CHOOSE WHAT IS RIGHT (07-01-12)

Psalms 34-7

In my misfortune I called, the LORD heard and saved me from all distress.

You hear it as if someone is whispering – “you need money, and that wallet contains a lot of money.  Get it, and no one will know.  Get it and buy yourself some food.  Get it, for the owner has more!”  Hearing this, are you committing sin already?  Of course not!  But you are being tempted, by no other than the devil.  And being given the free will, you can decide whether to ignore or give in to that temptation.  And if should give in, then that is committing sin.  Giving in to temptation to do something against the will of the Lord, that is sin.

Temptation is not deciding between doing right or doing wrong.  If our own lusts draw us away and full-blown sin results, we have no one to blame but ourselves.  God tempts no man; we are “tempted” because our hearts do not want God.  Our hearts either accept or reject God’s offer for freedom from sin.  If we accept Jesus as our Rescuer, he does so instantly.  Likewise, if we reject this God-offer, darkness swallows us up immediately.

Adam stood at this crossroad before time began. Jesus stood there, too, and time ceased for those who accept eternal Life. The first Adam chose death; the last Adam—Jesus—chose God’s way, even though it meant He had to suffer a horrible death despite His innocence.  Our temptation is the same Temptation experienced by Adam and Jesus.  And, just like Adam and Jesus, we enjoy the fruits of our choice:  darkness or Light.  We would all be tempted a million times in our life.  But do not be despair.  Close your eyes and pray so God may give you the strength to resist and the wisdom to choose what is right.  That is choosing Light, that is choosing salvation.

Almighty Father, how many times the riches of this world, the temptations of pride, greed, envy, jealousy and lust have dethroned you my God from my heart.  I sincerely repent of this insult to your Majesty.  Through Your Son, Jesus, give me the grace to be able to reject the things of this world, to detach myself from all that is around me, and to cling strongly to your Spirit within me. I love you with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, with all my strength and with the Spirit you have given me.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

GOODNESS AND KINDNESS (06-30-12)

Psalms 23:6

Only goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

The God of the Bible tells us that we can come to know and develop a relationship with Him. We can know what He has planned for us and our families in this life and in the future. We can rest assured He wants good things for us.

His Word tells us that "godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" (1Timothy 4:8)

Not only can we come to know God, to believe in God, but—much more—we can learn to believe and truly trust in Him.

There is a huge difference.

Many people believe in God.  They assume He exists, although they probably haven't given His existence much thought.  But God is not real enough to them, and this lack of reality affects what they think and do.

To trust God, on the other hand, is to have faith that God will do for us whatever He has promised to do.  He expects us to act on that belief.  He requires that we have living faith in His existence, power and promises. 

And through this trust, we would develop a life of total goodness and kindness knowing that God has control of our lives until the ends of time.

Begin now to develop the living faith that will see you through the trials of this life and into the coming Kingdom of God.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, You want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing You and to lay all our cares on You, knowing that You care for us.  Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide from us the light of Your immortal love shown to us in Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen +

Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name give glory.

KEY TO HEAVEN (06-29-12)

Matthew 20:28

“And so I say to you, you are Peter… I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.”

March 1997 – I received the key to my first-ever car.  I was very excited.  First stop, Tagaytay! 

September 2004 – I received the key to our first house, our very own dwelling place.  We are very happy.  This is where we will build on our dreams, our family and our future.

I wonder how Peter reacted when the Lord gave him, not just a key to a house or a key to a carriage.  Rather, he was given the key to heaven that “Whatever (he) bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever (he) loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  He must be struck by awe, thinking what Jesus means by that.  He must have stood there for some time, trying to understand what’s the real meaning of this Key to heaven.

