THE GATE

Most super heroes movies we've watched have always made use of breath taking and suspenseful scenes that will thrill the viewers. The excitement brought about by such is short lived because they are just fiction and will only appeal to the public within a given period of time during the showing of the movie. This should make us realize that no other thrill, wonder and awe can ever be greater than the scenes of our own lives with the knowledge that God is always with us every step of the way. The power of God is without limits. This is something we have to be aware of every waking moment of our life. Whenever we feel afraid and troubled we have to remind ourselves always that God loves us and He will not forsake nor abandon us. We can not continue living our life consumed with fear if we truly believe that we have a God who saves us. We have to be aware of God's presence in our lives and experience His love more and more each day. Sometimes when we encounter mishaps and disappointments in life we tend to question the will of God in our lives and worst, we even blame God, accuse Him of cruelty and doubt the unfading love and mercy that God always have for us. It is because we have a narrow view and perception of God's love for us we always associate with the limited capacity of our minds and bodies to comprehend the things that we are confronted with. We have to see, know, observe and understand things from God's perspective. This is hard especially when our experience is confined to just the plain and simple difficulties of life and we are always within our comfort zones. When trials and hardships come our way we look at it as something that puts us down rather than see it as an opportunity to display God's mighty power to bring about great and amazing things which are means to rouse our hearts and minds to the truth that the Holy One of Israel who wrought signs, wonders and miracles during the time of Abraham, Jacob, Moses and the prophets is still the same God touching our lives today. Amen. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 41:13-20

For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you." Fear not, O worm Jacob, O maggot Israel; I will help you, says the LORD; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and double-edged, To thresh the mountains and crush them, to make the hills like chaff. When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off and the storm shall scatter them. But you shall rejoice in the LORD, and glory in the Holy One of Israel. The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain, their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open up rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the broad valleys; I will turn the desert into a marshland, and the dry ground into springs of water. I will plant in the desert the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive; I will set in the wasteland the cypress, together with the plane tree and the pine, That all may see and know, observe and understand, That the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

There is really none like our God. We can have all the things that this world can offer but in the end we will still be wanting and not satisfied if we do not have God in the center of our life. The Lord has always been faithful and not a single moment would He ever not be. We should have the confidence always of a beloved child of God and the honor of being on top of God's creation. The Lord is always ready to extend His help and shower His blessings on us, His people. The question is, are we willing to accept His help and stay within the circle of His blessings? This question is very critical and sometimes left unanswered, neglected and taken for granted. When we choose to continue in the path that does not lead us closer to God the answer is clear, it is a no. When we direct our actions in things that draw us closer to God then it is a Yes. If this is so true for us then we ought to do as the psalm reading today tells us. All our thoughts, words and actions should reflect how great our God is. As humans we tend to downplay God's role in our life because we subject our experiences to human terms and conditions. We are still bound by the limitations of this world we are in and we can't help it. We sometimes just go with the flow and get carried away by the pressures imposed to us by our present and existing situations. Today's psalm tells us that we owe God more than just plain courtesy for His goodness. Whenever we watch box office hit super hero movies, news about it spread like wildfire and the promotion for it is international that almost everybody around the globe gets to know about it and watch it. If only we can devote that same fervor and enthusiasm in spreading word about the greatest Super Hero of all times, Jesus and make a decision to watch His life unfold and be part of our own, then we can someday be a part of God's great Kingdom in Heaven. Sometimes we might even have to come to a point when we look and sound strange  for others or even suffer the ridicule of not just others but the very people who comprise our circle of close family, relatives and friends. What matters most is that we ought to give God what He rightly deserves, to be extolled and praised forever. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 145:1, 9, 10-11, 12-13ab

R: The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

1 I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. 9 The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. (R) 10 Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Let them make known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.

After reading today's gospel it is noteworthy to say that the time of John the Baptist is the culminating point of all those who believed in God. This is because no one has official access to heaven yet at that time. We can say that we are blessed to have all been born after this time. Why is it so? It was only at the time after the death of John when Jesus died on the cross and redeemed all our sins.  Technically speaking, those who had hoped in God’s saving power before this time were still outside the gate. It was the death of Jesus on the cross which opened the gate of the kingdom of heaven and gave access to all. No human creature has ever been to the Kingdom of Heaven and was able to live and tell. All that we know are simply bits and pieces of what it really is. As the bible tells us, no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no one has ever imagined what God has in store for those who love Him. We just have to always focus on the greatness of the Kingdom of God in order for us to have a taste of heaven and truly appreciate what God has ready if we remain faithful to Him. We are all invited to a life with God in Heaven, a life of greatness that is beyond measure by this world's standards. Let us not forfeit or waste this great opportunity being given to us. The time to decide and act is now. We all hope and pray that when everything is over and done we can relax and see the movie of our own lives and finally gain entry to Heaven. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 11:11-15

11 Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. 13 All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. 15 Whoever has ears ought to hear.”