In today’s 1st reading, Abraham was visited by 3 men whom he showed hospitality despite the fact that he had never met them before. There are times when we think negatively and consider some of the good things we have done as lost and gone. Especially if we do it to people whom we barely know, could not return the favor and could not benefit in us in some ways. Such as these would never be the case if we consider everything we do as a form of service to God. It makes a whole lot of difference when the people we’re doing a great favor are dear and close to us. To extend hospitality to someone who is almost a stranger and could not return the favor nor expect anything from them is truly noble. Abraham was rewarded for his good deeds by God Himself who never lets anything go unnoticed especially those we offer in service to God. Since I arrived in the US in May 19, 2007 I never had a hair cut in almost 10 years. My hair grew so long that a lot of people noticed it already. Although I tied it all the time there were some people who knew how long it became and had been convincing me to have it cut. I remained firm in my decision and only got a hair cut in 2016 when God granted my long time prayer and request. But before that I just can’t make some people understand why I had to do what I did. At that time I had several affirmations with regards to this decision and today’s 1st reading was one of them. It served as an encouragement and reminder that God is able to carry out what He said He would do. And He did! It was on this account that I remained firm in what I had committed to do. I personally felt God's assurance with regards to it. I could never forget and will always remember when Bernadeth and I were at Chinatown and later on at Japanese Village
Genesis 18:1-15
…I will surely return to you about this time next year and Sarah will then have a son....But the LORD said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?’ Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.” Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But he said, “Yes you did.”
If we read and follow carefully these words in today’s psalm reading then we can truly say that we’ve found the perfect advice to which we can pattern our lives after. God relates with us in a very personal way and precise in His timing For as long as we stand by the principles and values of God then we can never be wrong. God knows our every thought, motive and intention and if we act on it based on what is just, true and peaceful then we will never be disturbed. The commandments do not limit but protect freedom. Since the more we disobey the more we become bound and become a slave of sin. If we follow the full extent of the 10 commandments we become free. We see people who repeatedly commit the same mistakes over and over again. And yet they never learn anything from the lessons that go with it. The frightening truth about this is the fact that they prefer to be disturbed and miserable not because they love misery but because they prefer to stay in the dark. Jesus has a standing invitation to us in John 12:35, "Jesus said to them, "The light will be among you only a little while. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going." It is a choice and decision that we alone can make. It’s not surprising to know that most of us think that God doesn’t want us to have fun. It’s like all the things that we want to do with our friends that are interesting and exciting when we were young, were against God’s commandments. It may seem like we have to settle for less. What’s worse is that all the faithful Catholics get less out of life. This is part of the propaganda way back in the Garden of Eden. God gave us a magnificent paradise wherein there is perfect intimacy and no shame with each other. In the Garden they have everything they need but gave just one limit, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is very interesting because God said, “Don’t do this because you will die.” The reason why God commands us something is because He is a loving Father who cares for us. He wants us to have the best. But then came the serpent, it didn’t create Adam & Eve, nor gave the garden or anything at all. All the serpent gave was a lie and told Adam & Eve not to listen to God or they’ll lose out and won’t become like God. They were made to believe that God is holding out something from them and is actually their rival because God doesn’t want them to have what He has. So instead of trusting the one who gave them everything, they trusted a stranger. They disobeyed God and listened to the liar. They were hooked into a downward spiral of destruction. This is what sin is all about. It is a trap. It is disguised as an apparent good because the fruit looks good and desirable but it ends in disaster. The relationship with God is messed up and so creation turned against them, thorns and thistles appear and things in life become hard. This is what sin does, it seemed small but it gets out of control. Things get worse and worse and there are broken lives everywhere. This is the reality about sin, we are draining life out of ourselves unless we recognize the one true source of life. The problem is that there is a great propaganda out there. It makes sin appear with all its fun, excitement and glamour. It makes virtue appear boring, lame, bland and unexciting. But the truth of the matter is, it’s not. The pleasures that God created in this world are enjoyed the most by those who don’t abuse them and use it simply. Who do we think enjoys food most? The person who doesn’t know how to fast and engorges all the time or a person after a fast experiences a feast? The virtuous person enjoys life the most. The person who uses creation and all things according to God’s plan enjoys it the most. It is because pleasure is God’s idea. All the good things in the world that people want are God’s idea. Satan can’t invent even one bit of pleasure. But God commands them to be used so that it leads to life and a part of life is joy. The way to enjoy life is to follow God’s commands. Life is not all about rules and regulations. God did not just give us a bunch of rules and regulations that we are supposed to obey like machines. What we do does not just proceed from who we are but also makes us who we are. The actions we engage, the words that we say and the things that we do have an impact on us. We are making ourselves all the time. God created us when we came out of the womb, our mothers and father have a great role in that but our creation continues every single day of our lives. This is the reason why we call each day the 8th day of creation. We’re even becoming someone more beautiful, mature and strong or someone weaker and more despicable. There’s no middle ground. We’re going one way or another. Life leads either to heaven or to hell. That’s what the acts that we commit do. If we read and follow carefully these words in today’s psalm reading then we can truly say that we’ve found the perfect advice to which we can pattern our lives after. Though, we may still fall and fail we must not forget that Jesus has triumphed over sin and death. He is victorious and is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father. He is able to carry us through. We must always focus on this truth in order for us to attain a life free of worry, anxiety and is never disturbed. When everything is over and done, we look forward to God's reward of endless worth as we emerge as the champion, crowned with the victory won by Christ and live on the holy mountain of the Lord. Heaven is the realization of being a champion. In heaven we will be glorified magnificently. We will live forever with strength, power and beauty sharing a new humanity with Jesus. If we emerge as the champion who does justice then we will live in the presence of the Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 (1a)
R: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue. Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; By whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD. Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed.
