Filipino News April 2017

APRIL 2017. ISSUE 99 | www.filipinonews.nz | filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477, 09 838 1221 | www.pinoynzlife.nz 05
FAITH
CORNER
By BRENDAN &
ELLY ROBERTS
Do you recognise the hand
of God in your daily life? Do
you thank Him when you
awake in the morning,
throughout the day and
when you lay your head
down to sleep?
There are many times
Gratefulness
for moments
of grace
throughout
our daily
lives that
we can see
God's presence
and
actions
(grace). We
can see
H i m
through the
smiles of others and even
through the joy springing up
in one's heart.
We can see his grace when
we hold a newborn baby in
our arms; seeing the beautiful
gift of life as well as
being as fragile as a butterfly.
His grace is also so evident
when that baby smiles
and you see hearts melting
just when someone looks at
the infant. It's like there is an
automatic switch, especially
for women, when they see a
newborn baby for the first
time. Their motherly instincts
kick in.
We can also see God's
grace just by looking at a
sunset, with the beautiful
interplay of colours dancing
before our eyes, mesmerising
us. Lovers
often get such a
buzz watching a
sunset or a sunrise
together.
God's presence
is also shown
through many aspects
of nature,
with the birds
singing with delight. Here in
New Zealand we have the
Tui, with a white tuft on its
neck and as it perches on a
branch it brings forth such a
beautiful melody.
Creation itself is so beautiful.
We have billions of
galaxies in our universe.
Within our own planet the
creativity of God is so
breathtaking. In the beauty
of mountains and forests and
even in the intricate workings
of the human cell we
see God's hand print.
We can also see God's
actions in the power of the
ocean. Sitting on the beach
watching the waves we see
God's handiwork. The waves
point us towards something
much greater.
As Catholics we believe
that the Lord works powerfully
through His grace in
the Sacraments. We are
cleansed totally through the
Sacrament of Reconciliation
and we can truly see
God's presence through faith
in the Sacrament of the Holy
Eucharist.
In fact all religions that
have a sacred book believe
in God's presence in that
book. Whether it be the
Jews with the Hebrew
Scriptures, the Muslims
with the Koran or us
Christians with the Holy
Bible.
As Christians we have the
fullness of scriptures because
Christ came to fulfil
the Old Covenant. Sacred
Scripture tells us that the
New Covenant is the cup of
Christ's blood. This is not
some Dan Brown concoction
related to the Da Vinci
Code, but it is Jesus giving
Himself totally to us through
the Sacraments.
We also see God's grace
through each other. When
someone helps a stranger we
see God at work.
When someone gives to
the poor we see God's blessing.
And when someone is a
true friend we see God's
hand.
In fact God smiles at all of
these occurrences, because
we are being Him to others.
We are letting our lights
shine as Jesus calls us to in
Sacred Scripture.
I'm sure that this article
can help you see God's presence
and actions in your
daily life. So reflect on other
occurrences recently where
you saw God's hand.
Maybe you defended
someone from being mistreated.
Or you helped an old person
who was struggling with
their groceries.
Maybe you stopped yourself
from becoming angry, or
you thought twice and
stopped yourself from doing
something that would have
hurt someone.
All of these are examples
of grace.
What has happened in
your life that you can see
was the result of God's
grace? Thank God that He
has been at work in your life,
even though you didn't see it
at the time. Thank Him that
you could even wake up
today. You can even spend a
brief amount of time each
night thanking God for ten
blessings that you received
that day.
Saint Mother Teresa said
that we should view challenges
as gifts. This can help
change our mindset to see
God in others and even to
help us reflect on what
annoyed us when we have
the power to view it as a
blessing rather than a curse.
Continue to let your light
shine and seek His grace,
especially through the sacraments
of Reconciliation and
Holy Communion, because
how truly great is our God!
Editor - Brendan and Elly
Roberts were speakers at this
year’s Auckland Eucharistic
Convention. Their topic:
‘Finding Love God’s Way’