If we truly believe in one thing then it has to mean
something and has to stand up for that one thing. In today's 1st reading, Paul
emphasizes the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead. If this is so then we
should believe that the same thing happened for those who truly believe in Him
and also for all of us who are yet to cross over to the next life after this.
Paul said that the most pitiable people of all are those who have hoped in
Jesus for this life alone. Our present life here on earth is nothing compared
to our life in the next. We can only set our hopes in this life for a maximum
of 100 years if we will be blessed by God to live that long. We are just
passing by and we are headed for a much better place where God has intended for
all of us to be. In this journey, our hope and faith should rest on the truth
that is proclaimed by Paul in the 1st reading. We don't settle for the minimum
but go for the maximum which is eternal life of bliss and happiness with God.
Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 15:12-20
...For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been
raised, 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still
in your sins. 18 Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people
of all.20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of
those who have fallen asleep.
We are the temples of the Holy Spirit. We do not have the
Holy Spirit as a birth right but a gift. We are born with original sin and this
redemption from sin and the kingdom of darkness is what makes it possible for
us to receive of the Holy Spirit. A lot of people in our society like the part
that we are temples. We claim that our bodies are temples so we have to treat
it well and take care of it by doing exercise. But too often we say that we are
temples but we don’t say of what. When we listen to the way we speak we find
that we are temples of ourselves. Like the New Agers who consider themselves to
be god. We see our bodies as the temple of ourselves because we see ourselves
to be god. Each body should be treated with respect since it is the place where
God can be worshipped which is derived from the presence of the Holy Spirit.
This should be our purpose when taking all the aspects of our body with its
wide variety of urges and desires. We can bring it all under the power of the
Holy Spirit if only the body is well oriented to the worship of the Holy
Spirit. We've got to be aware of the
fact that being a follower of God doesn't mean that we can be spared from all
troubles and problems. God did not promise us this but one thing is sure, if we
continue to stand by Him and all the things that He represents then we need not
be anxious of anything at all for He got us covered. At this present time we
can compare our life to a journey. We have been declared victorious and have
conquered and overcome everything through Jesus Christ our Lord. And yet we
still get distracted by the enemies who convince us otherwise. Let us march on
to our victories and seize every opportunity that comes to us every day. We
have to have something to overcome before we can become an overcomer, something
to conquer before we become a conqueror and a test before we can have this
testimony. Let us not lose heart because we are covered and protected by God
like the young in the shadow of its mother's wings. Mind God's business and everything
else will follow. This is the example that our mother left for us. We grew up
always hearing our mother speak of Job's great faith and loyalty to God. She
held on to every word of God in the bible and claimed every promise in it
especially the one for the widow and orphan. Looking back at all those years
our family had to pass through those trials and difficulties of growing up
without a father by our side and our mother had to raise us all by herself
there is no doubt that she did it because she inclined her ear to God and heard
His word. If we are to die this very day, can we proclaim to the Lord with
confidence these words in today's psalm? We ought to develop in ourselves the
attitude of the saints and martyrs who have no fear of death. This doesn't mean
that we have to be masochists and desire for a morbid death. Rather it should
all because of the fact that we can firmly stand on the promises of a God who
is able to supply us with everything.
For only God who is Himself the author of true happiness can grant us
lasting and genuine joy to the full. In this present time when we are still
bound to this world we may not be able to fully comprehend the glory that
awaits those who live life in the presence of our God and hope in that eternal
life to come but we who are faithful
will experience joy in full when His glory appears. There are times when we are
being tested by the Lord to a point of almost giving up. But we simply and
definitely must not. We are lucky we no longer belong to that time when you
have to give up your life to profess your faith. That is why we always have to
maximize our capabilities for God, nonetheless, it's not easy, but think of the
inspiration that the early Christians martyrs left us to proclaim their faith.
Temptations and distractions are everywhere it is so easy for us to stray away
from the path to God. When it happens just pray hard to God that He will
deliver us from that situation because every single minute of our life counts,
let us seize the opportunity to achieve our goals that will bring us to our
eternal abode. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of that because the Lord
our God sees all good things that we do and let us always focus on that and be
conscious that whatever situation we are in now, we can always try to build a
life that is anchored on God. We can confidently say these words from the
psalm. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 17:1bcd, 6-7, 8b, 15
R: Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
1 Hear, O LORD, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to
my prayer from lips without deceit. (R) 6 I call upon you, for you will answer
me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word. Show your wondrous mercies, O
savior of those who flee from their foes to refuge at your right hand. (R) 8
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. 15 But I
in justice shall behold your face; on waking, I shall be content in your
presence.
If we are entrusted with wealth then there is a
responsibility that goes with it and we must use it a manner in the same way
that these early Christians in today's gospel did. We should know what God is
asking from us to do, discern it well and be able to respond to that call. God
does not bring us to somewhere comfortable at all times. God measures our faith
by what He sees. He needs to see our faith by the kind of journey we have. Just
like Jesus we have to journey from one place to another and not every place
promises to be pleasant and enjoyable though, we are assured that each part of
the journey is all worth it if we allow Jesus to take our hand, lead us and not
just tag along. He would surely bring us to the everlasting joy and perfect
happiness that no one has ever known. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 8:1-3
1 Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God
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