"PURITY OF COMMITMENT"

August 25, 2018

Fr. Gary Thurman

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I would like to read the last paragraph of the book entitled Gulliver’s Travels, “But the Houyhnhnms, who live under the government of reason, are no more proud of the good qualities they possess, than I should be for not wanting a leg or an arm, which no man in his wits would boast of, although he must be miserable without them.  I dwell the longer upon this subject from the desire I have to make the society of an English Yahoo by any means not insupportable; and therefore I here entreat those who have any tincture of this absurd vice, that they will not presume to come in my sight.”   Did you get the spiritual insight of this passage?   I don’t think so, because to get the meaning of the last paragraph, you need to read the whole book.

"PURITY OF SUSTENANCE"

August 18, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

This the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, and this is the fourth Sunday that we have been in John chapter 6.  Jesus has been telling us about this Bread from heaven, about Him being the true food, the living Bread and the Light of the world. 

"PURITY OF LIFE"

August 11, 2018

Fr. Roberto M. Jorvina

Today is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  For two hundred and twenty-four days now, God has remained faithful.  Each day is a unique experience of God’s faithfulness throughout this year.  We gather today with this great truth in our hearts and in our lives.    

"PURITY OF DESIRE"

August 04, 2018

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

Today is a very special day in my life personally.  It was exactly twenty years ago today that three young deacons from the Cathedral of the King, Dcn. Ariel Santos, Dcn. Claro Navalta, and myself, along with fifteen or so from other parishes of Philippines in CEC were ordained into priesthood at the Church of the Holy Trinity, at Forbes Park, Makati. What I have learned from these twenty years is that the biggest fulfillment of my role as a priest is to help you see and fulfill your role as a priest.  We are all part of the royal priesthood; and the biggest part of my job is to help you walk in this. This is to bring us all into the fullness of the faith, into the fullness of believing. 

“Purity of Compassion”

July 21, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

I will confess that the message of the gospel today is first and foremost for me.  I need to hear this as much maybe more than you do.  In God’s word to Jeremiah, He showed His heart for His sheep.  He is the Good Shepherd and He lays down His life for His sheep.  Before Jesus ascended, He told Peter three times, “If you love Me, tend My sheep, feed My lamb, shepherd My flock.”  Jesus was patient with His disciples to tell them, “How long will I be with you?” He wasn’t thinking of going to back to the glory of His Father, but thinking of His flock.   He was thinking whether they would be taken care of.  His heart was for them.  Jesus was not thinking of sitting at the right hand of His Father.  He was not thinking of Himself, His needs, His privileges, His rights, and this is Jesus.  He always put the needs of others first before Himself.

"PURITY OF MISSION"

July 14, 2018

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

As a priest, I hear the expressions of many people concerning their role as Christians on how they perceive God.  A lot of times I hear people say, “I just don’t really know what God is doing.  I don’t understand what God is doing or why does He allow things to happen in my life or in society? I just want to know personally what God’s direction for me is.  What does God want from me?”  The good news is that it is not a mystery or a secret anymore because God has shown and revealed it to us in His Word, particularly today in St. Paul’s writing to the church at Ephesus.  

"PURITY OF WEAKNESS"

July 07, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

We are here to know God and to make Him known.  My prayer is to be able to help you to know God and make Him known. In Mark 6:4, Jesus faced opposition which prompted Him to say, “The prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”   

He was fresh from a miracle tour, doing wonders elsewhere and was praised for doing these only to be rejected in His own hometown.  John 1 said that Jesus came to His own hometown, but His own did not receive Him.

Purity of Favor

June 30, 2018

Fr. Roberto M. Jorvina

This is a great day that God has made.  It is a day that will never be repeated in history.  It is a day and an opportunity that God has given us to gather.   As God’s community, as believers, we are continually zealous for God.  

It is July 1.  One hundred and eight-one days has already passed in 2018.  Tomorrow will be the midpoint, and after tomorrow, we will be in the second half of our year.  The journey continues.  Life does not stop no matter how difficult and how challenging it may be.

“Purity of Submission”

June 23, 2018

Bishop Ricardo Alcaraz 

Our God is a God who still speaks to us as His people.  We are grateful that we can learn from the Holy Spirit as He teaches us the Word of God today.  During our devotions, Bishop Ariel asked, “How many of us never experienced storms in our life?” We have always experienced storms one way or the other.  Jesus Christ told us, “In this world, you will have tribulations.”  He is not saying this to scare us, but to prepare us.  He doesn’t us want us to be caught unaware.   He doesn’t want us to be ambushed by any kind of testing or trial.  He said, “In this world, you will have tests and trials.” 

“Purity of Harvest”

June 16, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

Today is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time – a Season that is also called Kingdom-tide.  Do we even understand what the kingdom of God is all about and how it works? 

I would like to share what Mark, the Evangelist, view is.  Mark looks at the world as having a present age and awaiting what is called the age to come.  Present age is where the enemy of God has set up himself as the prince of this world.  We groan, we moan, we are burdened and we are longing to be clothed from on high because at this time, we are still now seeing the fullness of what is to come.  In our Creed, it is the life of the world to come when Jesus returns, when the dead are raised, when sickness and death are no more, and tears are wiped away and we will have that heavenly banquet with our God.

“Purity of Redemption”

June 09, 2018

Bishop Ricardo Alcaraz

We are grateful to God that we can come back before Him.  We are grateful that God did not just leave us guessing which is the right way and that which is not.  He did not just find out through trial and error which are our ways and which are not.  God gave us His Word.  He made sure that He has given us His Holy Spirit that we may receive what He has for us.  God wants us to know His ways.

“Purity of Sacrament”

June 02, 2018

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi.  But there are many people, good people, Born again believers who love the Lord, who won’t celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. They believe the Bible; they believe that the Old Testament unlocks the New.  But they don’t believe that it unlocks where Jesus says “Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you have no life in yourselves.”  I believe we will all see each other and celebrate eternity together in heaven. But why is there this difference in what we believe?  Why is it that back a few decades ago our Church began to investigate this issue of the sacraments, especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist?  Why, in February 1994, did our Church take a step and from then on, there were no more Sunday Services without the Eucharist?  Why do we still follow this step today? 

