"Give to God what belongs to God"

By Gustave Dore

Scripture: Mark 12:13-17

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Hero'dians, to entrap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." 17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.

Reflections: The Pharisees sought to trap Jesus with a clever question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" If Jesus answered yes, the Jews would accuse him of being disloyal to his own people, if he answered no, the Pharisees would report him to the Romans as a troublemaker and have him arrested. Jesus knew what was in the hearts of those who wished to get rid of him, and he answered with profound wisdom that he was able to impart a great truth.  The coins are stamped with an image of Caesar therefore it belongs to him according to the customs of those times. But a deeper meaning that Jesus wishes to share is that we are created in God's image. Just like the coins who bear the likeness of Caesar, we are images of God and we belong to Him.

We belonged to God from the beginning, but we chose to turn away from him. He was willing to pour out his most precious blood and send us his Spirit so that we may once again reclaim our true image as God's child.

"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant"

Scripture: Mark 10:32-45
32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." 35 And James and John, the sons of Zeb'edee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Greatness is associated with positions of authority and power. The Apostles James and John asked Jesus to share with them his glory by giving them positions of power, one at his right and the other at his left. The Lord's answer was something they did not expect, that greatness is related to servant hood and humility. He gave them the greatest example of this, by the way he lived and died. Jesus, the King of kings, Lord of lords, the only begotten Son of God, came to this world in all humility as a servant of all. He spent his earthly life in service, giving to everyone he encountered what is most important: love, faith, hope, healing, and freedom from their sins.

Our mission in life as given by the Lord is not to be served but to serve and love. We have our God given gifts, and he wants us to use this for the good of others, not only for our own selfish agenda.When we give an account of our lives before God, he would want to see how well you used HIS gifts-- not only for your own good, but more importantly, for the good of others.

"Receive a hundredfold"

Scripture: Mark 10:28-31
28 Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first will be last, and the last first."

Reflection: Following the Lord could require us to give up someone or something important to us. But Jesus promised that whatever we gave up, we will receive a hundredfold. God's generosity cannot be surpassed. But we must also ask ourselves the reason why we give our lives to God. Is it for love or reward? God is generous to those who give for love.

Following Jesus would also mean that we should be ready for persecution. Those who hate the Truth that Jesus revealed would also hate those who proclaim and live it. What strengthens and inspires us is the promise of God's abundant blessings and graces for those who love him. Whatever we give up does not compare to what God could give us.

"You will have treasure in heaven"

Scripture: Mark 10:17-27
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."


Reflection:  In the Gospel reading, the rich man felt that his life was not complete even if he lived according to God's law and with all the material possessions he had. He approached Jesus, asking him how he could live his earthly life and be worthy of the eternal one. Jesus immediately knew the root of his problem: attachment to material possessions. The man was looking for meaning in his life and Jesus knew what was holding him back.

Attachment to riches, possessions, power, and stature can blind us from following the true light that Jesus brings. Greed and selfishness clouds our judgement and we fail to see that what brings true happiness is generosity towards God and others. Building up our bank accounts and amassing material possessions will prove to be worthless if we use it for selfish ends. It cannot and will not make us truly happy.

Jesus does not say that being rich is bad in itself. Riches are God's blessings that are meant to be shared. What's bad is if money and possessions become more important than God that it would lead us farther from him into a life of selfishness.

Jesus invites us to follow him and realize that he is our real treasure. Only in Jesus can we find true and lasting peace and happiness. The truly rich man builds up treasures in heaven by being faithful to Jesus.

"Receive the Holy Spirit"

Depiction of Pentecost by Jean Restout

 Gospel Reading: John 20:19-23
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came  and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Reflection:  When the disciples received the power of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost an amazing thing happened to them. All of them were speaking in foreign languages that are previously unknown to them. They were preaching without fear in the streets when just moments ago they were locked up in a room not knowing for certain what they would do next. Thousands were converted and baptized on that day alone, which goes to show how mighty deeds could be accomplished with ordinary men possessing the power of God.

Jesus promised to give the Holy Spirit to his disciples after his Resurrection, and the same promise is given to us and fulfilled through our Baptism. The Holy Spirit gives us the right to be called children of God and to live as such. As God's children we are called to live a life of freedom from the slavery of`doubt, fear, and sin.       To live as true children of God is to live a life of peace and love, as powerful instruments of blessings to others.

May we always keep in mind that the Spirit of God lives in us. We are made God's children through Jesus in the Holy Spirit. This is the Truth, and this is the Destiny God wants for us.

"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.

paulines.ph

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."

paulines.ph

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
Paulines,ph

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.