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. 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 times of
grief it is indeed consoling that we make ourselves aware of the truth of our
faith. We are all heirs to the kingdom of God
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.
Today's gospel is very appropriate especially
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. 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, 1st the
love of a mother for a child which is beautiful, 2nd of a man for a woman which is
romantic, 3rd of a
friend for a friend which is inspiring, and 4th 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
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.”
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