“Purity of Doctrine”

May 26, 2018

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

The day that we have been waiting for all this time is finally here. It is Trinity Sunday!  You may be having your Trinity stuff – the traditional Trinity Sunday food: three-bean salad, three-minute eggs, Neapolitan ice cream, and three-layer cake. It is Trinity Sunday, and maybe, we look at it as not quite a kind of a feast, but in the rank of the Church, it is right up there with the major seven Feasts that the Church never misses. 

"PURIFYING POWER OF HIS SPIRIT"

May 19, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

Today is the Feast of Pentecost.  It is also called the birthday of the Church.  Pentecost is 50 days after the crucifixion.  It is seven weeks after Easter.  The Jewish tradition also commemorated the giving of Law.  When Moses was being given the Law on top of the mountain, there was fire and the Israelites were committing adultery.  They came up with a golden calf and worshipped it.  When Moses came down from the mountain, he was so angry that he smashed the tablets and three thousand people died that day.

"PURIFYING POWER OF HIS NAME"

May 12, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

This Sunday is the Sunday before Pentecost, but ten days before this, the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ happened.   I would like to connect my message to what happened during this Feast.   What is the Ascension?    In Ephesians 1:19-23, it says, “19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”   Jesus fills all things everywhere with Himself.

"PURIFYING POWER OF LOVE"

May 05, 2018

Fr. Roberto M. Jorvina

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It has taken us 40 days to prepare for Easter, a most glorious time. We are now on day 36 and 14 more days ahead.  Every day of our lives is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ.  It is a celebration of His victory on the cross.  Every day of our lives is a celebration of our redemption.  

"PURIFYING POWER OF ABIDING"

April 28, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

Hallelujah!  Christ is risen!  May we grasp the reality of Easter more and more everyday as we grow in the knowledge of our God.  God is the Source of life!  We all want to have this life, but how do we obtain this life? 

"PURIFYING POWER OF SHEPHERDING"

April 21, 2018

Fr. Roberto M. Jorvina

Easter! I believe it will not be an exaggeration to say that this is the most glorious time of the year! It took us 40 days, the Season of Lent, to prepare for this; and it is taking us 50 days to celebrate it.  Seven week of Easter which culminates on Pentecost Sunday.  We are now on day 22 of 50.  So, there must be something very special and wonderful about this time.  What does the resurrection of Christ really mean?   Why is it so important for our lives today?

“The Purifying Power of Witness”

April 14, 2018

Bp. Ariel P. Santos

Hallelujah! Christ is risen! The Lord has risen indeed! Hallelujah! This should be more and more a reality in our lives because the extent of the Resurrection being alive in our hearts and in our lives will determine the power of our witness to others.

THE PURIFYING POWER OF ONENESS

April 07, 2018

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

EASTER!  This is the most glorious time of the year!... It took 40 days to prepare for and 50 days to celebrate.  There must be something very special and wonderful about this time.  What does the resurrection of Christ really mean?   Why is it so important in our lives today?

“The Purifying Power of Resurrection”

March 31, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

Rejoice!  Christ is risen!

Sharing from a sermon from the 4th Century Holy Saturday entitled “The Harrowing of Hell” which depicts the descent of Jesus into hell, Jesus said to the occupants of hell particularly Adam, “I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell.  Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of My hands, you who were created in My image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in Me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.”  Death doesn’t have the last word, but Jesus does! The last word is LIFE! God’s will for us is life.  He did not mean for us to be left in a place that is desolate, a place that is full of death, suffering, sorrow and hopelessness; but God meant us to live the fullness of His life.

“The Purifying Power of His Suffering”

February 24, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

We commemorated the triumphal entry of Jesus in Jerusalem, but did you know that there were actually two processions into Jerusalem? There was the procession of the true King, Jesus, and a false king. People walked up to the city of Jerusalem, and only rulers rode on horses to enter Jerusalem. They had an entourage accompanying them. The other one was Pontius Pilate who went to Jerusalem. He did not live in Jerusalem, but by the sea where there was a palace for the governors. He came into Jerusalem riding on a war horse because this is what warriors ride on as they go into battle. The entourage was horsemen with swords and spears as if they were going to battle.

“Purifying Ourselves as God’s People”

March 17, 2018

Fr. Roberto M. Jorvina

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Today is the fifth Sunday in Lent.  It is the last Sunday before Holy Week, the week of weeks. There is no other week in the calendar that is described as Holy week.  This is the high point of our journey.  We are now on our fifth Sunday of our pilgrim way of Lent.   We begin a more intense preparation in order that we can be ready for its completion.

"Purifying Ourselves Through God's Grace"

March 10, 2018

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

We are here to know God and to make Him known.  What does it mean to know God?   We say, “I know God.  I know Jesus.”  The Creed says, “I believe in God, the Creator of heaven and earth.”  We say, “I believe in Jesus because He is the Son of God.  I know Him.  I have read about Him. I have heard about Him.”   But what does it mean to know?  In the Biblical sense, Adam knew Eve and she got pregnant.  This means that they got into a close intimate relationship.   This is what we intend to do if we want to know God – to have an intimate relationship with Him.  Jesus said that to have this intimate relationship with Him is to have eternal life.

"Purifying Ourselves Through Proper Priorities"

March 03, 2018

Bishop Ricardo Alcaraz

In the Gospel, the Lord is giving us something of what the Church is supposed to be.   We have seen moments of brilliance in the past and we would call them revivals. People would be obeying the Word of God.  There are people stricken by conviction maybe ten miles from here simply because people are worshipping.  But then, it ebbs and disappears and things go back to normal again.

"Purifying Ourselves Through Self-Denial"

February 24, 2018

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

For the first twenty years of my life I was in a traditional denominational evangelical Church.  In that place we didn’t mention Lent very much, it didn’t hold a major place in our lives.  Fasting and Ash Wednesday weren’t really mentioned much at all; at least Lent was brought up in terms of “What are you giving up for Lent?”  But the point wasn’t developed much.

“Purifying Ourselves through Confrontation”

February 17, 2018

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

The Holy season of Lent begins the second cycle of the Church’s Liturgical year.  This second cycle is called the Cycle of Life.   We have just gone through the first cycle of Light – Advent, Christmas, and the Sundays after Epiphany – and it centered on Jesus Christ.   We now come to the second cycle of the liturgical year which is the cycle of Life - Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time – which is also centered on Jesus Christ.

"Purified in Theosis"

February 10, 2018

Bp. Ariel Santos

I was looking for a definition of transfiguration and the one that I came across says that it is a momentary divine radiance.   I thought, “That is not very accurate as far as Jesus and God is concerned," because God’s radiance is not momentary. In the Gloria Patri, we say, “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.”  God is always glorious, and He always has that radiance.   It is not His glory that is momentary, but the disciples’ vision of it that is momentary.

"Purified in Purpose"

February 03, 2018

Bp. Ariel Santos

We are here to know God and to make Him known! This is our purpose.  Jesus Himself knew His purpose. He said, “Let us go somewhere else to towns nearby so that I may preach there also, for that is what I came for.”  He wasn’t called just to be a preacher and stand in front of people to teach and to say something.  He did not just proclaim God’s forgiveness through words but He did it by healing people. 

"Purified in Power"

January 27, 2018

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

The day the devil came to Church.  This is exactly what happened in the Gospel today. Why in the world would the devil want to go to Church?  You would think that if there were a place that he would want to avoid, it would be the Church.  I do know of at least one church where devils do seem to enjoy attending.  The order of worship in that place has singing for a little while, preaching for a little while, and then, there is a long time where the ministers cast out spirits.  There is much more spirit-casting out than there is preaching being done.  Much more spirit-casting out than there is worshipping the Lord God Almighty.  That was what the church was known for, and it was almost like a circus.  In fact, their processional song was like circus music.  How can this be?  Why would the devil want to be in church? 

"PURIFIED IN HUMILITY"

January 20, 2018

Bp. Ariel Santos

Today is the Feast of the Lord and Giver of Life, and we, as Charismatic Episcopal Church, a very pro-life Church, proclaim that all life is sacred. We uphold and promulgate the sanctity of life.  All belongs to our God.

"Purified in Humility"

January 13, 2018

Bp. Ariel Santos

One of my favorite Scriptures is out of Psalm 29 which says, “In His temple, everything says, Glory!’” It is a gentle reminder to us that every time we come to His temple, His church, we are dressed in holy array.  We are at our best attire, best attitude, and prepared with hearts longing to receive from God.  Our individual bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we should take care of it spiritually and physically because each and every part of this temple should proclaim glory to God. 

"PURE WITNESS"

December 16, 2017

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

This Third Sunday of Advent is known as the Gaudete Sunday or Rejoice Sunday.  Purple is transformed to rose.  Despite the fact that we are preparing and are busy preparing with our hearts repenting of our sins, there is joy in the preparation.  There is joy in Christianity.  

"Pure Preparation"

December 09, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

We are on the second Sunday of Advent.  We shift into second gear as we intensify our preparation for the promise of the Lord coming to us.  He who promised is faithful.  The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of God, His promise to us, will always come to pass.

" Pure Diligence"

December 02, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Happy New Year!  The first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the Liturgical Year, and it is a great year and great future ahead of us because God is good all the time.   Toward the end of the Liturgical Year, the Sunday readings have been about preparation, and in the beginning of the year, it is also about preparation.  We don’t stop preparing.  We are always in readiness until Christ comes again.  Live your life as if Jesus is coming today – always in readiness.   There is the constant emphasis on being alert, being ready, being busy, and being diligent.

“The Family of God: Inheritors of the Kingdom”

November 25, 2017

Jesus is our King, our Lord and our Shepherd.  The theme for today says that we are inheritors, in plural form, of the Kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world.   Before we existed, God already prepared the Kingdom for us.  What we need to do is also prepare for this Kingdom – which God prepared for us.  The Kingdom started pure and good, but it was corrupted and tainted by sin.  Now, there’s poverty, lack sickness, captivity, bondage.  All the peoples of the earth are enslaved by sin, and even if man did something against God’s will, God still loves man, and share in his suffering.  He is in the hungry, in the thirsty, in the stranger, in the naked, the sick, the prisoner, and the poor.   Christ our King is on those people who are suffering.  He is inside, not outside.  He is not detached, but going through their struggles with them.

“The Family of God: Humbling Ourselves as Servants”

November 04, 2017

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

As the Word was being brought down, the song that was being played says, “Thou art worthy to take the Book.”  It is a very significant song.  It was taken from the Book of Revelation chapter five when there was a cry in the whole earth. The book was opened, and there were seven seals.  It contained the mysteries and answers to life.  John was crying, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break the seals?”  Then, an angel said, “Don’t cry, John, because the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, is worthy to take and break the seals and open the book for us.”

“The Family of God: Loving Him With All We Are”

October 28, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Shema Israel means “listen” and the Jews recited the Shema, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One; and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”   The Jews recited the Shema actually three times a day – in their morning and evening prayer, and before they went to bed.   It was in their system and it was familiar to them.  However, the Jews missed the essence of what it is to love the Lord with all their heart.

“The Family of God: Rendering to Him His Due”

October 21, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Setting up the background of the gospel, the Pharisees were trying to entrap Jesus, and after they were bombarded by Jesus with parables as He talked about them and their failures, they recruited this group of people called Herodians.  They were Jews, but they were taking advantage the Roman occupation of Israel.  They were gaining from the fact that Rome was in power.  The Pharisees were entrapping Jesus where there was on one hand, a party of people who were in Rome to enrich themselves; and on the other hand, a people who were oppressed by human rule.  If Jesus says something, He will be hated by either one of the groups.   Jesus doesn’t like debate so He answers wisely.

