HARDENED HEART=DISOBEDIENT

Whenever we are in a foreign land or with people who have different backgrounds  we are sometimes confronted with a slight if not major case of culture shock. There is a need to acculturate oneself to some of their practices like the use of chopsticks and all those Japanese stuff when in a place like Japan. The same is true here in the US even though the spoon and fork is what they use here there are a lot of things that's entirely different with what we, Filipinos have been used to. Today's reading gave me a sense of relief that although we are assailed by these differences only one thing is sure, the culture that we really need to get accustomed to is God's. Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Anthony, the abbot and monk. Saint Athanasius, who knew Anthony and wrote his biography, said, "Anthony was not known for his writings nor for his worldly wisdom, nor for any art, but simply for his reverence toward God." He has this desire to love God above all things and to deny himself in order to know more about God. His countenance has a great beauty in it that attracted many people to him. His appearance reflects the purity and joy of his soul.  Even if he has given up many things he has a radiance in his face that reflects his very soul that gives him a cheerful countenance that never changed. He projects the truth that he has something great within him, a life with God. There is a difference between Catholic monasticism and other forms like Buddhism. Buddhism practices meditations to eliminate all desire which is thought to be the source of all evil. This approach is an impersonal awareness of reality. There is a technique, right breathing and posture that need to be attained. There is this tendency to embrace transcendental meditation wrongfully. With Catholic monasticism, there is no technique, no right breathing or posture to attain. What is essential is to understand the gospel, hear and take it as directed personally to every person. Act on it by living the gospel and following Christ. It is thoroughly a love matter, union with God, transformative and life changing with a life of prayer.  The Holy Spirit inspired both the Old and the New Testament. We look to both as the best way to understand what the Holy Spirit says. What the Holy Spirit said in the Old Testament is applicable to the New Testament and still is to us today. There is a lively attentiveness to the scriptures. God has not abandoned us. When we read the gospel we should be aware that the same Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament is speaking to us today in the scriptures. As the 1st reading tells us today, we become partners of Christ. Jesus is engaged to a commitment to see through the project. Christ is committed to see us get to heaven if not for this He should have not offered His life for our sake. He has given a firm down payment for us. This holds true only if we hold firm to the end of our lives to that day when God Himself will tell us, “Welcome good and faithful servants.” Amen. Hallelujah!

Hebrews 3:7-14

The Holy Spirit says: “Oh, that today you would hear his voice, “Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert, where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my works for forty years. Because of this I was provoked with that generation and I said, “They have always been of erring heart, and they do not know my ways.” As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter into my rest.” ’ ” Take care, brothers, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.

Today's psalm reading is used as a preparatory psalm in the Liturgy of the Hours just as it was used in the Old Testament. Each time we hear it, there is an emphasis to the fact that is just the same as it is proclaimed today. During the time of Moses there had been an incident of great rebellion and testing on the part of the chosen people of God. The same message is being said to us because there is a possibility that we also harden our hearts today. Massah means rebellion and Meribah means testing. It refers to the time they rebel when they had no water. Moses struck the stone in the desert and water came out. We can read in Numbers 13 when Moses sent out spies to check out the promise land and when they returned in Numbers 14 they were full of discouragement. They came back and reported that the Land of Canaan is too strong to conquer but Joshua & Caleb, trusted God. They didn’t look at the problems of the walls of the Canaan. But the people believed the spies and concluded that it’s impossible to overcome these barriers. They wanted to choose new leaders and kill Moses & Aaron and go back to slavery in Egypt. Due to their unbelief the whole generation never entered Canaan only the new generation with both Joshua & Caleb did. The goal is to enter into rest in the land of Canaan but they refused because they believed their fears rather than believe what they’ve already seen in God’s miracles in Egypt. Psalm 95 is used so often in the Liturgy of the Hours and encourages us how today we must listen well. They do not just apply to the people in Numbers 13& 14. It also applies to the Church and we consider ourselves the New Israel. Let God call us to attention. We don’t have to fall back to the same sin of disbelief. No matter how hard the world makes us do so. The Church is beginning to experience persecution. Today we have to keep in mind what God already said in the past especially as we hear the words of His Son today. Jesus Himself gives us a greater authority than the prophets and the angels. When we look at our day, there are a number of strains that we have to alert ourselves.  There are New Age beliefs that everything is God including the forces of nature. It is moving towards the act of depersonalizing God by a vague force. It clouds the truth of God the Father, God the Son & God the Spirit. There is this New Age notion vs. the Christian notion of God. The catch here is the fact that there are no demands upon the faithful to be obedient. A hardened heart is equivalent to disobedience. There is no longer a clear distinction about the truths of the faith. It's just a matter of loving nature and taking care of the environment. No other demands like obeying the 10 commandments. The truth is not existent with the New Age. They water down the Person of Jesus and lead others to disbelieve in Him. Certain scholars deny Him as a historical figure or is believed that He had a wife as depicted in the fictitious Da Vinci Code. These are all things that are far from the authentic gospel. The image of Jesus is being shaped to imitate our worst moments and sins. It makes him appear like He is no better than we are and attack His moral character. It is an act of impunity to God’s character as if He is just a character of fiction. It looks like God is on the dock as C. S. Lewis put it. Instead of us being on trial, God appears to be the one who’s on trial. Let us not fall into this kind of thinking nor continue in our lack of faith or let anything shake our faith. Some dogs are amazing in their ability to show devotion and faithfulness although they do not even measure up to the dignity and standing of human beings they are capable of obeying their master with so much love and respect.  This should make us realize all the more can we do it and a whole lot better than that. We have to make a decision to be with Christ. God is the Good Shepherd. He will not scatter but draw people to holiness, righteousness and goodness. How can we be lost or led astray? There are things we need to do if we want to be under the care of the Good Shepherd, listen to His voice, follow His guiding hand and stay within the circle of the flock He tends. The truth is that we should never have any doubts about our decisions for as long as we know that it is all for the glory of God first and foremost and everything else will follow. We have this faith and confidence in God as in Philippians 4:6-8, "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." When someone speaks to us we sometimes ignore, refuse to listen, simply pretend that we haven't heard anything or misunderstood what we heard because we are too distracted or busy to give time to listen well. Let us always open our hearts and mind so that we become sensitive to the voice of God talking to us.  Surely there were times when we heard and experienced the voice of God giving us “out of this world” instructions and we responded nonchalantly as if we never heard anything, refused outright and rejected it. If before we just choose to do it whichever way we wanted it without much thought from now on let us respond to God in the best way we can with hearts full of love and obedience. When we grumbled and complained we all know for a fact that it didn't make things any better. We would have to practice more and make perfect the art of trusting and hearing God's voice. God is never short of anything. God is God and He will always be. Let us no longer confuse ourselves with the inaccuracies and discrepancies of our human hearts and minds. Let us keep it focused on Him who is Holy and Perfect. Let us all acculturate ourselves to the Kingdom of God to become a true member of His society. In this way we become a fit and authentic member of God's nation. No one can ever love and care for us more than God. He is the source of living water thus we thirst no more. Indeed, if today we hear His voice, let us not harden our hearts and let Jesus come. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 95:6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

...Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9 where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works. (R) 10 Forty years I was wearied of that generation, I said: “This people’s heart goes astray, they do not know my ways. 11 Therefore I swore in my anger: “They shall never enter my rest.”

Sometimes we come to a point when we just have to keep silent and not say anything at all as suggested in the gospel. There are so many reasons why. We can be sure that we can trust God’s judgment on this more than anything and anyone else. But if we are to look at the “keeping our mouths shut” aspect from a different angle then we would find that it works. We know for a fact that some things are better left unsaid. Or no matter what we say the words we speak of just fall on deaf ears. Sometimes or most of the time silence could convey a better message than saying anything at all. In whoever or, whatever situation is involved at any time it is always for the best to follow what God tells us to do and take His word for it than follow our own. And as we trust in His goodness all we have to do is obey and do what is being asked by the Lord. It is mind boggling that Jesus warned the leper after being healed to tell no one anything. This was because Jesus did not want the people to misunderstand things surrounding His being the Messiah. He did not want them to look up to Him as a political leader that will free them from oppression from the Roman rule at that time. His main reason for coming is to free us from sin which is the root cause of all suffering and death. If we feel that we have been very preoccupied with a lot of worldly things that we are starting to neglect and care for our spiritual concerns, then it's time to stop and look at ourselves very closely. We may not notice it and even before we know it we may have developed a leper soul. Leprosy is something that creeps into you unknowingly because it damages the nerves and leaves you numb and insensitive and will catch us by surprise when suddenly a part of us becomes damaged, beyond repair and will just fall off. All we have to rely and depend on is God's will to happen in our lives and nothing else matters. For nothing is impossible with a Great and Big God. Our imperfections will be made perfect our impurities cleansed if we only know where to really go. Before it's too late we better go to Jesus right away. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” 42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. 42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 44 Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 45 The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

BE INTIMATE

One thing I can never forget with my friend Bernadeth when she was in an unwell state was when she confided to me about how she really feels about people trying to be of help, nice and consoling by saying to her, "I understand how you feel." She said that she doesn't believe them when they say it. According to her, they don't really know how she feels unless they themselves undergo the same thing that she went through in which she said that some people have really no idea. In fact, she said it with so much stress I almost started to doubt the credibility of this principle relating to Patient Care that I learned way back in Nursing School. One of the exercises we usually do in Psychiatric Nursing is to identify which of the following communication patterns that frequently or commonly takes place in a Nurse-Patient environment is therapeutic or not. This, "I understand how you feel." statement has been declared as an effective tool for therapeutic communication since it shows empathy. In fact it has become a common by word that everybody has gotten used to saying it all the time even outside our clinical rotations. Though, Bernadeth may be an exemption to this rule, I can now very well understand what she meant back then most especially with today's 1st reading. Jesus went through the ultimate suffering and could surely be very well in the position to say that statement. I got this horrible thought of a person fleeing from fire but got trapped in a bathroom and sought relief from the heat by opening the showers but ended up even more scorched due to the hot water that came out of it. I just shivered at the thought of somebody dying this way. Just imagine if we are trapped in a place like a fiery furnace and we have nowhere to escape. It gives us consolation that we have a God whom we can always run to even at the point of death since Jesus knows exactly what we had been and have been going through because He had been through the worst even death. God became man. What a great privilege that our God came down from the Most High and Heavenly place to live and be among us. We have on our side the strongest force there is in heaven and in earth. He can win all our battles and we are in a sure win, no lose situation with God We just have to pray and trust that God who stooped down to our level is always here for us. We sometimes miss the point and go through life without realizing that the meaning of our existence is all about communion with God. We are so caught up in our lives and forget that there is a need to be still and know that He is God with the big G. We should strive for a life of prayer and contemplation and experience mutual presence.  Think of our closest friends when we relate things in our life to them. We develop an intimate sharing that binds our relationship. When we share in God's life and we share to Him our own then God draws near to us. There is mutual presence of two who are in love and be intimate. We sometimes experience dryness or longing that makes us feel like God has abandoned us. We thirst for God like a deer yearning for the streams. We long to be at home with the Lord. They are parts of the gift that God is giving to us in order for us to draw near to Him. It is not for us to understand everything right now. Everything will be made clear for us in heaven. Amen. Hallelujah!

