Obedience is better than Sacrifice

Obedience is better than Sacrifice

“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to complete his work.”  (John 4:34)

The Father sent Jesus to the world to redeem the world from sin.  That is the mission of Jesus Christ, given by the Father.  Jesus understood his job so well.  Fulfilling this task, gives his life sustenance as food does to the body.  “Man does not live on bread alone.  There is life for him in every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  The word of God equals the will of God.  Food apart from sustaining us gives us pleasure.  Doing God’s will gives Christ maximum pleasure.  How about us?

How different Jesus is from us when it comes to obedience to God’s will.  In 1 Samuel 15:  16 – 23, the prophet Samuel rebuked Saul for substituting his own will for God’s will.  And Saul protested, “I did indeed obey the Lord and fulfill the mission on which the Lord sent me.”  (1 Samuel 15: 20)  And the prophet Samuel told him that “Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams.”

In Psalm 40: 8, it is written, “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.”  This scripture applies not only to Jesus Christ but to all the redeemed.

Worship is Adoration

Worship is Adoration

“But the hour will come – in fact it is here already – when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth:  this is the kind of worshippers the Father wants.  God is spirit and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.”  (John 4: 23 – 24)

The message from Jesus today is about the genuine worship of God.  Genuine adoration of the Father will be in spirit and truth.  What does this mean?  “God is spirit and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth.”  In order to worship God properly, we must realize our spiritual nature and close all the doors to our senses.  The senses are evidence of materiality and are distraction and obstacle to genuine worship.  When I close my eyes, I pray better.  It also helps during prayer to be still and cultivate a sense of the presence of God.

It is only the Holy Spirit in us who leads us into the true worship of the Father.  The Holy Spirit inspires us to worship and teaches us how to adore God.

On worship, the Catechism of the Catholic Church has this to say, “To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the ‘nothingness of the creature’ who would not exist but for God.  To adore God is to praise and exult him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name.  The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world.”  (CCC # 2097)

The Spring of Water Inside

The Spring of Water Inside

“Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks of the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again:  the water I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life.”  (John 4: 14)

What is this water that Jesus promises to give?  We know that water is very essential for life.  No life can exist without water.  Water quenches agonizing thirst and supports life.  Jesus Christ is speaking obviously of spiritual water.  But what is it?  What is it in spiritual life that is analogous to water?  What is it that without which spiritual life will be dead and impossible?  What is it that we should thirst for so much as we thirst for water?  What is it that refreshes and satisfies as water?  Jesus promises that the water he gives will quench thirst permanently.  The source of this water is inside, supplying as and when need.

This water is the Holy Spirit which Christ promised.  The promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.  The first disciples of Jesus drank of this water and they remained refreshed and spiritually vital all their life.

“By this power of the Spirit, God’s children can bear much fruit.  He who has grafted us onto the true vine will make us bear ‘the fruit of the Spirit:  …. Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.’  ‘We live by the Spirit’; the more we renounce ourselves, the more we ‘walk by the Spirit.”  (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 736)

Jesus - the Perfecter of our faith

Jesus – the Perfecter of our faith

“God gives him the Spirit without reserve.  The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him.  Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on him.”  (John 3: 34 – 36)

Everything has been entrusted to Jesus by the Father:  our destiny, spiritual life, family, job, money, health, food and tools.  And key to appropriate these blessings is belief in Jesus.

What does belief in Jesus mean?  It means:

• To know the heart of Jesus intimately.


• To know his word and dwell on it since ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.  Ignorance of Christ is unbelief.


• To love Jesus passionately, that is to love his person, his life style, his qualities and his Church.


• To follow Jesus everywhere, that is, profound, total and massive commitment to serve him with all our soul, heart, mind and strength.

Belief in Jesus is demanding.  Full belief in Jesus is a journey and not a destination or series of events.  We come to it one step at a time.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that God gives us “the grace of believing in his Son Jesus, ‘the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”  (CCC #147)

Believing in the Son

Believing in the Son

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.”  (John 3: 16)

Jesus is the expression of God’s love for the world.  To the question, how do you know that God loves the world?  The simple answer is:  Jesus.  The presence of Jesus in our life is the conclusive evidence of God’s love for us.  That is, “for everyone who believes in him.”  

What does believe in Jesus mean?  It means we accept Jesus as the light of our life, the center and the explanation of our life.  To believe in Jesus also means that I agree freely to walk in this light.  The light is provided by the Gospel.  

To believe in Jesus progresses in time to knowing him intimately, loving him passionately and making the commitment to follow him everywhere.

The Empowering Holy Spirit

The Empowering Holy Spirit

“I tell you most solemnly, unless a man is born through water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God:  what is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit.”  (John 3: 5-6)

Without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot enter the kingdom of God.  The world and Satan would be too strong for us to overcome by our own means.  How do we get this presence and power?  In Baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit.  In the sacrament of Confirmation, “we receive the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.”  (CCC #1302)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches further that “Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace:

• it roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, ‘Abba! Father!’


• it unites us more firmly to Christ;


• it increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;


• it renders our bond with the Church more perfect;


• it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by world and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.”  (CCC #1303)

We need the Holy Spirit to succeed.

Filial Trust

Filial Trust

“Destroy this sanctuary, and in 3 days I will raise it up….  But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.”  (John 2: 19 – 22)

Jesus knew his future intimately.  He predicted what was going to happen to him.  Jesus was in control of his destiny.  He was providence himself.  Here he said that he would allow his body to be destroyed but in three days time, he would raise it up again.  It was after his resurrection that his disciples remembered this prediction and believed the scripture and the words of Jesus.  

In the Book of Isaiah, God challenged the false prophets thus:  Can they prove that they are gods by predicting the future and explaining the past?  Of course they could not.  They were objects made by human hands.  They have mouth but speak not.

Jesus knows us intimately.  He knows our past and our future.  He is our providence and our destiny is in his hands.  “Christ invites us to filial trust in the providence of our heavenly Father (Matthew 6: 26 – 34), and St. Peter the apostle repeats: ‘Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about “(1 Peter 5:7; cf. Ps 55:23) – CCC #322.

A Powerful Intercessor!

A Powerful Intercessor

“The mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’  Jesus said, ‘Woman, why turn to me?  My hour has not come yet.’  His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.”  (John 2: 4)

How much I love this scripture!  Son and mother found themselves together in the same wedding party.  And we see Mary display here all the graces that made her so beloved of people through out the centuries.  She was watchful and observant of what was happening around her.  She watched as the servants drew the wine to serve.  She observed the guests enjoy the food and the wine.  Then the wine ran out.  The servants looked at one another with embarrassment and looked for the master of ceremony.  At this point, Mary quietly intervened.  She approached Jesus who was surrounded by his friends.

How did Mary know what to do?  Had she observed Jesus perform a miracle in their home?  How did she come by this extraordinary confidence to believe that her Son will do her bidding?  Mary was inspired by the Holy Spirit to provoke the first miracle of Jesus.

There are many lessons here for us.  The most important is that this miracle at Cana was not only another epiphany for Jesus but also a revelation of God’s plan for Mary in the history of salvation.  A powerful intercessor!  More powerful than Moses because she enjoys the prerogatives of a mother.

The Lamb of God

The Lamb of God

“Look, there is the lamb of God.”  (John 1: 36)

Jesus is the Lamb of God.  What are the attributes of a lamb?  Meekness, gentleness and tenderness.  Jesus is the image of God the Father.  One of the purposes of his incarnation is to reveal to us the nature of God.  In John 1: 36, we see Jesus that is meek, gentle and tender.  A God that is very lovable.

Jesus as the Lamb of God is a concept we should reflect on always.  Lamb of God is one of the tenderest descriptions of Jesus.  It shows the power that created the universe as powerless.

Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church comments thus, “After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the ‘Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’  By doing so, he reveals that Jesus is at the same time the suffering Servant who silently allows himself to be led to the slaughter and who bears the sin of the multitudes, and also the Paschal Lamb, the symbol of Israel’s redemption at the first Passover.  Christ’s whole life expresses his mission:  ‘to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  9CCC # 608)

Jesus is the Lamb that defeated the ferocious enemy, the ruler of the powers and the principalities.  Is it not amazing that in describing the power that defeated Satan, the image of a gentle, meek and tender lamb is used?  God displays his mighty power not through brute force but through meekness, gentleness and tenderness.  

What is the lesson for us?  Lord Jesus, make us meek, gentle and tender like you.

Practice What You Teach

“The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptize with the Holy Spirit. ‘Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the chosen One of God.” (John 1: 34)

John the Baptist came to prepare the way of the Lord. He did this work by word, action and the example of his life. When Christ Jesus appeared, he had a ready audience. “When the student is ready, the teacher appears,” says the Chinese proverb.

Like John, we too have seen Jesus at work in his Church. We can bear witness that he is the Son of God. Our work is to prepare students to meet the teacher. Like John the Baptist, we do this by our word, our action and the example of our life.

• Believe what you read.


• Teach what you believe.


• Practice what you teach.

The Fullness of Jesus

“Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received – yes, grace in return for grace, since, though the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.” (John 1: 16)

Christ is full of grace. Jesus is full of all goodness. Christ is full of all resources. Jesus is full of power, honor and glory. Christ is full of mercy and compassion. Jesus is full of patience and love. Jesus Christ is full of kindness and generosity.

Jesus desires to fill us with his fullness. How much do we desire to be filled? How eagerly do we pray to be filled? All the good things we have come from Jesus: family, health, job, money, tools and toys, and food. How about the delays, disappointments, obstacles and trials of life? All these also pass through the most loving and most powerful providence of Jesus. His loving providence guiding us every step and protecting us every moment of the today is far more powerful than our impotent providence.

The Law came through Moses. The law represents work, human effort, will power and positive thinking. From Jesus Christ comes the opposite: grace and truth. Jesus brings us the truth about God, the world and man.

Let us praise and thank Jesus and say: “God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. With joy I will draw water at the fountain of salvation.” (Isaiah 12: 2 – 3)

Where is Jesus?

“He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.” (John 1: 11-12)

For many centuries, God prepared the chosen people through the prophets for the coming of the Messiah. Yet we read that when the Messiah came, his people did not accept him. They failed to recognize him.

When we fail to recognize Christ today in his various manifestations, acceptance becomes almost impossible. Just as the prophets and rabbis prepared the chosen people for the coming of the Christ through prophecies and teachings, so Jesus Christ himself through his teachings prepare us for the various ways he will continue to manifest himself to us day by day. How does Christ manifest himself to us today? Where is Jesus?

Christ acts principally today “through the sacraments he instituted to communicate his grace.” (CCC #1084)

“Christ is always present in his Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the Sacrifice of the Mass not only in the person of his minister, ‘the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross,’ but especially in the Eucharistic species.” (CCC # 1088)

“He is present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church. Lastly, he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he has promised ‘where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them.” (CCC #1088)


“He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.” (John 1: 11-12)

The Word is the Light

“The word was the true light that enlightens all men.” (John 1:9)

The word is the Word of God. This Word created all men and all things. The Word is also the light that gives meaning to man and the world. Without the word, man’s life will be meaningless and just material. The word gives meaning to the spiritual nature of man.

There are two lights in the world: the light of the word and the light of Satan, which in reality is darkness. This light is error or a lie. It distorts the image of man by trying to portray man as material. But Christ is the true light of the world. Where is this light? Where is Christ? Christ is alive. He is found in the Church. He is in the word of God. He is in the sacraments. He is where two or three are gathered in his name. It is clear that visible eyes cannot perceive Christ today. We need the eyes of faith to do so.

