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The Dictate of the Heart:  32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Monday

I am just wondering about this reality regarding uploading photos on Facebook, and how many people express their liking. However, uploading the “Word of God“ only few people express their approval.  I guess this is the culture right now, to like the “face” they see in the pictures, but to dislike hearing the voice of God.  It is a little bit frustrating, but it is true.  We desire something that is temporal and not eternal.

St. Paul wrote to Titus in today’s epistle, that “he is a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones and the recognition of religious truth, in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began, who indeed at the proper time revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our savior.” Paul wants the Church of Crete to be faithful to Christ amidst conflicts.  Paul and Titus shared the firmness of faith in the Lord. As church leaders, they moved onward to greet peace to all for the transformation of Christians in Crete.

In today’s Gospel reading from St. Luke, Jesus reminds us of our responsibility for others.  He makes three points:

First, we do not lead others to sin.  It is our moral responsibility to be models of faith and be able to save others from falling into sin.  We share the very mission of the Lord to act according to what we expect of us as disciples of the Lord.

Second, we must challenge those who do sin.  We rely on the power of faith in us.  Just as we are given the gift of faith, it is fitting that we speak with courage and conviction when knowing our brethren is potentially about to tempt others to commit sin, then let our faith shine by preventing others from committing any wrongdoings that will sadden and displease God.

Third, we must forgive those who sinned, even those who have sinned against us. We need to take risks in having faith in ourselves and others.

Such risks will lead us to become the person that God is calling us to become, that is to be Christ-like, a forgiving person. The good news is that forgiveness is always available, and Jesus loves us forever.  Jesus tells us thru this gospel, forgive, forgive, and then forgive again; with just a little faith, you can do anything.  It is better to pray like the Apostles, “Lord, increase our Faith.”

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The Diocese of Reno, spearheaded by the Bishop, Priests and facilitators representing each parish, will gather together on November 17, 2022, to discuss how we would implement in the entire diocese, the process to study together the meaning of the Mass. This would start from a parish base small group discussion which would create the opportunity for a deeper understanding of the Eucharist, promote communion with God, and increase the knowledge of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, as the summit and source of our lives as Catholics.  It is expected that this process will result in an increase of profound love and devotion to the Eucharist. 

Today is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.  The Holy Mass is a sacrament of the real presence of God.  As Catholics, we adhere to the fact that our celebration today is to be one and in union with God thru this sacrament.  Thus, we are happy to recite the responsorial psalm, “Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.” This longing is not remote; it is happening right now with the Lord appearing thru the Liturgy of the Word and in the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist.

Today, our careful reading of the scriptural passages is an opportunity to savor the sweetness of His words and spend time to digest its message which should not remain in our intellect but in our hearts to challenge us to pay attention. 

The over-all theme of the three readings points to death and resurrection.  The first reading from the Book of Maccabees narrates the story of seven brothers and their mother who are arrested and tortured for their faith in God.  They have lived the laws and customs as a Jewish family.  However, the family resisted the domination of King Antichus IV who wanted them to worship the Greek god of all gods.  The king and his commanders witnessed how the seven brothers were tortured without fear.  They were witnesses of being faithful Jews believing in the true God and, despite the ongoing torture, they recited prayers of hope as they suffered and died. They have forsaken earthly life and chosen life to come with God of their ancestors as their future. They challenge the King’s authority and his own eternal destiny for they believe that they will rise and live after the terror and death.  One of the brothers being tortured expresses his abiding faith by exclaiming: “It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him” (2 Mac 7:14).  St. Paul, in today’s second reading, calls on the Thessalonians and us that we must be delivered from perverse and wicked people for not having faith in the living God. It is only the Lord who will strengthen and guard us from the evil one.

In today’s gospel, St. Luke focuses on the Sadducees who deny there is a resurrection. Maybe some of us are not open to accept faith in the Lord, who promises resurrection after our death.  Let us journey together to understand this passage:

First, let us be honest about ourselves and ask, what is the purpose of life?  If there is no resurrection after death, then we are just like fallen leaves during this time of autumn.  Leaves fall and get dry and what remains is a barren tree.  We believe though that there is hope our garden will be beautiful again when spring comes.  This is simply the message of nature about life’s purpose.  It is in God that we trust, and the very foundation of life is love.  Therefore, our death on earth is truly related to the promise of Christ’s resurrection.

Second, Jesus confronted the Sadducees regarding their wrong teaching. The Sadducees thought they had found an opportunity to trap Jesus by their foolish argument.  Try to contemplate how Jesus was able to answer them directly.  “The children of this age marry and remarry, but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.”  This is a very clear response that in talking about the future life with God, our resurrection completely changes our own perspective.

