On Insulin Resistance and Insulin Spikes

The other day at work, I cared for a patient who had many questions about her diabetes. I always appreciate when patients want to discuss their medical conditions, as it gives me the opportunity to provide meaningful and practical education.

I wrote a brief note for her and thought I would share it with you, the readers. It focused on managing insulin spikes. Even if you do not have diabetes, there is still a great deal you can learn from it.

Below are 15 tips. Read them, and feel free to leave your comments.

1. Build Muscle (Resistance Training)

• Muscle = largest glucose storage site

• Improves insulin sensitivity

• Aim: 2–3 sessions/week

• Methods: weights, bands, bodyweight

2. Control Glucose Spikes (Not Eliminate Carbs)

• Carbs are not the enemy

• Problem = rapid, large spikes

• Focus on:

  • Portion size

  • Slow-digesting carbs

  • Balanced meals

3. Eliminate Liquid Calories

Avoid:

• Juice

• Smoothies

• Sugary coffee drinks

• Energy drinks

Why:

• No fiber → rapid absorption → sharp spikes

4. Pair Carbs with Protein & Fat

Benefits:

• Slower digestion

• Smaller glucose rise

• Longer satiety

Examples:

• Toast + eggs / nut butter/omelets 

• Fruit + nuts / yogurt

• Rice + fish / chicken / olive oil

5. Stop Constant Snacking

Problem:

• Frequent eating → constantly elevated insulin

Goal:

• Create clear gaps between meals

• Allow insulin to return to baseline

6. Manage Chronic Stress

I am a victim of this one myself I told this lady.

Stress hormones:

• Cortisol & adrenaline ↑ glucose

Strategies:

• Meditation / breathwork

• Nature exposure

• Boundaries & recovery time

7. Eat Food in the Right Order

Sequence:

• Fiber
• Protein & fat
• Carbs

Effect:

• Can reduce post-meal glucose spikes significantly

8. Prioritize Sleep

Poor sleep:

• Worsens insulin resistance rapidly

• Increases cravings

Aim:

• 7–9 hours/night

• Consistent schedule

9. Avoid “Naked Sugars”

Never eat sweets alone.

Better:

• Eat at end of a mixed meal

Why:

• Protein/fat/fiber buffer absorption

10. Measure Fasting Insulin

Glucose = late marker
Insulin = early warning sign

General targets:

• Lower = better metabolic health

Purpose:

• Detect insulin resistance early

11. Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods

Characteristics:

• Industrial ingredients

• Easy to overeat

• Rapid digestion

Rule of thumb:

• Few ingredients

• Recognizable foods

12. Move After Meals

Simple & powerful:

• 10–15 min walk

Effect:

• Muscles pull glucose without much insulin

13. Align Eating with Circadian Rhythm

Better glucose control:

• Earlier in the day

Recommendations:

• Larger breakfast/lunch

• Lighter/earlier dinner

• Finish eating 2–3 hrs before bed

14. Look Beyond Blood Sugar Alone

Helpful markers:

• HbA1c

• Fasting insulin

• Lipid profile

• Triglyceride / HDL ratio

Reason:

• Risk develops gradually

15. Create Insulin-Free Periods

Concept:

• Time-restricted eating

Simple start:

• Stop eating after dinner

• Resume at breakfast

Benefit:

• Insulin falls → metabolic reset

The Core Message

✔ Insulin resistance develops slowly and silently
✔ Small daily habits compound powerfully
✔ Focus on consistency, not perfection

Brough to you by Pal Ronnie

Emotion Is the Enemy of Reason: On the American Super Bowl Culture

This week has felt surreal in the context of the diverse culture of this great republic. Every February, we have the Super Bowl. Like many people in this country, I don’t care much for American football. I emphasize this because “football,” to most Africans, means soccer; in America, to avoid confusion, the emphasis on American football is necessary. But since it’s one large annual event, a great deal happens on that day and during that game.

Nearly half the nation tunes in to watch. It resembles a winter festival more than a sporting event: people eat chicken wings, drink beer, and talk about the ads and the halftime show, which has become a major concert-like spectacle. It features a big-name artist, and the creativity and performance are dissected for days afterward. Last year it was Kendrick Lamar; this year it was Bad Bunny- and that is the main reason for this reflection. I haven’t written anything in a long time, but this one deserved its own space.