Hebrews 2:14-18

...he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

We don't expect a mango fruit if we planted a banana tree. It is pretty much the same with our lives. If we strive to live up to the expectations of a child of the Lord by giving Him honor and praise then we will surely be not disappointed with the outcome. For God inhabits the praises of His people. Although we have a tendency to forget or become out of focus since we are surrounded in this world we are in by elements most especially the physical ones that make us more inclined to pursue worldly things. We become sidetracked or worse completely off track of the path where God is leading us. Let us live every single day of our life conscious of the wonderful truth that we are God's people and He has made a covenant with us. Almost everybody knows this famous Christian song from kindergarten, “Father Abraham has many children, some of them are small, some of them are tall, all of them are beautiful...” We remain beautiful as long as we keep God's covenant and remain obedient and faithful to God. He is the reason for everything and the source of all good things. Sometimes morbid thoughts enter into our mind and immediately we'd think that it is always the devil who does it but whether it is true or not this thought could be a wake up call and reminder that in worst case scenarios or life and death situations there is always a God ready to help us at any time. All we have to do is call on Him. It is indeed good advice to always look intently on God and find all the joys waiting for us. There is really no doubt that we need to further explore, know and understand about our faith. In doing so we have to constantly look to the Lord, seek Him and recall His goodness. Jesus' name is undeniably powerful and beyond measure. Its worth is more than all the riches we can gain in this world. There is really nothing we can find even if we search far and wide, high and low more than what the Lord can offer.

We could go on and on with so many options we are confronted with daily in our lives. There is an endless list of "To Do Things" but what comes first and last is always dependent on our priorities. In deciding on our priorities we have to always involve God in all the things happening around us. We would  be so glad to discover that as we place Him in the center of our heart, body and soul He never fails in guiding and directing us. If we live by the word of God which is perfect and remains forever then nothing could go wrong. Our hearts will abound with joy and gladness. There is indeed great power in the name of Jesus. He is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving. Every single day we are confronted with so many challenges in life and we have to be always hopeful that the fulfillment of everything that we have been praying for has come. We should believe that whatever delays or setbacks we are encountering serve as lessons to be learned that benefit our spiritual journey with Jesus. There is a need to go through the different seasons throughout the year for there is indeed a time and a season for everything. Thus, we all go through different situations and circumstances in life. Some of them do not make any sense if we fail to acknowledge the power of God moving in it. There are numerous things that we can think, focus and decide on but there’s only one thing I am sure of. We’ve got to acknowledge that despite of it all God’s power remains to be above all things no matter what it may seem to be. We should always keep in mind all the wonderful things He has done for us. The Lord will never forsake nor abandon us. In the midst of all the turmoil we inevitably face in our daily lives may we remain hopeful in the Lord who is Almighty, provides for all means and prevails now and forever. Whenever we experience difficulties in life we tend to question God right away and somehow blame Him for what came upon us. Sometimes we come to a point in our lives when we tend to question the will of God in our lives. I have plans and you have plans but sometimes things do not fall into place and ask why things happened the way it did and not the way we planned and expected. There is a lot to learn from the life of Joseph especially the part when he kept on with his faith in God when he became a slave and was almost driven to despair when he was tormented by a lot of trials during that time. All we need to keep in mind is that our time will come and all we have to do is just continue to trust God in His goodness and mercy and never let go of our faith. Just imagine what Joseph had to go through. We will never know of the physical torture and demand of being a slave nowadays. Thanks to God that slaves are already a thing of the past and no longer existent in today's world. But more than anything else is the mental torture of the fact that he was well loved by his father and would have not been in this kind of situation if his brothers had not done such a horrible and unfair thing to him. If it were us and not Joseph who had fallen into this kind of fate we could have responded and reacted to this situation differently. Are these words familiar to us? I do not deserve to be treated this way. I did not do anything bad for God to punish me like this, as if God is a tyrant that is ready to strike us with every wrong move. Why me and not the others who are a lot more sinful than I am. And all these kind of things that we say without much thought. If we are to look at the life of Joseph very closely we would discover that he never let go of his faith in God despite the seemingly desperate and hopeless situation he went through. He remained firm in his faith and continued to trust in the word of the Lord. Joseph was tested and found to be true. In our own lives, we too are called to prove ourselves worthy before the Lord in order for all of the blessings to flow freely without any block or hindrance. We just need to always remember the marvels the Lord has done and always hold on to it. If we live by the word of God which is perfect and remains forever then nothing could go wrong. Our hearts will abound with joy and gladness as we further explore, know and understand about our faith. In doing so we have to constantly look to the Lord, seek Him, recall His goodness, keep our spirits up and make our hearts rejoice like what today's psalm is telling us about. There is really nothing we can find even if we search far and wide, high and low more than what the Lord can offer. We may have experienced a situation in our life when we encountered a lot of trials and difficulties. Just when we're about to give up and lose hope, suddenly we came across a particular incident or inspiration that perfectly fits or matches our specific problem which gave us this hope and feeling that God knows exactly what we're going through and promises to see us through it. The Lord is telling us is in today's psalm and assures us that He remembers what He has promised and will surely bring about what He said to us that He would do. If God remembers, so must we. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

R: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! (R) 4 Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. (R) 5 Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations

It is through our deficiencies, imperfections and inadequacies that we continue to seek God. For only Him can make us whole. Today's gospel is a similar version of the one in Matthew 8. It is a figurative form of telling us the importance to stay within the confines and teachings of the Church. It is important to study and learn about our faith. We need to see the plan of God in Jesus. Notice the difference in Matthew 8:14-15, “Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. “  And also in Matthew 13:1, “On that day, Jesus went out of the house …” Matthew 13 is all about parables of the Kingdom of God and the people did not understand Him but when He went into the house of Peter the disciples understood Him. The house of Peter signifies the Church, and outside the church there is no understanding of Jesus’ teaching. When we stand from outside of the Church and the faith there is no understanding of Jesus and the plan of God. Just imagine ourselves standing inside the Church and looking at the stained glass windows. We see the images in detail and in full color but if we are from outside the Church what we see is darkness, and kind of shadowy unable to see its full color and detail. This happens when we stand from outside of the faith. The light illuminates the window and we see clearly from inside the church and believe as it illuminates the life of Jesus. Only from within the Church can we understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God which is actually what Jesus is teaching us. St. Thomas Aquinas a well known saint and scholar draw us heavily upon philosophers, especially Aristotle and even Plato.

