How would we feel if someone wants to get rid of us? Would we still find ourselves loving that person? Just like David in today's 1st reading we should not harbor any ill feelings in our hearts. The love that he has in his heart triumphed over the hatred that should have risen from the evil plot of his son, Absalom to kill him. We must find the love of God above all. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3
...Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom; 3 and that day’s victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.
We should always follow the example of these great men in the bible who never doubted God's goodness and mercy. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
...For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. 6 Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading.
Two miracles took place in today's gospel and it should leave us in awe at the tremendous power of Jesus. There is no room for doubt all we have to do is just have faith. The woman in today’s gospel with hemorrhages for twelve years and Jairus whose daughter is at the point of death have something in common. They have faith in Christ. The woman touched the tassel of Jesus in the midst of the crowd bustling about trying to push and touch Him. As specifically written, Jesus was aware at once that power had gone out from him. The crowd tries to get a hold of Jesus but doesn’t allow the power of Jesus to go out of Him. . How come Jesus feels one woman touched him. What made the difference is her faith. The result of her faith is power. He is present in the sacraments. We touch Jesus in the Eucharist but we have to approach the Eucharist with this hemorrhagic woman’s kind of faith, expecting Jesus to do something for us, as we receive Him. Allow Him to come to our heart, make life better spiritually, give us the power to rid us of the burden of sin. We may not have lived at the time when Jesus walked about the earth and healed the sick but we can touch Him in the flesh. It is true that we are touching Jesus in the sacraments especially the Eucharist but when we do not have faith there is no effect. Let us not fall into the trap of becoming overly familiar with Jesus as we receive the sacraments regularly or even daily for some. This familiarity makes us lose the awe and wonder of our faith that it wears off. We have to maintain and sustain our faith. Whenever we come in contact with Him let us ask Him to give us greater things, to heal us and change us as we touch him. Jesus is healing us in the way that the doctors can not do and is made possible through the sacraments. Is there anything else that Jesus is not capable of doing? We should answer these questions ourselves and really feel in our heart and impress in our mind the resounding truth about Jesus. If we are to imagine that woman touching the cloak of Jesus to the point that it really feels so real that we could almost feel the cloak of Jesus flowing around Him and touching our skin we would surely feel goose bumps all over. Somehow we could identify with the woman since she has been longing and desiring for a cure to her disease for quite a long time already and we in our lives sometimes encounter situations when we've been waiting for the answer to our prayers for a long time and have utilized every possible means and yet things did not get any better and felt that we were not helped at all but instead made things grew worse. One way or another we may all have felt that way. As days, weeks, months and even years go by we should come to a point when we can also develop that same faith of the woman in the gospel who got cured just by touching the cloak of Jesus and in turn will finally receive the long awaited blessing we all have been waiting for. Another important thing that is being pointed out today is the certainty and reality of death and our desire to live forever. There is indeed an explanation as to why people doesn't want to die and wanted to avoid even talk or mention about death. It goes way back to the time of creation when God never meant for us to die at all but because of our consent to sin, death entered the world. It's a good thing that despite all of these we are assured in Jesus that we can still take part in God's original plan to live life to the full for eternity. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 5:21-43
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. 22 One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” 24 He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. 25 There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. 28 She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” 29 Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” 31 But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” 35 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” 36 Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” 37 He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. 41 He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” 42 The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. [At that] they were utterly astounded. 43 He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We sometimes fall prey to the trap of the enemy when we succumb to temptations. There are instances when we say words that we don't mean or fail to say words that we should have said. We sometimes ask ourselves things like, I should have said it or I shouldn't have said it. Definitely, there are words which you really need to say and some also that are better left unsaid. We really have to be careful about the words we say and be bold enough to speak out the words that should be said. Amen. Hallelujah!
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
...and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him.19 If any man will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. 20 But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”
When someone speaks to us we sometimes ignore, refuse to listen, simply pretend that we haven't heard anything or misunderstood what we heard because we are too distracted or busy to give time to listen well. Let us always open our hearts and mind so that we become sensitive to the voice of God talking to us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 95:1-2. 6-7. 7-9 (8)
R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
...Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides...
It will always be for our own sake that God gives us this reminders. We should always be attuned to His will and conscious of the fact that we need to shelter ourselves within the confines of His Divine Presence. Let us stay always within the loving embrace and protection of God and not stray away from Him. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
32 Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties...I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction...
We find that the word teaching is used twice in today’s gospel. From this we draw emphasis on the fact that Jesus is a teacher. We know that the Jews have rabbis and whenever one states a particular teaching it is common practice to give reference to one as source of authority. But Jesus teaches in a different way. He conveys a new teaching and teaches with authority. His words are straight forward and without reference to anyone else for He is authority. He demonstrated His authority through the exorcism. He said something and proved it with His actions. There are two things that is very classic about authority, confrontation and defense. We find them in the gospel when the evil spirit cried out to Jesus, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? ? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” This is the act of putting responsibility to the superior by the inferior. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand to destroy the kingdom of darkness and sin. Jesus rebuked him and said “Quiet! Come out of him!” The evil one’s last ditch effort can be seen in the fact that he is telling Jesus that he knows Him to try to wield control but he has no power. We have to keep this in mind always. The evil one will always assert authority in our lives and confront us with what he knows about us. One of the reasons they possess people is to distort the image and likeness of God. It is important that we are aware of the truths about God. We need to know more about the gospel and be filled with His authority. This we have to remind ourselves and do many times and over and over again. Jesus is up and above everything and nothing is beyond His power. Thus our faith in Jesus should also go beyond our recognition and amazement of Him but rather go further than what the unclean spirit and the onlookers did. We should all lead a life which testifies to God's greatness. God is the Supreme authority over all things and we as His faithful followers have the same power in our hands all in accordance to His great love and care for all of us. There is really no doubt that God is the only Power that we need and will ever need. Let us not be left behind in claiming these truths in our life since even the unclean spirits themselves can not deny it, how much more, us Christians who proclaim loyalty and faithfulness to our God? Let us be challenged to make a difference. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 1:21-28
Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
...and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him.19 If any man will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. 20 But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”
When someone speaks to us we sometimes ignore, refuse to listen, simply pretend that we haven't heard anything or misunderstood what we heard because we are too distracted or busy to give time to listen well. Let us always open our hearts and mind so that we become sensitive to the voice of God talking to us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 95:1-2. 6-7. 7-9 (8)
R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
...Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides...
It will always be for our own sake that God gives us this reminders. We should always be attuned to His will and conscious of the fact that we need to shelter ourselves within the confines of His Divine Presence. Let us stay always within the loving embrace and protection of God and not stray away from Him. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
32 Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties...I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction...
We find that the word teaching is used twice in today’s gospel. From this we draw emphasis on the fact that Jesus is a teacher. We know that the Jews have rabbis and whenever one states a particular teaching it is common practice to give reference to one as source of authority. But Jesus teaches in a different way. He conveys a new teaching and teaches with authority. His words are straight forward and without reference to anyone else for He is authority. He demonstrated His authority through the exorcism. He said something and proved it with His actions. There are two things that is very classic about authority, confrontation and defense. We find them in the gospel when the evil spirit cried out to Jesus, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? ? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” This is the act of putting responsibility to the superior by the inferior. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand to destroy the kingdom of darkness and sin. Jesus rebuked him and said “Quiet! Come out of him!” The evil one’s last ditch effort can be seen in the fact that he is telling Jesus that he knows Him to try to wield control but he has no power. We have to keep this in mind always. The evil one will always assert authority in our lives and confront us with what he knows about us. One of the reasons they possess people is to distort the image and likeness of God. It is important that we are aware of the truths about God. We need to know more about the gospel and be filled with His authority. This we have to remind ourselves and do many times and over and over again. Jesus is up and above everything and nothing is beyond His power. Thus our faith in Jesus should also go beyond our recognition and amazement of Him but rather go further than what the unclean spirit and the onlookers did. We should all lead a life which testifies to God's greatness. God is the Supreme authority over all things and we as His faithful followers have the same power in our hands all in accordance to His great love and care for all of us. There is really no doubt that God is the only Power that we need and will ever need. Let us not be left behind in claiming these truths in our life since even the unclean spirits themselves can not deny it, how much more, us Christians who proclaim loyalty and faithfulness to our God? Let us be challenged to make a difference. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 1:21-28
Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEA
The most important thing that the Lord expects of us when we sin is true conversion. We can say all the sorry/s we like but if it's not coupled with a transformation of our hearts then we are no better than the snakes that shed off their skin but come out the same. We've got to be like those caterpillars after shedding off their chrysalis or silk coverings emerges into a beautiful butterfly. Just like in today's 1st reading when David asked God for forgiveness, truly repented and mend his ways. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Samuel 12:1-7a, 10-17
...Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David, “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin you shall not die.14 But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” 15 Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. 17 The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.
Today's psalm is a song that I have come to know and sing by heart without the aid of a song book. I always love to sing it and hear it being sung most especially by the choir during mass. It is well for us to not just love to sing it with our voices but with the sincerity of our hearts. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
R: Create a clean heart in me, O God.
