A REASON & A MISSION

We may be going through some kind of difficulty at this time and there seems to be no end to it. It may feel like everything has turned against us and there is no way out. When things are looking bad it is always good to focus on this very popular statement of Fr. Gerry Orbos from the Philippines, "There is a reason and a mission and everything is in transition wag na makunsumisyon." The last 3 words in Tagalog can be translated as "do not fret." This reminds me of this cousin of mine a few days ago whom I just had a conversation. We’ve talked about a lot of things but what strikes me the most is when she told me,"… in God’s time.” It is indeed, Divine Providence for there is no such thing as coincidence that today’s 1st reading is a confirmation. It tells us the same thing because it gives us hope in the Lord’s perfect time. Amen. Hallelujah!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
1 There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. …He has made everything appropriate to its time…


In spite of all the discouraging and heart rending events that we’ve experienced and witnessed in our lives there is one thing sure about it. In every tear that fell and heartache, God’s mercy is always upon us. He is our fortress and stronghold that we can not be moved. I have heard from this preacher on TV that we have to go to the right frame and never turn back. Once we are in the right frame then we should not be dissuaded because only immovable people can move mountains. We have to stick to the right frame because it is our fight of faith. It was also Jesus who told us in Mt. 17:20, “…Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."


P S A L M

Psalm 144:1b, 2abc, 3-4
R: Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
… my mercy and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust. (R) 3 LORD, what is man, that you notice him; the son of man, that you take thought of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days, like a passing shadow.


Sometimes when we have solicited the support of the majority or won the people’s approval, we have a tendency to cloud our judgments especially when our egos become inflated with pride. Rather than focus on what is right and proper before the Lord we go by popularity. We should always keep in mind that the saying, “Majority wins” is not always what is right before the Lord. Nor should we be bothered by the opposition of other people if we do not go with the flow. In today’s gospel it is very clearly illustrated that the crowds are greatly misled and only Peter got it right. It doesn't matter what others may say or if some or most people disagree or are not pleased with our decisions what matters most is that we are right and at peace before God. Our conviction and stand on certain things should always be dependent on what Jesus tells us for He is the way, the truth and the life. Amen. Hallelujah!


Luke 9:18-22
18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ ” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”