Learn the heart of God

"The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
compassionate toward all your works."  (Psalm 145: 8 - 9)

Father, let the truth about who you are in the above scripture transform me.
"Perfect love drives out fear."  (1 John 4: 18)

"Learn the heart of God from the word of God." (Pope St. Gregory the Great)

Believe what you read.
Teach what you believe.
Practice what you teach.

Grant me the grace to know the heart of Jesus perfectly, to love Him passionately and to follow Him everywhere.

God loves me so much that He....

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."  (John 3: 16)

The "world" here is me.  The Father loves me so much that He made Jesus Christ suffer and die for me.  The afternoon vision I experienced some days ago brought the truth home. Below is the narrative:

I experienced a bizarre dream towards the end of my nap this afternoon.  2 young men were in an enclosure.  Both seemed equal in terms of build.  One of them ordered the other to undress completely.  Then he picked up a spiked belt and started tearing into the flesh of the other man mercilessly.  I woke up shaken.  The question I kept asking myself is:  Why did the other man not resist?  I got the answer on Wednesday morning when I said the Divine Mercy Rosary glancing at the Stations of the Cross at STM BS Chapel.  The man being flogged is a type of Christ.  The Lamb that was led to the slaughter and did not open his mouth. The man doing the flogging is Satan, the original man of wickedness.

I understand better what Christ did for me.  He took the lashes for me.  Lord, I believe in you.  Thank you for what you did for me.

Direct my path according to your promise

"Thus says the LORD:
Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,
who makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the wasteland
that enjoys no change of season,
But stands in lava beds in the wilderness,
a land, salty and uninhabited."  (Jeremiah 17: 5 - 6)

I trust in you with all my heart O Lord.  Help me never to lean on sense evidence.  In everything I do I call upon you.  O Lord, direct my path according to your promise.

The man who trusts in human beings and makes the physical world his strength does not enjoy the benefits of times and seasons.  Times and seasons are God's appointment.  Just as we have summer, autumn, winter and spring so does the life of  man cycle through periods of prosperity and poverty.  I see enough of this in my business and life to understand.

Servant Spirit

"But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;"  (Matthew 20: 26)

Lord Jesus, give me a true servant spirit.  Give me also deep humility.  I want to serve your Body, the Church with all my time, talent and treasure.  Let your Holy Spirit lead me, guide me and use me.  Amen!

"Some men are born great.  Some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust unto them."  Shakespeare

Writing and Publishing Praise

"I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds."  (Psalm 9: 2)

What will happen to make me praise the Lord with all my heart and declare his wondrous deeds to the world?  I have learned from experience that the purest joy I have known is the joy of answered prayers.  The bigger the item, the more the joy and the greater the praise.  St. Therese of Lisieux says that God puts the desires in her heart that He intends to fulfill.  God's desire then becomes the same as that of St. Therese.

God has a good plan for our lives.  If we are open to His voice, He gives us desires that align with our destiny.

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope."  (Jeremiah 29: 11)

Are the desires of my heart aligned with God's plan for my life?

"Find your delight in the LORD
who will give you your heart’s desire."  (Psalm 37: 4)

How do I find my delight in the Lord?

"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)

Stop Judging and you will not be judged

"Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven."  (Luke 6: 37)

No Complain. No Criticize. No Condemn.  Help me God.  Amen!

Listen to Jesus

" Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)

Father, I promise to listen to your Son.  Your Son always listens to my cry for relief. Therefore I will listen to Him when speaks to me.

"Sacrifice and offering you do not want;
you opened my ears.
Holocaust and sin-offering you do not request;
so I said, “See; I come
with an inscribed scroll written upon me.
I delight to do your will, my God;
your law is in my inner being!” (Psalm 40: 7 - 9)

Pray for those who persecute you

"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." (Matthew 5: 44 - 45)

I have found from experience that the best way to deal with people who are very unkind to me is prayer.  First, I go to the Lord with the hurt.  Then I start praying for them.  Depending on how deep the hurt is, this prayer can be just one time or as long as a few days to a few years.  I have actually prayed everyday for three people who ganged against me for a couple of years.  I did not even know when I stopped praying for them.  But the hurt was healed completely by God along the way.  It was then that  I noticed that the so-called "great hurt" was  necessary so that God can move me to another level of His plan for my life.

