"For God, nothing will be impossible"

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38     

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" 35 And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible."38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

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Reflection: Today the feast of the Immaculate Conception we honor Mother Mary as one conceived without sin. Being "full of grace" means that she has been singularly blessed with grace to be born without sin.This should be so because the Son of God is to be in her womb. But more than honoring Mama Mary, we give praise and glory to God for His wonderful work of giving us the Blessed Mother as an instrument of bringing His Son to us.  

We could find inspiration in the faith, courage and obedience that our blessed mother has shown in the Annunciation. What the Angel Gabriel said has caused her to be "greatly troubled". This could mean that she was filled with fear because she does not fully understand what was about to happen to her. This is a natural reaction for anyone, because we all fear the unknown. But her faith and love for God gave her courage to obey, and her obedience paved the way for God's plan of redemption to fully unfold. Mary believed that God's ways are truly wonderful, and nothing is impossible with Him. 

Obedience to God will cause us to experience His grace and power in our lives, in the same way disobedience will separate us from it. Mary's faith, courage and obedience is a model for all of us. If we want to bring good into this world and our lives, it is necessary to have faith and courage to obey God's will.

"Take my yoke upon you and you will find rest for your souls"

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

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Reflection:  A yoke is a device fitted on two oxens to join them at the neck so they could pull a load together, this makes their work easier and more productive. A yoke is usually used as a symbol of a burden or a load. When Jesus invites us to take His yoke, He does not mean for us to be burdened but rather so He could join us in carrying our burdens! What a wonderful invitation from the Lord! We could all be sure that in the midst of the trials of life, as long as we lift up our burdens to God, all will be well, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

The yoke of Jesus can also mean following His will, which is difficult at times. But then we know that we carry it with the Lord, and if you carry it out in faith and love, life would be much more joyful and peaceful than if you followed your own will. To trust in Jesus is to know that His will is perfect for us and His yoke is fitted well to make life much more beautiful for us.

The Lord wants you to bring your burdens to Him so He could help you carry them. What will your answer be?

"According to your faith be it done to you"

Scripture: Matthew 9:27-31

27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

Christ Healing the Blind Man
El Greco

Reflection: Our lack of faith in God causes us to be blind to His power to do wonders in our lives. Our own sinfulness and constant disobedience may cause us to think that God is fed up with us. It's true that sin causes us to be separated from God's grace, but God does not give up on us. He unceasingly calls us to conversion and union with Him. God's mercy is infinite and beyond our limited understanding as humans. If we find it hard to forgive, God does not. He desires to forgive, but first we have to do our part--- repent and turn away from sin.

The blind men did not limit their faith, instead they believed in the mercy of God. Jesus did not just felt compassion, but He was able to experience deeply what the blind men were feeling. In the same way, Jesus knows that being enslaved by sin is the worst thing that could happen to any human being. For this reason, He made the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation.

God asks us to be confident in His mercy. The first step to conversion is believing that God will accept our repentance, forgive our sins and help us turn away from it by His grace.

"Not even in Israel have I found such faith"

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-11

5 As he entered Caper'na-um, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven

Reflection: What can we learn about faith from a Roman centurion? In the Roman army, a centurion is a commander of a hundred soldiers. He should not only be courageous but must possess outstanding leadership to earn the respect of his men. One word of command and his men obey him, even in the thick of battle where their lives are at risk. He knew that he is a man whose command is obeyed without question. 

The centurion knew by faith that Jesus possesses supreme authority that even supernatural forces obey His command.  Even if he was a man of influence and stature in the Roman empire, he approached Jesus who was a humble Jewish preacher. (Israel was under Roman rule then). He risked the ridicule of his peers as well as the Israelites. But his faith made him submit to Jesus' power. What is more admirable is his humility was all for the benefit of his servant. 

Jesus is pleased with faith that makes us humbly submit to His power. We should realize that without Him we can do nothing. That is why the Lord never fails to reward those who are humble enough to call on Him with faith. 

"Watch for you do not know when the time will come"

Scripture: Mark 13:33-37

33 Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch therefore -- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the  morning -- 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Watch."

Reflection: This first Sunday of Advent, Jesus reminds us to be vigilant and prepared for His coming. The second coming of the Messiah is sure to happen, but no one knows when the time is. Getting ready for the most important event in history should be our priority. No one will be exempt from the day of judgement, even those who have died will be judged on this day along with the living.

How do we prepare ourselves? By being faithful to God's will in our lives. And His will is for us to love as much as we can. Doing whatever duties we have with love no matter how simple it is. As St. John Bosco,  patron of the youth said: "Do your ordinary duties extraordinarily well." We cannot do anything well if we do not do it with love, especially love for God. God is easy to please. We can offer up to Him the most ordinary task as long as it is done with love for Him and others.

We are living in the end times, the time between the first coming of Christ and His second coming. We are constantly reminded to prepare ourselves by living a life of love and doing our best to be God's instruments of blessing to others. Are you God's instrument of love and blessing?

