Whisperings Under The Maple Tree

  CALLED TO BE HEALERS TO ONE ANOTHER (January 26, 2024)   Reflection on the Gospel (Mark 1:29-39)   Question: Why did Peter deny knowing Jesus three times? Answer: Because Peter was so mad at Jesus for healing his other in-law.   Of course, that was only a joke. It was a joke revolving around the relationship between in-laws. Jesus healed the mother in-law of Peter from fever. The succeeding parts of the Gospel, Jesus continued with his ministry of healing – casting away demons, curing people from various illnesses and diseases, and many more. At the end of the day, Jesus came to a secluded place to pray and commune with His Father in heaven. Then immediately after dawn, Jesus begun his healing miracles and preaching.   We see, however, that at the end of the day, and even before the sun rises at dawn, Jesus come to a place to pray. Note that habit of Jesus – before and after a day’s activities, Jesus always find time to pray.   We may not be “healers” ourselve

    Coffee Musings Under the Maple Tree (Part 18) January 11, 2024   ·         I cut my wings, so no one knew that I wanted to fly. I always smile so no one notices the tears in my heart.   ·         Is destiny for real? Or everything is a choice? What is most essential? To choose what makes us happy? Or just to go where the wind blows?   ·         Ignore me. Block me. Delete me. You can do all those things for me. But you cannot deny that you were loved by me; you were cared for by me; you were valued by me. And that no one else had ever done those things to you the way that I did.   ·         Never allow the weight of the heartbreak of yesterday to slow you down. Leave it on the side of the road and journey with ease and smiles in your heart on the way to a joyful tomorrow.   ·         I will not search. I will not chase. I will wait. God provides.   ·         Sometimes we need to lose something or someone we consider as very important to discover what r

  “She kept all these words and pondered them in her heart.” (January 6, 2024)   In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, the author narrated the birth of Jesus. Several events were mentioned like the decree of Caesar Augustus for a census in the empire that prompted Mary and Joseph to journey back to Bethlehem from Egypt; the birth of Jesus in a stable and laid on a manger; the shepherds who came to visit after having been told by an Angel that the savior was born. Luke writes in 2:19: “ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.   The narrative continues with the presentation at the temple with Samuel’s prayer, blessing, and exultation; the prophet Anna who thanked God upon seeing the baby Jesus who she prophesied as the One who will bring the redemption of Jerusalem; Jesus grew up as a young boy and later found in the temple discoursing with the rabbis; Mary sort of reprimanding the little boy Jesus for causing stress and anxiety to his parents who though

  DELAYED “FLIGHT”: It’s All God’s Plan (January 3, 2024) Almost every Christmas season, DELAYED signs, and worst is Cancelled notice, have become a regular scenario in most, if not all, airports all over the world for both local and international flights. Just recently before Christmas, a good number of domestic flights were recorded in the Philippines that cause quite a lot of different reactions from passengers, mostly of anger and frustration. The stress that the passengers felt was simply indescribable. Imagine all the planning they make like – applying for leave from work; searching and booking for flights, bus rides, and/or sea travel; packing belongings to bring; buying “pasalubong” and gifts; and more things needed in their journey or vacation. In some cases, though, a feeling of resignation and frustrating acceptance were all some passengers expressed bearing the discomforts caused by the delays. Whether out of anger and frustration or resignation and acceptance, no