“GOD ALONE IS OUR HOPE…”

Resurrection is not just all about the triumph over death. It also speaks about a transformation of outlook in life.

Such a phenomenon is certainly never new to God, but the awe of those who witnessed it and for you who know about it. Mary Magdalene ceased to be a woman of doubt and she was transformed to an ardent believer. Peter and John strengthened their conviction about him. Your knowledge of this wonderful event transfigures your frustrations to hope, your doubts to certainty, and your misery to contentment. You have carried your own cross, just enough to what you are capable of. Now is the time to claim your crown of glory. God is a master of surprises as long as you never doubt his majesty, for before you knew it, you have already begun your journey towards rising up to a newness of life. God’s great love has given you a new hope to move on.

Never die in your despair, a new dawn has come to bring you welfare. 

“God is with us…”

Prayers and sacrifices are not just expressed through our bruised knees but lived in the reality of our experiences in life.
Though far from having a touch with our church’s Holy Week celebration, the reality of its essence is well manifested in the confines of our homes. Undoubtedly, there is that longing to God’s presence in the Eucharist that we have missed, and that pain of wanting him becomes a meaningful genuine sacrifice to come nearer to his comforting peace. We long to feel the explicit company of the one who saved us. Since the time that ashes were poured on our heads we have spent a lot of Good Fridays from then – the lockdowns, the prohibitions, the uncomforts, the fear, and for the many – the hunger. But we don’t stay here. We have to traverse through our anxieties that behind this storm is a shining cloud of hope and an Easter of a new life. If God conquers death, more so he will conquer our infirmities from this plague.
We can never be despaired in vain, if only we allow God to be risen in our hearts again.

“YOUR CROSS… MY SALVATION..”

It takes a lot of pains to forgive. Yet, it is through these pains that you have been redeemed.

Easier said than done, you let go of this wonderful chance to effect peace and reconciliation. You deny yourself of the humility to participate in God’s quest of letting you back in his fold. You cater to feed your pride rather than defeat it. You endure to suffer the hurt of your resentment than enjoy the smooth breath of having to forgive. You become imprisoned of your own selfish desires. Set yourself free from the bondage of your self-righteousness. As you open wide your heart, feel the presence of an unblemished God who willingly spread his arms to stain himself of what could have had belonged to you. Alone, he bore your heavy loads to let you go free to radiate his unconditional love through forgiveness. As a powerful God, just a word could have had made his perpetrators pay a great price. Yet, in between his breathing, he still managed in emitting, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”

As you start to forgive, be like that repentant thief who heard him say, “You will be with me in paradise today.”

“You alone is my happiness, oh Lord…”

When one becomes grateful of what he has in his life, contentment defines his whole attitude.
Happiness is derived from appreciating simple things that come to your life and much more in bigger ones. It builds up an attitude of bearing a wholesome personality that radiates lightness to other’s perception. God has been wanting you to become a bearer of his joy to inspire and not to despair, to strengthen and not to weaken, to build and not to destroy, to be faithful and not to abandon, and to accompany each journey of a soul who had lost his way towards him, that he may seek his presence. Be thankful in being generous enough to share a smile. A lot of those who meet your eyes needed that. Your grateful disposition resonates a good vibration in letting others feel God’s goodness in you. No amount of trembling atmosphere can ever overcome an ambience of having someone sharing a happy fellowship with you.
Your smile is your inherent gift. It costs nothing save a show of your teeth.

“May I never betray you, oh Lord…”

Probably, one of the most devastating pains one can ever experience is to be betrayed, much more if it comes from a trusted friend.
Trust precedes betrayal since you must have experienced it first with your betrayer. Strive to avoid losing someone’s confidence in you. Learn to value the importance of a good relationship rather than putting your own self-interest in the expense of losing your own credibility. Don’t just be well and famous sans your integrity. Bear in mind that weakness is not just attributed on the one betrayed, but more on the betrayer as the source of a treacherous contamination greater than any virus. Never let others lose their trust in you. Believe that this kind of loss shouldn’t have to occur and can always be preventable. You would have had felt the intense excruciating emotion of pain in the struggles of those who have been left out, and how difficult it was for them to move on. In the anguish of Jesus over Judas’ infidelity, pray and wish that you won’t be doing the same way.
Treat your friend with a genuine face and never delude him with your fake embrace.

“Lead me in your love, oh Lord…”

Be generous enough to give sinners a chance of being loved. Unlike you, they have much the need.
Never cultivate the least of your tendency to ostracize but nourish rather your potential to be compassionate. Avoid harsh judgments by all means. You never knew their pains and how difficult it was for them to struggle with life. They live with alienation in the midst of others’ condemnation and there must be no way for you to add more pains to their inhibition. Grab the moment to be Christ-like in putting them close to your heart than being antagonistic. Never worry with friends, they are already a part of you. Worry, instead, of finding a place in your utmost tenderness those whom you deem unpleasant to host. Your desire to care for the unwanted deserves a merit from God’s deepest affection. The essence of loving is not just exclusive to being reciprocal but more of being altruistic. True endearment never expects of something in return lest it become self-serving. It is heartily given, not asked.
Learn to love not just from your head, but much from the bottom of your heart.

“Let me grow in your love, oh Lord…”

As you begin to reflect the week of passion, focus more on how God loves you, and be glad, more than just to be in sorrow.

Each morning of your life is a beautiful expression of how much God cares for you. He opens your eyes to let you see the new wonders to come if only you permit Him to use you as a vehicle of His love among others. His presence is manifested through the gentle words you speak, the loving arms you extend to help, the listening ears you lend to hear of other’s fate, and your able feet to bring your gift of presence to all you will meet. These will be your weeklong reflections. Be glad that in your unworthiness the opportunities are still offered by Him for you to attain His grace. These are maybe simple things for you to do, but they do start a wonderful meaningful outlook to complete the holy days for you. Start the simple task by sharing a smile, as you journey towards making these days worthwhile.

It’s only when you grow in the love of God, that there will always be no room to be sad.

“Remain with me, oh God…”

Never stop doing good even if others oppose you. Know that you’re on the right track if they do so.

There will always be a lot of those who are never contented with satisfaction. Unwanting of their failures in life, they will always project their frustrations in many of other’s accomplishments. Consider them as spices of your life than being a burden. It’s always better when somebody envies your work, otherwise, your toil is of no importance and doesn’t deserve any recognition. Be grateful instead of their taunts than imitate their lack of appreciation. Never lose heart, as even God was a victim of his own critics. Yet, he proved them wrong when all that he’d done was for the benefit of their own. Strive to win your battle, as you will always be a victor of your every stuggle. Be firm to remain with God. Quitters never win, as winners never quit.

God could never have given us salvation if not for the devil’s intrusion.

 

“Be it unto me..”

She took the risk of losing her marriage, her dear life and good reputation, but nothing had stopped Mary to say her big YES that brought our redemption.

It didn’t matter if she would have lost the earthly treasures just to gain heavenly ones in her simple obedience to God’s will. Her “Be it done to me” signified her total availability to the service of God and to mankind. She surrendered herself wholeheartedly to the unknown plan of God because she believed more in her love to follow Him than pursuing her own wants. She bowed at the lordship of His words sufficed by her humility, her obedience and her servitude. Mary knew the risks of her acts, but she chose God more than her needs, above all her wishes, and put her confidence and obedience to his will. Her trust was her zeal, her total availability was the essence of her virginity, and her obedience speaks of her utmost humility of a total surrender to his divine will. She wasn’t concerned of her pains but thought of pleasing God more than her personal gains.

In her lowliness, Mary brought forth the victory to every soul’s gladness.