Fears:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.


And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same
As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

THE QUILT

As I faced my Maker at last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls. 
Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt. 
An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. 
They were filled with giant holes. 
Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. 
I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. 
Nobody else had such squares. 
Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and all the bright hues of worldly fortune. 
I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. 
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of the truth ...The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. 
So filled their lives had been.
My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. 
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.
 I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. 
I had love in my life, and laughter. 
But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it.
I had to start over many times. 
I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow mustering the strength to pick up and begin again. 
I had spent many lonely nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. 
I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully: each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. 
My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been...
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. 
An awe-filled gasp filled the air.
I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes opened wide.
Then I looked upon the tapestry before me.
Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, The Face of Christ. 
Then our Lord stood before me, with love and warmth in his eyes. 
He said: "Every time you gave over your life to me, it became my life, my hardships, and my struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let me shine thru, until there was more of me than there was of you." 
- AUTHOR UNKNOWN -

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

What do you think of Christmas?

Seeing the stores all decorated with Christmas wreaths, and trees plus plenty of holiday catalogs coming thru mail months before Christmas, it makes me think and meditate in the real meaning of Christmas.

Seeing all these, I knew that I had to write something about it, and I have been searching for words but “the right words” or the “key words” to express and describe how I feel are not easy, since I see that Christmas has become a multi-million dollar profit for all stores worldwide.
But before I start typing away my thoughts and ideas, I need to ask myself:
1-"What does the word Jesus Christ mean to you?"
2- "What does Christmas Holiday mean to you?"
3- "How do your Catholic beliefs contribute to your quality of life, your expectations of your life and your life experiences?"

I believe the life of our Lord Jesus Christ was an example for us to follow, remembering, not forgetting his sorrowful ending, but the most important legacy for us Catholics and Christians are his teaching along the way.  
And that’s how I have learned thru the Holy Gospel:
Follow His mission.- If it is a strong call, it may result in conflict with your earth-family, friends and community but your greater calling will always be to Your Creator, our Heavenly Father. 
The satisfaction you feel out of acting on your calling will far exceed your discomfort from breaking off on your own.
When you do something that is new to others, you might be seen as a fool or dupe, but follow your heart and spirit. 
Remembering that Jesus is your guide. 
Many of us experience loneliness but remember that you are truly never alone.
Heal those that seek healing but know that some people find healing through their experience with physical hardship. Suspend judgment; do not think less of those that choose the "hard way".
Knowing your true connection to our Heavenly Father is wonderful, but does not mean that life will be "easy" or that your knowledge will improve all problems. 
In fact, knowledge always brings responsibility. 
Those with greater knowledge have a greater share of responsibility.

Everyone is a child of our Heavenly Father, treat everyone with respect.
Working with friendly people is a joy, but reaching out to those that believe and think differently than you is what it is all about.
I respect other people's beliefs about what the Jesus Christ's life means to them. 
My experience is that when one focuses on the "negative", the negative seems to be there in full force, ready to be seen and experienced. 
Those that are fully connected to reality but working through love and compassion will find that life is full of joy and hope. 
One doesn't want to run away from reality, but one doesn't want to be stuck in unconstructiveness, sorrow and guilt either.

Now to bring things back down to earth a bit, perhaps we can look at the birth of Jesus in a general way. 
I like to think about his birth and reconnect with his human incarnation, linking it to all of the births that had come before and still are today. 
How miraculous is the birth of a child.
I pray that each child will be looked upon as miracle, a Chris, since we are all a part of the same God.
I encourage you to seek out what your particular religious tradition believes. 
 I would also encourage you to remain or become curious of other beliefs. 
I know that in doing so; you will find your concept of life expanding and your options with also expand. 
And never be afraid to allow your view of God to grow and change as you grow and change.


May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and your family, now and forever, Amen.

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

THE SON

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. 
They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Raphael. 
They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. 
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. 
He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. 
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. 
A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.
He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. 
He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart, and he died instantly. 
He often talked about you, and your love for art."
The young man held out his package.  
"I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package.

It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. 
He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. 
The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. 
He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 
 "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. 
Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. 
The man died a few months later. 
There was to be a great auction of his paintings.  
Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. 
The auctioneer pounded his gavel.
"We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. 
Who will bid for this picture?"
There was silence. 
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. 
Skip this one."
But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"
Another voice shouted angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting. 
We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued, "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. 
It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son.
"I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
"We have $10, who will bid $20?"  
"Give it to him for $10. 
Let's see the masters."
"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"  
The crowd was becoming angry. 
They didn't want the picture of the son. 
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. 
The auctioneer pounded the gavel.

"Going once, twice, SOLD FOR $10!" 
A man sitting on the second row shouted,  
"Now, let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 
"I'm sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. 
I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. 
Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. 
Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. 
The man who took the son gets everything!"  
God gave his Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. 
Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?" 
Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.-
AUTHOR UNKNOWN -

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778