THE BIG PICTURE

Sometimes we think, speak and act like we know better than God. We don't realize that whenever we doubt, place everything into our own hands and do not trust God's providence in our lives then we play god and master. We end up mismanaging our lives if we continue to set aside God's perfect plan for us. There is a need to consult all our plans to God and follow His lead if we truly believe that He is our big GOD. We have to acknowledge and thank God at all times, in all circumstances and situations for all the things that came to be. We have to look at everything as part of one whole and big picture of God's plan. We should act in accordance to this and not get lost in the biggest deception ever known and has fooled us many times. Sometimes this happens when we are at the top of everything we do and gets carried away by the several successes and conquests that we've gathered in our hands. There is a danger of thinking of ourselves almost like a god. We may not be exactly like the prince of Tyre in today's 1st reading but we are not far from meeting the same fate as his if we slowly, without realizing it become oblivious of the fact that we are not invincible and we only draw everything that we have from God.  Amen. Hallelujah!

Ezekiel 28:1-10

...say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are haughty of heart, you say, “A god am I! I occupy a godly throne in the heart of the sea!” — And yet you are a man, and not a god, however you may think yourself like a god...Will you then say, “I am a god!” when you face your murderers? No, you are a man, not a god, handed over to those who will slay you. 10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners, for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.

If we are to look very closely at every single turn in our lives then we can surely see how God is working His wonders in it, without a trace of doubt. Let us pray to God that He will grant us the reason and understanding needed to really open up our eyes, ears, minds and hearts to the Lord. Sometimes we fail to do this and become just like these people spoken of in today's psalm. We ought to keep our minds straight and alert that we may not neglect who God really is, in our lives. It has already become a common saying that God owns our life and He alone can give and take it. It has become so common that we fail to really understand its implications. When we speak of death, people react in different ways but we should honestly hope and pray that when the time comes for us to confront it, we can all react in the same way, with perfect resignation and readiness. Amen. Hallelujah!

Deuteronomy 32:26-27ab, 27cd-28, 30, 35cd-36ab

R: It is I who deal death and give life.

...For they are a people devoid of reason, having no understanding. (R) 30 “How could one man rout a thousand, or two men put ten thousand to flight, Unless it was because their Rock sold them and the LORD delivered them up?” 35 Close at hand is the day of their disaster and their doom is rushing upon them! 36 Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity.

A task like preparing for death may sound unthinkable for some or even morbid and scary. This should not be the case. If we are aware of a Kingdom of endless glory that awaits us, a 100x more profit and eternal life then we will all be waiting in line so to speak just to invest everything we have for it. It gives us a feeling of consolation too knowing that it doesn't work quite like the way the world thinks. It is not a matter of who was first but who perseveres and not let go of God's promises until the end. In our journey here on earth we encounter so many things in our lives that sometimes push us to the wall and feel like giving up. When we are confronted with such situations we sometimes succumb to the remedies and recommendations that are popularly subscribed  in this world we are in. It is never easy to live consistently the reality in today's gospel. We doubt, question and resort to the seemingly wise, practical and handy solutions being presented and offered to us in an enticing way. We end up taking for granted what should always be embedded in our hearts, minds and souls. We forget the benefit of knowing that God can do the ultimate good to us than follow the wisdom of men and this world. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”