Our Hearts are God's Temples

Scripture:  Luke 19:45-48

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, "It is written, `My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers." 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him; 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words.

Christ Driving the Merchants from the Temple
By: Jacob Jordaens

Reflection: God takes the holiness of His temple seriously. The only incident in the bible where Jesus used physical force was when He drove out the money changers from the temple. We may ask ourselves why Jesus was upset by people just trying to make a living. The truth is that the money changers were people who cheat their neighbor out of their hard earned money. They take advantage of the poor and force them to pay a lot more than they owe, and they do this right in the house of God.

Our bodies and souls are temples of God too, that is why when we sin we drive away the Lord from His rightful place. Jesus comes to us everyday knocking on the door of our hearts hoping that it would be ready to receive Him. It is better to welcome Him while he still knocks or He might resort to discipline in cleansing our sinful hearts.

This coming season where we prepare for Christmas, let us also prepare ourselves spiritually to give God a temple worthy of Himself.

Rise Above the Obstacles

Scripture:  Luke 19:1-10

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchae'us; he was a chief tax collector, and rich.  3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchae'us, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." 8 And Zacchae'us stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of  anything, I restore it fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

Jesus calls Zacchaeus
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Reflection: Zacchaeus was a man hated by the people because he was a tax collector. They are considered abusive and greedy by the Jews because they enriched themselves at the expense of others even the poor. Zacchaeus was probably hated more because he was the chief tax collector.

We have to admire the humility and determination of Zacchaeus when he sought to see Jesus even in the midst of a great crowd who is hostile to him. People could have been throwing him dagger looks or cursing him and probably threatening his life too. Still he went on to see Jesus.

Jesus who reads the heart of every man recognized the determination of Zacchaeus and rewarded him with a visit to his house. This was beyond Zacchaeus' wildest dreams!  Jesus was also risking His reputation by befriending Zacchaeus for the Jews regarded hanging out with public sinners as scandalous. But Jesus didn't care; for His mission was to find sinners and bring them back to friendship with God.

In our lives we may also encounter people who will ridicule us for doing what is right. Just like Zacchaeus our humility and determination will help us go through the criticisms, rise up and climb our own sycamore tree. As we rise above the challenges, we would see Jesus clearly and be rewarded by a close relationship with Him. 

God Longs to Help You

Scripture:  Luke 18:35-43

35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; 36 and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 38 And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40 And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." 42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." 43 And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Christ healing the blind man
By El Greco

Reflection: The blind man heard that Jesus was passing by and he knew he had a once in a lifetime opportunity. Though he was blind, his faith helped him to see that he is within reach of the One who could heal him. 

The crowd was angry with the blind man because he was making a noise with his cries for Jesus. The Lord was probably in the middle of teaching the crowd as he walked among them, that's why the blind man was really disrupting Him. He could have asked the man to keep quiet for He was in the middle of something important but He did not. The Lord asked him a question that he asks all of us: "what do you want me to do for you?"

The Lord wants to meet the needs of those who call on Him with faith. The blind man's example teaches us about faith that made him rise up above the discouragement of those around him. He believed that Jesus would stop whatever He's doing and act on his plea because love requires action. And he knew that Jesus loved him.  The Lord admired his faith and perseverance and answered his prayers completely. The blind man began to see physically, but more importantly he began to see spiritually. His mind and heart was opened and he began following Jesus while glorifying God.

Jesus wants us to come to Him with faith because He alone could fill all our desires completely. Jesus asks us now: "What do you want me to do for you?" But more importantly we should ask in return: "What do you want me to do for you Lord?"

Prayers are God's Weakness

Scripture:  Luke 18:1-8

1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.  2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.'  4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Reflection: The parable of the persistent widow shows us what unwavering faith can do. The widow in ancient Israel is considered one of the most defenseless in society and are often taken advantaged of. The corrupt and powerful judge can easily dismiss the widow from disturbing him. But he is no match for the widow's persistence and he finally grants her justice. If the worldly judge can be swayed by the ceaseless petition of the widow, more so our God who is Just. 

When God seems to delay His response to our prayers, it's not because He does not hear us, but He waits for the right time for His perfect response. What the Lord is asking from us is patience and more importantly, faith. We easily lose faith when our prayers are not answered, but we can be inspired by the widow in Jesus' parable. Those who are sinners know how to give in to someone who does not give up. Our God who loves us perfectly will answer when we call Him, He will vindicate us when we call for justice, He will come to our aid when we call for help. All He asks from us is faith. 

Lord open our hearts and minds. Help us to feel your love and see your blessings in our lives that our faith in You may grow. 

