Looking back at those times when I didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus yet and used to be a selfish brat who wants to have everything according to my way, I should say that God has been very merciful and patient to me. Those people who knew me when I was younger could really attest to it. I may not be perfect yet but if there's one thing we can totally believe and rely on, that is our God who is perfect never gives up and is continuously at work not just in me but in all of us who accepts this with all our hearts. This is why I am full of gratitude to our God who rightfully deserves all glory and honor. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Timothy 1:15-17
15 Beloved: This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. 16 But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. 17 To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
If we will just be open at all times to this truth that the psalm reading today tells us and realize the importance of always praising God in all circumstance and live it in our lives then we can be assured of the loving, protecting and caring gaze of God to be always on us. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M Psalm 113:1b-2. 3-4. 5a and 6-7
R: Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.
...From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the LORD to be praised. 4 High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens is his glory. (R) 5 Who is like the LORD, our God, 6 and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? ...
I can still remember when we bought this lot in this subdivision in the Philippines where we had our house built we were informed that the contractors and engineers constructed the roads several feet higher than the original floor level of that subdivision. When we finally constructed our house we had to spend extra money for 30 truckloads of filling material in order to elevate our house to the level of the road where our lot is situated. Not just that we have to build the foundation of our house on the original floor of the lot and needed to raise it up to the level of the road. We just realized that we already spent so much for the foundation alone. That's why today's gospel suddenly reminded me of our house when we had it built. There was indeed a need for us to lay a very strong foundation for our house in the same way that we really have to be deeply rooted in our faith in God. With that I quote the following words from Companion. "To build a house that will last, a person will spend maybe half his money and materials on the foundations. Without good foundations, a building will collapse very quickly; it is thus worth the extra investment in good foundations. The same is true of our spiritual lives — we should dig deep into the recesses of our hearts and purge out the sin in order that our foundations can be set on the firm rock of God’s love and a life of virtue, not vice!" It is easy to say things than do it. We can say things without meaning it just for the sake of pleasing the person whom we are talking to. If there's one thing we really have to commit to then that is our obedience to God knowing that it will always be for our own good. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 6:43-49
... I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. 48 That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built...
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