FINDING JESUS

 We have a serious matter in our hands. What's at stake here is not just a lifetime but eternity. If we still do not realize it by now then we ought to start thinking about it. It's like putting too much sugar coating and icing on the cake that we tend to mask the real thing. Today's 1st reading speaks of the tragic fate met by the Israelites, the chosen people of God, due to their leniency and corruption. If we continue to live like good times believers and treat our faith like a buffet table wherein we can just pick out the things suited to our taste and leave out what is not then we are heading for real disaster. We can also liken ourselves to good Sunday Catholics but the rest of the week is a different story. We are being reminded by God to follow Him not half way, nor halfheartedly but all the way. Meditating on the Sorrowful mysteries of the Holy Rosary make us think of how Jesus went through the agony in the garden praying with much fear knowing what awaits Him saying, “Let this cup pass me by, but not Mine, Thy will be done!”  When we experience extreme emotions like fear we can sometimes feel goose bumps all over but more than that, blood vessels can rupture which is what happened to Jesus, he bled in his perspirations. Any human person capable of emotions would surely feel the same way knowing that in a few hours He has to go through the flesh tearing scourging at the pillar, the humiliating mockery of the crowning with thorns coupled with spits and insults, the heavy cross which scraped off the flesh in His shoulders and the several falls due to its heavy load, and the ultimate sacrifice of the crucifixion and His death while picturing in our mind every blow on the nail being hammered on His hands and feet. If we have questions in our mind with regards our trials and problems we may want to consider this question, “Why does it have to happen to the only Son of God?” We look at the Blessed Mother's heart being pierced with a sword as she witnessed the merciless slaughter of her only Son whom she carried in her womb for nine months and cared for like any good mother would. In doing so, we learn from the Most Sorrowful Heart of Mary. Amen. Hallelujah!

Lamentation 2:2, 10-14, 18-19

...Your prophets had for you false and specious visions; they did not lay bare your guilt, to avert your fate; they beheld for you in vision false and misleading portents. Cry out to the Lord; moan, O daughter Zion! Let your tears flow like a torrent day and night; Let there be no respite for you, no repose for your eyes.

When we are bent on doing something we have a tendency to be oblivious of everything that is going on around us. We are too focused on one thing that all other things just fade in the background. This happens when we value something very important and precious to us that we can't afford to mess it up. It's funny how we can become like this for the fancy and fleeting things of the world but so indifferent when it comes to matters of our soul. I guess we are all guilty of misplaced values. This could be due to the fact that we are still in this world and what we see, feel, hear and hold takes first place and our priority is the here and now. It is sad that we neglect what should clearly come first. May we be ready at all times for we really never know the day or the hour.  Whatever answers we seek can not be found elsewhere but only in the tremendous love of God for all of us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 74:1b-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21

R: Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.

1 Why, O God, have you cast us off forever?...Let not the oppressed turn back in shame; may the poor and needy praise your name.

The gospel speaks of one's love and concern for a fellow human being no matter who that person is. God also sees the love we have for each and every member of our household/family and He will always come to save and heal us just like in the gospel. It also serves as a reminder to us that just like that centurion we should have that unwavering faith in the word of God and seek to follow His lead always. It is very overwhelming to know that such power and authority of God is existent in all people, places, time and circumstances. There is no limit in what God can do for our lives. All we have to do is have faith, never doubt and just believe and it will be done for us. Just like this Gentile Roman centurion who did not belong to the race of the Chosen People and yet was reached by the power of God we, too should develop in ourselves this great faith in God no matter what. In fact, the words of this Roman Centurion resound up to this moment and time as it is being recited in the Communion Rite every time there is Holy Mass being celebrated all over the world. Jesus has defied the cultural barriers of faith and demonstrated in today's gospel that He is indeed over all, in all and for all. It is good to examine ourselves if we have the same humility and faith like the centurion right before we accept Jesus in Holy Communion. The centurion knows that Jesus can heal his servant. He humbly asked the Lord and showed Jesus an act of faith. St. Jose Maria Escriva once wrote, "We are going to receive our Lord on this earth, when we receive an important person in our home we bring out the best, food, lights, music and formal dress. How should we prepare to receive Christ in our souls? Have we ever thought of how we must behave if we should ever receive Him only once in a lifetime who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords? Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 8:5-17

5 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” 7 He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 8 The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven.”...And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” ...