Month: June 2020

On the Occasion of Fathers Day Celebration

by Roger, posted in Celebration

Family is considered as the basic unit of the society. It is in this unit where cultural mastery is simulated before individual finally mainstream into it. The persons responsible in the making are none other than married couple who commit to perform their respective roles in the family as functional unit of the society.

A typical family, always have a father and a mother. However, in this changing times and complexities of life, a person may become a father figure or a mother figure depending on their role in the family. But, regardless of the status, recognition should not fall short on its kind and classification. Being a father by virtue of marriage or by role does not really matter as the world looks forward to congratulate all the fathers of the world.

Today’s Fathers day celebration is considered as one of a kind. We all know how fathers have offered their lives in exchange for the welfare of their beloved families while beating the odds of life. They become warriors in their own way acknowledging no defeat just to provide the needs of their families.  And for this, congratulations to all the fathers.

Fathers are worthy to be congratulated as they perform the following roles:

  1. As protector of the family. Families are confidently safe with the presence of the father or a father figure substitute. He will never allow anyone to hurt any member of the family in his watch.
  2. He is the powerhouse of the family. Being such, the father is the independent figure of the family who may have everything upon request. He is the person who could hardly say no to the children’s request. He is the one who opens up the world to their children.
  3. He shows unconditional love and respect to their partner. He is the person who understands difficult circumstances of life for the good of the family.
  4. Despite being busy, he always looks forward to have a quality time of his family for bonding and nurturing closer family relationship.
  5. Though his love abounds in all occasion, they never fails to correct their children as part of the formation and developmental processes.
  6. Though fathers are considered as the bread earner of the family, they always find time to teach their children about the ways of life and closely assist and monitor their presence and performance in school.

The mentioned roles are reminders for us to look into and quantify how our fathers are doing everyday. The mentioned  duties and responsibilities cannot be taken for granted for without them doing seriously, society could be sick and terrible. Great are their contribution to the society that even worldwide celebration is not enough to compensate the nature and impact of their contribution.

In the final note, it is my joy and honor to congratulate all the fathers of the world, father by marriage and father by role, of the great things they have done to their respective family. May all continue to serve their family members up to the last breath of their lives.

PRAYER TO ALL THE FATHERS

Father God, we thank you for all the blessing you have given to all the fathers of the world. We thank you for keeping them strong, faithful and loyal to their respective duties and responsibilities as the head of the family. Thank you for keeping them safe on their way to look for all the provision of this life most especially against the  danger pose by the pandemic COVID 19.

Heavenly Father we are lifting up to you ,all the fathers of the world, into your divine care and protection so that they may become an  object of  hope, strength,  and inspiration of their family in this trying time. This we hope and pray. Amen.

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LUKE 2:41-51 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION ( JUNE 20, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Every year, the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was customary. And when Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with them, according to the custom of this feast. After the festival was over, they returned, but the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents did not know it. They assumed that he was in their group of travelers, and, after walking the whole day, they looked for him among their relatives and friends. As they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem, searching for him; and, on the third day, they found him on the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. And all the people were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents were very surprised when they saw him; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your Father and I were worried while searching for you.”

POINTS OF REFLECTION

This Bible reading highlighted the occasion wherein Jesus left the crowd of his parents and chooses to be with the teachers listening and asking questions. Upon the knowledge of  Mary and Joseph that Jesus was not with the crowd leaving Jerusalem, they search for him and there found Jesus in the Temple with the Teachers. Seeing Jesus, Mary who was overwhelmed with so much worries said “Son, why have you done this to us? Your Father and I were worried while searching for you.”

Humanity has so much to worry about life. They worry for supplies, securities, future, profession, positions, love life, etc. They are too much occupied by their daily activities and advancement like Mary and Joseph who were not able to make notice when Jesus had left the crowd until the next day.

Much of our worries belong to this world. However, regardless of how many worries we may have now, this Bible reading reminded us that none of these worries are worth worrying for. Mary and Joseph did worry when Jesus was nowhere to be found in the accompanying crowd. That is why; the real thing that is worth worrying of this life is the tendency of losing the kingdom of God without Jesus.

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MATTHEW 11: 25-30 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JUNE 19, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

On that occasion, Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, praise you; because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to simple people. Yes, Father, this was your gracious will.

Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy; and my burden is light.”