One of the defining features of the Super Bowl is the aftermath of the halftime show. People analyze the performance, the symbolism, and its cultural significance for a week or more. This year, almost anyone you speak to about the game- unless they are of Latino/a descent- offers negative feedback. The reactions are openly emotional; some even said they will never watch the Super Bowl again.

Why? When asked, they respond: “This is an English-speaking country, and the artist sang entirely in Spanish. He’s Puerto Rican,” and the list of grievances continues. Fair enough-there is a point there, to an extent. I try to hear people out. But if people are angry simply because of the choice of artist, then the decision-makers at the NFL and beyond achieved exactly what they intended. They did not prioritize the audience’s cultural comfort when selecting him. This was no mistake. If money were the concern, they would have calculated potential losses-yet they still moved forward with the message or agenda they wished to amplify. And, notably, they did not lose money.

Some blamed billionaire Jay-Z as part of the reason this artist was chosen. They knew Bad Bunny primarily speaks Spanish, with limited English, and that his performance would be entirely in that language. And that, to me, is precisely the point. The power structures in this republic benefit from division and outrage among the people. Divide and conquer is as old as humanity; if it did not work, it would not be used. That is why many of us believe even entertainment can function as distraction.

And speaking of distraction- the system thrives on manufactured distraction. We experience sudden spikes of collective outrage: cancel culture one week, a symbolic conflict the next. It is not that these issues lack human significance; they do. But they are amplified and distorted in ways that keep us fighting horizontally instead of looking vertically at concentrations of wealth, power, and control. Try doing almost anything online and frustration quickly follows. Much of this feels engineered.

Keep the bottom 99% fighting over cultural validation, and they will never look upward. Empathy, tribalism, national identity, insecurity-all weaponized as smoke screens. Flood the space with misinformation until people give up trying to see clearly. Give it a week, and many will forget the name of the performer, yet the resentment will linger. That, arguably, is the objective.

We are told “the other side” is the enemy, while those selling the weapons quietly foreclose on our future. Everything is monetized- and among the most profitable commodities are hatred and division.

What we are discouraged from examining is how we are managed. Do not look at their wealth. They operate within their own system-a kind of “wealth defense industry,” sustained by armies of lawyers and accountants constructing elaborate legal labyrinths. In that world, the laws of economics barely seem to apply, while every dollar earned through ordinary labor is meticulously extracted.

This halftime show and the surrounding discourse arrived at a moment when the nation is already agitated about wrongdoing and abuse of power, amplified by renewed attention to the Epstein files. Such spectacles can dull public focus, at least temporarily, while narratives shift and attention fragments. Already, public voices minimize or trivialize matters that would permanently define the lives of ordinary individuals. Accountability appears uneven.

Our ignorance becomes fuel. Our outrage becomes lubricant. Each time we take the bait of a manufactured conflict, we surrender another measure of clarity.

No billionaire visionary or polished politician is coming to dismantle entrenched systems from within. The first step is a radical form of intellectual self-defense: developing a filter fine enough to detect propaganda. I do not claim omniscience, but one principle holds true for me- never accept unquestioningly everything that propagandized media presents.

When you encounter a viral headline, ask:
Who does this want me to hate, and how does that hatred prevent me from questioning power?

You do not fix a parasite. You stop being a host.

I refuse to hate on command. That is my clinical assessment and diagnosis.

I remain,

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings for Thursday February 12, 2026

First Reading: (1 Kings 11:4-13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 106:3-4, 35-36, 37 and 40)

R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Alleluia: (James 1:21bc)

Alleluia, alleluia.
“Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.”
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel-(Mark 7:24-30)

Reflection

Today’s readings present a striking contrast between a heart that drifts away from God and a heart that clings to Him in humble faith.

In the First Reading, King Solomon, despite his wisdom and gifts from God, allows his heart to be led astray by influences that softens his devotion. His downfall wasn’t sudden, but gradual-subtle compromises that led him to follow foreign gods instead of remaining wholly faithful to God. This reminds us that even blessings and gifts can become stumbling blocks when our hearts are divided. 

The Responsorial Psalm echoes how easily God’s people can drift into idolatry and sin, yet it also calls on the Lord’s mercy-“Remember us, O Lord…” -reminding us that God’s compassion is always near to those willing to return.

In the Gospel, we meet the Syrophoenician woman, an outsider whose persistence and humility in prayer become a powerful model of faith. She refuses to accept a “no” and instead trusts that even a crumb of God’s grace can bring saving healing. Her faith becomes the instrument of her daughter’s liberation.

Living the Word Today

• Examine our heart. Where might you be slowly drifting from God through small compromises?

• Hold fast to faith. Like the Syrophoenician woman, approach God with humility and persistence, believing in His mercy even when answers seem delayed.

• Welcome God’s Word. Let Scripture shape your choices and align your heart with God’s will.

I hope you received something. 

Happy Thursday. 

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie 

Wednesday February 11th 2026 Mass Readings and Reflection for the Feast of Lady of Lourdes

First Reading: (1 Kings 10:1–10)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 37:5–6, 30–31, 39–40)

Response: “The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.”

Alleluia: (John 17:17)

“Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.”

Gospel: (Mark 7:14–23)

Reflection

Today’s mass readings highlights a timeless spiritual tension:
the difference between outward appearance and inward reality.

1. Wisdom That Reveals God

The Queen of Sheba is captivated not merely by Solomon’s wealth, but by the wisdom permeating his entire kingdom. His governance, order, worship, and justice reflect a heart shaped by God.

Her response is deeply instructive:
She praises the Lord, not Solomon.

Authentic wisdom never glorifies the self, 
it reveals God.

When a life is anchored in divine truth, others perceive something greater at work. Not spectacle, but grace.

2. The Heart: Source of Purity or Corruption

In the Gospel, Jesus dismantles superficial understandings of holiness. Defilement is not contracted externally but generated internally.

The true battleground is the heart.

From within arise:

• envy

• greed

• deceit

• arrogance

• malice

• pride

Sin is not first behavioral, 
it is relational and interior.

Holiness, therefore, is not cosmetic improvement but inner conversion.

3. The Bridge Between the Readings

Solomon’s greatness flowed from a heart aligned with God.

Jesus calls us to guard that same interior sanctuary.

One reading shows the beauty of a heart ordered toward God.
The other warns of the chaos when it is not.

The essential question emerges:

What is taking root within me today?

Is it:

• wisdom

• peace

• humility

• generosity

Or:

• resentment

• comparison

• fear

• pride?

4. Our Lady of Lourdes (Optional Memorial)

Mary’s presence at Lourdes reminds us that God meets humanity precisely in its fragility. Her message was gentle yet urgent:

• Prayer

• Repentance

• Healing

• Trust

Mary embodies the perfectly receptive heart, 
one that listens, consents, and reflects God’s light.

Prayer

Lord, purify our hearts.

Cleanse our thoughts, intentions, and desires.
Plant within us wisdom that seeks You,
humility that trusts You,
and love that reflects You.

May our lives bear witness not to ourselves, but to Your truth and mercy.

Amen.

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Memorial of St. Scholastica, Virgin

First Reading: (1 Kings 8:22–23, 27–30)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 84)

Response: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts.

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia

Gospel: (Mark 7:1–13)

Reflection

Have you ever asked ourselves: What are laws really meant for?
Beyond being orderly, law-abiding, or a “good person,” what do we truly gain from keeping the law?

This question applies not only to civil laws, customs, or traditions, but also to ecclesiastical laws-even the Commandments of God.

If we do not reflect deeply, we may become law-abiding only for the sake of observance, and nothing more. But laws-especially God’s laws-are never meant to end at the external level. External observance must lead to internal transformation.

Keeping the law should:

• build our relationship with God,

• strengthen our love for neighbor, and

• bring inner peace and satisfaction.

When I keep the law, I do not do it merely for others to see or praise me. I do it because it forms my heart. I do it for God, for my neighbor, and for my own soul.

In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees and scribes attack Jesus because his disciples ate with unwashed hands. But their concern was not love of the law-it was self-righteousness. They used the law to elevate themselves and condemn others.

Jesus exposes the deeper problem:
They observed the law perfectly, yet their hearts were far from God.

What truly changed because hands were washed-or not washed?
Did the food lose its taste?
Did love increase or decrease?
Did anyone’s life improve?

The law was observed, yes-but nothing was transformed.

This is the danger Jesus warns us about:
keeping laws without love,
ritual without relationship,
religion without conversion.

Friends, if keeping the law does not lead us to love God more, to love our neighbor more, and to become inwardly transformed, then we reduce faith to fanaticism.

The same applies to religious practice:

• Why do I go to church?

• Why do I fast?

• Why do I pray?

Is it merely because it is commanded-or because it changes me?

