St Rose of Lima Catholic Church

Fr. Leo Asuncion's message - Jan 31, 2021 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Men of all stations in life have recognized the value of prayer and need of prayer. Mahatma Gandhi for one. President Chiangkai-Shek in his day, spent an entire night in prayer and begged priests and people to do so also, in order that a devastating typhoon would veer away from his country. Our first president George Washington always turned to God for much-needed strength in guiding our nation. Mar...tin Luther King spent the whole night on his knees before the Montgomery March. What emphasis does Jesus put on prayer? Christ was the Son of God, yet as true man he expressed a positive need of communing with the Father often. This weekend's Gospel shows us how after working far into the night encouraging, praying over people and curing them of their afflictions, he rose early next morning to pray. The late hours spent in giving himself brought with it the need of rest and sleep. Yet he did not neglect to pray. Though he often prayed with others in the Temple services, at times he preferred seclusion in order to commune more effectively with the Father. From prayer he derived the strength he needed for his gigantic task of effectively opposing the forces of evil and establishing the reign of God in human hearts, so often shallow and fickle. Prayer for him was like multivitamins. The work given to each one to do is important, but it must be reinforced by prayer like concrete is reinforced, to uphold us in our daily undertakings. From prayer and communion with God we derive strength, courage, and new insights that impel us to go on. In quiet prayer, one becomes more aware of God's presence and the power of his Spirit. Taking out some time daily for silent prayer is by no means time lost. Many professional and business people do this regularly, not to mention the myriads of daylaborers who experience the great benefit of regular prayer. Why have many lost the art of praying, even those whose call-in life demands that they spend time in prayer? Is it perhaps the great amount of time spent in shallow- reading matter, TV shows, computers, cell phones, movies etc.? Without the practice of communing with God, the habit will never be formed, and life remains very mediocre. Even the pagan monks are well known for their stress on prayer. Should the disciples of Christ not follow the example of their Master? The prayer Jesus taught us is the best guideline for any and all prayer. Take time to pray. It is the way to God's heart.

Fr. Leo Asuncion's message - Jan 24, 2021 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time In combatting forest fires, another fire is purposely started counter wise, to counteract the actual forest fire. The second fire burns towards the first and thus the forest fire burns out, not finding anymore fresh material to enkindle. This is how the fire of love enkindled by our Lord Jesus Christ burns out the fire of passion, hatred and evil which exist in the world. The spirit of evil prom...otes justice, hatred and war. Injustice, by defraud and oppression; hatred, by enmity and strife; war, by slaughter and total destruction. It tries with might and main to permeate every phase of society, even at times into the highest ranks. The goal is not for the good of humankind but on the contrary its eternal frustration. But this is often so cunningly done, that humankind lets itself be duped by its false promises. Christ on the other hand came to dethrone Satan and overcame all evil in the world, establishing the reign of God, which is one of justice, love and peace; justice by making humankind realize the equality of all before God and the duty of dealing with one's fellowmen and women in all fairness (just wages, living conditions, retirement pensions and benefits etc.) love, by laying down the practice of love as the requisite of eternal salvation; peace, by imparting the peace which the world cannot give. Christ’s goal for humankind is well-being in the present time and eternal happiness in the end-kingdom. By his very example, Jesus showed humankind the dignity of work, the virtue of patient suffering, and the glorious reward of doing God's will in all things. Where do we stand? On fire with Christ's Spirit of love to oppose the evil spirit? Or does the evil spirit at times tempt the heart to walk a devious path; defrauding others rightful wages, continued coldness and animosity toward relatives or neighbors, jealousy and unbending pride, discrimination and lack of charity especially towards people of color or different culture than ours, or the fire of sensuality in its various forms? Then let us listen to the dynamic words of Jesus in his Gospel message. Let us ask him to cast out the evil spirit in our midst, and establish his reign fully within us and in the world. With Christ we conquer all evil both within and around us. He alone can give the victory and true peace.

