For Nothing is Impossible for God

“For nothing will be impossible for God.” (Luke 1: 37)

This is the assurance that the Angel Gabriel gave to Mary when he told her that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit to be the Mother of God.

No word of God will be impossible to him. I appropriated this message from the scriptures one Sunday morning: “I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there, and there they will live and never be disturbed again; nor will they be oppressed by the wicked anymore, as they were in former times …. I shall grant you rest from all your enemies.” (2 Samuel 7: 10) It was a consolation of the truth for me to see in the message to Mary that “Nothing will be impossible for God.”

God himself will provide a place for me.

God will plant me there and make me secure.

I learned also this morning that full belief manifests itself in obedience and patience. How do I show obedience to this word of God? “I am the servant of the Lord: may his will for me be done.” Amen.

Definition of Revelation

Definition of Revelation

“Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages, but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Romans 16: 25 – 27)

The Gospel was made known to the Gentiles “that they may believe and obey.”

Some read the Bible and believe that it is the word of God (prophetic writings). But they do not obey. So they do not see the wisdom of God or his power. The Gospel can only be alive and powerful when we believe and obey it.

Mary says: “I am the servant of the Lord: may his will for me be done.” She believes. She obeys. Help me O Blessed Mother to believe and to obey.

Shalom

Shalom!

“I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there, and there they will live and never be disturbed again; nor will they be oppressed by the wicked anymore, as they were in former times ….. I shall grant you rest from all your enemies.” (2 Samuel 7: 10)

I discover in this Promised Land scripture the following promises that I can appropriate:

God himself will provide a place for me.

He himself will plant me there and there I will live.

Nobody will disturb me.

The wicked will not oppress me: (for example – money, job, tools, family, health, food)

God will grant me rest from all my enemies.

As I write this, I recall one of the greatest gifts of the Mass: Peace. Peace is offered as a gift of Christ to us in the Mass at least 5 times. Lord Jesus, I truly believe that you anoint me with peace every time I meet you in the Eucharist. I know now why you give me this peace. Yes, you give it to me to enjoy and to become your instrument of peace to the world. Lord, I will never know how to do this until you teach me. Please Jesus, make me an instrument of peace.

The Scroll of the Book

The Scroll of the Book

“My task, I have said, Yahweh is to keep your word.” (Psalm 119: 57)

“In the scroll of the book it is written of me, my delight is to do your will.” (Psalm 40: 7)

It will not be possible for me to do God’s will unless God is generous to me in this direction. (Psalm 119: 17)

Unless he teaches me, gives me understanding and guides me (Psalm 119: 33 – 35; Colossians 1: 9)

Unless he averts my eyes from “pointless images”, that is, luxury, pornography, alien gods.

Unless he gives me life, that is the Holy Spirit (Psalm 119: 88)

Unless God supports me (Psalm 119: 116)

This Cup

This cup

“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26: 39)

Without overcoming the fear of physical suffering and the fear of criticism, we shall never be able to achieve our potentials in Christ’s vineyard. The Holy Rosary is the most powerful prayer I have experienced and this month of October 2006, I thank God for 12^th year of commitment to the daily Rosary. Apart from the Eucharist, nothing has brought me more power, peace and protection than the Holy Rosary.

In the First Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary, we recall the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” This is a prayer to overcome the fear of physical suffering. I have used it to pray for this intention for the past 12 years. I pray the 3^rd Sorrowful Mystery, the Crowning of Christ with thorns to overcome the fear of criticism and to accept humiliation and rejections.

We can pray confidently with Christ for God’s will to be done in our lives because we know that Our Father is almighty, loving and all wise. He can never permit harm to come to us except it is for a greater good.

Holy Scripture

Holy Scripture

“When I discovered your teaching, I devoured it. Your words brought me joy and gladness; you have called me your own, O Lord my God.” (Jeremiah 15: 16)

Today is September 30^th, the feast day of St. Jerome, priest and doctor of the Church. Jerome, one of the 33 doctors of the Church translated the Bible into Latin. His translation, the Vulgate was for centuries the official version of the Church. The Church prays in the Memorial Mass to honor St. Jerome:

“Father, you gave St. Jerome delight in his study of holy scripture. May your people find in your word the food of salvation and the fountain of life.”

Late in 1996, I confided the entry below to my journal:

“Yesterday at the Houston Central Library downtown, I met Steve Conwell, an African-American pastor. Like two other people I had met in the library, he affirmed that our meeting was providential. We discussed the methodology of studying the Bible. Steve gave me some elements of methodology, for example: Parallel Bible, Bible Dictionary, Bible Commentaries, etc. Without prompting, he offered to enroll me free of charge in his brother’s Bible School. In other words, I was given a scholarship. Amazing! But less than an hour after we parted, I knew that this was not the answer to the vision I had a couple of days ago. God’s answer will come at the appointed time.”

