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KOA Nazareno Jesus the Nazarene Parish | Ministry of Altar Servers

24/09/2026

Living God's Will
Reymart S. Nisperos

The Theo-Drama of Hans Urs von Balthasar helps me understand that our life is like a drama in which God invites us to participate in His plan. Jesus is the perfect example because He freely accepted and obediently performed the Father’s will. His life shows us that following God is not merely knowing His will but also acting upon it, even when that path leads to suffering and the cross.

Similarly, as I continue my seminary formation, I realize that there can be many unexpected plot twists in my life. Things may not always happen as I planned or expected. There may be struggles, dryness, and moments when I do not understand where God is leading me. Yet these experiences can also become opportunities to trust God more deeply.

Faith, therefore, is not merely believing in God; it is something that must be lived and acted upon. My formation calls me not only to pray and believe but also to put my faith into flesh through obedience, sacrifice, and service. Like Jesus, may I learn to surrender my own plans and say with faith, “ Your will be done.”

17/09/2026

YES TO JESUS!
Reymart S. Nisperos

In The Yes of Jesus, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger reminds me that the “yes” of Jesus is not simply a word of acceptance but a complete surrender of Himself to the Father and to His mission. Jesus’ “yes” was lived through obedience, sacrifice, and ultimately the Cross. His “yes” teaches me that following God is not always about knowing what lies ahead but about trusting the One who calls. We call it faith.

As I respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him in the path of priesthood, I realize that my own “yes” must also be a daily act of surrender. There will be moments of uncertainty, tiredness, sacrifice, and even doubt. Yet, my vocation asks me to continue saying “yes” to Christ, trusting that His grace is enough for me. My “yes” is not merely a decision to become a priest; my “yes” is a faith in God who calls me. It is a decision to belong more completely to Christ and to allow my life to be shaped according to His will.

This becomes clearer in the words of Bishop Socrates Villegas: “Your yes for the Lord is your yes to the crucified Christ.” To say yes to the Lord is therefore also to embrace the Cross. To say yes to the Lord is to have faith in Him.

10/09/2026

WE HOPE BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL
- Reymart S. Nisperos

St. Thomas Aquinas defined hope as the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of God. St. Thomas shows us our ultimate goal as we hope: eternal life. At the same time, he reminds us that to hope is to place our heart in God’s promise.

I recall the time when I heard the invitation of the Lord to follow Him on the path of priesthood. The road has never been easy. Before entering the seminary, I needed to ask for my mother’s permission, even though I already knew that her answer would be no. I came to the point where my mother made me choose: either continue entering the seminary by forgetting that I have a mother, while she would also forget that she has a son, or give up my desire to pursue the priesthood. A decision had to be made. I chose to pursue it, but not merely by my own conviction. Rather, I chose to submit all my worries and fears to the God who called me.

It is hopeful not to think that everything will always be fine, but to place our hope in God’s abundant grace and mercy. It is a hope that sustains us in persevering even when the world is against us. Hope that would allow us to endure challenges with confidence in God’s grace. We hope because Jesus Christ is risen. We hope because God is merciful.

20/08/2026

FAITH TRANSCENDS OUR REASON
Reymart S. Nisperos

St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that faith is an assent to God’s truth, even when those truths are beyond what our human reason can fully grasp. Faith does not mean that we already have answers to everything rather, faith means putting trust in God even when we cannot understand His plans.
A personal experience during my apostolate: I encountered a woman who was suffering from Stage 4 cancer. Despite her serious condition and the uncertainty of her situation, I was amazed that she never lost her faith in God. Her suffering could have become a reason for her to doubt and question God, but instead, she continued to trust Him. She shared her stories of faith, and tears were shed in our eyes. Her faith became a witness to me that true faith is not dependent on having a comfortable life.

Through this encounter, I realized that faith transcends our reason. There are moments in life when we cannot understand why certain things happen, especially when we experience suffering. But faith allows us to say, “I may not understand, but I trust in God.” The woman I encountered reminded me that faith is not the absence of suffering or doubt but the courage to continue trusting God in the midst of them. Her life taught me that faith leads us beyond what we can see and understand.

12/08/2026

Called for a Mission
Reymart S. Nisperos

In his encyclical, Mystici Corporis Christi, Pope Pius XII reminds us that the Church is Christ’s Mystical Body. Through the Church we are united with Christ and with our brethren as members of His Body. This reminds me that our Christian life is not only about receiving God’s grace but also participating in the mission entrusted to us by Christ. Our Baptism is the beginning of this entrustment of mission. We are not simply baptized to belong to the Church, but we are baptized to become witnesses of Christ. Wherever we go, we are called to share His Words, imitate His examples, and make His love present to others.