He gives pertinent formulations to the faith but also has a saintly approach. His book, Summa Theologica has 512 questions and many articles to each question like a debate. He has a style in his presentation of the faith. It contains a concentrated reasoning in which the human mind is applied to the mysteries of the faith. He comments on scripture, on the writings of the pope fathers and especially knew about St. Augustine’s work very well. We see how he champions philosophy and reason well. He makes a distinction between Theology and Philosophy but very much sees philosophy as the handmaid of theology. He could see this beautiful relationship how faith corrects and even purifies reason and how reason helps in the deepening and understanding of the faith. Pope Benedict XVI in his recent reflection on Thomas’ contribution quoted Pope John Paul VI asking “Thomas our teacher, what lesson can you give us?” He says, “Trust in the truth of Catholic religious thought as defended, expounded and offered by him to the capacities of the human mind.” As we are to receive the faith fully and receive it, it must be reasonable. We must be able to process and understand it. It’s a mystery, always infinite and beyond us but must be able to explore it by reason with much confidence in the truth and revelation. We must have the capacity to use our reason when unpacking the truth. The 1^st part of the Summa teaches of the knowledge of God. He is the beginning and the end. He is the last end of all things especially rational creatures. The 2^nd part teaches us of the rational creatures and angelic beings that advance towards God. It tells human beings, how we are to live the moral principles as we develop a moral theology. It centers on the teaching on grace and how we need it to find our way back to God and to be turned and transformed in holiness to be happy in time and eternity. We need that revelation of God’s law and we also need His grace to be happy. In this life, to find Him and to live that blessed eternal happiness in the beatific vision. It also cites teaching on the virtues, faith, hope and love and also 50 more virtues on how to live a good life. The last part speaks of the saving mysteries of Christ. It presents to us Jesus, how He saves, the sacraments and the mysteries. God directs us from within since we are unique in this sense. We are different from animals and plants and inanimate objects. He directs us to Himself to God as our last end with our free will choices to move by grace and desire happiness. We desire joy and fulfillment and we find that in God. Jesus was very focused on the mission that God the Father has for Him. In the same way that we must not be distracted and dissuaded to do otherwise when beset with problems and difficulties. Today's gospel also speaks of the exact bible passage which a friend of mine considers instrumental in her healing. She specifically cited this story while praying fervently to God. She mercifully pleaded to God and called on Him not to deprive her of the healing she has bestowed on Peter's mother-in-law. At that time, she was already on the verge of drinking her sleeping medications but was afraid that she also might develop dependence since she's been on it for quite some time. She was battling then with not just one but several other medicines prescribed by her doctor which are all known to cause drug dependence. She had ready the medicine and a glass of water on top of the table but it was morning already when she realized that she was able to go to sleep without having to take any medication. Now, she's is totally free of all these medications. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door.

DO WE KNOW WHO WE ARE?

There is a song entitled, "Friend of God" which has the same lyrics as the one in the readings and I really love to listen to it and sing it. God has bestowed so much love, honor and glory in our being that we need to be in touch with this reality every single moment of our lives. It is time we become aware of this overwhelming truth that we are worth more than we'll ever come to know. God stooped down to the level of human being and experienced sufferings and death despite His Divine and Majestic nature all for the sake of God's great love for us that knows no boundaries. But we should remember always as St. Augustine said, “God who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.” Amen. Hallelujah!

Hebrews 2:5-12

...“What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, subjecting all things under his feet.” In “subjecting” all things to him, he left nothing not “subject to him.” Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” 

We have to grow deep in our relationship with God for He wants us all to be closer to Him. So when things become unpleasant and we start to feel helpless and feel like we  have no one, then we can look at things like it is all part of God's plan. The tricky question which I guess no one can give a straight answer is, "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" Furthermore, if we are to look at creation and all the things that surround us, as in the heavens, the moon and the stars then we will just be filled with awe and wonder at the greatness of God's work. It is a masterpiece of the Greatest Artist. What's most overwhelming is the fact that we have been given the honor of being the highlight of His work and the top of the line. Just think of the story in the Footprints when God opted to carry us rather than just walk beside us. But recently with a new version of the footprints, we've come to a better understanding of who God is. God's message is that we should become like the Lord in every aspect and know Him more and more each day and as we grow in our knowledge about God we notice that we improve daily in our relationship with the Lord. We learn not just to submit to His will and blend in to His designs for us but most of all to enjoy being one with God for He is an exciting God who can make us smile, laugh and even dance with Him. We have a God who will stop at nothing in revealing His endless love for us in so many ways. We can not confine the attributes of God to anything for unlike any relationship, nothing compares to it, be it the best romance, friendship, parent child relationship we ever knew. Our relationship with God is capable of reaching insurmountable heights for He will always be the Perfect Partner for each one of us. God has created man worth more than anything that He created. We can all say that our beauty surpasses all creatures on earth. As days, months and years go by we must realize how important each and every day for it is an opportunity to discover more things about our Infinite God. If we want to reach the highest pinnacle of God's love then seize each day for His greater glory. This passage from today’s psalm was also instrumental to my being able to discover my authority over all things including a lot of unfounded fears that used to torture me. My family was very over protective of us since we were orphaned when my father died when we were just very young, my grandparents and single aunt were the ones who helped my mother take good care of us. We were sheltered and protected in the most delicate way maybe because they felt sorry for us since we have to grow up without a father. All I know and remember is that I am scared of a lot of things that even the most simple thing like turning on the stove, plugging an electrical cord, seeing a frog, lizard and all those creepy little animals that seem to be very harmless make me nervous.  I don't know if my being the only girl in our family of three contributed to this. I could still remember when I got so scared of a cat who just gave birth. It was lying on a chair right next to the switch of the lights in our chapel in my former office in the Philippines (DOST) and when I approached it, it suddenly growled at me and got so scared. But a sister in the community, Sis Au bravely rebuked the cat and fearlessly approached it and just switched on the lights like the cat was not there. I was so impressed at her and she quoted to me this bible passage that we have rule over all of creation and everything is under our feet which has helped me from then on to overcome a lot of my fears. Those days are gone, we should know who we are and what God made us to be, on top of all His creation. We should be free of all fears.  Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 8:2-3ab, 4-5, 6-7

R: You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

...When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place — 4 [5] what is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? (R) 5 [6] You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 [7] You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet.

