EVERYTHING IS PREPARATION

If we will just look back and recall the tough times that we've been through then we can now just laugh it off and shrug our shoulders but way back then was a different scenario. We sometimes wonder how we were able to go through that kind of ordeal. Today's 1st reading tells us of the story of David & Goliath. Everybody knows from the beginning that it was a mismatch and judging from the standard of this world, David does not stand a chance against Goliath. The same is true with our giant problems and concerns in life. Are we faced with our own Goliath?  Take courage! We may have to go up against a very scary giant Philistine in our life. We must not forget that God can deliver us from all our problems and can save us from the clutches of Goliath. If like David we entrust all our battles to the Lord then victory shall be ours. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

32 David spoke to Saul: “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.” 33 But Saul answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.” 37 David continued: “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “Go! the LORD will be with you.”...Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God. 47 All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he shall deliver you into our hands.” ...

Some people may find it strange that I have a devotion to pray for the souls of the dead. Of the so many Catholic devotions that we know of, praying for the eternal repose of the souls is one devotion that I have committed to surprisingly and extraordinarily, I should say. It all started in 2006 when I had this very unusual experience with a hit and run victim who was lying dead for around three and a half hours already based on what the onlookers said. The accident happened very early in the morning in EDSA a main street in the heart of the city in the Philippines. My heart was moved with pity for that poor man that I offered the rosary prayer for his soul. After that incident, as far as my disposition for the dead souls are concerned things were never the same again. Something very unnatural happened immediately after that because I was on my way to a very important appointment which I was already late for. Earlier I had been told that I would no longer be entertained and would just be wasting my time if I would still go. Anyway, I still did and there it happened. I was not declined and was still allowed to enter. It was most unusual that those who came earlier and on time although they were allowed entry failed to have their document signed due to a misspelled name of a signatory. The unimaginable happened, the document I submitted contained the same misspelled name but somebody facilitated it for me so it was overlooked, signed and approved. There was only one thing in my mind at that time while it was all happening, that dead guy’s soul that I prayed for, whom I rendered some love and mercy. The same understanding and mercy was extended to me since I was accommodated but the others were not. As I've said earlier, things were never the same again thus I believe that there is life after death and it pays to pray for our departed brothers and sister. Someday when we come face to face with that reality, may we receive the breath of life everlasting from God. I've had several more special experiences related to it and also with other souls that I have prayed for. When I first saw that man lying dead in the street partially covered by newspapers, it may look a lot like there is no hope left for him considering the kind of fate and death he met. It was an untimely, unprepared and unexpected turn which also became the end of his life on earth. When things seem to look so bad as in this kind of bad that I've seen for myself or even worse, I know for sure that it is not the way it appears to be. What could one ever think of a man left dead lying on a main street of a great city where a lot of people see it as they come and go. Nothing seems to be the way it really is for there is always hope. We may not yet fully understand the truth about heaven at this time while we are still bound here on earth but we can always hold on to God as fast, strong and firm as we can. To God alone, we look to be saved. We can defeat the giant problems we are facing right now. Let us not limit God's power for the bigger our problem is and the more it is heightened by its difficulty   the more God's glory is revealed. It is only right that we entrust everything to God for we have a giant God. If at the present time we are encountering so many trials and difficulties in life then consider everything as preparation for the victory God has reserved for all of us. In spite of all the discouraging and heart rending events that we’ve experienced and witnessed in our lives there is one thing sure about it. In every tear that fell and heartache, God’s mercy is always upon us. He is our fortress and stronghold that we can not be moved. A preacher on TV said that we have to go to the right frame and never turn back.  Once we are in the right frame then we should not be dissuaded because only immovable people can move mountains. We have to stick to the right frame because it is our fight of faith. It was also Jesus who told us in Mt. 17:20, “…Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." We should not lose focus and realize that we are standing on a firm foundation, solid as rock, and we can entrust everything unto Him. If we will always decide to listen and follow the advice of God and be willing to be under His guidance and direction then we will surely emerge victorious in all our battles. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 144:1b, 2, 9-10

R: Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

...who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. (R) 2 My refuge and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me. (R) 9 O God, I will sing a new song to you; with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise, 10 you who give victory to kings, and deliver David, your servant the evil sword. (R)

