FRIENDS

 Are we a source of inspiration for others or desperation? This question we might want to ask ourselves. When we see people whose hands are feeble and their knees become weak, do we give encouragement and strength or do we bombard them with our negative and detrimental remarks? The Spirit of God dwells in each one of us and we should consciously make an effort to build His Kingdom here on earth by making good choices. We can choose to be nasty and rude or compassionate and understanding to others. The reign of God's Kingdom is well within our reach as described in today's 1st reading but we have yet to see it unless we make it our choice. There are many choices presented to us every day but we have to realize that this choice we've got to make is not that difficult after all. Today's 1st reading tells us that we are bound to experience and benefit the best things not even this life can offer if we make this choice. We may be in a period of our life where we can compare ourselves to a desert but there is no reason to despair for God can make all things new. We should never doubt the power of God to be able to do and carry out what He has planned in our lives. As in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope." Each day is an assurance from God that He will never abandon nor forsake us. The words of Mother Angelica from the EWTN channel in her talk show with a topic about Pride, Justice and Charity are so inspiring. She emphasized the things like disobedience and selfishness a s a form of pride. She cited an example of a person who smokes as being selfish because he/she shares something that could cause more harm to the health of the person who inhales the smoke and becomes a 2nd hand smoker.  She reiterated that a smoker could share better things to his/her fellowmen other than cigarette smoke. She further said that there is a need for us to develop self knowledge and be able to determine the areas in our life that is not like Jesus. All saints worked hard to be like Jesus. We must remember to do things on a holy level no matter what happens whether it be by God’s ordaining will or permitting will. What’s important is that we know ourselves, know the truth, use it wisely and pray. People have lost the concept of justice and sometimes people in authority like the parents, teachers and even the religious do not use their authority wisely.  Sometimes we no longer know what is the truth so the need for prayer must always be acknowledged and done constantly.  She said to a caller in her show that God wants our prayers answered as much as we do. If we are confident of this truth then we should be overwhelmed with an unexplainable sense of joy most especially with what is said in today’s 1st reading. Amen. Hallelujah!.

Isaiah 35:1-10

1 The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. 2 They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, 4 say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; 6 then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. 7 The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water; the abode where jackals lurk will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus. 8 A highway will be there, called the holy way; no one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it. It is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk. 10 Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

What a wonderful world this place that we live in could be if only we listen to the instructions constantly being given to us in the scriptures. We have an awesome God who always speaks to us in a very timely and specific manner. His messages are fitted to the situation we are presently experiencing right now. We should remain confident that God will make a way. There is really nothing more that God can do for us that He has not done. God is never short of blessings to shower on us. He has made it all available to us through His Son. All that is needed is for us to make our move. Let us open ourselves to God's presence in our lives and know that there is never a moment in our life when He is away from us for it is always the other way around. For we are the ones turning away from Him and placing blocks and hindrances between us whenever we can't find Him.

We are constantly being faced by challenges to our faith especially at this present time. It is easier to be firm in our faith when times are easy but when tough times come that is when we are put to the test. No matter how difficult things may seem we should never give in to the pressure and remain steadfast. We can always choose to do the right thing if we safeguard in our hearts the truth about God knowing that it is always for the best. We need not be afraid of anything although this is something that we all find very difficult to do. They say faith and reason do not work together just like science and religion. This is not a fact but a fallacy. These things in fact compliment each other because one supports the other. There is no faith without reason and vice versa. We can not just have one and lack the other. This has to be very clear in our heads. We should always try to condition ourselves in the atmosphere of God's presence. We should gear ourselves toward that direction so that we place ourselves within His reach, it's not that God can not reach us but we hinder God from reaching out to us. When we do not respond to His call and shut off our ears although we are within hearing range, we fail to get the message. Which reminds me of Bernadette's ear, when we went to her doctor she underwent a procedure (ear lavage) in order to unclog her left ear but prior to that she was already instilling ear meds for 4 days. The nurse explained to her that it can be painful and can cause her to feel dizzy and asked her if she still wants it done and she agreed. Sometimes we have to resort to very uncomfortable measures in order to be cured in the same way we should maintain such condition spiritually so that we can always keep our ears open to God's word. Wherever God is, there is always peace and prosperity. It is only natural that we have longings and desires because God Himself planted it in our hearts. We all long for the good things in life and God Himself can provide for all these things. It is just sad that we reach out for other things that we thought are good for us. We do not realize that we have to seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else will follow. We fail to follow this sure and no fail formula that is not a secret. In fact it is not hidden in the bible since it is often quoted, sang and regularly assigned in the gospel readings. It is in really living this truth that we can witness for ourselves the glory of God dwelling in our land. Let's just keep our eyes always focused on the Lord no matter how long the road we're travelling is and how heavy the burden we're carrying may seem to be for the Lord is our Good Shepherd. If things about God are very clear in our minds then there is no need to doubt that God is the only authority that is worthy of obeying more than anyone and anything in this whole wide world. If we will just look very closely at what's happening in our lives then we'll see that God has our best interests in mind. We simply have to believe and obey Him with all our hearts. God will never stop in sending out His message to us. All we have to do is be attentive and receptive to what He's telling us. Only God can give us the peace that the world can not give. Day in and day out we are bombarded by the realities of life. There are times when we just can't help but be worried and anxious of so many things. It even comes to a point when we feel like giving up but we should always keep in mind that there is hope, for God the Just One is sure to save us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 85:9ab, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R: Our God will come to save us!

8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD-for he proclaims peace to his people. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

Friends are gifts from God. They can be a source of healing and joy. Just like in today’s gospel these men went out of their way to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. Just imagine bringing a man on a stretcher up on the roof and letting him through it to get right in front of Jesus. Friends who stick with us not only in good but also in bad times are the ones that we can call real friends. There are times in our lives when we are unable to do things on our own as if we are paralyzed and could only do limited things. Those people who come to our aid are just like these men who became instruments of God’s healing. We are truly blessed if we have found friends along the way who have become like one to us. Nothing is hidden from God everything is known to Him even the tiniest and most irrelevant detail in our life. How much more the greatest and biggest desires and longings in our hearts. Sometimes we have a different agenda in mind than what God has for us. Oftentimes we fall into the trap by thinking that we know better than God. We may have plans that we think is best for us but God's plans for us is the ultimate best and we should never risk losing the ultimate best. Whatever plans we have no matter how foolproof and brilliant it may seem, it definitely wouldn't hurt if we always consult and offer it to God in prayers. We will never be disappointed if we will just open our eyes, hearts and minds to the ways of God and allow Him to take full control of our lives then it would come to pass and see it unfold before our very eyes. We will eventually discover that He is really after our own welfare and could always bring about the good in everything. Let us just feel confident and continue to trust that God who is All Good, All Powerful and All Loving knows what's best for all of us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 5:17-26

...And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set [him] in his presence. 19 But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. 20 When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” ...he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” 25 He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. 26 Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”