Endure your trials as discipline

"Blessed are those who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance."  ( See Luke 8: 15)

God rewards faithfulness, loyalty, steadfast love.

Create in us a pure heart

"In Christ we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace."  (Ephesians 1: 7)

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.

Our sins bring us sorrow

"So the LORD changed his mind about the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people." (Exodus 32: 14)

Your promise of salvation bring us joy, O Lord.

Answer us O God

"Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
I form you and set you."  (Isaiah 49: 8)

At the break of day, God will answer us.

The Lord of hosts is with us

"God is our refuge and our strength,

an ever-present help in distress.

Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,

Though its waters rage and foam

and mountains totter at its surging."  (Psalm 46: 2 - 4)

Psalm 46 is one of my favorite.  It is loaded with juicy promises.  Verses 2 - 4 is what I call crème de la crème of the Psalter.  Just consider the promises: 

When we are on the run from any distress, God is the Rock of Refuge to dash to.  When we are weak and exhausted by constant fighting in the family, pressure at work, debt, etc, God provides the strength to sustain us.

God is our present help in distress.  Note carefully the promise.  It is not - God is our future help in future crisis.  God provides His help here and now.  There is an immediacy to this promise.  Two days ago, I had a walk out in my favorite park.  At one moment, I wanted to exit the park to take a different route.  The edges of the ground were covered by ankle high grasses.  It was until I turned the corner that I saw a foot path.  Sometimes, God keeps us in suspense until the last moment.

Verses 3 and 4 state the perennial truth:  If God is in control, why worry.  He provides step by step guidance and moment to moment protection. If God is with me, it is accomplished.

These scriptures verses have ministered to my spirit today. I hope they minister to you too.

Come O Holy Spirit

"I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them."  (Ezekiel 26: 27)

The Holy Spirit is the final solution for unrighteousness.

The Lord is my Shepherd

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me."  (Psalm 23: 4)

"Fear is useless; what is needed is trust."  (Luke 8: 50)
The darkest valleys in my life's journey will not terrify me.

Let us strive to know Jesus

Hosea 6:6

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

Abba Father, grant us the grace to know the Heart of Jesus intimately, to love Him passionately and to follow Him everywhere.

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The Blessed Sacrament is the Throne of Mercy in our midst

"She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured."  (Matthew 9: 21 - 22)

"Those who dare approach my throne of mercy will receive mercy."  I felt these words in my heart one day kneeling close to the Blessed Sacrament.  Kneeling close to the Blessed Sacrament apparently was not good enough.  I must imitate what I notice women and men do.  They walk up right in front of the Monstrance, place their hands on the Monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament and pour out their hearts to Jesus.  Before I felt these words of encouragement in my heart, I too had stood in front of the Blessed Sacrament to ask for special blessings.  But I have not made it a habit.  Those words of inspiration that I felt invite me to make it a habit to approach the throne of grace to find mercy at a time of need.

The woman with the issue of blood in the scripture above (Matthew 9: 21 - 22) felt strongly the unusual and powerful inspiration to touch the cloak of Jesus.  Faith is a response to God's initiative.  God is the source of all inspiration and power.  Because of her profound needs, she succumbed to the pull of this inspiration and dared touch the cloak of Jesus.  The result was instant healing for her.

At the early morning Mass today, I thought of what the woman did.  I will not only touch Jesus in the Eucharist but will receive Him in my hand, my tongue and my heart.  Why am I not healed of my ills and the burdens of my heart?  It is said that man's extremity is God's opportunity and man's security is Satan's opportunity.  Why do we appear afraid to approach God with our desperate needs?  Lord Jesus, grant me the grace always to dare approach your throne of mercy

The Lord our God is Lord alone

"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.” (Mark 12: 33)

There is no God to compare with you, Abba Father!  No money, No technology, No health, No property.  You alone are God and our Father.  We shall not tolerate any idolatry.

Whatever your troubles

"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."  (Antiphon, Thursday 3rd week in Lent)

If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Do not forget the blessings of Jesus

"However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but make them known to your children and to your children’s children."  (Deuteronomy 4: 9)

The Holy Spirit reminds us of all the blessings of Jesus.

God provides for all living things

"As the sparrow finds a home
and the swallow a nest to settle her young,
My home is by your altars,
LORD of hosts, my king and my God!
Blessed are those who dwell in your house!
They never cease to praise you."  (Psalm 84: 4 - 5)

Even the tiny and most insignificant birds are provided the best of homes by God - near His altars.  How much more will God take care of us, man and woman created in His image and likeness.  Jesus says to us, no need to fear, worry or doubt, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."  (Matthew 3: 33)

The Lord is loving and merciful

"I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you."  (Luke 15: 18)

Reconciliation with God brings joy, music and dancing.  The Lord is loving and merciful.

Remember the marvels the Lord has done

"Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes’?

God's loving and powerful providence is always acting for us and often in disguise. A good example is the story of Joseph in Genesis:

"Then his brothers also proceeded to fling themselves down before him and said, “We are your slaves!”
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.
So now, do not fear. I will provide for you and for your children.” By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them."  (Genesis 50: 18 - 21)

Christ our Hope of Victory

Isaiah 1: 19-20

"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Resistance to the God's will profit nothing.

Jesus Christ is the One Thing Necessary

 “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  (Matthew 17: 5)

Abba Father, I will listen to your Son Jesus.  I will seek Him as the One Thing Necessary.  I will continue to knock on His door till He admits me. (Matthew 7: 7 - 8)  I will do whatever He tells me to do.  (John 2: 5)  Thank you Abba Father for your loving instruction.  This Sunday, as I meditate on your words, my soul will be filled with joy.

A clean heart create for me, O God.

"When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out."  (Jonah 3: 10)

When Jesus saw their faith, He healed the paralytic. Producing the works that show conversion is important.  Seeing is believing.

Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers

"And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."  (Matthew 25: 40)

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to see you always in the least of your brothers.  Lord you said:  “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”  (Mark 10: 27)
Because all things are possible for you, I know you are willing and able to grant me this request.

Get away, Satan. I will not serve you.

"And he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”
At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written:
‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.’”  (Matthew 4: 9 - 10)

Satan promises Jesus all He wants if Jesus worships him.  But the promise is fake and untrue as we see from the response of Jesus:  “Get away, Satan! It is written:
‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’”

In Mathew 6: 33, Jesus promises us all that we want if we seek first His kingdom and righteousness.  This is a promise that is proven true for over 2000 years. Matthew 6: 33 is one of the most researched scripture verse in the entire bible. It is my favorite. The promise of Jesus covers all critical areas of human life and happiness, viz: family, finances, job, health, tools and property, food, future.  We obtain all these in accordance to God's will and plan for our lives.  Bear in mind that God is a loving Father who has good and great plans for all His children. (Jeremiah 29:11)  In the light of this, God will not give His child a snake when the child needs a fish. (Luke 11: 11)

It is not necessary to worship Satan to get all we need for your life and happiness.  God has already promised ample provision for us.  When we work to know His will and plan for our lives, we will appreciate better His Divine Providence working for us.

My take away from today's bible verse is this:  “Get away, Satan! It is written:
‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.  I will not serve you Satan.  I will not obey you.’”