Remain In ME

20/01/2025

What are you thankful for today? Pause for a moment and thank God for your blessings.

Gratitude transforms our hearts.

24/02/2023

23/02/2023

Lenten Season

The Lenten season is a period of reflection, fasting, and spiritual discipline observed by many Christians in preparation for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.

During the Lenten season, Christians often give up a particular food or activity, engage in more frequent prayer and reflection, and engage in acts of charity and service. These practices are intended to help Christians deepen their relationship with God, grow in their faith, and prepare themselves spiritually for the celebration of Easter.

22/02/2023

Dear God,

As we begin this season of Lent, we come to you with humble hearts, asking for your grace and guidance. Today, on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our mortality and our need for repentance.

We ask that you help us to turn away from our sins and to turn towards you. Give us the strength to resist temptation and to follow your will. Help us to deepen our faith and to grow closer to you during this Lenten season.

We pray for all those who are struggling and suffering, that they may find comfort and healing in your love. We pray for our world, that it may be filled with peace, justice, and compassion.

We ask for your blessing on this day and on the days to come. May we always remember your love and your sacrifice for us, and may we strive to live our lives in accordance with your will.

We pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

Dee Ignacio
what is lent
Lent is a period of spiritual preparation and reflection observed by many Christian denominations, including the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, and Orthodox churches. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of a 40-day season of fasting, prayer, and repentance leading up to Easter Sunday.

During Lent, Christians are encouraged to examine their lives, confess their sins, and seek forgiveness. They are also encouraged to perform acts of charity and self-sacrifice, such as giving up certain luxuries or engaging in acts of service to others. The goal of these practices is to help individuals deepen their relationship with God and to grow in their faith.

The duration of Lent is based on the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry. Lent ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.

Dee Ignacio
what to do during lenten season
During the Lenten season, Christians are encouraged to engage in practices that help them grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with God. Here are some common practices that Christians engage in during Lent:

Fasting - Christians often give up a particular food, activity, or luxury during Lent as a way of practicing self-discipline and spiritual discipline.

Prayer - Christians are encouraged to spend more time in prayer during Lent, seeking God's guidance and wisdom and offering prayers for others.

Almsgiving - Christians are encouraged to give to those in need, such as through charitable donations or acts of service.

Reading Scripture - Christians often engage in more frequent and intentional reading of the Bible during Lent, seeking to deepen their understanding of God's Word.

Confession - Christians may participate in the Sacrament of Confession or other forms of confession and repentance during Lent, seeking forgiveness for their sins and renewing their commitment to live in accordance with God's will.

Spiritual retreats - Many Christians use the Lenten season as a time for spiritual retreats or other forms of intentional spiritual reflection and renewal.

These practices are intended to help Christians focus on their relationship with God, grow in their faith, and deepen their commitment to living a life of service and discipleship.

Dee Ignacio
facts and trivia about lent
Here are some facts and trivia about Lent:

The word "Lent" comes from the Old English word "lencten," which means "spring."

Lent is a period of 40 days, not counting Sundays, which leads up to Easter Sunday.

In the early Christian Church, Lent was a period of preparation for new converts to Christianity who were preparing to be baptized.

The practice of giving up something for Lent dates back to the 4th century, when Christians would fast for the 40 days leading up to Easter.

Some Christians choose to give up meat on Fridays during Lent as a form of penance and sacrifice.

In some Christian denominations, the color purple is used during Lent as a symbol of penance and mourning.

In the Orthodox Christian tradition, Lent is known as Great Lent and lasts for 40 days, beginning on Clean Monday.

Lent ends on Holy Thursday for some Christian denominations, while others end it on Holy Saturday.

The tradition of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, dates back to the 10th century.

Some Christian denominations encourage fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, which are days of solemnity and penance.

In some cultures, special foods and dishes are prepared during Lent, such as hot cross buns and fish dishes.

These are just a few facts and trivia about Lent. The practices and traditions associated with Lent can vary depending on the Christian denomination and cultural context.

Dee Ignacio
trivia about lent
Sure, here are some more trivia about Lent:

The 40-day period of Lent represents the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry.

In some Christian denominations, the practice of Lent includes abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays during Lent, and Good Friday.

The last week of Lent is known as Holy Week, and it includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

The first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, is so called because ashes are traditionally placed on the forehead of the faithful as a symbol of repentance and mortality.

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are often made by burning the palm fronds that were blessed on the previous year's Palm Sunday.