10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 13 [15] I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. (R) 14 [16] Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in your justice. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
The Sea of Galilee has taken on a deeper meaning in my life way back in 2007 when I decided to come here to the US. In Mt. 4: 18 the sea of Galilee is where Jesus' call to the first disciples took place. It is good to recall and look back where our own Galilees are. I can still remember very well my own Sea of Galilee and should always keep in mind and never forget. As we gather all our strength and courage we, too like the disciples should never turn back and go forth to our own Galilees. I could still recall the bible story in Luke 5 entitled, "The call of Simon (later on named Peter) the Fisherman." It was way back in Feb. 4, 2007, during those times when I was discerning and weighing my decision to come here to the US with my friend Joy. This gospel reading from Luke specifically caught my attention, confirmed and gave me confidence in what I was planning to do and eventually did. Just like Peter who was skeptical at that time I was also feeling so unsure about my decisions then and this phrase really had a great impact on me back then coupled with the priest's homily that went with it. That was like more than 4 years ago now. I feel like God is reminding me again of that scene at the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Gennesaret) when I, just like Peter decided to respond to God's call in my own personal way. This message has been very persistent and I have been writing and sharing about. The Sea of Galilee is the place where Jesus chose His Apostles and also where the apostles immediately left everything and followed Jesus (Luke 5:10-11). Which reminds me too of that song entitled, "Lord, you have come" The background setting of this song is biblically based on the gospel stories of the call of Jesus to Peter and the apostles at the Sea of Galilee. It held a special and deep meaning that touched my heart in an unexplainable way owing to the occasions and incidences that were connected and related to it. But I believe God in His awesome and almighty wisdom, intelligence and knowledge reveals things in stages for the benefit of our limited capacities and understanding. The series of events and daily readings became an eye opener and has given me a better understanding of all the things that have happened since. I realized it is always good to look back, recall and never forget those times in our lives when Jesus was calling us for a certain task and decided to follow and obey. As I develop in myself a broader understanding of the Call at the Sea of Galilee I also realized the need to go across it and experience a higher level of union with God. In the gospel of Luke back then, the situation was different since the Sea of Galilee in that given bible passage was very reassuring since it gave an impression of peace and calm which was very conformed to my situation back in the Philippines before I left for the US. When I finally arrived here in the US and experience life away from my loved ones and encountering the challenges I now face I was able to relate to that gospel in Mark 4:35-41 also at the Sea of Galilee when the disciples were faced by a violent squall and big waves filling up the boat to the brink of causing it to sink. Very much unlike the gospel in Luke when Peter having obeyed and followed to put out into the deep water was rewarded with a miracle, Lk. 5:6-8 “... when they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing... and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.” Immediately upon arriving the US I was also greeted with a lot of pleasant surprises like passing the NCLEX-RN, getting a hospital petitioner, being able to travel to the East Coast (New York, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington DC) for free and winning the grand prize in the Nurse Expo. All these experiences of the disciples in the Sea of Galilee I have noticed that I can personally relate to especially in the manner of the sequence I have encountered them. In both occasions, the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus in both gospels of Luke and Mark came to this scenario or condition of their boats both in danger of sinking. Although both happened in the Sea of Galilee, as I look at my own life the gospel in Luke which I encountered before I left the Philippines reflected the positive and confirming things that were happening back then just as the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus' specifically the bible passages at the Sea of Galilee in Luke 5:4-6 "Jesus said to Peter, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master we have worked hard all night and caught nothing but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this they caught a great number of fish their nets were tearing." On the other hand the gospel in Mark which I have encountered now that I am already here in the US reflects the trials and difficulties which I can relate to the disciples response to the bidding of Jesus to cross to the other side were greeted by a not so pleasant surprise with a violent squall to the point where the boat was already filled up with water and in the brink of sinking. After having made those decisions in 2007 which eventually brought me to my present situation here in the US, I must say I can somehow relate to how the disciples felt back then. It made me realize that I have also come to a point in my sailing with Jesus in my very personal Sea of Galilee when I have also witnessed violent squalls in my life here in the US and been brought to situations to the point of sinking but have been constantly assured of God's tremendous power. I have witnessed Him pacify the turbulent winds in my life which have left me with a great calm in the midst of the storm. It is cited that Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in today's gospel which reflects the need to go beyond this call of Jesus at the seashore of Galilee. In the same way we are called to respond in our own personal way to Jesus by carefully looking at our own lives as we go through a series of stages and discover the various experiences we had which led us to accepting His call at our own Sea of Galilee, sail with Him across it, not be afraid of the storm that assail us, and even go up with Him to the mountain and witness the amazing and wonderful miracle that only Jesus can give. We should be able to look at the scriptures in different levels and senses. We can say that St. Mark with regards to today's gospel is speaking to us a historical event which did happen at the time of Jesus. Squalls are common in the Sea of Galilee because of the mountains that surround it. It is known for its violent storms, which can come up suddenly and be life-threatening for any on its waters. These tempests are caused by the situation of the lake in the Jordan Rift with steep hills on all sides. The cooler air masses from the surrounding mountains collide with the warm air in the lake’s basin. Winds sometimes funnel through the east-west-oriented valleys in the Galilean hill country and rush down the western hillsides of the lake. The most violent storms, however, are caused by the fierce winds which blow off the Golan Heights from the east. If we are to look in the spiritual sense we are invited to stand in awe and wonder at who is this as spoken of by the disciples in the gospel. He is the mighty God who has in his hands the very depths of the earth. He is God. He said, "Quiet and be still!" These are the same words he commanded to the evil spirit in Mark 1:25, Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" This is the same command to the destructive power of the storm which is equal to the power of evil to the soul. Unexpected storms that come out of nowhere can be compared to the evil in the heart of man. We all know the destruction brought about by tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes. We look at that and see the absolute devastation and helplessness that people experience. No one can control it. The weatherman would warn the people to just run. We leave and get out of there. We evacuate lest we be destroyed in the presence of the act of nature. We treat the devil in the same way because that’s the power he has here on earth. This is what happens at the level of our souls, it has devastating effects. What does the spiritual weatherman say to us? Run for shelter, get out of there, get away from temptation and stay close to the Lord. How can we look at this in the spiritual sense? It’s like we too are on cold waters and out of nowhere there’s this something that causes destruction and violence in our lives. We can identify it in our interior lives. It comes over us and we cry out for help. There are moments when we say we can’t take it anymore, we’re going down, and all we can do is cry out. We sometimes have this feeling that God does not recognize what’s happening to us. We sometimes ask if God can possibly be asleep. Or does He realize what’s happening. When I have decided to leave the confines of my home country the Philippines and embark on this journey away from the security that I have been for so long a time been accustomed and used to, I did not fully realize that the challenges or storms in my life would bring me to new heights and depths in my personal relationship with God. It made all the difference knowing that Jesus is in the boat with us. God has authority over all creation. We need to recognize who He is. Jesus is there to help us so we don’t perish. God has the power to bring peace in the midst of the chaos in our lives. We have to recognize that He is present in our lives or in our boat. We belong to Him. We always pray the Lord’s prayer that Jesus Himself taught us. We say, “Deliver us from every evil and grant us peace.” We’re the disciples of the Lord in this boat of life. We receive a sense of peace that can only come from God. He is the God of the universe and has the power to protect us from all anxiety and bring us this profound peace.
Jesus is teaching us to continue trusting and believing that all kinds of storm that are tormenting us and will still come our way are just background effects and all we have to do is focus on the main scene which is Jesus is God, He is in charge and always in control. There is no reason to be terrified if we have faith in God. God does not stop in filling us all with great awe knowing that He is a God whom even the wind and sea obey. God never stops in giving us the inspiration to keep on going and continue the good work He has done for all of us
Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 4:35-41
35 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
2 Samuel 12:1-7a, 10-17
...Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David, “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin you shall not die.14 But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” 15 Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. 17 The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.
Today's psalm is a song that I have come to know and sing by heart without the aid of a song book. I always love to sing it and hear it being sung most especially by the choir during mass. It is well for us to not just love to sing it with our voices but with the sincerity of our hearts. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
R: Create a clean heart in me, O God.
10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 13 [15] I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. (R) 14 [16] Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in your justice. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
The Sea of Galilee has taken on a deeper meaning in my life way back in 2007 when I decided to come here to the US. In Mt. 4: 18 the sea of Galilee is where Jesus' call to the first disciples took place. It is good to recall and look back where our own Galilees are. I can still remember very well my own Sea of Galilee and should always keep in mind and never forget. As we gather all our strength and courage we, too like the disciples should never turn back and go forth to our own Galilees. I could still recall the bible story in Luke 5 entitled, "The call of Simon (later on named Peter) the Fisherman." It was way back in Feb. 4, 2007, during those times when I was discerning and weighing my decision to come here to the US with my friend Joy. This gospel reading from Luke specifically caught my attention, confirmed and gave me confidence in what I was planning to do and eventually did. Just like Peter who was skeptical at that time I was also feeling so unsure about my decisions then and this phrase really had a great impact on me back then coupled with the priest's homily that went with it. That was like more than 4 years ago now. I feel like God is reminding me again of that scene at the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Gennesaret) when I, just like Peter decided to respond to God's call in my own personal way. This message has been very persistent and I have been writing and sharing about. The Sea of Galilee is the place where Jesus chose His Apostles and also where the apostles immediately left everything and followed Jesus (Luke 5:10-11). Which reminds me too of that song entitled, "Lord, you have come" The background setting of this song is biblically based on the gospel stories of the call of Jesus to Peter and the apostles at the Sea of Galilee. It held a special and deep meaning that touched my heart in an unexplainable way owing to the occasions and incidences that were connected and related to it. But I believe God in His awesome and almighty wisdom, intelligence and knowledge reveals things in stages for the benefit of our limited capacities and understanding. The series of events and daily readings became an eye opener and has given me a better understanding of all the things that have happened since. I realized it is always good to look back, recall and never forget those times in our lives when Jesus was calling us for a certain task and decided to follow and obey. As I develop in myself a broader understanding of the Call at the Sea of Galilee I also realized the need to go across it and experience a higher level of union with God. In the gospel of Luke back then, the situation was different since the Sea of Galilee in that given bible passage was very reassuring since it gave an impression of peace and calm which was very conformed to my situation back in the Philippines before I left for the US. When I finally arrived here in the US and experience life away from my loved ones and encountering the challenges I now face I was able to relate to that gospel in Mark 4:35-41 also at the Sea of Galilee when the disciples were faced by a violent squall and big waves filling up the boat to the brink of causing it to sink. Very much unlike the gospel in Luke when Peter having obeyed and followed to put out into the deep water was rewarded with a miracle, Lk. 5:6-8 “... when they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing... and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.” Immediately upon arriving the US I was also greeted with a lot of pleasant surprises like passing the NCLEX-RN, getting a hospital petitioner, being able to travel to the East Coast (New York, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington DC) for free and winning the grand prize in the Nurse Expo. All these experiences of the disciples in the Sea of Galilee I have noticed that I can personally relate to especially in the manner of the sequence I have encountered them. In both occasions, the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus in both gospels of Luke and Mark came to this scenario or condition of their boats both in danger of sinking. Although both happened in the Sea of Galilee, as I look at my own life the gospel in Luke which I encountered before I left the Philippines reflected the positive and confirming things that were happening back then just as the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus' specifically the bible passages at the Sea of Galilee in Luke 5:4-6 "Jesus said to Peter, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master we have worked hard all night and caught nothing but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this they caught a great number of fish their nets were tearing." On the other hand the gospel in Mark which I have encountered now that I am already here in the US reflects the trials and difficulties which I can relate to the disciples response to the bidding of Jesus to cross to the other side were greeted by a not so pleasant surprise with a violent squall to the point where the boat was already filled up with water and in the brink of sinking. After having made those decisions in 2007 which eventually brought me to my present situation here in the US, I must say I can somehow relate to how the disciples felt back then. It made me realize that I have also come to a point in my sailing with Jesus in my very personal Sea of Galilee when I have also witnessed violent squalls in my life here in the US and been brought to situations to the point of sinking but have been constantly assured of God's tremendous power. I have witnessed Him pacify the turbulent winds in my life which have left me with a great calm in the midst of the storm. It is cited that Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee in today's gospel which reflects the need to go beyond this call of Jesus at the seashore of Galilee. In the same way we are called to respond in our own personal way to Jesus by carefully looking at our own lives as we go through a series of stages and discover the various experiences we had which led us to accepting His call at our own Sea of Galilee, sail with Him across it, not be afraid of the storm that assail us, and even go up with Him to the mountain and witness the amazing and wonderful miracle that only Jesus can give. We should be able to look at the scriptures in different levels and senses. We can say that St. Mark with regards to today's gospel is speaking to us a historical event which did happen at the time of Jesus. Squalls are common in the Sea of Galilee because of the mountains that surround it. It is known for its violent storms, which can come up suddenly and be life-threatening for any on its waters. These tempests are caused by the situation of the lake in the Jordan Rift with steep hills on all sides. The cooler air masses from the surrounding mountains collide with the warm air in the lake’s basin. Winds sometimes funnel through the east-west-oriented valleys in the Galilean hill country and rush down the western hillsides of the lake. The most violent storms, however, are caused by the fierce winds which blow off the Golan Heights from the east. If we are to look in the spiritual sense we are invited to stand in awe and wonder at who is this as spoken of by the disciples in the gospel. He is the mighty God who has in his hands the very depths of the earth. He is God. He said, "Quiet and be still!" These are the same words he commanded to the evil spirit in Mark 1:25, Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" This is the same command to the destructive power of the storm which is equal to the power of evil to the soul. Unexpected storms that come out of nowhere can be compared to the evil in the heart of man. We all know the destruction brought about by tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes. We look at that and see the absolute devastation and helplessness that people experience. No one can control it. The weatherman would warn the people to just run. We leave and get out of there. We evacuate lest we be destroyed in the presence of the act of nature. We treat the devil in the same way because that’s the power he has here on earth. This is what happens at the level of our souls, it has devastating effects. What does the spiritual weatherman say to us? Run for shelter, get out of there, get away from temptation and stay close to the Lord. How can we look at this in the spiritual sense? It’s like we too are on cold waters and out of nowhere there’s this something that causes destruction and violence in our lives. We can identify it in our interior lives. It comes over us and we cry out for help. There are moments when we say we can’t take it anymore, we’re going down, and all we can do is cry out. We sometimes have this feeling that God does not recognize what’s happening to us. We sometimes ask if God can possibly be asleep. Or does He realize what’s happening. When I have decided to leave the confines of my home country the Philippines and embark on this journey away from the security that I have been for so long a time been accustomed and used to, I did not fully realize that the challenges or storms in my life would bring me to new heights and depths in my personal relationship with God. It made all the difference knowing that Jesus is in the boat with us. God has authority over all creation. We need to recognize who He is. Jesus is there to help us so we don’t perish. God has the power to bring peace in the midst of the chaos in our lives. We have to recognize that He is present in our lives or in our boat. We belong to Him. We always pray the Lord’s prayer that Jesus Himself taught us. We say, “Deliver us from every evil and grant us peace.” We’re the disciples of the Lord in this boat of life. We receive a sense of peace that can only come from God. He is the God of the universe and has the power to protect us from all anxiety and bring us this profound peace.
Jesus is teaching us to continue trusting and believing that all kinds of storm that are tormenting us and will still come our way are just background effects and all we have to do is focus on the main scene which is Jesus is God, He is in charge and always in control. There is no reason to be terrified if we have faith in God. God does not stop in filling us all with great awe knowing that He is a God whom even the wind and sea obey. God never stops in giving us the inspiration to keep on going and continue the good work He has done for all of us
Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 4:35-41
35 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
Friday, January 27, 2012
THE SNAKE & THE CATERPILLAR
God continues to bless us despite our offenses because we have a forgiving God who looks not on our sins but on our repentant hearts. A sin can never be undone by committing another sin. Nor can we set aside, hide and run away from it. There's nothing we can do to cover it up. Everything is known to Him. Today's 1st reading speaks of David's several attempts to get away from his sins but failed and ended up with a much greater sin, to cause the death of a dedicated and brave soldier, Uriah. Things can really get worse if we keep on setting aside or putting off what really needs to be done. When it comes to sin, there is nothing else we can do but to face it and accept the consequences of our actions. The solution can be found in the 3Rs, RECONCILE by REPENTING and REPAIRING the relationship we have broken. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17
...David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his own house. 10 David was told that Uriah had not gone home. On the day following, 13 David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening he went out to sleep on his bed among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home. 14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. 15 In it he directed, “Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” ...
Organizing all my daily reflections since 2007 made it easier for me to locate and retrieve them. I have found it very rewarding and beneficial. It has given me the opportunity to access with ease, the insights and reflections I wrote in the past. Thus paving the way to recall, reflect, and share it again. Today, I am reminded of Fr. Alex Amayin, the associate priest in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. This is because of a talk that I felt I needed to share again in light of the readings today. His talk was about reconciliation which is very much in line with the 1st & psalm readings for today. It was centered on 4 things which is 1. SIN 2. GRACE 3. FORGIVENESS 4. RECONCILIATION. He said that the 1st 3 are all a reality but #4 is only a possibility. There is no doubt that SIN happens but the GRACE of God is always present and available for us even before we ask for FORGIVENESS. When we ask FORGIVENESS, God is always ready to give it. RECONCILIATION calls us to true conversion. We should always find our way back to God and never doubt His mercy. He cited the example of a snake and caterpillar since both of them undergoes conversion. The snake sheds off its old skin but comes out the same while the caterpillar emerges into a butterfly. We can either choose to be the snake or the caterpillar. Take your pick. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11
R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
...Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always. 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn.
Our God is good all the time! God does not expect us to be instant saints. He assures us that all we need is a small seed of faith sown in our hearts. As it grows, God can do wondrous things beyond our expectations. Each one of us with no exception has a seed that God has planted in our hearts. God is always at work in us. Whether we are doing something or not, He is the Mastermind, Creator and Executor of everything. It is not through our efforts and abilities that we are able to accomplish anything. All we have to do is just allow this growth to take place in us and not hinder or obstruct it. He can see through our future and knows well also what we are going through at the moment and what we had been through. All things work for the good of those who love and serve God. All we need to do is just cooperate as He operates. Sometimes we have this impression that we can effect change on other people so when they don’t we succumb to despair or blame ourselves for not doing a good job. Or when people come out renewed we sometimes take the credit for it and say that it if it wasn’t for us that person would not have made it. It is simply presumptuous on our part to think this way. We may think that we know better but we can never deny that God knows best. It is definitely true what this sharing in Companion tells us. That’s why we really have to keep this in mind. “It is God’s work to convert people and transform their lives. As much as a preacher and teacher can convince people of the truth of the Gospel, it is still only the Holy Spirit who has the power to convict us of these truths such that we will be willing to live and die for them. Open my heart, Lord, to the truth of the Gospel so that my mind and heart would be truly formed in all that is good and perfect.” No matter how hopeless and discouraging things may seem to appear we have to be fully convinced in the power of God to produce great outcomes from very humble beginnings. All we've got to do is stick to God through and through and things will always turn out for the best. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 4:26-34
26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17
...David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his own house. 10 David was told that Uriah had not gone home. On the day following, 13 David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening he went out to sleep on his bed among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home. 14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. 15 In it he directed, “Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” ...
Organizing all my daily reflections since 2007 made it easier for me to locate and retrieve them. I have found it very rewarding and beneficial. It has given me the opportunity to access with ease, the insights and reflections I wrote in the past. Thus paving the way to recall, reflect, and share it again. Today, I am reminded of Fr. Alex Amayin, the associate priest in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. This is because of a talk that I felt I needed to share again in light of the readings today. His talk was about reconciliation which is very much in line with the 1st & psalm readings for today. It was centered on 4 things which is 1. SIN 2. GRACE 3. FORGIVENESS 4. RECONCILIATION. He said that the 1st 3 are all a reality but #4 is only a possibility. There is no doubt that SIN happens but the GRACE of God is always present and available for us even before we ask for FORGIVENESS. When we ask FORGIVENESS, God is always ready to give it. RECONCILIATION calls us to true conversion. We should always find our way back to God and never doubt His mercy. He cited the example of a snake and caterpillar since both of them undergoes conversion. The snake sheds off its old skin but comes out the same while the caterpillar emerges into a butterfly. We can either choose to be the snake or the caterpillar. Take your pick. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11
R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
...Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always. 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn.
Our God is good all the time! God does not expect us to be instant saints. He assures us that all we need is a small seed of faith sown in our hearts. As it grows, God can do wondrous things beyond our expectations. Each one of us with no exception has a seed that God has planted in our hearts. God is always at work in us. Whether we are doing something or not, He is the Mastermind, Creator and Executor of everything. It is not through our efforts and abilities that we are able to accomplish anything. All we have to do is just allow this growth to take place in us and not hinder or obstruct it. He can see through our future and knows well also what we are going through at the moment and what we had been through. All things work for the good of those who love and serve God. All we need to do is just cooperate as He operates. Sometimes we have this impression that we can effect change on other people so when they don’t we succumb to despair or blame ourselves for not doing a good job. Or when people come out renewed we sometimes take the credit for it and say that it if it wasn’t for us that person would not have made it. It is simply presumptuous on our part to think this way. We may think that we know better but we can never deny that God knows best. It is definitely true what this sharing in Companion tells us. That’s why we really have to keep this in mind. “It is God’s work to convert people and transform their lives. As much as a preacher and teacher can convince people of the truth of the Gospel, it is still only the Holy Spirit who has the power to convict us of these truths such that we will be willing to live and die for them. Open my heart, Lord, to the truth of the Gospel so that my mind and heart would be truly formed in all that is good and perfect.” No matter how hopeless and discouraging things may seem to appear we have to be fully convinced in the power of God to produce great outcomes from very humble beginnings. All we've got to do is stick to God through and through and things will always turn out for the best. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 4:26-34
26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
TOTAL RECALL
Today's 1st reading is a call for us to remain true to the faith which reminds me of charismatic seminars like LSS, (Life in the Spirit Seminar) LLS, (Living in the Light Seminar) CLP (Christian Life Program) or whatever they call it wherein people are laid hands on, get baptized and received God's gifts of the Holy Spirit. We all have to recall and not leave to be forgotten the good memories that strengthened our faith the way Paul is doing for Timothy and Titus whose feasts we are celebrating today. Paul one of the greatest apostles did not do everything by himself. He had these 2 greatest collaborators who help him fulfill God's mission. Timothy and Titus served the church and carried out good deeds in whatever situation they are in even in times of challenges. We are encourage also to stir in into flame the same grace given to them, the laity and all the baptized to participate in the mission of the church. When Jesus called the first apostles who were mending their nets to be fishers of men, at once they dropped their nets and followed the Lord. We have to make a decision even in the midst of trials and crosses. We need to surrender to the Lord for He’ll surely lead and show us the way. Our job is to follow, obey and continue in our service to the church and the gospel. We ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us with the strength that comes from God. Our natural strength tires and we need the gift and inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the way that strikes people’s hearts. We can never deny the fact that one way or another somebody has influenced who and what we are today. For most people it is always the parents or someone very close to us. I have this feeling that today's 1st reading invites us to look at this aspect of our lives too. It is always nice to make a total recall of good memories. As for me the person I can point to with regards to this is my mother. She got widowed when we were still very young and I guess it has developed in her a great faith in God. She would always say that widows are special to God. We all grew up hearing her quote bible passages and words of wisdom to live by. Our loved ones who have impacted our lives so much may not be present with us anymore but we have to remain strong in memory of them for the Spirit of God lives on. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Timothy 1:1-8 (or Titus 1:1-5)
...I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you. 6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 8 So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.
This challenge and call to proclaim God's Word has been non stop and very persistent. In fact today's psalm tells us to announce it day after day. There should never be a day that passes without us giving praise and glory to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10 (or Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4)
R: Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. 2 Sing to the LORD; bless his name. (R) Announce his salvation, day after day.