If I fast but refuse to forgive, of what use is my fasting?
If I go to church but remain unchanged, of what use is my attendance?

Jesus is not against the law.
He is against empty observance.

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Today we celebrate Saint Scholastica, sister of Saint Benedict. She consecrated her life entirely to God, not out of obligation, but out of love. Her obedience flowed from devotion, her discipline from desire for God.

Through her intercession, may our observance of God’s law never be mere routine, but always an expression of love that transforms our hearts.

Amen

Brought to you by Pal Ronnie

Mass Readings and Reflection February 9, 2026

First Reading: (1 Kings 8:1–7, 9–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 132:6–7, 8–10)

R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest!

Alleluia: (Matthew 4:23)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Mark 6:53–56)

Reflections

Two powerful images dominate today’s readings: the glory of God filling the Temple and the healing power flowing from Jesus.

In the First Reading, we witness a moment of overwhelming holiness. The cloud of God’s presence fills the Temple so completely that even the priests are unable to stand and minister. This is not the image of a distant or detached God. This is a God who chooses to move in, to take up residence among His people. Solomon’s words express the awe of the moment: “I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you may abide forever.” Yet beneath the grandeur of stone and gold lies a deeper truth. God’s ultimate dwelling place is not a building made by human hands, but the human heart that is open and surrendered to Him.

The Gospel reveals that same divine nearness in a different form. Jesus walks among the people, and crowds rush to Him from every direction. They are not asking for long explanations or signs. They simply want to touch the fringe of His cloak. Their faith is urgent, humble, and expectant. And the Gospel tells us, “As many as touched it were healed.” Here, God’s presence is no longer hidden in a cloud. It is visible, tangible, and compassionate. Jesus Himself is the living Temple-God dwelling among His people in flesh, meeting suffering with mercy and power.

The connection between these readings is striking. In Solomon’s time, God’s presence filled a physical Temple. In Jesus’ time, God’s presence walked the streets, healing the broken and restoring the wounded. Today, that same presence desires to fill the temple of your own life through the Holy Spirit. The movement is always the same: God drawing closer, inviting deeper intimacy, seeking not distance but communion.

These readings gently but clearly turn the question toward us. Where do you need God’s healing touch right now? Where is God asking to dwell more deeply in your life? Do you approach Jesus with the same trust and urgency as those who ran to Him in Gennesaret? Faith does not always require great words or complex understanding. Sometimes it is as simple as reaching out, believing that even the hem of His garment is enough.

Prayer today:

Lord, fill the temple of my heart with Your presence. Heal what is wounded, strengthen what is weak, and dwell with me today. Make me a place where Your glory rests and where Your love flows freely to others. Amen.

God bless you

Pal Ronnie

Mass Readings and Reflection for February 8th 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 58:7–10)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 112:4–9)

Second Reading:(1 Corinthians  2:1-5)

R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright. 

Alleluia: (John 8:12)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 5:13–16)

Reflection:

I made it to mass today at St. Augustine's in New City, NY. The 12 pm mass was packed. The priest started the homily by recalling the Christmas Eve Mass, where one candle was used to light up the rest in the candles in church as a symbol of light conquering darkness. He also reflected on the Beatitudes, on the question at the heart of every human life: How do we find true happiness? Jesus shows us that happiness is not found in self-assertion or self-indulgence, but in ordering our lives around Him.

Today, Jesus continues speaking, not only to the Twelve, but to a large crowd. And He gives us three powerful images: salt, light, and a city set on a hill. What is striking about all three is this: none of them exist for themselves. Salt exists for food. Light exists for others to see. A city on a hill exists as a guide and a refuge.

And this, I believe, is a key to true happiness: realizing that life is not about serving myself, but about loving others. As Jesus tells us, the greatest commandment is love, and love, at its core, is willing the good of the other, not the self.

Let’s begin with salt.
Today, salt is ordinary. We keep it on our dining room tables. It’s inexpensive and easy to replace. But in Jesus’ time, salt was precious-so valuable that people were sometimes paid with it. Hence the saying: “He’s worth his weight in salt. In fact the Roman soldier in ancient times were paid with salt and the very word salary is derived from salt. Let that sink in my friends. 

And salt has two essential purposes: it adds flavor, and it preserves. We can all relate to these two qualities of salt especially those of us who had the privilege of growing up on farms where there were no refrigeration. 

Jesus tells us that we are to be salt for the world. Our lives should add flavor-not bitterness, not judgment, but joy. Jesus says, “I came so that you might have life and have it to the full.” Christians should be joyful people.

And the question for us is simple: Do our lives bring out the goodness in the world around us? We do this not by imposing ourselves, but by seasoning the world, using the gifts God has given us. Do I know my gifts, and am I using them to give flavor to the world God loves?

The second image is light.
At first, this can feel confusing. Jesus is the Light of the world, so how can we be light? But then we realize: we are not the source of the light; we are called to reflect it, like the moon reflects the sun. The moon has no light of its own, yet on a clear night it can illuminate the earth so brightly it almost feels like day.

Do our lives reflect the light of Christ?

Isaiah tells us how: share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and homeless, clothe the naked. It sounds a lot like Matthew 25-the corporal works of mercy. When we serve others, we become light. And this parish has a lot of programs for the poor and people should check them out and see how they can assist those in need,

Think of Moses, who spoke with God face to face on Mount Sinai. When he came down the mountain, his face was radiant-so radiant that he had to veil it. He reflected the glory of God because he had been in God’s presence.

Or think of Mother Teresa, who told her sisters that every day they must spend an hour in adoration-and on the busiest days, two hours-because we cannot give what we do not have. Anyone who has encountered joyful religious sisters knows that their light comes from somewhere else. Christ is the source.

Spend sometime in adoration. It’s like marriage: the longer two people spend time together, the more they begin to look alike, speak alike, even finish each other’s sentences. The more time we spend with the Lord, the more we begin to reflect Him.

Today, nearly one-third of the world identifies as Christian. Imagine what the world would look like if all of us truly reflected the light of Christ. And yet, there is hope. Across the United States and beyond, RCIA groups are growing-especially among young people. People are catching the light. The Kingdom is stirring.

Jesus warns us not to hide that light under a bushel basket. He commands us to let it shine.

Finally, Jesus gives us the image of a city set on a hill-a city that cannot be hidden.

I think of Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis, built along a mountainside. Before GPS, cities like this served as guideposts for travelers-places of protection, direction, and hope. People would say, Go there, then turn west.

And the question for us is this: Are our lives guideposts? Do people look at us and say, I want to live like that because their life leads me closer to Christ?

Sadly, the opposite can also be true. I remember being in college, where Catholics were known not for their witness, but for hypocrisy-partying through the weekend and stumbling into Mass without conviction. That kind of life doesn’t draw people to Christ; it pushes them away.

So we must ask ourselves honestly: Is my life leading people closer to Jesus, or further away?

Jesus says, “They will see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Not glorify us, but glorify God in us.

St. Augustine said it perfectly: “Let your life be a sermon.”

So this week, reflect on these three images:

• Are you salt? Does your life add flavor and preserve what is good?

• Are you light? Are you spending time with Christ so that His light can shine through you?

• Are you a city set on a hill? What example are you setting for those who are watching?

And believe me-people are watching.

May our words and actions draw others not to ourselves, but to Christ, so that in everything, God may be glorified.

Amen 

God bless you 

To you by Pal Ronnie

On Pain: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology of Nociception

Core Perspective

• Anatomy: how the body is built

• Physiology: how the body works

• Pathology: how the body breaks down, is injured, or is destroyed

Pain is central to pathology because nearly all diseases, injuries, and dysfunctions involve pain.

Why Pain Exists (Purpose of Pain)

Pain is not a flaw, it is a survival mechanism.

1. Warning System

• Alerts the body to tissue damage or potential injury

• Prompts withdrawal from harmful stimuli

2. Learning Mechanism

• Negative reinforcement prevents repeated injury

• Example: touching a hot stove once teaches avoidance

Clinical Insight

People with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (a rare genetic disorder) cannot feel pain in the peripheral nervous system and are at high risk for:

• Burns

• Cuts

• Fractures

• Chronic injury without awareness

Pain is essential for survival.

Types of Sensory Receptors (Normal Sensation)

Before pain, we must understand normal sensation.

Mechanoreceptors

• Light touch (hair follicle movement)

• Pressure

• Proprioception (body position awareness)

Example:
You can touch your palm with eyes closed because muscle length receptors inform the brain of limb position.

Thermoreceptors

• Sense temperature within a normal physiological range

• Skin typically senses up to ~52°C (125°F) without tissue damage

Transition From Sensation to Pain

All sensory receptors operate within a safe range.

When stimuli exceed that range → pain receptors activate.

Nociceptors

• Activated by noxious stimuli

• Respond to:

  • Extreme heat or cold

  • Excessive pressure

  • Chemical irritation

  • Tissue damage

Pain begins when nociceptors fire.

Peripheral Nervous System: Pain Transmission

Neuron vs Nerve

• Neuron = single cell

• Nerve = bundle of neurons

Example: Ulnar Nerve

• Mixed nerve (sensory + motor)

• Supplies the pinky finger

Burning the pinky finger:

1. Nociceptor activates

2. Signal travels through the ulnar nerve

3. Enters the spinal cord

Spinal Cord Processing

The spinal cord is part of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Key Site

• Substantia Gelatinosa (dorsal horn of spinal cord)

• First synapse between:

  • Primary nociceptor neuron

  • Secondary ascending neuron

This site is critical for pain modulation.

Ascending Pain Pathway (Brain Processing)

Step 1: Brainstem

Secondary neuron ascends through:

• Medulla oblongata

• Pons

• Midbrain

Step 2: Thalamus

• Acts as a sensory relay hub

• Distributes pain signals to:

  • Sensory cortex

  • Limbic system

  • Other processing centers

Cortical Awareness of Pain

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

• Located in the parietal lobe

• Just posterior to the central sulcus

• Organized somatotopically:

  • Each body part maps to a specific cortical region

Conscious awareness of pain occurs here (and partially in the thalamus).

Emotional Component of Pain

Amygdala (Limbic System)

• Processes negative emotions

• Generates distress, fear, and avoidance

Why this matters:

• Pain must be unpleasant to discourage repetition

• Positive pain response would be maladaptive

Pain Modulation (Descending Control)

Pain does not remain maximal indefinitely.

Peri-aqueductal Gray (PAG)

• Surrounds the cerebral aqueduct in the midbrain

• Receives signals from the thalamus

Descending Pathway

1. Thalamus signals PAG

2. PAG activates descending neurons

3. Signals return to the substantia gelatinosa

4. Endogenous opioids are released

Effect

• Inhibits nociceptive transmission

• Reduces perceived pain

The body produces its own painkillers (endorphins, enkephalins).

Ventricular System (Relevant Anatomy)

• Lateral ventricles (2)

• Third ventricle (between thalami)

• Fourth ventricle (between brainstem and cerebellum)

• Cerebral aqueduct connects 3rd to 4th ventricle

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF):

• Produced in ventricles

• Cushions and protects the brain

Subjectivity of Pain

Pain is real, but subjective.

Phantom Limb Pain

• Occurs even when peripheral structures are gone

• Sensory cortex region remains active

• Brain-generated pain without peripheral input

Clinical Implication

Two people receiving the same injury will rate pain differently due to:

• Emotional state

• Prior experiences

• Cortical processing differences

Pain perception varies between individuals.

Key Takeaways

• Pain is a protective, adaptive mechanism

• It involves:

  • Peripheral nociceptors

  • Spinal processing

  • Brainstem transmission

  • Thalamic relay

  • Cortical awareness

  • Emotional interpretation

  • Descending modulation

• Pain is both physiological and psychological

• Despite extensive knowledge, pain perception remains incompletely understood

One-Line Summary

Pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience involving peripheral detection, central processing, emotional modulation, and endogenous control, essential for survival but uniquely subjective.

Mass Reading and Reflection for February 7th 2026

First Reading: (1 Kings 3:4–14)

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. 

Responsorial Psalm:  (Psalm 119)

Response: O Lord, teach me your statutes.

ALLELUIA:

Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL: (Mark 6:30–34)

REFLECTION:

At the dawn of the covid pandemic about six years go, most of us clinicians worked and also witnessed extraordinary selflessness by doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers, priests, religious, and even the ordinary people in the community worked and served others tirelessly, often at the cost of their own health, and many even lost their lives. Most of us did not think first of ourselves; we thought of the patients who were suffering. That is what it means to be truly human: to live in relationship, to reach out beyond oneself.

The first reading presents Solomon, a young king entrusted with a great responsibility. Faced with the weight of leadership, he does not ask for wealth, success, or power. Instead, he asks for wisdom-an understanding heart to discern between good and evil. His request is not self-serving; it is for the good of the people entrusted to him. Because his heart is rightly ordered, God grants him not only wisdom but also what he did not ask for.

