Overcoming Filipino Worries
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The Life-Changing Magazine No. 337 Vol. 31 APRIL 2018 Love Is Service Fight the Relationship Drift How to Help OFWs in Their Finances OFW: OVERCOMING FILIPINO KERYGMA BARCODE.pdf 11/16/06W O5:43:58RRIES PM Philippines P100 US $8.14 AUS $8.14 AMB. GRACE RELUCIO-PRINCESA Euro 5.07 UK 4.49 The newly-confirmed Philippine ambassador to the Vatican CDN $7.95 SING $9.42 HK $51.83 opens up about her love for God, our country, RUPIAH 103,000 and the Filipinos abroad God Wants to Be in Your Every Season The rituals and traditions that complement our faith can be overwhelming. Or they may seem archaic to others that their response is to become indifferent to these practices and celebrations. That’s why this book is a breath of fresh air to those who want to enliven their faith. Through this soul-kindling collection of homilies, Fr. Bob McConaghy invites us to take God’s hand and experience His love and presence in every season of the liturgical year. Father Bob gives light to theological truths by presenting them in easy- to-digest stories and insights. He gives practical ways to live out your faith during Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas, and the Ordinary Time. Let your spirit soak in love and grace at every season of the year as you deepen your relationship with the Lord. “Father Bob has a gift of delivering the truth from a fresh, different perspective. This book will help you embrace the teachings and traditions of our Catholic Church more. As you read these pages, you will find that you want to pray more, fast more, love more”. – Arun Gogna Bestselling author of Happy Secrets to an Obedient Life Fr. Bob McConaghy is a retired priest from the diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Having retired from active parish ministry for health reasons, he has come back to Manila, Philippines where he has been serving for eight years at Lorenzo Mission Institute Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati City, where he also lives. He is spiritual director to many of the seminarians there. Nowadays, he gives retreats and offers pastoral counseling in Greenbelt Chapel, also in Makati City. He has produced many DVDs and CDs of his seminars. For orders, call 725-9999 local 101-108 or log on to www.kerygmabooks.com DEEPER Ad.indd 1 3/1/18 10:41 AM God Wants to Be in Your Every Season The Boss The rituals and traditions that complement our faith can be overwhelming. Or they may seem archaic to others that their Lying Is as Old as the Sun response is to become indifferent to these practices and oday, I’m going to make you feel other people’s criticism—so we embellish the truth. celebrations. That’s why this book is a breath of fresh air to those uncomfortable. Because we’ll talk We pretend to be who we are not. about lying. Lying isn’t harmless. who want to enliven their faith. I know—all of us have lied. Lying is serious. It’s the devil’s job title. Jesus It's uncomfortable for you describes the devil as “a liar and the father of lies” because I’m sure you’ve lied a few (John 8:44, NIV). Through this soul-kindling collection of homilies, Fr. Bob McConaghy times in your life. About your age. Chronic lying is a thief that will steal away your invites us to take God’s hand and experience His love and presence in About your waistline. About your love life. freedom. Without truth in your life, you become a TForgive me, but if my article will sound theoretical, slave to your fears. That’s why Jesus said, "The truth every season of the liturgical year. that’s because as far as I know, I’ve never lied in my life. will set you free" (John 8:31, NIV). Not when I was a kid. Not when I was teenager. And That’s why the Bible lumps it with other serious not when I became an adult. sins: "But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, Father Bob gives light to theological truths by presenting them in easy- I have never lied… except right now. the immoral, those who practice magic, those who to-digest stories and insights. He gives practical ways to live out your Just kidding. worship idols, and all liars—the place for them is the All of us have lied. Probably me more than others. lake burning with fire and sulfur" (Revelations 21:8, faith during Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas, and the Ordinary Time. Lying is as old as the sun. More than four thousand GNT). years ago, Aaron, the spokesperson of Moses, lied. Today, I want to help you. May I "carefront" you? When the people saw that Moses was so long (That’s not