There is a certain sense of satisfaction that comes in
contributing not only to our future but to the future of others. Today's 1st
reading speaks of this basic principle of moral life that Amos prophesies
today, "Seek good and not evil...Hate evil and love good, and let justice
prevail..." It will always be
easier said than done. Though, we can always keep in mind what Brother Bo said
in his preaching on how to eat an elephant, by taking one bite at a time,
without you knowing it you've finished the whole elephant or just like
traveling a long road, take one step at a time and we'll get where we're going
no matter how long the journey is. Before we know it we've come a long way and
reached our goals no matter how long and difficult it may seem. Just think of
people who need to exercise but always end up quitting, a fitness expert said
that if we can commit to doing exercise for 21 consecutive days then it will
become a way of life. We can apply the same principle to doing good in our own
little way daily so that it can eventually become a habit thus it will
inevitably come out naturally like a flowing water and an unfailing stream. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Amos 5:14-15, 21-24 Seek good and not evil, that you may
live;...15 Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail...24 then let
justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.
God saves. There is no question about that but we have to
also be diligent in fulfilling our part of the bargain. This reminds me of the
vow I have made when it was impressed to me way back Oct. 7, 2007 in the
reading from Book of Habakkuk 1,2-3.2,2-4. “Then the LORD answered me and said:
Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it
readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will
not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be
late.”
From then on I've been writing daily reflections that can be
read by everybody and to my surprise it has become integrated in my daily
activities. As time and days go by, a lot of things started to unfold before
me, most especially the enormous message contained in that prophecy in Habakkuk.
This has given me inspiration and joy to continue doing it. Definitely God is
not asking us to resort to some extreme or out of this world act. The emphasis
is on the importance of following the commandments of God and doing what we've
got to do. We need not wait any longer and see any further for God wants us to
start paying attention to His commandments and apply it in our very own lives
in order to make a return for all the good He has done. There are times when we
just have to ignore what other people may say or think and continue in the
belief that we are God's people and have to be obedient in what He has asked us
to do and stay loyal to Him no matter what the cost is. We've got to make
things very clear for us. Sometimes we insist on doing things our way and more
often than not we end up in trouble. It's about time we realize that there is
no other way but the Lord's way. We get the impression that if we do one good
thing for the Lord then the rest of our actions are already covered and
justified. Well, that's what the enemy wants us to think so we can go on doing
our own thing without much care whether is it really pleasing to God or not.
Our God is perfectly and wholly good in every aspect and we can't expect Him to
yield to a partly good and bad child. Because He loves us, we need to be
disciplined in order for us to straighten up. There is this Catholic convert
who was raised in the belief that the Catholic Church is the whore of Babylon . When he
encountered for the first time listening to the Palestrina, he said that it
doesn't sound like it came from hell and sounded much more like what the angels
sound in heaven. When he visited for the first time, St. Patrick's Cathedral in
New York City , he figured that the whore of Babylon could not be something
this beautiful. He realized and understood that there could not be such a
disconnection of what could be so beautiful and what is good and true. He could
find all of these elements of goodness, beauty and truth in the Catholic church
and what eventually brought him to the faith. The beauty that the faith
produces is something that shines throughout more than 2000 years of the
Church. 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. Let our words coincide with our work
and action so that men will see and become convinced that we are God's obedient
people. Sometimes we say one thing and mean something else. If we can confuse,
convince and win people over to our side then we are definitely wrong if we
think that we can do the same with God or even get away with it. If there's
something we should be doing with our life then that is to be upright before
the Lord first and foremost and everything will follow. It is not wise to gain
the admiration of men at the expense of losing the approval of God. Nothing
else matters more than being upright in the eyes of God. No matter how
difficult things may seem to be at present we can always count on God at all
times. The Lord hears our cries and supplications. He knows and sees all and He
will surely make things right for us. No matter what happens to us we can
always be assured of a God who will always look after us and will make sure
that we are not taken advantage of. If God is for us, who can be against us? If
we respond to His call and faithfully follow His precepts and be the person He
has meant us to be then we are assured of His saving power. There are moments in our
life when things happen to us and we feel that God is touching us in a special
way. It seems so obvious that God is speaking to us in a variety of ways
through our situations and circumstances. Today’s psalm reading tells us
something very specific. It says that God will not just make us feel that we
can somehow conclude that He is trying to communicate something to us but
really show and demonstrate to the upright His saving power. There will
always be times when we seem to not know where to go. No matter how difficult
our situations may be, God will never leave us groping in the dark. All we have
to do is to really take into serious consideration the words in today's psalm
reading. The present civilization is in decline. There is so much moral decline
and decay going on around us. The solution can be found in the psalm today. We
have to have self discipline and will power to put a stop to the atheistic
society that is on the rise. We need to become an active participant of the on
going seminar for self restraint to control our appetites. To not pursue our
own selfish good but the common good in order to rebuild our society and
witness the saving power of God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16bc-17
R: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
...“Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant
with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind
you?”
Let's think about the gospel today. Where did those demons
ask to be sent today? They asked to be sent to the pigs. It is very disheartening
that much of our culture today are forcing people to become like pigs, beasts
and be less than we are as stated in Gen. 1:31,"God looked at everything
he had made, and he found it very good." Those demons that were sent there
were created good by God. It was through their own radical choice of rejecting
God, that they become much less. Just recall what they said, "Send us into
the herd of swine." This is what the life of people around us choosing
evil become. They just choose to become like beasts and pigs when in fact, we
are called to reach a higher, spiritual life. This could be described as
climbing a mountain. It is difficult and it requires perseverance, daily
efforts and God's assistance. What happens when we continue to climb up that
mountain? It is hard but eventually we begin to see a wider distance,
comprehend in a greater way the beauty that surrounds us, draw closer to God
and finally see what we are called to become. Pope Benedict said that this is
the greatest defense of our Christian faith. What confirmed his conviction that
the true apology of Christian faith is the most convincing demonstration of its
truth against every denial like the saints and the beauty that the faith has
generated. The light of Christ shines in the life of the saints. Today for
faith to grow we must lead ourselves in the persons we meet to encounter the
saints and enter into contact with the beautiful. St. Augustine described God as the source of
all beauty, goodness and truth that is ever ancient, ever new. We are attracted
to that because we are called to that. In order to grow those attributes that
are God's we have to hold to our faith to bring about these things. Let us
bathe ourselves with God’s grace and be filled to become more and achieve our
potential. The whole person needs to grow and advance not just in technical
knowledge which is very limited but also in character and virtue. This is what
God wants for us. To find our greatest aspects which is not always easy but it
is good. If we search deep down, it is what we reach out and long for, our
potential and fulfillment. God is a God of order and has given a time for
everything but will always act in accordance to what will be for the greater
good. Let's just continue to trust God's perfect will and timing in every
aspect of our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 8:28-34
28 When Jesus came to the other side, to the territory of
the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were
so savage that no one could travel by that road. 29 They cried out, “What have
you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the
appointed time?”30 Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. 31 The
demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
32 And he said to them, “Go then!” ...
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