It's in our Hands

Scripture:  Luke 17:26-37

26 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man.  27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed  them all. 28 Likewise as it was in the days of Lot -- they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom fire and sulphur rained from heaven and destroyed them all -- 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

Reflection: When Jesus talked about the day of Judgement, He advised His disciples to detach themselves to things that are not important. Those who are preoccupied with selfish pursuits and pleasure will regret it. For "whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it".  Jesus said that on the day of Judgement "let him who is on the housetop with goods in the house, not come down to take them away." He is teaching us to detach ourselves to fleeting things which are not important. Lot's wife while fleeing from Sodom could not detach from her worldly possessions and that caused her to look back. And you know what happened to her. We should ask ourselves: "are there persons or possessions that are more important in our lives and are keeping us from focusing on God and His will?" 

We are responsible for playing our part in our own salvation. God will judge each of us according to how we responded to His love, ultimately we cannot point to others as responsible for the consequences of our actions. That is what Jesus meant when on the day of Judgement, "one will be taken and the other left". No one can get a free ride to heaven on the merits of someone else, we all have a responsibility to live out our faith according to God's will. God has done His part in our salvation, now it's up to us to do ours. The good news is God is willing and able to give us the grace we need to help us do our part. 

The day of the Lord is coming and it is inevitable. It can be scary for those who are not prepared, and it can be anticipated with joyful hope for those who live according to God's will. Are we going to be be left behind or not? The choice is ours. 

Ready for the Kingdom

Scripture:  Luke 17:20-25

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, `Lo, here it is!' or `There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." 22 And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see  it. 23 And they will say to you, `Lo, there!' or `Lo, here!' Do not go, do not follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Reflection: The Pharisees constantly asked Jesus about the coming of God's Kingdom. They are doing this because they would not accept Jesus as the Messiah. The Lord's reply shocked them for He said that the Kingdom is already in their midst. Jesus the Son of God made man is Emmanuel, God with us. He is the surest sign that God's Kingdom has already arrived.

Jesus also speaks about the day of the Son of man, where the Messiah will come again as Judge of both the living and the dead. He uses lightning as an image of His second coming. For like lightning that flashes across the sky He will come without warning and all will recognize Him as Lord, even the unbelievers. Jesus first came as a humble servant, a willing victim who offered Himself for the redemption of mankind. In the second coming He will manifest Himself as Lord and Judge. Are we ready to offer up a life well lived when we face the Lord?

Now that Christmas is approaching, let us remind ourselves what it really means. It's not about preparing for the numerous parties and shopping sprees but preparing for the coming of the Messiah. Christmas is celebrated yearly to remind us of this great Truth, that God became man to make Himself closer to His people, to bring them healing, forgiveness, freedom and salvation. It is a fitting gift to our Savior that our hearts are well prepared for His coming.

Serving Without Thought of Reward

Scripture:  Luke 17:7-10

7 "Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down  at table'?  8 Will he not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"

Reflection: Did you ever did something for someone and expected to be thanked? We often give our time and  efforts for others but expect something in return. In our work places, we do overtime only when we will get extra payment by the hour.  There is nothing wrong with expecting something in return for your labors because it is the right of every man. But when it comes to God, we treat Him the same way as we treat others--- If we give Him something, then He owes us something.

Jesus' teaching about the good servant who expects nothing from his master tells us something about our relationship with God. God cannot owe us anything, whatever we give to God is due to Him and we could never match what He has given us. When God sent His Son to die for our sins, He could have thought that He has given too much. But in His generosity, He continues to bless us because of His love. He even continues to give Himself to this day through the Blessed Sacrament.

When we offer up something to God, He is under no obligation to give something back, but He still does anyway because He loves us. He is a Father who wants to bless His children with all the good things, and He never tires of blessing us. And the best thing is, we can never outgive God. When we give Him one, He gives back ten.

When we serve God with our time and talents, we are merely giving back to Him what He has blessed us with. Let us serve Him out of love and gratitude and not for anything we could get back in return. God deserves it.

May God bless us with abundance and generous hearts that we may humbly serve those who have no means to help themselves. May the only goal that matters to us is to please Him.

The Wise are Always Prepared

Scripture:  Matthew 25:1-13

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Reflection: Jesus frequently uses the image of a wedding and wedding feasts in His parable about God's Kingdom. Because a wedding is an image of the union God wants to have with us forever and the feast is an image of eternal life of love and complete happiness with Him. God invites us everyday to the heavenly feast and calls us to prepare ourselves. In the parable of the ten maidens, Jesus showed that the wise are always prepared and therefore worthy to join the feast. 

The wisdom of the maidens who came prepared with oil in their lamps made them fit to be part of the wedding feast. The maidens who were unprepared were called foolish and they paid for it by not being allowed to join the feast. It may seem strange to have to reject someone because they have no oil in their lamps, but it makes sense to Jesus' audience at that time. It is the custom for grooms then was to come in his bride's village at anytime he pleases without announcing it. The groom takes the long route around the village so that many could join the wedding procession and once they arrive the doors are shut and only those who have joined in the procession are allowed to go inside. If the groom comes at night, those who are prepared with oil in their lamps may join the procession to the feast. Those who have no lamps are not allowed to go out in the streets at night and cannot join the procession and the feast. 

