Author: dotheartfrarlon

• Ephesians 5:21-33
• Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
• Luke 13:18-21

I have encountered people who seem happy from outside appearance, but inside they carry so much pain and anguish in life.  They have tried in life to overcome them without people noticing their own pretentions. I guess it is really hard for them to keep everything inside their hearts, seemingly building up their own kingdom.

Today’s reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians tells us that we must, “Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  The passage is also an admonition to husbands and wives.  Maybe this advice for wives to be, “subordinate to their husbands in everything for the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the Church,” becomes taboo in this period of modern history.  Couples fight for equality in their vows and commitment in marriage.  I definitely don’t see life-giving marriage in the Church where one is inferior and the other is superior.

What is essential in marital covenant is when both work to make the marriage or family work. I believe what St. Paul wants to convey is that, to live godly lives starts first with our love and respect for each other, especially in the ways we assume responsibility for others, especially to children, spouses, family, and neighbors.

When we live according to the principles of life and keep the commandment of love, for sure it is a clear path to heaven amidst this imperfect world.  Why try to think that our immediate mission is to strive to create a world in which everyone feels that the Kingdom of God may be easily found here on earth.  This Kingdom of God is primarily centered in love and respect for each other in view of God’s calling for all.

The kingdom of heaven is beyond what we can humanly expect. It would be a good help to focus on things that God wants us to accomplish, lest we become frustrated.  After all, frustration is the direct result of being an independent and individualistic person.  What matters most is for oneself rather than for the common good.

I pray today that we can also see the Kingdom so clearly when we all submit ourselves to Christ who is the head and the way to the real kingdom.  St. Paul is inviting husbands and wives to be self-giving and self-emptying, and for the whole Church to offer to each other genuine service.

Dedicated and loving service is the key in this perspective as we concretize our common aspiration building the kingdom here and now.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Ephesians 4:32-5:8
• Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
• Luke 13:10-17

The change of weather is obvious because the temperature gets cooler and continues to drop. People are preparing for the winter season and checking their houses for good insulation. Sometimes we are good about external preparations, but how about our interior life? Do we prepare for it?

The first reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a good reminder, not only to the people of Ephesus but for us, to live a good and honorable life. Instead of engaging in all kinds of foolishness, we must be good, merciful and grateful at all times. We need to keep today’s responsorial psalm in our hearts, “Behave like God as his very dear children.”

Jesus, in today’s gospel, presents himself as a very sensible person. He knows the needs of everyone. He never hesitates to do something good for others, unmindful of the sabbath, when the mercy of God is at stake. While He was teaching at the synagogue, He encountered a woman who was crippled by spirit for 18 years. Jesus would have had to look carefully at everyone in the congregation, hunting for the person who most needed His help; then He saw the crippled woman. Because of His empathy, Jesus freed her from her physical challenges and pain. While Jesus’ oppositionists were indignant, Jesus had decided to liberate and cure her from her illness, even during the sabbath. I certainly believe that woman’s life changed only when Jesus met her and acted with the compassion that St. Paul says, “Be kind to one another, compassionate. Forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.”

I pray today, that God will continue to give me the gift of compassion for others, rather than to behave in a judgmental and condemning manner. Loving and knowing God, who has given me life, talents, and many other blessings, makes me want to use them all in service to others, I ask God to help me know how I can best serve others.

I have been raised with much love and care; thus I am grateful growing up with so many blessings. I want to pay it forward to those whose lives need love and material benefits by doing the best I can, in order to return the love to those who desperately need it.

Even though it is difficult being aware of those having less in resources, please sacrifice and spare any attainable donations. This will help others very much, but at the very least responding to these needs reflects on us being good and compassionate individuals; please give until it hurts.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
• Psalms 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
• 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
• Luke 13:1-9

Today is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C. As I have shared with you, the liturgical readings last week and this week are about prayer. Some of us know about prayer because we say a prayer every day. There are some who pray almost the whole day. Whatever the benefit of prayer is, I believe it not essentially for God, but for our own good, for our conversion and a way to constantly communicate with God, who knows what is best for us.

