We have always heard priests use these words in today’s 1st reading to pronounce a blessing to the church people usually during the end of the mass. It always give us a feeling of unexplainable joy and peace in our heart even at times when we just read it and chance upon it in most religious cards, prayer books and the like. Thus, we have always felt good about it. Now we know why. These very words according to the 1st reading are the Lord’s words to Moses, thousands of generations before and still hold the same efficacy that goes with God’s spoken word. It never loses its impact and meaning even up to the present time. Peace is a gift that we get from Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God and through Him we become sons and daughters of God not of the world. The Word became flesh to make us "partakers of the divine nature":(2 Pet 1:4) "For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God." "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God." "The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 460) When Jesus unlike Adam who did not trust, assumed human nature and became obedient to the Father to death, He gave man a new beginning. As we are off to start this new year we can start anew with Jesus Christ and begin it with Him. We may never know what the future holds for us but we know that God holds our future. Let us start the year 2017 right and receive God's blessing as stated twice in today's first reading. Amen. Hallelujah!
Numbers 6:22-27
22 The Lord said to Moses: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 The Lord bless you and keep you! 25 The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! 26 The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! 27 So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
God has indeed demonstrated his love and mercy to us in so many ways for always. Sometimes we tend to overlook and take it for granted. What I have been writing and sharing these past years since 2007 made me realize to not overlook nor take for granted the very obvious fact that God never leaves, forsakes nor abandon us 100% of the time. Just looking back at what happened from the moment I started to commit to writing reflections up to the present makes me see very clearly the significance of those events in my life in relation to the life of Jesus here on earth. This is not just for me but is a calling for all of us who believes in Jesus the Son of God who became man. In October 7, 2007 which I mark as my 1st day, I received this message from Habakkuk 2:2-3, Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision Clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. It all started with the realization that I am headed for the unknown especially with frightening consequences that followed when I found out some information that are not in accordance to my personal plans and expectation. After careful thought of these series of events it impressed several significant occasions related to the scriptures and the life of Jesus. I decided to document all my reflections as recommended in Habakkuk. Thanks to Jesus being presented to us in every possible and even impossible means especially at times when we encounter trials and difficulties. Every turn of events should make us think of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus who was born as man, suffered, died and resurrected on the 3rd day. These things should really open up a lot of thoughts in our hearts. It proves that we have a God who constantly wants to connect with us in countless and various ways. In God's persistence He has to repeatedly announce His blessing upon us so that we will be surely reminded of how much He wishes to make us prosper for this year 2017. In Romans 8:14-15 it is written, "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" We can give glory and praise to God right from where we are. All we have to do is be faithful to the One and True God. We may not be living in that time of the Maccabees when the Jews were forced to embrace pagan practices. It was at that time when the ruler of the land wanted to eliminate Jewish tradition and replace it with Greek. When they failed to carry this out, Greek ways were imposed by force. This was at the time before Jesus came when Jerusalem Syria Cana by saying, "Do whatever He tells you." Mary knows that her Son is the ultimate source that's why she leads us to Him, the true Mediator. God Himself ordained that His only Begotten Son be born of a human mother through Mary's obedience and perfect surrender. When the angel appeared to Mary, he wasn't speaking his own thoughts and words. He was sent by God to speak God's words. In Greek, the Hail Mary is translated as Hail most highly graced one, meaning so completely graced. Mary truly is filled with God's grace. When God conceived Mary she was free from the stain of original sin. He is getting ready the 1st tabernacle of His Son here on earth. She is made holy, unstained and created in the fullness of grace. God has placed in Mary the fullness of grace. Mary conceived by her virginity and humility. It should be in our hearts to honor Mother Mary because the Son is within her body. The Father is in the Son. It is by grace that we are saved. Through Jesus and Mary all things are restored. Everything is possible with God. Who are we to defy the manner that God Himself has chosen for His Son to come to this world. This pattern of going to the Son through the mother is a fool proof plan after all it is the plan of God. Do you feel at times that there is something that God can do for us that He has not done? I don't think so, He has done everything through Jesus Christ His Son. But if we sometimes feel this way then maybe it's time to check our blocked list and start unblocking those that keep us from receiving God's blessings. This sharing by Bro. Bo Sanchez in Didache really touched me and I'm sure it will touch you, too.
BLESSING ACCOUNT
Imagine if one day I ask for your bank account number and tell you, “I’ve deposited one million dollars in your bank account.” Naturally, you’d laugh and say, “Sure, Bo. Thanks. That’s a good one.” Of course, you don’t believe I can give you a million bucks.
But let’s just say I really did put a million dollars in your account. Would you benefit from it?
No, you wouldn’t. Unless you believe that I really gave you a million dollars and withdrew it.
I believe God has deposited zillions of heaven’s resources to your Blessing Account. You’ve got all the love, joy, peace, wisdom, holiness and, yes — finances — that you need in this world to serve Him and live a happy life.
But much of these zillions of blessings are unclaimed because you say to yourself, “There are no blessings. God won’t bless me.”
Believe that your Blessing Account is full and withdraw from your account.
God created the entire universe for you — a universe of blessings that are only waiting to be claimed. Bo Sanchez
REFLECTION:
Have you claimed from your Blessing Account?
Today, I claim from my Blessing Account all that I need. In Jesus’ name!
It boils down to one thing, only God can truly bless us in the most wonderful and everlasting way. Although God's mercy is enormous and endless, we should not take it for granted and think that we can do what we want right now in a wayward manner. It is only wise that we avail of God's mercy while we still can. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R: May God bless us in his mercy.
1 [2] May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. 2 [3] So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. (R) 4 [5] May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. (R) 5 [6] May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! 7 [8] May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
We could have succumbed to anxiety, anger, panic and drastic measures due to some things that happened to us. We could have justifications and rationalizations that things should have been resolved within a certain period and acted upon immediately. Though, it didn’t happen the way we wanted things to happen and may not understand well enough why things have to be delayed or stalled when it should have been resolved immediately. We should just always trust in God’s Divine Providence despite of some reasons still unknown to us at a particular time. For it will be revealed in the fullness of time that God has designed since there is a perfect time for everything in accordance to God’s Perfect Plan. Jesus is born of a woman. What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Jesus Christ. God sent His Son born of a woman and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role. Mary is Mother of God and this title protects the reality of the Incarnation. She is also the Mother of us all. We can experience her maternal love through our devotion to her. We are also her children in an ever present way with her union with God. Yahoo! Need I say more. Hooray for all of us who are heirs to the God's kingdom. May we give our best in proclaiming to each and every person that we are truly God's child in thought and in deed. Amen. Hallelujah!
Galatians 4:4-7
4 Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.
We've seen and witnessed a lot of things in 2016 and years in the past. It is undeniable if we are constantly seeking God's help in our lives that we are able to make it through the past year all by God's grace, mercy and love. If we will just take time to really reflect on our lives we will be amazed of what we will find out especially of the message that God wanted us to hear and know about. Once we’ve known of these things we will surely keep it close to our hearts. May we like Mary keep and reflect always in our hearts the truth about Jesus that we have been confronted with from the very beginning and for all eternity. What happened to us in the past can be an occasion when we could identify with the shepherds in today’s gospel who returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. To whom do we entrust the things in our lives? Do we trust in our own understanding and capabilities more than we do God? Just like us, Mary had a lot of things going on in her life back then and most of them she did not exactly know where it’s going to lead her but her faith in God kept her going joyfully and securely. It pays to always spend time for some reflections of the heart. And we can learn a lot from Mary’s attitude of being reflective of the things happening to her as in today’s gospel. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 2:16-21
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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