GOOD WORK

While we are still alive and breathing, there is hope. It doesn't matter what our situation is, what counts most is the truth that God will not abandon us. We are a work in progress in the hands of our Savior. We can be sure that God will not leave us without carrying out the things that has to be done in us. God is faithful and will fulfill His part of the covenant, without a doubt. God never gives up on His people. It is our part of the covenant that we should answer to in return. In the bible study in St. Lorenzo Church under the teachings of  Mr. Willy Santa Maria, he discussed about the book of Wisdom and he touched the topic about the soul. To explain further he cited Aristotle a Greek philosopher who classified the Theory of Definition into 2 : nominal and real. The example he gave for nominal is water, being such in name only, or in appearance. The real definition, he further classified into how and "what is it meant to be?" As to "how" he defined water as H2O, relaxing and life giving.  As to "what is it meant to be?" or Toti en enni in Greek he elaborated by citing the acorn that developed into a full grown oak tree. The issue on Pro-Life and Pro-Choice came to play again when the example of an egg fertilized by a sperm developing to a person was also cited. He said that Aristotle a great and well renowned Greek philosopher who was not even a Christian way back then, during his time believed in the concepts and principles advocated by Pro-Life. What an irony that nowadays, people who have been exposed to a very wide knowledge base of information all in front of us with just a click of the mouse or wide array of references and theories all laid and figured out before us and claim to be Christians and followers of God can not even decide for this vital truth and issue about life.

Philippians 1: 1-11

...I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus...that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, 10 to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

An anchor is a great image for faith because it doesn’t move about, held down fast and makes firm our position. Hope with faith does not simply mean a subjective feeling of hope that depends on our own personal feelings. What are the things that we hope for? Our hope should be something objective. We should hope for what God has promised. It should be our hope that we’ll go to heaven. This is the hope that we should have in our mind, our motivation to keep and stir up our faith. It is an extremely important goal for us. We do not simply have hope in seeking for the pleasures of this world. This pleasure is tangible and something that we can get a hold of immediately. The idea of postponing the pleasure, like not resorting to drugs, pre marital sex, alcohol and not depend on what seems to be the sole pleasure in life like possessions and all sorts of material things and focus on a hope in the future. We postpone the pleasures in this life and have the hope that there is a pleasure that surpasses these pleasures of this world. We have to develop virtue or the strength on the inside. The word virtue means strength. Our interior strength comes from the fact that we lose heaven if we seek those pleasures and make them the goal in our lives. It is such a pity if it will be where the anchor of our hope lies. Our hope in the promises of God may seem to be veiled at the moment. We have to reach beyond the veil just like the veil in front of the holy tabernacle or the Holy of Holies. Essentially, it was shielding a holy God from sinful man. Whoever entered into the Holy of Holies was entering the very presence of God. In fact, anyone except the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies would die. Only the high priest, God’s chosen mediator with His people, could pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on a prescribed day called the Day of Atonement. The picture of the veil was that of a barrier between man and God, showing man that the holiness of God could not be trifled with. God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil and He can tolerate no sin (Habakkuk 1:13). The veil was a barrier to make sure that man could not carelessly and irreverently enter into God’s awesome presence. Even as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to make some meticulous preparations: he had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God, and bring blood with him to make atonement for sins.

“But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.” (Hebrews 9:7)

So the presence of God remained shielded from man behind a thick curtain during the history of Israel. However, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross changed that. When He died, the curtain in the Jerusalem temple was torn in half, from the top to the bottom. Only God could have carried out such an incredible feat because the veil was too high for human hands to have reached it, and too thick to have torn it. Jesus a forerunner, high priest through His death and resurrection entered heaven. Thus we too are given this free access to enter heaven. If we know that we are standing on a firm and steady ground then we are confident that we are safe and secure. There is no doubt that the will of God will never take us where the grace of God will not protect us and will surely see us through for He is a truly reliable God. We have a God whom we can surely rely on. We've got to focus more on the bright and good side of life at all times because we have a great God who always works wonders in our lives. We can always rely on God at all times and be assured that the wisest thing that we can do for ourselves is to follow His precepts which are all truth and equity. There is nothing more we ought to do but live by it. In this movie about Moses it struck me how many times he kept on reminding the people of God's covenant. Every time God shows His signs, wonders and miracles the people are filled with faith but it doesn't last for each time they easily forget and not remember. Let us always remind ourselves of these signs, wonders and miracles that happened a long time ago even up to the present time for it remains true forever and ever. We have been declared through Jesus as God's own for He has made a covenant with us, the work of His hands. Let us not set this aside or neglect and put ourselves in our rightful place as His people.  God is always true and faithful to his covenant. We can count on Him to carry out and fulfill His part. It is our part of the covenant that we need to be concerned about. We've got to respond to God and fulfill our part of the bargain for our own good. This we need to be aware of and keep in mind always. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: How great are the works of the Lord!

1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. 2 Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights...He has won renown for his wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD. He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. 6 He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations.

I am reminded of a time when a friend lost her dog. It had been almost a day but still no news about the lost dog. She said that she posted flyers already with a picture of the dog and her contact information. At that time she called and asked for our prayers so I assured her before we hang up that we would include it in our prayers and we did. I found out after, that just as we were finishing our prayers, she immediately got a call from the woman who found her dog. She was told that her dog was on the verge of crossing the very busy street when this lady decided to pick up the dog and just bring it home. It was really for the best since she thought that it would be almost impossible or difficult to find the dog if it had crossed the road. This lady who rescued her dog could have decided to do otherwise but she did the right thing. She could have just walked away and not mind the dog. Her actions lead to one good thing to another and it goes on and on. Sometimes we are confronted with something that we could not decide what to do or which way to go. Today's gospel remains a big question for some people most especially with regards to work on Sundays. The bible may have the answers to our questions but it could also happen that our questions could lead to even more questions. Just like the scholars of the law and Pharisees who were unable to answer the question of Jesus, we may also find ourselves groping for answers to a lot of questions if we will not sincerely seek for the right answer which can only be found in hearts where true and genuine love resides. Today's gospel challenges us to always place our best foot forward and never hesitate to do good. In doing so we need to have great respect for the law/rules/guidelines and observe them so that we can benefit from them fully and not be robbed of our eligible rights and privileges as children of God. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Luke 14:1-6

...“Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. 5 Then he said to them, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6 But they were unable to answer his question.