We heard our first reading from the Book of Sirach which reminds us about “God of justice, who knows no favorites.” He listens to all of our prayers, especially the cry of the poor, meaning those who are truly dependent on Him. He is not deaf to the crying of the orphans and widows who pour out their complaint to Him. God doesn’t tolerate favoritism; instead He hears the people’s prayer without delay. What is needed is our complete resignation and not expectations. Faith counts the most in our own prayer life.

Dealing with unanswered prayers does not justify our constant blaming of God’s treatment towards us. We cannot simply accuse God who remains passive with regards to our supplications. Maybe we need to discover much about ourselves that our mind is less focused on God, or maybe our ears don’t listen attentively to God’s voice. It is significant not to focus fully on ourselves and to expect instant results according to our terms. Prayer is not so much about asking God for He knows the recesses of our heart’s desire. Nevertheless, it is more appropriate that we express gratitude to God who knows how to provide us with a particular need. God knows everything, including our pain, struggles and material needs. Throughout the gospel, Jesus is encouraging His disciples to pray especially during life’s trials and difficulties. In today’s gospel, Jesus narrates to us about two men praying in the temple area.

First, a Pharisee who prays to God and yet he is actually praising himself. He doesn’t know that he is praying to himself, lifting his own seat because of his pious actions. He thanks God that he is different from others, not being immoral and being obedient to the law. He feels better about himself, thus putting himself above his need rather than the need of God. This gospel parable is actually directed towards the Pharisees who trusted in their own righteousness.

Second, the tax collector, who squeezes his fellow Jews to pay their taxes under the foreign domination by Rome. However, he is very conscious of his manner and behavior to the fact that he acknowledges before God that he is a sinner. He is honest and truthful to God. Thus, the tax collector went home justified, which means he was able to open up himself to God, and at the same time he arrived at his own self discovery and assessment.

We learn that being honest in everything is an invitation to prayer in order to arrive at the truth, humbling ourselves to foster a relationship with God which we often think of as the fruits of prayer.

I am drawn to admire the tax collector’s attitude simply because he knows how to evaluate himself with sincerity of heart, then finishes his prayer being whole again. Prayer is not about asking, but being at peace with yourself and God.

Having a meek heart opens up every possibility. St. Augustine says, “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.” St. Augustine understands that if we presume through pride to make ourselves the center of our own identities, the result is basically, self-pretentious. We need humility in order to recognize the love and the divine intervention of God that sustains us.

Therefore, let us return to God in prayer, not the way the Pharisee prayed, expecting a reward, but the humble prayer of a tax collector who approached God in the sincerest way possible. Let us strive to live more peacefully connected with God in truth and be restored completely renewed and healed.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Ephesians 4:1-6
• Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
• Luke 12:54-59

God has given us various gifts which we need to be aware of, affirming how much God loves and cares for us. These gifts are for us to bring to each other.  Therefore, we must show appreciation for each other’s gifts and use them for our well-being. 

The reading from Saint Paul to the Ephesians indicates the kindness of Paul because he writes to inspire them of unity of the Spirit and peace, despite his experience of being imprisoned. There is no rancor in his heart against those who oppressed him.  St. Paul says, “to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace; one Body and one spirit.”  We must be worthy of this call of Christ, meaning to say, that the life of Jesus suggests it is a call to love, both God and our fellowmen.  We need to work hard for unity and peace.

The gospel reading implies that we must realize our calling to this present world is to be able to respond to the challenges and calling with an open heart and mind so that the Holy Spirit has the space in our life to discern well.  Surely, we can predict weather changes, the incidence of rain and the direction of the wind by using modern technology; however, Jesus then sadly points out that often we cannot determine in a peaceful manner what is right and just.  

How do we arrive at an objective understanding of things:

First of all, as humans we have both feelings and facts.  At times, we are carried away by our prejudices which we must really work hard to take them away.  Thus, to attain the objectivity we allow ourselves to engage in dialogue and cordial interaction.

Secondly, when we want to arrive at a peaceful agreement or resolution, one has to know that different opinions are better than only one idea.  It strengthens our being brothers and sisters to find the commonality of purpose.  Our differences of opinion may produce a balanced solution.  Nevertheless, mutual respect and love need to be practiced. To do this well, we must have a better way to accept and to listen well to the call that God has put in our hearts.  

