JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

 

Give yourself the best gift this Christmas, Jesus is the reason for this Season. He is the one and only best gift ever! Because there is no true Christmas without Jesus in our hearts. 

JESUS, THE HEART OF SIMBANG GABI (NOVENA MASSES)

"JESUS CHRIST COMES FOR OUR SAKE:
TO SAVE US AND BRING US TO HEAVEN."

Christmas has already been in the air for more than one month now, but in these past days it has taken on a more pronounced emphasis. We see Christmas decorations just about anywhere: supermarkets, shop windows, offices, streets, houses and, of course, churches. We hear Christmas carols at any time of the day and even well into the night.

This all-pervasive external “Christmas atmosphere” changes and moves people. It makes them “compulsive shoppers” and frantic communicators who flood the post offices (and now the Internet!) with tons of greetings.

It brings to churches and chapels greater crowds than usual, including so many who seldom remember to pray or go to Mass during the rest of the year! Such is the common phenomenon in the Philippines every year. It is part of our culture. This year is no exception, in spite of the serious economic crisis.

A question is unavoidable: How much of these activities and flurry of initiatives is genuine, and how much is showiness “palabas”? How much comes from the heart or reaches the heart? How much stops at the purse or comes from the desire to be “in,” to do what everybody else does without really reaching the “core” of what the Christmas Novena should be?

There is great danger that many Christians may miss the essence of what the preparation for Christmas is meant to be.

For many, it may be pretty much like what was going on in Palestine in the days when John the Baptizer started his mission along the banks of the Jordan River. People from all walks of life were flocking to him with unusual enthusiasm and expectation. Many even asked to be baptized, but their lives were hardly changed.

Jesus tried to bring people to reflect on who John really was and what was the meaning of what he was saying and doing. “John testified to the truth . . he was a burning and shining lamp.” (See today’s Gospel.) John’s testimony was aimed at introducing Jesus to the people. John was the lamp ready to be forgotten about and put aside as soon as the Son of Justice – the Messiah – would appear. How many understood that?

What is the meaning and the message of what we do in this pre-Christmas period? Is it just keeping a tradition? Is it just a fad or curiosity, or just our penchant for being together and to celebrate? In the midst of so many decorations, singing, buying, and selling, . . . and even in the midst of our cramming the churches and adjoining patios, we run the risk of “getting lost.”

We should remember that the “core” of the matter is JESUS CHRIST – His Birth, His Person, and His Mission to reveal to us the love of the Father and to give us the Holy Spirit. He comes for our sake: to save us and bring us to heaven. This is the essence. This is what it should be for all of us. The rest is just preparation or decoration.


JESS P. BALON

GOD'S GREAT LOVE FOR US IN JESUS CHRIST

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT
HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON,
SO THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM
MIGHT NOT PERISH
BUT MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE."

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in Him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

As we proceed in our Lenten pilgrimage and approach the dramatic days of the Holy Week, on this last Sunday of March, we are invited to focus on the essence of it all: God’s merciful love for all human beings.

His love for us is eternal. It is patient and wise, kind and strong, resourceful and constant. It is best exemplified in Jesus Christ, the God-Man who willingly laid down His life that every human being might have life, life to the full.

This divine life is ours whenever we open our hearts to Him in faith and let Him fill us up with the light of His presence and grace. Let us humbly return to our Father who in His compassion and great love for us, certainly assured of His warm reception as we implore with faith, hope and love God’s mercy on all mankind.

Euchalette, 22 March 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City, Philippines

JESUS CHRIST, GOD-WITH-US

AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH
JESUS CHRIST, GOD-WITH-US

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through Him, and without Him nothing came to be.

What came to be through Him was life, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through Him, but the world did not know Him. He came to what was his own, but His own people did not accept Him.

But to those who did accept Him he gave power to become Children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became Flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

A Blessed Christmas to all! This is the great day we have longed for, and for which we have been preparing these past four weeks - the commemoration of the earthly birth of God's Eternal Son. No words can express the importance of that event in the history of humankind as well as our personal lives.

In all truth, we can say that, after the birth of Jesus Christ, nothing and nobody has been the same as before, for in Him, God has become a brother to every human being in the fullest sense. God's incarnate Son has come to share our problems, worries, and aspirations, that we might share God's peace and God's very life.

With sincere hearts full of gratitude and rejoicing, let us offer ourselves totally to the Lord as we celebrate this Christmas Day, God's Eternal Love for mankind, in the person of Jesus Christ.


