PAULINES

Rediscovering the Value of Waiting in this Fast-Paced World | Word and Songs with Sr. Lines Salazar, fsp

Advent is one of those seasons of waiting.  The liturgical calendar offers us two seasons of waiting:  Advent and Lent.  The Advent Season of waiting in joyful hope for the birth of our Lord Jesus often gets overlooked in the rush to prepare for Christmas.  Children are notoriously impatient (as many of us adults). So, advent is a good opportunity to teach the value found in waiting while anticipating the big event.  It slows us down, reorients us around God, and gives us time to reflect, prepare, and rest.

Waiting gives us time to prepare, time to grow in trust, and time for our hearts to be emptied of other things to make room for the coming gift.  We wait for God to fulfill his promise again.  In this liminal time, we ask God to enlarge our hearts and allow us to comprehend the tremendous gift that he has given us in Jesus.  Waiting is a gift.  Let us prepare.  Let us be ready for the sweetness that has come and that is coming again.

You are listening to the daily gospel reflections with Sr. Cloth, fsp

This podcast is brought to you by the Paulines Multimedia. It is our mission to Bring the WORD of GOD to all peoples, through sounds and images, voices and music. Come and join us as we share “A THOUGHT A DAY”.

You are listening to the daily gospel reflections with Sr. Cloth, fsp

This podcast is brought to you by the Paulines Multimedia. It is our mission to Bring the WORD of GOD to all peoples, through sounds and images, voices and music. Come and join us as we share “A THOUGHT A DAY”.

You are listening to the daily gospel reflections with Sr. Cloth, fsp

This podcast is brought to you by the Paulines Multimedia. It is our mission to Bring the WORD of GOD to all peoples, through sounds and images, voices and music. Come and join us as we share “A THOUGHT A DAY”.

Mabuting Balita l Nobyembre 30, 2022 – Miyerkules

Ebanghelyo: Mateo 4:18-22

Sa paglalakad ni Hesus sa pampang ng lawa ng Galilea, nakita niya ang magkapatid na Simon na tinawag na Pedro at Andres na naghahagis ng mga lambat dahil mga mangingisda sila. Sinabi niya sa kanila: “Halikayo, sumunod kayo sa akin, at gagawin ko kayong mangingisda ng tao.” Agad nilang iniwan ang kanilang mga lambat at sumunod sa kanya. Nagpatuloy siya ng paglakad at nakita naman niya ang magkapatid na Jaime at Juan na mga anak ni Zebedeo. Nasa bangka sila kasama ng kanilang amang si Zebedeo at nagsusursi ng kanilang lambat. Tinawag sila ni Hesus. Agad nilang iniwan ang bangka nila at ang kanilang ama, at nagsimulang sumunod sa kanya.

Pagninilay:

Sa araw na ito ating ginugunita ang dakilang kapistahan ni San Andres, Apostol. Sa ebanghelyo ngayon ating nasaksihan ang pagtawag kina Simon Pedro at kanyang kapatid na si Andres. Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila: Halikayo, sumunod kayo sa akin, at gagawin ko kayong mangingisda ng tao.” Ano ba ang hatid ng mga katagang ito sa atin? Minsan may mga paanyaya na kailangan pag-isipang mabuti. Minsan nagdedepende ang ating mga sagot sa taong nagyaya sa atin. May mga paanyaya ang Panginoon na minsan hindi natin pinauunlakan. Katulad ng paanyaya sa pagsisimba sa araw ng linggo. Minsan, marami tayong rason para hindi magsimba. Maraming paanyaya na hindi natin alam kung ano ang ating magiging tugon. Sa Mabuting Balita, inaanyayahan tayo na magkaroon ng kahandaang tumugon sa anumang tawag at paanyaya ng Panginoon. Tularan natin ang mga apostol na sina Simon Pedro at San Andres. Iniwan nila ang kanilang ginagawa, ang kanilang pamilya, ang lahat na meron sila, at walang pag-aalinlangang sumunod kay Jesus. Nagtiwala at sumunod sila, kahit hindi nila nauunawaan nang lubos ang Kanyang paanyaya. Tularan sana natin sila.

- Ernhel Sabatin Dellona, Seminarian | Mission Society of the Philippines

You are listening to the daily gospel reflections with Sr. Cloth, fsp

This podcast is brought to you by the Paulines Multimedia. It is our mission to Bring the WORD of GOD to all peoples, through sounds and images, voices and music. Come and join us as we share “A THOUGHT A DAY”.

