Deboto

No more appropriate time to introduce Tagalog in my posts than now. Yesterday, mom and me went to quiapo church to hear mass on the last day of the novena to the Black Nazarene. We chanced on Bishop Teodoro Bacani officiating the mass and I like what he said.

Sabi niya, may dalawang klase daw ang deboto ng Nazareno. Una, and deboto sa Imahen ng Nazareno na dumarating lamang tuwing piyesta at nakikihila sa lubid at kailangang makalapit at makapunas sa imahen. Ang ikalawa ay ang deboto sa Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno mismo. Mga taong nanalig kay Cristo, dumadalangin at nakikinig sa mga pangaral niya.

Paano nga ba maging tunay na deboto sa Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno? Tanong ni Bishop Bacani: "Ano ba ang ginawa ng Poong Nazareno para sa atin? Hindi ba pinasan niya ang krus ng paghihirap para sa ating lahat?" It goes to say that if we are the real kind of devotees, we try to emulate his example and carry others crosses and not give our brothers and sisters crosses to carry for us. People who get drunk become crosses to the wives they go home to, to their families who have to take care of them. People whose cigarette smoke become a burden to their neighbors. Wiping handkerchiefs and professing faithfulness to the Image of the Black Nazarene doesn't compare to people who live their lives like him.

Nuestro Padre Poong Nazareno, Hari ng Langit, Aming Tagapagligtas, maraming salamat po sa lahat ng mga biyaya. Ipinananalangin ko po Nuestro Padre Poong Nazareno na sa taong ito iligtas niyo po ang inyong mga deboto sa kapahamakan. Samahan niyo po sila sa paglalakbay para gunitain ang inyong kalbaryo. Gabayan niyo po ang mga magiging pinuno namin para maging katulad niyong maging magandang halimbawa sa amin.

The Duggar Family House Guidelines

1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.
2. Always display kind actions and joyful attitudes, even if you have been mistreated. Have the right response by quickly forgiving others in your heart even before they ask.
3. Always be enthusiastic and look for opportunities to praise others' character.
4. Always deflect praise and be grateful to God and others for the ways they have benefited your life.
5. Always use manners and be respectful of others and their belongings.
6. Always do what is right, even when others may not, or when no one is looking.
7. Thank God for how He made you, for what He has given you and everything He allows you to go through. (Romans 8:28)
8. Don’t mock or put others down. Develop compassion and pray for others.
9. Never argue, complain, or blame. Quickly admit when you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness (even if you were only 10% at fault). Don't wait till you’re caught. Be sure your sins will find you out. He who covers his sin will not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy.
10. Have a tough accountability/prayer partner to daily share your heart with and to keep you in line (your parents, spouse). The power of sin is in secrecy.
11. Be attentive and look for ways to serve others with sincere motives and no thought of self-gain.
12. Think pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8, Romans 13:14).
13. Always give a good report of others. Don't gossip! Never tale-bear unless physical harm will come to someone. (Use Matthew 18.)
14. Never raise a hand to hit.
15. Never raise a foot to kick.
16. Never raise an object to throw.
17. Never raise a voice to yell.
18. Never raise an eye to scowl.
19. Use one toy/activity at a time. Share!
20. Do your best to keep your surroundings neat, clean and organized.
21. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)
22. Amendment J.O.Y. -

Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.

The duggar family (http://www.duggarfamily.com/) is the star of the reality show 19 and counting. They have 19 children and are financially stable and self supporting even before their show started. The children are home-schooled. they are devout christians and is somehow now a model family. They defy their seeming potential for chaos by their sheer number by their good faith and principles in living. I can only hope that my family, present and future, be like them -- hahahaha not their number (well why not) but their success in the way they raise and teach their children.

My New Year's Top Five - XXIII

Wow. I skipped a whole year doing this. Hahaha ^_^ This was fun! Not in any order :

1. Photography - I took this more seriously last year. With the gift of Lumix from the heavens above ^_^
   
2. Cheesecake ! - my guilty pleasure oh lala... I want to try making one this year!
   
3. Facebook and FB Games - this is both boon and bane of my year. I embrace your presence in my life FB and Pet Society!
4. Mom - I spent a lotta time with my Mom this year. I loved her and hated her LOL... But I conclude... I love her more still ^_^
5. THP - occupied my mind more than I've admitted or will admit (toink) LOL but what can I do? And still yet bewitched, bothered, and bewildered...
   

The Three Wise Men

Fr. Alarcon's sermon yesterday, on the feast of the epiphany, put emphasis on how the Magi are called to be "wise." He asks, "Ano ang pagiging Pantas?" (How is one called wise?). He shares that for one to be called wise, one must have two things: Knowledge and Experience. He continues... "a fresh graduate applying for a job may be knowledgeable, but he is not wise, for he doesn't have the experience of someone who has spent years in the company. A newly wed couple may be knowledgeable on marriage, but they don't have the wisdom of those who celebrate their 25th, 50th or 60th wedding anniversary."

Why do we need to have wisdom? To fully grasp Christ's teachings. We don't only need the knowledge Catechism teaches us. We need the experience to understand them. The wise men were considered wise in their time because they knew how to interpret the stars. It was the science of their times. They knew something important was happening and sought the mysterious light. They didn't only know something was happening. They lived it. They experienced it.

What did Matthew say about the Magi? Matthew didn't mention there were three but mentioned that the Magi from the east bore three gifts . Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Symbolizing the three roles Christ was to undertake. King, priest, and the ultimate sacrifice. Tradition gave us the names. Caspar or Gaspar, Melchor, and Balthazar.

The Magi had the tenacity to seek out Christ. Similar to us, we don't know the exact path or formula to discover Jesus, we only have but a simple guide that lights our way. In our way are a lot of Herods tempting us and tricking us to hand over our salvation. May we like the Magi keep our eyes on our target. Seeing Jesus and someday kneel at the foot of His throne to bear him the gift of us.

01.01.10

I just thought this was a very nice date to post something. LOL. Happy New Year everybody!!!