BODY & SOUL

I have often heard people say whenever they see someone suffering physically that it's better for them to suffer now while here on earth than after they die. For us, Catholics we believe in purgatory, a state or a place that purges us of our sins before we come face to face with our Lord. It is better than hell where there is no hope of being with God anymore. I guess, Paul in today’s 1st reading meant almost the same thing. We love the sinner but hate the sin. When Jesus died for us on the cross to redeem us from our sins, we have all been saved but if we continue to sin then it’s like delivering ourselves willingly to Satan who is the destroyer. While still here on earth and bound to our flesh we are still capable of atoning for our sins. On our final day here on earth that is when we are separated from our human bodies and left with just our souls. Whatever pain and suffering we are going through can be used to the advantage, if not of our bodies then of our souls. This is possible if we make a conscious effort of uniting it with Jesus’ suffering in Calvary in remembrance of Him. Every time we do this it’s almost like we are attending Holy Mass when we remember the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Corinthians 5:1-8
...deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord...

We look to God in all the things that come our way and offer it in prayers. We should not take matters into our hands but rather entrust it to God who leads us in His justice. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 5:5-6, 7, 12
R: Lead me in your justice, Lord.
4 [5] For you, O God, delight not in wickedness; no evil man remains with you; 5 [6] the arrogant may not stand in your sight. You hate all evildoers. (R) 6 [7] You destroy all who speak falsehood; the bloodthirsty and the deceitful the LORD abhors. (R) 11 [12] But let all who take refuge in you be glad and exult forever. Protect them, that you may be the joy of those who love your name.

Sometimes we are focused and obsessed about one thing that we completely forget what it’s all about and meant for. We always have to be grounded on the principle of love and mercy. Today’s gospel is once again about the Sabbath and Jesus is reminding us not to be carried away or motivated by the letter of the law but rather by the spirit of the law. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 6:6-11
...Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” 10 Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored...