Divine confirmation - Thirty-seven

Gospel Lk 14:1, 7-11

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,
noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not recline at table in the place of honor.
A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,
'Give your place to this man,'
and then you would proceed with embarrassment
to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited,
go and take the lowest place
so that when the host comes to you he may say,
'My friend, move up to a higher position.'
Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
source: usccb.org

Reblogged: 'No clapping during Lent'

'THE HEART WHERE I WILL SPEAK': 'No clapping during Lent': Earlier when this blog was not yet transitioning to what it is now, the Lord already made me feel of the positive Archdiocese response to this calling. Reason, I was reminded of the need to humble myself when this time comes. To keep myself low, I had lived as homeless and have accepted humble duties. I am made aware of the dilemma of obeying the Lord speaking through this blog and one is I might have become spiritually proud. Personally, I wish I have been out of this hometown or I have been elsewhere so I won't be able to see you obeying the Lord, lest I become proud. We cannot be proud, however, if we are physically ill. One may appear robust but in reality possesses the gift of a "thorn in the flesh" to keep him down by the Divine Will. It is not your problem to keep me humble; it is the Lord's concern and mine. Your problem is to obey the Lord's directives shown in this blog. Your obedience is your own humility. You need, as well, to humble yourself. Please do not think of me becoming proud when you obey the Lord because, by so doing, you are doing it for the Lord and this is the desire of my spirit -- for the greater glory of God -- and we benefit from observing this foremost duty of mankind which is to "love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind," the first of the Ten Commandments. God does not need to be glorified because He is already Glory Himself. We glorify Him because it is rightly for us to be doing so, being creatures of a Creator; and we benefit from glorifying God. Being reverent to His Eucharistic Presence here on earth has positive effect to the Archdiocese and the whole nation in general. Thus, the Archdiocese will be a light, an example for the whole nation to see and emulate, therefore the world. The Lord let me see how you struggle to obey. You have had a notice on the projector screen at the Cathedral saying to stop clapping during Masses for the duration of the Lent season. A priest, however, seeing me in the Mass one First Saturday, despite the notice flashed on the screen, did otherwise. The priest encouraged the congregation several times to clap within the Mass he officiated and I attended. I have a feeling to leave the hometown so the Archdiocese can obey the Lord's bidding freely. Let me tell you the stoppage of clapping during Masses in this year's season of Lent has damaging effect on the enemies of this nation and the Philippine Church. The spirit of the "enemies" within the person of the highest VIP of the land is trembling in fear, exposing his guilt in the process if you read between the lines the speeches he delivered regarding the ICC. Here is a warning, though. Since the stoppage of clapping is only intended within Lent, it is understandable clapping is to resume on Easter and onward. Meaning to say, the VIP will be able to recover from the damage he has incurred as a result of the Archdiocese's obedience in turning back to Eucharistic reverence by ceasing to clap during Lent.

'No clapping during Lent'