Euchalette, 25 December 2008
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City 1258, Philippines

PRAYER: LISTEN AND LET THE LORD SPEAK TO US

LET THE LORD SPEAK TO US

"Pray not with the impression that you pray to emptiness, but pray to Me as the Being truly present at your side, the One who sees you, who touches you and loves you.

God created man and has impressed in the heart of men the Sign of His Love. God's love is greater than any love on earth. The love of God is a profound reality.

The love of God for His children is not different from the sensitive love of a father or mother for his children.

A human being is like a child to His eyes, is like a child who cannot understand the adult reasoning of his parents. Thus we are before God because the visible world is a state in which our soul should grow and sanctify itself.

Look at Me in the Blessed Sacrament and think that I am looking at you, that I live in a world which includes the visible world in which you are and I see you perfectly well, better than you see your neighbor.

Then speak to Me as to the person who is your Father in Heaven, who sees you as you are, perhaps in adoration, and if you are, I am aware of it.

I listen to your prayer, and the more it is personal, with your heart and soul, with the words of a child who truly entrusts himself to his Father, the more I, God, take your situation into My Hands, and if you trust in Me in everything, and fully cooperate with the Divine Providence, which is the expression of My Will to you, then I will be the happy Father of his child and the child will soon be aware that his Father loves him, truly guides him and helps him to grow in wisdom and grace, before Him and before men.

The difficulties and worries of earth are the consequence of human deficiency which originate in original sin.

They can only be solved with the attitudes and the behavior closest to sanctity, the state of being before sin.

My dear children, love Me, have trust in Me and become saints as Jesus Christ, the Holy of Holies and as the Mother of God, the Most Holy Virgin Mary.

I guarantee the solution to your difficulties along the way.

Holiness is the only way that solves everything, and when it is achieved, it controls weakness, deficiency and corruption.

I love you perfectly and I wish you all to be saints, because only My Saints share in My Glory.

I am the Father of My children, and I have created them, that they may live with Me in eternity. But My children should be holy to enter My Home. I am with you aiming at making you gain Heaven, and I remain at your side on the path that leads to My Kingdom.

I wait for you, and I desire you, then come, yes, My children, come!"

You see dear Brothers and Sisters, the consoling words the Lord addressed to you, personally and uniquely. I am happy to have been the means of transmission of such beautiful words, and I pray that you may not disappoint a Father so exceedingly good and so exceptionally powerful.

I pray for all your intentions, in a particular way for the relief and liberation from Purgatory of the dear deceased ones.

I entrust you to the custody of Mary and Joseph and I assure you, dear brothers and sisters of my religious devotion.


SISTER BEGHE
Translated by Fr. Adolf Faroni, SDB
A MILLENNIUM OF PEACE AND JOY
Printed by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, Philippines

TRUSTING CHRIST'S DIVINE MERCY

"The soul that will go to Confession and

receive Holy Communion on that day shall
obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.
Let no soul fear to draw near to Me,
even though its sins be as scarlet."

Message of JESUS THE DIVINE MERCY
to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

St. Faustina Kowalska was a Polish nun who died on October 5, 1938 at only 33 years of age. She had lived a very simple life proclaiming an extremely simple message: the Heart of Jesus is overflowing with Divine Mercy towards sinners and wants all to come to him with trust-filled love.

This invitation is powerfully expressed in the classic painting of the Risen Christ, which an artist executed under the guidance of Sr. Faustina herself who, on 22 February 1931, had seen Christ with red and pale rays of light emanating from His chest. Those rays of light recalled the blood and water that flowed down from the pierced Heart of Christ on the Cross and symbolized the inexhaustible richness of His merciful love made present and available all through the Sacraments.

Jesus Himself had instructed Sr. Faustina to have the sentence "JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU" written at the bottom of that painting. This sentence expresses the response of humble faith on the part of the sinner to the endless Mercy with which God views mankind and constantly brings about the salvation of the world.

This is the Mercy that brought God's Son to become a human being and to give His life on the Cross for all sinners. This is also the same Mercy that led the Risen Christ to go in search of His Disciples the very day He rose from death, to reassure them of His forgiving love. No revenge for having been deserted by them right when He needed their allegiance most, but only the gifts of His Peace and comforting presence. No bitterness against the doubting Thomas who persisted in rejecting the witness of his companions, but only patient understanding for his weakness, and a tender desire to arouse in him faith in the Resurrection.

"My Lord and my God!" exclaimed the bewildered Apostle as he felt inundated by the love of the Man God who had only words of mercy and forgiveness for him.