in Webster. But it should be. We need Let your spirit soak in love and grace at every season of the year as you in coming down from the mountain, they gathered to learn the delicate art of confronting people with deepen your relationship with the Lord. around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will care.) Ask yourself these hard questions: When do go before us.” you lie? How do you lie? Are you pretending to be Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings someone you are not? Why are you lying? What are that your wives, your sons, and your daughters were you afraid of? wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took Today, I pray that God fill our heart with so much “Father Bob has a gift of delivering the truth from a fresh, different perspective. This book will help you off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took of His love, we no longer have to resort to lying and be embrace the teachings and traditions of our Catholic Church more. As you read these pages, you will find what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in comfortable with truth. the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. that you want to pray more, fast more, love more”. Please note that the Bible said that Aaron made the May your dreams come idol “fashioning it with a tool.” Let’s continue to read. true, When Moses approached the camp and saw the – Arun Gogna calf and the dancing, he said to Aaron, “What did these Bestselling author of Happy Secrets to an Obedient Life people do to you, that you led them into such a great sin?” “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (Exodus 32:1-4, 19, 21-24, NIV) Aaron said he just threw a bunch of gold jewelry Fr. Bob McConaghy is a retired priest from the diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Having retired from active parish ministry for health reasons, in the fire and voila! Like magic, the calf idol just he has come back to Manila, Philippines where he has been serving for eight years at Lorenzo Mission Institute Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati appeared. Gee whiz. Beats David Copperfield. City, where he also lives. He is spiritual director to many of the seminarians there. Nowadays, he gives retreats and offers pastoral counseling in Here’s the lesson: It’s easy to tell the truth when Greenbelt Chapel, also in Makati City. He has produced many DVDs and CDs of his seminars. we’re not under any pressure. At this point, Aaron was on the hot seat. His brother, Moses, was grilling him. When we’re under a lot of heat, that’s when we’re tempted to bend the truth. Remember when I said that there are only two basic emotions—love and fear? Lying comes from fear. Always. We lie because we’re afraid. We’re afraid of Bo's outfit courtesy of Elite Garments/SOLO of Elite courtesy outfit Bo's other people’s judgment, or other people’s rejection, or For orders, call 725-9999 local 101-108 or log on to www.kerygmabooks.com KERYGMA April 2018 1 DEEPER Ad.indd 1 3/1/18 10:41 AM mailroom Hi, Kerygma! Thank you for inspiring us. Reading I love reading Kerygma. It’s a very your magazine every day helps me to grow closer inspiring magazine. to God and to know Him better. It also helped me overcome depression. May you continue sharing Antonietta Guadalquiver this gift to other people. More power and God via Kerygma Books Facebook page bless! JC Thank you for this magazine. God via Kerygma Books Facebook page bless your company. Andre Gere What a life-changing read. I read Rex Mendoza’s via www.kerygmafamily.com article and it motivated me to work on my self-improvement without compromising my relationships. Thank you, Kerygma! Continue to inspire more people through this magazine and its Jo Guevera articles. via www.kerygmafamily.com Shevilson Villamil Hermosa via www.kerygmafamily.com You are leading people's lives to submit and glorify God. A big thanks to Kerygma. I am hoping to be part of it someday. Jamelo Nantes Ricacho via Kerygma Books Facebook page CONNECT WITH US! E-MAIL: [email protected] OR SEND TO: The Editor, 60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City Website: www.kerygmabooks.com Landline: 725-9999, 650-9733 Mobile: 0923-378-4941 kerygmabooks FOR SUBSCRIPTION-RELATED CONCERNS: E-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 0922-814-7031 (Sarah Discutido) Landline: 725-9999 locals 101 to 108 2 KERYGMA April 2018 Just Breathe Living by Grace ne day, my sister messaged me with an article about an American pastor who hails from a well-known OChristian church founded in Australia.