THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE

I could never forget the time when Bernadeth and I decided to go for a walk and went all the way to Mt. SAC which is 5 miles away from our place. I never thought that we would be able to do it and were  still able to make it by walking back. Whew! We had been going for a walk whenever we had the chance but I guess, that was the farthest and longest walk  I’d ever done in my entire life, it took us almost 3 hours. I was urging Bernadeth to go back from time to time even before we reached Mt. SAC but she never seemed to get tired and just couldn't stop. I decided I can give it a try and did my best to catch up with her fast pace. I realized that we need to challenge ourselves from time to time in order for us to improve our performance and I did and it felt good. This principle can also be applied in our personal knowledge and relationship with God. Which is the message impressed in today’s 1st reading since it made me think that there is always room for improvement.   It also made me realize how blessed I am to take part in the Catholicism and bible study we regularly attended every Tuesday and Thursday at St. Martha’s Church many years ago which has become a great source of wisdom to further improve my knowledge about God. If we think we are already doing good with our faith then it's about time we move on to the next level to better and best. The EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) Channel, Global Catholic Network has been a great help also for Catholics who have been journeying in the faith. All their programs and speakers have certainly been doing their assignments and doing a great job. Those who have been following them on television and online know exactly what I am talking about and for those who have not, it's about time to see and find out for yourself. It's absolutely a great consolation that we can have access to things like these that allow us to understand and grow in our faith. We have an obligation to guard our faith and be confident in it by knowing everything there is to know. Let us not deprive ourselves of these opportunities when we get to meet, watch or hear people like Apollos in today's 1st reading who certainly know what they are preaching about. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 18:23-28

...A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the scriptures...establishing from the scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.

Sometimes we marvel at people who are able to see through the future or are able to forecast things even before they happen. I know only of one thing that there is no need for us to consult any other except God who resides in our hearts through His Spirit dwelling in us through the sacramental life of the Church. There is a lot more about Jesus our God that we haven't known yet. Looking back from the time of Abraham to the time when Jesus came and thereafter is just more than we all could ever handle. Every single day of our life is an opportunity to discover more and more about a God who loves us more than we'll ever come to know. There are lots of insights and opinions that could be brought up and help pave the way for a broader understanding of God's word. Different points of view and personal observations could be raised which could make us realize that when looked at the specific angle where the person who said it was coming from can never be judged as wrong. We all have this personal differences and unique characteristics but what's most important is that we recognize our inadequacies that even if we fail to fully embody the infinite wisdom and intelligence of God and just reflect a tiny bit but when put together under the lordship of God our King can amount to some thing really inspiring and great. When we contribute to the wholeness of God's people and become one then indeed, we are the body of the Church and the temple of God where God reigns as the Head and King. We have a wonderful God worthy of all praise. We all belong to the Creator of this world where we live, the God Most High. There is no other greater dignity than this to be sons and daughters of God who is King of kings, Lord of lords and Almighty God who is with us. I’ve been doing my daily run no matter how toxic and tiring it is at times. It was all worth it because exercise does not just benefit our health but can also become a source of enjoyment. When we get to see the beautiful view of the outdoors like brightly colored green trees, flowers, mountain, tiny little squirrels running in the sidewalks amidst the sound of whistling birds, rustling of the leaves as the cool refreshing wind blow in our faces and spread the pleasant scent of the different plants along the way, they could create a wonderful and invigorating feeling which leaves us in awe of our God who is the Creator of all.  We just might find ourselves singing this song.

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom

Who can fathom the depth of Your love

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty enthroned above

Chorus:

And I stand (I stand) I stand (I stand) in awe of You

I stand (I stand) I stand (I stand) in awe of You

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you

Repeat Chorus

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you

Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 47:2-3. 8-9. 10

R: God is king of all the earth.

1 [2] All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, 2 [3] for the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.

The more we get to know about a person the better our relationship will be with each other. We can only develop a strong bond if we are willing to invest in a relationship. Sometimes even the years of being together and the intimacy shared are not enough to keep it intact. We have seen several relationships during our lifetime that we thought are bound to last for a lifetime but did not. Where did we go wrong? That is often the question being asked by people who thought that their relationship is for keeps. There are so many things that are not known to us like the answers to such questions that remain uncertain. We can think of numerous things that are yet to be answered at this time. We can not claim to know everything but we can always rely on someone who knows everything. He knows and sees all things. He is in perfect control and always in charge. If only we could realize this important truth that we can depend on God always. We may have experienced failed relationships despite our best efforts but with God nothing is wasted. We've got to know the power of the triangular relationship. All our relationships with anyone or anything should not just be two way but rather trio. It should form a triangle wherein each angle is connected with the other. These 3 angles comprise the I or one's self, the other person or could be a thing, situation etc. and imperatively, God. We should be able to always connect one from the other and not break the triangle. This is the triangle of life. We ought to keep it intact because not a single part of it would be able to stand without the other. Everything stays within the triangle.  It may not yet be clear to us as in a figure of speech that Jesus speaks about but isn't that what faith is all about. Faith is believing in things that we hope for. Jesus in today's gospel tells us to ask from Him anything provided of course it is not evil. If we reconcile these words in the gospel and the things we long for then there is really nothing more that we ought to be truly worried about. As in Roman 8:28, "We know all things work for good for those who love God who are called according to His purpose." and in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord. Plan for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope." We look forward to the day when the beauty that surrounds us will merely become shadows in the light of God's radiant glory. Everything that seems to be a mystery will soon come to light and eventually be revealed to us. We may not be able to fully understand and appreciate the things that are happening in our lives right now but we should continue to hold on to God's word and promises trusting that He will make all things beautiful in His time. Amen. Hallelujah!

John 16:23b-28

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 24 Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25 “I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father…