We may all come to a point in our Christian walk of faith
when we are no longer sure if what we are doing is the right thing. It is so
hard at times when we are confronted with people and situations that are
difficult to handle. Some may look at we are doing as being impractical and inappropriate
when we make decisions that are not conformed to the existing and current
standard of this world which is always after personal gain and glory. No matter
how confusing things may be let us continue to consult God with regards to our
plans and totally entrust everything to Him. After having said and done what we
are supposed to do then we ought to be always confident that God can make
things work for good and turn it into a blessing. Just like in today's 1st
reading, Abraham had totally given way to Lot 's
preference and is obviously not after his own personal gain. He could have done
otherwise and insisted on a fair agreement that can benefit them both. But he's
generosity and total surrender to God's preference eventually blessed him with
more than he could ask for. Amen. Hallelujah!
Genesis 13:2. 5-18
...If you prefer the left, I will go to the right; if you prefer
the right, I will go to the left.”... After Lot
had left, the LORD said to Abram: “Look about you, and from where you are, gaze
to the north and south, east and west; 15 all the land that you see I will give
to you and your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants like the
dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your
descendants too might be counted. 17 Set forth and walk about in the land,
through its length and breadth, for to you I will give it.”...
If we read and follow carefully these words in today’s psalm
reading then we can truly say that we’ve found the perfect advice to which we
can pattern our lives after. God relates with us in a very personal way and
precise in His timing For as long as we stand by the principles and values of God
then we can never be wrong. God knows our every thought, motive and intention
and if we act on it based on what is just, true and peaceful then we will never
be disturbed. The commandments do not limit but protect freedom. Since the more
we disobey the more we become bound and become a slave of sin. If we follow the
full extent of the 10 commandments we become free. We see people who repeatedly
commit the same mistakes over and over again. And yet they never learn anything
from the lessons that go with it. The frightening truth about this is the fact
that they prefer to be disturbed and miserable not because they love misery but
because they prefer to stay in the dark. Jesus has a standing invitation to us
in John 12:35, "Jesus said to them, "The light will be among you only
a little while. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not
overcome you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going."
It is a choice and decision that we alone can make. It’s not surprising to know
that most of us think that God doesn’t want us to have fun. It’s like all the
things that we want to do with our friends that are interesting and exciting
when we were young, were against God’s commandments. It may seem like we have
to settle for less. What’s worse is that all the faithful Catholics get less
out of life. This is part of the propaganda way back in the Garden of Eden. God
gave us a magnificent paradise wherein there is perfect intimacy and no shame
with each other. In the Garden they have everything they need but gave just one
limit, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is very
interesting because God said, “Don’t do this because you will die.” The reason
why God commands us something is because He is a loving Father who cares for
us. He wants us to have the best. But then came the serpent, it didn’t create
Adam & Eve, nor gave the garden or anything at all. All the serpent gave
was a lie and told Adam & Eve not to listen to God or they’ll lose out and
won’t become like God. They were made to believe that God is holding out
something from them and is actually their rival because God doesn’t want them
to have what He has. So instead of trusting the one who gave them everything,
they trusted a stranger. They disobeyed God and listened to the liar. They were
hooked into a downward spiral of destruction. This is what sin is all about. It
is a trap. It is disguised as an apparent good because the fruit looks good and
desirable but it ends in disaster. The relationship with God is messed up and
so creation turned against them, thorns and thistles appear and things in life
become hard. This is what sin does, it seemed small but it gets out of control.
Things get worse and worse and there are broken lives everywhere. This is the
reality about sin, we are draining life out of ourselves unless we recognize
the one true source of life. The problem is that there is a great propaganda
out there. It makes sin appear with all its fun, excitement and glamour. It
makes virtue appear boring, lame, bland and unexciting. But the truth of the
matter is, it’s not. The pleasures that God created in this world are enjoyed
the most by those who don’t abuse them and use it simply. Who do we think
enjoys food most? The person who doesn’t know how to fast and engorges all the
time or a person after a fast experiences a feast? The virtuous person enjoys
life the most. The person who uses creation and all things according to God’s
plan enjoys it the most. It is because pleasure is God’s idea. All the good
things in the world that people want are God’s idea. Satan can’t invent even
one bit of pleasure. But God commands
them to be used so that it leads to life and a part of life is joy. The way to
enjoy life is to follow God’s commands. Life is not all about rules and
regulations. God did not just give us a bunch of rules and regulations that we
are supposed to obey like machines. What we do does not just proceed from who
we are but also makes us who we are. The
actions we engage, the words that we say and the things that we do have an
impact on us. We are making ourselves all the time. God created us when we came
out of the womb, our mothers and father have a great role in that but our
creation continues every single day of our lives. This is the reason why we
call each day the 8th day of creation. We’re even becoming someone
more beautiful, mature and strong or someone weaker and more despicable.
There’s no middle ground. We’re going one way or another. Life leads either to
heaven or to hell. That’s what the acts that we commit do. If we read and
follow carefully these words in today’s psalm reading then we can truly say
that we’ve found the perfect advice to which we can pattern our lives after.
Though, we may still fall and fail we must not forget that Jesus has triumphed
over sin and death. He is victorious and is now sitting at the right hand of
God the Father. He is able to carry us through. We must always focus on this
truth in order for us to attain a life free of worry, anxiety and is never
disturbed. When everything is over and done, we look forward to God's reward of
endless worth as we emerge as the champion, crowned with the victory won by
Christ and live on the holy mountain of the Lord. Heaven is the realization of
being a champion. In heaven we will be glorified magnificently. We will live
forever with strength, power and beauty sharing a new humanity with Jesus. If
we emerge as the champion who is victorious then we can sit beside God on the
throne. Amen. Hallelujah!
Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
R. (Rev. 3: 21) I will seat the victor beside me on my
throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the
truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue. Who harms not his fellow
man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; By whom the reprobate is
despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD. Who lends not his money at
usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall
never be disturbed.
To make disciples we need disciplers and evangelize. St. Paul said “I am a
disciple of Jesus, imitate me.” Live the gospel, become living witnesses and
role models. The disciples leave many things behind. Despite of who the
disciples are God loves them. Before they met Jesus some of them were greedy
and corrupt. When they followed Jesus they left everything behind. We have to
ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things to us. We have to throw away all our
garbage in our character and relationship like vices, lust, pride, anger,
materialism, being stingy in giving treasures to the Lord. We still have a lot
of things to be transformed in our lives. As in John 10:10, A thief
comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have
life and have it more abundantly. We need to remove the fear of surrendering to
the Lord. The disciples of Jesus love to be in the company of the Master. They
talked, walked, ate and spent time with Jesus to learn. They were with Jesus 24
hours a day and so must we to be His disciple. Here are some recommendations
from the retreat in order to be a disciple. First, we have to greet and thank
God before we get out of bed and wake up. Say our prayers and read the bible.
When we worship God we close our eyes. Make a habit of praying before starting
and after work. Pray before meals even in public places. Pray for safety when
we travel and pray before we go to bed. A disciple transforms his/her past for
God’s purposes. God uses all our past experiences for us to attain the kingdom of God
Matthew 7:6. 12-14
6 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to
dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and
turn and tear you to pieces. 12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do
to you. This is the law and the prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those
who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road
that leads to life. And those who find it are few.\
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