Life today has become chaotic and disorderly. Some people no
longer know who and what to believe in. We wake up each day not knowing what
the world holds for us and just go through the process of living it without a
purpose. This happens when we head for the wrong direction. St Paul in today's 1st reading was already
headed to what he believed was true, to persecute the Christians. Paul fell on
the ground and became blind. Sometimes God allows us to fall or crash down in
order for us to become a source that gives life which was exactly what happened
to Paul. This reminds me of the waterfalls in Yosemite
which is a great source of irrigation and water supply needs for those in that
area. Being there was almost like being in touch with God in an awesome and
inspiring way. On our way there we had a quick view of the vast mountains and
waterfalls where we passed by. When we finally arrived at the Yosemite Waterfalls
Park US and ranks 5th in the whole
world. Whew! As I watched the water
crashed down hard on the ground coming all the way from on top of the mountain,
a thought came into my mind. It must be very painful or would even kill a
person if he gets caught under that water. It could be similar in a way with
Paul who had to experience a crash down before his famous conversion on His way
to Damascus . We
too should consider the crash down experiences in our lives as God's way of
calling us to the right path and direction. One way or another we are like Saul
completely unaware of the consequences of our actions. Let us be conscious and
aware of what we are doing so that we don't end up falling on the ground and
losing our sight. He was a highly educated and learned man during his time. He
studied the scriptures well and was mentored by Gamaliel. His heart was set to
serve God. All the while he thought that he was doing the right thing. God
called him and revealed Himself to him and the rest was history. He got
converted and carried out the work of evangelization to all people. The
effectiveness of his ministry was credited to his mastery of the scriptures
that all pointed to Jesus especially the personal testimony of his very own
life experience. Looking back 2000 years ago, people were being converted and
baptized by the thousands. Nowadays, we may ask ourselves why is the world not
being converted? How well do we really know Jesus? How deeply do we love Him?
Just think of a thief who is willing to kill just to get what he wants. What
makes a person do this is in itself a powerful force that can drive people to
action. There are all kinds of gods in the world that people are chasing after.
It could be a person, object or status in life. We don't know how to find the
one true God. We have to read the bible, understand and witness to it so that
we can invite people to the faith. It is not easy but a heart that is in love
with Him and illuminated by His light can enter into this relationship with
God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Acts 9:1-20
...a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice
saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 He said, “Who are
you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 Now get up
and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were
traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no
one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see
nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus . 9 For three days he was unable to
see, and he neither ate nor drank...
We find in the story of Paul that he eventually regained his
eyesight and started proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. Wherever we're coming
from we should strive to follow his example of groping for the truth about the
light while he was in darkness and blind. We have a responsibility in our hands
which is very clearly proclaimed in today's psalm. As we find our way to God
may we find ourselves taking part in the mission and call that Paul himself
obediently followed and fulfilled. We are not just listeners and onlookers, we
apparently have to do what the psalm reading tells us today. We have all been
commissioned to go out to all the world and tell the Good News. No matter who
we are, what we are, where we're from and where we are. We need to strive to do
our best to improve our knowledge of God for He has great plans for all of us.
There is really a need to equip ourselves in order to respond as best as we can
to His call. We are the temples of the Holy Spirit, that's why we should take
care of our bodies too. Just think of it, whenever we are preparing to receive
guests in our home we always try our best to make it look presentable and go
through extraordinary efforts to make it special. I believe that we should
develop this kind of attitude each day as we bear in our minds that God dwells
in us. It is our duty to make Him feel at home and make it a fitting dwelling
place for Him. Let us make ourselves a living testimony of the gospel. What a
way to live if by just looking at us people will be blessed and praise God for
we become proof of His steadfast kindness and fidelity. Sounds very difficult
but as God our Father is Almighty we continue to hope that all things are
possible and we can do all things through Him. God is so good indeed, and
reminded about my son’s allergy. If not for it I wouldn't have known of his
drinking spree and could have failed to remind and emphasize to him what a few
bottles of beer could have led him. I am thankful that as early as possible it
has already been put to a stop. Although I would like to give my son the
benefit of the doubt that even without the allergy I know that Allan knows his
limitations and can very well overcome any possible addiction that is being
hurled right in front of him by the enemy for he is a Youth for Christ. As
parents we need to look after the welfare of our children and give them sound
advice. There is indeed a need to speak up, be bold and courageous. There is
really a need to remind ourselves constantly of this truth in order to respond
as best as we can to this call in today's psalm reading. Once we've made a
decision to embrace the truth and turn our backs on our old ways which are not
headed to the path that God wants us to travel then we can be assured that we
are right on track. Shout it out to the whole world and let it be known by
everyone. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 117:1bc, 2
R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you
peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the
LORD endures forever.
