A Blessed Christmas 2019

A blessed and Merry Christmas to all. The whole Christian world is again celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ. Let us not forget the spirit of his good teachings, practice and apply it in our everyday life. Jesus saves, Jesus loves, and Jesus is the reason for this season.

(Photo courtesy of WORD Today)

Christ Is Risen! Happy Easter!

Today, Christians around the world is celebrating Easter. It is also called the Resurrection Day celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Here in the Philippines, Filipinos traditionally attend to "salubong" through a procession before sunrise that ends in front of the church with the statues of Jesust Christ and Virgin Mary meeting each other. This morning, I attended the traditional "salubong" at Saint James the Greater Catholic Church in Imus, Cavite. It was a blessed and rewarding experienced to see this tradition after so many years I was away from the Philippines. I want to wish everyone a blessed Easter. We need to remember that Jesus Christ took all of our sins and guilt on himself. Every Christian should follow his good teachings and adapt it in our everyday life and activities. Let's celebrate Easter with hope, love, and new life.

The traditional "Salubong" where the statues of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary

meets on Easter

The statue of risen Jesus Christ on Resurrection Day 

The procession of statues of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary before dawn

The statue of the veiled Virgin Mary 

The Blessed Virgin Mary venerated by Filipino Catholics

The statue of Jesus Christ venerated by Filipino Catholics

Easter Sunday mass at Saint James the Greater Catholic Church after the "Salubong"

Palm Sunday

Churchgoers waving their palm branches to be bless

Worshipers at Saint James the Greater church

I attended the Sunday mass today.  Actually, today is Palm Sunday and it is the start of the Holy Week for all Catholics in the Philippines and around the world.  Palm Sunday is a Christian activity that falls on the Sunday before Easter. It is the day that we remember and commemorate the successful entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. The church where I attended are full of worshipers bringing with them different palm branches for the blessing of the priest after the mass. We are doing this as a tradition to recollect the act that was done by a large crowd when Jesus Christ rode a donkey, entered Jerusalem and people gathered to laid palm branches and their cloaks across the road.

Blessed Christmas

I would like to greet all Christians around the world a blessed Christmas. Every year we celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Philippines, this special occasion is celebrated by Catholics with gift giving, attending mass, get together and bonding of family, and most especially sharing love and kindness to the needy by giving gifts, food, toys, clothes, and grocery items. This is already a tradition for Filipinos and every year this festive mood is evident at every shopping malls around the country. Everybody is enjoying themselves shopping, eating, and buying things they needed during Christmas. 

 

     

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday.  It is the commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at the Calvary. This holiday during the Holy Week is important for most Christians around the world and is observe with solemnity.  The Roman Catholic church treats Good Friday as the day of fast wherein only one full meal is required and abstaining of eating meat.  We should remember that Jesus Christ sacrificed his life to achieved atonement (forgiving our sins).  Let us commemorate Good Friday by way of prayers and praying for the forgiveness of our sins.

You Came Into My Life

You came into my life when I'm alone

In the darkness you became my light.

You came into my life when there is fear

In my anxiety you became my reassurance.

You came into my life when I'm in doubt

In my questions you became my answers.

You came into my life when I feel insecure

In my worries you became my comfort.

You came into my life when I'm in despair

In my misery you became my happiness.

You came into my life when I'm just one

In my loneliness you became my companion.

Jesus Christ, you came when I needed you most

In my life, you are the center and everything to me.

I'm grateful to you for giving this life of mine.

Immortal Love

Everyday is a day of happiness

Never been dull, never been colorless

With all your glory that gives light on my way

Will forever be shining on my very day.

Since you came into my life

Rainbows' hues are always on my sight

It seems like there's always morning

That never ceases into fading.

You are a gift to my existence

Because you are always there to relish me

The goodness of your teachings

Is a powerful guide to my well being.

In times of a stormy weather

You strengthen the foundation of my soul

You give me a strong refuge

That only you can offer.

I'm grateful you are always there

Without you I have no strength

You are the very essence of my consciousness

The will, the mind, that binds us into oneness.

Dear Jesus Christ, you are my love

Bestow me your body and share it to my flesh

I want to feel you, I want to die on you

Your love is immortal, a love that is very true.