In my world equality, love, justice, and respect for all regardless of one's gender, creed, nationality, religion,literacy abilities, and or sexual orientation among others are fundamental. Simply because I believe we are all lovely products of God's divine art of creation. Also in my world, the love for truth and all its consequences are core to me and hence a proud Socratic fellow.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Happy New Year
Happy New Year. May this year brings to you and everyone you love good health and abundant success. God bless you all.
Pal Ron
Friday, December 11, 2015
"Elijah must first come"
Saturday, 12 December
"Elijah must first come"
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:9a,10-13
Alternate reading: Luke 1:26-38
And as they were coming down the mountain the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" He replied, "Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Old Testament Reading: Sirach 48:1-4,9-11 (deutero-canonical)
Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch. He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal he made them few in number. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, and also three times brought down fire. How glorious you were, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! And who has the right to boast which you have? You who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with horses of fire; you who are ready at the appointed time, it is written, to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. Blessed are those who saw you, and those who have been adorned in love; for we also shall surely live.Meditation
God gives signs to show what he is about to do. John the Baptist is one such sign, who pointed to Jesus and prepared the way for his coming. John fulfilled the essential task of all the prophets: to be fingers pointing to Jesus Christ. John is the last and greatest prophet of the old kingdom, the old covenant. The Jews expected that when the Messiah would come, Elijah would appear to announce his presence. John fills the role of Elijah and prepares the way for the coming of Jesus Christ by preaching a baptism of repentance and renewal.As watchful servants, we, too must prepare for the Lord's coming again by turning away from sin and from everything that would keep us from pursuing his will. Are you eager to do God's will and are you prepared to meet the Lord Jesus when he returns in glory?
"Lord Jesus, stir my zeal for your righteousness and for your kingdom. Free me from complacency and from compromising with the ways of sin and worldliness that I may be wholeheartedly devoted to you and to your kingdom."
Psalm 80:2-3,15-19
Stir up your might, and come to save us!Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may
be saved!
the stock which your right hand planted.
They have burned it with fire, they have cut it
down; may they perish at the rebuke of your
countenance!
But let your hand be upon the man of your right
hand, the son of man whom you have made
strong for yourself!
Then we will never turn back from you; give us life,
and we will call on your name!
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! let your face
shine, that we may be saved!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers
"They did not know this from the Scriptures, but the scribes used to tell them, and this saying was reported among the ignorant crowd, as also about Christ. Therefore the Samaritan woman also said, 'The Messiah is coming; when he comes, he will show us all things' (John 4:25). And they themselves asked John, 'Are you Elijah or the prophet?' (John 1:21). For this opinion was strong, as I said, both the one about Christ and the one about Elijah, but they did not interpret it as it should have been. For the Scriptures speak of two comings of Christ, both this one that has taken place and the future one. Paul spoke of these when he said, 'For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world' (Titus 2:11-12)."Behold the first advent, and listen to how he declares the coming advent: 'Awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ' (Titus 2:13). The prophets also mention both advents; of the one that is second they say that Elijah will be the forerunner; John was forerunner of the first, John whom Christ also called by the name Elijah, not because he was Elijah but because he was fulfilling Elijah's ministry. For just as Elijah will be the forerunner of the second advent, so John was of the first. But the scribes, confusing these things and perverting the people, mentioned that coming alone, the second one, to the people, and said, 'If this is the Christ, Elijah ought to have come first.' That is why the disciples also say, 'Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?'" (John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D., excerpt from The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 57.1)
The Power of Prayer
First Prayer
O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favor in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.
Through Christ our Lord.
St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us.
Amen.
Second Prayer
O St. Joseph of Cupertino who by your prayer obtained from God to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. Grant that I may like you succeed in the (here mention the name of Examination eg. History paper I ) examination. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.
O St. Joseph of Cupertino pray for me
O Holy Ghost enlighten me
Our Lady of Good Studies pray for me
Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me.
O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favor in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.
Through Christ our Lord.
St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us.
Amen.
Second Prayer
O St. Joseph of Cupertino who by your prayer obtained from God to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. Grant that I may like you succeed in the (here mention the name of Examination eg. History paper I ) examination. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.
O St. Joseph of Cupertino pray for me
O Holy Ghost enlighten me
Our Lady of Good Studies pray for me
Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me.
St. Joseph of Cupertino is the patron Saint of students taking test or test takers and also pilots or people who fly alot and that can be travelers too. I can emphasize how powerful this prayer is.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
By All Means Try Not to be Lonely
Although loneliness is a universal human emotion, it is also highly individual. Being lonely is far more complex than fleeting feelings of sadness and isolation, which makes treating this troubling state especially tricky. However, given that a new study out of the University of Chicago confirms loneliness can make you sick, scientists are actively trying to unravel the intricacies of this "invisible epidemic."
In the Nov. 23 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team of researchers — including University of Chicago psychologist and leading loneliness expert John Cacioppo — published a study showing loneliness actually triggers cellular changesthat cause illness. Building on previous research by the same team, the new study offers an in-depth look at how this fight-or-flight stress signaling creates a snowball effect that ultimately alters the production of white blood cells. As we all know, white blood cells are the good guys who fight off infection. However, an inappropriate inflammatory response (aka a non-reciprocated influx of white blood cell activity) can actually do more harm than good if not regulated.
This phenomenon, known as conserved transcriptional response to adversity — or CTRA for short — leaves lonely individuals more vulnerable to infection due to dampened antiviral response, and also more susceptible to chronic disease thanks to the inappropriate inflammation. Some of these potential health consequences include heart disease and stroke, increased stress levels, decreased memory and learning, alcoholism, and altered brain function. Because loneliness disrupts the regulation of cellular processes in the body, says Cacioppo, it also predisposes those suffering from it to premature aging.
Of course, it's important to point out there is a distinction between being lonely and simply being alone. Loneliness isn't merely the state of being alone. Rather, it is the perception of being alone. In other words, when you feel completely disconnected from everyone, even if you are surrounding by friends and family — or, you know, have 5,000 Facebook connections. Loneliness is a state of mind. So if you like to spend time alone, CTRA probably isn't at work in your body when you're practicing your solo zen. Still, since nearly all of us will experiences periods of loneliness in our lives (after all, loneliness may be contagious), here are a few tips for actively guarding against it and overcoming it.
1. Take The Initiative
Sometimes, saying hello can be daunting. Especially for people who are lonely, reaching out of the sphere of isolation to make contact with another human being might seem pointless. But while withdrawing into yourself is tempting, the healthiest thing you can do when you are sad or feeling alone is to cultivate connections with other people.
2. Find A Commonality — Or Create One
Judging from a recent Reddit thread picking the brains of therapists, even our deepest feelings are likely shared by others. It makes sense, right? We're all in this together, just trying not to lose our grip as this great big world keeps spinning faster. So the very act of reaching out may lead you to a connection or commonality that will make you feel less alone. Or, you could create a shared experience. Take a vested interest in what someone else is doing, and enjoy doing it with them.
3. Shift Your Focus To Someone Else
There's a reason they say it is better to give than to receive — few things in life feel more rewarding than doing something good for someone else. If you find yourself dwelling on how alone you are and how hopeless you feel, turn your attention to the needs and feelings of someone else. Even small gestures such as smiling at people passing you on the street or wrapping someone in a bear hug can make you feel a sense of solidarity with others.
4. Find A Hobby
It's easy to fall into the wormhole of despair when you have nothing else to do. It kind of falls under that whole "idle hands are the devil's tools" idiom — a full agenda can keep you out of trouble in more ways than one. So take the leap if you've been toying with taking Zumba classes or learning another language. After all, studies show that people are happy when they are busy.
5. Don't Bail
Trust me; I've done this a time or ten. When other people invite you to a party or beg you to join them for drinks after work, go. When your cousin insists you keep your standing Sunday brunch date, make an effort to show up. You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it, and you might make connections in the process who'll understand what you're going through.
6. Buy a Journal (And Write In It)
I may be partial, but I'm a firm believer that writing is a powerful tool of catharsis. When I was younger and lacked the faculties to eloquently express my feelings, I constantly scribbled my emotions into my diary. Today, writing still serves as an outlet for me. Give it a try! The great thing about chronicling your thoughts is that it helps you prioritize what's important and pinpoint the different emotions you are feeling — including loneliness.
By: JULIE SPRANKLES
Monday, November 23, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
We Are All Slaves
I don't like to use the word slave- the idea that we aren't free makes me panic. We all deserve freedom. However, I think it would be the best term to describe the message I intend to carry to you all. If you think about it, ain't we all slaves and prisoners to the very things we do in order to get by with life? For instance, we go to work we hate by all accounts, live in houses we don't like, drive cars we don't want to, eat what we don't want to eat and, be around people we can seldom do a thing with etc and yet we have to do all these because of our short term needs and goals. Statistically over 80% of people go to work they hate and yet they would stay around and hope for retirement.
I just want to leave it here and let you think about it.
Thank you and feel free to post your comments.
Sincerely,
Pal Ron
I just want to leave it here and let you think about it.
Thank you and feel free to post your comments.
Sincerely,
Pal Ron
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Happy Sunday
Happy Sunday
I hope you my readers have all been doing well. I have still have a great and productive summer going thus far. It has been so great and busy so to speak such that I seldom find the time to reach out to all of you. But I just wanted to let you all know that I am sound and well and is keeping each and everyone of you in my thoughts and prayers and hope you all do the same.
Stay blessed and tuned.
Pal Ron
I hope you my readers have all been doing well. I have still have a great and productive summer going thus far. It has been so great and busy so to speak such that I seldom find the time to reach out to all of you. But I just wanted to let you all know that I am sound and well and is keeping each and everyone of you in my thoughts and prayers and hope you all do the same.
Stay blessed and tuned.
Pal Ron
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Quick Shot of Current Affairs By the Skimm!!!
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