Today’s  gospel wanted us to realize a very important and essential matter in following God’s commands. We may all know the 10 commandments but do we truly know them by heart and abide by them in the Spirit of God.  Sometimes we are too preoccupied by the letter of the law and have a tendency to neglect what truly matters, the spirit of the law which is love. There should be no room for any doubt that God speaks to us through our daily circumstances. We can never deny that there are moments when we hesitate to do something, hold back or question the reason for a certain act. It is very consoling to know that we have a God who knows exactly what we are going through. If we come to Him for guidance and direction, He will surely not lead us astray. In the gospel a question arises, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Sometimes there are instances in our lives when we are confronted by a dilemma. Whether we do something or not is always a question that we need to face daily. In fact I was reminded of doing something I am not totally happy about but just the same I needed to do what I had to do. I am very touched and felt like God gave me a pat on the back upon reading Fr. Benny’s  reflection from Sabbath. Here it is entitled , THE WITHERED HAND

The Jews had a very high, if not an absolute, respect for their laws. These laws were derived and sourced out of the laws given by Yahweh to Moses. Jesus, a Jew, knew all of these laws by heart and lived them to the full. In the Gospel today, we can dispense the idea that Jesus was not aware of this regard for the Law, which includes the law on the Sabbath — that no one is to cure on that day, among other things.

But Jesus took the opportunity here, in the case of the man with the withered hand, to bring forth the true and essential spirit of the Law. He asked the disturbing question to those around Him, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Jesus did not really violate the Law but put it in its correct perspective. The ultimate end is goodness and life. “Good” here is not the relative worldly good but the absolute divine good. Life here is really more of life in the Lord than just mere breathing. It is not against the Torah but a deepening of it. Once I was in a retreat together with priests from other countries in Europe, Asia, USA and Latin America, in Novara, Italy. Near the end of the retreat, it was announced that we would take a break after dinner, which was unusual. No reason was given. I asked my Argentinian seatmate why and he said it was because of the World Cup in football and Italy was playing against Argentina. I could not believe what I heard! Later, seeing them watch the game made me appreciate the decision even if I did not fully understand it.

Only God knows whether it was reasonable enough or in accordance with the Spirit. I tend to believe it is. The message in today’s Gospel becomes clearer. Each of us, in our heart, has a good connection with God. The decisions we make are guided and influenced by various people, events and faith. In the end, it is between us and God. As Cardinal Rosales once said, “With love and God, you cannot go wrong.” Goodness and life are testimonies of loving and a spark of the divine! Fr. BennyTuazon

Reflection Question:

Am I a stickler for rules or do I have enough sensitivity to put the spirit above the law?

Lord, grant me an open heart and mind to always listen to the dictates of the Spirit rather than the letter of the law.

God's love, mercy and goodness abound and is above any law. We find in the gospel that Jesus was so disappointed with how the people responded and reacted to the miraculous healing that took place. It is easier to understand when people react badly in response to an assault but to something like restoring a sick person to health it's kind of weird but we also have to accept that there are times when we act weird. Let's always hope and pray that we will always be guided by Jesus to respond in a naturally good and charitable way. There are times when we have a tendency to put God in a box. We have a specific mindset about life in relation to God that we end up with our own narrow concept of how we are to conduct ourselves as Christians and followers of our Lord Jesus. What's worse is that we sometimes can't keep our imperfect ways to ourselves and project it to others. Sometimes we distort whatever is stated in the law to our advantage or over rationalize it and blow it out of proportion. This is where the gift of wisdom comes in. We ought to think, feel and see the way God does. Only by truly acquiring a mind and heart that is fashioned and designed like that of the Lord can we truly and sincerely understand the law of the Lord. We can also read in the gospel that Jesus looked at them with anger because of the hardness of their hearts. The Herodians and the Pharisees were great enemies at the time of Jesus but we saw how they conspired to put Jesus to death. All His works point to His Divine Kingship and the Pharisees were jealous. The reason behind this is the fact that Jesus lowers the prestige of the Pharisees before the people by healing the sick. He showed His Divine nature through this miracle done on a Sabbath. It is still happening nowadays, when people who live lives centered on Jesus and His teachings are still being persecuted. It is written in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.”  Let us not lose heart for if we are faithful to Jesus and everything He stands for then we can share in His great glory that has come for all eternity. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 3:1-6

...He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

BE YOUR BEST

Today’s 1^st reading reminded me of this beautician who did a home service to a lady. Being the beauty specialist that she is, she made some suggestions to me. She is an expert when it comes to beauty tips and making her customers look their best. I can not blame her and the others who have a good taste for fashion and beauty when they persuaded me to have my hair cut. That time it grew very long already and sometimes left it unkempt. I must admit I am very careless in these matters which I really need to improve on. We know for a fact that there are areas in ourselves that we need to work on for the better. Whatever it may be, it will surely give delight to the Lord if we try to be the best that we can be and do everything sincerely from our hearts for the glory of God. Most importantly is that we should always consult God with our decisions for in today's first reading it is stated that not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Samuel 16:1-13

...But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”...

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

Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 27-28

R: I have found David, my servant.

19 [20] Once you spoke in a vision, and to your faithful ones you said: “On a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth.” (R) 20 [21] “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, 21 [22] that my hand may be always with him, and that my arm may make him strong.”

Jesus is the anchor of hope that we can go to heaven because he enters as high priest not once a year and leave like in the temple of the Holy of Holies. Jesus remains in heaven to intercede for us. There is a rope that links to the anchor, our hope is the rope that links us to Jesus. Jesus is the anchor for our hope to spur us in our Christian life. In love we are created by God, in justice we are condemned but in His mercy we are redeemed through Jesus Christ. It is always best to read and study scriptures in order for us to be guided in our daily lives. Everything that scriptures say are true and lasts for all time. There is no doubt to the truth that every single thing about it should stay intact and unaltered. Heaven and earth will fade but God's words will remain. But in all of these things we must not overlook and forget that love should always be the motive and driving force of every word that comes from God. David is a man of God who based his actions first and foremost on the love God has planted in His heart that is why he was chosen King. There are times when we are too caught up in the legalities of our businesses we sometimes forget that God should be the center of everything we do and on top of all our priorities. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

NEVER DESPAIR

David in today's 1st reading was confronted with a temptation. As we go through life, we sometimes encounter similar situations and also end up succumbing to it. These are times in our life when we get caught in the crossfire of life's battles. We need to learn how to handle such situations and learn from the pitfalls of King David. At the time he had this temptation he was in an idle moment. Take note of this specific bible passage which states that while the army of Israel was in battle David, however, remained in Jerusalem. It pays to always be busy doing something for God’s work. As the saying goes an idle mind is the play place of the devil. We must know that one of the things we have to watch out for are these unguarded moments when we become vulnerable to temptation. We must remember and pay attention to these situations that we are in when we fell into sin. We must learn from that experience and know how to overcome it when we encounter it again. We need to be wiser and more able to fight it. It helps to also remember H-A-L-T. This stands for hungry, angry, lonely and tired. We must be aware of these very dangerous state of body and mind and learn how to guard ourselves from it because we are more susceptible to doing something wrong. We need to counteract the work of the enemy by staying within the protection of our Lord. Whenever we are confronted with such situations we have to assess and evaluate it. We should focus on the power of God to get us through anything that He put us through for nothing is really too difficult for our powerful God. Amen. Hallelujah!

 2 Samuel 1: 1-4A, 5-10A, 13-17

At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful. David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, “She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her. She then returned to her house. But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, “I am with child.” David therefore sent a message to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.”

So Joab sent Uriah to David. When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well.

David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.”  Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table. But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his own house. David was told that Uriah had not gone home. On the day following, David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his bed among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home. The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. In it he directed:

“Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong. When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David’s army fell, and among them Uriah the Hittite died.

As we continue to be confronted with the mystery of our everyday living, may it give us a better view and understanding of what life should be all about here on earth. May our perspective about our existence here on earth continually grow and prosper in the knowledge of our Infinite God. In times of trouble and doubt we should realize that God is always with us. If we truly believe in this, then nothing should stop us from conquering all our fears. Let us never grow weary of the things that life brings to us but rather look to God always. We must not let ourselves be defeated by the things that we encounter in life knowing that we are being sustained and strengthened by an Almighty and Immortal God for to Him alone do we come for help. Let us make a stand for God. Nothing is hidden from the Lord. Everything that happens is known and seen by God even the unpleasant ones. We simply have to continue trusting in the Lord. He is always in control of things and He is in charge even of the most trivial and irrelevant matters. If we are sometimes or most of the time disappointed of how things turn out in our life, we should never lose hope because God can always turn everything into a blessing. This is one of the most important things we have to realize especially in times of trial. There is really nowhere else to go but to God. He is our best option there is and if we choose to be wise and smart then we will discover that nothing or no one is the best choice but only God. Once we've made our choice then we've got to live by it to the end. For He is ultimate choice as the saying goes, "the cream of the crop," and the choicest cutting edge above the rest! Today's readings should really remind us of those times when we were able to conquer our fears. We should reminisce these occasions and inspire us to do greater things in the future. God will always be an endless flowing river that refreshes us continuously. I heard a story a long time ago, that God is very holy and no one can withstand His presence much more look at Him if we have the slightest trace of sin in ourselves after we die. We all hope to stand face to face with God someday that is why we are praying for God's grace and power to overcome the snares of the devil and be able to stand firm on that day. Let us not hold back and know that if we decide to do things for the glory of God and the sake of His name then we will surely see His face and be saved. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 80:2-3, 5-7

R.  (4b)      Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken, O guide of the flock of Joseph! From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Rouse your power,  and come to save us.

In our journey in this life we are living we can't help but sometimes encounter setbacks and difficulties when we stand up for our convictions in our faith in God. We may experience being misinterpreted by the people around us. We should be ready for opposition even from the very people we love and are closest to us no matter how disheartening it may be. We should never despair for God will always redeem His faithful people. Instead we must remain focused on what we are facing in this life. We can't allow these things to defeat and wear us down. We can only think, decide, speak and act for ourselves but never for other people. We are all entitled to our own personal convictions and beliefs and there's nothing we can do if others do not hold the same opinion as ours. No matter how foolish our views may seem to the world for as long as we do it for the glory of God we must not lose heart, nor be dismayed and be discouraged. For as long as we are standing on our firm belief in God then there is really nothing to be afraid of. We must remember that even Jesus was not spared from this harsh reality of life but was not hindered in carrying out the mission that was entrusted to Him by God the Father. We've got to keep on going and be focused on what God wants us to do. Just like Jesus our Savior who is thought to be out of his mind by His relatives we ought to get ourselves ready too for these things. No matter what bothers us in this life we have to keep holding on to God who is clearly and no doubt in His Perfect Mind to know what is best for us. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 3:20-21

20 Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. 21 When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

POINTING FINGER

Our God is incomparable for He loves us with a love greater than any other. From the moment we were conceived in our mother's womb, even before we were born, God already knows each one of us by name.  Let us always align our will, intentions, motives and actions with God. It is always good to check ourselves constantly and regularly at every given opportunity. Nothing is ever wasted nor considered useless for as long as we offer it to God. We have all been called by God for a purpose. He already had a plan laid out for us even before we were born. We are that special to God. Let us not forget our holy calling from God. Let us become the man or woman God has meant us to be and live each day of our lives in answer to this call. The readings for today continue to reflect on the Holy Servant Songs of Jesus. The mention of being called even from a mother’s womb, the 2 edged sword and polished arrow are symbols of God’s words. The Word that reaches to the ends of the earth, penetrates the hearts of people and able to separate soul and spirit.  The passion and death of our Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecies more than 500 years before this event took place. It is part of the plan that God revealed to the world. We have to develop an awareness of these things and Jesus Christ Himself. Let us constantly build our confidence in God who never fails. There is really nowhere else to go but to Him alone. By just looking back at our past and present we can only come up with just one thing which is God is constantly at work and in charge of our lives for as long as we live even unto death. Many of our brothers and sisters all over the world suffer persecution for their faith. This is a fundamental human right proclaimed to be enjoyed by everyone. Religious freedom is the path to peace according to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. It is a sacred right to have religious freedom. Without openness to the transcendent, a human being withdraws to himself and fails to experience authentic freedom which leads to violation of other human rights as well. This is vital in building a just society.  Wherever religious freedom is denied human dignity is offended with a resulting threat to justice and peace. We can not deny the assistance and various contributions of religious communities and believers. It has proven to be effective for the promotion of the common good. This is a force that could not be reckoned with or the truth that we can not deny. No matter how radical secularization tries to eliminate any reference to religion or any input the voice of religion may have. It can not ignore the religious dimensions of a society. This is a truth that we can not deny. Authentic religiosity is the source of a loving approach of brothers and sister as a whole family. It has to be freely chosen according to one’s conscience and not violently imposed. God beckons humanity with a loving plan and calls for a free and responsible answer that engages the whole heart. Amen. Hallelujah!

Is 49:3, 5-6

3 You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. 5 For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, ...I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

We need to persevere in prayer so that as we improve and daily grow in His knowledge and ways then we can easily discern and be more sensitive of how God speaks to each one of us in a very close and personal way. We should always listen intently to what God is telling us so we could effectively carry out what He wants us to do. It is God's will that we engage in activities that will enrich and deepen our faith in Him. In order to love someone better we have to know him/her better. The more you know about a person the more you become close to each other. The same way with God there is a need to really know more or everything there is to know about God. We must not be distracted and dissuaded to do otherwise when beset with problems and difficulties. If we have developed a great sense of confidence and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ then we can fearlessly and undauntedly do whatever He wills for us. We've got the very best friend we can ever have in Jesus. All we have to do is listen to and follow Him. He is the Rising Sun and Light of the world who came to live with us to direct our feet into the path of peace.  Doing God’s will may not be easy but if we have placed it in the center of our hearts then it will just come naturally as it becomes the powerhouse or mitochondria of our beings. The transcendent nature of humanity calls for dialogue and human understanding. In the face of difficulty and sign of contradiction we should never lose heart. Remember these words from the gospel, Mt. 5:10-12, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Violence is not overcome by violence. The world needs God. Authentic weapon for peace is religious freedom as in to practice faith without coercion. Today we remember the plight of our brothers and sisters throughout the world who suffer greatly for the faith. We pray that religious freedom will not be eroded for those who can practice it. We continue to hope in the grace of God for that alone will suffice. It is also very important that we follow the example of Mary's perfect obedience to God's will so that we can find delight in following God's laws. May our Lord show us the path to peace and use us as instruments and builders of peace. Nothing should ever stop us from doing the will of God for it is ultimately the best option we've got. If we have developed a great sense of confidence and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ then we can fearlessly and undauntedly do whatever He wills for us. Once we've known who God is and what He is capable of doing in our lives then there is really nothing that should stop us in saying with all our hearts the responsorial psalm for today. Amen. Hallelujah! 

P S A L M

Psalm 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10

R: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

1 [2] I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. 4 [5] Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood. (R) 6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.

With all the shortages that affect the whole world and the different crises that we are all facing today we can't help it, if we feel insecure and afraid. Especially in times when we start to run out of resources, this usually happens to most of us these days. We must realize that there is only one thing needed and we have to make it our choice so that it will not be taken away from us. We need not be worried and anxious about a lot of things. As in Lk. 10:41-42, The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." If we choose the right thing then we can claim all other things, as in Mt. 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." To top it all, we are assured in today's 1st reading that we are sufficient for God alone provides. They say experience is the best teacher. As we go on with our daily life and charge each day to experience, there is a need to really open the door of our hearts and allow Jesus to not just be a part of our life but be guided by the WWJD (What would Jesus do?) principle and do exactly what Jesus would do if he happens to be us. In the 2^nd reading, it is written, “to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,” This pertains to the church. It continues to grow but it is also a reality that Christians are the most persecuted people in the world. As Christ said in John 15:20, “Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” We have to pray for our brothers and sister that are suffering throughout the world for their faith, who profess the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord. Statistics say that for every 10 people, 7 can not proclaim their faith. Christians are the most persecuted. There are 2 types of religious persecution, one by the government and the other is those who belong to minority groups. These are in the form of political oppression, discrimination and intolerance. Religious freedom has declined in several countries. There is hostility against the Catholic Church for its stand on prolife issues. This is a reality for the majority of Christians. We are encouraged to support our brethren in whatever way possible especially through prayers. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Cor 1:1-3

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

St. John continues to proclaim in today's gospel what he has testified and seen about Jesus. We, too are challenged to be like him as we go on with our daily lives let us attune ourselves to God and listen to His messages that we can no longer deny it, as we confidently proclaim and become living witnesses that God is with us, God is good all the time. A lot of things have happened already and we must not have a single doubt in mind that Jesus is indeed the Son Of God the Most High, through Him all things are made possible. Just as John was able to testify with much conviction and certainty about Jesus so must we, too based on our own personal relationship with Him. Throughout our lifetime, it is inevitable that we all reach a point when we can come up with our own great and unforgettable stories to tell in our journey with Jesus. In this regard we can all stand up in proclaiming out loud the experiences and events that we've been through in the same manner that John did which testifies to the one true God. In all that we do and hope to fulfill in this life may we be like John the Baptist who points to Jesus. We might have heard about it or seen a painting of John with a pointing finger. Today’s gospel is the one being depicted in that painting where John was pointing to Jesus Christ. We may want to ask ourselves this question. Does our life point to Jesus or does it obscure Jesus? Can we say the same thing that John said in John3:30, “He must increase; I must decrease."  We pray for this to actively take place in our lives and truly point to Jesus. Jesus is the 2^nd Person of the Holy Trinity and is one with God the Father and God the Spirit. One God in 3 Divine Persons, Father, Son and Spirit. According to St. Cyril of Alexandria, our question might be this, why did Jesus our God submit to baptism? The answer lies in the fact that He received the Spirit in Baptism in so far as He is also human. The Spirit is already His, in Him and through Him. He received the Spirit for our sake. If we are to reason correctly then we know that He did not receive the Spirit for Himself but for us in Him so that all gifts come down to us through Him. Jesus remained God when He became man. What He was not, our human nature, He assumed so that He receives in, by and through His human nature the Spirit for our sake, benefit and advantage. He is definitely up close and personal for He took our nature to Himself in order to renew our nature in its entirety. In the light of this truth that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus we are called to have a claim on the gifts that are existent with the Holy Spirit. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. We pray that we maintain ourselves in a state of sanctifying grace so that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are fully operative in us.Amen. Hallelujah! 

John 1,29-34.

...“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ ...“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

THE MEDICINE

God gives us all a place and a position in the grand scheme of life and we must know where we should be. It is important to know where we are supposed to be in accordance to what God has designed for us. Saul just went out to do what his father said, to look for the lost animals and the rest is history. He had been given this special privilege to become king of Israel when he was anointed by Samuel. It was a great honor to be anointed as commander of God's people but in everything there is a corresponding mission and task that we have to fulfill. The choice of Saul corresponds with the priorities of the world rather than the priorities of God. Compare the attributes of Saul with those of David and see the difference. God looks into the heart of a man and not just his exterior behavior. It is important that we realize that faith is all about the heart first and, flowing from the heart, our words and actions. Can we honestly say we are doing a good job as ambassadors of Christ? We pray that that the Lord bless our actions so that we may serve with humility, and help us live a life that will reflect God’s goodness through Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!

 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.” 4 Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah...When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.” 18 Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” 19 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today...Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying, “The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies round about. “This will be the sign for you that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

Sometimes we reach a point in our lives when we're at our lowest and we tend to doubt God's presence amidst our trials. When we feel lost, we must not forget that God has given us what we need even before we ask Him. God knows every single detail about us and He will never leave out anything in our life without pronouncing a blessing over us. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

...You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. (R) 3 [4] For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 4 [5] He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. (R) 5 [6] Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendour you conferred upon him. 6 [7] For you made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face.

We don't really know anything at all. Judging from today's gospel we also fall into the same trap as the Scribes and Pharisees. This is what happens when we fail to see how the mind of God works. Whenever things do not go the way we wanted it then it would be best to always trust the mind of God that works for the ultimate good. Speaking of battles makes us think of wounds and injuries that can lead to sicknesses and there is really nothing to fear for in every fight we take we are assured of a Divine Healer that can make us whole. We should always follow what God wants us to do no matter how difficult it is at the present moment. There should be no doubt that He will carry us through. Today's gospel assures us that God is willing and able to cure all our ills and sicknesses. The problem lies not in God's ability to heal us but in our acceptance of the fact that we are sick and need healing. It may be easier for a severely ill person to recognize one's sickness because it is very obvious and undeniable than for someone whose illness and symptoms are just mild and unnoticeable. It is more dangerous in a way because the illness just creeps up very slowly and discreetly. It’s completely widespread and terminal just like some cancers even before we know it. We need to be aware of how we are doing ourselves. This does not apply to just our physical state but most importantly our spiritual. Let us not neglect nor overlook this seemingly fine condition we thought we are in and be caught unaware when everything becomes too late. Fr. Joel Jason wrote this paragraph below in his article in Sabbath.

Psychology journals now even speak of a so-called “mild addiction.” I have a friend with a drinking problem who calls it his “daily fix.” Included in this mild addictions are gluttony, chain smoking and heavy drinking. But whether it is light or heavy, it is still an addiction. It’s a form of sickness. Treating them lightly only gives a false sense that we are doing OK when in fact we’re getting sicker by the day.

Today in the Gospel, Jesus reminds us, “People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do.” It was a subtle but stinging remark directed to those religious leaders of His time who choose to be blind to their own moral sickness. Today we have the same problem. We don’t even know that we are sick because we invent names like “mild addiction” or “daily fix” to avoid calling ourselves to task. Companies who make contraceptives even market a pill with anti-pimple ingredient, taking advantage of the insecurities of the youth. What’s next? A pill fortified with beta-carotene? We are becoming sick and we do not even know it. Jesus, remind my heart.Fr. Joel O. Jason

Reflection Question:

When you see grossly overweight children, do you find it cute? Do you justify your disordered desires by calling them “mild addictions”?

Lord Jesus, more than the physical, I need spiritual healing in my heart, in my desires, in my will. O Hesus, hilumin mo, aking sugatang puso. Amen.

We need to receive the medicine of the Divine Physician to be healed and saved. Just like Levi in today’s gospel or more popularly known as Matthew we have to be a true disciple of Christ. Live the gospel, become living witnesses and role models. The disciples leave many things behind. 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 a retreat 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. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 2:13-17

…As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

ARE YOU DISPLEASED?

If we believe that God has a plan and a purpose in our lives and we are completely submissive to His will then there is no reason for us to be displeased when things don't work out as expected. This reminds me of the time when I attended the San Lorenzo Bible Ministry and the topic was about the Gospel of Luke. The main focus was about the heart of man. In fact the selected reading was taken from Luke 12:22-34(... For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.) which is about the dependence on God and also considered as the heart of Luke's gospel. All gospel writers are Theologians and very learned during that time. Theology is a requirement in order to be a scholar of any discipline or study. It was imperative at that time to be a Theologian before one can be called a scholar since they believe that the relationship between God and man should be well understood first and all other things will follow. If we have a mastery of our thinking and feeling coupled with fear of the Lord then we have wisdom. We've got to have a constant check and balance. Luke is very much into the heart and it was said that in order to have a good heart we have to really work our way to it. In the same way a physically fit and muscular man worked his body to attain physical perfection. Matthew, Mark and Luke are considered the synoptic gospels. But Matthew and Luke are more similar in many ways than Mark. Mark uses the "guts" while Luke was more into the heart. Luke saw something that Mark did not. He saw something good in the Sadducees and Pharisees by the way he presented them in his gospel. He always looked at people whether good or bad to be a part of God's plan and saw the optimum goodness in anything even the bad that is happening. We need "rats" or bad people in our life. In the same manner that it was the Jews or the these Sadducees and Pharisees who preserved Judaism during the time when there were no temples. Their rigid way of observing the law paved the way for Judeo-Christian in which most of our present tradition is based upon and handed to us. Luke also warns us that if we don't take care of our heart then we end up in eternal damnation as in Luke 16:19-31 (Parable of the rich man and Lazarus) If we persist in our hardened hearts in the way the Israelites did in today's 1st reading then we will surely suffer the consequences of our action. The Lucan teaching is cardiocentric which means anything that we learn, see and hear from scriptures is salvific and centered in the heart. God does not only see through the heart but He also listens to our hearts. Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Samuel 8,4-7.10-22.

...Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the LORD, however, who said in answer: "Grant the people's every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.

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

Psalm 89:16-17, 18-19

R: For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout; in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk. At your name they rejoice all the day, and through your justice they are exalted. R. For you are the splendor of their strength, and by your favor our horn is exalted. For to the LORD belongs our shield, and to the Holy One of Israel, our King. R.

There are different kinds of faith that bring about healing. In today's gospel it was the faith of the 4 men and not of the sick person alone who brought about the healing. It tells us of the power of friends. Just like this paralytic in today's gospel who was helped by his friends we should be thankful for the presence of people in our lives who continue to serve as the link that bridges the gap in our relationship with God. A paralytic was unable to come near Jesus but his friends went to a great extent just to be able to bring him near Jesus. They really went out of their way by opening up the roof of the house and passed through it to let down the mat where the paralytic was lying in order for him to come near Jesus. They have to go through a seemingly unimaginable task of breaking through the roof of a house. Who would do that? We can tell from the story that they are people who are determined, unstoppable, courageous, brave and united. They worked as a team and were clearly ready to face all odds especially because they are moving as a group which means they have the power of 4 people not just one. This reminds me of a speaker who talked about the power of leverage. We can benefit from a lot of things that He has blessed and endowed us. One of them is the gift of people, the family, friends and even the shortest encounter we have of our daily contacts that seem to not matter or be of benefit to us but can still impact our lives in a meaningful way at present and in the days to come. Although much to our displeasure, it is really inevitable that in our daily walk we can find people also in today's gospel who simply refuse to believe and don't share a common belief. At any given situation we must always be open to God's options not ours for in the end we will always find glory in His works and witness His astounding miracles as manifested in the gospel. It shows us a threefold manifestation of the Divinity of Christ. First is the ability of Jesus to read our hearts and minds. This not a human power, only God can do this. We can not hide anything from God, He knows all our thoughts. The 2nd manifestation is the ability of Jesus to grant spiritual healing. The moment he said this, "Your sins are forgiven" the paralytic man got healed spiritually. We hear these words in the sacraments of confession and anointing of the sick. God has the power to set us free from sin and set the soul back in union with God. Third is the power of God to grant physical healing. God can restore bodily health and put the body in the right order that God has designed it to be. Evil is the absence of the good that rightly belongs there. It is not absent because of God but because we fall away from grace. Suffering takes meaning from the action of Christ's redemption. Sometimes we miss the point just like the scribes. They did not recognize who Jesus is in spite of these divine manifestations. The paralytic and the 4 men acknowledged the power of Jesus but the scribes rejected it. Instead they accused Him of blaspheming. With regards to ourselves, I guess it is easier for us to say that He’s God at this present time than those scribes, the paralytic and the 4 men because it is a new concept that is difficult to grasp at that time. Do we really grasp the meaning of His divinity that Jesus is God? The 4 men who carried the paralytic had faith that is selfless. They wanted what is good for their paralytic friend and were focused at the good of another that’s why they were able to grasp the power of God. The scribes were selfish and can’t get beyond their mind’s view and not focused on the good of others. They failed to recognize the good that God can provide the paralytic. This is what happens when we don’t accept the Light into our lives and keep ourselves in the dark. Like these scribes who were present there observing inside the house which is believed to be the home of Peter. The Church stands firm in the witness of the apostles and the disciples about the Divinity of Jesus. He has the power to free us from sin and the effects of sin and sanctify our suffering and give meaning to it in union with His redemption. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” — he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

COMPLY TO QUALIFY

Up to the present time I am still unable to access my old email account because I failed to reset my password since I was unable to answer accurately the security questions. How come I am unable to access my very own account which I created? The answer lies in my inability to comply with all the requirements Yahoo has set for security purposes and though I am the rightful person who owns the account it still didn't give me the pass to access it. There are certain procedures, rules and guidelines to be followed. No matter how true and genuine my identity is with regards to my claim it still didn't work. It is not as easy as I thought it would be. The same is true with the Israelites in today's 1st reading, they are the chosen people of God, the descendants of Abraham, Jacob and Moses, given a blessing that holds for a thousand generations that stood the test of time and had with them ark of the covenant but still they did not win the battle as they had expected. They should have won the battle like all victorious stories go. But not even the presence of the Ark of the Covenant in the hands of the Israelites was enough to gain them victory over the Philistines. Why is this so? If we are to go deeper into the story in today’s 1^st reading we would find that Eli’s sons were unfaithful to God — they were not living according to the Law of Moses and thus God was not with them in battle. The ark of the covenant houses the stone tablets, the 10 commandments. What we learn from this defeat is the importance of living the life we are committed to. Magic charms or talismen, even something as great as the Ark, is not going to be of any help to us if we are not willing to be faithful to our calling.  Amen. Hallelujah!

1 Samuel 4:1-11

1 The Philistines gathered for an attack on Israel. Israel went out to engage them in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines then drew up in battle formation against Israel. After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the battlefield. 3 When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the Lord from Shiloh that it may go into battle among us and save us from the grasp of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of God. 5 When the ark of the Lord arrived in the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth resounded…The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; every man fled to his own tent. It was a disastrous defeat, in which Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were among the dead.

There are times when the Lord expects us to continue trusting His goodness amidst all the trials for He will redeem us. We all have sinned and fallen short of His glory but today's responsorial psalm tells us exactly how we are saved, not by our own merits but by God's mercy and grace. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 25-26

R: Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

9 [10] Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace, and you go not forth with our armies. 10 [11] You have let us be driven back by our foes; those who hated us plundered us at will. (R) 13 [14] You made us the reproach of our neighbors, the mockery and the scorn of those around us. 14 [15] You made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. (R) 24 [25] Why do you hide your face, forgetting our woe and our oppression? 25 [26] For our souls are bowed down to the dust, our bodies are pressed to the earth.

Sometimes we come to a point when we just have to keep silent and not say anything at all as suggested in the gospel. There are so many reasons why. We can be sure that we can trust God’s judgment on this more than anything and anyone else. But if we are to look at the “keeping our mouths shut” aspect from a different angle then we would find that it works. We know for a fact that some things are better left unsaid. Or no matter what we say the words we speak of just fall on deaf ears. Sometimes or most of the time silence could convey a better message than saying anything at all. In whoever or, whatever situation is involved at any time it is always for the best to follow what God tells us to do and take His word for it than follow our own. And as we trust in His goodness all we have to do is obey and do what is being asked by the Lord. It is mind boggling that Jesus warned the leper after being healed to tell no one anything. This was because Jesus did not want the people to misunderstand things surrounding His being the Messiah. He did not want them to look up to Him as a political leader that will free them from oppression from the Roman rule at that time. His main reason for coming is to free us from sin which is the root cause of all suffering and death. If we feel that we have been very preoccupied with a lot of worldly things that we are starting to neglect and care for our spiritual concerns, then it's time to stop and look at ourselves very closely. We may not notice it and even before we know it we may have developed a leper soul. Leprosy is something that creeps into you unknowingly because it damages the nerves and leaves you numb and insensitive and will catch us by surprise when suddenly a part of us becomes damaged, beyond repair and will just fall off. All we have to rely and depend on is God's will to happen in our lives and nothing else matters. For nothing is impossible with a Great and Big God. Our imperfections will be made perfect our impurities cleansed if we only know where to really go. Before it's too late we better go to Jesus right away. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.