WORSHIPING IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH...

As the song is being sang…my eyes are closed, my hands are clasped, each word touches the depth of my soul…The Holy Spirit flies me to God’s awesome Presence…The words are no more, my mind, my heart, my soul, my whole being is worshiping, adoring God in spirit and in truth. It is just Jesus and me…face to face, no words, just gazing upon each other…nothing exists but Him and me…This is during communion in the Holy Mass when Jesus rests upon my tongue and I am in union with Him.…

These past Sundays, the Gospels were taken from the book of John (John 6:41-69). They were about Jesus being the the Bread of Life. He Himself had spoken about this, many of His followers left Him. He even had a command in the Last Supper, “Do this in memory of Me.” 

We believe that in the Mass, Jesus is present - physically and spiritually. The Holy Mass is the center of our life and the highest form of worship and prayer.

There was a time before, I was so into worshiping God through praise and worship songs. I raised my hands to God with my mind, heart, soul, emotions…all that I am...I am loving God...but I looked forward to this form of worship, and I was much involved in it, more than in the Mass.

Why? Because it was exciting, it was not boring, I was emotionally high and i felt great experiencing God's awesome Presence through it.

But Jesus made me realize that adoring God is all about Him, and not about me, nor what I feel. It is about pleasing my Lord and my God and if what I gave before during worship gatherings was all that I was....then....why is it that I can not give all that I am during the Mass. 

I asked myself: "Isn't it in the Holy Mass, Jesus is present Body and Soul? Isn't it Jesus was the One who first celebrated giving His physical Self in the Last Supper? Isn't it Jesus commanded His Apostles to do that in His memory?"

He deserves much more from me than what I give Him during the Holy Mass.

Adoring God through songs and other forms is okay. There is nothing wrong with these. In fact, they also bring us closer to Him, experiencing His awesome Presence. But if they become more valuable to us Catholics, than the sacrament of the Holy Mass, then, we miss its very essence. Other forms of worship should not be above the Holy Mass where Jesus, Body and Soul, is very much present to a soul that hungers for and seeks to adore the Living Bread of Life...

Luke 22:14-20 (GNT)

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles. ¹⁵ He said to them, “I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer! ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will never eat it until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks to God, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ I tell you that from now on I will not drink this wine until the Kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ Then He took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” ²⁰  In the same way, He gave them the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is God's new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you."

-luisadelacruz

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!....SHHHHH....

Dogs have body clock. When it’s eating time, one starts barking non-stop, others will follow and they sometimes don’t listen to their owners. They only stop when food is served. 

This is the same problem in today’s world. It’s too noisy, most people never listen and they never stop until they get what they want even to the inconvenience of others. 

Moral values, generosity, love, patience, piety, etc. go through a needle’s hole before reaching the hearts. People are too busy this days and most have no time to pause and be quiet for a little while.

But pausing is really important. The busier we are, the more we need pauses and silence in our life. Why? Because too much noise can drain us, can drown us and can cloud our mind. The danger with this is our focus can turn to ourselves. Without us noticing it, our world may be already filled with "I," "Me," and "Myself."

Quiet times help us keep focus on the divine and listen to His voice.

Hopefully, we can allow ourselves to gradually change and treat ourselves with silennce from time to time that we can wait on God, our divine Owner and listen more to Him. 

Have a Pure Heart!

-luisadelacruz

THE WEEDS IN US...

Inspiration:       Matthew 13:36-43

Have you ever wondered why is it sometimes we are good, sometimes bad? Aminin man natin or not, me di maganda sa atin (Whether we confess it or not, there is something bad in us), right? 

That’s why we undergo purification process as Jesus transforms us. 

Like in the parable of the weeds. God allows the good and bad to grow in us and when we are ready for the change, one by one, area per area, those bad in us, which are the weeds, will be pulled up. 

It can be very painful, our ego can be badly hurt, but pulling them up will reveal who we truly are – God’s children.  

Have a Dazzling Soul!

-luisadelacruz

HIS LOVE NEVER CEASES TO EXIST

 Inspiration:       2 Corinthians 4:7-15

“I don’t know what your situation is right now, but no matter what it is, when you fall, you will not fall flat on the ground because God will catch you before you touch it and He will help you stand.”

