of its human leaders. The Church is Holy because God's Holy Spirit runs it.

HOT. Why does the Church go against every "hot" topic? Divorce, same sex marriage, EJK, abortion, etc. Basta trending, kontra ang Simbahan. Bakit nga ba? Because the truth is the truth regardless of what era we live in. Si Kristo ang katotohanan (Juan 14:6). When HE says these are wrong, they are wrong. No questions. Jesus is the head & the Church is the body of Christ. Whatever the head says, the body follows.

Pero di ba may iba pang simbahan? Why not attend those? These churches are more hip, modern & open minded.

My answer is simple. Because I am like my Church. I am DIRTY with my sins. I cannot get rid of my OLD bad habits. I become HOT headed with the people who I am supposed to love. I too am DIRTY, OLD & HOT. Yet, God was willing to die to save me. This dirty, old & hot Church is always ready to accept me. This Church is always open for everyone. That's why I love my Church.

This is why I believe and standby my Church. Wala akong takot kahit sino man ang manira sa Simbahan. Because I know that "even the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

Lastly, I respect the other Christian churches. I have a lot of non-Catholic friends. I believe that our teachings have more similarities than differences. I also respect the other religions. Let's not bash or criticize one another. Instead, we are called to respect one another. We are called to love and pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18). May you all have a blessed week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

TIGAS KASI NG ULO KO

I did not follow Waze. Decided to do it my way. Kaya eto, stuck in traffic. E Waze pa lang yan! A mobile app that can make mistakes. Buti na lang traffic lang ang napala ko. Konting hirap, konting tiis pero lilipas din naman. Can you imagine what happens when you don't follow God? 

When you do it your way. E ang layo naman ng DIYOS sa Waze. God can't make mistakes. Kaya mas matindi consequence nyan pag di ka sumunod. 

Hindi lang konting tiis, di lang panandalian. Ang ultimate consequence -- forever ang hirap at forever ka nang malayo sa Kanya.

The lesson is simple. Follow God. Read John 14:6. Sabi ni Hesus dun Siya ang daan. Maniwala ka sa Kanya pagkat mahal ka Niya.

K, yun na lang muna. "GO" na kasi. Baka mahuli pa, matindi ulit consequence nun.

#ShareAboutJesus
#NotyourwaybutHISway
#Reflectionssatraffic

KAILANGAN KITA

a personal reflection on today's Gospel Mark 3:20-35

I knew that he was intently listening to my talk. I noticed that he was taking down notes using his mobile phone. But something was wrong. I don't know what it was but every time I would look at him he avoided eye contact. What's up with him?

I tried my best to ignore him and continued with my talk. As I was about to step out of the venue, I heard someone call out my name. I turned around and saw a young man running towards me. It was him. The one who listened intently & took down notes.

"Sir, thank you!"He shook my hand with his head was bowed down.
"Your message moved me to enjoy life."

I smiled back and replied to him.
"Praise God! Mayroon ka bang gusto ipagdasal ko?"

His reply shocked me.

"Gusto ko na po magpakamatay. But this morning I heard that God wants me to have a full life. Mahal pa rin pala ako ng Diyos!"

He continued with his story. His father was an OFW. His mother passed away when he was a young boy so he grew up with his grandmother. He hang out with the wrong friends who were there when it was fun. But when he was down no one was there. This made him feel alone most of the time. No one was there for him. He felt that the world could move on without him.

This was why he wanted to commit suicide. He felt alone and no one was there for him.

I asked him if I can pray over him before I go. He agreed and we went to a corner to pray together.

Mark 3:33 says And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brethren?"

Are you a good brother or sister to someone?

Tell someone that his or her existence matters. Appreciate the people in your life. They need you & you need them also. Why? Because God designed us that way. We were created for one another - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

ANONG TATAK MO?

Mark 12:17 So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

The coin has Caesar’s image so should return or repay it to Caesar. How about you? Whose image do you carry? Genesis 1:27 says “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

You carry God’s image so you should be with God, not with this world. How? By being holy like God. 1 Peter 1:16 says “for it is written, “Be holy because I am holy.”

Me, holy? Isn’t that impossible? Yes, if we do it by ourselves. But if we let God work in our lives, everything is possible. Jesus declared in Matthew 19:26 says “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

TATAK KRISTO, YAN ANG TUNAY NA PAGKATAO MO! Have a blessed day! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

CHOOSE LOVE

To knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness. — 2 Peter 1:6

Marivi planned to return to Pangasinan to celebrate her mom’s birthday on July 2. But on the evening of June 27, she got a call that brought shocking news — her mother was dead. A robber stabbed her and stole her things.

Marivi rushed to the province and met the suspect who turned out to be an 18-year-old woman. Silence ensued as Marivi looked at the suspect intently while she avoided eye contact. Marivi prayed for God’s guidance when she went home. She felt God say, “See her as I see you. Look at her with love and mercy, the way I look at you. Bring her to me because you are both my children.” The message made her cry. She wanted to complain to God but she knew He had spoken.

The following day at the police station, Marivi noticed that the suspect was in a more remorseful state. She said sorry several times. She gave the police more information about those who were also part of the crime. Marivi gave her a rosary, taught her how to pray, and prayed over her before leaving the police station.

Marivi chose to love and forgive at the most difficult time. She decided to be merciful as God was always merciful. - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

http://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2018-06-04