Mabuting Balita l Nobyembre 29, 2022 – Martes

Unang Linggo ng Adbiyento

Ebanghelyo: Lucas 10:21-24

Nag-umapaw sa galak sa Espiritu Santo si Hesus at sinabi niya: “Pinupuri kita, Ama, Panginoon ng langit at lupa, dahil inilihim mo ang mga bagay na ito sa mga marurunong at matatalino, at ipinamulat mo naman sa maliliit. Oo, Ama, naging kalugud- lugod ito sa iyo. Ipinagkatiwala sa akin ng aking Ama ang lahat. Walang nakakakilala kung sino ang Anak kundi ang Ama, kung sino ang Ama kundi ang Anak at sinumang gustuhing pagbunyagan ng Anak.” Pagkatapos ay bumaling si Hesus sa mga alagad at sinabi sa kanila nang sarilinan: “Mapalad ang mga matang nakakakita ng inyong nakikita. Sinasabi ko sa inyo na maraming propeta at hari ang nagnais makita ang inyong nakikita pero hindi nila nakita, at marinig ang inyong naririnig pero hindi nila narinig.”

Pagninilay:

Nagalak sa Espiritu Santo at nagpasalamat sa Diyos Ama, Panginoon ng langit at lupa. Ang mga aksyon na ito ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo sa Ebanghelyo ngayon mula kay San Lucas ay isa sa mga pambihirang pagkakataon kung saan tahasang ipanapahayag ang pagkakakilanlan ni Hesus ang kanyang kaugnayan sa Diyos Ama at sa Espiritu Santo. Karapat dapat lang talagang ikagalak ang pagkakataong ito. Isa pang rason ng pagkagalak ay pinili ni Hesus na ibahagi ang kanyang pagpapahayag sa sarili sa mga “sanggol” at hindi sa mga pantas at matatalino. Ang sanggol na tinutukoy dito ay hindi ang literal na batang bagong silang sa mundo kundi ang tao na patuloy na nangangailangan ng aruga ng Diyos at may malalim na tiwala at paniniwala sa Diyos na pumupuno ng kanyang pangangailangan. Sino ba sa atin ang hindi matatawag na sanggol sa ganitong pamamaraan? Yaong tinutukoy ni Hesus na pantas at matatalino. Sila ang mga taong tinuturing ang sarili na may alam na at walang pangangailangan sa Diyos sa kanilang buhay dahil siguro sa kanilang kaginhawan o kinaaaliwan sa buhay. Musmos man o payak sa tingin ng mundo ng mga pantas at matatalino, minarapat na ipanahayag ng Panginoon ang kanyang kalooban at kanyang pagkakakilanlan bilang Diyos sa mga sanggol. Walang duda na mas mapalad nga sa mata ng Diyos sila na kumakapit sa Diyos na parang isang sanggol. - Vincent Joseph Bonador

You are listening to the daily gospel reflections with Sr. Cloth, fsp

This podcast is brought to you by the Paulines Multimedia. It is our mission to Bring the WORD of GOD to all peoples, through sounds and images, voices and music. Come and join us as we share “A THOUGHT A DAY”.

Mabuting Balita l Nobyembre 28, 2022 – Lunes

Unang Linggo Ng Adbiyento

Ebanghelyo: Mateo 8:5–11

Pagdating ni Hesus sa Capernaum lumapit sa kanya ang isang kapitan at nakiusap sa kanya: “Ginoo, nakahiga sa bahay ang aking katulong. Lumpo siya at sobra na ang paghihirap.” “Paroroon ako at pagagalingin ko siya.” “Panginoon, hindi ako karapat-dapat para tumuloy ka sa bahay ko. Mag-utos ka lang at gagaling na ang aking katulong. Mababa nga lang ang ranggo ko, pero kapag sinabi ko sa isa sa mga kawal na nasa ilalim ko: ‘Pumaroon ka,’ pumaparoon siya. At sinasabi ko naman sa isa pa: ‘Pumarito ka,’ at pumaparito siya; at sa aking katulong: ‘Gawin mo ito,’ at ginagawa niya ito.” Nang marinig ito ni Hesus, humanga siya at sinabi sa mga sumusunod sa kanya: “Sinasabi ko sa inyo, wala pa akong natagpuang ganitong paniniwala sa Israel. Sinasabi ko sa inyo: marami ang darating mula sa silangan at sa kanluran para makisalo kina Abraham, Isaac at Jacob sa kaharian ng Langit.”

