St. Expeditus: Patron Saint of Speedy Causes

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St. Expeditus:  Patron Saint of Speedy Causes The venerated image of St. Expeditus in  the Lipa Cathedral In the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Lipa City is a venerated image of a young Roman Centurion saint named Expeditus. Every month of April, a nine day novena in his honor is held in the cathedral that culminates in the celebration of his feast day on the 19th of the month. Who is this saint whose intercession was also invoked in the Oratio Imperata  to avert a catastrophic eruption of Taal Volcano prepared by the Archdiocese of Lipa when the volcano exhibited extra-ordinary activity early  in January, 2020?  St. Expeditus could have found affinity with the Lipenos since the martyr shares a lot of commonality with St. Sebastian, the city’s patron. St. Expeditus, like St. Sebastian was also a young Roman soldier who converted to Christianity and was also martyred as a consequence, during the period of Diocletian persecution.  Hence, a devotion to him has developed amo
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Homilies and Reflections: May 24, 2020. Sunday. Solemnity of the Lord's Ascencion (Cycle A - Filipino)

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Ika-24 ng Mayo, 2020, Linggo, Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pag-akyat sa Langit ng Panginoon, Pandaigdigang Araw ng Komunikasyon

Pagninilay sa Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon ayon kay San Mateo 28: 16-20

Walang Kwentong Walang Kwenta

Sa kabuuan ng Mabuting Balita, napakaraming talinghaga tungkol sa isang panginoon na naglakbay at ipinagkatiwala sa kanyang mga alipin ang kanyang mga lupain at ari-arian at pagkatapos, siya'y magbabalik at pagsusulitin ang bawat pinamahala sa kanyang yaman at ari-arian.

Ang ating pagbasa ngayong araw na ito ay masasabi nating kaganapan ng mga kwentong ito. Sa pagtatapos ng Kanyang misyon sa lupa, ang ating Panginoong Hesukristo ay muli nang babalik sa kung saan siya nagmula - sa Langit at nangako na ipapadala ang Espiritu Santo upang bigyang kapangyarihan ang mga alagad at nagtagubllin at nag-utos sa kanila na ipahayag ang mabuting balita sa lahat ng dako. Nangako rin si Jesus na siya'y magiging kapiling nila hanggang sa katapusan.

Ngayon na wala na si Hesus sa ating piling, tayo ay hinahamon na maging siyang kamay, paa, ilong, taynga at bibig ni Hesus. Sa panahon ngayon ng krisis at kawalang katiyakan, marami marahil ang nagtatanong, "Nasaan ang Diyos?" ngunit ang tunay na alagad at tagasunod ni Hesus, sa halip na naghahanap sa Diyos, ang tanong sa sarili ay "Paano ako magiging Hesus sa aking kapwa?"

Sa kanyang mensahe sa pagdiriwang ng pandaigdigang araw ng komunikasyon, binigyang halaga ni Papa Francisco ang kahalangahan ng kwento at pagkukuwento sa pag-unlad sa buhay pananampalataya.

Bawat isa ay inaanyayahan na ikuwento ang kanyang karanasan tungkol sa pinakadakilang kwento na naikuwento - ang pag-big ng Diyos sa atin.

Pagod na pagod ka sa trabaho, hirap na hirap ang iyong katawan.  Dumating ka sa bahay ninyo, sinalubong ka ng iyong mga anak, tangan tangan ang iyong tsinelas ng isa at pinupog ka ng halik ng isa pa - pag-big ng Diyos. Naglakad ka ng malayo papunta sa pinagtatrabahunan mo dahil wala kang masakyan - may humintong sasakyan sa harap mo at pinasakay ka ng taong di mo naman kilala - pag-big ng Diyos. Nagtitinda ka sa palengke at wala ka nang kapera-pera, may pumakyaw ng paninda mo- pag-ibig ng Diyos. Wala ka nang pansaing, dumating ang kapitbahay mo, hinatian ka sa bigas na nakuha nyang ayuda, kahit sya mismo ay kulang din - pag-ibig ng Diyos. Pag-big ng Diyos - konkreto, nahahawakan, natitikman, naaamoy, nakikita, at naririnig. Walang katapusan. Kailangang maranasan. Kailangang maikuwento.  May kwenta ang kuwento mo pagkat mahalaga ka sa Diyos.

At kapag ikaw ay nakapagkuwento kung paano mo konkretong naranasan at tinanggap ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa pamamagitan iyong kapwa, handa ka nang magbahagi rin ng pag-ibig na una mong tinanggap sa iba at nang sa ganoon, may maikuwento rin sila.

Sa ganitong paraan, ating natutupad ang atas ni Hesus na ipahayag ang mabuting balita at naipagpapatuloy ang kuwento ng walang hanggang awa at pag-ibig ng Diyos para sa ating lahat. Amen.

Ano ang kwentong pag-ibig mo?


Photo: CTTO

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