Knights of Columbus Archives

09Apr 2022 by Antonio Zebedeo Abad

Look for the Signs

by Antonio Zebedeo Abad On Saturday evenings, I would take my parents to church for Sunday vigil mass. There would be some times when we would come home and the dog had raided the garbage, leaving a mess to clean. The dog would look repentant as I proceeded to scold him. In a few weeks, he would raid the garbage again and would have the same repentant look. Mom would learn to lean the step ladder on the garbage bin. Sometimes we feel like the dog doing the same mistakes over and over. Be content with your challenges and face them. The saints were sinners who just kept on trying. A milk carton said, "From contented cows." Another milk carton said, "Our cows are never contented. They always strive to…

08Mar 2022 by Antonio Zebedeo Abad

Tree of Knowledge and Wisdom

Knights of Columbus, Spirituality

Antonio Zebedeo Abad Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh! Gen 2:23 Adam was excited to see a woman Eve that God took out of man to be his helper. God gave us sexual attraction. God made sex as beautiful. But what happened? God knows well that when you eat of [the tree of knowledge and wisdom] your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know* good and evil.” Gen 3:5. Who told you that you were naked? Gen 3:11.Genesis 3 It is a very fine line that once we cross it, there is no turning back. That knowledge and experience, especially of significance, become indelible in the mind. For many, a first sexual encounter before marriage, especially initiated by someone higher in the…

25Jan 2022 by Antonio Zebedeo Abad

Is Money Really the Root of All Evil?

Knights of Columbus, Spirituality

Antonio Zebedeo Abad I sponsor seminarians in the Philippines, and in return, they serve me as a theology research assistant. The arrangement benefits them greatly, as they become astute researchers and writers, far ahead of their peers. The arrangement benefits me greatly, as it saves me much time in finding all the references for my bigger writing projects. So, is money really the root of all evil? Oh, yes, we hear about or experience people who get a hold of money and their motives change. Once there was an impostor who entered the mix who was able to obtain my aid. I found out that it has been his modus operandi and that his greed was driving it. So, I've had an estafa criminal case delayed by COVID. There was…

08Jan 2022 by Antonio Zebedeo Abad

Fiat and Peace

Knights of Columbus, Spirituality

Antonio Zebedeo Abad We opened the new year with the solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. In contrast to the lack of trust and naivete of the people, she put her trust in God (Luke 1:38) imparted through the Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:28). Therein we see the fiat of Mary. From that Latin word, we have other variants like fidelity, confidence, and the motto of the US Marines, Semper Fidelis or Semper Fi, meaning always faithful. God gave humanity free will. What if she said no? That would have completely changed the course of history. The Advent season culminated with the theme of peace. For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given;And the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be calledWonderful, Counselor,…

14Dec 2021 by Antonio Zebedeo Abad

Trust and Hope

Knights of Columbus, Spirituality

Antonio Zebedeo Abad I hope he's coming. Well, that doesn't sound very optimistic, but that's the popular idea of hope. But imagine if some long-lost friend or relative you haven't seen in a very long time is coming to your holiday dinner, that's the idea of hope that brings memories of a loving relationship, the joy of seeing each other, and the peace that reconciling the past brings. That follows the themes of the four Sundays of Advent. The chosen race was waiting for the Messiah for centuries. Would you have given up hope? Would you have given up trust? Thus says the LORD:Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted,to the tyrannical city!She hears no voice,accepts no correction;In the Lord she has not trusted,to her God she has not drawn…

08Nov 2021 by AZA

Intimate Sharing

Knights of Columbus, Spirituality

by Antonio Zebedeo Abad Today has been a bad day. Well, this morning you woke up, didn't you? Many other people did not wake up this morning. You were born and lived a healthy life, didn't you? To put things in perspective, there is much to be thankful for, we just have to look in the refrigerator. We have food to eat when a great many people in the world are starving. We have a roof over our heads when many people have lost their homes to disasters or political events. St. Teresa of Jesus, made her way to her convent during a fierce rainstorm, she slipped down an embankment and fell squarely into the mud. The irrepressible nun looked up to heaven and admonished her Maker, "If this is…

11Oct 2021 by AZA

A Strong Foundation of Truth

Knights of Columbus, Spirituality

Antonio Zebedeo Abad, October 12, 2021 From heatwave to drought to sudden rains and cold weather, we've been on a roller coaster ride with nature. Coming out of Sol Duc at Olympic National Park, a huge tree fell in the stormy weather and blocked the road for hours. The Port Townsend ferry sailings were canceled suggesting a detour through Kingston, Edmonds, Mukilteo, and Clinton. The southern part of Whidbey Island was without power. Someone said to me, "What bad luck you've had!" I said, "I didn't see it that way. It was the force of nature, and we adjust to what nature gives us." Some people think they can control nature. That's quite the contrary. They push the limits of building on a cliff and nature eats away at the…

06Sep 2021 by Antonio Zebedeo Abad

The Honeymoon is Over

Knights of Columbus, Spirituality

Antonio Zebedeo Abad We've all been there. We're enchanted by the thought of something we wish for, then after the honeymoon is over, we realize that it's more work than we thought it would be. We dream of a big yard, and later dread the maintenance it takes. We dream of acquiring a boat and realize that it takes time and work to get it in and out of the water, clean the hull, keep it maintained, and actually use it often so it doesn't deteriorate and it would be worth, oh, the insurance, too. We didn't think about that. We dream of having a big dog only to realize that they need a lot of space at home, in the vehicle, eat a lot, and have big poops, too.…

16Aug 2021 by Antonio Zebedeo Abad

The Test of Time

Knights of Columbus, Uncategorized

Antonio Zebedeo Abad, August 16, 2021 It is a great honor to graduate from the top Carmelite university in the world, Universidad de la Mística in St Teresa's home, the medieval city of Ávila. It is the most preserved medieval city with walls intact, surrounding the entire old part of the city, that protected it from invaders. These are real old castles in Spain, unlike the replicas in Disneyland. I am now certified as a Carmelite Spiritual Director. The Spanish term of Acompañante Espiritual, or Spiritual Companion is more accurate because we were taught that our sole purpose is to lead the faithful to the Holy Spirit, who is the true spiritual director. Note that a companion doesn't just mean someone you meet casually and walks along with you. The…

10May 2021 by Antonio Zebedeo Abad

The Open Window

Knights of Columbus

Antonio Zebedeo Abad How do we make sense of all this? What is happening all around us? He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. Mt 8:26 NABRE Many times, all the events of life just don't make sense. We become anxious because we feel we don't have control. It is a common Western view that I am in charge of my own destiny, until we realize that events just happen that seem to take away our control. We forget who is really in charge. St Teresa of Avila experienced two events that God revealed to her. One is the transverberation, where her heart was pierced by the lance of an…