Have we noticed that as we get anxious and worried about some things the more they get worse. It doesn't really help to be uptight and all stressed out. We can not always expect things to go our way and sometimes we do have to get ourselves ready for the disappointments coming to us. We may have the best intentions and motives but we can not always expect other people and the circumstances around us to go along with our plans. We just have to do what we have to do. As in today's gospel, Jesus warned His disciples what may come upon them and what to expect so as to get them ready for what awaits them as they take on the task to spread the word of God. At the end of the day, when we know we've done what is required of us and did it with the best of our abilities then we should just have to let go and let God. Doing the will of God and responding to God's call is not an easy task. Jesus warns us that times could be rough and we can expect difficulties to come our way. Things may not always go our way and get the popular choice. The message of God run contrary to the world’s message and so is the spirit of the world contrary to the spirit of God. In fact in today's gospel Jesus sent His disciples like lambs among wolves. We have to remind ourselves also that in Matthew 10:16 it tells us, "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves." At the time of Jesus, we can already imagine how difficult it is to live physically in the world they live back then but nowadays we are so blessed to be able to exercise our faith freely without fear of losing our lives. The wolves in our midst may not be in the form of barriers to faith like in the time of Jesus and could very well be our very own self that has ascribed to the world's values. Today’s martyrdom is not so much a physical death but one of self-denial. We all have our own crosses in life and it is never easy to take it up and follow Jesus. Although it makes all the difference knowing that victory is already ours through the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 10:1-9
...Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
2 Timothy 1:1-8 (or Titus 1:1-5)
...I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you. 6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 8 So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.
This challenge and call to proclaim God's Word has been non stop and very persistent. In fact today's psalm tells us to announce it day after day. There should never be a day that passes without us giving praise and glory to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10 (or Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4)
R: Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. 2 Sing to the LORD; bless his name. (R) Announce his salvation, day after day.
Have we noticed that as we get anxious and worried about some things the more they get worse. It doesn't really help to be uptight and all stressed out. We can not always expect things to go our way and sometimes we do have to get ourselves ready for the disappointments coming to us. We may have the best intentions and motives but we can not always expect other people and the circumstances around us to go along with our plans. We just have to do what we have to do. As in today's gospel, Jesus warned His disciples what may come upon them and what to expect so as to get them ready for what awaits them as they take on the task to spread the word of God. At the end of the day, when we know we've done what is required of us and did it with the best of our abilities then we should just have to let go and let God. Doing the will of God and responding to God's call is not an easy task. Jesus warns us that times could be rough and we can expect difficulties to come our way. Things may not always go our way and get the popular choice. The message of God run contrary to the world’s message and so is the spirit of the world contrary to the spirit of God. In fact in today's gospel Jesus sent His disciples like lambs among wolves. We have to remind ourselves also that in Matthew 10:16 it tells us, "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves." At the time of Jesus, we can already imagine how difficult it is to live physically in the world they live back then but nowadays we are so blessed to be able to exercise our faith freely without fear of losing our lives. The wolves in our midst may not be in the form of barriers to faith like in the time of Jesus and could very well be our very own self that has ascribed to the world's values. Today’s martyrdom is not so much a physical death but one of self-denial. We all have our own crosses in life and it is never easy to take it up and follow Jesus. Although it makes all the difference knowing that victory is already ours through the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 10:1-9
...Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
DAMASCUS
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Paul’s conversion. The 1st reading for today is the 2nd telling out of 3 about his conversion (Acts 9, 22 & 26). It was at that time when he was trying to fulfill his mission paradigm since there was a treaty to arrest all the Christians in Damascus. On his way to Damascus St. Paul changed. Jesus called him by name. He comes from the tribe of Benjamin where King Saul was the most prominent figure at that time. Jesus called him by his Hebrew name, Saul. From that time on he was never the same again. Instead of him arresting Christians it was now him being arrested for converting Jews to Christianity. The mob was ready to tear him apart if not for the Roman soldiers who grabbed him and protected him since he is a Roman citizen. Despite of this he showed them that he’s still a Jew and still following the custom. He calmed everybody down and spoke to them in their language. He could speak Hebrew because he was educated in Judaism in both Greek and Hebrew. Gamaliel the greatest teacher of that time was his teacher. He lived the law and was zealous for God. It was thought at that time that when Gamaliel died all righteousness died with him because he was highly respected. Paul is Gamaliel's protégé so to speak. As he retell his story of the persecution conversion and how he never met Jesus and yet he was said to be persecuting Christ. As in Mt. 25:40, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' He derived the whole point of the Mystical Body of Christ from his conversion. The words of Jesus, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ is in a very important sense of the Church being so much as the Body of Christ. He doesn’t know Jesus, the Nazarene but what he did to the Church he did to Christ. As he was struck blind he is left with a total mystery as to what will happen next. He was led to Ananias. The blindness was a punishment but because he obeyed blindly he was healed and restored his sight. Ananias told Paul to be baptized. Paul has a high theology of baptism being baptized into the death of Christ and received new life in Christ. He learned it from his own baptism. We may ask ourselves this question, why are we baptized. We look at St. Paul. His sins were washed away and made a new beginning. Although Christ warned him that he would suffer much for the name he had persecuted, it becomes his boast that he has to suffer for the sake of Christ and so must we. As in Eph 4:1-7 "I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift." His conversion gives us hope. It tells us that God’s grace is at work and enduring. The history of God’s people is a story of conversion. There is more to it than meets the eye. God promises great things to those who believe in Him. God's power is beyond measure and knows no boundaries. Paul’s conversion was extraordinary in the sense that he was a persecutor of Christians and was out to put them all in chains. He thought that he was rendering service to God by doing so. Jesus touched his life in a very radical way. He was struck by a blinding light and fell on the ground. For 3 days he was unable to see until Ananias came and brought back his sight.. We may not realize it but we too are like Paul in a way when we sometimes think that we are right before God and not fully aware of what God really wants us to do. Our daily circumstances point us to this direction whenever we encounter situations that make us fall and get stuck in the dark. We go through this agony for a period of time but it would all be worth it no matter how difficult it may seem because it can serve as an eye opener for us. Sometimes we really have to go through whatever we are going through right now in order for us to realize some things that we can never understand without experiencing it ourselves. It is crucial that we identify the several trips to Damascus that we have had in our life. Let us not remain blind and choose to grope in the dark. We just have to recognize God's presence in the Ananiases of our lives that can bring us back to the light and truth. Once we do, should embrace it without letting it go. Amen. Hallelujah!
Acts 22:3-16 (or Acts 9:1-22)
Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. 5 Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well. 6 “On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.’ 9 My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. 10 I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ 11 Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus. 12 “A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me and stood there and said, ‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’ And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; 15 for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. 16 Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.’”
We are not just listeners and onlookers, we apparently have to do what the psalm reading tells us today. Once we've made a decision to embrace the truth and turn our backs on our old ways which are not headed to the path that God wants us to travel then we can be assured that we are right on track. Shout it out to the whole world and let it be known by everyone.
Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 117: 1bc, 2
R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. (R)
The best way to live your life is to always glory in the truth that if you have God in your life then you are destined for greatness before the eyes of the Lord. If there's one thing in this world that we can surely depend on and even put everything at stake just to follow that's none other than the direct and precise admonition of Jesus in today's gospel. We are all called to answer to this call and if we are not yet fully convinced and dedicated to our response then we should not delay any longer for the time to do it is now. It is not just a command that we have to obey for nothing. We are assured by the Lord that He will be with us throughout the end of time. No worries for He's got our backs covered and won't let us down. He is surely going to see us through it all. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 16:15-18
15 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Acts 22:3-16 (or Acts 9:1-22)
Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. 5 Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well. 6 “On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.’ 9 My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. 10 I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ 11 Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus. 12 “A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law, and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me and stood there and said, ‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’ And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; 15 for you will be his witness before all to what you have seen and heard. 16 Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.’”
We are not just listeners and onlookers, we apparently have to do what the psalm reading tells us today. Once we've made a decision to embrace the truth and turn our backs on our old ways which are not headed to the path that God wants us to travel then we can be assured that we are right on track. Shout it out to the whole world and let it be known by everyone.
Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 117: 1bc, 2
R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. (R)
The best way to live your life is to always glory in the truth that if you have God in your life then you are destined for greatness before the eyes of the Lord. If there's one thing in this world that we can surely depend on and even put everything at stake just to follow that's none other than the direct and precise admonition of Jesus in today's gospel. We are all called to answer to this call and if we are not yet fully convinced and dedicated to our response then we should not delay any longer for the time to do it is now. It is not just a command that we have to obey for nothing. We are assured by the Lord that He will be with us throughout the end of time. No worries for He's got our backs covered and won't let us down. He is surely going to see us through it all. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 16:15-18
15 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
THE FAMILY OF GOD
We might have witnessed certain occasions wherein we have been confused, puzzled and even shocked of some people who got so carried away with their emotions and just acted in a way that they could not care less how they look in front of other people. This is usually the case with people who have totally surrendered themselves to someone or something that they are in love with that they have become enslaved by their feelings and just follow its dictates. It is just so overwhelming to see how it can compel people to do the strangest and unimaginable acts. Nowadays, we see people who abandon themselves to following such desires. It is just sad that there are times when we fall for the wrong desire that drives us to action. We sometimes end up regretting what we did after finding out that it is for the wrong conviction that we acted foolishly. It is good to imagine what David did in today’s 1st reading. It must have been quite a sight to see royalty, king and mighty warrior dancing without a care in the world. We all know that what he had done is all worth it because he danced before the Lord who is King of kings, Lord of lords and worthy of all our honor and praise. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Samuel 6,12-15.17-19.
....Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the LORD with abandon, as he and all the Israelites were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.....
There is no limit to God’s endless power and grace. We ought to hold on to this truth every single moment of our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 24,7.8.9.10.
Who is this king of glory? The LORD, a mighty warrior, the LORD, mighty in battle.
God wills all to be saved. There is no doubt that the grace of God is enough and we are all called in every walk of life to respond freely to this. The choice is ours to make. We just have to remember always and never forget that God has already won over any pain, suffering and ultimately death. Absolutely nothing is too difficult for Him. All we have to do is lay claim every waking moment that we have already been purchased for a price and saved by the blood of Jesus on the cross. Let us not lose our salvation by turning our backs on the family where God wants us to belong. Nothing else in this world should give us joy and confidence other than the truth that we are part of the great family of God. Nothing compares to having the privilege to be called the child of God as His will becomes enthroned in our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3,31-35.
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. (For) whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
2 Samuel 6,12-15.17-19.
....Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the LORD with abandon, as he and all the Israelites were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.....
There is no limit to God’s endless power and grace. We ought to hold on to this truth every single moment of our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 24,7.8.9.10.
Who is this king of glory? The LORD, a mighty warrior, the LORD, mighty in battle.
God wills all to be saved. There is no doubt that the grace of God is enough and we are all called in every walk of life to respond freely to this. The choice is ours to make. We just have to remember always and never forget that God has already won over any pain, suffering and ultimately death. Absolutely nothing is too difficult for Him. All we have to do is lay claim every waking moment that we have already been purchased for a price and saved by the blood of Jesus on the cross. Let us not lose our salvation by turning our backs on the family where God wants us to belong. Nothing else in this world should give us joy and confidence other than the truth that we are part of the great family of God. Nothing compares to having the privilege to be called the child of God as His will becomes enthroned in our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3,31-35.
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. (For) whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Monday, January 23, 2012
SIN & PLAQUE
Our God is our stronghold, in Him alone we must trust. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Samuel 5: 1-7, 10
But David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David. David grew steadily more powerful, for the LORD of hosts was with him.
We have to lay claim of the truth that we are God's powerful champion we will never be put to shame if we remain faithful to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 89: 20, 21-22 , 25 -26
R: My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.
....Once you spoke in a vision, and to your faithful ones you said “On a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth...
The truth is that there is no sin that God can not forgive. No sin is greater than the mercy of God. Now what is this in today's gospel that speaks of unforgiveable sin? God the Holy Spirit dwells in us and if we continue to dishonor Him with our persistent and unstoppable sinning then it could already be called blaspheming because we are continuously ignoring the constant presence of God in us. It's totally refusing God's mercy. It's plain and simple. God forgives all sins but can't forgive those who do not ask for it nor are those who aren’t sorry for it. This happens when our hearts are hardened by sin. I had been bothered by this sensitivity in my tooth and found out that it has hardened plaque and can not be fixed by a simple oral prophylaxis. It needed deep cleaning and costs much more in order to save the tooth. We need to give proper attention like constant and regular check up to the dentist in order to avoid something like this from happening. The same is true if we do not take care of our souls and continue to sin. Sin and plaque may have something in common after all. If it becomes too hard, we may come to a point when we are beyond repair. Let us not allow this to happen and be forever stained with everlasting sin. We are all called by God to receive the promised eternal inheritance. No one is exempted or excluded from it only those who by their own free will refuse to respond to this wonderful gift. It sometimes happens when we tend to take for granted what is being given to us by setting it aside and forgetting about it. Let us be perfectly aware of this gift and get a hold of it for it is ours to keep. The good news of our salvation which was obtained for us more than 2000 years ago by Jesus Christ on the cross is still being proclaimed to this very day. There is no way we can deny the truth for heaven and earth will fade but God's words will remain. We are not bound of any chains for God has set us free, we claim victory in Jesus name. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:22-30
....But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
2 Samuel 5: 1-7, 10
But David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David. David grew steadily more powerful, for the LORD of hosts was with him.
We have to lay claim of the truth that we are God's powerful champion we will never be put to shame if we remain faithful to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 89: 20, 21-22 , 25 -26
R: My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.
....Once you spoke in a vision, and to your faithful ones you said “On a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth...
The truth is that there is no sin that God can not forgive. No sin is greater than the mercy of God. Now what is this in today's gospel that speaks of unforgiveable sin? God the Holy Spirit dwells in us and if we continue to dishonor Him with our persistent and unstoppable sinning then it could already be called blaspheming because we are continuously ignoring the constant presence of God in us. It's totally refusing God's mercy. It's plain and simple. God forgives all sins but can't forgive those who do not ask for it nor are those who aren’t sorry for it. This happens when our hearts are hardened by sin. I had been bothered by this sensitivity in my tooth and found out that it has hardened plaque and can not be fixed by a simple oral prophylaxis. It needed deep cleaning and costs much more in order to save the tooth. We need to give proper attention like constant and regular check up to the dentist in order to avoid something like this from happening. The same is true if we do not take care of our souls and continue to sin. Sin and plaque may have something in common after all. If it becomes too hard, we may come to a point when we are beyond repair. Let us not allow this to happen and be forever stained with everlasting sin. We are all called by God to receive the promised eternal inheritance. No one is exempted or excluded from it only those who by their own free will refuse to respond to this wonderful gift. It sometimes happens when we tend to take for granted what is being given to us by setting it aside and forgetting about it. Let us be perfectly aware of this gift and get a hold of it for it is ours to keep. The good news of our salvation which was obtained for us more than 2000 years ago by Jesus Christ on the cross is still being proclaimed to this very day. There is no way we can deny the truth for heaven and earth will fade but God's words will remain. We are not bound of any chains for God has set us free, we claim victory in Jesus name. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:22-30
....But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
Sunday, January 22, 2012
OBEY AND FOLLOW
Everybody knows the story of Jonah and the big whale that swallowed him up. Sometimes we all end up like Jonah when we refuse to follow and obey what God is telling us to do. We tend to underestimate and doubt the power of God in our life. When we waver and falter in our faith in God and refuse to act according to the Lord's bidding then we end up trusting more, our own personal strength and understanding rather than God's. No matter how difficult the things may seem to be it is always for the best that we seek God's will and approval in everything that we do. Just like Jonah, all we have to do first is obey even without first seeing results and everything else will follow. Amen. Hallelujah!
Jonah 3:1-5. 10
1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” 3 So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s bidding.
If we give to God all our concerns and anxieties and trust in His goodness and mercy then He will always direct our steps in the way that He wanted us to go. Have we ever wondered and asked how things in our life came to be? As we try to look back and recall may we always find ourselves confidently claiming all our life's events as according to what God has planned for us and if not then it is about time that we call on to God with these words in the psalm reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 25:4-5. 6-7. 8-9 (4a)
R: Teach me your ways, O Lord.
...guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. (R) 6 Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your love are from of old. 7 In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD...
If we think that we can always procrastinate just like Jonah who was still given a second time then wait and think very seriously about what the 2nd reading is telling us. The urgency of our life's purpose and mission should always take first place. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out...
Today's gospel is the scene at the Sea of Galilee, the call of the 1st disciples. This call is not just for them but for us too. We are also invited by Jesus with these same words, "Come after me..." It is being proclaimed to each one of us today. We may not respond in the same way that Peter and the others did. There are those who would leave their former way of life radically and some who remained in their workplace just like Zebedee. Whether we leave or just stay where we are we need to sanctify our work and seek to glorify God with our lives. Our lives should become rich and meaningful even the simplest thing is an encounter with God. The stories of the disciples especially of Peter that took place in the Sea of Galilee has taken a special meaning in my life in 2007. The sea of Galilee is where Jesus' call to the first disciples took place. It is good to recall and look back where our own Galilees are. I can still remember very well my own Sea of Galilee experience and should always keep in mind and never forget. It has become so personal for me. Peter played an important role in my decision to come here in the US. I could still recall the bible story in Luke 5 entitled, "The call of Simon (later on named Peter) the Fisherman." It was way back in Feb. 4, 2007, during those times when I was discerning and weighing my decision to come here to the US. This gospel reading from Luke specifically caught my attention, confirmed and gave me confidence in what I was planning to do and eventually did. It was specifically the bible passages at the Sea of Galilee in Luke 5:4-6 "Jesus said to Peter, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master we have worked hard all night and caught nothing but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this they caught a great number of fish their nets were tearing." Just like Peter who was skeptical at that time I was also feeling so unsure about my decisions then and this phrase really had a great impact on me back then coupled with the priest's homily that went with it. That was 4 years ago now. I feel like God is reminding me again of that scene at the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Gennesaret) when I, just like Peter decided to respond to God's call in my own personal way. This message has been very persistent and I have always written about. It is also very timely that last night I was also sharing in the prayer meeting about this experience. It is funny how this morning too I was talking to Jude and mentioned to him things in the past about his childhood that he should never forget and always remember. Everything is just connected and confirms each and every event and circumstance. We can never question the impeccable and perfect timing of God in everything. We must also realize that Jesus in today's gospel could have succumbed to disappointment and discouragement after finding out of John's arrest but He did not. He went about and did what God the Father has called and sent Him to do. In the same way that Jesus is inviting us to come after Him and follow. All we have to do is trust Him to make all things happen for us with our best interests always in mind. It is our commitment to God that encompasses all others, more than any we've made. It is the sum and total of all vows. Needless to say, that all to Jesus we must surrender. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 1:14-20
14 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: 15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. 19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. 20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
NEVER DESPAIR
David in today's 1st reading was confronted with a depressing situation. He was full of sorrow and grief due to the death of Saul, his beloved friend, Jonathan and the rest of the soldiers of Israel. It was very difficult time for him during that time. As we go through life, we sometimes encounter similar situations and also end up feeling depressed, fearful and hopeless. These are times in our life when we get caught in the crossfire of life's battles. Despite, all of these things we must believe that we can manage to get through it and escape from it just like David who did not get stuck in his depression and grief but was able to move on and became King of Israel. Whenever we are confronted with such situations and still manage to get over our fears we come to realize that there is only one important thing that we should do. It is the need for us to really focus on the power of God to get us through anything that He put us through for nothing is really too difficult for our powerful God. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
...On the third day a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage. David asked him, "Where do you come from?" He replied, "I have escaped from the Israelite camp." ...David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise. they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword...
In times of trouble and doubt we should realize that God is always with us with His glorious saving power. If we truly believe in this, then nothing should stop us from conquering all our fears. Today's readings should really remind us of those times when we were able to conquer our fears. We should reminisce these occasions and inspire us to do greater things in the future. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 80:2-3, 5-7
R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken, O guide of the flock of Joseph! From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Rouse your power, and come to save us.
In our journey in this life we are living we can't help but sometimes encounter setbacks and difficulties when we stand up for our convictions in our faith in God. We may experience being misinterpreted by the people around us. We should be ready for opposition even from the very people we love and are closest to us no matter how disheartening it may be. We should never despair for God will always redeem His faithful people. Instead we must remain focused on what we are facing in this life. We can't allow these things to defeat and wear us down. We can only think, decide, speak and act for ourselves but never for other people. We are all entitled to our own personal convictions and beliefs and there's nothing we can do if others do not hold the same opinion as ours. No matter how foolish our views may seem to the world for as long as we do it for the glory of God we must not lose heart, nor be dismayed and be discouraged. For as long as we are standing on our firm belief in God then there is really nothing to be afraid of. We must remember that even Jesus was not spared from this harsh reality of life but was not hindered in carrying out the mission that was entrusted to Him by God the Father. We've got to keep on going and be focused on what God wants us to do. Just like Jesus our Savior who is thought to be out of his mind by His relatives we ought to get ourselves ready too for these things. No matter what bothers us in this life we have to keep holding on to God who is clearly and no doubt in His perfect mind to know what is best for us. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:20-21
20 Jesus came home. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. 21 When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
...On the third day a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage. David asked him, "Where do you come from?" He replied, "I have escaped from the Israelite camp." ...David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise. they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword...
In times of trouble and doubt we should realize that God is always with us with His glorious saving power. If we truly believe in this, then nothing should stop us from conquering all our fears. Today's readings should really remind us of those times when we were able to conquer our fears. We should reminisce these occasions and inspire us to do greater things in the future. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 80:2-3, 5-7
R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken, O guide of the flock of Joseph! From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Rouse your power, and come to save us.
In our journey in this life we are living we can't help but sometimes encounter setbacks and difficulties when we stand up for our convictions in our faith in God. We may experience being misinterpreted by the people around us. We should be ready for opposition even from the very people we love and are closest to us no matter how disheartening it may be. We should never despair for God will always redeem His faithful people. Instead we must remain focused on what we are facing in this life. We can't allow these things to defeat and wear us down. We can only think, decide, speak and act for ourselves but never for other people. We are all entitled to our own personal convictions and beliefs and there's nothing we can do if others do not hold the same opinion as ours. No matter how foolish our views may seem to the world for as long as we do it for the glory of God we must not lose heart, nor be dismayed and be discouraged. For as long as we are standing on our firm belief in God then there is really nothing to be afraid of. We must remember that even Jesus was not spared from this harsh reality of life but was not hindered in carrying out the mission that was entrusted to Him by God the Father. We've got to keep on going and be focused on what God wants us to do. Just like Jesus our Savior who is thought to be out of his mind by His relatives we ought to get ourselves ready too for these things. No matter what bothers us in this life we have to keep holding on to God who is clearly and no doubt in His perfect mind to know what is best for us. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:20-21
20 Jesus came home. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. 21 When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
Friday, January 20, 2012
THE HEART & THE PRAYER
The purity of desire, cleanliness of intentions and nobility of character all dwell in the heart of man. That is why God does not look on appearance but into one's heart. It is noteworthy that today’s 1st reading demonstrates the goodness of David and his upright character over Saul. The Lord wants us to remove all wickedness in each one of us. We can never hide from God because everything that does not come sincerely from the purity of our hearts will eventually be revealed, exposed and people will know about it sooner or later. We should have the same conviction as David in today's 1st reading to stand by what is good. Despite his opportunity to get back at Saul and take his revenge he still did what was right in the eyes of God. David's heart is pure and full of mercy. Though, it may cost him his own life that he spared Saul's life, his enemy who wanted him dead but he still decided to leave it all up to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 24:3-21
You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead....I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life. 13 The LORD will judge between me and you, and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case. I shall not touch you. 14 The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ So I will take no action against you...
