RIGHT IN FRONT OF US

The readings for today remind me of the instances when I used to visit Sis Loreta’s home and my good friend, Ruby. This is the season when the fig tree of Sis Loreta is in full bloom. I miss those days when I used to pick figs in her garden but in the process end up bringing home others fruits in her garden. Since she is a nurse she would even give me some of her nursing reference materials and other very useful supplies that I was able to send home to the Philippines. It was also at that time when I was about to pick figs in her home when Ruby came rushing to me and asked if I could accompany her to St. Martha's School to check on her daughter, Abby. Although Sis Loreta and I had already planned it earlier we immediately conceded to Ruby’s request. Being a mother myself I was able to relate to how she felt because she was getting worried about Abby’s first few days as a 1st grader in her new school. Those were the days too when we used to spend time together and have a heart to heart talk about what is going on with our lives. We just encouraged one another and boosted each other’s moral. God reminds us in today's 1st reading to continue to build up one another and shows us what should always be the case between friends and the people of God. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. 9-11
... Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

I could never forget and would always remember those times when I used to pick figs at Sis Loreta's garden. It was then that a thought came to my mind while I was climbing a ladder in order to get the figs in hard to reach places. Despite the fact that I was already on top of the ladder there were still some figs that I was not able to see and pick up right away although it was already right in front of me. They are being covered by the leaves of the tree and some are hidden in between branches. I just realized that it could be compared to how God showers us with all the blessings and graces that we need. There are times when we fail to see it though it is already right in front of us. Sometimes we have to really look very closely and try to turn our gaze into different angles in order to see it. What's funny was that when I thought that I've got almost every ripe fig in the tree, I noticed one big ripe fruit at the lowest part of the tree, there was even no need to use a ladder in order to get it. Sometimes in life we resort to a lot of means that are sometimes no longer necessary. All we have to do is believe that we will see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living if we will just be patient and full of courage. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M
Psalm 27:1. 4. 13-14
R: I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
...Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

It is a shame when we think that it is enough that we just believe in Jesus because even the demons in today's gospel know who Jesus is. And to think that sometimes we even fall short of that aspect of knowing who Jesus really is. We've got to do better than this demon if we truly claim that we are His followers. Authority is defined in the dictionary as the, commanding influence, or right to respect, or acceptance of one's word, command and thought. In today’s bible passage the people were astonished at Jesus because He is referred to as someone who spoke with authority. He even commanded the evil spirit to come out of a possessed man and it obeyed Him. As Catholic Christians we all claim to believe in God but are we really subject to His authority. It’s just a shame that there are times when we do not totally submit ourselves to this Authority. The evil spirit obeyed Him and came out of the possessed man but we who always boast of our belief in God and are self confessed Christians are sometimes no better than this evil spirit. We are all guilty of obeying God only up to a certain extent, up to a point of comfort and convenience. When it comes to difficult situations in our lives can we still allow ourselves to be subject to His authority? Let us all closely examine every aspect of ourselves and search for those areas where we have not totally submitted to God’s authority. This is the challenge that I leave all of you and myself as well. Let us surpass the obedience of the evil spirit to Jesus authority and be more committed to God in everything that we do. The evil spirit obeyed Jesus out of fear knowing that God is Almighty and it is of no match to Jesus. In our end we should obey in the light of love, reverence and trust in God whom we call our Father, Brother, Redeemer and Savior. There is no doubt that Jesus is the Supreme authority for only Him can give us the true and everlasting satisfaction, peace and joy we all long for in our life. We should decide here, now and for always to choose Him as our Master and Ruler of our life. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 4:31-37
31 Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority...They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”37 And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.