John emphasises his significance of love in the Gospel account and epistles. In John 5 : 9-12, he stated his commandments, “Love one another, as I love you.” It’s something that relates to my family as the eldest among the six. During my childhood I always take good care of my sisters and brother. I have given my love and devotion. Now as a mother of two, I have protected my children since they were babies. l always cherish them. I may have flaws and faults in life, but Jesus guided me to restore one of his commandments so that I may live happy again with love.
— Rowena P. Cada
Joseph in the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph forgave his brothers who tried to kill him. It reminds that God’s plan for Joseph to help save their lives during the terrible famine. This is a lesson about grace. God knows us and cares for us. A lesson of forgiveness and love I learned and practice in my life. Through the story of Joseph I learned that God has a plan for me and a purpose in everything that take place in my life and all I need to do is to trust and surrender my life to him.
— Ket Dian Capoy
One of the biblical character I can relate to is the prophet Jeremiah from the Old Testament. Prophet Jeremiah was a religious leader with great awareness and sensitivity to the socio political reality of his time. As a prophet of God, he sensed the pain and despair of his people and he identified with their situation. “Ah, Lord Yahweh I do not know how to speak I am still young”. Yahweh replied “Do not say, I am still young; for how you will go whatever be the mission I am entrusting to you, and you will speak whatever I command you to say.”’(1Jeremiah 6-7).
When I was chosen to be a leader of the group, beforehand a lot of questions arose in my mind, can I manage to handle the group in my weak personality. But like Jeremiah when God gave this task to me, I accepted it with faith that God is there to give me wisdom and to be guided by the power of the Holy Spirit.
— Lucrecia Lavega
I guess it would be St. Peter, when he denied Jesus three times and then went out and wept bitterly. I relate this to my sins, and I need to go to confession and beg forgiveness for “denying Jesus” through my sins.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Jesus is always there to forgive and comfort me.
I am glad this story of St Peter is documented in the Bible, because, even Great Saints have failed Jesus. And Jesus is always there to forgive and help me free from sin!
— Celeste McCormack
St. Anne the mother of our Blessed Mother Mary. Because of her maternal love and receptivity to God, St. Anne was able to raise Mary with grace. She was generated a life of purity in Mary by educating her by God’s wisdom. I can relate to St Anne because of a semblance, if not totally, of my late mother who passed away this Holy Thursday. She brought me and my late brother up as God-fearing children, closer to Jesus and to our Blessed Mother Mary. My mother molded us into a religious upbringing to have strong faith and always trust in God. In our young age she always brought us to attend the Sunday Masses and special festivities and celebration in the church.
Through her we learned to pray at dawn at 3 o’clock in the morning when the church bell rang, Angelus at 6.00 in the evening. She taught us always to pay respect specially to our elders, show kindness and have a compassionate heart to the needy. What I am today is my mother’s legacy, a friend, a sister to everyone..
– Febe Padernilla
Prophet Jonah, is one of the biblical character which I admired and his teaching that I can relate in today’s world and my personal life. As said, God is a loving and merciful God and he will forgive and save those who come to him in faith and repentance. Being an overseas worker, we experience trials, problems and discomforts like Jonah being swallowed by a whale. But through his prayers to God in his affliction, he was saved and God set him free from the belly of the whale. In life we should always live by faith, because without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
— Marcelina Refugio
My favourite bible character is King David because he already adored and honoured our God even when he was still a shepherd boy, and he adored and loved God more when he became King. He always gave and offered to God the best of his worship, treasure and livestocks. In my life I’m always trying my best to give my best in everything, specially in my work and in my service to others because I owe everything to God. It is he who gives all the best in my life, and so he deserves the best in me at all times.
— Maria Luisa Sapuan
