We know that words are not enough to describe how great the
love of God is but Paul gave it his best shot. Today's 1st reading is filled
with inspiring, poetic and heartfelt words in his letter to the Ephesians. It
can never capture the fullness of its meaning but we can always strive to show
a tiny portion of it. As in a loving parent to a child is something we can all
relate to since we are all children of our parents and could be parents too
ourselves. Looking back at all those years when we were still very young made
me like to honor my mother for the great sacrifice she made for us, her
children. She was the only one left to our care because my father passed away
at a very young age. My brothers and I were all witnesses to the great love and
care she showered on us. I should say we could very much relate to that kind of
love. But to suffer to a most humiliating and painful death an only Begotten Son
for the sake of another is an angle that we may never come to fully understand
for its breadth, length, height and depth is too much for us to bear. It is
beyond measure. Who could have done such a great sacrifice but only God our
Savior who loves us to the end. Do you
want to get hold of the greatest treasure ever known? We may search long, hard
and far and find nothing for it lies right within us. We can never find any
other treasure greater than the love of God planted in our hearts. We may not
fully understand it but if we strive to be faithful, holy and persevere to the
end then we can get a hold of it. Once we have it then we will surely never let
go. Amen. Hallelujah!
Ephesians 3:14-21
...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that
you, rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all
the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to
know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more
than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us...
Nothing is hidden from God and everything is known to Him.
It pays to always consult our plans to God in prayers and everything we intend
to do we should lay before Him and seek His approval. He will never deprive us
nor withhold from us the answers that we seek. If we sometimes forget these and
tend to stray away from the right path then we should always be aware that
everything that we say, think and do must always have reference to God our
Creator. It may have happened to most of us when we get disappointed at how we
still miss something so quickly despite our close watch. We sometimes end up
confused and discouraged when things don’t happen the way we expect it despite
our accurate and strict monitoring. We even ask ourselves how it could have
happened. We may have heard and seen some terrible and frightening things in
our life but we should always hold on to the truth that no matter how horrible
the things that are happening around us they don't change the fact that our
Lord is God and always in charge and in control. It doesn't matter that much
how we think and feel but what matters most is how to feel and think just like
God. For we can always rely and depend on it, 100%, fail proof and success
guaranteed. We should place our trust not in men or in things but in God alone.
The Lord did not promise us to be totally problem free but He gave His
assurance that He will always be our Savior and Redeemer. God's power is beyond
our full comprehension. He is Holy, Mighty, Immortal and Infinitely Great. Did
it ever occur to you how all these things that surround us, from the skies, to
the mountains, plains, the seas, the wind, all the heavenly bodies above, the
things down below, all the creatures of the earth especially us, human beings
came to be. Not a single theory about creation could suffice and would ever
satisfy the wonders and marvelous things that God has done. Just thinking about
all these things should make us always put our hope in Him, feel confident and
assured that we are safe under His care, to help us from all our problems and
shield us from all harm. It is a consolation to know that we are constantly
assured by God especially in today's psalm to never doubt His power and
goodness. His loving eyes is always upon us not leaving us for a single moment
nor removing his stare even with a wink of an eye. It feels good to know that
someone's eyes are upon us and looking after us. When we come to a point of
despair and feel like things are not getting better, we ought to remember
always that we are God's people and we are His own. We have to realize this one
most important truth that we should all subscribe to, which is to constantly
align ourselves and conform to the will and plan of God in our lives. Let us
ask the Lord to lead us to the right path and decisions that we may work toward
the building of God’s kingdom here on earth. We
should not give room to any doubt, fear, anxiety, impatience, irritability,
hatred, sadness, iniquity, unfaithfulness, disloyalty, pride and loss of self
control. Let us not choose to give in to these. They are all characteristics
that should not be found in a people the Lord has chosen to be His own. Our
present situation may not be a perfect picture yet but we should all rejoice
and be glad knowing that God was the one who chose us first and He will carry
us through. All we have to do is just trust that the Lord will carry out with
perfection all His plans for us no matter what situations or circumstances may
arise in our midst. When God created this world and everything in it including
us, He did not ask permission from anybody. It means that He has chosen us to
be His own and not the other way around. This is the reason why the fallen
angels/demons are so jealous of men. We are indeed special in the eyes of God
for it is written in Gen 1:26, "Then God said: "Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion..." We are not just chosen
by God to be His own even before everything came to be but we are on top of His
creation. Let us never lose sight of this wonderful
plan that God has for all of us. We may not be seeing it right now, having
doubts about it, not paying attention to it or unable to commit to it. Whatever
it may be, these are all hindrances that prevent us from gaining access to the
