The readings for today permeate the truth about life and death. In Ezekiel’s vision which is from today's 1st reading, he saw the release of the Jews from their captivity which is likened to rising from the dead. It is a promise that they will experience new life that springs from God's own spirit. The same is true for us, when our battle on earth is over, then we, too can settle upon the land and kingdom that God has prepared for us. We may all be going through some kind of difficulty in our lives and things look like they will not get any better. When we come to this point and feel like the world is crumbling right before our eyes then we can always remember these powerful words in today's 1st reading. Ezekiel prophesied to the dry bones and saw before his very eyes the rattling bones that came together. Bone joining bone, sinews and the flesh came upon them, the skin covered them, the spirit came into them; they came alive and stood upright, a vast army. These may all sound too impossible and hard to imagine but we must always be reminded of how great and awesome is God. It is also our hope that someday we will all rise up in God's power and glory. With God all things are possible. Amen. Hallelujah!
Ezekiel 37:1-14
...“Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off.” ... 12 Thus says the Lord GOD: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel
The readings for today is pointing us to the direction of taking the challenge of putting down our sails and get ready to sail with Jesus in the sea of life. Let us not be afraid and dare to embark on this great voyage of life with all confidence and knowledge that God will bring us all to our desired haven. We can never deny the hand of God guiding us through every chapter of our lives. We may also come to a point when we ask ourselves how all the things ever came to be. Behind all the ups and downs, we always find the Lord working through and make everything turn out for the good. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R: Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.
...They cried to the LORD in their distress; from their straits he rescued them. 7 And he led them by a direct way to reach an inhabited city...he satisfied the longing soul and filled the hungry soul with good things.
What is the greatest commandment? T o love God above all and love our neighbor as ourselves. Why do we have to love ourselves? We are the child of God and God Son lives in me. Everyone can sing “I am special” God created us especially with something to do on this earth that no one else can do and must love ourselves for who we are. We have to realize the dignity of being a child of God. We must love our neighbor for God lives in each one of us. CS Lewis said there are 4 kinds of love, love of a mother for a child, love of a man for a maid, friend for a friend which are all inspiring, beautiful and romantic. The 4th kind of love is agape, we do good to those who hate us because we are the child of God and Christ is in each one of us. In the story of the Good Samaritan, no name is mentioned. It doesn’t matter because love is no respecter of persons. We do our duty without any recompense. We should remember that God never have to create us but He did. He created us for glory, gave each of us a name and has prepared a special place for us. When we leave this present world and He utters our name we will fly to Him faster than sound. It is because we are created by God to be with Him in heaven even before we were born. When we stand face to face with God He will ask us the big question: Why aren’t you like you? That unique creation of mine, that radiant human being I put in this earth in whom I can shine, how disappointed we can be if we find that we have disappointed Him. He will not ask us why we are not like John Paul II, St. Francis of Assisi or St. Therese of the Little Flower. We are supposed to be the person for which we are created, in glory and in honor. The prayer of St. Ignatius should be our prayer: Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve You as You deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for reward save that of knowing I am doing Your Will. It is easier to follow the will of God whenever we are experiencing the good times but when the going gets tough and the tough really gets going then the scenario changes. The words: with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind are all extremes or superlatives and requires us to do exactly what it is asking us to do and obey at all times and not be half hearted Christians. Jesus never stops teaching, coaching and giving examples on how we should go about with our lives. He is after our welfare and the fulfillment of our desires in order for all of us to lead a wonderful life. We can trust Him to carry out whatever is needed for us to attain it provided we follow and obey His commandments, which is in truth the way to be truly happy. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 22:34-40
...“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
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