02.17.19 | Sunday | 9:00AM | Cinema 3, Robinsons Place Manila
Alone Again (Naturally) Alone Again (Naturally), a song by Gilbert O’Sullivan, was a big hit during the 70s. I appreciated the melody but not really cared for the title or the message. The song connected with listeners on two levels: the heartbroken could commiserate with the singer while it reminded the lucky ones to appreciate their good fortune. In more ways than one, most of us are so scared to be abandoned by a spouse, a loved one, or a friend. It’s a hard and sad truth that, someday, the people whom we consider our forever or whom we thought will be with us for a long time will be gone in no time. Who is left with us? God. And only God can fill up the void, the space, and the emptiness. As another song goes: ‘cause it’s you who fills the emptiness in me it changes ev’rything, you see when i know i’ve got you with me. Be Blessed, ADRIAN PANGANIBAN P.S. I’m currently in the Holy Land of Israel and you’re all in my prayers each day in every place I visit.
Walang Nawawala “Walang mawawala sa iyo, lalake ka naman.” “Ang mga babae ang talo sa ganyan, kasi sa kanila may nawawala.” I grew up hearing these words from my uncles. Coming from a broken family, I had a different frame of mind. So when I joined a youth ministry back in college, it surprised me that they valued moral purity and that sexual intimacy should be reserved for marriage. I found myself struggling with my romantic relationships. As much as I wanted to achieve chastity, I felt bad every time I would fail. In one of my prayers, I heard God telling me, “Actually, merong nawawala. Try observing your behavior.” I realized that premarital sex takes away my will and drive to really work out issues in the relationship. Yung mga dapat pag-usapan ng maigi hindi na nagagawa. When issues always remain unresolved and undiscussed, the relationship usually ends badly. I learned from a marriage counselor that sex is like a strong glue that bonds partners. For married couples, this will keep you together especially in difficult times. But for those in unmarried state, it may lead to premature attachment and will usually cloud your judgement in determining the one for you. That’s why it’s important to practice chastity. Having renewed knowledge about these things gave me the grace to make things right when I decided to court my wife. I thanked God for guiding us every step of the way. I’m now enjoying a happily married life and I’m sure God can do the same with you. Have a blessed Feast today. In Christ, JOHN BEN RODRIGUEZ
Talk 2: Disordered Purity
“One evening, David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, ‘She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’” -2 Samuel 11:2-3 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. –Matthew 5:27-28 NIV, emphasis added
TODAY’S READINGS First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-8 Psalms: Psalm 1:1-4, 6 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20 Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26
BLESSING BLOG My Ministry Leader and Prayer Partner TL Dela Peña shares her story of meeting his boyfriend, Richmond San Juan, and how service and prayer time keeps their relationship faithful and pure. He caught my attention during our first service together in 2016. He played the Alleluia song in rock and roll. Then I saw his long hair and told myself, “Well, kaya pala mapapa-headbang ka sa music dito sa Mass.” The chord pattern fascinated me. I had a favorite progressive band which played the same style as he did with the Alleluia. Richmond was the Musical Director assigned for the 3PM Feast session at the Aliw Theatre (now the 9am session in Robinsons Place Manila) while I served as part of the Chorus. His presence was annoying though. Everytime we’re having fun in the Chorus group, he would give us a fierce look. I muttered in disgust, “Magaling nga siya, nakakaasar naman!” Meet and Greet @ Servanthood 101 He walked around with an air of arrogance, well, at least from how I perceived it. Ironically, I was called to be his facilitator during that event. As much as I didn’t want to, I had to meet and interact with him. The woman he was courting was in the same batch too. That’s when we became friends. We would greet each other during Sunday services. We would tease each other until our friendly banter became a habit. We had long chats and he’d share his heart’s desires. I teased him a lot, almost a bully. I was mean. At that time, my constant prayer was consumed with the desire to marry another man. Funny because that guy was not even courting me! But I so wanted him as my husband. As a prayer partner, I’d also pray for Richmond and