PAULINES

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 24, 2022 – Huwebes

Ika – 34 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Lucas 21:20-28

Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Kung makita ninyong nakubkob na ng mga hukbo ang Jerusalem, alamin ninyong sumapit na ang kanyang pagkawasak. Kaya tumakas pa-bundok ang mga nasa Judea, umalis ang mga nasa lunsod, at huwag nang bumalik doon ang mga nasa bukid. Sapagkat ito ang mga araw ng pahihiganti sa kanya para matupad ang lahat ng nasa Kasulatan. Sawimpalad ang mga nagdadalantao o mga inang nagpapasuso sa mga araw na iyon. Sapagkat matindi ang sasapit na kapahamakan sa lupain at ang galit sa bayang ito. Mamamatay sila sa tabak, dadalhing bihag sa lahat ng bansa, at yuyurakan ng mga bansang pagano ang Jerusalem hanggang mabuo ang panahon ng mga bansa. Magkakaroon ng mga tanda sa araw, buwan at mga bituin. Sa lupa’y mangangamba ang mga bansa dahil sa ugong at alon ng dagat, at wala silang magagawa. Hihimatayin ang mga tao dahil sa takot at pagkabahala sa mga sasapitin ng sanlibutan sapagkat mayayanig ang puwersa ng sanlibutan. At makikita nila ang Anak ng Tao na dumarating na nasa ulap na may Kapangyarihan at ganap na Luwalhati. Kung magsimula nang maganap ang mga ito, tumindig kayo at tumunghay dahil palapit na ang inyong katubusan.”

Pagninilay:

Palagi kong naririnig sa mga kabataan na ayaw daw nila sa relihiyon kasi gumagawa lang daw ng mabuti ang tao dahil sa takot sa Huling Paghuhukom. Kung babasahin ang Ebanghelyo sa araw na ito, lubhang nakakakilabot naman talaga ang mga pangyayari sa katapusan ng mundo. Pero pagkatapos itong isalarawan, sinabi ni Hesus na kapag nangyari ang mga bagay na ito, dapat tayong magalak sapagkat ang kaligtasan ay malapit na. Sinasabi dito na ang totoong highlight ng araw na ito ay hindi ang mga delubyo kundi ang muling pagbabalik ni Hesukristo para hukuman ang mundo. Habang hinihintay natin ang pagdating ng araw na ito, katulad ng paghihintay sa pagdating ng isang kakilala, nakadepende ang mararamdaman natin sa relasyon natin sa taong parating. Kapag ang taong parating ay inutangan, ginulangan, o ginawan natin ng masama, tiyak na ang bawat araw ay puno ng pagkabalisa. Kapag ang taong parating naman ay malapit sa atin, ang bawat araw ay puno ng galak at pananabik. Para tayong mga anak ng magulang na OFW na inihahanda na ang mga kuwento tungkol sa mga magagandang bagay na naranasan natin. Kaya’t hindi lahat ng naghihintay sa Huling Paghuhukom ay mga taong takot. Ang mga nagmamahal sa paparating ay nagagalak. Tayong mga Kristiyano ay mga taong sabik!

- Keneth Gadian, Seminarian | Society of St. Paul

Mabuting Balita l Nobyembre 23, 2022 –Miyerkules

Ika – 34 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Lucas 21:12-19

Sinabi naman ni Hesus: “Bago sumapit ang lahat ng ito, dadakpin kayo at uusigin; ibibigay kayo sa mga sinagoga at dadalhin sa mga kulungan at ihaharap sa mga hari at mga gobernador dahil sa aking pangalan. Sasapit ito sa inyo para makapagpatotoo kayo sa akin. Isaisip n’yo na huwag ikabalisa ang pagtatanggol sa inyong sarili dahil ako mismo ang magbibigay sa inyo ng mga salita at karununganng hindi matatagalan o masasagot ng lahat ng inyong kaaway. Ipagkakanulo kayo ng inyong mga magulang, mga kapatid, mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan, at papatayin nila ang ilan sa inyo. At kamumuhian kayo ng lahat dahil sa aking pangalan. Ngunit hindi maaano isa mang buhok sa inyong ulo. Sa inyong pagpapakatatag, ang mga sarili ninyo mismo ang inyong makakamit.”

