Diocese of Kabankalan Commission on Mission

09/10/2022

09/11/2021

Gratefulness

Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” ~ Luke 17:17–19

30/10/2021

Loving God and Neighbor

“The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” ~ Mark 12:31

It's worth noting that the greatest Commandment is to love God with all your might, in part because you can't love your neighbor unless you first love God. The ability to love one's neighbor is dependent on one's ability to love God with all of one's being. Only when you love God does that love spill over into your other relationships.

www.mycatholic.life

28/10/2021

The Mission for Jesus

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles… ~ Luke 6:12

As we remember Saints Simon and Jude, we are reminded that each of us is called to go forth and proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We each do so in response to a specific calling and mission that Christ has given to us. However, we are all called to make an eternal difference in the lives of those we serve. And if we stay true to our mission, we can be confident that the effects of our apostolic service will be felt in the lives of countless others until the end of time.

www.mycatholic.life

26/10/2021

10/10/2021

Seeking Signs

“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Luke 11:29–30

The simple message in this Gospel passage is that we must discover the meaning of the most profound sign ever given and use it as the foundation of all our life decisions. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection were not only the source of eternal life, but also the only clearest sign we require as we make all of our life decisions.

www.mycatholic.life

28/09/2021

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51

Today’s feast honors three of the great archangels mentioned in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. The Archangel Michael is described as a protector in the Old Testament Book of Daniel and as one who does battle with satan in the Books of Revelation and Jude. In Revelation, Michael casts satan out of Heaven along with the other fallen angels. The Archangel Gabriel is spoken of also in the Book of Daniel as one who interprets Daniel’s vision. In the New Testament, he is identified as the one who appears to the high priest Zechariah while Zechariah is offering sacrifice in the temple. In that appearance, Gabriel revealed to Zechariah that his wife would have a child, even though she was advanced in years. Gabriel is perhaps best known as the one sent to the Blessed Virgin Mary to reveal to her that she will become the mother of the Savior of the World. Lastly, the Archangel Raphael is referred to in the Old Testament Book of Tobit and is said to have been sent to bring healing to Tobit’s eyes.

www.mycatholic.life

26/09/2021

What Do You Really Desire?

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Luke 9:48

Saint Cyril of Alexandria notes in his commentary on this passage that the devil's first tactic in the spiritual battle is to stir up fleshly desires within our souls in order to keep us bound by the desire for those pleasures. When a person is able to resist these more base and fleshly desires, the devil instigates a spiritual sin, namely selfishness and vainglory. The disciples were struggling with the desire for vainglory, the desire to be regarded as the greatest.

After “realizing the intention of their hearts,” Jesus addresses the disciples. This is a crucial phrase. Essentially, Jesus saw that the desire for vainglory was just starting to work. A w**d, for example, is easily pulled up by the roots when it is only starting to grow. However, if it is allowed to grow and root for a while, the roots become more difficult to pull up, and doing so frequently harms the other plants and ground around the w**d. The same is true of sin. By gently bringing a child into their midst and declaring that "the least among you is the greatest," Jesus was assisting them in removing the "w**d" of vainglory before it took deep root in their lives.

www.mycatholic.life

25/09/2021