Afternoon with the Poor

Yesterday I went house visiting. I visited 3 poor families. I was thinking to do it for some 3 weeks now, but I was hesitant to do it because it kind of to radical for me. But yesterday I visited the orphanage and the sisters gave me some food and fruits to take home. I then decided to give the food to the poor family I know whose father had a minor accident in his work. His legs got cut by a machine or something like that. He was not able to work for some days. So I went to their place and talked to the father and asked what happened to his accident. We chat a little bit then I gave the food and left. Next stop I went to another poor family to visit some kids I know. They were a big family, 8 children and another one is coming. I played with the kids and talked to the mom. I gave a bag of candies to the kids and left. My last stop was another family whom my friends is helping their daughter with her sponsoring her education. I came there to drop the money. They invited me in their house and ended up talking for about an hour. I said good bye because it was getting dark. They asked me to visit again.

I went home feeling fulfilled, knowing that I was able to live the Gospel in a small way. St Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel, use words if necessary”. I believe our presence is already preaching the Gospel. Going out of our way for someone who is not really that close to us is a powerful witnessing to the Gospel. There is something about a stranger being charitable to another stranger. Maybe because our modern culture as become utilitarian. Our personal interaction is based on how much we can use each other. If the person has no use for us we trash them away. Unfortunately that is how the poor is being treated. That is why I believe that our “personal” and “unconditional” service to the poor is so powerful, because it is counter cultural. We Christian are all called to live out the Gospel and be a “light” and “salt” of the world.

Practical suggestion: There are a lot of people who feels forgotten and hungry for love. They might be our own family. Have we given them our time and presence?

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.

TURN by Paul Coleman Trio - MTV

This is one of my favorite Christian bands. This a cool video, i really like the part they good around. It reminds me to enjoy life in little ways and not to take myself seriously









The song also have a great lyrics. Here it is:

How can you expect people in their right minds
To not see between the cracks
And notice that there's something missing?
Wouldn't you agree now is the right time
To be all that we can be?

Come and dream with me that we were all together
In perfect unity
But we are torn apart by things that do not matter
And time is running out for us to see

(Chorus)
We gotta turn this life around
Turn this life around
Turn this life around
Turn this life around
Turn this life around

Take a look around can you tell me
Why does it take a tragedy to bring us all together?
Who can change a heart change a motivation
Take it right back to the start?
Come and dream with me
That we were all together
In perfect unity following the maker

The call of Jesus to Matthew

The call of Jesus to Matthew the tax collector often makes me wonder. What did Mathew saw, heard or felt to just simply leave is profitable job with the simple words of Jesus, come follow me. I try to put myself at Matthew’s place. I am quietly sitting in front of my PC doing my own thing then a complete stranger suddenly walks up then says “Come follow me”. I will at that person puzzled, thinking to myself, is this guy serious? But Mathew did left everything and followed Jesus. I like what one priest commentary about this. He said when Matthew looked in the eyes of Jesus, it was a done deal. What could he have seen in Jesus’ eyes? It must have been so beautiful that he was able to leave everything. That is what a single gaze of Jesus can do to a person, He can transform him. I still am waiting for this grace, that Jesus would look me into my eyes and transform me. So I try to pray and wait, wait for Jesus to come, gaze to my soul and completely change me.

The call of Matthew also shows me that following the Lord is more of a mystery, there is more uncertainty that certainty. I don’t think Matthew knew that his following Jesus would lead to his martyrdom. But I think what makes following Jesus exciting is we don’t know what is coming next, but we are sure it would be a meaningful life.

God In The Streets of New York City

A great video about Eucharistic Adoration!  As  a Catholic,  the source, center and summit of my faith is Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist.

