Today’s 1st reading warns the people to stop false accusation. We all have a tendency to, accuse people, pigeon hole them and succumb to malicious speech and sarcasm. We need to observe the Sabbath and not just follow our own pursuits. People are into a real busy work week and do not even go to church. Do we make time for God? Do we reflect on God and worship Him? Are we endlessly just trying to do as much as we can in order to have as much as we can? We need to realize that once we recognize God’s law then we quickly recognize our need for grace that brings us to prayer life. There is a constant force of the culture, the temptations to live an extravagant and impure life, and the force of our fallen human nature that make us give in to sin. We better recognize sin in our life. Things can get difficult and we can not do all in our strength. We struggle with sin most of the time. Our sins isolate us. We’ve got to change, admit to ourselves and then to a priest. We should avail of the sacrament of confession and do away with fear of what the priest might think. This is our human nature. Confession is a beautiful experience when we hear those words of absolution. Our sins are gone and forgotten and we are forgiven. To tell another person could be so liberating, it helps us to believe in God’s acceptance and forgiveness. It awakens something in us to help us believe in God’s love for us. The priest in the confession is like the father in the Prodigal son. Waiting in the confession chamber is a duty to the priest. He makes himself available for us and just be there for people to experience God’s forgiveness. Amen. Hallelujah!
Isaiah 58:9-14
...If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; 10 if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday; 11 then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails...If you hold back your foot on the sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable; if you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice — 14 Then you shall delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Nowadays, a fatal disease is no longer fatal but just a life threatening disease if left uncared for. Modern Science has come up with several interventions to combat these diseases. When we don’t feel well, we consult a doctor for advice on how to care for ourselves. An example could be hypertension, before people just die of it without prior treatment but since the dawn of anti hypertensive medicines and proper care to maintain a good blood pressure there has been significant improvement on such cases. The same with our souls we have a disease that if left uncared for can cause death. It would be better to think of our souls as such. It’s easier to be receptive to the gospel if we consider ourselves lost. We have been saved by God but we can lose it just as we can lose our human life for not caring for it. We all have a terminal disease called sin, we need a doctor to give us advice. Our souls need a Divine Physician and consult the sacred scriptures in order to know the things to follow. The sacraments serve as the medication that we can compare to medicine from the doctor that we don’t understand how it works. It is the same with the sacraments although we may not understand fully how it works just like how medicines work to cure our diseases. In the spiritual life our physician is Jesus Christ, He tells us what to do on how to be healed. We must not follow quacks and pseudo scientists. We must trust our souls not to quacks but to God. We follow the saints who have lived their life in n exemplary nature. In this way we become free of the serious symptoms of the sicknesses of the soul like pride, covetousness, envy, lust, sloth, anger and gluttony. We seek the truth and the truth will make us free. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
1 Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor. 2 Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. 3 You are my God. (R) Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (R) 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. 6 Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading.
Today’s gospel brings our focus on the life of Levi the tax collector or more popularly known as St. Matthew. Pope Benedict XVI on reflecting on his life said that Jesus does not exclude anyone from His friendship. Tax collectors and prostitutes during the time of Jesus consider them as public sinners. They work for Rome and can set their own commission from taxes they collect from the locals. They are despised for this no less than the prostitutes. Jesus called Peter, James & John while they were fishing and did the same for the tax collectors. We are mistaken to think that God thinks as men do. He chooses whom He wills and gives grace to those He wills to Himself. This is the heart of the good news of the gospel. God does not abandon us to our sins. He offers grace to sinners. We may want to recall the story in the gospel of Pharisees praying in the front row of the temple and the tax collector at the farthest end beating his breast. He prays to God as a repentant sinner would and felt closer and came out justified to God. The repentant tax collector can be a model for us. Although he sinned, he did not stay in his sinful habit and converted. We can experience God’s forgiveness in the confession. This is one way we can draw closer to Him and come to know Him in an amazing way. For all of us, to some degree we can come up with reasons not to go to confession. As Pope John Paul II said, the sin of modernity is that people have lost the sense of sin. We have to recognize the evil that we have done and must repent. The absolute bedrock of spiritual life is to follow the 10 commandments, work on sin and stop sinning. We are sometimes misled and think that when we have a type of prayer we think that we already have a spiritual life. We’ve got to have the humility to say that God is smarter than we are and follow and obey what we are told in the 10 commandments. Matthew is a model of conversion and change. He did not just stay where he was at. Faith led him to change, he got up and followed him. He left his livelihood and left his post. What false idols do we have in our life? Let us pray for grace to see in our lives clearly what we’re attached to and pour them down. Are we really in God’s disposal? Can He do to us what He wants to do with us? Or are we still caught up in sin? Let’s pray for freedom and imitate St. Matthew. Amen. Hallelujah!
