Answered Prayer

After more than a week, I am back online. I should have posted this the other week but my computer crashed. Well, I have been using this PC for more than five years already. Obviously, it has been showing signs of ageing.

Last Friday, I picked up my 10-year old niece from school as her father could not. So, my sister asked if I could spare a few minutes. She would then pick her up later in my house after office.
I thought it would be wise to give her piano lessons while waiting for her mother. Occasionally, I teach piano to my nephews and nieces whenever they come and visit.

After more than an hour, I noticed her attention started to deviate from the piano keys to the painting on the wall just above the piano. I grew up with that painting of Jesus wielding a rope and overturning tables in the temple. My maternal grandfather had it painted from a photo in a prayer book. To him, it should send a message about respect for one's house.

My niece's curiosity finally got the better of her and asked me why Jesus seemed to be driving away the people in the temple. A few weeks ago, the day's gospel was about this scene. The priest explained that during those days, it is normal to see money changers and people selling animals outside the temple. These are allowed as people who would come to the temple would buy their animal offerings. Those who are rich usually buy cows to offer while the less moneyed go for doves. Remember when Jesus was presented to the temple, His parents bought doves as offering. But that would be another story.

I was glad that I remembered the explanation of the priest as her questions were specific as to why there are doves flying and money scattered on the floor.

I have observed that she was keen on hearing more stories from the bible. I took the opportunity to tell her about David, Goliath, Abel and Cain. When her mother came, we were still on the piano telling stories.

It could have been just one bonding moment for me and my niece. However, on Sunday evening when I was saying my prayers before bed. It suddenly hit me that I have an answered prayer. Every night, I would consecrate my nieces and nephews to the Infant Jesus and also say the prayer for children that I found from an unknown source in the internet.

The prayer said that parents say one prayer for their children each month . Then at the end of the year, they would have covered everything. What I do is choose three prayers that I pray for a week each night and as I say the prayer about the children hearing stories from the bible to guide their lives, I was struck that I suddenly remember that Friday afternoon with my niece.

Yes, God answered my prayer but I didn't realize it was through me. I forgot that God can use anything or anyone including me. It was good enough that I had heard the priest's explanation and when the opportunity presented itself, there I was ready with the story.

Life brings us unexpected moments where past experiences we thought should be kept locked in our memories could be enlightening stories to others treading the same path. Sometimes, we ran into entirely different situations from what we had planned or expected. The key is to always seize the moment or the lesson of the experience. Who knows, they will come in handy shortly. Like the piano lesson that turned into a bible sharing story session.

Let me share with you the prayers for children. Hope you get blessed as well.

HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR CHILD

1. Pray NOTHING hinders your child from accepting Christ as his personal Savior early in life. (Matthew 19:14)
2. Pray your child learns to know God and will have a deep desire to do God's will for his life. (Psalms 119:27,30,34,35).
3. Pray your child hears stories from the Bible that will be a basis for his decisions throughout life. (Ecclesiastes 12:1, Psalms 71:17).
4. Pray your child will-develop a keen sense of right and wrong and that he will truly abhor evil and cling to that which is good. (Psalms 139:23-4).
5. Pray your child will increase in wisdom (mentally) and in stature (physically) and in favor with God (spiritually) and man (socially). (Luke 2:52). This prayer covers his total development to his full potential.
6. Pray that your child will develop a thankful heart and a positive mental attitude. (Psalm 126:2-3, Romans 8:31)
7. Pray that God protects your child from Satan and his wiles in every area of his life. (John 17:55, Psalm 121)
8. Pray that God would destroy the enemies in his life whether they be weaknesses, lying, selfishness etc. (Psalms 120:2; 140).
9. Pray that God would make him successful in the work God has for him to do. (Psalm 118:25, 139:9-10)
10. Pray he have a strong sense of belonging to a family that is loving and dwells together in unity (Psalms 133, Colossians 3:12-14).
11. Pray he will respect authority. (Romans 13:1, Ephesians 6:1-4).
12. Pray that his entire life will be a testimony of the greatness and love of Christ. (Philippians 2:15-16 Thess 5:2-3)

If you pray one of these a month, you will have your child covered for a year!

Author Unknown

The Faithful Fathers of the Church

The Italian priest kidnapped more than a month ago in the Philippines was finally released. Incidentally, his release coincides with the 87th birthday of his mother.

Despite the spate of scandals in the Catholic church involving priests, the majority are not even noticed for their faithful service. Southern Philippines is known for Muslim extremists. A few years ago, an American missionary couple was also abducted. Unfortunately, the man was killed and the wife was able to return to the US.

I remember a Filipino priest who once mentioned in his homily that he rides a motorbike to say mass in the chapels under his parish. Not all priests in the Philippines could afford a car as many parishes are poor. Also, it serves him better because of the monstrous traffic in his area plus the savings in fuel. Despite these hassles in carrying out his vocation, he was thankful as his classmates were not as lucky.

One of his classmates would ride a motorized small boat or more popularly known as banca in the Philippines to get to say mass to a community under his parish. Another classmate rides a horse!!!

Let us always remember that many of our priests are carrying out their duties under not so good circumstances. The state of the Catholic church in the US does not speak for the entire Catholic church. This gives us more reasons to pray for those who are in harms' way like Father Bossi.

God bless our priests.

Lost Shepherds

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced the largest church settlement of sexual misconduct cases to the tune of $ 660M. Other previous settlement cases in the US were of the Boston Archdiocese amounting to $157M, Archdiocese of Portland, Ore. at $129M, Diocese of Orange, California at $100M, and $85M for the Diocese of Covington, Ky.

The money could've very well been spent on more important concerns of the church. On second thoughts, these cases mirror the sad state of the Catholic church in the US. I am sure there are similar incidents worldwide, though not as prevalent. The Philippines which has far more number of Catholics than the entire USA, for example has not had so much cases. There were complaints against two prominent bishops. However, both were from women.

Nevertheless, in St. Francis of Assissi's first admonition, let not the sins of the priests distract us from the presence of the Lord in mass and the sacraments which they give. It is indeed a severe test of our faith when we hear of these misconducts. But then it is also a challenge for all of us just as St. Francis gave his obedience to the Pope and bishops when they did not understand what he felt God was asking him to do.

Let us continue to pray for the shepherds of our flock that they will perservere in their calling.

Incidentally, today is the birthday of my younger brother, the one right after me and the eldest of my four younger brothers. May God continue to be present in his life.

Abortion in Portugal

The law legalizing abortion on the first ten weeks of pregnancy took effect in Portugal on Sunday. This is sad considering that the country is largely Catholic. I wonder if it would make any difference if more people turned in to vote openly against the law in the referendum in February.

Let us invoke the Lady of Fatima for the people of Portugal.

Full story here.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

I came to know of our Lady of Mount Carmel as a child from my grandmother who's a devotee. The Lady of Mount Carmel is her hometown patron so even long after she had moved to the city, she faithfully observed Her feastday. A few months before she passed away, she asked me to have a dress made for her in the traditional Carmelite color to wear on her funeral. She also asked me to look for the Carmelite belt in her belongings just in case it is time for her to go.

Though I don't wear the scapular, I have long been praying to our Lady for favors. It pleased my grandmother that I had gone to the national shrine on her feast day a number of years already, where she also used to go when she was still capable.

Today is also memorable to me as 17 years ago, I survived a natural catastrophe that caused the death of hundreds of people and damages to properties worth millions of dollars.

Maybe, it was my grandmother's prayers at that time that protected me, as I was on official travel. They heard the news and were very much worried as they knew I was at the location of the disaster. Communication was down and I can't let her know that we were safe.

However, as soon as my colleague got the chance, after standing in line for long in a local radio station free call service for the public, he informed our office that we were all safe.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel pray for us today and until we come face to face with your Son, Jesus.

No other gods

I was saddened by the news that the first Hindu prayer ever in the Senate was interrupted by Christians. Not that I approve of a Hindu leading the prayer but I feel that Christians should act with charity no matter what.

When I read about this a few weeks ago, I posted the news on a Catholic site to see how they would react. However, I don't think it was seen as it is for others look at it as an anti-American post.

Personally, I shudder at the thought of calling on other gods to start the Senate session. Sometimes, freedom is taken too far to please everybody at the expense of what is right.

I guess many Christians in the US couldn't even care less as that is what is freedom is all about. I don't think so...

I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange gods before me. (First Commandment)

Full story here.

Happy birthday to our parish priest

I almost forgot! Today is also the birthday of our new parish priest. Our group was requested to prepare a song number for the program after the mass. Unfortunately, I won't be able to join them.

In the past, programs and entertainment are always part of special occasions in church. However, I am not really sure if it would still be the same now. People have different personalities and some are not into socials. We are still testing the waters as to how our new parish priest would welcome these activities.

I'll let you know in the coming days.

May God keep Father R. faithful to his vocation.

Saint Benedict

Today is the feast day of St. Benedict. I have been praying to him everyday for quite some time already. With evil abounding everywhere and as one who lives alone, I thought it wise to invoke his prayers.

After all, he was himself saved when he blessed the poison wine. His commitment to spiritual excellence was just too much for some monks that they attempted to kill him. I have long been wanting to get myself a St. Benedict medal. It is widely known and used throughout the Christian world as a sacramental with exorcising properties.

But then its value and power should be ascribed to the merits of Christ crucified, the efficacious prayers of St. Benedict, the blessing of the Church and especially to the faith and holy disposition of the person using the medal.

So even without the medal, I am sure that St. Benedict hears my prayers.

St. Benedict pray for protection for me, my family and my friends.

Priorities

It has been a while since my last entry. I have not been very diligent in my blogging as I was spending more time in another forum. With the recent happenings I had the chance to reassess my priorities and values.

It wasn't a difficult decision at all. I had done my part in many ways. However, when the push turned to shove, I realized it wasn't worth all the efforts and pain.

We don't have to fight all our battles. Only those that are necessary and are for the greater glory of God. Even Jesus instructed his apostles, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town." (Matthew 10:14)

Winners know when to quit. And as the world has persecuted Jesus, we can expect nothing less as His disciples.

I hope to post more in the coming days.