The Finger of God

October 9, 2026 Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today Saint John Henry Newman (England and Wales Memorial) Saint Denis, Bishop and Companions, Martyrs—Optional Memorial Saint John Leonardi, Priest—Optional Memorial

Jesus Casts Out the Demons, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld Video When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?” Luke 11:15–18 The name Beelzebul is first found in 2 Kings 1, where it refers to a false god worshiped by the Philistines in Ekron. King Ahaziah of Israel, after suffering an injury, sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to learn whether he would recover. This was a grave offense against the First Commandment, so God sent the prophet Elijah to rebuke the king. When Ahaziah sent two captains—each with fifty soldiers—to seize Elijah, the prophet called down fire from Heaven, consuming both groups. A third captain, recognizing Elijah as a man of God, humbly begged for mercy. In response, Elijah went with him to the king. There, Elijah delivered the Lord’s judgment: Because Ahaziah had turned to a false god instead of the God of Israel, he would die—and he did. By the time of Jesus, Jewish tradition had developed a more structured demonology. In some rabbinic writings, Beelzebul (a variant of Baal-Zebub) came to be understood as a chief demon, often associated with satan himself or as one of his principal agents overseeing lesser demons. Thus, when Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, His accusers were attributing a divine act to diabolical power—a profoundly serious error and a sign of spiritual blindness. Talk of Beelzebul, satan, and demons can stir fear in our hearts. Sacred art and literature often portray these fallen angels in terrifying forms, emphasizing their opposition to God and their hatred for His children. But should we fear them? Not in themselves. We should only have a holy fear of sin, both the sin that arises from our human weakness and the sin that comes through demonic temptation. We ought to fear turning away from God’s grace more than we fear any diabolical force. Though demons are often portrayed as fierce and mighty, the truth is that every demon is utterly subject to the power of God. In today’s Gospel, Jesus describes His divine authority with the phrase: “the finger of God.” This expression recalls when Pharaoh’s magicians were unable to replicate the signs Moses performed and exclaimed, “This is the finger of God!” It also echoes when the Ten Commandments were written by God’s own finger on stone tablets, signifying divine authorship and sovereign authority. In this context, Jesus uses the phrase to reveal that the casting out of demons is not some magical act or obscure force, but the unmistakable work of the living God. The very finger of God casts down the demons by His direct and effortless power. Christ does not merely resist the devil; He commands him—and the devil obeys. When we understand God’s almighty power and His absolute dominion over every evil force, fear begins to dissolve. Fear is one of the enemy’s favorite weapons. Demons not only want us to fear them, but also to live in constant anxiety about many things, especially when life feels out of control. Often, when fear creeps in, it is a sign that a demon may be whispering lies, seeking to draw us away from faith and trust in God. Reflect today on the power contained in the finger of God. Jesus exercises that power readily, swiftly, and joyfully when we turn to Him in prayer. Let your confidence in God’s supreme authority over sin and every demonic force dispel all fear and anxiety that tries to take root in your heart. Remain vigilant, faithful, and spiritually alert, trusting in Christ through prayer, the Sacraments, fidelity to the Church, and a life of virtue. When you do, the devil has no true hold on you and the finger of God will prevail. All-powerful Lord, by Your finger alone You created the heavens and the earth. By the finger of God, You send forth Your transforming grace into our lives, forgive our sins, shield us from the evil one, and build Your Kingdom. May Your Kingdom truly reign in my life as You take complete control of me by the perfection of Your loving authority. Jesus, I trust in You.

How to travel abroad for FREE?

Contrary to the general public opinion that it is highly impossible for an ordinary person to travel abroad without any financial support from family or relatives. 

From my personal experience, it took me 7 difficult years of patience and hard work after high school to pursue my studies at the university as a full-time working student to get a diploma that qualified me to pass an examination to be able to obtain an all-expense paid scholarship grant abroad thus making my wish come true in the end. 

What a very delicate and a far-fetched question to ask for a person who comes from an ordinary and a virtually poor family background who practically hasn't gone further than his toilet as my friends always replied to me as a remark of derision or envy.