St. Paul clearly mentions that “there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and we are under one Father.”  Our unity involves diversity, but we call upon the Spirit to help us realize, as Paul tells us, that there is “one God of all, who is over all, and works through all, and is in all.”

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Ephesians 3:14-21
• Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
• Luke 12:49-53

My journey to holiness is not smooth. It is rough, and I need to maintain a balance. There are times when I need to maneuver crucial moments in my life.  Curves are plenty, but I look forward to traversing on a straight road.  

The first reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians is a reminder to me, as today I pray, “that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones……and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that I may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  I pray for that instruction in love that will fortify me through life’s difficulties and allow me to live out the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ.

The gospel today surprised me when Jesus says, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing.”  I believe that this is a kind of human emotion being revealed to us from the human nature of the Lord when He too experienced anguish and betrayal which led to His crucifixion. 

This gospel makes me feel unsettled but there are lessons we need to ponder on:

Frist, Jesus’ commitment to share the message of the Father so that people may find God continuously putting forward the seriousness of His work for the salvation of all, which means, the earth has been set with the power of the Holy Spirit symbolizing “fire.”

Second, Jesus speaks of the passivity of the people to accept His message.  Jesus is wishing it “were already blazing.”  The healing of the hearts of men is seemingly hard because of the freedom God gifted all of us.  I guess it is easy for God to impose all that He wanted to fulfill; however, He respects our decision to make our personal commitment.  We have to make our voices clear and be heard, so that we too can influence others.

At the end of today’s gospel, Jesus says, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three….” Yes, it is difficult to understand this, yet it is easier to accept that some people committed themselves to be faithful followers of Jesus, and there are some that reject Jesus, even today, which causes division among our families and community.

I can imagine that Jesus’ eyes see that the Holy Spirit works in my heart and others.  Jesus is inviting you and me to receive it fully and open our hearts to it no matter what the results, even discord in my own family. We need courage when we are different from them as long as we walk in the path of goodness and righteousness to see through us His divine presence burning in us.  

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Ephesians 3:2-12
• Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
• Luke 12:39-48

By virtue of our baptism, Jesus has been giving us an important task to continue Christ’s work of building the Kingdom of God on earth. It can be a great challenge to accomplish this mission work wherever we are, in school, in our workplace, or sharing the faith with family members and friends. During Holy Communion, the priest says, “The Body of Christ,” and our response is, “Amen,”which means “so be it,” or “I believe,” a response to manifest our complete acceptance of the real presence of Christ. When we believe in the body of Christ, it means we are receiving both His blood and His body. However, we always forget the second implication of saying Amen. It reminds us that we embodied the Body of Christ, that each one of us is a part of the Body of Christ. As one Body, we are in communion with each other to participate in the work and mission of Jesus. Our Catholic belief is not only personal but communal. We must unite with each other and collaborate in doing the work of God here on earth. St. Teresa of Avila once said that “Christ has no body on earth now but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which Christ looks with compassion on the world; yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good; yours are the hands with which Christ blesses all the world.” Thus, we are sent to be His witnesses into the world when we allow ourselves to be shared in the service of the gospel, bringing the good news to others.

Today’s gospel tells us about those who are not yet ready and His servants who are ready and prepared for the coming of the Son of Man. We have plenty of time to improve our dedication and relationship with God, rather than to think that our faith is another burden to our busyness. We look at it and view how we should live our Christian lives. By being open to Jesus’ presence in our hearts, we receive the fulness of life and joy. Our behavior becomes different by being receptive to His grace, and our sharing of love is indeed easier to accomplish. We can share these loving actions with the people in our daily lives. We become more approachable, more attentive when we listen and more effective when we pray. We become forgiving toward others and are happy to share our faith with them.

Listening to the first epistle today from St. Paul we hear, “Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of His power.” It is ultimately the grace of God.

