I have shared about church activities in honor of the feast
of saints and really felt the impact and importance of such celebrations. These festivities that we observe and
celebrate have become an important and significant part of our being a
Catholic. It has helped us remember and look closely at the good example of the
life of these faithful followers of God. It also strengthens our faith and make
us more appreciative, full of gratitude and commemorative of the great things
that God has done for us and our ancestors who came long before for us and the
coming generation. Amen. Hallelujah!
Leviticus 23:1. 4-11. 15-16. 27. 34b-37
1 The LORD said to Moses, 4 “These are the festivals of the
LORD which you shall celebrate at their proper time with a sacred assembly.
It is indeed another confirmation that today's psalm also
speaks of solemn feast. It is a blessing to have the time to enjoy and
celebrate these special occasions in our faith which has formed part of the
Holy Tradition of the Church. Our Catholic Church has endowed us with a very
sacred or apostolic Tradition. According to Catechism of the Catholic Church
(CCC) 82: As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation
of Revelation is entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all revealed
truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be
accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence." St.
Paul in 2 Thes. 2:15 said "Therefore, brothers,
stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an
oral statement or by a letter of ours." And so the Catholic Church is also
consistent with the warning of St.
Paul in Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one captivate you
with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to
the elemental powers of the world and
not according to Christ." We should constantly listen to His voice and not
be distracted nor tempted to change loyalty. It is in God alone that we can
find true satisfaction. There is no in between with God. We have to be aware of
the fact that we have to make a stand on which side we really are. We've got to
make a commitment every single day and protect our faith. It is through good
works and prayer that we can safeguard the victory that Jesus has already won
for us since the enemy does not want to stop and continues to wage war on us,
Christians and followers of Jesus Christ. There is no denying to Jesus saving
and redeeming us from all our sins. Jesus opened the gates of heaven for us
when He died on the cross and paid our sins but it doesn't mean that we are all
bound for heaven. Our daily choices and actions could lead us to a path that
may not lead to the pearly gates of paradise. We still have to work our way
into that gate and not be lenient about guarding this gift of salvation which
the enemy wants to steal from us. We are bombarded day in and out by the harsh reality of life and the
influences of this world we live in. There is no cause for despair if we
encounter these things. The Bread that God gives us will never cause us
to hunger or thirst and will give us eternal life with God in heaven. If we
have consulted and entrusted to God all our decisions and continue to believe
then we can be assured that what God started in us, He will be faithful to
complete. In the midst of all the commotion in our lives we need to press
harder to hear God's voice and direct all our focus and attention in that one
voice of God who alone can show us the right way and give us the right
instructions. We have a God
who constantly whispers in our ear in the midst of the noise created by our
surroundings. All we have to do is press our ears closer to God and do as He
says. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 81:3-4. 5-6. 10-11ab
R: Sing with joy to God our help.
2 [3] Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel, the pleasant
harp and the lyre. 3 [4] Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on
our solemn feast. R. For it is a statute in Israel ,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob, Who made it a decree for Joseph when he came
forth from the land
of Egypt land of Egypt
There should never be any doubt that God will always be an
almighty, all powerful, loving and ever living God. This thought should never
leave our minds, always enkindled in our hearts and burning in our souls to
think, speak and act just like Jesus. We are all truly blessed that despite the
indirect link we have to the origins of our Lord Jesus Christ in terms of His native
place and house, we are not excluded but instead have been extended with the
blessings and miracles. For God does not qualify us based on citizenship and
membership alone but also by faith. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 13:54-58
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in
their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such
wisdom and mighty deeds?...And he did not work many mighty deeds there because
of their lack of faith.
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