goodness of the Lord. Never allow ourselves to miss out on this privilege that
is accorded to all of us as the children of God. God chose us first and it is
only right and fitting that we choose Him too. If we always focus on the Lord
and put His words in our presence at all times then we can be assured that we
have a lamp unto our feet that is lighting our path. We have to entrust all our
cares and worries to the Lord for He can do better things for our lives than
all our works combined. No matter how hard we try to succeed in what we do if
it's not in accordance to God's plan then nothing will ever come out of it. We
may succeed in one aspect but we will never be totally at peace for in the end
it will always be the will and plan of God that will prevail. We just have to
acknowledge that we are sparing ourselves of all the trouble and heartaches if
we will just be obedient and completely trust in the Lord's plan. Let us
truly be wise in the real sense of the word rather than of the world and not
forfeit all our benefits from the Lord. We all have
our personal plans and designs and we may not be able to fully understand what
is going on at the present time. It is not easy for the wisdom in the eyes of
God is foolishness to the world but what's most important is that we should
always consult everything to God first, just believe and surrender everything
to Him for He knows best. We have to realize this one most important truth that
we should all subscribe to, which is to constantly align ourselves and conform
to the will and plan of God in our lives. The power of God knows no limits and
we can always rely on Him for anything that we are in need. Let us rely on God's
power and completely trust Him to bring to fulfillment everything that He has
promised. Just like the Blessed Mother Mary, who is Queen of heaven and
earth, we too are destined for victory and royalty. If only we live out the
example of her obedient life and carry Jesus in our hearts. Let us not lose
hope and have faith in the Master Plan and Grand Design that God has for all of
us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
R: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
...the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his
heart, through all generations ... 4 Upright
is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. The LORD loves
justice and right and fills the earth with goodness. But the LORD'S eyes are
upon the reverent, upon those who hope for his gracious help, Delivering them
from death, keeping them alive in times of famine. (R) 12
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own
inheritance. 13 From heaven the LORD looks down; he sees all mankind. Blessed
the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own
inheritance. 18 But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear
him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and
preserve them in spite of famine...
Today's gospel seems to contradict what Jesus came here for
when He denies to have come to bring peace, where He announces division and
fire. There is really a need for us to not just reflect on the words of God but
know the underlying reasons for such statements. This is one of the reasons why
I will forever be grateful for those times when I attended the San Lorenzo
Bible Study. It is through it that we learn a lot of things that we just don't
get from reading the bible. I have always appreciated the generosity of our
teachers to impart and share to us their knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus and
more. The more here stands for a lot of things like the in between the lines
and behind the scenes scenarios that I would have never known but have come to
learn about it, that I will forever be grateful of. No matter what situation
there is around us, there is only one thing required of us. That is to fully
decide for and stand by what God wants us to do. It may be difficult and not in
accordance to this world's standard causing you to look queer and different but
if it's God's will then it must be the best. God is good and God really
provides. I would also like to quote what is written in the Kerygma reflection
I read. "Let us seek to imitate this all-or-nothing attitude of Jesus in
the way we follow Him as His disciples. Let us live for excellence in obedience
to God’s will and never be willing to settle for second best!" We all have
a mission in life that we have to fulfill when we were born here on earth. The
Baltimore Catechism explains it to us in simple terms. God made us to show
forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting happiness in heaven. To
gain the happiness of heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world.
We learn to know, love, and serve God from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who
teaches us through the Catholic Church. In today's gospel, Jesus is full of
zeal to accomplish what God has sent Him to do without regard for the manner it
is to be carried out. He is detached from the things of this world and is on
fire with passion to fulfill God's mission. Sometimes we, too become so
restless when we know that there are things we ought to do but haven't done
them. Somehow we know this feeling and could very well relate to it. The only
difference lies in this question, what are the things we want to accomplish. It
would help to consider this powerful statement from Companion which says,
THINK: The best way to honor the Lord is by living according to His plan and
promoting the Gospel in all that we say and do. In addition to this, is the
reflection question from Sabbath. Do you get going even when the going gets
rough? Do you find company in the Lord during these times? Do you accept
challenges as opportunities to prove your faith in God? By Your grace, Lord,
let me not compromise my faith when life gets tough. You are my strength and my
shield. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 12:49-53
49 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the
earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 There is a baptism
with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is
accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
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