We find that the word teaching is used twice in today’s gospel. From this we draw emphasis on the fact that Jesus is a teacher. We know that the Jews have rabbis and whenever one states a particular teaching it is common practice to give reference to one as source of authority. But Jesus teaches in a different way. He conveys a new teaching and teaches with authority. His words are straight forward and without reference to anyone else but Himself for He is authority. His message is to repent and believe which is a fulfillment of the Old Testament. There are 2 things that are classic to authority first it is confrontational and second it is a defense. An example of this is when Jesus drove out an evil spirit. He demonstrated His authority through the exorcism. He said something and proved it with His actions. When Jesus said the Kingdom of heaven is at hand it is to confront and destroy the kingdom of darkness and sin. The confrontation is a violent one just as Jesus commands the evil spirit to be quiet and come out of the possessed person.  But the evil spirit as a form of defense responded by saying, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? ? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!”   This is a strategy of the inferior to show control and put responsibility to the superior. The demon also recognized Jesus as the Holy One but it has no authority. It may know His name but it has no control for God is stronger than the one that is in the world. One of the reasons they possess people is to distort the image and likeness of God. The evil one’s last ditch effort can be seen in the fact that he is telling Jesus that he knows Him to try to wield control but he has no power.  We have to keep this in mind always. The evil one will always assert authority in our lives and confront us with what he knows about us. We need to read and know the gospels because they are authoritative words. In doing so we become filled with His authority and by His authority we help bring the world to God. This we have to remind ourselves and do many times and over and over again. Jesus is up and above everything and nothing is beyond His power. Thus our faith in Jesus should also go beyond our recognition and amazement of Him but rather go further than what the unclean spirit and the onlookers did. We should all lead a life which testifies to God's greatness. God is the Supreme authority over all things and we as His faithful followers have the same power in our hands all in accordance to His great love and care for all of us. There is really no doubt that God is the only Power that we need and will ever need. Let us not be left behind in claiming these truths in our life since even the unclean spirits themselves can not deny it, how much more, us Christians who proclaim loyalty and faithfulness to our God? Let us be challenged to make a difference. There are always two sides of a pole. It's either we go one way or the other. Today's readings have been very clear on who we really are. The most precious creature that God ever made. Do we know who we are? It is up to us to live up to who God made us to be or not. The choice is ours to make. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

THE EXTRAORDINARY

When my son Allan was only about 4-5 years old he was able to escape unhurt after climbing a stack of beer cases which fell on him. When I found him he was already sitting on the floor wet with beer and a pile of broken glasses scattered all over the place. I even ended up throwing away the t-shirt and shorts he was wearing since it was laden with broken glasses too. But not a single broken glass landed on any part of his body. It was indeed a miracle that I can attribute to his guardian angel. An almost similar thing happened to my elder son Jude. As I have shared before, Jude always end up the last person to finish his food on the table when he was still young and it was due to that he was always the only one left sitting in the dining table but to my amazement he suddenly stood up in a split second before the ceiling fan's light fell exactly where he was sitting. He could have been badly hurt if he hadn't stood up which he knew he was not supposed to do until he is finished with his food. I believe that we are well aware of the fact that God is All Powerful and Omnipotent and these angels who guard us are created by God are also known to possess a certain degree of superiority and excellence that is attributed to Jesus in today's 1st reading wherein the angels were mentioned several times. I got excited about this book of angels that I read and shared to friends. I guess we've not fully grasped or sometimes undermined the real nature of these heavenly creatures which reminds me of those fascinating stories of guardian angels who watch over us that we've always been told and experienced. We've always greeted people whom we come across with, "How are you?" It's just about the same greeting that we say and just about the same response that we get. Come to think of it, generally speaking life is pretty much the same we may therefore conclude. We fail to realize some things behind the seemingly monotonous and dull life we have. In Sister Faustina's diary she said that no two hours are the same and there's always something extraordinary about it. The difference in our way of seeing things lies in what is stated in today's 1st reading.  What has been fragmentary in the prophets has been brought to completion. These last few days spoke of His Son through God made all things. No one's life is left unchanged for those who followed the Lord. For those who look at life with faith even the monotony of life becomes extraordinary. Our lives are no longer the same and in no way ordinary if we have truly encountered Jesus in our lives, the refulgence of God's glory and the very imprint of His being. We have to understand the basic truth of our faith. Israel or the chosen people designated by God as 1st born and elected for the particular love of the Father has taken on a new depth. The promises made to Israel were all summed up in Jesus when He was sent to the world. He revealed Himself to us so he could invite us into fellowship with Him. Jesus is the 1st born who belongs to God in a special way and the fulfillment. He is the 1st born of all creation. He is the truth prototype of man. He is God and man. He has broken down all barriers and opened up the possibility of true communion with God. As scriptures say, "Mary wrapped her 1st born and laid Him in a manger." He is the 1st born of all brothers and sisters and helps us to true brotherhood and love one another as one family, God's family. This is the dignity of the human person. Amen. Hallelujah!

Hebrews 1:1-6

1 Brothers and sisters: In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; 2 in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, 3 who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word...as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; this day I have begotten you”? Or again: “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”? 6 And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: “Let all the angels of God worship him.”

