Jesus Teaches About the New Life

John 3

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. – John 3:5

Were you baptized when you were an infant? I was. Did it make you a true believer and a disciple of Christ? I doubt it. For it really takes a spiritually mature person to decide when he or she should be baptized.

When I was submerged in water, looking back, I’m not really sure if I have entered the kingdom of our Father. Or, if ever I was completely born again. This is so, because I continued to live like the rest of the world. I didn’t show I was a new being. Though I was certain of my salvation, something was missing. It was the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t with me because I was still living sinfully. I wasn’t seeking it the way a new being should.

When was the last time you reminded yourself that you are a spirit? Have you acknowledged the existence of the kingdom of God? When was the last time you called the Holy Spirit to your aid? Are you now living spiritually and for eternity?

Glory to the Father.

Received Jesus as the only way to salvation on September 25, 2010.

Baptized on June 18, 2011

Related articles

• “Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (worryisuseless.wordpress.com)
• Monday (April 16): “Unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (shechina.wordpress.com)
• Have You Been Born Again Yet? You Will Never See Heaven Without The New Birth! (soulrefuge.org)

Filed under: 30 Day Walk with Christ, Christianity, Reflections, Spirituality, Christ, Christianity, Church, glory to the father, God, HolySpirit, Jesus, John, Kingdom of God, religion, Religion and Spirituality, spirituality, true believer, way to salvation

Meaning of Resurrection

Happy Resurrection Sunday, everyone. But, where are you seeking Jesus? Are you seeking Him among the dead?

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” – Luke 24:5-6

He is risen and alive. Do you now know where to find Him? I hope so. Please watch this short video of the true meaning of resurrection.

Did you like the video? Have you decided where you’re at? Are you among the living or dead? If you’re already among the living, good! But, if you are among the dead, today is perfect for your spiritual resurrection.

May I encourage you to look for Him, not eggs. It’s time to look for Jesus and not the Easter Bunny. It’s time for all of us to stop being worldly. Besides, the Easter Bunny came from Pagans.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2

Are you ready to truly live and be transformed into a new person? Are you ready for your own resurrection? Or, would you rather remain dead? Choose life!

Here’s another short video on Resurrection and the Principle.

Related video on The Three Stages of Resurrection and Returning Resurrection

Glory to the Father!

Filed under: Christianity, Spirituality, Christ, Christianity, Church, Death, Easter, Easter Bunny, glory to the father, God, Jesus, Jesus' Resurrection, Luke, Resurrection, resurrection sunday, spiritual resurrection, Sunday, theology

What Every Catholics Should Know

Every good Catholic wants to please God in this present life and, when life on earth is over, hopes to live with Him forever. It’s a noble goal based on their personal beliefs about God and how they seek to know Him.

But noble intentions and personal beliefs about God don’t guarantee results—or eternal life. I urge you to do what I did after 22 years as a Dominican priest—make sure your beliefs have a solid foundation in the Bible. These questions will help you do that.

Whose word is truth?

The Catholic Church teaches…

The Pope’s word is truth.

“The Supreme Pontiff, in virtue of his office, possesses infallible teaching authority…” (Canon 749*).

*All Catholic canons quoted are from the Post Vatican Council II Code of Canon Law, published by the authority of Pope John Paul II, 1983. Bible quotes: TheNew American Bible for Catholics.

The Bible teaches…

Every word of God is true.

Jesus prayed to God His Father, “Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

Jesus said, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Bible stands alone as a God-breathed book. Christ Himself warned that to elevate other writings and traditions to the level of God’s words is to “nullify the word of God in favor of your traditions that you have handed on” (Mark 7:13).

Should we have sacred images?

The Catholic Church teaches…

Yes, we can have images.

“The practice of displaying sacred images in the churches for the veneration of the faithful is to remain in force…” (Canon 1188).

The Bible teaches…

No, we are not even to make sacred images!