But he would understand it as the time goes by.  That Christ’s passion, death and resurrection is the key to heaven, not just for His disciples, but for all of us.  While it is true that Christ did confer authority on Peter, it is also true that this authority was not unique to Peter, nor was it supreme over the other apostles and the entire church. The power of the keys was granted to the whole church to be exercised in the forgiveness of sins. The apostle Peter was the first to open the way of salvation by the preaching of the gospel, first to the Jews at Pentecost and later on to the Gentiles.

We are given the Key to Heaven, through St. Peter.  As committed Christians, we should proudly hang the Key around our necks for the world to see.  Be more aware of our commitment and therefore less likely to put down the key. 

If you die today, is the Key with you to unlock Heaven’s gate?

Lord Jesus, You have given us the Key to Heaven through our first pope, St. Peter.  May we always have this key with us and forever keep it in our hearts so upon reaching Heaven, we would be able to enter and join You forever in God’s eternal glory and love.

The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

CALM ALL YOUR FEARS (06-28-12)

Matthew 8:26

“Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”

In the Bible, there were instances when Jesus would exclaim, “O you of little faith…”  The first is when Peter tried to do what Jesus has shown them – to walk on the water.  However, when Peter saw how strong the winds are, he became frightened and started to sink.  The Lord immediately got hold of him exclaiming, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

The second instance is during the time when a great storm have the boat covered with waves and water.  Frightened, the disciples immediately woke up Jesus, who was sleeping at that time.  He immediately stood up and rebuked that winds and the sea and perfect calmness was observed.

Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed.  Faith is certain. It is more certain than all human knowledge because it is founded on the very word of God who cannot lie.  It is the very first foundation of our relationship with God. “Without faith it is impossible to please God”.  However, due to our inherent weakness, men would always lose faith and being replaced by fright and unbelief. 

We always pray for more faith so we can defeat all the problems and disasters we would face.  But, according to Jesus, how much faith do you really need?  Somewhere around the size of a mustard seed!!! 

Not everything about God can be explained by human logic most of the time.  There is always an element of faith involved to trust that he will work for the good of those who love Him.  So the next time you experience storms in your life, allow Him to calm all of your fears as you place your trust in Him.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, give me the faith to see more of your purposes come to past.  Whatsoever this life may bring us, grant that it may never take from us the full faith that You are our Father.  Grant us Your light, that we may have life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen +

O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.

THE ONLY WAY (06-27-12)

Matthew 8:22

But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

The HR assistant approached the group of applicants.  He asked them to all stand up and said “Follow me”.

Since the HR assistant walks with a limp, all the people behind him is not just following him, but literally doing what he does…

All are walking with a limp!!!  I know this is a bad joke… but it surely presents in vivid manner our gospel for today.

The essence of discipleship is obedience.

Jesus calls the first disciples and they follow Him. This sounds like very simple, but if we look a little deeper into the word “follow,” we will discover that it is not as simple as it first seems.

To follow carries with it the connotation of imitating what someone does. Thus, disciples of Jesus are really imitators of Jesus.  We should not be saying one thing, and then doing another thing “if someone is not looking.”

Another meaning of the word “follow” is the physical act of following a person along a particular path or journey. It is not enough just to watch Christianity happen around us; we need to be personally involved.

We have to learn to trust Jesus that wherever He leads us, there is a good purpose and reason.

So, do you just follow because others are looking?  Or are you following Jesus because we know that following Him is the only way to eternal life?

Let us pray +

Lord Jesus, teach me thus Thy steps to trace, strong to follow in Thy grace, learning how to love from Thee, loving Him who first loved me.   Love in loving finds employ, in obedience all our joy, ever new that joy will be, loving Him who first loved me.  Amen +

The Lord is kind and merciful.

CORPUS CHRISTI (06-26-12)

1 Corinthians 10:17

Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

The Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation accomplished by Christ on the cross, is also a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for the work of creation.  In the Eucharistic sacrifice the whole of creation loved by God is presented to the Father through the death and the Resurrection of Christ.  Through Christ, the Church can offer the sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all that God has made good, beautiful, and just in creation and in humanity.

The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification.  Eucharist means first of all “thanksgiving”.

