BEST PREACHING EVER SPECIAL TALK INSIDE
TODAY’S READINGS
Blessing Blog Last Week’s Homily & Talk Message from Bro. Bo Sanchez
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11 Psalms: 47:2-3, 6-9 Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
An Attitude of Gratitude I’d like to share the narrative sent to me to deal with trying times. It’s something worth reading and pondering on. Seven Short Stories Shared by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella LOOKING BACK. I interviewed my grandmother for part of a research paper I’m working on for my Psychology class. When I asked her to define success in her own words, she said, “Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile.” LOVE CONQUERS PAIN. After I watched my dog get run over by a car, I sat on the side of the road holding him and crying. And just before he died, he licked the tears off my face. TOGETHERNESS. As my father, three brothers, and two sisters stood around my mother’s hospital bed, my mother uttered her last coherent words before she died. She simply said, “I feel so loved right now. We should have gotten together like this more often.” AFFECTION. I kissed my dad on the forehead as he passed away in a small hospital bed. About 5 seconds after he passed, I realized it was the first time I had given him a kiss since I was a little boy. JOY. When I witnessed a 27-year-old cancer patient laughing hysterically at her 2-year-old daughter’s antics, I suddenly realized that I need to stop complaining about my life and start celebrating it again. KINDNESS. A boy in a wheelchair saw me desperately struggling on crutches with my broken leg and offered to carry my backpack and books for me. He helped me all the way across campus to my class and as he was leaving he said, “I hope you feel better soon.” SHARING. I was traveling in Kenya and I met a refugee from Zimbabwe. He said he hadn’t eaten anything in over three days and looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Then my friend offered him the rest of the sandwich he was eating. The first thing the man said was, “We can share it.” Celebrate life with gratitude.
05.24.2020 9:00AM FB Live | Holy Mass, Worship & Talk
Be Blessed, Adrian Panganiban
Babangon Tayo
Isang buwan na lang ay manganganak na ang asawa ko. Excited na kaming makita at makilala si baby. My favorite nightly routine is to lay down on bed with my face touching my wife’s pregnant belly. Bonding time namin yun ni baby. Nasa sinapupunan pa siya pero kinakausap ko na, nilalaro, at kinakantahan. Minsan nakakatulugan ko na siya. Sinisipasipa niya yung mukha ko habang naghihilik ako. Despite the crisis, I thank God because I think it is a beautiful timing. Why? Because with a baby coming soon, it forces me to realize that life must go on. Maraming pagbabago at may mga bagay na maaaring hindi na babalik sa dati, pero ayos lang yun. Kailangan ko pa rin kumilos para mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang anak ko. Wala na akong choice. Then I realized that God is also reminding me that life will go on. He will remain with us. He will continue to bless us. Babangon tayo. Have a blessed Feast today. In Christ, John Ben Rodriguez
BLESSING BLOG Blessings in the Midst of Pandemic By Karla Arceo, Student
It has been months since the outbreak of Coronavirus. A lot of things changed. It has brought distress to most of the people. It worried me so much at the start. I thought about my family, relatives, and the people who I am close with. I thought about the what ifs. Who wouldn’t be worried, right? The community quarantine got me anxious. Just thinking about the many families that will suffer because of this situation scares the hell out of me. In the middle of this crisis, I began to ask series of questions to the Lord.
“How will they sustain their needs?” “How will they survive?” “Why are we experiencing this pandemic?” “What will happen to them, to us, to everyone, Father?” I am so frightened. The growing number of cases is alarming. How can we possibly handle all that? I pray so hard, every night, to seek guidance and protection from Him.