I always say this truth in my talks whenever an opportunity arises for me to say it. 

God loves us so much.

We may not understand the why’s and how’s of life, or we may make mistakes along our way…or we may not get what we want, but one thing is for sure, His fatherly love for us NEVER ceases to exist…

Have an Affectionate Heart!

-luisadelacruz

HE KNOWS JESUS...

Inspiration:   Psalm 23

One Sunday, the priest told a story in his homily.

An excellent orator preached Psalm 23. He was so good that at the end, everyone was standing and clapping. After him, the old frail parish priest recited Psalm 23. When he finished, none was standing nor clapping, but everyone was in tears, so touched and awed.

One of them said, “The orator knows ABOUT the Good Shepherd…but the old priest…HE KNOWS JESUS, the Good Shepherd.”

Whatever we are doing, no matter how great they are, let’s not forget nor ignore our relationship, our intimacy with Jesus…

-luisadelacruz

WHEN I HEAR YOUR VOICE...

Dearest Jesus,

I am Your sheep and You are my Good Shepherd.

You take care of me and You love me so.

You know me and I know You.

Dear Lord,

When I get so absorbed with the beauty of the green pasture,

Or when I so enjoy the water of the stream,

Or when I wonder off and get lost,

Let it be, that when I hear Your gentle loving voice

When You call me,

I turn my head to Your direction

And follow You without delay.

Let it be my dear Shepherd

That I turn my head in a swift

And rest my loving gaze upon You…

Have a Gentle Soul!

-luisadelacruz

ARE YOU UP THERE?

I look up to the blue sky.

I saw clouds hugging each other.

I asked You, Lord: “Are You up there?”

Then the wind blew, gently touching my skin.

Aaah, yes, You are up there, Lord,

But You are also down here.

You are the wind that lovingly caresses me.

You are the flowers that put a smile on my lips.

You are the sun that shines on me.

You are the soft voice that comforts me.

You are my chair that cradles me.

You are the bird that serenades me.

You are my family who loves me.

You are my friends who embrace me.

You are the stranger who showed kindness to me.

You, oh Lord, are everywhere…

Oh, yes, even in my heart, Lord, I find You.

-luisadelacruz 

DIGNITY OF MARRIAGE

Inspiration:       Matthew 19:3-12

 In growing a plant, what makes it beautiful? It is the proper care given, the right amount or water and sunlight, the trimming, the gentle and loving touch, the time spent, the love and prayer given…Yeap, God is part of the growing…giving the plant the dignity of life, making it a happy and well-loved plant…

Marriage is like this. What keeps it growing in loveliness? It is giving each spouses the dignity of marriage, allowing God to be at its center, making Him a part of it and keeping in mind the happiness of the other.       

Have a Sweet Heart!

-luisadelacruz

THE CHEF AND HIS FOOD....

 Inspiration:       Matthew 13:18-23

There’s an excellent Chef who cooks each meal from the best ingredients with love and care. His restaurant is simple, yet beautiful.

Some people ignore his food and prefer those in the food chains.

Others eat there but are more engrossed in talking.

Others enjoy his food, eats there for quite some time but go to new restaurants when they open. 

There are those who love his food. They chew it appreciatively and became friends with the Chef. They also invite people to eat there…

The Chef is God…the food is His Word…which customer are you?

A Sincere, Profound Heart! 

-luisadelacruz

REALITY CHECK

Last August 10 Readings (2 Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26) are about following Jesus and gladly giving all for Him.

Whenever I do something, I pause from time to time. Why?

To check my motives. Am I still doing it for the love of Jesus or am I already doing it: 

• to please others
• out of duty
• because I’m appreciated
• because I felt needed
• for my own enjoyment
• to escape from my problems
• because I like the people
• because I like it
• because…

Not because we think we are doing it for the Lord, then it is so. That’s why we need to check the purity of our motives from time to time.

Have a Great Day!

-luisadelacruz

REDISCOVERING THE CHILD IN US...

Inspiration:       Matthew 18:1-5

I have a rocking chair. Oh, no, it’s not like those of Grandpas’ and Grandmas’. This one is modern. It’s like those upholstered couch, no feet, no arms, just simply touching the floor, with backrest up to my head.

There was a time I needed to keep it and didn’t use it in a while. Honestly, I missed it.

Recently, I put it excitedly by my window. Every morning, like a little child, I sit on it, rock on it, be with the Lord and reflect…When I sit on it, I am like a child in God’s arms being cradled…It’s great to go back being childlike.

As we grow and become adult, we forgot the child in us. Responsibilities here and there, problems that keep coming, these gradually buried deeper and deeper inside us our innocence, our joy on simple things, the simplicity of how we look at things, how we jump in appreciation of little gifts…

Being childlike again helps us remember who we truly are – a child of God. Rediscovering this truth humbly brings us closer to Papa (Father) God.

Have an Innocent Heart!

-luisadelacruz

REACH UP TO GOD...NO MATTER WHAT...

Years ago, I was amazed with an Indian mango tree in Mindoro. It was toppled down by a strong wind, its big trunk lying on the ground. Through the years, its trunk grew further, not too high, but standing erect. It bore fruits and I could reach them from where I’m standing. 

Last year, I observed a plant bent by a cat when it jumped over it. As days went by, it stood erect again. 

 Last Friday, August 3, I transferred a plant with small red flowers in a pot. It had a 90 degree bent stem. I couldn’t do anything about it because if I forced it straight up, it might break. I thought, “Oh, it will reach up to heaven eventually.” Two days after, it did. As I watched it from my window, I was truly awed in the desire of plants to reach up to their Creator…

There are so many things God teaches me from plants. What did I learn from this? Well, no matter how struggling a plant maybe, whether it was caused by outside factors or not, it will always try its best to stand to reach up to God, and maybe…just maybe, if it can only speak, I will hear it praise and thank God in spite of the circumstance it had gone through.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (GNT)

 Be joyful always,

pray at all times,

be thankful in all circumstances.

This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

-luisadelacruz

I ACHE FOR MOTHER CHURCH...

Inspiration:       John 21:14-19

Before, I lived my life as I please, my world is full of me. But then, nagpapansin si Jesus, mas nakilala ko Siya (Jesus attracted my attention, I get to know Him more) and many things changed in me. Unti-unti (Gradually), He is filling my world, and He gradually introduced to me those He cared for. Isa na dito ang ating Inang Simbahan (One of them is Mother Church). Before, wala akong pakialam sa kanya, sa activities niya, sa itinuturo niya, sa nangyayari sa kanya (I don't care about her, in her activities, in her teachings, in what's happening to her). Why will I concern myself with her problems? I have my own life to live.

But now, dahil kay Jesus, nasasaktan na ako para sa Inang Simbahan, naiintindihan ko na siya (because of Jesus, I feel pain for her, I now understand her), I also realized that I should be one with the Church. Hindi madali (It's not easy) to stand alone against the world to fight for what Jesus had taught since the time of the Apostles that was handed down through the Church. True, carrying the Cross, being persecuted are part of upholding and following Jesus. Pero sana kilalanin muna ng marami ang Inang Simbahan, bago siya husgahan (But, hopefully many should first get to know Mother Church before judging her).

Actually, she’s truly like a biological Mom, who wants only the best for her children as God inspired her to do. But most often, many children nowadays do not listen to their Moms especially as they grow because of the many influences and temptations around them. Hindi madaling mag-alaga at magpasunod ng mga anak, kung ano gusto nila, yon ang masusunod (It's not easy to take care and bring up children, what they want should happen). Pero sa huli (But in the end), after all the mistakes the children make in their lives, they would realize, Mom is right, and when they come running to Mom, she’s waiting with open arms to embrace her so sorry children, to give them love.

I pray and wish with all my heart, that the children of Mother Church will start being more concerned for her…

If I take a look at her situation now in this modern world, I wonder, gaano kaya nasasaktan si Jesus para sa kanya (how much is Jesus being hurt for her)?...

-luisadelacruz

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