On planning...

The best gift anyone can give me this new year is a planner.
I like planners because I am a planner.
I like thinking ahead.
I like being prepared.
I get a high from being on top of things.

But some things are beyond planning.

And life doesn't always turn out as planned.

You don't plan for a broken heart.
You don't plan for a failed business venture.
You don't plan for an adulterous husband.
Or a wife who wants you out of
her life.
You don't plan for an autistic child.
You don't plan for spinsterhood.
You don't plan for a lump in your breast.

You plan to be young forever.

You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
You plan to be rich and powerful.
You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
You plan to conquer the universe.
You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.

You don't plan to be sad.
You don't plan to be hurt.
You don't plan to be broke.
You don't plan to be betrayed.
You don't plan to be alone in this world.

You plan to be happy.
You don't plan to be shattered.

Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.
But most times, what you want and what you get are two different
things.
We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens.
Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans - especially when
His plans are not in consonance with ours. Often, when God sends us
crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose the cross that
God
wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing
that
God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, God sends us pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes God sends us illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value
of everything He gave us.

Make plans but understand that we live by God's grace.

====================
From: larrainecriss@email.com

Bayanihan

I've seen Bayanihan perform one or two numbers but this is
the first time I've seen Bayanihan dance ala StreetBoys.

My mother, nephew Tom and I went to Pasinaya: The CCP Open
House Festival 2006, which presented sneak previews of this season's
shows.

I wanted to see the performance this afternoon of Philippine
Madrigal Singers and Ballet Philippines but we were held up by the
heavy traffic the procession for Senor Sto. Nino caused.

It was quite a good thing for otherwise, we might not have
been able to see Bayanihan perform, as the shows very closely
succeeded one another.

Who would have thought that there's room for tumblings in a
Muslim dance or the Maglalatik?

My mother was so amazed that she had to put on her glasses
to see the performance better :)

This is the first time my nephew and mother watched in CCP
and they are looking forward to the next one. As I do :)

sayong
01-29-06

Chinese New Year preparations

Wo hen lei. ( I am very tired.)

My mother and I just got home from grocery shopping. We
were supposed to do it tomorrow but I don't want to spend much during
the first day of the Chinese New Year.

Since President Estrada's administration introduced feng
shui, I have been practicing some of its advice and monitored my sign
:)

The past few years have been unlucky in love but were good
for my finances. That's good enough :)

The Year of the Fire Dog is said to be not so good for those
in my year. Thus, there are more preparations.

I have been busy cleaning my room today. According to feng
shui, general cleaning should be done at homes and offices before the
Chinese New Year. I left it a bit late and sad to say, I have only
scraped the tip of the iceberg ... or dusts :)

Packing and cleaning at the office is just as tiring. Two
weeks ago, the following day after we got the notice to transfer our
office, I have already packed or discarded files.

I thought I only needed to transfer the remaining files and
personal belongings to the boxes provided us. But I couldn't help
sorting, dusting and even washing personal things accumulated at the
office and re-sorting papers.

My table and corner was a bit of a jumble when we left the
office yesterday (Friday). Our dividers cum bookcases were
transferred yesterday and many of our things are now on the floor.
Thus, I spent half the day yesterday sorting and packing.

There are still a lot left to do. But at least, I know what
awaits me on Monday :)

For the meantime, I'll rest my aching hands and weary feet :)

sayong
01-28-06

after care

I had a check-up yesterday.
And there was a long queue again. It quite seemed like a mall :)
I thought my doctor meant me to see her this week. It so happened
that I should have seen her a week before. Too bad.

winning a fight

This is a lucky day for the Filipinos – that Manny Pacquiao
finally beat handsome Erik Morales :)

Manny's conditioning was superb and his will to win this
fight was very great that there could be no other outcome.

This is also a significant day for me for I am marking the
second month since I had an operation to remove the endometrioma in my
left ovary.

I can't believe that it has only been two months for I have
been feeling great for such a long time :)

sayong
01-22-06

fraternity

pictures

I finished another roll of film today. I used the remaining
shots at "The Music of Dick Zamora" at the Paco Park, which our unit
attended tonight.

One of my officemates remarked last week that I was like a
tourist who takes pictures of almost everything.

I just wanted a remembrance of the places I've been because
I don't know when or if I'd go there again or still be with the same
people.

In my experience, each thing or event is unique. Even the
roads we traverse daily don't remain the same. Nothing stay still and
the perfect picture of the sky today may still look perfect tomorrow
but in another way.

sayong
01-20-06

adware

Adware, spyware...I wonder when these will stop pestering
me. All I seem to do at the office since I return after operation is
turn the computer on, scan for virus and threats, delete infected
files, delete data from the registry editor and turn the computer off.
Then when I thought that I've eliminated all, the computer
automatically fixes all that I've deleted and unregistered and the
adware is back again. It's so frustrating.

They just wait until the end of the month, when we move to
our new office premises. I'll have my office computer reformatted :)

sayong
01-19-06

state after the holidays

It's good that I graduated from U.P., also known as the University of
Pila (line). I got used to long queues.
Since last week, government workers have been queuing at different
ATMs under Expressnet (Land Bank), Megalink and Bancnet to withdraw
their 2005 dividends from the Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS).
But by the end of last week, Expressnet cut its connection to GSIS's
Unionbank because the mass withdrawal is giving trouble to its
network.
My boss went to Unionbank last Monday noon to withdraw his dividend
but changed his mind when he saw about 20 people standing in line.
I thought that the line would be shorter if I withdraw after work,
when people would be rushing home rather than dallying elsewhere.
How wrong I was! When I got to Unionbank in Quiapo, there were almost
30 people waiting in line. I nearly backed out. But then, I thought
that it would be some time before I saw a Unionbank ATM again or
before I would go again to Quiapo...sometime is once a week :). I
might as well brave it out :)
It took about 40 minutes of waiting patiently for my turn. It would
have been a shorter wait if all knew how to use the ATM machine or had
clearer vision at night. It seems that it was the first time for
half the government employees there to use an ATM machine.
But I really pity the man ahead of me. His inquiry showed only 40
pesos so he kept repeating the process until it dawned on him that the
figure wouldn't change by inquiring repeatedly.
The girl behind me asked if she could go before me as it wouldn't take
her long to inquire. She was true to her word. She didn't have
anything to withdraw either.

blessed are the children

Today is the Feast of the Sto. Nino. Unlike the Feast of
the Epiphany last week, there was a mini-presentation after the
communion at 7:30 pm mass in Greenbelt, Makati. All the children were
blessed by the priest and given token gifts.

Fr. Tatlonghari (three kings in English, and reminded me of
last week) emphasized that in today's reading, Jesus embraced, touched
and blessed the little children.

Embrace
The priest narrated that an old maid in their neighborhood.
It was three days before it was discovered and she had no company but
her dogs.

How do porcupines embrace one another? They stand up and
embrace. Only the back of the porcupines are with thorns.

The priest reminded us that we sometimes need to show our
vulnerability to be able to reach out to one another.

Touch
We lift our hands in praise and to accept grace. But these
same hands are used to heal, bless and touch other people. Sometimes,
we forget that we are but conduits of His grace.

Bless
Benediction came from two Latin words that means to say
good. In short, it is an affirmation of the good in every thing.
Humans sometimes forget to see the good in every thing and every
person but God doesn't.

Aren't we so lucky? :)

rolling

I went to work today intending to start packing things and
files for our office's transfer at the end of this month. I didn't
know that other officemates were thinking the same thing since our
boss told us that we'd use next week to pack and the following one to
transfer and settle in our new premises. It was a whole day with dust
and what have you's that didn't help my colds and headache. At least,
I have a few boxes less to pack next week.

I finally saw Narnia tonight. It costs 130 pesos at SM
Centerpoint. Other movies being shown now cost lesser.

This is the first time I watched a movie since my MTRCB pass
expired. Had I a pass, I would have watched Narnia earlier. But
since I was paying, I made sure that I could get a good seat when I
watch it :)

sayong
01-13-06

eviction

Our office has been located in the New Executive Bldg. since its
inception more than 10 years ago. Yesterday, we got our "eviction
notice" to transfer to another building.
We looked at our future office today and it wasn't bad. Change may be
a good thing after all.

sayong
01-12-06

malen's resume

My cousin emailed me to post her resume online. If anyone needs a
very competent social worker, just contact my cousin.
She knows Braille as well as sign language very well. She also speaks
several dialects well. I wish, I could.

