IT’S ONE OR THE OTHER

The promise of God will always press on to fulfillment. We are God's child. This is a reality that we should be aware of at all times. This truth allows us to build within our souls a refuge that no storm or tribulation could ever disturb. It serves as a room into which we can be alone with God and find peace as we maintain communication and a life of prayer. Sometimes we tend to forget this life giving truth that we are God's child. We go to mass daily and go through the routine and rituals of our Christian life. But as soon as it is over, we go out to the world and confront the daily anxieties and chaos around us we immediately find ourselves throwing God out of the window. There should be this constant place within us that we could find serenity deep in our hearts and experience the peace that comes from the Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 13:26-33
...We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors 33 he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my son; this day I have begotten you.’”
Remove all traces of fear and doubt for our God is able. This reality in today's psalm should not leave our consciousness every waking moment of our lives. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab
R: You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
...“Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall rule them with an iron rod; you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.” (R) 10 And now, O kings, give heed; take warning, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him; with trembling rejoice.

Today's gospel is a consoling truth for us who believes in Jesus, the Son of God. For those who do not, then life would all be meaningless in the end. If this present life that we have in this world is the only thing we hold on to then we are the most pathetic people ever known. There is a great schism going on daily within our midst, of people who know, believe and live the truth and those who do not. Those who are in between do not exist or are considered gone as the Lord said in Revelation 3:16, "So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." It's one or the other. I just hope that all of us have a clear, genuine and broad understanding of this mind blowing but awesome reality and live it in our lives. We must thank God for all the people He sends our way and uses to be instruments of His love, care and concern. These past few days have been very significant because of the special circumstances and events that made possible for several occasions this coming weekend. It is like a constant reminder of this bible verse in today's gospel and assurance that He is always mindful of us, His most precious creation. We are the child of God and God the Son lives in us. Everyone can sing “I am special”. As stated in Psalm 8:2-9 ...What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet. All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.” God created us especially with something to do on this earth that no one else can do and we must love ourselves for who we are. We have to realize the dignity of being a child of God. So we must love our neighbor for God lives in each one of us. C.S. Lewis said that there are 4 kinds of love, 1st the love of a mother for a child which is beautiful, 2nd of a man for a woman which is romantic, 3rd of a friend for a friend which is inspiring, and 4th is the agape love which tells us to do good to those who hate us because we are the child of God and Christ is in him. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the person who was robbed and left for dead has no name and it doesn’t matter. Love is no respecter of persons. We have to do our task to love beyond the call of duty. God never have to create us but He created us. He did it and destined us for glory. We are created by God for a special place in heaven even before we were born and gave each one of us a name. In fact I have heard couple of times already that when we die, God utters our name and so we will fly to Him faster than sound. The big question that God would ask is not, why aren’t we like Pope JPII, St. Francis of Assisi or St. Therese of the Little Flower. Rather He would ask each one of us is, “Why aren’t you like you? My unique creation and that radiant human being I put in this earth in who I can shine?” How disappointed we can be if we find that we have disappointed God and find ourselves not the person for which we are created, for glory and honor. We must all pray St. Ignatius’ prayer: Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve You as You deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward save that of knowing I am doing Your Will. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 14:1-6
1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 4 Where I am going you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”