Acts 12:1-11
...“Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and
rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been
expecting.”
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, 8-9
R: The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
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. (R) 7 [8] The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the
LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
If we will just be very grateful to God for all the things
He has done for us and try to look back and recall we will find that all throughout
our lifetimes we really have a lot of things to be really thankful for and find
that we can never out give our God. We should be able to say the very same
words in today's 2nd reading with much conviction knowing that we did our best
for God's greater glory. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
...I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have
kept the faith...The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me
the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I
was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from the every
evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
Aren't we
glad that today's gospel assures us that we have a Church built by Jesus Christ
and nothing can prevail against it? We can actually learn a lot from
Sts. Peter and Paul and their example. Both were very committed to our Lord.
They were willing to leave everything behind and follow Him. They both lived
out the cross of Jesus. We see the recognition of St. Peter in today's gospel
which shows that he is very committed to our Lord and followed Him. Peter's
proclamation of the truth made him a solid foundation of the Church that not
even the gates of hell shall prevail against it. As members of the Church that
is founded on solid rock may we become like Peter always ready and confident in
announcing the truth about God. Although there is a series of problems despite
this commitment, Peter was the one who told Jesus not to talk about His dying
and being crucified in Jerusalem
and got told, "Satan, get behind me." He was also the one in the
Garden of Gethsemane after a series of important events like the
transfiguration with James and John and the raising of Jairus' daughter, cut
off the ear of the high priest servant with such impetuosity but also the one
who denied Christ 3x. St. Paul was also a man who made a serious
commitment to Christ. He has a Roman citizenship and came from the tribe of
Benjamin. He came from an affluent family that he was educated under the
supervision of this prominent teacher, Gamaliel. St Paul mentioned in the scriptures that he
was a persecutor of the Church but was converted to Christ. With true humility
he recognized how bad he really was and doesn't deserve the favors that Christ
has given him. He was willing to talk about his failures. We look at Peter and
Paul who both gave a testimony of their blood for the gospel. They preferred to
be executed and tormented rather than change their testimony. In doing this
they both highlight something else especially St. Peter. This is the kind of
man that is chosen. He is very much the man like each one of us. We can also
make the best choice that is presented to us. We must recognize that our lives
have to be a life of dying to ourselves. This is something that we could learn
from and be the Lord's instrument for the redemption of our world. We also need to acknowledge that Jesus
specifically mentioned in the gospel that He is giving the keys of heaven to
Peter. Praise and thank God for sending not only angels and saints to the
rescue but also a keys that can open heaven for us in the person of the priests
who are representatives of Jesus on earth.Let us try
to remove all obstacles in our path. This reminds me of Sister Loreta's garden in Walnut. I am so impressed at how it looks like. Despite the scorching heat
of the sun during summer time her garden remains beautiful. It is does not dry
up. I found out from her that whenever the gardener comes to mow her lawn she
will immediately water it while the roots are exposed. Just like in our life we
really have to cut off or remove excess baggage or useless garbage in us that
prevents us from making the garden of our life emerge in full bloom. Funny, how
we sometimes find ourselves saying one thing this minute and then another thing
the next. Just like Peter in today's gospel, we witnessed the sudden shift when
in the first part of the gospel, Jesus was commending him for having professed
a truth that can not be revealed through flesh and blood but through our
Heavenly Father. But in the latter part, Jesus rebuked him for behaving
otherwise. This tells us that no matter how totally unreliable we are, at
times. God does not give up on us. He continues to shower us with grace and
mercy and it is all up to us if we will respond with faith and humility the way
Peter did who persevered despite of all the struggles until the last hour.
Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 16:13-19
...He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon
Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus
said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood
has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18 And so I say to you,
you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the
netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the
kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
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