Category: Spirituality

There have been many films made about the life of Jesus. I have been watching some recently, and I’ve noticed something when Jesus was talking with people. I’ve noticed how He talks to each person intimately and personally. Though He has often addressed the crowd, He does not treat the person as only a part of the crowd.

He knows each person well, and when He talks, you’d know how He is personally talking to you. He sees you. He loves you. He looks at you in such a way that will forever change you.

Remember the Samaritan woman at the well? Jesus began the conversation not by making a sermon or pointing out what’s wrong. Jesus began by asking water from the woman. He then revealed how there is a different kind of water, and how those who drink it will never be thirsty again.

It was a simple conversation, but it was one that changed the woman, it was one that made her believe! Today, may we spend time in prayer where we can have this intimate conversation with the One who loves us most- Jesus.

From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” – John 4:39-42, WEB-BE

“Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave.” – Pope Benedict XVI

You may also want to read:
The Look of Love

As the world moves deeper and deeper into a kind of Godless secularism, it loses more and more of God’s light. Today, it may not be evident to many, because traces of Christianity are still present in this world. But looking into the far future, man would soon lose the light that illuminates our true life.

Today, we can still speak about love. Yet more and more, that definition of love is being altered. Someday, people wouldn’t even know what it means. For as truth becomes more obscure, so would love, for they cannot be separated from each other.

Jesus Himself is the Light and the Truth. He is the embodiment of the God of Love. He came down from heaven and lived among us, but He was crucified because men preferred darkness over the light.

As we still live within His Light, let us give praise to Him who is the Source of all that is Good. Let us be ever vigilant as we safeguard the light of faith He has bestowed upon us.

You may also want to read:

A Different Kind of Light

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
who put darkness for light,
and light for darkness;
who put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight!
Woe to those…
who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice for the innocent!
Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble,
and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame,
so their root shall be as rottenness,
and their blossom shall go up as dust,
because they have rejected the law of the LORD of Armies,
and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
– Isaiah 5, WEB-BE

When I first started blogging, I found great joy in connecting with people. I felt that blogging was like a magic portal that can connect me to countless people all over the world. I didn’t even need to publish in a magazine or a book. I just needed to write and people would read what I had to say.

These days, it’s not as easy as it was years ago. Though I can still connect to many people, there are various factors that has affected the reach of my writing. For one, there are many competitive blogs right now, most have a huge budget for advertisement that drives traffic to their sites. For another thing, it’s a lot harder to write about religious articles without being judged as intolerant of other people’s beliefs.

Though the world repeatedly affirms its tolerance, I feel that it is becoming more and more intolerant for those who hold on to the Christian and Catholic belief. We can write all we want and nobody would be reading if they knew outright that you are writing from a Christian perspective. I feel that time will soon come when very few would be interested in reading articles related to faith.

Despite this, however, Christian writers need not be disheartened. Even when nobody seems to be reading or taking notice, you can stand firmly like a beacon of light that needs no recognition or reward to continue its work. Who knows? One day, your light may finally shine through to help those who are trying to reach the shore.

One thing that never fails to remind me how far I have yet to go toward spiritual growth is my tendency to insist I am right. When others accuse me of a sin I did not do, I’m quick to justify myself. I can’t seem to let the moment pass by without clearing my name and explaining my side.

I don’t know if this is a result of some traumatic experience of being shamed. I don’t know if it’s a tendency coming from my genes or personality, but I do know that this is something I have to work on.

It’s not that we should let other people accuse us of things we did not do. But sometimes, it does take courage to remain silent and just to let an insult pass by if it’s just a little misunderstanding or if there is really no harm that would come out of it. After all, I think we could all remember when we did something wrong and we were not accused or punished for it.

In relation to this topic, I’d like to share with you a micro-fiction I’ve written:

Is She Even for Real?

Sometimes I don’t know what to make of her. Is she even for real?

Why does she not speak rudely when someone speaks meanly to her? Does she acknowledge her lack of worth? Can she not think of any witty or sarcastic word to make her detractors feel ashamed?

Out of curiosity, I asked her one time, and this was her reply, “Maybe she was just having a bad day.”

I did not want to push the issue but in my mind, I asked, “Is that all you can say? Is having a bad day a valid reason to be mean?” Such people deserve an eye for an eye?-?rudeness for rudeness, a mean word for every mean word they say.

Why does she always try to see the best in people? Why think of a good excuse when you’re already faced with what is bad?

(Continue reading… click here)

“If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.” – Helen Burns (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë )

There are many instances in our lives when we can feel that we are alone. We can feel alone whenever our loved ones have to go far away. We can feel alone when we need help and we could find no one who can provide what we need. We can feel alone when we have to stand up for what we believe in and no one is there to support us.

One of the most painful experiences we could have is to be abandoned, to be an outcast. This is more hurtful when it is those who are closest to us who have let us down.

During such times, remember that Someone is still watching. Remember that God sees everything. He sees you and He knows your pain. Aside from Him, there is also the whole company of angels and saints in heaven who are cheering for you, praying that you overcome your difficulties.

One day in heaven, we shall finally see them. For now, let us be consoled with the light of faith.

“Hush, Jane! you think too much of the love of human beings; you are too impulsive, too vehement; the sovereign hand that created your frame, and put life into it, has provided you with other resources than your feeble self, or than creatures feeble as you. Besides this earth, and besides the race of men, there is an invisible world and a kingdom of spirits: that world is round us, for it is everywhere; and those spirits watch us, for they are commissioned to guard us; and if we were dying in pain and shame, if scorn smote us on all sides, and hatred crushed us, angels see our tortures, recognise our innocence… and God waits only the separation of spirit from flesh to crown us with a full reward.” – Helen Burns (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë )