Today's 1st reading reminded me of an image of God holding the world in the palm of His hands. As Catholics we have always marveled at the image of the Baby Jesus (Santo Nino) holding the world in His right hand. These devotions to the different images attributed to our Lord help us a lot with our faith. It enhances our faith even more and as we look back at all the things in our life make us realize that God has the power to do and undo all things for He is in control of all things. When we are sensitive to God's call and have mastered the art of listening to His voice then we find ourselves being led to the right direction. We are drawn to God closer, even the slightest whisper and simple gesture by our Lord prompt us to turn to His direction and propel us into action according to His plan. Amen. Hallelujah!
Wisdom 18:14-16; 19: 6-9
...For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew, serving its natural laws, that your children might be preserved unharmed...Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand, after they beheld stupendous wonders...
The Lord will never forsake nor abandon us. We just need to always remember the marvels the Lord has done and always hold on to it. If we live by the word of God which is perfect and remains forever then nothing could go wrong. Our hearts will abound with joy and gladness and we'll find ourselves doing what is stated in the psalms. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 105:2-3. 36-37. 42-43
R: Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
...And he led them forth laden with silver and gold, with not a weakling among their tribes. (R) 42 For he remembered his holy word to his servant Abraham. 43 And he led forth his people with joy; with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
Sometimes we feel that God is slow in answering us despite our constant and persistent prayers since nothing seems to happen. We must keep in mind that God is on our side. "We can stand secure and put our hope in His Holy Word." This is one of the lyrics of the inspirational songs of Renee Bondi entitled, "Back on my feet again" She was at the prime of her life and about to marry her fiance, 20 years ago when she met a bizarre accident which left her quadriplegic. She kept on with her faith in God. She is now happily married to her husband who never left her side since then, gifted with a 14 year old son, continues to make waves in the Christian recording industry and have been traveling all over in spreading God's word through her testimonies and songs. When we hear stories of people like Renee who encountered mishaps in life but emerged victorious through the help of God, it gives us hope to always go to God in prayer. Just like in today's gospel where a widow did not give up in imploring the judge for a just decision on her behalf, we too, must not falter or faint in praying to God. In our daily circumstances we sometimes meet people like this judge in the gospel who is supposed to protect the interests of those treated unjustly but turned out to be the one making things even more difficult. Today's gospel gives hope to us all who continuously rely on God's goodness, never give up and persevere in prayer. For in the end of it all, God will always look after our welfare. We may have been praying for a particular intention and until now we are still waiting. We should wait patiently and continue to strive although sometimes struggling in our faith in God because He who allowed us to be in such situation will surely see us through it. We have probably heard the story in today’s gospel for quite a number of times already. It usually leaves us with the wrong impression that we have to be very persistent in our prayers in the wrong sense. There is this tendency to think that God is like this judge in the gospel whom we can gain approval through constant persistence and prodding. As if we can delude and sway God over to our whims and caprices. God does not change, we change. As the song goes, “His works are perfect and all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, good and upright is He.” For a change why don’t we think of the judge as ourselves and the widow as God since He has been persistently following us and never stopped getting our attention. We can be assured that our God is not anything like this dishonest judge from today's gospel. And yet crooked and wicked as he is, he was still able to render a just decision for the widow. Come to think of this bible passage especially the questions that go with it. Several times in our lives we are confronted with so many hard to deal with questions that we simply can't lock it in. It is just like this game show when contestants find it very difficult to answer when the host asks them this question, "Deal or No deal?" They are full of doubt and uncertainty because they can never be sure if they answered right unless the case is opened. But do we doubt God who is all good and perfect not to do more than this judge in the gospel and deal fairly with us? Have we answered the question and are we so sure that we could lock it in? We better be. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 18:1-8
Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? 8 I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily...
No comments:
Post a Comment