Just as David did not take vengeance into his own hands and relied on God's mercy and protection. We should also do the same and follow today's psalm reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11
R: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
...for in you I take refuge. In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by. (R) 2 [3] I call to God the Most High, to God, my benefactor. 3 [4] May he send from heaven and save me; may he make those a reproach who trample upon me; may God send his mercy and his faithfulness...
Padre Pio said that prayer is the key that opens the heart of God. If this is so then we should maintain a good prayer life. It is not enough that we pray daily but it would help if we become more creative with our prayer life and discover new ways and means to enhance this very vital communication tool with our Creator. To whom can we pattern our prayer life after other than Jesus Himself. In today's gospel before He made a very important decision He went up to the mountain. A lot of people go on retreats and prayer seminars on a mountain. Why is this so? I have learned that places like mountains are very appropriate for prayer and meditation. Being on a mountain can be one of the most exhilarating and yet peaceful experiences in the world. There are so many things that account to it, especially being on top of it looking out over the world and the stillness below. The journey itself leading to exploration of new trails and new routes gives us a better perspective in life. It all comes together to make a wonderful experience. It is definitely a place where we can find peace and quiet. Even Moses during his time would go up to the mountain to pray and communicate with God. It is important that we focus our senses to God and be totally rid of the noise and distraction that the world brings. Our prayers are all heard by God there is no doubt but do we hear God's answer to our prayers very clearly. There are times when we have to go to a special place like a mountain or could be any place where we can openly receive from God and really be in touch with Him. Bottom line or tip of the mountain top is the importance of prayer. Today's gospel is also about the call of the first apostles which entails their primary mission to spread the word of God. We are all called to share in this mission of the 1st apostles and go forth to spread the good news to all. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:13-19
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve whom he also named apostles that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons: 16 He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; 17 James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, 19 and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
1 Samuel 24:3-21
You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead....I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life. 13 The LORD will judge between me and you, and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case. I shall not touch you. 14 The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ So I will take no action against you...
Just as David did not take vengeance into his own hands and relied on God's mercy and protection. We should also do the same and follow today's psalm reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11
R: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
...for in you I take refuge. In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by. (R) 2 [3] I call to God the Most High, to God, my benefactor. 3 [4] May he send from heaven and save me; may he make those a reproach who trample upon me; may God send his mercy and his faithfulness...
Padre Pio said that prayer is the key that opens the heart of God. If this is so then we should maintain a good prayer life. It is not enough that we pray daily but it would help if we become more creative with our prayer life and discover new ways and means to enhance this very vital communication tool with our Creator. To whom can we pattern our prayer life after other than Jesus Himself. In today's gospel before He made a very important decision He went up to the mountain. A lot of people go on retreats and prayer seminars on a mountain. Why is this so? I have learned that places like mountains are very appropriate for prayer and meditation. Being on a mountain can be one of the most exhilarating and yet peaceful experiences in the world. There are so many things that account to it, especially being on top of it looking out over the world and the stillness below. The journey itself leading to exploration of new trails and new routes gives us a better perspective in life. It all comes together to make a wonderful experience. It is definitely a place where we can find peace and quiet. Even Moses during his time would go up to the mountain to pray and communicate with God. It is important that we focus our senses to God and be totally rid of the noise and distraction that the world brings. Our prayers are all heard by God there is no doubt but do we hear God's answer to our prayers very clearly. There are times when we have to go to a special place like a mountain or could be any place where we can openly receive from God and really be in touch with Him. Bottom line or tip of the mountain top is the importance of prayer. Today's gospel is also about the call of the first apostles which entails their primary mission to spread the word of God. We are all called to share in this mission of the 1st apostles and go forth to spread the good news to all. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:13-19
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve whom he also named apostles that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons: 16 He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; 17 James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, 19 and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
MISSING THE POINT
David defeated Goliath and fought in service of King Saul but Saul missed the point and was consumed by envy and anger. He should have been grateful to David for delivering the Israelites from the hands of the Philistines. Let us pray to the Lord that we be guarded from the malice of sin (Pride, envy, lust, anger, gluttony, avarice and sloth) and truly live a life after Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!
1st book of Samuel 18,6-9.19,1-7.
...Saul discussed his intention of killing David with his son Jonathan and with all his servants. But Saul's son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him: "My father Saul is trying to kill you. Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning; get out of sight and remain in hiding. I, however, will go out and stand beside my father in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I will let you know...Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, “Let not your majesty sin against his servant David, for he has committed no offense against you, but has helped you very much by his deeds. 5 When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel through him, you were glad to see it. Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood by killing David without cause?” 6 Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.”...
God has gifted us with so many wonderful things in this world. We have the gift of friends and the company of our fellow brothers and sisters who all belong in this great and big family that God has provided us. If those people close to us and even those whom we don't know can intercede and pray for us then there is nothing we should be afraid of. Not even the scariest thing, person or element in this world should make us doubt that God is over and above all things in this world. Let us be firm in our belief that no harm can come before us because God is on our side. If God is with us who could be against us? Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-12, 13-14
R: In God I trust; I shall not fear.
1 [2] Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me; all the day they press their attack against me...Now I know that God is with me. 10 [11] In God, in whose promise I glory, 11 [12] in God I trust without fear; what can flesh do against me?...
The secret of Mark’s gospel can be found in the gospel today. These very words, “He warned them sternly not to make him known,” is Mark’s trademark. Just imagine people witnessing all kinds of miracles and being instructed not to make Him known. This is due to the fact that the signs and wonders wrought by His mighty hand can only be fully understood in the light of the Paschal Mystery, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. In Mark 8:27-29 it is written, "...Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah." We thought it was Peter, who became the 1st Pope of the Catholic Church who first got it right. But if we read further on in the same chapter 8 of Mark in the following verses, 30-33, "Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." What Mark was trying to say is that we got it all wrong if we thought that Peter got it right because he didn't. He missed the truth about Jesus, he can not handle the truth that the Messiah, the King will be nailed and die on the cross. Just imagine Jesus who predicted and poured out his agony over his passion and death but was disappointed by Peter's inability to really get the point. It seemed ironic that the 1st Pope just guessed it right but it was really a pagan, a centurion who first got it right because he saw the cross of Jesus as the sign of His Kingship. For it is written in Mark 15:37-39, "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" This means that if it was the centurion pagan who first got it right and not the 1st pope then salvation is for everybody even to the pagans and the Gentiles. Also in Mark 5:25 "There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured. "Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction." A woman was considered of no social standing during that time, and to be a pagan/Gentile only added to her worthlessness she was not even addressed with her own name. In Mark 9: 49-50, "Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another." During his time, salt was stored in a bag and used in the cooking the way in the same manner tea bags are used. This is to filter the impurities so after use the taste is gone and what's left is just a bag of dirt. Mark was very much around these kind of people and this is what he was trying to convey in his writings. Mark was very much around the very people whom we usually look up to as the leaders of the community but fail to reach the mark. For in Mark 10: 32-45 when Jesus predicted for the 3rd time his passion and death, "Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise." Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish (me) to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" Mark was with people with a lot of conflicts. This is shown in the following bible passages as in Acts 15: 36-41, "After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us make a return visit to see how the brothers are getting on in all the cities where we proclaimed the word of the Lord." Barnabas wanted to take with them also John, who was called Mark,but Paul insisted that they should not take with them someone who had deserted them at Pamphylia and who had not continued with them in their work.So sharp was their disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.But Paul chose Silas and departed after being commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.He traveled through Syria and Cilicia bringing strength to the churches."
In this passage Paul's dislike for Mark (John) was very obvious. Also in Galatians where Paul did not hide his dislike for Peter (Kephas) 2:11,"And when Kephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong."
Although there were conflicts among the people in the Church, as it usually does, they were able to go past it and built the Church. These things can be considered as the agitation in the grain of sand in the clam which eventually turned into a priceless pearl. This anxiety among these people of God brought about the spread of the Church in various places for they were divided into 2 groups and were able to evangelize in 2 different places at one time. God saw to it that everything turned out for the good. The Markan Community emphasizes this truth that despite the brokenness of the people the Church of God, the community still survived which is evident to this very day. The Kingdom of God must be viewed through the lens of Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King but not one seated on the throne but hanging on the cross.
Mark wants us to realize that we should not want Jesus just because of our own personal agenda. What Mark was trying to say is that we would never get it right unless we can handle the truth about the Son of God, Messiah and the King who will be nailed and die on the cross. It is not easy to grasp especially at that time when the Jews were expecting for the Messiah to liberate them from the oppression of the Romans. Considering of course that we live in a world where suffering, pain and death are considered a curse and something that we could not embrace all too willingly. This is exactly why they were warned not to make Him known because they would end up missing the point. We need to see the cross of Jesus as the sign of His Kingship. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:7-12
...He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. 10 He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.”. He warned them sternly not to make him known.
1st book of Samuel 18,6-9.19,1-7.
...Saul discussed his intention of killing David with his son Jonathan and with all his servants. But Saul's son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him: "My father Saul is trying to kill you. Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning; get out of sight and remain in hiding. I, however, will go out and stand beside my father in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I will let you know...Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, “Let not your majesty sin against his servant David, for he has committed no offense against you, but has helped you very much by his deeds. 5 When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel through him, you were glad to see it. Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood by killing David without cause?” 6 Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.”...
God has gifted us with so many wonderful things in this world. We have the gift of friends and the company of our fellow brothers and sisters who all belong in this great and big family that God has provided us. If those people close to us and even those whom we don't know can intercede and pray for us then there is nothing we should be afraid of. Not even the scariest thing, person or element in this world should make us doubt that God is over and above all things in this world. Let us be firm in our belief that no harm can come before us because God is on our side. If God is with us who could be against us? Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-12, 13-14
R: In God I trust; I shall not fear.
1 [2] Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me; all the day they press their attack against me...Now I know that God is with me. 10 [11] In God, in whose promise I glory, 11 [12] in God I trust without fear; what can flesh do against me?...
The secret of Mark’s gospel can be found in the gospel today. These very words, “He warned them sternly not to make him known,” is Mark’s trademark. Just imagine people witnessing all kinds of miracles and being instructed not to make Him known. This is due to the fact that the signs and wonders wrought by His mighty hand can only be fully understood in the light of the Paschal Mystery, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. In Mark 8:27-29 it is written, "...Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah." We thought it was Peter, who became the 1st Pope of the Catholic Church who first got it right. But if we read further on in the same chapter 8 of Mark in the following verses, 30-33, "Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." What Mark was trying to say is that we got it all wrong if we thought that Peter got it right because he didn't. He missed the truth about Jesus, he can not handle the truth that the Messiah, the King will be nailed and die on the cross. Just imagine Jesus who predicted and poured out his agony over his passion and death but was disappointed by Peter's inability to really get the point. It seemed ironic that the 1st Pope just guessed it right but it was really a pagan, a centurion who first got it right because he saw the cross of Jesus as the sign of His Kingship. For it is written in Mark 15:37-39, "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" This means that if it was the centurion pagan who first got it right and not the 1st pope then salvation is for everybody even to the pagans and the Gentiles. Also in Mark 5:25 "There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured. "Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction." A woman was considered of no social standing during that time, and to be a pagan/Gentile only added to her worthlessness she was not even addressed with her own name. In Mark 9: 49-50, "Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another." During his time, salt was stored in a bag and used in the cooking the way in the same manner tea bags are used. This is to filter the impurities so after use the taste is gone and what's left is just a bag of dirt. Mark was very much around these kind of people and this is what he was trying to convey in his writings. Mark was very much around the very people whom we usually look up to as the leaders of the community but fail to reach the mark. For in Mark 10: 32-45 when Jesus predicted for the 3rd time his passion and death, "Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise." Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish (me) to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" Mark was with people with a lot of conflicts. This is shown in the following bible passages as in Acts 15: 36-41, "After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us make a return visit to see how the brothers are getting on in all the cities where we proclaimed the word of the Lord." Barnabas wanted to take with them also John, who was called Mark,but Paul insisted that they should not take with them someone who had deserted them at Pamphylia and who had not continued with them in their work.So sharp was their disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.But Paul chose Silas and departed after being commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.He traveled through Syria and Cilicia bringing strength to the churches."
In this passage Paul's dislike for Mark (John) was very obvious. Also in Galatians where Paul did not hide his dislike for Peter (Kephas) 2:11,"And when Kephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong."
Although there were conflicts among the people in the Church, as it usually does, they were able to go past it and built the Church. These things can be considered as the agitation in the grain of sand in the clam which eventually turned into a priceless pearl. This anxiety among these people of God brought about the spread of the Church in various places for they were divided into 2 groups and were able to evangelize in 2 different places at one time. God saw to it that everything turned out for the good. The Markan Community emphasizes this truth that despite the brokenness of the people the Church of God, the community still survived which is evident to this very day. The Kingdom of God must be viewed through the lens of Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King but not one seated on the throne but hanging on the cross.
Mark wants us to realize that we should not want Jesus just because of our own personal agenda. What Mark was trying to say is that we would never get it right unless we can handle the truth about the Son of God, Messiah and the King who will be nailed and die on the cross. It is not easy to grasp especially at that time when the Jews were expecting for the Messiah to liberate them from the oppression of the Romans. Considering of course that we live in a world where suffering, pain and death are considered a curse and something that we could not embrace all too willingly. This is exactly why they were warned not to make Him known because they would end up missing the point. We need to see the cross of Jesus as the sign of His Kingship. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:7-12
...He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. 10 He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.”. He warned them sternly not to make him known.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
DEFEAT GOLIATH
Today’s 1st reading is about the story of David and Goliath. Everybody knows from the beginning that it was a mismatch and judging from the standard of this world, David does not stand a chance against Goliath. The same is true with our giant problems and concerns in life. If we will just look back and recall the tough times that we've been through then we can now just laugh it off and shrug our shoulders but way back then was a different scenario. We sometimes wonder how we were able to go through that kind of ordeal. If like David we entrust all our battles to the Lord then victory shall be ours. We may not be living during that time when the Israelites were confronted with giants but we in our own lifetime are also faced with our own Goliath? We need to take courage! We have to make a decision to go up against very scary giant Philistines in our life. It may be in the form of a physical ailment, a financial burden, an emotional hurt or any other type of problem that the people of our world are confronted daily. Nothing could bring us down for the God who saved David from the clutches of Goliath is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
32 David spoke to Saul: “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.” 33 But Saul answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.” 37 David continued: “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “Go! the LORD will be with you.”...Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God. 47 All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he shall deliver you into our hands.” ...
We too, can defeat the giant problems we are facing right now. Let us not limit God's power for the bigger our problem is and the more it is heightened by its difficulty the more God's glory is revealed. It is only right that we entrust everything to God for we have a giant God. If at the present time we are encountering so many trials and difficulties in life then consider everything as preparation for the victory God has reserved for all of us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10
R: Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
...who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. (R) 2 My refuge and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me. (R) 9 O God, I will sing a new song to you; with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise, 10 you who give victory to kings, and deliver David, your servant the evil sword. (R)
Today’s gospel wanted us to realize a very important and essential matter in following God’s commands. We may all know the 10 commandments but do we truly know them by heart and abide by them in the Spirit of God. Sometimes we are too preoccupied by the letter of the law and have a tendency to neglect what truly matters, the spirit of the law which is love. There should be no room for any doubt that God speaks to us through our daily circumstances. We can never deny that there are moments when we hesitate to do something, hold back or question the reason for a certain act. It is very consoling to know that we have a God who knows exactly what we are going through. If we come to Him for guidance and direction, He will surely not lead us astray. In the gospel a question arises, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Sometimes there are instances in our lives when we are confronted by a dilemma. Whether we do something or not is always a question that we need to face daily. We find in the gospel that Jesus was so disappointed with how the people responded and reacted to the miraculous healing that took place. It is easier to understand when people react badly in response to an assault but to something like restoring a sick person to health it's kind of weird but we also have to accept that there are times when we act weird. Let's always hope and pray that we will always be guided by Jesus to respond in a naturally good and charitable way. There are times when we have a tendency to put God in a box. We have a specific mindset about life in relation to God that we end up with our own narrow concept of how we are to conduct ourselves as Christians and followers of our Lord Jesus. What's worse is that we sometimes can't keep our imperfect ways to ourselves and project it to others. Sometimes we distort whatever is stated in the law to our advantage or over rationalize it and blow it out of proportion. This is where the gift of wisdom comes in. We ought to think, feel and see the way God does. Only by truly acquiring a mind and heart that is fashioned and designed like that of the Lord can we truly and sincerely understand the law of the Lord. We can also read in the gospel that Jesus looked at them with anger because of the hardness of their hearts. The Herodians and the Pharisees were great enemies at the time of Jesus but we saw how they conspired to put Jesus to death. All His works point to His Divine Kingship and the Pharisees were jealous. The reason behind this is the fact that Jesus lowers the prestige of the Pharisees before the people by healing the sick. He showed His Divine nature through this miracle done on a Sabbath. It is still happening nowadays, when people who live lives centered on Jesus and His teachings are still being persecuted. It is written in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” Let us not lose heart for if we are faithful to Jesus and everything He stands for then we can share in His great glory that has come for all eternity. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:1-6
...He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. 5 Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
32 David spoke to Saul: “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.” 33 But Saul answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.” 37 David continued: “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “Go! the LORD will be with you.”...Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God. 47 All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he shall deliver you into our hands.” ...
We too, can defeat the giant problems we are facing right now. Let us not limit God's power for the bigger our problem is and the more it is heightened by its difficulty the more God's glory is revealed. It is only right that we entrust everything to God for we have a giant God. If at the present time we are encountering so many trials and difficulties in life then consider everything as preparation for the victory God has reserved for all of us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10
R: Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
...who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. (R) 2 My refuge and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me. (R) 9 O God, I will sing a new song to you; with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise, 10 you who give victory to kings, and deliver David, your servant the evil sword. (R)
Today’s gospel wanted us to realize a very important and essential matter in following God’s commands. We may all know the 10 commandments but do we truly know them by heart and abide by them in the Spirit of God. Sometimes we are too preoccupied by the letter of the law and have a tendency to neglect what truly matters, the spirit of the law which is love. There should be no room for any doubt that God speaks to us through our daily circumstances. We can never deny that there are moments when we hesitate to do something, hold back or question the reason for a certain act. It is very consoling to know that we have a God who knows exactly what we are going through. If we come to Him for guidance and direction, He will surely not lead us astray. In the gospel a question arises, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Sometimes there are instances in our lives when we are confronted by a dilemma. Whether we do something or not is always a question that we need to face daily. We find in the gospel that Jesus was so disappointed with how the people responded and reacted to the miraculous healing that took place. It is easier to understand when people react badly in response to an assault but to something like restoring a sick person to health it's kind of weird but we also have to accept that there are times when we act weird. Let's always hope and pray that we will always be guided by Jesus to respond in a naturally good and charitable way. There are times when we have a tendency to put God in a box. We have a specific mindset about life in relation to God that we end up with our own narrow concept of how we are to conduct ourselves as Christians and followers of our Lord Jesus. What's worse is that we sometimes can't keep our imperfect ways to ourselves and project it to others. Sometimes we distort whatever is stated in the law to our advantage or over rationalize it and blow it out of proportion. This is where the gift of wisdom comes in. We ought to think, feel and see the way God does. Only by truly acquiring a mind and heart that is fashioned and designed like that of the Lord can we truly and sincerely understand the law of the Lord. We can also read in the gospel that Jesus looked at them with anger because of the hardness of their hearts. The Herodians and the Pharisees were great enemies at the time of Jesus but we saw how they conspired to put Jesus to death. All His works point to His Divine Kingship and the Pharisees were jealous. The reason behind this is the fact that Jesus lowers the prestige of the Pharisees before the people by healing the sick. He showed His Divine nature through this miracle done on a Sabbath. It is still happening nowadays, when people who live lives centered on Jesus and His teachings are still being persecuted. It is written in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” Let us not lose heart for if we are faithful to Jesus and everything He stands for then we can share in His great glory that has come for all eternity. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 3:1-6
...He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. 5 Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
BE YOUR BEST
I just met this beautician a few days ago when she did a home service to a lady. Being the beauty specialist that she is, she made some suggestions to me. She is an expert when it comes to beauty tips and making her customers look their best. I can not blame her and the others who have a good taste for fashion and beauty when they persuade me to have my hair cut. It has grown very long already and sometimes left it unkempt. I must admit I am very careless in these matters which I really need to improve on. We know for a fact that there are areas in ourselves that we need to work on for the better. Whatever it may be, it will surely give delight to the Lord if we try to be the best that we can be and do everything sincerely from our hearts for the glory of God. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 16:1-13
...But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”...
We should always consult God with our decisions. It is sometimes very difficult to come up with major decisions if we are confronted with so many options just like Samuel we must listen to what God is telling us to do and exactly what he did. Although at first, Samuel thought that David is an unlikely candidate as king. God's criteria is the best and His standard should always be followed even at times when the situation gets tough all the more should we adhere to His judgments which will all work for good. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 27-28
R: I have found David, my servant.
19 [20] Once you spoke in a vision, and to your faithful ones you said: “On a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth.” (R) 20 [21] “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, 21 [22] that my hand may be always with him, and that my arm may make him strong.”
David is a man of God who based his actions first and foremost on the love God has planted in His heart that is why he was chosen King. There are times when we are too caught up in the legalities of our businesses we sometimes forget that God should be the center of everything we do and on top of all our priorities. It is always best to read and study scriptures in order for us to be guided in our daily lives. Everything that scriptures say is true and lasts for all time. There is no doubt to the truth that every single thing about it should stay intact and unaltered. Heaven and earth will fade but God's words will remain. But in all of these things we must not overlook and forget that love should always be the motive and driving force of every word that comes from God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 2:23-28
As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. 24 At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” 25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 26 How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” 27 Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. 28 That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
1 Samuel 16:1-13
...But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”...
We should always consult God with our decisions. It is sometimes very difficult to come up with major decisions if we are confronted with so many options just like Samuel we must listen to what God is telling us to do and exactly what he did. Although at first, Samuel thought that David is an unlikely candidate as king. God's criteria is the best and His standard should always be followed even at times when the situation gets tough all the more should we adhere to His judgments which will all work for good. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 27-28
R: I have found David, my servant.
19 [20] Once you spoke in a vision, and to your faithful ones you said: “On a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth.” (R) 20 [21] “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, 21 [22] that my hand may be always with him, and that my arm may make him strong.”
David is a man of God who based his actions first and foremost on the love God has planted in His heart that is why he was chosen King. There are times when we are too caught up in the legalities of our businesses we sometimes forget that God should be the center of everything we do and on top of all our priorities. It is always best to read and study scriptures in order for us to be guided in our daily lives. Everything that scriptures say is true and lasts for all time. There is no doubt to the truth that every single thing about it should stay intact and unaltered. Heaven and earth will fade but God's words will remain. But in all of these things we must not overlook and forget that love should always be the motive and driving force of every word that comes from God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 2:23-28
As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. 24 At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” 25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 26 How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” 27 Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. 28 That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Monday, January 16, 2012
ALL GOOD THINGS
Everything comes from God. All good things come from God. All blessings come from God. God pours out to us the all abundant love in every possible way. Love and life is not simple other wise we will be living in a heavenly world where there is no strife, deceit, injustice and division. The world we live in is fractured, unless we stop doing mundane and distracting things that pulls us away from visualizing the things of God then we will just find ourselves distracted and unfocused. We just might find ourselves going in all directions but not really finding where we are supposed to go. God teaches us His ways with the guidance of the Holy Spirit directing us every step of the way. This is how we should relate to God by aiming to encounter Him in an intimate and personal way. In today’s 1st reading, Saul knows from the beginning and was even told by Samuel what should be done and yet he refused to obey. We are very much like Saul at times when we try to justify and rationalize our actions and decisions so that we can have it our way. May we always find it in our hearts to always accept what God wants us to do for it is always for the best. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 15:16-23
...But Samuel said, “Does the LORD so delight in holocausts and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the LORD? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams. 23 For a sin like divination is rebellion, and presumption is the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he, too, has rejected you as ruler.”
There will always be times when we seem to not know where to go. No matter how difficult our situations may be, God will never leave us groping in the dark. All we have to do is to really take into serious consideration the words in today's psalm reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
R: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
...“Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R) 21 “When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. 23 He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
We've got to act right away and respond to God's call. Though, we should always act and respond in accordance to God's will and submit to the designs of His perfect time. It's just a matter of matching things in its proper order and perspective. In other words, know that things that are not for God should definitely not be forced into any situation. God speaks to us in many different ways. He will not give us a difficult maze and puzzle to figure out or throw us a mission impossible task to solve. I heard someone say that all problems have solutions if there's no solution to it then it isn't a problem after all. The answers and solutions are right before us. Sometimes we are the ones that make life more difficult than it really is. We are the ones who come up with problems and questions that shouldn't really concern us. Just like in today's gospel when some people questioned Jesus about fasting and failed to see the true essence of sacrifice which is love and mercy. Above anything else is the spirit of the law which is love. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 2:18-22
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day ...No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. 22 Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
1 Samuel 15:16-23
...But Samuel said, “Does the LORD so delight in holocausts and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the LORD? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams. 23 For a sin like divination is rebellion, and presumption is the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he, too, has rejected you as ruler.”
There will always be times when we seem to not know where to go. No matter how difficult our situations may be, God will never leave us groping in the dark. All we have to do is to really take into serious consideration the words in today's psalm reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
R: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
...“Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R) 21 “When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. 23 He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
We've got to act right away and respond to God's call. Though, we should always act and respond in accordance to God's will and submit to the designs of His perfect time. It's just a matter of matching things in its proper order and perspective. In other words, know that things that are not for God should definitely not be forced into any situation. God speaks to us in many different ways. He will not give us a difficult maze and puzzle to figure out or throw us a mission impossible task to solve. I heard someone say that all problems have solutions if there's no solution to it then it isn't a problem after all. The answers and solutions are right before us. Sometimes we are the ones that make life more difficult than it really is. We are the ones who come up with problems and questions that shouldn't really concern us. Just like in today's gospel when some people questioned Jesus about fasting and failed to see the true essence of sacrifice which is love and mercy. Above anything else is the spirit of the law which is love. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 2:18-22
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day ...No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. 22 Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
Sunday, January 15, 2012
CROSSROADS
Today’s 1st reading speaks to us of Samuel who at that time was not yet familiar with the Lord. We see the importance of this story when we come to the so called crossroads in our very own lives. This 1st reading was the same not so long ago, in fact just 4 days ago. I shared about my son who was still undecided what course to take and what school to go to for College. We may all have reached a point where we should make major life changing decisions. No matter how good and helpful it is to solicit the good advice and opinion of others in the end we would have to decide for ourselves. We can not make others decide for us. We would have to own our actions and make the decision ourselves. Thus it is important that we establish a living relationship with the Lord. Only in this way can we truly listen and open our hearts as Samuel did. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
1 During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent. 2 One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. 3 The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. 4 The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. 6 Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” 7 At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, 10 the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 19 Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. 20 Thus all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.
We should always listen intently to what God is telling us so we could effectively carry out what He wants us to do. We must not be distracted and dissuaded to do otherwise when beset with problems and difficulties. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10
R: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
1 [2] I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.4 [5] Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. (R) 6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.
The Lord entrusted to us a share in His work of redemption. He calls each one of us to have total dependence in Him. We have to work hard on our relationship with God. We must be able to come to a point when we feel the conviction in our hearts the way the 2 disciple did when they heard John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God," and followed Jesus. They radically left everything to be able to be where Jesus is. In doing so and following their example we find that our lives are never the same again. Amen. Hallelujah!
John 1: 35-42.
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them,"Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Kephas" (which is translated Peter).
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20
1 During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent. 2 One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. 3 The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. 4 The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. 6 Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” 7 At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, 10 the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 19 Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. 20 Thus all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the LORD.
We should always listen intently to what God is telling us so we could effectively carry out what He wants us to do. We must not be distracted and dissuaded to do otherwise when beset with problems and difficulties. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10
R: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
1 [2] I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.4 [5] Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. (R) 6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.
The Lord entrusted to us a share in His work of redemption. He calls each one of us to have total dependence in Him. We have to work hard on our relationship with God. We must be able to come to a point when we feel the conviction in our hearts the way the 2 disciple did when they heard John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God," and followed Jesus. They radically left everything to be able to be where Jesus is. In doing so and following their example we find that our lives are never the same again. Amen. Hallelujah!
John 1: 35-42.
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them,"Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Kephas" (which is translated Peter).
Saturday, January 14, 2012
THE MEDICINE
God gives us all a place and a position in the grand scheme of life and we must know where we should be. It is important to know where we are supposed to be in accordance to what God has designed for us. Saul just went out to do what his father said, to look for the lost animals and the rest is history. He had been given this special privilege to become king of Israel when he was anointed by Samuel. It was a great honor to be anointed as commander of God's people but in everything there is a corresponding mission and task that we have to fulfill. The choice of Saul corresponds with the priorities of the world rather than the priorities of God. Compare the attributes of Saul with those of David and see the difference. God looks into the heart of a man and not just his exterior behavior. It is important that we realize that faith is all about the heart first and, flowing from the heart, our words and actions. Can we honestly say we are doing a good job as ambassadors of Christ? We pray that that the Lord bless our actions so that we may serve with humility, and help us live a life that will reflect God’s goodness through Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1
Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.” 4 Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah...When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.” 18 Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today...Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying, “The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies round about. “This will be the sign for you that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”
God knows every single detail about us and He will never leave out anything in our life without pronouncing a blessing over us. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
...You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. (R) 3 [4] For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 4 [5] He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. (R) 5 [6] Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendour you conferred upon him. 6 [7] For you made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
We don't really know anything at all. Judging from today's gospel we also fall into the same trap as the Scribes and Pharisees. This is what happens when we fail to see how the mind of God works. Whenever things do not go the way we wanted it then it would be best to always trust the mind of God that works for the ultimate good. Speaking of battles makes us think of wounds and injuries that can lead to sicknesses and there is really nothing to fear for in every fight we take we are assured of a Divine Healer that can make us whole. We should always follow what God wants us to do no matter how difficult it is at the present moment. There should be no doubt that He will carry us through. Today's gospel assures us that God is willing and able to cure all our ills and sicknesses. The problem lies not in God's ability to heal us but in our acceptance of the fact that we are sick and need healing. It may be easier for a severely ill person to recognize one's sickness because it is very obvious and undeniable than for someone whose illness and symptoms are just mild and unnoticeable. It is more dangerous in a way because the illness just creeps up very slowly and discreetly. It’s completely widespread and terminal just like some cancers even before we know it. We need to be aware of how we are doing ourselves. This does not apply to just our physical state but most importantly our spiritual. Let us not neglect nor overlook this seemingly fine condition we thought we are in and be caught unaware when everything becomes too late. We need to receive the medicine of the Divine Physician to be healed and saved. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 2:13-17
...Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1
Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.” 4 Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah...When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.” 18 Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today...Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying, “The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies round about. “This will be the sign for you that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”
God knows every single detail about us and He will never leave out anything in our life without pronouncing a blessing over us. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
...You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. (R) 3 [4] For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 4 [5] He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. (R) 5 [6] Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendour you conferred upon him. 6 [7] For you made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
We don't really know anything at all. Judging from today's gospel we also fall into the same trap as the Scribes and Pharisees. This is what happens when we fail to see how the mind of God works. Whenever things do not go the way we wanted it then it would be best to always trust the mind of God that works for the ultimate good. Speaking of battles makes us think of wounds and injuries that can lead to sicknesses and there is really nothing to fear for in every fight we take we are assured of a Divine Healer that can make us whole. We should always follow what God wants us to do no matter how difficult it is at the present moment. There should be no doubt that He will carry us through. Today's gospel assures us that God is willing and able to cure all our ills and sicknesses. The problem lies not in God's ability to heal us but in our acceptance of the fact that we are sick and need healing. It may be easier for a severely ill person to recognize one's sickness because it is very obvious and undeniable than for someone whose illness and symptoms are just mild and unnoticeable. It is more dangerous in a way because the illness just creeps up very slowly and discreetly. It’s completely widespread and terminal just like some cancers even before we know it. We need to be aware of how we are doing ourselves. This does not apply to just our physical state but most importantly our spiritual. Let us not neglect nor overlook this seemingly fine condition we thought we are in and be caught unaware when everything becomes too late. We need to receive the medicine of the Divine Physician to be healed and saved. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 2:13-17
...Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
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