BUFFET

We have a serious matter in our hands. What's at stake here is not just a lifetime but eternity. If we still do not realize it by now then we ought to start thinking about it. It's like putting too much sugar coating and icing on the cake that we tend to mask the real thing. Today's 1st reading speaks of the tragic fate met by the Israelites, the chosen people of God, due to their leniency and corruption. If we continue to live like good times believers and treat our faith like a buffet table wherein we can just pick out the things suited to our taste and leave out what is not then we are heading for real disaster. We can also liken ourselves to good Sunday Catholics but the rest of the week is a different story. We are being reminded by God to follow Him not half way, nor halfheartedly but all the way. Amen. Hallelujah!

Lamentation 2:2, 10-14, 18-19

...Your prophets had for you false and specious visions; they did not lay bare your guilt, to avert your fate; they beheld for you in vision false and misleading portents...

When we are bent on doing something we have a tendency to be oblivious of everything that is going on around us. We are too focused on one thing that all other things just fade in the background. This happens when we value something very important and precious to us that we can't afford to mess it up. It's funny how we can become like this for the fancy and fleeting things of the world but so indifferent when it comes to matters of our soul. I guess we are all guilty of misplaced values. This could be due to the fact that we are still in this world and what we see, feel, hear and hold takes first place and our priority is the here and now. It is sad that we neglect what should clearly come first. May we be ready at all times for we really never know the day or the hour.  Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 74:1b-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21

R: Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.

1 Why, O God, have you cast us off forever?...

Today's gospel contains the words that we often say and hear during mass. Do we have the same humility and faith like the centurion right before we accept Jesus in Holy Communion? The centurion knows that Jesus can heal his servant. He humbly asked the Lord and showed Jesus an act of faith. St. Jose Maria Escriva once wrote, "We are going to receive our Lord on this earth, when we receive an important person in our home we bring out the best, food, lights, music and formal dress. How should we prepare to receive Christ in our souls? Have we ever thought of how we must behave if we should ever receive Him only once in a lifetime who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords? Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 8:5-17

...“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed...