in the midst

just wandering

walking in barefoot

green grasses touch my toes

eyes just looking in awe

what a beautiful world

feeling the soil under my feet

filling my lungs with fresh air

scanning the green mountains afar

hearing the chirping of the birds

the sound of silence engulf me

life so bliss with God’s bless

in the midst, the presence of the divine

Dreaming Dreams

As the song goes: To dream the impossible dream…

As an old adage: Dream, it is free; dream as you can!

Yeah, dream and never stop dreaming

For it gives you the future to look forward

an inspiration to afire you

so let us dream a world free from greed,

free from injustices and discrimination

A world where there is peace, love, harmony

A world where people live free from poverty

because the world shares the earth’s bounty

where the promise of life’s abundance is at hand!

South Hebron Hills

A lunch meal served @ Susiya Village, a taste of Palestinian meal traditionally prepared, all organics and homemade. A big Taboun bread was my first time as well.

I was referring the Filipino foods which I missed being in Palestine for 9 days without them. But I really learn to love Palestinian food already .

My first pose with a 30 year old olive tree was indeed an experience!

Susiya Village existed during Canaanite days in Biblical times. To date Canaan was part of the Promised Land to the Israelites who were slaved in Egypt. In the Book of Genesis it was mentioned, the promised land was flowing with milk and honey! Literally it was and it is, now in terms of produce but as being part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, it was un-peace in Susiya. People lived in a tent-made houses, as if going back to ancient times. The people were living in fear of constant demolition by the Israeli Defense/Occupation Force. Life’s existence is very difficult among the Palestinian people!

Memories in the Holy Land

The Last Supper Room

Abraham’ Chapel

Adam’s Chapel

Resumed the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist

The Homily

A selfie pose after the Mass 🙂

South Hebron Hills

Longings, looking back, remembering: hills and valleys in South Hebron Hills; the children, the women: young and old, the men, the elderly in my memory, in my heart and every nook of the past! Could never forget the throng of sheep and goats scattered in a stony hill and sandy field. The asking of what they eat in the sand, what they munch joyfully together was endless. No grasses in the desert! I really wonder.

Sheep and goats at Kirbet Um Al Khair with the backdrop of sprawling desert amidst an early afternoon sky. What a sight to look back. Thankful I was able to take pictures.

The first donkey I fall in love with! I lost the picture with him hugging his neck. He was so friendly and sweet.

A Silent Prayer

Our Prayer Together

Incense is lighted today, praying to you dear God, to cleanse the world

From fogs and all impurities residing and discomforting humanity and

The whole habited including those inhabited parts of the world.

May the incense smoke spread all over us, cleansing, and purifying us all:

our minds from negative thoughts,

our hearts from ill feelings

our bodies from any illnesses

our abodes from all types of viruses

our communities, our country and the whole word from this

            pandemic SARS Cov-2 RNA or the known Covid 19.

Your beloved Son had already cleansed us, that

Through Jesus Christ’s Holy Blood you have purified our lives and by

The Resurrection you give us Hope an Assurance that all are now saved and

We belong to the Reign of God, promised with life’s abundance to all.

How grateful are we, must always remember such God’s greatest gift.

However, along the way we falter and even turn away from you, but

You drive away all that may lessen our steadfastness, trust and even belief

In the process of struggling our daily lives and how to endure living.

You help us right the wrong, you guide us to rectify, you make us recognize

Our sinfulness, limitations, shortcomings, indifferences, and being uncompassionate.   

You help us to repent, to renew, to open doors and give us the privilege

To continue loving and serving God in the least of our brothers, sisters and

All in needs, especially those who are deprived of their dignity and humanity.

You give us the courage and strength to speak, to be firm in our stance.

O God how great is your love, your amazing grace bountiful:

You never forsake us, never even a single minute of our lives, least

You remain embracing us while reminding to keep anew.

You keep your presence accompanying us through the Paraclete,

The Holy Spirit our constant guide to ensure steadfastness in all our actions.

Ever loving-caring merciful Triune God with reaching-out hands you stay

Inspiring us, strengthening us, embracing us and leading us to you.

May this cleansing rite and collective prayer will make us fitting:

To continually welcome you as you keep us in your side.

