Today’s 1st reading reminded me of a football game between Texas and Alabama in January 2010. This lady whom I got acquainted with is a big fan of the Texas Long Horns. I told her that my mother happened to be a big fan of Texas too although not the Football team but the place itself. I can never forget it when she told me that she considered Texas as the best place she had visited in the US. Before the game even started and while watching the game we were both hoping and praying that Texas would win. But it was just the 1st quarter and looked like they do not stand a chance because the score was 24 to 6 in favor of Alabama. We had the biggest surprise when all of a sudden during the last quarter they were able to catch up with a score of 19 against 24. It all got us very excited and we’re cheering out loud but they still lost in the game. We didn’t even finish the game anymore when Alabama was able to make a touchdown since it ended all hope that Texas could still win. I saw the disappointment in this woman’s face who even wore an orange jacket as a testimony of her support to the Texas Long Horns. I tried to lift her spirits up by telling her that it was a good game because they put up a good fight and what matters most is that they tried their best to win the game which make them winners themselves in their own right. There is something more to winning these titles and honors this world has to offer. The real winner of them all can be found in today’s 1st reading. Sometimes if things we have been praying for are taking a long, long time and it seems like nothing good is ever going to happen we tend to falter in our faith and become enticed by the options that this world is offering us. It is our human tendency that lures us to this hopeless mentality of "Damn if you do or damn if you don't." deception and begin to entertain the attractive and lucrative offers being presented to us without much thought. We fail to realize the true, undisguised and plain reality that only God has the best offer there was, is and will be ever known to man. Thus it is indeed for the best to really see what this poem tells us. It is entitled, “They Missed Him” whose author is unknown. It is very appropriate for today's 1st reading. May we treasure in our hearts the real message it brings and not miss Him. Amen. Hallelujah!
They Missed Him!
They were looking for a lion,
He came as a Lamb, and they missed Him.
They were looking for a warrior,
He came as a Peacemaker, and they missed Him.
They were looking for a king,
He came as a Servant, and they missed Him.
They were looking for liberation from Rome,
He submitted to the Roman stake, and they missed Him.
They were looking for a fit to their mold,
He was the mould maker, and they missed Him.
What are you looking for? Lion? Warrior? King? Liberator?
They were looking for their temporal needs to be met,
He came to meet their eternal need, and they missed Him.
He came as a Lamb to be sacrificed for your sin
Will you miss Him?
He came to make peace between God and man.
Will you miss Him?
He came to model servant hood for all mankind.
Will you miss Him?
He came that we might have true liberty.
Will you miss Him?
He came to give you eternal life.
Will you miss Him?
When we submit to the Lamb, we will meet the Lion.
Join with the Peacemaker, and we will meet the Warrior.
Work with the Servant, and we will meet the King.
Walk with the Submitted, and we will meet the Liberator.
Concern ourselves with the eternal, and we will have the temporal.
If Jesus is not fitting into the mold you have, then come to the mould maker and get a new one.
Submit to His plan for your life and you will see the eternal need met first; then all the other things you have need of will be taken care of as well.
1 John 5:5-13
5 Beloved: Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?...you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God. If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself.
No matter what we're going through we can always rely on God to uphold and defend our cause. If we claim to be true followers and believers of our Lord Jesus Christ then we can put a claim on these same blessings and privileges bestowed on the chosen people of God. His covenant with His people is everlasting. There is a big difference between a covenant and contract. A contract is an agreement which is all about an exchange of goods while the covenant is an exchange of relationships. God wants to have a relationship with us first and foremost and through it everything else will follow. No poet, writer or artist can ever describe in words or paint in canvass the love of God. For the immensity of its beauty and glory is immeasurable and beyond understanding. The readings for today point to the fact that we have a responsibility in our hands if we truly claim that we are a people of God. We have to follow and obey God at all times which can only be done and fulfilled if we have full knowledge of what God wants us to do. We’ve got to realize the most essential and important things in life that we sometimes lose sight of and tend to neglect. Let us not be dissuaded nor distracted by the allurement of this world and end up losing what really matters most. Our God is Perfect but we are still part of this imperfect world thus we are bound to experience the daily struggles of life. This reminds me of this incident when this lady who was already very careful in her movements still ended up scraped in her arm. She didn't even figure out how it could have happened. When we bump into something we usually develop a bruise but we would sometimes find one without knowing how it came to be. We sometimes get wounded and bruised even before we know it. Take the example of those people who are taking medications (anticoagulants) that predispose them to bruise easily. Well, things happen even if we do not want or expect it but we can always draw strength and inspiration from today's psalm knowing that God is our Mighty Healer and Savior. There are times when we are in a hurry to work things out on our own and forget to peacefully surrender all our concerns to God. That's when we end up tired and beaten because we've used up all the energy of our mind, body and soul. It's what usually happens to most of us when we are confronted with dilemmas. If we have learned how to truly wait for the Lord then we are not far from that place of peace where God is leading us. If we look back at what we've been through especially our trials and difficulties, then we can only feel so blessed and find gratitude in our hearts for all the things that lead to now. It will always be good to undergo trials and hardships in life and remain steadfast in the Lord for everything will pay off in the end. Not a single thing that we've been through for the glory of God will ever be in vain. Victory is indeed for those who acknowledge the Son Of God, Jesus Christ. It is only right that we give all glory, honor and praise to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
R: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
...For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. (R) 14 He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word!...
The Kingdom of God here on earth established by Jesus Christ, is accompanied by signs, wonders and miracles. It goes to show that He is indeed the Messiah, the Son of God. Today’s gospel speaks of Jesus. He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph. Our human nature tells us that there are sets of boundaries and limitations which we are all confined. We have our mind sets and judgments of certain things and people too. Jesus is true man but if we truly believe that He is also true God then let us not miss the point that God wills for us everything that is good. We maybe in a bad situation "as thought of" but God can will anything and everything to happen in our life. If we will just have the faith then nothing should ever stop us from believing that God can make all good things happen to us. God doesn't need our prayers but we need to pray fervently to God. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 3:23
When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age.
He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
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