We will feel energized as an effect of praying first thing
in the morning. It means that if we put God first in our lives then we are like
light bulbs tapped to the power source, we will neither dim nor lose our shine.
He is the mitochondria that drives each one of us, the power house that
sustains every living cell in our bodies and gives us strength and stamina. When
I was just new in the renewal, that was 20 years ago, I came across this bible
passage in today's 1st reading in the LSS (Life in the Spirit Seminar) I
attended and my life has always been guided by it. I should say this is one of
my favorite bible passages because I can not easily remember the exact bible
book, chapter and verse of my favorite passages but this one I always do. I
always find myself quoting and advising this to people I encounter. In those
years that have passed, I can attest to the efficacy of this advice. In Phil
2:12 Paul also encouraged us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
The enemy is waging war on us and we need to be very aware of this and claim
God's protection over us at all times. Though, God is the Good Shepherd who
looks after us, let us always be wise and stay safe for we are engaged in a
battle. Do not be deceived by the enemy with his lies and deception and get
caught in his trap. Which reminds me of the "Safety first" signs that
I usually see in hazardous construction areas. There are precautionary signs
and measures in order to ensure safety at all times. Today’s 1st
reading somehow works like it for the welfare of both body and soul. Amen. Hallelujah!
Ephesians 6: 10-20
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
11 Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the
tactics of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with
the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present
darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. ...stand fast with your loins
girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, 15 and your feet
shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances, hold faith
as a shield... take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God...18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at every
opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and
supplication for all the holy ones 19 and also for me...
Some people may find it strange that I have a devotion to
pray for the souls of the dead. Of the so many Catholic devotions that we know
of, praying for the eternal repose of the souls is a devotion that I have
committed to surprisingly and extraordinarily, I should say. It all started in
2006 when I had this very unusual experience with a hit and run victim who was
lying dead for around three and a half hours already based on what the
onlookers said. The accident happened very early in the morning in EDSA a main
street in the heart of the city in the Philippines . My heart was moved
with pity for that poor man that I offered the rosary prayer for his soul.
After that incident, as far as my disposition for the dead souls are concerned
things were never the same again. Something very unnatural happened immediately
after that because I was on my way to a very important appointment which I was
already late for. Earlier I had been told that I would no longer be entertained
and would just be wasting my time if I would still go. Anyway, I still did and
there it happened. I was not declined and was still allowed to enter. It was
most unusual that those who came earlier and on time although they were allowed
entry failed to have their document signed due to a misspelled name of a
signatory. The unimaginable happened, the document I submitted contained the
same misspelled name but somebody facilitated it for me so it was overlooked,
signed and approved. There was only one thing in my mind at that time while it
was all happening, that dead guy’s soul that I prayed for, whom I rendered some
love and mercy. The same understanding and mercy was extended to me since I was
accommodated but the others were not. As I've said earlier, things were never
the same again thus I believe that there is life after death and it pays to
pray for our departed brothers and sister. Someday when we come face to face
with that reality, may we receive the breath of life everlasting from God. I've
had several more special experiences related to it and also with other souls
that I have prayed for. When I first saw that man lying dead in the street
partially covered by newspapers, it may look a lot like there is no hope left for
him considering the kind of fate and death he met. It was an untimely,
unprepared and unexpected turn which also became the end of his life on earth.
When things seem to look so bad as in this kind of bad that I've seen for
myself or even worse, I know for sure that it is not the way it appears to be.
What could one ever think of a man left dead lying on a main street of a busy
city where a lot of people see it as they come and go. Nothing seems to be the
way it really is for there is always hope. We may not yet fully understand the
truth about heaven at this time while we are still bound here on earth but we
can always hold on to God as fast, strong and firm as we can. To God alone, we
look to be saved. We can defeat the giant problems we are facing right now. Let
us not limit God's power for the bigger our problem is and the more it is
heightened by its difficulty the more
God's glory is revealed. It is only right that we entrust everything to God for
we have a giant God. If at the present time we are encountering so many trials
and difficulties in life then consider everything as preparation for the
victory God has reserved for all of us. In spite of all the discouraging and
heart rending events that we’ve experienced and witnessed in our lives there is
one thing sure about it. In every tear that fell and heartache, God’s mercy is
always upon us. He is our fortress and stronghold that we can not be moved. A
preacher on TV said that we have to go to the right frame and never turn back. Once we are in the right frame then we should
not be dissuaded because only immovable people can move mountains. We have to
stick to the right frame because it is our fight of faith. It was also Jesus
who told us in Mt. 17:20, “…Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a
mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it
will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." We should not lose focus
and realize that we are standing on a firm foundation, solid as rock, and we
can entrust everything unto Him. If we will always decide to listen and follow
the advice of God and be willing to be under His guidance and direction then we
will surely emerge victorious in all our battles. Amen. Hallelujah!
R: Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
...who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. (R) 2 My refuge and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me. (R) 9 O God, I will sing a new song to you; with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise, 10 you who give victory to kings, and deliver David, your servant the evil sword. (R)
Today's gospel also contains one of my most cherished and
favorite bible passages due to the special memory it holds for me and my son.
When Jude and Allan were still small I used to tell them bedtime stories that
they love to hear over and over again except for this one. It is about the
story of a hen who gathered her brood under her wings in order to protect them
from the fire that broke out in the farm. The hen got burned and died but was
able to spare the life of her brood which she shielded from the blazing fire
with her protective wings. My son Allan, cried when he heard about that story
because he had associated me with the mother hen and said that he doesn't want
me to grow old and die. Looking back at that incident now that my 2 sons are
both grown ups, I can narrate a better story about the love of God depicted in
a mother hen who protects her brood under her wings but will not end up burned and
dead but instead resurrected and living in eternity. We are all God's children
that He yearns to gather under His protective wings. May we always recognize
the doting love and care of a mother hen to its brood in the Lord and just like
Allan, respond with the same kind of affection towards God. If a mother hen can
do such a thing, how much more can a perfect God who is Father, Mother and
created all of us with great love and care not protect us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 13:31-35
... how many times I yearned to gather your children
together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling...
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