Pagninilay:

Sa ating ebanghelyo sa araw na ito ating narinig ang wika ng ating Panginoon patungkol sa pag-uusig. Sa ating pagsunod sa kanya maaari rin tayong matulad sa kanya na inuusig ng mga pariseo at iba pang tao na hindi naniniwala sa kanya. May ilang punto na pwede nating tingnan upang maintindihan natin ang ebanghelyo. Una, “preparedness” o kahandaan. Handa ba tayong usugin dahil sa ating mga ginagawang mabuti na salungat sa gusto ng iba? Alalahanin natin na walang ibang daan patungo sa kabanalan kundi ang pagsunod sa daan tinahak ni Hesus – ang daan ng krus. Ikalawa, tiyaga. Kaya ba nating magtiyaga sa sa pagpapasan ng ating mga krus sa buhay, kahit na minsan wala tayong tiyak na patutunguhan? Sa Mabuting Balita, sinasabi ng Panginoon: “Sa inyong pagtitiis ay maipagwawagi ninyo ang inyong mga kaluluwa.” (Lk. 21:19) Ang ating mga pagtitiyaga upang isabuhay ang mga aral nang Panginoon ay siyang magdadala sa atin sa buhay na walang hanggan. Mahirap man ang ating dadanasin bago ito makamtan pero sigurado na tayo ay may gantimpala sa Panginoon sa buhay na walang hanggan. Kaya sa ebanghelyo sa araw na ito inaanyayahan tayo na maging handa at maging matiyaga.

- 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 22, 2022 – Martes

Ika – 34 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Lucas 21:5-11

May ilang nag-uusap tungkol sa Templo, at sinasabi nila na may magagandang bato ito at mamahaling palamuti. Sinabi naman ni Hesus: “Darating ang mga araw na walang matitirang magkapatong na bato sa lahat ng inyong nakikita; iguguho ang lahat.” Nagtanong sila sa kanya: “Guro, kailan ito mangyayari at ano ang tanda na sumapit na ito? Paano namin malalaman?” Sumagot si Hesus: “Mag-ingat kayo at baka kayo madaya. Maraming aangkin sa aking pangalan na magsasabing ‘Ako ang Mesiyas; ako siya,’ at ‘Palapit na ang panahon.’ Huwag kayong sumunod sa kanila. Sa pagkabalita n’yo sa digmaan at mga kaguluhan, huwag kayong maligalig; mangyayari muna ito pero hindi pa ito ang wakas.” At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Magdidigmaan ang mga bayan at naglalaban-laban ang mga kaharian. Magkakaroon din ng malalakas na lindol sa maraming lugar, magkakaroon ng taggutom, magkakaroon ng mga kakila-kilabot na bagay at ng malalaki ring kababalaghan sa Langit.”

Pagninilay:

Sakuna. Sunog. Lindol. Digmaan. Kamatayan. Kapag narinig na ang mga salitang ito ay tila ba likas na kaagad sa atin ang matakot at mangamba. Hindi natin maiiwasan na mag-isip kung may kaligtasan bang nag-aabang sa atin kapag nakaranas tayo ng ganitong mga trahedya. Kagaya ng mga tao sa templo mula sa Ebanghelyo ngayon mula kay San Lucas na nahalina sa kahanga-hangang templo na kanilang nakikita. Ang ating pangamba ay dulot ng pagkalimot na ang lahat ng bagay sa mundong ito ay may hangganan. Ating pakinggan at pakatandaan ang dalawang tugon ni Hesus sa katanungan kung kailan mangyayari ang hangganang ito: Una, mag-ingat at nang hindi maligaw sa pagsunod sa mga bulaan at huwad na mga “mesiyas.” Manatiling nakasunod sa totoong Mesiyas, si Hesus, ang daan, ang katotohanan at ang buhay. Pangalawa, huwag mabagabag sa mga kakila-kilabot na bagay. Ang mas mahalaga ngayon ay ang ating kahandaan sa katapusan higit sa ating kaalaman kung kailan ang katapusan. - Vincent Joseph Bonador

