Miko Ledesma

14/08/2025

The Sacred Heart Devotion: A Fount of Divine Love and Mercy
​The Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most widely practiced and cherished devotions in the Catholic Church. It is a profound veneration of Jesus Christ's physical heart as the symbol of His divine and human love for humanity. This devotion focuses on the boundless and compassionate love that Christ has for all people, a love that is often unrequited. It calls the faithful to make reparation for the indifference and ingratitude shown towards Jesus and to reciprocate His love through prayer, adoration, and acts of charity.
​Historical Roots and Development
​While the theological foundations of the devotion can be traced back to the early Church's meditations on the pierced side of Christ on the cross, from which flowed blood and water—symbolizing the Eucharist and Baptism—the devotion in its modern form gained prominence in the 17th century.
​The key figure in the popularization of the Sacred Heart devotion is Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitation nun. Between 1673 and 1675, she reported receiving a series of private revelations from Jesus Christ. In these apparitions, Jesus revealed to her His heart, burning with love for humanity and wounded by its sins. He expressed His desire for a special devotion to be established in honor of His Sacred Heart, to be practiced especially on the first Friday of each month and on a feast day dedicated to His Heart.
​These revelations were met with initial skepticism but were eventually championed by her spiritual director, the Jesuit priest Saint Claude de la Colombière. The devotion gradually spread throughout France and the wider Catholic world. In 1856, Pope Pius IX established the Feast of the Sacred Heart as a universal feast in the Church's liturgical calendar, celebrated on the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi.
​Symbolism of the Sacred Heart Image
​The imagery associated with the Sacred Heart is rich in symbolism:
​The Heart: Represents the core of Jesus' being, His love for humanity.
​Flames: Symbolize the intense, burning love Christ has for every soul.
​Crown of Thorns: Surrounding the heart, it signifies the pain and suffering Jesus endured due to humanity's sins and indifference.
​Wound: The piercing of the heart recalls His sacrifice on the cross and the font of grace and mercy that flows from it.
​Cross: Often depicted atop the heart, it represents the ultimate act of love and redemption.
​Key Practices and Promises
​The devotion to the Sacred Heart is expressed through various practices, including:
​Consecration to the Sacred Heart: A personal or familial act of dedicating oneself to Jesus, acknowledging His kingship and committing to live in union with His heart.
​First Friday Devotion: This practice involves receiving Holy Communion on the first Friday of nine consecutive months in a spirit of reparation. This was a specific request made by Jesus to St. Margaret Mary.
​Holy Hour of Adoration: Spending an hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, particularly on Thursdays, in memory of Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
​Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the Home: The practice of placing a blessed image of the Sacred Heart in a prominent place in the home to signify Christ's reign over the family.
​Jesus also revealed twelve promises to St. Margaret Mary for those who are devoted to His Sacred Heart. These promises include graces for one's state in life, peace in families, comfort in afflictions, and the grace of final perseverance. The twelfth promise is particularly well-known: "In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; my Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment."
​The devotion to the Sacred Heart remains a central and powerful spiritual practice for millions of Catholics, offering a profound way to contemplate and respond to the infinite love of Jesus Christ.

13/08/2025

Credits: JesComTV

13/08/2025

It is not for Kings to drink wine.

13/08/2025

Job’s Ignorance Questioning God’s Fairness and Justness. The response? God enlightened him he cannot pet the leviathan.

​Job chapters 41 and 42 conclude the book by showcasing God's ultimate power through the description of the Leviathan, leading to Job's humble repentance and the complete restoration of his fortunes.
​God's Discourse on the Leviathan (Chapter 41)
​After describing the Behemoth, God continues his speech to Job from a whirlwind, challenging him with a detailed portrait of the Leviathan, a fearsome and untamable sea creature. This entire chapter is a monologue from God, designed to put His own power and wisdom in perspective against Job's limited human understanding. 🌊
​God asks Job a series of rhetorical questions, emphasizing the creature's immense power and humanity's inability to control it:
​Can you catch it with a fishhook? "Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook or tie down its tongue with a rope?" (Job 41:1).
​Can you make it a pet? "Can you make a pet of it like a bird or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?" (Job 41:5).
​Can you defeat it in battle? God describes its impenetrable scales as a "tightly sealed" coat of armor, its fiery breath that can "set coals ablaze," and its heart as "hard as rock." (Job 41:15, 21, 24). The mere sight of it is overwhelming.
​The point of this vivid description is not just about a sea monster; it's an analogy. If Job, a mortal man, cannot even comprehend or challenge this one creature, how can he possibly question the wisdom and justice of the God who created it? The Leviathan serves as the ultimate symbol of God's creative power and sovereign control over all of creation, both the orderly and the chaotic.
​Job's Repentance and God's Verdict (Chapter 42:1-9)
​Humbled by God's display of omnipotence, Job finally responds. He completely retracts his previous arguments and acknowledges his ignorance.
​Job's Confession: He admits, "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted... Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." (Job 42:2-3).
​True Understanding: Job realizes he had only heard of God secondhand, but now he has seen His majesty. He declares, "My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you." (Job 42:5).
​Repentance: Humbled, he concludes, "Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:6).
​After Job's submission, God turns his attention to Job's three friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. God expresses his anger at them, stating, "you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has." (Job 42:7). Their rigid, formulaic theology—insisting that Job's suffering must be a direct punishment for sin—was a misrepresentation of God's complex and sovereign nature.
​God then instructs them to take seven bulls and seven rams as a burnt offering and to have Job pray for them, promising to accept Job's prayer on their behalf.
​Job's Restoration (Chapter 42:10-17)
​After Job prayed for his friends, God completely restored his fortunes. This final section demonstrates God's grace and favor upon his faithful servant. 🙏
​Double the Wealth: God blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He was given twice as much as he had before: 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys.
​Family Restored: Job also had another seven sons and three daughters. His daughters were renowned as the most beautiful in the land, and uniquely, Job gave them an inheritance along with their brothers.
​A Long Life: Job lived for another 140 years, long enough to see four generations of his descendants. He "died, old and full of years." (Job 42:17).
​The story concludes not with an explanation for suffering, but with the reaffirmation of God's sovereignty and the reward of faith. Job's unwavering, though tested, relationship with God is ultimately vindicated and blessed.

13/08/2025

Did you know when you pray the Rosary, you help 5000 souls from purgatory?

13/08/2025

The beginning and end (Alpha and Omega) of the Gospel is John 3:16. That is the Gospel SIMPLIFIED.

13/08/2025

Persons to avoid according to the Bible. (Theology)

​The Bible offers significant guidance on the types of relationships Christians should cultivate and those they should be cautious about or avoid. The core principle is not about self-righteous judgment, but about protecting one's faith, character, and witness from corrupting influences.
​The advice can be categorized into several key groups of people or behaviors to be wary of. It's crucial to note the distinction between avoiding intimate fellowship and the Christian duty to love and evangelize all people. Jesus himself was known as a "friend of sinners" (Matthew 11:19), but he did not partake in their sin.
​Here are the primary categories of persons the Bible advises avoiding in terms of close, influential relationships:
​1. The Unrepentant Person Claiming to be a Believer
​This is one of the strongest warnings in the New Testament. It refers specifically to someone who identifies as a Christian but lives in persistent, unrepentant sin. The Apostle Paul instructs the church on how to handle such a situation.
​Scripture: "But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person." - 1 Corinthians 5:11 (NIV)
​Context: This is not about avoiding non-believers who sin (Paul clarifies this in verse 9-10). It is about protecting the integrity and health of the church community. The purpose of this "avoidance" (a form of church discipline) is twofold: to protect the church from the influence of the sin and to lead the unrepentant individual toward restoration and repentance.
​2. False Teachers and Divisive People
​The Bible warns sternly against those who distort the gospel or create discord and division within the church.
​Scripture:
​"I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." - Romans 16:17 (NIV)
​"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies... Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." - 2 Peter 2:1-2 (NIV)
​Context: False teachers can lead believers astray from the core truths of the faith. Divisive people threaten the unity that is essential for a healthy church. The instruction is to "keep away from them" to avoid being deceived or drawn into conflict.
​3. The Foolish and the Wicked
​The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom about choosing companions wisely, contrasting the path of the wise with the path of the fool.
​Scripture:
​"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." - Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)
​"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" - 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)
​"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared." - Proverbs 22:24-25 (NIV)
​Context: A "fool" in Proverbs is not someone with low intelligence, but a person who is morally deficient, rejects wisdom, and lives unrighteously. Associating closely with such individuals can lead one to adopt their harmful behaviors and suffer the consequences.
​4. The Idle and Disorderly
​Paul also addressed those who were unwilling to work and instead became busybodies, disrupting the community.
​Scripture: "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us... Yet we hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies." - 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 11 (NIV)
​Context: This refers to people who refuse to take responsibility for their own lives and become a burden on the community while also causing trouble through gossip and meddling. The instruction to "keep away" was meant to discourage this behavior.
​5. The "Unequally Yoked"
​This principle is most often applied to marriage but extends to any deep, binding partnership (like a core business partnership).
​Scripture: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV)
​Context: A yoke is a wooden beam that joins two animals together to pull a load. If the animals are mismatched (e.g., an ox and a donkey), they cannot work together effectively and will both suffer. Spiritually, a believer and an unbeliever have fundamentally different worldviews, values, and ultimate goals. A deep, binding partnership between them will inevitably lead to conflict, compromise of faith, or great difficulty.
​Important Nuance and Balance
​It is essential to balance these warnings with the overarching commands of the Bible:
​The Great Commission: Christians are called to go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). This requires interacting with non-believers. The avoidance principle applies to intimate, influential fellowship, not to compassionate outreach.
​Love Your Neighbor: The command to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31) applies to everyone, regardless of their beliefs or lifestyle.
​The Goal is Restoration: In cases of sin within the church, the goal of discipline and avoidance is not permanent exclusion but repentance and restoration (2 Corinthians 2:5-8).
​Humility and Self-Examination: These warnings should also cause self-reflection. Christians are called to examine their own lives to ensure they are not the ones exhibiting these behaviors (Galatians 6:1).
​In summary, the Bible advises avoiding close, influential relationships with those who could corrupt one's character, destroy one's faith, or disrupt the church's unity—specifically unrepentant believers, false teachers, fools, and divisive people. This is a call to wisdom and discernment, not to isolation or judgment.

13/08/2025

Topic on Human Relations / Nature You can support our mission through PayPal:[email protected] GCash: 09178620092

13/08/2025

Deep Thinkers (They Are Smart) a topic on Psychology Support Our Mission through PayPal: [email protected]
GCash: 09178620092

13/08/2025