QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

We don't have a straight answer to the many questions we have in life just like all these questions stated in today's 1st reading. In the same way, we sometimes do not have the answers to the things that happen to us. We may never come to a full understanding of these things. There are times when we fail to stand firm in our convictions and commitments to God when the toughest gets really going. Though God is always good and we can always rely on His ways to get us through. Just like Job we must keep up the faith and never question God's will in our lives anymore. We must believe that God has all the answers and though we are not able to comprehend them all just like Job it is better for us to just be silent and completely trust Him. Only God knows. Our consolation lies in the truth that He knows best. Amen. Hallelujah!

Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: 12 Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place 13 for taking hold of the ends of the earth...Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth. 5 Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again; though twice, I will do so no more.

For indeed today's psalm reading is another confirmation that God knows our deepest thoughts and longings. It also reminds me of this lady who always ask me, "How do I look?" I would always reply, "You're beautiful." and she would say in return, "Oh you're full of baloney" and every time I would just laugh back at her. But because the psalm reading today was quoted in a text message I received it inspired me to respond to her differently and told her that it is not baloney but it's biblical that we are all beautiful. In fact the text message that I received is in Tagalog and quite funny, it goes something like this, "Kilabot sa ganda, nanginginig pa" (fearfully, wonderfully made) Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab

R: Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

...Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.

We can surely benefit from paying attention to details at times. Or maybe there are times when we are completely aware of the details but just plain stubborn and hard headed. God gives us instructions that are very clear but the problem lies not in the things we ought to do but in us. In the 1st reading we are made aware of the immortality and infinite power of God as compared to our finite nature and ability. The psalm reading further brings us to the realization that only God can bring us out of our miseries and guide us along the everlasting way for He created us. There's nothing more sensible to do but obey God. Finally the gospel shakes us and wakes our senses to the pitfalls that we, Christians usually fall into as we fail to look into the details and really get the message whenever we are called to listen and accept Jesus in our lives. If we are to really pay close attention to the words of Jesus in today's gospel we will find that He used the word, woe which is defined as grievous distress, affliction, or trouble and is synonymous to anguish, tribulation, trial, wretchedness and melancholy. It is quite a strong word that people in the time of Jesus use to emphasize a point and get a serious message across. I guess, it applies not just to them but to us as well. It is very sad that the people in His time and nowadays do not differ much in this aspect. We've got to respond to this reality and call. Let us feast on the mighty deeds of Jesus rather than wait for something really woeful before we wake our senses up. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Luke 10:13-16 (or Matthew 18:1-5. 10)

13 Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ ” 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”