BEST PREACHING EVER
SPECIAL TALK: KILL THE VIRUS INSIDE
TODAY’S READINGS
Blessing Blog Last Week’s Homily & Talk Message from Bro. Bo Sanchez
First Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Psalms: 66:1-7, 16, 20 Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18 Gospel: John 14:15-21
Lessons Learned During Lockdown We may admit it or not, some of us may be experiencing worry, fear, anxiety attack, and even panic mode to that effect. But as we learned from last Sunday’s talk, why don’t we reflect and list down some of the lockdown life-lessons we learned so far. Here are my personal learnings: - To value relationships is on top of my list -- family, friends, and more so, relationship with God - To value health, our true wealth. You are the Wealthiest if you are the Healthiest! - To live simply - To know your priorities in life - That we are not in control of everything or anything in this world - To live in acceptance and in total surrender to the One who is in control and Sovereign Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” COVID stands for Christ Over Viruses and Infectious Diseases. Be Blessed, Adrian Panganiban
05.17.2020 9:00AM FB Live | Holy Mass, Worship & Talk
Welcome To The New Normal Kamusta na kayong lahat? From ECQ, we leveled up to MECQ. Hindi pa rin pwedeng lumabas para sa ilan. Challenging for some of us. Pero ako, kahit paano, masaya at hopeful pa din. Because I believe slowly but surely we are all moving forward despite this crisis. Darating din tayo sa magandang bukas. Kaya today we will be continuing our talk series. Because I believe that no matter what happens, we must continue to seek God and learn about His word. Knowing this will make us stronger when trials and troubles come. May today’s Feast be your source of hope and strength. Have a blessed Feast today. In Christ, John Ben Rodriguez
BLESSING BLOG There is Hope in Pain By Manny Gaspar II
It was Monday of March 16, my first day of work in my new company. Such overflowing excitement! It took me a bumpy ride for three months to get this job. Before I decided to leave Great Image, I really prayed for this. One consideration is that it’s near Eastridge at Angono, Rizal where I bought a piece of land as part of my investment. The 43-year-old company, whose reputation and patriotic equity in the shoe industry, gave me a warm welcome. My newfound family introduced me during our Management Committee meeting where the president announced its plans should the government declare a lockdown. My Family During Lockdown Yes, billions of people remains on lockdown across the globe. Over 300,000 perished from the COVID-19 virus while there are 3.8M confirmed cases. No cure, no vaccine. It causes fear, most especially to my family. During the Enhance Community Quarantine (ECQ), two of my siblings and my sister’s husband suffered a disparaging situation of cynicism of what will happen next. They all work overseas in crew and cargo ships. The world cancelled all flights and even chartered ships aborted. And suddenly, the news blurted in rampage about a cruise ship in the US with all of its crews infected. Everyone in the family was quivering in fear and suffered anxiety attacks. Was it Mike’s ship? Their companies declared no work, and worst, no pay until further notice up to the end of December 2020. And they will all be sent home until the US and Japan flights opened. Challenges in the Retail Business The new company I am with is closing 60 stores nationwide. The pandemic will hit the retail business big time. Not just in six months but the close projection is two years because of the operational expenses and the impending high rates of importing goods from abroad. We’re having our weekly Zoom meetings for updates. Is it the end of the road for the retail market and other businesses on non-essentials? I don’t know. Apparently, only e-commerce skyrocketed its sales on the onset of the pandemic hitting the highest growth of 22% and growing further. MY OBLIVION The fake news and negativity brought by social media has brought my family more disappointments and worries. It was not helping at all. I decided to be inactive for almost a month and half in all social media blitz. Where is my faith now? The virus that killed many people implies that anyone could be the next target. I have a number of questions and quarantine qualms. Jeremiah 29:11 speaks to me, “... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” THE HOPE Before, I prayed for my new work, good health, the right business, to be debt-free, to bless my relationships with friends and my Feast community. Then I realized that my prevalent feelings reveal my thinking -- “I am doomed... my family line was cursed!” My turning point now is that this pandemic is the world’s problem and people all over the world are coming together to help bring this to an end. Not my selfish egoism, but now I believe that the world needs me now. The world needs you too. The global togetherness will bring light to this unique situation. Realizing that the fight is not mine alone made me feel better. We’re all in this together as a global community. It’s a shared responsibility and the outcome depends on each of us. The beautiful stories of people who shed and dared their lives to save another life is something we need now. These people defined humanity, brought to life its real meaning to the world. Rather than stories of wars, killings, hatred, greed and corruptions, we focus on love. The second greatest commandment written in Mark 12:31. Love and know your neighbors as you love yourself. This has brought us to recognize brotherhood in trying times and to reach out to those who need. I also learned that the world is more colorful when we do things out of love. Isn’t that amazing? Lastly, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30) The coronavirus gives us lessons as we ponder on the past and looking forward to what can we do better as we start anew -- the traffic, the work from home opportunity, acquiring new learnings, more quality time for family, rediscovering your passion and purpose to the world. Let us bring hope, solidarity and love in whatever you do. Let’s think about what we have and what we can give. Changing our perspective to see the positive in any situation will contribute in healing the world that God entrusted to us. Share inspiring stories that will give light to people who are at the edge and losing hope. Despite this suffering, we can grow and prosper. There is hope in pain. I am God’s powerful champion.