May your Holy Presence be in our minds, in our hearts, in our bodies, in our abodes,   

In the whole world now confronted with an unseen enemy of fear and death.

May your bounty and blessing outpouring amidst scarcity, uncertainty, and obscurity.

Keep us in your heavenly mercy and love Almighty One Creator God,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord Redeemer of humanity and the whole creation

With the Holy Spirit the Sanctifier bless us and give us your protection, safety and Peace.

O God, I humbly pray to you, together with my household and the whole

Congregation of IFI – UP Parish of the Holy Cross,

We beseech you Lord to hear the prayer and plea of your children.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US IN OUR DAILY LIVES, O TRUINE GOD

In the Name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen.

. 

-Our prayer together

THIRD SUNDAY of EASTER

First Reading: Acts 2:14a 36-41  +   Psalm: 116:1-4,12-19   +    Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-23

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Sunday Reflection for TRINITY SUNDAY

Readings: 1st – Genesis 1:1-24a Psalm 8 2nd – 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 GOSPEL Matthew 28:16-20

Today is the 74th day of lockdown, whatever it is called: GCQ, ECQ, EMCQ, etc… the reality is we are still not free to  roam and go. Even religious activities are still restricted. Yes, the IATF approved to have Mass in churches but yet only ten persons are allowed including the priest and altar servers. We must understand because no one among its members know about churches or other religious observances and practices. The authority and cohorts are too good to declare commands to be followed.  Some of them hurriedly passed the Anti-Terrorism Bill amidst the perennial societal issues and currently with the finding of solution to novel Corona virus. Because it will not just happen until big pharma based in the US release the long-awaited vaccine! So the President of this Republic and his created IATF plead the whole country to wait a little longer until prices and mark ups be approved. The international loans to combat the pandemic are approved as well so people continue to be receiving supports and helps as they claim and promise but until when is the waiting, we never know. We pray the Filipinos must have overflowing fountain of patience. But church-people are excluded or not qualified for any SAP or from DOLE, etc… Accordingly only the indigents or those names in the barangay’s list can receive help or barangay “ayuda”.  Won’t you believe the street which our church located is perceived to belong to rich people in the barangay? Oh yeah 🙂

To date, today is the 12th Sunday that we missed our Holy Eucharist celebration. Many important events were not done. In the IFI the supposed General Assembly last May 6-9 in Bohol and all the Sectoral National Conventions before it were not done. Understandable because what is being restricted most in this Covid 19 pandemic is DISTANCE or call it social distancing. People are not allowed to gather. Even couples are not allowed to ride in motorbike together.  Well, the jeepney drivers who made a protest calling for help were arrested for violation of social distancing! Any violation of community quarantine is now an offense or criminal act. But it is a public knowledge that a birthday bash of a police general with matching “mananita” and foods/drinks was an exemption and no violation committed.

Yes, churches were not able to celebrate important observances like the Holy Week and especially the Resurrection Sunday or the Easter Season where Christians mark the foundation of faith. We missed the birthday of the whole Christian Churches last Sunday which was the Feast of the Pentecost. And today the Church celebrates the Trinity Sunday, our affirmation of the foundation of our Triune faith. Good for those churches which already resumed Masses. The Parish of the Holy Trinity in Pasay is celebrating its feast today with Bp. Buddy and Fr. Albert on the altar plus sacristans and we do not know yet how many attended the Holy Eucharist for the Feast of the Holy Trinity this Sunday.

I would like to share with you the collect prayer this Sunday:

    “Loving and everlasting God you have given to us your servants’ grace by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

This indeed an affirmation to our faith. Who wants to argue or refute of what is instilled to us? No one! We believe and accept or we believed and accepted it. Right! Correct. We only differ on HOW to do it; how to live it! But maybe to some, it is the what.  Meaning, how we understand it or what is one’s church is teaching all about it. Well, I will not be dealing or reflecting on the relationship of the three persons in one Godhead, the Holy Trinity the basis of our Triune faith.

