FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT B

-


MOST FAVORITE GOSPEL

Pope Francis was surely an unforgettable visitor to our country this  year. He set many records in his visit to the typhoon-ravaged land of Tacloban. There for the first time a pope celebrated Mass in the midst of a raging storm. There for the first time, a pope celebrated Mass in his new outfit, a raincoat. There for the first time, a young Filipina volunteer gave her life for the success of the pope’s visit, dying after a metal scaffolding fell on her due to the strong winds.

Most unforgettable though, and truly historical, was how the pope delivered his homily. He did not use his prepared text. His words were spontaneous, straight from the heart. his message was very simple, to a people who were very simple too. Jesus loves you! On the cross, Jesus joins you! It was a short homily, but it was the best homily one ever heard this 2015.

The gospel today, John 3:14 ff, is the most favorite gospel all over the world. It contains a simple messag that speaks volumes. It speaks the message all of us need to hear. Reading through it, one comes to rediscover hope in life.  God loves the world so much, that he gave his only Son so that life may flow!



You don’t need theology there to understand it. No need for emotional preaching. No need for long elaboration. God loves you! No matter who you are or what you have been doing with your life! God loves you and Jesus gave his life for you so you can life more fully. You are loved!

Many people heard this message and left the Catholic Church to join another church. Why? Because many times we Catholics make it difficult for people to simply find God’s love. We love documents, rules and regulations, formal pronouncements, rigid actions, stinging words.  We have to admit it, we forget to smile and relax and just accept the central message of the gospel: God is love and he loves you!

This lent let us soak ourselves in this love again. Let us share it simply with a loved one or friend. Let us express this faith not in words but through actions of love.

Popular posts from this blog

HOLY MASS IN FILIPINO (TAGALOG)

-
Image
ANG BANAL NA MISA PAMBUNGAD NA AWIT Pari:    Sa ngalan ng Ama, at ng anak, at ng Espiritu Santo. Bayan: Amen P.         Sumainyo ang Panginoon. B.        At sumainyo rin. P.         Mga kapatid, aminin nating ang ating mga kasalanan upang tayo’y maging marapat sa pagdiriwang ng banal na paghahaing ito.             Sinugong Tagapagpagaling sa mga nagsisisi,             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.        Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.        Dumating na Tagapag-anyayang mga makasalana’y magsisi,             Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Nakaluklok ka sa kanan ng Diyos Ama para ipamagitan kami             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Kaawaan tayo ng makapangyarihang Diyos,             Patawarin tayo sa ating mga kasalanan,             At patnubayan tayo sa buhay na walang hanggan. B.        Amen. GLORIA/ LUWALHATI
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 1: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
FIRST DAY: DECEMBER 16   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8   Thus says the Lord: Observe what is right, do what is just, for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.   Hay is the one who does this, whoever holds fast to it: Keeping the sabbath without profaning it, keeping one’s hand from doing any evil. The foreigner joined to the Lord should not say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people”; Nor should the eunuch say, “See, I am a dry tree.” And foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, to become his servants—All who keep the sabbath without profaning it and hold fast to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 2: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
SECOND DAY: December 17   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo   First Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10   Jacob called his sons and said [to them]: “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. “You, Judah, shall your brothers praise—your hand on the neck of your enemies;the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion’s cub, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches, lies down like a lion, Like a lioness—who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his feet, until tribute comes to him, and he receives the people’s obedience.”     A.             Short Background on the First Reading   1. Who was Judah? Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (or Israel). Jacob was considered the father of the nation of Israel and his twelve sons were cons
Read more