Women Priests anyone???

I found this article interesting from UCAN, the title of the article is  "Nuns' attack Vatican on women's ordination".  Sometimes I wonder why nuns advocating positions contrary to the teaching of the Church advocating ideas and advocacies contrary to the teachings. of the church.  Feminism is a worldly ideology and sadly it has found its inroads in some religious orders.  They erroneously equate equality of the sexes with sameness.  Man and women are equal in the sight of God but they are not the same.  They have specific roles to play in the Church and in this world.  As one reader commented: "Church can commit no mistake because it is the Body of Christ. God choose man to be His priest and woman as His Mother. (Eccl 7: 28.29) " which my mind has shought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. See, this alone I found, that God made human beings straightforward, but they have devised many schemes" Respected Sr. we should try to follow the rule that God wanted us to follow. " Chastity. poverty and obedience" not activism."

Why I remain a Catholic

The recent scandals that rocked the Church in Europe is indeed something for us to be sad about.  This is because it involves the clergy and our Leaders.  Sometimes I do not understand why these problems were to resurface at a time that the Church is battling with various issues that involves morality, materialism and life issues.  Some of my friends wonder why I remain a Catholic.  My answer is very simple but loud: I AM CONVINCED OF THE CLAIMS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, it is apostolic, founded by Jesus Christ and on the apostles.  Nothing can shake that conviction from me.    

A Beautiful Reflection on Creation

Legazpi City, Sunset (Photo by Dr. Herbert R.). The Creation Speaks of the Beauty of God, His gentleness and Compassion.

Here is a quote that I would like to share.  This is from the late Thomas Merton.  The title of the book is "The New Man" Published by Bantam Books (1981) First published in 1962. Page 29.

"The glory, the strength, the suppleness, the life of all things came into being at a command from God and praised Him.  It was not because they praised Him that He looked at them: they praised Him because they were seen by Him: they praised Him because they were seen by Him.  Their being, their life and their beauty existed because they were known by Him. Their being, their reality, their existence, their movement, their life: these things praised Him because they were decided in His own wisdom and existed by an option of His liberty."

This is a very insightful reflection on the beauty and mystery of creation.  Had I not read this line, this idea will not come to me.  Indeed, we praised God because we were made by Him.  God does not need our praise and worship.  He sufficient unto Himself.  But he created us because He chose to love us.  Thus we owe everything to Him that we love and praise Him. 

On Becoming a Shelter

This afternoon while taking my coffee for the mid afternoon break, I saw five little birds (mayas) sitting on top of our air-conditioning unit outside of the window.  It was a stormy afternoon as Typhoon "Basyang" took a landfall in the north.  The little birds were all wet and it seems that the heat generated by the motor of the air-conditioning unit served their need for heat.  I was amused and I took pity on the birds.  I thought I would take a photo of them.  But I did not want to scare them with the flash so I simply leave them.  But as I sat on my desk I began to reflect on how trouble some is life on earth.  We have troubles, trials and tribulations.  Often the best charity we can offer our neighbors in need are our love and care.  Like those little birds, there are hundreds of souls out there suffering.  They need shelter from the storm, they the heat of love and tender loving care, a place to hide themselves from the storm.  Are we ready to be a shelter for our neighbors in need?  Let us do works of mercy by making our lives shelter for others.  Kind words and encouragement may indeed suffice.  But when we give and give until it hurts that is the test of the fullness of our love for our neighbors.