ATE LALING, MAY YOU REST IN PEACE

The promise of God will always press on to fulfillment. We are God's child. This is a reality that we should be aware of at all times. This truth allows us to build within our souls a refuge that no storm or tribulation could ever disturb. It serves as a room into which we can be alone with God and find peace as we maintain communication and a life of prayer. For years I have been praying for the life extension of Ate Laling when I found out about her serious illness. When I attended the birthday party of Tita Lorna which is also the day before she died I found out that she was already in pain  and that night I changed my prayer to a simple 4 word phrase, "Thy will be done." Sometimes we tend to forget this life giving truth that we are God's child. He would never will anything bad to happen to us. We go to mass daily and go through the routine and rituals of our Christian life. But as soon as it is over, we go out to the world and confront the daily anxieties and chaos around us we immediately find ourselves throwing God out of the window. There should be this constant place within us that we could find serenity deep in our hearts and experience the peace that comes from the Lord even when we go through pain and suffering. In this time of grief of the passing away of a loved one it is indeed consoling that we make ourselves aware of the truth of our faith. We are all heirs to the kingdom of God. What a great privilege that we can all have access to that great gift and inheritance that Jesus has fought and won for us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 13:26-33

...We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors 33 he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my son; this day I have begotten you.’”

We have a God and Father who loves us so much. We need not always seek for answers and expect things to go our way. All we have to do is to keep on trusting God's goodness and mercy because there are really no answers to most of life's questions. These words in today's Psalm reading are the ones quoted by Luke in the 1st reading that we belong to God, we are begotten by Him. I have always believed in the power of the word of God. There is a need for us to study and know the scriptures for our own welfare. God in His ultimate wisdom and love gave us access to the Holy Scriptures in the bible. We are so blessed that we are living in a time and place where we have the freedom to take part in studying the Word of God and freely express it. Nothing could be more valuable than this. If we are totally convinced that we are God’s children then we ought to rejoice and be glad. The Lord has spoken and promised in today’s psalm and so shall it be. Remove all traces of fear and doubt for our God is able. This reality should not leave our consciousness every waking moment of our lives. There was one time during our bible study although it happened a long time ago I could never forget it when I was particularly touched by the closing prayer by Sis Lucille because she specifically cited that particular verse in Habakkuk 2:3-4 "Then the Lord answered me and said,"Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets so that one can read it readily, for the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint, if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late." It has given me renewed strength and courage having to be reminded again of that promise and the assurance of God that He will bring to fulfillment all His promises and felt that it was another boost and assurance for me especially at that time when I sometimes succumb to despair and hopelessness. Since it was the book of Habakkuk we were discussing at that time, Sis Millie also shared of his brother who had a problem and was just holding on to the word of God particularly the one from Habakkuk which also holds a special meaning in his life and even shared about it. It was very inspiring and had my spirits lifted up. God is good. He'll never leave nor abandon us. We are all special to Him. God never really disappoints even though we are already on the verge of failing and falling, He will always be there to make a way. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab

R: You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.

7 The Lord said to me, “You are my son; this day I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession 9 You shall rule them with an iron rod; you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.” (R) 10 And now, O kings, give heed; take warning, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him; with trembling rejoice.

May the perpetual light of God shine upon Ate Laling as she finds her way back home to God. Today's gospel is very appropriate at this time when we grieve for the loss of a loved. It confirms and is a consoling truth for us who believes in Jesus, the Son of God especially for Ate Laling who just passed away. For those who do not, then life would all be meaningless in the end. If this present life that we have in this world is the only thing we hold on to then we are the most pathetic people ever known. There is a great schism going on daily within our midst, of people who know, believe and live the truth and those who do not. Those who are in between do not exist or are considered gone as the Lord said in Revelation 3:16, "So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." It's one or the other. I just hope that all of us have a clear, genuine and broad understanding of this mind blowing but awesome reality and live it in our lives. We must thank God for all the people He sends our way and uses to be instruments of His love, care and concern. We look at every single day as very significant because of the circumstances and events that make possible for us to still live the following day. It is a testimony and constant reminder of this bible verse in today's gospel and assurance that He is always mindful of us, His most precious creation. We are the child of God and God the Son lives in us. Everyone can sing “I am special”. As stated in Psalm 8:2-9 ...What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet. All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.” God created us especially with something to do on this earth that no one else can do and we must love ourselves for who we are. We have to realize the dignity of being a child of God. So we must love our neighbor for God lives in each one of us. C.S. Lewis said that there are 4 kinds of love, 1^st the love of a mother for a child which is beautiful, 2^nd of a man for a woman which is romantic, 3^rd of a friend for a friend which is inspiring, and 4^th is the agape love which tells us to do good to those who hate us because we are the child of God and Christ is in him. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the person who was robbed and left for dead has no name and it doesn’t matter. Love is no respecter of persons. We have to do our task to love beyond the call of duty. God never have to create us but He created us. He did it and destined us for glory.

There are times when we speak words that we don't really mean or speak words out of anger, desperation and any other strong emotion which can cloud our judgment. Let us always be reminded that our words are powerful and we should have a conscious effort to mirror God in us by always speaking in behalf of our Father in heaven. We are created by God for a special place in heaven even before we were born and gave each one of us a name. In fact I have heard a couple of times already that when we die, God utters our name and so we will fly to Him faster than sound. The big question that God would ask is not, why aren’t we like Pope JPII, St. Francis of Assisi or St. Therese of the Little Flower. Rather He would ask each one of us, “Why aren’t you like you? My unique creation and that radiant human being I put in this earth in who I can shine?” How disappointed we can be if we find that we have disappointed God and find ourselves not the person for which we are created, for glory and honor. We must all pray St. Ignatius’ prayer: Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve You as You deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward save that of knowing I am doing Your Will. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 14:1-6

 1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. 4 Where I am going you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”