Summer Apostolate is always the best experience for me, because I always look at it as a meaningful opportunity to live out this calling. Whenever I go around the different houses and meet people, I encounter individuals with different experiences, struggles, joys, and stories. These encounters remind me that missionary work is not always about doing something extraordinary. Sometimes, it begins simply by listening to people, being present to them, sharing the Word of Christ, and showing them His love through our actions.

Mystici Corporis Christi, therefore, reminds me that we are called for a mission and that my baptism is not only a personal relationship with Christ but also a participation in His mission. As members of His Body, we are called to make Christ present in the world through our words, our deeds, and especially through our love.

09/08/2026

TO LOVE LIKE CHRIST
Reymart S. Nisperos

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that love is a theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God (CCC, 1822). From the beginning of creation, God shared His overflowing love with the world, especially with humanity. His love is revealed through salvation history. Out of love, God created man in His own image and likeness, bestowing upon him the dignity of sharing in His life.

The fall of man happened, yet God never ceased to love His people. Through salvation history, He continually took the initiative to restore His relationship with them, raising up leaders and prophets to deliver them from bo***ge and guide them back to Him. Yet, because of human weakness, we do not always respond faithfully to His love. We sin, we falter, and we fall. Even so, God’s love remains constant. In the fullness of time, He revealed the depth of His love through the Incarnation, sending His only Son to redeem and to restore us to communion with Himself.

The question, then, is how can we make this divine gift bear fruit in our lives. The answer is found in Jesus Christ. We are called to love as Christ loves. His love is the perfect measure of charity. To love like Christ is to love without measure, to give without expecting anything in return, and to lay down one’s life for others. Such love reflects God’s own love and leads us to deeper communion with Him and with our neighbors.

09/08/2026

A Heart that is Open is a Heart that is Merciful
Reymart S. Nisperos

In our last discussion, our professor said, “Ang pusong bukas ay pusong mawain.” What makes our hearts open? In the light of Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis teaches that faith opens our hearts to receive God’s mercy. Faith allows us to begin to love and to embrace the challenges of life. Faith allows us to encounter Christ and through this encounter it moves us beyond ourselves and opens our hearts to see others with compassion.
An open heart is also fueled by hope. It allows us to trust and believe that no one is beyond God’s mercy and that all of us can experience healing and new life. In a world that is marked by despair and indifference, we are called to become signs of hope by embracing others.
Lastly, an open heart lives in love, which is the greatest of the theological virtues. Love can transform faith into action and love can also transform hope into service. In the spirit of Evangelii Gaudium, the Church is invited to go with joyful hearts, becoming instruments of God’s mercy. Indeed, a heart that is open is a heart that is merciful, for it reflects the merciful heart of Christ and shares his love with everyone.

09/08/2026

We Are Called to Love
Reymart S. Nisperos

Love is the center of the Christian life. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters, created by one God and invited to build a world that is marked by fraternity and friendship. The story of the Good Samaritan teaches us that love is not limited to our family, friends, or those who think like us. Rather, it reaches out to every person, especially the poor, the forgotten, and even those who are so different from us. Genuine love goes beyond words; it becomes concrete through acts of compassion, forgiveness, and service.
To be called to love is to imitate Christ, the Good Samaritan, who did not refuse to pay attention to the wounded man but stopped to care for him with mercy. Likewise, we are invited to open our hearts to others, recognizing their dignity as children of God. In a world often divided by selfishness and indifference, Pope Francis challenges us to become instruments of peace and reconciliation. We are called to love, and by choosing to love each day, we help build a society where every person is welcomed and treated as a true brother or sister.

09/08/2026

LIVING FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY
Reymart S. Nisperos

The three major encyclicals of Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, Spe Salvi, and Deus Caritas Est, provide a unified framework for reflecting on the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. Together, these encyclicals present the Christian way of life and the path that every believer is called to follow.

In Verbum Domini, Pope Benedict XVI emphasizes that faith is the human response to God’s loving initiative. Faith is more than simply believing in God; it is allowing Him to transform one’s life. The initiative always belongs to God, who first calls, forgives, and loves humanity. Faith, therefore, is not primarily a human achievement but a grateful response to God’s grace and love.

In Spe Salvi, Benedict reflects on the virtue of hope. Christian hope is neither passive nor stagnant; rather, it enables believers to persevere and grow amid uncertainties and suffering. This hope is rooted in complete trust and surrender to God. It is not merely the expectation of overcoming life’s trials but the confidence that God can transform sorrow into joy and suffering into an opportunity for spiritual growth.

Finally, in Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI reveals the very heart of the Christian message: God is love. This encyclical invites believers to share the love they have first received from God through Jesus Christ. Love is not merely an obligation but the natural response to the undeserved gift of God’s love. To love is to share Christ with others and to live faithfully according to His greatest commandment. To put these in one frame, therefore, faith opens the heart to God, hope strengthens it through every trial, and charity makes God’s love visible in the world.

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