There are times when God allows us to suffer in life. In
fact, we see good people afflicted with a lot of trials and burdens. We tend to
ask why bad things happen to good people. It helps to think of a grain of sand
that agitates and irritates the clam which in turn triggers the production of a
substance that can be compared to tears whenever we get something in our eyes
but in the process this tear like substance after a period of time eventually
emerges into a priceless pearl. We all have questions why things like that
happen and today's 1st reading gives us an assurance that all we have to do is
trust that God can always turn anything even the worst kind of thing into good
like a precious gem. Amen. Hallelujah!
Isaiah 53:10-11
10 The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he
gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. 11 Because of his
affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering,
my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.
Nothing is hidden from God and everything is known to Him.
It pays to always consult our plans to God in prayers and everything we intend
to do we should lay before Him and seek His approval. He will never deprive us
nor withhold from us the answers that we seek. If we sometimes forget these and
tend to stray away from the right path then we should always be aware that
everything that we say, think and do must always have reference to God our
Creator. It may have happened to most of us when we get disappointed at how we
still miss something so quickly despite our close watch. We sometimes end up
confused and discouraged when things don’t happen the way we expect it despite
our accurate and strict monitoring. We even ask ourselves how it could have
happened. We may have heard and seen some terrible and frightening things in
our life but we should always hold on to the truth that no matter how horrible
the things that are happening around us they don't change the fact that our
Lord is God and always in charge and in control. It doesn't matter that much
how we think and feel but what matters most is how to feel and think just like
God. For we can always rely and depend on it, 100%, fail proof and success
guaranteed. We should place our trust not in men or in things but in God alone.
The Lord did not promise us to be totally problem free but He gave His
assurance that He will always be our Savior and Redeemer. God's power is beyond
our full comprehension. He is Holy, Mighty, Immortal and Infinitely Great. Did
it ever occur to you how all these things that surround us, from the skies, to
the mountains, plains, the seas, the wind, all the heavenly bodies above, the
things down below, all the creatures of the earth especially us, human beings
came to be. Not a single theory about creation could suffice and would ever
satisfy the wonders and marvelous things that God has done. Just thinking about
all these things should make us always put our hope in Him, feel confident and
assured that we are safe under His care, to help us from all our problems and
shield us from all harm. It is a consolation to know that we are constantly
assured by God especially in today's psalm to never doubt His power and
goodness. His loving eyes is always upon us not leaving us for a single moment
nor removing his stare even with a wink of an eye. It feels good to know that
someone's eyes are upon us and looking after us. When we come to a point of
despair and feel like things are not getting better, we ought to remember
always that we are God's people and we are His own. We have to realize this one
most important truth that we should all subscribe to, which is to constantly
align ourselves and conform to the will and plan of God in our lives. Let us
ask the Lord to lead us to the right path and decisions that we may work toward
the building of God’s kingdom here on earth. We
should not give room to any doubt, fear, anxiety, impatience, irritability,
hatred, sadness, iniquity, unfaithfulness, disloyalty, pride and loss of self
control. Let us not choose to give in to these. They are all characteristics
that should not be found in a people the Lord has chosen to be His own. Our
present situation may not be a perfect picture yet but we should all rejoice
and be glad knowing that God was the one who chose us first and He will carry us
through. All we have to do is just trust that the Lord will carry out with
perfection all His plans for us no matter what situations or circumstances may
arise in our midst. When God created this world and everything in it including
us, He did not ask permission from anybody. It means that He has chosen us to
be His own and not the other way around. This is the reason why the fallen
angels/demons are so jealous of men. We are indeed special in the eyes of God
for it is written in Gen 1:26, "Then God said: "Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion..." We are not just
chosen by God to be His own even before everything came to be but we are on top
of His creation. Let us never lose sight of this
wonderful plan that God has for all of us. We may not be seeing it right now,
having doubts about it, not paying attention to it or unable to commit to it.
Whatever it may be, these are all hindrances that prevent us from gaining
access to the goodness of the Lord. Never allow ourselves to miss out on this
privilege that is accorded to all of us as the children of God. God chose us
first and it is only right and fitting that we choose Him too. If we always
focus on the Lord and put His words in our presence at all times then we can be
assured that we have a lamp unto our feet that is lighting our path. We have to
entrust all our cares and worries to the Lord for He can do better things for
our lives than all our works combined. No matter how hard we try to succeed in
what we do if it's not in accordance to God's plan then nothing will ever come
out of it. We may succeed in one aspect but we will never be totally at peace
for in the end it will always be the will and plan of God that will prevail. We
just have to acknowledge that we are sparing ourselves of all the trouble and
heartaches if we will just be obedient and completely trust in the Lord's plan.