I Am Nothing

One of my religion teacher use to write in the black board “CHIRT-IAN”. Then he will erase “CHRIST” leaving “IAN”. Then he will continue by saying IAN is the acronym of “I Am Nothing”, that without Christ, “I am nothing”. I did not really understood it then. For past maybe 3 years this was one of my prayers, to realize my nothingness apart God. For me, humility is one of the most beautiful of the virtues. I am a big admirer of humble people, I have them very profound and a blessing to be with. Included in my morning prayer is the “Prayer for Humilty”, something I desperately need. After years of prayer, by the mercy of God I am starting to realize my nothingness. Everything is Grace, St. Augustine said. I am starting to see that every good thing I have ever done was empowered by God’s grace, without the grace I would have not did it. I also came to the realization that without His grace, I am slothful and a big coward. The funny thing about my realization of my nothingness was the feeling of being set free. Most pop psychologist would argue that thinking nothing of yourself is bad for your self image. Well, for it is just simply “being real”, conformity to the reality of God and of ourselves. Right now I feel free. Free? Yes, since I know I am nothing, and God is everything, I can do nothing and He can do all things, there is so much pressure is taken away from me. You see, I know I am to stupid to run my life. Left to my own devices, I know I will mess it up, I have proven this time and time again. Knowing my nothingness now makes me put all my trust in God and not to myself. I know the Father will take care of me, better than I can take care of myself. And even if I mess up, He can make straight with crooked lines. Knowing I am nothing also frees me from my past. I can let go of my past mistake and leave it to God’s mercy, what can a fool do except mess up right. I have become more patient with myself knowing my nothingness, I stopped over estimating myself. It also frees me from my past accomplishments. Why would I want that? Well as I said, I desire to be humble, sometimes my past accomplishments gets into my head. My ego is a heavy burden to bear. Pride is the most deadly of sins. Now I can look back and see that all the good I did was all God’s action. I can smile at the good and the bad and say Job’s prayer “Blessed be the name of the Lord”

This are two of my favorite verses in the Bible, I remind myself of it as much as I can. “Apart from me you can do nothing” and “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me”.

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.

Benedict XVI: Christ Shared the Poor's Hardships

Pope Visited Missionary of Charity House in Vatican

ROME, JAN. 11, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Referring to a favorite expression of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Benedict XVI says it is Christmas every time we allow Jesus to love others through us.

The Pope commented on this saying from the founder of the Missionaries of Charity when he visited the congregation's center for the poor in the Vatican on Jan. 4.

"For many years, when I was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, I would spend several hours of the day near your praiseworthy institution, desired by my venerable predecessor, the Servant of God John Paul II, and entrusted by him to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta," Benedict XVI said. "Thus, I was able to appreciate the generous service of Gospel charity which the Missionaries of Charity have been carrying out for almost 20 years now with the help and collaboration of many people of good will."

The Holy Father reflected on Blessed Teresa's desire to call the house Gift of Mary, "hoping, as it were, that it might always be possible to experience in it the love of the Blessed Virgin."

"For anyone who knocks at the door, it is in fact a gift of Mary to feel welcomed by the loving arms of the sisters and volunteers," he said. "The presence of those who are ready to listen to people in difficulty and serve them with that very attitude which impelled Mary to go straightaway to St. Elizabeth is another gift of Mary.

"May this style of Gospel love always seal and distinguish your vocation so that, in addition to material aid, you may communicate to all whom you meet daily on your path that same passion for Christ and that shining 'smile of God' which enlivened Mother Teresa's life."

The Pontiff spoke about Christmas to the poor guests of the house, saying that Christ's birth in a stable "because there was no room for him elsewhere," meant that "Jesus experienced the hardships that many of you yourselves experience."

"Mother Teresa used to like to say: It is Christmas every time we allow Jesus to love others through us. Christmas is a mystery of love, the mystery of Love," the Pope said. "The Christmas season, re-presenting the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem for our contemplation, shows us the infinite goodness of God who, by making himself a child, desired to satisfy the needs of human poverty and loneliness; he accepted to dwell among us, sharing our daily difficulties; he did not hesitate to bear with us the burden of existence with its effort and anxiety.

"He was born for us in order to stay with us and to offer to each one who opens to him the door of his or her heart the gift of his joy, his peace, his love."


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Simple Joys of a Child

(Nicole was left to our house while her siblings play at the park)

One thing I have learned these past years is that joy can be found in little things. The secular world tells us otherwise, according to them, the bigger the better. To them to find joy in life you have to have more money, more power, more fame and more sex. I bought all of this when I was young, and ended up frustrated. It was like a never ending pursuit without consolation. I was living for the thrill of the chase. Finally reality kind of kick me in the behind and realized “what the hell am I doing?” I imagine I get everything I aspire for, what then? Aspire for something greater? I said to myself, it’s like a vicious loop! I wanted to find joy here and now. I cant wait to be filthy rich, because it might never happen. Thank God that he set me on another course. For three years I have been working with kids in the orphanage and in Catechism classes. They have thought me much. The children thought me to forget myself and just focus on them; in short they thought me how to give unselfishly. And it is a liberating feeling. When I am with the kids I just forget being self conscious and just enjoy the present moment. I just enjoy the laughter and goofing of with them. And the best thing is just to accept their affection towards me. My joy is to make these children smile or laugh, in return, I go home with a sense of joy. I strive for a lot of things, but I always remind myself of what is really important in life. One of them is just this, spending time with kids specially the orphans. I know at the end of my life, I would have no regrets in the time I spend serving the kids. It was a blessing.

