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.”