EYES OF GOD VS. MAN

Have you ever seen anybody so peaceful and undisturbed even in the face of adversity? We still need to learn a lot from Stephen from today's 1st reading. He has shown us a perfect example of total trust in God. He did not just speak the works of God, he also worked with great wonders and signs. His entire being shows forth the glory of God that no one can deny. We should all strive to be like Stephen who reflects the glory of God in his face. This makes me think that we should not only be conscious of our physical appearance which most of us are too concerned about. Although it is also right that we care for our temporal needs while we are still residents of this temporary world, all the more should we be conscious of looking after our spiritual needs to nourish and sustain our souls which is lasting and will enter into eternity. We wouldn't want to look deformed or ugly permanently when we come face to face with God our Creator. Physical beauty is fleeting and can only last for a lifetime or while still young whereas the beauty of our souls can withstand endless lifetimes and last for eternity. It should be our goal that someday people who look at us will be drawn to us because we have become living models of Christ before our fellowmen, beautiful inside and out. Let us pray that just like Stephen we will be filled with God's grace and power, show forth great wonders and signs and resemble the face of an angel. If we go through a lot of trouble just to look beautiful and handsome in the eyes of men how much more in the eyes of God. Amen. Hallelujah! Acts 6:8-15 8 Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people...All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. It is not very easy to lead a life like that of the saints who followed the example of Jesus. Ignorance is not an excuse. We should always seek to enrich our knowledge about God so that we will continuously grow in our faith. We can start by following the law of the Lord as stated in today's psalm. Amen. Hallelujah! Psalm 119:23-24. 26-27. 29-30 r: Blessed are they who follow the law of the lord! ...Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law. 30 The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me... There is a conflict of interest here. The people in today's gospel are not getting the whole idea of Jesus' miracle. It is such a pity that we sometimes fall into this same trap of missing the point. We sometimes overlook and set aside what's really essential. We can't help it at times since we are still bound to this world. The things that happen to us and all other events in our own lives should makes us more open to the word of God and enable us to read the signs of the times that point to the world which endures for eternal life. Sometimes we find ourselves very tired because we keep on working to the point of exhaustion just to find out that we only toil in vain. We should invest all our efforts in working for something that will not perish. And in so doing we should align our wills to God and set our motives right. We are all guilty at times of seeking God because we long to fulfill our own selfish desires without realizing that all we need is Jesus and everything else will follow. It is more important to focus on what is eternal rather on things that perish. Amen. Hallelujah John 6:22-29 ...“Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” 28 So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” ...