I knew without being able to explain it at the time that what separates the Church from Protestant Christianity is the understanding of scripture, its interpretation and Tradition. I knew instinctively that Protestant rendering of holy scriptures lacks historicity and will not be faithful to tradition. And for me, such a study will be an exercise in futility.

The Call to Service

The Call to Service

“As for you, prepare yourself for action. Stand up and tell them all that I command you. Have no fear of them and in their presence I will make you fearless. For look, today I have made you into a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of bronze to stand against the whole country: the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests and people of the country. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you, to rescue you.” (Jeremiah 1: 17 – 19)

In the above scripture, God tells Jeremiah how to respond to his call.
The scripture is for everyone who is called to study and share God’s word and the message is clear:

Stand firm!
You will have enemies among the people, including the very powerful.
The Lord is who sends you is more powerful than all of them.
God will protect you.

You must be faithful especially in two things:
Speak only my words.
Speak it fearlessly.

The Call to Service includes:

Physical energy – Prepare yourself for action.
Obedience – Speak only what God commands you.
Thoroughness – Speak “all” that God commands you.
Fearlessness – Cowardice is sin.

The strong assurance of divine protection in Jeremiah 1: 18 is given in strong images that it may be felt in all its certainty and fullness.

Scholarship

Scholarship

“I have opened in front of you a door that no one will be able to close.” (Revelations 3: 8)

In 1996, I confided the following to my journal:

“Last night I dreamt that my name was included in a scholarship list. One of my guarantors is Emma Obidozie. I had filled the form long ago and did not even remember it. How do I interpret this dream? Does it have a message or is it a dream like any other dream? Is it of the class of the Jesus Name dream?

I proceeded to interpret it thus:

What is a scholarship? An educational grant for study.

Why scholarship for me? Because of my intense desire to study Christology: the Person and the work of Christ. I see my mission as learning and communicating this knowledge.

This simple interpretation satisfied me. The dream is a message that God will open a door for me to study Jesus Christ and his mission. Scholarship symbolizes the open door. My name on the list signifies that God has approved me for the program. All that I need today is faith and patience. This interpretation made me very happy.” That was ten years ago.

On the 16^th of September, almost ten years to the day I had the dream, I was one of many catechists who received full certification as catechists in the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston. On that day, Archbishop Daniel Dinardo gave me my certificate. Prior to this day, I had received scholarship to study for the Formation Towards Christian Ministry. This year, I have received two scholarships to participate in the Liturgical Conference in Austin, Texas and the Beginnings and Beyond Workshop in Houston, Texas.

God is faithful.

Our Identity 2

Our Identity 2

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61: 1 – 2)

“Turn it, turn it round and round

In it all things can be found.”

I cannot remember where I got the above quote. But it refers to the Bible. Indeed all things can be found in it. Sometimes in codes.

What biblical texts point to my mission? What is my mission?

I desire to learn about Jesus and to communicate Jesus.

How did Christ see his mission? He saw it in terms of Isaiah 61: 1-2: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn.”

When Jesus quoted the above scripture in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4: 18 – 19), he stressed the note of present fulfillment: what the prophet foretold centuries ago was now being fulfilled.

God chose to be generous and magnanimous to his people “in the year of favor.”

The gift of “the Spirit of the Lord” is for the benefit of the marginalized.

When Jesus searched the scriptures for an understanding of his mission, he found the answer in Isaiah 61: 1 – 2. He appropriated the scripture and applied it to himself.

How about me? What did I find when I searched the scriptures for my mission? Is it possible that a number of scriptures may be pulled together to throw a light on my mission?

Our Identity 2

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61: 1 – 2)

“Turn it, turn it round and round
In it all things can be found.”
I cannot remember where I got the above quote. But it refers to the Bible. Indeed all things can be found in it. Sometimes in codes.

What biblical texts point to my mission? What is my mission?
I desire to learn about Jesus and to communicate Jesus.
How did Christ see his mission? He saw it in terms of Isaiah 61: 1-2: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn.”

When Jesus quoted the above scripture in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4: 18 – 19), he stressed the note of present fulfillment: what the prophet foretold centuries ago was now being fulfilled.

God chose to be generous and magnanimous to his people “in the year of favor.”
The gift of “the Spirit of the Lord” is for the benefit of the marginalized.
When Jesus searched the scriptures for an understanding of his mission, he found the answer in Isaiah 61: 1 – 2. He appropriated the scripture and applied it to himself.

