WORD MADE FLESH

 The 1st reading today reminded me of the bible study we had in St. Lorenzo Ruiz with Fr. Tony Astudillo. He illustrated to us the ushering of Jesus Christ in the New Testament by establishing a time line from the time of Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, the time of Exile until the birth of our Lord Jesus. He also mentioned Ezra as one of the prophets after the exile who were considered as ministers who promote the rebuilding of the temple and obedience to the laws. There is a trend that follows the period of exile. Prophets before the exile were giving warnings or forth telling instead of foretelling so as to avoid the worst circumstances if they continue to disobey God. In exile, the prophets presented the existing situation as a product of their disobedience but gave hope to the people that God has not abandoned. True enough during the time after the exile, prophets like Ezra and Nehemiah who are considered as historical books in the bible, with a nationalistic tendency, gave strict orders for a time of purification, no intermarriages, no mixture with other people because every time they mix with other people they become adulterous. They became preoccupied with the restoration of the temple. Every period is characterized by the corresponding and prevailing situation at that time. Through it all it can never be denied that the Salvation History or the covenant history of mankind shows us the relationship of God and man and how God continues to show mercy and relent in many ways for He is a living and loving God. Again I quote Fr. Tony in saying that God continues to striptease in His great desire to develop a relationship of love with us. This great love which is finally revealed in the advent of Jesus into time. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Ezra 9:5-9 ...“And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the LORD our God, who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place; thus our God has brightened our eyes and given us relief in our servitude. 9 For slaves we are, but in our servitude our God has not abandoned us; rather, he has turned the good will of the kings of Persia toward us.

There is indeed a lot of things that we have to look back to, learn from it and be thankful of. From generation to generation, every single turn of events is a testimony of a great and awesome God who designs and plans all the good things He has in store for us to finally take shape in our lives. Amen. Hallelujah! 

P S A L M Tobit 13:2. 3-4a. 4befghn. 7-8 R: Blessed be God, who lives forever. ...Praise Him, you children of Israel, before the Gentiles, for though He has scattered you among them, 4 He has shown you His greatness even there. (R) So now consider what He has done for you, and praise Him with full voice... 

When we were baptized we all became God's children and each of us has been given the rights and privileges of being one. We have been richly endowed and blessed. Thus we should not hesitate nor back out in fulfilling the mission that the Apostles in Jesus' time were called to do. There is no reason to be afraid, feel insecure or inadequate. We have been equipped well by God's power and authority as today's gospel is telling us. If we are really up to it then all our words and actions should be congruent to the greatest mission we all ought to take. We have to go forth, whether young or old, proclaim the good news and spread the gospel. We have the power, whoever we are, whatever we do, wherever we are and the time is now. We are all called for a mission to spread the good news of salvation. The Balloon Story tells us of a child who saw balloons of different colors rising up in the sky. The child exclaimed how beautiful it looked up there with all the different colors. An old man told the child that it's not the colors that makes the balloons rise up but what's inside of it. As we become formed and equipped for evangelization we become Good messengers of the Good News. It is crucial that we reflect the values of Jesus. God is the Primary Agent of Evangelization. It is not about us but about God. He is the Chief Architect of it all. There is the so called "Equipping the Saints". We need to go through a process to achieve this. We process information in the mind, it is mind centered since it is a quest for knowledge. Formation is soul centered, it is a quest for wisdom and go through it by making decisions in the heart. Transformation is the meeting of mind and soul since it is a quest for spirituality. Propagation is the fullness of mind, body and soul resulting to authentic and meaningful faith in action. Furthermore, we need to differentiate between good and great leaders.  A good leader when the company is doing good, is one who faces the mirror and look back at the reason why the company is doing well but looks out of the window and to others when the company is performing bad. On the other hand, a great leader is one who looks out of the window and point to others as the reason why the company is doing well but when things are bad, looks at himself and ask what he can do to help. Jesus is a great leader because when things got really bad for humankind, He did not point any finger but instead came as man and redeemed us all. Evangelization should work towards making humanity whole again and free men and women from things that hinder them from being whole again. This we can faithfully and sincerely do if we first cultivate in ourselves the love for the word of God as we truly experience it in our personal lives and be able to preach the word by becoming a living testimony as in the word that was made flesh. The Principles of Catholic Evangelization
1. Live the gospel-use words only when necessary. Walk the talk
2. Challenge others by one's example and lifestyle
3. Uphold true values. People first than profit. Embrace peace and justice. A Capitalist value works differently, it upholds profit at all cost.
4. Open our hearts to the saving power of God. From a distance foolishness and wisdom look alike but if we come closer we'll find that foolishness is an open mouth and wisdom is an open mind. In evangelization we need to approach it in a manner of discovery with an element of surprise rather than deciding which means we already have an idea of it. In discovery, God brought us to where we are although not fully revealing but trusting. We discover God and the wonders of His wisdom.
5. Build community
6. Identify and really call injustice as injustice. Accept and handle the truth. Sometimes the closer we are to power the farther we become to truth.
7. Work for a better society. "Life is God's gift to us. What we make of it is our gift back to God. We only pass this way once. We better know life's reason and purpose. Our ultimate happiness depends on it. Life is a terrible thing to waste. At the end of the day, we should all leave this world a better place than the way we found it. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 9:1-6

1 Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick]. 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” 6 Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

BE ACTIVE

 This week is kind of hectic for the Filipinos in St. Martha's Church and I guess for the rest of the Churches with Filipino parishioners since it is the upcoming feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz. A novena prayer has already started in St. Martha in honor of him and a feast and special celebration is scheduled this Sept. 28. People were asked to take part and were assigned various tasks in setting up the Church. Some were assigned to decorate the Church, others are going to be a part of the stage play, while others were in charge of the food to be served after the mass. St. Lorenzo Ruiz is the 1st Filipino Saint and there are lots of Filipinos here in West Covina so it is indeed going to be a day of celebration with so much joy. Amen. Hallelujah! 