his love interest. I wanted him to be happy and stop his unending drama that kept me up at night. Most of the time, my pieces of advice for him were directed to me too. I’d tell him to stop expecting, when I was expecting for a guy to marry me when he wasn’t even noticing me. Eventually, the guy I was praying for proposed to someone else. I laughed about it. I learned to love myself more and found joy while waiting. Not at all desperate in finding romantic love. I enjoyed serving my God the entire day every week. During our small group session, Richmond shared his heartbreak. He decided to retreat to his man cave to cope up and move on. We started communicating again after a few weeks. He asked me out to have dinner. At first, it seemed like casually going out with a friend. Then it became frequent so I warned him not to use me as a rebound girl. From a man cave to cave man, real quick. The Revelation @ The Singles Conference We became even closer. He taught me how to play the guitar and starting showing his intentions. He said he’d miss me because I’d be in an out of town conference. I told him that we can pray and discern about it while being away from each other. At the back of my head, I was also thinking about the handsome guys I’d meet in the Singles Conference. (True enough, there were lots of them! Haha.) While in deep prayer, I gently opened my eyes and in front of me was a statue of a saint, with shoulder-length hair, slender hands, and a pointed nose. Someone looked like him. Then I read the engraved name, SAN JUAN. I was thrilled and I had goosebumps. I asked God if I’d give him a chance. The Big Yes @ Love Life Retreat (LLR) I saw his Richmond’s heart for service while performing with the band. I learned about his love for his family and his loving care for me. So before the LLR concluded, my love life started. I said YES to be his girlfriend. He was so happy and proud that he introduced me to everyone. He even asked Bro. JB and Bro. Didoy to pray over us. That was three months of courtship and a year of friendship. I remembered that years before that, I prayed to St. Joseph to lead me to a partner after his own heart — someone I could serve with, someone who looked appropriate, welldress, pointed nose, same birth month, and most of all, someone who’d love the Lord more than he could love me. I served while waiting. I had crushes. I enjoyed my singlehood, treated myself with good food, and pampered myself with travels. The Struggles are Real and so are Blessings As a couple, physical intimacy was the biggest struggle. We both decided to safeguard the purity of each other. Though difficult, with God’s help and with the recognition that we were more than our flesh, we believed it would be possible. Being both busy at work, passion projects and service, we sometimes didn’t even have time alone together. So we scheduled a regular midweek date to catch up with each other’s stories over dinner. Our Strength: The Feast, Service, Prayer Time The Feast helps us to understand, accept, love and pray for the struggles of each other. The service, enriching talks and empowering leaders allows us to grow individually and as a couple. Richmond is my leader and I honor his decisions. He is also my musical director and outside of it, he is my loved one. More than lovers, we are brothers and sisters in Christ. When we start to feel annoyed with each other, we talk as if we are talking to our own ministry members in the most loving way. We pray for each other like family and have fun like best friends! We have our dedicated common prayer time for each other because we know that it is vital to put God in the center of our relationships. I remembered that Bro JB saying, “Nakita ko si Richmond kung paano sya magmahal. Noon pa lang pinagdarasal ko na sana sagutin na sya nung nililigawan niya.” We were prayer partners even before we become lovers. “Parang hawak ko si Lord sa isang kamay at si Rich nakahawak kay Lord sa kabilang kamay. Siguro naloka na si Lord sa prayers namin kaya sabi nya, “O ayan, hold each other’s hands and I’ll hold you together.” We are far from perfect and we are blessed to belong to The Feast Ermita community and enjoy this love triangle with God.
BLESSED BY THE FEAST? Share your story and inspire our community. Email to a1media.feastbayarea@gmail.com
SCENES FROM LAST SUNDAY “Your Blessing is Coming.” RECAP Looking for Mr. and Ms. Right Talk 2: Disordered Priorities There are three important messages that we can learn from the life of Abraham. You are called to greatness. You can never be too old or too young to make a difference. Do small things with great love. Be the servant of all. We need prayers more than the answers.
