The following statements from today's 1st reading empower us to do all things through Christ. We are encouraged by Paul in this letter to the Philippians, I almost wrote to the Philippines because just like them our country has had enough of the share of every circumstance stated here. As a nation we have been identified to be a people of faith and hope since Filipinos always manage to be a part of the Catholic Church of every culture, nation and country all over the world. It is partly because of the fact that just like Paul and the Philippians, our country has been through a lot in terms of suffering. In all these things we have to be thankful because we come to a very important realization and eye opener that it is always in God that we find the strength to carry on. For that I should say, I am so proud to be Filipino. Amen. Hallelujah!
Philippians 4:10-19
...I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. 12 I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. 13 I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me...My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
As human beings we all long to be loved and be in a relationship especially if we are in that stage of life defined by Erikson in psychosocial development which is love. The Intimacy vs. Isolation conflict is emphasized in this stage which is around the ages of 20 to 34. It is important that we enter into a relationship forming intimate, reciprocal relationships (e.g. through close friendships or marriage) and willingly make the sacrifices and compromises that such relationships require. Though, we are also aware of rejections such as being turned down or our partners breaking up with us. We are familiar with pain, and to some of us, rejection is painful; our egos cannot bear the pain. We should realize all the more the importance of establishing an intimate relationship for that matter with God always at the center. If we allow God to take an active part in our life especially in our relationships then He will surely do. He will not intrude or trespass but if we will gladly invite and welcome Him then He will surely come to be with us. Just imagine having a good friend at our side ready to support and help us at all times. We will never be disappointed if we stick to God and all the things He stands for. In fact we will find that God can be our constant companion and friend, the greatest one we could ever get. It is never easy, we are still striving and sometimes struggling to do the work that God has lead us to do, nevertheless, we are hopeful and persevering that we can make a difference. Trustworthiness, honesty and sincerity is the key. Have you ever been in darkness that you can't see even the tiniest thread of light? I have been to such and know exactly how it feels to be trapped in darkness. We were in a cave and it was pure black. It felt good when a torch was lighted and shone through the darkness. We all depended on that light to take us where we were going. The same is true with our own lives when we stumble and fall and feel as if we are left all alone in the dark. We must not forget that there is a light that shines within us. God dwells in each one of us. If we conduct our affairs justly and not choose to do wrong then no darkness can terrify us. We can always rely on the words and promises of God for they are trustworthy. Despite all the negativities that assail us from day to day and the list is endless, we should remain hopeful and steadfast in the Lord for we are not relying on the limited efforts of human beings but on God. What are we willing to put at stake just to uphold our faith and confidence in God? Sometimes we are tested by the difficult circumstances that we are faced with and when these trying times come up our disposition in life tend to waver and we start to lose our ground. We can always come up with alibis and excuses most especially the overused line which is "The Lord will understand." Of course He will always understand but it is in these situations that we are being offered the chance of reaping bountifully instead of just sparingly. Let us not miss and always take advantage of every opportunity that the Lord sends our way to really take the challenge. To have the heart of a champion who knows no defeat only victory. It is time we discover who we really are in the eyes of God and prove what we are really made of. It is through the daily events in our life especially those that challenge us to go further down the road of life that can bring us to the peak of our faith. If we are always full of doubt and uncertainties it could mean that we are not confident of the greatest and sole source of blessings who is God Himself. Only the brave, daring and courageous make it big. But it is also true that the more daring we are the more chances we have of losing more. There is always a 50/50 probability whenever we place our bet on something. But if we are betting, giving our all and putting at stake all that we've got on the words and promises of our Lord then our probability turns into 100% certainty. If God says so then it is ultimately and without a trace of doubt very true. The light that is within us will surely break through the darkness and not have fear. Although many people misunderstand the fear of the Lord. Recalling the verse in Proverbs 1:7 and Proverbs 9:10, the fear of the Lord is called the beginning or foundation of wisdom. In Proverbs 15:33, the fear of the Lord is described as the "discipline" or "instruction" of wisdom. They think that the fear of the Lord is something that is good to have when we first start out as a Christian, but that we should grow beyond it. That should not be the case; rather, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because it is one of the foundations of our religious life. It is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit enumerated in Isaiah 11:2-3. When we are infused with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit the way that Christ Himself would. It confirms the virtue of hope. We often think of hope and fear as mutually exclusive, but the fear of the Lord is the desire not to offend Him, and the certainty that He will give us the grace necessary to keep from doing so. It is that certainty that gives us hope. The fear of the Lord is like the respect we have for our parents. We do not wish to offend them, but we also do not live in fear of them, in the sense of being frightened. In other words, it is not a fear of punishment, but a desire not to offend God that parallels our desire not to offend our parents. This gift "fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread, above all things, to offend Him. It is always for our own good to have a holy fear in the Lord. It is not the same as fear in the sense that we are just compelled to do something solely because of fear but rather with love and respect. God is indeed one who speaks to us in many ways especially through the circumstances that surround us. He knows exactly the day and the hour and make everything fit perfectly according to His plan. Nothing can ever be wiser than a man who follows the Lord with all his mind, heart and soul. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 112:1b-2, 5-6, 8a, 9
R: Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
1 Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. (R) 6 He shall never be moved; the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. (R) 8 His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear. 9 Lavishly he gives to the poor; his justice shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory.
God in today's gospel tells us to always keep the motives and intentions of what we do in check. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be (Mt 6:21). There are times when we often fall prey or are caught up by the prevailing condition or accepted norms of our society that we are led astray from doing what is really pleasing before the Lord and worst we come up with all kinds of justifications and excuses just to make ourselves look right before the Lord. If we are sometimes groping in the dark or having doubts as to what is truly pleasing in the sight of God we should always remember that nothing is hidden from Him because He can see through our hearts and all will be revealed in its true light if we seek Him then we will find Him. There's one thing we should never forget, we have a Creator who is able to do all marvelous things without exception which is not in fiction or imagination but in real life. If we put our faith and trust in God and decide to serve Him first and foremost then we would never be in want. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 16:9-15
...You cannot serve God and mammon." The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.
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