Gospel : Matthew 6: 7-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This is how you are to pray:
‘Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.’
“If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Thirty Pieces of Silver
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,
but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered,
“You have said so.”
Friday, March 22, 2013
GOSPEL Jn 10: 31-42
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
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.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
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.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
"Recognize Me,
Remain in Me,
And Be Forever With Me"
Remain in Me,
And Be Forever With Me"
Gospel: John 8:31-42
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,
“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.”
They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham
and have never been enslaved to anyone.
How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not remain in a household forever,
but a son always remains.
So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.
I know that you are descendants of Abraham.
But you are trying to kill me,
because my word has no room among you.
I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence;
then do what you have heard from the Father.”
They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.”
Jesus said to them,
“If you were Abraham’s children,
you would be doing the works of Abraham.
But now you are trying to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God;
Abraham did not do this.
You are doing the works of your father!”
So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication.
We have one Father, God.”
Jesus said to them,
“If God were your Father, you would love me,
for I came from God and am here;
I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”
***
Recognized
During Jesus' ministry, it's hard for the Jews to believe in Him and in His words. As a son of a carpenter, it's hard for them to accept His precepts. It became harder for them when His words seems to contradict with the laws they already have, the laws handed to them by Moses, enhanced, modified and made complicated by the pharisees and priests that time.
In today's gospel, it's like Jesus is talking to the Jews this way:
"Abraham talked to God. Abraham listened to God. Abraham followed and obeyed God. And now you're telling me that you're the descendants of Abraham who listened and obeyed God? And now you're telling me that God is your Heavenly Father? How come my words doesn't have any room among you? If Abraham is truly your ancestor, then you should have listened and obeyed God. If God really is your Father, then you should have recognized me, listened to me, loved me because He will surely tell you that I am His son, and I came from Him. Or maybe He already have told you but you didn't listen to Him. You ignored Him when He told you that I am His son, and the one who is going to free you from your inequities. And you find it hard to believe what He have told you because you knew and judged me for I am just a son of a poor carpenter."
As our God, as our Father, God likes talking to us everyday. Showing, leading, and instructing us in our every decision.
But oftentimes, just like the Jews, we fail to recognize God's directions in our life. We don't mind listening to Him anymore. Or worse, we listen to Him, but we're not obeying what He's telling us. Because we fail to recognize the purpose and reason behind His every instruction. And also because we're already loaded with our own self-approved beliefs and with what the people have told us.
It's like having a conversation with Him that goes like this,
Us: "Hey, God, what's your advice for my problem?"
God: "Ahm, do this..<God will provide His solution..>"
Us: "Err! Your advice seems so uncomfortable and hard to do and it contradicts with what I have in mind.. Sorry, I'd rather follow mine. Thanks anyway."
We're not anymore submissive to God. And when troubles and misfortunes come our way, it's easy for us blaming Him for what we have become.
In our time, where new, loud, convincing, and sometimes confusing and misleading beliefs and new age wisdom, God is still speaking with us,
"Listen to Me. Heed My words. Know that Jesus is My Son. Recognize Him, honor Him and believe in Him. I sent Him to set an example and for you people to follow. He's your Messiah. I sent Him for the salvation of humanity. Only through Him people will achieve eternal life."
How do we recognize the voice of God in our life?
Do we still pray?
Do we still read the bible?
Do we still contemplate on every verses?
Do we still participate in the activities of faith community?
Just like Jesus who recognized the reason of His Father why He would have to suffer and be crucified, which is for the salvation of humankind, in the deepest and silence of our hearts - talk to God. Seek and search God. Recognize His voice.
And when you find His Holy presence, don't just listen to Him, obey His instructions. Recognize the purpose of His instructions no matter how difficult it may seem. Recognize that whatever He tells us to do, it's for the best.
And most of all, God wants us to recognize His Son Jesus Christ as our Savior who has gone through sacrifices, sufferings, and death to pay for our sin.
Clarified
In Jesus' time, basing from the basic laws, priests and pharisees formulated new complicated laws to follow. And because pharisees and priests were highly honored, respected and known to be God's anointed one to lead that time, whatever law they passed on, people will just follow.
This led to confusion and at the same time caused burden to the people. People didn't know anymore what and where to start. They didn't know anymore if the laws still coincide with what their God really wants them to do, if they're still in accordance with the will of God.
Some of them religiously followed each law. Some found themselves guilty for they failed to follow some of the laws. While some, because of confusion, just gave up following the laws, including God's original laws, and chose to live a "lawless" life, went astray, and became guilty sinners.
They became victims of the laws. Some who fervently followed all the laws became slaves of laws. Some who can't follow all the laws became slave of guilty feeling. And some who gave up all the laws and lived sinners became slaves of sin.
Today, we're experiencing this same confusion and burden in our day to day living. Everyday, we encounter rules, principles and ideals (let's call them worldly laws) that we can't fully understand but we still follow. And these modern worldly laws are mostly invented, created, advertised, advised, lived, implemented, and even demanded by known, popular, famous and powerful people.
Some of these worldly laws are still in-line with God's will, but sad to say, the majority are also derived from God's laws, only twisted, that do not coincide anymore with God's will, which is used to lure and mislead other believers. And we can't already determine which is which. Dragging us to confusion. Burdening us with our every decision.
Unfortunately, some of us base their decisions from these wrong "worldly laws", became victims, were led astray, and became prisoners and slaves of guilt, fear, anxieties, and sin.
Today's Gospel is reminding us what and who to follow: Remain in Jesus. Jesus wants us to be free from these confusions and burdens especially those caused by the "twisted" truths about God's law. In His time, He even simplified the laws into just two major laws, first is we should love God, and second we should love our neighbor.
Jesus did not mean to break the laws, but He only wanted to simplify them to free the mind of the people from confusion, from loading their mind with lots of things to follow, and to give clarity to the complicated laws imposed by pharisees and priests.
What does "remaining in His words" means?
..It's putting His every word on top of others.
..It's His words that is our top priority.
..It's His words that should be our basis to every decision we make.
..That there is no way we should follow the words of people that contradict with His words.
..It's letting ourselves to unload and unlearn the worldly laws we already have in our lives, and letting His words fill and guide us.
..It's faithfully following His words.
..And it's thinking and contemplating in His every word everyday until we discover their intention and truth.
Jesus came to earth not just to offer His life in the cross. But before fulfilling this greatest task, He first made it sure that we will have something to refer to and to live by. By preaching and by actions, He destroyed the walls of confusion that trap us from seeing the truth.
Jesus has already clarified everything to us. Jesus has already said everything that will serve as our guide to live our life. He has already determined what are the things that matter to God.
And we only have one thing left to do: To remain in Him and in His words.
Freed
Israelites during the time of Moses were captives of Egypt. There, they were forced to work and serve the pharaoh. They lived in fear, guilt, and anguish. They were slaves. Yet, upon hearing their cries, God heard them. He sent Moses to a mission, a mission to free the Israelites from the hands of Egypt and guide them to the Promised Land, a land of milk and honey.
Israelites were slaves of Egypt that time. And in Jesus time, even nowadays, yes, people are not anymore slaves of Egypt, but Jesus told us that we're still slaves - slaves of our sins. We are slaves of our own will and pleasures. We live in fear, guilt and anguish because of our sin. We looked to ourselves as hopeless and unforgivable sinners.
So God sent His only begotten Son to redirect and help us repent. To change our beliefs. To change our actions. To inspire and guide us. To give clarity on everything. To free us from the dominion of our selfish will, desires and pleasures. To show us the right way. To reveal to us the truth. To take away the feeling of guilt, fear, and anguish caused by our sin. To pay the ransom demanded by our sins. To give up His own life so we may have life. And To free us from the chains and slavery of sin and curse of death.
The truth is, God selflessly sent His Son to pay for our sin.
The truth is, Jesus didn't mean to break the laws, He only wanted to free us from confusion.
The truth is, He is the Son of God, but He chose to live according to the will of His Father, to be a man vulnerable to pains.
The truth is, He was overwhelmed and was scared by the thought of that one day He will be crucified to death, yet He chose to stick to plan laid before Him by God.
The truth is, Jesus didn't died for nothing.
The truth is, He suffered and died to so we may live.
The truth is, He was not thinking if His sacrifice will change us and will make us turn away from our sins.
The truth is, He's not thinking of Himself when He's at the cross. He thinking about us, about our salvation.
The truth is, He died while we were sinning.
The truth is, He did it all not because He wanted to be famous. He wanted us to be saved, to free us from the curse of death caused by our sins.
The truth is, until now, He's calling us - to remain in Him.
The truth is: Jesus offers freedom for those who will believe and follow Him - by repentance, by faith, and by action.
***
Prayer
Friday, March 15, 2013
7,000 promises
GOSPEL JN 7:1-2,10,25-30
Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
“Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
“You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come.
Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.
Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
“Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
“You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come.
***
New Pope for our mother Church!
I happened to research about the background of our new pope. My first impression? Heart-lifting, grateful, amazed, inspired, awestruck. :) Our Pope himself gives promise on the crisis our Church is facing right now. One of it maybe secularism. And the faith of the youth that is deteriorating may be one of the most evident on my environment.
Are you in a youth crisis???
Friends, my fellow youth faithfuls, it is really easy to confront our crisis. Just follow three simple steps.
First, Determine the reason
Ask yourself this vital question: 'What is the reason behind the crisis?'
It may be experiences on the part of your family, peer pressure, immoral trends.
Second, Determine the result
Ask: 'What can I learn from this?' Every crisis is an opportunity to enlarge our perspective, sharpen our skills, and develop our character.
Third, Determine our response
Ask: 'What is the best way to respond to crisis?' Regardless of what you do. You should confront the problem, confess your part, and claim God's promise.
'Did you know that there are over 7,000 promises of God in the Bible to help you?'
If you are having difficulty identifying the reason for a crisis, try praying about it.:)
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
“My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”
Gospel: John 5:17-30
Jesus answered the Jews:
“My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself,
so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.
“I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.”
Currently, I am with a project manager who urges us to call her by name or by any name we are comfortable with rather than affixing "Ma'am" or "Miss" to her first name. At first, it was weird and difficult to all of us addressing her that way. Mainly because it feels like we're already denying her of the respect she deserves. But she's the one encouraging us to do so. She even dated each of us for a deeper personal conversation.
To be comfortable. That's my project manager's reason. To eliminate the feeling of fear, shyness, awkwardness or any negative feelings that would affect or even inhibit us from expressing ourselves whenever we'll have conversation, personal or work-related matters. She wants us to feel comfortable talking to her just like how much we are comfortable talking with our close friends. The respect was still there, but truly, we're like talking to a boss and a friend all at the same time.
And personally, I comfortably call my project manager "'Nay".
People in Jesus times followed and adored God because of fear. They saw God as a powerful entity. A merciless "boss". A monster that is so fast in executing punishments to those who disobey Him and His commandments. Thus they followed and talked to Him gently, with the right and pleasing words, with fear in their heart, while shaking on their knees. In effect, they can't anymore tell God the content and the state of their heart. People who longed for forgiveness that time felt hopeless. They thought God hated them so much, and that He will not, in any means, forgive them. The relationship between man and God seems so distant and superficial. A relationship built more on fear, and not anymore on love.
In today's gospel, Jesus is urging us to call our God our Father, a loving Father. Jesus manifested it by addressing God his Father. Not because he wanted to be equal with God, but because he wants to demonstrate to us that God desires us to be His' children, and that He is pleased when we call Him our Father.
God wants us to be comfortable with Him. God wants us to be close to Him. So close that the need of embracing us will be easy for Him. God wants us to look upon Him as someone who is compassionate enough and is willing to listen and do everything for the good of His children. God wants to establish an intimate relationship with us. God wants us to treat Him just like how Jesus treated Him. God wants to be a loving Father to us.
He never wanted to be a boss to us. He wants us to accept Him as our Father.
Be comfortable.
From this day onward, when you pray and talk to Him, be His child. Don't hesitate calling Him "My Father".
Allow yourself to have an intimate relationship with Him.
Yet, we might ask:
If God desires to be a loving Father to us, then why does He allow trials and challenges to come our way? Why is it that everytime we commit sin, it seems that He's punishing us for something wrong we've done?