Earlier when this blog was not yet transitioning to what it is now, the Lord already made me feel of the positive Archdiocese response to this calling. Reason, I was reminded of the need to humble myself when this time comes. To keep myself low, I had lived as homeless and have accepted humble duties. I am made aware of the dilemma of obeying the Lord speaking through this blog and one is I might have become spiritually proud. Personally, I wish I have been out of this hometown or I have been elsewhere so I won't be able to see you obeying the Lord, lest I become proud. We cannot be proud, however, if we are physically ill. One may appear robust but in reality possesses the gift of a "thorn in the flesh" to keep him down by the Divine Will. It is not your problem to keep me humble; it is the Lord's concern and mine. Your problem is to obey the Lord's directives shown in this blog. Your obedience is your own humility. You need, as well, to humble yourself. Please do not think of me becoming proud when you obey the Lord because, by so doing, you are doing it for the Lord and this is the desire of my spirit -- for the greater glory of God -- and we benefit from observing this foremost duty of mankind which is to "love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind," the first of the Ten Commandments. God does not need to be glorified because He is already Glory Himself. We glorify Him because it is rightly for us to be doing so, being creatures of a Creator; and we benefit from glorifying God. Being reverent to His Eucharistic Presence here on earth has positive effect to the Archdiocese and the whole nation in general. Thus, the Archdiocese will be a light, an example for the whole nation to see and emulate, therefore the world. The Lord let me see how you struggle to obey. You have had a notice on the projector screen at the Cathedral saying to stop clapping during Masses for the duration of the Lent season. A priest, however, seeing me in the Mass one First Saturday, despite the notice flashed on the screen, did otherwise. The priest encouraged the congregation several times to clap within the Mass he officiated and I attended. I have a feeling to leave the hometown so the Archdiocese can obey the Lord's bidding freely. Let me tell you the stoppage of clapping during Masses in this year's season of Lent has damaging effect on the enemies of this nation and the Philippine Church. The spirit of the "enemies" within the person of the highest VIP of the land is trembling in fear, exposing his guilt in the process if you read between the lines the speeches he delivered regarding the ICC. Here is a warning, though. Since the stoppage of clapping is only intended within Lent, it is understandable clapping is to resume on Easter and onward. Meaning to say, the VIP will be able to recover from the damage he has incurred as a result of the Archdiocese's obedience in turning back to Eucharistic reverence by ceasing to clap during Lent.

Divine confirmation - One

GospelMT 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
"The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people's shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called 'Master';
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

source: usccb.org

Reblogged: Humility in the eyes of a lily

'THE HEART WHERE I WILL SPEAK': Humility in the eyes of a lily: Humility, in the perspective of an erring humanity, is not the absence of pride, arrogance or conceit but the acceptance of having these... continue reading

(Note: Public confession is unnecessary if confessions were already done in the confessional.)

Manila Bulletin, July 8, 2013 issue

Confess more often, bishop urges priests

Humility in the eyes of a lily

Humility, in the perspective of an erring humanity, is not the absence of pride, arrogance or conceit but the acceptance of having these in one's self that makes one humble. When one says he is humble, do you think he is humble? No, because he is, actually, proud of being humble (spiritual pride); but when one says he is proud, arrogant or conceited, he is humble enough to accept that which is truth within himself. Here begins the road to perfection. For: to be perfect, one needs to recognize, first and foremost, the fact that he needs to be perfected. This is humility; and it draws God to the humble. For, only God can bring to perfection every imperfect human being. Human attempt to perfect his own self only tempts himself to justify or hide his mistakes. Justifying a mistake or hiding it, makes a man think of it often, thus guilt-ridden. It is hard to forget a mistake when, in the first place, it is not forgiven. God, being a Merciful God, is always forgiving; but it is man that cannot forgive himself so that Divine Forgiveness cannot take effect upon his person. Not to forgive is not to forget! And to forgive is to accept. To accept is to confess. To confess is to expose. Expose yourself before God exposes us; but when exposed, be humble enough not to justify so it won't magnify.

The perfect and the imperfect

I am an imperfection. Perfection is a need and a want in my imperfect soul. I, who am imperfect, cannot perfect my own self.

He Who is Perfect knows it. So much so He came into the world, for only He can perfect that which is imperfect.

And I welcome and accept His Coming into my life. And I go to where He is often: to admit and confess my imperfection. And touch Him with my tongue and swallow Him into my system.

Perfection is not an overnight thing. Living faith and constant communion with the Presence of One Who is Perfect will eventually lead Him to perfect me.

He Who is Perfect knows I would fall along the way. So that He has a "confessing" well built for me. He loves it there where I confess my misery, my imperfection. For, He is drawn closer to my need, my want. 

He Who Is Perfect is the fullness of my imperfection.

Self-acceptance frees self

Be true to yourself. If you are still critical and tend to be judgmental towards a particular person, accept that. Understand yourself. No one is perfect. Remember, all have fallen short of Heaven's glory. Acceptance of this truth will eventually unleash us from the bondage of hypocrisy. Such is the only way. Embrace the beauty of self-acceptance and being true to self. Humility is acceptance of what is true in your person. Humility draws the Divine to your frail yet accepted self. Free yourself. Accept self.