I can still remember
our trip to Getty's Museum when we were able to see a lot of artworks displayed
in the galleries. One of them which I can not forget is the one done in
Regenburg in the year 1400-10 which was about Jephthah and his daughter and
what the 1st reading today is all about. It was so painful for Jephthah to part
with her daughter but it is his vow to the Lord that takes precedence more than
anything else. If there's one important thing that we should always keep in
mind and learn from this is that we should always honor our word. We should
always mind the things that we are saying, mean them once we've said it and let
it really come from our hearts. Amen. Hallelujah!
Judges 11:29-39a
... Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. "If you deliver
the Ammonites into my power," he said, "whoever comes out of the
doors of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites shall
belong to the LORD. I shall offer him up as a holocaust."
Jephthah then went on to the Ammonites to fight against
them, and the LORD delivered them into his power, so that he inflicted a severe
defeat on them, from Aroer to the approach of Minnith (twenty cities in all)
and as far as Abel-keramin. Thus were the Ammonites brought into subjection by
the Israelites. When Jephthah returned to his house in Mizpah, it was his
daughter who came forth, playing the tambourines and dancing. She was an only
child: he had neither son nor daughter besides her.
When he saw her, he rent his garments and said, "Alas,
daughter, you have struck me down and brought calamity upon me. For I have made
a vow to the LORD and I cannot retract." "Father," she replied,
"you have made a vow to the LORD. Do with me as you have vowed, because
the LORD has wrought vengeance for you on your enemies the Ammonites."...
We need to persevere in prayer so that as we improve and
daily grow in His knowledge and ways then we can easily discern and be more
sensitive of how God speaks to each one of us in a very close and personal way.
We should always listen intently to what God is telling us so we could
effectively carry out what He wants us to do. It is God's will that we engage
in activities that will enrich and deepen our faith in Him. In order to love
someone better we have to know him/her better. The more you know about a person
the more you become close to each other. The same way with God there is a need
to really know more or everything there is to know about God. We must not be
distracted and dissuaded to do otherwise when beset with problems and
difficulties. If we have developed a great sense of confidence and faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ then we can fearlessly and undauntedly do whatever He wills
for us. We've got the very best friend we can ever have in Jesus. All we have
to do is listen to and follow Him. He is the Rising Sun and Light of the world
who came to live with us to direct our feet into the path of peace. Once we've
known who God really is and what He is capable of doing in our lives then
nothing should stand in our way of doing God's will. It may not be easy but if
we have placed it in the center of our hearts then it will just come naturally
as it becomes the powerhouse or mitochondria of our beings. The transcendent
nature of humanity calls for dialogue and human understanding. In the face of
difficulty and sign of contradiction we should never lose heart. Remember these
words from the gospel, Mt. 5:10-12, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for
the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you
when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you
(falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in
heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Violence is not
overcome by violence. The world needs God. Authentic weapon for peace is
religious freedom as in to practice faith without coercion. Today we remember
the plight of our brothers and sisters throughout the world who suffer greatly
for the faith. We pray that religious freedom will not be eroded for those who
can practice it. We continue to hope in the grace of God for that alone will
suffice. It is also very important that we follow the example of Mary's perfect
obedience to God's will so that we can find delight in following God's laws.
May our Lord show us the path to peace and use us as instruments and builders
of peace. Nothing should ever stop us from doing the will of God for it is
ultimately the best option we've got. If we have developed a great sense of
confidence and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ then we can fearlessly and
undauntedly do whatever He wills for us. Once we've known who God is and what
He is capable of doing in our lives then there is really nothing that should
stop us in saying with all our hearts the responsorial psalm for today. Amen.
Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Psalm 40:5. 7-8a. 8b-9. 10
R: Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
4 [5] Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who
turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. (R) 6 [7]
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave
me...“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, 8 [9] to do your will, O
my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!”
No matter what our circumstances are in life, let us not
ignore or take for granted God's open invitation to all of us. Life is like a
banquet, and we have all been invited to take part in it but like any other
invitations they do not last forever. We are invited into the kingdom of God
Matthew 22:1-14
1 Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, 2
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for
his son. 3 He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the
feast, but they refused to come...‘The feast is ready, but those who were
invited were not worthy to come. 9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and
invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10 The servants went out into the
streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was
filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a
man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12 He said to him, ‘My friend, how
is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to
silence. 13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and
cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of
teeth.’ 14 Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
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