The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of praise by which the Church sings the glory of God in the name of all creation.  This sacrifice of praise is possible only through Christ: he unites the faithful to his person, to his praise, and to his intercession, so that the sacrifice of praise to the Father is offered through Christ and with him, to be accepted in him.  (From “Catechism of the Catholic Church”)

All of us were called by Jesus as His people, as His disciples, as His friend.  And as one body, we dedicate our lives in following His will, seeking His love and mercy and partaking in His life, death and resurrection.  And as we receive Him during the Holy Communion, may it nourishes our body, soul and spirit. 

By giving Himself to us, Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to earthly creatures and root ourselves in Him. 

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, You have agreed to receive us who believe in Your son. You sealed Your covenant with His blood.  We thank you for his life which is given to us, Amen +

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful."

TOUCH ME, HEAL ME (06-25-12)

Matthew 8:15

He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him.

If life is the journey, then what is the destination?  Neighbors or famous celebrities may have died or become sick, and we would talk about their lives and achievements as if we know them well.  But, when someone in the family is sick, it is not really easy to talk about death.  And yet, come to think of it, all of us will reach or experience that stage.  Death may not be as what we would imagine.  Some would say that we should eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die. 

But is dying really the end of it all?

When we commit sin against God, our spirit dies.  And along with it, our soul suffers death, as well.  Asking God’s forgiveness would resurrect our dead spirit.  But we should not stop at that. 

We should continue to feed our soul and spirit with the Words of God to make it strong.  And through prayers and reading the Bible, we would be able to strengthen our faith and trust in Him.

Christianity has always known and taught that man is more than a simple combination of chemical elements, that besides the body it has a soul which at the moment of death does not die, but continues to live and develop in a new surrounding. 

Let God nurture your soul.  By his strength, we too shall rise in transfigured bodies for eternal and conscious life.

Let us pray +

Lord, in every need let me come to You with humble trust saying, "Jesus, help me."  In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations, Jesus, help me.  In hours of loneliness, weariness, and trials, Jesus, help me.  In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles, and sorrows, Jesus, help me.  Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls, and shortcomings of every kind, Jesus, help me and never forsake me.  Amen +

The Lord has remembered his mercy.

STRONG IN SPIRIT (06-24-12)

Luke 1:80

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

June 24 is “Araw ng Maynila” (Manila Day).  Having grew up in Manila, it was customary also for people at that time to douse passers-by with water.  As a child, I didn’t really know why, so I would just do what the old people do – get a dipper-full of water and douse anyone with it.  It was fun for after that “morning ritual”, everyone is wet but happy. 

As I grew up, I realized why this is being practiced.  June 24 is when the Church also celebrate the solemnity of St. John the Baptist’s nativity.  And the dousing of water is to “re-enact” how he, about two-thousand years ago, prepared the way of the Lord, baptizing the believers in the River Jordan.

Water surrounds us in the womb; water is the main ingredient of the human body, and especially in the blood which carries the stuff our cells need for life.  Water makes plant and animal life grow.  Yet, without God's powerful, creative Word, water can do nothing to your spirit. 

So, when you are baptized, the Spirit acts through that Word and the water to cleanse you and drown the “old you”, surround and cushion you as your faith gestates, and carry Christ's presence into you. 

Baptism is a promise with a sign; a covenant of grace given to us in a way that we can see, hear, feel, and grasp. It is the promise of God's forgiveness, applied personally. It is also the gift of the Spirit's presence. 

When you're baptized, you're putting your life down a different road, getting off of the road of surrender to evil's power, and onto the road of the faith journey of surrender to the Spirit.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born.  Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching.  Amen +

“I baptize in water… but He is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.”

ACKNOWLEDGED IN HEAVEN (06-23-12)

Matthew 10:31-32

“So do not be afraid… everyone who acknowledges Me before others I will acknowledge before My heavenly Father.”

I was surprised.  My father once visited me in my office because he was in the area at that time.  I went to the lobby and introduced him to the receptionist.  We then went up to my room and along the way, I introduced him to my co-workers.  He smiled and felt happy knowing that I work in a good company.  After he left, my colleagues would remark, “Mas pogi pala sa iyo ang father mo” (“Your father is more handsome than you.”).  And I immediately remarked, “at mas mabait sa akin yun” (“and he is nicer and more kind-hearted than me).  He was the greatest father on earth.

It is even greater to know that we also have the greatest father in Heaven.  All of creation is in God and is held together by Him.  As Scripture puts it, “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  If this is true of all creation, how much truer for us, His children.  If the Father is aware and concerned for a tiny sparrow, all the more is He about us.  No one can harm us without His permission and His willing it.  He knows each hair on our head.  God’s divine providence cares for us.  We are His beloved children for whom He sent His Son to suffer and die for us. He will allow no physical harm to come to us unless it is for our greater spiritual good.

In return, we must acknowledge Him as our Lord, and our Father.  We must show this not just by praising Him or glorifying Him.  We must exemplify the value of Jesus’ teaching by our behavior and our actions:  the modesty with which we act, the charity with which we speak, the kindly acts of service we render to others, the moderation with which we eat and drink, the meekness with which we contain our anger, the self-mastery with which we control our sensual passions, the aversion we have for telling lies… We must also speak up for Jesus and His truth by actual words and actions.

Let others know Him because of you.  Teach others to know Him.  Acknowledge Him before others, so He may acknowledge you in Heaven.

Almighty Father, thank You for my life on this earth, however challenging or not.  We know that You will forever be with us, protecting us, so we should never be afraid.  We praise You and acknowledge Your great power.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

BEARING FRUITS (06-22-12)

Matthew 7:19

Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I still remember the pine tree near our house that really belongs to our neighbor.  That pine tree is a home to sparrows.  In the morning, I would wake up to the singing and chirping of these small birds.  But one day, our neighbor has to extend their house.  They have to cut down the pine tree.  I even overheard them saying, “Let’s cut it down.  It doesn’t even bear fruits!”  Well, hello, it is a pine tree!  And since then, I no longer hear the chirping and I wonder where have those little birds has gone.

Bearing fruits is just one benefit we gain from a tree.  And there are more like providing shade during summer, home for birds, “playground” where we can climb and lie down on its mighty branches. 

Similarly, as Christians, it is important that in whatever time is given to us that we are fruitful and fragrant for the world in which we live in.  Hopefully, God isn’t chopping us down yet, for he loves the trees too much.  But nevertheless life is short: sometimes shorter than we think it will be.  And the need for fruit becomes urgent!

Am I bearing fruits now?  There are many types of fruit that could be examined:  giving, praying, righteousness, forgiveness, tithing, ministering, leading others to Christ, missionary support.  Each is different, but each is from the same Lord. 

Each of us is different with different gifts and fruits, but we are all of the same body, grafted on to the best rootsoil the world has ever known:  Jesus Christ himself.  Use what God has given you for His glory, to bear fruit, and to further His Kingdom.  Start bearing fruits, or be cut down!

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, You are a patient and merciful God.  Teach me to respond with great reverence to You so I may bear good fruits and be a blessing to others.  Teach me to use this time of grace in proclaiming Your words so others may bear fruit also, all for Your glory and praise.  Amen +

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

GREAT CALM (06-21-12)

Mark 4:39b

The wind ceased and there was great calm.

I worry too much.  What if it rains tomorrow?  What if the bank failed to credit my salary?  What if I lost my job tomorrow?  What if… what if… what if… A famous psychologist asserts that "fear is the most disintegrating enemy of human personality," and a prominent physician declares that "worry is the most subtle and destructive of all human diseases."  We simply worry too much to a point that not worrying becomes abnormal for us. 