Jesus calls us to prepare every single day "for you know neither the day nor the hour." We spend our lives satisfying our desires while neglecting to reach out to others. Our selfishness hurt the people around us and especially God who calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When Jesus returns as the triumphant Lord and Judge of all, will He find us doing His Will or doing our selfish will? Are we prepared for the day of the Lord's coming? 

May God give us the grace to be ready and worthy to join His heavenly banquet. 

Forgive First

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.2 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Reflection: How lucky we are that Jesus did not come to this world to condemn but to seek the lost and bring them back to God.

Parable of the Lost Coin
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We feel bad when we see people get away with their evil ways, we always long to see them get punished for the bad things they did. But God does not aim to punish at once, His first action is to draw the sinner closer to Him and change their hearts. Jesus hang out with tax collectors and prostitutes which offended the religious authorities of His day. The pharisees and scribes do not hang out with public sinners because according to them they will be ritually defiled, meaning they will not be fit to perform their religious rituals. That's like saying that rituals are more important than love and mercy.

We are really blessed that God is slow to punish and quick to forgive. All of us without exceptions are worthy of God's wrath. When we sinned we have offended Him, and it is but right that He condemn and turn away from us. But God loves us sinners to the point of making the initiative to repair what was damaged by our sins. The offended was the one who reached out to the offender.

Let us thank God for His love and mercy and His readiness to forgive us who offended Him. May His grace help us to be thankful for his forgiveness and to help us be ready and willing to forgive as well.

The Courage of Jesus

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32 And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

Jesus showed courage in the face of
His enemies
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Reflection: In the face of danger, Jesus did not run away but continued on His mission for our redemption. It takes great courage to stand up to tyrants and exposing the truth about them. Jesus called Herod a fox, which in those days means a deceiver who would destroy for his own gain. In doing so, Jesus knew He faced certain death just like the prophets before Him who also died in the hands of powerful men whose authority they threatened.

Jesus' courage in the face of danger is the fruit of His love for us. Jesus cannot forsake His beloved people even if it means facing certain death in the hands of those who hate Him.  He knew that our sins has caused severe damage to our relationship with God that only God Himself can provide a way to restore it. Jesus' love for poor sinners has given Him the strength to face even death on a cross. He has fallen many times under the weight of the cross on the way to Calvary but stood up each time with a firm determination to carry out His mission.

Jesus' is committed to us all the way. His love has brought about our salvation through His perfect sacrifice. He felt the fear of facing death on a cross but went on to accomplish the will of the Father. It only shows that true courage is not the absence of fear but doing the right thing inspite of fear.

Thank you Jesus for your love that gave you courage to accomplish your saving mission. Thank you for bringing us back to the Father.

Monitor Your Spiritual Life

Scripture:  Luke 12:54-59
54 He also said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, `A shower is coming'; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 "And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper."

Reflection: We all consider signs as important in our daily lives. Roads are filled with signs to keep us safe and to give directions towards our destination. In business and other professions "signs" are also important. But they are not called signs but data. Business leaders always keep themselves informed of the latest "signs" regarding the business conditions and the economy in order to keep their organizations sharp and competitive in the marketplace. One of the significant skills of professionals nowadays is interpreting data or "signs" concerning their profession and to utilize the knowledge they get from this information.

If we monitor the state of our businesses diligently, our spiritual life deserves that kind of attention too. The ultimate goal of any human being is not found in this life but in the next, that goal is eternal life with God. The most important decision we face is where will we spend eternity for all our material success ends with this earthly life and our eternal fate is what we will stay with us forever. Do we pay attention to the state of our spiritual life? Only God through the Holy Spirit can show us the "signs" we need to get to our eternal reward with Him. But the voice of the Spirit has been drowned out by the noise of our sinfulness, worldly concerns, and fears. Let us ask God to help us surrender our fears and sinfulness to Him so that we may be more open to His Spirit. God "speaks" to us daily through the events in our lives and through His Word in the Bible. We need to pray and listen, to free our hearts from unrepented sin and the noise of our fears and concerns so that the guidance of the Holy Spirit could be "heard".

God sent us the Holy Spirit us our counselor and guardian. Just like an advocate who would fight for a cause, the Holy Spirit would be there to fight with us against evil.  The Holy Spirit is our guide and guardian who will lead us to our goal of Eternal Life with God.

Make God Number 1 and Find Your Heart's Desire

Scripture:  Luke 12:49-53
49 "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 52 for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against  her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

Jesus, the Light of the World
Warner Sallman

Reflection: When Jesus told His disciples that he came not to give peace but rather division on earth they were shocked. It is unusual for Jesus who promoted love and peace to say such a thing. What was his point in saying this?

God wants us to love Him above all, and love of God means that we make Him number one in our lives. It is possible that doing what God wants us to do can make us unpopular in today's society which places more importance in material things and pleasure. We may even have conflicts with friends and family members if putting them first becomes an obstacle with what God wants us to do. Being a Christian means being loyal to Jesus first even at the risk of causing division. If our loyalty belongs to someone or in many cases something, then we are guilty of having other "gods", a violation of God's commandment.

It may seem unreasonable for Jesus to demand this kind of relationship with us. But if we reflect on it deeply, God really deserves nothing less than all the love and loyalty we could give. He has showed us the way by loving us to the point of laying down His life. And He showed loyalty to us by carrying out His mission up to His painful death on the cross.

Putting God first is a winning decision for us. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. God knows exactly what is best for us, and He wants our happiness and welfare more than anything else. Putting God first ensures that we are always on the path to goodness, happiness, peace, love and our ultimate goal of eternal union with Him.

Work on Your Mission Daily

Scripture:  Luke 12:39-48
39 But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour." 41 Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and  drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48 But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.

Reflection: God has tasked us with a mission that is individually unique to us. If we do not fulfill our mission, then no one else will complete it for us. If Jesus returns today, will He find us doing our God given mission faithfully?

All of us were created by God for a purpose and no one is put in this world without the capacity to contribute. A mission from God can range from simple things like doing your simple tasks well, or working to end hunger in Africa. No purpose is too small as long as it is done with love for God and others. God is pleased when you wash the dishes with the purpose of making things easier for your mom or wife or helper.

If God has revealed to us what He wants us to do, we should apply all our energies into doing it because our eternal destiny depends on it. Sadly we are more preoccupied with inconsequential things and selfish pleasure. There is nothing wrong with enjoying life, but we should not lose focus on God's will. The fulfillment that comes from doing God's will in our lives gives us the greatest satisfaction and stores for us real treasures in heaven.

God has blessed each of us and in return we should be ready to use our gifts to fulfill our mission. If we just keep our blessings for ourselves without sharing it, we are like the unfaithful servant in Jesus' parable. The master punished the wicked servant for not doing what he was tasked to do. If God decides to end the world today, we should be ready to face Him and say that we have been faithful to our mission. Are we ready for the day when God will call us to account for all our deeds?

The Power to Live our Purpose

Scripture: Luke 10:1-9  
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. 2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!' 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Jesus sends His disciples on their mission
paulines.ph

Reflection: Everyone is called by God to fulfill a specific purpose. Nobody in this world exists just to consume natural resources and not contribute anything. We may think that we're not talented enough, or charismatic enough to make a mark on society, but that is not an excuse. God has used misfits in the past who accomplished great deeds remembered to this day. Moses, Joshua, David, Gideon and countless heroes of the bible were all ordinary people and even seen as unremarkable and lacking in talent. But God used whatever they had to offer to accomplish mighty deeds. In the same way, God can take any talent we offer Him and use it for someone's blessing.

God asks us to trust in Him completely when He sends us out on our mission. We should learn to take our focus out of the fears and obstacles that confront us and rely on His power which He makes available to us. When Moses freed the Israelites out of Pharaoh's tyranny, he did not do so by using his talents and abilities. He just made himself an instrument and through him God performed amazing miracles that scared the oppressors of his people and paved the way for their freedom.

All of us have something to share for the good of everyone. It does not matter if your talent benefits the whole world or just a few people around you. The most important thing is that we use it, and God is satisfied with that. He is most satisfied if you use your talent for the purpose of serving others out of love and not out of self promotion.

God asks us to free ourselves of obstacles and distractions that make us lose focus on our mission. Obstacles such as pride, selfishness, fear, doubt, and greed. Pride and selfishness makes us focus on personal reward instead of how we could serve and love others. Fear and doubt makes us distrust ourselves and God's power to help us achieve our potential as instruments of blessing. Greed makes us focus on personal gain instead of helping others.

To be successful in our God given mission, let us ask God to help us trust in His power which He makes available to us and through us. And let us ask Him to fill our hearts with love for others that we may be ready to offer ourselves as instruments of blessing.

Be Truly Rich, Invest in Love

Scripture:  Luke 12:13-21
13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

The Rich Fool
paulines.ph

Reflection: When can you say that a person is successful? When he/she has a six figure monthly salary?  Being a top executive in a large corporation? Owning top of the line techie gadgets? Wearing signature clothes and shoes? Driving a fancy car? There is no doubt that achieving all of the above means that you have "arrived".



In view of our consumerist and materialistic outlook, it is nice to recall and reflect on a quote from Blessed Mother Theresa: "At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry and you gave me food to eat, naked and you clothe me, homeless and you took me in'. God will one day judge us if we have been successful in living our lives and His basis will be: How much have we loved.