sayong
01-11-06

====================
Marilyn Timbreza-Barrameda
Blk 6 Lot3A Parkwood Hills Subdivision
Violago Homes Litex Rd.,Quezon City
Tel # 430-33-96

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Age: 30 years old
Date of Birth: October 17,1975
Place of Birth: Manila
Height: 4'11"
Weight: 135 pounds
Civil Status: Married
Citizenship: Filipino
Name of Spouse: Jesus B.Barrameda
Occupation: Self-employed

WORK EXPERIENCE

Part-time Faculty Teacher
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
College of Arts and Sciences-Social Work Department
October 2001-March,2003

Mental Health Department- Supervisor
Catholic Ministry to Deaf People, Inc. (CMDP)
15 C. Salvador St. Unit G Loyola Heights,1108 Quezon City
September,1999-present

Human Services Department-Social Worker
Catholic Ministry to Deaf People, Inc. (CMDP)
15 C. Salvador St. Unit G Loyola Heights,1108 Quezon City
July,1998-September,1999

Orientation & Mobility Instructress/Dormitory Social
Worker/Personality Development Instructress
Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
NVRC Compound, P. Burgos St. project 4, Quezon City
July,1996 – May 31,1998

Community Organizer (CO) Worker- Trainee
Philippine Airlines Foundation
8/F Allied Bank Center Building
Ayala Avenue, Makati City
December 1995 – March,1996

Social Worker Trainee
Child Help Intervention and Protective Services (CHIPS< Formerly CHIME)
Department of Social Welfare and Development
National Capital Region
May,1995 – October,1995

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Other Study Project Development Management
Asian Institute of Management
Makati City
May – June 2003

Graduate 30 units
Masters Degree: Clinical Social Work
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City

Tertiary Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Intramuros, Manila
1992-1996

1996 Board Passer in Social Work
Licensure Examination

Secondary Elpidio Quirino High School (EQHS)
Bacood Sta. Mesa, Manila
1988-1992

Elementary Bacood Elementary School (BES)
Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila
1982-1988

ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATION

1992-1996 University Scholar
Pamantasan mg Lungsod ng Maynila

1994-1996 Social Work Society, Member

1996- present Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc.
(PASWI) Regular Member

SEMINARS/TRAININGS ATTENDED:

1. "Symposium on Treatment Interventions for Sex Abuse: For the Child,
the Perpetrator, the Family and the Community", December 7, 1995,
Philippine Women's University, Taft Avenue, Manila
2. "Family Therapy Seminar", February 15, 1996, Philippine Women's
University, Taft Avenue, Manila
3. "Enneagram: Forum on Psycho-spirit Tool in Social Work Practice",
February 16, 1996, Philippine Women's University, Taft Avenue, Manila
4. "Community-Based Rehabilitation", August 16 – September 1, 1996,
Malate Resource Center, Malate, Manila
5. "Social Work and the Challenges of Change", November 19-20, 1996,
Manila Midtown Hotel, Philippine Association of Social Workers,
Inc-Annual Convention
6. "Deaf Education and Interpreting I Asia: Focus on the Philippines
and Vietnam", Third Deaf Education Weekend Seminar, February 26-27,
1999, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, Taft Avenue,
Manila
7. "The Emerging Trends in the Rehabilitation of Law Offenders", March
24, 1999, College of Social Work and Community Development,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
8. "Deaf Women Empowerment: Task Force", November 20, 1999, De La
Salle University, College of St. Benilde, Taft Avenue, Manila
9. "A Professional Response to Child Sexual Abuse: TREATMENT", April
22-24, 1999, Asia Social Institute, Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila
10. "A Professional Response to Child Sexual Abuse: PREVENTION", April
15-17, 1999, Asia Social Institute, Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila
11. "Issue on Supervisory Relationship", September 23, 1999, College
of Social Work and Community Development, University of the
Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
12. "Gender Sensitive Child and Youth Care and Development Seminar",
May 19-21, 2000, Institute of Religion and Culture, Guadalupe, Cebu
City
13. "How to Help the Violence Against Women (VAW) Survivors and Their
Children Cope with Domestic Violence", April 30, 2001, Immaculate
Heart of Mary Parish, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City
14. Certificate of Appreciation as Agency Supervisor in Social Work
Field I, 1st Semester 1999-2001, given by College of Social Work and
Community Development University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon
City

Taiko!