“You shall not carve idols for yourselves…you shall not bow down before them or worship them” (Exodus 20:4-5). Yet the Roman Catholic Church encourages “veneration,” the act of bowing down to sacred images, which the Pope himself does.

Is the sacrifice of the cross to be continually offered?

The Catholic Church says…

Yes, it is.

“Remembering that the work of redemption is continually accomplished in the mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, priests are to celebrate frequently…” (Canon 904).

The Bible says…

One Person offered one sacrifice once for all and is now seated in glory.

“When Jesus had taken the wine, He said ‘It is finished.’ And bowing His head, He handed over the spirit” (John 19:30). “Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one [Jesus Christ] offered one sacrifice for sins, and took His seat forever at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11-12).

Is there a need for priests?

The Catholic Church says…

Priests are necessary.

“They [the priests] are in fact sharers of the priesthood of Christ Himself…to celebrate divine worship and sanctify the people” (Canon 835).

The Bible says…

All believers are part of the royal priesthood to bring praise to God and to serve Him faithfully.

“You are…a royal priesthood…that you may announce the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Every believer has direct access to God and needs no intermediary but Jesus Christ, our High Priest.

“There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, Himself human, who gave Himself as ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Does baptism save?

The Catholic Church teaches…

Salvation begins at baptism.

“Baptism, the gate to the sacraments, is necessary for salvation in fact or at least in intention, by which men and women are freed from their sins, are reborn as children of God, and conformed to Christ…” (Canon 849).

The Bible teaches…

Faith in Christ alone will save you, not your good works!

The work of reconciliation was completely finished by Jesus Christ when He died on the cross and rose again. Nothing we add to what God the Son has already done could merit God’s favor. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one [Jesus] whom He [God] sent” (John 6:29). “But if by grace, it is no longer because of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6).

How then can we be saved?

The Bible says…

Recognize that by nature you are a sinner and unrighteous.

“We are all sinful [before God]; all of us have become like unclean men, all our good deeds are like polluted rags” (Isaiah 64:4-5). “More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Admit that you are separated from God because of your sins.

As a result, we are spiritually dead, separated from God, and condemned forever: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). There is nothing of merit in ourselves that could ever help earn our salvation.

Acknowledge your need for a substitute.

Once and for all time Christ took the death penalty for our sins. “[Christ] Himself bore our sins in His body upon the cross” (1 Peter 2:24). He must be believed in as your righteous substitute or you cannot be saved.

Cry out to God for His free gift of salvation.

“All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). If you are convinced that salvation is only through trusting in Christ’s substitutionary death in your place—based solely on what the Bible says—express your heartfelt belief directly to God. “This is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (1 John 5:11).

Then, having received the gift of eternal life, live your life for God in praise and thanksgiving.

Richard Peter Bennett

Copyright Literature Ministries International, 1997, 2005

Filed under: Christianity, PLDM, Roman Catholic, Spirituality, Baptism, Bennett, Bible, Catholic, Catholic Church, Christ, Christianity, Church, code of canon law, Dominican, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Peter, Pope, pope john paul, Priest, religion, Richard, Salvation, theology, vatican council ii

Orchestrator of Perfect Justice

Esther 6:1 – 7:10

Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it!” – Esther 7:9

God the father in heaven reminded me today that He humbles the proud and evil plots against someone backfires sooner or later.

Just recently, I was asked to read God‘s word for a Christian wedding. I accepted for I know I am more than qualified to do the task. I was a former Lector at our local Catholic church! I’ve been there before and I know what to expect. I’ll awe the audience with the way I read the Word just like before. Sounds overly proud, don’t you think?

The moment came. The other reader didn’t arrive early. I thought to myself: “So what? I’ll be glad to take his place. This just means more air time for me. I’ve read his passage before! I’ll awe the audience still!” I arrived thirty minutes before the ceremony and instead of practicing, I was taking photos and busy uploading it on facebook. The other reader, who happens to be a friend, arrived just in time.

