Point to Jesus: My prayers For Max's First Birthday

It's Max's first birthday. Firsts are always special. Max won't remember this day unless he sees the pictures and videos and--reads something about it. And so I go back to blogging after almost a month. John Maximilian Siatong-Llaban was born on August 29, 2012. I got to witness how Michelle gave out all her strength to bring Max out into the world. I salute all Moms!

 Max was the fruit of our Holy Land Pilgrimage. During that blessed trip while renewing our baptismal vows in the river Jordan, I was inspired by the humility of John the Baptist. Though he was great and people followed him, he never lost sight of his purpose--to prepare the way for the Lord.

John answered them all saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16)

I want Max to be as humble as John, never clouded with pride amidst the great things God is doing through him.

Max's name is also inspired by St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Martyr and Marian devotee. 2012, Max's birth year, was the Magnificat year for Couples for Christ. In the community we were inspired by Mary's words, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord! (Luke 1:46)." I was looking for a saint that experienced and honored Mary in a very special way, thus, Kolbe. I pray that like the great saint, Max will embrace a deep devotion to Mother Mary and emulate Our Mother in proclaiming God's greatness.

Both saints, John and Maximilian, always pointed to Jesus. Max, my prayer for your 1st birthday is to grow up leading others to Jesus Christ--pointing to Him always. May God do great things through you and envelope you with the virtue of humility. Happy birthday my dear boy.

To Jesus Through Mary

I recently visited the Our Lady of Piat Bascilica in Cagayan Valley.  Thousands of devotees flock the Shrine, especially on July 2, it's feast day. It's one of the most venerated Marian images in the Philippines

Many miracles have been reported to happen through the Intercession of Our Lady of Piat.  To mention some are ending a persistent drought in 1624, boy recovering from insanity, a native from Piat freed from the grip of a crocodile, a child cured from leprosy, rescuing of drowning people in Pamplona, and other testimonies throughout time.

Yes, miracles happen. It's not old-fashioned belief. The same God Whose stories of miracles upon miracles are highlighted in the Bible is still performing miracles and very much alive today. Prayers made through the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary makes our faith stronger.  There is much power in intercession.

"This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation . . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 969)

When we tell someone, "Please pray for me", we are are asking him/her to intercede for us.  If we ask others for their intercession, how much more powerful it would be if we ask the angels, saints, and especially Mama Mary to pray for us. 

Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us. In the book of Revelation, John sees that "the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8). Thus the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth. (Source: Catholic.com)

To Jesus through Mary, may our faith increase and may the miracles we pray for be granted according to His will.
 

Divine Love on Valentine's Day

Three events that made me think and reflect.  My birthday, the feast of our Lady of Lourdes (same day as my birthday), and Valentine's day. One is about birth, another about a Mother, and the last one about love.

Everybody has a birthday. That one time in the year that we look upon our lives, celebrate, and try to become better as we get older. As I did my resolutions, I looked upon Mother Mary, a model of a true disciple. Someone whose life and virtues are worth emulating.  And as I am writing this reflection, it's Valentine's day. A day which people go out of their way and prepare something to show love for the special people in their lives. Flowers, particularly roses, are usual expressions of love during this day and something I gave to my dear wife Michelle.  Roses too are very related to Mother Mary, as evident by the "rose"-sary (rosary).

The gifts of Birth, Mary our Mother, and Love.  These three remind me of the goodness of God in our lives.  A friend shared to me, "The most basic of all truths is that God is good." He is so good to give us life, a Mother who is always there, and Love exemplified through Christ.  May the roses this Valentine's day remind us not only of the romantic love for a special person, but also of the divine love of Mary our Mother.

She Said Yes

September 8 is Mama Mary's birthday. What can we recall about her to honor her? For me one of the most significant things she did was when...

She said, Yes.

"Be it done to me according to thy word (Luke 1:38)."

Do we say yes to the Lord everyday? The daily gospel, "Thy Word," challenges us to yes to the Lord through its message. But how can we say yes if we do not know what the Lord asks of us today?

Three things can happen:

1. We miss out on God's question and challenge for us.
When we don't open our Bibles or when we are not in reflective prayer, we miss the opportunity to know what He asks of us.

2. We say no to God.
We know His will for us, but simply ignore it, delay it, or run from it.

3. We say yes.
Christianity is a daily yes for the Lord. Our yes to the Lord is a process of being sensitive to His will and having the courage and the obedience to do His will.

Mary's "yes" is the opposite of Eve's disobedience. And through her yes, our Savior is born and gave us new life. "And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive (1 Cor 15:22)."

Let us pray to God using Mama Mary's intercession for the courage to say yes even if the cost of following Christ is high.
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