Just like our earthly father would discipline us to correct our character and attitude, so is our Father in heaven who loves us more and desires the best for us. (Hebrews 12:5-13)
Our Father in heaven is at work. Our Father is training us to crawl, to walk, to stumble, and to stand up. Just like our fathers when we're still babies who let us stumble, fall flat-faced to ground, and let us cry aloud so we could learn how to balance our self and walk. Our Father in heaven will allow trials and challenges to happen, for us to cry hard-brave, to learn, to grow, to be wise, and to be strong in dealing with life.
One thing is for sure, like an earthly father who is ready to dive and catch his child, so is our Heavenly Father ready to help us, lift us up, and embrace us when we fall.
Our Heavenly Father is still at work. Endure and trust our Father. If you find yourself imperfect, stumbling, falling, struggling amidst the storm, and hurting, don't lose your focus, collect yourself, and know for certain that God is not yet finished with us, and is still in progress working, molding and perfecting us.
Allow our Heavenly Father to mold and perfect us.
Have you ever experienced teaching a toddler, like for instance, your younger sibling, where no matter how passionate you teach him, he's just not learning? And this is because he's not interested to learn what you're teaching him. He doesn't care and he won't cooperate. Yet, patiently, you still teach him.
And sometimes we are like toddlers. We're not interested. We do not want to be taught. And we don't want to learn.
But our Heavenly Father is patiently teaching us as well.
He is untiringly and patiently teaching us things we need to learn no matter how hard it is for Him to deal with us.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to have interest on things He's teaching us. He wants us to cooperate with Him. If He disciplines us, it's just because He wants us to learn from our mistakes. If He sends trials and challenges, it's just because He wants us to learn some more.
Don't grow bitter because He disciplines you, but grow better instead.
Don't give up when you stumble and when trials come your way, but stand up strong and keep in mind that our Father in heaven is always ready to back us up and sustain us whatever we need along the way.
Everyday God is working in us. Teaching us. Training us. Molding us. Strengthening us. Nurturing us. Making us stronger. Wiser. Braver. And better each day. Like Jesus.
And He's calling us to cooperate - like what Jesus did.
Are you not excited that one day, our Heavenly Father will use you - to perform miracles, preaching and healing His people - like Jesus?
Allow yourself to cooperate with the works of our Heavenly Father in us and in the life of other people.
My Father, thank you for calling me as your beloved child through your Son Jesus Christ. May I always acknowledge your works, including the trials, hardships, and challenges in my life and be always grateful for them. Because I know that through them, You're molding me into someone you want me to be, someone who is brave, strong and wise. Someone like your Son Jesus Christ. May I always be responsive to your every call. May I always have the willingness to cooperate with Your works not only in my life but also in the life of others.
With a trusting heart, and in Jesus name, to You, My Father, I pray. Amen.
Jesus answered the Jews:
“My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself,
so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.
“I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.”
***
My Father
Currently, I am with a project manager who urges us to call her by name or by any name we are comfortable with rather than affixing "Ma'am" or "Miss" to her first name. At first, it was weird and difficult to all of us addressing her that way. Mainly because it feels like we're already denying her of the respect she deserves. But she's the one encouraging us to do so. She even dated each of us for a deeper personal conversation.
To be comfortable. That's my project manager's reason. To eliminate the feeling of fear, shyness, awkwardness or any negative feelings that would affect or even inhibit us from expressing ourselves whenever we'll have conversation, personal or work-related matters. She wants us to feel comfortable talking to her just like how much we are comfortable talking with our close friends. The respect was still there, but truly, we're like talking to a boss and a friend all at the same time.
And personally, I comfortably call my project manager "'Nay".
People in Jesus times followed and adored God because of fear. They saw God as a powerful entity. A merciless "boss". A monster that is so fast in executing punishments to those who disobey Him and His commandments. Thus they followed and talked to Him gently, with the right and pleasing words, with fear in their heart, while shaking on their knees. In effect, they can't anymore tell God the content and the state of their heart. People who longed for forgiveness that time felt hopeless. They thought God hated them so much, and that He will not, in any means, forgive them. The relationship between man and God seems so distant and superficial. A relationship built more on fear, and not anymore on love.
In today's gospel, Jesus is urging us to call our God our Father, a loving Father. Jesus manifested it by addressing God his Father. Not because he wanted to be equal with God, but because he wants to demonstrate to us that God desires us to be His' children, and that He is pleased when we call Him our Father.
God wants us to be comfortable with Him. God wants us to be close to Him. So close that the need of embracing us will be easy for Him. God wants us to look upon Him as someone who is compassionate enough and is willing to listen and do everything for the good of His children. God wants to establish an intimate relationship with us. God wants us to treat Him just like how Jesus treated Him. God wants to be a loving Father to us.
He never wanted to be a boss to us. He wants us to accept Him as our Father.
Be comfortable.
From this day onward, when you pray and talk to Him, be His child. Don't hesitate calling Him "My Father".
Allow yourself to have an intimate relationship with Him.
Is At Work Until Now
Yet, we might ask:
If God desires to be a loving Father to us, then why does He allow trials and challenges to come our way? Why is it that everytime we commit sin, it seems that He's punishing us for something wrong we've done?
Just like our earthly father would discipline us to correct our character and attitude, so is our Father in heaven who loves us more and desires the best for us. (Hebrews 12:5-13)
Our Father in heaven is at work. Our Father is training us to crawl, to walk, to stumble, and to stand up. Just like our fathers when we're still babies who let us stumble, fall flat-faced to ground, and let us cry aloud so we could learn how to balance our self and walk. Our Father in heaven will allow trials and challenges to happen, for us to cry hard-brave, to learn, to grow, to be wise, and to be strong in dealing with life.
One thing is for sure, like an earthly father who is ready to dive and catch his child, so is our Heavenly Father ready to help us, lift us up, and embrace us when we fall.
Our Heavenly Father is still at work. Endure and trust our Father. If you find yourself imperfect, stumbling, falling, struggling amidst the storm, and hurting, don't lose your focus, collect yourself, and know for certain that God is not yet finished with us, and is still in progress working, molding and perfecting us.
Allow our Heavenly Father to mold and perfect us.
So I Am At Work
Have you ever experienced teaching a toddler, like for instance, your younger sibling, where no matter how passionate you teach him, he's just not learning? And this is because he's not interested to learn what you're teaching him. He doesn't care and he won't cooperate. Yet, patiently, you still teach him.
And sometimes we are like toddlers. We're not interested. We do not want to be taught. And we don't want to learn.
But our Heavenly Father is patiently teaching us as well.
He is untiringly and patiently teaching us things we need to learn no matter how hard it is for Him to deal with us.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to have interest on things He's teaching us. He wants us to cooperate with Him. If He disciplines us, it's just because He wants us to learn from our mistakes. If He sends trials and challenges, it's just because He wants us to learn some more.
Don't grow bitter because He disciplines you, but grow better instead.
Don't give up when you stumble and when trials come your way, but stand up strong and keep in mind that our Father in heaven is always ready to back us up and sustain us whatever we need along the way.
Everyday God is working in us. Teaching us. Training us. Molding us. Strengthening us. Nurturing us. Making us stronger. Wiser. Braver. And better each day. Like Jesus.
And He's calling us to cooperate - like what Jesus did.
Are you not excited that one day, our Heavenly Father will use you - to perform miracles, preaching and healing His people - like Jesus?
Allow yourself to cooperate with the works of our Heavenly Father in us and in the life of other people.
***
Prayer
With a trusting heart, and in Jesus name, to You, My Father, I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Pick Up Your Sleeping Mat
Gospel, John 5: 1-3, 5-6
The man went
back and told the Jews that
it was Jesus who
had cured him. It was because he did things like this on the Sabbath that
the Jews began
to harass Jesus.
After this there was a Jewish festival,
and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem next
to the Sheep Pool there is a pool called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five
porticos; and under these were crowds of sick people, blind,
lame, paralyzed.
One man there
had an illness which had lasted thirty-eight years, and when Jesus saw him lying there
and knew he had been in that condition for
a long time, he said, 'Do you want to be well again?'
'Sir,' replied the sick man, 'I have no one to put me into
the pool when the water is disturbed; and while I am still on the way, someone
else gets down there before me.'