Third, the end of the gospel has these compelling words; “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him we are all alive.” Maybe our view of life has been dominated by our material concerns and limited to the idea of this physical world we live in; therefore, we have that difficulty to accept the teaching of Jesus.

Thus, having difficulty to accept the teaching of the “Resurrection”, we have conflicts between the present life and the “after-life,” which we need to address.  What must we do here during our earthly life to be part of the resurrection? We must be open to seek spiritual guidance, get into prayer, meditation, reflection and fully embrace the Spirit of Enlightenment.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

El dictado del corazón: Trigésima segunda semana del tiempo ordinario, año C

  • 2 Macabeos 7:1-2, 9-14
  • Salmos 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
  • 2 Tesalonicenses 2:16–3:5
  • Lucas 20:27-38 o Lucas 20:27, 34-38

La Diócesis de Reno, encabezada por el obispo, los sacerdotes y los facilitadores que representan a cada parroquia, se reunirán el 17 de noviembre de 2022 para discutir cómo implementaríamos en toda la diócesis el proceso para estudiar juntos el significado de la Misa a partir de una base parroquial. Discusión en pequeños grupos que crea la oportunidad de una comprensión más profunda de la Eucaristía, para promover la comunión con Dios y aumentar el conocimiento del Sacramento de la Sagrada Eucaristía, como cumbre y fuente de nuestra vida como católicos. El proceso esperará resultados de un aumento de devoción y un amor profundo a la Eucaristía.

Hoy es el Trigésimo Segundo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario. La Santa Misa es un sacramento de la presencia real de Dios. Como católicos, nos adherimos al hecho de que nuestra celebración debe ser una y en unión con Dios a través de este sacramento. Por eso, nos alegramos de recitar el salmo responsorial: “Señor, cuando aparezca tu gloria, mi gozo será completo”. Este anhelo no es remoto, pero está ocurriendo ahora mismo que el Señor se aparece a través de la Liturgia de la Palabra y en la liturgia de la Sagrada Eucaristía.

Hoy, nuestra lectura, cuidadosa de los pasajes de las Escrituras, es una oportunidad para saborear la dulzura de la palabra de Dios y dedicar tiempo a digerir su mensaje que no debe permanecer en nuestro intelecto sino en nuestro corazón, para desafiarnos a prestar más atención.

El tema general de las treslecturas apunta a la muerte y la resurrección. La primera lectura del Libro de los Macabeos narra la historia de siete hermanos y su madre que son arrestados y torturados por su fe en Dios. Han vivido las leyes y costumbres como una familia judía. Sin embargo, la familia se resistió al rey dominante Antichus IV que quería que adoraran al dios griego de todos los dioses. El rey y sus comandantes presenciaron cómo los siete hermanos fueron torturados sin miedo. Fueron testigos de ser judíos fieles que creían en el Dios verdadero, a pesar de la tortura continua, recitaron oraciones de esperanza mientras sufren y mueren. Han abandonado la vida terrenal y eligen la vida para ir con el Dios de sus antepasados. Desafían la autoridad del Rey y su propio destino eterno porque creen que se levantarán y vivirán después del dolor y la muerte. Uno de los hermanos torturados expresa su fe exclamando: “Vale la pena morir a manos de los hombres, cuando se tiene la firme esperanza de que Dios nos resucitará. (2 Mac 7:14). San Pablo en la segunda lectura de hoy llama a los tesalonicenses y a nosotros a que debemos ser librados de las personas perversas y malvadas por no tener fe en el Dios vivo. Solo en el Señor nos fortalecerá y nos guardará del maligno.

En el evangelio de hoy, San Lucas se enfoca en los saduceos que niegan que haya una resurrección. Quizás algunos de nosotros no estemos abiertos a aceptar la fe en el Señor, quien promete la resurrección después de nuestra muerte. Caminemos juntos para comprender este pasaje:

Primero, seamos honestos con nosotros mismos y preguntémonos, ¿cuál es el propósito de la vida? Si no hay resurrección después de la muerte, entonces solo somos vida y hojas caídas durante esta época de otoño. Hojas secas y lo que queda es un árbol estéril. Pero creemos que hay esperanza de que nuestro jardín vuelva a ser hermoso cuando llegue la primavera. Este es simplemente el mensaje de la naturaleza sobre el propósito de la vida. Es en Dios en quien confiamos, y el fundamento mismo de la vida es el amor. Por tanto, nuestra muerte en la tierra está verdaderamente relacionada con la promesa de la resurrección de Cristo.

En segundo lugar, Jesús confrontó a los saduceos con respecto a sus enseñanzas incorrectas. Los saduceos pensaron que habían encontrado una oportunidad para atrapar a Jesús con su argumento. Pero trata de contemplar lo que Jesús es capaz de responderles directamente. “Los hijos de este siglo se casan y se vuelven a casar, pero aquellos que son considerados dignos de alcanzar el siglo venidero y la resurrección de los muertos no se casan ni se dan en matrimonio.” Esta es una respuesta muy clara de que hablar de la vida futura en Dios, nuestra resurrección, cambia completamente nuestra propia perspectiva.

Tercero, el final del evangelio tiene estas palabras convincentes; “Él no es Dios de muertos, sino de vivos, porque para él todos estamos vivos. Tal vez nuestra visión de la vida ha estado dominada por nuestras preocupaciones materiales y limitada a la idea de este mundo físico en el que vivimos; por lo tanto, tenemos esa dificultad para aceptar la enseñanza de Jesús.

Así, teniendo dificultad para aceptar la enseñanza de la “Resurrección”, tenemos conflictos entre la vida presente y la “vida después de la muerte” que debemos abordar. ¿Qué debemos hacer aquí durante nuestra vida terrenal para ser parte de la resurrección? Debemos estar abiertos a buscar guía espiritual, entrar en oración, meditación, reflexión y abrazar completamente el Espíritu para que nos ilumine.

Dios te bendiga.

Padre Arlón, osa

Jesus and the Sadducees
The Resurrection
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The Dictate of the Heart: 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday

When we labor for God, we expect support and help from others or our community.  Even Jesus appointed the 12 Apostles to collaborate with Him in preaching the Goodnews.  It is not about who is better or popular, but being united with the same goal.  We need to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share in order to keep us on the path to Christ and with Christ.

In today’s reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, we heard Paul is making an appeal for steadfastness and unity in the Christian community in Philippi. He was praising them for their continued support in his ministry; however, he emphasized that it is not about being self-sufficient but, most importantly, to be grateful to everyone.  His relationship with them is not sustained or defined by just receiving gifts from them. It isn’t just about material exchanges of goods and services in times of need.  It is about the sharing of spiritual gifts, but with the riches in Christ Jesus.  When we give, we give to God and when we receive, we receive from God.  Hence, it is a relationship with utmost respect and encouragement for each other.

In today’s gospel from St. Luke, Jesus instructs His disciples that whatever we have acquired, like material things, we must use it to advance the gospel and the work of God.  It means that our effort is always towards the fulfillment of the Kingdom and our stewardship of service for others.

Jesus could not be silent about making statements for the Pharisees who loved or served material wealth.  Perhaps some of us are blinded too that instead of appreciating the material blessings afforded to us by God, we become greedy and prioritize financial gain and personal comfort without giving thought that all material gain is a sign of God’s reward for our good behavior.

Now, I realize that all material blessings on earth given to us are not to multiply them for our consumption or to make us richer and be justified as someone better than others.  I believe that whatever is entrusted to us should be used in order to serve God. We should not seek success on this earth with material bliss.  True wealth is not money, but what is in our hearts.

Dear Lord, please take from me my pride.  Touch me that I may rely on You, not wealth, because You provide all we need.  Let us do good.  Let us be with God, for “Blessed the man who fears the Lord.” (Psalm 112)

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Friday | Feast of St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Today we have St. Charles Borromeo’s feast day.  He was an Italian bishop in the 1500s.  He was a dedicated priest, who worked in collaboration with his parishioners.  He was also a holy bishop with great power, but he used it with all humility to renew the church during his time. He is the patron of learning, in particular, the formation of seminarians. He is the patron of Priests, Bishops, Cardinals and Catechists.

Being a missionary and a priest, I pray that as I serve the faithful, like St. Charles, I  need to live with unselfishness to do my duty and to do good things wherever I am.  I may not understand the plan of God for me, but I completely understand well that God loves me. 

Reading the gospel today, I have many things to learn so that I would understand God’s Words.  This gospel is the parable of a “Dishonest Steward.” Sometimes reading this gospel, we have disbelief and a sense of confusion. Let me help you be able to understand this particular parable. 

First, the rich man commended the dishonest steward because he had written down the amount falsely which was different from the actual amount borrowed.  He reduced the amount of the debts which is tantamount to malversation of funds.  He was creating a benefit for the debtor, and thus was smart and prudent preparing his future.  The reason for the master’s commendation is that this dishonest steward knows better how to take care of himself, and it was not about his act of dishonesty.

