Ahuv Sheli

Early Easter Sunday morning, I awoke at the sound of fireworks in our parish. In my country, we have a tradition called “salubong” where an angel unveils Mother Mary’s face and encounters her Resurrected Son at dawn.   My ears strained for more like church bells and the choir singing but there was a deafening  silence after the “salubong”. The thought excited me, perhaps Jesus wanted to surprise me. I greeted the Lord and spent time with Him in the Scriptures, He immediately brought me to read Aaron’s page where he talked about facing death.  http://www.aaronoutward.com/2011/04/why-leukemia-was-best-thing-to-happen.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AaronOutward+%28Aaron+Outward%29&utm_content=FaceBook  It was a good reflection that stayed with me the whole day. We celebrated the Easter Mass at 10 and my family spent time in the mall. Towards the end of the day, I watched Korina’s rated K episode of the “Our Fath

“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you”. "Hapag ng Pag-asa" (Table of Hope) by Joey E. Velasco   Lord, you desire us, you desire me. You eagerly desire to share yourself with us in the Holy Eucharist, to be one with us. Lord, awaken in us the desire for you.” - Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Thursday Homily 2011 Lord, I seek and desire you… my soul yearns for you… I was deeply saddened that no retreats were available in our parish in preparation for the Easter pre-triduum this year. Last year, we spent three nights reflection with the Dominicans. However, God surprised me by leading me into another form of prayer and reflection this year through sacred art. It was even more profound than I thought. "Beyond Life" features Joey E. Velasco, a famous "heartist" as he fondly calls himself. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=536187&publicationSubCategoryId=70 It was my brother who originally introduc

Have you ever felt this way? You were fed…  given drink…  and yet there’s this insatiable hunger inside you…  an unquenchable thirst within you… that beckons you  and asks you for for something more…. "God thirsts to be thirsted for..." - St. Augustine ------------------------ lyrics/music by Fr. Manoling V. Francisco, SJ performed by Ms. Lea Salonga

"Hi Melissa, check out my blog I think You might enjoy   it today!!!,” greeted  my friend  Jim of  http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com   Monday night (11 th  of april). I have been looking forward for his next series of photos since morning... But instead he gave me a wonderful surprise… He posted a picture I truly liked   and   honoured me with a Versatile Blog Award…  THANK YOU VERY MUCH JIM! Since I just passed through the “meme” tradition, let me just share seven blessed trivias about myself ... One, I love nature and I like gardening. but what I like most about it is the feel of soil in my hands...  and seeing the plant grow day by day... then I like lying on the grass on retreat days and looking at the sky by day... and the stars at night... Two, for fun and mind exercise, I’d check out the etiology of one’s name… and play around words. Alpana , for example, means delighted (in Sanskrit) and beautiful (Hindu) Alejandro   (

Che strano spettacolo (what a strange scene) -  un monaco senza gambe seduto ai piedi di un muro, che chiedeva ad ogni passante: "Cosa hai da darmi? Cosa hai da darmi? (a monk without legs sitted at the foot of a wall, asked each passerby: "What have you to give me? What have you to give me?) Mi sentii obbligato a fermarmi e a scusarmi: "Anch'io sono un monaco, mi spiace non ho niente da darti". (I felt obliged to stop and excuse myself: "I am also a monk, I'm sorry I have nothing to give you".) "Dammi il tuo dispiacere", disse. Fu cio' che gli diedi. ("Give me your sorrow". And that was what I gave him) Teofane Il Monaco, Fiabe dal Monastero Magico, XI:Che Cosa Aspetti?, Cosa Hai Da Darmi? (Torino:Piero Gribaudi Editore,1988), 82. Fresh from the Magical Monastery where I drew the wisdom of the ages, I thought of the prayers I had made these last couple of years (or even more)... I always say

I have been tagged by my soul sister ALPANA JAISWAL, http://motifsonthewall.blogspot.com/ . What immediately came to my mind was lullabye... it's what "meme" means in our language... but as it truly is... i ask for a "youyou" next time :P As per tradition, the person tagged with “MEME , has to answer a questionnaire…. 1. If you could go back in time to relive one moment , what would it be?                 A day in Susa, Libya. 2 . If you could go back in time and change one thing , what would it be?  My final decision in my Ignatian retreat. But whatever happened next were all in the hands of God. It opened new doors for me, I just wished I was more sincere to my heart back then. 3 . What movie or TV character you think you resemble most in personality? Maria of The Sound of Music.      4 . Which TV or movie character would you like to be?                Movie scene: The Jesuit superior in ‘The Mission’ ;)… highly

For a time now, as I go on with my daily tasks, reflecting on the issues at hand in our country (most of which have moral implications) like a divorce bill and induced abortion, questions keep arising from my mind...  in my heart...is a diverse story... Measures are created to ease life and provide comfort---what with our modern technology and liberal thinking---but,oftentimes,they only act as temporary solutions to problems with deeper roots... ON THE DIVORCE BILL Gabriela, the petitioners of the divorce bill, is well-known for airing women's voices, advocating human rights and defending women victims of abuse. We share the same sentiments for its ideals but I reckon a few holes against the divorce measure. Again, I write to look into the heart of the matter...nothing I say here is absolute... I open myself to the experiences of married couples and those who have decided to separate. It has been an endless argument:Should we or should we