We may have been through tough times and would never even
think of reliving them again but we must not forget the valuable experience
gained from it and the lessons we have learned. They say experience is the best
teacher and it is. The art of being patient and knowing how to wait is
something that we don’t acquire overnight. It is a product of our experiences
with all the unexpected twists, turns and the agony of the uncertainty of the
waiting. It wasn't an easy thing to wait but it will always pay off and worth
it if we wait with joyful hope in our hearts knowing that God is Good and
Almighty. Nothing is impossible with God. Sometimes we just miss the point and
fail to see things in the proper perspective. When we do something and engage
ourselves in activities that we consider as our offering to the Lord we
immediately think that we have already been made righteous and holy. We can
never fool God by masking our wrong doings through these things. If we think
that we can deceive God and go along with our show then we are wrong in the same
way that Paul puts it in today’s 1st reading. It is not that God is
very difficult to please but more of our hearts, who alone God can see, that
has the wrong motives. We have to get rid of all malice, pretense and ill
feelings that do not conform to the Holy Spirit of God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Galatians 5:1-6
...Once again I declare to every man who has himself
circumcised that he is bound to observe the entire law...5 For through the
Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus,
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith
working through love.
The truth is that we ought to
realize by now that only God can deliver us from all evil and there is no one
else to whom we can go but to Him. The Lord has promised and He will fulfill. This
should give us so much joy and peace in knowing this. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48
R: Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.
... your salvation according to your promise. (R) 43 Take
not the word of truth from my mouth, for in your ordinances is my hope.
What comes to mind the moment I read today’s gospel is a
dead rat. It stinks very badly and unless we get rid of it then it is there to
stay. No matter how much we clean our house if we can not locate where the dead
rat is then we remain stinky. We have to search every crack, crevice and the
most hidden places in our home and locate where it is in order to get rid of
it. It’s just like when we do something wrong we don’t want people to know
about it and try our best to hide it. Or worse we have become calloused of our
sins that we don’t care anymore by justifying and making all kinds of excuses.
There is not much difference between the two because both are means of covering
up. The first one is the literal cover up and the other one is the figurative.
As the word itself suggests, we cover up our sins literally by not letting
other people know and figuratively when we expose ourselves to others but
instead of owning the wrong we have done we make excuses and justifications,
point a finger or divert the blame to others and not confront the real issue.
We are all guilty of it one way or another. We have to realize it literally and
figuratively and be wise rather than fools.
In the midst of a chaotic world, we should always find an inner peace
within ourselves. It is always what's inside and deep within us, that is most
important. Sometimes we get caught in the prevailing and acceptable standards
of this world we tend to be mechanical in the things we do and find our
motivations empty and meaningless. When we are driven to action and our purpose
is superficial and is just meant to create an impressive image and show off for
others to see, then we become no better than the Pharisees in today's gospel.
Jesus encourages us to be wise and not fools by going beyond the superficial
and go deeper into the heart of goodness which in turn will gain for us
everything. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 11:37-41
... The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you
cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder
and evil. 40 You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
41 But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean
for you.”
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