ST. CECILIA l PATRONESS OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS

Feast Day: NOVEMBER 22

I think all music lovers know St. Cecilia, the patroness of music and musicians.  Today, we will listen to her very interesting and unique life story. She learned how to sing very early in life and used to sing the divine praises, accompanying her voice with the lute.  Her image playing the piano or the pipe organ is just a representation since both instruments were invented only in the 14thcentury, while St. Cecilia was born about the year 200 or 230 A.D. Her Christian parents brought her up in the fear and love of God and she spent most of her time helping the poor and teaching others about God. She practiced her religion with much fidelity, and vowed her virginity to God. Her parents who did not know it, gave her in marriage to a pagan named Valerian.

Thus, on her wedding day she was oblivious of what was happening and was singing to God to keep her pure and holy. On the night of their wedding, when they went to their wedding chamber, Cecilia revealed to Valerian that she was betrothed to an angel who jealously guarded her body from any human attempt to own her. Valerian, who was also kindhearted, asked her to show him the angel so that he could believe her. She promised to show the angel to him if he would be baptized. Valerian, arose quickly and went to the catacombs where the Christians were hiding and asked to be instructed, then was afterwards baptized.

When he returned to their home, after a few days, he found Cecilia singing and beside her was an angel with flaming wings, who spoke to them and told them that they would be martyred and promised that God would reward them. When Tiburtius, the brother of Valerian, learned that he was baptized, he came to see him. His attention was caught by the fragrance of two wreaths which the angel brought to the couple. Tiburtius believed their story and asked to be also baptized. Soon, the two brothers began to minister to the needy and the persecuted Christians. They gave their wealth to the poor and gave descent burial to those who were killed. But their work became known to their pagan friends and neighbors. They were reported, arrested and executed. Cecilia took their bodies and buried them.

Upon knowing this, the Roman prefect had Cecilia arrested, and tried to persuade her to deny her faith. When she refused, she was placed in a heated bathroom in her own home, but she survived. After three days, an executioner tried to cut her head with a sword; she was wounded but did not die. She was in pain for another three days and then died a glorious death. Her friends and neighbors sang to comfort her while she was dying. Miracles followed after her burial. During those early days, there was no official canonization yet. The person who lived a charitable and heroic life was proclaimed a saint, and those who were killed for their faith were proclaimed martyrs by the people.  Cecilia was buried in the catacomb of St. Callixtus and was later transferred to Rome in the basilica that bears her name. Her feast day is November 22.

”St. Cecilia, patroness of music and musicians, guide today’s generation to compose decent and useful songs and to avoid singing morally inappropriate songs.”

What kind of songs do I enjoy singing and listening to?

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 21, 2022 – Lunes

Ika – 34 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo:  Lc 21:1-4

Tumingin si Jesus at may mayayaman na naghuhulog ng kanilang abuloy sa kabang-yaman. At nakita rin niya ang isang pobreng biyuda na naghulog ng dalawang barya. At sinabi niya: “Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo na pinakamahalaga sa lahat ang inihulog ng dukhang biyudang ito. Naghulog nga silang lahat sa kabang-yaman mula sa sobra nila subalit inihulog naman niya mula sa kanyang kasalatan ang buo niyang kabuhayan.”

Pagninilay:

Sa panahong ngayon kung saan mahalaga ang “external” na kagandahan at kayamanan, inaanyayahan tayo ng Ebanghelyo ngayon upang isabuhay ang kabaliktaran nito: ang pagiging mababang-loob, at hindi mapag-mayabang. Ibinahagi sa atin ni Hesus ang kababaang-loob na ipinakita ng balo, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pagbigay ng lahat ng mayroon siya. Hindi niya kinailangang ipagmalaki ang kanyang handog, o ibigay at ipangako ang kung anumang ari-arian na wala naman siya. Tanungin natin ang ating mga sarili: Kapag nagbibigay ba tayo, ginagawa natin ito dahil gusto nating sumikat o magpakitang-tao? O ginagawa natin ito ng buong puso, at hindi naghihintay ng kapalit? Noong panahon ni Hesus, ang pag-aalay o paghahandog sa templo ay ginagawa sa pamamagitan ng mga barya. Kung mas malakas ang tunog ng mga hinuhulog mong barya sa kaha ng templo, ay mas sikat at mas mapapahanga mo ang taong nasa paligid. Ipinapakita mo na ikaw ay mayaman! Ang balo, mayroon siyang dalawang pirasong barya, ngunit dito mas humanga si Hesus, dahil ito ay buong-pusong pag-aalay. Sa tuwing nagbibigay tayo, hindi na kinakailangang makita o marinig pa tayo ng mga tao sa paligid, dahil ang mas importante ay ang buong-pusong paghahandog natin. Huwag tayong mahiya kung maliit man ang naibibigay natin, dahil kahit anong halaga nito, ito ay nakatutulong sa mga proyekto ng ating Simbahan - isang paraan ng pakikiisa sa simbahan at sa ating kapwa. - Mark Madronero

ST. GERTRUDE THE GREAT l PATRON OF THE WEST INDIES, PERU AND MEXICO.

Feast Day: November 16

Do you pray for the souls in Purgatory? We must pray for them so that they can enter Heaven at once. The holy souls are also praying for us even if we do no ask them. St. Gertrude, our Saint for today loved to pray for the holy souls. Gertrude was born on January 6, 1256 in Eisleben, Thuringia of the Roman Empire. Orphaned at the age of four she was admitted at the school of the nuns as a student. Gertrude was confided to the care of Mechtilde, younger sister of the Abbess, also named Gertrude. The young Gertrude later joined the monastic community in 1266. She received a thorough education, knowing in fact the Scripture, the Fathers of the Church and the writings of some saints like St. Gregory the Great and St. Bernard of Clairvaux. She was fluent in Latin and well-versed in rhetoric. In 1281, at the age of 25, she experienced the first of a series of visions that continued throughout her life. Gertrude devoted herself strongly to personal prayer and meditation, and began writing spiritual treatises though only some survive today. The longest survival is the The Herald of Divine Love orThe Herald of God's Loving-Kindness, and her collection of Spiritual Exercises. A work known as Gertrudian Prayers is a later compilation, made up partly of extracts from the writings of Gertrude and partly of prayers composed in her style. It is also very possible that Gertrude was the author of a part of the revelations of Mechtilde of Hackeborn, the Book of Special Grace. Gertrude became one of the great mystics of the 13th century. She practiced together with her friend and teacher Mechtilde a spirituality called “nuptial mysticism,” seeing herself as the Bride of Christ. She also wrote Spiritual Exercises. The importance of the Spiritual Exercises extends to the present day because they are grounded in the themes and rites of Catholic liturgy for occasions of baptism, conversion, commitment, discipleship, union with God, praise of God, and preparation for death. Gertrude's Spiritual Exercises can still be used by anyone who seeks to deepen spirituality through prayer and meditation. Gertrude was an early devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The 2ndbook of the Herald of Divine Love is notable within the history of Christian devotion because its vivid descriptions of Gertrude's visions show a considerable elaboration on the long-standing veneration of Christ's heart. This veneration was present in the belief that Christ's heart poured forth a redemptive fountain through the wound in his side, an image culminating in its most famous articulation by St. Bernard of Clairvaux in his commentary on the Song of Songs. Gertrude reported a vision on the Feast of John the Evangelist. She was resting her head near the wound in the Christ's side and hearing the beating of his heart. Afterwards, she asked John if on the night of the Last Supper he had felt these pulsations, why he had never spoken about it. Gertrude died at Helfta, near Eisleben, Saxony on November 17, 1302. Her feast day is November 16. She is patron of the West Indies, Peru and Mexico. Gertrude showed "tender sympathy towards the souls in purgatory" and urged prayers for them. She is therefore invoked for suffering souls in purgatory. The following prayer is attributed to St. Gertrude, and is often depicted on her prayer card: “Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, for those in my own home and in my family. Amen.”

Prayer: “St. Gertrude, help us remember to pray always for the souls in Purgatory.”

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”.