No one can totally claim to know what's in store for us in
the days to come. No matter how well planned and structured we've made our
lives nothing can be too sure. For some people, death is something that should
not be spoken of but in today's 1st reading it speaks of it as if
death is something to look forward to. Come to think of it, if there's
something certain in this unpredictable life then that is death. For it is
something that we should not take for granted. Though, we are not eagerly
looking forward to it yet, knowing that we still have an unfinished business
for the Lord. We might as well be ready for it so that when the time comes we
can stand face to face with God and rejoice in it exultingly. The whole
principle involved here is discovery and deciding. When our approach is discovery
then we are being lead to the events in our life with a sense of total
surrender, trust and faith in the Lord's Providence
for the realization of things that are unseen and hoped for. God may not fully
reveal and present us with a surprise but we maintain full confidence in a God
who brought us to wherever we are right now. In deciding, our approach is a lot
different since we already have an answer for something that we don't know yet.
It boils down to the fact that we think we know too much but we don't. We end
up playing God. We need to remain as man and allow God to be God of our life.
When man becomes God, we lose everything because we are not God. We have to
realize the impact in our life of discovery versus deciding. In all these
uncertainties and disappointments we've met along the way, we can be sure of
one thing. After all Job has been through, he was quite sure about something
also in today's 1st reading. There is no
doubt about it and we can surely be at peace with the fact that God has hemmed
in our paths. Amen. Hallelujah!
Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23
...They wait for death and it comes not; they search for it
rather than for hidden treasures, 22 rejoice in it exultingly, and are glad
when they reach the grave 23 men whose path is hidden from them, and whom God
has hemmed in!
Sometimes we are tempted not to say our prayers nor make any
special effort to be good. It would have been easy to fall into sin and stop
befriending God. We know deep down that
it is not a good thought since faith is friendship with God. It is never right
to just aim for the bare minimum because that is not what friends do. It is not
true that we don't need God. One way to make sure that we don't forget how much
we need God is to always ask Him to bless us in all we do. We can do this by
offering everything to God. Our works, joys and suffering at the beginning of
the day. We must not neglect this and always practice hope. There are many
things that we don't understand especially with the things that happen to us.
We can always trust that it comes from God. We can turn to God in times of
trouble and not run away from our problems. We should rely on our friend Jesus
in both good and bad times. No matter what happens we should always lift
everything to God in prayers. Day in and day out we should call upon the Lord.
We know in our heart that in His great and unequaled love for us we can never
outdo what God is doing and can do for us. We have to persevere in our prayers
and never get tired nor stop in calling out to God for help. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8
R: Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
1 [2] O LORD, my God, by day I cry out; at night I clamor in
your presence. 2 [3] Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my call
for help.
“I have decided to follow Jesus no turning back. Though no
one follows, still I will follow.” This is part of the lyrics of a song that
contains the message of what God wants to convey in today's gospel. We may want
to ask ourselves, who is fit for the kingdom
of God kingdom
of God kingdom of God
We should always do things for the greater glory of God
without any hesitation or doubt. Every single day we are always confronted with
a lot of decisions that demonstrate where our loyalty lies. We may have decided
on something but as we go along the way we find things that do not suit our
comfort and expectations. This may cause us to have 2nd thoughts and doubts
whether we really made the right decision or worse whether we still maintain
the same conviction that we have before encountering a discouraging situation.
For as long as we honestly and sincerely know in our hearts and minds that we
intended to follow Jesus and acted on it then we should make a decision to
really stick to it and never back out for to be fit for the kingdom of God Jerusalem .
We should follow His example when he resolutely determined to go to Jerusalem even though He
is aware, being God, that it is where the passion of the cross awaits Him.
Sometimes we doubt God's Providence
when we encounter difficulties but in today's gospel it is clearly stated that
Jesus is firmly resolved or determined to do the will of God the Father. His
total obedience and commitment to fulfill His mission on earth did not spare
Him from experiencing rejection and despite of it all He maintained in Him a
spirit of mercy and forgiveness. He did not have a trace of vengefulness in
Him. There is really a lot to learn from Jesus' life here on earth. Jesus was
focused on God's will and was determined to fulfill it. Nothing stopped Him
from fulfilling it although He pleaded to the Father in the Garden of
Gethsemane (Mt. 26:39, He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer,
saying, "My Father, 25 if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet,
not as I will, but as you will." and in verse 42 he repeated it again,
"Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, "My Father, if it is not
possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!" We
can all learn from Jesus to be persevering in the problems and difficulties
that we face in life for we all know that in the end Jesus triumphed and
conquered it all. Let us not forget, He has paid the price and we have all been
saved. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 9:51-56
51 When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he
resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem ,
52 and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan
village to prepare for his reception there, 53 but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem . 54 When the disciples James and
John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?” 55 Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they journeyed to
another village.
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