I was only 11 years old when our 5th grade elementary teacher assigned each one of us to draw a flag of any UN member nation of our choice as our class project. Unfortunately, I only had a very limited number of colors that I could choose from at that time because I already used most of them on other graphics.. Eventually, I found the tri-color flag of Belgium which I thought was too simple, fast and easy to draw just following my fancy and temperament at that moment.

I wished so much earlier to discover the beauty and people of Belgium that never transgressed my young mind that someday I would ever live and settle down there. However, the thought came back again later when I visited a schoolmate who lived a block away from my house who had black and white photo murals on their walls collected by his uncle who worked at the Belgian embassy. Some years later, I heard the most popular song "Dominique" which I didn't even realize was sung and composed by a Belgian nun.

Much to my regret, I kept my dream on hold but my heart ached so much that I continued to think of how I could leave for abroad at the shortest possible occasion. I carefully thought of following a plan of action that I thought would succeed.

When I was in my senior year in secondary school, I joined an international pen pal organizaion that was subsequently recommended by the social secretary of the White House in reply to my letter to PresidentI Eisenhower in 1959. At the same time, I subscribed to the "Round the World Program" magazine, advertised on the Reader's Digest that sent me France first series in their collection for free including color world map as a bonus.

Later on, I saw so many pictures of the Bayanihan and the Filipinesca dance troupes in local magazines on their world performances that it incited me to join, but I didn't know the right persons to contact and the moment to do so. As I didn't have any training or experience in classical dancing in order to be able to qualify at a first glance, I first tried to inquire in a ballet school to know what were the requirements needed and the expenses to be incurred eventually just to be able to perform like a famous dancer before the public. When I was told to present myself for the preliminary test in an appropriate outfit like a tutu or a tight, I was so disheartened that I left discreetly and walked away in shame because I wouldn't have the means to pay for all the necessary expenses. So, I immediately gave up the idea rather than to see my mother's reaction to how she could afford to pay me to be part of a dance class and to watch me perform in tights before her and the general public.

I didn't continue the first year at the Philippine College of Arts and Trade, because I hated the practical manual courses in welding and forging that I failed eventually. I thought that finishing the four-course would automatically give me the opportunity to get a job on the ocean-going vessels that would take me around the world for free.

While waiting for the following school year during the summer of 1959, I enrolled at the free first-aid classes sponsored by the local Red Cross, a qualification required to apply for the post of steward at the Philippine Air Lines, Much to my regret, I was not accepted because I did not have a university degree. and worse yet I was short-sighted and I needed to wear a pair of glasses all the time to be able to move and recognize easily how to entertain and serve the passengers correctly.

Finally, I decided to go to a free vocational school to be able to learn a trade and work my way to earn a living so that I could pay for my tuition and to obtain a university degree. While attending classes in the the typing shorthand course, I enrolled in the food trade course in the evening to be able to work in the famous restaurant along the waterfront that was patronized by rich foreign tourists who in my thought would take interest in me for my service who would sponsor me to accompany them when they go back to their own countries.

One evening sometime in the late spring of 1960 shortly before I turned 18 years old, I had the opportunity to work as a trainee in a restaurant along Dewey boulevard. When I left work, I was approached by two American servicemen who could have come down from Clark and proposed to me to join them in a taxi to go somewhere for a wild night of fun. Unfortunately, I was too tired and sleepy to oblige, so I left them by themselves in the taxi to look for a pimp. Immediately, I took the first available passing jeepney to get home as fast as possible and get a good sleep. I could imagine how worried my mother could be if I wasn't back before midnight she might panic and think I was either abducted or killed. In hindsight, however, I had the feeling of regret that they could have made my wish come true had I obliged them. On the other hand, they appeared to be too nice to talk to that they could have helped me easily to recommend for a job inside the American base after I finish my typing course. What a wishful thinking if it were only good to be true!

In a nutshell, I would say personally that to go abroad could be very highly possible for anybody who even comes from a poor family background. Good luck!

Follow my link on how I finally succeeded to go abroad for free.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLE?

https://pablolayson.blogspot.com/.../do-you-believe-in..