How about me? What did I find when I searched the scriptures for my mission? Is it possible that a number of scriptures may be pulled together to throw a light on my mission?

Our Identity

Our Identity

“There was a man named John sent by God, who came as a witness to the light….”

“Finally they said to him ‘Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?’ He said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, ‘I am a voice in the desert, crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord!” (John 1: 6 – 8; 19 – 28)

John was anointed by God. God sent him to prepare the way for Christ. To understand his identity and his mission, he turned to the scriptures. We discover our true identity only in the scriptures. The Holy Spirit anoints each Christian for a mission. What is the specific nature of my own mission? What does the scripture say on this?

“In the scroll of the book it is written of me, my delight is to do your will; your law, my God, is deep in my heart. I proclaim the saving justice of God in the great assembly. See, I will not hold my tongue, as you well know. I have not kept your saving justice locked in the depth of my heart, but have spoken of your constancy and saving help. I have made no secret of your saving and steadfast love, in the great assembly.” (Psalm 40: 7 – 10)

This is what scripture says about my mission:

What I will do is already written in the Book. - “To do your will.”

In what specific context? - “To proclaim the saving justice of God.”

Where? To Whom? – “In the great assembly.” To use what God has done for me as a platform to proclaim his saving justice, his constancy, saving help, his faithful and steadfast love.

What does scripture say of my mission?

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength. By calling me into his service he judged me trustworthy, even though I used to be a blasphemer and a persecutor and contemptuous. Mercy, however, was shown me, because while I lacked faith I acted in ignorance; but the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that was in Christ Jesus. Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them; and if mercy has been shown me, it is because Jesus Christ meant to make me the leading example of his inexhaustible patience for all the other people who were later to trust in him for eternal life. To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1: 12 – 17)

“Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks; such is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus … He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it.” Amen! (1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 24)

Anointing

Anointing

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and day of vindication from our God.” (Isaiah 61: 1 – 2).

O Holy Spirit, I believe that you are within me.
What have you anointed me for?
Who are the captives that you want me to proclaim liberty to?
Who are the prisoners that you want me to help release?
To whom shall I announce a year of favor from the Lord?
In short, O Holy Spirit, what are you preparing me for? What mission?

Can I learn anything from the lives of Christ, Peter, Paul, Ignatius, Louis de Monfort and Josemaria with regard to these questions? All are men anointed by the Lord and given specific mission. Their mission was revealed to them step by step over a long period

Prosper the Work of our Hands

Prosper the Work of our Hands

“May the favor of the Lord our God be ours,
Prosper the work of our hands!
Prosper the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90: 17)

As I mentioned once in this Blog, many years ago I read from time to time Christian Science literature for the sheer beauty of their expression of faith. Here is something I culled from their literature in 1996.

“God’s plan for man includes full employment. Employment is meaningful and fruitful activity. The disciple who is preparing for his life’s work is fully employed. God is omni-active. And so should man who reflects God’s image. He is employed in the business of expressing love and reflecting the divine understanding which are always fruitful. We can begin to prove this right now and bring healing to every aspect of our work.

Our understanding of and trust in these truths result in tangible provision for our needs, and enable us to help others as well. Our prayers and proofs of God’s healing care bless us, our Church and everyone.”

The Appointed Time

The Appointed Time

“At the appointed time, I myself will dispense justice.” (Isaiah 75: 2)
“For the vision is for its appointed time, it hastens towards its end and will not lie; although it may take sometime, wait for it, for come it certainly will before too long.” (Habakkuk 2: 3)
“There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3: 1)

There are two kinds of time: God’s time kairos and man’s time chronos.
The Enterprise today is in a period of kairos. The promises are many. They will be fulfilled at the appointed time.

Those who wait on Yahweh

“Youths grow tired and weary,
the young stumbles and falls
but those who hope in Yahweh
will regain their strength,
they will sprout wings like eagles,
though they run
they will not grow weary,
though they walk they will never tire.’
(1saiah 40: 30 – 31)

I see here God’s great reversals. Youths grow tired and weary. They stumble and fall. The old and the weak regain their strength. They do so because they put their trust in Yahweh an wait for his saving grace. Yahweh never disappoints them.

As I reflect on Isaiah 40: 30 – 31, I think of Psalm 1: 2-3: “…but who delights in the law of Yahweh and murmurs his law day and night. Such a one is like trees planted near streams; it bears fruit in season and its leaves never wither, and every project succeeds.”

What are the conditions for regaining strength, for succeeding in every project?
· Hope in Yahweh and wait on him.
· Read his words, dwell on it.

