Today, I woke up in the embrace of my hubby. Though scared I was, I told him to remember how much I love him, just in case this virus claims me, an asthmatic. He said, “We are in this together. We will survive.” That made me smile. I attended Holy Family Artesia’s livestreamed mass. 857 devices tuned in, some attend as a family of 4, so there could be over a thousand attending.
We are all in the tomb, much like Lazarus, inside a cave. What would we look like when we emerge from the tomb? Will we become lesser people, decaying from within or are we finding ways to keep our fruitfulness? We have the chance to review our values such that when the stone of our personal tombs is rolled away, will we be raring to go, to be set free to become our best selves for a better world, exhibiting sincerity of service and embodying the Joy of the Cross.
Homily of Fr. John Cordero
I also attended an earlier mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles with Fr. Rolly Clarin. 97 of us were tuned in. His homily spoke of “Do we have a confident faith in God that He is by our side. We are the Church, the people who pray together, not the buildings. The Church is the people and is still alive. We continue to thrive as God is in us.”
Context – Coronavirus has 691,867 confirmed cases with 32,988 deaths. US has the highest confirmed cases of 125,433 and 2, 201 deaths.
Day 22 of social isolation breakfast of leftover adobo, which tastes better, days after it was cooked, the challah bread baked by Corina, scrambled eggs with tomatoes and homegrown avocados. It is so silent that I can hear the bees buzzing in our orange tree and the birds tweeting.
Another good news, ozone hole in the earth is healing due to the Paris Agreement and shutdown of global movement except that of essential personnel and logistics workers. I am actually breathing easier and needing inhalers only once a day.
My 21st day of social distancing. It is not easy. I wake up and get going at 10am. But, with daily livestreamed mass, I come upon God’s grace through the homilies. Today’s homilist is Fr. Joachim Ablanida who described:
It must be, as much as we will have to correct, as truly as we must face unpleasant realities all of our days, let us recognize and praise the thousands of beauties of life around us; the many wonderful examples of virtuous living; the strengths and the courage of so many souls; the exceptional talents and achievements of our family members, neighbors, and associates; the countless blessings that we have been given. As has been quoted by so many, but seems to fit well here, ‘Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one the stars.
Frederick Langbridge
He is essentially stripping the blinders off of our eyes – do you see God as the light of hope in these dark moments?” I offered my mass intentions for moms about to deliver, two that I know, and I pray God’s shroud embrace and protect them.
To me, reports of rainbow sightings give me so much hope, as noticing new blooms in the praying plant given by my handsome favorite son, as the glass artwork done by my beautiful favorite daughter in high school. Corina is good with her hands, look at these challah loaves she gave us. I paired it with daing na bangus, fresh tomatoes and guinataang kalabasa with shrimps from Tita’s of Manila.
I am grateful for my cds that I am listening to and jokes from my hubby who vacuumed the entire house while I did laundry and bathrooms.
My 20th day of being home bound. Thank you God for another day that I can breathe. I just attended Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi Blessing in St. Peter’s Square with a 1522 Cross, livestreamed and watched live on 113,000 devices. This 15th century cross was spared inside a burnt church, and even had a lighted candle when found. This cross was taken out in the streets of Rome at the height of plague. Plague disappeared after several days of exposition to residents and taken to Via de Corso.
I thought I would not be affected as it is via Facebook but I had goosebumps three times. Pope Francis is spiritually profound, guided by the Holy Spirit in how he gave us words of comfort, and how we have allowed ourselves to be dull and feeble, involved in projects that anesthetize us.
Our belonging as brothers and sisters was emphasized and that the force of the Spirit poured out to save lives. We must find the courage to create, powered by the Holy Spirit. (this got to me as I feel unable to write a piece for publication, like a dry rock). We need the Lord just like the ancient navigators relying on the stars to find their way. (Remember Magellan, Vasco de Gama). Why are you afraid? Have you yet no faith?, Pope Francis continued.
I again watched the livestreamed mass Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia which unusually had gaps in livestreaming, about ten times. Yesterday, it was the volume of the priest’s microphone that was having issues. I wondered who and what is causing these interruptions? Yet, Fr. John Cordero persisted with patience and told us this is a chance to reexamine our lives – there’s a meaning if we are patient enough to wait, all 230 devices plugged in to watch.
Who is my hero for today? Charina Vergara owner of Titas of Manila Filipino Kitchen delivered dinner for 5 and we were just so happy to see her with online orders, mask, gloves to protect her and deliveries, again at a distance.
I just want to share that this chicharon product is the best my husband and I tasted. It is not greasy, it is not salty and it is quite fresh.
I am so blessed because of this angel of mercy, Charina Vergara, who kindly favored us with our online orders from her Titas of Manila Filipino Kitchen. Just love the bravery of this good friend of mine as her good sanitary practices in delivering. Hooray Cha, and I included you in my daily mass intentions today.
I am also grateful to you Joe Bernardo and Elaine Dolalas for setting up the Facebook group – I feel connected to our wonderful community supporting these businesses and feeling empowered we are together.
Next week, another business to support. Let’s make this happen, folks. They can survive if we keep supporting them.
And I increased my tips to 30% – hey, these are unusual times to be more generous, kinder and supportive.
Today, I braved being out and quickly walked to deliver the food I ordered to my daughter’s family. In turn, she handed me freshly baked sourdough loaf. I am happy that my #princess2015la liked the milk fish.
I also sent a donation check to a warmhearted friend, Lee Mikuriya who is quiet about her generosity of providing sacks of rice to her family and added extra for the neighbors in the Philippines.
It is in loving our family, our friends, our neighbors, our community that we can survive.
First, I continue to connect to livestreamed mass of Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia. Today’s homily came from Fr. John Cordero. He talked to Bishop Marc Trudeau who shared that whenever something horrible happens, something good follows. He shared that God allows for conversion, that God comes in ways we don’t expect..”Pray with peace in your heart – Lord, your will for me is just as best for each one of us.” I gathered to pray for deeper connections such that all 270 that are tuned in, as the rest of the community, state, nation and the world be “wrapped in the mantle of God’s grace,” as Fr. John aptly said.
When I checked Sunday’s livestreamed mass, it was viewed by 11,000 facebook friends. The Catholic Church is even made more alive. Imagine if each of those tuned in simply used Venmo, Zelle, PayPal and gave to e-giving holyfamilyartesia.org or send a check to them. I gave through facebook link. He also announced the mass can be viewed also on YouTube. “May our hearts grow fonder,” Fr. John said and gave an assignment to check on the elderly to make them feel they belong.
Second, I saw a friend, now praying more, Akima post a short video of the double rainbows he saw this morning. Fr. Joachim aptly spoke about rainbows yesterday that Native Americans believe them as soul pathways while others consider them as bridges to heaven. Oh my – and the title of my first book, Even The Rainbow Has A Body came to mind.
Third, I noticed the first blooms of the white flowers on our pear tree. Noticed its dried leaves? Isn’t that a good sign that God is with us? And the cymbidiums have new blooms too.
It opened my eyes some more that God has a dream, the book of Bishop Desmond Tutu, and perhaps, we are seeing the least of us are now exalted as the most essential: Amazon drivers, Grubhub drivers, small businesses who supply us food, garbage truck workers who pick up our trash.
When you see Italy’s Prime Minister bemoaned the loss of part of his nation, greater than 4,800 deaths, specifically 1,895 deaths in 3 days, you cry with him. All I could do was attend livestreamed masses. Yesterday, March 22, I attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Church – Los Angeles and hearing Pete Avendano’s voice gave me hope that Blessed Mother is with us. 101 of us listened to Fr. Rolando Clarin give a vulnerable, humble, and inspiring homily of “nothing can stop us to show the world our faith as we ask create in me a clean heart, O Lord.” He declared, “Triumphant Together by the Grace of God!”
I switched to catch on my laptop livestreamed mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, officiated by Archbishop Jose Gomez where 842 of us watched. There was a somber mood at this huge cathedral usually with over 2,000 folks, now empty, yet with good acoustics for its organ music.
I managed to switch to Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia and I was so inspired to see 972 of us watched Fr. John Cordero who eloquently gave a hopeful message for priests to be given the strength to be the Lord’s sheperds. He also cited Maya Angelou’s quote about “the storm will run of water soon, that its gray clouds will not follow us, that this will clear up and we will feel the love and presence of God, so be joyful, exalt for we have the loving God.”
Imagine nearly a thousand livestreaming to this church, add the 842 plugged into the Cathedral and 101 at Immaculate and that’s almost 2,000 plugged in to attend Sunday masses.
My tears got triggered after my 5 year old apo and daughter came by, waving at a 7 foot distance. I just love my family checking up on us.
Today, Monday, March 23, 2020, Fr. Joachim Ablanida preached to 269 of us. He gave some tips of how to deal with this quarantine, much like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz who went someplace and sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow. He advised reading books, including reading the Bible from cover to cover, from Genesis to the Revelation. He described seeing the multiple colored arc of the rainbows, and how Native Americans consider those pathways of souls while others consider them as floating bridges to heaven. Notice that folks are seeing so many rainbows, yet there are no gray clouds, they simply appear in blue skies. Do you now feel God’s presence abounds? Just remove the clay blinders in our eyes and we will all see God’s beauty.
