~ Never Judge Anyone ~

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call ASAP, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father going and coming in the hall waiting for the doctor. Once seeing him, the dad yelled: “Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have the sense of responsibility?” The doctor smiled and said: “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital and I came the fastest I could after receiving the call…… And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work” “Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??” said the father angrily The doctor smiled again and replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Bible “From dust we came and to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go and intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace” “Giving advice when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father. The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank God! Your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any question, ask the nurse!!” “Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left. The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.” NEVER JUDGE ANYONE because you never know how their life is and as to what is happening or what they’re going through.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ today according to Saint John 6:30-35

30 So they said, 'What sign will you yourself do, the sight of which will make us believe in you? What work will you do? 31 Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' 32 Jesus answered them: In all truth I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; 33 for the bread of God is the bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. 34 'Sir,' they said, 'give us that bread always.' 35 Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst.

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES ABOUT THE OLD CARPENTER

This is a story of an elderly carpenter who had been working for a contractor for the past 53 years. He had built many beautiful houses but now as he was getting old, he wanted to retire and lead a leisurely life with his family. He told his employer/contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “It is my gift to you.” What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well. So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points, we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it differently. But we cannot go back. Think of yourself as the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Are you careful enough in doing so? Are you watchful in every little thing you do? Are you building your own “house” conscientiously?

Letting Go of Anxiety - By Charles F. Stanley

You are already late to work, and traffic comes to a dead stop. The stock market drops another 500 points. You suspect your son is experimenting with drugs. In situations like these, it's normal to feel anxious. Anxiety—or worry—is an emotional response to a thought or circumstance that we perceive as negative. The Greek word translated as "worried" in Matthew 6:25 means "distracted." It refers to uncertainty about the future. For many people, worry is a way of life. If that describes you, I encourage you to read again the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. His command is clear: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matt. 6:25-26) You may say, "But I can't help feeling anxious; I have always been a worrier!" I've heard that from many people through the years. My response is, "Oh yes, you can." Contrary to what some people think, worry is not some trait that is inseparable from our nature. Rather, anxiety occurs because of the way we respond to a problem or troubling situation. You can select what to think about (2 Cor. 10:5), and you can decide how to respond to a circumstance. Your ability to choose is part of God's gift of free will to every human being. No circumstance automatically causes long-term anxiety. It isn't the Father's purpose for you to be controlled by worry. The Lord may allow an unpleasant situation in your life to develop stronger faith, stimulate spiritual growth, or change a bad habit or negative attitude. But He does not set you up to feel anxious. God is always at work to bring you to a place where you will increasingly trust and obey Him and receive more of His blessings. Concern differs from anxiety We must be careful not to confuse concern with anxiety. It is normal for a Christian to care. This attitude motivates us to intercede and to take godly actions towards meeting the needs of others or ourselves. We are to be concerned, for example, about our families, our health, and our performance at work. That is, we want to do tasks well so that God receives glory from our lives. Some concern, furthermore, is rooted in responsibility. As Christians, we are to fulfill God's commandments in our daily lives. In other words, we should live in an honest and moral manner—paying our bills, telling the truth, giving a full day's effort for a full day's wage, and so forth. We also express this attitude in relation to the people under our protection. If, for example, a child is injured, her parent has a genuine right and responsibility to be concerned about whether the ankle is sprained or broken. Concern will lead to taking action and seeking medical advice. And what if you were to lose your job? You'd naturally—and justifiably—be somewhat preoccupied with how to find a new one so you could provide for your family. A concern rooted in caring or obedience is not the same as anxiety. But to fall apart emotionally, become paralyzed with fear, or allow thoughts of bankruptcy, homelessness, and a bleak future to overtake your mind—absolutely not! That's anxiety. Concern is positive: it is forward-looking and constructive. Anxiety is the opposite—it is counterproductive, stuck in the past, and negative. In other words, concern motivates us to take action; anxiety paralyzes us. Concern may be marked with tears, expressions of sorrow or sympathy, thoughtful reflection, or quiet time for meditation. In the end, concern leads us to make decisions. Appropriate thinking in such cases might sound like this: I choose to trust in God. I want to seek His purpose and plan in this. I'll take the action He leads me to take. Anxiety, on the other hand, tends to be marked by hand-wringing, uncontrollable crying, deeply furrowed brows and slumped shoulders, sleepless nights, nervous twitches, and endless pacing. Worry is a treadmill that tends to keep a person in a state of fear and negativity. The choice is yours We are all human, so occasionally we will be blind-sided by unsettling incidents or discoveries. At such times, it is normal to react emotionally. But God's children should not remain in that condition for long. Instead of falling into a downward spiral of anxiety over difficult circumstances, a healthier response is to pray something like this: "Heavenly Father, I bring my problem to You. The situation is beyond my control and influence, and I feel helpless, but You have the power to change circumstances. I know that You love me perfectly and whatever You have planned for me is for my good. Show me how to respond, and I will obey You. I look forward to seeing the way You choose to express Your love, wisdom, and power." Friend, this is the way of peace—the road out of anxiety. Let it go.