The Gospel reveals the same spirit in Jesus. Though tired, though seeking rest with his disciples, Jesus sees the crowd and is moved with compassion. He does not turn inward; he turns outward. Seeing them as sheep without a shepherd, he teaches them many things. Jesus fulfills what Solomon prefigures-yet he is far greater than Solomon. Jesus is not merely given wisdom; he is the wisdom and Word of God.

This contrast is crucial. Adam and Eve desired to discern good and evil apart from God, to replace God. Solomon sought wisdom from God in order to serve others. Jesus, the Wisdom of God incarnate, gives himself completely for his people, even unto death on the cross.

So today we must ask ourselves:
Why do we seek God?
Is it for our own benefit alone?
Or do we seek God to know his will, to obey his word, and to serve others selflessly?

The Psalm gives us the answer:
“How shall the young remain pure on their way? By obeying your word.”

True wisdom is not knowledge for self-advancement. True wisdom is obedience to God, humility of heart, and compassion for others, even when we are tired, afraid, or stretched beyond comfort.

As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us pray for the grace to seek God not for what he can give us, but for who he is, so that, like Solomon and above all like Christ, we may discern rightly, live faithfully, and serve generously.

Amen

God bless you

Have a great weekend. 

Mass Readings for February 6, 2026

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

First Reading: (Sirach 47:2–11)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 18:31, 47, 50–51)
Alleluia: (Luke 8:15)
Gospel: (Mark 6:14–29)

From the first reading:

(Sirach 47:2–11)

David is praised as God’s chosen servant, victorious in battle, faithful in worship, and sustained by divine mercy. His strength, courage, and kingship are revealed not as personal achievements, but as gifts from God. Though imperfect, David’s heart remained deeply oriented toward the Lord, marked by repentance, praise, and enduring love for God.

PSALM, Psalm 18

Response: Blessed be God my salvation!

God’s way is perfect, and His promises are unfailing.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
The psalmist proclaims God’s greatness among the nations and praises His saving power.
The Lord grants victory and steadfast love to His anointed, showing mercy across generations.

Alleluia: (Luke 8:15)

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.

GOSPEL: (Mark 6:14–29)

King Herod hears of Jesus and is seized by fear, believing that John the Baptist has risen from the dead. The Gospel then recalls the events leading to John’s martyrdom. John had been imprisoned for condemning Herod’s unlawful marriage to Herodias. Though Herod recognized John as righteous and holy, Herodias harbored a grudge and sought his death.

During a banquet celebrating Herod’s birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced and pleased the king. Bound by his oath and fearful of losing face before his guests, Herod granted her request. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist. Though deeply distressed, Herod ordered John’s beheading. John’s disciples later came, took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

REFLECTION:

Today’s memorial honors Saint Paul Miki and his companions, martyrs of Japan who, like John the Baptist, remained faithful to Christ even unto death. Their witness echoes the courage of David and the steadfast trust proclaimed in today’s Psalm.

John the Baptist spoke the truth of God without fear, even when that truth confronted power, immorality, and corruption. Saint Paul Miki did the same, proclaiming Christ openly as he was led to crucifixion. Both lives remind us that authentic discipleship sometimes demands costly honesty and unwavering fidelity.

The Gospel also warns us of the danger of pride and fear. Herod knew that John was righteous and holy, and he even enjoyed listening to him. Yet when faced with a choice between truth and reputation, Herod chose pride over righteousness. Fear of human opinion became a prison that led to an irreversible and tragic decision.

In contrast, the First Reading presents us with a heart like David’s. Sirach praises David not because he was flawless, but because he loved God wholeheartedly. When he fell, he repented. When he was blessed, he praised. His life teaches us that God does not seek perfection, but a heart that continually turns back to Him.

The Alleluia reminds us that a generous heart, one that receives God’s word and perseveres, bears fruit. Faithfulness is not measured by comfort or success, but by endurance. The martyrs understood this truth deeply. Their perseverance became a harvest for the Church and a testimony that still speaks today.

PRAYER TODAY:

Lord God,
grant us the courage of John the Baptist,
the repentant and worshipful heart of David,
and the fearless witness of Saint Paul Miki and his companions.
Strengthen us to choose truth over comfort,
faith over fear,
and perseverance over compromise.
May our lives bear abundant fruit for Your glory.
Amen.

God bless you

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Pal Ronnie