The wise man lives a life of love. Love for God and love of neighbor. A fool according to Jesus is someone who stores up treasure for himself and has not enriched his relationship with God and others. True success is not measured based on our net worth but on the amount of love in our relationships especially in our relationship with God.

How can we nurture loving relationships? It is in giving of ourselves---our time, talent, and treasure. God has been consistently generous in sharing His blessings with us because He wants us to have something to share with those who don't have enough. God intends for each and everyone to be a blessing to one another. And being a blessing means being an instrument of God's love. The more we love and share, the more God blesses us, so that we could be a bigger blessing to others.

May God heal us of our selfish nature so that we may allow ourselves to be His instruments of love.

Pope names Tagle as new Manila archbishop

Pope names Tagle as new Manila archbishop

The appointment was announced today at 12 noon in the Vatican (6 pm Manila time) So it was a little over an hour ago.

Such a great blessing for  the Church in Manila. The young and charismatic Bishop of Imus is a much sought after speaker who talks about the Word of God with such passion and simplicity that it takes root in you.

Let us pray for Bishop Chito Tagle that He may faithfully lead his flock towards the true Shepherd.

Will God bless us with another Filipino Cardinal soon? 

God is not Complicated

Scripture:  Luke 11:47-54
47 Woe to you! for you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed.  48 So you are witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, `I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,' 50 that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechari'ah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of  this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." 53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard, and to provoke him to speak of many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch at something he might say.

Jesus confronting the Pharisees
paulines.ph

Reflection: Jesus was angry with the Pharisees because they have caused people to have wrong ideas about God and His will for their lives. They were so busy implementing strict rituals and meting out punishments for those who do not follow them, that they lost sight of what's important. They have interpreted the law in such a way that it has confused the people and complicated their faith.

God is not complicated. Yes He is immortal and all powerful, and because of that we think He is too complicated to understand. It is also true that someone who is Divine is really beyond the understanding of mere mortals. But God stooped to our level, He assumed our human nature so that we could know Him intimately and experience with us our fears and troubles. God revealed the truth about Himself in ways we could easily grasp, because He wants to be known. Just like in a loving relationship where both persons want to reveal themselves to their beloved, God wants us to know Him and not just superficially but intimately. God sent His Son,  the only person who could reveal who God really is.

Nothing is complicated about God and His will for our lives. He does not want us to be confused about who He is and what He wants for us. Jesus has already revealed the nature of God perfectly. And because of Him we know that God is love who is in-love with us, and wants nothing but our highest good.

May we make it our goal to love and to know God better each day. Let us ask Him to guide us towards His will and pour out on us the grace to follow it.

How is your Heart Today?

Scripture:  Luke 11:37-41
37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and  wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.

Jesus with the Pharisees
paulines.ph

Reflection: How many people do you know who are active in church and practice the daily rituals of religion, but do not live the values of Christ? All of us, in one way or another, are guilty of calling ourselves Christians but do deeds contrary to Jesus' teachings. We think that faithfully attending church services and being active in church activities is enough to have a vibrant spiritual life. Worse, many of us use our religious activities to impress other people, to give the impression of our "holiness" and closeness to God. There is nothing wrong with religious rituals and activities, it is a part of our faith. But if more importance is given to these than to living out our faith, then something is wrong. 

If our heart is filled with pride, greed, bitterness, and envy, then our words and actions would reflect that.  It is for this reason that God considers what's in your heart as more important than external acts of piety. If we go to church daily and attend all services on that day but do not cleanse our hearts from all that is contrary to God, then God is not pleased with us. God sees what's in our hearts, and He desires to drive away all obstacles of sin and fill us with love, mercy, compassion and kindness so that we may be His blessings to others.

Holiness comes from within. To have a heart filled with goodness and love, we cannot do it alone, we need God to fill us up with grace. Let us examine what is in our hearts, is it filled with greed or generosity?Bitterness or gratitude? Envy or kindness?  Remember that God sees what's within.

Do Not Reject the Sign

Scripture: Luke 11:29-32
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it  except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to  hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

paulines.ph

Reflection: God wants to be part of our lives. He sends signs all around us to show His love and presence. Look at the beauty of nature, feel the embrace of a loved one, hear the kind words of someone who deeply cares for you. All these are signs that show God's presence in our daily lives. When you see a beautiful sunrise or feel a cool breeze, that is God trying to get your attention. God's signs are not only meant to point us to Him, He also uses it as a guide towards our welfare and to rescue us from going towards the path of self destruction and evil.

God who loves us very much, wants us to know that He is near. Sadly His presence is always drowned out by so many things like fears, worries, and doubts. Our own selfishness also blinds us to God's presence, because we are so preoccupied with getting our own desires and selfish pleasures that we fail to acknowledge what He wants for us. Failing to see or rejecting God's signs will point us to the road towards unhappiness. If God wants to be part of our lives, it is not for His sake but ours. He loves us deeply and wants the highest good for us.

God already sent His Son, who gave the greatest sign of all, His Resurrection. Jesus is the only way to the Father and to eternal happiness, there simply is no other way. The sure road to unhappiness is to reject Jesus. Let us open our minds and hearts to God's presence and His will for our lives. Let us hear God as He speaks to us through His Word, and ask the Holy Spirit to help us hear and understand.

The Power to Defeat Evil

Scripture: Luke 11:15-26
15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons"; 16 while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 22 but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 24 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, `I will return to my house from which I came.' 25 And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.

Reflection:  Evil is real. In today's world we feel that more bad things are committed than good things. It is expected for we live in a sinful world. We humans have a fallen nature because of our disobedience to God, and in our weakness we are prone to choose what is bad instead of what is good. That's why news headlines are more about crime, scandal, and corruption than good deeds. It seems that the battle is favoring the dark side... for now. But the war is still not over. The war is between good and evil, between God and the devil. At stake is our eternal fate. So we must be active soldiers in this fight and choose the winning side.

We know who will come out victorious in this war for Jesus already conquered sin and death. His own death and resurrection is a powerful statement of victory against the forces of evil. Jesus always reminds His disciples: "be not afraid", and he continues to speak these words to us now. Jesus is the true conqueror, and all our fears are no match for His power. Evil spirits tremble at the mention of His name, and they scamper away at His command.

The power to resist evil is given by Jesus to those who let Him reign in their hearts. But first we must make room for Him by driving away all sinfulness. This power is ours for the taking. Jesus is knocking at the door of our hearts, let us open it and make it fit to be His throne room.

Surrounded by Abundant Blessings

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13
5 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Manna
from susanbailey.org

Reflection: "Ask, and it will be given you." These words from the Lord show how gracious God is. He is under no obligation to give us anything because we have rejected Him through disobedience. But out of infinite goodness, He still continues to bless and provide for us. What's more, He does it gladly.

The universe belongs to God, and all living and non-living things exist because of Him. The richness of God is immeasurable and as His children through Christ, He offers it to us.

God's blessings surround us all the time. God longs to pour it out like a loving father would want to lavish his children with all the good things. But the problem is, most of us are not in the position to receive it. For instance, if you pray for a lifetime partner, God would want to see that you yourself can be a blessing to the person He wishes to give to you. But if He sees that you want a relationship for selfish purposes, he would delay or withhold the blessing, because He does not want you to end up in a hurtful relationship. If you pray for riches, God would want to see if your heart is formed for generosity. But if you're not ready, he would say no for now. God would not want you to destroy your life living in riches but drowning in selfishness and greed. Blessings can be curses if it lands on the wrong hands.

Blessings are around us, and we are swimming in it. Let us confidently approach God with hearts that are ready to receive His blessings. Being ready for blessings means being the blessing yourself. Share your blessings and be a blessing. 

God in Power, Father in Goodness

Scripture: Luke 11:1-41 He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread; 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation."

Reflection: A father is an important figure in the life of a child, a source of security. When we were children as long as our fathers are present, we know everything will be alright. No one and nothing can harm us while he is around. And we can be sure that all that we need will be provided for. Even as adults, we still long for the security brought by our fathers. We often seek his strength, advice and wisdom in moments of doubt and fear. Even in schools, work places, organizations, sports teams, we look for father figures; mentors who we could lean on for guidance and inspiration. It is nice to know there is someone we could trust and depend on wherever we are.

When Jesus the Son came to the world, He revealed the full nature of God as Father. The Israelites of Jesus' time knew that God is their Father, but they did not dare call Him by that term. Jesus' revelation is so revolutionary that  He said we could even address God as "Abba", an intimate term for father just like "dad" in today's culture. You could just imagine the shock it created in those times. When Jesus was asked by His disciples about how to pray He taught them the Lord's Prayer. In the original Aramaic prayer He used the term "Abba", but it was later translated as "Father" probably to make it sound more formal. Imagine starting the Lord's Prayer with "Our daddy!"

If there is anyone truly credible to reveal the Father it is Jesus. He came from God and He is God. God from God, begotten not created, as we profess in our Creed.  Jesus certainly knew the Father intimately and anything He says about Him is the Truth. It is through Him that we are reborn and made adopted children of the Father.

God who is our Father, what a wonderful Truth! "God in power, Father in goodness" according to St. Augustine. If our earthly fathers or father figures make us feel secure, this Truth that our God is also our Father should drive away all fears. God who is almighty can absolutely do anything for the good of His children! He is our ultimate provider and protector.

God our Father is loving and merciful. In the many times we have disobeyed and disappointed Him, He still  patiently stands by us and encourages us to stand up from our fall . He is always there ready to forgive and give us a clean slate. He roots for us and runs the race with us pointing towards the finish line.

God is our Father and we are His children through grace. Let us be thankful for His great love and generosity in giving us the right to call Him Father. May we strive to live according to our nature as children of God.