Jesus said, 'Get up, pick up your sleeping-mat and walk
around.'
The man was
cured at once, and he picked up his mat and started to walk around. Now that
day happened to be the Sabbath, so the Jews said
to the man who
had been cured, 'It is the Sabbath; you are not allowed to carry your
sleeping-mat.'
He replied, 'But the man who
cured me told me, "Pick up your sleeping-mat and walk around." '
They asked, 'Who is the man who
said to you, "Pick up your sleeping-mat and walk around"? '
After a while Jesus met him in the Temple and
said, 'Now you are well again, do not sin any more,
or something worse may happen to you.'
***
"Pick up your sleeping mat and walk."
Where are you right now? At the library? Internet Shop?
Boarding house? Your house? Canteen? Office? On your bed? Restaurant with free
wifi?
Today's gospel reminds us that no matter where we are right
now, God wants us to pick or fix up our own sleeping mat and walk. And when I
say "sleeping mat," I am referring to our own worries, problems and
all. And when I say "walk," I am referring to the act of spreading,
shouting and proclaiming His greatness, His victories, His mighty, His love for
us unto the world.
Just as Jesus Christ healed the old man who is paralyzed for
38 years, He has also healed and saved us from our sins and problems which
paralyzed and prevented us not to be grateful for how many years also. God
wants us now to be braver as much as we can.
Be brave. Be healed. Pick up your own "sleeping mat." Stand
firm with faith. Walk. Proclaim His love. :)
Friday, March 8, 2013
Grasp it
Gospel Mk 12:28-34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
***
Have you ever felt the urge of stalking a person because you idolize and fantasize the person? :)
I guess we all did. We even think of exchanging place with someone who is famous and rich, right? I remembered the time when I was still a grade-1 pupil. I was really really fat that time and was always hungry. I envy my classmates who can buy the street foods outside our school for I still do not have an allowance that time.
I was curious why my parents did not let me hold even a scent that time. But, every time I see my parents, I did not bother to ask them why. The reason I think is because I really don't care at all. I am so carefree that time and I am always happy with the way things are moving. A child indeed. :)
Friends, it is this being carefree.. child-like.. is a reason why people can easily grasp and understand our Lord, our God. And so, let this be our attitude towards everything in our life. See God in every creature. See God in every heart.
Sure Foundation
Gospel, Luke 11:14-23
14 He was driving out a devil and it was dumb; and it happened that when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed.
15 But some of them said, 'It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he drives devils out.'
16 Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven;
17 but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, 'Any kingdom which is divided against itself is heading for ruin, and house collapses against house.
18 So, too, with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? - since you claim that it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out.
19 Now if it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out, through whom do your own sons drive them out? They shall be your judges, then.
20 But if it is through the finger of God that I drive devils out, then the kingdom of God has indeed caught you unawares.
22 but when someone stronger than himself attacks and defeats him, the stronger mantakes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.
23 'Anyone who is not with me is against me; and anyone who does not gather in with me throws away.
***
In every family, country, circle of friends, faith denomination, flock of birds, armed battalion faculty of professionals, government and in any other affiliations or associations in this world, there should always exist a sure foundation to ensure peace, harmony and unity among its members so as to attain certain objectives or goals for the main benefit of everybody. Now, where should that 'sure foundation' come from? Of course, it should come from the hearts of every member-- may he be a leader or a mere follower. There must be understanding, unyielding patience, unwavering trust, and of course, the last but not totally the least, unconditional love must prevail all the time. These are just some of the vital requirements in order for a family or any group to stay longer, survive longer, and bear every struggle that comes.
Today, Jesus conveys a very important message to us. As servants of God, it is inevitable that some people would throw questions at us to test our faithfulness in Him. For me, they do that because they would like to ask or get clarifications on why we struggle to continue, and yet still love to do service for God and for His people. But because we believe that 'faith without deed is useless', we strike our answers by showing (instead of just telling or explaining) them why and how. Jesus tells us that for as long as we are firm in faith in Him, we are with Him; and for also as long as we abide in Him, we are undoubtedly secured in Him. And this, truly, becomes our sure foundation whatever happens and wherever we will be today, tomorrow and in the life of the world to come. Amen.
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