Metanoia

Have you ever thought about how much God loves us?   The love of God for us is beyond our imagination. His love is transformative, changing His beloved into a new creation. His greatest love was bestowed upon us by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and save us from sin, despite our unworthiness. God chose to love us unconditionally, taking a risk, knowing that we may or may not reciprocate the love He offers us. Today, the entire Catholic Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday, remembering how Jesus' love saved us and washed away our sins through the water and blood of His love for us. How much do you love Jesus? Are you willing to choose and follow Him? [Image citation: Please note that the image of the Divine Mercy used in this text is for illustrative purposes only and does not imply ownership or endorsement. Image source: (credit to Reg Silva Art)]

As I have reflected over the past few weeks on whom I can deeply resonate with in the Bible, I was struck by the life story of Peter, with whom I can associate/relate certain parts of my own experiences. 1. His career as a fisherman:  Throughout his life, Peter must have been familiar and comfortable with his profession of fishing. However, there came a moment when, despite his efforts, he caught nothing, leading to frustrations and insecurities.  Similarly, there was a time in my life when I was consumed by work, forgetting what truly brought me happiness. I felt burdened and helpless, lacking control over my life's direction. 2. His feeling of unworthiness in front of Jesus:  When Jesus entered Peter's life, he was overwhelmed by His kindness, feeling unworthy and small in His presence.  I, too, struggle to comprehend why God shows me such kindness despite my sinfulness. I feel undeserving and overwhelmed by His constant presence in my life. 3. His shortcomings, de...

As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, let us proclaim and tell the world how wonderful His works are, showing that even death has no power.  On this day, we are transformed into a new creation with hope for everlasting life. Like Martha and the other women, let us spread the good news that Christ is Lord.  May the Holy Spirit vivify us to commit our lives to God in the mission of becoming the salt and light of the world. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! He is risen. Happy Easter!

The triumph of Jesus over death through resurrection gives us concrete hope to look forward to eternal life.  On the third day, Jesus rose victoriously, and this is the time for us to rejoice. The Easter Vigil commemorates our renewal of baptismal promises and invites us to become fully committed disciples of Jesus.  It anticipates his resurrection, and as we take a moment of silence and deep reflection in the darkness, the priests bless the fire and water to remind us of the salvific works of God.  Let us celebrate and be glad, for the Lord has risen. Alleluia!"

On this Good Friday, the entire Catholic Church celebrates the most beautiful image of love shown by Jesus - dying on the cross to redeem us from sin. He gave up His life for us to see how much He loved us more than we can imagine.  The cross reminds us of how wonderfully made we are and how precious our life is to God. Let us draw ourselves to the cross and start to "look unto it intently and do likewise."

 As we celebrate Palm Sunday, we catch a glimpse of the forthcoming events in Jesus' life throughout Holy Week. Jesus foretold that the hour had come and reminded us of the following: 1. Pray unceasingly - He informed His disciples to earnestly pray, overcoming temptations by saying, "for the spirit is willing but the body is weak." 2. In times of trouble, you either accept or disown me - He reminded His disciples to be courageous in following Him, knowing that there would come a time when they might deny Him out of fear. 3. Look at Me, Did you betray the Lord? - He asked Judas after he led the guards to arrest Him. 4. It is you who say it - He replied to Pilate during the interrogations regarding punishment or setting Him free, indicating that only those who are in the Lord can truly see and recognize Him. 5. Crucify Him - the loud voice that the people shouted at Jesus, echoing our sinfulness like a loud voice crucifying Him with our sins. 6. My God, My God, why have yo...

The Canali program has deepened my faith and taught me to entrust my life to God, discerning where He is leading me. It also offers various spiritual events, such as the Chrism Mass, where I'm inspired by how people gather as one community to witness the renewal of commitment to ministry and the blessing of sacred oils given through Holy Orders.

As I progress in my Canali Program, the month of February has offered me various spiritual events that have helped me deepen my discernment. I had the chance to attend to the following: Seminary Opening Mass for incoming seminarians, the Decere (a one-day Retreat at Marian Valley organized by Vocation Brisbane), and the Three Pillars of Lent (a three-day Retreat organized by OLOL Parish). These experiences provided me with reflective moments where I could deepen my longings and clarify my intentions. As I discern of offering myself unto Him, the aforementioned spiritual engagements have helped me realize the following graces/providence I have gained: 1. Created a special bond/relationship with God through daily prayer and silence. 2. Met and connected with new people who are actively involved in serving the Church and others. 3. Understood the multicultural spiritual perspective on how God's presence can be seen and felt in all walks of life. 4. Developed a heart for serving the Ch...

My stay in Australia is proof of God's loving providence. I faced numerous struggles and fears that even led me to the point of giving up.  Life can be challenging away from your family; however, His infinite love embraces all my imperfections.  Despite my many insecurities, He has given me more than I deserve, showing numerous signs that are enough for me to accept and let go of all the unessential things in my life.  I thank you, Lord, even though I am unworthy; you made me significant and whole again.