Hebrews 10:32-39
...Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will
have great recompense. 36 You need endurance to do the will of God and receive
what he has promised. 37 “For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come
shall come; he shall not delay.38 But my just one shall live by faith, and if
he draws back I take no pleasure in him.” 39 We are not among those who draw
back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.
Fr. Barry has this very strong gift of discernment because
each of us who attended his healing had the same story to say. He was able to
see and feel the inner depths of our beings and it feels good to know that God
communicates His love and concern to us through this anointed priest. These past few years of our life,
whether we admit it or not testify to the truth that most part of it surprises
us at how things fell into place. Looking back at all of them, the people
involved, how it all came to play and work out well, we just can't deny the
fact that when we pray we are getting direction from above. In fact the
schedule of all the tasks, social obligations and activities lined up to do, no
matter how unmanageable it may seem if we entrust it to God with all our heart,
mind and strength would be carried out in a way a Master Planner does. We have
an awesome God who makes all things work for good. I know in my heart
that God is always with us to build up our confidence and faith in Him in the
midst of all our trials and hardships. Whether we realize this or not, He also
make sure that when we get our share of trials we doubly get our share of
consolations from God and even more. We just have to look beyond what this
limited vision can take us. This reminds me of Miggy, my landlady's grandson. When we brought Bernadeth home from our bible
study in the past this incident made me look at things differently from this
little boy’s perspective. I had been to their place several times already and
all I was able to say about it is that it's a very difficult climb when walking
up to their place since it is almost like on top of a hill. It was only when
Miggy being the child that he is, was able to see things differently as we
headed home on our way down. He was able to see the very beautiful view of
what's ahead of us while up there and said that he can see miles and miles away.
Sometimes we really ought to become like little children and be more
appreciative of what we have and hold at the present moment and look ahead with
so much hope. We have to start seeing the beautiful things that are right in
front of us that we usually do not notice and even see beyond our limited point
of view instead of bragging about the things that we don't have knowing that
our security lies in a God who grants our heart's requests. God gives us inspiration
in today's psalm since He is giving us an assurance that He will never forsake
nor abandon and will continue to look after all our needs. No matter how tough
things may become for us we only have to shrug it off and step up. Just like
the story of the donkey that fell into a pit. When the people decided that it
would be too much trouble for them to get it out of there they just decided to
bury it down there. Every time people would throw dirt and sand into the pit
instead of wallowing up into self pity and despair what it did was shrug it off
and step up. Before the donkey knew it was out of the pit. The same thing
should be our attitude towards life. When somebody throws bad things at us just
shrug it off and step up. Then focus on what today’s psalm is telling and we’ll
surely get out of whatever pit we’ve fallen into. We can get very good advice
from it. Every word tells us exactly the right thing to do. It brings forth
peace and serenity in us. These come from knowing that we can rely and depend
on the words of God to do what it says it would do. Are we really convinced
that God is able to do everything for our sake? Let us ponder upon the words of
the psalm reading and try our very best to do what God wills in our life with
the conviction and belief that anything that is for God's greater glory is in
truth for our own sake and benefit. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 37:3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40
R: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the
land and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you your
heart’s requests. (R) 5 Commit to the LORD your way; trust in him, and he will
act. 6 He will make justice dawn for you like the light; bright as the noonday
shall be your vindication. (R) 23 By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way. 24 Though he fall, he does not lie prostrate, for the
hand of the LORD sustains him. (R) 39 The salvation of the just is from the
LORD: he is their refuge in time of distress. 40 And the LORD helps them and
delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they
take refuge in him.
Our God is good all the time! God does not expect us to be
instant saints. He assures us that all we need is a small seed of faith sown in
our hearts. As it grows, God can do wondrous things beyond our expectations. Each one of us with no exception has
a seed that God has planted in our hearts. God is always at work in us. Whether
we are doing something or not, He is the Mastermind, Creator and Executor of
everything. It is not through our efforts and abilities that we are able to
accomplish anything. All we have to do is just allow this growth to take place
in us and not hinder or obstruct it. He can see through our future and knows
well also what we are going through at the moment and what we had been through.
All things work for the good of those who love and serve God. All we need to do
is just cooperate as He operates. Sometimes we have this impression that
we can effect change on other people so when they don’t we succumb to despair
or blame ourselves for not doing a good job. Or when people come out renewed we
sometimes take the credit for it and say that it if it wasn’t for us that person
would not have made it. It is simply presumptuous on our part to think this
way. We may think that we know better but we can never deny that God knows
best. It is definitely true what this sharing in Companion tells us. That’s why
we really have to keep this in mind. “It is God’s work to convert people and
transform their lives. As much as a preacher and teacher can convince people of
the truth of the Gospel, it is still only the Holy Spirit who has the power to
convict us of these truths such that we will be willing to live and die for
them. Open my heart, Lord, to the truth of the Gospel so that my mind and heart
would be truly formed in all that is good and perfect.” No matter how hopeless
and discouraging things may seem to appear we have to be fully convinced in the
power of God to produce great outcomes from very humble beginnings. All we've
got to do is stick to God through and through and things will always turn out
for the best. Amen.
Hallelujah!
26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
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