Practical Application: Spend some time with children. Get lost in their world. Relax, forget yourself and have fun. It is a simple joy we all can avail.

Can anything good come from Daxx?

The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.

Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth." But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

John 1: 43-46

I was attending Mass when this Gospel was read. As I listen to the priest read "Can anything good come from Nazareth? I reflected on these words. Then I changed it to make it personal, “Can anything good come from Daxx?” I have heard this from other people. When I started volunteering in the orphanage some of my friends asked if there were “babes” there? They though I was there to scout out women. They were puzzled why give my time to the orphanage. When I started giving talks and retreats, some people got nervous because I had no training or formation (they did not know i watch EWTN everyday). “Can anything good come from Daxx?” But the people around me are not the one who often asks this question. The one who always ask “Can anything good come from Daxx?” is me. I guess I am like many people who have doubts with themselves. Am I really capable of doing this? I am a little bit crazy thinking I can pull it of? Am I being presumptuous? This are the question that goes in my mind every time I try to do something for God that is beyond my capacity. But God somehow reminds me that He is the one doing all the work. I am just an unprofitable servant doing his Master’s bidding. Jesus somehow says to me, “Come follow me and see.” The last 3 years of trying to follow Christ was the craziest and painful years of my life, yet it was the most meaningful and productive years I have lived yet. I imagine Jesus saying to me what he said to John, “Come and See” I Jesus is saying this to all of us, “Come” Come with me and follow me, make me the absolute center of your life. And then he will say “See” See how I will make beautiful and even extraordinary things in your life. Personally I have to say my “Yes” everyday to Jesus invitation daily to “Come and See.”

Practical Application: We need to make time for prayer where we will hear God’s invitation to us to follow Him, “Come”. Then we need to have faith more on God’s love and grace than our own weakness. Sinners as we are, full of weakness, God still has the power to make our lives “good” and beautiful. “Come and See” Jesus in prayer, for us Catholics, Jesus is there in the Most Holy Eucharist in the tabernacle.

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.

God is not a control freak!

I was watching the “Nativity movie” some days ago. At its end is the birth of Jesus, the Word made flesh. As I look at the baby Jesus, I realized that God is not a control freak as many of us think. It’s His way or the highway is how many of us perceive God, the almighty became a helpless baby! I was looking at the Christ child and was amazed how small and vulnerable he was, and this was GOD!? No control freak will trust his very life to anyone. But Jesus did. He entrusted the safety of his human life to Mary and Joseph. Few of us really realize that God gave us “free will” and he respects it. If he was a control freak He should have just made us like robots. But that is not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible wants his creatures to cooperate with him, from Adam to the new Adam, Jesus. He has given us freedom to choose him and participate in His plan of salvation. Like Mary and Joseph, whom God entrusted to participate in His plan of salvation, we too are given the same privilege to participate in His plan of the salvation of souls. We all have a role to play in the Divine Drama. We are free to choose to partake or not, for our God is not a control freak!

Practical Suggestion: What have we done to participate in the salvation of souls? Have we told our friends, family, specially children about Jesus and his great love for us? We don’t need to be preachy. We can do it in small ways like praying before meals, thanking God in front of them with a blessing receive. We can do little things to put God in the consciousness of those people around us.

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.

New Year with the Poor

Thanks to Candy (again) and Ate Nilda, we are able to give 12 families some groceries for their New Year celebration. I think it helps the those families to look at the start of the year with some hope. I hope our little gift would be a sign to the 12 families that God has not forgotten them, that God has send them His blessings, even in a small way. You can see the images on the Photo Gallery.

New Year with the Poor

Thanks to Candy (again) and Ate Nilda, we are able to give 12 families some groceries for their New Year celebration.

Blog by Daxx Bondoc
(www.inspirationalblogs.com)

*If you want to repost this blog please include “ From Inspirationalblogs.com “ and the end.