Year C Fifth Sunday of Easter

          Today, Fifth Sunday of Easter, Jesus gives us a new commandment.  In chapter 13 of the Gospel of John he says: love one another.  As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.  This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

          This new commandment of Jesus may be the easiest and at the same time the hardest of all His commandments.  The easiest because this is very easy to say – it can become an easy platitude.  We just say the words and not really mean them.  The easiest because it is really easy to love family members when everything is going well and everything is going our way.  We just love them as love naturally comes to us when it comes to our parents, siblings, cousins and relatives.  The easiest because to love our friends requires no real effort, especially when we are loved by them in the first place and all we do is return the love.  We reciprocate the love first shown by them to us.

          Now, in practice, in real life, and as we really try to put into flesh, to put into our everyday lives this commandment, we find that it is not the easiest, but it is easily the hardest commandment of them all.  Love one another is the hardest commandment of all the commandments given by Jesus.  At the same time it may be considered the most important and the most distinguishing of all the commandments.  It becomes therefore our ID so to speak, it becomes our brand.  We are Christians when like Christ we have truly loved one another.  They say, see how they love one another.

          This commandment is the hardest when we are required to love those who are indifferent to us.  They wouldn’t even recognize our presence.  We do not matter to them.  But since Jesus loved them too we must also love them.  They are our neighbors too and we are our brothers’ keeper.  It becomes the hardest when we have to love those who do not love us back.  They are those who do not return our advances, our good deeds, our good words and kind approaches.  They acknowledge our presence but they just receive our graces but do not give their graces back.  Maybe they do so not out of spite, but just because that is life.  It becomes the hardest when we have to love those who hate us, those who have tried and have succeeded in injuring our feelings and even our persons, physically.  It is very difficult to love our enemies.  How does one love one’s enemies when they are trying to harm us?  But since Jesus loved and even died for those who put Him on the Cross, we as Christians, His followers must follow suit, must follow His examples.  Some would even consider us as crazy persons because of such resolve but then again that is why loving one another is not just a commandment but THE commandment which sets us aside as Christians from the pagans.

          This is therefore our prayer today.  We are conscious that this commandment although at times may be the easiest, in reality it is really the hardest because it runs counter to our feelings, counter to our logic, counter to everyday dealings, counter to what everybody else thinks.  We pray to Jesus to grant us the grace to learn from Him, to get the secret recipe from Him so to speak, to learn how to truly love one another as He has loved, as He has laid down His life, as He has died for all of us.  Lord make me understand all these, make me want to do all that You Yourself have done, make me love my brothers and sisters and You want me to love them.  Amen.

          Ngonian na Domingo, ika-lima na Domingo kan Pasko kan Pagkabuhay-liwat, si Jesu Cristo satong Kagurangnan may importantehunon na Tugon sa satuya.  Sabi Niya sa capítulo 13 kan Evangelio ni Juan: “Magkaminorootan kamo arog kan pagkamoot ko saindo.  Kun magkaminorootan kamo, maaaraman kan gabos na kamo mga disipulo ko.”

          Ining Tugon na ini puede niatong ma-considerar o saro sa pinakamadali, o saro sa pinaka-dificil.

          Saro sa mga pinaka-facil ta facil man nanggad pagsambiton ining Tugon, facil sabihon.  Nagigin sana ining sarong marhay na sasabihon na kadakul na veces duda kun udok sa puso.  Nagigin marhay na tataramon sana asin an agyat iyo an tunay na paghinguha na maisabuhay ini.  Facil man baga an pagmoot sa satuyang mga ka-familia, kadugo, asin ka-relacion sa comunidad asin sociedad.  Natural sa satuya an mamoot sa satuyang pinaghalean, sa mga nakaiba niato sa pagdako, sa mga kaiba niato sa kabiyadean asin kaogmahan.  Siring man facil an pagmoot sa satuyang mga amiga asin amigo.  Pag namomoot-an kita ninda, kita man natural man an satuyang pagmoot sa sainda.  Tatao kita magbalos ki karahayan sa karahayan, afecto sa afecto, pagkamoot sa pagkamoot.

          Pero sa realidad mas masasabi na tunay na dificil ining bag-ong Tugon.  Dificil magmoot sa kapwa na indiferente sa satuya.  Ni satuyang presencia ni satong existencia dai ninda aram.  Papaano kita mamomoot sa mga tawong ni bako niatong kilala?  Dificil man magmoot sa kapwa niato na bako man binabalos ki karahayan an satong karahayan sainda, ki afecto an satong afecto, ki pagkamoot sa satong pagkamoot.  Ginigibo na niato gabos para sainda asin sinda dai man ki simbag: minsan bako man ta habo ninda kun di di lang talaga sinda an mga tipo kan tawo na magsisimbag.  Papaano kita mamomoot sa mga tawong bako ibinabalik sa satuya an satong pagkamoot sainda?  Dificil lalong lalo na mamoot sa mga tawong kaiwal ta ta nakakulog sa satuya sa ano man na paagi, nakakulog sa mga namomot-an niato sa buhay, asin ni maghagad kapatawaran habo.  Tunay na masasabi kan iba na bako lang ini dificil kun di imposible.  Hinihiling ninda na kabuahan para sa mga Cristiano Catolico an pagmoot sa mga enemiga asin enemigo, sa mga kaiwal.  Lalong lalo na sa perspectiva na ini mahihiling niato kun gaano kabag-o asin makabago ining Tugon na ini, ta antes an tugon iyo an mata sa mata, ngipon sa ngipon, ngonian pagkaminorootan an Tugon.  Pero siring na si Cristo nagpatawad asin namoot mismo sa mga nagpako Saiya sa Cruz asin naggadan Saiya, iyo man an boot kan Tugon na ini na paggibohon niato.  Asin kita tunay na mga Cristiano kun sa Tugon na ini maimbod kita ki Cristo.

          Mga tugang sa pagtubod, dai masyado akong maioofrecer saindo na mga kasimbagan ngonian na Domingo na ini.  Halos puro ini mga kahapotan na cada saro sa satuya magigin tatao simbagan lalong lalo na sa Espiritu Santo asin sa ejemplo asin gracia mismo ni Jesu Cristo.  Dai ki ciencia sa mga bagay na ini, puro ini arte Cristiana, arte kun papaano mabuhay ki tama asin totoo an sarong parasunod ni Cristo.  Kaya iyo ini an satuyang pamibi sa aldaw na ini: Kagurangnan, tawi kami ki kadonongan na maintiendihan totalmente asin completamente kun ano an boot sabihon kaining Tugon mo.  Tawi kami ki kusog na gibohon ini sa samuyang pang-aroaldaw na buhay minsan ngani iba man an pigsasabi kan iba, minsan ngani iba man an ginigibo kan kadaklan.  Tawi kami kan puso asin gracia mo Jesus nuestro, tanganing mamoot kami sa kapwa, siring na Ika namoot hanggang sa kagadanan sa Cruz.  Amen.

Hello Father – DZGN SPIRIT FM 102.3 KHR – 29 April 2013 – Monday – 8PM – TOPIC: CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Part One Section Two Chapter One I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER

Hello Father – DZGN SPIRIT FM 102.3 KHR – 29 April 2013 – Monday – 8PM – TOPIC: CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Part One Section Two Chapter One I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER

Host: Rev. Philippe.  Co-Host: Sis. Niña.  Guests: Bro. Mark and Bro. Joseph

Objectives:

1. To discuss in general Catechism of the Catholic Church Part One The Profession of Faith

2. To discuss in general CCC Part One Section Two The Profession of the Christian Faith

3. To discuss in particular CCC Part One Section Two Chapter One I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER

20:00-20:02 STATION ID – PROGRAM ID – OPENING PRAYER – CP NO 0909 121 9551 FACEBOOK spiritfm_1023 EMAIL spiritfm_1023@yahoo.com LIVESTREAM www.ustream.tv/channel/spiritfmsorsogon

20:02-20:05 OPENING SPIEL

20:05-20:15 BARETANG SIMBAHAN :

1. Kan nakaaging Sabado, 27 de Abril, a las nueve an aga, pinangenotan kan satuyang Señor Obispo an ika –duwa na aniversario kan Dedicación kan satong Catedral dedicado para sa mga Santos Pedro y Pablo digdi sa Ciudad kan Sorsogon.  Dakul man an nakisumaro sa Santa Misa Concelebrado kun saen nagkapira man na mga kapadian an nag-presenciar.  Ipamibi niato an bilog na Diócesis asin an bilog na Simbahan Catolica.

2. Padagos an mga paghingoha kan manlaen-laen na Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting asin kan mga iba-ibang asociaciones sa laog kan Simbahan sa pag-educar sa mga katawohan na magboto ki tama asin magboto ki maray na mga candidato, sosog por ejemplo sa Marhay na Pastor, Domingo kan Marhay na Pastor iyo an pig-celebrar niato kasu-udma.

20:15-20:30 DISCUSSION (Introduction to Topic):

CHAPTER ONE I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER

198 Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last,¹ The beginning and the end of everything. the Credo begins with God the Father, for the Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity; our Creed begins with the creation of heaven and earth, for creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God's works.

1 Cf. Is 44:6. Article 1

"I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH"

Paragraph 1. I BELIEVE IN GOD

199 "I believe in God": this first affirmation of the Apostles' Creed is also the most fundamental. the whole Creed speaks of God, and when it also speaks of man and of the world it does so in relation to God. the other articles of the Creed all depend on the first, just as the remaining Commandments make the first explicit. the other articles help us to know God better as he revealed himself progressively to men. "The faithful first profess their belief in God."²

20:30-20:35 HALF-TIME BREAK – RELIGIOUS SONG – STATION ID – TIME CHECK – READ TEXT MESSAGE IF ANY

20:35-20:55 DISCUSSION (Direct and full discussion of Topic):

I. "I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD"

200 These are the words with which the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed begins. the confession of God's oneness, which has its roots in the divine revelation of the Old Covenant, is inseparable from the profession of God's existence and is equally fundamental. God is unique; there is only one God: "The Christian faith confesses that God is one in nature, substance and essence."³

201 To Israel, his chosen, God revealed himself as the only One: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."⁴ Through the prophets, God calls Israel and all nations to turn to him, the one and only God: "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.. . To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 'Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength.'"⁵

202 Jesus himself affirms that God is "the one Lord" whom you must love "with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength".⁶ At the same time Jesus gives us to understand that he himself is "the Lord".⁷ To confess that Jesus is Lord is distinctive of Christian faith. This is not contrary to belief in the One God. Nor does believing in the Holy Spirit as "Lord and giver of life" introduce any division into the One God:

We firmly believe and confess without reservation that there is only one true God, eternal infinite (immensus) and unchangeable, incomprehensible, almighty and ineffable, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; three persons indeed, but one essence, substance or nature entirely simple.

II. GOD REVEALS HIS NAME

203 God revealed himself to his people Israel by making his name known to them. A name expresses a person's essence and identity and the meaning of this person's life. God has a name; he is not an anonymous force. To disclose one's name is to make oneself known to others; in a way it is to hand oneself over by becoming accessible, capable of being known more intimately and addressed personally.

204 God revealed himself progressively and under different names to his people, but the revelation that proved to be the fundamental one for both the Old and the New Covenants was the revelation of the divine name to Moses in the theophany of the burning bush, on the threshold of the Exodus and of the covenant on Sinai.

The living God

205 God calls Moses from the midst of a bush that bums without being consumed: "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."⁹ God is the God of the fathers, the One who had called and guided the patriarchs in their wanderings. He is the faithful and compassionate God who remembers them and his promises; he comes to free their descendants from slavery. He is the God who, from beyond space and time, can do this and wills to do it, the God who will put his almighty power to work for this plan.

"I Am who I Am"

Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you', and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." and he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you'. . . this is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations."¹⁰

206 In revealing his mysterious name, YHWH ("I AM HE WHO IS", "I AM WHO AM" or "I AM WHO I AM"), God says who he is and by what name he is to be called. This divine name is mysterious just as God is mystery. It is at once a name revealed and something like the refusal of a name, and hence it better expresses God as what he is - infinitely above everything that we can understand or say: he is the "hidden God", his name is ineffable, and he is the God who makes himself close to men.¹¹

207 By revealing his name God at the same time reveals his faithfulness which is from everlasting to everlasting, valid for the past ("I am the God of your father"), as for the future ("I will be with you").¹² God, who reveals his name as "I AM", reveals himself as the God who is always there, present to his people in order to save them.