POINTS OF REFLECTION

This Bible reading speaks to us the greatness of God’s love. The Father unpacked himself through Jesus who for long time, in the period of the Old Testament, has remained hidden to the wise and the learned few. Through Jesus, He has made himself known to us as He said” No one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to Reveal him.”

Ancient Greek Philosophers hold the beliefs that Supreme Being cannot be “moved” or “touched” by anything that go on in the world. They added, He is “detached”, and “unconcerned” because his perfection prevent him from being moved by the plight of the mortal. But God showed the complete opposite of their stance by letting him known to the simple people.

Knowing God is neither a choice nor an accident but by His grace for it is He who chooses whom He may reveal himself.  In the context of the Bible, God chooses to reveal himself to the simple people not to the wise and to the learned. It is to the people like them whom God entrusted his identity by grace and love.

God clearly revealed to us Christian His Sacred Heart as opposed to the beliefs of the wise and the learned. When Jesus immerse to this world, showed that He weeps with us, he care for us and even died for us. His love is so great and pure as he said to comfort “come to me who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Not only that, He even offered his yoke in exchange of his, meaning He is truly moved and touched by the plight of human.

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MATTHEW 6: 7-15 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JUNE 18, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do; for they believe that, the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need, even before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as in heaven. Give us today, our daily bread; forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who are in debt to us. Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from evil one.

If you forgive others their wrongdoings, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

In this Bible reading, Jesus taught us how to pray. Though it is okay to recite the “Lord’s Prayer” Jesus had taught us some two thousand years ago  would be better if we would go a little further by visualizing it beyond the literal lines.

When we say “Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as in heaven” the whole thing tells us to recognize how powerful God is, and worthy of our love and praises. Saying “Give us today, our daily bread” means that God is quick to answer for our needs of survival not for our wants and luxuries. Saying” Forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who are in debt to us” means asking forgiveness of our trespasses to God with the promise of forgiving others in away like a child does keeping no memories of hatred of the past. It is in fact letting go of those who have severely offended us day by day. Saying “Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from evil one” means, we also need to pray for God’s deliverance on hard trials and evil one of this life.

In totality, the prayer Jesus taught us how, highlighted what we need to prioritize of this life which includes: knowing and loving God in a way of adoration, asking Him enough only for this life, asking for His pardon with the promise of doing the same to others, freeing us from the test of life, and deliverance from the evil one. Thus, Christian believer adopted this prayer format alliterated as ACTS which means Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

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MICRO-SCHOOL HEAD VS. MACRO-SCHOOL HEAD

by Roger, posted in Leadership

One of the very important persons in a learning institution is the school head. The school head is not only a leader but also a manager. As leader, he/she needs to inspire people to follow his/her lead towards the vision of the school. As manager, he/she needs to be a good implementer and organizer according to the plan laid out in the School’s Improvement Plan in a couple of three years. Along this professional journey to achieve excellence, school heads could not help but little by little may become a micro-school head or a macro-school head depending on the way he/she responded to the challenging moments attach to the duties and responsibilities over time.

A school head may become micro-school head when it manifest the following: failed to delegate school task among teachers, focus much on doing details rather than the big picture, taking lightly to no consideration on the suggestions of others for selfish authority, box creativity of teachers seeing only better ideas of himself, does not obtain feedback and advice, more of telling others on how to do their work and demand dependence among his/her teachers.

On the other hand, a school head may become a macro-school head when he/she manifest the following: ultimate direction is the goal, empowers the teachers to hone their creativity for a better result, motivate teachers to achieve more for professional growth and development, get into the task of the teacher to provide support and rescue in difficult situation, articulates expectations among teachers to be performed and provide necessary materials and other support system for the teachers success.

In general, micro-school heads are school heads who are more likely to become a manager rather than a leader. They are seen as high task and low relationship for teachers are force to do the task without their motivation of doing it. Their performance and product outputs are not fashioned with love but merely a result of compliance in so much pressure and disgust. As a result, they will do only what is required of them.

Macro-school head are school heads who are more likely to become a leader rather than a manager. They are seen as high task and high relationship for teachers are motivated to do the assigned task more than what is required from them because they are given the freedom to show their creative expressions to produce the required outputs. As a result, their performance and product outputs would be fashioned with love and so much dedication with the joy of doing it.

Finally, being a micro-school head or a macro-school head is not a choice but rather a gradual result of unconscious leadership and managerial drift  over a period of time with the bombardment of some leadership and managerial issues and concerns along the way.