The word of God is the true light that enlightens us on all the aspects of our life: family, health, job, money, tools and food. Any other light will lead us into error. To appropriate the full meaning of the light of the word for our life, we ask: What does the word of God say to me on: health, family, money, job, food and tool. The answer we get is the light to follow.

Who is Jesus?

“In the beginning was the Word; the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower.” (John 1: 1 – 5)

St. John the Evangelist is speaking about Jesus. He wrote his gospel after more than half a century reflecting on the earthly life of Jesus, on his passion, death and resurrection. Out of the four Gospels, that of St. John is the most spiritual.

St. John answers the question “Who is Jesus” by saying that Jesus is the Word of God. He was with God from the very beginning. All things came to be through him. He is the light that scatters darkness.

After many years of reflecting on the life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, we too must be able to write our own gospel about Jesus? Who do you perceive Jesus to be? Even if you cannot yet write your own gospel about Jesus, you can make an act of faith that Jesus Christ is:

• The light of the world


• The truth


• The way


• The life

Make Disciples

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commandments I gave you. And know that I am with you always’ yes, to the end of time.” (Matthew 28: 19-20)

This is the final scene in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus gave the great commission to his disciples. Christ was also speaking to us when he said: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations….” For three years Jesus trained his disciples. They were ready. Only one thing was lacking. The presence of the Holy Spirit.

Have you heard the call of Christ to evangelize in your work place? In your family? How does Christ prepare us for this work? He prepares us through Scripture, through prayer and through the Eucharist. Through these means, he increases his life in us.

Jesus promised to be with his disciples always – now and to the end of time. We too enjoy this same promise.

Trust the Scriptures

“There is no need for you to be afraid, I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said he would. Come and see the place where he lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and now he is going before you to Galilee; it is there you will see him.” (Matthew 27: 5 – 7)

The chief priests and the Pharisees secured the tomb, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard. What for? Ostensibly to prevent anybody from stealing the body of Jesus. Or could it be to prevent Jesus from rising from the dead? The Bible says that “Fools say in there heart that there is no God.” When men choose to fight against God or kick against the goad, they behave like fools. “For they do not know the scripture or the power of God.” According to the scriptures, Jesus would rise on the third day. Could this be prevented by man?

Lord, grant us a deepened faith and awe in the Scripture and the power of God.

Seekfirst

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil” (Matthew 6: 33-34)

What are you worried about?

• Money


• Health


• Job


• The future


• Family relationships


• Salvation


• Food

Listen to Jesus the faithful witness.

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 6 -7)

Be Bold!

"The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit, but rather one that makes us strong, loving and wise."
(1 Timothy 1:7)

Goethe, the eminent German philosopher once said, "Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid." Norman Vincent Peale agreed: "Boldness is the activator of power from the mind."

Can we display true boldness without the power of the Holy Spirit?Because we face so many trials when we commit ourselves to the Lord, we sooner or later realize that courage is central to the Christian life. Without courage, how can we stand up for Christ in our homes? Even our spouses and kids may challenge our committment to the Lord. Our workplaces are full of temptations to our Christian values. How do we cope with these traps? How do we react to the many snares of the enemy in the workplace? And the Church?As we grow daily in the knowledge and love of Jesus, our model and example, we learn to apply the truths of the Bible to our daily lives.

We learn that the Holy Spirit within us is our ever-present resource. In crisis, He is there to give us strength. In situation where love is demanded, He makes us loving. When we face challenges to our faith and need to bear witness, He gives us wisdom.Many experienced Christians avow that the greatest trials to our faith and courage come from within the Body of Christ. Can Satan enter the temple of God? Remember these words: "Get behind me Satan." To fight the good fight of faith, we need the courage that comes from the Holy Spirit as St. Paul tells Timothy:
"The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit, but rather one that makes us strong, loving and wise." (1 Timothy 1:7)

Do you feel deserted?

