THE JOURNEY

There are times in our life when we are confused and don't know what to do. But most of the time too we are just making things more difficult and worse than it really is. God will always show us the right way to go there is no doubt about that. Sometimes the problem is not knowing what to do but not doing what we're supposed to do. If only we would only take time to look around us and assess our situation then all the signs will surely point us to the right direction. We've been given the faculties as a human being all the senses that enable us to see, hear, feel, taste, smell and think. Even those who lack one or two of these senses have developed a keen sense in the other senses. An example is a blind man although blind have a very keen sense of hearing and smelling that compensates for the loss of sight. All of these and the other capacities and capabilities as man have made us fully equipped and wonderfully created by God. Sometimes we have a lot of excuses and alibis. We are all meant to be the person God has meant us to be. If only we would always be attuned to Him we would find out that God does not require impossibilities from us. There would even be times when we encounter people, events and situations that just fit in and fall into perfect place. Just like what happened a couple of years ago when we received word with regards to a change of schedule in our trip. It all worked for the good because it matched the time and date that we were earlier hoping to get and with an additional treat.  Funny how at times we just overlook those little things that happen to us but it made us realize that should not be the case. God is always there to guide and direct us whether in big or small things. This can not be denied, always evident and further confirmed in today's 1st reading which speaks of the Israelites' journey. The prevailing condition of the Dwelling became a clear and obvious sign of what they were supposed to do. Amen. Hallelujah!

Exodus 40:16-21. 34-38

...Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling, the Israelites would set out on their journey. 37 But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward; only when it lifted did they go forward...

 Have you ever felt so at home in a certain place that you feel like you can stay there for a long time? I did. I have met these people who are so welcoming and accepting and it feels like I can stay with them for the longest time. And to think that these people are the ones I hardly even know, so just imagine how it would feel like dwelling in the house of the Lord as spoken of in today's psalm. We ought to be aware of that big difference always. It is a matter of dwelling in a place where there is eternal life of peace and joy or damnation. Our earthly bodies will naturally yearn for earthly desires which are just bound to last only here on earth. We've got to really get it straightened out and listen to the yearning of our souls which will outlast this world. In heaven we will be glorified magnificently. We will live forever with strength, power, beauty and sharing a new humanity with Jesus. There is no place else we would rather be than in God's dwelling place. We all hope to wear that crown of heaven and take our place in God's kingdom.

We have to go the extra mile always in doing everything in love. For God is love and He is in us. We should also be careful not to taint and mess up ourselves and this is only possible if we take good care of God's dwelling place as suggested in today's psalm. We are the temple or dwelling place of God and this we should know by now and always be aware of. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 84:3. 4. 5-6a and 8a. 11

R: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

 [3] My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (R) 4 [5] Happy they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you. 5 [6] Happy the men whose strength you are! Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage 7 [8] They go from strength to strength. (R) 10 [11] I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (R)  

When you've found the joy of praising, serving and loving God above anything and made it a common occurrence in your daily life, just like a thread embedded in the fabric of your life then the kingdom of heaven is at hand. We are all called to develop this kind of relationship with God as our Father, Brother, Lover, Comforter and Friend. Just think about it, is there anything more you can ask for? Let us not hold back and do anything for the love of God. I believe in the saying, "Where your heart is, there your treasure is." Each person is unique. We all have our own peculiarities and that's how we are able to express ourselves as a human being. Each person has his or her own qualities and characteristics that separate us from the rest. For some it could be a certain quality like cooking, athletics, writing, dancing, singing, speaking, painting, sketching, or the present work we do and all other talents we could think about.  Whatever it is that we are good in doing or we have dedicated and engaged ourselves in, we should always put God in the center of whatever we have chosen to do. We need to find out what our core gift is and develop it. There should not be a trace of holding back or hesitation on our part but rather invest everything in it and give it our all to bring out the best in us and reflect the glory of God. It is not easy to be molded like clay. If there’s one thing that stopping us from becoming what God has meant us to be it is our free will because we can say yes and no to God. It is important that we do not lose sight of the truth that we are created in God's mastery and expertise and we are His masterpiece, a genuine work of His hands. If we can confidently and honestly say after careful examination of our lives that we are indeed the product of God's hands then we can stand firm on that dreary day mentioned in today's gospel. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 13:47-53

47 Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. 48 When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. 49 Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.