LOOK BACK & RECALL
We can successfully battle all the evils that beset us. It
is a standing reality that we live in a world full of temptations and
difficulties but we can always emerge victorious if we have Jesus in us. Let us
cleanse our hearts, minds and bodies that just like Mary we become a fitting
vessel and dwelling place of Jesus. Let us not miscarry Jesus and give birth to
Him full term. I am reminded once again
of today's 1st reading of Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik's homily in the Our Lady of the
Angels Cathedral when he said this: "The farther away we are from God, the
more destructive our life become and the greater fear we have." Peter in
today's 1st reading is totally different and transformed from that fearful man
who denied Jesus 3x. He has become full of courage, strength and all of a
sudden is boldly proclaiming about Jesus without fear of being arrested or
killed. The Holy Spirit filled him up with all the gifts and fruits to announce
and live out this truth about Jesus knowing that there is no other name by
which we are to be saved. Today's 1st and psalm readings have a phrase and word
that were repeated twice. They are worth looking into. The phrase: "the
stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone", and the word:
name. Once again, we are faced with the reality of the undeniable and
repetitive truth of the prophecy in the Old Testament fulfilled in the New
Testament. It was David in the Psalms of the Old Testament and Peter in the
Acts of the Apostles of the New Testament. I believe and agree that we need to
look back and recall this truth which needs to be repeatedly proclaimed and
believed in for life. There is power in the name of Jesus. We might have seen
instances when people use an access or entry code or just say the name of the
person who lives in certain subdivisions or gated homes in order to be allowed
to go inside. These are restrictions in order to ensure safety and maintain order
in the places where people live. It just made me think that God has given us a
powerful name in order to have access to the many blessings and promises that
are in store for those who would believe. What a glorious privilege and
blessing that all can come to know and avail of the power of the name Jesus. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Acts of the Apostles 4,1-12.
... If we are being examined today about a good deed done to
a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, 10 then all of you and all the
people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the
Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this
man stands before you healed. 11 He is ‘the stone rejected by you, the
builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is no salvation through
anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race
by which we are to be saved.”
God is the source of all good things. Only Jesus can satisfy
our souls. We should be really careful in setting our priorities. Sometimes we
end up making the wrong choices and decisions in life. We end up rejecting
something that should be valued and treasured more than anything else in this
whole wide world. All we need to do is trust that the Lord will always take
care of all our needs we need not tire ourselves to the point of exhaustion
because it is better to take refuge in the Lord than resort to trusting in or
own strength and others. According
to Fr. Joseph Koterski a Jesuit priest and a professor in Fordham University
Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-24, 25-27a
R: The stone rejected by the builders has become the
cornerstone.
... O LORD, grant
salvation! O LORD, grant prosperity! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the LORD;
Today's gospel is a picture of the apostles just after the
death of Jesus who were probably still confused and depressed. Sometimes it
takes time before we can fully realize the things that are already before and
around us. Just like the other disciples who failed to recognize Jesus right
away. The disciple whom Jesus loved was the first to recognize Him and we too
are challenged to become like this disciple whom Jesus loved and be more
sensitive when it comes to identifying in our lives who Jesus really is. When
you have Jesus in your heart then you will always feel secured. Peter jumped
into the sea not minding what he's wearing, ready to get wet and be soaked,
just to get near the resurrected Jesus. Aren't we afraid to jump into the sea?
Are we willing to take the plunge? For sure we will find ourselves in the
loving embrace of Our God. It's always worth giving our all to the Lord. At a
time of our life when we are not in our best shape or could be discerning and
still unsure of what course of action to take, we should realize that Jesus is
always there for us though we may not realize it. It is our obedience during
these trying times that will see us through these difficult times. I believe
God in His awesome and almighty wisdom, intelligence and knowledge reveals
things in stages for the benefit of our limited capacities and understanding.
The series of events in our lives and the word of God serve as an eye opener
that could endow us with a better understanding of all the things that are
happening to us. May we all come to this point in our life when we obey God at
all times no matter what kind of situation we are in. I realized it is always
good to look back, recall and never forget those times in our lives when Jesus
was calling us for a certain task and decided to follow and obey. We can always
be confident and full of hope that whatever is the outcome of our decision for
as long as we know that we have consulted it to God in prayer and have acted
with our best ability then we are always safe and secure. Today's gospel also
tells us to be of service to the people. We all look forward to the world to
come and share eternal life and happiness with God. At the same time we also
exercise our citizenship to this world. We should engage ourselves in work that
can bring healing and build good things on earth. God multiplies our efforts.
We do not have the option of subtracting ourselves from this process and just
go to the sideline. We have to read the word of God, understand it and be
active. This is the meaning of encounter with God. When we engage ourselves
with this kind of work it may seem political but it's not. We are not pagans
but believers and God is the one who empowers us. We have to get the world back
to its proper balance. We are all called to do something for this world that we
live in. Amen. Hallelujah!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 21,1-14.
...So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It
is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in
his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea...
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