We don't want to be losers here in this life, do we? All the more should we not want to be losers in the next life for eternity. We have a God who fights our battles and we are assured of His victory already. We should all be well aware of God’s angels that surround us and are sent by God to us to always light, guide, rule and guard. It is just a matter of persevering and committing to the task that we are all called to fulfill. To live a life of faith in words, thoughts and deeds in our Lord Jesus Christ who lived, died and resurrected all for our sake. Erase all doubts and be faithful to the One God who is most high above every other god. We should develop an image of God that is fitting to Him as described in today's psalm. There are significant events in our life that we can associate with certain major decisions we made and can never forget. The place where we are right now is exactly where God wants us to be. If God brings us here then He will bring us through it. God knows exactly and with perfection what is being allowed to happen to us in our life at this precise moment. God's purpose for us is simply perfect. He wants to show us things that only we can understand by living what we are living and by being in the place where we are now. That's God, He passes us through a lot of things for us to see His glory. We all long to become a member or even be identified with groups and associations that hold a good name and reputation. It helps us in many ways and keeps us abreast with the latest trends in our profession for example. It could be considered an asset and we would definitely not leave it out from our resume because it speaks well of us. There are even associations that require us to fulfill certain requirements in order to qualify. We even have to go out of our way and make some sacrifices such as go through rigid screening, pass certain examinations and maintain certain units in order to comply with the qualifications. All of these we are willing to do and make ourselves able just to belong. Considering that these are all earthly memberships that could only last a lifetime. What about eternal memberships that continue even after this life is over? To be a part of the Kingdom where our Lord is King is the ultimate goal we should all set our eyes on. Whenever we are faced with problems and difficulties in life we should always find consolation in a God whom nothing is lost for He knows and sees all. We may still not be in perfect shape for the Lord but God is constantly at work in those who are just and upright of heart.  We have all the reasons to rejoice and be glad knowing that we have a God who is just. We should always acknowledge that without God we are nothing and God's power over us can only go as far as we allow Him to. Nothing else matters more than this truth that we have a God who is high over all the earth and exalted far above all gods. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9

R: Let all his angels worship him.

...Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.

Today's gospel is the scene at the Sea of Galilee, the call of the 1st disciples. This call is not just for them but for us too. We are also invited by Jesus with these same words, "Come after me..." It is being proclaimed to each one of us today. We may not respond in the same way that Peter and the others did. There are those who would leave their former way of life radically and some who remained in their workplace just like Zebedee. Whether we leave or just stay where we are we need to sanctify our work and seek to glorify God with our lives. Our lives should become rich and meaningful even the simplest thing is an encounter with God. The stories of the disciples especially of Peter that took place in the Sea of Galilee has taken a special meaning in my life in 2007. The sea of Galilee is where Jesus' call to the first disciples took place. It is good to recall and look back where our own Galilees are. I can still remember very well my own Sea of Galilee experience and should always keep in mind and never forget. It has become so personal for me. Peter played an important role in my decision to come here in the US. I could still recall the bible story in Luke 5 entitled, "The call of Simon (later on named Peter) the Fisherman." It was way back in Feb. 4, 2007, during those times when I was discerning and weighing my decision to come here to the US. This gospel reading from Luke specifically caught my attention, confirmed  and gave me confidence in what I was planning to do and eventually did. It was specifically the bible passages at the Sea of Galilee in Luke 5:4-6 "Jesus said to Peter, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master we have worked hard all night and caught nothing  but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this they caught a great number of fish their nets were tearing."  Just like Peter who was skeptical at that time I was also feeling so unsure about my decisions then and this phrase really had a great impact on me back then coupled with the priest's homily that went with it. That was many years ago now. I feel like God is reminding me again of that scene at the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Gennesaret) when I, just like Peter decided to respond to God's call in my own personal way. This message has been very persistent and I have always written about. Everything is just connected and confirms each and every event and circumstance. We can never question the impeccable and perfect timing of God in everything. We must also realize that Jesus in today's gospel could have succumbed to disappointment and discouragement after finding out of John's arrest but He did not. He went about and did what God the Father has called and sent Him to do. In the same way that Jesus is inviting us to come after Him and follow. All we have to do is trust Him to make all things happen for us with our best interests always in mind. It is our commitment to God that encompasses all others, more than any we've made. It is the sum and total of all vows. Needless to say, that all to Jesus we must surrender. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 1:14-20

14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: 15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. 19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. 20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

DEEPEST IDENTITY

The words of God remain forever and true. It can stand the test of time. The very words spoken by the prophet Isaiah from today's 1st reading can also be found in today's gospel. It tells us that God is consistent with His word and does not change. What He said a long time ago will always find a place throughout time and history. There is a time gap between when these 2 books of the bible were written yet their message applies for both times even to this present day. We can always hold on to the words of God and not be disappointed. God will always be true to His word and can always make things happen in accordance to His everlasting will and power. Amen. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

1 Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; ...

I am just surprised at how vividly I could still remember up to now the pictures in my children bible books even the feeling of awe and amazement while looking at the pictures back then is still very clear to me. What is still left in my mind and etched in my heart has formed part of the foundation of my faith which has always made me profess the glory, honor and power that is due to no other than our God. No matter how hard we strive to do things right we always sometimes end up failing in one thing or unable to carry out what we intended to do. We always mess things up no matter how efficient and effective we think we may be. Whenever we think that we've got everything under control, something comes up which tells us that the situation is not so. Things do not always happen as perfectly as we wanted it to be. Whenever we are on edge and have to do one thing after another or even have to do several things at a time we sometimes reach a point when we can't take anymore. This is because we are so limited in our capacities and capabilities. In times like these we tend to feel so depressed and exhausted that after so much effort nothing seems to be enough. It is when we should realize that through our imperfections and failings that we come into terms of the truth that we need God. We should find consolation in knowing that God does not have any shortcomings and failures and can always bring about perfectly in His time everything He intended to do. Through our baptism we all became sons and daughters of the Almighty God. Is there anything in this world that is worth more than this? Just think about this and be filled with the honor and glory bestowed to a beloved child of God.
We are all called to this inheritance to be adopted sons and daughters of God through our Lord Jesus Christ who has purchased for us this privilege and honor. No one is excluded or exempted from this. God is fair to all and plays no favorite for as long as we maintain the holy fear of the Lord and remain upright before Him. It is just by our own choice and free will that we can get a hold of this for it has already been made available for us by Jesus our Redeemer and Savior. Amen. Hallelujah!

 Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

R: The Lord will bless his people with peace.

1 Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise, 2 give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over the mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is power; the voice of the LORD is splendor. ..

 What further proof do we still need in order to truly believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior? We must come to this point where we achieve the peak of our faith and be truly confident of its deep meaning. Bottom line, it's about love, care and understanding no matter what activities we engage in and people we spend time with, as long as it's all done with these 3 things then our faith is always a reality in our lives.  What a privilege to be one of God's chosen witnesses. Everyday of our lives should be directed toward this goal that we may someday come face to face with God and be able to stand in His presence. Today’s 2nd reading also reminded me of my reflection many years ago about my visit to the Getty museum. As a Christian we must believe that there is no such thing as coincidence only divine providence. I could still remember when we (Sisters Bernadeth, Lucy, Marcy, and Rose) spent the entire day at the J. Paul Getty Museum. It was indeed a day of joy and gladness not only because of the wonderful and nice things we saw at the Museum but also because of the very nice company we had in each other. There were lots of people who came to the museum that day and everyone who came had the chance of seeing the priced and valuable treasures that the Christian world holds very dear. In one of the exhibit rooms and the first place we had been were manuscripts of some parts found in the bible that dates way back in the year 800 AD. There were illustrations some with gold in paper of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, The story of Jephtha and his oath (can be found in the Book of Judges) (Regensburg, 1030-40; 1400-10)The Annunciation and The martyrdom of Isaiah, (Wurzburg, 1240-50)St. Michael battling the Dragon,  (Hildesheim, 1170s)St. Stephen by a painter named Circle of the Master of the Golden Bull (Prague, 1405) The Visitation (Strasbourg, 1500) and several of The Crucifixion (Steinfeld, 1180; Cologne by Master of St. Veronica, 1400-10; Franconia, 1475; Westphalia,1500-05; by Albrecht Altdorfer, 1520) These are just a few of the many and the earliest artworks they have preserved and depicts the truth about our God. There is really no doubt about the truth in today's 2nd reading since every human being has been given the privilege of knowing about our God and acknowledging Him as the one true God. For thousands of years people have been writing, painting, documenting amazing and wonderful things from different parts of the world. It is a consolation to know that although there are people, places and things that I saw there that no longer exist today and is just a thing of the past but the message conveyed in every artwork about our Lord Jesus Christ still persist and remain intact, true and a masterpiece until the present time. It's good to know that we always have a choice. Whatever choices we make in life, let us be sure that each one of them is rooted in our belief in one Lord Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose again for our sake. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 10:34-38
...“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

Jesus is the 2^nd Person of the Holy Trinity and is one with God the Father and God the Spirit. One God in 3 Divine Persons, Father, Son and Spirit. According to St. Cyril of Alexandria, our question might be this, why did Jesus our God submit to baptism? The answer lies in the fact that He received the Spirit in Baptism in so far as He is also human. The Spirit is already His, in Him and through Him. He received the Spirit for our sake. If we are to reason correctly then we know that He did not receive the Spirit for Himself but for us in Him so that all gifts come down to us through Him. Jesus remained God when He became man. What He was not, our human nature, He assumed so that He receives in, by and through His human nature the Spirit for our sake, benefit and advantage. He is definitely up close and personal for He took our nature to Himself in order to renew our nature in its entirety. In the light of this truth that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus we are called to have a claim on the gifts that are existent with the Holy Spirit. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. We pray that we maintain ourselves in a state of sanctifying grace so that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are fully operative in us. If we have been baptized in Christ then we should have all the confidence not only in this world but most especially in heaven that we are blessed and considered as God's beloved children that we should always remember and be reminded of. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

...After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

SALVATION HISTORY

I haven't seen the movie, “The Untouchables” yet but I have heard much about it. It has become a byword when a person gets away with crime, murder or something evil then that person is labeled, the untouchable. But wait, consider this for a moment, how do you think does it feel to be God's Untouchables? Wow, I am sure it is the best thing that could ever happen to us. Since we are still in this world, things are far from ideal and perfect around us. We are always confronted by the enemy's plans and schemes. But if we put to heart and take action on what is said in today's 1st reading then we'll gain the confidence that we are protected because we belong to God. We can not deny the fact that God makes His presence known to us in many wonderful ways that we can all think about. This sharing in Didache is inspired by a bible passage from today's 1st reading and is very reflective of a God who does not hesitate to answer our prayers. We too have experiences when we feel God's answer to our prayers in the form of circumstances and events that surround us. It is surely nice to hear about testimonies that acknowledge the truth that God answers prayers like this one from Didache entitled: MESSAGE FROM THE PIANO

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. – 1 John 5:14

Lian, the daughter of my older brother, invited me to her wedding to be held in Virginia on November 21, 2008. I wanted to attend the wedding, but because I had 101 commitments in Manila, I thought I’d never make it.

Two days before my flight, I was at a mall shopping for stuff to bring to the US. I still had doubts that God really wanted me to go. I just needed one more confirmation.

Then, as I marveled at how an electronic grand piano in the middle of the mall operated by itself, it played The Star Spangled Banner. I often shop at this mall and I always hear this grand piano playing mostly love songs. This was the first time that it played a national anthem — and of the US at that! I knew then this was the confirmation I was asking God for.

Yes, I asked God for a confirmation about my trip to the US because I’ve long believed the promise in today’s reading in 1 John 5:14-21, “that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” And, as I experienced, He gives us a definite answer! Cynthia Santiago (boses2go@gmail.com)

REFLECTION:

How confident are you that God hears you?

