The Eudists of the Philippines
Like our FB page or join us
through Hearts on Fire!
  • HOME
  • Who We Are
    • NEWS
    • Our History
    • Society of Apostolic Life (SAL)
    • The Eudists >
      • Passage
      • Blessed Eudist Martyrs
    • The Eudists in the World
    • Eudist Family
    • Message of the 65th General Assembly
  • St. John Eudes
    • French School of Spirituality
    • The Four Movements of Prayer
    • Praying with St. John Eudes
    • SJE Reader
  • Our Mission
    • SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION
    • Praying with Scriptures >
      • MEDITATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS
      • Reflections
      • Vocation >
        • Discernment
        • Contact Us
        • How to Become a Eudist
        • Qualifications
        • Seminarians' Reflections

Third Sunday of Easter

4/30/2017

Comments

 
Picture
by: Rev. Fr. DJ Garcia, CJM
Luke 24:13-35

What is our pain? What is our loss? What do we grieve of? What are our dashed hopes?

For the two disciples travelling to Emmaus, it was the death of the one they had pinned their hopes on. The one who they expected would save them and their nation Israel from the Romans. One who would bring them peace. They were disappointed because they misunderstood God’s work and ways. They expected a God of power, a triumphant Messiah, but instead, they got a vulnerable, suffering servant.

Perhaps, they were complaining, but one thing was real, they are in pain, they are in grief. They felt the failure of everything in which they believed. In their complaints, in their pain and grief, they remained closed off in themselves. Just a wall in front of them, no horizons.  And so, when the Risen Jesus, joined them on the road, they did not recognize him.
So many times when difficult and painful things happen in our lives, we run the risk closing ourselves off. Even when our Lord is so close to us in these moments as he promised, walking with us, we fail to recognize him. And we continue to be afraid. We self-pity. We continue to lament. Sometimes, we become complacent in our condition that it becomes our security.

How wonderful to see the patience and concern of Jesus as he walks with the two disciples.  He listens to them and then explains to them slowly and in the end he reveals himself. Our Lord Jesus does the same thing with us. He is always with us, walks with us, listens patiently with us as we go through the deepest valleys and in darkest moments. He makes us see his presence. He becomes our refuge and strength. Our pains, our losses, our dashed hopes will become graced opportunities for God’s revelation to us. These will be our experiences of God’s patient and loving embrace.
The Risen Lord gives us hope. He breaks the wall in front of us and makes us see new horizons. He knows how to get us out of our painful and difficult situations. Once more he would make our hearts burn until we are renewed with joy. Until we move from death to life.

We are all the road… while some would have to walk only a short distance, others would have to take it longer. It doesn’t matter how long we will walk the road because what is more important is that the Lord journeys with us every step of the way.

Let us trust in the Lord. He will never abandon us.




Comments

The Resurrection of the Lord

4/16/2017

Comments

 
Picture
By: Rev. Fr. Ron M. Bagley, CJM
We are called by God to be witnesses​

In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear the challenge to be witnesses to all that Jesus lived and taught while he was on earth. In light of the resurrection and ascension, we are sent out to bear witness to the power of God at work in Jesus and his Holy Spirit.

What is a witness?
A witness is someone who sees or knows something. That person is certain of what he/she has come to know. But most importantly, that person is willing to publicly testify to what he/she has come to know.

As disciples of the risen Lord, to what are we witnesses? It is no less than God’s power at work in the world. The resurrection of Jesus is a display of the power of God.

In our society, power is often thought as the ability to make someone do something: “I am your boss. I have power over you.” “I am your superior…I am your teacher…I am your parent.” Even if you don’t want to do something, I can make you do it.

This not the way God exercises power.

What does it mean to say that God is almighty or all powerful? If God is all powerful, why do we have wars, racism, terrorism, persecutions, and all kinds of hatred? One answer (part of it) is that God gives us freedom: freedom to choose the good or evil. Yes, God is powerful, but not power in usual sense (to force, to compel, to overpower).

Think about it: what is the greatest power in the world? That is the power that God exercises: the power of love. And that is the power to which we, as Christians, are sent to witness.

Pope Francis has said it well:

“In every place, even and especially in those places where violence, hatred, injustice and persecution hold sway, Christians are called to give witness to this God who is love,”
“It is amid unprecedented devastation that Jesus wishes to show his great power, his incomparable glory and the power of that love which stops at nothing,

The resurrection of Jesus teaches us that the power of God’s love is more powerful than all the forces of evil: more powerful than those who plotted against Jesus; more powerful than the rulers who condemned him; more powerful than the nails that held him to the cross; more powerful than the finality of death. There is an old hymn which says: “Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him.”


Once again, hear the words of Pope Francis:

“God is stronger than all else. This conviction gives to the believer serenity, courage and the strength to persevere in good amid the greatest hardships… Even when the powers of Hell are unleashed, Christians must rise to the summons, their heads held high, and be ready to brave blows in this battle over which God will have the last word. And that word will be love!”

It is the power of love. Love is greater than hate. Love is stronger than death. Death could not hold Jesus. This is why the resurrection of Jesus gives us reason to hope even in our crazy world. It is because we believe that God is still in charge. We believe that good has triumphed over evil.


We believe in the power of God’s love even in the midst of senseless violence, hatred, and terrorist acts; even in the face of corrupt and sinful leaders; even in a world filled with racism, genocide and other prejudices; even in the midst of immorality and greed. The resurrection of Jesus proclaims that God’s love is more powerful. God’s love is stronger than all these evils and more.


It is to this power that Christians are called to give witness.

How do we give witness? By what we say and by what we do. When we are willing to share our faith and explain the basis of our hope, we are witnesses. It means not being afraid to speak out against evil but rather to share our belief in the power of God’s love.
Christian witnesses must also “walk the talk.” We show by our way of life that we trust in the power of God’s love. We do this when we live in a way that shows we are not afraid of things that threaten our world and our lives, when we have the courage to challenge the injustices and bad things people do or say.

We are called to be witnesses to the risen Lord. We can be like Mary Magdalene in today’s gospel. We can go and tell others what we have seen and heard. Let us open our hearts to the outpouring of God’s Spirit which will make us courageous witnesses.


Comments

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

4/9/2017

Comments

 
Picture
By: Br. Noel Corcino
MT 26:14
—27:66

“My soul is full of sorrow, even to death.” Jesus is not hiding his anguish and distress. He confided to his disciples the overwhelming manifestation of events gearing toward his suffering and death. The tormenting experience of the Lord is one of the consequences of his self-renunciation to the Will of the Father. This is the kenosis of the God who never abandoned us from the onset of our existence.“ Jesus emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave and being made in the likeness of men." In sacrificing himself, Jesus did not stop to be God rather he showed to all of us the profoundness of the Father’s love for his people. Up until this agonizing hours Jesus completely surrendered his spirit into the hands of his Father.

The passion of the Lord is depicting the self-stripping of his sovereignty to rescue the whole human race from a dreadful death. It shows his willingness to forgive like that of the burglar who professed his faith in him by confessing his sinful state. Jesus in the midst of too much pain promised him life in paradise. Such act is a sheer humility, the Word made flesh and live among us and eventually gave up his very own life for his creation.
Jesus is well accepted in Jerusalem. He is received with shouts of gladness and acclamations by the people who started to cling on him. But he did not deter from telling about his nearing suffering and death. In fact, he was chasing the time for him to institute the Eucharist before the predicted time would come. All he wanted is to leave us a living remembrance that would become an ultimate source of lasting joy even if he would be taken away from us.
The focal message of Passion Sunday does not stop on the passion of the Lord itself. Thus we should not limit our understanding on the things that Jesus has given up. We need to look beyond on things that he has taken up- the joyful tidings of the resurrection. He doesn’t want us only happiness for it is superficial. What he desires to suffuse in us is inner joy brought about by his resurrection. The anguish of Jesus gives us strength and his self-renunciation has revived our dropping souls. May we learn to empty ourselves so as to the wilting spirits of brothers and sister.
May the Lord will help us die from our self-centeredness and become imitators of his life-giving kenosis. Amen

MT 26:14—27:66

Comments
<<Previous

    Authors

    The following reflections are courtesy of Eudist Fathers in the Philippines with some Eudist seminarians assigned to give their sharing and reflections on Sunday readings.

    For feedback and comments, please email us, cjm.vocph@gmail.com

    Thanks and God bless you!

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All
    Ash Wednesday
    Eudists
    Gospel
    Lent2015
    Lenten Season
    Sunday Gospel Reflection

    RSS Feed

Powered by
✕