Fr. Leo Asuncion's message - Jan 17, 2021 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time When the explorers opened up the Far East and the New World to European nations some centuries ago, thousands sought their fortunes in those discovered lands which promised wealth, success and fame. Some did obtain these objectives but only after much hardships and arduous toil, for it involved readjusting to new climate and conditions, new situations and challenges. Those who did not adjust were do...omed to disappointments. Our Lord Jesus Christ has unfurled his banner for us to follow him into an adventure that will challenge the best in anyone. He is not out to conquer lands and acquire wealth, but to conquer humankind for the kingdom of God the Father, so that God may reign fully over all hearts in love and lasting peace. This is humankind's perfect happiness. To follow Christ will mean a change of humankind's interior aims and ideals, but he holds out to him or her his sublime doctrine which can transform sinners to saints; solid principles for a life in justice and love; and the possession of himself, the Lord, in friendship and love, a union that is all-absorbing and all- demanding, leading straight to the Heart of God in the participation of God's own Spirit. The Good News he asks us to believe in is primarily himself, God giving himself to each individual person in his Son, first in obedient sacrifice throughout life until death in the cross, all for humankind, then in the sacrificial meal which re-enacts and makes present his sacrificial giving of self in the Eucharist, and finally in the end- reality of which the Eucharist is the sign and seal, when God is possessed in complete and perpetual love in the final gift of himself. Such is the stupendous import of the Good News. The material-minded person has little interest in the reign of God over him or her. It never enters into his or her calculations, which are merely bound up with the transitory and fleeting things in life. The sensual and carnal person wants nothing to do with God's reign, for it will deprive him or her of the kind of pleasure for which he or she craves. But once the grace of the Spirit has touched the little heart of humankind, and he or she listens to Christ's beckoning to him or her and is willing to reform his or her life and follow him, there ensues a remarkable change, and one is soon aware of a liberation, a quickening of spirit, a rebirth of his or her whole being, that life St. Paul the Apostle he considers all past possessions as mere rubbish, and longs to be caught up by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9).

Fr. Leo Asuncion's message - Jan 10, 2021 Baptism of the Lord There was no need for Jesus to be baptized by St. John for he is God's beloved Son, the spotless lamb of God whom John will soon proclaim as the One who will take away all sins from fallen humankind. But his purpose in descending into the waters is twofold. First, he has always submitted to the Law as a true Israelite and how he wishes to humble himself before the eyes of all and receives the baptism of ...St. John the Baptist. Like all the rest, he allows them to think him to be also a sinner. In reality, he is taking all humankind with him and plunging it into his Paschal Mystery. The sinless One embodies in himself all humankind, so as to cleanse them from defilement. The bystanders see Jesus of Nazareth as a sinner like themselves, but in reality, he is the Lamb covered with the sins of humankind, though spotless and sinless himself. But water is not the only symbol of cleansing. It is chiefly the sign of new life. Without water, the life of plants and animals and even human beings eventually dies. But with water, life comes again. Even in the Book of Genesis (Genesis 1:2) the author sees living creatures first emerging from waters. (For him, only creatures with blood were considered living.) Jesus descends into the water to sanctify it, as the sacred element which he will designate for the rebirth of all humankind, the sacred sign of Christian baptism. In the waters that Jesus has sanctified, all who accept him will be born anew with a rebirth that is marvelous, making humankind the very child of God. Second, in baptism, the child is immersed into a totally new atmosphere, that of the Most Blessed Trinity. This is the Christian atmosphere which surrounds and envelops every one reborn in Christ. Again, the Father looks down, and says of the newly baptized child: This is my beloved child, my favor rests on him. Again, the Spirit comes to possess the newly baptized, and dwell in it as in his Holy Temple. He is the Spirit of love and mercy, of gentleness and purity, all of which is symbolized by the image of the dove. Impelled by that Spirit, which is the identical Spirit of Jesus, the Christian's aim in life is to spread the fragrance of the Christ-life, which is that of love and mercy, gentleness and purity of heart. The Feast of Our Lord's Baptism ought to reawaken in us the earnest desire to appreciate our own baptism and carry out faithfully our baptismal commitment. This we can only do with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit.