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 ...

    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.   ·  ...

  “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 pare...

  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...

  Coffee Musings Under the Maple Tree (Part 17) December 29, 2023   ·         Because of God’s fidelity and love, I will choose you, my Lord. My God. My all.   ·         Life offers so many questions. Know that the answers are within ourselves. Patience. Hope. Pray. Believe. God is with us … all the time.   ·         Maturity is not about age. It is about the experiences we’ve had and the lessons we’ve learned from those experiences. It is about how we grow out of the learnings of the past and be able to move on with a smile in our hearts.   ·         Let go. If it’s meant for you, it will return to a much better form.   ·         I wonder what went wrong. Have I loved too much? Did I love the wrong one? At the wrong time?   ·     ...

  CHRISTMAS MIRACLE: A Daily Experience (December 25, 2023)   In the whole of Christendom, Christmas is the most anticipated and very special day. Especially in the Philippines with the longest Christmas celebration ever in the world, it even places ahead of Easter in terms of celebration but not faith significance with Easter as the most important feast in our Catholic faith.   This Christmas is no different from all past Christmas celebrations to most of us, if I may say. The usual Simbang Gabi; the festive Christmas parties; the gift-giving with our friends and loved ones; the Balikbayan travels or homecomings; the family reunions; and, of course, the bountiful Noche Buena. All this we celebrate in ways depending on our state of life and financial situation. Whatever status in life we find ourselves in, rich and poor find ways and means to celebrate Christmas. Be it just a simple pandesal and margarine to a queso de bola and ham on our table, we “feast” on Ch...