I Googled the phrase "love of neighbor" and I found this amazing couple who helps prepare meals for friends who are sick.

I was googling images for my next video montage of a certain song when I came upon a picture of a little girl holding a flash card. On the flash card was written the word "Compassion".

Here is the picture of the little girl that led me to TakeThemAMeal.

I was specially attracted and wanted to make it part of my montage. When I clicked on the image, it led me to this certain blog site introducing me to this wonderful, non - profit organization that aims to help people who are sick in the hospital to prepare meals for their family. Here is a YouTube video of an interview with the couple. I wish there was someone in my country who can emulate this kind deed. I know I would love to but I am only pressed for finances. May God touch people's hearts to bring compassion to all people.

Sitting on the steps at the entrance of a mall, John the Baptist came to me.

It's a metaphor. I didn't encounter any strange - looking, Tarzan - like figure of a man speaking words of salvation unto me. I just thought of how John would look like in our modern society.

John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Source unknown.

I was waiting for my turn at the booth for the renewal of my NBI clearance. NBI stands for National Bureau of Investigation. It is a government office that holds records of suspected and convicted criminals in the country. Every Filipino citizen needs their records cleared from this office before they can be employed. So it is not surprising to see plenty of people crowding here every day.

So I sat there for about twenty minutes. It could have been more than that actually. I couldn't tell. I didn't wan't to look at my watch to check the time because it will only bring me frustration. I was just glad I had read the bible beforehand. The Word of the day which is patience really helped me keep my cool.

I have already worn my eyes out from reading. I always love to carry a book whenever I need to go somewhere. It helps me pass the time. But my eyes were already tired. So I decided to rest awhile and digest what I have just read. 

As I sat there on the steps of the mall, I noticed the unique variety of people's faces as they pass by. I also remembered another book I read. It was about a certain street preacher in the United States. Then it dawned unto me. 

He could be anybody. Any one can be like John the Baptist in our modern society. I could be like John the Baptist to another person just as another person can be like John the Baptist to me. A phrase ran through my mind - the ordinary doing the extraordinary. God calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things. 

I am just glad to be born Catholic.

I didn't know it was the anniversary of the dedication of the national shrine of Saint Joseph here in the Philippines to the Divine Mercy. I just thought I would hear Mass this evening coming from a long day in the health center for my medical check up. It has always been routine for me to drop by the shrine to hear Mass whenever I go somewhere or come from work. But this evening is a very spectacular moment for me.

This isn't taken from the shrine here in my place. I didn't have my camera at the time. I just got this from the Internet. Nevertheless, the image is the same except for the location and the people. The procession was held indoors here in our place at around eight in the evening.

I was dismayed because I was not able to start the Mass. When I arrived, it was almost time for consecration. So I savored the moment I have with the Lord at Mass. And the Lord never failed to amaze me. At the end of the Mass was the chaplet of Divine Mercy. It was followed by a solemn procession and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. 

As the priest passed around the vicinity of the shrine carrying the blessed host, I remembered the time of  Moses in the book of Exodus. I remembered having read in the bible how the Israelites carried the Ark of the Covenant as they journeyed to the promised land. It was truly a very solemn celebration. The presence of the Lord was very real. I could not stop myself from shedding tears and falling facedown when the priest and the acolytes passed by me with the Blessed Sacrament. I didn't know why I was crying but it felt great. It was like instant absolution from all my sins. I felt very much light - hearted afterwards. It made me say to myself that I am glad I am Catholic or I may never be able to experience anything like this.

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Love

The snake's deceptive words to Eve at Eden seems very convincing. It sounded very plausible. The devil did a very good job in bending the truth. I guess that was the reason the woman easily heeded to his wiles and ate the forbidden fruit.

What is death? Why did God say to Adam and Eve that they will die if they ate the fruit of the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad? What did God mean by death? Adam and Eve did not die after eating the fruit. Instead, they were even given understanding and learned about their nakedness. Was the devil somehow telling the truth? I don't think so.

I looked for the meaning of death in the dictionary and this one particular definition appeals to me - destruction or extinction. I now understand that death means the destruction of man's beautiful relationship with God. God created man in order to live in a loving relationship with Him. The devil destroyed that loving relationship between God and man by convincing man that he can go on living without God.

When man gained the understanding of good and bad, their view of God has been distorted. Instead of the loving and caring Father that He truly is, they now see God as harsh and judgmental. They hid from Him because they were afraid that He would punish them.

God indeed pronounced His judgement and sent man away from His presence but He still took care of them by sewing them some clothes. I could only imagine the look on God's face as he watches Adam and Eve move out of the garden away from Him. It must be very sad. And even as man went further away, God never stopped pursuing them even to point of giving up His only begotten Son. Isn't that amazing love?

Worship is not about what we get...

...And NOT EVEN WHAT WE GIVE...

Romans 12 : 1 - 2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."