"Jesus, remember me when You enter into Your reign!" had been the earnest plea of the man being executed with Him on Calvary as He viewed his life as a total failure and Jesus' Mercy as his only hope. And he was not disappointed.

"Jesus, have mercy on me. I trust in You!" is a powerful expression of complete self-surrender which all of us should address to our Savior as we realize our unworthiness and our need to be forgiven. What can save us from the devastating consequences of our sins is only God's merciful love.

And this is what we implore, in all humility and confidence, not only on this Second Sunday of Easter, but throughout our lives, until our last moments. Like the repentant thief dying on a cross, side by side with the innocent Victim, we place all our trust in Jesus, the King of Divine Mercy.


Father Sal Putzu, SDB
Saint John Bosco Parish Church
Makati City, Philippines

THE HUMBLE HEALER: FATHER FERNANDO SUAREZ

Two years ago, he wouldn't even get a second glance much less a sense of name-recall recognition. Today mention the name of Fernando Suarez, and people from all walks of life go on a frenzy, screaming his name while frantically pushing their way towards him just to touch him.

Although he is a Filipino-Canadian immigrant based in Ottawa Canada, the name Fernando Suarez is unmistakably Filipino, a Batangueno who hails from Barrio Butong in Taal, Batangas. Today February 7, he turns 43 years and is at the prime of his youth in the service of God.

His boyish charm, strikingly good looks and charismatic warm smile are enough to make his followers scream like he was a movie-star; but his real claim to fame are his humility, sincerity and a kind heart. God has indeed chosen well in the person of Fernando Suarez to be His appointee to do his healing ministry.

Father Fernando for all his supernatural ability to heal, is ironically a natural, down-to-earth, warm and cheerful person devoid of any self-pride. He is so intimately people-friendly and accommodating that crowds gravitate and relate to him like they have known him as a long time friend.

One character that is his greatest asset to a fault is his simplicity and humility. Father Suarez strikes everyone as a good-natured and humble person that can be instinctively trusted and easy to confide to; thus everyone always wants to come close to him seeking miraculous favors.

Undeniably, the greatest character of Father Fernando is his humility. Thus, it isn't a surprise that the power to heal has been with him for almost 25 years now and that this gift hasn't gone into his head.

At age 16, for the simple boy that he is, he found it quite difficult to accept the gift of healing that was bestowed upon him by God. He discovered this ability by accident; as he prayed over a paralyzed woman whom he saw and took pity on her.

As he was praying over her, the woman suddenly started to walk and he was stunned by this incident. Without any clue of what is to come, he just kept this incident to himself and didn't discuss it with anyone.

But the gift of healing wasn't meant to be kept in secret, it was destined by God to be shared by Father Fernando for the benefit of those who needs it the most. They are the poor, the destitute and desperate who have lost all hope in life, and have no one to turn to for their physical needs.

Father Fernando clearly acknowledges in all his Homilies in the various Healing Masses that it is our Lord Jesus Christ who actually heals and that he is just an instrument to do His Will.

He elaborates the four specific ways by which Jesus heals: "The Lord heals by His Presence, His Touch, through His Word and by partaking of the Holy Eucharist. It is by your faith in Jesus that you are healed. When you come to Him, humbling oneself to ask for forgiveness and healing, God responds accordingly with great compassion and outpouring of Love."

Father Fernando further stresses that for healing to be complete, one must also receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist in a sinless state, free from sin. For total healing to be absolute, it must be whole and involve the person's physical and spiritual being.

Thus, he emphasizes the importance of regularly availing the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) as a pre-requisite to partaking of the Holy Eucharist. This explains why his healing rites are always preceded with a celebration of the Holy Mass. The gift of healing obtained after the Mass is a supernatural gift that comes from the Divine Healer Himself, Jesus Christ.

And what a supernatural gift it truly is. Modern day miracles such as making the crippled and lame walk, the blind regaining their sight, hopeless terminal cases of incurable diseases disappearing without even a slight medical trace left. There are even recent reports of the recent dead rising back to life.

Of course, these miraculous events are nothing new to Father Fernando. When asked for his reaction on how he felt when he sees his patients instantly being healed in front of him, he replies: "As I touch them, it all seems so natural; feeling nothing special within me, but as I see them get healed before me, I get stunned and deeply moved by the great love that the Lord has for His people."

Most of his patients don't exactly agree to this perception. Many claimed that as they touch him, they immediately felt an electrifying ground-like supernatural sensation warming throughout the entire area of their body most specially the parts that need healing. His touch is so sensitive and warm that it comforts the sick and desperate who comes from faraway places, desiring only to be touched by him as their strong faith brings about fulfillment of their healing requests.

In the latter part of his Healing Masses, Father Fernando prioritizes the critically-ill patients who are bed-ridden on make-shift stretchers debilitated with protruding air tubes from the nose attached to life-support oxygen tanks. Clearly their dismal state emphasizes the need to be prioritized as they desperately anchor on him their last hope for miraculous restoration.

Next in line are those unable to walk and are saddled on wheelchairs. Often, these wheelchairs are placed side-by side and all lined up together in two rows facing each other to facilitate individual healing rites performed on them by Father Fernando.

Routinely, he would hold both hands and lifting them up to encourage the patient to stand; as he guides them to walk independently on their own. Miraculously, they rise up to naturally walk with him as if nothing of their complications ever transpired. Thereafter, he gives the wheelchair to the patient who pulls it out of the aisle walking on their own.

Father Suarez is ably assisted by his fellow Canadian priest Father Jeff Shannon. Both of them belong to the Canadian Congregation of the Companions of the Cross. Many who were healed attests to the healing capabilities of Father Jeff and like Father Fernando, it is a common sight to see people falling unconsciously on their backs after being prayed over by them and "slained by the Holy Spirit".

Always busy but never tired, Fathers Fernando and Jeff are actually on an international healing mission. Over the years, their ministerial work entails extensive traveling to different parts of the world to share their healing gifts to as many as possible and proclaim the greatness of the Kingdom of God through these miraculous healings.

Recently Father Fernando has intimated his desire to permanently stay put in Batangas on the third quarter of 2008 to personally supervise the development of the MONTEMARIA Shrine. MONTEMARIA is a project of Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation (MMPF), an apostolic initiative led by Father Suarez. MMPF is an apostolic endeavor with the aim to "seek holiness in evangelizing and working with the poor through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary".

In one of his dreams, Father Suarez reveals of a plan to install a majestic statue of Mary, Mother of the Poor as tall as the Statue of Liberty that overlooks the horizon, like a beacon of light, a proclamation of love and faith, a steadfast companion and guide for the earthly traveler as he makes his way to God.

His comprehensive developmental plans for MONTEMARIA Oratory of the Blessed Virgin Mary include a Rosary Garden, a Way of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, St. Joseph Chapel, Divine Mercy Chapel, Columbarium and Retreat House that can serve as a way station for pilgrims, complete with board and lodging, restrooms, souvenir shops, conference rooms and bookstore.

A gargantuan feat to undertake for such a simple and humble man. But then God chooses His people very well that He gives them all the help they need. And this project is wholly endorsed by no less than His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales who acknowledges that Father Suarez with his exceptional qualifications is the person most capable of doing that job well.

As devotees of the Sacred Heart, Father Suarez intimately recalls that he was introduced by Cardinal Rosales to Hernando Vitas, a Batangueno businessman whose vision is to establish an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus similar to the one installed in Rio De Janeiro. After much frustration in searching for the right place, Cardinal Rosales then suggested to Hernando and Fernando the proposed Montemaria site as the perfect place to install the Sacred Heart Image.

"It was definitely Providential an Act of Divine Intervention; when you think about it, our Lord Jesus Christ surely wanted to be where His Blessed Mother Mary was to be installed in Montemaria Batangas so it was by His Design that we were introduced to one another!" was all that Hernando can attest to this Divine Plan.

Though plans for the completion of MONTEMARIA may average more than five years of construction, Fr. Suarez remains firmly committed in his objective. Sometime September, he prioritizes plans to conduct his healing ministry in a specific area within the Shrine to be constructed that is destined to become an international Global Healing Center and intended for tourism-related pilgrimage destination.

Already other miracles are simultaneously being reported such as the miraculous healing stones that can be gathered within the mountains and surrounding area of the proposed site. Father Suarez explains this event to be God's handiwork to help in raising the awareness of the people to the sacredness of MONTEMARIA.

Today as you add another eventful year to your fruitful life, may God bless, protect and guide you Father Fernando in all that you do. The Filipino people join hands in prayer to joyfully thank God in the name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ for sending us a humble healer in your person that is Fernando Suarez.

A BLESSED HAPPY 43RD BIRTHDAY FATHER FERNANDO SUAREZ!

For more information on the schedules of Father Suarez healing, please visit his website at www.fatherfernando.com and www.marymotherofthepoor.org.


EDWIN L. YAP
Makati City, Philippines

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