Even the ex-atheists doctors in Italy posted last night’s experience of seeing a 70+ year old Catholic priest minister last rites to the hundreds of bodies, yet with peace and joy in his heart that the doctors asked and implored God’s mercy, seeing his infectious joy. He was not rejoicing at deaths in the thousands, but he embodied Christ’s joyful love to these grief-stricken doctors, now self-proclaimed ex-atheists. What a miracle of conversion!
Happy happy birthday to my dear mentor Fritz Friedman, read his post on his personal beatitudes and you will be inspired. He is a luminous light, shining brightly for 70 years! I love you my dear friend!
There are lots of bright rays of sunshine – catch them, and most of all, the inequities around us are being addressed. Just read through my timeline and you will be uplifted as the least of us are being lifted up: given more wages, hazard pay and sick leave. Thank you to the businesses taking care of their employees during this stressful quarantine period!
It is easy to be depressed. But, if you become an ASH, it is so much easier. How, some may I ask? First, what is to be an ASH, according to a small in height, but so powerful in impact homilist, Fr. Joachim Ablanida of Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia. ASH stands for A – Almsgiving. S – Sacrifice for others and H – Holiness.
A – almsgiving to me is more expansive. It meant, buy gift certificates for the restaurants I go to. I also donated to a musician building his tiny House, but cannot do public gigs, but before #CoronaVirus has been hardworking.
But, first donate online to churches I attend livestreamed masses, Holy Family at 1215 noon and Incarnation Church at 530pm – go to their sites on facebook, click on live window, at that hour. When I first attended, there were 94 of us. It increased to 143 next day, then 292 and rosary after, we were at 444 strong. Yesterday, 255 attended mass and today March 21, there were 232 of us.
S – sacrifice for others, go beyond yourself. Think of others you can serve. I stopped baking and I could not give baked goods to neighbors. But, my dear wonderful young children, the millenials are practicing empathy and generous about their time. They have been delivering us food for the day, ordered online from restaurants they want to keep open. I included my sweet octogenarian neighbor who then shares his dinner with another octogenarian neighbor- so sweet to see them support each other, Larry and Bonnie. So from one delivery that Corina makes, she is helping keep alive not just me, not just hubby, but 2 more neighbors and the families of those employed at the restaurant. One act of her kindness becomes multiplied or exponentially becomes 10 benefitted. I also gave my children the gift certificates to keep my favorite restaurant open. Sorry, I cannot travel to my other favorite restaurants.
H – Holiness of making our thoughts purer and our hearts purer, like God. This is a lifelong journey for us all. This is where the contradiction happens – some are Republican supporters of this current 45th yet folks stay silent about the con job this man does during this pandemic and one who persists in lying and cannot tell the truth. He is advocating for unsafe treatment to be used, not listening to scientists, making us and all those listening to him, feel even more unsafe and insecure that he has no handle on this.
But for me, miracles abound and one of that is to get a prayer from my hubby and a promise of giving to one of the churches, livestreaming masses.
Second, I still watch Crash Landing On You, as it has scenes not just of love. but how folks survive adversity by creating communities, but also how a con man could not sustain his life by conning others until he gave his life for the woman he loved. I love the sweetness of love in its minutest details but also how this Korean movie portrays us that when authorities of the government are corrupt, no one is safe and all are unsafe.
Life is about prayers, having hope that your prayers are answered, it is about justice, fairness, humanity, sharing, sacrifice, and ultimately, that love that makes everyone happy, safe and sound. Life, liberty and happiness and when the global health is threatened, facts and science must and should prevail as well as truth or we do more harm that claims lives and makes the economy unstable.
Third, I am still into celery juicing and fruits and veggies juicing. My high school teacher texted me and said that she is now into celery juicing. She is now my 24th recruit into celery juice. #celeryjuicebenefits#celeryjuiceheals#medicalmediumcommunity#medicalmedium#anthonywilliam-my gratitude to you. My book on celery juicing has travelled from my cousin’s house in #virginia to my cousin in Florida. I asked my beloved cousins in Virginia to read it and now, I pray my cousin in Florida does.
Fourth, I was so happy I stayed up late into 1am yesterday, I got hold of my dear friend in Italy, she is in good health, staying in her apartment for the 12th day. I was happy to know that and went to bed happy.
Happy sunny day to you all, my 14th day of self isolation!
