GOD’S SIDE 2

These past few weeks I’ve been organizing my reflections in a way that I can easily access them in relation to a specific bible passage. This is in response and also in line with the prophecy I received last October 10, 2007 in Habakkuk 2:2-3. "Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision Clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late." The readings for today brought me back to my reflection almost 2 years ago which is about an issue of The Tidings newspaper with a front page photo that caught my attention. This is a painting by Italian Baroque painter Carlo Maratta of Mother Mary with 3 beautiful cherubims lovingly looking at the newborn baby Jesus. It has a main headline entitled, "Reason To Hope" which is the Christian message 2008 of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony. Something in it touched my heart which made me decide to keep it. On that particular day too, I was surprised to find out that the same message was given by a Carmelite Descal, Bro. Marinello in honor of St. Martha's Feast which we will be celebrating in just a few days (July 29). It was about the latest encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI which is trustworthy hope. Which is in connection with the virtue of hope that St. Martha showed when her brother Lazarus died from the gospel of John 11. The virtue of hope as defined by the Cathechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1818) states that "The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; it takes up the hopes that inspire men's activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude. Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity." Everything is interconnected especially when we always seek God in all that we do. By the way, today we are celebrating the Memorial of SAINT JOACHIM and SAINT ANNE, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As St John Damascene wrote: "Joachim and Ann, how blessed a couple! All creation is indebted to you. For at your hands the Creator was offered a gift excelling all other gifts: a chaste mother, who alone was worthy of him." During the time of these holy men and women, people can come in contact with God easily. Most of us find it difficult at times to communicate with God much more even see God face to face just like in today's 1st reading when Moses was able to talk to God face to face. Nowadays, we sometimes come to a point when we are no longer aware when God is communicating to us. We’ve got to be aware that God is persistently, consistently, and constantly sending out His message of not only hope but also of grace, mercy, kindness and fidelity throughout all generations. Amen. Hallelujah!

Exodus 33:7-11; 34: 5b-9. 28
...The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as one man speaks to another. ...“The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, 7 continuing his kindness for a thousand generations,...


God has made known His kindness, mercy and secures justice for all. He knows exactly what we need at the precise moment and brings forth everything in its appointed time. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13
R: The Lord is kind and merciful.
6 The LORD secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed. 7 He has made known his ways to Moses, and his deeds to the children of Israel. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness...

Jesus in today's gospel gives us an explanation of the parable of the weeds. Although we are not of this world we can not deny the fact that we are still in this world. We are still bound and living here on earth so we must be aware of the fact that we are exposed to the elements of this world we are in. The more we know and understand this parable the better we can cope. This explicit illustration allows us to picture ourselves in the field. From here we can already pace ourselves and gear up. We've got to be active and alert since there is a continuous battle that is raging between good and evil. We are told of what destiny awaits the damned and the followers of the evil one. If we are wise then we should know where we should stand and which side we should work for. There are only 2 sides, God’s side and the enemy’s side. We are challenged every single day to make this clear before we reach the end of the age. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 13:36-43
...“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, 38 the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age...