If we think of God’s Perfection and Glory then none of us could really measure up and always fall short. It is a consolation to know that God knew this all along even before He created us. He sent His only Begotten Son Jesus in the fullness of time in order for us to attain it. This was previously unavailable due to our sins but was made possible for us when Jesus redeemed us. We have always looked forward to certain dates in the calendar when we can avail of big discounts during certain times of the year. It could be Thanksgiving, Post Christmas sale, Independence & Memorial Day and the like. These are dates that people really prepare for to the point of having to wake up early just to be first in the line. Come to think of it, if we are willing to go through all this trouble just to avail of these good bargains all the more should we not neglect nor forfeit the greatest benefit we ought to always wait for and run after that is, the gift of eternal life that God has given us. Paul in today's 2nd reading teaches us to strive very hard in making ourselves a living example of God's goodness reflecting the values of Jesus Christ in our very lives. Sometimes we are driven to despair whenever we are confronted with a lot of trials and difficulties in life, this is because we fail to recognize the presence of God's power within us. This made me think of the need to work out and exercise in order to build up our faith in the same way it does to our physical bodies. In doing so we need to recognize that our bodies are designed by God in such a way that it is capable of responding to several stimuli. If we exercise and discipline ourselves then we can see results in accordance to our expectation. We are not new to certain instances when people were able to transform themselves and came out as an entirely new person. If we examine ourselves closely then we can find out what areas we need to improve on and develop faith muscles. We can always go from good to better and best. In the same way that if we are aware that there is a power dwelling in us waiting to be unleashed and once discovered can open up endless and amazing possibilities that can be compared to finding the greatest treasure ever known to man. Amen. Hallelujah.
Colossians 1: 24-28
Brothers and sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Everything really happens for a reason and we have to take seriously the call or mission that God is entrusting to us. This invitation is not just for Martha whose name Jesus called twice in today’s gospel. God have been calling us not just twice but many times. It's time we respond to the call by choosing the best part. Every day of our lives we are confronted with choices and decisions that we have to make. Whether it is big or small, major or minor and high or low impact it is in our disposition in relation to it that makes all the difference. If we have made a choice or a decision then we have to stand by it and be at peace with it. Most especially if we know that we have consulted to God all our plans and humbly obeyed then nothing should ever bother us. Let us be reminded through the gospel today that worry and anxiety is not a composition of a decision or choice made within the presence and will of God. Just like Mary we should also find ourselves beside the Lord at His feet listening to Him speak. It is with genuine peace, calm and serenity that we should conduct our affairs. In doing so we acknowledge that God has always been guiding and directing us every single step of the way. We should realize the importance of bearing the fruit of peace and self control rather than anxiety and worry which arose from the burden of Martha's service. We are all guilty of being just like Martha at times when we succumb to worry and anxiety not focusing our attentions on Jesus instead. Service pleases God and is important in order to grow in our relationship with Him but we should maintain a balance that we must not neglect what's most essential, end up with misplaced values and defeating the good end/purpose for which it was intended. May we all come to the point where we too, like Mary can comfortably sit and listen attentively to Jesus in the midst of our busy world. She is not bothered by its concerns, made the right choice and blessed with the better part as spoken by Jesus. We need to get over the things that hinder us from fully experiencing the best that can never be taken away. We need to know what our options are and choose well. If we have found the contentment and confidence that Mary developed in Jesus brought about by the right choices that she made then we can be assured that it will not be taken away. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 10:38-42
...Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
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