NOT A HAIR...

Mene, Tekel and Peres is what today's 1st reading speaks about. If we would apply the message it conveys in our lives then this is how we should see it. Mene means that our days here on earth are numbered because we would all have to leave behind everything. No human being living here on earth can deny the truth that we will die because no one has ever been known to escape death except for Jesus who resurrected after 3 days. Time will come when the only thing that will matter is the Tekel. How we lived our life is what would be left of us and be judged accordingly. As to whether we would be found adequate, in excess or wanting would all depend on how we choose to live the life given to us by God. When everything is done and over with and then we would have to face reality that we must be able to surrender all that we have and leave everything behind as in Peres. If this is the case then we might as well know how to set our priorities right and do what is pleasing before God. We should guard ourselves from falling into the same trap that the king in today's 1st reading fell into when he got lured into the enticements and false promises of the world. We should only glorify one God to whom we owe our life breath and the whole course of our life. A constant communication line with God through prayers, good deeds, daily mass and the Eucharist, associating ourselves with the people of same faith like in prayer meetings and the reading of the Word of God is a sure way to clear up all cloud of doubt. Whatever plans we have, be sure to consult it to God and really be keen on listening and interpreting His word just like DANIEL in the first reading. Amen. Hallelujah!

Daniel 5:1-6. 13-14. 16-17. 23-28
....I have heard that the spirit of God is in you, that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom. But I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties;...Daniel answered the king: “You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else; but the writing I will read for you, O king, and tell you what it means. 23 you have rebelled against the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels of his temple brought before you, so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers, might drink wine from them; and you praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence. But the God in whose hand is your life breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify. 24 By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down. 25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, TEKEL, and PERES. These words mean: 26 MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it; 27 TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; 28 PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Isn't it great? Knowing exactly what God wants us to do and be on the right track. We, too can aim for that if we only take every opportunity and subject ourselves into the rigid exercise of faith. In God's generosity we must not doubt that we are able to do great things beyond our expectations, we can do all things in Christ, even to be like Daniel. For days, Daniel has been part of the readings and it is shown that he has been prepared physically and spiritually before he emerged into a full servant of God with all his wisdom and intelligence proclaiming God's glory. We should not leave any aspect of our life behind when it comes to surrendering to God. Our full loyalty should only belong to Him alone who is God of heaven and earth and everything in it. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M
Daniel 3:62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67
R: Give glory and eternal praise to him.
39 [Dan 3:62] “Sun and moon,...“Stars of heaven,...“Every shower and dew,...“All you winds, ...“Fire and heat, ...“Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.”

It doesn't mean that if we have surrendered everything to God then we can be rest assured that all things will work out well for us. We must always be prepared for the worst since our faithfulness to God will always be put to the test. As the bible says, gold is tested through fire and so is our faith. No matter what happens, we have God's assurance that if we persevere then not a hair on our heads will be destroyed. I have a thick hair and it has become very long already because I haven't had a haircut for a long time already. I guess this is one of the things that distinguish me from other people. I am suddenly reminded of someone who told me that when she was looking for me from a multitude of people, it was my hair that set me apart and helped her recognize me from the others. You can already imagine how long and thick it is, it has become so distinct. This is why every time I encounter a bible reading that says something about the hair, I've always considered it very personal and especially meant for me. This hair thing is very personal to me. Every time I encounter a bible passage about hair it really strikes me owing to the soft spot it holds in my heart. Some people may find it very strange when we make certain decisions in life that may not conform to their own personal beliefs. Life is like that, we encounter circumstances that tend to pull our spirits down and we can only hope that things will get better. There are times when we get bombarded by criticisms left and right for certain decisions that we make to the point of feeling insulted. We can not blame these people since they may be voicing out their opinion from a different point of view and do not understand specifically from where we are coming from. There are times when we think of one thing and thought it to be the right thing but turned out to be the other. These things that come our way, that could be related or in confirmation to it or could be other things, sometimes we can never really tell or have no way of knowing at all. Today's gospel assures us that whatever comes our way, for as long as we try our very best to our utmost ability to persevere in the Lord then we will surely be secured. As we aim to be great before God, trials and difficulties may come our way, the way people in trial are experiencing right now, that none could ever imagine. Let us continue to hold on to God's promise that if we are faithful to Him then He is also faithful to us amidst all the difficulties we are facing as written in today’s gospel, “.... but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives...” The word perseverance is defined in the dictionary as - steadfast, faithful 1 a: firmly fixed in place : immovable b: not subject to change 2: firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal. When we decide to always be in the loving presence of God it means we stay away from sin. This is not an easy thing to do in fact it is written in Mt. 18:21-22, "Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. Our faith demands a great deal from us even to the point of being hated by all. Our focus should not be on what seems to be the downside of it because God assures us that not a hair will be destroyed and our perseverance will secure our lives. This, we could definitely count on. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 21:12-19
12 Jesus said to the crowd: “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. 13 It will lead to your giving testimony. 14 Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, 15 for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. 16 You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. 19 By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”