Let us truly be wise in the real sense of the word rather than of the
world and not forfeit all our benefits from the Lord. We
all have our personal plans and designs and we may not be able to fully
understand what is going on at the present time. It is not easy for the wisdom
in the eyes of God is foolishness to the world but what's most important is
that we should always consult everything to God first, just believe and
surrender everything to Him for He knows best. We have to realize this one most
important truth that we should all subscribe to, which is to constantly align
ourselves and conform to the will and plan of God in our lives. The power of
God knows no limits and we can always rely on Him for anything that we are in
need. Let us rely on God's power and completely trust Him to bring to
fulfillment everything that He has promised. Just like the Blessed
Mother Mary, who is Queen of heaven and earth, we too are destined for victory
and royalty. If only we live out the example of her obedient life and carry
Jesus in our hearts. Let us not lose hope and have faith in the Master Plan and
Grand Design that God has for all of us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
R: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in
you.
4 Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are
trustworthy. The LORD loves justice and right and fills the earth with
goodness. But the LORD'S eyes are upon the reverent, upon those who hope for
his gracious help, Delivering them from death, keeping them alive in times of
famine. (R) Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. 22 May
your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you.
Jesus understands. He knows exactly what we have been through and
are going through right now even much more than we can imagine. Let us trust
that He knows better than we all do and be confident of God who created us all.
It should also give us a better perspective, the best motivation and
inspiration to always offer everything that we do to God whether it be a simple
or great task that is in our hands knowing that Jesus His Son has already
perfected it for us. If we sometimes come to a point where we feel so lost and
unsure if what we are going through and doing is still worth it, let us always
keep in mind that for as long we do it to honor and glorify God then it should
make us think very hard and not just twice before we ever give up. Let us
not miss out on the ultimate blessing and the inheritance won for us by our
unbeatable and undefeated Savior. All things happen for a reason and a purpose
within the appointed time. God gives us valuable instructions for life that
will make it pleasing and acceptable before Him. We should be mindful of the
word of God being given to us in the scriptures and in our daily circumstances.
The bible has been described as something like a manual that teaches us,
Christians to go about with our lives. Just like any new equipment that comes
with a manual in order to operate it properly so are God's words to us. We have
to discover the joy of always consulting the word of God through the daily
readings. In doing so we may even come to a point of making a commitment to
write down reflections and share it to family and friends. It is in documenting
and organizing our thoughts or journaling that we can access, read it readily
and be reminded constantly. When God created us He intended for us to be guided
and directed in accordance to His will and that's what the word of God does for
us. For nothing else matters more than what matters to God. Jesus is 100%
divine and human except for sin. This is a Church teaching that was emphasized
during our bible study. The arch of Mark's gospel which illustrates 2 opposite
parts represented by Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man is highlighted by the
center of the arch where Jesus' divinity meets His humanity in the cross as the
perfect victim (sacrificial lamb/scapegoat) of man's salvation. When things get
out of hand we have no one to blame but ourselves for Jesus the perfect
sacrifice is surely not lacking in everything that He has given us for our own
welfare. Amen. Hallelujah!
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to
our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet
without sin. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive
mercy and to find grace for timely help.
Today's gospel makes it clear to us that we have to purify
our motives and intentions before we do something. Sometimes we fall into the
trap of doing something in exchange of something or we are driven to action by
the fact that there is a catch to it. These things should only come as a result
of our action but not the main driving force of our action. What should keep as
going is the truth that Jesus, the Son of God, King of all kings and Lord of
all lords came to earth to serve and became ransom for our sins. God's greatest
expression of love is a masterpiece. He suffered His only Son for our sake. Is
there anything more that God could do for us that He has not done? The least we
can do right now is to look into the life model and example that Jesus left for
us. Know everything there is to know about our God who stripped Himself of His
Kingship and Royalty to become like us. Fr. Mitch Pacwa said that what God did
for us was like that of a big tall man who knelt down on the floor so as to
look into the eye of a small baby crawling on the floor. God wanted to be able
to be with us and look at us straight into the eye while He says, "I love
you" which is directly aimed at our hearts. Once we've realized this and
done everything with the best of our efforts then there's nothing else that
could stop us from adoring and praising our One, True God who gave His all for
us. In the gospel, we find that it is the 3rd time in Mark’s that
Jesus mentioned about His prediction of His Cross. This one being the strongest
as He said, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be
handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to
death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him,
scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.” The
whole point here is that Jesus saves the world through His passion, death and
resurrection and the disciples are to share with Him in this Paschal Mystery.
This is the point that we miss, James and John are no different for they did
not understand. They wanted to be seated in the right and left or be in a
position of authority and power. We recall in Luke 9:54, When the disciples
James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down
fire from heaven to consume them?" We can see from here that they want
success and domination. Somehow we can not blame them for thinking this way.
They have been obedient servants and had witnessed the transfiguration. They
are especially close to Jesus that they had aspired for these great things.
There was a misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings. In this particular scene,
James and John only saw the glory but failed to see the Calvary .
Aren't we all guilty of the same attitude sometimes? We only want the fame,
glory and power but dismiss the hardships that go with it. When Jesus came from
heaven to earth to show the way He did not bypass or made a short cut he went
through it all, the passion, death and resurrection. We should not want Jesus
just because of our own personal agenda. The Kingdom of God Church of God
Mark 10:35-45
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said
to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 He
replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” 37 They answered him, “Grant
that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus
said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup
that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
...whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes
to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man did not
come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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