If we've become too knowledgeable and badly influenced by
this world then time will come when we'll find ourselves totally convinced of
its ideals and truths. It would come to a point whether we like it or not when
we'll find it hard to accept what God is telling us. We'll end up proclaiming one
truth about God but end up doing something contrary to it. There is a battle
being waged at all times for the pledge of our allegiance and we constantly and
continuously become disloyal to God by not totally committing ourselves to Him.
If we do not keep watch then we'll also find ourselves like the Jews in today's
gospel. We have to be totally convinced of the entire truth of who God is, what
God can do and how God can work in our life. Nowadays, people are starting to
become more health conscious. We are very cautious of the kind of food we eat
so that we can properly care for and maintain our physical body. We should have
the same attitude when it comes to our spiritual well being. Today's gospel in St. John is a very hard
teaching. We have to accept, believe and not walk away. The truths of the faith
can only be taught and understood if we have received the Holy Spirit. The
gospel reveals more and more passages pointing to the Mystery of the Trinity
and the Holy Eucharist especially the oneness of God the Father, God the Son
and God the Holy Spirit. St. Francis of Assisi
is a saint that is well known and admired for his holiness during his time and
up to this present day. It was said that for his way of life he followed the
words of Jesus in the Synoptics (Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke) but it is in
the Gospel of St. John that he patterned his spiritual life and manner of
prayer. His prayers to God sounded as if he were Jesus Christ speaking to God
the Father Himself. Our prayer should be identified with Jesus our Savior. We
need to have a profound love of the Eucharist and be united and transformed by
Holy Communion. In the feeding of the 5,000, those who were hungry were
satisfied. The faith required of the
believer is more than just being fed physically and satisfied but has to go
beyond it. How long will we be hard of heart? The nature of Jesus’ death on Calvary is a sacrifice. All Christians recognize this
sacrifice as a mystery. That Jesus offered His life on the cross as a supreme
sacrifice but most Christians don’t realize how difficult it would have been
for 1st century Jewish Christians to come to that conclusion. Why?
If we were there on Calvary on Good Friday
even the most devout Jewish disciples would have been unable to describe that
experience as a sacrifice because for them there’s really nothing more to it
than a Roman execution. It took place outside of the walls of Jerusalem , far from the place where there
were no burnt offerings, odors and no priests and thus there is no sacrifice.
And yet in one generation all Christians came to conclude that indeed what
Jesus suffered on the cross was the supreme sacrifice. How did they reach such
a conclusion? Only by looking at Good Friday in a light of what Jesus did on
Maundy Thursday. When He instituted the Eucharist He didn’t simply celebrate
the feast of the Passover He established the Passover of the New Covenant and
it was more than just words. He took bread and said, this is my body which is
given up for you and then he took the chalice and spoke about how this blood of
the new and everlasting covenant will be poured out for the remission of sins do
this in remembrance of me. Was this just a rhetoric and ritual or is there a
reality and truth to what Jesus said and did? The proof that Jesus really gave
us His body and allowed his blood to be poured out for the remission of sins is
precisely given to us there on the cross. But the nature of Jesus’ death on the
cross is illuminated as a sacrifice only by retracing and looking at it in the
light of the Passover of the new covenant. The Eucharist and Calvary
are inseparable. There are 2 sides to
the same sacrifice. Jesus shows us that in His death He did not lose His life
for in the Eucharist He already made His life a gift of love. This love is what
conquers death and the conquest of death is what occurs on Good Friday. As
Catholics we have a lot to teach other Christians who do not understand the
mystery of the Mass.
For indeed it’s the Eucharist that illuminates the mystery of Jesus’ death as a
sacrifice just as Jesus’ death shows us that the Eucharist is more than just
mere ritual but is the mystery of Jesus high priestly act of self giving
love. God is humbling Himself daily in
the altar in the hands of the priest. As we see bread and wine with bodily eyes
we should see it as the Holy Body and Blood, living and true while we remember
what He said in the scripture, "Behold, I am with you even to the end of
the world." We should be always reminded of how blessed we are that we can
eat the body of Christ and drink of His blood everyday if we will it during the
daily masses being offered throughout the world. There is nothing more
rewarding than being able to attend Holy Mass and receive the Holy Communion
everyday. For those who are unable to do this, we ask God for the grace to be
able to do so and for those who are already enjoying this special privilege may
they cherish every moment and continue to persevere. Nothing can beat this
bread, tastes so delicious and filling to the soul! Thanks to God for the Most
Blessed Sacrament. Amen. Hallelujah!
John 6:52-59
52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can
this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say
to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do
not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has
eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true
food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have
life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life
because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your
ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
59 These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum .
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