Luke 5:27-32
Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him...
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
ANCIENT TEMPTATIONS
We may want to think of ourselves on a spiritual journey especially during this Lenten season. We should travel very lightly and take no baggage at all. In this so called journey we might want to consider also how each of us has been planted with a seed. We should develop but must not miss the fact that in the parable of the sower, it didn’t all grow. All developments grow in a hostile environment. We are engaged in a spiritual warfare. Life is a battle with evil that we can see in our own selves, in the world and the principalities. The kingdom of God suffers violent assault as St. Paul puts it and uses the army of salvation. It helps to make use of these analogies. We must keep in mind that those who are not willing to battle for good in this world may not accomplish anything. Although it is also written that those who take the sword will perish by the sword but there are battles in other forms that we clearly should make a stand on. As today’s 1st reading calls us to do, we should release our brothers and sisters from the fangs and claws of our present day culture of death. The battle of pro-life against abortion to defend our helpless fellow human beings who could not fight to preserve their own lives is one. We may not be totally aware of the gravity of this act but it is slowly eating away the moral fabric of our beings. This is something that we should all face and not turn our backs on. Amen. Hallelujah!
Isaiah 58:1-9
...This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; 7 sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own…
The Lord said that He is not sent for the well but for the sick. We have a disease in our souls that if left uncared for can cause death. We all have a terminal disease called sin, we need a doctor to give us advice. We have been saved by God but we can lose it just as we can lose our human life for not caring for it. We go to God who is our Divine Physician to be healed. He alone can make us whole. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 18-19
R: A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
We are called during this season of Lent to conversion and holiness. These are the days that we especially observe as Catholic Christians. The faithful are able to take hold of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus. It is helpful to keep this constantly before us in this sacred season. We may want to look at what’s behind the season of Lent and the particular mystery of Jesus’ life when He fasted and prayed in the desert for 40 days. Immediately after His prayer and fasting was the temptation of Jesus in which Jesus rebuffs this attack and points to Adam & Eve’s temptation and Israel’s journey in the desert for 40 years. What is represented there are 3 basic temptations. Eve was tempted to eat of the fruit because it is pleasing to the eyes. This tempts us to greed because it looks good to eat and can satisfy one’s self. The desires of the flesh tempt us also to lust. It is also said that it is desirable for the knowledge so it can give power and prods a person to pride. From the very beginning since the fall of Adam & Eve in the garden, the devil has capitalized on these 3 things, greed, lust and pride. Even before the fall these were with us already and the devil capitalized on it to trick Adam & Eve hence the fall. As we can see, the devil also used these 3 basic temptations to Jesus. After fasting for 40 days, Jesus was hungry and tempted to turn the stone to bread for satisfaction of the flesh, which is connected to lust. The devil also told Jesus to throw Himself off from the top of the temple since the angels would be there to catch Him. This is the sin get a hold of power and pride. The devil asked Jesus to look at all the cities and offered to give Him power and glory which is the sin to greed. As we can see these are the same 3 temptations that Adam & Eve fell into but the devil is dumb to think that Jesus could be tempted with the same temptations. We may also want to look at Israel’s journey in the desert which took them 40 years trying to get to the Promised Land. This is the salvific meaning of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. He is the new Adam, who remains faithful to fulfill the promise to Israel. He is totally obedient to the divine will and is the devil’s conqueror. He binds satan that tricked Adam & Eve in giving into and robbing us of all the graces we have before the fall. He takes back the plunder and anticipates His further victory at the passion on the cross which is the supreme act of obedience. Jesus’ temptation reveals the Son of God who is the Messiah. He is our high priest who has been tested as we are and yet did not fall into sin. This is the mystery that the Church wants to unite us with each year, Jesus in the desert who is the same Christ who vanquished the tempter for us. These solemn 40 days of Lent should make us keep this at the back of our minds and connect it to the mystery of Jesus at the desert which has a two fold character. First is by recalling our baptism or those preparing for it like the catechumens preparing to be baptized at the Easter vigil of the church on Holy Saturday. What it means to be a baptized person and what does it entail? Do we recognize that? Second is to recognize it as a time of penance. Think of what we have done to offend God. It is a time to reflect at where the state of the world is heading and the culture which we have been disposed of. It calls us to pray more diligently and be faithful to the word of God. This is also a time of preparation for Easter so that we become predisposed to a faithful reception of the graces that Christ merited on his death on the cross. We can also observe interior penance which can best be manifested in many ways which the scriptures insist on always. There are 3 forms, prayer, fasting and alms giving. These once again make connections to the mystery of Christ in the desert for 40 days. These 3 forms are what every person struggles with most of the time but can help us in many ways to fight those 3 main temptations. Prayer expresses conversion in our relationship with God. Alms giving make better our relationship with other people to overcome greed and selfishness. Fasting to one’s self which is the focus for today’s readings is to fight against lust and sensuality. It develops mastery over our instincts and attains freedom of heart. In this way, we are preparing ourselves for the fruitful celebration of Easter by recalling our baptism as the Church unites herself to Jesus on the desert. Not to forget the 3 forms of penance which help us in conversion to fight the ancient temptations of pride, greed and lust. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 9:14-15
…The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Isaiah 58:1-9
...This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; 7 sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own…
The Lord said that He is not sent for the well but for the sick. We have a disease in our souls that if left uncared for can cause death. We all have a terminal disease called sin, we need a doctor to give us advice. We have been saved by God but we can lose it just as we can lose our human life for not caring for it. We go to God who is our Divine Physician to be healed. He alone can make us whole. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 18-19
R: A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
We are called during this season of Lent to conversion and holiness. These are the days that we especially observe as Catholic Christians. The faithful are able to take hold of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus. It is helpful to keep this constantly before us in this sacred season. We may want to look at what’s behind the season of Lent and the particular mystery of Jesus’ life when He fasted and prayed in the desert for 40 days. Immediately after His prayer and fasting was the temptation of Jesus in which Jesus rebuffs this attack and points to Adam & Eve’s temptation and Israel’s journey in the desert for 40 years. What is represented there are 3 basic temptations. Eve was tempted to eat of the fruit because it is pleasing to the eyes. This tempts us to greed because it looks good to eat and can satisfy one’s self. The desires of the flesh tempt us also to lust. It is also said that it is desirable for the knowledge so it can give power and prods a person to pride. From the very beginning since the fall of Adam & Eve in the garden, the devil has capitalized on these 3 things, greed, lust and pride. Even before the fall these were with us already and the devil capitalized on it to trick Adam & Eve hence the fall. As we can see, the devil also used these 3 basic temptations to Jesus. After fasting for 40 days, Jesus was hungry and tempted to turn the stone to bread for satisfaction of the flesh, which is connected to lust. The devil also told Jesus to throw Himself off from the top of the temple since the angels would be there to catch Him. This is the sin get a hold of power and pride. The devil asked Jesus to look at all the cities and offered to give Him power and glory which is the sin to greed. As we can see these are the same 3 temptations that Adam & Eve fell into but the devil is dumb to think that Jesus could be tempted with the same temptations. We may also want to look at Israel’s journey in the desert which took them 40 years trying to get to the Promised Land. This is the salvific meaning of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. He is the new Adam, who remains faithful to fulfill the promise to Israel. He is totally obedient to the divine will and is the devil’s conqueror. He binds satan that tricked Adam & Eve in giving into and robbing us of all the graces we have before the fall. He takes back the plunder and anticipates His further victory at the passion on the cross which is the supreme act of obedience. Jesus’ temptation reveals the Son of God who is the Messiah. He is our high priest who has been tested as we are and yet did not fall into sin. This is the mystery that the Church wants to unite us with each year, Jesus in the desert who is the same Christ who vanquished the tempter for us. These solemn 40 days of Lent should make us keep this at the back of our minds and connect it to the mystery of Jesus at the desert which has a two fold character. First is by recalling our baptism or those preparing for it like the catechumens preparing to be baptized at the Easter vigil of the church on Holy Saturday. What it means to be a baptized person and what does it entail? Do we recognize that? Second is to recognize it as a time of penance. Think of what we have done to offend God. It is a time to reflect at where the state of the world is heading and the culture which we have been disposed of. It calls us to pray more diligently and be faithful to the word of God. This is also a time of preparation for Easter so that we become predisposed to a faithful reception of the graces that Christ merited on his death on the cross. We can also observe interior penance which can best be manifested in many ways which the scriptures insist on always. There are 3 forms, prayer, fasting and alms giving. These once again make connections to the mystery of Christ in the desert for 40 days. These 3 forms are what every person struggles with most of the time but can help us in many ways to fight those 3 main temptations. Prayer expresses conversion in our relationship with God. Alms giving make better our relationship with other people to overcome greed and selfishness. Fasting to one’s self which is the focus for today’s readings is to fight against lust and sensuality. It develops mastery over our instincts and attains freedom of heart. In this way, we are preparing ourselves for the fruitful celebration of Easter by recalling our baptism as the Church unites herself to Jesus on the desert. Not to forget the 3 forms of penance which help us in conversion to fight the ancient temptations of pride, greed and lust. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 9:14-15
…The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Thursday, March 10, 2011
LENTEN OBSERVANCE
At this early stage of Lent, the Church calls us to look at the summons of Moses in today’s 1st reading. This is to consider our own lives and reflect on it. These summons us to a moral decision and about one’s faith. Do we choose evil or goodness, prosperity or doom. The goodness of the law and our Lord is something we must choose or destruction must come upon us. The commandments of God are given for our own good. It is not simply an imposition of something to spoil what we think is fun. Why is it good to follow the commandments? Think of our parents preventing us when we were still young from playing ball in a wide street. They are doing this not just to spoil the fun but to protect us. This is a cause for reflection to make us think of the commandments that God has given us to follow. When we realize that our parents do this to protect us and work for our own good, this will help us to understand God’s commandments. Part of the Lenten season is to obey the commandments. If we may recall, in the year 587, Judah was conquered by the Babylonians but maintained their identity and continued their Jewish tradition. Their difference from people in the north lies in the fact that they have the stronger propensity to worship Baal and pagan gods. Those from the north diffused their faith in the Lord their God. They lost their identity and ceased to exist as tribes. In fact studies show that there is no trace or any idea where they are right now. They were just known as the 10 lost tribes of Israel. Whereas the tribe of Judah listened to the prophets, like Isaiah and Ezekiel, while in Babylon and continued to worship the one true God. We may identify with them in our present life. We have forces that would tear us away from God. We need to cling and hold fast to God by loving and obeying His commandments. This is what will preserve our identity. We are a nation and people of God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Dt 30:15-20
Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy. If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish;…
Until now, we have no idea who we are and still in a conflict. Look at the things we do and engage in. This is because we don’t understand who we are. We will be judged by God according to our behavior. We should have God in the core of our identity. Amen. Hallelujah!
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
We must not lose the sense of who we are as a people. We are given choices, life or goodness, death or destruction. This choice is a moral choice. It does not mean that if we obey God we are going to win big prizes. It means also that we are picking up the cross and following Him. This is the season of prayer and fasting in preparation for holy week when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. He calls us to do the same by picking up the cross to which we die. We actually don’t die daily but only once. There is a sense of dying when we daily pick up our cross and die spiritually. The evil within us dies so that we can respond to our daily call to follow Jesus. It is to have a daily conversion to follow Jesus to choose goodness and life over death and evil, so we’ll have the power to die to our cross and do what is for ourselves possible. Somehow when we die to ourselves we lose a certain type of prosperity by following Christ. We don’t acquire great riches but that doesn’t mean failure. As the gospel tells us today, we gain eternal life, salvation in heaven and inherit the kingdom that God has prepared for us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Lk 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Dt 30:15-20
Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy. If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish;…
Until now, we have no idea who we are and still in a conflict. Look at the things we do and engage in. This is because we don’t understand who we are. We will be judged by God according to our behavior. We should have God in the core of our identity. Amen. Hallelujah!
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
We must not lose the sense of who we are as a people. We are given choices, life or goodness, death or destruction. This choice is a moral choice. It does not mean that if we obey God we are going to win big prizes. It means also that we are picking up the cross and following Him. This is the season of prayer and fasting in preparation for holy week when we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. He calls us to do the same by picking up the cross to which we die. We actually don’t die daily but only once. There is a sense of dying when we daily pick up our cross and die spiritually. The evil within us dies so that we can respond to our daily call to follow Jesus. It is to have a daily conversion to follow Jesus to choose goodness and life over death and evil, so we’ll have the power to die to our cross and do what is for ourselves possible. Somehow when we die to ourselves we lose a certain type of prosperity by following Christ. We don’t acquire great riches but that doesn’t mean failure. As the gospel tells us today, we gain eternal life, salvation in heaven and inherit the kingdom that God has prepared for us. Amen. Hallelujah!
Lk 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
THE ASHES
There is really nowhere to go but to God. This we should have figured out by now. How come we kept on doing the same old wrongs over and over again? This is precisely why we have to be reminded always. Today is the beginning of Lent. It is Ash Wednesday. We are called by the Church to a supreme act of obedience to God the way Jesus did. This is the time of fulfillment to repent and believe in the gospel. We have to do it now and everyday. Lent brings that message at the forefront. Our first conversion is in baptism when we are made into a new creature. Our 2nd conversion should take place daily, the act of having to turn from sin and turn to God everyday. This is why we practice abstinence and fasting as part of our penitential practices that express our change of heart and conversion during this season. The Liturgical seasons bring into focus the different mysteries especially the need for penance and repentance. We are always in need of purification. We should constantly follow the path of penance and renewal. This is the sign of ashes. The sign of repentance that reminds us that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. We are sinners and mortals that are destined to one day die. We are on a journey and everything we see here is passing. This is the despair of men when we trust in ourselves and become hopeless without God. We need Him for conversion. The outward sign we bring to the world is the ashes on our forehead. We acknowledge Jesus and the power of the cross. We admit that we are sinners. In doing this, as to acknowledge and admit who we are before God is a relief. We should know why, as the 1st reading tells us today, the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Amen. Hallelujah!
Joel 2:12-18
12 Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; 13 rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.
We need to stand in all humility before God and confess our sins. The body and soul are good but it demands a need for physical asceticism. We have to submit our bodies to an act of sacrifice without neglecting that conversion is first of all interior. Total conversion demands not only expression in works of penance but also of the heart. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always. 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
We are called in today’s 2nd reading no less than anything or anyone else for we are ambassadors for Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
20 Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 6: 1 Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says: “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The gospel warns us today of the danger of putting on a big show without real change in our hearts. Interior conversion is primary. If our main goal is that we want men to see our penance then it is just for nothing. To truly repent of our sins is the start which is what happens in baptism. We need to change in relation to one’s self, God and to others. Fasting aids in a change in regards to self. Alms giving is in relation to our neighbors. Through these things, real growth is experienced here. If we spend more time in prayer then we can experience prayer growth. It fights the threefold concupiscence in our being which is a disordered drive to satisfy the flesh that our culture is so adept in presenting to us. The distractions that we are confronted with in the form of various entertainments that make us fall into lust are the tools of satan. This enemy is having a field day in our culture by bombarding us with these thoughts of wanting to have more and more. We aim for what seems to be pleasing in the eyes of others and to be in control. This is pride when we want to be the one who call the shots. Satan can device all forms of marketing strategies to get our attention and interest. We need to taper our desires and come to a point when we fast from it. We need to be open and docile to the Lord. We can begin the day by looking at the crucifix. We can see Jesus who followed His Father’s will. We are not out here to accumulate in worldly achievements but rather to follow more and more God’s will for us. We should turn from evil and reclaim the filial relationship with God. We can learn much from what Jesus demonstrated to us especially in the dessert when He was tempted. We just surrender and cling to Him with all our beings. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Joel 2:12-18
12 Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; 13 rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.
We need to stand in all humility before God and confess our sins. The body and soul are good but it demands a need for physical asceticism. We have to submit our bodies to an act of sacrifice without neglecting that conversion is first of all interior. Total conversion demands not only expression in works of penance but also of the heart. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always. 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
We are called in today’s 2nd reading no less than anything or anyone else for we are ambassadors for Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
20 Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 6: 1 Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says: “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The gospel warns us today of the danger of putting on a big show without real change in our hearts. Interior conversion is primary. If our main goal is that we want men to see our penance then it is just for nothing. To truly repent of our sins is the start which is what happens in baptism. We need to change in relation to one’s self, God and to others. Fasting aids in a change in regards to self. Alms giving is in relation to our neighbors. Through these things, real growth is experienced here. If we spend more time in prayer then we can experience prayer growth. It fights the threefold concupiscence in our being which is a disordered drive to satisfy the flesh that our culture is so adept in presenting to us. The distractions that we are confronted with in the form of various entertainments that make us fall into lust are the tools of satan. This enemy is having a field day in our culture by bombarding us with these thoughts of wanting to have more and more. We aim for what seems to be pleasing in the eyes of others and to be in control. This is pride when we want to be the one who call the shots. Satan can device all forms of marketing strategies to get our attention and interest. We need to taper our desires and come to a point when we fast from it. We need to be open and docile to the Lord. We can begin the day by looking at the crucifix. We can see Jesus who followed His Father’s will. We are not out here to accumulate in worldly achievements but rather to follow more and more God’s will for us. We should turn from evil and reclaim the filial relationship with God. We can learn much from what Jesus demonstrated to us especially in the dessert when He was tempted. We just surrender and cling to Him with all our beings. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT
What happened to Tobit in today’s 1st reading was so unfortunate. Sometimes we tend to just go into despair over some matters in our lives that seem to be going nowhere or not getting any better. This is the case when we just look at the here and now but if we will read on further about the story of his life we will find that his situation turned around for the better. We must not lose hope and continue to call on the Lord in the midst of all the problems we have for God will surely make things beautiful for us in His perfect time. Amen. Hallelujah!
Tobit 2:9-14
On the night of Pentecost, after I had buried the dead, I Tobit, went into my courtyard wall. My face was uncovered because of the heat. 10 I did not know there were birds perched on the wall above me, till their warm droppings settled in my eyes, causing cataracts. I went to see some doctors for a cure, but the more they anointed my eyes with various salves, the worse the cataracts became, until I could see no more. For four years I was deprived of eyesight, and all my kinsmen were grieved at my condition…
No disappointment or discouragement should ever make us feel desperate if we truly believe that God has our best interests in mind. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 112:1-2, 7-8, 9
R: The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 7 An evil report he shall not fear;
We live in a world where there are people who are just out to trap and catch our every move. There is nothing we can do about them but there is definitely something we can do about ourselves. We can follow Jesus' example who did not leave out a single thing undone but fulfilled what is right and expected of Him in the eyes of God and man. This may be very difficult at times but nothing is too difficult if we do everything in the light of giving glory to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 12:13-17
13 Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. 14 They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” 15 Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.
Tobit 2:9-14
On the night of Pentecost, after I had buried the dead, I Tobit, went into my courtyard wall. My face was uncovered because of the heat. 10 I did not know there were birds perched on the wall above me, till their warm droppings settled in my eyes, causing cataracts. I went to see some doctors for a cure, but the more they anointed my eyes with various salves, the worse the cataracts became, until I could see no more. For four years I was deprived of eyesight, and all my kinsmen were grieved at my condition…
No disappointment or discouragement should ever make us feel desperate if we truly believe that God has our best interests in mind. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 112:1-2, 7-8, 9
R: The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 7 An evil report he shall not fear;
We live in a world where there are people who are just out to trap and catch our every move. There is nothing we can do about them but there is definitely something we can do about ourselves. We can follow Jesus' example who did not leave out a single thing undone but fulfilled what is right and expected of Him in the eyes of God and man. This may be very difficult at times but nothing is too difficult if we do everything in the light of giving glory to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 12:13-17
13 Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. 14 They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” 15 Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.
Monday, March 7, 2011
PERFECT I.D.
Today’s 1st reading reminds us of the need to pray for our departed brothers and sisters. As Catholics we are taught of the Church triumphant, suffering and militant. The triumphant Church is composed of the community of angels and saints who are now enjoying the beatific vision of God. We, the living belong to the Church militant and those who already passed away who neither went straight to heaven or hell belong to the Church suffering. Tobit who is the man speaking in today’s 1st reading has this compassion for the dead. Somehow I can identify with him because of the several experiences I’ve had in connection to the faithful departed as I have been sharing in my reflections. It is not like I am deliberately searching for them but things just happen that I always have this opportunity to remember them in prayers in the most extraordinary and special way. Amen. Hallelujah!
Tobit 1:3; 2:1-8
...I sprang to my feet, leaving the dinner untouched; and I carried the dead man from the street and put him in one of the rooms, so that I might bury him after sunset. ...The neighbours mocked me, saying to one another: “Will this man never learn! Once before he was hunted down for execution because of this very thing; yet now that he has escaped, here he is again burying the dead!”
We can always rely on the words and promises of God for they are trustworthy. Amen. Hallleujah!
Psalms 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
...Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. (R) 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; 6 he shall never be moved; the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance.
Today we celebrate the feasts of Sts. Felicity and Perpetua. They are martyrs known for their great faith in God. They have been subjected to various unimaginable tortures but they never waivered in their profession of faith. Nowadays we are no longer faced with these kinds of dangers in our faith because we are blessed to have the freedom to practice it without fearing for our lives but the world we live today tries in the most discreet and enamored way to draw us away from our faith. This is what the world does to draw us away from our commitment to the Lord. We have to be like the saints with tremendous strength and boldness in their faith in God. Saints Perpetua and Felicity marched to their death and martyrdom with great courage. The crowd was so outraged by this show of courage they shouted that they be subjected to scourging and the men were fed to the leopard. When we read the accounts of the saints who endured trials, persecutions and sufferings, we might as well come to think of ourselves, too. Do we endure with love of the Lord in the sufferings that we encounter daily? God has sent prophet after prophet in order to come to a relationship with us throughout the course of our salvation history. Finally, He sent His beloved son and we all know what happened. By our own sins, He was killed and put to death so that in his mercy we have been adopted and get the identification of beloved sons and daughters of God. We beg forgiveness and mercy we receive the entire inheritance that Jesus has won for us. We should recognize the great gift of our baptism, which means that we are Christians. The life of God is within us. We must not reject this truth and accept our identification. We can’t change it and be called by any other name. We lay hold of the inheritance of eternal life by perfect identification (I.D.) in Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 12:1-12
...‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 11 by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’?” 12 They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.
Tobit 1:3; 2:1-8
...I sprang to my feet, leaving the dinner untouched; and I carried the dead man from the street and put him in one of the rooms, so that I might bury him after sunset. ...The neighbours mocked me, saying to one another: “Will this man never learn! Once before he was hunted down for execution because of this very thing; yet now that he has escaped, here he is again burying the dead!”
We can always rely on the words and promises of God for they are trustworthy. Amen. Hallleujah!
Psalms 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
...Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. (R) 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; 6 he shall never be moved; the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance.
