3 Cs

Don't worry, the Lord will understand you if you do it. Have you heard this famous and overused line before? Sometimes we Christians are like that. We tend to rationalize and justify every action that we do. Although, it is already obvious that among all the choices that we have in life we can always decide for the ultimate good we still settle for something less or worst choose what is bad. Have you been into a situation wherein nobody seems to understand or agree with your decision? There is no reason to fret for we have a God who knows exactly what we're going through, He is always with us to love and support us. Somehow, this also reflects the message of Bro. Bo Sanchez last night in the Light of Jesus Family (LOJF-CA) 5th anniversary last night. He said that there are 3 Cs that we obtain when we go through trials and sufferings. The first C is comfort. As the bible tells us, blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Come to think of it but this is in fact very true. Looking back at those times when we are in sorrow and pain there will always be something or someone that comforts us and I, myself could attest to this personally. The 2nd C is character, we develop it whenever we are put through difficulties. The 3rd C is compassion. We become better person as we emerge from one trial after another. The analogy presented to us is in the form of a person who heard God’s voice telling him to push on a big boulder. Every single day he would push on it but he would not see it budge even a bit. Until finally after a month he said to God that he is not doing it anymore for nothing seems to happen. The Lord answered him and said that something happened for he developed muscles. This is when Bro. Bo mentioned about our hope in God especially at times when we feel like nothing good is happening to us. Our hope has something to do with our perception and position. He said that when he was still in his 20s and heard someone say that he is 40 he thought that the person is old but now that he is in his mid 40s he thinks that the person is young. The same is true when we are presently experiencing a trial and in deep pain and agony but after going through it we look at things differently. This should be our position with God although we may be in a difficult situation we should always have that attitude and perception of hope which is to position ourselves as if we’ve already gone through the pain for we have a God who will surely see us through it. Amen. Hallelujah!

2Timothy 4: 10-17
...16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,...

Never ever doubt God's goodness in all things, the only thing we need to do is always call upon Him in truth. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalms 145(144),10-11.12-13.17-18.

R: Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.

Doing the will of God and responding to God's call is not an easy task. Jesus warns us that times could be rough and we can expect difficulties to come our way. Things may not always go our way and get the popular choice. The message of God run contrary to the world’s message and so is the spirit of the world contrary to the spirit of God. In fact in today's gospel Jesus sent His disciples like lambs among wolves. We have to remind ourselves also that in Matthew 10:16 it tells us, "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves." At the time of Jesus, we can already imagine how difficult it is to live physically in the world they live back then but nowadays we are so blessed to be able to exercise our faith freely without fear of losing our lives. The wolves in our midst may not be in the form of barriers to faith like in the time of Jesus and could very well be our very own self that has ascribed to the world's values. It could help to consider what the Companion Journal tells us to think: Today’s martyrdom is not so much a physical death but one of self-denial. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 10:1-9 (or Mark 4:1-20)
...Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.