The traditional colors of Lent are purple, which represents penance and mourning, and white, which represents purity and the resurrection.

The fasting and penitential practices of Lent are intended to help Christians remember and reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made for humanity.

Lenten practices such as fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are meant to help Christians grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with God.

Some Christian denominations observe the Lenten practice of the Stations of the Cross, which involves meditating on the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion.

Lent ends with the celebration of Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus and the triumph of life over death.
Amen.

02/10/2022

Sunday Gospel
LK 7, 5-10

Ang mga pagbasa para sa araw na ito ay nagpapaalala sa atin tungkol sa pananampalataya.
Sa ating unang pagbasa, tinanong ni propeta habakkuk ang Diyos kung bakit hindi niya pinakinggan ang kanyang paghingi ng tulong, sa halip ay pinahintulutan siyang makita ang pagkawasak ng lungsod. Ang Panginoon ay tumugon sa pamamagitan ng paghahayag ng isang pangitain at hinihiling kay Habakkuk na isulat ito, kung saan nagsasaad na ang may pananampalataya ay maliligtas.

Sa ikalawang pagbasa, pinaalalahanan ni San Pablo si San Timoteo, na patuloy na ipasa ang biyayang ibinigay ng Diyos, isang espiritu ng kapangyarihan at pagpipigil sa sarili. Hinihimok din niya tayo na maging matapang nang may pananampalataya sa pangangaral ng Ebanghelyo, kahit na ano paman ang ating sitwasyon sa buhay lalo na sa panahon ng pagdurusa at paghihirap.

Ang pananalig sa Diyos ay nangangahulugan na naniniwala tayo sa lahat ng kanyang ginawa at inihayag, at gusto niyang ibahagi natin ang pananampalatayang iyon sa iba nang may lakas ng loob sa kanya.
Hindi lang sapat na umasa ng milagro araw-araw, kaya naman ang malungkot na katotohanan ng panalangin ay ginagawa lang natin ito dahil may gusto tayo.
Hindi, sa halip ay dapat nating alalahanin ang ating layunin sa mundo, kung bakit tayo inilagay ng Diyos dito, at kung ano ang kanyang misyon na ipinagkatiwala sa atin na gawin. At iyan ang paalala sa atin ni Jesus, na maging walang pakinabang na mga lingkod ng kabaitan at kabutihan sa iba. Isa sa mga element nang pananalig sa Diyos ay ‘tiwala,’ kailangan po nating maniwala, magtiwala at ipagkatiwala ang ating mga sarili sa Diyos.
Kaya't sa ating paglalakbay sa daang ito, ipahayag natin ang ating pananampalataya at debosyon sa Panginoon nang buong tapang at pagsunod sa kanyang kalooban, lalo na sa paglilingkod sa ating mga kapatid.

01/10/2022

Let us pray the Holy Rosary

25/09/2022

Sharing with you a reflection on this Special Day in Honor of the Filipino Seafarers

Compete Well For the Faith Seafarers!
—Thank you,
by Fr. Paulo Prigol, CS

Have you checked the label of the latest product you have purchased? On the package may be written, “Made in…” And that means anywhere in the world! We do check and care about the “made in” and sometimes associate the quality of the product with “made in.” But most likely, we pay less attention to “transported by…” We fail to recognize that without the seafarer, the product may not reach us.
Today, nearly over 90% of the goods in the world are transported by sea. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, but not the maritime world. The seafarers kept on sailing and manning the more than 50,000 ships around the world to transport our “orders.” To express our gratitude to all seafarers, Stella Maris is leading a worldwide campaign focusing on “No shipping, No shopping! Thank you, seafarers!”
The Church in the Philippines is celebrating today the 27th National Seafarers’ Day. The event is also connected to the feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz (September 28), canonized on October 18, 1987. He is the first Filipino saint and the Patron Saint of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). He is an inspiration for the propagators of faith and the promoters of human values.
The First Reading for today’s Mass begins with, “Woe to the complacent in Zion!” It is an invitation for us to not be self-satisfied by our “orders” but unconcerned about who brings them to us. It tells us that we should not take things for granted by being happy with the “what” but failing to acknowledge the “who.” Let us think of the seafarers. Let us bear in mind: No Shipping, No Shopping! And so, we should say, “Thank you, seafarers.” The kind of competition we are invited to by the Second Reading is the positive, fruitful one: “Compete well for the faith.” In the seafaring world, competition is very tough at all levels—tough before one becomes a seafarer and tougher during and after. Luckily for us Filipinos, when it comes to the “human competition.” Most of our Filipino seafarers excel, even in witnessing to their faith, following the example of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.
The Gospel reading illustrates the abyss between those who remain in the idea of shopping but neglect “compete well for the faith.” The rich man is personally and materially full of shopped goods; the poor Lazarus, neglected, is not even worthy of the scraps. Now, the latter reminds the former that what counts in life are the persons who make things possible, the persons behind the scenes, like family and friends, and on this National Seafarer’s Day, the seafarers. Competing well for the faith also means being comforted, like Lazarus. It is only in this perspective that we can paraphrase the Responsorial Psalm: “Praise the Lord, my soul!” Next time we buy a product and check its “made in,” let us add: Thank you, seafarers!

