The Salvific Effects of Christ's Death: Christians as one People of God

Image from Desicomments.com

From the gospel of John 11:45-53...

The Second Vatican Council uses this passage as a source when speaking of the universality of the Church:

"All men are called to belong to the new people of God. This people therefore, whilst remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and to all ages in order that the design of God's will may be fulfilled: He made human nature one in the beginning and decreed that all His children who were scattered should be finally gathered together as one (cf. John 11:52). It was for this purpose that God sent His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things (cf. Hebrews 1:2), that He might be teacher, king and priest of all, the head of the new and universal people of God's sons" ("Lumen Gentium", 13).

Santo Niño of Cebu

From flickr.com

Happy fiesta to all the devotees of the Holy Child!

Let us celebrate the feast with deep holiness, humility and trust. Jesus was, is and will always be here to comfort, heal and strengthen our faith.

The first persons to give devotion to the baby Jesus were no less than the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. Followed by the angels and shepherds. Then the Three Magis from the East.

To be aware of Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we ought to follow the examples of those who had seen and heard the Holy Infant -- love, care, praise, humility and adoration. No material gifts are needed except the gift of our body and soul to Him the most high.

Many people swear by their personal experiences of how miraculous the Santo Niño is: health and wealth are mostly I've heard. But we ought not to stop there -- by devotions and thankfulness -- rather, Jesus is calling us and giving us the freedom to change our lives in alignment with God. God's life is better than living only our lives.

Where God is the future, ours is only in the present. God is eternal.

He knows our hearts and knows our paths we are taking and will be taking. This is why God always calls us to holiness and be saints since that is how He expects us to be: saints.

"Almighty God, your only Son begotten from all ages, humbled Himself as a child in Nazareth and became subject to Mary and Joseph. Grant that we may learn from this example Your Will in all things and, holding fast to the dignity of all, serve our lowly brothers and sisters with open hands and gently heart."

Pit Señor!

Prayer and the Things that Matter

If most of us realize now that we have overlooked the things that matter, we can blame that to our so-called "modern" and multi-tasking lifestyle. Our brains can only take so much that we tend to get information overload. We only react to the things that we see and feel and hear in front of us, and forget to see the real person or the essence behind those things that matter. This is where prayer comes in. Prayer can positively change the way you see yourself and appreciate more the things that cannot be seen or felt or heard.

ST TERESA OF AVILA: 
A beginner must look on himself as one setting out to make a garden for his Lord's pleasure, on most unfruitful soil which abounds in weeds. His Majesty roots up the weeds and will put in good plants instead. Let us reckon that this is already done when the soul decides to practice prayer and has begun to do so.

A World At Prayer

A Happy New Year to All!

"A world at prayer is a world at peace" 

Was said by Servant of God Fr Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. was inspired by Alfred Lord Tennyson's

“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

In essence, more things are brought about or made by prayer than the things that are dreamt by men. Prayer brings peace. Because we cannot work, be with our families, dream or play if there is no peace. Peace in ourselves. Peace in our community. Peace in our country.