There are some things that we could have hesitated in doing
if we had only known exactly what the outcome was going to be. We make some
decisions that lead us to doubt or wonder whether we did the right thing or
not. One thing is sure, if it is a product of much prayers and confirmation
from the Lord then we should never faint nor falter. We remain standing and
firm in our faith to the end. No matter how difficult things may seem to be our
strength should not waver. God gives us faith and hope but not the power to see
exactly what is going to happen in the future. This should make us realize how
much agony Jesus had to go through knowing all of those things that are going
to happen to him and yet did not hesitate nor back out. Whenever we meditate on
the 1st Sorrowful Mystery which is the Agony in the Garden we picture in our
mind Jesus sweating with blood due to so much fear and anguish. Being God, He
is capable of knowing what is bound to happen in the next few hours, He knew
about His betrayal, arrest and the kind of suffering and death that awaits Him.
Being man, He is capable of feeling every single human emotion that we are all
experiencing. With this in mind, we must be encouraged by the determination and
strength that Jesus showed us when He accepted the will of God by saying
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let
your will be done, not mine." There is so much encouragement that we can
benefit from just this alone. What is emphasized here is the awe inspiring and
praiseworthy obedience and selflessness of the only begotten Son and King of
all Creation to carry out the will of His Father. May our praying and
meditation of the life and mysteries of Jesus and Mary bring us ever closer to
the immeasurable love and mercy of God. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 1:1-7
...For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through
Christ does our encouragement also overflow. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for
your encouragement and salvation; if we are encouraged, it is for your
encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
7 Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings,
you also share in the encouragement.
The considered powerful and mighty of this world is what
appear to be the blessed and favored ones as far as human logic and reason are
concerned. The exact opposite of what Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount
and Plain (Beatitudes) in the gospels. A lot of people find it difficult to
really understand the beatitudes since it contradicts the values of this world
we live in. The poor, weak, hungry and sorrowing are called blessed. This may
not sound acceptable for everybody and would even go around its meaning to get
away with the real issue that Jesus wants us to face. Whatever it may be that's
still stopping us from grasping the wisdom of God let us pray to God that we
will always hold on to His word as He assures daily. Our God indeed is a
perfect God and we must entrust everything to Him without questioning believing
that He knows what's best. We must be aware of the truth that it is by His
power that we exist in this world. We’ve got to have the right heart, mind and
attitude. Be poor in spirit and receptive to the Word of God. It doesn't make
sense that despite these truths that are ever before us we still reject Jesus.
Let's admit that we do it one way or another, knowingly or unknowingly. Pope
John Paul II narrated a story when he was in the hospital for his operation.
Just before the surgery, he went out of his room unnoticed and visited a very
sick boy on the verge of dying. His mother was so depressed that no amount of
words was able to console her. She told the Pope to tell God to go away. The
Pope answered her that he did tell God to go away but He wouldn't listen. He
embraced the inconsolable mother and told her that God knows exactly the place
where He needs to be and that is none other than with her. We should realize
that God never leaves nor forsakes most especially in times of despair. He is
always there for us. Our God indeed is a perfect God and we must entrust
everything to Him without questioning believing that He knows what's best. We
must be aware of the truth that it is by His power that we exist in this world.
Have you heard of blind obedience? Following without knowing exactly why you
follow. Take the example of suicide bombers, who willingly die to spread
terrorism. What courage! We should know that it is always worth it to obey God,
obeying and knowing fully well that it is for our own good. We all have fears
in life and sometimes they drive us to the point of despair. This should not be
the case. If we truly believe with all our mind, heart and soul what today's
psalm tells us then there is no reason for it. We may have encountered
situations wherein we were not able to plan ahead and totally placed us in a
very unexpected, uncertain and insecure position. They just happen suddenly that we have no time
to prepare and really caught us off guard. This has caused us to feel at a loss.
Just imagine how it feels to be blind not knowing where to go and groping in the
dark. But we can be assured that God will rescue us from all distress and
deliver us from our troubles. The wickedness and the hatred may persist but let
us not lose hope and despair because we have a mighty Savior and Redeemer in
our Lord Jesus. This truth stated in today’s psalm reading should keep us going
and do exactly what we are told. The Light of the World already came and
judgment day is coming soon. In fact, judgment is happening even now. In
Deuteronomy 30:15 "Here, then, I have today set before you life and
prosperity, death and doom..." God asked us to choose. It's got to be one
way or another. There should be no mingling or ambiguity. It is all up to us.
