Whenever we attend a healing mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Michael Barry we
are always greeted by some very interesting events. One of these was when we
went to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for the said mass and Sis Marcy was so
shocked when she saw Sis Lucy picking up a bubble gum on the ground. Before she
can even think of anything else Sis Lucy explained that she missed when she
threw her bubble gum in the trash can so she decided to pick it up so that
nobody will end up stepping on it. One of the things that I consider yucky is
to step on a gum much more to touch it. (I guess, you know what I mean when you
accidentally come across these gums underneath tables and chairs.) This
experience made me think that if all of us will just bother to pick up our own
mess and avoid sticking it up anywhere we please then this world will be a much
better place to live in. This sticking the gum habit is not a mortal sin, I
guess, but it pays to start small and eventually end up doing bigger things in
the process. If we will just develop an
attitude of always doing things within the context of God's love then nothing
is too difficult indeed. If we are truly confident in our hearts about God’s
love then what today's 1st reading is telling us should take place in us
naturally and therefore we should be inclined to doing it and truly come out as
a people that is truly God’s own. Amen. Hallelujah!
Titus 2:1-8, 11-141
Beloved: You must say what is consistent with sound
doctrine...11 For the grace of God has appeared, saving all 12 and training us
to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and
devoutly in this age, 13 as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the
glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for
us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as
his own, eager to do what is good.
Fr. Barry has this very strong gift of discernment because
each of us who attended the said healing had the same story to say. He was able
to see and feel the inner depths of our beings and it feels good to know that
God communicates His love and concern to us through this anointed priest. These past few years of our life,
whether we admit it or not testify to the truth that most part of it surprises
us at how things fell into place. Looking back at all of them, the people
involved, how it all came to play and work out well, we just can't deny the
fact that when we pray we are getting direction from above. In fact the
schedule of all the tasks, social obligations and activities lined up to do, no
matter how unmanageable it may seem if we entrust it to God with all our heart,
mind and strength would be carried out in a way a Master Planner does. We have
an awesome God who makes all things work for good. I know in my heart
that God is always with us to build up our confidence and faith in Him in the
midst of all our trials and hardships. Whether we realize this or not, He also
make sure that when we get our share of trials we doubly get our share of
consolations from God and even more. We just have to look beyond what this
limited vision can take us. This reminds me of Miggy, my landlady's grandson. When we brought Bernadeth home from our bible
study in the past this incident made me look at things differently from this
little boy’s perspective. I had been to their place several times already and
all I was able to say about it is that it's a very difficult climb when walking
up to their place since it is almost like on top of a hill. It was only when
Miggy being the child that he is, was able to see things differently as we
headed home on our way down. He was able to see the very beautiful view of
what's ahead of us while up there and said that he can see miles and miles away.
Sometimes we really ought to become like little children and be more
appreciative of what we have and hold at the present moment and look ahead with
so much hope. We have to start seeing the beautiful things that are right in
front of us that we usually do not notice and even see beyond our limited point
of view instead of bragging about the things that we don't have knowing that
our security lies in a God who grants our heart's requests. God gives us inspiration
in today's psalm since He is giving us an assurance that He will never forsake
nor abandon and will continue to look after all our needs. No matter how tough
things may become for us we only have to shrug it off and step up. Just like
the story of the donkey that fell into a pit. When the people decided that it
would be too much trouble for them to get it out of there they just decided to
bury it down there. Every time people would throw dirt and sand into the pit
instead of wallowing up into self pity and despair what it did was shrug it off
and step up. Before the donkey knew it was out of the pit. The same thing
should be our attitude towards life. When somebody throws bad things at us just
shrug it off and step up. Then focus on what today’s psalm is telling and we’ll
surely get out of whatever pit we’ve fallen into. We can get very good advice
from it. Every word tells us exactly the right thing to do. It brings forth
peace and serenity in us. These come from knowing that we can rely and depend
on the words of God to do what it says it would do. Are we really convinced
that God is able to do everything for our sake? Let us ponder upon the words of
the psalm reading and try our very best to do what God wills in our life with
the conviction and belief that anything that is for God's greater glory is in
truth for our own sake and benefit. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29
R: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the
land and be fed in security. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you
your heart’s requests…27 Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide
forever;
In all the readings for today there is one thing that God
wants to teach us. He wants us to
increase our faith and move on from our baby faith to a grown up one. If before
we are used to just crying out loud and getting our way just like when we were
babies it is time to grow up and mature in our faith. God tells us that
following Him is not always easy but if we persist and persevere then we can
get there. Jesus wants us to realize that we can not always expect things to
happen the way we want it. We are supposed to do the good that we have to do
regardless of our situation. We have to stick with Him through thick and thin.
It is in doing so that we grow and have faith that can move mountains. We often
find ourselves or other people say that life is not fair. But it doesn't really
matter whether life is fair or not since we have a God who is fair who knows
and sees all. Today's gospel tells us that for as long as we know in our heart,
mind and soul that we've done what we're obliged to do and did everything right
in accordance to what God would have wanted it then we should realize that we
are really what the gospel speaks about, "We are unprofitable
servants..." Nothing that we do can benefit God nor add anything to His
greatness and glory for He is already who He is with or without us. The bottom
line is that everything we do for the Lord is really meant for our own good. In
fact, nothing that we ever did for Him is lost, it all comes back to us to the
overflowing more than a hundredfold if we dedicate our service and all that we
do to the Greatest Master for all eternity. We must be aware of the truth that
it is by His power that we exist in this world, it is only fitting for us to be
always humble and upright before our Creator because that's what we are called
for to do. God is the source and reason for everything. We pray that God who is
our Master and King will continue to sustain us, His lowly servants, in the
things that we have committed to do for Him. He's an awesome God! We should
continue to trust God's will in our life and understand that we needed to go
through certain experiences not just in accordance to our own delight and
liking but first and foremost to make us better persons for God. In the end, we
are always at His disposal, a servant and handmaid, for the Lord who never
needed anything from us being God, the ultimate and infinite LORD will always be
a kind and loving master to us all. Amen. Hallelujah!
Lk 17:7-10
Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your
servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come
here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat
and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that
servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you
have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we
have done what we were obliged to do.’”
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