GOD’S OWN

Whenever we make plans we try to make it brief and simple to make it work and ensure success. This is due to the fact that we only have limited capacities and capabilities to carry it out. When we know that we've done everything we can then we just have to entrust it to God. We could plan all we want but the truth remains that our plans are simply no match with that of God's. It is a consolation to know that He is the Master Planner. He is Superior and Perfect in every way. We can count on Him at all times in every period, era or generation. Whatever major decisions we come up with are not just on our own but we should have the conviction that they are a reflection of our confidence and assurance that we get from the word of God making us stand firm and not doubt. This bible passage from today's 1st reading amazes me. It shows how the scriptures written at the time of Isaiah connect to the New Testament and how things have fallen perfectly into place as announced by John the Baptist and fulfilled in Jesus. We can only gasp in awe at how God can wield His power throughout time and make everything fit and work out in accordance to His Master Plan. There is always a season for everything and God is the reason. When we are beset with negative news we must continue to hope in the one thing that stands forever. We should always depend and rely on the word of God. Some people take very good care of their pet animals. It is very amazing how someone could really show such affection to an animal. If humans, imperfect as we are, can do it to animals how much more can God care for all of us. It gives me greater confidence knowing that we have a God who can show much greater love and affection for us. Only to God should we place our trust. He is a God who will never forsake nor abandon and will do for us much more than we can ever know. Oh God! Nothing compares to You, You are incomparable! Amen. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
...Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! 4 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. 5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken...Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

Only to God should we place our trust. He is a God who will never forsake nor abandon and will do for us much more than we can ever know. I am reminded of the talk delivered by Fr. John Hampsch, CMF entitled, "Don't take woe for an answer". He discussed not only about optimism per se but within the context of the Christian virtue, hope. He quoted Rom 5:5 which describes hope in God as something that doesn't disappoint. It is good to always put our hope in the Lord who make all things work together for good for all those who love Him.(Rom. 8:28) He said that we should always face the sun for the shadows to go behind. Come to think of it, I only realized it when I heard it, I guess it's another way of making us realize that if we are always facing the Son of God, Jesus who is the Light of the World, then every shadow that darkens and blocks the light in our lives will go behind us. He said there is only one place where there is only complete total disappointment for there is no hope of relief and that is hell or Dante's inferno. He further described Christian hope as not confined to the standards of this world and transcends emotional hope. It is an assurance or certainty of something good as in Ps. 42 where several times the words, "Put your hope in God" were repeated. Hope is a virtue infused by God in our wills not only in our emotions. Trust God with complete certainty. He quoted, the Council of Trent declaring that, "No one is certain of salvation.” This is somehow contradictory to what St. Augustine said that "You should think of salvation as if it were already certain." The certainty of salvation is as certain as our own existence. He explained that there is really no contradiction in the sense that the uncertainty comes from our side as human beings and not from God. He said we have the free will to choose our salvation. He reiterated the importance to see to it that the truth we heard remains in us and if it remains in us then God is surely assuring us of the certainty that He is on our side. It's just like finding something beautiful that we would never want to let go and remains forever. He mentioned the forces of evil that tempts us to become unfaithful. But God assured us that no one can snatch us out of His hands but the problem is if we choose to pull away from God. In the face of real challenges only those who stay firm in God's promises will hold and survive. It is given that God never abandons us, only we can abandon Him through the choices we make. In this present time of great trial and hardships we have to discover the grounds of hope which is rooted in the so called "Tripod of Hope" by St. Thomas Aquinas: 1. faith in the power of God (2 Thes. 1:11-12) 2. faith in the goodness of God (Ps. 146) 3. faith in the promises of God (Heb.11:1-2; Ps. 145:13) Sometimes this tripod is placed in a slippery floor of despair, conclusion of fools, neglect of faith and the like. We are called to always have faith and hope in God as written in the 1st book of Peter. If we feel like we are experiencing a hardship just like Job and starting to lose hope then we are called by God to stand firm and be joyful in hope. (2 Cor 1:5-6; Rom 12:2) May we all have a grasp of this great and wonderful relationship that exists between God and the world or His creation. Jesus is intimately present in Creation as the wind and air like a force of love. All that is good is a reflection of divine love. It is infinite and eternal that generates from nothing and from the beginning of time and creation does not merely occur and end there but an eternal support of the Holy Trinity present in all creation. Especially in us, present in a special way since we have a soul and spirit. The Holy Spirit is the moving force when God speaks with His word. This is something we lost in original sin but was restored through the action of the word made flesh in Jesus Christ our Lord. Nothing or no one else can make or break us, only God gives and takes, this is something we have to realize, first and foremost. Everything is by the grace of God. It's about time we stop using words and saying things about our being human other than what we are in the eyes of God. May our thoughts, words and action be inclined to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. There is really no more denying that we have a God who created all of us including everything here on earth which has been appointed and assigned in its designated time and place for our continuous guidance and reminder. All the beautiful things around us speak of the greatness of God's creation He is great and Almighty. Thus we should always give thanks and praise to God as we say the psalm today. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30 (1)
R: O bless the Lord, my soul.
...They look to you to give them food in due time. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. (R) 29 If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.