"But Joseph replied to them: “Do not fear. Can I take the place of God?
Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve this present end, the survival of many people." ( Genesis 50: 19 - 20)

"We know that all things work for good for those who love God,* who are called according to his purpose."  (Romans 8: 28)

I have prayed that your faith may not fail

"Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat,
but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.”  (Luke 22: 31 - 32)

If Christ has prayed for me, then it is accomplished.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel, your faith will not be shaken by whatever distress: health, family, money, job, tools, food.  This is because I have prayed especially for you.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."  (2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 4)

Jesus Christ is the Advocate and High Priest of His people

"The valiant one whose steps are guided by the LORD,
who will delight in his way,
May stumble, but he will never fall,
for the LORD holds his hand." (Psalm 37: 23 - 24)

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For everyone who asks receives

"For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."  (Matthew 7: 8)

Matthew 7:8 is a universal promise open to anyone who prays, seeks and knocks.  The Church teaches that prayer is infallible.  In other words, God commits Himself always and everywhere to fulfill His promise.  There are though, a few conditions that common sense dictates:  The one who prays must pray with faith and what he asks, seeks or knocks will be according to common sense.  Prayer is one of God's greatest gift to man.  Prayer is like the most advanced universal smartphone that holds the key to every door.

What do we ask for in prayer? We ask, "Give us today our daily bread."  (Matthew 6: 11)  The daily bread represents all our needs, spiritual and material. These are needs for pardon, peace, power, purpose, presence, protection and provision.

Thank you Father for giving us the consolation of the truth in your word today.  I need to hear this word here and now. It has brought already much joy and hope to my soul.  This morning, I stood before you Father and prayed with confidence for my daily bread.  As the day unfolds, I watch and wait to see how you fulfill them.  In the meantime, let me experience the foretaste of answered prayer in peace and joyful expectation.

Continuous joy is the gift of the redeemed

"Then all who trust in you will be glad
and forever shout for joy.
You will protect them and those will rejoice in you
who love your name." (Psalm 5: 12)

In some translations of the above scripture, the word "joy" is mentioned three times.  When I read it, it reminded me of the popular Christmas tone: "Joy, Joy, Joy......"
Continuous joy is the gift of the redeemed.  A joyful spirit is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

I share below part of the commentary of above scripture from John Gills Exposition where joy is used several times:

"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice
Who trust not in themselves, in their own hearts, in their righteousness, or riches, or strength; but in the name, righteousness, and strength of the Lord: who betake themselves to him, and put all their confidence in him: let them rejoice in the salvation of the Lord, and in hope of eternal glory and happiness;
let them even shout for joy:
not only rejoice inwardly, but express their joy externally, with their voices, and in the loudest manner; and that always, the matter and foundation of a believer's joy always continues; and so does the grace itself: though it is not always in exercise, yet it is an everlasting joy; and with it the redeemed of the Lord will come to Zion, and no man will be able to take away their joy. Which distinguishes it from the triumphing of the wicked, and the joy of the hypocrite, which is but for a moment;"

Give us today our daily bread

"Give us today our daily bread."  (Matthew 6: 11)

Father, your Son gave us the great prayer,  Our Father.  I wonder how many times  this prayer is said everyday by people all over the world.  I would imagine a couple of billions of times.   I know that I say it at least twenty times a day.  The more I say this prayer, the more I come to love and to depend on it.  This prayer is part of the Gospel of today that is read everywhere in the world.

As I seek to understand more your plan for providing my needs, I am struck by this verse more than in the past.  "Give us today our daily bread."  (Matthew 6: 11)  I know that you hear prayers.  I know too that your word is true and infallible.  Help me to trust you completely for the provision of my needs.  Help me also to understand that "Man does not live on bread alone."  (Matthew 4: 4).  Your mighty and loving providence knows what we need and provides them as needed.  Thank you Father.

When did I see you hungry?

"Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me."  (Matthew 25: 44 - 45)

Lord, lead me, guide me and use me to minister to the hungry, thirsty, sick and imprisoned this Lent.  You know well that without your help, I can do absolutely nothing.  Use me and may all the glory come to you.  Amen!

Man does not live on food alone

" He said in reply, “It is written:
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4)

Jesus said in reply to Satan asking Him to turn stones into bread, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."  

Satan attacked Jesus at His time of weakness.  Jesus had just finished a successful 40-day retreat in the desert during which He fasted day and night.  He was very hungry and could have easily accepted the rationalizations of Satan.  "The fast is over. God does not expect you to die of hunger now. You need food to sustain you to walk back to town."  Jesus knowing the character of Satan, the father of lies and of all deceptions suspected his motives and countered with  a sure word of God: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." 
What does this word of God mean?