SHARING ALL ONE HAS - By: Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

Matthew Kelly talks about “minimalism” as one of the traits that characterize the youth of our times. Along with “individualism” and “hedonism,” he says that so many fail to see the bigger picture out there, including the beauty and simplicity of a life of holiness on account of this tendency to minimalism in all aspects of our lives.

Minimalism is to give not of one’s whole self, but of one’s puny, little self. In school, it means doing only that which satisfies the minimum requirements to pass the course. It means not making that extra push and exerting that extra effort to excel, so as to be a cut above the rest. It means being satisfied with what is little.

Today’s Gospel (John 6:1-15) passage reminds us of the opposite of minimalism. It teaches us not about pusillanimity, but of gracious magnanimity. Although the boy only had five barley loaves and two fish, he had a big heart that spoke eloquently of untrammeled generosity.

He had five loaves and two fish. That was all he had. (He sure had a huge appetite!) But levity aside, what he had, he offered. When was the last time you really gave all you had? I bet you, if you were in his place, you would at least have probably thought of keeping half a loaf and a piece of the fish for yourself! I would certainly have done so! But no, the miracle was as much a miracle of multiplication of loaves as it was a miracle of selfless generosity.

The boy had that little treasure trove, a bagful of food that occasioned a party for five thousand (not counting women). But Philip, too, had his own little share. Apparently good at Math, he knew how much he needed. But there was Andrew, too. Apparently good at spotting talents and human and material resources, he found the boy who was willing to give all he had! And he lost no time in telling the Lord. All the Lord needed was readiness and willingness for each of them to give their all.

REFLECTION QUESTION: How ready are you to give your all when the circumstances call for it?

Lord Jesus, grant me a generous heart that does not count the cost of giving but rejoices in being able to give.

GOSPEL READING TODAY (April 20, 2012) John 6: 1 - 15 - Multiplication of the Loaves at Passover

1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber'i-as. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?" 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES ABOUT THE ROPE (CUT THE ROPE AND SIMPLY TRUST IN GOD)

This is a story of a mountain climber, desperate to conquer the Aconcagua, initiated his climb after years of preparation.

But he wanted the glory to himself; therefore, he went up alone. He started climbing and it was becoming later and later. He did not prepare for camping but decided to keep on going.

Soon it got dark . . . Night fell with heaviness at such high altitude and there was zero visibility.

Everything was black, no moon, and the stars covered by clouds.

As he was climbing a ridge at about 100 meters from the top, he slipped and fell. Falling rapidly he could only see blotches of darkness that passed in the same darkness and a terrible sensation of being suctioned by gravity.

He kept falling and in those anguishing moments’ good and bad memories passed through his mind. He thought he would die. Nevertheless, he felt a jolt that almost tore him in half. Like any good mountain climber he had staked himself with a long rope tied to his waist.

In those moments of stillness, suspended in the air he had no other choice but to shout, “HELP ME GOD”, “HELP ME!”

All of a sudden he heard a deep voice from heaven. “What do you want me to do?”

“SAVE ME!”

“Do you REALLY think that I can save you?”

“OF COURSE, MY GOD”

“Then CUT THE ROPE that is holding you up.”

There was another moment of silence and stillness. The climber continued to hang onto the rope, while hoping to be able to grab onto something that would enable him to climb to safety. Unable to see his true situation, the climber concluded, as most people would, that hanging onto the rope was his only hope. And so he held tighter to the rope.

