In Reverence

Renewing Christian Faith for everyone

recent posts

  • Seek

    Seek

    We sometimes find ourselves in the midst of an encounter that shakes us and brings about a change of heart. It leads us to the most uncomfortable of times but it also prunes us to understand and grow in the right direction towards the light of Christ. I was just reminded today as I went about my daily musings and reflection in the morning with scripture. It was from the Book of Haggai. Haggai was among the minor prophets in the Old Testament who helped rebuild the second church in Jerusalem. He told the people instead of focusing among your own selves and worldly ways, focus in building up your relationship with the Lord and the Kingdom of God. In this reading the Lord said, “Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it.”

    We have been graced by God according by his own measure and we are set upon receiving that grace with an open heart and to use it for good and to share it with others. The priority lays in understanding God’s calling for us in our life. No matter what state you are in your life we have been called to do a mission here on Earth. Have you noticed that when you have a bountiful harvest in your life you seem to forget somehow in the daily grind that you place God last. You have a lot of excuses to put off that rosary, or to forget your morning prayers. I know I have been guilty of it but I strive to change my habits to build that relationship with our God. It is through persistence, grace and prayer that I have come to understand how deeply important it is to have God as our friend, mentor, and guide. He is happy for that moment that you acknowledge and thank him, for that first glance at your rugged wall, your successful early work meeting with your difficult boss that never fails to bug you in the morning, the lunch that your husband packed for you and the safety of you and your daughter as you arrived home from school as you picked her up.

    As I am slowly learning and reading through Scripture, digesting and trying to understand every word while making notes, it is imperative that I continue to do this and also share what I have come to understand in my own interpretation of the Gospel. Haggai reminds us to overcome ourselves and the comfort that comes with this world. It is by going through difficult and challenging times that we come to see the face of God; that we unite ourselves with his cross and gain eternal life abandoning ourselves and leaving it all up to him by being faithful and asking forgiveness of things left unsaid. Jesus is waiting upon us to return to him, from there, you will have that peace that you are looking for – that you were always yearning and that peace which you cannot find in this world but only with Christ.

  • Christmas Joy

    Christmas Joy

    Once the ‘Ber months roll around I can’t help but feel a little nostalgia with a hint of wishful thinking. “Oh, how I wish I could go to the Philippines for Christmas this year.”

    I can just remember the honking sounds of jeepneys and pedicabs with people crossing through the streets carrying heavy bags of toys and gifts filled with much cheer. My childhood days back home was filled with excitement and anticipation especially when my siblings especially my brother and I knew it was that time that Santa was filling up our socks with our dreams and wishes for the year. We would gather boxes upon boxes of organized trim and decorations and help set up our tree filled with lights while playing background music from the famous Jose Mari Chan with his song” A Perfect Christmas” or Amy Grant’s version of “A Grown-up Christmas List”.

    The rise of early dawn comes with the start of Simbang Gabi or what we call Misa de Gallo which means the nine-day dawn masses in preparation for Jesus’ birth or Christmas. I did not fully understand the meaning of waking up so early in the morning and barely having my eyes open and attending mass with hordes of people. I do remember after mass there would be street vendors selling traditional Filipino rice cakes like “bibingka (baked rice cake), “puto bumbong” (steamed purple rice), “kutsinta” or “suman” (another type of rice cake wrapped in banana leaves), “latik” (sweet coconut dessert) or “yema” (custard candies) with all of these often served with hot chocolate, “salabat” (ginger tea) or taho (silken tofu drink with pearls). Amidst all the smells and sounds as well as the chatter among neighbors and the community, you know that warm and fuzzy feeling inside that’s comforting. It just feels like home. Those were the Christmas traditions growing up and the wonderful memories etched in my mind and not to mention we were also caroling in the neighborhood which was a a lot of fun trudging along from one house to another singing Filipino and English Christmas songs. Pure joy indeed.

    As an adult looking back, I have three takeaways from it all. The first one being I never knew the importance of tradition until I moved to the United States. Traditions embody you as a person which herein lies cultures and beliefs that make up your intrinsic values. The second is, no matter where you are in the world, the joy of Christmas will always take you home where the memories where embedded back in time. Lastly, we should remain in reverence with Jesus’ birth because that is where eternal salvation lies and we are saved.