Beginning July 1st, 2021, there will be a change of leadership at St. Paul the Apostle Parish..

This Sunday, let us “remain” in Jesus, so that our qualities as “branches” will reflect genuinely the virtues of the “vine,” and really become what he said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.”

This Holy Week, find a place at the foot of the cross: to pray sincerely, to forgive without limit, and to love with a love that never dies!

Second Sunday of Scrutiny during the Fourth Sunday of LENT! In today’s gospel, Jesus saw a blind man - not only his blind eyes, but heard his heart begging: “I want to see!” It’s a heart request that a loving heart cannot refuse.

This Sunday is the First Scrutiny Sunday during the Lenten Season. The readings are from Cycle A; appropriated as a reflection journey for the ELECT of the Rite for Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). It’s a faith-journey for those who are entering the Catholic Church.

To make the transfiguration event as a spiritual vehicle for our renewal and conversion, let’s consider the three tents as homes of love, adoration-prayer and trust:

Now is LENT – and today is the FIRST SUNDAY! It was launched on ASH WEDNESDAY. Due to restrictions buoyed up by COVID-19 pandemic, you might have received the Ashes in many forms; but in whatever form the Ashes were received, the accompanying words are the same: “Repent and believe in the Gospel!”

Jesus’ healing brings people to be the best version of themselves. His healing is unconditional; his healing calls people to belong – to a family and community. His healing calls people to believe, so that they can become evangelizers. His healing calls people to be grateful and will lead them to serve others.

Can you imagine the miracles that will happen to all of us if we could have the mutual recognition of God’s presence in each of us? So, the next time you see a friend, you tell them: “Friend, every time I see you, I see the Christ in you.” And hopefully, they’ll quickly reply, “It is the Christ in you that recognizes the Christ in me.”

Now is the favorable time to start walking as ONE LIFE, loving with ONE HEART and speaking with ONE VOICE: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. NO to death! YES to life! LIFE is sacred!

Let’s focus on the disciples’ question to Jesus: “Rabbi, where are you staying?” or maybe translated in this way, “Where is your home?” Let’s choose the question, “Where is your home?” because it might lead us to appreciate how important “home” is during Jesus’ time.

Today, our hearts are the MANGER; it cradles Jesus. When we love, and when we fill others’ hearts with hope, we make Jesus known. Therefore, like the magi and hopeful prisoner, let’s take a quantum leap in our faith in God and follow the light of hope and believe that “the Kingdom of God is possible…that it is not an illusion or a figment of an overexcited religious ethical mind…” It is genuine! COVID-19 cannot stop it – it’s coming.

Today is the Fourth SUNDAY of ADVENT! Five days from now, is already the VIGIL for CHRISTMAS; and the following day is CHRISTMAS DAY. Wow! The spiritual transition of the Fourth SUNDAY of ADVENT to CHRISTMAS is like a lightning. As if God, cannot wait any longer to be born in our hearts. What a BLESSING! What a LOVE! It is really everlasting!

Preparing the PATH for Jesus’ coming in our lives is not a multiple choice or a guessing game. It takes an honest to goodness leap of faith. And, it is making a commitment to allow the grace of a merciful God changes our hopeless heart into a sacred place where “kindness and truth shall meet [and] justice and peace shall kiss.” (Ps 85:11) God comes when we needed him most in our lives

ADVENT SEASON is here! Symbols reveal the meaning and beauty of ADVENT. The four candles (three purples and one pink) are placed in an Advent Wreath. “ The green of the wreath speaks of our hope in God… The candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of his Son. The four candles represent the season of waiting. The light of the candles reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that… brings… life and hope. The progression in the lighting of the candles symbolizes the various aspects of our waiting experience. The flame of each new candle reminds the worshippers that something is happening, and that more is yet to come.” The best is soon to arrive!

On November 26, 2020, we celebrate THANKSGIVING DAY! COVID-19 might alter the way we celebrate it, however COVID-19 cannot lockdown thanksgiving! Although there is “social distancing,” thanksgiving is working double time in connecting hearts. While there is a “stay home” guideline, thanksgiving is making every home a sanctuary of gratitude. And even if there is a “facial mask wearing,” thanksgiving is a smile flying around like a flying kiss.

Today, in a divided society and challenged by COVID-19, LOVE is what we need to rebuild the earth becomes heaven. COVID-19 cannot lockdown LOVE. Although there is “social distancing,” LOVE is visibly connecting every heart; although there is “stay home” guideline, LOVE is making every home a sanctuary of love; and although there is “facial mask wearing,” LOVE is a flying kiss flying around.

Today, the CHURCH is celebrating “ALL SAINTS’ DAY!” The stories of the SAINTS’ lives remind us on how they faithfully and remarkably made and making Christ visible and relevant in our world today...

Beginning today, let our goal each day of our lives be this: to touch one’s life “with all our heart, soul, and with all our mind”. May this goal always be rooted in the commandments of: “Love of God and Love of Neighbor!”

When Jesus hold the Roman coin, his question to the Pharisees was very revealing: “Whose image is this?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” With that answer came Jesus’ morally acceptable and noble instructions to the Pharisees, he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” This reply avoided a confrontation with the Pharisees, but rendered a teaching moment for the inquisitive mind and unbelieving heart.