 

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MATTHEW 6: 1-6, 16-18 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JUNE 17, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Be careful not to make a show of your good deeds before people. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven. When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be noticed in the synagogues and in the streets,  in order to be praised by people. I assure you, they have their reward. If you give something to the poor, do not let your left know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not be like those who want to be noticed. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners,  in order to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have their reward. When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you.

When you fast do not put on a miserable face, as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face so that people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father, who sees beyond appearances; And your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Doing well to our fellow men is doing any good to the Father in heaven. Those deeds that are left unrewarded here on earth would be rewarded by the Father in heaven. But why happen in this way?

Brothers and sisters in Christ, God is a loving God and could not endure watching the sacrifices and heartbreaks of men without Him being involve. Remember God promise not to ever leave us alone. Hence, God always take more than half of our struggles, undertaking and frustration of this life. Seeing someone and having a heart to those who are  in so much pain and difficulty is like seeing God’s presence in them. Helping a person in suffering is simply helping God of His suffering for God shares that suffering with him. And if the human counterpart of that sufferer cannot offer a reward to compensate that goodness, then the Father will prepare a reward for you in heaven.

Jesus said “If you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted, instead do it in a way like your left hand without knowing what your right hand is doing.” Meaning it’s better doing good in the joy of the Lord rather than doing something to be recognized in public. Tell you, blessings abound to those who are considered joyful giver.

Remember, whether we like it or not much of ourselves belong to this world that we are now living. Doing self denials like: giving support to the poor, doing fasting, doing penance and other acts of reparation out of our sins are like trading off our worldly lures, desires and belongings  in exchange to the heavenly merit that God had prepared for us in Heaven.

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MATTHEW 5: 43-48 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy. But this I tell you:  love your enemies; and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good; and he gives rain to both the just and the unjust. If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? As for you, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Human are bounded of their own earthly limitation. They relate among others by a cup of equality not just in a matter of act but even more to emotional upkeep. We were taught by Jesus how important to have a good relationship to God by way of having a perfect loving relationship with the people around us. But wait; can we imagine ourselves within the forefront of our enemy? This is going to be very difficult. On this, God reminded us that if we hate our enemy we are no different to the tax collectors and the pagans. Of course, we do not want to be like them. We wanted to free ourselves from sins and live with Jesus in heaven.

My dear brothers and sisters, God told us in this Bible reading to love our enemies and pray for them and have faith in His promise to become children in heaven. This is the real justice and righteousness that God wants us to do to the rest of our lives. God really wanted us to exemplify His great love on us. Thus, this Bible reading speaks about justice and righteousness of God to man which is none other than the greatness of His love.

Views: 35

MATTHEW 5: 43-48 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (June 16, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy. But this I tell you:  love your enemies; and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good; and he gives rain to both the just and the unjust. If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? As for you, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Human are bounded to their own earthly limitation. They relate among others by a cup of equality not just in a matter of act but even more to emotional upkeep. We were taught by Jesus how important to have a good relationship to God by way of having a perfect loving relationship with the people around us. But wait; can we imagine ourselves within the forefront of our enemy? This is going to be very difficult. God reminded us that if we hate our enemy we are no different from the tax collectors and the pagans. Of course, we do not want to be like them. We wanted to free ourselves from sins and live with Jesus in heaven.

My dear brothers and sisters, God told us in this Bible reading to love our enemies and pray for them and have faith in His promise to become children in heaven. This is the real justice and righteousness that God wants us to do to the rest of our lives. God really wanted us to exemplify His great love on us. Thus, this Bible reading speaks about justice and righteousness of God to man which is none other than the greatness of His love.

Views: 61

MATTHEW 5: 38-42 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION

by Roger, posted in Education Updates

You have heard, that it was said: An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you this: Do not oppose evil with evil; if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn and offer the other. If someone sues you in court for your shirt, give him your coat as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give when asked, and do no turn your back on anyone who wants to borrow from you.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

This particular gospel reading serves as the fundamental basis of civil law to promote peace and order by way of putting an end to the cycle of vengeance when someone committed a violation to their fellow men. It is highlighted in the gospel that evil should not be opposed with evil, like in the case of vengeance. Instead, justice must be served to compensate the nature of offense being committed by the offender. An expression of  ” an eye for an eye” and ” a tooth for a tooth” means equal compensation should be afforded to the victim facilitated by the enforcer not by the victim perse unto the offender.

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