Today is our spiritual mentor’s birthday. Who is he? Fr. Rodel Balagtas, pastor of Incarnation Church, Glendale. I recall his kindness in welcoming me at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in 2007. Thirteen years later, we are still very good friends. He influenced me to focus on #loveforMamaMary and in locating the subjects for my assignment in writing feature stories. Through his help, I have written on 51 Filipino, Irish, Mexican, Japanese Catholic priests and 2 bishops, all published in Asian Journal. He helped strengthen my marriage bonds, now on its 41 years. I am grateful that God chose him to be a good friend, as my faith in God deepens as we exchange stories, and what Pope Francis describes as “priestly closeness.” Happy Easter Monday Birthday po!!
It is my 36th day of #socialdistancing. I have been attending mass daily at Holy Family Artesia and Fr. Joachim Ablanida spoke of lawless guards who compromised their honor and position, slept on duty, and a chief priest who used deception, lies and money to satisfy their greed and evil plans. They concealed the truth. While Mary of Magdala, Mary and other women were overjoyed that what Jesus foretold became true. These women accepted the words of Jesus and they remind us to be faithful and to stand up for the truth.
I could not help the contrast between deceitful, greedy guards and loving, faithful women, much like Mama Mary and her love for Jesus and her cousin, Elizabeth.
I am finding my creative energies again to cook breakfast, bake banana muffins for #princess2015la and thank @charinavergara for my delivered orders from @titasofmanilaus. May God shield you with His Grace as you feed families all over Southern California and I pray your business grow exponentially!!!
