What Does Christmas Mean To Us?

Fr. Joey, our Parish Priest shared his time and effort as he conducted an Advent Recollection for both the young and the young at heart, for a better appreciation of the meaning of the season.

Though, it is a good time for more business opportunities and a lot of shopping plus Christmas decorating, we must do our preparation beyond these things, he says.

He reminded us of the basic practice of love as in loving our neighbors, including our enemies. He advises us to look into a deeper indulgence to prayer and good works. He mentioned the works of mercy: the corporal acts and the spiritual acts. He even touched on the 7 Sacraments as a bonus : Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Marriage. He ended the session by leading us to a meditative prayer.

It was indeed a fruitful night for the attendees.

Merry Christmas to all. Prepare, rejoice always and stay awake for we do not know when the exact time shall come.

Thanks Father Joey.

Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Time to prepare.

Advent (from the Latin word adventus means "coming") is a season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ's return.

Source: Wikipedia

A Great Thing

One of the greatest things you can do to help others is not just to share and give
what you have, but to help them discover what they have within themselves to help themselves. Rita Zahara

Suffering, Character and Faith

I was born poor, but poor was not born in me. And it shouldn't be born in you either. You can make it. Whatever you may wish to do with your future, you can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but morning comes always. Suffering breeds character. Character breeds faith. In the end, faith will not disappoint. You must not disappoint.

Manny Pangilinan

Truimphs over Trials

To have hope, you must believe that there are treasures in your trials.
Bo Sanchez

Bo shared that the 3 treasures from our trials are Comfort from God, Character and Compassion for others that are undergoing the same trials as us.

Good and Great

Wow, what a sunny day it is today (after a couple of days of rains and flooded streets).

And so why would I not be joyful and thankful? Life is great. God is good. Just take a look at that wonderful photo taken with my ever-reliable camera.

The sun is up and hot, just what I need to get these bed pillows and sofa throw pillows disinfected (bilad) and the doormat brushed, cleaned and dried to be used again in a while.

Bathing of the dogs? Done (there are two, both took their daily baths).

Laundry? Done. My old washing machine conked out last year, but had a recent replacement, oooh, after many months of a combination of manual washing and expensive automat laundry service, my own washing machine is truly a blessing.

One more task to be done before I cook . . . wash the car, hmmmmm.