Christianity

 

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else" (C.S. Lewis)

What does believing in Jesus mean to me? It is an adherence of my whole being to Jesus Christ. Saying that I am a Christian means that I believe in Jesus' message, accept Jesus' covenant of love with me, and follow Jesus' teaching and example.

So many people use religion as an excuse to do things that shouldn't even be allowed by a modicum of good manners. It really is so sad. 

Jesus who, more than two thousand years ago had to escape tyranny as a newborn child, continues to be in exile even in so-called Christian and educated/developed countries, perhaps an exile also in churches and communities that shout out His name and follow Him.

"No one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother" (1 Jn 3:10).

This coming year, may our contribution to the healing of our world be our seriously living what we profess as Christians.

Christ in Christmas

There is no Christmas without Christ. Let us give Christ back to Christmas!

Christmas without Christ

These days I am treating myself to viewing feel-good Christmas movies. They really make me feel good, albeit a little bit nostalgic, with their message of family, love, forgiveness, faith. They almost succeed in selling the idea that miracles still do happen.
I have a problem, though. In almost all of these movies, the protagonist that personifies the Christmas spirit is ... Santa Claus. Well, he isn't really a bad guy. He loves kids, gives gifts to the good ones. He is jolly and kind. He wants to make people happy. He seems to embody everything that is ideal so that there would be harmony, joy and love.
But in reality, this is not really something originally Santa Claus'.
It is Jesus Christ who embodies these ideals.
Before Jesus came, the best the human race could come up with, in terms of governing relationships is the eye-for-an-eye-rule.
But Jesus, through His life and His teachings, has showed us that we can go beyond that. We can go the extra mile, we can turn the other cheek, we can love our enemies and pray for those who hate us. And it is this which makes harmony, joy and love possible.
So, move aside, Santa dear. Let us make way for Jesus. Let us put back Christ in Christmas. With Christ in our lives, everyday can be Christmas.

Happy birthday, Jesus

When You came to this world more than 2000 years ago, very few people welcomed You.
This Christmas day and always, may You find a home in my heart and in the hearts of my family, friends and loved ones.
Happy birthday, Jesus. Thank you for loving me.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday Hosanna Triumphant Entry Church Video from RCCG VICTORY TEMPLE on Vimeo.

Pope Benedict XVI's Angelus message (Jan. 6, 2010)

Look for the silver lining

I've started this blog a year ago. So much has happened ... I've realized that hope gets us through a lot, even the darkest days.
Here's wishing that we would always hold on to that Hope that will never delude us: Jesus.

The joy of Easter has to dawn

Remember that the passion of Christ ends always in the joy of the Resurrection,

so when you feel in your own heart the suffering of Christ,

remember the Resurrection has to come, the joy of Easter has to dawn.

Never let anything so fill you with sorrow

as to make you forget the joy of the Risen Christ!

(Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)

Lord, save us

As Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. (Mt 8:23-24)
The sea is the image of life that each of us is called to embark upon in our fragile boat. There are lulls of good weather and there are recurring tempests. This voyage is inevitable and can instill fear and anxiety, especially in today's society where anonymity dominates and it is easy to feel alone. We may feel as though we are drowning in the hostile waves on a moonless night. Shore seems like a distant and foggy mirage. The limitations of others create a heavy burden, ballast that renders rowing more difficult.
From the moment of the Incarnation, God has placed His boat alongside ours on these terrible waves. What's more, He asked Peter and now asks us to let Him come into our boat. From that moment, there no longer exists nights that are not illuminated by the light of faith, weak as it may be. It is true that there are days in which Jesus seems to be deeply asleep and the waves threaten to overwhelm us. Our prayer seems to be drowned out by the winds. We may even say, I no longer know how to pray. There is only one prayer full of an anguished cry that rises to our lips: Lord, save us!
This is the sincerest prayer because it rises from the depths of our being where we find ourselves face to face with our existential poverty. It is there that He is present, though asleep. He sleeps in order to re-awaken our drowsy faith. He sleeps but His heart keeps vigil. Let us listen to Him and treasure His words full of tender reproach, 'Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?'

(From Friends and Servants of the Word, June 30, 2009)

I call you friends

In today's Gospel text from St. John (15:15), we hear the powerful words: "No longer do I call you servants ... but I ahve called you friends." We are not useless servants but friends! The Lord calls us friends; he makes us his friends; he gives us his friendship.

Jesus defines friendship in two ways. There are no secrets between friends: Christ tells us everything he hears from the Father; he gives us his full confidence and, with confidence, also knowledge. He reveals his face to us, his heart. He shows his tenderness for us, his passionate love that goes to the folly of the cross.

I remember how moved I was as I listened to the Holy Father's homily at the beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome on April 24, 2005. Three times during that memorable homily, Benedict XVI spoke of the importance of "friendship" with Jesus: "The Church as a whole and all her pastors, like Christ, must set out to lead people out of the desert, towards the palce of life, toward friendship with the Son of God, toward the One who gives us life, and life in abundance...

"There is nothing more beautiful than to know him and to speak to others of our friendship with him."

"Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potention of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation."

Eight months later, in his Angelus address of Jan. 15, 2006, Benedict XVI said: "Friendship with the Teacher guarantees profound peace and serenity to the soul, even in the dark moments and in the msot arduous trials. When faith meets with dark nights, in which the presence of God is no longer 'felt' or 'seen', friendship with Jesus guarantees that in reality nothing can ever separate us from his love" (cf. Rm 8:39).

Again on Aug. 26, 2007, the theme of friendship was front and center: "True friendship with Jesus is expressed in the way of life: It is expressed with goodness of heart, with humility, meekness and mercy, love for justice and truth, and a sincere and honest commitment to peace and reconciliation."

(By Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB)