If we are to read carefully, word for word and take seriously what is stated in today's 1st reading then we should realize that we are the most priced and valued of all of God's creation. We have been placed on a pedestal, considered beloved and His by the Lord. Nothing else could be worth more than this and this is who we are before the Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!
Wisdom 11:22-12:2
...you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned. 25 And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you? 26 But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls, 12: 1 for your imperishable spirit is in all things! 2 Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them, and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!
We should have the confidence always of a beloved child of God and the honor of being on top of God's creation. The Lord is always ready to extend His help and shower His blessings on us, His people. The question is, are we willing to accept His help and stay within the circle of His blessings? This question is very critical and sometimes left unanswered, neglected and taken for granted. When we choose to continue in the path that does not lead us closer to God the answer is clear, it is a no. When we direct our actions in things that draw us closer to God then it is a Yes. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
R: I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God
...The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. 9 The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works...The LORD lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
There are so many things that tend to pull us away from the loving presence of God. The good news here is that we have the power to stay in his presence or not. It is just a matter of will. When we allow ourselves to be distracted and shaken out of our minds then we succumb to the trickery and trap of this world and the enemy. We become distracted and out of focus of what should clearly be our main objective. When this happens, our will take us to a different direction instead of head toward where we are supposed to be. If there's a will there's a way. Our will should take us to the right way and we can conquer all through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
11 Brothers and sisters: We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. 2: 1 We ask you, brothers and sisters, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, 2 not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
The priest in today’s homily said that we’ve got to take risks for our faith in God. We’ve got to be a risk taker like Zacchaeus. He took a great risk of appearing foolish before other people when he climbed on a tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus and what did he get. He did not just get a glimpse but Jesus went into his home and dined with him. He did not stop there, when Jesus finally went into his home he offered to give up half of his possessions to the poor and repay four times those he had extorted money from. We are headed to a much greater blessing if we will learn to take great risks in the name of our faith in God. We can never outdo or out give God in His generosity. It is time we let go of our narrow mindsets and boxed up notions of what a true blessing is. It is about time we realize that God alone can make us whole. We should not hold back as we open ourselves up to God’s work and saving power as He seeks and restores us to Himself. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 19:1-10
...Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
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