“The Family of God: Fully Dressed in Wedding Garments”

October 14, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Do you remember the Prince William and Kate Middleton royal wedding that cost 32 to 34 million dollars?   Just imagine the scenario in the Buckingham Palace with the best food and with the A-list guests.  If there is an invitation for you to come to this Palace, if only for this, you would come.  Forget the food, the celebrities; just being in the palace would be awe-inspiring.  Last century, there was the other wedding of Prince William’s father, Prince Charles and Princess Diana.  The budget was 70 million dollars.   I am just giving you a picture of a grand royal wedding – its grandeur, its splendor, and the costs.  No one would boycott and everybody would be excited about.    

The Family of God: Bearing Fruit for His Glory”

October 07, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

The parables in the last few weeks include a vineyard.  The vineyard is a depiction of the people of God, Israel.  We should be thankful because it is a privilege, an honor and a joy.  Whereas we were idle, sitting in a market place, nobody hiring us, not producing any fruit, not earning and without anything to feed our families with, the gracious landowner got us and gave us the privilege of working in His vineyard.   We are a Eucharistic thankful people.  We work in the vineyard; we bear fruit for His glory; but it is inevitable that we ourselves are blessed by doing so.

“The Family of God: Walking in the Way of Righteousness”

September 30, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

We are the family of God, and we walk in righteousness, in humility, in the way God teaches us to walk in in response to His grace.   The initiative comes from God, and what we can do is to respond to His goodness and grace.  It is not that we love Him, but He loved us first – even before we knew Him and even before we were born.    We don’t earn anything from God.  By His doing, we were in the vineyard working. We were idle, dying of hunger, and He gave us life.  What He  wants for us is to respond so that we will have fullness of life. Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly.  The heart of God is that He sacrificed His Son and the Son sacrificed His life, too.

“The Family of God: Laboring Without Agenda”

September 23, 2017

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

It is so refreshing to realize how great our God is when we begin to have our eyes open.  Many times, we become so religious in our approach to God.  We become so religious in our ways and even of our worship that we don’t realize that God is not so much concerned with religion as much as a heart that is totally submitted to Him, a heart that is desiring Him, and that loves Him so much. 

“The Family of God: Forgiving as We’ve Been Forgiven”

September 16, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

The Family of God has been part of our theme for Ordinary Time.  We want to emphasize what the family of God is supposed to be, how it is supposed to act, and who it is supposed to be like.

Today, based on the gospel, the theme is: the Family of God: Forgiving as We’ve Been Forgiven.   In the parable, it shows how incredibly impossible the sin of  the offender is against his master, which demonstrates our sin, and how much God pardons our sins.  His grace is greater than our sin, and how, that we, as we are offended, with less offenses are supposed to forgive our brother.   The gospel ends today saying that we need to forgive our brother with all our heart.

“The Family of God: Out to Win the Straying Brother”

September 09, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

I used to belong to the Church Ministry called Special Projects Department.  We held office in the former building that the school occupied in Malibay, Pasay.  On one of the walls, I saw this reminder to the parents and to the teachers, “Discipline is something done for a child, not to a child.”  Discipline is something done for the sake of the children, and it is not a sentence that you mete out to them.   It is not to put down the children, but to lift them up and to build them up.  It is also not for the sake of the one disciplining, so that they would not be bothered, irritated and their peace would not be disturbed or they have an outlet for anger.  It is for the sake of the person receiving the discipline.

“The Family of God: With Minds Set on His Interests”

September 02, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

The theme for today is in the family of God with minds set on God’s interests.   We build ourselves up by focusing on the things of God, not the things of man, because the things of God build up, and the things of man tear down and take life from us.  Jesus said that He came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.  This is the very will and the mission of Jesus because this is concerned with God’s interests and the things of God.

“The Family of God: With Authority from Heaven”

August 26, 2017

Fr. Donn Bautista

Three years ago,  the Lord put something in my heart to share with the Cathedral of the King.  I remember Bishop Ricardo saying, “Donn, don’t worry because you will have your chance to share that.”   When I was asked last week to celebrate this Sunday, I said to the Lord, “Maybe, this is the time.”  

“The Family of God: With the Faith for Works of Healing”

January 01, 2020

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

There is this Gentile woman in the gospel who had a daughter who was cruelly demon-possessed.  She went to Jesus for help.  During the culture of that time, the Gentiles were looked down by the Jews who thought that they were the chosen people, and the rest of the world was not favored by God, sinful, and that they would go to hell.  Today, it is sad that there are those who think this way. 

“The Family of God: Against Contrary Winds Prevailing”

August 12, 2017

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

The gospel reading today is one of the most well-known, well-loved stories in the whole Bible.  The four gospel writers tell about it, but Matthew gives us an extra dimension. It is not only telling us about Jesus calming a storm, but Jesus walking on the water and even Peter for a moment.  The usual interpretation of this passage is how that with faith, you can walk on the water just like Jesus did.  As long as we keep our eyes on the Lord, we can walk on the water.   When we become fearful and we see the wave instead of the Master of the waves, then things become more difficult, and we begin to sink.

“The Family of God: From the Mountain to the People”

August 05, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Today is the Feast of Transfiguration. As far as we are concerned, we need to understand Jesus, His being transfigured.   Hebrews 1:3 says that He is the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His nature.   He is the perfect image of God.  

“The Family of God: From Their Treasure, Things Old and New”

July 29, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

What a beautiful day!  The people of God are gathered to worship Him, and what a beautiful sight!  We are gathered on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of our reception  into the Charismatic Episcopal Church, hence, into the Church Catholic.  On July 31, 1994, to be exact,  we were received in this communion.   Every year, we gather as a Diocese on the Sunday closest to this date, at this time, on the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

“The Family of God: In the Kingdom of Their Father"

July 22, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

I proclaim what I believe I received from God and understand that way to be in the kingdom of God. I preach a lot on unfathomable grace. I am just a fan of the grace of God, which is inexhaustible and beyond our understanding. His love, His grace is scandalous, probably, be accused of being heretical if we preach accurately the love of God. This is because it will blow people’s minds, and they would like what the Pharisees said, “That cannot be.” It can because it is the way in the kingdom of our God.

“The Family of God: By the Hearing of the Word”

July 15, 2017

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

There is great joy to be together. We can probably understand more and more what the Psalmist said, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to get together,” because the presence of  brethren gives us strength which cannot be measured as compared to our everyday experiences.  

“The Family of God: In the Yoke Obeying Jesus"

July 08, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

St. Paul said to his letter to the Romans, “What was written in earlier times was written for our instructions, so that by the encouragement of the Scriptures, we may learn from what our fathers had gone through, in what they failed in, and in what they succeeded in.”  Psalm 78 says, “Be not like the fathers of before,” because their fathers were a stubborn and rebellious generation that did not prepare its hearts and who heart was not faithful to God.  They perished because of their insistence on their ways, being intransigent and immovable. 

“The Family of God: For the Love of Him Above All”

July 01, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Our theme for today is: The Family of God: For the Love of Him Above All.  Who is our God?   It is our vision, our mission, and our desire to know God and make Him known.  We need to know Him so that we can experience eternal life, that which is His will for us.

"THE FAMILY OF GOD: UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF ITS MASTER"

June 24, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

It is always good to dwell with brothers in unity and worshipping God together.  Today is the CEC Foundation day. We are 25 years old with CEC.  We have grown with this Church.  Before this, we were 13 years old as a Church, as Christian Life Fellowship.  In two years, our Church will be 40 years old, and it is one generation.   We are excited to be starting our building now, and hopefully, it will be completed exactly after forty years.  God is moving in our midst, and we are thankful for Him for this.

“The Family of God: Unto the Lord a Kingdom of Priests”

June 17, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

You are all priests!  Do we have women priests in the CEC?  Yes! We are a kingdom of priests to serve our God.  This is our calling.  It is a renewal of the mandate given to Adam, representing man,  in Genesis.   He was created to be a priest and a steward.  As a priest, he was expected to lead all creation in offering to God the fruits of the life given to them and the fruits of the earth given to them.   This was Adam’s calling.  As a steward,  he was given authority  and  the ability to take care of the earth – serve it and once again,  manage it.   Adam was to lead all creation. In the Parable of the Talents,  God expects us to produce by using the talents that He has given to us as this is our calling.

“The Family of God: In the Image of the Trinity"

June 10, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

We focus on the Trinity.  They are so united that they are One.  It is s mystery, but they are no less real.  Suffice it to say that They, as the Godhead, gave their all – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  It is not true that the Son was alone on the cross and the Father abandoned Him.  There is this picture of the crucifixion where the Father and the Holy Spirit was with the Son crucified. Everything that God does, the Trinity does in unity. 

“Resurrection Power Builds Regeneration”

June 03, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Today is the Feast of Pentecost.  What is the meaning of Pentecost?  I will give you a very simple meaning:  God pours His Holy Spirit upon flesh.  Pinch yourself and what you are pinching is flesh.  This means that God is pouring His Spirit upon you – all flesh.  It is a sign of the day of the Lord.  The day of the Lord is not bad news, but good news.  The day of the Lord is the Lord’s day.  We should be excited about this.  Every day is the Lord’s day. 

"Resurrection Life Builds Unity"

May 27, 2017

Fr. Gary W. Thurman,

It’s been a tough week to be in the Philippines!  First there was the tragically violent situation in Mindanao, which prompted the government to proclaim those two words that strike terror in the heart of every Filipino: Martial Law!  Then, only a couple of days later, Luzon experienced yet another mild earthquake.  It wasn’t so much the earthquake itself that brought fear, it was just the reminder that we do live in the heart of the Ring of Fire, and perhaps the local earth will shake with much more force, with much more devastation.  In the midst of all this, what hope does the Filipino Christian have?

"Resurrection Life Builds Communion"

May 20, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

We are continuing in this Season of Easter hopefully to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and the power of His resurrection so that we can fully live our lives.  This is the very purpose that Jesus came to this earth so that we might have life and have it abundantly.  God’s will for us is abundance of life.   We obtain this through Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

"Resurrection Life Builds Commitment"

May 13, 2017

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

Israel was the name of God’s people in the Old Testament.  God was wrestling with Jacob, whose name means deceptive, and God said, “From now on, you will be called Israel.” This was the start of the nation Israel.  Israel means “one who wrestled with God.”  God gave this name, changed it from Israel to Jacob after they wrestled.  

"Resurrection Life Builds Security"

May 06, 2017

Bp. Ricardo Alcaraz

Praise be to God!  I am grateful that you are all here.  The Patriarch also speaks nicely of you.  He has been watching what you have been doing, and he especially likes how the Cathedral church is being built.  He knows what is happening, and he talks well about you.  He says that you are an inspiration and an example especially to other churches.  

"Resurrection Life Builds Understanding"

April 29, 2017

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

Happy Easter!  It is still Easter, of course.  Easter Sunday was a couple of weeks ago, but it is still Easter up until the day of Pentecost.   For the year, our Church’s theme has been since the first day of Advent is: Building Up Itself in Love.  It is how the Church, the Body of Christ, builds itself.  Even the physical structure of our Church, just right down the street, is also starting to be built.

“Resurrection Life Builds Faith”

April 22, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

The Lord is present in this place.  This is holy ground.  He is present with us, amongst us, and wherever we have fellowship in His Name.  God is so good all time - between now and two years from now and beyond. Even in the past, God has been faithful, and He will continue to be good all the time.  Exciting things are ahead.  Greater things are yet to come, and we are invited to participate in these things that are happening.  

“Resurrection Life”

April 15, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Hallelujah, Christ is risen! Jesus is alive again! Therefore, the new creation has begun. Lazarus was resurrected only to go back to the land of death.  Jesus’ resurrection was into the land of life – never to die again.  He died once for all so that nobody has to stay in death anymore.  He tore down the gate of hell and bombed the back door of hell, death and the grave so that hell now is not the ultimate finality. Death is now just a door – something that we go through on our way to life.

“Contemplate His Passion”

April 08, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

The reflection for this Holy Week is: contemplate; listen; pay attention.  God is speaking.  God has been speaking to us from the start of the Mass.  In fact, God has started speaking the moment we opened our eyes this morning. 

April 01, 2017

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

A wonderful morning greets us again today.  What a precious gift of God that He has given us life.  It is not just existence, but a life that is teeming with so many blessings – the blessing of family; the blessing of the talents and the resources that we have.  Today, April 2, 2017, will never come back in our lives. It is the only opportunity that we can have  to thank God for this wonderful day.  

"Love of the Works of God"

March 25, 2017

Fr. Gary Thurman

For 2000 years, the gospel reading for today has been a popular text for Christian preachers.  There are just so many things to be talked about.   There are so many approaches that you can take.  You can be like the disciples, taking the philosophical approach: “Lord, why is this guy sick?  Why is he blind?  Is it because his parents sinned?  Is it because he sinned?”  This is a pretty deep question because if he was blind because he sinned, he must have done something in the womb.  How do you sin in your mother’s womb? 

“Love of the Life of God”

March 18, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Last week, the gospel talked about being born again, being born from above, and how that God uses the agency of water and the Spirit. Today, the gospel also talks about living water coming from God, which is His gift, and His desire for us to also understand what that water is.  Jesus told the woman at the well, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is offering it to you, you would have asked it for yourself.”  Sometimes, our problem is that we don’t understand the gift of God, and so, we go after many of the things that don’t endure. The gift of God is living water springing to eternal life. 

"Love in Obedience to God"

March 11, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

We continue our journey in this Season of Lent, and we are looking forward to a glorious Easter where we would resurrect with our Lord.  We begin a new life with Him, a life that is a vindication, of suffering, and in all that, victorious.

“Love of the Word of God”

March 04, 2017

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

We began our Lenten journey 4 days ago, last Ash Wednesday.    After 8 Sundays of being “BUILT UP” and seeing the life that God intended for us to have, we culminated it with the glorious transfiguration of Christ last Sunday.  We must now take stock, evaluate, and ask ourselves the following:  

"Built Up in Christ Above All"

February 26, 2017

As we come to this last Sunday of Epiphany, before the dawning of the Season of Lent, the Scriptures are proclaiming the same message - how Christ manifested Himself as the Son of God. Every year, the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the gospel is always this particular topic.  We read this gospel from Matthew, Mark and Luke in the Liturgical Cycle as they prepare us for the Season of Lent.  All three of these synoptic evangelists share this story. 

“Built Up in Christ’s Perfect Love"

February 18, 2017

Fr. Gary Thurman

For most people, when they hear the Gospel reading, their first reaction would probably be, “Is Jesus serious? What is He asking of us?  He says, ‘If somebody hits us, let them hit us again.  If somebody steals our inner garment, give our outer garment, too.  If somebody forces us to go a mile, go with him twice as much.’”  Then, Jesus gets really weird.  At the end of the gospel, He says, “Be perfect.”  We have spent most of our lives excusing ourselves saying, “Well, nobody is perfect.” Has anybody argued with us when we said that?  Jesus asks us many things, and the end is the awesome command, “Be perfect, after all, God is perfect.”

"Built Up in Christ's Higher Way"

February 11, 2017

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

It is a beautiful morning! In God’s goodness, all things will ever be seen.  Even in the most hopeless situation, we will see hope because we draw from the very life that God has placed in each of us.  We come here today with a life not of our own but from God.  He has given each one of us the beauty of creation.   This is why God said, “It is very good,” in creation so that we can see situations as Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are pure in heart because they shall see God every day.”   Even in the most hopeless situation, in a cloudy morning, always remember that above the clouds, the sun will always shine.  It may be gloomy and dark, but there is always the beauty of the day.  

"Built up in Righteousness"

February 04, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

The other day I woke up at two o’clock in the morning, and when this kind of situation happens, I know that God will speak to me. I had a heart to heart talk figuratively and literally with God because I kept my mouth shut.  I got an online connection with God, and what I did was I downloaded 95% of the time and uploaded only 5%.

"Bult Up in Blessedness"

January 28, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

It is such a nice day today.  Today is a special day, so I am going to preach a prosperity gospel.  In the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus talked about what is commonly known as the Beatitudes.  It comes from the word blessed.  In His several verses, He starts it with, “Blessed are the.…” The word means prosperous; fortunate; doubly blessed; immensely, tremendously and enormously happy; IFwe do certain things that Jesus  identified.  God wants for us fullness of life.  He wants us to enjoy the life that He gave us, and it is ours for the taking.

"Built Up in Obedience"

January 21, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

It is good to be present in the Lord.  The Lord is here because Jesus promised that where there are two or three are gathered in His name, He will be in their midst.   God is not summoned by certain things like the prophets of Baal tried to do.  God is not present when there is fanfare and sensationalism.  God is in the midst of His people when they are gathered together in His Name. Sometimes, He can be in the whirlwind. Sometimes, He can be in the earthquake.  Sometimes, He can be in the still small voice.  The bottom-line is when two or three are gathered in His Name, there He is.   He is with us today; and whether you feel it or not, this is the truth. 

“Built Up in Respect for Life”

January 14, 2017

Bp. Ariel Santos

Today, we proclaim the sacredness of life – that God is the Author and Giver of Life.  He is the Sustainer of all life. As clergy, we wear red today signifying our being one with the victims of the culture of death. This is the ill that our society is facing right now.  God is the Source of all life.  Since He is holy, since He is good, all life is sacred. It is not just our own life, but even those whom we think has no hope, the life of the least, the lonely, the afflicted, and the persecuted. They are precious in God’s sight. 