The rescue team says that the next day they found, a frozen mountain climber hanging strongly to a rope TWO FEET off the ground . . .

What about you? How trusting are you in that “rope”? Why don’t you let it go?

God has great and marvelous things for you. Are you willing to trust God with the many things in life beyond your knowledge or control?

CUT THE ROPE AND SIMPLY TRUST IN HIM.

Try to always remember: “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13.

Stories of Scattered Cotton Bits - (Slandering is worse than killing)

Once upon a time, there was a rich politician who had big influence in the society. As a politician, he had to travel often. But, because of bad influence from his friends, he started gambling. At first, the amount was small, but since he could not control his desire to win and get back what he had lost, he lost his mind, too. At the end, he lost all he had earned from his hard work. He went bankrupt. His wife and children were neglected.

No other people knew about his gambling. So in order to cover this shameful habit, he started to spread the rumour that his bankruptcy was caused by his trusted friend. He said that his best friend had betrayed him and taken away his money.
The rumour spread fast. The politician's friend could not stand it and got sick. He became very thin like a living skeleton. His whole family also suffered a lot. Every time they went out, people would look at them suspiciously. They were even isolated by the community.

Never had the politician thought that the impact of his lies would be this bad. He hurriedly visited his friend, asking for forgiveness. "My dear friend, I must admit that I was wrong, putting the blame on you and slandering you. With all my heart, I seek pardon. Is there anything I can do to make up for my evil deed?"
The other man said weakly, "I have two requests. First, please take a pillow and go to the roof of this house. Upon reaching the roof, take out a little bit of cotton from the pillow and spread it bit by bit."

Although he did not understand the reason behind this, the politician did it. After spreading all the cotton, he rushed back to the dying man.

"I have done your first request. What is your second request?"

"Now, collect the entire cotton bits you have spread earlier," said his friend with his weaker voice.

The politician was silent for a while, and then answered sadly, "I am so sorry, my friend, but I cannot grant you your wish. The cotton bits are everywhere now, it is impossible to recollect them anymore."

With his last effort, his friend answered, "It's exactly the same as the lies you have spread. The rumour will not stop just because you regret it or because you are sorry."

The politician was again silenced. "I know you are my true friend, indeed. Although I have made a blunder, you're still willing to give me a valuable lesson. I promise to do my very best to repair the damage I've made. Once again, please forgive me, my friend. And thank you for your lesson."

With tears in his eyes, the politician hugged his true friend.

THE OTHER SIDE OF A PROBLEM - BY: Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes

We are all too familiar with sob stories such as this: A wife loses a husband and decides to live as a depressed woman. She resolves not to live anymore but simply exist in total disregard of the children left to her care. Desolation gets the better of her and she fails to see that not everything is lost, and that her children are supposed to be seen as blessings left for her to nourish and care for as a shining remembrance of the husband she lost.

As a pastor, I have always been approached by people who feel like they have the whole world on their shoulders. In all those situations, my advice is almost always the same: Never let your sorrow drown whatever blessings you still have, no matter how meager they may be.

While the event in the Gospel (JOHN 20:11-18} is known to most as the “Great Recognition,” we cannot miss the fact that Mary failed considerably in recognizing the Risen Christ. Seeing Christ just in front of her, she thought He was the gardener who took away her Master’s body. She even heard Him speak but failed to recognize the tone of the voice that she has heard consistently in the past three years. So, what brought about her initial failure to recognize Him?

She looked intently on the tomb — where Jesus was, that dark corner where she saw His lifeless body. And so she had her back against the Risen Christ.

That much is true for most of us. We miss seeing the glory because of too much attention on the shame. We don’t see the blessings because we dwell much on the curse. Tears are inevitable but they should not blind us in seeing the glory before us.

GOSPEL READING TODAY - John 20: 11 - 18 (Tuesday, April 10, 2012)

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14 Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." 18 Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

GOSPEL READING TODAY = Matthew 28: 8 - 15 (Monday in the Octave of Easter)

8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, "Tell people, `His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

The Barber Shop Spiritual Story by Unknown

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation and talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.

"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me."

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! Because people do not look to God for help is why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

THE TALE OF THREE TREES

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'


Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'


Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy Because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals.. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best. Our God is great and He is good, you and I can trust Him!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thought of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” - Jeremiah 29:11