The whole readings this Sunday is akin to a big drama. It started on the First Reading, which is the Creation Story to Psalm 8 which was about the Psalm of David, with his gratefulness to God’s works of his fingers, the great creation of heavens, stars and the moon; God’s mindfulness to humankind making them a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. David was in awe for the greatness of God, in giving humans dominion to all under their feet and above them! That was why the psalm in its opening and closing, says:

      “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

The second reading is about Paul giving farewell to the people of Corinth and was saying: “Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you” (verses 11-12).

And the Gospel today is taken from the last four verses of the Matthean Gospel (same with the 2nd Letter of Paul to the Corinthians above) which is about the Great Commissioning. It happened in Galilee where the eleven disciples went to a mountain which Jesus directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted (verses 17-18). So Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

In other words, the unbelieving/doubting disciples need to be assured that they have to believe. I really wonder how the exact event occurred. Was there a convincing moment or confrontation between the disciples which needed Jesus to come to them and assert his divine authority? I am thinking aloud, what Jesus would say to us amidst all the trials and challenges the churches are confronted with today. What would Jesus say of the doubts, fears and repression the churches are facing now? What would Jesus be saying to the IFI today? So many questions that need to be dealt with; that need assurance for those who wanted to live following Jesus Christ’s steps.

With the passing of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, no one is indispensable when you are marked! Even we cry that it is FAKE news for ELCAC (End Local Communist Arm Conflict) to publicly mention and declare that our church, IFI is an open-ground movement of communist or terrorist organization. We cry out NO! God forgive them, accusing your embodiment as such is a fallacy! It is indeed a malicious judgment putting IFI constituents at risk. The IFI was proclaimed in 1902 when those accused underground organizations were not yet established. What a great misjudgment making peoples’ lives in danger. Please enlighten them for many lives are put in risk. Keep us away from danger and protect your people from any harm. Keep us safe always from any threats and from this pandemic. Let IFI remain true to its mission and calling.

We will be true as you called us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations  baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything” as you have commanded us. Because we believe and we trust when you said, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (verses 19-20).

Indeed, the church, God’s embodiment must continue to live as a good and righteous example to the world. How could we make disciples to all nations when the churches cower to be sincere disciples? How could we baptize and preach salvation when the churches fear to confront evil patrons and principalities? How the churches could teach well about unity, solidarity, peace, justice and dialogue with the people in needs when ministry become a competition of who is superior and rightful ones? The churches with their different dogmas/doctrines, practices and traditions taught their congregations with matching theological, biblical and liturgical underpinnings based on their understanding, teaching and historical backgrounds. How the churches could lead people to obey God’s commandments when they interpret differently or being biased with their interests and benefits received. Lord God help us with your wisdom and discernment and enlighten the churches to be true followers of the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

Thank you God for the wondrous gift of life you bestowed to each one of us, for the beautiful Earth you entrusted to us but we failed to sustain its bounty and goodness for the welfare of humanity. We fall short to keep the good home you granted but instead we become silent of the abuses in our midst because of fear and safety of our own lives. Forgive us, enlighten us and lead us to remain good servants and good stewards as you have commanded the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it (Genesis 2:16); to guard and protect for generation to come. Pardon us in all our shortsightedness and limitation as churches. Notwithstanding, you keep reminding us of your assurance and your faithfulness to be with us to the end of ages.

Again, THANK YOU for the grip and trust afforded, we pray to you dear God, to keep holding us unto you till we retire and withdraw from this lifetime. As St. Paul said to the people of Corinth in his Second letter, “For the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (13:13).  Our enormous gratitude to the Triune God: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit for the great assurance. Amen.

Grandmother Fatme

womanclergy

Sixty-six year old Fatme, the mother of Wartha Najur, was busy herself in a makeshift cooking area, without roof but looks like a small cave which is an extension of a tent room when we came to their “house tent”.  I approached and greeted her, “marhava” – hello and “saba elker” – good morning and she responded me with her broad smile and welcoming nod. I looked into the big cauldron and smiled at her as she took a sip of the broth.  She began to talk to me with sign language, but alas I could not understand. Then she pointed out to me what she was cooking and took some meat, showed to me and then pointed out to the tent-house of the sheep.  I realized then she was cooking the meat of the sheep.  Ola… I smiled to myself, surely this would be our lunch.  When she…

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