My mother has always been someone who conveys her thoughts
through words of wisdom. I grew up always having a regular dose of her favorite
sayings. Even if she is already angry she could still manage to think of
something wise to say in the form of idioms and popular quotes. There are so
many things we wanted to say but we sometimes run out of the proper words to
say it. Or it could also be that we sometimes find it difficult to express
something in its full context we just have to resort to a more creative means
of saying it. I must say that my mother is one of the most creative people I
have known. Although my mother passed away quite a long time ago already, going
20 years, she has left me with something to always remember her by. She was
never lacking in sharing and conveying to us important lessons in life that a
mother ought to teach her children. This is why today's 1st reading suddenly
reminded me of her because just like John she did what she ought to do in
proclaiming God's glory to all the beloved so that our joy may be complete.
Aside from being a woman of great faith in God, she definitely knows to say the
right things at the right time in all the right places. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 John 1:1-4
...what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so
that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing this so that our joy may be
complete.
We don't want to be losers here in this life, don't we? All
the more should we not want to be losers in the next life for eternity. We have
a God who fights our battles and we are assured of His victory already. We
should all be well aware of God’s angels that surround us and are sent by God
to us to always light, guide, rule and guard. It is just a matter of
persevering and committing to the task that we are all called to fulfill. To
live a life of faith in words, thoughts and deeds in our Lord Jesus Christ who
lived, died and resurrected all for our sake. Erase all doubts and be faithful
to the One God who is most high above every other god. We should develop an
image of God that is fitting to Him as described in today's psalm. We should
always acknowledge that without God we are nothing and God's power over us can
only go as far as we allow Him to. Nothing else matters more than this truth
that we have a God who is high over all the earth and exalted far above all
gods. There are significant events in our life that we can associate with
certain major decisions we made and can never forget. The place where we are
right now is exactly where God wants us to be. If God brings us here then He
will bring us through it. God knows exactly and with perfection what is being
allowed to happen to us in our life at this precise moment. God's purpose for
us is simply perfect. He wants to show us things that only we can understand by
living what we are living and by being in the place where we are now. That's
God, He passes us through a lot of things for us to see His glory. We all long
to become a member or even be identified with groups and associations that hold
a good name and reputation. It helps us in many ways and keeps us abreast with
the latest trends in our profession for example. It could be considered an
asset and we would definitely not leave it out from our resume because it
speaks well of us. There are even associations that require us to fulfill
certain requirements in order to qualify. We even have to go out of our way and
make some sacrifices such as go through rigid screening, pass certain
examinations and maintain certain units in order to comply with the
qualifications. All of these we are willing to do and make ourselves able just
to belong. Considering that these are all earthly memberships that could only
last a lifetime. What about eternal memberships that continue even after this
life is over? To be a part of the Kingdom where our Lord is King is the
ultimate goal we should all set our eyes on. Whenever we are faced with
problems and difficulties in life we should always find consolation in a God
whom nothing is lost for He knows and sees all. We may still not be in perfect
shape for the Lord but God is constantly at work in those who are just and
upright of heart. We have all the
reasons to rejoice and be glad knowing that we have a God who is just. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
R: Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
...The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his
glory. (R) 11 Light dawns for the just; and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Jesus has taken away the obstacle and hindrance for us to
enter into new life with Him by His resurrection. Let us not forfeit this
benefit and truly believe with the heart and soul of our faith. It seems
impossible for somebody to rise from the dead that is why Mary of Magdala got
confused despite her being able to witness with her own very eyes the many
wonders that Jesus did when He was still with them. There are some instances
when we just can't get it. But we should never doubt the truth that God is all
powerful and able to do beyond our imagination even though at times we fail to
grasp the meaning of some things happening in our lives. Through His
resurrection we are able to enter into new life with Him. I can still remember
very vividly what Fr. James de Souza preached when I attended his seminar way
back in the Philippines
more than 20 years ago when the gospel for today was the focus of his teaching.
He commended St. John
for being the most intimate and affectionate to Jesus. From that time on, I
always have this constant hope and prayer that I will grow more daily into that
overwhelmingly deep affection of St. John for Jesus to always see and believe
Him in order to run and go to Him first. Today we celebrate the feast of St. John the Apostle. John
is the only apostle who did not leave Christ and stayed beside Him all the way
to the foot of the cross. He was also the beloved apostle who rested his head
at the chest of Jesus during the last supper.
It is him who Jesus entrusted His mother with at the foot of the cross.
This bible passage from today's gospel has left a remarkable impression in my
memory. He ran as fast he could to be closest to the Lord. It made me think of
our attitude towards God. Do we also have the same enthusiasm and fervor as
John? And yet he still hesitated and got a hold of such strong emotions and
still acted accordingly as dictated by the virtue of prudence. He was full of
love and devotion for the Lord but he did not let it get in the way or disrupt
the proper order of things that needs to be followed. He outran Peter in the rush to the tomb where
Jesus was buried, but he let the more superior leader of the Twelve enter the
tomb first. We can follow the example of St.
John’s humble deferment to someone higher, his
self-sacrificing and humble disposition vis-à-vis seniority. We should learn
from him in the way he conducted himself in such situations, full of love and
abounding in grace. He definitely acted the right thing at the right time in
all the right places. Amen. Hallelujah!
John 20:1a, 2-8
...On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the
tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed
from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple
whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don't know where they put him."...They both ran, but the other
disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5 he bent down
and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
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