MAKE THE HIGHEST BID

If we have the right frame of mind then we can surely make wise decisions and take the right course of action. Today's 1st reading reminds us to set our priorities right so that all good things come to us. Wisdom is indeed a priceless gift for it is in having this that we can achieve and gain everything. Why settle for less when we can settle for the best. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Wisdom 7:7-11

7 I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. 8 I preferred her to scepter and throne, and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, 9 nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. 10 Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, and I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. 11 Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands. 

Our first parents were the original sinners and we are just the copy cats. In a way we are better off than Adam & Eve in the sense that we have their example of disobedience set before us. We can choose to follow their lead or footsteps by giving in to deception which we know is a bad idea or we can learn the moral lesson of this story and gain wisdom of heart. We are destined for much greater things that we can see right now. Thus we should set our goals higher than what people normally aim for in this life. Let us not reach the end of our lives regretting what we should have done or not and do what we have to do right now. We marvel at the capability of the human mind to function the way it was made to be but how much more can we not be amazed at how the mind of the Lord works from whom all things come. As humans we can not even go past a hundred years old and too lucky to be able to make it to that age nowadays. Everything passes away but what we can depend on to last for a lifetime through eternity is to fortify our soul with wisdom of heart. It can make us truly see and appreciate the things the Lord has done for us that bring prosperity, joy and gladness. Time will come when there is no more room for sadness once we've decided for happiness for we have a God who prospers those who offers all his/her work for the Lord. God is Almighty and Powerful. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He has the final say on all things. Nothing is beyond His power and might. Isn't it a very nice thing to know that this very same God has also been our refuge and strength in every age. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M 

Psalm 90:12-13. 14-15. 16-17 (14)

R: Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart... 

Jesus understands. He knows exactly what we have been through and are going through right now even much more than we can imagine. Let us trust that He knows better than we all do and be confident of God who created us all. It should also give us a better perspective, the best motivation and inspiration to always offer everything that we do to God whether it be a simple or great task that is in our hands knowing that Jesus His Son has already perfected it for us. If we sometimes come to a point where we feel so lost and unsure if what we are going through and doing is still worth it, let us always keep in mind that for as long we do it to honor and glorify God then it should make us think very hard and not just twice before we ever give up.  Let us not miss out on the ultimate blessing and the inheritance won for us by our unbeatable and undefeated Savior. All things happen for a reason and a purpose within the appointed time. God gives us valuable instructions for life that will make it pleasing and acceptable before Him. We should be mindful of the word of God being given to us in the scriptures and in our daily circumstances. The bible has been described as something like a manual that teaches us, Christians to go about with our lives. Just like any new equipment that comes with a manual in order to operate it properly so are God's words to us. We have to discover the joy of always consulting the word of God through the daily readings. In doing so we may even come to a point of making a commitment to write down reflections and share it to family and friends. It is in documenting and organizing our thoughts or journaling that we can access, read it readily and be reminded constantly. When God created us He intended for us to be guided and directed in accordance to His will and that's what the word of God does for us. For nothing else matters more than what matters to God. Jesus is 100% divine and human except for sin. This is a Church teaching that was emphasized during our bible study. The arch of Mark's gospel which illustrates 2 opposite parts represented by Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man is highlighted by the center of the arch where Jesus' divinity meets His humanity in the cross as the perfect victim (sacrificial lamb/scapegoat) of man's salvation. When things get out of hand we have no one to blame but ourselves for Jesus the perfect sacrifice is surely not lacking in everything that He has given us for our own welfare. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Hebrews 4:12-16

12 The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

A few years ago we had the opportunity to take part in a very unique activity in the prayer meeting facilitated by a guest speaker from the Philippines. It was an enjoyable and learning experience for all of us that made us more focused on what Jesus is trying to tell the rich man in today's gospel. The activity was likened to an auction sale but the things on sale are not material things but values that are most important to us. The Values for Auction Sale are the ff.:

1. Integrity & good reputation

2. Gaining respect and recognition in my parish, community, office, etc.

3. Being united with God in heaven

4. Lasting marriage or relationship, loyalty of spouse and family

5. Clean conscience, precious in God's eyes

6. Having someone to love me or take care of me

7. Peace of mind

8. Intimate relationship with God

9. Having plenty of money for my needs and to secure my future

10. Accomplishing my parish projects and witnessing the fruits of my labor

11. Having plenty of friends and/supporters

12. Academic excellence-like advance/special studies locally or abroad

13. Enjoying life comforts-house, car, appliances, provision for night life, etc.

14. Getting higher position in my company, parish, community

15. Good health, free of any chronic disease

16. Making a big difference in the lives of others

17. Long life 

The following statement which is very enlightening came with the speaker's module, "It is our investment in these accounts that our real worth and value is measured before God and humanity. And it is in this measure that our life finds real meaning and purpose. We have to start looking for our wealth. And if we have not invested enough, we still have time. Don't wait until it is too late."

We have to be wise in our investments and willing to make the highest bid, let go of the lower values to lay claim on the higher values and truly benefit from it not just in this temporary life but in eternity. It is not true that God makes it difficult for us to enter heaven rather it is ourselves who make it difficult. When we cling to people and things more than we cling to God then that's when it becomes difficult. We've got to realize by now that nothing is impossible for God and by uniting ourselves to Him we can overcome anything. Instead of focusing on the enormous problems and impossibility of the tasks we are facing it is better to dwell on the truth that we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength. We've got to surrender everything to God and unite our wills with Him so that what seems to be impossible becomes possible. St. Dominic Sabio said that he would choose death rather than sin. We have to know what helps us to overcome sin in our life. St. Ignatius of Loyola said that we have to retrace the steps that led us to fall into sin and strive to eliminate it. It is in the beginning when sin is easily overcome. We have to attack sin at a point where it can still be easily removed or put to a stop. One more important thing is to avoid occasions of sin. We must not underestimate the effects of original sin. If we play with fire we will get burned. Furthermore, "Curiosity kills more than just cats, it can kill the soul." We have to resist temptation and offer negative resistance but when a temptation is difficult, we offer positive resistance through prayer. We do this by invoking the presence of God in moments of temptation. We can also do the opposite virtue for which we are being tempted. For example we are tempted to hate and despair we make an act of love and hope. If it's an attack to chastity then we direct ourselves to other things. There is a parable about making it is easy to live virtuously. It is about a man who said that there are 2 wolves fighting within us. When asked who won he answered it is the one who we feed the most. We have to feed the good wolf in us through spiritual reading, frequenting the sacraments, spending time in prayer and engaging in healthy spiritual friendships or anything that can inspire and strengthen our character to what virtue is in need of. We’re not Pelagians who believe in the theory that we can be holy by our own strength alone. We need the grace of God. If we know we are lacking in devotion we ask for fervency and a fiery love of God. We should work and develop abhorrence for sin as in hate intensely what God loathes. We should see sin for what it really is. Eve looked upon the fruit and saw that it is pleasing to the eyes. It may have an appeal but it brings destruction. An offense to God is an attack to our own dignity.  Sin is a threat to our union with God because it delays or prevents it. Sin may appeal to us in a very irresistible way but we have to keep in mind that all it can give is just a momentary sort of delight. We need to think of ourselves walking on the edge of a cliff. If we want to strive for holiness and perfection we need to move further away from the cliff so as to increase the distance between us and the cliff and thus prevent falling into sin. It is a difficult task but as the gospel tells us today, "All things are possible for God.” Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 10:17-27

...“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ...“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more...