The Antidote to Worry

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42
38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."

Christ in the House of Mary
and Martha
By: David Lindsay
www.theholyhouse.org

Reflection: Many studies have proven that worry is at the root of many illnesses. Ironically, many of our worries prove to be something not worth worrying about. How many times have we lost sleep worrying over a certain future event, only to find out when that event comes, there is really nothing to worry about? Think about the wasted energy agonizing over something that does not even happen! Think also about the blessings surrounding you but were obstructed by that monster called worry.

At the root of worry is another monster called fear. Jesus knew that fear paralyzes us. He is no stranger to fear, for He is also fully human like us, but unlike us fully Divine. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced total fear and sadness. But how did He rise up from it and accomplished the greatest feat ever in the history of mankind? The answer is Love. Jesus' love for us gave Him the strength to carry His cross all the way to Calvary and win for us our salvation. Every step on the way of the cross when Jesus stumbled, He thought about us pitiful sinners, and His love and compassion made Him rise up to complete His mission for us.

Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus are friends of Jesus, and he loved hanging out with them. Probably Martha was such a good cook and gracious hostess. But she was so stressed out and worried about serving her guests. Mary on the other hand, just relaxed in the presence of Jesus, listening to Jesus' teachings that inspired her and brought her peace. Mary focused on Jesus and as she began to know Jesus more, the more she loved Him and the more she is at peace. Love conquers her worries.

It pays to focus on Jesus and to train our hearts to trust and love Him. Jesus is capable of meeting all our needs, and all fears known to man are no match for His power. He can heal all illnesses, strengthen every weakness, and calm every storm, natural or man made. The winds obey with just one word from Him. St. Peter began to sink in the water when Jesus asked Him to walk out of the boat, because he took away his eyes from Jesus. Peter instead focused on the sounds of the howling winds and he began to sink. Needless to say, Jesus was disappointed with him but still rescued Peter out of love. Jesus not only wants us to love Him, but He also wants us to trust Him. Our trust is something very valuable to Jesus, and He is very pleased when we surrender all our concerns to Him. Surrendering to Jesus means trusting Him completely, He who gave up His Life for us. How could we not trust and love Him?

May we learn to love and trust in Jesus, and may our hearts remain anchored on Him. Like Mary the sister of Lazarus, may we learn to love Jesus and rest in His presence that all fears may have no place in our hearts.

Stewards of God's Creation

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-43
33 "Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. 37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' 39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."

Reflection:  God gave us a world that has everything we need. And He gave us the wisdom and talent to harness all the resources of His creation for the betterment of our lives. This shows great trust on the part of God to make us stewards of His vineyard--- caretakers of His creation. But God sees that we abuse the trust and freedom He has given us. This resulted in much destruction, suffering, and injustice. To make things right, God sent Jesus His Son. The Son's mission is not to condemn, but to make us realize the things we have done wrong, and show us the Way to fix our mistakes. In the hardness of our hearts, we rejected the Son and continue in our evil ways.

Thank God, He does not lose His trust in us. He continues to be patient, and calls us to follow Jesus. But there will be a time for God's Justice when on the day of Judgement He will likewise reject those who rejected Him. That time is coming.

Now is still the season for God's mercy. Let us not waste this great opportunity and blessing. While there is still time, let us hear the Son and embrace His ways. Let us be good stewards of life and creation which God has lovingly given to us. When the time of Judgement comes, we hope to hear God say: "Come to me my beloved children, you have become a faithful image of my Son."

Our Bodyguards... The Guardian Angels

October 2 is the feast of the Guardian Angels. God in His Infinite Love and Goodness gave them the task of guarding us day and night 24 hours a day 7 days a week. They are at our side round the clock, guiding, protecting, and praying for us. The protection does not only apply to our spiritual life, but to our physical well being as well.

Guardian Angel by Bartolome Esteban Murillo
From christianimagesource.com

I remember an experience when my friend and I had a car breakdown at around midnight. Because of the hour, no car repair shops were open and certainly no mechanics were around. As we were checking the engine not sure of what we would do next, a stranger approached us and offered to take a look. After he finished tinkering with the engine, he asked us to start the car and it worked! We were so happy that we are not about to be stranded till morning, so we decided that we should pay him for his services. To our surprise, he refused and said its ok. As we were about to ride the car, we looked back to see where he was going, but he was nowhere to be found. We looked around some more but there was no trace of him. It was really odd for him to disappear so quickly because only a few seconds ago, he was right there. Even if he ran, which is unlikely, we would still have seen him. We also didn't see any vehicle which he could have rode.  My friend and I considered this as an encounter with our guardian angel. Or if it wasn't an angel, still that man was heaven sent. 

Let us not forget to thank our Guardian Angels everyday for faithfully carrying out their God given mission for us. In times of temptation or trouble, rest assured that God's angels are there, ready to help. Call on them.