208 Faced with God's fascinating and mysterious presence, man discovers his own insignificance. Before the burning bush, Moses takes off his sandals and veils his face in the presence of God's holiness.¹³Before the glory of the thrice-holy God, Isaiah cries out: "Woe is me! I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips."¹⁴ Before the divine signs wrought by Jesus, Peter exclaims: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."¹⁵ But because God is holy, he can forgive the man who realizes that he is a sinner before him: "I will not execute my fierce anger. . . for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst."¹⁶The apostle John says likewise: "We shall. . . reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything."¹⁷

209 Out of respect for the holiness of God, the people of Israel do not pronounce his name. In the reading of Sacred Scripture, the revealed name (YHWH) is replaced by the divine title "LORD" (in Hebrew Adonai, in Greek Kyrios). It is under this title that the divinity of Jesus will be acclaimed: "Jesus is LORD."

"A God merciful and gracious"

210 After Israel's sin, when the people had turned away from God to worship the golden calf, God hears Moses' prayer of intercession and agrees to walk in the midst of an unfaithful people, thus demonstrating his love.¹⁸ When Moses asks to see his glory, God responds "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name "the LORD" [YHWH]."¹⁹ Then the LORD passes before Moses and proclaims, "YHWH,
YHWH, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness"; Moses then confesses that the LORD is a forgiving God.²⁰

211 The divine name, "I Am" or "He Is", expresses God's faithfulness: despite the faithlessness of men's sin and the punishment it deserves, he keeps "steadfast love for thousands".²¹ By going so far as to give up his own Son for us, God reveals that he is "rich in mercy".²² By giving his life to free us from sin, Jesus reveals that he himself bears the divine name: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will realize that "I AM"."²³

God alone IS

212 Over the centuries, Israel's faith was able to manifest and deepen realization of the riches contained in the revelation of the divine name. God is unique; there are no other gods besides him.²⁴

He transcends the world and history. He made heaven and earth: "They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment....but you are the same, and your years have no end."²⁵

In God "there is no variation or shadow due to change."²⁶ God is "HE WHO IS", from everlasting to everlasting, and as such remains ever faithful to himself and to his promises.

213 The revelation of the ineffable name "I AM WHO AM" contains then the truth that God alone IS. the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, and following it the Church's Tradition, understood the divine name in this sense: God is the fullness of Being and of every perfection, without origin and without end. All creatures receive all that they are and have from him; but he alone is his very being, and he is of himself everything that he is.

20:55-20:59 TIME CHECK – WRAP UP – CLOSING SPIEL – CLOSING PRAYER

20:59-21:00 PROGRAM JINGLE

Year C Fourth Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd's Sunday

          Ngonian na ika-upat na Domingo kan Pasko kan Pagkabuhay-liwat ni Jesus satong Tagapagligtas, iyo man an inaapod na Good Shepherd’s Sunday ta sa nabasa niatong Evangelio sosog ki Juan, capitulo 10, sinasabi mismo ni Jesus na siya an Marhay na Pastor.  Ini an satuyang paghorop-horopan mga tugang, si Cristo Marhay na Pastor asin kita Saiyang Carnero, sosog man sa nadangog niato sa Salmo 100.  Pero bako lang kita sinasadol ni Jesus na magin mga marhay na carnero, kita man inaapod Niya na magin mga pastor.  Siring na Siya an Marhay na Pastor, kita man magin mga marhay na pastor sa laog kan satong familia, sa trabajo, asin kaiba an satong mga namomot-an asin mga pag-iriba sa buhay.

          Ano an contexto kan texto na nadangog niato?  Ano an kaimportansyahan kan mga carnero asin kan mga pastor?  Kaitong panahon sagkod ngonian, sa Judea siring man sa mga lugar na parejo an clima, an mga carnero importantehunon sa pagbuhay kan tawo.  An carne kan carnero nagtatao ki sustento sa buhay bilang kakanon. An barahibo kaini iyo an pigkakaros asin ginigibo na lana, na ginigibo man tela sa pagpreparar kan mga gubing.  Dahil sa importancia kan mga carnero an mga pastor na nag-aataman sainda halangkaw man an importancia.  Pero ini sarong mapagal na trabajo asin kinahahaboan.  Sinda babád sa saldang asin sa urán, sa hagkot asin sa init, sa mga lobo asin mga nagsasamantala sa mga carnero.  Nagpapa-anak sa mga carnero, nagpapahirahay sa saindang helang, naghahanap sa mga nawawara.  Veinte cuatro horas yaon siya.  Itinatao kan marhay na pastor an saiyang buhay para sa saiyang mga carnero.  Pati parong niya parejo na kan mga carnero.  Kaya man an mga ini kilala na siya sa voces asin parong pa sana niya.

