ABC OF FAITH

As human beings we go through different stages in life as we grow old and should hope to become a better person in the process. It would always help to assess how we are doing with our life. This reminds me of an episode of Grey's Anatomy entitled, "I saw what I saw" The doctor was examining a conscious, up and about patient in the ER who had minor burns due to a fire that broke out in the hotel where they were staying. Her vital signs were all normal, in fact she was completely aware of what was going on around her. She was in the process of being examined further when she suddenly screamed because she saw another patient who just got admitted in the ER, with a big ax planted and poking out of his chest. He is a firefighter who tripped and accidentally axed his own chest. It was quite a scene that the doctor who was examining her got distracted and totally forgot about what she was about to do to her. Unfortunately, what was bypassed in her assessment is the most important and top priority in the care of a patient, airway. It is the A in the ABC of Patient Care and as I've already said is the priority care. She happened to inhale soot which caused the blockage of her airway and from there arose all other problems and eventually led to her death. This happened very quickly despite the remedy and eventually drastic measures implemented by not just one but almost all the good doctors in the ER who attempted to save her life. And to think, that it was all because of the failure to do just one step. In the procedure, the failure to look into the patient's airways, i.e, nostrils and throat is a simple and easy step of assessing the airway but spelled the difference between life and death. Today's 1st reading, Daniel reminds us of our top priority as Christians. There may be times when we are distracted, lured and carried away by the things that are going on around us. Let us not continue to be distracted. We ought to realize that an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. It would always be for our own good that we always assess our standing before God so as not to end up in a hopeless condition when cure is already impossible before we pay attention to God. To love and observe God's commandments should always come first and be the A in the ABC of our faith in God. We should be rid of whatever it is that is keeping us from fully experiencing the compassion and forgiveness of God as spoken of in today's 1st reading. Let us not be tied down with our guilt and get it on with repentance. Our sins can never be bigger than the love and mercy of God. Never doubt God's goodness the same way we should never hesitate to love and obey God.

For we can never outdo, outgive and surpass whatever blessings God has in store for us. Our God's generosity is limitless and immeasurable that even if we have our hands full, He continues to shower us with His graces to overflowing. How much confidence and faith can we give to the promises being spoken to us by the Jesus not just on very few occasions but daily in the gospel readings? We might as well ask this question to ourselves whenever we fail to realize the impact of God’s promises that He delivers to us in the scriptures daily.  Heaven and earth will pass away but His words and promises will remain. If people break promises and their word, God definitely knows how to fulfill His word. It is only right and fitting to always sing of his praises just like in today's 1st reading. Amen. Hallelujah!

Daniel 9:4b-10

4 “Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments!...O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you. 9 But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you 10 and paid no heed to your command,...

Most people I believe will agree with me when I say that who we are today is the sum total of what we've done in the past and what we're still doing in the present. But the most important part of the equation that we should never forget to add in our life is the Multiplier, for whatever it is that we can do, is just a small fraction of what God can do in our lives. There is no doubt that the Lord will show us the right path if we go to Him at all times. Sometimes we go through life not really knowing what we're missing. Let us no longer miss out but rather benefit and enjoy in the goodness of God. We sometimes wonder how an act of obedience to God can seem so difficult at times even if we know for a fact that it is for our own good. It is our sins that draw us farther away from God, bury us deeper and bind us in chains. It all begins in just a slight act of disobedience or negligence on our part which takes a hold of us and before we know it we've gone so far away from God. Let's not wait any longer before it's too late. The time is now for us to repent and go back to God. There are 2 bible verses which I consider very special and of great importance to me. The first is from Romans 8:28 which says that, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God,who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son..." The second one is from Ephesians 6:10-17, "Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one.And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." It is noteworthy that we realize the important aspect in this bible passage about the need to wear an armor and most especially for us to realize the need for a weapon when we engage in battle and the only weapon mentioned is the sword which is the word of God. Sometimes we tend to look at things in a general way and miss the important details or only see, read and hear the things that we want and do not take the words of God in its entirety. There are lots of prosperity preachers who present the word of God in this manner and tend to overlook the equally important details and instructions that God also wanted us to pay attention to. God has definitely made it clear that everything will work for good but just the same, we have to take note of the following words which say that we need to conform to the image of Jesus. We definitely should not miss nor overlook this so that we can surely be saved and delivered. It is inevitable that we always give praise to God. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 79:8, 9, 11, 13

R: Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

8 Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low. (R) 9 Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name; deliver us and pardon our sins for your name’s sake. (R) 11 Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you; with your great power free those doomed to death. 13 Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; through all generations we will declare your praise.

