JESUS IS LORD. ALWAYS!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

A sacrifice of thanksgiving

"Offer praise as your sacrifice to God;
fulfill your vows to the Most High.
Then call on me on the day of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall honor me.” (Psalm 50: 14 - 15)

Friday, July 26, 2013

Enjoy every Sunday and you will be paid for it

"Remember the Sabbath day—keep it holy.
Six days you may labor and do all your work,
but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God."  (Exodus 20: 8 - 9)

God gave His law to us for our benefit and not for His.  The law of God is perfect and trustworthy.

Sunday is the perfect illustration of the intention of God in the Ten Commandments.  If we enjoy  Sunday and honor it, God commits Himself to blessing us.  It is as if your boss says to you: "You can have every Friday in addition to Saturday and Sunday off. Enjoy yourself, have fun and you will be paid fully for the three days."  You would call him the best boss in the world.

 

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Earthen vessel

"But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us."  (2 Corinthians 4: 7)

Earthen vessels, vessels of clay, weak morality, inconstancy, concupiscence, sinful nature; these are  synonyms for earthen vessel described  by St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 4: 7.

How about "this treasure"?
Genuine riches, Holy Spirit, Faith, Christ in us the hope of glory, the Sacraments are some of the treasures of redemption.

I don't feel confident in securing this treasure in my fragile earthen vessel. I hand them over to the Blessed Virgin Mary to keep  safely for me.  Nothing in her safekeeping can be touched by the enemy of mankind.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The produced a hundredfold

"But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."  (Matthew 13: 8 - 9)

What makes the soil that produces much harvest rich or good?  The soil is not trodden under foot; it is not stony or full of thorns. The soil is well broken, tilled and manured.  Through the action of the Holy Spirit, it is disposed to receive the good seed.

"I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last."  (John 15: 16, 19)
"I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers."  (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Who is my mother?

"For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12: 50)

I want to be the brother of Jesus today.  Only today?  I live one day at a time.  If I am alive tomorrow, I will ask for the same favor.

Lord Jesus, help me to do the will of your Father today.  Father, may your will be fully accomplished in my life today.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Double your time of prayer

“If you find that you are working so much that you don’t have enough time for your regular time of prayer, just double It!” St. John of the Cross  

The love of Christ controls us

"For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."  (2 Corinthians 5: 14 - 15)

What a great day I would have today if the irresistible power of the love of Christ compels my every thought, word and deed.

"Perfect love drives out fear."  (1 John 4: 18)
O how happy I will be to grow in the awareness of Christ's perfect love for me this day.  St. Mary Magdalene whose feast we celebrate today is one who responded to the love of Christ with love.  She was the first to be at the tomb on Easter morning.  Christ rewarded her for her love by appearing to her first and then commissioning her to tell his apostles that He has risen from the dead.

O Jesus, you are the Evergreen Cypress Tree.  It is because of your irresistible love that you stay with us in the Blessed Sacrament.  Help us to respond with love for love.  Amen!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Mary has chosen the better part

Luke 10:41-42
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

The One thing that is necessary = The HOLY SPIRIT!

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