Faith alone doctrine states that justification simply means being "declared righteous" We can not just be declared righteous but instead we have to be made righteous by not continuing to sin. Whenever things become complicated and difficult with the people around us because of differences in opinion and points of view all we need to do is refer to today's 1st reading. Justification actually means being "made righteous" i.e. it entails the sanctification of his whole being (CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 1989, 1990, &1995) We are justified not by faith alone nor by works alone. Justification has its stages i.e. initial and progressive. Initial justification takes place at our baptism. We still have a tendency to backslide and during the hour of death is the period of intense spiritual battle over our soul. That is why we need to mature in our faith. Certainty of salvation which states, "Once saved, always saved." tends to put off our guard if we believe in this. (1 Jn 5:13-14) We should say instead "I know I am saved, still being saved and will continue to be saved." Justification is a life long process as we can read and stated by Paul in the 1st reading today and in 1 Corinthians 9:27 he also said, “No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” Another thing I am reminded of is what my mother used to tell me, "Please all and you please none." We can not go on living our lives seeking to gain the admiration and approval of men. We are just setting ourselves for a big disappointment. We only seek to please God. Thus we can learn from Paul in his letter to the Corinthians. He tells us not to make any judgments because we do not know everything. Nothing is final until God says so. It is best that we just rely on God who knows and sees all. We may be in a difficult situation at present or at one time in our life. During this time we can never deny the fact that God sends us direction and guidance. We will never feel lost for He will surely bring all things to light and manifest it in its appointed time. Amen. Hallelujah!
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Brothers and sisters: Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; 4 I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.
Fr. Barry has this very strong gift of discernment because each of us who attended his healing had the same story to say. He was able to see and feel the inner depths of our beings and it feels good to know that God communicates His love and concern to us through this anointed priest. These past few years of our life, whether we admit it or not testify to the truth that most part of it surprises us at how things fell into place. Looking back at all of them, the people involved, how it all came to play and work out well, we just can't deny the fact that when we pray we are getting direction from above. In fact the schedule of all the tasks, social obligations and activities lined up to do, no matter how unmanageable it may seem if we entrust it to God with all our heart, mind and strength would be carried out in a way a Master Planner does. We have an awesome God who makes all things work for good. I know in my heart that God is always with us to build up our confidence and faith in Him in the midst of all our trials and hardships. Whether we realize this or not, He also make sure that when we get our share of trials we doubly get our share of consolations from God and even more. We just have to look beyond what this limited vision can take us. This reminds me of Miggy, my landlady's grandson. When we brought Bernadeth home from our bible study this incident made me look at things differently from this little boy’s perspective. I had been to their place several times already and all I was able to say about it is that it's a very difficult climb when walking up to their place since it is almost like on top of a hill. It was only when Miggy being the child that he is, was able to see things differently as we headed home on our way down. He was able to see the very beautiful view of what's ahead of us while up there and said that he can see miles and miles away. Sometimes we really ought to become like little children and be more appreciative of what we have and hold at the present moment and look ahead with so much hope. We have to start seeing the beautiful things that are right in front of us that we usually do not notice and even see beyond our limited point of view instead of bragging about the things that we don't have knowing that our security lies in a God who grants our heart's requests. God gives us inspiration in today's psalm since He is giving us an assurance that He will never forsake nor abandon and will continue to look after all our needs. No matter how tough things may become for us we only have to shrug it off and step up. Just like the story of the donkey that fell into a pit. When the people decided that it would be too much trouble for them to get it out of there they just decided to bury it down there. Every time people would throw dirt and sand into the pit instead of wallowing up into self pity and despair what it did was shrug it off and step up. Before the donkey knew it was out of the pit. The same thing should be our attitude towards life. When somebody throws bad things at us just shrug it off and step up. Then focus on what today’s psalm is telling and we’ll surely get out of whatever pit we’ve fallen into. We can get very good advice from it. Every word tells us exactly the right thing to do. It brings forth peace and serenity in us. These come from knowing that we can rely and depend on the words of God to do what it says it would do. Are we really convinced that God is able to do everything for our sake? Let us ponder upon the words of the psalm reading and try our very best to do what God wills in our life with the conviction and belief that anything that is for God's greater glory is in truth for our own sake and benefit. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40
R: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you your heart’s requests. (R) 5 Commit to the LORD your way; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make justice dawn for you like the light; bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. (R) 27 Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide forever; 28 for the LORD loves what is right, and forsakes not his faithful ones. Criminals are destroyed, and the posterity of the wicked is cut off. (R) 39 The salvation of the just is from the LORD; he is their refuge in time of distress. 40 And the LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
What we encounter everyday is all a part of life. It's in fact very simple if we are to look at it from today's gospel point of view. Sometimes we make things difficult, if we really want to follow God we just need to be plain and simple. We just have to accept things as they are, what can't be, can't be and do things the way Jesus would do. Whenever we go through life we need to keep this piece of advice in mind. What's done is done. What's past is past. We can't continue bringing up the past and ruin what's in the present. Though, we must not forget the lessons of the past we have to move on and do what is supposed to be done at the moment, which is to mind the present and look forward to the best future we can work for. Another thing we are sometimes guilty of is, judging people based only on what we see from the outside. We tend to make our own judgments and label people although not always openly, in accordance to our own personal standards. This should not be the case rather we should always follow the example of Jesus as in today's gospel when He tried to point out the importance or precedence of one thing over the other in certain situations but at the same time did not disregard outright the importance of the other. We sometimes make decisions and do things at one particular point in our life that may seem hard to explain and understand for some people. In the same way that the scribes and Pharisees failed to grasp or maybe deliberately ignored just to brag about their being right about fasting and prayer and find a loophole in Jesus. We are sometimes guilty of this when we tend to always look at the negative rather than choose to build up what is right, fitting and most essential thing to do that is being called for at the specific moment. We sometimes have to be very discreet and always consult God in every single thing that we do. If we always draw near to God then He will surely draw near to us and we will find it easier to follow His voice and directions without being dissuaded and influenced by the so called scribes and Pharisees in our own lives that aim to sometimes confuse and mislead us or our own tendency to be like them. In all things let the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness/ humility, self control and faithfulness) and the Sacred Heart of Jesus guide and direct us when we encounter such situations. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 5:33-39
33 The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” 36 And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. 37 Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. 38 Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”
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