We can be assured that if we take God’s side then we’ll definitely taste and
see His goodness. If we will just seek God at all times then we surely find
Him. Let us not turn to anything or anyone else but to God alone. Let us be
firm and wise in our dispositions to really stick to God's ideals and
principles alone instead of the suggestions and insinuations of the so called
wise and learned of this world's standard. For if we do, we'll find ourselves
rescued, saved and truly blessed. We
should always keep our hopes up in the Lord no matter what our situations are
because it can never change the fact that He is God and always in charge and in
control. There are times when we feel forsaken or abandoned but we must always
hold on to the truth that He loves us so much. He would never leave us in
misery. Let us remove all doubts and fears. Nothing should make us feel afraid
for God hears our cry. He will surely carry out what is clearly for our own
good and the best. All we need to do is allow God to work in our lives and stop
hindering His grace to flow in our lives. If there's one big obstacle that is
blocking this flow then it is surely not God. It is time we analyze the things
in our life that continue to build up and shut out God. We don't want that
happening and it's all up to us for the Lord hears and saves us. Although there
are times when we do not have to sweat at all and things just come and fall
into place we also have to know that our life is mostly a product of the
choices we make. Our choices must always be responsible and carefully decided
on. We've got to have a reliable standard for it. One without fail and is sure
to work. Actually there is only one thing that we can surely depend on and that
is the goodness of the Lord. If we always have this in mind then nothing should
stop us to always look at God, listen and follow Him. We should not care so
much about gaining the approval and admiration of men rather than God. Our
focus first and foremost should be to please God and everything else will
follow. Even if it sometimes does not work the way we expected and planned
things to be. We can be assured that the Lord heard, hears and will hear all
our prayers and surely has the best answer at hand in His most perfect time. In
guarding our faith the bible passage from Ephesians 6:10-11 which is about the
armor of God is an important tool. If we read it we will find the only weapon
mentioned in the said bible passage is the sword of the Spirit which is the
Word of God. We should check it once again and be aware of this important information
as Catholic Christians. In the gospel about the temptation of Jesus the devil
also demonstrated his knowledge of the scriptures. As it is written, we need to
stand firm against the tactics of the devil. We are undoubtedly engaged in this
battle every single day that's why we are in need of a weapon. This reminds us
of the importance of knowing the word of God by heart since it is our only
weapon. God never fails. He would always make things work for our good and
rescue us in our distress. I have always believed in angels even before I got
this petal from a healing service with the image of a cherubim miraculously
imprinted on it. It's been a while since I got it and has served as a testimony
of God’s abiding love. I have no doubt in my mind that God will always deliver
me from all my fears. I always keep my rose petal with me and show it to almost
everyone I meet, as a way of propagating God's goodness to me. I can still
remember and will never forget how my mother used to narrate to us how I was
miraculously saved by my angel several times. First was when I was about 2
months old, and I fell from a height of 2-3 ft countertop when the nanny after
giving me a bath left me for only a second to get something and upon returning
found me already unconscious and lying on the hard, ceramic tiled floor. I was
rushed to the doctor but he told them that if I fail to regain consciousness
within an hour then he said I am gone. To everybody's surprise I started to cry
even before the time is up. Another one was when I was barely 2 yrs old when I
almost got hit by a speeding jeepney. My parent's house is right beside my
grandparent's house which is right in front of the school where my mother used
to be a public school teacher. She said she was standing in the center of the
stage of the school that was why she had a good view of the things around her
even the terrace of my grandparent's house so she got the shock of her life
when she saw me there alone running very fast heading toward the open gate
while a speeding jeepney was coming and looked as if I would really get hit and
it would be too late even if somebody was there to stop me. She was already
screaming from afar together with the other teachers who saw it and was trying
to call the attention of the driver but to no avail for he didn't even slow
down because their screams were of no match to the loud engine of the
jeep. It was just a miracle that the
moment I stepped on the side of the road, I suddenly stopped and stood very
still as if someone was holding me back. She said it was my guardian angel who
held me and prevented me from getting hit by the jeep. I don't remember personally any of those
experiences it was only through my mother's stories that I came to know about
them. But when I was older like in 4th grade I could already remember how I was
spared again from being hurt seriously when the fluorescent lamp right on top
of my head fell on my desk a split second after I stood up and left my
chair. My classmates were really shocked
and were hovering around me and told me that it was really close. One of my
bestfriends, Myrsa got me even more scared of what could had happened when she
said that fluorescent lamps are laden with poison that once it gets broken, the
poison is released and if the broken glass cuts your skin open the poison will
get in and the wound caused by it will never dry up or get healed. From then on
I developed this childlike trust in God and thanked God for saving me from
death. There was another instance in my life as a child when Myrsa and I were
left all alone in school while waiting for our ride home and the deafening
sound of lightning and thunder got me very scared. Myrsa played the role of my
guardian angel when she tried to calm and stop me from crying by telling me
that I should not be afraid because the lightning is the flash bulb of God's
camera. She continued by saying that I should not cry but instead smile for God
was just taking our picture. Myrsa's legendary stories played a role in my
developing a great faith in God. Another funny story was what she told me about
the needle. She said that we must be careful with needles because it will find
its way into our bodies and once it's inside it will go to our bloodstream and
very quickly end up pricking our hearts which can cause us to die right away.