Ezra 6:7-8. 12b. 14-20 ...The Israelites — priests, Levites, and the other returned exiles — celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy...

Today's psalm reminds me of this popular game called, "Trip to Jerusalem" I guess, everybody's familiar with it. We may all have played this game when we were young or even when we're older. The fastest, quickest, most alert person who gets the last seat wins. If we are not paying attention or are too slow then we are bound to lose. We have to put up a good fight in this game in order to win because the chairs are always lacking so every round there is always one person who doesn't get a seat and gets eliminated. It is just a game but people have a lot of fun doing their best so as not to be eliminated and win. People who engage themselves in this kind of game and want to win exert a lot of effort. It is so tiring and can exhaust one's energy in the game. And to think that after all our efforts only one person gets to win. Isn't it a relief that we can go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.  We need not worry that all our best efforts would just be wasted because God has reserved a seat for each one of us. If we are all set and very sure where we are headed then nothing can stop us from being there. Considering, too that we have a God who has secured a place and our future for us. John 14:1-3, " Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be." Nothing or no one can prevent us unless we ourselves decide not to go. The truth is, it's all up to us. We are confronted with a lot of things every day and if there is one thing we should choose and decide for then peace is one of them. It is important that we work and pray for peace to always reign in our midst. If we have peace that passes understanding always safeguarded in our hearts then we can rejoice in the Lord at all times. We should always be confident of the truth that we are blessed and secure in the knowledge and truth that we are where we are right now, doing what we are doing right now at the exact time God has provided for us, for with God there is always a perfect time for everything. When we are feeling tired from all the day's work all we want to do is just go home. Nothing could be more rewarding than coming home to a place where we find rest and peace. Our life here on earth could be compared to something like this. It is nice to know that at the end of the day or our life's journey we can go rejoicing to the house of the Lord and find ourselves welcome there. Ideally, there should be no other place we want to be, more than a place where there is peace and prosperity. It is a choice we have to make but sometimes we make the wrong choices and choose to be just anywhere but in a place such as this. We have all the time to be in different places that is fun and exciting. There is nothing wrong with being in these places for as long as we know our limitations but do we get the same joy and fulfillment when we go into the house of God. We should be balanced human beings. We should not just seek to satisfy our physical but spiritual needs as well. Let us tap our dormant souls that are left unattended for so long and revive it to really feel what the psalm tells us today. As much as we are confronted by the fact that we are still inhabitants of this imperfect world we are in we can not live as if it does not exist. We might as well make the most of what we can do while we are part of it. We’ve got to set goals in order to achieve this and keep our eyes focused on it. It helps go through our daily life if we have set goals that we want to achieve and fulfill. The SMART acronym tells us that our goals should be S for specific, M for measurable, A for attainable or achievable, R for realistic or relevant and T for timely or time based. This is very effective in helping us improve as a person especially at times when we can't get our acts together. We can always set SMART goals from time to time in order to keep track of our performance in whatever field we want to work on and excel. It helps a lot in assessing ourselves in order for us to make an evaluation on how we our doing with our life. After each SMART goal we set for ourselves and have achieved it gives us a sense of fulfillment knowing that we have accomplished something. Little by little everyday we step up the ladder of our SMART goals. All of these should eventually come up to rejoicing with what we have made of our life. These we continue to do until it all sum up to bring us to that ultimate SMART goal. It should all lead us and point to our final destination when we go up to the house of the Lord. There is no greater joy than being with the Lord. Amen. Hallelujah!

                                                                                                  

P S A L M Psalm 122:1-2. 3-4ab. 4cd-5

R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

1 I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” 2 And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. (R) 3 Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. 4 To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD. (R) According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. 5 In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. (R)

Today's gospel speaks of a big gathering or crowd that prevents the people closest to Jesus to come near Him. Whenever there are big gatherings in the Church you can be sure that Filipinos are actively taking part in these activities. I am sure God appreciates our efforts to always become part of feasts and celebrations in His honor but what's most important is that as we are active in taking part in these activities we not only become physically present and close to God but really live, act, and put into practice His word with all our minds, hearts and souls. Let us follow the example of our Blessed Mother Mary who heard the word of God and acted on it. In doing this we can be instruments of bringing more people to God through the Church. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 8:19-21 19 The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. 20 He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” 21 He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

