Whenever we attend a healing mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Michael Barry we
are always greeted by some very interesting events. One of these was when we
went to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for the said mass and Sis Marcy was so
shocked when she saw Sis Lucy picking up a bubble gum on the ground. Before she
can even think of anything else Sis Lucy explained that she missed when she
threw her bubble gum in the trash can so she decided to pick it up so that
nobody will end up stepping on it. One of the things that I consider yucky is
to step on a gum much more to touch it. (I guess, you know what I mean when you
accidentally come across these gums underneath tables and chairs.) This
experience made me think that if all of us will just bother to pick up our own
mess and avoid sticking it up anywhere we please then this world will be a much
better place to live in. This sticking the gum habit is not a mortal sin, I
guess, but it pays to start small and eventually end up doing bigger things in
the process. If we will just develop an
attitude of always doing things within the context of God's love then nothing
is too difficult indeed. If we are truly confident in our hearts about God’s
love then what today's 1st reading is telling us should take place in us
naturally and therefore we should be inclined to doing it and truly come out as
a people that is truly God’s own. I am reminded once again of the song,
"Let the Love Begin" which has become very popular in the Philippines .
In fact it was made into a romantic film which became a Valentine's movie
presentation. The 1st reading today is something like it. God is offering us
love but it is up to us to let it begin. As the lyrics of the song goes,
"Now let the love begin, let the light come shining in, who knows where
the road will lead us now, look at what we’ve found make this moment turn our
hearts around it may never come again let it in, let the love begin."
We've got to let God in, though we may never really know where it will lead us,
one thing is sure, it will turn our hearts around. We will never be the same
again as in today's 1st reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Titus 2:1-8, 11-141
Beloved: You must say what is consistent with sound
doctrine...11 For the grace of God has appeared, saving all 12 and training us
to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and
devoutly in this age, 13 as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the
glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for
us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as
his own, eager to do what is good.
Fr. Barry has this very strong gift of discernment because
each of us who attended his healing had the same story to say. He was able to
see and feel the inner depths of our beings and it feels good to know that God
communicates His love and concern to us through this anointed priest. These
past few years of our life, whether we admit it or not testify to the truth
that most part of it surprises us at how things fell into place. Looking back
at all of them, the people involved, how it all came to play and work out well,
we just can't deny the fact that when we pray we are getting direction from
above. In fact the schedule of all the tasks, social obligations and activities
lined up to do, no matter how unmanageable it may seem if we entrust it to God
with all our heart, mind and strength would be carried out in a way a Master
Planner does. We have an awesome God who makes all things work for good. I know
in my heart that God is always with us to build up our confidence and faith in
Him in the midst of all our trials and hardships. Whether we realize this or
not, He also make sure that when we get our share of trials we doubly get our
share of consolations from God and even more. We just have to look beyond what
this limited vision can take us. This reminds me of Miggy, my landlady's
grandson. When we brought Bernadeth home
from our bible study this incident made me look at things differently from this
little boy’s perspective. I had been to their place several times already and
all I was able to say about it is that it's a very difficult climb when walking
up to their place since it is almost like on top of a hill. It was only when
Miggy being the child that he is, was able to see things differently as we
headed home on our way down. He was able to see the very beautiful view of
what's ahead of us while up there and said that he can see miles and miles
away. Sometimes we really ought to become like little children and be more
appreciative of what we have and hold at the present moment and look ahead with
so much hope. We have to start seeing the beautiful things that are right in
front of us that we usually do not notice and even see beyond our limited point
of view instead of bragging about the things that we don't have knowing that
our security lies in a God who grants our heart's requests. God gives us
inspiration in today's psalm since He is giving us an assurance that He will
never forsake nor abandon and will continue to look after all our needs. No
matter how tough things may become for us we only have to shrug it off and step
up. Just like the story of the donkey that fell into a pit. When the people
decided that it would be too much trouble for them to get it out of there they
just decided to bury it down there. Every time people would throw dirt and sand
into the pit instead of wallowing up into self pity and despair what it did was
shrug it off and step up. Before the donkey knew it was out of the pit. The
same thing should be our attitude towards life. When somebody throws bad things
at us just shrug it off and step up. Then focus on what today’s psalm is
telling and we’ll surely get out of whatever pit we’ve fallen into. We can get
very good advice from it. Every word tells us exactly the right thing to do. It
brings forth peace and serenity in us. These come from knowing that we can rely
and depend on the words of God to do what it says it would do. Are we really
convinced that God is able to do everything for our sake? Let us ponder upon
the words of the psalm reading and try our very best to do what God wills in
our life with the conviction and belief that anything that is for God's greater
glory is in truth for our own sake and benefit. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29
R: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the
land and be fed in security. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you
your heart’s requests. R. The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever. By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way. R. Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide
forever; The just shall possess the land and dwell in it forever.
R.
In all the readings for today there is one thing that God
wants to teach us. He wants us to increase
our faith and move on from our baby faith to a grown up one. If before we are
used to just crying out loud and getting our way just like when we were babies
it is time to grow up and mature in our faith. God tells us that following Him
is not always easy but if we persist and persevere then we can get there. Jesus
wants us to realize that we can not always expect things to happen the way we
want it. We are supposed to do the good that we have to do regardless of our
situation. We have to stick with Him through thick and thin. It is in doing so
that we grow and have faith that can move mountains. We often find ourselves or
other people say that life is not fair. But it doesn't really matter whether
life is fair or not since we have a God who is fair who knows and sees all.
Today's gospel tells us that for as long as we know in our heart, mind and soul
that we've done what we're obliged to do and did everything right in accordance
to what God would have wanted it then we should realize that we are really what
the gospel speaks about, "We are unprofitable servants..." Nothing
that we do can benefit God nor add anything to His greatness and glory for He
is already who He is with or without us. The bottom line is that everything we
do for the Lord is really meant for our own good. In fact, nothing that we ever
did for Him is lost, it all comes back to us to the overflowing more than a
hundredfold if we dedicate our service and all that we do to the Greatest
Master for all eternity. We must be aware of the truth that it is by His power
that we exist in this world, it is only fitting for us to be always humble and
upright before our Creator because that's what we are called for to do. God is
the source and reason for everything. We pray that God who is our Master and
King will continue to sustain us, His lowly servants, in the things that we
have committed to do for Him. He's an awesome God! We should continue to trust
God's will in our life and understand that we needed to go through certain
experiences not just in accordance to our own delight and liking but first and
foremost to make us better persons for God. In the end, we are always at His
disposal, a servant and handmaid, for the Lord who never needed anything from
us being God, the ultimate and infinite LORD will always be a kind and loving
master to us all. Amen. Hallelujah!
Lk 17:7-10
Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your
servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come
here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat
and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that
servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you
have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we
have done what we were obliged to do.’”
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