“Built Up in the Spirit”

January 07, 2017

Fr. Gary Thurman

We come to worship the Lord this morning at this Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, also known as the First Sunday after Epiphany.  For more than twenty years, we have been saying that this is The First Sunday of Epiphany and the next Sundays will be the Sundays in the Season of Epiphany. This was what we were taught when we began our walk in the CEC back in 1993-94. This year, we have done something different because there are changes in the CEC international structure and our Patriarch has taken his time putting things in the way they ought to be.  One of the things that every other denomination, every other communion, every other church in the world observes during the time between Christmas and Lent is that it is not a Season, but just a time into itself – a time after Epiphany.  

“Spreading the News of God’s Doings”

December 31, 2016

Bp. Ariel P. Santos

If you are with Christ, it is always Christmas. Christmas won’t be over any time of the year because Christ is always with us. 

Today, we celebrate the 8th day of Christmas, the second Sunday of Christmas, but on this day we also celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.  In the Jewish tradition, on the 8th day, the male is circumcised and he is given his name.   Jesus’ name came from the Hebrew “Yeshua” which means, “He saves.”  God is our salvation. May we be reminded of who Jesus is, what He does, what His name means, what His mission is, and by virtue of this, may we be reminded of our mission.

“The Spreading the News of God’s Glory”

December 24, 2016

Bp. Ariel Santos

This morning, I woke up a couple of hours earlier than I planned to, and as soon as I opened my eyes, as soon as there was thought in my mind, I felt like John the Beloved.  In his experience in the island of Patmos on exile, he had a vision that was brought about as he said, “In the spirit on the Lord’s Day.”   I believed I had the same experience only that I was, “in the spirit on the Lord’s birthday.”  Immediately, I got to my computer and recorded what I received from God something clear. 

"Disciples of the Son"

December 17, 2016

Bishop Elmer Belmonte

Several years ago, I have not really heard from God every day; but there are certain occasions that God allows us to hear a direction from Him.  In my 35 years of serving the Lord from a Charismatic standpoint, I have heard God twice.  One was when I first became born-again. I was nineteen years old and I was in third-year college, trying to be an engineer, and trying to prepare for a career and have a family.  I got involved in our Church’s first outreach in 1979 -1980 in Sorsogon and I gave my life to Jesus Christ.  I fell in love with the Church and in serving the Lord.   I said, “This is really for me. I love to serve God.” 

"Disciples of the Kingdom"

December 10, 2016

Bp. Ariel Santos

The gospel today has John the Baptist sending disciples to Jesus to ask Him a question.  His question was whether Jesus was the expected One or whether people should look for somebody else.  From birth, I don’t think John had doubts in his mind whether Jesus was the Messiah.  Before his birth, in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, John already had a revelation of who Jesus was – the Messiah, the coming One, the Lamb of God, the Son of God.   In John 3:27, he describes himself as the friend of the groom, and he finds joy in the groom’s having his bride.  The bride belongs to the bridegroom – not to John or to anyone else.  It is not to evangelists even if they put their name on ministries.  The Church is the bride of Christ.  Our joy is to help prepare the bride for our friend, the bridegroom.  We rejoice with Jesus when His bride is prepared and is developing into one that is spotless and without wrinkle. 

"Disciples of the Word"

December 03, 2016

Bp. Ariel Santos

We find a prominent figure in Advent by the name of John the Baptist.  He was called to preach the gospel to the Jews, God’s very people, and his message to them was to repent.  He did not get unbelievers born again. He got the people of God to repent. Imagine the people of God being told to repent.  John was harder on the leaders, and yet, just like Jesus, after rebuking them, he would tell them the right thing to do.  He said, “Therefore, bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance.”  Jesus called the Pharisees and the Sadducees vipers and whitewashed tombs and yet after that, He would say, “Clean the inside first then the outside will follow.”  He did not end with His rebuke or His harshness.  Jesus and John the Baptist both ended with an exhortation to get right with God.

"Disciples of the Way"

Bp. Ariel Santos

It is a new year! We start the New Year with the Season of Advent with a message of preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord.   Advent commemorates and looks back to the first coming of our Lord when He became incarnate and came to us in the flesh.   It also anticipates and looks forward to the second coming.  This is not to say that in the He is not with us in the intermediate.   It is a mystery; a paradox. Jesus is with us, and yet, He is coming again.  He came in the flesh; He suffered, died and rose again; and He ascended, but He really did not leave us.  He is in us and at the same time, we wait for His coming again

"Forgiven by the King"

November 19, 2016

Bp. Ariel Santos

Today’s Collect says, “It is God’s will to restore all things in Christ our King.”  The will of God is to restore all things to Himself through Christ.  Colossians 1:20 says that it is the Father's good pleasure to reconcile all things to Himself through Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 5 says that God wants to reconcile all things to Himself and not count our sins against us.  We were under the domain (authority) of darkness; sin enslaved us and God saw this. God made a good creation and out of the malice of the enemy, the latter destroyed and vandalized the good creation.  What God did was to fix His creation, that which was damaged and marred, by sending Jesus.   What damaged God’s creation is an authority under Jesus Christ because He is above all rule and authority and dominion.

"The Goal of a Legitimate Witness"

November 12, 2016

Bp. Craig Bates

In our gospel reading, in Luke 21:3-4, Jesus says, “Truly, truly.”  Whenever you see that in your Bible, “Truly, truly,” or “Verily, verily” or “I tell you the truth,” it means to listen real close.  Jesus tells us that what will make us free is truth. The truth shall set us free.

“The Goal of Being Sons of the Resurrection”

November 05, 2016

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

In the gospel, the Sadducees gave Jesus a hard time trying to entrap Him with their questioning and what they present before Him. There was involved in this particular passage a question from the Sadducees for they did not believe in the resurrection like the Pharisees did.  They disagreed in this area.

"THE GOAL OF PERSONAL SALVATION"

October 29, 2016

Fr. Roberto M. Jorvina

It is a great and wonderful day; it is another time where we can gather here. Thirty-one Sundays in Ordinary Time is a long time. This is nothing compared to the eternity that we would spend forever in the glorious presence of our God.  We are in a drill; we are in a dress rehearsal.  We are like in a practice so that we can get accustomed to the beauty of God’s presence, the beauty of His holiness, and the fullness of joy when we come into His presence.

