Of Humble Service

In the gospel reading of February 25 we see Jesus talking to the crowd and to his disciples. Let us put ourselves in the place of his audience. As we intently listen to him,   he turns his gaze upon us and lovingly and yet with firmness,  reminds us among other things of this: 

"The greatest among you must be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;

but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”-Mt. 23:12

Let's pray for a gift of humble service to all flowing from a genuine love for Jesus who's spirit is in us.  

Source of Image: blogs.nsb.org

Source of Image: bradhoffmann.blogspot.com

The Attitude of  Servant. (Mat. 23:1-12)

Join us in our spiritual retreat:

ROAD TRIP

Finding God in Your Life's Journey

March, 16, 2013; 8am-5pm

Venue: Quezon City, Philippines

Fee: P800 per person w/ lunch and snacks

For questions and to reserve a place send an email to: 

wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph

v  walk prayerfully through the many phases of your life

v  discover God as your constant companion on your journey

v  reflect on your transitions in the light of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus

v  uncover the gifts of these transitions

Going Up the Mountain with Jesus

On the Second Sunday of Lent we see Jesus taking Peter, James and John up on a mountain to pray. Mountain is sometimes used as a metaphor to depict huge challenges that we humans have to surmount, sometimes, on a daily basis, something that we tend to avoid or resist. However, in most Gospel accounts, mountain is a place of prayer and a place where Jesus has transfigured.

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True, going up a steep mountain is difficult; confronting problems head on is not fun; and going through any transforming process is no picnic. Yet, atop the mountain, we pray, and we find peace. We meet God and those difficulties are transcended and we experience our own transfiguration as we are strengthened and received assurance that, indeed, the Lord is bigger than the biggest of our problems for He is our light and our only salvation. Come, let us go up the mountain with Jesus and pray. . . where the peak could be found in every heart, our inner sanctuary.  Join our spiritual retreat . . .
                        
                                                                              ROAD TRIP

Finding God in Your Life's Journey

March, 16, 2013; 8am-5pm

Venue: Quezon City, Philippines

Fee: P800 per person w/ lunch and snacks

For questions and to reserve a place send an email to: 

wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph

v  walk prayerfully through the many phases of your life

v  discover God as your constant companion on your journey

v  reflect on your transitions in the light of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus

v  uncover the gifts of these transitions
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Feeling So Confused, Lost, Weary And In Need of Prayer Support? There is power in praying together and for others. Let our intercessory team pray with and for you. "Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them."- Matthew 18:20 Your name will be included in our daily prayers and masses. Sign up in the form below. Name: Email: We value your privacy. Your info are secured with us. We won't share them with anyone.

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Jesus Taught Us to Love All, No Exception!

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies,and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your heavenly Father,

for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, 

and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

Source of Image: capitalvision.org
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? 

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,

what is unusual about that? 

Do not the pagans do the same? 

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Mt. 5:43-48

We call ourselves followers of Christ. Really? If Jesus is indeed our standard, our teacher, our light, our life, our Lord . . . then does it not follow that by his grace we can also love everyone without exception, yet, not the emotional love but the way Jesus has instructed us by his words, passion, death and resurrection? Then,  maybe, peaceful existence wouldn't be that impossible after all.  Tall order? Yes, it will be so. . . only if we have taken Jesus words for granted. Or, does our practice of faith only cerebral, conditional or selective? Unless we embody Christ, we will just continue to struggle hard. For we have ears but do not hear; we have eyes but cannot see. We will continue to allow our divinity within to be obscured by matters that divide. Unless we welcome oneness among us all by going beyond separateness; unless we heed Jesus' teachings to love all, the reality becomes an illusion and the illusion becomes our reality.

Come! Join our Road Trip spiritual retreat. Let something beautiful happen to you. Scroll down to earlier posts for more details.

Are you seeking for a sign?

"When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, " This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. (Lk 11:29)

For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. (Lk 11:30)

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If Jesus is not enough sign for this generation who or what else would be enough? Could it be the realization of our dreams? The fulfillment of our desires? Or could it be the incessant having; non-stop doing to amass power, fame, wealth, comfort and pleasures;  or is it the outside validation that we long and seek for? If  these are the signs that we're looking for, then, we still need to suffer more, until such time that we come to acceptance, surrender and realization that, indeed, there is no other sign that will be enough and forthcoming except Jesus. . . the only sign there is and the only one that we'll ever need!

As one popular preacher used to say, "Whatever it is that you're going through right now, God is enough for you." And I also recall one of his usual affirmations, "May magandang mangyayari sa 'yo." Or, "Something good is going to happen to you!"

Come walk with Jesus as we join this recollection/workshop- Road Trip: Finding God in Your Life's Journey. Send email to wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph or text (097) 794 5354, or call 781 9140. Remember: "May magandang mangyayari sa 'yo." Don't delay. Reserve now! Spots for the retreat is fast filling up. Places are so limited.

Feeling So Confused, Lost, Weary And In Need of Prayer Support? There is power in praying together and for others. Let our intercessory team pray with and for you. "Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them."- Matthew 18:20 Your name will be included in our daily prayers and masses. Sign up in the form below. Name: Email: We value your privacy. Your info are secured with us. We won't share them with anyone.

click here for your free autoresponder

The First Sunday of Lent

On the first Sunday of Lent we see Jesus being tempted by the Spirit which sent him out into the desert (Mk1:12). One of the temptations enticed Jesus to use his power to save himself. To which Jesus replied that he trusts the Father and he lives for Him.

So many times, just like Jesus, we have been and are still confronted by temptations at all fronts. Can we also trust and live for  the Father like Jesus? Or do we instead personify the devil by challenging God to save us? Yes, we do blackmail and manipulate God when we trade on his care- "If you are God, then, save me from my financial woes, from my frustrations and loneliness, from a loveless life, etc. etc, etc.." Or,  "Why this?" and "Why me God?" Yet, despite of all these . . . God beckons us to just come home. . . where we will find the salvation that we've been looking for.

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“Come to me all you who are weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matt. 11:28

Join us in our mini-retreat : Road Trip- Finding God in Your Life's Journey. Send email to wholeingcenter@yahoo.com.ph. Scroll down to previous posts for more details.