Second, this last verse, “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.” Well, it is obvious that the present preoccupation of most of the people in the world is chiefly motivated by their desire to acquire material blessings thru dishonesty.   This is what we call the product of false riches.  We accumulate things for our self-satisfaction and prestige, consequently leading us away from the plan of God.  God always invites us “to go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”

Third, speaking about “The children of the light” refers to those who are motivated by and follow the teachings of Jesus.  The steward was clearly motivated by taking care of himself.  He helps others to ensure his life after his master kicks him off.  His “generosity” to the debtors was not to right an injustice, or to better their condition, but to achieve his personal interest to save face.

What is critically challenging to us is understanding the hidden message of the gospel.  I believe that taking into consideration our being clever on choosing how to get all spiritual riches and to prepare for our future with God as He calls us “Children of Light.”

Let us avoid acquiring false riches which surely lead us away from God. We must do something for the greater good, that is to be faithful to the Lord. Saving face is not the priority at this time but being children of light; thus we must examine how we need to conscientiously work for our salvation.

St. Charles Borromeo, pray for us.

Fr. Arlon, osa

St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop
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The Dictate of the Heart: 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday | Feast of St. Martin de Porres, Religious

As an Associate Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, I have initiated an annual gathering of Knights to offer mass for our deceased members of the Order. This is to remind us that our work in the Order is not ended in death, but is our continuous love and fraternity beyond death.  Today we gather at the St. Therese of Little Flower Catholic Church for a memorial mass for their eternal repose.

Today we also remember the feast of St. Martin de Porres.  He was born in 1579, in Lima, Peru. Martín was considered an exception and became a Dominican lay brother in 1610.  He was a friar noted for his compassion and humble service to the sick and those who were in need.  He was very prayerful and had great devotion to the eucharist, and he was a Dominican brother who attracted every one with his kindness and charity as a humble “Porter,” the one whose duty is to open the door and accept visitors to the monastery. . He died on November 3, 1639, and he was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI.  He was canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1962.  The life of St. Martin inspires us to look to Jesus as our model for the one to imitate.

In today’s gospel, St. Luke tells us one of Jesus’ most well-known parables about the lost sheep. A man had 100 sheep, and he lost one.  We cannot understand the logic of a man leaving the 99 to go after the one that is lost.  How could it be, abandoning the many for the sake of one?  This is the wonder of God’s wisdom and love. Of course, God loves all but He is also concerned with the one that strayed.

In today’s first reading Paul gives witness to the fact that “whatever gains I had; these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ.”  It means that whatever St. Paul’s accomplishments were, according to what the world valued, meant less than nothing once he encountered Jesus and realized what He meant to the world. His whole understanding of life is importantly geared to this encounter.  God will do much to seek the lost and rejoice for the one who is found as reason for giving us Hope.

Our Christian hope is not purely sentimental, but rational. We must be very smart choosing the way of the Good Shepherd, who always gives preference to those who are lost and seeks them in order to be restored. This is His important mission to rebuild the Kingdom of God. “Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord” (Ps105).

St. Martin de Porres, pray for us.

Fr. Arlon, osa

St. Martin de Porres

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The Dictate of the Heart: 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday | The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Soul’s Day)

Today, we celebrate All Souls Day.  Many Protestant brethren believe that after death, there is no way to alter the fate of those who died. They believe that at the point of death, one’s eternal destiny is confirmed. Either he is saved through faith in Christ and is in heaven where he is experiencing rest and joy in God’s presence, or he is in torment in hell. No amount of prayer would deliver them from damnation.  Whatever the state of one’s soul, that’s it. They say, “once the person is gone, they’re gone.” Hence, no more prayers would aid the soul for salvation. Death is final, and after that, no amount of praying will avail a person of the salvation he has rejected in life. I believe this is a very sad perspective, thinking that our prayers would be completely futile. That is the reason why they don’t pray for the dead; they believe that their prayer service is to help the grieving family. Their dead are completely on their own, no more hope or more love. Let them find their way, others would say.

Catholic faith is totally different.  There is always room for our deceased brethren to be saved by God’s mercy.  We remember them every November 2nd, offering prayers for their salvation every All-Souls’ Day. We offer novenas on their death anniversary in order to gain eternal repose, and the highest form of prayer is to offer mass for our departed brothers and sisters.  To justify this religious practice is connected with keeping the chief commandment of God, “Love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love is not only shared with those who are living.  Our love for our neighbors is beyond death and an integral part to practice charity towards our neighbors.  Jesus did not say love only those who are alive.  Therefore, our love is forever, as long as we live. There is no stopping the manifesting of love for each other.

We cannot make any judgment of any person who has died, even knowing how much they had done bad things.  We must remember that every person does something good in life. If we now think that our prayer won’t help because you have known someone to be an evil person, just believe that God’s mercy is immense.

