Meribah and Massah

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works." (Psalm 95: 8-9)

Meribah and Massah are type and shadow of the desert; the place for testing and refining our character. It is God who tests the hearts and minds of men. Do not reverse the role and test God. I have often wondered why God allowed His people to almost die of thirst in the hot and inhospitable desert and got to the point of rebellion before providing them that basic and vital necessity of life.

This morning, the Gospel reading was the story of the Prodigal Son. At the end of the homily, the priest asked us a question: "Why did it take the Father of the Prodigal so long to communicate to his elder son that he appreciated him?" As I reflected on the question, I remembered the incident at Meribah and Massah. I saw a parallel in the two incidents. Scripture teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight. The disgruntled Israelites in Meribah and Massah were also required to walk by faith and not by sight. God saved them from slavery in Egypt. God provided and protected them every step of their journey till Meribah and Massah. Why did they think He would abandon them at this point?

Similarly, the elder son of the Father lived in the comfort of his Father's house where he enjoyed every prerogative and privilege. Why did he judge his Father's love and affection for him by the gift of a mere small lamb? To paraphrase his thought, "My Father did not give me a small lamb to feast with my friends. Therefore he does not love me."

It is God who tests the hearts and minds of men. Do not reverse the role and test God. Do not complain; do not criticize; do not condemn.

Follow Christ

"My one command to them was this: Listen to my voice, then I will be your God and you shall be my people. In everything follow the way that I mark out for you, and you shall prosper." (Jeremiah 7: 23)

Father, I will obey. I will listen to your voice. In everything Daddy, I will follow the way you have marked out for me. Help me with your grace in my weakness dearest Father. Sustain me with your strength. Be always my God and my Father. Prosper the work of my hands. Grant me your prosperity and blessing in everything. Make me a blessing to others.

"Follow the way that I mark out for you."

Christ is the way, the truth and the life.

The 7-Way Plan

 

 

Great Paschal Mystery

"Father, help us to be ready to celebrate the great Paschal Mystery. Make our love grow each day as we approach the feast of our salvation …. " (Mass Prayer in Lent)

We ask God to help us to be ready for Easter. How does God prepare us to celebrate the great Paschal Mystery? He encourages us to pray more, to fast more and give more alms to the needy. When we respond to His word, He blesses us with greater Easter joy and peace.

He answered me

"I am the Savior of all people says the Lord. Whatever their troubles, I will answer their cry, and I will always be their Lord." (Mass Prayer)

Whatever their troubles:

• Family
  
• Health
  
• Job
  
• Money
  
• Tools
  
• Food
  

God answered me when I cried to him to save me from the above troubles one time or the other in my life. He was indeed my Savior. He is always my Lord. Today, I am crying to Him to let me experience His perfect love that drives out fear. I promise Him that when He answers my prayer, I will ask for a powerful ministry to help my neighbors to experience this powerful and perfect love too. I know whom I trust. I know that at the right time He will answer this prayer as He had done in the past.

Praise, honor and glory to You, eternal Father.

Your All-Powerful Word

"In truth, I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved." (Matthew 5: 18)

All God's purposes are to be accomplished through the law.

The law is sacrosanct.

The law is alive and active.

The law tends towards its fulfillment. (Habakkuk 2: 2-4)

The law, the word of God cannot be returned to God without accomplishing its purpose.

Our Roadmap

"And now, Israel, listen to the laws and customs which I am teaching you today, so that, by observing them, you may survive to enter and take possession of the country which Yahweh, God of your ancestors is giving you." (Deuteronomy 4:1)

We are pilgrims on earth. We journey towards our permanent homeland. God's laws and customs are the road map and the signs on this great journey.

The Word of God as Nourishment

"Lord, during this Lenten season nourish us with your word of life and make us one in love and prayer ….." (Mass Prayer in Lent)

God nourishes us with His word especially in Lent. The selection of readings is excellent, designed to excite faith and conversion. Note how the Holy Spirit guides the Church in the planning of the Liturgy. The Church urges the faithful to attend daily Mass during Lent so that they could be nourished with the rich scriptures of this joyful season.

Direct my steps

"Lord, direct my steps as you have promised, and let no evil hold me in its power." (Psalm 119: 133)

Where God has promised to lead and guide me:

• Psalm 58: 11
  
• Psalm 23
  
• Proverbs 3:5
  
• Deuteronomy 31: 6
  

Step by step guidance

Moment by moment protection from evil

Thank you Father.

Forgiving our debtors

"Then Peter went up to him and said, 'Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as 7 times?' Jesus answered "Not seven, I tell you, but 77 times." (Matthew 18: 21-22)

If we forgive our debtors, God will forgive us our sins and answer all our prayers. Lord, teach me to forgive completely.

 

 

Supremely Gentle and Merciful

"Do not abandon us to shame but treat us in accordance with your gentleness, in accordance with the greatness of your mercy." (Daniel 3: 42)

God is supremely gentle and merciful.

