AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING

Have you heard this common and overused line in love story and drama movies, “Follow the dictates of your heart.” If we will honestly dig deep into our hearts we will find that true love, happiness and satisfaction lies deep within us. All we have to do is search deep into it by removing all blocks, obstacles and hindrances that prevent us from exposing to the surface what God has planted. If it remains hidden then we tend to be led astray. We forget and neglect what we are truly called for to do and fail to be the person God has meant us to be. Contemplating on the passion and death of Jesus makes us more in touch with the realities about God. It maybe a bit stressful and confusing whenever we try to consolidate, analyze and impart our limited thoughts and knowledge about our Almighty and Immortal God. Despite our limited capacities to understand everything about our Infinite and Boundless God we are assured by the truth in the 1st reading for today. It gives us hope that our limitations are being addressed constantly and without fail as the days go by as we hold on to God's word and promise. This reminds me of this old man who said that he was raised as a child not to believe in God but when he saw me praying he suddenly crossed his fingers and prayed too. When I looked at him, his eyes were closed and his hands are clasped together. I couldn't believe what I saw and just wondered how it ever came to be. This is no secret because today's 1st reading tells us why is it so. The passage stating “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts” suddenly makes a lot of sense. Amen. Hallelujah!

Jeremiah 31:31-34
...But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more...

We really couldn't judge a book by its cover. There is something more to what we see, hear and feel about people. It's in knowing what is hidden in the heart that we can truly say for sure what is real. But who can see through our hearts? No one, but God. What is unknown and hidden from us, God knows. We may be able to hide from men but never from God. We can only pray to God to create in us a clean heart. For where our treasure is, there also will be our hearts. This should all be our prayer, “Change me Oh God, mold me in accordance to your pattern and plan and not mine” Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
R: Create a clean heart in me, O God.
...I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you... My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R)

If Jesus Christ who is God chose to stoop down to the level of man and humbly accepted the conditions and situations that go with being human all the more should we be willing and not just compelled to obey and follow God. Indeed, no servant is greater than his master. Amen. Hallelujah!

Hebrews 5:7-9
In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Sometimes we grow impatient of the things that are happening around us and not just that we sometimes complain, become disappointed and discouraged and resort to our own ways and means. We succumb to the pressure of the people and situations that are sometimes our very own family and friends, circumstances and status quo around us. We sometimes misinterpret these things as God's will for our lives or just accept things as they come. We sometimes fail to realize that everything happens for a reason and there is a mission that goes with it. We should learn the art of patience and learn how to wait on the Lord. If at times there are moments when a particular situation calls for a specific course of action then it doesn't necessarily mean that this holds true at all times. We should not assume but should always consult and search God's wisdom on everything that we do. The same way that Jesus did, we too must follow where God the Father leads us. The gospel for today says it all. We can never be too sure of anything in this world. Everything seems to be a risk. There are times when we thought we are already cautious and careful enough and yet we still inevitably encounter things that we thought were already taken care of. Or we thought everything has been laid out and well planned and yet still get caught unaware by the surprises in life. This leads us to conclude that in this present life we ought to take chances, be willing to stretch out ourselves, give it our best shot, not be afraid and go for it. Too many dos and don’ts and should have done this or that. Though we may also end up regretting things we have or haven't done. But at the end of it all it is always for the good to have tried and done our best than to have not tried and done anything at all. Especially if we are rooted in the Lord and at the heart of everything we do, even the tiniest and most simple task, is the motivation to offer it to God as a form of service and make it a pleasing offering to Him. Let us not lose heart and always stand firm in our faith in God as in solid rock. It is not an easy task but a very difficult one in this world we live in but let us hold on to God's words in today's gospel and not be moved. We should always follow and do what God wills for us. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 12:20-33
24 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” ..."I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."