We encounter times when we may say that those are not one of our best days. When we are feeling down, especially because of something that brought loneliness to our hearts causing us to feel emotional. Sometimes we really succumb to grief and anxiety and start to cry buckets of tears as if it would not end and just could not stop. We may even have experienced something like it to the point of thinking that we would never get over it but God is good. He has given us the gift of prayer and we must not underestimate its tremendous potential. It could rejuvenate us and give us a fresh new feeling and hope as today's 1st reading tells us so. Amen. Hallelujah!
Book of Sirach 2,1-11.
My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.
Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great.
Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.
You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.
Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble.
Fr. Barry has this very strong gift of discernment because each of us who attended his healing had the same story to say. He was able to see and feel the inner depths of our beings and it feels good to know that God communicates His love and concern to us through this anointed priest. These past few years of our life, whether we admit it or not testify to the truth that most part of it surprises us at how things fell into place. Looking back at all of them, the people involved, how it all came to play and work out well, we just can't deny the fact that when we pray we are getting direction from above. In fact the schedule of all the tasks, social obligations and activities lined up to do, no matter how unmanageable it may seem if we entrust it to God with all our heart, mind and strength would be carried out in a way a Master Planner does. We have an awesome God who makes all things work for good. I know in my heart that God is always with us to build up our confidence and faith in Him in the midst of all our trials and hardships. Whether we realize this or not, He also make sure that when we get our share of trials we doubly get our share of consolations from God and even more. We just have to look beyond what this limited vision can take us. This reminds me of Miggy, my landlady's grandson. When we brought Bernadeth home from our bible study this incident made me look at things differently from this little boy’s perspective. I had been to their place several times already and all I was able to say about it is that it's a very difficult climb when walking up to their place since it is almost like on top of a hill. It was only when Miggy being the child that he was, was able to see things differently as we headed home on our way down. He was able to see the very beautiful view of what's ahead of us while up there and said that he can see miles and miles away. Sometimes we really ought to become like little children and be more appreciative of what we have and hold at the present moment and look ahead with so much hope. We have to start seeing the beautiful things that are right in front of us that we usually do not notice and even see beyond our limited point of view instead of bragging about the things that we don't have knowing that our security lies in a God who grants our heart's requests. God gives us inspiration in today's psalm since He is giving us an assurance that He will never forsake nor abandon and will continue to look after all our needs. No matter how tough things may become for us we only have to shrug it off and step up. Just like the story of the donkey that fell into a pit. When the people decided that it would be too much trouble for them to get it out of there they just decided to bury it down there. Every time people would throw dirt and sand into the pit instead of wallowing up into self pity and despair what it did was shrug it off and step up. Before the donkey knew it was out of the pit. The same thing should be our attitude towards life. When somebody throws bad things at us just shrug it off and step up. Then focus on what today’s psalm is telling and we’ll surely get out of whatever pit we’ve fallen into. We can get very good advice from it. Every word tells us exactly the right thing to do. It brings forth peace and serenity in us. These come from knowing that we can rely and depend on the words of God to do what it says it would do. Are we really convinced that God is able to do everything for our sake? Let us ponder upon the words of the psalm reading and try our very best to do what God wills in our life with the conviction and belief that anything that is for God's greater glory is in truth for our own sake and benefit. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 37(36),3-4.18-19.27-28.39-40.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
Trust in the LORD and do good that you may dwell in the land and live secure.
Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart's desire.
The LORD watches over the days of the blameless; their heritage lasts forever.
They will not be disgraced when times are hard; in days of famine they will have plenty.
Turn from evil and do good, that you may inhabit the land forever.
For the LORD loves justice and does not abandon the faithful. (R) 39 The salvation of the just is from the LORD: he is their refuge in time of distress. 40 And the LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Haven’t we noticed that most of the saints have their images depicted as carrying the baby Jesus. This is because the characteristics of a child that are so often associated with helplessness, full dependence, trusting and innocence makes them a perfect example of how we should be before God. And also how we should not undermine people but instead welcome everybody in the light of the truth that Jesus is in each one of us. There are so many explanations for it but one of the best is stated in today's gospel. We must read our bibles. We must all consult the word of God which is living and true. During the homily, Fr. Mau, the former parish priest of St. Martha's Church asked us to close our eyes and think of a word from the gospel that was impressed to us. Sometimes we are lacking in direction because we fail to follow the simple and effective strategies in life that we can all avail of. Just like the advice of Fr. Mau, we should always follow the rule of the W-O-R-D. W stands for the word that strikes us the most while listening or reading the gospel. O stands for the order of God in relation to the word impressed to us. R stands for reflection on the word as to its significance in relation to our present situation and circumstance. D stands for direction, after having thought of the word of God, discerned God's order, reflected on it based on our lives then we can follow the right direction leading us to the right path. We sometimes fail to achieve our goals because we did not follow the W-O-R-D. We could apply the principle of the W-O-R-D for today’s gospel. In doing so we could realize that God is telling us to aim high and be the first. If we truly believe that we are God's children then we ought to be the first and the best within the context of the gospel. Our life on earth is just temporary and we will all come to leave everything behind here on earth. If we truly believe in life after death which is eternity then we should work hard to attain this goal of achieving to be first in the life that awaits us for eternity rather than working to be the first in this temporary life. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 9:30-37
...Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.
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