          Nadangog niato sa Salmo 100 na inaapod kita ngonian ni Jesus bilang Saiyang mga carnero.  Siya an satong Marhay na Pastor.  Kaya ngani baga sa pintura asin escultura kan Arte Cristiana dakulon an mahihiling niato na mga obra maestra na nagpapahiling ki Jesus joven asin may carnero sa Saiyang abaga.  Pirmi yaon sa kataed niato aldaw banggi, urán saldang, hagkot init, peligro o tranquilidad.  Siya an nag-aasikaso sa mga may helang, sa mga nawawara, sa mga nasa peligro.  Hasta Saiyang buhay itinatao niya sa sato.  Iyo baga an boot sabihon man kan Cruz.  Si Jesus, an Marhay na Pastor, dai nagdulag, kun di itinao an saiyang buhay.  An Pastor nagin man carnero, si Jesus nagin man sacrificio, siring sa sarong carnero na sinakripisyo para sa kaayadan kan gabos Niyang namomot-an.  Kaya baga si Jesus ipinako sa Cruz.  Sa ikatolong aldaw Siya nabuhay liwat asin inagaw kita sa kagadanan asin karat-an.

          Sa satuyang mga Cristiano Catolico, taga-sunod ni Cristo Jesus, magayonon ini na ejemplo.  Siring na si Jesus Marhay na Pastor, ako daw marhay na pastor, kita daw mga marhay na pastor sosog sa Saiyang ejemplo?

Ako daw sa sakuyang harong bilang magurang, ako daw sarong marhay na pastor sa sakuyang mga nasasakupan?  Ginigibo ko daw an gabos para sa tunay na karahayan kan sakong mga namomot-an bako lang sa materiál kun di lalong lalo na sa espiritual na aspecto?  Ako daw tinatawan ko sinda ki sakong horas asin panahon para mas makilala ko sinda asin sinda mas makilala ako para sa mas marhay na confianza asin dialogo na aram ko mga ingrediente na importantehunon sa marhay na urupudan?

Ako daw na magboboto ngonian na elección naghihiling sa sarong candidato na puede niatong kilalanon bilang sarong marhay na pastor?  Sarong pastor na maglilingkod, dai magpapalingkod.  Sarong pastor na itatao an horas asin talento para sa karahayan kan gabos, dai maghahab-as kan cuarta kan caván kan katawohan asin magsasamantala asin magpapa-pobre sa mga pobre na ngani na mga kapwa niya tawo.  Sarong pastor na matao kan saiyang buhay para sa kadaklan, sarong pastor na maghihingoha na magrahay an buhay, asin inaasahan siya na magigin instrumento sa progreso, bakong sa regreso kan kagabsan.

Ako daw, kun saen man ako na estación sa buhay, sa familia, sa trabajo, o sa mga pag-iriba ko, ako daw saro na marhay na pastor na nagdadara sainda sa karahayan, o nakisabay man ako sa karatan, sa pag-ulok maski aram ko na sala na, ta ginigibo man kan gabos, asin iyo na an naka-ugalean?  O ako kaya an nagpapadarâ sa karatan, ta sabi daw if you cannot beat them daa, join them; nagpapabakal asin isinusuko ko daw na arog lang kaiyan an sakong mga principio asin convicciones sa buhay; na pagmapagal na asin an sadiri ko na an nakataya, minaatras na ako sa laban?  Ako daw tatao manindugan, sosog sa sakong identidad bilang Cristiano Catolico, na an tama tama, asin an sala sala, maski ano pa an ginigibo kan kadaklan, maski an pa an sinasabi kan kagabsan?

Kagurangnan, mapagal sa sakuya magin marhay na carnero Mo, lalo na mapagal para sakuya an magin marhay na pastor Mo, siring asin sosog sa ejemplo Mo.  Tawi ako ki gracia asin kusog na maghinguha na magin marhay na discípulo Mo bilang carnero asin bilang pastor.  Maghihingoha ako Kagurangnan pero sa sakuyang kaluyahan soroga ako, an sakong mga pagkukulang panoan Mo, asin sa sakong pagkatumba irahay Mo ako.  Amen. 

Hello Father – DZGN SPIRIT FM 102.3 KHR – 15 April 2013 – Monday CCC Part One The Profession of Faith Section Two The Profession of the Christian Faith TOPIC: THE CREEDS

Hello Father – DZGN SPIRIT FM 102.3 KHR – 15 April 2013 – Monday CCC Part One The Profession of Faith Section Two The Profession of the Christian Faith TOPIC: THE CREEDS

Host: Rev. Philippe.  Co-Host: Sis. Niña.  Guests: Bro. Mark and Bro. Joseph

Objectives:

1. To discuss in general Catechism of the Catholic Church Part One The Profession of Faith

2. To discuss in general CCC Part One Section Two The Profession of th Christian Faith

3. To discuss in particular CCC Part One Section Two THE CREEDS

20:00-20:02 STATION ID – PROGRAM ID – OPENING PRAYER – CP NO 0909 121 9551 FACEBOOK spiritfm_1023 EMAIL spiritfm_1023@yahoo.com LIVESTREAM www.ustream.tv/channel/spiritfmsorsogon

20:02-20:05 OPENING SPIEL

20:05-20:15 BARETANG SIMBAHAN

An bilog na diocesis kan Sorsogon ngonian nagpopoon na magpreparar para sa maabot na eleccion 2013.  An PPCRV o Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting nag-a-activar na sa cada paroquia, kun saen ini-engaño an mga Cristiano Catolico na dai magpabakal nin voto asin pilion an mga candidato na naninidugan sosog sa principio kan pagtubod Cristiano arog kan pro-life asin pro-marriage.

An iba-ibang mga laico na mga asociaciones arog kan El Shaddai, Couples for Christ asin iba pa, sa bilog na Pilipinas, nagmo-mobilizar para sa pag-educar asin pag-promover kan pro-life asin pro-marriage vote.

20:15-20:30 DISCUSSION:

THE CREEDS

185 Whoever says “I believe” says “I pledge myself to what we believe.” Communion in faith needs a common language of faith, normative for all and uniting all in the same confession of faith.

186 From the beginning, the apostolic Church expressed and handed on her faith in brief formulae normative for all. [1] But already very early on, the Church also wanted to gather the essential elements of her faith into organic and articulated summaries, intended especially for candidates for Baptism:

This synthesis of faith was not made to accord with human opinions, but rather what was of the greatest importance was gathered from all the Scriptures, to present the one teaching of the faith in its entirety. and just as the mustard seed contains a great number of branches in a tiny grain, so too this summary of faith encompassed in a few words the whole knowledge of the true religion contained in the Old and the New Testaments. [2]

187 Such syntheses are called “professions of faith” since they summarize the faith that Christians profess. They are called “creeds” on account of what is usually their first word in Latin: credo (“I believe”). They are also called “symbols of faith”.

188 The Greek word symbolon meant half of a broken object, for example, a seal presented as a token of recognition. the broken parts were placed together to verify the bearer's identity. the symbol of faith, then, is a sign of recognition and communion between believers. Symbolon also means a gathering, collection or summary. A symbol of faith is a summary of the principal truths of the faith and therefore serves as the first and fundamental point of reference for catechesis.

189 The first “profession of faith” is made during Baptism. the symbol of faith is first and foremost the baptismal creed. Since Baptism is given “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, [3] The truths of faith professed during Baptism are articulated in terms of their reference to the three persons of the Holy Trinity.

190 and so the Creed is divided into three parts: “the first part speaks of the first divine Person and the wonderful work of creation; the next speaks of the second divine Person and the mystery of his redemption of men; the final part speaks of the third divine Person, the origin and source of our sanctification.” [4] These are “the three chapters of our [baptismal] seal”. [5]

191 “These three parts are distinct although connected with one another. According to a comparison often used by the Fathers, we call them articles. Indeed, just as in our bodily members there are certain articulations which distinguish and separate them, so too in this profession of faith, the name “articles” has justly and rightly been given to the truths we must believe particularly and distinctly.” [6] In accordance with an ancient tradition, already attested to by St. Ambrose, it is also customary to reckon the articles of the Creed as twelve, thus symbolizing the fullness of the apostolic faith by the number of the apostles. [7]