“Let everyone be safe, Lord.” I want to extend some help to others. But how? As resourceless as I am, I simply offer a little prayer for them. It was Easter Sunday when I surrendered everything to Him. I lift up all my worries and the things that scares me to Jesus. I realized that there is nothing to worry about. We are warriors. Jesus is our salvation. This is just a phase. Indeed, the Easter hope rises from the depths. In spite of the situation we are currently facing, many people consider themselves blessed. I am one of them. This trying time has brought my family closer than ever before. We get to spend more time with each other. One of things that I have loved in this pandemic, despite the negativity it brought, is having to reconnect myself to the people whom I loved. I have developed a deeper connection with them. In addition, I have been more productive. Our school has decided to do an online-based education. Due to this, I learned to manage my time well and balance the things I need to accomplish. So many tasks are given yet I am grateful. Regardless of the situation, I can still learn through the online platform. I got to explore the different areas of the internet and many applications. It was hard at first, but in the end I managed to do it. Furthermore, it is a blessing that we have a stable income. My dad is one of the chosen employees in their company allowed to work from home. It is blessing for us because he doesn’t need to travel back and forth while earning a living to sustain the family. Given the ever-changing landscape of the economy, I still sometimes worry. But I have trusted the Lord more. I believe that this situation is an opportunity for us to grow and survive.
Bible Verse “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30 LTV)
Personal Reflection & Discussion Question: Share only to the level that you are willing to share. List down triggers that make you fall into sin. Defeat the enemy while it’s small. Pray together and receive God’s Love.
LAST WEEK’S HOMILY & TALK HOMILY
Gospel Reading According to John 14:15-21 Fr. Bob McConaghy
Father Bob reminds us about the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. While we are unable to go to the confessional during lockdown, we can speak directly to God, our Father, and ask for pardon with all our heart.
“As Pope Francis said, whatever you’re struggling with at the moment, He forgives your sins and wants to be near you for the rest of the journey,” Father McConaghy shared. After confession, it is vitally important that you forgive yourself and let go of the guilt. Don’t look back anymore. Your soul will be as white as snow by His grace. We need not be afraid for we belong to Jesus. When we have receive His mercy, we can rejoice with a joy that the world can never take away from us.
RECAP
BEST PREACHING EVER Talk 6: Kill the Virus
Since the start of this year, the coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the entire world. However, there is another virus that has gone on for the longest time. According to Bro. JB, like the immune system that protects us from physical viruses that threaten our bodies, we also have a “spiritual immune system” which defends us from “viruses” such as lust and our addiction to it. We have to know how to strengthen this defense system for our souls. One of the practical ways is defeating the enemy while small. Adultery starts with the simple act of looking. We have to take care of what we feed our minds, otherwise, we will fall to temptation. Also, be aware of our triggers. We have to avoid the places, people, and situations that we know will lead us to sin. We also need to know what weakens our spiritual defense systems. We have to be on guard when we’re overwhelmed, tired or lonely. We can defeat our addictions. 1. See the Aim of Your Addiction. Every addiction is a desperate hunger for love, a cry for God’s love. 2. See the Atrociousness of Your Addiction. Realize the ugly side of your addiction. 3. Shift Your Attention From Your Addiction to Your Ambition, Then to Your Mission. Your goal is to live a fantastic, passionate life. Falling into sin is like going for something more even when you already have it all. Why lust for something that God has already given us? Lust disguises itself as love. We have to be satisfied with what God has given us for He has blessed us abundantly. And He gave us His true, authentic, and unconditional love.
Jesus Wants Us To Talk About Sex Sex is an controversial word. Drop the word “sex” in a conversation and BAM! It’s like you threw a grenade in the room. You get everyone’s attention. Because sex can mean a thousand different things, all of them charged with emotion. For many, sex means passionate expressions of love. For others, it means making babies. For some, it means lust. For others, it means pain and trauma and abuse and evil. And for others still, it means sin and guilt. Today, we’re asking, “God, what do you think of sex?” You might be surprised by the answer. Have a future-altering 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.
ENHANCE YOUR FEAST EXPERIENCE PRAY OVER, SHEPHERDING AND HEALING (POSH) Need prayers for healing, for that job or exam, to pay off debts and other requests? Email us at thefeastermita@gmail.com
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