It is a holy and pious thought to pray for the dead (2 Mc 12:44-45). Those in heaven or in hell don’t benefit from our prayers, because the souls that are already in heaven are enjoying the eternal bliss of God, and those in hell are already condemned.  However, we need to understand that not everyone immediately goes to heaven or hell after they die. Therefore, when we pray for the dead, we must be praying for people in some other place usually called “purgatory,” which other religions cannot accept this teaching. As Catholics, we accept that there is a state of purging and purification. If the souls we are praying for are destined to hell, we believe our prayers won’t be wasted because of the idea that there is the “treasury of prayers” which would be applied to those poor souls who have no one to pray for them.

As early as first century Christians, in catacombs and other graves, they put an inscription, “ PAX TIBI, SPIRITUI TUO, IN AETERNUM, TIBI CUM ANGELIS, CUM SANCTIS.” All these words were written and uttered to signify prayers for the dead.

Today’s Scriptural readings give us great comfort for accepting our own mortality.  The Book of Wisdom expresses consolation into our hearts, “The souls of the just are in the hand of God.”  In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.”  We are supported by God’s words and encouraged in hope.  We do not fully comprehend this reality, but we know that it is something greater and more powerful than anything else we have known, the great love and mercy of God. For Him, no one is lost.

Then, St. Paul prayed for the Dead, 2 Timothy 1:16-18 “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me, may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day – and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.”

Today, let us spend time praying for all our departed Brothers and Sisters who have died so that their souls will be in the hands of God.  Being with God, no torment can touch them.  There is no more suffering, pain or worries because we believe that God takes good care of them and comforts them as well.  They are at peace.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through Your mercy, rest in peace. Amen.”

May they rest in peace. God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday | The Feast of All Saints

Today is the feast of All Saints.  We remember these ordinary people, men and women declared officially by the Catholic Church as Saints, who attained glory at the altar of the Lord because of their fidelity to God and their Christian virtues.  I believe that there are also so many Saints in heaven, unknown holy people, who are not declared by the Church, yet they are with God in heaven.

I never thought I’d meet real people here on earth, whom I consider living saints because of the way they serve others and love God faithfully. They work diligently, actively among the poor in a quiet manner, with all humility and generosity.  There is nothing remarkable about them for they are focused on sincerity of heart as genuine witnesses of God’s compassion, care, and deep love for the people whom they serve.

Today’s gospel from St. Matthew tells us about Jesus’ sermon on the Mount. It conveys to us how to become Saints by following Jesus’ words and examples.  This gospel passage is a practical guide to holiness which is attainable, within reach and real, but not expressing who those Saints are.  Jesus is giving us principles which are concrete suggestions to action.

In our Nicene Creed, we express our belief about the communion of Saints.  Thus, we are not far and remote from them, but united.  Through our faith and prayers, we are perfectly in communion with them especially when we ask for their help, for they have this beatific vision granted to them by God to intercede for us. On our part as believers, knowing and meeting living “Saints” in real life, we are encouraged to continue committing to our Faith and the love of God.  We must know thru them how to walk in the path to Holiness.  It is in the ordinary that we encounter Christ and His saints and are given the grace to be the beatitudes.

Let us now reflect profoundly on some points that are significant to us:

First, the blessings that Jesus has mentioned in the Beatitudes are not material blessings, like winning a lottery or becoming richer.  Rather it is about being spiritually rich and successful.  In fact, it is a total opposition to all the world offers us.  It almost turns all our notions of blessedness upside down.

Second, finding ourselves to be “spiritually poor,” we have nothing but God in our lives.  Being poor, we discover God.  St. Augustine promoted poverty of spirit and continence of the heart while living in Hippo with his friends and brothers in the community while doing their pastoral duties.  Our Father, St. Augustine, says, ‘the love of neighbor was simply another expression of the love of God,” in the realm of spiritual poverty.  Being poor, we can share much. In our poverty, we open our hands and our hearts to pray to our God who provides.

Third, when we find ourselves mourning, we shall be comforted because in our helplessness and starving for justice, we have nowhere to find true comfort except from our Savior who satisfies us.

Fourth, when we find God’s mercy for our sins, our pains and wounds heal.  We receive cleansing of our hearts; therefore, we too experience and see God within us thru a purified heart from all the pains and woundedness.  Thus, we can easily offer forgiveness and mercy to others as well.   We become peacemakers, ready to dispense that special blessedness we have received.  I believe that once God has given us His bountiful grace, His mercy overflows in our hearts.  Now, we become true children of God and see Him face to face.

In today’s first reading from the Book of Revelation, St. John has a vision of a multitude of people, impossible to count, “from every nation, race, people, and tongue… These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress.” St. John is reminding us that reaching the promise of salvation has been attached to all kinds of difficulties and challenges in this present world.  This is both a message and a warning to us that we will all succumb to suffering and difficulties here on earth; however, there is an end to suffering when we are faithful to Jesus, who sacrificed His own life so that we may live for all eternity.

This is indeed a great promise because all the saints of God are fully enjoying that “Blessedness.”  We are also called to see and believe that we can also rejoice and be glad about all God’s elect.

May all the Saints of God, pray for us.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 31st Week in Ordinary Time: Monday

Today ends the month of October, and people are excited to gather this evening celebrating Halloween.  It is a festival which is a big, big deal in the US, a secular celebration with big time commercialization.  Americans spend money for their creepy and scary costumes, making it the largest commercial holiday apart from Christmas. I imagine every American spending over a hundred dollars just to buy Halloween attire. Inside and outside the house is fully decorated with stuff that are inviting to the bad spirits to come.  They are not only spending money for themselves, but they buy costumes as well for their pets.  Children go from door to door in a neighborhood saying, ‘trick or treat,” then they are given candies by the homeowner.  Originally, this festival was also connected to Ireland and Britain to celebrate the Celtic New Year which began on the first of November.  The Catholics then, make it a time to celebrate the feast of All Saints which is more spiritually uplifting because we learn how these holy people were able to reach the perfect eternal salvation by offering themselves to God.

In the first reading today taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 2:1-4, he invites us to be “united in heart, thinking one thing.”  We must be united in faith and love to avoid living in utter selfishness.  It is a call to empower us all to change and addresses our weaknesses “by being of the same mind” in order to achieve things for the common good.

The Augustinians have this charism of living out “one mind, one heart intent upon God.”  The act of loving God has to be seen by our selfless acts for others. St. Paul has seen a great balance for he wants us to act in the same spirit.

The gospel today emphasizes much on our generosity, not only to our friends, but also, we need to do the same for the poor.  We need to become Christ to others by our gratuitous love especially for those who cannot repay our goodness.  The same love that we afford to our friends needs to be practiced as well, especially to  those in need.

When we think of “Halloween,” we must remember that we are called to holiness and to extend our generous heart of loving, setting no boundaries.  Jesus will be visiting us tonight knocking for a “Trick or Treat.”  We would be receiving a treat if we are good.  I hope and pray that we won’t be getting a “trick” which is an eternal punishment.  St. Paul says, “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.” We treat others more than what we think of ourselves because this is exactly what Jesus wants us to be, a person for others!

Happy “Holy-win!”

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, C

Today is the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C.  Our first reading from the Book of Wisdom has aided us to understand the goodness of God. Here God is presented as the Creator of the whole universe.  God is seen as the lover of all things and could never hate anything due to His goodness; He created everything out of love.  There is only one thing He did not create, and that is evil, because evil is totally oppose to His divine nature which is Good.  Our being sinful is our own creation, but it doesn’t mean that God has abandoned us because we are sinners.  We must be confident that God, our Creator, loves all that was created, even sinners.  All things are signs of God’s love and all things belong to God.

The second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians says that as disciples, we should earnestly love to pray. Our prayer is that we become worthy of our calling to God’s kingdom and glory. We pray also that God would fulfill in us the work of faith with power so that we shine before men so others may glorify Him. We would then be glorified in and with Him.

Today’s gospel from St. Luke presents to us the interesting story of Jesus’ meeting with the tax collector, Zacchaeus, which is unique in the gospel of St. Luke. Hearing about the coming of Jesus, he climbed a sycamore tree in order to have a better view of the Lord, the Messiah, the Healer.  Because of the crowd, Zacchaeus cannot come closer to Jesus probably to avoid contact with his countrymen, for being a friend of Roman power, collecting tax from them. Aside from this, he was also short in height.  Consequently, he was up in a tree, not hiding, but he was conscious of being above the others.

He was not actually expecting Jesus to approach him and command him to get down from the tree.  Zacchaeus never expected anything extraordinary would happen when he voluntarily followed the words of Jesus. He thought he would remain incognito and one of the spectators, but now he was the center of attention and an actor amidst the huge crowd.

There are many good points to ponder on the unexpected event in the life of Zacchaeus.

First, Jesus invited Himself to dine with Zacchaeus. I believe that Jesus is again revealing His true identity as a merciful and a loving incarnate God. He comes to that place where He found a great sinner.  We know that He comes, not only for righteous people, but for sinners as well.

