GET DOWN ON IT

Whenever we attend a healing mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Michael Barry we are always greeted by some very interesting events. One of these was when we went to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for the said mass and Sis Marcy was so shocked when she saw Sis Lucy picking up a bubble gum on the ground. Before she can even think of anything else Sis Lucy explained that she missed when she threw her bubble gum in the trash can so she decided to pick it up so that nobody will end up stepping on it. One of the things that I consider yucky is to step on a gum much more to touch it. (I guess, you know what I mean when you accidentally come across these gums underneath tables and chairs.) This experience made me think that if all of us will just bother to pick up our own mess and avoid sticking it up anywhere we please then this world will be a much better place to live in. This sticking the gum habit is not a mortal sin, I guess, but it pays to start small and eventually end up doing bigger things in the process.  If we will just develop an attitude of always doing things within the context of God's love then nothing is too difficult indeed. If we are truly confident in our hearts about God’s love then what today's 1st reading is telling us should take place in us naturally and therefore we should be inclined to doing it and truly come out as a people that is truly God’s own. I am reminded once again of the song, "Let the Love Begin" which has become very popular in the Philippines. In fact it was made into a romantic film which became a Valentine's movie presentation. The 1st reading today is something like it. God is offering us love but it is up to us to let it begin. As the lyrics of the song goes, "Now let the love begin, let the light come shining in, who knows where the road will lead us now, look at what we’ve found make this moment turn our hearts around it may never come again let it in, let the love begin." We've got to let God in, though we may never really know where it will lead us, one thing is sure, it will turn our hearts around. We will never be the same again as in today's 1st reading. Amen. Hallelujah!

Titus 2:1-8, 11-141

Beloved: You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine...11 For the grace of God has appeared, saving all 12 and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, 13 as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.

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, 18 and 23, 27 and 29

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. The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted; their inheritance lasts forever. By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm, and he approves his way. R. Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide forever; The just shall possess the land and dwell in it forever.

R.

In all the readings for today there is one thing that God wants to teach us.  He wants us to increase our faith and move on from our baby faith to a grown up one. If before we are used to just crying out loud and getting our way just like when we were babies it is time to grow up and mature in our faith. God tells us that following Him is not always easy but if we persist and persevere then we can get there. Jesus wants us to realize that we can not always expect things to happen the way we want it. We are supposed to do the good that we have to do regardless of our situation. We have to stick with Him through thick and thin. It is in doing so that we grow and have faith that can move mountains. We often find ourselves or other people say that life is not fair. But it doesn't really matter whether life is fair or not since we have a God who is fair who knows and sees all. Today's gospel tells us that for as long as we know in our heart, mind and soul that we've done what we're obliged to do and did everything right in accordance to what God would have wanted it then we should realize that we are really what the gospel speaks about, "We are unprofitable servants..." Nothing that we do can benefit God nor add anything to His greatness and glory for He is already who He is with or without us. The bottom line is that everything we do for the Lord is really meant for our own good. In fact, nothing that we ever did for Him is lost, it all comes back to us to the overflowing more than a hundredfold if we dedicate our service and all that we do to the Greatest Master for all eternity. We must be aware of the truth that it is by His power that we exist in this world, it is only fitting for us to be always humble and upright before our Creator because that's what we are called for to do. God is the source and reason for everything. We pray that God who is our Master and King will continue to sustain us, His lowly servants, in the things that we have committed to do for Him. He's an awesome God! We should continue to trust God's will in our life and understand that we needed to go through certain experiences not just in accordance to our own delight and liking but first and foremost to make us better persons for God. In the end, we are always at His disposal, a servant and handmaid, for the Lord who never needed anything from us being God, the ultimate and infinite LORD will always be a kind and loving master to us all. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Lk 17:7-10 

Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”