Tag: Jesus

In the Darkness

1495617_10152069871078329_1282759230_oYesterday Toronto experienced one of the worst ice storms to ever hit. It was devastating and beautiful. Over 300,000 torontonians lost power, the streets were cluttered with fallen tree branches, and ice so thick you can literally skate on the roads filled the streets and sidewalks. The news was filled with warnings of treacherous conditions and strongly advised everyone to remain indoors. On the other hand it was very beautiful, like something I have never seen before. Everything turned into crystals. Every branch, fence, road, house, leaf, and every blade of grass glistened like a diamond in the light. It was fascinating.

The roads were so dangerous that my mom even considered not attending Mass which is a twenty minute drive in normal driving conditions. When I heard her, I sternly and lovingly said, “it’s the last Sunday of Advent. We have to go to Mass.” To which she quickly agreed! We decided to leave an hour early.

1509475_10152069856788329_1739881493_oThe ice was so thick that we couldn’t even leave the garage because of the steep decline. We actually caused a bit of traffic in the condo parking lot and I had to get out of the car to direct traffic to ensure the safety of everyone and proper flow (that was a first). We called security and they put salt to melt the ice, after which we all successfully got on the road. We couldn’t believe how dark it was driving to St. Joseph. It was a bit frightening because it was difficult to tell which was water and which was black ice. Most of the street lights weren’t working and the intersections were also not functioning so we had to treat them as four-way stops. My dad drove cautiously and slowly until we safely arrived at our destination.

Upon arriving at the parish we noticed all the lights were turned off so we thought they cancelled Mass. My mom asked someone outside our window and they assured Mass is still on. After dropping my mom and sister off at the front, my dad decided to park behind the church but we couldn’t because the entrance to the parking lot was completely blocked with fallen branches. We ended up finding a parking spot, but what a journey it was just getting to church!

We were greeted by an usher holding a small light to help us navigate. The church was almost pitch black. I also used my cell phone’s flashlight to get to the pew. They told us that father wanted everyone to sit near the front, so we did. I have never attended Mass in such darkness before so I knew this would be a night I’d never forget.

When I knelt to pray I heard a voice say to me ‘Miguel, you’re distracted by your fascination with everything. Relax and listen to what I’m trying to tell you in this experience.” After praying, I became more focused and present. The Lord spoke to me throughout the liturgy and told me the meaning behind the things I was fascinated with. The things He revealed were so simple and beautiful. It has helped me to prepare my heart for Christmas and I’d like to share it with you as a humble gift.

The darkness of Toronto last night reminded me that Christmas is the time which we celebrate the Light which came in the darkness. God entered human history, human suffering, the human problem, in all of its devastation—He entered and brought Light into the midst of everything. This Light, like what happened in the church, brings us closer together. It gathers us in its warmth. The Light is Jesus Christ Who gathers His people to His heart and draws all things near to Him. Like Christmas day He comes into our hearts that is filled with much darkness. He comes into the darkness and gives us hope. This hope gives us joy, and it’s from this joy—from Him—we are called to celebrate on Christmas and live the rest of our lives!

Yesterday morning was filled with so much beauty from how the light reflected off everything. Yesterday night was filled with so much darkness with only a glimmer of light found here and there. However, wherever there was light, there could be no darkness because “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

May the Light of Christ shine in your heart and in your family always. Merry Christmas!

The light that leads

“If you haven’t surrendered it to God, then you’ve surrendered it to someone else.”

I recently attended the GTA Area Core SHouT this past weekend and there are not enough words in the dictionary to describe the plethora of events that happened within those 5 days. So I’ll just use one: enlightened.

You know when you’re at a sleepover and everyone’s already passed out cold on the beds and floors. The morning after is hard to get through. You’re tired and exhausted. You have some sort of consciousness- awake but not really. It’s not until someone draws the blinds or curtains to expose the harsh sunlight rays that you feel the urgency to get up. It’s already half past noon and you’ve just wasted half the day away.

That’s how my recent experience with Christ was at SHouT. He turned on the lights. The light allowed me to see everything that was in that room, rather…my life. Enlightened- one’s ability to be spiritually aware. The Lord allowed me to see His plans for me that much clearer.

But see, when you turn on the lights EVERYTHING gets exposed, not just the good stuff. You don’t have a choice. But God is a god of light and peace- The truth, His truth is exposed in all its glory.

I’m facing the skeletons in my closet right now, some I thought I buried a long time ago but really just put a drape over. God’s light drew me to these areas, the crevices and corners, the edges and cracks. The small things count, because to God everything matters. As much as it hurts me to pull out long overdue band aids, I know that with His love I’ll finally be able to heal properly.

“Ate, it’s like when you make a paper boat and then you put it in the water. That’s how you’ll know if your boat is good or not. It might start to sink because of a hole, but all you have to do is just take it out and then patch up whatever holes exist.”

It had to happen this way for me. This was God’s way of telling me to patch up those holes so that my boat could float. How else can I be a better person or leader if I don’t allow God to shine His light on every single area of my life, even the dark sides- the ones I don’t want to look at. In this way, I can confidently go out and allow the God in me to shine.

Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me.- Psalm 43:3

Wear Jesus

I took the bus going to downtown to hear the noon time mass. As I was walking to the bus stop, the people waiting there were staring at me but I did not make a big deal of it. Then while waiting for the train a lot more people were looking at me and it continued on when I got on the train as people were coming in and out. Lastly, walking from the train station to the church, which was 3 blocks away, around 80% of the people’s gaze was following me.

I’ve never been so eager to get inside the church as that moment. I was wondering why people were staring at me or just looking at me weirdly. When I got in the church I sat on my usual spot and that’s when I realized. It’s my shirt! I am wearing the new shirt from Ablaze which has a huge face of Jesus printed in front and the word Saviour (with a definition) printed at the back.

Candy in JC shirt2

Praise GOD that I was not conscious of wearing this shirt. Coz if I was, I may not be walking as confidently as I was. Why does it feel like I should be more careful so as not to offend someone? When in fact I am just being truthful of our real identity.

 

“Lord Jesus, God of everything. I praise you for revealing your greatness to me. May I always seek you in every way and reflect you in every situation. May your Holy Spirit grant me the boldness and courage to not be afraid to always bring you to other people in whatever way it will be.  

Hero’s Welcome

Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!

Yesterday, I had the great honour of reveling in one of the most significant moments in the history of salvation.  No, not the Passion of the Lord, but of course, Jesus’ triumphant entrance in to Jerusalem.  To me, this holds great significance because for the first time, he makes a very audacious public statement, to believers and non-believers alike, with a sense of great regalia but at the same time, humility.  He was, indeed, their king.  Though they failed to see what being King really meant,  this sense of overwhelming hope and devotion to Christ affirms me of the posture of hope we should maintain in our full awareness of his divine and royal sovereignty.

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey”

Zechariah 9:9

Jesus, Prince of Peace

St. Ignatius always taught that to really contemplate on the scripture, we must picture ourselves present in that exact moment in time.  I could imagine myself being one of the Jews on the sideline thinking, “We’re waiting for a great military leader who will lead us to redemption and we get an average joe on a donkey?!”  That exact way of thinking is likely how must Jews would have felt at the time, however something that I recently learned was that Jesus’ triumphant return by way of donkey was no mere coincidence.  In fact, It was written.  Not only was in prophesied by Zachariah, but Jewish tradition tells us that all Jewish kings who have entered a city ride in one of two distinct animals:  a horse or a donkey.  A horse symbolizes readiness for battle.  It signals his troops to take heed and also sends a message to the men of the town that he’s ready for war.  However, a donkey, signifies just the opposite.  It signifies that he comes in peace.  The donkey, in it’s lack of size and “masculinity” is meant to show humility and in an altruistic sense, meekness.  When Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on a donkey, He sent a very clear message to the Romans and Jews that he and his apostles came in peace.

Our Personal Pilgrimmage

The great truth the Lord has been revealing to me this Holy week (thus far) is really to pilgrim through this faith journey by way of donkey – to make known of our peaceful intentions by maintaining a humble heart and a charitable Spirit.  Though no one will know what the Lord intends for us, not even us, we should always make it very clear that we, as Christians, should be vessels of virtue.  Christ already knew of the suffering that was to come, he entered willingly His passion.  Similarly, we, with the same God-given wisdom and discernment, must enter willingly our own personal passion not with a heart of conflict or waging war, but with a peace, joy, and charity.  When there is suffering, we must burst from the seams with overwhelming compassion and we must always call in to mind that though we remain pilgrims in this life, we are ultimately called to be eternal residences in the next.

Father, allow me to be a faithful pilgrim to you this Holy Week.  Allow me to immerse myself in deep conversation with you, as I strive to deepen my love for you.  Allow me to strength and grace to do what is needed to enter in to your kingdom in the same manner our Lord entered Jerusalum, in meekness, humility, and peacefulness.

Pater Noster.  Ave Maria.  Gloria Patri.
Amen

cpm

 

Salt and Light

“Salt seasons and improves the flavour of food. Following Jesus, you have to change and improve the ‘taste’ of human history.’
—Pope John Paul II

Sometimes I’m afraid that if I don’t think I’ll make a big difference, then it won’t matter if I even try to make a difference. I am reminded by PJPII that I am the salt to the earth. It doesn’t matter if I’m not making a big difference, as long as I am making a difference, that’s what matters. That’s what salt does, and we are each a tiny grain making a difference in the world. Praise God.

“Even a tiny flame lifts the heavy lid of night. How much more light will you make, all together, if you bond as one in the communion of the Church! If you love Jesus, love the Church!”
—Pope John Paul II

With the immense rise of the culture of death in our society, the world might seem like a very dark place. However, we are the light of the world. Even the smallest flame can illuminate the heaviest darkness. Darkness immediately ceases when there is light. What I love about the Church and community life is the communion of many tiny flames that form an inferno. We truly bring light to the world because we bring Jesus to the world. Praise God.

Heavenly Father, help us to recognize that, by Your Holy Spirit, truly we are salt and light to the world. May we be and bring You wherever we go and set ablaze the darkness of the world with the fire of Your love. Amen!