Promise of Provision 2

Promise of Provision 2

“Man does not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

(Matthew 4: 4)

Some ten years ago, I read Christian Science literature from time to time. I was deeply impressed by their strong expression of faith. At this time too, I was contemplating self-employment and was obviously feeling insecure about the prospects. I was encouraged by the ideas below from a Christian Science literature.

“Sometime ago I changed professions. My new vocation was aimed at helping others. It meant that I will be self-employed and would not have any secured salaried position. More than ever, our family would have to trust in God, divine love to provide our food, shelter, healthcare, etc.

Can I rely on God, divine love, as a source of supply if I am called to minister to mankind fulltime, without benefit of a regular salary? Yes, love is always the genuine source of our provision, so I can and should want to rely wholly on God.

Was it foolish for me to think that I could support my family by serving God and loving my neighbor? Not according to biblical record, including Jesus Christ’s teachings. The Book of Proverbs promises, “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack.” (Proverbs 28: 27)

Jesus taught that knowing and serving God, and helping our fellowman, are our number one priority. Divine love blesses this work. The Gospel of Mark reports Jesus as stating: “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters or father, or mother, or wife or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s, but he should receive a hundred fold, now in this time, houses and brethren, and sisters and mothers and children, and lands with persecution; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10: 29 – 30)

Dependence

Dependence

“Then the Lord said to Aaron, ‘You shall not have any heritage in the land of the Israelites nor hold any portion among them; I will be your portion or your heritage among them.” (Numbers 18: 20)

Humility can be defined as dependence on others for our needs. To let ourselves be loved and be given gifts by others without thinking of our unworthiness. To depend on others to supply our needs even when the others are not rich.

Jesus depended on women for his needs. He accepted it willingly. What is God asking me to do in the Enterprise with regard to my needs? Who does he want me to depend on? What attitude does he want me to have on this? What does Numbers 18:20 mean to me today?

Storing Treasures

Storing Treasures

“Do not store treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and woodworm destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourself in heaven where neither moth nor woodworm destroys them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be too.” (Matthew 6: 19-21)

A millionaire who had worked hard for years to acquire his millions now sits and contemplates his most cherished desires. At last, he can live his dream life: large estate with exquisitely furnished rooms, fleet of top cars, etc. But he realizes that one tornado and hurricane strike could destroy everything in minutes. What does he do to protect his assets? He takes a first class insurance policy. If any mishap takes place, he recovers most of his asset.

Another millionaire has acquired his riches in spiritual treasures. How does he protect his assets which are priceless?

Christ answers the question in Matthew 6: 19-21. Heavenly treasures must be stored “in heaven where neither moth or woodworm destroys them and thieves cannot break in and steal.”

What are my heavenly treasures?

• · Jesus Christ
• · Holy Spirit
• · Eucharist
• · Mary

I say to Mary: “Mother, keep these treasures for me.” Then she tells me the premium to be paid on the policy: the 7-Way Plan.

Prepare the way of the Lord

“A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the Lord!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!” (Isaiah 40: 3)

In the second Sunday of Advent, the Church prays:
“God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory…”

What are the things that hinder me today from receiving Christ with joy? At one time in my life, I was hindered by the following from receiving Christ with joy:
Family
Job
Money
Health
Tools
Food

Although I still struggle with some of the above points from time to time, understanding and accepting Christ’s point of view on them helped me to surrender them to him. My situation today can be described as knowing the mind of Christ a little more everyday. I am more fully aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit and his activities in my life than before. I fear complacency.

By identifying what hinders me from receiving Christ with joy and having them removed by the Father can I “share Christ’s wisdom and become one with him.” Father, remove the insecurity in me that makes me cling to things. Remove from me all forms of conceit O Father.

When we are wise in Christ, we see how God provides for us in every situation. We see the Father’s loving providence where the world sees lack and want. When the Father removes the elements in our lives that darken us to Christ’s wisdom, we enter into the mind of Christ with regard to creatures. One thing that could darken the mind to Christ’s wisdom is greed. When we are greedy, we seek more than we need. We acquire and accumulate. We become insatiable. We feel insecure.

The theme of the second Sunday in Advent seems to be: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” We prepare by asking for the grace to remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy.

Recognizing Jesus

Recognizing Jesus

“He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.” (Mark 1: 34)

How was Christ recognized in the Gospel by people and by evil spirits?

We recognize people by clues. Which clues helped John the Baptist to recognize Jesus? The clues about Jesus were revealed in the Old Testament. Any Jew who knew the Hebrew scriptures and had longed for the coming of the Messiah would have recognized Jesus. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus quoted from Prophet Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4: 18 – 19)

Jesus did everything the scriptures said he would do. He healed, he taught and he fed the people. How do we recognize Jesus today. Those who behave like Jesus remind us of him.