Wealth and Holiness... a Happy Mix

The whole intent of this blog space is to erase the misconception that being rich is not a deterrent to become holy. It is a misconception everyone must be able to erase from their existing programs to be able to jump start their journey towards being wealthy.

Yes indeed, wealthy and holy is what the Lord wants us to be. Think about it, Jesus friends from beginning of His holy sacrifice to His entombment are all made possible by His rich and holy friends.

They gather on the second floor of a house. During those days, it can be deduced that only rich people can afford a house, and a much richer person afford a second floor. In another instance, Mary pours out an expensive perfume worth at his time 300 dinars which is equivalent to almost 1 year meal allowance of a person. Poured out on His feet. So Jesus associated Himself with the rich.

Joseph of Arimatheus, a rich friend of Jesus, lends his tomb to Jesus. He is both rich and holy.

Wealth per se is neutral. It is the use of wealth that makes it good or evil. It is the use of wealth by which a wealthy person becomes holy or unholy. It is the inordinate attachments of people to wealth that makes them unholy.

Let's all strive to be wealthy and give back to the Lord our riches to be holy.

God bless us all!

You want to be Happy-Wealthy?

I see a lot of definition of what is being truly happy. I observe many people do many things to find happiness. The Psalmist simply tells us that true happiness is in obeying God's Laws and being in the company of good people.It boils down to love as I has expounded in my previous blog.

Love of God, Love of Neighbor and Love of Self.

How do you know you love yourself? Oh, that is being selfish! No, do not think selfishness and love of self is one and the same thing. But, that's not the topic of this blog today. I want to focus on how do we know if we really love ourselves and why do we have to love ourselves.

Before we can give anything, we should first have it right? So, if you really want to love your neighbor, you've got to have that love emanating from your self love first.

And , so how do you know you love yourself? Simple, if you enjoy each moment. If you look always at the positive side of things. If you focus continually on what you have and be thankful to God for it. If you give your best in everything you do each moment, Then you really do love yourself, and God who created you.

Will that lead you to happiness? Certainly!

God bless!

True Happiness

Happy are those who reject the advice of the evil men, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use of God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. Psalms 1:1-2.

Interestingly, the first Psalm is a song of praise telling us exactly how to be happy. God is indeed a loving Father that all He wanted first and foremost is to make us happy.

Even in the beginning of creation , God made everything for man to be happy including a suitable partner (Genesis 1-2: 18), but of course with certain rules or law . "He told him (referring to Adam), " You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden , except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad." Genesis 2: 16-17

Do you see the parallelism. In the time of Adam and Eve, the Law is not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge. The evil men is the snake.

And exactly what is the Law? In Exodus 24: 12." The Lord said to Moses, "Come up the mountain to me, and while you are here, I will give you two stones tablets which contains all the laws I have written for the instruction of the people." That's the Ten Commandments. Which in Jesus' days He summarize into "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." this is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: " Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39.

And in the verse 40: "The whole Law of Moses depend on these two commandments."

So, you want to be happy? Love.... resist whatever is not for love.. do everything in the name of love... L O V E = H A P P Y...

God bless!

Be HAPPY! Give your Best with LOVE...

Who are the happiest people in the world? Definitely those who have open palms to give.

However, there are really many kinds of giver but only one is truly happy.

One kind of giver is a "duty giver". We give because it is obligated from us. Like a parent to their children or vice versa. We must give our children their basic needs and their education. Children on the other hand must give respect to their parents. Though this kind of giving can elicit happiness, it is not that profound as it emanates from mere fulfillment of an obligation.

The second type is that of a "grudge giver". One who is just forced by circumstance to give and follows what is given by nasty remarks. "O ayan, basta huwag ka ng babalik ha!" Sounds familiar? Or mayroong kakatok sa bintana ng kotse ninyo na naglilimos, tapos , kukuha kayo ng barya at iaabot pero wala namang concern o puso to what is given. Oops , I believe I am guilty at times on this.

On a husband and wife situation, this happens too often but not noticed.

The one giver who is truly happy is a "thanks giver". One who give his best all the time as a thanksgiving for what he has. His best shot at everything. His best offering. His wholeness. Remember St. Francis and St. Ignatius? Remember St. Clare? Look up at a cross.... there you have a perfect example of a thanks giver. That is what we celebrate in the Holy Eucharist.

How do we become a thanks giver? How can we transform our duty giving to thanksgiving? Simple, just give your Best with LOVE... you'll enjoy HAPPINESS in return...

God bless us all!

I have Seen the Light!

St. Francis was the inspiration of St. Ignatius , and both of them are our inspiration and role model.

"Take and receive o' Lord my liberty, take all my will, my mind, my memory. All things I hold, and all I own are thine, thine was the gift to thee, I all resign. Do thou direct, and govern all and sway, do art thy wilt command and I'll obey. Only thy grace, thy love on me bestow. This make me rich, all else will I forego."

This song captures the Light seen by both great saints, and believe me I have seen it and felt it in the person of Bro Bo, one I would consider as the St. Francis of the 21st century. If I would outlive Bro Bo, I would be one of those who will move for his canonization.

Why do I say this? I just feel it. Though, by Bro Bo's personal account, he did to a great extent what St. Francis did, even to the point of smelling like him. And just recently, we have the opportunity to have lunch with him. We told him about our visit to a relative who lost everything due to Ondoy flooding. And you know what, he dig into his pocket, handed Fely my wife some crisp 1000PHP bills as his way of helping out. Take and receive ....

I have seen the light and it's wonderful. I'm obliged to follow the light.... would you follow me...

God bless us all!

It's all About Love...L O V E...

Have you watched the movie "This is it" of MJ- Michael Jackson directed by Kenny Ortega? This is really beautiful and I've watched it 3X. The first 2x with my wife Fely and the last one just Last Sunday with our kids.

It's all about LOVE...

MJ has seen the light... He has obtained WISDOM on how to be Truly Happy... and MJ started the change from within...

"Is there anyone of you who is wise and understanding? He is to prove it by his good life, by his good deeds performed with humility and wisdom." James 3: 13. MJ has shown this very well, and beyond loving people, he cares about environment.

But if in your heart you are jealous, bitter, and selfish, don't sin against the truth by boasting of your wisdom." Such wisdom does not come down from haven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic. James 3: 14-15.

What's the antidote for the 3 sins: jealousy, bitterness and selfishness? Of course LOVE...

"Love is patient and kind, it is not jealous or conceited or proud: love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable: love does keep a record of wrong." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-6

What is the greatest commandment? " Jesus answered, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important is like it: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself"." Matthew 22 37-39.

You want to be truly happy ... it's all about LOVE....

Finally , what is True Happiness ? " When Jesus had said this, a woman spoke up from the crowd and said to Him, " how happy is the woman who bore you and nursed you!" But Jesus answered, " Rather, how happy are those who hear the word of God and obey it!". Luke 11: 27-28.

Spread LOVE... God bless us all!

Happy Wedded Life

Just been through a 14-day European Marian Pilgrimage. Note that it's not a "tour", we were pilgrims. Everyday mass, and an opportunity to have confession at Fatima in Spain, and the highlight of this pilgrimage is our renewal of vows at Loyola Spain. See pictures in my facebook account.

Yes, I got married again, with the same wife after 25 years and I'll consider each day a happy wedded life. Of course , it is not void of trials and angry fights. You'll be amazed and we''ll be shamed because most of the arguments are brought by very unimportant and insignificant things like where to park or how to maneuver over potholes on the roads. I can see you LOL (laughing out loud).

Since the creation of man, God has designed it that we find a suitable partner. A God given partner much like what Adam had Eve, created specially fitted for him to give him a suitable partner in life. And at the wedding in Cana, Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine. It reinforces the importance of union between man and woman in marriage.

So what am I saying here? To be happily married, you must ensure you pray for your suitable partner. And as you begin your marriage, look back at the meaning of the miraculous changing of water into wine. For me, it tells me, that all things in our daily routine, the ordinary activities (water) should be turned to celebration (wine) to enjoy an be happy.

Both the above I did and still am doing, and I'm happy and contented. Could not ask for anything more.

Happy life for married people is not a matter of feeling but a matter of decision as we learned in our Marriage Encounter Retreat. Being happy is a major challenge and it is doubled up for married couples, but with God as the starting point and the anchor, who could be unhappy!

I pray for more happy, blissful wedded life for all of us.

God bless us all!