Second, when Jesus says, “Today I must stay at your house,” the “house” in this particular verse would mean, the universe He created, to effect true conversion initiated by Him. Jesus calls him back to His house, to God’s abode, after Zacchaeus admitted his wrongdoings.  Zacchaeus desires to live a new life and has a willingness to change from a notorious tax collector to his real self in order to serve and to be generous to others.

Third, Zacchaeus says, “I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I happen to extort somebody, I make it up fourfold.”  By understanding his words, it clearly implies behavior that is sincere and a willing heart to repay fourfold for extortions.  I understand that he extorted many people and now has decided to make up with abundant restoration to those people he fooled.

Fourth, Zacchaeus seeing and welcoming Jesus, he sincerely made amend of his sinfulness.  He exploited people to maintain his position to the Roman Empire, so that he would not lose his status and position as chief tax collector.  He used and abused himself for helping this foreign power. However, seeing Jesus in person has led him to a profound change of heart.

Fifth, the grumbling bystanders make a prophetic announcement: “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” This is like our own experience when we think that coming to church is indeed against all odds because we feel that we are ridiculed by others.  Remember that another’s comment against our willingness to come back to Christ is a grace and a gift.  We remember that the One, our Lord Jesus, who came and found Zacchaeus, who was lost, is the same Lord and Jesus who is inviting and calling us today to come to take up friendship and fellowship with Him.

This beautiful and heart-warming story ends with Jesus restating his mission of seeking and saving the “lost”. Many of us cannot remember the opportunity to see and meet the Lord in our lives. Think of how Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector who occupied a high position in the community, acted in a strikingly childlike behavior climbing a tree just to see Jesus.

Today God calls us all to seek the truth with childlike openness, so that we are ready to encounter the Lord Jesus and respond to His surprising initiatives in our lives. He might invite Himself to enter into our lives to show His goodness and love.  Therefore, after our conversion, St. Paul reminds us to glorify God and in turn we shall be glorified in and with Him which is exactly what Zacchaeus did.

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa

El dictado del corazón: Trigésimo primer domingo del tiempo ordinario, C

  • Sabiduría 11:22-12:2
  • Salmos 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
  • 2 Tesalonicenses 1:11-2:2
  • Lucas 19:1-10

Hoy es el Trigésimo Primer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, año C. Nuestra primera lectura del Libro de la Sabiduría nos ayudado a comprender la bondad de Dios. Aquí se presenta a Dios como el Creador de todo el universo. Dios es visto como el amante de todas las cosas y nunca podría odiar nada debido a Su bondad, él creó todo por amor. Solo una cosa que Él no creó es el mal. Porque el mal se opone a Su naturaleza divina que es el Bien. El hecho de que seamos pecadores es nuestra propia creación, pero eso no significa que Dios nos haya abandonado porque somos pecadores. Debemos estar seguros de que Dios, nuestro Creador, ama a todo lo creado, incluso a los pecadores. Todas las cosas son signos del amor de Dios y todas las cosas pertenecen a Dios.

La segunda lectura de la Carta de San Pablo a los Tesalonicenses que, como discípulos, debemos amar fervientemente la oración. Nuestra oración es que seamos dignos de nuestro llamado para

el reino y la gloria de Dios. Y también, por los discípulos, incluyéndonos a nosotros, que Dios cumpla en nosotros la obra de la fe con poder. Que debemos brillar ante los hombres para que otros lo glorifiquen, y entonces seremos glorificados en el y con Él.

En el evangelio de hoy de San Lucas nos presenta la interesante historia del encuentro de Jesús con el recaudador de impuestos Zaqueo que es único en el evangelio de San Lucas. Al enterarse de la venida de Jesús, se subió a un árbol sicómoro para tener una mejor vista del Señor, el Mesías, el sanador. Por la multitud, Zaqueo no puede acercarse a Jesús o probablemente evitar el contacto con sus compatriotas, por ser amigo del poder romano para cobrarles impuestos, además de ser bajo de estatura. En consecuencia, estaba arriba del árbol, no se escondía pero era consciente de que su imagen estaba por encima de los demás.

En realidad, no esperaba que Jesús se le acercara y le ordenara que bajara del árbol. Zaqueo nunca esperó que algo extraordinario sucediera cuando voluntariamente siguió las palabras de Jesús. Pensó que permanecería de incógnito y uno de los espectadores, pero ahora era el centro y un actor en medio de la gran multitud.

Hay muchos buenos puntos para reflexionar al ver el evento inesperado en la vida de Zaqueo.