Today we celebrate the feasts of Sts. Felicity and Perpetua. They are martyrs known for their great faith in God. They have been subjected to various unimaginable tortures but they never waivered in their profession of faith. Nowadays we are no longer faced with these kinds of dangers in our faith because we are blessed to have the freedom to practice it without fearing for our lives but the world we live today tries in the most discreet and enamored way to draw us away from our faith. This is what the world does to draw us away from our commitment to the Lord. We have to be like the saints with tremendous strength and boldness in their faith in God. Saints Perpetua and Felicity marched to their death and martyrdom with great courage. The crowd was so outraged by this show of courage they shouted that they be subjected to scourging and the men were fed to the leopard. When we read the accounts of the saints who endured trials, persecutions and sufferings, we might as well come to think of ourselves, too. Do we endure with love of the Lord in the sufferings that we encounter daily? God has sent prophet after prophet in order to come to a relationship with us throughout the course of our salvation history. Finally, He sent His beloved son and we all know what happened. By our own sins, He was killed and put to death so that in his mercy we have been adopted and get the identification of beloved sons and daughters of God. We beg forgiveness and mercy we receive the entire inheritance that Jesus has won for us. We should recognize the great gift of our baptism, which means that we are Christians. The life of God is within us. We must not reject this truth and accept our identification. We can’t change it and be called by any other name. We lay hold of the inheritance of eternal life by perfect identification (I.D.) in Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 12:1-12
...‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 11 by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’?” 12 They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
THE BRACELET
Today's 1st reading reminds me of my green El Shaddai bracelet that I got from Tita Piling. It was not really meant for me but I guess those people who were supposed to get it have bigger wrists than mine that it was left behind because it fits no one but me. Caroline her niece, wanted it for herself most especially because it is colored green and just perfect for St. Patrick's feast day but it just won't fit her which reminds me of the fact that this bracelet on my wrist is almost 3 years old by the time we reach his feast on the 17th. Another thing I vividly remember about it, is the fact that all other bracelets that came with it from the Philippines got torn and broken after just a week of wearing them but mine lasted even up to this very day considering the fact that I have been wearing it and have not removed it since 2008. For as long as God wills it I would always wear this bracelet as a sign and reminder of these very words that are written not just in this book of Deuteronomy and the rest of the bible but in my heart and soul as well. Amen. Hallelujah!
Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32
...“Take these words of mine into your heart and soul. Bind them at your wrist as a sign, ...Be careful to observe all the statutes and decrees that I set before you today.”
We can rely on so many things in these world like wealth, fame, power and success but only in the Lord can we find true security and satisfaction. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25
R: Lord, be my rock of safety.
1 [2] In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, 2 [3] incline your ear to me, make haste to deliver me! (R) Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety. 3 [4] You are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me. (R) 16 [17] Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. 24 [25] Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the LORD.
We are all so blessed for having Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer. Nothing else should matter more to us than this truth that we have been saved. Amen. Hallelujah!
Romans 3:21-25, 28
21 Brothers and sisters, now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood. 28 For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
As the 1st reading reminds me of Tita Piling whom I consider like a good mother to me today’s gospel is another reminder of my very own mother as I have shared several times already. When she was still living she told me about this place in America that she consider as most beautiful, the place where the House on the Rocks is. I have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life that have helped me build my faith like a wise man who built his house on rock. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 7:21-27
...“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32
...“Take these words of mine into your heart and soul. Bind them at your wrist as a sign, ...Be careful to observe all the statutes and decrees that I set before you today.”
We can rely on so many things in these world like wealth, fame, power and success but only in the Lord can we find true security and satisfaction. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalms 31:2-3, 3-4, 17, 25
R: Lord, be my rock of safety.
1 [2] In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, 2 [3] incline your ear to me, make haste to deliver me! (R) Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety. 3 [4] You are my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me. (R) 16 [17] Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. 24 [25] Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the LORD.
We are all so blessed for having Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer. Nothing else should matter more to us than this truth that we have been saved. Amen. Hallelujah!
Romans 3:21-25, 28
21 Brothers and sisters, now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood. 28 For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
As the 1st reading reminds me of Tita Piling whom I consider like a good mother to me today’s gospel is another reminder of my very own mother as I have shared several times already. When she was still living she told me about this place in America that she consider as most beautiful, the place where the House on the Rocks is. I have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life that have helped me build my faith like a wise man who built his house on rock. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 7:21-27
...“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
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