DEMONSTRATION

If we are to analyze very closely the things that Ezekiel did in today's 1st reading then we would probably think that he went nuts. Just imagine his strange and unusual manner of proclaiming God's word to the house of Israel. It isn't easy to go out in the streets and proclaim God's word by shouting out loud at the top of your lungs but to actually demonstrate and act it out is another thing. At that time, when he heard the word of the Lord he followed and not just acted on it but demonstrated it as well. Nowadays, we are richly blessed with a vast resource of God's word that is all within our reach. We owe the glorious background of our faith to these people who contributed to it and did as they were told. Amen. Hallelujah!

Ezekiel 12:1-12
...I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my baggage as though it were that of an exile, and at evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand and, while they looked on, set out in the darkness, shouldering my burden. 8 Then, in the morning, the word of the LORD came to me 9 Son of man, did not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you what you were doing? 10 Tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel within it. 11 I am a sign for you as I have done, so shall it be done to them;


Today's psalm teaches a very important lesson and guideline that we should always live by. If we want to maintain our strength and not be susceptible to captivity in the hands of the enemy then we should always remember and not forget the wonderful things that God has done to us. This makes sense because God's works are holy and perfect we can surely rely on it for everything. Amen. Hallelujah!


Ps 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!
And he surrendered his strength into captivity, his glory in the hands of the foe. He abandoned his people to the sword and was enraged against his inheritance.

Today's gospel is one of the memorable parables for me because of the lessons and explanations it offers and learned from it about our Catholic faith concerning purgatory. Our God is consistent to all His attributes which includes not just merciful but just. We ought to realize that God treated us with ultimate love and mercy and it is only right and fitting that we fulfill all righteousness for the glory of God. Purgatory is an expression of this great love and mercy of God for us. He gives us all the chances we can get in order for us to square our accounts with God. We ought to realize that our entry to the kingdom of heaven can be withheld or worst be denied access to it. Let us not place the eternal inheritance that is already being handed to us in grave danger. It tells us to be wise and diligent in handling our affairs well while we are still here on earth so as not to regret later the consequences of our actions. It is a consolation that the key lies in today's gospel. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mt 18:21–19:1
...His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”...