All these benefits and blessings that the Lord gives us come in a clause. As in today's gospel we are called to be just like God, loving, merciful and forgiving. Jesus speaks of it too in the Lord’s Prayer. We receive all the blessings "as we forgive those who trespass against us." We should always have compassion for our brothers and sisters especially those who have been in rough and grave situations. We should think in this way, "Had we been born in a different family and had these experiences they had then we could have committed the same thing they did, or had we been raised in much different circumstances we could have done the same thing." We should stop judging and condemning people and be more accepting of them. Our broken nature originated from original sin and thus we have this inclination to sin. In the Middle East we find an endless retribution in people always trying to get back at each other. We dread war and bloodshed that cause human sorrow needlessly. There is violence that go around the globe but if everyone will live the gospel today then we can witness how beneficial forgiveness is in our own lives. Resentment is just like drinking poison and sitting there while waiting for the other person to die. When we learn to forgive we set the prisoner free and find out that the prisoner is ourselves. Unforgiveness makes us smaller but forgiveness makes us go beyond. The past hurts devour the present and until we let go of the past we can never move forward. We should not choose to be miserable. We should rather be thankful for the suffering and think of the comradeship, humility, courage and greatness of our lives that are fruits born from it. We should put ourselves up to the challenge of great love to see how far we can go just like our Lord when He was nailed on the cross still asking forgiveness for us. We have to be ready to forgive as we study the crucifix and see the ability to do as Jesus did, even making excuses when He said, “they don’t know what they’re doing.” We are called to live differently today as the world is living today. Let us not waste our time while we still can, we have to do all in our power to take advantage of doing everything we can do for the glory and praise of our God. Nothing is outside the knowledge of God. Let us not delay nor stall for every single thing we do for the Lord will definitely count. For we can never outdo, outgive and surpass whatever blessings God has in store for us. Our God's generosity is limitless and immeasurable that even if we have our hands full, He continues to shower us with His graces to overflowing.

He will surely see to it that whatever we do for His sake will go back to us in a good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing. I could never forget this passage because it is one of her favorites since I grew up always hearing her quote this. My mother was widowed at a very young age of 32 and left with our care when we were still very young, aged 4, 3 and 1. She never remarried and just devoted her life to us. She was not just our mother but stood as our father at the same time. She worked hard in order to provide for all our needs. As far as I can remember, we were never in want at any single time. My mother would always attribute this to God our Provider. She often said that widows and orphans are very special to the Lord. Another thing I am reminded of is my experience before when I was just new in the Charismatic Renewal and still in the honeymoon stage with the Lord. I was boldly declaring about my new found relationship with God and Mama Mary and somebody who happened to be a "born again" Christian kept on bluffing me. I should have been irritated and annoyed with her because I wasn't doing anything wrong with my outward display of faith. Instead of giving in to her I decided to keep up a nice face, still be gracious to her and just kept silent. I could have answered back and defended myself but I felt in my heart that it won't do any good to both of us. Although it should not always be the case we should fervently pray that we will always strive to be good and trust God. He knows perfectly well what's in our minds and hearts and what matters most is that we think, speak and act exactly the way Jesus would. Whenever we feel that someone doesn't like us we should still treat that person with the same kindness we treat a person who likes us. We must not have special preferences in people and try to treat them equally as best as we can. It is very difficult but if we continue to pray to God for grace then we can carry on with it and do exactly what the gospel says. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 6:36-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”