192 Through the centuries many professions or symbols of faith have been articulated in response to the needs of the different eras: the creeds of the different apostolic and ancient Churches, [8] e.g., the Quicumque, also called the Athanasian Creed; [9] The professions of faith of certain Councils, such as Toledo, Lateran, Lyons, Trent; [10] or the symbols of certain popes, e.g., the Fides Damasi [11] or the Credo of the People of God of Paul VI. [12]

193 None of the creeds from the different stages in the Church's life can be considered superseded or irrelevant. They help us today to attain and deepen the faith of all times by means of the different summaries made of it. Among all the creeds, two occupy a special place in the Church's life:

194 The Apostles' Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles' faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. Its great authority arises from this fact: it is “the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter the first of the apostles, to which he brought the common faith”. [13]

195 The Niceno-Constantinopolitan or Nicene Creed draws its great authority from the fact that it stems from the first two ecumenical Councils (in 325 and 381). It remains common to all the great Churches of both East and West to this day.

196 Our presentation of the faith will follow the Apostles' Creed, which constitutes, as it were, “the oldest Roman catechism”. the presentation will be completed however by constant references to the Nicene Creed, which is often more explicit and more detailed.

197 As on the day of our Baptism, when our whole life was entrusted to the “standard of teaching”, [14] let us embrace the Creed of our life-giving faith. To say the Credo with faith is to enter into communion with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and also with the whole Church which transmits the faith to us and in whose midst we believe:

This Creed is the spiritual seal, our heart's meditation and an ever-present guardian; it is, unquestionably, the treasure of our soul. [15]

---

1 Cf. Rom 10:9; I Cor 15:3-5, etc.
2 St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. illum. 5, 12: PG 33, 521-524.
3 Mt 28:19
4 Roman Catechism I, 1, 3.
5 St. Irenaeus, Dem. ap. 100: SCh 62, 170.
6 Roman Catechism I, I, 4.
7 Cf. St. Ambrose, Expl. symb. 8: PL 17, 1196.
8 Cf. DS 1-64.
9 Cf. DS 75-76.
10 Cf. DS 525-541; 800-802; 851-861; 1862-1870.
11 Cf. DS 71-72.
12 Paul VI, CPG (1968).
13 St. Ambrose, Expl. symb. 7: PL 17, 1196.
14 Rom 6:17
15 St. Ambrose, Expl. symb. I: PL 17, 1193.

20:55-20:59 TIME CHECK – WRAP UP – CLOSING SPIEL – CLOSING PRAYER

20:59-21:00 PROGRAM JINGLE

Year C Third Sunday of Easter

   

Jesus calls His disciples but they do not recognize Him.  He tells them to cast their net by the right side of their boat.  They catch a lot of fish, 153 fish John tells us.  All night the disciples did not catch any, but at Jesus’ word they were able to fill their net to bursting with fish.  John tells Peter, it is the Lord.  Now they recognize Him, they go to Him, and they share a meal.  Jesus tells His disciples that yes they were fishermen but now they are already fishers of men because He makes them catch men for the Kingdom and not anymore fish.  What they need materially they will be provided for, what they need to do right now and on the following days till the end is that they need to bring people to Jesus.  Their past life is already gone; their present life is what matters now.  What they were is history; what they are now is servants of the Lord.  Who they were is now replaced for the better by who they are, Christians, followers of Christ.

          Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him.  Three times Peter, during Jesus’ trial, betrayed his Lord; but now three times Peter confesses his love for Jesus.  Jesus confirms Peter in this love and prophecies that Peter will carry his mission out till the end.  Indeed Peter is faithful and he lived and he died thence after with the Lord and for the Lord.  His falls did not matter in the eyes of Jesus.  His betrayals became nothing to Him.  His unfaithfulness is pardoned.  Now Peter becomes a model of reconciliation, penance and leading a new life.

Sisters and brothers, in the same way, Jesus today calls us to this new life and He calls us to abandon our old life.  He calls us today to forget the sins we committed because they are pardoned the moment we seek forgiveness.  Instead He calls us today to concentrate on the here and now and to make our lives better each new day.  We are no longer fishermen, but fishers of men.  We are no longer for these material things only or for these persons we are attached to but we are now mainly of the Lord.  We belong to Him and we do what He asks of us.  We are no longer traitors who sinned against Jesus.  We are from now on children of God.  It does not matter that we fell, what matters is that we rose up again.  Amen.

Year C Divine Mercy Sunday

          Today is the Second Sunday of Easter otherwise known in the Roman Catholic liturgy as Low Sunday being the last day, a Sunday, a Lord ’s Day, of the Octave of Easter.  While a novena is a nine-day celebration-preparation for a very important day such Christmas, a Patronal Fiesta and Easter, an octave is an eight-day prolongation of that same important day.  A single day is in a way multiplied into eight days to emphasize its importance in our liturgical and religious lives.  So after Christmas Day we have an octave an after Easter Sunday we also have an octave.  That is for example the reason why we sang the Glory to God these passed eight days and we exclaim alleluia, alleluia during the Dismissal as the Holy Mass comes to an end.

          Today is also the Dominica in Albis Depositis.  As early as ancient times until today the Roman Catholic Church prepares the catechumens, those adult who were not yet baptised but who wish to be baptised during the forty days of Lent.  They are eventually baptised during the Easter Vigil and are given white garments to wear the whole of the Easter Octave symbolising their cleansing from original sin during Baptism and their being members of the Church, all of these because they are now children of God.  Not only children of their parents but more importantly children of God, a very high dignity and honour, hence the white garment.  Today is the day when the newly baptised would give back to the Church their white garments and return to their ordinary everyday clothes.

          More recently, today is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday.  Pope John Paul II dedicated this Sunday to the Divine Mercy on the year 2001 during Saint Faustina Kowalska’s canonization.  Sisters and brothers, let us ponder more on this devotion and the spiritual and practical fruits we can enjoy therefrom.

          Nowadays there is a big mistake being circulated quietly in many circles and even among us Roman Catholics and this big mistake we start to see in tangible ways in our churches and we start to hear being repeated even by esteemed women and men among us.  This big mistake, this big lie, is that there is no more evil in this world, that there is no more sin, and that there is no more transgression unto our God.  Consequently everything is regarded as ok, anyway the Lord will understand they say; no more need for confession anyway you can confess directly to our Lord they say, that is why there are fewer and fewer confessionals in our churches and fewer still go to confess one’s sins to the priest; it is ok to make mistake they say because these missteps are even necessary for our growth so go ahead make them and these mistakes you will learn.  The additional complicating element in this big lie is that it is candied up with truth but at the end it is still a lie and we need to stump it out before the flames becomes a wildfire and engulfs us to our damnation.

          Sisters and brothers, there is evil in this world.  It has entered it since Adam and Eve first sinned and unto today it wreaks havoc, especially to the Catholic Church.  We abhor it, as we said when we renewed our Baptismal Promises last Easter Vigil.  We avoid it as the saints give us examples to do.  Instead we try our very best to be saintly and holy and this is what we pass on to our children, that we in our weaknesses, we have to try to be better persons nonetheless.  As Saint Paul puts it, we have to die from our old selves and rise again unto our new selves.  Now weak as we are and we fall and we commit mistakes, these sins are forgiven us by God when we ask Him forgiveness.  God, the Divine Mercy, understands yes but we must be sincerely contrite and really promise to strive harder next time not to sin again, not to betray the trust and love again of our God.  It doesn’t matter when we fall, what matters is when we stand up again and again and again every time we fall.  During confession our sins are taken away by God, washed away by the Blood of Jesus and we are restored and we are strengthened.  One particular grace of the Sacrament of Confession is that we are strengthened where we are particularly weak.  It is not true that our sins we confess are the same ones over and over again because if they were not confessed in the first place they will become worse sins and from bad we go worse, degrading our dignity and honour as children of God.  Inside the confessional the Divine Mercy gives us the antibiotic to fight, conquer and vanquish the evil sin in us and He also gives us the vitamins to remain steadfast.  As long as we live there will be falls and some of these falls really smash us rock bottom but, also, as long as we live, we have the opportunity given by the Mercy of God to stand up again and say we abhor the evil, we will confess our sins and we will rise from sin to God.  Would that we do not fall because falling, because committing sin offends the Divine Mercy; would that we do commit mistakes, because mistakes wound us and wound our God; would that we remain steadfast at all times with God, because true love means we are with our loved one and we would not want to be separated from the one we loved.  True, sweet is to be reunited and to be reconciled with God, but sweeter still is not to have been separated from Him in the first place.  Amen.