Primero, Jesús se invitó a sí mismo a cenar con Zaqueo. Creo que Jesús está revelando nuevamente su verdadera identidad como un Dios encarnado misericordioso y amoroso. Él viene a ese lugar donde encontró a un gran pecador. Sabemos que Él viene, no solo por los justos sino también por los pecadores.

Segundo, cuando Jesús dice: “Hoy debo quedarme en tu casa”. La “casa” en este versículo en particular significaría el universo que Él creó, para efectuar la verdadera conversión iniciada por Él. Jesús lo llama de regreso a Su casa, a la morada de Dios después de que Zaqueo admitió sus malas acciones. Zaqueo desea vivir una nueva vida y está dispuesto a cambiar de un recaudador de impuestos notorio a un yo real para servir y ser generoso con los demás.

En tercer lugar, Zaqueo dice: “Doy la mitad de mis bienes a los pobres, y si extorsiono a alguien, se lo cuadruplicaré”. Por entender claramente sus palabras implican una conducta que es sincera, su corazón dispuesto a pagar cuatro veces las extorsiones, lo cual entendería que extorsionó a muchas personas y ahora decidió compensar con abundante restauración a aquellas personas a las que engañó.

Cuarto, Zaqueo explotó regularmente a la gente para mantener su posición en el Imperio Romano, para que no perdiera su estatus y posición como principal recaudador de impuestos. Se usó y abusó de sí mismo por ayudar a esta potencia extranjera. Sin embargo, el encuentro con Jesús lo ha llevado a un profundo cambio de corazón.

Quinto, con los transeúntes quejumbrosos haciendo un anuncio profético: “Se ha ido a vivir a la casa de un pecador”. Esto es como nuestra propia experiencia cuando pensamos que ir a la iglesia es realmente contra viento y marea porque sentimos que los demás nos ridiculizan. Recuerda que el comentario de otros en contra de nuestra voluntad de volver a Cristo es una gracia y un regalo. Recordemos que Aquel que vino y encontró a Zaqueo, que estaba perdido, es también una invitación de que Jesús ha venido a tomar amistad y comunión con nosotros.

Esta hermosa y conmovedora historia termina con Jesús reafirmando su misión de buscar y salvar a los “perdidos”. Muchos de nosotros no podemos recordar la oportunidad de ver y conocer al Señor en nuestras vidas. Piense en cómo Zaqueo, un rico recaudador de impuestos y que ocupaba un alto cargo en la comunidad, actuó de manera sorprendentemente infantil al subirse a un árbol solo para ver a Jesús.

Hoy Dios nos llama a todos a buscar la verdad con una apertura infantil, para estar preparados para encontrar al Señor Jesús y responder a sus sorprendentes iniciativas en nuestra vida. Podría invitarse a sí mismo a entrar en nuestras vidas para mostrar su bondad y amor. Por lo tanto, después de nuestra conversión, San Pablo nos recuerda que glorificamos a Dios ya su vez seremos glorificados en y con Él, que es exactamente lo que hizo Zaqueo.

Dios te bendiga.

Padre Arlón, osa

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The Dictate of the Heart: 30th Week in Ordinary time, Saturday

One of the hardest things in life is to remain humble.  Sometimes we are so much into pushing ourselves to be given importance by others.  It is true that we struggle a lot. However, Jesus and all of the saints set an example to live out our calling to be humble in order to be effective disciples to carry out our calling to serve God in others and not ourselves.   Seeking humility is actually setting a balance in our Christian living, remaining humble despite our accomplishments and successes.

In today’s epistle, St. Paul says, “And this I know with confidence, that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.” (Philippians 1:25) St. Paul wrote these words when he was captured and languished in prison.  Though he was not afraid, he knew that his future was uncertain.  However, deep in his heart, he was determined to fulfill his mission. We too, like St. Paul, must also remember that our mission as Christians remains the same up to the present, i.e., to serve others to enable their progress and joy in the faith.

Today, as I am reflecting on today’s gospel, I remember my experience with my parishioner who has been involved in charity works but, because of her simplicity and humility, she doesn’t want to share on social media or with others or publicize it because she doesn’t want recognition.  She silently does her charitable works without exulting herself because she believes God knows what we do and God receives the glory.

Some people want a sense of entitlement.  They expect the best seat and like to be treated well at work or public places.  Nevertheless, the gospel reminds us of the dangers of thinking too highly of ourselves and thinking everything revolves around us. Here Jesus is very direct in teaching us the important virtue, that is to humble ourselves always. Humbling ourselves by serving others is not about helping them to be served but to gain the grace of God and not to be exalted but keeping the attitude of “other-centered” solely for God’s name to be glorified.

Thus, let us work on living out God’s mission and keeping Jesus’ words, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa