ALLAN’S TURN

It has been a nostalgic couple of days due to the readings. If yesterday I was sharing about my son, Jude, now it’s Allan’s turn. Today’s 1st reading brings back memories of the time when Allan was still undecided what course to take and what school to go to for College. At that time he had several options. It was kind of hard to say what he would finally decide on since he was still waiting for the results of his other exams in other schools. Although I had spoken my mind to him and said my piece of advice, I knew then that he has plans of his own. Today's 1st reading speaks of Samuel unable to discern God's call right away and so I spoke the same words of Eli to Samuel to my son, Allan. To make the story short, he has decided to take Advertising and is now studying in De LaSalle in Taft. I am very proud of him because he has been accepted to be a member of the Swimming Team. Recently, I found out too that he landed a part time job as swim coach in Corinthian Hills Gardens. On top of it all is the fact that he is doing what he really loves to do. We may have other things and plans in mind for our loved ones that don’t fit in their own. But no matter what they have decided to do and what they have been working hard for to achieve the bottom line here is to know that it is always for the best to pray, entrust everything to God and always listen to the instructions that come from Him. We could almost feel what Samuel felt in today’s 1st reading because just like any other person who is comfortably lying and sleeping very soundly through the night of our lives, we never want to be disturbed. Whatever disturbance and discomfort we may be all going through right now we must not lose hope and realize that it is through our deficiencies, imperfections and inadequacies that we continue to seek God. For only Him can make us whole. There are times when we don't realize that God is calling us several times and we don't know where to go and what to do. One very important thing we should do is to respond to Him in the way Samuel did and find ourselves growing in faith in the Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
1 During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent. 2 One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. 3 The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. 4 The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. 6 Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” 7 At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, 10 the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 19 Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. 20 Thus all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.

We should always listen intently to what God is telling us so we could effectively carry out what He wants us to do. We must not be distracted and dissuaded to do otherwise when beset with problems and difficulties. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M
Psalm 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10
R: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
1 [2] I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. 4 [5] Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. (R) 6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.


Today's gospel is a similar version of the one in Matthew 8. It is a figurative form of telling us the importance to stay within the confines and teachings of the Church. It is important to study and learn about our faith. We need to see the plan of God in Jesus. Notice the difference in Matthew 8:14-15, “Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. “ And also in Matthew 13:1, “On that day, Jesus went out of the house …” Matthew 13 is all about parables of the Kingdom of God and the people did not understand Him but when He went into the house of Peter the disciples understood Him. The house of Peter signifies the Church, and outside the church there is no understanding of Jesus’ teaching. When we stand from outside of the Church and the faith there is no understanding of Jesus and the plan of God. Just imagine ourselves standing inside the Church and looking at the stained glass windows. We see the images in detail and in full color but if we are from outside the Church what we see is darkness, and kind of shadowy unable to see its full color and detail. This happens when we stand from outside of the faith. The light illuminates the window and we see clearly from inside the church and believe as it illuminates the life of Jesus. Only from within the Church can we understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God which is actually what Jesus is teaching us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 1:29-39
29 On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. 31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. 33 The whole town was gathered at the door.