Pope Francis established the Season of Creation which kicks off September 1, Thursday the World Day of Prayer for Creation until October 4, the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi. This year's theme is "Listen to the voice of creation". 

Monday, August 29, the memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist was a result of hatred (Herodias), indecisiveness (Herod), and whim (Salome). The greatest man born of a woman ever to live in his generation died alone in his cell, a martyr of truth and justice. Martyrdom is the price of faith. The precursor's life was cut short, but his life lives forever and revered throughout the ages. 

We continue with our reflection of the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians and on Tuesday, August 30, he talked about the Natural Person and the Spiritual Person. The first cannot penetrate the spiritual realm. His understanding of life stays in the surface, in the periphery. The Spiritual Person is the Mature Christian whose foundation is God and can go deep in the mind of God. Our soul is the link to God's life. The spirit scrutinizes (explore, examine, search out) even the depths of God. Paul wants the Natural Person, members of the Corinthian community who have trouble after conversion to aspire to be the Spiritual Person. On Wednesday, August 31, Paul did not mince words in 1 Cor 3: 1-9. He knew, there was faction, division, rivalry within the community citing loyalties to various leaders "I belong to Paul, I belong to Apollos, I belong to Cephas". He said, "I planted, Apollos watered but God caused the growth. Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor". For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building. We all belong and work for God. This holds true whenever we say, I belong to Francis. I belong to Benedict XVI. I belong to the Tridentine Mass. I belong to the Novus Ordo. It's one and the same church. 

Tomorrow, September 1 begins the BER months and that radio stations in the Philippines play the first Christmas carols. How exciting!