Are we a source of inspiration for others or desperation?
This question we might want to ask ourselves. When we see people whose hands
are feeble and their knees become weak, do we give encouragement and strength
or do we bombard them with our negative and detrimental remarks? The Spirit of
God dwells in each one of us and we should consciously make an effort to build
His Kingdom here on earth by making good choices. We can choose to be nasty and
rude or compassionate and understanding to others. The reign of God's Kingdom
is well within our reach as described in today's 1st reading but we have yet to
see it unless we make it our choice. There are many choices presented to us
every day but we have to realize that this choice we've got to make is not that
difficult after all. Today's 1st reading tells us that we are bound to
experience and benefit the best things not even this life can offer if we make
this choice. We may be in a period of our life where we can compare ourselves
to a desert but there is no reason to despair for God can make all things new.
We should never doubt the power of God to be able to do and carry out what He
has planned in our lives. As in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know well the plans
I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe!
plans to give you a future full of hope." Each day is an assurance from
God that He will never abandon nor forsake us. The words of Mother Angelica
from the EWTN channel in her talk show with a topic about Pride, Justice and
Charity are so inspiring. She emphasized the things like disobedience and
selfishness a s a form of pride. She cited an example of a person who smokes as
being selfish because he/she shares something that could cause more harm to the
health of the person who inhales the smoke and becomes a 2nd hand smoker. She reiterated that a smoker could share
better things to his/her fellowmen other than cigarette smoke. She further said
that there is a need for us to develop self knowledge and be able to determine
the areas in our life that is not like Jesus. All saints worked hard to be like
Jesus. We must remember to do things on a holy level no matter what happens whether
it be by God’s ordaining will or permitting will. What’s important is that we
know ourselves, know the truth, use it wisely and pray. People have lost the
concept of justice and sometimes people in authority like the parents, teachers
and even the religious do not use their authority wisely. Sometimes we no longer know what is the truth
so the need for prayer must always be acknowledged and done constantly. She said to a caller in her show that God
wants our prayers answered as much as we do. If we are confident of this truth
then we should be overwhelmed with an unexplainable sense of joy most
especially with what is said in today’s 1st reading. Amen. Hallelujah!.
Isaiah 35:1-10
1 The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe
will rejoice and bloom. 2 They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice
with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon
will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel
and Sharon ;
they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands
that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, 4 say to those whose hearts
are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with
vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. 5 Then will the eyes
of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; 6 then will the lame
leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst
forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. 7 The burning sands will become
pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water; the abode where jackals lurk
will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus. 8 A highway will be there, called the
holy way; no one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it. 9 No lion
will be there, nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it. It is for those with
a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk. 10 Those whom the LORD has
ransomed will return and enter Zion
singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.
What a wonderful world this place that we live in could be
if only we listen to the instructions constantly being given to us in the
scriptures. We have an awesome God who always speaks to us in a very timely and
specific manner. His messages are fitted to the situation we are presently
experiencing right now. We should remain confident that God will make a way.
There is really nothing more that God can do for us that He has not done. God
is never short of blessings to shower on us. He has made it all available to us
through His Son. All that is needed is for us to make our move. Let us open
ourselves to God's presence in our lives and know that there is never a moment
in our life when He is away from us for it is always the other way around. For
we are the ones turning away from Him and placing blocks and hindrances between
us whenever we can't find Him.
We are constantly being faced by challenges to our faith
especially at this present time. It is easier to be firm in our faith when
times are easy but when tough times come that is when we are put to the test.
No matter how difficult things may seem we should never give in to the pressure
and remain steadfast. We can always choose to do the right thing if we
safeguard in our hearts the truth about God knowing that it is always for the
best. We need not be afraid of anything although this is something that we all
find very difficult to do. They say faith and reason do not work together just
like science and religion. This is not a fact but a fallacy. These things in
fact compliment each other because one supports the other. There is no faith
without reason and vice versa. We can not just have one and lack the other.
This has to be very clear in our heads. We should always try to condition
ourselves in the atmosphere of God's presence. We should gear ourselves toward
that direction so that we place ourselves within His reach, it's not that God
can not reach us but we hinder God from reaching out to us. When we do not
respond to His call and shut off our ears although we are within hearing range,
we fail to get the message. Which reminds me of Bernadette's ear, when we went
to her doctor she underwent a procedure (ear lavage) in order to unclog her
left ear but prior to that she was already instilling ear meds for 4 days. The
nurse explained to her that it can be painful and can cause her to feel dizzy
and asked her if she still wants it done and she agreed. Sometimes we have to
resort to very uncomfortable measures in order to be cured in the same way we
should maintain such condition spiritually so that we can always keep our ears
open to God's word. Wherever God is, there is always peace and prosperity. It
is only natural that we have longings and desires because God Himself planted
it in our hearts. We all long for the good things in life and God Himself can
provide for all these things. It is just sad that we reach out for other things
that we thought are good for us. We do not realize that we have to seek first
the Kingdom of God
Psalm 85:9ab, 10, 11-12, 13-14
R: Our God will come to save us!
8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD-for he
proclaims peace to his people. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who
fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall
meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the
earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The LORD himself
will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice
shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)
Friends are gifts from God. They can be a source of healing
and joy. Just like in today’s gospel these men went out of their way to bring a
paralyzed man to Jesus. Just imagine bringing a man on a stretcher up on the
roof and letting him through it to get right in front of Jesus. Friends who
stick with us not only in good but also in bad times are the ones that we can
call real friends. There are times in our lives when we are unable to do things
on our own as if we are paralyzed and could only do limited things. Those
people who come to our aid are just like these men who became instruments of
God’s healing. We are truly blessed if we have found friends along the way who
have become like one to us. Nothing is hidden from God everything is known to
Him even the tiniest and most irrelevant detail in our life. How much more the
greatest and biggest desires and longings in our hearts. Sometimes we have a
different agenda in mind than what God has for us. Oftentimes we fall into the
trap by thinking that we know better than God. We may have plans that we think
is best for us but God's plans for us is the ultimate best and we should never
risk losing the ultimate best. Whatever plans we have no matter how foolproof
and brilliant it may seem, it definitely wouldn't hurt if we always consult and
offer it to God in prayers. We will never be disappointed if we will just open
our eyes, hearts and minds to the ways of God and allow Him to take full
control of our lives then it would come to pass and see it unfold before our
very eyes. We will eventually discover that He is really after our own welfare
and could always bring about the good in everything. Let us just feel confident
and continue to trust that God who is All Good, All Powerful and All Loving
knows what's best for all of us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 5:17-26
...And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was
paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set [him] in his presence. 19
But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the
roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in
front of Jesus. 20 When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are
forgiven.” ...he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick
up your stretcher, and go home.” 25 He stood up immediately before them, picked
up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. 26 Then astonishment
seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We
have seen incredible things today.”
No comments:
Post a Comment