Lord, strengthen my faith, that I may always be confident that You listen to my pleadings. -end-

Let us make a shift to what I learned from our Apologetics class with regards to what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says in (CCC) 1949:

Called to beatitude but wounded by sin, man stands in need of salvation from God. Divine help comes to him in Christ through the law that guides him and the grace that sustains him: Philippians 2:12-13:Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

The devil has acquired a certain domination in man. Man is dominated by greed, pride and lust.

We must be cleansed of impurities, stains of our sins, must be sanctified and not be like white washed tombs. Sins are offenses against a person, society and God. They vary in their degree. Here are the impurities that must be cleansed:

1. Venial sins that have not been forgiven (CCC 1472;1862) 2. Mortal sins (CCC 1857-1859) (1 Jn. 5:16-17) a violation of the 10 commandments, serious in nature, full knowledge, deliberate consent and voluntary. Sins that lead to death.  God knows our heart, to whom much is given more is expected. No one is deemed ignorant in the conscience of the Law. There are 2 types of ignorance: a) Vincible ignorance something that a person can overcome since it is our responsibility to know more about our God. If we did not act on the good thing that we have access or within our means then we can not be excused from it. b) Invincible ignorance - something you can not overcome. Ex. pagans who are in unreachable places. Basic goodness is inculcated by God in every person. Our conscience dictates us to worship our Creator. 

2.Sins that have not been fully atoned for. We must repair the consequences of our sins. We should fully pay for it. In Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus said, "Listen Sir, I'll give 1/2 of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anyone, I'll pay him back 4x as much." The consequences of sin are guilt and punishment due to sin (CCC 1473) and also in 2 Samuel 11-12 when David repented of his grievous sins of adultery and murder but also suffered its consequences. 

CCC 407:

The doctrine of original sin, closely connected with that of redemption by Christ, provides lucid discernment of man's situation and activity in the world. By our first parents' sin, the devil has acquired a certain domination over man, even though man remains free. Original sin entails "captivity under the power of him who thenceforth had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14)

Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action, and morals. It is also what the 1^st reading is telling us today. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 John 5:14-21

14 Beloved: We have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours… We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

We may have seen people who are exercise and health buffs and really take care of their bodies well. Just by looking at them we can already say that they work hard to develop a muscular and strong body. They were able to get good results because they have committed themselves to a strict diet and exercise regimen. In the same way, we should work hard and stick to a regimen that will maintain our souls in perfect shape. No matter who we are, what we do and where we are we can no longer have any excuse not to praise and give glory to God “as is where is”. We are all God's children and we should rightfully assert our place in the kingdom of our God the Father. We are the Church of God which does not pertain to just the physical structure but also the Spiritual Church of God which is our souls dwelling in the physical temple of God which is our bodies. It is important that we always ponder in our hearts the significance of the words of God in relation to our life. I can still remember when I joined the Ikebana (Flower arrangement) in Japan. I was late and did not see the demonstration so when I was given the flowers to arrange I just did it for the sake of just getting it over and done with. What do you expect? I was not proud of what I did. In fact I even removed the label from my work so nobody would know that I was the one who did it since I am representing the Philippines. It is a consolation to know that we have a God and Creator who knows perfectly well what He is doing. No matter what we do to ourselves He will never disown us. Since we are still in this world but definitely not of this world, which is temporary. It should always be our daily commitment to God that we reconnect, refocus, realign and all kinds of action that will redirect us to God in order to withstand this constant battle and tug of war between good and evil. We just have to realize that it is ourselves who eventually disown and turn our backs on God knowingly or unknowingly. If we remain faithful to the Lord and live our lives according to His decrees then we will always find ourselves rejoicing as stated in the psalm reading today. We just need to remind ourselves always that when He created us, humans, He saved the best for last. He even fashioned us in His own image and likeness. In fact, up to this present time, scientists and scholars have not fully solved and understood the mysteries and wonders of the human body and soul. As far as science is concerned we the humans are the most advanced living creatures in this planet endowed with all the capacities that no other creatures are capable of. God will never run out of good things in store for us. We might have hit rock bottom or the lowliest place in our lives but we can always be assured that our God speaks in our hearts and will never forsake nor abandon. If there's one thing that should never leave our minds and hearts then that is the truth that we are on top of God's creation and takes delight in us. If we are faithful to God then we can claim all the benefits of being God's kingdom of priests. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 149: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9

R: The Lord takes delight in his people.

1 Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. 2 Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. (R) 3 Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (R) 5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; 6 let the high praises of God be in their throats. 9 This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. 

Mary's privilege and honor as the Mother of God is no doubt a singular grace given to her alone. She has been

greatly blessed by God for being chosen to carry Jesus in her womb and nurse her. It has been written and foretold from past generations. It was through the total surrender of the Blessed Mother Mary to God’s will that the Word of God is manifested in her life. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary. We can learn a lot from the kind of life that Mary lived and ask her to intercede for us. For who could better show us the way to Jesus other than her who gave birth to our Savior Jesus Christ. We also in our own way can conceive Jesus although not in our wombs but in our hearts and who could better teach us to do this other than the mother of Jesus whom He gave to mankind at the foot of cross. “Behold our Mother.” She understands for there is nothing that she doesn’t understand since she experienced the killing of her Son. St. Anselm brilliantly captures the crucial role of Mary in our salvation history. He said, “God... is the Father of the created world and Mary the mother of the re-created world. God is the Father by whom all things were given life, and Mary the mother through whom all things were given new life. For God begot the Son, through whom all things were made, and Mary gave birth to him as the Savior of the world. Without God’s Son, nothing could exist; without Mary’s Son, nothing could be redeemed.” This is an incredible thing. It was only possible because God became man. There is an interplay between God’s grace and Mary’s free acceptance. This is what the real Catholic life is all about.  This is God’s desire for us which is a fantastic calling. The power to do this is given to us by God in Jesus through Mary. Let us no longer be tricked into believing otherwise and know that just like Mary we are also called to play our part in the history of salvation the way she did. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 2:1-11

There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”…