UNDERLYING REASONS

One of the things that I find strange in people like us most especially here in the US is the fact that we have this tendency to work endless hours to the point of exhaustion to earn a living but end up tired and sick. We sometimes lose sight of what life is really all about. When we work we have to make sure that our goals are clear to us and we get what it is worth. When we work we hope to get something in return for the time, talent and effort we invested in it. Today's 1st reading tells us that death is something we work for and earn every time we offend God since it is the wage of sin. Funny how the word wages is used in this bible passage to emphasize the fact that death is the corresponding wage of something that we work for. Come to think of it, why in the world would we work for something like death? Sometimes we take things for granted, but if we come to think of it we'll find out that it is exactly what we're doing whenever we sin. Why labor for something like death when it is clear that there is something that we don't even have to work for but given to us as a gift. Let us not exchange our eternal life for death and consciously and actively accept the gift. Like any other gift that is being given to us if just left unopened and kept in the closet without finding out what good the gift can do to us then it becomes a useless gift. We've got to be fully aware of this wonderful gift which is already in our hands and just waiting to be opened, used and benefit from. Amen. Hallelujah!

Romans 6:19-23
... For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God's instructions are all made very clear for us from the very beginning. Let us no longer stray away from this path and be firm in sticking to it for life. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M
Psalm 1:1-2. 3. 4 and 6
R: Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
1 Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, 2 but delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night. (R) 3 He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.

Today's gospel seems to contradict what Jesus came here for when He denies to have come to bring peace, where He announces division and fire. There is really a need for us to not just reflect on the words of God but know the underlying reasons for such statements. This is one of the reasons why I really value my attendance to our San Lorenzo Bible Study every Thursday. It is through it that we learn a lot of things that we just don't get from reading the bible. I have always appreciated the generosity of our teachers to impart and share to us their knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus and more. The more here stands for a lot of things like the in between the lines and behind the scenes scenarios that I would have never known but have come to learn about it, that I will forever be grateful of. No matter what situation there is around us, there is only one thing required of us. That is to fully decide for and stand by what God wants us to do. It may be difficult and not in accordance to this world's standard causing you to look queer and different but if it's God's will then it must be the best. God is good and God really provides. I would also like to quote what is written in the Kerygma reflection. "Let us seek to imitate this all-or-nothing attitude of Jesus in the way we follow Him as His disciples. Let us live for excellence in obedience to God’s will and never be willing to settle for second best!" We all have a mission in life that we have to fulfill when we were born here on earth. The Baltimore Catechism explains it to us in simple terms. God made us to show forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting happiness in heaven. To gain the happiness of heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world. We learn to know, love, and serve God from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who teaches us through the Catholic Church. In today's gospel, Jesus is full of zeal to accomplish what God has sent Him to do without regard for the manner it is to be carried out. He is detached from the things of this world and is on fire with passion to fulfill God's mission. Sometimes we, too become so restless when we know that there are things we ought to do but haven't done them. Somehow we know this feeling and could very well relate to it. The only difference lies in this question, what are the things we want to accomplish. It would help to consider this powerful statement from Companion which says, THINK: The best way to honor the Lord is by living according to His plan and promoting the Gospel in all that we say and do. In addition to this, is the reflection question from Sabbath. Do you get going even when the going gets rough? Do you find company in the Lord during these times? Do you accept challenges as opportunities to prove your faith in God? By Your grace, Lord, let me not compromise my faith when life gets tough. You are my strength and my shield. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 12:49-53
49 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.