Praying for the “Good”

October 8, 2026 Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today

The Spirit Teaches Us to Pray, by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Video “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9–10 Prayer is our lifeline to God. It opens the door to the outpouring of His grace. If we need grace every day—and we do—then, we need to pray every day. When we form a habit of prayer, it becomes the central foundation of our identity, enabling us to live as true sons and daughters of God. How often do you pray? Though the quantity of prayer matters, it is the quality of our prayer that sustains and transforms us. True prayer draws us into intimacy with God, conforms our hearts to His will, and enables us to live as members of His Kingdom of grace, receiving from Him every good gift. In Luke’s Gospel, after one of the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1), He gave them the model of all prayer: the Lord’s Prayer, or the Our Father. Today’s Gospel passage immediately follows that instruction, offering a deeper understanding of the nature of prayer and the fruit it bears. The first quality Jesus highlights is persistence. He tells a parable in which a man knocks on his friend’s door in the middle of the night to ask for bread for an unexpected guest. The friend replies that the door is already locked and his family is asleep. Yet the man persists. Jesus concludes: “I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence” (Luke 11:8). The word translated as “persistence” can more literally be rendered as “shameless boldness.” This is not nagging, but a confident insistence born of trust. As Jesus continues, He reveals that such persistence must be joined with unwavering confidence: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” This line can easily be misunderstood or misapplied. When we pray, will God give us whatever we ask, so long as we are persistent and confident? Certainly not. We cannot manipulate God by the force of our requests. Why, then, does Jesus speak this way? The petition God encourages is a petition for what is truly good—that is, what lies within His will, according to His wisdom and providence. Jesus’ explanation makes this clear: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13). Return again to the image of a friend knocking at the door in the middle of the night, refusing to leave until you respond. God invites us to knock with the same determination. He wants us to approach Him with shameless boldness, asking for that which is good—not as we define it, but as He defines it. To pray with persistence, confidence, and humility requires trust. Often, we do not know what the highest good is according to God’s wisdom. Without trust, we risk trying to bend God’s will to our own. But trust, intertwined with persistent and confident prayer, makes our petitions a powerful channel of grace through which God does glorious things. Reflect today on whether your prayer is persistent, confident, and marked by a blind trust in God’s goodness and perfect will. Do you boldly ask God for His will to be done, even when it requires surrender? Pray for the grace to seek only what is good in God’s eyes, and never cease knocking on the door of His Heart. Lord of all goodness, Your Heart burns with a desire to pour forth all that is good upon Your sons and daughters. Help me to believe in You and in Your goodness, to pray with persistence and confidence, and to know that You long to bestow the Holy Spirit upon me far more than I will ever understand. Jesus, I trust in You.

Jesus’ Prayer and Ours

October 7, 2026 Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Readings for Today Reading for Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Image via Adobe Video Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.” Luke 11:1–4 Imagine witnessing Jesus in prayer. Every word and gesture would radiate a sacred intimacy, a divine communion of love shared with the Father from all eternity. Though He is fully divine, Jesus, in His humanity, prayed not to acquire grace, but to manifest His perfect obedience and filial love toward the Father. His prayer is a revelation, showing us both how to pray and who God is—a loving Father who listens, provides, forgives, and protects. For Jesus, prayer was not an external act added to His life; it was an eternal movement of love between Him and the Father in the Spirit. By assuming human nature, He did not abandon this divine communion. Rather, He drew our human nature into that eternal exchange, enabling us to speak to God as Abba, just as He does. From a distance, one of the disciples observed this sacred exchange. Moved by the depth of Jesus’ prayer, he longed to enter into that same communion. He asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” This humble request is one that should become our daily petition. The fact that this disciple needed to be taught how to pray reveals that prayer is not automatic. It is a grace we must learn, desire, and receive. Even those closest to Jesus required formation in lifting their hearts to God. In response, Jesus offers not only a set of words, but a divine structure for transforming our whole life into a living prayer. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus begins by addressing God as Abba. This expression conveys tenderness, intimacy, and trust, like a child resting in the security of a parent’s love. The first two petitions—“Hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come”—express eternal desires. In Heaven, the saints and angels eternally hallow God’s name and rejoice in His Kingdom. Thus, every earthly prayer should direct us to these everlasting realities. But how do we glorify God’s name and bring forth His Kingdom here and now? Through the Eucharist. The prayer for “our daily bread” refers not only to our physical sustenance but, more importantly, to the Bread of Life. In the Mass, God provides for every need—spiritual, emotional, and material—because the Eucharist is Christ Himself. The greatest obstacle to receiving God’s providence is sin. Sin incurs a debt to divine justice—a debt we cannot repay on our own. But God, in His mercy, pays that debt with His own blood. We can only receive this gift, however, if we imitate His mercy. That is why we pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.” Refusing to forgive others closes our hearts to God’s forgiveness. Lastly, we pray, “Do not subject us to the final test.” This final petition acknowledges our human weakness. We express a confidence that we will not be led into trials that exceed our strength. The “final test” may refer to any great trial, temptation, or persecution, especially those that threaten to shake our faith. God permits trials, but He also provides the grace to endure them. This prayer is one of complete trust in God’s protection during every dark hour, whether caused by suffering, illness, loss, or the snares of the evil one. Reflect today on this perfect prayer. Because we pray it often, it’s easy to treat the Our Father merely as a formula of words rather than a model for our lives. Pray it slowly and intentionally, allowing each petition to shape your heart. Let it direct your desires, express your childlike affection for God, put your reliance on His providence in the gift of the Eucharist, help you embrace the call to forgive and be forgiven, and strengthen you to endure every trial with patient trust. Pray with the sure and certain hope that you are being drawn into God’s Kingdom, where He will be eternally glorified by angels and saints. Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jesus, I trust in You.

