Monday, March 24, 2008

Sing a New Song

Alleluia, Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

May we sing at the top of our lungs
For our life has been restored.
May we never forget all that He did
And how He overcame death
For us

Thank You, God. Without You, I am nothing.
With You and within You,
I am saved.

Friday, March 21, 2008

The Message of the Cross

Thoughts today while contemplating the crucifixion...

Today, is Good Friday. The day when Christians around the world recall the death and crucifixion of our Lord.

On this day, we commemorate when the world--Jew and Gentile alike collaborated to crucify God. They nailed Him to a piece of wood and put Him on display for the entire world to see.

What is the message of the cross?

For the Pharisees and Romans, it was
See what he did! See what he said.
This is what he gets
If you follow him, this is what you get.
Don't be like him.
Look at him. He's suffering. He's dying.

Follow us. Follow the world.
Give in to her temptations.
Greed. Lust. Sin.
Follow us and you will not die.


The message of the world then
is the same message of the world today.

Their message is a lie!

What's Christ's response?

"Take up your cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)


Oh Lord, may I remember your Passion every day. May I follow you always. May your love for me be reflected in my love for all. Thank you for all you've done for me. I owe you my life.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

When you fast...

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. (Matthew 6: 17)

Today is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent. As Catholics, we are called to start fasting. Not by the Church but rather by God. Jesus doesn't say "if you fast" but rather when. He wants us to fast. He wants us to sacrifice something we love so that others may gain.

More importantly, we must associate our fasting with something through prayer. A friend who is sick or family member who is suffering. Perhaps to improve our evangilization.

We fast so that others may exerience God.

Monday, January 28, 2008

On Eucharistic Adoration

(I was given the privilege today at Mass to talk about Eucharistic adoration.)


"We adore You O Christ and we praise You...Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world!"

These words are repeated over and over every night at this parish and at Catholic Churches around the world every Friday night during Lent.

What do these words mean?


Have you ever wondered what your purpose is in life?

What is the meaning of everything?



Why were we created?


We were created to love God with all of our heart, with all of our heart, and with all of our strength.

Our meaning...our purpose in life is to focus our lives wholly on Him. And through His love, we in turn love our families, love our friends, and we love our enemies.

Through His love, we draw all people closer to Him.

Every action that we do and every word we speak should reflect our love for Him.

And the reason why is because He loves us! He loves each and every one of us!

More than we can possibly imagine.

He yearns for us--so much so that God would rather be nailed to a tree and die than to be separated from any one of us.

And all He wants is for you to love Him back.


Lent is coming. Lent is a call to conversion. A time to draw closer to God. A time to prepare ourselves and better understand what God did for us at His Passion.

Our ushers will be handing out forms for Eucharistic adoration for all of you to fill out and hand in to the collection basket.


I know what a lot of you may be thinking.

"Why go to Eucharistic adoration?"

"What's in it for me?"

Quite simply, the reason to go is that there is no greater place on the entire planet than Resurrection parish on Wednesdays during Lent. Because here from 1:00 to 6:30, God is present on the altar.

And He wants to see you.

He wants you to be with Him.

He wants you to love Him.


Several years back, at a retreat during Lent, I volunteered for an hour of Eucharistic adoration.

In that hour, I gazed at His presence and asked, "Are you really there?"

By the end of the retreat, God made it knon to me that He was VERY present in the Eucharist and that He was not pleased with how I was living my life.

That one event caused a tremendous conversion that is still occurring eleven years later. Since that retreat, my life has turned and now, I understand my meaning and my purpose.

Since then, I've dedicated my entire life on loving God more...and I am truly thankful for all He's given to me.

When you go to Eucharistic adoration, there's no need to pray the Rosary. There's no need to read the Bible and there's no need to pray Our Fathers or Hail Marys...although you're more than welcome to do that.

You just need to be there. For an hour...a half hour...or even a minute.

Just be there and quiet your heart and clear your mind and just say, "Lord, I'm here and I'm listening."

And just listen to what He has to tell you. You may not hear it with your ears or your mind, but your soul is going to rejoice and hearing Him.


"We adore You O Christ, and we praise You. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world!"

Why go to adoration?

What's in it for you?

Greatness!!!


Thank you.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Speak, Lord

Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening. (1 Samuel 3:9)

So many times in prayer, we talk when we should listen. We act without guidance. We work with no goals.


O God! Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, may I quiet my mind and heart so that I may hear Your voice.

I am Your servant. May I always do Your will.