All of us would like to be free from worries, but it seems impossible.  And yet, all we need to do is to put ourselves in God’s hands.  Jesus exclaims - Have no anxiety at all.  Do not let your hearts be troubled.  And St. Paul tells us the way:

“Brothers and sisters: Have no anxieties at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  Then the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Dale Carnegie, in his book, “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”, mentioned that there is only one perfect way to conquer worry:  PRAYER!  And he enumerated the following as ways to keep your spirit high and worry-free:

1.    Rest before you get tired.

2.    Learn to relax at your work.

3.    Learn to relax at home.

4.    To prevent worry and fatigue, put enthusiasm into your work.

Let God commands the winds to cease, and feel the calmness of it all.

Almighty Father, teach us to stop worrying and keep in our hearts that you will always be there for us.  That we are far more important to You than the birds in the sky and grass in the fields.  Teach us to keep our faith alive and believe in You always, constantly thanking You, praising You and loving You.  For we know that You already know what we need, now and forever.

Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

THE OTHER CHEEK (06-20-12)

Matthew 5:39

But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.

There is a similar Filipino saying, “Kapag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay” (“If someone stoned you, throw a bread at him, instead”).  Most of us are familiar with the "turn the other cheek" statement.  But does any of us truly understand what this means? 

For me, it means do not use violence to resist evil.  Do not continue the downward spiral of violence.  Jesus wants us to break the downward cycle of violence by refusing to cooperate with violence, refusing to retaliate with further violence.

But does that mean sit back, be passive, and suffer violence?  No! The world tells us there are only two options in the face of violence: fight back with violence or run away and do nothing. 

But Jesus offers a third alternative:  active nonviolence resistance.  Jesus doesn’t advocate passive resignation or indifference to evil.  He teaches and practices active, steadfast resistance to every form of violence and injustice.  He just does not use the same means as the oppressor.

There are several events throughout the Bible that establish the principle of self-defense.  However, seeking personal revenge is prohibited.  Jesus stated that not only murderers were in danger of judgment but those who are angry enough to murder are also in danger of judgment.  While we may avoid or resist evil when it is necessary for our own security, we cannot render evil for evil nor avenge ourselves. 

We must get beyond this and forgive the offenders while seeking their salvation.  That’s when we become like Jesus, nonviolent resisters to the culture of violence and war.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, we pray for your peace and your mercy in the midst of the great suffering that people are now inflicting on each other.  Amen +

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

ONE GOD, FOREVER (06-19-12)

2 Corinthians 13:13

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion -- the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these Three Persons being truly distinct one from another. 

The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons.  The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire:  “The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e. by nature one God”. 

The divine persons are really distinct from one another.  “God is one but not solitary”.  "Father", "Son", "Holy Spirit" are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really distinct from one another.  They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: “It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds”.  The divine Unity is Triune.

The divine persons are relative to one another.  Because it does not divide the divine unity, the real distinction of the persons from one another resides solely in the relationships which relate them to one another.  While they are called three persons in view of their relations, we believe in one nature or substance.  

This sharing in the life of the Trinity is meant to culminate in heaven, where we will see the three Persons - face to face, united to them in unspeakable love.

O most holy Trinity, Almighty God, we adore You, Who give life and vigor to every creature and Who shed light eternal where there is darkness.  We offer You our hearts, our souls, and our whole being, today and on the days to come, that we may offer perfect praise and love to your glorious Name. Amen +

Glory and praise for ever!

A HEART IN PRAYER (06-18-12)

Matthew 6:7

“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.”

First, it was just a babble.  But after a while, your baby would utter the first word – “Mama”.  A feeling of joy crept in you and started to cry.  Then, your baby would repeat it many times again, “Mama, mama, mama”.  Would you feel annoyed?  Of course, not!  It was music to your ears!

Years later, he would grow up to be a very fine, young man – full of faithfulness and fear of the Lord.  And every day, he would say to you, “Mama, I love you”.  And he would repeat it many times.  Would you feel annoyed?  Of course, not!  No matter if he would repeat it many times, it would still be music to your ears.

This is the same with praying.  Matthew 6:7 does not really mean that we should not pray repeatedly, as some would tell you.  This verse only mean that it does not matter how many times you repeat something or how complex the words, it would not mean anything if it is not coming from the heart.  Like the pagans before that only “babble” – that is, to utter a meaningless, confusing litany of words or sounds.

A person with a heart after God can pray and be effective in fewer words and a simpler language in communing with the Lord.  Pray from the heart and seek the things of Him.  Learn how to talk to Him.  Don’t be afraid if you repeat your words or you forget some words.  He understands that because he is not listening to your every words.  He is listening to what your heart is saying.

Then, be still and listen for His small voice in your spirit as you pray.  Allow Him to speak to you, don't shut Him out.  Because similarly, He doesn't speak to your head, He speaks to your heart.  So listen to His voice in your heart and rebuke any you hear in your head.

Almighty Father, we love You.  We know that this is all You want. Everything else falls into place after that.  Walk with us in our lives.  In the end, we would not ask of anything from You anymore because You are already within us.

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

TRUE WEALTH (06-17-12)

Matthew 6:20

But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. 

I noticed my wife checking on some safety boxes.  I asked her if she intends to buy one.  She replied that she is thinking of buying one so she may safekeep her jewelries and some money.  But she noticed that the big-sized boxes are expensive so I just told her to buy the smaller one.  Then she remarked, “Well, if I buy the small one, the thief would just carry it with him rather than opening it.”  Hahaha… she’s right and we both burst into laughter.  And she ended up not buying anything at all.

Our Lord used three graphic figures to emphasize the temporary nature of material things.  He spoke first of the moth, which destroys.  Then he spoke of rust, which cause decay.  Then he referred to the thief, who steals.  What men give their lives to may be destroyed or decayed and ultimately will depart forever. 

Our Lord did not condemn wealth, but He warned against loving wealth.  Our Lord was not concerned with what a man has, but with a man’s attitude toward what he has.  The Scriptures does not condemn the accumulation of wealth but, when God gives a man wealth, He holds him responsible as a steward.

We overcome our attachment to self-centeredness by storing up for ourselves treasures in Heaven through expressions of love, kindness, compassion, experiencing the presence of God, seeing the face of Christ in others, and doing good to others in as many ways as we possibly can without asking for anything in return. 

Only the Spirit of God – “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth.”  Earthly treasure is not true wealth; true wealth is godliness. 

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, teach us to experience treasures in heaven and thus escape yearning for earthly things.  Teach us to live in the sunshine of Your love, forever seeking Heaven which begins right here in our hearts.  Amen +

From all their distress God rescues the just.

HIS GREATEST WORK (06-15-12)

John 10:37-38

“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

You dropped by an art gallery and a painting caught your attention.  You haven’t seen anything as beautiful as this one, you thought.  The lines, the colors, the contours, the shapes, the shades.  Put them all together, and what you see, from every aspect, is perfection.

You even asked the curator if the painter is a very talented man.  He mentioned that the painter is a 12 year old boy.

Suddenly, disbelief comes into you.  How could a boy paint such beautiful work of art.  You did not only lost interest on the painter, you also lost interest on the painting.  Just because it was painted by an “amateur”, it is not anymore beautiful as you thought it was.

Is this how you also feel so you have some apprehension about believing in Jesus?  In His time on earth, Jesus has only done good things.  Preaching the words of God, healing the sick, feeding thousands, casting out evil spirits, raising up dead, all in the glory of God.  But the leaders of the Jews saw otherwise.  They saw Jesus as a threat to their perceived leadership.  They failed to see the wonderful things that Jesus has done because they see Jesus as just an ordinary mortal – an ordinary Jewish man, who is not worthy of being with them, let alone being the Son of God.  For them he is a liar, worthy to be put to death for blasphemy.

See and believe in the works of God.  Let your mind and heart respond with a life filled with thankfulness, service, and worship.  God has opened your eyes to the truth of creation so lift up your voice in praise and adoration to the Most High.  Jesus is His greatest work, believe in Him and His works.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, I know that whatever You do, it endures forever; You have made it so, in order that men should fear, love and glorify You, and You alone, now and forever.  Amen +

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

ETERNALLY WITH GOD (06-14-12)

John 8:51

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”

Tell me, is that what you really believe, that physical death is the end of it all?  That after you die, your existence in this world and beyond has also ended? 

Hhmmm… is this also the reason why you now live your life like there is no tomorrow?  Drinking, smoking, womanizing, sleeping late or not sleeping at all, unhealthy foods… all to satisfy the cravings of your body. 

Well, you may say it is your body and you can do whatever you want with it.  Don’t worry, I fully agree with you that it is your body.  But, I just cannot allow you to just “do whatever you want with it”. 

For your body and your life comes from God, and He wants you to live your life fully here on earth so you can be with Him in heaven.  For death is not the end of it all.  For the next thing you will experience once you finally close your eyes here on earth, it is eternity – life forever and ever. 

And so, it really boils down to two choices – 

Do you want to spend the rest of your eternal life in heaven, full of joy, with God in heaven, or 

Spend eternity in hell, where there will be wailing, weeping and gnashing of teeth as you are subjected to fire and heat forever and ever. 

Well, you can go on living like before, if you still believe that there is no eternal life, or that there is no hell.  Just one point to ponder though: 

What if there is hell?  I just hope that you do not believe in it when you are already in it… 

Let us pray + 

Almighty Father, grant us Your powerful protection and to keep us safe and sound.  May Your Spirit grant us a loving and merciful heart as we live in You through Jesus Christ Our Lord.  Amen +

Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.

TRUTH OF THE MATTER (06-13-12)

John 8:31-32

“If you remain in My word, you will truly be My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We always want to know the truth.  When our kids went home late, we want to understand why, we want to know the truth.  When one of our people is late or absent, we want to know what happened, we want to know the truth. 

In the current scandals plaguing the government today, everyone says that he is not lying, they are all telling the truth!  And yet, when we examine our lives, most of the time, we are also living in lies. 

This is because we are either afraid of the truth or doesn’t even know what is the truth.  And most of the time, the things that we believe are “truth” are really lies for it is not rooted on doing what God commands us to do. 

The Scriptures reveal those things necessary for salvation and are the sole infallible rule of the Christian faith.  No one has any right to opt out of the search for truth, especially in faith and morals, no matter how limited or deep their level of religious understanding are. 

Jesus is the way, the TRUTH and the life.  Find the truth that we are yearning for.  Look into your heart and be true to yourself first before asking for truthfulness from others. 

Turn into Him for salvation, for only Him can set us free.  The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for. 

Let us pray + 

Almighty Father, lead me in Your Truth and teach me.  I seek Your Truth and trust You and Your Divine Plan because I know that I originally came from You.  Protect me Father and help me to always speak the Truth and to purposefully move away from omissions, lies and anything that is not a deliberate reflection of Your Truth.  Amen +

Glory and praise for ever!

WHAT I BELIEVE (06-12-12)

John 8:28

“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.”

What we were taught in school, we would readily believe.  Not only because it is written, but because we experience them first hand.  That anything will fall to the ground when we let go, so we believe in the Law of Gravity.  We believe that 2 plus 2 is 4, because as a child, our teacher showed us that combining 2 apples with another 2 apples would really yield 4 apples. 

In this Season of Lent, everyone is again asked to revisit their faith and what they believe in.  Are we truly living the life of a Christian or merely getting through it, not because we believe, but because this is what we are doing all along  - and so I will just do it again and again. 

But believing in Jesus is not just recognizing He exist and that He is our savior.  That is the start, but as we go along our spiritual lives, we also need to show that faith, trust and conviction to obey His will.

And this makes it hard to remain as a Christian.  And this is where most of us fail and prefer to go back to our sinful past. 

But if we would only realize all the blessings we received, the fact that we are alive today because of the fresh air we breathe and the clean water we drink, as well as the dear ones who love us, then aren’t these enough to believe in One Creator? 

And faith in Him is our response to God, who reveals Himself and gives Himself to man, at the same time bringing to us the light and the way as we search for the ultimate meaning of life.  Bring back that belief and embrace it fully.  Jesus’ teaching is not meant to make us suffer, but rather to make us closer to our God in Heaven, where we truly belong.

Let us pray + 

Almighty Father, be merciful to us, sinners.  Strengthen our faith as I live in total obedience to Your will.  We praise you, forever, Oh Lord and with humble hearts, we surrender fully our lives to You.  Amen +

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

IN OUR WEAKNESS (06-11-12)

John 8:11

“Neither do I condemn you.  Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more.”

I just came from confession.  After I received my absolution, I really felt good inside.  I attended the mass; afterwhich, I went home.  But along the way, a car suddenly sped in front of me while I am crossing the street.  Luckily, it did not hit me.  But I did curse the driver, shouting on top of my voice.  I just came from talking with God, and now this happened.  Well, I will just confess again my sins next week. 

Then, it struck me.  What if another car speeds up and this time, it hits me.  What if a bad person suddenly robs me and gunned me down in the process.  What if I just fall down on the street, dead, not knowing what happened.  

Yes, the Lord forgives sin.  But he also expects that we do not sin anymore.  It is hard, you and I know.  And it means constant amendment in our lives, as we live in total agreement with Him, His will and His Word. 

Let us learn from the case of the woman caught in adultery.  Although Jesus had forgiven her sin, He expects her to live a life of grace and union with God by not sinning anymore.  Sin does matter and damages our relationship with God, but it is not man who should judge us, but only God. 

When we receive Jesus’ forgiveness, He expects us to live as new people afterwards.  As we come to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it would make no sense to come to confession if we intended to continue committing the same sin again.  

In weakness we may commit the same sin again.  But surely we can only genuinely say that we are truly sorry for our sins if we have a firm intention not to commit sin again, amending our lives and living a life that God has intended and wants for us. 

Let us pray + 

Almighty Father, I am very sorry for all my sins.  I may again sin today or tomorrow… but please, show me the right path towards you, so that I may not sin again.  Amen +

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

ALIVE IN HIS PRESENCE (06-10-12)

John 11:25

“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live…”

Even before His death on the cross, Jesus would always tell His disciples about this, that He will be put to death for the salvation of mankind.  But He knows that it will not be the end.  His glory would finally be realized when He is resurrected, for that will be the ultimate consummation of God’s promise of salvation for mankind. 

When Lazarus came back into life, it was one great miracle performed by Jesus.  His sisters do believe in life after death, so when Jesus advised them that Lazarus will live, they firmly believed Him, knowing that we will live again in the afterlife.  Didn’t they know that what Jesus meant was Lazarus will live again, physically and spiritually. 

In that brief, shining moment, Jesus showed that He is God, the resurrection and life.  Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what He had done began to believe in Him. 

We may be totally immersed in darkness now in our lives.  We are dead spiritually and entombed in uncertainty of life.  However, we must enter these periods of darkness and silence with hope and an expectant spirit.  God is the artist and crafter of all we are and God knows what is needed for our growth.  Let Him guide us through these periods of darkness until the eyes of our hearts are ready to see the light again. 

Jesus is the resurrection and life.  Let us come to Him, so He can open the “eyes of our hearts”.  Believe in Him, so He can open our hearts and be ready for the after-life. 

Let us pray + 

Almighty Father, God of Heaven: You are Lord of all our living.  Hold us in the hands that made us.  Cradle all our hopes and fears.  Let us praise and glorify you forever.  Amen +

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.