It'll bounce back!

Lk 6:36-38

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.

Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give and gifts will be given to you;

a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,

will be poured into your lap.

For the measure with which you measure

will in return be measured out to you.”

Whenever I get hold of a ball, the first thing that I will do is to dribble it. I used to do such thing when I was still a kid. I even remembered the first time that I started dribbling a ball; it was really hard for me to make it bounce for a long time. I would even get irritated at times when the ball slips from my hand and when I get hold of the ball again; I will start dribbling until such time that I will be able to make it bounce for a long time. Dribbling is a matter of using your muscles to thrust the ball forcefully down and expect the ball to quickly bounce back to your hand.

In today’s gospel, I am reminded on how the ball bounces back to your hand when dribbling. The bouncing of the ball depends on the level of intensity or force exerted by the person upon thrusting it. Dribbling a ball is like living your life: “What you do to other people will definitely come back to you.”  If you want to experience good things in your life, start doing good deeds now. In doing so, the Lord will also reward you.

Furthermore, let us always be reminded of the golden rule; “Do unto others what you want others to do unto you.” 

God's Victors

Gospel: MT 5:43-48 

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You have heard that it was said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies,

and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your heavenly Father,

for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,

and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,

what is unusual about that?

Do not the pagans do the same?

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 

Don’t you find God’s ways absurd? Love your enemy. Pray for those who hurt you. Greet not only your brothers and sisters. These are always easier said than done. Besides, continually receding like that would make us look like losers. Yes, losers in the eyes of men but in the eyes of God, we are glorious victors. 

God doesn’t want us to lose in a fight with our enemies. He doesn’t want us to fight at all. Instead, He wants us to keep that peace of mind at the end of the day. 

Praying instead of hurting back those who hurt us is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength of our faith. It is a manifestation that God lives in us. It means we are compassionate towards our persecutors who probably did not know what they were doing. 

If we did love only those who love us, we haven’t truly loved at all. It’s like waiting to receive a gift before giving one. Then, who would start giving if we all wait to receive something first? If we all wait to be loved first, who would start loving? 

We become victors if we become the first to achieve peace; the first to show compassion; the first to love; the first to be holy just as our Father in heaven is holy. 

These words from Jesus are His way of teaching us to love deeply and truly. It is His way of making us holy and worthy to be called children of God. God’s ways are, indeed, absurd for it is not what we, mere humans, are used to. Absurd, yet, divine. 

“What may seem upside down to us

 is right side up to God.”

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. :)

Bridegroom

Gospel Mt 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.”

***

I always attend weekly worships conducted by some campuses in my place. It became  part of my itinerary every week and, hence, sometimes I lead the worship or play the guitar. This is how our community acknowledges God as present in our midst in everything that happens in our life. God made His presence known in many things. 

Sun, Moon, Clouds, Rain, Trees, Friends, Parents, Music.. etc

Many people do not seem to care if God is there. They reason out on not seeing, hearing, or feel God there. Friends, everything that surrounds you right now may even reflect God.:) Thank Him today.

Living Every Day

Gospel Mk 6:30-34

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.

When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.

Looking around, there is so much to be done to turn this world back to God. There’s temptation and sin everywhere. As God’s servants, this load of work may keep us so occupied that we might forget about replenishing ourselves. So, today, Jesus invites us to eat and rest with Him.

Just as we forget to eat and sleep when we’re too busy working to meet deadlines or studying for an upcoming exam, we also tend to forget to eat and rest with the Lord as we become instruments of His work. Jesus isn’t simply talking about the physical food and sleep we need. He is talking about spiritual food and rest and that is Jesus Himself who is the bread of life. When we lack sleep and food, we tend not to function fully at work or school. Similarly, when we don’t replenish ourselves with God, the fruits we bear wouldn’t be just as good.

Let us always remember that we are all part of the Work in Progress inventory of the Lord. He is always working in us to keep making us better. And though we have enough to share already, there is still more that we can share if we allow God to fill us more every day. Remember, too, that it is not just us who need of this food and rest that Jesus is talking about. The next person you'll see needs it just as much, or even needs it more, so don’t forget to share.

Eat of the bread of life every day. 

Share the bread of life every day. 

Live every day.

God's Servant

Mk 6:14-29
King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,
and people were saying,
“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;
That is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;
still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”
But when Herod learned of it, he said,
“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers,
and the leading men of Galilee.
His own daughter came in and performed a dance
that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once on a platter
the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner
with orders to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter
and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

*** 

Honestly, to be a missionary is very hard to do. You need to be passive on things from the way you wear, things you speak, and even your simple actions should reflect Jesus in you. Reasons are peer pressure, teasing of friends who do not understand, and sometimes pressure also in achieving the expectations.

But friends, I realized.. that our generation is nothing compared to that the time of John the Baptist. Pride is more important than Crime. Crimes can be easily shed away with just a request. If John the Baptist stand firm by being God's prophet, why is it that we ourselves can't make it just because we want to save ourselves from shame? :] I am God's servant.

"Is it not ENOUGH?"

Lk 4:21-30
Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,
‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said, “Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built,
to hurl him down headlong.
But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

***

Have you ever encountered a huge problem and resolved itself without you knowing it and all that is left for you to do is THANK GOD? These experiences remind us that truly God is lives in everyone of us.

But we still reach that point when we doubt His power probably because we are not contented of what we have. We want a lot of things not realizing that God gives us more than enough to live.

Today, let's try to reflect on the things that we have, the teachers that we have, the knowledge that we have, the family that we have, the LIFE that we have and the many great things God has done in our life. Then, try asking yourself again, do we still doubt God?

'EYES THAT SEEN SALVATION'

Gospel: Lk 2:22-40

At that time, the parents brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Symeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

"Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Symeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

_________________________________________

Presented in today's Gospel are two faithful servants of the Father in the names of Simeon and Anna. The Holy Spirit was with them that they were able to witness salvation before their death, giving Him praise and speaking words of redemption! Indeed, these two people are excellent examples on how servitude should be achieved. It requires no age bracket (as Anna was 84 then), certain degree of social status, or any other standards or measures. Great servitude entails a heart filled with dedication and wisdom through the Holy Spirit, being just and devout as Simeon was.

Bow, brothers and sisters, how many 'Simeons' and 'Annas' do we only have today as we go along in our service? Or do we even see them in our own selves? (Rina Ranes)