Our Whole Heart

"And now we put our whole heart into following you, into fearing you and seeking your face once more. " (Daniel 3: 41)

Lent is the time to put our whole heart into following God through:

• Fasting
  
• Prayer
  
• Alms-giving
  

In Lent, we demonstrate a greater keenness in observing the commandments.

The call and the anointing

"Lord, you call us to your service and continue your saving work among us. May your love never abandon us….." (Mass Opening Prayer)

It is the Father who called me to serve Christ Jesus.

Father, bring what you have initiated to a successful conclusion. Grant success to the Enterprise.

Apple of God’s Eye

"I call upon you, God, for you will answer me; bend your ear and hear my prayer. Guard me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shade of your wings." (Psalm 17: 6,8)

Answer to prayer is certain.

Guard me as the apple of your eye: step by step guidance; moment by moment protection from all harms. Preserve me from every assault of the devil. Hide me in the shade of your wings.

If we open the eyes of our spirit, we see that we are engaged in continuous spiritual warfare. We need God's constant help in order to fight and keep standing. God promises us His guidance and protection. Faith gives us access to these promises.

Hope in the Lord

"I hope in the Lord; I trust in his word; with him there is mercy and plenty of redemption." (Psalm 130: 5,7)

Yes, I trust in God's promise. I hope in the Lord. I wait on the Lord. Hope does not disappoint because it is built on faith in God's word. God honors his name and word/promise above all things.

Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Naaman the Leper

"And in the Prophet Elisha's time there were many suffering from virulent skin-diseases in Israel, but none of these were cured – only Naaman the Syrian." (Luke 4: 27)

The story of Naaman the leper is one of my favorites in the Old Testament. I gleaned a number of lessons from it. Some of the lessons are:

God's sovereignty is shown in His reaching outside Israel to show His mercy and power. I see also the loving providence of God in planting the Israelite slave girl in the household of Naaman. Naaman's servants persuaded him to act as Elisha the Prophet had instructed him to do. That is, to plunge seven times into the River Jordan. In the act of the servants, I perceive elements of sincere and loving evangelization. How this contrasts from what we see today where the servants might have said: "it is not our business to convince him. He is old enough to know what he wants. We do not want to appear intolerant or coercive. He is a free man; he should decide for himself.' Finally, I see the act of plunging into the water as a type and shadow of the Sacrament, especially Baptism. The Sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace that affects what it signifies. It is a small material sign that affects mighty works. The simple act of plunging into the River Jordan brought Naaman the healing that no other means was able to give him.

God favors those who trust in His ways.

 

Simple Actions – Great Results

"Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? All the more reason then, when he says to you, 'Bathe, and you will become clean." (2 Kings 5:13)

A Sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace, affecting what it signifies.

A sacramental can be described as a sacramentette, an external agent delivering the effects they promise.

Faith gives us the promise of God's peace, provision, protection, power, purpose and pardon. Faith also gives us the full effects promised by the Sacraments and sacramental.

Naaman's servants encouraged Naaman to have faith by their words.

God is pure spirit. He has left man some conditions and material agents through which we unleash his power on our behalf. Some of these are:

• Sacraments
  
• Sacramentals
  
• Bible
  
• Prayer
  
• Fasting
  
• Almsgiving
  

The Holy Spirit and Mission

"The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, 'Set out at noon and go along the road that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road." (Acts 8: 26)

The Holy Spirit is the power behind the missionary activity of the Church. He is the main principle of apostolic productivity and fruitfulness.

Spirit and Mission

Spirit and Evangelization

 

St. John of God

"Father, you gave St. John of God love and compassion for others. Grant hat by doing good for others we may be counted among the saints in your Kingdom …." (Opening Prayer in the Mass of St. John of God)

St. John of God is one of my patron saints. He is my patron saint for book/pamphlet distribution ministry. St. John of God after his conversion spent his life doing good for others in book distribution and tending the sick.

Spring of Water

"Jesus answered and said to her, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in heaven a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4: 13-14)

The water that Jesus gives is the Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for this incomparable gift. Grant me the grace to be totally open to the Holy Spirit during this coming Lent.

" ¹ On that day, you will say: I give you thanks, O LORD; though you have been angry with me, your anger has abated, and you have consoled me.

2

God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior.

3

With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation,

4

and say on that day: Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.

5

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth.

6

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!" (Isaiah 12)

 

Hope does not disappoint

"And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans5: 5)

The Navarre Bible Commentary has the following commentary on the above text:

"The love which St. Paul speaks of here, at one and the same time, God's love for us – manifested in his sending the Holy Spirit – and the love which God places in our soul to enable us to love him. The Second Council of Orange, quoting St. Augustine, explains this as follows: "To love God is entirely a gift of God. He, without being loved, loves us and enabled us to love him. We were loved when we were still displeasing to him, so that we might be given something whereby we might please him. So it is that the Spirit of the Father and the Son, whom we love with the Father and the Son, pours charity into our hearts"