LOOK BACK & RECALL

God is reminding me once again of some special events in my life. Today' s 1st reading made me look back and recall once again the miraculous events I experienced through the intercession of Sister Gloria Dar. I was just new in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal then and I must admit that she was one person that God has used tremendously in my life. I could never forget when I was still pregnant with my son Jude most especially because it was Sis Gloria Dar who envisioned Jesus carrying a baby standing in the middle of our prayer circle and specifically described Him wearing the Sacred Heart attire and said these words, "I have a message for my daughter, consecrate the baby in your womb."  This happened in a prayer meeting I attended during that time which happened to be on the 9th day of my Sacred Heart novena, and Sis Gloria, the prayer leader whom I just met, did not know of my novena neither of my pregnancy nor would even suspect of it. Looking back at my life back then most especially at that time when I first had this devotion to the Sacred Heart, I can never deny and forget for the rest of my life the dramatic and significant events that happened during my novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Jude Thaddeus which opened up the door for miracles to happen.  I have witnessed the revelation of God's great love to me especially when I gave birth to Jude, my 1st born son, as proof of His undeniably awesome and unbelievable miracle when he came out normal and healthy despite my problematic pregnancy. From that day forward, God never ceased to amaze me every single turn in my life since His love is beyond comprehension. Amen. Hallelujah!

2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a
Later Elisha asked, "Can something be done for her?"
His servant Gehazi answered, "Yes!
She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years."
Elisha said, "Call her."
When the woman had been called and stood at the door,
Elisha promised, "This time next year
you will be fondling a baby son."

If we enter into agreement with any person we have to make sure that we are able to fulfill it and vice versa for the person whom we make a contract with. It is so disappointing when things do not turn out the way it should be and terms and conditions are not followed. I guess, we have all encountered mishaps and are dismayed along the way.  It is always best that if there's someone whom we should observe and maintain a covenant with then there should be no other but God. For His words and promises will always remain true. As in Habakkuk 2:2-3, "Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late." We can be assured that His covenant will last and stand firm. Thousands of years have passed and only one name remains tried and true and continues to stand the test of time and even eternity, the name above all names, Jesus. If we are to look closely and pay attention to the succession of events of the salvation history or covenant history which goes back to the time of Adam & Eve and Noah and dates way back to 1800 BC during the time of Abraham, Moses (1200), David (means the favored one,1000), Exodus (600) to the birth of our Lord Jesus we will see God’s faithfulness and steadfast love for His people.  In this time line are significant events that happened from the time of Creation when God created man who fell into sin and became unfaithful and how God continuously called us back to Him by showing us who He really is throughout the length of time. As dramatic events unfold, like the entrance of the Israelites to the promised land, the pockets of rebellion as they took over the 12 tribes and settled into a life of monarchy (kings) from their 1st king (Saul) to King David and King Solomon, the time of David is described as the greatest time of the people of God. Today’s psalm speaks of how God is pleased with His faithful servants and promises to maintain kindness forever. St. Joseph in the eyes of the Jews was the person who gave Jesus His proper name and claim as descendant of King David. Joseph was more of a foster father, because he was truly the legal father of Jesus. In like manner, he was not just the guardian of Mary. Before the law and traditions of Israel, he was the husband of Mary of Nazareth, the one who legitimized the “virgin birth” of Jesus to Mary. In the church’s liturgy, Joseph, aside from the Blessed Mother, is the only saint mentioned in the “Divine Praises” for the Eucharistic Benediction.  Then, according to experts on the apparitions of Fatima, Joseph was the only saint who appeared with the Blessed Mother in those phenomena that happened in Portugal." All these things tell us that there is really no cause for worry and fear for we have a God who is faithful to all His promises. We should always be reminded of this reality and never doubt that everything will come to pass. Amen. Hallelujah!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

R. (2a) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The promises of the LORD I will sing forever,
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever;"
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
You are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and the Holy One of Israel, our king.

We have this hope as presented to us in today’s 2nd reading. We are able to rise from our being dead in our sins because Jesus Christ conquered sin through His death on the big cross. Just like Jesus we too have to accept freely whatever little crosses that come our way in our daily life to the point of even dying to ourselves so that we can be raised up. Every single activity whether religious or secular is just a constant and undeniable reminder for us that we have a God who suffered on Maundy Thursday, died for our sake on Good Friday, rose from the dead on Good Saturday and is fully resurrected on Easter Sunday. The awe and wonder of these mysteries contain the love and mercy being applied to us without any exemption provided we take the words of God for it and never neglect it. Being in union with Christ means freedom from the slavery of sin. We should live for God alone and reflect it to others that they may know the God that we serve.

The 2nd reading for today is a testimony that we are blessed and honored since God is with us. He is great and Almighty. Amen. Hallelujah!

Romans 6:3-11

...We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. 10 As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. 11 Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

There are several kinds of figure of speech and one of them that can really catch our attention and will surely bring our focus to something is hyperbole for it uses exaggeration in order to emphasize a point or put a stress into the message that we want to convey. In today's gospel, Jesus was trying to use this strategy in order to catch our attentions and really make a point. Our love for God should come first place in everything not because God is selfish and wants to be the priority for the sake of His ego. Of course Jesus doesn't want us to turn our backs on our families and abandon the things that we hold dear. He didn't mean it that way but instead wanted us to realize that the love for God is encompassing and is sure to bring about all other things. All we have to do is make a decision and stand by it believing that if we put God first in our life everything will follow. Sometimes trials and difficulties tend to affect our disposition in life or it could be the very people who are dear to us that affect our conviction and stand in life or sometimes we go on with life without realizing that we do not have anything that we are willing to make a stand for or even live for. We have to first be clear on this important area of our life so it is in consonance with our thoughts, words and actions. An example is what's going on nowadays with the economy, people really want to get what their money is worth and are very wise when choosing a particular commodity over the other. Some sales agent would even go as far as offering a bundle or package where everything goes with it over something that is of less worth in order to sound more convincing. The same with Jesus if we choose Him above all things for He is the best deal ever. So whatever major or minor things we are confronted with, before we make a decision and really stick to it we've got to be sure that Jesus is in the center so that it will be all worth it. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 10:37–42

...“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it...