THE BATTLE

If we continue our own selfish ways and not pay attention to God's unrelenting reminders to us then we might find ourselves waging war against God. We can never win this battle and might as well realize by now that God is on our side and should very well decide to be on His side and ours as well. Amen. Hallelujah!

Amos 2:6-10, 13-16

...Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong man shall not retain his strength; the warrior shall not save his life, 15 nor the bowman stand his ground; the swift of foot shall not escape, nor the horseman save his life. 16 And the most stout-hearted of warriors shall flee naked on that day, says the LORD.

We've got to make things very clear for us. We are not supposed to engage in a battle that is not destined to win at all. If we know that we are losing in the first place why pursue it? There are so many battles in life that we have to face everyday but there is no need to fight them all. It is not about us but about God. The only guarantee that we are going to win it through and through is to be sure first which side we are on and make sure that it is God's side. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 50:16bc-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23

R: Remember this, you who never think of God.

...“Consider this, you who forget God, lest I rend you and there be no one to rescue you. 23 He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”

It will never be easy to follow Jesus, but one thing is sure if your life is too easy then think twice before you rejoice. God gives us the challenges because He has faith in our capabilities to carry out all our tasks. Be merry and glad if you have worries and concerns in life for God knows we are able to go through it all. Today's gospel is rather radical at first glance. If we are to look at it very closely we will realize that God does not ask us to do impossibilities. He is just trying to emphasize an important point by giving us such examples in today's gospel. Faith without the works is dead. We've got to be really decided, focused and set our priorities right. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 8:18-22
18 When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side. 19 A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 21 Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”