FIRST AND FOREMOST

I was just watching “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” in HBO and today’s 1st reading suddenly reminded me of Harry Potter. He was so devastated by the fact that a lot of people are sacrificing their lives for his sake and so he thought of leaving to spare them from harm. But his friend Ron stopped him from doing so and told him that if he thought that it was just because of him then he is wrong because it is something bigger than what he thought. Sometimes we succumb to despair whenever we are confronted with very disappointing situations and when we fail to reach the mark we set for ourselves. It may sound confusing that it is stated that God delivered all to disobedience. Could there be some misunderstanding here in St. Paul’s words? The truth is, there isn’t. Just like Harry Potter we must not be too hard on ourselves when we run into trouble. There is a reason for everything. We just have to continue trusting the Lord no matter how inscrutable His judgments and how unsearchable His ways are. Amen. Hallelujah!

Romans 11:29-36
29 Brothers and sisters: The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32 For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To God be glory forever. Amen.

The will of God will never take us to where the grace of God will not protect us. God knows exactly and with perfection what is being allowed to happen to us in our lives 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 we are now. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalms 69:30-31, 33-34, 36-37
R: Lord, in your great love, answer me.
29 [30] But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help, O God, protect me. 30 [31] I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. (R) 32 [33] “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts be revive! 33 [34] For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” (R) 35 [36] For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. They shall dwell in the land and own it, 36 [37] and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall inhabit it.

We can never out give God. Today’s gospel teaches us to be generous in the manner that God wants us to be. There are times when we are guilty of being generous and kind to people for the wrong reasons. We must examine our motives and intentions and make sure that God is our first and foremost reason for our actions. We should really live the lesson being taught to us by Jesus in the gospel and not expect anything in return for the good we do, for the Lord Himself will surely reward us at the right moment. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 14:12-14
12 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. 13 Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14 blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”