Distraction vs. Contemplation

October 6, 2026 Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Readings for Today Saint Bruno, Priest—Optional Memorial Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, Virgin—USA Optional Memorial

Image via Adobe Stock Video Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” Luke 10:38–40 Why was Martha burdened with much serving? The Greek word translated as “burdened” literally suggests being dragged around or pulled in every direction. Though her actions were inspired by love, they were tainted by anxiety and comparison. Her frustrated complaint reveals a divided heart: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?” Martha’s work was essential. Her difficulty was not that her service was unimportant. She and her siblings, Mary and Lazarus, were close friends of Jesus, and He visited them frequently—most notably just prior to the first Holy Week.  Jesus’ gentle response shows His love and respect for Martha, but it also corrects her as a way of helping her with her anxiety: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:41–42). What was that “better part?” Was it that Mary chose not to serve? Certainly not. After this somewhat embarrassing interaction, it’s possible that Mary did get up and assist with the serving. The “better part” of which Jesus speaks points more to the interior disposition than the outward activity. Mary’s heart was not anxious, worried, or burdened. She was attentive and contemplative. Traditionally, Mary’s act of sitting at Jesus’ feet has been interpreted as a symbol of the contemplative life to which each of us is called. Jesus’ gentleness invites Martha—and each of us—to identify that which burdens us most. For Martha, it was that she was more focused on comparing herself with her sister than on her loving service. Jesus was inviting Martha to embrace her act of service with a contemplative heart. She could have silently worked, prepared the meal, and interiorly rejoiced over Mary’s adoration of Jesus. She could have pondered the great privilege of having Jesus in her home and marveled at the opportunity to serve the Son of God a meal she prepared. Like Mary, the “better part” was within her grasp. Martha was clearly a good woman. In John’s Gospel, when Lazarus died and Jesus arrived days later, it was Martha who ran out to meet Him and professed her faith in Him. Perhaps it was today’s gentle correction that helped her become more contemplative and prepared her to trust in Jesus when the time came for Lazarus to die. Jesus’ words to Martha must echo within our own hearts. Do you daily choose the better part? Do you strive to remain contemplative, pondering God’s greatness throughout the day—both while you silently pray and while you work—retaining a recollected spirit? Or do you find yourself distracted by jealousy, envy, or other selfish thoughts? Reflect today on the interior burdens that weigh you down and rob you of your peace. Ask yourself whether your heart is recollected and attentive to the Lord throughout your day, especially amid your duties and responsibilities. Strive to imitate Mary by sitting at the feet of Jesus in prayer, and imitate Martha by serving with love—but do both with a contemplative spirit. Choose the better part each day by letting your heart remain fixed on Christ, so that whether you pray or work, your soul rests in Him. Lord Jesus, You desire my heart more than my labor. Help me to sit at Your feet each day with the attentive spirit of Mary. May I also serve You, like Martha, with love and dedication, but never at the expense of my peace or in comparison to others. Teach me to unite my work with prayer, my action with contemplation. Free me from distractions, anxieties, and judgments, and draw me into that interior stillness where I encounter Your voice. May I always choose the better part, and may it never be taken from me. Jesus, I trust in You.

What A Loss Of Strength & Speed Could Tell You About Dementia Risk

By Jenny Fant

December 17, 2025

Slowing down with age? That's to be expected. For most people, growing older means losing strength and speed. This, on its own, usually isn't cause for concern, but sometimes, physical decline is associated with cognitive decline.

Here's what researchers discovered when they looked into how certain strength metrics correlate to dementia in older women.

Analyzing losses in strength and speed

Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) recently studied over a thousand women around the age of 75 and looked at two speed and strength measurements: grip strength (an important indicator of overall health and longevity) and a metric called "timed up and go," TUG (in which people are timed as they get up from a chair, walk a short distance, and return to the chair).

For over 15 years, scientists monitored these women for declines in speed and strength metrics. They found that women with significant declines in these areas were up to twice as likely as their counterparts to have a late-life dementia event (either a dementia-related hospitalization or death).

And while this might sound alarming to anyone getting older or watching their loved ones slow down with age, it is important to remember two things: For starters, some decline in strength and speed is normal for anyone in their 70s, especially if relatively mild.

Also, early-stage research and findings like this may help identify early-stage dementia and encourage preventive therapies that can help stave off cognitive decline.

"Incorporating muscle function tests as part of dementia screening could be useful to identify high-risk individuals, who might then benefit from primary prevention programs aimed at preventing the onset of the condition such as a healthy diet and a physically active lifestyle," study author Marc Sim, Ph.D., said in a statement.

Sim adds that grip strength and TUG tests aren't currently performed in clinical practice, but both are inexpensive and simple assessments that could be introduced as part of dementia screening.

Our minds are top of mind

As Alzheimer's disease and dementia diagnoses become more common, many of us are looking for ways to protect our brains regardless of our age.

At present, treatment options are drastically more effective when symptoms are caught and diagnoses are made very early on. Prevention and early intervention can make a world of difference, especially with diseases of the brain. Studies like the one done at ECU are helping scientists identify early signs and risk factors, making them incredibly important for slowing down skyrocketing rates of age-related cognitive disease.

While the authors note that these are early findings and will require further validation, they give us another clue about disease prevention.

Our muscles are also known as our "organs of longevity," and this research provides yet another reason to tend to them as we age. It should come as no surprise that regular exercise is a proven prevention prescription for ailments of the mind and body, and dementia seems to be no exception.

What to do with these findings

Does this mean we all need to run out and buy grandma a shake weight ASAP? Well, not exactly. The takeaway here is that building muscle strength through resistance training and proper nutrition is key for brain health at every age. And once you reach the age of 70 or so, it might be worth talking to your doctor about measuring muscle strength through assessments such as grip tests.

Here are a few other ways to take a proactive approach and tend to your brain through the decades beforehand:

In your 20s: Limit excessive alcohol and cut out tobacco products. Yes, seriously.

In your 30s: Figure out what memory-supportive foods and supplements fit best into your routine and lifestyle. Here's a master list of daily supplements that are packed with brain-supporting ingredients. Check in on your vitamin D levels, too, as they've been tied to Alzheimer's risk.

In your 40s: Take stock of your stressors. With life's responsibilities likely piling up to an all-time high, make sure to make time for yourself and incorporate proven stress-reducing techniques daily like taking time to breathe.

In your 50s: Get more serious about hormone health. In women especially, the time before, during, and shortly after menopause can be important in assessing your Alzheimer's risk.

In your 60s: Embrace your social life. Americans over 65 are at high risk for loneliness—and science has proven that a healthy social life and meaningful connection can be huge in helping to prevent cognitive decline. Look into community groups and clubs to stay regularly social and reach out to the most important people in your life often.

The takeaway

Specific markers in physical decline may be warning signs of cognitive decline. Scientists have found decreased grip strength and TUG (timed up and go) to be meaningful indicators of later dementia onset in women in their 70s.

Hopefully, this type of predictive measurement can help move preventive treatment forward. And in the meantime, there are plenty of proactive lifestyle steps to take during every decade in life to decrease your risk for dementia and cognitive decline.