To cut the long story short, The first thing that came out of my mouth was a mistake. I felt nervous afterwards and my wife said I sounded tense. I didn’t deliver and, needless to say, I didn’t awe the audience.

Little did I know that I was already sinning in my heart. I was both proud and somewhat plotting evil. God, the orchestrator of perfect justice, humbled and shamed me in front a crowd!

Glory to God!

Filed under: Christianity, Reflections, Spirituality, Bible, Book of Esther, Christianity, Church, Esther, evil god, evil plots, father in heaven, God, Haman, Harbona, Jew, Mordecai, religion

Age of Idolizing Ourselves?

Fr. Jojo Zerrudo, Parish Priest of the Lord of Divine Mercy Parish in Sikatuna talked about a bizarre type of idolatry: The Idolatry of Ourself.  It is bizarre because I believe you can only worship someone or something external.  Anyway, I just thought of it as something psychological.  Could he be talking about Narcissism? 

With all the self-help and self-improvement books found in our bookstores nowadays, I’m starting to believe our parish priest’s observation.   What is this obsession about the self?  Can we really make ourselves perfect or more valuable by reading a book and developing competencies? 

Today’s First Reading reminds us to repent and turn away from idols (self-love, money, fame, power, etc).  Similarly, Buddhists say, we should renounce our ego.  Do you think this is easy for someone who thinks highly of themselves?  I don’t think so.  Repentance and renouncement of ego require humility.  When you receive a compliment, what do you say?  Thank you, I worked hard for this and therefore desserve this. Or, All glory should go to God!

Do you think this is easy?  Today’s Gospel says it isn’t.  Christian life of regular repentance and renouncement of ego is really very difficult.  But, if we remain faithful until the end, we will be saved from this earthly means.  Are you ready to end the age of narcissism?

Filed under: PLDM, Roman Catholic, Spirituality, Catholic, Church, first reading, Fr. Jojo Zerrudo, gospel, Homily, mass, PLDM, sermon, Sikatuna

Fiesta in Sikatuna PLDM

That’s what’s happening at Araneta Center Cubao.

Meanwhile, at Sikatuna Village, The Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy will be having their fiesta.  Even if you are not a resident, we invite you to join.

April 7, Wednesday – Praisefest 7PM night filled with songs of praise and worship

April 8, Thurday – Palaro 3PM (registration starts at 1PM in front of the church) then at night BAND NIGHT. meron pong mga suprise guests

April 9, Friday, Araw ng Kagitingan -PARISH BINGO NIGHT 7PM. win as much as 20K at door/raffle prizes. meron cellphone na ipapamigay na touchscreen. kaya bili na kayo ng ticket. pwede na rin ipapalit ang mga tickets niyo sa parish office from 2-6PM.

April 10, Saturday – Confirmation at 10AM then Variety Show at 7PM. maraming suprise guests

April 11, Sunday - Divine Mercy Sunday. Lectors are requested wear gala uniform. 3PM will be chaplet to the divine mercy and  3:30PM The Fiesta mass.  This Mass will be televised Live in Channel 4.

Thank you Karen for the Fiesta Schedule…

Filed under: Cubao, Events, Food and Dining, Mall, PLDM, Quezon City, Roman Catholic, Sikatuna, Sikatuna Village, Spirituality, Araneta Colliseum, Catholic, Church, Cubao, Events, Gateway, Mall, PLDM, Restaurants, Sikatuna, Sikatuna Village Announcements

Lectoring Service in PLDM – Sikatuna Village

The Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy is in Madasalin corner Maamo Streets, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City.  For more details regarding this Church, please visit their official blogger site and multiply account.

During 6pm Mondays and Saturdays, yours truly is serving as Lector.  Let me know if you’re dropping by so I can say hello.

Are you interested to serve as lector?   Do you want to serve the community?  If you are a resident of Sikatuna or other nearby Baranggays like Malaya, Kamias and Teacher’s Village this is a great place to start.

Filed under: Roman Catholic, Spirituality, Catholic, Church, Quezon City, Sikatuna