Whenever we attend a healing mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Michael Barry we are always greeted by some very interesting events. One of these was when we went to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for the said mass and Sis Marcy was so shocked when she saw Sis Lucy picking up a bubble gum on the ground. Before she can even think of anything else Sis Lucy explained that she missed when she threw her bubble gum in the trash can so she decided to pick it up so that nobody will end up stepping on it. One of the things that I consider yucky is to step on a gum much more to touch it. (I guess, you know what I mean when you accidentally come across these gums underneath tables and chairs.) This experience made me think that if all of us will just bother to pick up our own mess and avoid sticking it up anywhere we please then this world will be a much better place to live in. This sticking the gum habit is not a mortal sin, I guess, but it pays to start small and eventually end up doing bigger things in the process.  If we will just develop an attitude of always doing things within the context of God's love then nothing is too difficult indeed. If we are truly confident in our hearts about God’s love then what today's 2nd reading is telling us should take place in us naturally and therefore we should be inclined to doing it and truly come out as a people that is truly God’s own. I am reminded once again of the song, "Let the Love Begin" which has become very popular in the Philippines. In fact it was made into a romantic film which became a Valentine's movie presentation. The 2nd reading today is something like it. God is offering us love but it is up to us to let it begin. As the lyrics of the song goes, "Now let the love begin, let the light come shining in, who knows where the road will lead us now, look at what we’ve found make this moment turn our hearts around it may never come again let it in, let the love begin." We've got to let God in, though we may never really know where it will lead us, one thing is sure, it will turn our hearts around. We will never be the same again as in today's 2nd reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7

11 Beloved: The grace of God has appeared, saving all 12 and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, 13 as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good. But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, 5 not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, 7 so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Jesus is the 2^nd Person of the Holy Trinity and is one with God the Father and God the Spirit. One God in 3 Divine Persons, Father, Son and Spirit. According to St. Cyril of Alexandria, our question might be this, why did Jesus our God submit to baptism? The answer lies in the fact that He received the Spirit in Baptism in so far as He is also human. The Spirit is already His, in Him and through Him. He received the Spirit for our sake. If we are to reason correctly then we know that He did not receive the Spirit for Himself but for us in Him so that all gifts come down to us through Him. Jesus remained God when He became man. What He was not, our human nature, He assumed so that He receives in, by and through His human nature the Spirit for our sake, benefit and advantage. He is definitely up close and personal for He took our nature to Himself in order to renew our nature in its entirety. In the light of this truth that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus we are called to have a claim on the gifts that are existent with the Holy Spirit. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. We pray that we maintain ourselves in a state of sanctifying grace so that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are fully operative in us. If we have been baptized in Christ then we should have all the confidence not only in this world but most especially in heaven that we are blessed and considered as God's beloved children that we should always remember and be reminded of. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
...After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”