There are many things in life that we take for granted. Things that are free and would free our spirits from the slavery of this world. We allow ourselves to be enslaved by the temporary happiness that “THE” things we possess have to offer. But there are more things in this world that would make us happy, yet we could not possess. All we can do is to enjoy them for they are God’s gifts for us everyday.
Don’t take things for granted. Simple things really make us happy and satisfied…So enjoy the gift of life that God has given you this very moment.
Reflect on this power point presentation below and thank God for his gifts….
What it means to be poor
The Beauty of God’s creation
Oh all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord. This is an amazing powerpoint presentations about the wonder of God and the beauty of His Creations…This is done by an austistic lad named Patrick Notley. Ponder even on how God works in all of us…in different ways and in different times. Spend some times reflecting on the beauty of our being a creation of God. Click his name below and you’ll be amazed of what you see….
The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle 2011[Mass Readings]
| First reading | Acts 22:3-16 © |
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Paul said to the people, ‘I am a Jew and was born at Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up here in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was taught the exact observance of the Law of our ancestors. In fact, I was as full of duty towards God as you are today. I even persecuted this Way to the death, and sent women as well as men to prison in chains as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify, since they even sent me with letters to their brothers in Damascus. When I set off it was with the intention of bringing prisoners back from there to Jerusalem for punishment.
‘I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when about midday a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.” The people with me saw the light but did not hear his voice as he spoke to me. I said: What am I to do, Lord? The Lord answered, “Stand up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have been appointed to do.” The light had been so dazzling that I was blind and my companions had to take me by the hand; and so I came to Damascus.
‘Someone called Ananias, a devout follower of the Law and highly thought of by all the Jews living there, came to see me; he stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” Instantly my sight came back and I was able to see him. Then he said, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Just One and hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all mankind, testifying to what you have seen and heard. And now why delay? It is time you were baptised and had your sins washed away while invoking his name.”’
| Alternative first reading | Acts 9:1-22 © |
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Saul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord’s disciples. He had gone to the high priest and asked for letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, that would authorise him to arrest and take to Jerusalem any followers of the Way, men or women, that he could find.
Suddenly, while he was travelling to Damascus and just before he reached the city, there came a light from heaven all round him. He fell to the ground, and then he heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ he asked, and the voice answered, ‘I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. Get up now and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.’ The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless, for though they heard the voice they could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but even with his eyes wide open he could see nothing at all, and they had to lead him into Damascus by the hand. For three days he was without his sight, and took neither food nor drink.
A disciple called Ananias who lived in Damascus had a vision in which he heard the Lord say to him, ‘Ananias!’ When he replied, ‘Here I am, Lord’, the Lord said, ‘You must go to Straight Street and ask the house of Judas for someone called Saul, who comes from Tarsus. At this moment he is praying, having had a vision of a man called Ananias coming in and laying hands on him to give him back his sight.’
When he heard that, Ananias said, ‘Lord, several people have told me about this man and all the harm he has been doing to your saints in Jerusalem. He has only come here because he holds a warrant from the chief priests to arrest everybody who invokes your name.’ The Lord replied, ‘You must go all the same, because this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before pagans and pagan kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he himself must suffer for my name.’ Then Ananias went. He entered the house, and at once laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately it was as though scales fell away from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. So he was baptised there and then, and after taking some food he regained his strength.
He began preaching in the synagogues, ‘Jesus is the Son of God.’ All his hearers were amazed. ‘Surely’ they said ‘this is the man who organised the attack in Jerusalem against the people who invoke this name, and who came here for the sole purpose of arresting them to have them tried by the chief priests?’ Saul’s power increased steadily, and he was able to throw the Jewish colony at Damascus into complete confusion by the way be demonstrated that Jesus was the Christ.
| Psalm | Psalm 116:1-2 |
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| Gospel | Mark 16:15-18 © |
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Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’
REFLECTION:
There was one thing, and one thing only that he feared and shunned, and that was to give offence to God. Just as there was one thing he longed for, to please God.
There was one thing, and one thing only that he feared and shunned, and that was to give offence to God. Just as there was one thing he longed for, to please God.
(an excerpt of the Homily by St John Chrysostom)
Food for Thoughts….& grin
A few paraprosdokians…
you know, figures of speech in which the latter part of the sentence is unexpected and causes the reader to reframe things.
My favorites:
1. I asked God for a bike, but I know he does not work that way. So I stole the bike and asked for forgiveness.
2. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
3. I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandad. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
4. Going to school doesn’t make you a teacher any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
5. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on the list.
6. Light travels faster than sound. That is why some appear bright until you hear them speak.
7. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
8. We never really grow up, we just learn how to act in public.
9. War does not determine who is right, just who is left.
10. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in the fruit salad.
11. The Evening News is where they begin with “Good Evening” then proceed to take a 1/2 hour to tell you why it isn’t.
12. How is it that just one match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a camp fire?
13. Some people are like Slinkies, totally worthless, but fun to watch fall down the stairs.
14. I did not say it was your fault; I said I was blaming you!
15. I saw a gal with a sweat shirt that said “Guess” so I said “Implants.”
16. A clear conscience is a sign of a bad memory.
17. The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas.
18. Always borrow money from a pessimist; he won’t expect it back.
19. Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.
20. I used to be indecisive; now I am not sure
21. You never get too old to learn something stupid.
22. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
23. If you are supposed to learn from your mistakes, why do some people have more than one child?
24. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember the Fire Department uses water.
25. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
26. There’s a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so that they cannot get away.
27. You do not need a parachute to skydive, just to skydive more than once.
28. And shooters: To be sure of hitting your target, shoot first then call whatever you hit your target.
Junjun FAITHBOOK 