OPEN WINDOWS

Believe it or not, we still have brothers and sisters in the faith who think that God punishes and wants to see us suffer. This may not be directly implied but just the same we have the tendency to think this way. We must not forget that we are in a constant battle in this world that could be compared to a tug of war between good and evil. Sad things are not willed by God, He wills only the good things. Let us ask the Lord that we see these things with understanding and ask Him to preserve us from evil and the father of lies, promising peace when there is no peace. This is a reality that we have to keep in mind always but the greater truth lies in the fact that Jesus has won this battle. Once again we should ask ourselves the same question over and over. Will we allow Jesus to have power over us and defeat the role of evil in our life? We have our worries, fears and insecurities for a future that is planned which may never come. We must not forget what we are destined for. There is a place in heaven already waiting for us with our names on it. God loves us so much that He intended everything for us to be with radiant love. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 15:22-31
...‘It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden...

There was this Roman emperor, Diocletian in 303 AD in North Africa (presently known as Tunisia) who persecuted Christians at that time. He ordered the tearing down of Churches and imprisonment of people who would be caught in Christian worship which was considered illegal at that time. In fact inhabitants of entire villages were put to death when they refused to submit to pagan worship. These martyrs persevered to the end. Their love and devotion to God can not be denied and was even documented in the record books. When they were asked if they owned a bible they answered that they keep the bible in their hearts and it can not be destroyed. Furthermore they said when asked why they received Christians in their homes to gather for Holy Mass, they answered, " Si ne Dominico non possimus" which means "Without the Lord's day we can not cope. We are unable to live as we should." They became the Holy Eucharist Models up to the present time. This is a truth that we should be aware of, we can not live without the Eucharist, in order to cope with the toil and exhaustion of the journey in this world we are presently in. The Eucharist is at the root of all holiness. How many saints have advanced to holiness through the Eucharist? Holiness has always found its center in the Eucharist. It is the highest form of praise to God. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 57:8-9, 10, 12
R: I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
7 [8] My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast; I will sing and chant praise. 8 [9] Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn. 9 [10] I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O Lord. I will chant your praise among the nations, 11 [12] Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory!

God brings up the same thing again as in the previous gospel readings, the commandment of love. Everything that happens seems so special if we know that we have a loving God and Father who looks after us and really cares for us. Each one of us is very special in the eyes of God and nothing escapes Him for He has chosen us to be His and belong in the great family of God that is well taken care of. God is offering us something great and beyond our comprehensions. As in, "no eye has seen nor ear has heard" what God has ready for those who accept this invitation and obey this commandment of Jesus in today's gospel. God has the right to command us because He was the one who chose us first. When God gave up His only Son to die on the cross and Jesus obeyed unto death, even the angels and saints could not take this incredible sacrifice of a God. Jesus, the only Begotten Son of God, stripped Himself of this royalty and was subjected to the most humiliating and excruciating pain. It was through this that Jesus showed us the power of powerlessness. When we ourselves are confronted with such situations we might as well take it as a privilege and invitation to throw our powerlessness to God and receive the power of Jesus to lift us up. God has poured and emptied Himself out in every possible way. This should be our motivation. The great love of God is inexplicably incredible and wonderful. It reaches out to all of us and all He asks of us is that we acknowledge, believe and obey Him. God does not force His way in and is very well mannered. He is like light that comes in open windows. We've got to be receptive and open to Him. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 15:12-17
12 Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This I command you: love one another.”