God is the provident Father.  He controls the pathways of life.  He is the source of every good gift.  Therefore:

• Man does not live on bread alone..
• Man does not live on Money alone...
• Man does not live on Job alone....
• Man does not live on Family alone...

There are many ways God suspects His man. He provides for man by every word that comes from His mouth.

Faith gives us access to God's promise of Pardon, Peace, Power, Purpose, Presence, Protection and Provision.

In the Temptation in the Desert, Jesus gave us an example of trusting God in temptation.

A Father who keeps His promises

"Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”
If you remove the yoke from among you,
the accusing finger, and malicious speech;
If you lavish your food on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then your light shall rise in the darkness,
and your gloom shall become like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and satisfy your thirst in parched places,
will give strength to your bones
And you shall be like a watered garden,
like a flowing spring whose waters never fail."  (Isaiah 58: 7 - 11)

We see above a wonderful set of promises and the conditions for obtaining them by a Father who keeps His promises.

Condition #1:  ""Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh?"

Promise #1:  "Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: “Here I am!”

Condition #2:  "If you remove the yoke from among you,
the accusing finger, and malicious speech;
If you lavish your food on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;"

Promise #2:  "Then your light shall rise in the darkness,
and your gloom shall become like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and satisfy your thirst in parched places,
will give strength to your bones
And you shall be like a watered garden,
like a flowing spring whose waters never fail."

O God our Father, you are certainly the God who keeps His promises.  In this season of Lent which you declared to be the acceptable time to gain your favors, grant us the grace to full the conditions for these great promises.  We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord blesses His people with peace

"May the LORD give might to his people;
may the LORD bless his people with peace!"  (Psalm 29: 11)

Where does my help come from?  From the Lord who made heaven and earth?
Where does my peace come from?  From the Lord who is the Prince of Peace.
When I call upon Him, He hears me and takes pity on me.  He comes to my help because He hears the cry of the poor.

Take up your cross and follow me

"Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."  (Luke 9: 23 - 24)

Lord, what does it mean to deny my self today?
What does it mean to take up my cross and follow you?
Yes, of course, I wish to come after you.  But I must understand what you expect of me?  So the first grace I need today is the gift to understand  your expectations of me here and now.  How do I get this grace?

O Divine Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, source of all inspiration and power,  I turn to you now to ask for the gift of wisdom and understanding today.  Help me to discern how to deny myself today.  Grant me the grace to discern the cross or crosses that Our Lord Jesus Christ wants me to take up and follow Him.  Amen!

G o d

g r a n t

 m e   t h e

serenity   to   accept   the

 things   I   cannot   change;

the   courage   to   change 

the things

I  can,

and the

wisdom

to know

t h e 

difference.

A M E N !

"Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.”
Thus we may say with confidence:
“The Lord is my helper,
[and] I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?”  (Hebrews 13: 5 - 6)
Thank you Lord, I am beginning to understand.

Today is the acceptable time

"Working together,a then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.*
For he says:
“In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.” (2 Corinthians 6: 1 - 2)

Father, I call upon you this day, Ash Wednesday that I hear your soothing word.  Yes, I believe that today is the acceptable time.  Hear my prayer!  Fill me with your Holy Spirit.  Fill me with His gifts.  Grant me the grace to have a good Lent.  Amen.

God blessed the seventh day and made it holy

"God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation."

Thank you Father for the gift of Sunday and Sunday rest.  It is a gift that expresses your wisdom and love for the  universe you created.

"What is man that you are mindful of him,
and a son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him little less than a god,
crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
put all things at his feet:
All sheep and oxen,a
even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!"  (Psalm 8: 5 - 10)

The great gift of Sunday is one gift that reveals to me the desire of God in all His commandments. Every single commandment of God exists to enhance the well-being of man.

Whoever approaches my throne of grace shall receive mercy

"Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed."  (Mark 6: 56)

Jesus never fails to heal anybody who approaches Him with boldness and confidence. The woman with the issue of blood touched the cloak of Jesus and was healed.  This incident made touching a deep expression of faith.  As many as touched the cloak of Jesus in Mark 6: 56 were healed.  In Blessed Sacrament Chapels, people are not content to adore and worship the Real Presence of Jesus, some must approach the Altar to touch the Monstrance.  I believe that anybody who is moved by faith to touch the Monstrance will receive mercy.