18/09/2022

The Parable of the Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-13

There is a one liner that says: “If you will it, you will find ways, and if you don’t, you will find tons of reasons.” Kung gusto mo, hahanap ka nang paraan, kung ayaw mo hahanap at hahanap ka ng dahilan. Kailangan po natin gawin ang ating makakaya para po tayo ay makapasok sa kaharian ng Panginoon.
Matalino o hangal. Ipinapangatuwiran ni Jesus na habang ang mga mananampalataya sa pangkalahatan ay mas tuso sa pag-iisip kung paano kumita ng walang hanggang kayamanan, ang mga hindi mananampalataya ay kadalasang mas matalino sa pagtiyak ng makamundong kaunlaran. Hindi ipinahihiwatig ni Jesus na hindi tapat sa kahulugang ito.
Paano naging tuso ang hindi makatarungang katiwala? sa hindi bababa sa dalawang paraan. Tuso siya noong una dahil sinunggaban niya ang pagkakataon kapag may oras pa siyang kumilos. Ang kanyang mga araw ay bilang, at nakita niya itong nakasulat sa dingding! Malapit na siyang mawalan ng trabaho. Kaya naman mabilis siyang kumilos at ginamit ang kanyang awtoridad habang nasa kanyang kapangyarihan pa upang makuha ang pabor ng kanyang amo.
Ikalawa, ang balakyot na katiwala ay matalino dahil ginamit niya nang husto ang kaniyang magagamit na mga mapagkukunan upang matugunan ang kaniyang di-maiiwasang mga pangangailangan sa hinaharap. Alam niyang mawawalan siya ng trabaho. Bagama't ang karamihan ay susuko na, kumilos siya at ginamit kung ano ang mayroon siya upang matiyak ang kanyang kinabukasan.
Ang aplikasyon para sa amin ay alam namin na ang mamon ng kasamaan ay mabibigo sa isang punto sa malapit na hinaharap. Ang pera ay walang silbi sa atin sa langit dahil tayo ay mamamatay o dahil si Kristo ay babalik. Ngunit sa pamamagitan ng pagtatatag ng mga walang hanggang relasyon sa pamamagitan ng ebanghelyo, magagamit natin ang ating pera upang simulan ang pag-iipon ng mga kayamanan sa langit ngayon.
Palaging may paraan kung talagang gusto ng isang tao ang isang bagay, hahanap siya ng paraan para magawa ito, kahit may mga bagay na nagpapahirap gawin. Ito ay maaaring gamitin sa isang positibong kahulugan, tulad ng pag-uusap tungkol sa isang walang kapagurang manggagawa na nakakakuha ng masipag na trabaho.

11/09/2022

"A little bit of mercy makes the work less cold and more just." - Pope Francis

10/09/2022

Pagninilay: Ang Mga Talinghaga ng Awa
1. Parabula ng Nawalang Tupa
2. Parabula ng Nawalang Barya
3. Parabula ng Nawalang Anak

Pagninilay:
1. Ang tatlong talinghaga ay nagsisimula sa pagkawala ng isang bagay; ang pagkawala ng isang bagay na mahalaga sa atin ay nagdadala sa atin ng samot saring emosyon gaya nang kawalan, pighati at kakulangan. Ang karanasan ng pagkawala ng isang bagay o ng isang tao sa sarili ay isang emosyonal na pagdurusa, madalas na ang karanasan ng sakit ay maaaring napakalaki. Maaari tayong makaranas ng lahat ng uri ng hirap at hindi inaasahang emosyon, mula sa pagkabigla o galit hanggang sa hindi paniniwala, pagkakasala, marahil panghihinayang at matinding kalungkutan.
Ngayon bigyang-pansin natin kung ano ang inilalahad sa atin ng Ebanghelyo.
a. Ang “pagkawala ng mga tupa” ay maaaring kumatawan sa kabuhayan ng isang tao. Marami sa atin ang umaasa sa ating buhay sa mga negosyo o trabaho, na nagbibigay-daan sa atin na matustusan ang ating pamilya o ang ating sarili, gaano man ito kaliit at ka-simple. At dahil ito ay mahalaga, tayo ay gumising araw-araw upang magtrabaho, mapabuti ito at palaguin ito. Para mas lumiwanag ang kinabukasan. Gayunpaman, hindi lahat sa atin ay kasing tagumpay ng iba. Ang ilan ay nawalan nito marahil dahil sa ilang hindi masyadong magandang desisyon, ang mismong bagay na nagpapanatili sa kanila sa mahirap na buhay. Nawala sa kanila ang mismong bagay na nagpapanatili sa kanilang buhay, ng kanilang pamilya.
b. Ang "pagkawala ng barya" ay kumakatawan sa pera na mayroon tayo. Sa mundong ito lahat tayo ay nangangailangan ng pera upang mabuhay, upang makabili ng mga bagay na kailangan natin. Marami sa atin ang nabubuhay sa pang-araw-araw na batayan, kaya naman kahit isang sentimo ay ganoon kahalaga sa kanila at ang pagkawala ay mangangahulugan ng gutom at ang pinakamasama ay kamatayan.
c. Ang dalawang naunang klase ng pagka-wala ay mga kawalan nag nagpapahiwatig ng pagkawala ng mga materyal na bagay sa buhay natin. Ngunit ang ikatlong talinghagang ito ay nagpapaalala sa atin ng katotohanan ng isang taong nawawalan ng “dignidad.” Ang pagkawala ng isang bagay na nasa materyal na antas kahit papaano ay medyo mas matatanggap kumpara sa taong nawawalan ng lahat maging ang kanyang dignidad. Ang pagkawala ng dignidad ng tao ay isa na siguro sa pinaka-nakakahiyang yugto ng ng buhay. Madalas silang minamaltrato at minamaliit. Tinatrato sila na parang hayop na dapat iwasan, parang mga halimaw, ang pinakamasaklap hindi lang ang lipunan ang nagtrato sa kanila ng ganito kundi ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, kanilang mga kakilala, mga taong malapit sa kanila noong sila ay maayos pa. Lahat sila ay nagiging estranghero.
Ginugol ng Diyos Ama ang kanyang pagmamahal at awa para sa ating mga anak na ibinalik sa atin ang ating buhay, ang ating dignidad bilang tao. Awa, sa kabila ng mga kasalanan; at pag-asa sa kabila ng pagkukulang at pagkalugmok ng isang tao. Ang awa ay hindi lamang nakikita sa pagtulong sa kapwa lalo na sa mga mahihirap, kundi sa pagpapatawad at pakikipagkasundo. Inilalahad din sa atin ng Ebanghelyo ngayon ang mga talinghaga ng awa ng Santo Trinidad. Oo, ang ating Diyos ay isang mayamang Diyos, sa katunayan siya ay napakayaman sa awa at kabaitan. At pinipigilan tayo ng kasalanan na makibahagi sa kanyang kayamanan, hinahayaan niya tayong mawala sa ating sarili. Hinahayaan tayo ng Diyos na mawala sa ating maraming desisyon sa buhay batay sa pagmamataas sa sarili at pagmamataas. Kahit na hinahayaan niya tayong mawala, naghihintay tayo na bumalik tayo sa kanya ng buong puso.
Ito ang sagot ni Jesus sa mga Pariseo nang tanungin nila siya kung bakit siya kasama ng mga “makasalanan.” Yaong mga napabayaan, inaapi, iniiwan, kinalimutan ng lipunan, mahihirap, marginalized.
Ang Ebanghelyo ay nagpapaalala na, sa ating karanasan sa pagkawala ng isang bagay o ang diginidad ng tao o kapag tayo ay naliligaw at nalilito at nakakadesisyon ng labag sa kalooban ng Dios. Dapat tayong tumingala sa maibiging titig ni Hesus na naghahanap sa nawawalang kawan, at nang matagpuan sila, inilagay niya sila sa kanyang mga balikat. Ipinaalala sa atin na sa kabila ng ating pagiging makasalanan, lagi niya tayong hahanapin. Kaya naman, sa tuwing hindi tayo tatahak sa tamang landas, dapat nating hilingin sa kanya na gabayan tayo.

09/09/2022

Treasure the moment!