There are many distractions all around us. Whether we admit
or not, we too succumb to it and sometimes fail to act in accordance to what is
right. We need to know what our priorities are in life. It is of prime
importance that we know what needs to be on top of our list because everything
else will come second and just trail behind. What we focus on grows. Today's
1st reading leaves us with a very important word of advice that we really ought
to take seriously and act on. Amen. Hallelujah!
Acts 6:1-7
...the Twelve called together the community of the disciples
and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
3 Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit
and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, 4 whereas we shall devote
ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Nothing is hidden from God and everything is known to Him.
It pays to always consult our plans to God in prayers and everything we intend
to do we should lay down before Him and seek His approval. He will never
deprive us nor withhold from us the answers that we seek. If we sometimes
forget these and tend to stray away from the right path then we should always
be aware that everything that we say, think and do must always have reference
to God our Creator. It may have happened to most of us when we get disappointed
at how we still miss something so quickly despite our close watch. We sometimes
end up confused and discouraged when things don’t happen the way we expect it
despite our accurate and strict monitoring. We even ask ourselves how it could
have happened. We may have heard and seen some terrible and frightening things
in our life but we should always hold on to the truth that no matter how
horrible the things that are happening around us they don't change the fact
that our Lord is God and always in charge and in control. It doesn't matter
that much how we think and feel but what matters most is how to feel and think
just like God. For we can always rely and depend on it, 100%, fail proof and
success guaranteed. We should place our trust not in men or in things but in
God alone. The Lord did not promise us to be totally problem free but He gave
His assurance that He will always be our Savior and Redeemer. God's power is
beyond our full comprehension. He is Holy, Mighty, Immortal and Infinitely
Great. Did it ever occur to you how all these things that surround us, from the
skies, to the mountains, plains, the seas, the wind, all the heavenly bodies
above, the things down below, all the creatures of the earth especially us,
human beings came to be. Not a single theory about creation could suffice and
would ever satisfy the wonders and marvelous things that God has done. Just
thinking about all these things should make us always put our hope in Him, feel
confident and assured that we are safe under His care, to help us from all our
problems and shield us from all harm. It is a consolation to know that we are
constantly assured by God especially in today's psalm to never doubt His power
and goodness. His loving eyes is always upon us not leaving us for a single
moment nor removing his stare even with a wink of an eye. It feels good to know
that someone's eyes are upon us and looking after us. When we come to a point
of despair and feel like things are not getting better, we ought to remember
always that we are God's people and we are His own. We have to realize this one
most important truth that we should all subscribe to, which is to constantly
align ourselves and conform to the will and plan of God in our lives. Let us ask
the Lord to lead us to the right path and decisions that we may work toward the
building of God’s kingdom here on earth. We should
not give room to any doubt, fear, anxiety, impatience, irritability, hatred,
sadness, iniquity, unfaithfulness, disloyalty, pride and loss of self control.
Let us not choose to give in to these. They are all characteristics that should
not be found in a people the Lord has chosen to be His own. Our present
situation may not be a perfect picture yet but we should all rejoice and be
glad knowing that God was the one who chose us first and He will carry us
through. All we have to do is just trust that the Lord will carry out with
perfection all His plans for us no matter what situations or circumstances may
arise in our midst. When God created this world and everything in it including
us, He did not ask permission from anybody. It means that He has chosen us to
be His own and not the other way around. This is the reason why the fallen
angels/demons are so jealous of men. We are indeed special in the eyes of God
for it is written in Gen 1:26, "Then God said: "Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion..." We are not just
chosen by God to be His own even before everything came to be but we are on top
of His creation. Let us never lose sight of this
wonderful plan that God has for all of us. We may not be seeing it right now,
having doubts about it, not paying attention to it or unable to commit to it.
Whatever it may be, these are all hindrances that prevent us from gaining
access to the goodness of the Lord. Never allow ourselves to miss out on this
privilege that is accorded to all of us as the children of God. God chose us
first and it is only right and fitting that we choose Him too. If we always
focus on the Lord and put His words in our presence at all times then we can be
assured that we have a lamp unto our feet that is lighting our path. We have to
entrust all our cares and worries to the Lord for He can do better things for
our lives than all our works combined. No matter how hard we try to succeed in
what we do if it's not in accordance to God's plan then nothing will ever come
out of it. We may succeed in one aspect but we will never be totally at peace
for in the end it will always be the will and plan of God that will prevail. We
just have to acknowledge that we are sparing ourselves of all the trouble and
heartaches if we will just be obedient and completely trust in the Lord's plan.
Let us truly be wise in the real sense of the word rather than of the
world and not forfeit all our benefits from the Lord. We
all have our personal plans and designs and we may not be able to fully
understand what is going on at the present time. It is not easy for the wisdom
in the eyes of God is foolishness to the world but what's most important is
that we should always consult everything to God first, just believe and
surrender everything to Him for He knows best. We have to realize this one most
important truth that we should all subscribe to, which is to constantly align
ourselves and conform to the will and plan of God in our lives. The power of
God knows no limits and we can always rely on Him for anything that we are in
need. Let us rely on God's power and completely trust Him to bring to
fulfillment everything that He has promised. Just like the Blessed
Mother Mary, who is Queen of heaven and earth, we too are destined for victory
and royalty. If only we live out the example of her obedient life and carry
Jesus in our hearts. Let us not lose hope and have faith in the Master Plan and
Grand Design that God has for all of us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
R: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in
you.
...Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are
trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the
earth is full. (R) 18 See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and
preserve them in spite of famine...
Sometimes we fail to grasp the full extent of God's power
thus we don't recognize God working in our lives through the scary things
happening in our lives. We tend to be disheartened right away and focus on our
fears instead of focusing on Jesus who can conquer all. I am reminded of this
conversation I had with this old lady. I was sharing to her about the gifts of
the Holy Spirit. I was trying to figure out where in the bible to find it and
here it is from Isaiah 11:1-2, The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a
spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A spirit of counsel and of strength, a
spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, ..." And another from the
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1831) which says, "The seven gifts
of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge,
piety, and fear of the Lord." She is not Catholic nor is she sure right now
what her religion is. She told me that she used to be Methodist but later got
interested in the Church
of Scientology
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 6,16-21.
...they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the
boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, "It is I. Do not
be afraid."...
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