Sabado

 Hello brothers. Kumusta ka? Mabuti. 

Magandang umaga.

Because I watched a few touristy Filipino videos a few months ago the Youtube algorithms pump numerous at me about the Philippines. Some of these give interesting historical insights. 

Have you noticed that Filipinos have Spanish surnames. There are far more than you would expect even though they were a colony of Spain for 400 years. The reason is twofold. China has a long trading history there, long before the Spaniards or Portuguese. The Spanish didn't like the Chinese and the native Filipinos didn't have surnames. So in 1849 the Spanish governor gave everyone a surname from a Spanish word. This eradicated the Chinese names and made it easier to collect taxes off the indigenous peoples.

There is a lot of flooding there too. This is not just because they get the brunt of the typhoons nor is it rising sea levels. The Philippines is sinking because of excessive extraction of water from the ground. They don't seem to have the infrastructure we do. Most families have wells. But in the larger populated areas like Manila and Cebu the water table has lowered and suburbs are sinking about 10cm a year. 

Better get ready for Mass. Don't feel the need for confession today...

Magsaya pero huwag magkasala. 

Friday 11th September

 Jesus once said "Can a blind man guide another? Surely they will both fall in a pit.".

"We must embrace self-reflection. If we sow evil we cannot expect a good harvest." Bible diary.

I listened to a woman who nearly died in the Nepal Glacier flooding. Before she was resuscitated she spoke to Jesus. She was an atheist but was completed overcome when she experienced the love emanating from Our Lord. She said Our Lord was disappointed with the Eastern religions but that soon they would all be replaced by a rise in Christianity. Even in China.

Have fun and don't sin ; then you will find peace maybe.

Happy Birthday Mary

 Today is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. Born to Joachim and Anne without original sin. Hence we get the Immaculate Conception, which is a dogma all Catholics must accept. 

I've started listening to "Journeys to heaven and hell" by Bart Ehrman. It wasn't what I expected being more a discourse on humanity's writings about the afterlife. It began by examining Homer's Odyssey. There is a chapter where Odysseus goes across a river and after offering sacrifices goes to Hades. It's a sad place full of souls who seem quite miserable. Next Ehrman talks of Virgil's description of the afterlife in what sounds like the Roman copy of the Odyssey. Is it the Aeneid? TC would know.

Better go and face my demons. 

Have fun and don't sin.

All is good in the world

 It seems that Google has resolved an issue with posting comments. 

I went to confession and received Jesus twice. Feeling good and ready for Heaven

Did you feel it?

 4.9 off Paraparaumu. 6:34 am

For me it was one little quick jolt followed a few seconds later by sharp backwards and forwards movement. 1234! Over in half a second. 

I was sitting with my back facing away from the fireplace above which is the old brick original chimney. Not a wise choice of seating. I'll move my chair and rearrange the lounge later. 

I've been wearing my moon boot again. It helps a lot. There is almost no pain when walking this morning. I'll wear it for a few weeks when I work and go out. 

Off to church in about an hour. 

Lets take a look at today's readings.

First reading: 1 Corinthians 4:6-15

Paul warns of taking sides. He thinks God has put the apostles at the end of the parade with the men sentenced to death....fools for the sake of Christ...we have no power. He says they go without food and drink and clothes, are beaten and have no homes, and work for a living with their own hands. We are treated as the offal and scum of the earth. "It was I that begot you in Christ by preaching the good news".

Psalm 144

"The Lord is near to all who call upon him".

Gospel Luke 6:1-5

Jesus goes for a walk through the cornfields on a Sabbath. The Pharisees see Jesus' disciples picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. They say "why are you doing something that is forbidden on the Sabbath".

Jesus answered them "So you had not read what David and his followers did when they were hungry- how they went into the house of God and took the loaves of offering and ate them and gave them to his followers, loaves which only the priests are allowed to eat?" And he said to them, "The Son of Man is master of the Sabbath".

"The sun will rise again and so will you". 

PS  Comments aren't available at the moment. Don't blame myself or the Lord.

Later

We had a nice morning tea at 11. I sat next to Lupi who brought some interesting bread from his Samoan culture. It was jolly nice. Not leavened but had coconut and a little sugar. It's sad we can't buy such breads at local supermarkets.

After work I went to Church to say a Rosary.  I sat in the chapel alone while next door I could hear the service through a loud speaker near the statue of Mary. It was for a nun. Sister Pauline. I included her in my rosary while next door was just the clatter of voices. I sang along with one of the hymns that I knew to help Father Jim who was microphoned who seemed a little alone. It's very rare to hear strong male voices at church ceremonies. Women predominate. It's like society worships everything woman. What has happened to the strong male chorus of soldiers marching as to war. Maybe that was a Hollywood fiction. The lumberjack song comes to mind...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6mzobwTYyo&list=RDB6mzobwTYyo&start_radio=1&pp=ygUcbW9udHkgcHl0aG9uIGx1bWJlcmphY2sgc29uZ6AHAQ%3D%3D

Have fun and don't sin.

 

4

 Its the sixth day of the week. We call it Friday but it begins in the night. In fact half of Friday is night. There is a sudden movement of air outside that we call wind. 

Paul says "There must be no passing of premature judgement, leave that until the Lord comes" in tonight's first reading.

I sip my tea with honey. 

There is a morning tea at work today. Women enjoy them. Since most of my work mates are women they happen despite my objections. Oh well, not like I have to give a speech. Sometimes I get asked to say grace. Sometimes grace is Samoan. But I don't . If I'm asked today I might say a prayer in Latin. "Pater Nostra quies in cellie....". 

I've nothing planned this weekend. Home alone. 

"The smallest acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of positivity".