Let us explore, through our life of devotion in prayer, sharing the fruits of our love with others as part of the whole Body of Christ.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

• Exodus 17:8-13
• Psalms 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
• 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
• Luke 18:1-8

Today is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We feel the coming of the season of fall or autumn. As fall fast approaches, it’s only right that we familiarize ourselves with autumn plant life, specifically, why leaves change color during this time of year. If you revisit your 4th grade science lesson, chlorophyll is the green pigment that plays a vital role in photosynthesis and light absorption for energy. You are probably wondering how a green pigment factors into the changing of color in leaves? After a prolonged summer, and the weather starts to become fall-like, it leads to the breaking down of chlorophyll in the leaves. This is the primary reason behind the change in color, ranging from orange, red, and yellow. Autumn is usually characterized by sunny days and cool nights, resulting in more color vitality. Just as the seasons change, it is significant that our spiritual growth and connection with God become our strength. It is essential to improve our communication with Him as well.

Today’s readings reaffirm our faith that God is ever present, and in times of need He is there with us. However, we call God not only when we need Him but because we love Him. We are invited to watch and trust God in the context of prayer, which is the theme of the liturgy in the next two weeks.

The first reading is an interesting story about Moses helping a lot to win the battle between Joshua and Amalek from the Book of Exodus. Moses was there with Joshua trying to sustain with prayers and encouragement, using the staff of God in His hands on the top of the hill, which is written, “As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hand rest, Amalek had the better of the fight.” I do understand that God stood with Moses and Joshua to win the war. Both of them had shown the power of communal effort against any individual pursuit. We are more powerful if we come together with the same objective, with our fervent prayers and resignation to the God who is good.

The second reading from the letter of St. Paul to Timothy reminds us that our understanding should be that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” What we hear every Sunday from the scriptures are all inspired Words of God that should move us to do good actions. It should not be just hearing the word, or sleeping when the readings are being proclaimed; rather, we need to wake up and think how we can live-out His words in our day-to-day life. We must learn that our loving God works through others.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus suggests that with a listening attitude, our loving God answers our prayers and petitions but not necessarily in the way we seek. God has ears quick to respond to us, but we become weary when things are not happening according to our own expectations. There will always be mysteries about answers to prayers.

Jesus’ parable about the widow and the judge raised certain important lessons:

• First: God always hears our prayer. No matter what we ask, God is not deaf towards the prayers of His children. He gives only something that makes us good.

• Second: Just as the dishonest judge finally relents to the persistent request of the widow, how much more does God concede to answer the need of His chosen ones who call Him day and night.

• Third: Reading the last verse which is essentially necessary for us to reflect. “But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Jesus is expecting from us our constant faith in our prayer life. Prayer doesn’t add anything to the perfection of God, but for us who are totally dependent on God, prayer is beneficial and necessary. We need to learn how to wait, and our prayer simply expresses our love, adoration, and thanksgiving to God more than any other things. We are accountable for the gift of faith we have received and how effectively we pass on that gift to others as well.

• Fourth: Our act of charity and justice for another person in need may very well be how God is answering their prayers. God also uses us to answer other’s prayers and petitions.

Just as we realize the need of our union, peace and joy with God, prayer becomes our acceptance that we are limited without God in our lives. With confident hope, our Lord Jesus Christ is asking us today to persevere in our life of prayer.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

El dictado del corazón: Vigésimo Noveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, año C

• Éxodo 17:8-13
• Salmos 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 2
• Timoteo 3:14-4:2
• Lucas 18:1-8

Hoy es el Vigésimo Noveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario. Sentimos la llegada de la temporada de Otoño. A medida que se acerca el otoño, es justo que nos familiaricemos con la vida de las plantas otoñales, específicamente, por qué las hojas cambian de color durante esta época del año. Si revisas tu lección de ciencias de cuarto grado, la clorofila es el pigmento verde que juega un papel vital en la fotosíntesis y la absorción de luz para obtener energía. Probablemente se esté preguntando cómo influye un pigmento verde en el cambio de color de las hojas. Después de un verano prolongado, y el clima comienza a volverse otoñal, se produce la descomposición de la clorofila en las hojas. Esta es la razón principal detrás del cambio de color, que va desde naranja, rojo y amarillo. El otoño suele caracterizarse por días soleados y noches frescas, lo que da como resultado una mayor vitalidad del color. A medida que cambian las estaciones, es importante que nuestro crecimiento espiritual y nuestra conexión con Dios se conviertan en nuestra fortaleza. También es esencial mejorar nuestra comunicación con Él.

Las lecturas de hoy reafirman nuestra fe en que Dios está siempre presente, y en tiempos de necesidad Él está allí para acompañarnos. Sin embargo, llamamos a Dios no solo cuando lo necesitamos sino porque lo amamos. Estamos invitados a observar y confiar en Dios en el contexto de la oración, que es el tema de la liturgia en las próximas dos semanas.

La historia de la primera lectura es interesante que Moisés ayuda mucho a ganar la batalla entre Josué y Amalek del Libro del Éxodo. Moisés estaba allí con Josué tratando de sostener con oraciones, aliento usando la vara de Dios en Sus manos en la cima de la colina, que está escrito, “Mientras Moisés mantuvo sus manos en alto, Israel tuvo la mejor pelea, pero cuando dejó descansar su mano, Amalec ganó lo mejor de la pelea.” Entiendo que Dios estuvo con Moisés y Josué para ganar la guerra. Ambos habían demostrado el poder del esfuerzo comunitario, frente a cualquier búsqueda individual. Somos más poderosos si nos unimos con un mismo objetivo, con nuestra oración ferviente y resignación al Dios que es bueno.

La segunda lectura de la carta de San Pablo a Timoteo nos recuerda que nuestro entendimiento debe ser que “Toda la Escritura es inspirada por Dios y útil para enseñar, para refutar, para corregir y para instruir en la justicia, para que quien pertenece a Dios sean competentes, equipados para toda buena obra.” Que lo que escuchamos todos los domingos de las escrituras son inspiradas de Dios que deben movernos a hacer buenas obras. No se trata solo de escuchar la palabra, o dormir cuando se están proclaman las lecturas, sino que debemos estar despiertos y pensar cómo podemos vivirla día a día. Debemos aprender que nuestro amoroso Dios, obra a través de los demás.

En la lectura del evangelio de hoy, Jesús sugiere que una actitud de escuchar, nuestro Dios amoroso responde a nuestras oraciones y peticiones, pero no necesariamente de la manera que buscamos. Dios tiene oídos rápidos para respondernos, pero nos cansamos cuando las cosas no suceden de acuerdo a nuestras propias expectativas. Siempre habrá misterios sobre las respuestas a las oraciones.

La parábola de Jesús sobre la viuda y el juez suscitó ciertas lecciones importantes:

• Primero, Dios siempre escucha nuestras oraciónes. No importa lo que pidamos, Dios no es sordo a las oraciones de sus hijos. Él da sólo lo que nos ayuda a hacer mejores.

• Segundo. Así como el juez deshonesto finalmente cede ante la persistente petición de la viuda, cuánto más Dios concede para responder a la necesidad de sus elegidos que lo llaman día y noche.

• Tercero, la lectura del último verso que es esencialmente necesario para que reflexionemos. “Pero cuando venga el Hijo del hombre, ¿hallará fe en la tierra?” Jesús espera de nosotros nuestra fe constante en nuestra vida de oración. La oración no añade nada a la perfección de Dios, pero para nosotros que dependemos totalmente de Dios, la oración es beneficiosa y necesaria. Necesitamos aprender a esperar, y nuestra oración simplemente expresa nuestro amor, adoración y acción de gracias a Dios más que cualquier otra cosa. Somos responsables del don de la fe que hemos recibido y de la eficacia con la que transmitimos ese don también a los demás.

• Cuarto, nuestro acto de caridad y justicia por los necesitados, puede muy bien ser la forma en que Dios responde a nuestras oraciones. Dios usa nuestra persona para responder a las oraciones y peticiones de los demás.

Así como nos damos cuenta de la necesidad de nuestra unión, paz y alegría con Dios, la oración se convierte en nuestra aceptación de que estamos limitados sin Dios en nuestras vidas. Con confiada esperanza, nuestro Señor Jesucristo nos pide como hoy que perseveremos en nuestra vida de oración.

Dios los bendiga.

Padre Arlon Vergara OSA