Make a Difference towards Evangelization and Earth Protection and Preservation

Amazing Earth!

Our world is a beautiful place and it has sustained everything living on it for millions of years. Although our presence has done much damage to it, we still have a chance to change it. 

The wonderful thing that’s happening today is that people are becoming more aware of the needs of our environment and are showing signs of willingness to make a change. When we talk of environment, it involves everything around us, not just the weather. It includes all the animals, plants and the human beings living in this planet.

Here are some amazing environmental facts that you need to know about.

·        We can save 75,000 trees if we recycled the paper used on the daily run of the New York Times alone.

·        When you throw plastic bags and other plastic materials in the ocean, it kills as many as 1 million sea creatures annually.

·        A glass bottle made in our time will take more than 4,000 years to decompose.

·        Only 1% of our planet’s water supply can be used. 97% is ocean water and 2% is frozen solid in the Arctic, for now.

·        Our planet gains inhabitants numbering to 77 million people a year.

·        An estimated 50,000 species inhabiting our tropical forests become extinct annually. That’s an average of 137 species a day.

·        Rainforests are cut down at a rate of 100 acres per minute.

·        The world’s oldest trees are more than 4,600 years old.

Our world is actually amazing because it can actually sustain everything that is within her realm. Sometimes, I can tell that maybe the philosopher, James Lovelock was right on telling that the world can sustain and heal herself. It doesn’t need man to be a means for this to happen because for him, the world can preserve, sustain, and enhance herself alone. BUT, we all know that we, as human beings were the one who was given the authority and privilege by God to protect and preserve the environment. We need to move! We need to act! Because today, our world just like what most of the environmentalist have said that earth is sick. It is in a bad condition. And as humans we need to do something. We should make a difference. We need to protect the environment and our world as a whole. I believe that we don’t need to do big things. We can start from little things because those who change and affect the world those that brings a “Paradigm Shift” comes from simple, little acts.

We should start from the place where we belong. Mindoro is a wonderful island as well. Since this is the place where I belong I should start her. Mindoro is rich from different various life conservation. It is well known for its biodiversity and from the various species that can be seen in this small island. But it seems that as time passes by, we became so lazy and ignorant to the things that happened here. Today, there are already numerous problems that this island needs to act upon. Mindorenos need to step up and to be awake for the things that is happening in this wonderful island. Every citizen should move and make a move to help this island. These ideas can help this island:

Saving the Environment

·         In most developing countries, supermarkets have banned the use plastic bags.

·         An estimated 250 million trees can be save each year if every published newspaper is recycled.

·         In order to slow or prevent the extinction of further animal species, private and public organizations are establishing programs to protect their numbers and habitat.

·         Through recycling and composting of waste, approximately 181 million metric tons of carbon dioxide was eliminated in 2014.

·         Expansion of wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy are encouraged in many countries and gaining popularity because they’re renewable and create less CO2 than fossil fuels.

·         About 88,000 jobs were created in 2015 through the wind power sector.

·         Simple things like biking and walking instead of riding a car can reduce greenhouse gases.

·         Composting makes a significant difference to lessening the burden on landfills, which emit significant quantities of methane.

·         Small changes can reduce the energy demands of a home, such as LED lights, using average thermostats, and changing to energy efficient appliances.

WE need to move and make a difference because our environment, our world is asking for our help.

“I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.”
—Mother Teresa

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
-George Bernard Shaw

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead 

Biblical point..
Our guide to live our life fully and an empowerment to stand for what is right not only for our own lives but as well us with our environment for the common good of all living creatures.

22^nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Looking for a “God” according to our standards

Joke of the week: A doctor was making his rounds in a mental hospital and stopped in a room with two patients. He asked the fellow near the door: “What is your name?” “Jesus Christ,” replied the fellow briskly. “Who said you are Jesus Christ?” demanded the doctor “God,” replied the patient. Freedom the patient in the other bed came the shouted denial: “I did not.”

Scriptures:

First reading: Joshua 24:1-2,15-17,18

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:21-32

Gospel: John 6:60-69

Reflections:

At every step of life, we come upon diverse situations and dilemma that confront us to make a difficult choice and decision. Today, we are confronted to make a choice between our allegiance to the true God and our adherence to the false gods. Unlike the ancient Israelites, our enemies are not the pagan armies with their gods. Today, our enemies are our gods and ourselves. We turn ourselves in opposition to the Spirit when we give in to the call of the flesh that offers temporary pleasure and solution. We have our own gods of money and pleasure when we want the true” God” to conform according to our standards.

Quotation of the week: “Are you looking for God, seeking God with a view to your personal good, your personal profit? Then in truth you are not seeking God.” –Meister Eckhart

23^rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Pakikisama and hypocrisy

Joke of the week: There were several lines waiting to enter the Pearly Gates of heaven. Overhead was one sign which read: “for husbands who have been dominated by their wives all their lives,’ standing under it was a line longer than one could see. Nearby was another sign: “for husbands who have never been dominated by their wives.” Under it stood one man, a meek looking fellow.  When St. Peter asked him, “why are you standing here?” the fellow replied, “My wife told me to stand here.”

Scriptures:

First reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8

Second Reading: James 1:17-18,21-22,27

Gospel: Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

Reflections: We, Filipinos has strong positive traits, such as amor propio or self-esteem and smooth interpersonal relationship. We are sensitive to criticisms on their own self-esteem and intuitively sharp to the self-esteem of others as well. Anything that hurts one’s self esteem is not allowed because it endangers smooth interpersonal relationships and harmony in society. Filipinos highly value their “being-in-relation,” or find their identity in the kinship group to which they belong, such as “kamaganak” (family), or “kababayan” (townsfolk). Because of this cultural trait to find one’s identity always in relation with the community or group, it is not surprising for a Filipino to always look for levels of connectivity to establish personal and social relationships. (Taga-saan ka sa atin? “What is your residence in the Philippines?”) We, Filipinos really have good traits in terms of “pakikisama.”

       A food for thought from Abraham Lincoln: “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

Quotation of the week: “There are people who laugh to show their fine teeth, and there are those who cry to show their good hearts.”