THE CALL

 I've been privileged to watch shows about our Blessed Mother Mary and almost all of the other shows in EWTN have always something about her. Mama Mary just celebrated her Feast of the Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15). We have a mother in Mary who understands every single sorrow and anguish we are going through. There is nothing that she wouldn’t understand because she experienced the killing of her son. Mary accepted to become Mother of Jesus whom only a woman full of grace is highly honored and privileged to be called. When she responded "Yes" and obediently accepted the plan of God in her life she faithfully submitted to God's will like a handmaid to her master. She did not only accept the honor and privilege that goes with it but also the 7 sorrows which pierced her heart. She left us an example of how we should ponder in our hearts, the word of God that is being conveyed to us through our daily lives. We are God's children and He is calling us in the same way Paul in today's 1st reading is calling the Ephesians. This call is not exclusive and should therefore be taken by everybody as his or hers too. We tend to overlook, set aside and neglect this important call that we all have to respond and take action. If we look at the way most people of this world live then we can say that we are not following this call rather we are heading towards a different path. We ought to stop living like we've forgotten and abandoned the purpose for which God created us and make a decision to heed His call. He is over all, through all and in all. We are God’s people. In Isaiah 64: it is written, Do not be so very angry, LORD, do not remember our crimes forever; look upon us, who are all your people! We have to grow deeper in God’s presence as in Colossians 2: 6-7, So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. If we have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord we have to live in  union with Him and keep our roots deep in Him. We have to build our lives on Him and become stronger  in faith as we were taught and be filed with thanksgiving. An example is a bamboo tree. It takes 5 years to grow the roots and grow deeper. In order to grow deeper we need to pray and read scriptures. We have to develop an attitude of gratitude and be thankful for everything in all circumstances. Statistics say that around the globe more than 2,000 people die in their sleep each year. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 it is written, rejoice always. We have to make it a point to be present in community gatherings that help us grow in our faith. We have to submit ourselves to the Potter and imagine ourselves as the clay. We smile whenever we have trials because it is meant to transform us. We have to work on our character flaws. Let us consult Galatians 5:22-23 at all times since it tells us, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. We have to be united with one another and live a life that others are better. We have to be kind in our words and choose the right language that do not destroy or malign. We have to love, accept and appreciate one another. We are the work of His hands and God’s people.  Our job is to welcome everybody in a loving relationship. We leave it up to God. It is His business not ours to bless and transform each person. He is able to make us into a brand new person if we allow Him. Amen. Hallelujah!

Ephesians 4:1-7. 11-13

1 Brothers and sisters: I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: 4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all...

It always pays to be watchful and alert at all times. Although we sometimes fail to measure up due to our own shortcomings or could be the doing of another, God assures us in today's psalm that if we fall into the trap of the enemy we can always repent with a deep remorse for our sins and resolve to make the precepts of the Lord the joy of our hearts. In doing so, we find ourselves naturally restrained from sin and maintain our innocence. It is so hard to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord if we do not know exactly how to go about with it. It's just like when we have to comply to certain requirements in school and follow the standard set by it. We need to have a pattern or outline from which we can base our work. Just as it is so in other things, the more we are all in need of God's precepts. The absolute bedrock of spiritual life is to follow the 10 commandments. We are sometimes misled into thinking that when we have a type of prayer then we think that we already have a spiritual life. We’ve got to have the humility to admit that God is smarter than we are and we need to follow and obey what we are told in the 10 commandments. We should be totally and absolutely convinced that He knows best. Satan uses half truths and half lies in his devilish tricks. Satan’s claims seem to come true in one level. Take the example of our 1^st parents after eating of the forbidden fruit their eyes were opened and did become in one sense like God. The fallen angels made their free choice by radically and irrevocably rejecting God so in turn they seduce and mislead Adam & Eve. It was through sin that humanity was afflicted by death. Because of one man’s disobedience many were made sinners. When tempted in the Garden, Adam failed to remain faithful to God and His commands. Jesus, the New Adam, is God’s servant totally obedient to the Divine will. Jesus is the devil’s conqueror and takes back the plunder. What the devil has stolen from us, Jesus has recovered for us. Pope Benedict XVI commented about what the Lord experienced in the desert and said that at the heart of all temptations is the act of pushing God aside because we conceive Him as secondary. It is an act of constructing our world with our own lights and building our own foundation and setting God aside as an allusion. Temptations come in many varied forms but one thing is sure, it does not invite us to directly do evil because it is too blatant and would outright turn us off. It is very subtle and yet an act of pushing God’s commands aside and placing the devil’s temptation as primary. If we want to remain victorious throughout life, we have to keep Him in the center of our life and hold on to His words which are Spirit and life. God’s ever present help can be found in the scriptures. It's just like a soldier going to battle wearing the armor of God. It never fails and always there to defend and protect from the snares of the evil one. So always take up our sword which is the word of God. God's perfect word can refresh the soul. Have you ever wondered really how it feels to be refreshed? Whenever we take a shower or a warm bath and put on clothes that are well fitted and comfortable it refreshes our body. It could also be whenever we go to a place where we can unwind, relax, be away from the tensions, stresses, noise and turmoil of the fast paced lives that we lead and just appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us and the peace and quiet it offers to our tired bodies in order to be more in touch with God's voice in us. It is so refreshing it gives our minds and hearts a better view and perspective of how to live our lives. The same thing with our souls, we should always keep it clean, healthy and clothed with maximum security, protection but comfortable enough we don't even know it's there. Like it has become fused in us, there's nothing more right than following and obeying the law of God. Today's psalm reading guides us on how we should go about with our lives by always keeping in mind God's laws. None of us is perfect but through our imperfections we can always run to God for help and guidance. He will never refuse nor forsake us for He can only love and care for us. There are people who have alienated themselves from God and we can’t just force them to go back. God does not do that, it’s not how the Lord works, instead we pray and pray for them. If we wait long enough and adhere to God’s precepts then we will finally obtain joy in our hearts. As water prevails over the rock throughout the course of time so does the Holy Spirit that is continuously flooding or washing over the man’s heart.  The Holy Spirit moves in and continues to work upon us and tenderizes us. The song entitled, "Your Words Are Spirit and Life" by Bernadette Farrell was impressed to me. It is a beautiful song that I have always loved to sing and I just realized that the words of this song are taken from this psalm which made me start singing it. Well, we just have to fully discover what the words of God can make us do. When things get out of hand we have no one to blame but ourselves for God is surely not lacking in everything that He has given us for our own welfare. We've got everything we need because there's nothing more that God could and should do for us that He has not done. All we have to do is completely trust and obey the judgments of the Lord. GOD'S LAW MAKES US LIVE A VIRTUOUS LIFE (CCC 1803 "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.") May we truly recognize the genuine and precious treasures that we should all strive to achieve and work for which is none other than these things spoken of in today's psalm. Amen. Hallelujah!  

P S A L M

 Psalm 19:2-3. 4-5

R: Their message goes out through all the earth.

1 [2] The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 [3] Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge. (R) 3 [4] Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; 4 [5] through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.

To make disciples we need disciplers. Evangelize. St. Paul said “I am a disciple of Jesus, imitate me.” Live the gospel, become living witnesses and role models. The disciples leave many things behind. In today’s gospel we see that despite of who Matthew is God loves him. He was greedy and a corrupt man. When he got up and followed Jesus he left his office. We have to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things to us. We have to throw away all our garbage in our character and relationship like vices, lust, pride, anger, materialism, being stingy in giving treasures to the Lord. We still have a lot of things to be transformed in our lives. As in John 10:10, A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. We need to remove the fear of surrendering to the Lord. The disciples of Jesus love to be in the company of the Master. They talked, walked, ate and spent time with Jesus to learn. They were with Jesus 24 hours a day and so must we to be His disciple. Here are some recommendations from our retreat in order to be a disciple. First, we have to greet and thank God before we get out of bed and wake up. Say our prayers and read the bible. When we worship God we close our eyes. Make a habit of praying before starting and after work. Pray before meals even in public places. Pray for safety when we travel and pray before we go to bed. A disciples transforms his/her past for God’s purposes. God uses all our past experiences for us to attain the kingdom of God. Jeremiah 17:10, I, the LORD, explore the mind and test the heart, Giving to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds. We should obey God and be willing to live in the edge and take risks. During our clinical rotations when I was just a student nurse I have encountered several patients who are already terminally ill. One of them can no longer tolerate his oral medicines and just vomit it out. When they tried to give it intravenously the veins ruptured. No amount of medicine can heal a terminally sick person. Let us not wait for the time when we are already too sick to respond to God's healing and end up rejecting it rather than accept it. It is written in Isaaih 55:6, “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.” And also in Ephesians 5:15-17, “Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.” We all know too well, that God will never get tired of loving, caring and running after us, for He is a perfect God  but we are imperfect and the problem lies not on the love of God but on our response to His love. If only love can be forced then God would have done that to us but He never did and never will. Love is perfect, patient and kind. Let us respond to this love while we're still in perfect shape. Jesus has the biggest and most compassionate heart for sinners especially those who choose to respond to His call, leave everything behind and follow Him. Despite the stigma attached to tax collectors and sinners during His time, He did not hesitate to call them. We are all being called to live a life with Him no matter what our situations are. Whatever we may be going through right now, a problem, difficulty or sin that is preventing us from responding to His call, we have to always believe that God can overcome all of these if we are willing to give Him room to act in our lives. Once we turn our backs on our sins, leave it behind and give God the go signal then He can accomplish almost anything. If we really believe this then it doesn't matter if we may be experiencing already a life of comfort and ease, our acceptance and consent to shifting to the unknown will only serve to emphasize the extraordinary nature of both our unwavering faith and the grace of God. The grace of God is worth celebrating as it can bring about wonders that will stretch the ability of our imagination. And we can not deny the fact that we’ve been privileged to watch this happen not only in the lives of people on a number of different occasions as in the life of our forefathers like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the life of the Blessed Mother but also to us. For He doesn't only call the qualified but He also qualifies the called. No one is hopeless and desperate for God. Nothing is beyond His healing love and mercy. We must not be impatient or judgmental of our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the Lord. We must keep in mind that He has a special eye for the sick and the sinners. We have all sinned and fallen ill because of the disease that sin brings to us. No matter how big and grievous our sins are, God is always able to heal us. This song tells us about it, "He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities and the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him for by His wounds we are healed." It should inspire us to reach out to Him more than anyone or anything else. God is indeed an Almighty God who knows our specific needs be it spiritual, emotional or physical and He will surely heal every single one of them. He is a God who makes us whole. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 9:9-13

9 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. 13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

W-O-R-D

I am reminded once again of this telenovela in The Filipino Channel (TFC) entitled "Tayong Dalawa" It was the part where a mother (Marlene, portrayed by Cherry Pie Picache) was kneeling before God and crying out loud because of the depressing events that are happening in her life one after another especially with her 3 sons. First was the death of her mother, then her good son almost beaten to death coupled with her 2 other sons shooting each other and left the other son good as dead. She was blaming God for all the bad things that are happening and was even challenging God to just get all her 3 sons. She was in a very depressed mood and though it was just a telenovela we can not deny the fact that we sometimes fall into the trap of the enemy by thinking that it is God causing all the bad things to happen in our life. We have this image of a punishing God who would inflict us pain whenever we did something wrong. Today's 1st reading is a kind of an eye opener for us that we have to be aware of the wicked one who watches our every move in the same way that God does. Sometimes, what we are supposed to do about this if we are beset with a lot of trials and torturous circumstances is continue to be just in all our ways and make ourselves aware of the truth that God will defend and deliver us from the hand of our foes. But God is gentle and can not take away our free will. It is the actions we make and of others that has an effect on everything that happens to us. It is for our own good to practice and prove our gentleness and patience if we are truly confident that God will always take care of us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Wisdom 2:12. 17-20

The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. 17 Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. 18 For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. 19 With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. 20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.

There is no doubt that only with God’s help can we make things right. If ever we are experiencing tough times lately and falling into the trap of hopelessness and despair then we should keep in mind that our circumstances does not change the fact we have a God who upholds our life and we should not let it get in the way for this truth to be known and proclaimed by not entertaining any trace of doubt about this. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 54:3-4. 5. 6. 8 (6b)

R: The Lord upholds my life.

1 [3] O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. 2 [4] O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth. (R) 3 [5] For the haughty have risen up against me, the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes. (R) 4 [6] Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. 6 [8] Freely will I offer you sacrifice. I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.

During the homily, Fr. Mau, the 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. Amen. Hallelujah!

James 3:16–4:3

16 Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. 4: 1 Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? 2 You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. 3 You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

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. 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.

IN OR OUT OF SEASON

When athletes train hard and focus well on their goals they have one thing in mind, to win the prize. It is something that every sportsman aim and work for. It is just the same for a man of God as today's 1st reading tells us. This also reminded me of a very special person in my life who had been instrumental in the building up and growth of my faith during the first year of my Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Her name is Mrs. Teofista Tan Tena or Sis Pat, she is my boss in the very first regular job I had. We worked for more than a year and continued to keep in touch with her for years even after I transferred to another company. She had always been very enthusiastic in sharing to me a lot of things about the Catholic faith and was reminded me of her sharing about what happen to our souls after death. She said that the moment we breathe our last our souls will automatically and immediately return to God our Creator and the source of the breath of life. She said that during that moment when our souls hurry back to God, we will be confronted by this blinding & shining brightness of God's light that nothing can be hidden and everything in ourselves is exposed. That is when we'll see the impurities of our souls stained by our unconfessed and unrepented sins. Although it may sound a bit farfetched or difficult to prove today's 2nd reading somehow gave me an inkling of what it might be like. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Timothy 6:13-16

I charge (you) before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see...

The Jews knew of the prophecy that from King David’s lineage would come forth a King, the foretold Messiah of Israel. During the reign of King Ahaz and all other kings of Israel who did evil things the royalty was cut off. During the Babylonian captivity and in exile, those born of the line of David, of royal blood went in hiding for fear of being killed. Even though the divinic dynasty was cut off, from the tree of Jesse, the father of King David, came forth the shoot that brought forth the King. We remember that it was prophesied in Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 tells of this family tree. We would find at the end of this lineage, Joseph who is the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus. Joseph is not king but a carpenter and being Jew knew of the prophecy as foretold by the prophet including this one from Isaiah 7:14 … the Lord Himself shall give you a sign, “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call His name Emmanuel.” as spoken to him by the angel who appeared to him. He finally understood the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel. Isaiah is important to better understand Jesus. Joseph knew of the need for secrecy and not to make public these things because the reigning king at that time is Herod. He is not Jew but an Edomite who was just appointed by the Romans to be king. He is king not for the Jews but for the Romans to collect taxes for them. This is mainly the reason why Herod wants all male babies born at the time of Jesus, dead. Joseph dreamed a lot of dreams and it was through them that Joseph was able to successfully carry out his mission as the protector of the baby Jesus. Another point of reference here is the fact that in the Old Testament (OT) there was a foreshadowing of the Magi or Wise Men who came to worship Jesus in the manger. It was at the time of the reign of Balak an evil king in the OT when Balaam also a wise man from the East prophesied in Numbers 24:15,18 that there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel who will dispossess Edom. He was asked to exact a curse upon Israel but from his mouth came forth a blessing. A star and a scepter signifies kingship. In parallel, it was also the 3 wise men who were looking for a star that would direct them to the newborn King of Israel who would inform Herod of his whereabouts but warned in a dream not to go back to him in a dream. Jesus is truly our King. The Kingship of Jesus is accompanied by many more wonderful things that we still have to know of. In the Jewish tradition the # 3 and 7 stands for perfection and completeness. It is somehow puzzling to know that there are 3 sets of 14 generations from the time of Abraham to the exile to the time of Jesus. So why the #14? The significance of the #14 stands for the name of King David which is equivalent to 14 in Hebrew.  The 3 sets of 14 stands for perfect royalty and king that all leads to Jesus. It could also be equivalent to 6 sets of 7. The #6 signifies the date when the beast is made or the beginning thus the #666 which signifies the beast of all beasts. The 6 of 7 sets could mean the beginning of the 7th set. 7 is also the Sabbath. The new 7 is the new creation. Jesus is the beginning of the 7th set. Why the fuss in all of these? It is a consolation to know that we have a God who is King. The King of kings and the Lord of lords. We will eventually come face to face with our Creator and God who made heaven and earth. The time is now to make a conscious move to be in touch with this truth. It is such a waste that we don't always realize God's presence among us. When there is nothing more rewarding than to always be aware of God's presence and cry out to Him in joy. Whenever we are in a relationship with someone and give our 100% into it then we can not help but expect it to work. But there are times too when we have given our all and yet it doesn't seem to be enough. We sometimes are bound for disappointments. When these things happen then is really no reason to be sad for we can always go to God for consolation whose love for us endures forever. We are all called to become partakers and residents of the eternal Kingdom of God.  The invitation to be His favorite is open to all because we are all special to Him. Only through enrichment of our souls can we truly appreciate and experience this reality now and for all eternity. If we as human beings are concerned about our physical appearance, all the more should we strive to enhance our overall spiritual condition. We should also build up spiritual muscles and strive to maintain a balanced Christian life. The best way to do it is to always attach to the main source of all goodness. In the horror movie entitled, "Nightmare on Elm Street" every time the girl in this movie falls asleep, her nightmare begins and Freddie Krueger appears to wreak evil and havoc in her life. She has to stay awake or else something really bad happens to her and the people around her. Somehow this should make us realize the importance of being awake, conscious and in touch with reality. If there's one thing that we have to always be aware of, that is God has our best interest in mind. It may not be easy to see, understand and have a grip on this reality always especially at times when we seem down and out as in falling flat on bed without a care in the world like dumb sleepyheads. We have to rise, wake up and shine. We ought to always get a hold of this truth in today's psalm and never let it leave our consciousness. We will eventually come face to face with our Creator, and the time is now to make a conscious move to be in touch with this truth. Our devotion to God should have no limits for He is Almighty, All Powerful and Holy. We should remain faithful to God and never stray away from the path where He leads us. Let us stay within the flock that God has formed for us. When we are being cared for by God who is constantly and consistently good, kind and faithful forever and ever then we are confident that we are safe and secure in the fold where we belong like a flock tended by the Good Shepherd. We should always remember that we have a God who cares for all our needs for we belong to Him. May we all take part in the grand banquet that God has prepared for us in heaven. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 5

R: Come with joy into the presence of the Lord..

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; 2 serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. (R) 3 Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. (R) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; Give thanks to him; bless his name. (R) 5 The LORD is good: his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations.

I used to experience shoulder pains when I was in the Philippines and it recurred again here in the US. Due to this I have been traumatized by the experience that I never want it to happen again. The only thing that the doctors could offer at that time was pain relievers. I tried to do some research about it and there have been some wrong information, too that I got but as I continue to study more and after several trial and error I guess I finally found the right cure and the appropriate regimen for my condition. What I'm trying to say here is that we should not just sit and wait for things to happen. We've got to be like the ones referred to in today's gospel who took the right course of action. We find that there are people who don’t go to the doctor or they continue to ignore the signs unless their symptoms have become so severe. Some people refuse to go to the doctor unless they discover the truth. This is surely the way we react to the word of God. The truth for us is that we are the children of God. We are here on earth for only a few fleeting years. Our names have already been written down in the palm of God’s hand before we were born but we refuse to think about it. Our instinct tells us of these things but we refuse to listen. The word of God never penetrates our minds. The devil tempts us by saying there is no heaven or hell but our instincts tell us that there is indeed heaven and hell. We say instead there is still time, there is no need to hurry the world is at my feet, when I’m old and sick then I will have time to think about it. All we have is today, yesterday and tomorrow is a word. This is the sacrament of the present moment, our lives are given to us moment by moment in love. We only have the present moment to be aware of who we are. Our good resolutions are not good enough. What are we doing today? Today is all we have. The seed that fell on hard ground grows but was choked. How easily it happens to us whenever we are preoccupied, worried and distracted. The words of God and their idealism are stunted when we never become what God intended us to be. The seed that falls on good ground brings forth a great harvest. Every one of us can love. We must learn to love a person that is demanding and unlovable. We must learn to understand that every human being has their own problem. We have not walked in their shoes and must learn to love them right at this moment. Today it is all we have. Living is giving and giving is living. We must go on living and giving again. We only stop giving when God stops giving. We all know that God speaks to us in many unique and different ways through circumstances and people we meet everyday. These should inspire us always, though it may have been a long time ago, our experiences with people like whom we can consider an instrument of God in placing the seed in our hearts during that planting season should always remain there, continue to grow and nurture whether in or out of season as in seed planted in rich soil. It may be a bit confusing at first. Jesus says, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” Then after a few statements he said,"...‘they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.’" He first asks us to hear his words and then later on say we could not understand. Isn't it contradictory why would He ask us to listen if He knows we can't understand. Which of these are true, we might say or think. They are both Jesus' words and they are both true and correct. In fact both are not contradicting the other. We are all called to open our ears to God's words, there is no doubt. As to the understanding we are warned as if saying that we may not understand right away but it doesn't mean that we should stop there. Can we remember the times when we fail to grasp the meaning of the things that are happening to us at first. Only after experiencing and going through some things did we come to a better understanding. Jesus simply tells us not to give up so easily rather we should put up a good fight. We simply have to trust God and have a firm faith. No matter how confusing things may seem to be or how difficult it is for us to understand the things that are happening to us we just ought to walk on and put our best foot forward. God will not put us through something without seeing us through it. This is based on the truth and knowledge that we can always count on God 100% of the time. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 8:4-15

...“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” 9 Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. 10 He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that ‘they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.’ ...“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God...But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”...

MONEY

We should love God with all our mind, heart and soul. We know that it would be well for us if we will do this above anything. We are aware of some people who became obsessed with money and forgot that only Jesus can satisfy our longings. We can not deny the fact that we all need money so money in itself is not evil but the love for it is what makes it evil. This happens especially when we become too consumed by the desire for it. We must always put God in everything that we do and strive to always be detached from the things in this world that separates us from God. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Timothy 6:2c-12

...For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses...

The problem in wealth does not lie on acquiring too much of it but our response to the wealth entrusted to us. If we have been blessed with it then there is a responsibility that goes with it. We should always be driven to action by a holy and godly motivation seeking not to enrich ourselves in evil means and for evil intentions. I could never forget those times when I was not working yet and used to spend most of my time in church and in the company of the Seniors Ministry. The highlight of it all was the opportunity to talk about God and praise and thank Him for all the wonderful things He has done for us. It's like the meeting of minds, bodies and souls to exult God to the highest heavens. It was definitely a time of blessings. What's most important in life is to store up riches in heaven that we can bring with us when we die. All our material wealth will be left behind and only the good things we've done will follow us. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 49:6-7. 8-10. 17-18. 19-20

R: Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

 ...They trust in their wealth; the abundance of their riches is their boast. (R) 7 [8] Yet in no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God; 8 [9] too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough 9 [10] to remain alive always and not see destruction. (R) 16 [17] Fear not when a man grows rich, when the wealth of his house becomes great, 17 [18] for when he dies, he shall take none of it; his wealth shall not follow him down.

If we are entrusted with such wealth then there is a responsibility that goes with and we must use it a manner in the same way that these early Christians in today's gospel did. We should know what God is asking from us to do, discern it well and be able to respond to that call. God does not bring us to somewhere comfortable at all times. God measures our faith by what He sees. He needs to see our faith by the kind of journey we have. Just like Jesus we have to journey from one place to another and not every place promises to be pleasant and enjoyable though, we are assured that each part of the journey is all worth it if we allow Jesus to take our hand, lead us and not just tag along. He would surely bring us to the everlasting joy and perfect happiness that no one has ever known. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 8:1-3

1 Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve 2 and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

FORGIVENESS

 There is a need for us to be careful with our words and action if we truly want to become a living testimony of what Jesus stands for. We can not just take this task for granted if we really want to be saved. Don't get me wrong. We have been saved by Jesus. The gate of heaven has been opened which was once closed when our first parents sinned but through the death and resurrection of Jesus is made accessible for us. We are still engaged in this daily battle for our souls because the enemy would stop at nothing just to deceive and lure us away from the gate of heaven. It should be our prime concern that we develop in ourselves the right speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. We must not neglect these things and should always be diligent in order for us to grow and mature in the faith. We have to keep our faith up and about just like a river that flows otherwise we'll stagnate. Everything in stagnant water eventually ends up dead and there is no sign of life at all. So if we really want to live then we will really take seriously what the 1st reading today is telling us. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Timothy 4:12-16

Beloved: Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. 13 Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate. 15 Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to everyone. 16 Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

An anchor is a great image for faith because it doesn’t move about, held down fast and makes firm our position. Hope with faith does not simply mean a subjective feeling of hope that depends on our own personal feelings. What are the things that we hope for? Our hope should be something objective. We should hope for what God has promised. It should be our hope that we’ll go to heaven. This is the hope that we should have in our mind, our motivation to keep and stir up our faith. It is an extremely important goal for us. We do not simply have hope in seeking for the pleasures of this world. This pleasure is tangible and something that we can get a hold of immediately. The idea of postponing the pleasure, like not resorting to drugs, pre marital sex, alcohol and not depend on what seems to be the sole pleasure in life like possessions and all sorts of material things and focus on a hope in the future. We postpone the pleasures in this life and have the hope that there is a pleasure that surpasses these pleasures of this world. We have to develop virtue or the strength on the inside. The word virtue means strength. Our interior strength comes from the fact that we lose heaven if we seek those pleasures and make them the goal in our lives. It is such a pity if it will be where the anchor of our hope lies. Our hope in the promises of God may seem to be veiled at the moment. We have to reach beyond the veil just like the veil in front of the holy tabernacle or the Holy of Holies. Essentially, it was shielding a holy God from sinful man. Whoever entered into the Holy of Holies was entering the very presence of God. In fact, anyone except the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies would die. Even the high priest, God’s chosen mediator with His people, could only pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on a prescribed day called the Day of Atonement. The picture of the veil was that of a barrier between man and God, showing man that the holiness of God could not be trifled with. God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil and He can tolerate no sin (Habakkuk 1:13). The veil was a barrier to make sure that man could not carelessly and irreverently enter into God’s awesome presence. Even as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to make some meticulous preparations: He had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God, and bring blood with him to make atonement for sins.

“But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.” (Hebrews 9:7)

So the presence of God remained shielded from man behind a thick curtain during the history of Israel. However, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross changed that. When He died, the curtain in the Jerusalem temple was torn in half, from the top to the bottom. Only God could have carried out such an incredible feat because the veil was too high for human hands to have reached it, and too thick to have torn it. Jesus a forerunner, high priest through His death and resurrection entered heaven. Thus we too are given this free access to enter heaven. If we know that we are standing on a firm and steady ground then we are confident that we are safe and secure. There is no doubt that the will of God will never take us where the grace of God will not protect us and will surely see us through for He is a truly reliable God. We have a God whom we can surely rely on. We've got to focus more on the bright and good side of life at all times because we have a great God who always works wonders in our lives. We can always rely on God at all times and be assured that the wisest thing that we can do for ourselves is to follow His precepts which are all truth and equity. There is nothing more we ought to do but live by it. In this movie about Moses it struck me how many times he kept on reminding the people of God's covenant. Every time God shows His signs, wonders and miracles the people are filled with faith but it doesn't last for each time they easily forget and not remember. Let us always remind ourselves of these signs, wonders and miracles that happened a long time ago even up to the present time for it remains true forever and ever. We have been declared through Jesus as God's own for He has made a covenant with us, the work of His hands. Let us not set this aside or neglect and put ourselves in our rightful place as His people.  God is always true and faithful to his covenant. We can count on Him to carry out and fulfill His part. It is our part of the covenant that we need to be concerned about. We've got to respond to God and fulfill our part of the bargain for our own good. This we need to be aware of and keep in mind always. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 111:7-8. 9. 10

R: How great are the works of the Lord!

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; sure are all his precepts, 8 reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity. (R) 9 He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name. (R) 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it. His praise endures forever.

I have always loved to hear and read about this bible passage in today's gospel. It has taken on a deeper and personal meaning in my life since I have very thick hair and have always worn it long. At this present time it has become even thicker and the longest it had become. This adds up to the significance of this bible passage in my life even more. I just can't help it that every time I encounter this bible passage I always end up thinking of wiping Jesus' feet with my own hair. I fervently hope and pray that as Jesus recognized the great love that this woman had shown and forgave her sins may we too be worthy and likewise be acknowledged personally by Jesus Himself in our efforts and genuine display of affection to Him. Our sins no matter how big and many they are should never stop us from turning away from them and turning to God. We should realize with all our minds, strengths and souls that if we are able to do what this sinful woman did in the gospel today then we are indeed forgiven regardless of who we are and what we did. There is no denying that she has truly repented in thoughts and in deeds. According to the Jewish tradition anyone who would unroll her hair in public is exposing herself to a great scandal and humiliation. Even in this present time of ours, anyone who would kneel down at the feet of a person, cry and bath the feet with tears, wipe it with the hair and anoint it with oil is already something out of the ordinary and is definitely an intense demonstration of affection. No woman whether during the past, present and future time could have done such an act if not for her tremendous love. We all have sinned and defied our Savior and Redeemer and we are all called not just to respond but to give our all. We reserve nothing and give our all for the Lord. Sometimes we cringe at the thought of being embarrassed and humiliated. This is just natural because some people could really be discreetly rude and mean that there is no getting away with it. This is why we have second thoughts and hesitate before we engage ourselves into doing something especially if it would unavoidably attract attention. This is a wise move actually because we have to really watch our actions so as not to cause any scandal or chaos of some sort. We all differ in how we do things. In the way of showing our affection, we all have our own ways and means in making it known to the one we love and care for. Not everybody shares the same opinion and stance on a single matter. Some may find it very good but others may just dismiss such act as nothing or worse could think of it as just a fake, a show or a lack of taste and finesse. Whatever it may be, it is our call and we have to make sure that it would be worth it. During the time of Jesus, untying a woman’s hair in public is considered scandalous. This sinful woman being spoken of today in the gospel did just that. None of these discouraging and degrading remarks that were hurled at her by the scribes, Pharisees and the people around her stopped her from doing what she did. In the same way that nothing should be in the way when we approach Jesus. We are assured that Jesus does not judge by human standards and can surely see through the depths of our hearts. When we take risks or cross some lines it is always a consolation to know that it would all be worth it if we do it knowing that Jesus is our reason. Amen. Hallelujah!

Luke 7:36-50

...Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. 42 Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. 47 So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”...