LAST WEEK’S HOMILY & TALK HOMILY
Gospel Reading According to John 14:1-12 Fr. Paolo Asprer
Father Paolo shared the four last things in our Christian faith: Kamatayan, Langit, Impyerno at Paghuhukom One of the ironies in life is that we all want to go to heaven, but no one wants to go there early.
Langit or Heaven is a mystery. Heaven is a place. It is our final home where we experience belongingness. Heaven is an experience. It is a seeing and hearing experience, an experience of God and of joy. Heaven is a decision. It is an everyday decision that we do in our life. Heaven is a person. Every time we go to Jesus we experience Heaven.
RECAP
BEST PREACHING EVER Special Talk: Plant A Garden
BIG MESSAGE Prosper in a time of crisis.
This is our new normal. The crisis. But we should pray how can we prosper during this time. We should learn how to prosper during a crisis. There are six lessons that we can learn during this unique situation: 1. Plan to stay. This is our new normal. 2. Plant gardens. When all you want to do is pause, consider learning how to sow in times of famine. 3. Marry and have children. In a crisis, don’t’ put your relationships on hold. We should continue growing our relationships. 4. Have many grandchildren. People still need Jesus. In this crisis, make disciples that make disciples. 5. Multiply. Don’t dwindle away. Crisis is a time to multiply. 6. Work and pray for the prosperity of the city. God is not telling us to work and pray for our city, not just ourselves. The welfare of our city will determine our own welfare. There are two types of rich people. Those whose mission is to only enrich themselves and those whose mission is to prosper everyone. The latter is happier than the former, because he is just a mere steward of blessings in this earth. How can you serve more in this crisis? How can you earn more? How will the new normal look like? We need to retool and reskill. Consider a hyperlocal model for your business. What brought you to where you are right now will not bring you to where you want to go.
Personal Reflection & Discussion Question: Do the two assignments—”Short History of God-Experiences” and “Personal Mission Statement”. Share it with your small group.
Mothers are examples of God’s love. We thank them for sharing the hugs and love of our Father in heaven.
Does Your Future Have A Future? I love my morning rituals. I believe that if you win the morning, you win the day. The very first thing I do is go outside, face the sun with my eyes closed, raise both arms, and absorb the heat in every pore of my skin. I let the warmth bath my body and I inhale God’s Love. (If you’re in a condo, face an open window or go to the roof deck.) Now aside from getting Vitamin D, it’s a spiritual ritual. I say my favorite declarations, such as, “I’m totally, completely, and perfectly loved,” or “This is the day that the Lord has made,” or I say simply, “I’m blessed!”. I also love saying, “God is in my future,” and “God is doing something new.” Others don’t begin their day in this way. They wake up, stumble out of bed, grab their phone, and start scrolling Facebook, and allow whatever they watch to be the first thoughts of their brain. No wonder people feel lousy and grumpy and hopeless. Don’t do that. Speak good stuff into your future! Have a beautiful Feast today! May your dreams come true, BO SANCHEZ The Feast, Founder
Revised Oration Imperata (To be prayed at 12 noon and 8 in the evening)
God our Father, we come to You in our need to ask Your protection against the COVID-19 that has disturbed and even claimed lives. We pray that You guide the people tasked to find cures for this disease and to stem its transmission. Protect the medical experts that they may minister to the sick with competence and compassion. We pray for those afflicted. May they be restored to health soon. Protect those who care for them. Grant eternal rest to those who have died. Give us the grace in this trying time to work for the good of all and to help those in need. We implore You to stop the spread of this virus and to save us from our fears.
Grant all these through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen. (Sub Tuum Praesidium) We fly to you protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petition in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. Our Lady, Health of the sick, pray for us. Saint Raphael, the Archangel, pray for us. Saint Rock, pray for us. Saint Lorenzo ruiz, pray for us. Saint Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.
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