MASTER PLANNER

Whenever we make plans we try to make it brief and simple to make it work and ensure success. This is due to the fact that we only have limited capacities and capabilities to carry it out. When we know that we've done everything we can then we just have to entrust it to God. We could plan all we want but the truth remains that our plans are simply no match with that of God's. It is a consolation to know that He is the Master Planner. He is Superior and Perfect in every way. We can count on Him at all times as in every period, era or generation. Whatever major decisions we come up with are not just on our own but we should have the conviction that they are a reflection of our confidence and assurance that we get from the word of our God making us stand firm and not doubt. This bible passage from today's 1st reading amazes me. It shows how the scriptures written at the time of Isaiah connect to the New Testament and how things have fallen perfectly into place as announced by John the Baptist and fulfilled in Jesus. We can only gasp in awe at how God can wield His power throughout time and make everything fit and work out in accordance to His Master Plan. There is always a season for everything and God is the reason. When we are beset with negative news we must continue to hope in the one thing that stands forever. We should always depend and rely on the word of God. Amen. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 40:1-11
...Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! 4 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. 5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken...Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever.”

It is only right and fitting that whatever situation we are in we should always take the opportunity of showing forth God's glory at its best in our own lives. Nowadays, people tend to make decisions based on money. We must not discount the fact that money is important but it should not be the sole and major deciding factor when we come up with a decision. If we know exactly why we are here and what we are here for then there's no reason to doubt that God is always at our side to love, support and make things work for good. But we need to believe that God's power knows no limit. He is Great and Mighty and to Him alone do we put our trust. We must not be discouraged and continue to hope in His power. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 96:1-2, 3, 10ac, 11-12, 13
R: The Lord our God comes with power.
...Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. 10 Say among the nations the LORD is king; he governs the peoples with equity...

There is this very interesting detail I read from today's reflection in Companion with regards to the instinctual behavior of oriental breed sheep whenever they get lost. According to this study, upon sensing such a misfortune, they stop their frantic wandering and just stay still. Instead of searching the right way on their own, they prefer to sit still and just wait instead until they are found by the shepherd. This somehow explains how Jesus in today's parable left the 99 in search of the astray. In our own lives we, too experience being lost and led astray. Sometimes we are too wrapped up in our problems and miseries that we just kept on searching for ways and means to get out of it. The more we do this the more exhausted we become and the less likely we find a solution. God our Father and Good Shepherd knows exactly what we are going through and He already figured out what to do. Instead of relying on our own efforts which are obviously no match for God's plan and design we might as well stop our frantic wandering and just stay still if we want God to find us. Another interesting message in today's gospel reading is the fact that the quantity is irrelevant. Just like the Good Shepherd who left the 99 in search for the lost sheep, God looks after every person for He cares for each one of us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 18:12-14
12 Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? 13 And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. 14 In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”