I watched the Taiko! Tambol! tonight at the Main Theater of
the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It has been more than a year
since I went there. My teacher at the Oral Communications Training
Workshop, who was an official at the CCP, invited us to watch Gawad
CCP in 2004.

Taiko! Tambol! was the official opening event of the
Philippine –Japan Friendship Year 2006.

It was testimony to my boss' clout as CCP President's circle
that we even got a place in the lower box at a late notice. My boss
showed me the brochure last week about this performance that said it
was free admission. But when I called Japan Foundation, Manila for
tickets, I was told that it was invitational and the Japanese Embassy
was the one issuing invitations. My boss then called CCP and we got
three tickets.

sayong
01-11-06

malen's resume

Marilyn Timbreza-Barrameda
Blk 6 Lot3A Parkwood Hills Subdivision
Violago Homes Litex Rd.,Quezon City
Tel # 430-33-96

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Age: 30 years old
Date of Birth: October 17,1975
Place of Birth: Manila
Height: 4'11"
Weight: 135 pounds
Civil Status: Married
Citizenship: Filipino
Name of Spouse: Jesus B.Barrameda
Occupation: Self-employed

WORK EXPERIENCE

Part-time Faculty Teacher
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
College of Arts and Sciences-Social Work Department
October 2001-March,2003

Mental Health Department- Supervisor
Catholic Ministry to Deaf People, Inc. (CMDP)
15 C. Salvador St. Unit G Loyola Heights,1108 Quezon City
September,1999-present

Human Services Department-Social Worker
Catholic Ministry to Deaf People, Inc. (CMDP)
15 C. Salvador St. Unit G Loyola Heights,1108 Quezon City
July,1998-September,1999

Orientation & Mobility Instructress/Dormitory Social
Worker/Personality Development Instructress
Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
NVRC Compound, P. Burgos St. project 4, Quezon City
July,1996 – May 31,1998

Community Organizer (CO) Worker- Trainee
Philippine Airlines Foundation
8/F Allied Bank Center Building
Ayala Avenue, Makati City
December 1995 – March,1996

Social Worker Trainee
Child Help Intervention and Protective Services (CHIPS< Formerly CHIME)
Department of Social Welfare and Development
National Capital Region
May,1995 – October,1995

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Other Study Project Development Management
Asian Institute of Management
Makati City
May – June 2003

Graduate 30 units
Masters Degree: Clinical Social Work
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City

Tertiary Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Intramuros, Manila
1992-1996

1996 Board Passer in Social Work Licensure Examination

Secondary Elpidio Quirino High School (EQHS)
Bacood Sta. Mesa, Manila
1988-1992

Elementary Bacood Elementary School (BES)
Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila
1982-1988

ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATION

1992-1996 University Scholar
Pamantasan mg Lungsod ng Maynila

1994-1996 Social Work Society, Member

1996- present Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc.
(PASWI) Regular Member

SEMINARS/TRAININGS ATTENDED:

1. "Symposium on Treatment Interventions for Sex Abuse: For the Child,
the Perpetrator, the Family and the Community", December 7, 1995,
Philippine Women's University, Taft Avenue, Manila
2. "Family Therapy Seminar", February 15, 1996, Philippine Women's
University, Taft Avenue, Manila
3. "Enneagram: Forum on Psycho-spirit Tool in Social Work Practice",
February 16, 1996, Philippine Women's University, Taft Avenue, Manila
4. "Community-Based Rehabilitation", August 16 – September 1, 1996,
Malate Resource Center, Malate, Manila
5. "Social Work and the Challenges of Change", November 19-20, 1996,
Manila Midtown Hotel, Philippine Association of Social Workers,
Inc-Annual Convention
6. "Deaf Education and Interpreting I Asia: Focus on the Philippines
and Vietnam", Third Deaf Education Weekend Seminar, February 26-27,
1999, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, Taft Avenue,
Manila
7. "The Emerging Trends in the Rehabilitation of Law Offenders", March
24, 1999, College of Social Work and Community Development,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
8. "Deaf Women Empowerment: Task Force", November 20, 1999, De La
Salle University, College of St. Benilde, Taft Avenue, Manila
9. "A Professional Response to Child Sexual Abuse: TREATMENT", April
22-24, 1999, Asia Social Institute, Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila
10. "A Professional Response to Child Sexual Abuse: PREVENTION", April
15-17, 1999, Asia Social Institute, Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila
11. "Issue on Supervisory Relationship", September 23, 1999, College
of Social Work and Community Development, University of the
Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
12. "Gender Sensitive Child and Youth Care and Development Seminar",
May 19-21, 2000, Institute of Religion and Culture, Guadalupe, Cebu
City
13. "How to Help the Violence Against Women (VAW) Survivors and Their
Children Cope with Domestic Violence", April 30, 2001, Immaculate
Heart of Mary Parish, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City
14. Certificate of Appreciation as Agency Supervisor in Social Work
Field I, 1st Semester 1999-2001, given by College of Social Work and
Community Development University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon
City

CHARACTER REFERENCES

life cycle

Two friends are celebrating their birthday today -- Hazel and Dulce.
And while they do, the friends and family of my former boss are
mourning his death. A former officemate informed me that AFO died
this morning.

feng shui tips to bring prosperity

IN CHINESE NEW YEAR FOR THE YEAR 2006

FIRST : A. ON JAN 28, 2006 BETWEEN 11 - 3 P. M.

PUT A CRYSTAL BALL AND PLACE IT IN THE NORTHERN PORTION

OF YOUR HOUSE. INCLUDE ALSO CHINESE GOLD BARS & 5 PCS

10 PESO COINS AND PLACE THEM ALL IN A WASH BASIN. PASTE

A PIECE OF RED ROUND PAPER INTO THE CENTER OF WASH BASIN.

B. IN YOUR SALAS BETWEEN 8:00 - 11:00 P. M.

1.. BURN A HANDFUL OF CHARCOAL TO DRIVE OUT

THE EVIL SPIRITS OF YOUR HOUSE ;

2. PLACE A BIG MAMON CAKE ( HUAT KE IN CHINESE )

PUT 3 PIECES OF RED 50 PESO BILL ON TOP OF IT

AS YOUR MINI-FLAG POLE ;

HUAT KE ( µo ¿| ) can be bought in any bakery OR

grocery store in Chinatown especially along ONGPIN ST.

3. HOLD 11 pieces of candies. FROM inside of your salas, murmur :

For those who want to stay in the house please bring in LUCK :

For those who want to leave please leave your LUCK.

THEN GO OUT, UPON REACHING THE DOOR, THROW AWAY THOSE CANDIES

THE CANDIES SHOULD BE : 2 YELLOW 3 RED 2 BLACK 2 SILVER 2 GREEN

C . WEAR RED OR YELLOW LINGERIE ( UNDERWEAR )

THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

WEAR RED & LIGHT YELLOW COLOR

FOR THE WHOLE YEAR MORE OFTEN.

SECOND : ON JAN 29, 2006 BETWEEN 5 :35 – 6 : 35 A. M.

1. HOLD & burn 9 pieces OF INCENSE STICK ;

2. FACE SOUTH-EAST ;

3. Bow 9 times AT THE SAME TIME WISH YOUR LUCK ;

4. Place your burned INCENSE STICK anywhere in your house.

FOR A GOOD START FOR THE YEAR 2006 ( PANG-BUENA MANO )

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FACTORY OR IN MANUFACTURING BUSINESS :

ON FEBRUARY 1, 2006 BETWEEN 9 : 00 – 1 : 00 P.M. NOON TIME

1. HOLD & Burn 9 pieces of INCENSE STICK ;
* FACE WEST. BOW 9 TIMES. & WISH YOUR LUCK.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE STORES , OFFICE , FACTORY & THOSE PROFESSIONALS :

ON FEB 4, 2006 BETWEEN 5 - 7 A. M.

1. HOLD & Burn 9 pieces of INCENSE STICK ;

2. FACE NORTH-EAST ;

3. BOW ALSO 9 TIMES & WISH YOUR LUCK

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY INQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL
DR. FREDDIE SIY CELL NO : +639209037532

====================
From: totocula@yahoo.com

holiday clean-up

I took off the balls from our Christmas tree, washed and stored them.
Tomorrow, I hope to take down more Christmas decors.

It feels quite sad. And here I am just getting used to the decors.
It's less than a month since I put them all up. In previous years,
our Christmas tree was already decorated as early as November 1. But
this year, I decorated late because I was too busy preparing for my
operation last November 22 and then recuperation.

I haven't even recovered from all the New Year preparations and late
nights but I might as well tackle this clean-up. It's quite tedious,
saddening but hey, I'll be seeing them again 10 months from now :)

Happy New Year!

New Year's Day 2006: Mary, Mother of God

Resolution with Mary

Numbers 6:22-27

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:16-21

 

The name "January" comes from the Roman god Janus, the god with two faces, one looking to the past and the other looking to the future. This is indeed a time to look back at the year that has just ended and to look forward to the new year ahead of us. How did I spend this one year of my life that has just passed? Did I use it to advance my goals and objectives in life? Did I use it to enhance the purpose of my existence? Could I have done better last year in the way I invested my time between the demands of work, family, friends and society, and the demands of my spiritual life? What things did I achieve last year and what did I fail to achieve? How can I consolidate the achievements of last year while reversing the failures and losses in this new year? Through soul searching questions like these we find that a review of the past year naturally leads to setting goals and resolutions for the new year. There are people who tell you that there is no point making new year resolutions. Do not believe them. We must set goals and make resolutions as a necessary conclusion to our review of the past year. And we do need to review our lives from year to year because, as Socrates says, the unexamined life is not worth living. Today's newspapers are full of individual and collective new year resolutions. Most of those, however, are not resolutions at all but only wishes. What is the difference between a resolution and a wish? A wish identifies a goal one wants to reach, a resolution specifies the steps one will take to reach it. A wish says this is where I want to be, a resolution says this is the road I will take, this is what I will do to get there. The wishful person says "I want to pass my exams this year" and the resolved person says "I will devote an extra hour to my studies everyday in order to pass my exams." The wishful person says "I will have more peace and love in my family this year" and the resolved person says "I will spend more time with my family at table instead of rushing off to the TV, so that we get to know and understand ourselves better." The wishful person says "I will live a life of union with God this year" and the resolved person says "I will set aside this time everyday to pray and hear God's word." The difference between wishing and resolving is: are we prepared to do what it takes to make our dreams come true, are we prepared to pay the price? The gospel today presents Mary to us as a model of that new life in Christ that all of us wish for ourselves in the new year. There we see that Mary was prepared to do something to realize this goal. What did she do? We read that the shepherds, when they went to adore the Child Jesus in the manger, told all that the angels had said to them. " But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Again after the boy Jesus was found in the Temple, we are told that "His mother treasured all these things in her heart " (Luke 2:51). Mary was a woman who valued the word of God, who treasured it and made time to meditate and ponder it. It is true that the holiness of Mary is attributed to the grace of God, but this should not make us forget that she needed to make an effort in order to cooperate with the grace of God. She pondered the word of God in order to discern what God was saying to her at every stage in her life as the handmaid of God. The two examples above of Mary pondering the word of God, namely, after the visit of the shepherds and after the finding in the temple, show that Mary found the word of God both in divine revelation (the angels' words to the shepherds) and in her own experiences (her encounter with her son in the temple). Similarly God speaks to us today through divine revelation ( e.g. the Bible, the teaching and preaching of the Church) as well as through our personal experiences, if only we made time to reflect on them as Mary did. Whatever the situation in which we find ourselves - a hardship, a disappointment, a decision to make - God has a solution, an answer that is right for us. We tell God about it in prayer but we also listen to what God has to tell us about it. Prayer is a conversation with God but sometimes all we do is pick up the phone, read out the list of our problems to God and drop the phone without listening to hear what God has to say to us. As the new year begins, let us see this year as another chance given to us to get things right, to grow in familiarity with God our loving Father, and to grow in our awareness of ourselves as God's beloved children, all of us, beloved children of the same loving Father. Let us today resolve to listen more to the voice of God, to treasure God's word and ponder it in our hearts. Then shall we be able to realize our new year resolution of a new life in union with God.

 

 

Feast of the Holy Family -   30 December 2005

Priority of Family Life

1 Samuel 1:11, 20-22, 24-28

1 John 3:1-2, 21-24

Luke 2:41-52

 

A little boy greets his father as he returns from work with a question: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?" The father is surprised and says: "Look, son, not even your mother knows. Don't bother me now, I'm tired." "But Daddy, just tell me please! How much do you make an hour?" the boy insists. The father finally gives up and replies: "Twenty dollars." "Okay, Daddy," the boy continues, "Could you loan me ten dollars?" The father yells at him: "So that was the reason you asked how much I earn, right? Now, go to sleep and don't bother me anymore!" At night the father thinks over what he said and starts feeling guilty. Maybe his son needed to buy something. Finally, he goes to his son's room. "Are you asleep, son?" asks the father. "No, Daddy. Why?" replies the boy. "Here's the money you asked for earlier," the father said. "Thanks, Daddy!" replies the boy and receives the money. The he reaches under his pillow and brings out some more money. "Now I have enough! Now I have twenty dollars!" says the boy to his father, "Daddy, could you sell me one hour of your time?" Today's gospel has a message for this man and for all of us, and the message is that we need to invest more of our time in our family life. The gospel shows us Jesus at the age of twelve. That was the age that every Jewish boy was expected to make his bar mitzvah and so become a responsible subject of the law. It was a ceremony of legal adulthood. From then on he was required to keep the law and make the annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem like any other Jewish man. One way teenagers celebrate their coming of age is to go out and do those things that the law had hitherto forbidden them to do. You know your boy is growing up when he stops asking where he came from and begins to not tell you where he is going. As we can see, Jesus was no exception. To celebrate his coming of age he attends the Temple Bible class without informing his parents. When his parents catch up with him after two days of searching for him everywhere, all he tells them is, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49). Even holy families do have their occasional tensions and misunderstandings. The most puzzling part of the story, however, is the way it ends: "Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them " (v.51). The twelve-year old adult Jesus already knows that his mission is to be in his Father's house and be about his Father's business. From the test-run he did in Jerusalem earlier that day, it was clear that he was already capable of doing it very well, because "all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers" (v. 47). The puzzle then is this: If Jesus, already at the age of twelve, was ready to begin his public mission, and was evidently well prepared for it, why would he go down with his parents and spend the next eighteen years in the obscurity of a carpenter's shed only to begin his public ministry at the age of thirty? Were those eighteen years wasted years? Certainly not! In a way that is hard for us to understand, Jesus' hidden life in Nazareth was as much a part of his earthly mission as his public life. We are reminded that it was at this time that " Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour" (v.52). And when we reflect on the fact that for every one year of his public life Jesus spent ten years in family life, then we shall begin to understand the importance and priority he gave to family life. We have two lives, a private or family life and a public or professional one. These two lives should be in harmony but very often they are in tension. Whereas Jesus resolved the tension by giving priority to his private life, we, unfortunately, often try to resolve it by giving priority to our professional life, leaving our family life to suffer. Rose Sands writes about the unhappy man who thought the only way he could prove his love for his family was to work hard. "To prove his love for her, he swam the deepest river, crossed the widest desert and climbed the highest mountain. She divorced him. He was never home." The celebration today of the holy family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus reminds and challenges us to value and invest in our private life with our families before our professional life at the work place, even when our job is as important as saving the world.

 

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From: em_ang@yahoo.com

New Year's Greetings

      

 

                I Wish You Jesus

This shiny bright new year I wish you Faith ~
Faith that this world cannot dampen or cool,
Faith in your dreams when the facts overrule,
Faith in the Word, though some folks call you fool,
I wish you Faith for this coming new year.

This shiny bright new year I wish you Peace ~
Peace that the world's cares cannot nullify,
Peace that is unswayed though all goes awry,
Peace that this world cannot beg, steal or buy,
I wish you Peace for this coming new year.

This shiny bright new year I wish you Joy ~
Joy that is untouched by earth's trials and fears,
Joy that is constant when sorrow appears,
Joy that is able to smile through its tears,
I wish you Joy for this coming new year.

This shiny bright new year I wish you Love ~
Love that is steadfast, a love to abide,
Love that's a refuge in which you can hide,
Love unconditional, unqualified,
I wish you Love for this coming new year.

This shiny bright new year I wish you Someone ~
One who's the source of all mentioned above,
One who brings Faith on the wings of a dove,
One who's synonymous with Peace, Joy and Love,
I wish you Jesus this coming new year!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"For all the promises of God
in Him are yea,
and in Him Amen,
unto the glory of God by us."
(II Corinthians 1:20 KJV)

 

 

  

 

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From:  emarlyn@gmail.com