The Rock

Mt 16: 13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

***

“Christ didn’t just give Simon a new name—he gave him a new job. Peter was the first pope, a fact which we celebrate today, February 22, in the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. The Papacy has continued, unbroken, down through 265 popes of the Roman Catholic Church over two millennia. The length of time that this institution has survived is a remarkable achievement—and, one might argue, itself proof of the divinely ordained nature of the office of the Vicar of Christ.” -Scott P. Richert

Peter is not on earth anymore. It is our duty now as the new generation to continue the faith that Jesus put on Simon Peter's hands. Let this be our cross. Our faith in Christ. :)

Meekness

Gospel, Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”

***

I am inspired with the article written by Bo entitled "We need meekness to win life because the meek will inherit the earth." The meek people are focused on their goals; they don't have energies to waste time in pride, arrogance and insecurity.

During the last few days, I had lots of frustrations and downward emotions: I didn't receive any amount from my SA allowance for this month since my contribution for our JS Prom was deducted from there; our prom was almost a c-h-a-o-s especially during the ceremonies; I was forced to join in the General Information Quiz Bee during our BizEd Days and I didn't win although the questions were as easy as abcde; and I received a break-even semifinal score in my accounting class (and this... is the most frustrating of all.) Whew! I knew I have prayed and done all the best that I could for the good in all those things and yet the results were otherwise. I was really full of greed, pride and arrogance.

But then, through the Gospel for today, I am reminded that blessings can't always come in an instant. 'Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.' I realized that my prayers should always be partnered with meekness in my heart because for everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened. The Lord just knows the perfect time for me and for you as well.

Brothers and sisters, how many times in our lives did we become aggressive in waiting for the answers in our prayers? Have we been patient enough?

Say A Little Prayer

Gospel, Matthew 6:7-15

In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.And do not put us to the test, but save us from the Evil One. 'Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either."

Soldiers have their swords. Doctors have their syringes. Engineers have their rulers and pencils. Office workers have their briefcases. Carpenters have their hammers. Celebrities have their smiles. Street sweepers have their brooms. Students have their pens and papers. Babies have their bottles of milk. Each of us has our own kit for survival. We use them throughout our everyday living in this world. But God reminds us that there is something more powerful than any of these things - a prayer.

Yes. We may be armed with our physical needs but at the end of the day, nothing can still compare with the power that is given by prayers. Talking to Him and listening to His message are the best ways to endure all things. Prayer is the best survival kit that we can have everyday. Whether you pray to adore Him, to thank Him, to repent, or to ask, God assures each of us that He hears everything that our hearts speak. God knows what's inside your heart even before you call out to Him.

With a little prayer, just by simply talking to Him, God reminds us that WE ARE ARMED AND READY TO FACE THE BATTLE. 

GEAR UP. SAY A PRAYER. AND YOU'LL BE AMAZED ON HOW A SIMPLE PRAYER CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. :)