You are called to bless. When God calls, He blesses. Where God leads, He feeds. You are called to overflow. We are called to receive God’s love and share them to others. There are three common mistakes while waiting. 1. Oftentimes our dream isn’t wrong, our timeline is. God is never in a rush. God’s timing is perfect. All we need is total and complete faith because it is worth the wait. 2. You want God’s promise but not His process. The real miracle is not the miracle itself, but who you become while waiting. You can create a wish list, work on yourself, walk out of your comfort zone, and above all, worship God. 3. You prioritize the blessing and not the giver. Seek God first. Your waiting deepens your trust, faith and hope. Your greatest need is not a romantic relationship but a relationship with God.
Mahal man ang mga rosas, mas mahal namin kayo. Happy Hearts day to all the single married ladies of The Feast Ermita.
HOMILY
Welcome First Time Attendees!
Fr. Soy Hernando
Gospel Reading according to Luke 5:1-11
Our world today is full of self-assertion. We are the greatest. We are self-made. It’s all about us and our achievements. The gospel reminds us to reflect on our nothingness and sinfulness. There is no reason to stay away from the Lord. We need Him and we pray, “Come with me, be with me, for I am nothing and I am sinful.” God calls us on a mission to lead people to Him and not to ourselves and our ego. How many people have you lead back to God?
ANSWERED PRAYERS For the hope, provisions and blessings. With your love Lord our home is more peaceful. For the harmony in the family. For continuous connection and communication with my employer in Canada. For the patience and humility at work - Hazel Baldemor Thank you for every blessing and provisions for me and my family’s need. For the people who spent time and money with us during our loss. For all those who prayed for us and everyone who send their love and prayers - Anonymous Favorable result of my full abdomen ultrasound. Blessings received, increase of retainers fee and the opportunity to attend the Feast Bay Area Holocaust prayer assembly - Alma Binsol
For good grades and achiever at schoool. For the gift of life and everyday blessing - Krista Golimlim For healing the illness of my granddaughter and myself. For Your love Lord. For the blessings received and good news from my daughter abroad - Virginita Ywayan For passing the scholarship grant. For helping more clients, health and safety of my family - Anonymous For guidance and miracles everyday Lord. For the good health of my parents. For letting me survive financially this month - Lyn Torres
MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER Press The Reset Button I’ve met so many singles who told me, “I’m no longer a virgin, so I might as well do it in my next relationship. What’s the point? There’s nothing to preserve.” That’s a lie. You’re like a diamond that fell on mud. It got filthy, yes, but your intrinsic value remains the same. Wash off the dirt. In the same way, your soul is made in God’s image. He made you His duplicate. I shout this message from the housetops: More important than physical virginity is spiritual virginity. If you fell in the past, press the Reset Button. You can start afresh. You can start anew! Singles and Couples: For the sake of your present or future marriage, commit to purity, chastity and fidelity. Massive blessings will follow you all the days of your life!
May your dreams come true,
BO SANCHEZ
THE BUILDERS: Adrian Panganiban | John Ben Rodriguez Council Heads: Mayvin Alejandro, Gigi Alvarez, Mon Bumatay
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Feast Ermita Bulletin Staff: Media Heads: Ryan Alejandro, Joemer Ernn Embernate Editor in Chief: Judee Quiazon | Editorial Assistant: Krystel Ramos-Tobias Associate Editor: Naddy Sanchez | Copy Editors: Juliann Silva, Jerome Tobias Writer: Mike Llanes Chief Photographer: Ryan Carlo Mahinay Photographer: Kirk Marcus Garing, Wilma Cosme Layout Artist: Robert Quiazon Contributing Photographer: RJ Rosario