"The Goal of a Humble Heart"

October 22, 2016

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

There is a legend about Jesus who was walking with His disciples and they saw a dead dog. The disciples commented on the grossness of it – its smell and with worms around it.  Jesus said, “Look at its teeth, how perfect it is.”   Maybe, Jesus smelled and saw what the disciples did, but He saw the good out of the many bad.

“The Goal of Being Ever Prayerful”

October 15, 2016

Bishop Ariel P. Santos

​

Do you pray? If you pray, what do you pray for?  What should you be praying for?   The gospel today is taken out of Luke 18, but in Luke 17, Jesus was asked when the kingdom of God was coming.  Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you.  His instruction is for us to pray the kingdom of God to come and for His will to be done.   If the kingdom of God is within us already, why ask for it come?  What did Jesus mean, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done?”

“The Goal of Being Ever Thankful”

October 08, 2016

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

We are abundantly blessed! We have more than ten thousand reasons to thank God for!  We have really nothing to complain about! 

The gospel today encourages us and reminds us to be thankful.  It is a matter of learning to count our blessings.  As human beings, we tend to magnify the small things and we tend to overlook the big things.  In your Christian life, the blessings far outweigh what we think are sufferings, a thorn in the flesh, or a reason to complain.  God has blessed us!  He is our God; we are His people. What more can we ask for?   

“The Goal of Doing What We Ought”

October 01, 2016

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

A first glance at today’s Gospel reading probably brings forth the thought:  “Wow, Jesus has to be the worst salesman in the world! He wants us to follow Him; He wants us to be His disciples; and what does He offer?  A life of working all day in His field, slaving away, then coming in the house at evening, hot and tired.  But instead of giving us a break, Jesus looks up from His newspaper as He sits in His lounge chair and says, “Look at you! You’re a mess!  Get cleaned up, and then make me a nice supper. After that, you can have the leftovers.”  And after we’ve done all that, we’re supposed to confess that we’re unworthy slaves.  Ang galing, di ba?  Now, who volunteers for that? Maybe not so many.  If Jesus really wants to attract disciples, He should change His approach. Perhaps that’s why we don’t hear this Gospel taught very much.  It’s just not good evangelism! 

"The Goal of Sensitivity to the Needy"

September 24, 2016

Bp. Ariel Santos

​

We, as the Church, are really the object of the parable today.  It is confronting us. We are the rich man in the parable; we have been blessed; we have been given what we need and more.  Our God is always more than enough.   There is a reason behind why we are given more and this is so that we can give to those who are in need.   We are blessed to be a blessing. 

“The Goal of Seeking the Lost”

September 17, 2016

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

We are not owners; we are stewards.  This is one of the many things that the parable says to us in the gospel.  What we call our own is God’s, not ours.  He has entrusted them to us so that He can make faithful sons of light of us.   We are not supposed to squander the gifts of God like what the unrighteous steward did.  Squander means to use something in a foolish, wasteful, or extravagant way. In other words, it is to misspend.  If one does this with the resources that God has entrusted to him, like in the parable, they can no longer be manager or steward and they will be replaced.  

"The Goal of Seeking the Lost"

September 10, 2016

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

​

We must begin to take our Christianity seriously because the Christian journey in Ordinary Time is a journey in the kingdom of God. It is a journey, a passage, a life, although filled with a lot of challenges, difficulties, trials, and yet, it is a life bursting with abundant provisions.  When we gather each Sunday, we gather together, ascending step by step towards the fullness of the Kingdom.  We must not see the Mass, the readings, the homily that we have each week as isolated activities that we need to complete or are obligated to perform and get over with. They are not detached from each other. 

"The Goal of Being Christ's Disciple"

September 03, 2016

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

God is good!  God is love!  God’s nature is love and He is good.  What He does is always out of His goodness and His nature and out of His being naturally is love. I need to establish this because sometimes we misunderstand when terminologies are used to describe who our God is.  The Bible says that God is a jealous God. It may sound negative because we would relate our nature with His. Our being jealous is negative because when humans are jealous, in many cases, it is out of selfishness.  When we are jealous, it is because we feel we are left out or we are missing out on something.   We want it for ourselves instead of another getting it.   God’s being jealous is a righteous jealousy.  He is jealous because He wants the best for us.  The reason we are not getting the best is because we are not following what He commands us to do. 

“The Goal of Preferring Our Brother”

August 27, 2016

Fr. Gary W. Thurman

How do we receive the readings that we have today?  What is our approach to the gospel?  When we hear the instructions of Jesus in the gospel, do we say, “Okay, now I have learned the method. Jesus has given me an easy two-step method to exaltation.  Now, I know what to do.  Whenever I go to a function, I know the instructions:  sit in the back and then somebody will bring me to the front.  If I want to be blessed, I look for someone that needs help; and I give them help, then, I get blessed.  These are the instructions on being a wonderful person, of getting a lot of wonderful things.  It is getting what I want.”

“The Goal of the Straight and Narrow”

August 20, 2016

Bishop Ariel Cornelio P. Santos

I encourage you:  every single day, the moment you open your eyes, pray for the Church.  Before you sleep in the evening, pray for the Church.  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and always keep the Church in your heat. 

“The Goal of Understanding the Times”

August 13, 2016

Fr. Roberto Jorvina

​

It is always a blessing for all of us to gather as God’s people.  There is something unique about it, but we are not totally aware of this because we are immersed in a world that has deprived us of this understanding.

“The Goal of Receiving the Kingdom”

August 06, 2016

Fr. Gary Thurman

​

There are three topics that we find in the Scriptures today.  The Old Testament reading and the Epistle reading from Hebrews talks about God’s promise to Abraham - God’s covenant with Abraham.  In Luke 12, Jesus mentions the kingdom of God. “It was the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  Towards the end of the gospel, it mentions the coming of Jesus.  What do all of these have to do with each other and how do they fit together?  How can we synchronize and synthesize God’s covenant with Abraham in the kingdom of God, in the coming of Jesus?