Acts of the Apostles 2,36-41.
36 On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish people,
“Let the whole house of Israel
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(32),4-5.18-19.20.22.
...For the LORD'S word is true; 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...
We should focus and hold on to things that are from heaven
above rather than the things of this world. We cling to temporary and material things
without realizing that what matters most is the permanent or the gift of
eternal life. Mary of Magdala was a woman of the world but she was restless
until she found Jesus. The same way with us, we could be experiencing some
unexplainable emotions that make us anxious but if we continue to see and
experience God in our lives then we are always assured that we are never alone
and He will always be with us. All we have to do is follow the example of Mary
Magdalene by making a complete turn (180 degrees) from our old ways and decide
for Jesus. Let us get this straight, apart from God we are nothing. We must be able to connect, completely trust
and surrender to God every single aspect about us especially those that we are
strongly holding on to and consider very important and vital in our lives. We
may be clinging on to something for the wrong reasons. Our motivation and
underlying reasons whether evident or not should always have something to do
with God. Whether it is a minor or major thing it is always wise to align it to
God. Our wills should no longer be our own but of God our Father. Let us keep
in mind that no matter how imperfect and unlimited our capacities and
capabilities are for as long as we put God first in everything we say, think or
do in the midst of trials and difficulties then we can surely experience God's
resurrection. We have dreams, desires and longings that drive us to action. We
sometimes get stuck with the idea that life here on earth is all there is to
it. We must look on and move forward to the one ultimate goal that can make all
things perfect and beautiful. It is important that we all come to the
realization that the fullness of all things is in heaven. Mary Magdalene was in
deep grief. She is one of the witnesses that stood by the cross, watched and
observed Jesus died and laid in the tomb. Mary was not focused on the
resurrection and did not recognize Jesus. Her mind was focused on her
assumption that someone has taken Jesus’ body. Whenever we are gripped by
grief, anxiety or any strong emotion it has a way of obscuring our vision of
God and blinds us from seeing His blessing or presence. When we encounter
moments when we are on the verge of weeping and depression we can always remind
ourselves that it doesn’t help at all rather we have to stay calm. She did not
expect the resurrection, only in the calling of her name that she recognized
Jesus. She was warned by Jesus not to cling or hold on because she is being
sent to spread the word as Greeks refer to her as the female apostle to the
Apostles. She did as she was told, went and announced to the disciples that
they too believed and came to faith. Thinking about these things is like we are
being given a picture and scenario to broaden our perspective and understanding
of the things that are happening in our life. Learn from the experience, be
imaginative and creative for better appreciation of the Word of God as we
reflect on it. Amen. Hallelujah!
John 20: 11-18
...“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They
have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” 14 When she had said
this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you
weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to
him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take
him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,”...Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet
ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my
Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary of Magdala went and
announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.
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