Pagninilay:

Kung babasahin po ulit nating maigi ang Mabuting Balita narito ang mga kakaiba at nakaantig na mga detalye: Una, isang boss - centurion, ang dumudulog kay Hesus na pagalingin ang kanyang sundalo. Pwede namang wala na lamang siyang pakialam sa sakit nito. Ngunit nagpapakumbaba siyang humihiling kay Hesus ng kagalingan para sa kanyang sundalo. Ikalawa, nagbigay ng complimentsi Jesus. Masaya siya sa pinakitang pananampalataya ng centurion. Taliwas sa lagi nating nababasa sa kanyang mga turo’t pangaral sa kanyang mga apostol: “Panginoon, dagdagan mo ang aming pananampalaya.” “Panginoon, paano nangyari iyon?” “Panginoon, hindi kaya ng limang tinapay na panakainin ang nakararami.” Sa Mabuting Balita, buong-buo ang pananampalataya ng centurion—kaya’t ang sabi ni Hesus, kamangha-mangha ang iyong pananampalataya, wala kang katulad sa buong Israel! Mga Kapanalig, isang bagay ang nais kong bigyan diin. Lahat tayo’y lingkod ng bawat isa. Maaring sa pamantayan ng mundo mayroon tayong mga rango pero sa mata ng Diyos lahat tayo’y mga anak niyang minamahal. Kaya nga ang sabi ni Mother Teresa: “Ang bunga ng pananalangin ay pananampalataya. Ang bunga pananampalataya ay pag-ibig. Ang bunga ng pag-ibig ay paglilingkod. At ang bunga ng paglilingkod ay kapayapaan.” Sana huwag nating kalimutan na tayo’y lingkod at may pananagutan sa bawat isa. Maging masidhi nawa ang pag-ibig sa ating puso upang patuloy tayong maging buhay na Hesus sa ating kapwa. Amen. – Cl. Vinz Aurellano, SSP | Society of St. Paul

ST. BARBARA l PATRONESS BY FIREARMS MAKERS, ARTILLERY MEN AND MINERS

Feast Day: December 4

Our saint for today is St. Barbara, a great martyr of the mid - 3rd century. She is invoked as patroness by firearms makers, artillery men (soldiers, Navy), mathematicians, miners, and those who worked with cannons and explosives. But she is mostly invoked against lightning, the reason for which will be revealed in this story. St. Barbara was born of a rich pagan couple in Heliopolis, Phoenicia (modern Lebanon). After the death of her mother, Dioscorus, her father, built a tower and locked her up there to protect her, as he was a very possessive man. Besides him, only her pagan teachers would associate with her. Barbara was an extremely beautiful girl. She spent her days admiring all God’s creation from her tower and wondered who created all such things. Soon, she realized that the idols her father and teachers worshipped were not true gods. She secretly sought to know the true God and upon knowing Him, she chose to offer herself completely, through consecrated virginity.

When, Dioscorus, asked Barbara to marry one of her suitors, she strongly refused. Hoping that seeing the world would change her attitude, Dioscorus allowed Barbara to leave her tower, but she used this opportunity to meet other Christians and learn about Christianity. She was secretly baptized by a priest from Alexandria. While Barbara was out, her father built a private bath-house for her with two windows. When Barbara arrived, she asked the workers to add another window, to honor the Trinity. Miracles would happen later in that bath-house. When Barbara told her father that she became a Christian, he grabbed his sword to strike her due to his anger. But Barbara ran off. Her father ran after her but she was able to hide in a small hill until someone betrayed her. When Dioscorus found Barbara, he dragged her home, and locked her in her room to starve her. He then brought her to Martianus, the prefect of the city to be tortured. Martianus beat her asking her to renounce her newly found faith. But Barbara was brave and strong. She prayed to Jesus and Jesus gave her the strength to stand firm. Together with Juliana, another Christian woman they were beaten and led naked throughout the city. An angel miraculously came and gave them robes and torches that prevented their torturers to come near them. Finally, Martianus condemned her to death by beheading and ordered Dioscorus to kill his own daughter. Her martyrdom took place on the 4th of December. As punishment from God Dioscorus and Martianus were both struck by lightning and died and their bodies turned immediately into ashes. This is the reason why St. Barbara is invoked for protection against thunderstorm, lightning and fire.

Besides being invoked against lightning and fires and the ones we have already mentioned earlier, it is also St. Barbara whom many Christians pray when someone is seriously sick to be assured that the person will receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion at the hour of death. In the sixth century, the relics of St. Barbara were brought to Constantinople. Centuries later, they were taken to Kiev by the daughter of Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenos. Today, they are venerated at the St. Vladimir Cathedral at Kiev, Ukraine, Eastern Europe. In this modern era there are many churches around the world dedicated to the great martyr, St. Barbara. 

Prayer: St. Barbara, protect us from fires and lightning and insure for us a happy death.

Reflection: Am I ready to defend my faith in God even in the face of death?