Pope Francis offers his take* on how home influences our faith [my commentary in brackets]:
“Faith opens a ‘window’ to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures.
‘Whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will not go unrewarded,’ Jesus says (Mark 9:41).
“These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children, by brothers and sisters. They are little signs of tenderness, affection, and compassion.
“Like the warm supper we look forward to at night [my mom‘s homecooking], the early meal awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work [my dad‘s coffee].
“Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs that make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life and life to grow in faith.”
*Pope Francis in the U.S.: Words of Mercy and Hope (2015), Daughters of St. Paul, pp. 22-23 ~ as said at the Closing Mass of the Eighth World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, Sunday, September 27, 2015.
^– I actually used this passage as my pre-brunch prayer of grace with my parents today! –^
Bearing in mind these homely gestures, let’s also consider our cultures and upbringings…
Have you ever wondered why your parents act the way they do then realize that you’re turning out more like them as you grow up?
So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!
Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.”
~ I Corinthians 15:33
Assignment ~ “study the playbook” (The Bible**) to “know the plays” {for the truth and our service as we proclaim GOD’s Word}
Christ’s message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.
So Jesus said to those who believed him, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
~ John 8:31-32
Spiritual Sources
*Grassi, J. E. (2013). Guts grace and glory: A football devotional. New York, NY: Thomas Nelson. (p. 69)
**Rainbow Studies, Inc. (2000). The Catholic Rainbow Study Bible: Good News Translation (2nd ed.). El Reno, OK: Rainbow Studies International.
The highlight of my stay was when I sat in my Tita Fe‘s gourmet kitchen with Mami Aya, her siblings and their spouses ~ during which my MD aunts and uncles, who included
Tita Fe & Tito Rudy (my mom’s oldest sister and her husband)
Tito Robert & Tita Yollie (my mom’s youngest brother & his wife)
each endorsed me for my PhD ~ providing their sound advice that I’ll take with me as I progress toward my doctoral dissertation defense.
When I lived in the 🌅Bay🌉 Area, home to Western Conference Champions, the Golden State Warriors, who beat Eastern Conference Champs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in last night’s 🏀NBA Finals🏆 Game 1, I actually had friends who walked their 🐈cats {Happy Belated Hug-Your-Cat😻 Day yesterday, by the way}
This morning, I joined Mami Aya and Coco 🐰Bunny🐇 on their 🐾walk! #QTwithThisCutie
Since my mom’s taking care of my sis’ Yorkie, they’ve been 👣walking👟 everyday, and I made a point to join them this time around!
We went to my Bestie’s 🏡house🏠 now that we’re neighbors, so Coco made friends with the Cake🎂 and Cookie🍪 Corgies: Twinkie and Oreo!
Angelic Annie is the prayerful† pet ~ reverent with our Rosary!
This glow-in-the-dark Rosary goes well with reverent Angelic Annie‘s green eyes ^_^
Last Memorial Day🇺🇸 weekend, I longed to stay home🏡 and relax with my Double A😻 ~ to play andpray✌ ~ before teaching this summer☼ and my work trips🚘 slated for next month!
To kick it off, my bestie‘s family held Mass💒 at their new blessed 🏠home! Her always generous mom was sweet🍭 enough not just for the food🍛 that she cooked🍗 and baked🎂 for their guests, but also for sending me home with plenty of leftovers🍱 and one of the beautiful flower💐 center pieces!
Before I followed in my mom’s lead by bringing them to the 🙏Virgin …
… My 🐱girls🐯 and I enjoyed 🌺them, and I made the most out of my QT with my ♥cuties! K&K‘s💪 FFF book📖 (2015) cited research🔬 from 📙Journal of Evolutionary Psychology that revealed how fresh flowers🌷 provoke 🌻joy!
FYI: Due to my the heavy load ahead for my remaining dissertation🎓 work ahead, I may not post📓 on here as much. Best wishes of blessings† to all who stay in my loop📳 as I deliver the scoop🍦 … and I seek y’all to please send good vibes☺️ and lift yours truly in ☝prayer, thank y’all! ✌
Roman (Tyrese Gibson) is NOT an effective leader because
insists on making decisions ~ authoritative
claims to delegate ~ laissez faire = lazy
stays on aircraft✈️ while the rest of his crew go airborne🚀 ~ lack of setting an example
Speaking of leadership, the opening feature that Edwin and I watched at the Drive-In before our main event also showed lessons:
Home 🏡
This animation actually starred the vocals of actors Jon Parsons (Sheldon Cooper from CBS’ Big Bang Theory) and Steve Martin, plus singer-actresses Rihanna and J-Lo! 🗼
Without revealing too much {I wouldn’t want to spoil it for the kiddos}, a seemingly-unlikely character eventually becomes an emerged leader whom his purple peers look up to over their appointed leader after showing them how valuable friendship (pink) and happiness (orange) can be! Plus, who doesn’t like to dance? 💃
📒Ford-Brown, L. (2014). DK Guide to Public Speaking.Professional Speaking in Groups (pp. 444-458). Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Side note: Although F7 already has been out on the 🎬big screen🎥 for almost four solid weeks, this has been my first time to fit it into my schedule. Definitely. Worth. The. Wait. 🎦
Una más: Both of these aforementioned films featured exotic babes with curly ringlets: Home starred a native of Barbados who was a 😻cat🐈 mama (Happy Early Mother’s Day💐 to us as well), and Furious 7 had a hot hacker with a sizzling accent! Underlying theme of the night! 🌠🌙🌌
Welcome/Mabuhay/¡Biénvenidos! I am a USAF brat who was born in Germany and grew up State-side while celebrating my Catholic and Filipino heritage. ☼Sunny☼ DISPOsition Elaine’s Eye Candy/DISPhotos ~ I love GOD & His creations, so I take photos @ any given opportunity. Elaine DISPOrts ~ I am passionate about sports, which is my research focus on my ... Continue reading →
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