lessons. lessons.

Embraced by the Father: Sisters' Mega Household @ Ate Babes' Place
08.08.08

*Our self-image is composed of three things: how we see ourselves, how others see us, and how God sees us.

The first two differ among individuals, but the third one is constant. This is how God sees us (no matter who we think and others think we are):

1. We are His children. Romans 8:14-17 [For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.]

2. We are holy. Leviticus 19:2 ["..You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy."]

3. We are called to be saints. 1 Corinthians 2

4. We are chosen; set apart to belong to God. 1 Peter 2:9 [But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.]

5. We are precious in His sight. 1 Peter 2:4 [Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious..] - I particularly liked the highlighted line. It affirms that no matter how people look at us, no matter how they treat us, WE ARE GOD's CHOSEN, and WE ARE PRECIOUS no matter how useless or insignificant we are in the eyes of men.

6. We are made in His image and likeness. Genesis 1:27 [So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.]

7. We are being transformed into His image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 [But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.]

8. We are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 [Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.]
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Homily by Father Babes Amper: Mass @ Lifehomes Subd. Chapel
08.10.08

*There are two ways of living life: to live as if nothing is a miracle, and to live as if everything is a miracle.
*We must see God even in the ordinary things.
*God walks with us. He is always present. We just need to focus on Him.
*According to J.K. Rowling, we don't need magic to transform the world because deep inside us, we have the power to do that. If we believe that God is within us, we are powerful.
*****
Homily by Father Jojo Monis: Mass @ The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, UP Diliman
08.12.08

Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Verse 3)

What is it about a child that makes him qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven? Father Jojo gave two characteristics:

1. Humility - this we should practice when dealing with men. we are by no means above any other. stay humble because in truth, we have really nothing to be boastful about.

2. Trust and Dependence - this we should have when dealing with God. we need to trust Him fully. and we have to depend on no one but Him.
*****
~Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.~

~Judge by God's standards, not by man's.~