There was one time when I lost a needle and couldn't find it anywhere. I went
to bed very early that day which surprised my mother and was asking me if there
was anything wrong. I decided to myself that I would just wait for my death silently
and not tell anybody. I was praying to God not to give me a painful death and
let me not feel it once the needle pricks my heart. When I woke up the next day
I was so glad that I was still alive and thanked God for sparing me from death.
Those were the early formative years of my faith which started out in a funny,
amusing but definitely amazing way. We all have fears in life and sometimes
they drive us to the point of despair. This should not be the case. If we truly
believe with all our mind, heart and soul what today's psalm tells us then
there is no reason for it. If we will just constantly nourish and fill
ourselves with the words of God in scriptures then there is really no reason
for us to fear rather be always filled with joy. He will never allow us to be
defeated and conquered for He is always there to rescue us. Amen, Hallelujah!
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (9a)R: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
1 [2] I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
Thomas
Aquinas said that the perfect exemplification of the beatitudes can be seen if
we look at Jesus. He is a happy man, a picture of freedom and joy. The main
point is detachment. Jesus is detached from the things which we typically seek.
He loved doing the will of His Father. We need to look to our Lord on the cross
and despise what He despised on the cross, wealth, pleasure, power and
honor. Wealth, he has none he was
stripped naked even of His clothes. Pleasure he was at the limit of physical
and psychological suffering. Power, he was nailed on the cross. Honor, he was mocked
as he was publicly displayed and crucified. On the cross, he is the ultimate
peace maker and the bringer of divine mercy, if Aquinas is right then Jesus on
the cross is a picture of a happy man. We are all on the building business,
building a life that will endure, we are each a foreman to our building, we are
masters of our own faith. Others take a material build a shack, a cathedral or
build a tragedy, as William Shakespeare says, “to be or not to be” We are each
given a bag of tools, a stepping stone or a stumbling block. The buildings we
build are … Lost of a loved one, broken relationship and how we react to them
depends on whether we have built a house on sand or rock, the test is the daily
grind. There is no end to the daily
grind we just have to live one day at a time. The challenges depend whether we
have taken the words of our Lord seriously. Take the extra mile. Is the Lord
right? Nothing is built on hatred. Nothing lasts until it is built on love.
Forgiveness is important. A person who is unforgiving suffers from various
ailments. PJPII forgave the person who tried to kill him. Have we built our
life on Him who is the rock? Or think that we know better. Our house is in ruin
until the Lord come to make it a fitting dwelling. There is only one thing that
can make us truly happy, to get to heaven. When our Lord saw the sadness of
human beings he gave the formula in the sermon on the mount. Not once does He
mentioned, money, fame, houses, entertainment and exotic cruises. The formula
for happiness lies in the truth that our heart is at rest. According to Oscar
Wilde there are 2 terrible tragedies in life, not to get what our heart sets
upon or to get it. Some of us get this truth the hard way. Poverty in spirit
means that we are empty. By nature of course we are like a vacuum because we
have to be filled with something. When we finally get what we long for, that is
when we realize that we can not have them nor could we own them forever. The
only way to attain true happiness is to be possessed by the Lord. We have to
learn to let go of yesterday. For example, the joys of our youth we must enjoy
God’s gift to us today which is called the present. We must learn to face all
these challenges with our Lord and be empty of everything except Him. The
beatitudes will serve as our map in our quest to heaven. Beatitudes are like
eyeglasses that help us to see what is important so as not to lose sight of
what is right. Whenever we are to decide and act on something we might as well
ask ourselves this, “Is this choice going to bring me closer to heaven?” The
more we get our vision corrected the more we get closer to heaven. What is
going to bring us closer to heaven? St. Francis of Assisi Kingdom of God
Holy Gospel
of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5,1-12.
"...Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.....
Blessed are
you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against
you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great
in heaven....."
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