“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God why have you deserted me?” (Matthew 27: 46)

Delays, disappointments, obstacles, suffering and persecutions can cause extreme discouragement. We take comfort in the cry and prayer of Christ, ‘My God, my God why have you deserted me?” Even Jesus felt deserted under intense suffering. But we also must learn by his grim determination not to be discouraged, to drink the cup of suffering to the last drop. This attitude of firmness and steadfastness in face of overwhelming odds is itself victory. We learn this in the school of prayer, the school of Gethsemane. In Gethsemane, Christ prepared for what was to come in the following 24 hours. The time we spent in prayer in the morning prepares us for what is to come in the next 12 hours.

Crying out to God who is so near to us in prayer helps us to face all the odds that life throws on us during the day. “My God, my God why have you deserted me?” We can hear from God, “I have not deserted you. Look! I am with you always.”

Set Us Free

“The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way. ‘He saved others; they said ‘he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He puts his trust in God, now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, ‘I am the Son of God.” (Matthew 27: 41 – 44)

Even on the cross, the hatred for Jesus by his enemies was unabated. The enemies of Jesus did not seem to believe that with Christ on the cross, their victory was complete and final. They continued the attack. It is interesting to note that they challenged God to vindicate the trust that Jesus had in him. Scripture is filled with the assertion that those who trust in God can never be put to shame. It is impossible that the chief priests, scribes and elders were unaware of this scripture. For them to say to Jesus, ‘You put your trust in God. God cannot save you in this situation,’ seems to be a contradiction of the truth. The passion of the Christ was the reign of darkness when the father of lies was in control.

The next thing to note in the above incident is that the chief priests, the scribes and the elders did not consider it above their dignity to come to witness the execution of their enemy. It reminds one of the small crowd that witnesses the execution of criminals in death chambers. The crowd is made up of the aggrieved family members, the press, a minister, some family members of the criminal and some representative of the government. Some people in the group may be motivated by revenge. The chief priests, scribes and elders on Calvary were certainly there to gloat over Jesus.

But Christ was not a common criminal. The insults and taunts and the lifting up on the cross had the foreknowledge of God. God permitted this as an essential condition for our salvation. Everything written in the Bible with regard to the suffering Messiah must be fulfilled.

The follower of Christ is called to be a type of Christ. God is training us to be like his Son by presenting us the opportunities to suffer insults, taunts and persecutions for the sake of Christ. The persecutors who provide us the opportunity are unaware of God’s plan. We become empowered to suffer like Christ as we make our home in his word. We perceive this truth and this truth sets us free from the fear of suffering.

Suffering and Humiliation

“The governor’s soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown, they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, ‘Hail king of the Jews!’ And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him” (Matthew 27: 27 – 31)

This is an incredible narrative packed in only 110 words. We see Jesus surrounded by the whole cohort, representing the full assembly of evil. How is it that some people will read the story of Christ’s passion and death and it will move them to lasting conversion and others will read the same story and remain unmoved? How I pray that when I read the gruesome narrative of the passion of the Christ, I will realize that it is my sin and that of others that lead him to this situation. I am taught that this suffering and humiliation of the God-man was necessary in order to assuage the justice of God and save me. Why does this knowledge not move from the head to the heart where it can produce a permanent fruit of repentance?

The greatest fruit of the contemplation of the passion of the Christ is a realization that it is also necessary for me to accept suffering in my life in order to share in Christ’s suffering and glorification. “Christ invites his disciples to follow him by taking up their cross in their turn. By following him they acquire a new outlook on illness and the sick” teaches the Catechism of the Catholic Church. When I accept and live this truth everyday, then the word of Christ dwells in me more richly. (Colossians 3:16)

Crucify Him!

“Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified.” (Matthew 27: 26)

The chief priests, leaders of the people and the crowd chose Barabbas to be freed and Christ to be crucified. What was Christ’s offence? To the chief priest and the leaders of the people, he represented too much of the truth. He spoke too much of the truth. He made no distinction between man and man. They could not reconcile themselves to his message or his person. They demanded a capital punishment. They wanted a final solution to the Jesus problem. Only his death could restore the peace he had disturbed.

Now why did the crowd want Jesus to die? The crowd benefited immensely from Christ’s ministry. He fed them, healed them and taught them. At the moment they should stand up and be counted, they abdicated their conscience and judgment to the leaders. They sold their voting rights for a few pennies. In the reign of darkness, anything is possible. The bible warns us not to put our trust in man nor in princes. Only in God lies our peace and security.

"My Grace is Sufficient for you"

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

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that God did not create the world in a perfect state. He created a world that is “in a state of journeying” towards its ultimate perfection. The Catechism defines divine providence as the ‘dispositions by which God guides his creation toward this perfection: By his providence God protects and governs all things which he has made, ‘reaching mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and ordering all things well.” (CCC #302)

William Law writes that “If anyone could tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness and perfection, he must tell you to make it a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you. For it is certain that whatever seeming calamity happens to you, if you thank and praise God for it, you turn it into a blessing.”

I find the teaching on divine providence the most consoling truth in Sacred Scripture. My delays, disappointments, obstacles, handicaps, disadvantages instead of being negatives are actually my masterpieces. When I thank and praise God for these, I express my belief in God’s loving and adorable providence. Jean-Pierre Caussade, an 18th century French Jesuit who was a master on divine providence wrote: “Let us make it a habit to accept everything God’s hand offers us, and to bless him unfailingly in all things and for all things. If in this way we welcome his designs, our greatest difficulties will profit us most.” (Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “The witness of Scripture is unanimous that the solicitude of divine providence is concrete and immediate; God cares for all, from the least things to the great events of the world and its history. The sacred books powerfully affirm God’s absolute sovereignty over the course of events.” (CCC #303) When Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” Christ was affirming the power of divine providence over all circumstances.

Peter's Happy Fault

“At that moment the cock crow, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, ‘Before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26: 26: 27)

When Christ foretold Peter’s denial, Peter did not believe the Lord. Jesus is all-knowing. He knows our past, just as he knows our future. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He creates our opportunities and permits our threats. So you better believe him when he tells you something. He speaks to us everyday through his word.

Jesus told Peter that the enemy had been given permission to test him. Christ has prayed for Peter. In spite of the prayer, Peter will fall. But after the fall, Peter will rise again. Peter’s experience of sin will make him stronger and more compassionate in his task of leading the other disciples and Christ’s flock. Peter could say of his sin, ‘O happy fault.’ Out of sin rose compassion; out of death rose beautiful life. The Holy Spirit says: “For those who love God, all things work together for good.” (Romans 8: 28) Yes, all things including sin!

Thank you Jesus.

Play the Prophet 2

“Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him, play the prophet, Christ! Who hit you then? (Matthew 26: 67)

The midnight interrogation of Jesus was not a gentle process. It was a period of accounting between the Christ and Satan and the advantage was clearly the devil’s. In an irrational frenzy, everybody turned against Jesus. It was as if there was a competition to see who would deliver the deadliest blow. But Jesus had predicted his passion to the letter. He had also said somewhere else that “Those who belong to me will listen to my voice.” The crowd here does not belong to Jesus. Their reaction to the Truth was violence. They spat on his face; they hit him with their fists; they struck him as they insulted him. The evangelist recorded that Jesus was silent during this ordeal. O that I could learn the golden rule of silence during insults and persecutions!

Paul endured the same persecution. Peter urged us to be happy at such occasions. Christ warned us explicitly to be prepared for it. Two thousand years of church history has vindicated this wisdom that there can be no crown with cross, no victory without victimization and no testimony without tests. Man has yet to discover how to made omelet without breaking eggs. This is the supreme moment of test for the Christ.

What can we learn from this? Dignity and silence under trial. This is impossible without God’s grace. Many After Communion prayers say: “Lord, strengthen us by the sacrament we have received.” We receive the strength from Holy Communion to imitate Christ.

Play the Prophet

“Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him, play the prophet, Christ! Who hit you then? (Matthew 26: 67)

The passion of the Christ begins. The reign of darkness is set in motion. The Truth becomes a blasphemy to the chief priest. Jesus is well prepared for this moment of crisis. He has prepared for this time all his life. But at Gethsemane he prepared for it intensely and proximately. This reminds me of a great word I heard in a recent parish mission: “Life is a journey and not a series of events.” Every step in this journey and every moment of this journey counts towards the final scene. This is the final act in the life of Christ. This drama started with his birth in a stable on Christmas Day. The child is the father of the man. It is as if we see the cross looming over the nativity scene.

What does all this mean for us? Every step and every moment of our life’s journey prepares us too for the final scene. If we take every step with the end in mind, we prepare well.

Unnecessary Intervention

“Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my father who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defense? But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?” (Matthew 26: 52-55)

Christ’s passion, death and resurrection are all in accordance with God’s plan. The intervention of Peter with a sword during the arrest of Jesus was unnecessary. The unfolding events are all in line with God’s purpose. If they are not, God will intervene himself.

What is the message in the above scripture? God’s plan, purpose and decision for the world are sacred. We must trust God’s disposal of events. The scriptures contain a record of God’s plan and purpose for the world. The plans will unfold according to the time-table set for them by God. Like Daniel, we must search the scriptures to discover God’s plan for our lives.

Keep Awake and Pray

“So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour? You should be awake and praying not to be put to test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26: 40 – 41)

Why were the apostles sleeping on such a unique occasion? What was the cause of their physical and emotional exhaustion? Was it just the Passover meal and the wine? It was probably an attack of the enemy. The devil chooses his point of attack very carefully. The passion of the Christ was the period of the reign of the powers of darkness.

The experience of the Christ in Gethsemane teaches us a number of lessons. Each of us must go through our own passion from time to time. Any part of our ecosystem or comfort zone may come under attack. It could well be that all the zones are under attack at the same time. What do we do when this is the case? First of all, if we are able to recognize what is happening, we have won half the battle. Jesus gave us here the effective weapon: keep awake and pray.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church has this to say on prayer: “Prayer is a vital necessity. Proof from the contrary is no less convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the slavery of sin. How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from him?

Nothing is equal to prayer; for what it impossible it makes possible, what is difficult, easy…For it is impossible, utterly impossible, for the man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly ever to sin.

Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned.” (CCC #2744)

The Stricken Shepherd

“You will all lose faith in me this night, for the scripture says: I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered, but after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee.” (Matthew 26: 31)

Jesus predicts what is going to happen to him. He knew the definite plan and foreknowledge of God to hand him over to death on the cross. The disciples were unaware of this plan. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “Jesus’ violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but it is part of the mystery of God’s plan.” (CCC #599)

Jesus predicted his future to teach his disciples to trust him completely with their own future. He was their friend and leader for three years and he understood that the shock of his passion and death would be too much for them to bear. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of man, so he took time to prepare them for the grim events that would follow shortly. This prediction and fulfillment will form the faith of the disciples. It also forms our faith in the omniscience of Jesus. We trust him when we trust his word. We trust him when we surrender our future to his lovable and all-powerful providence.

She heard, she pondered, she believed!

"Mary, do not be afraid, you have won God's favor. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus." (Luke 1: 30-31)NJB

Mary in the Annunciation story pondered the message of the angel. She asked for clarification. 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?' Then she made up her mind: 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.'

All her life, Mary prepared herself to say 'yes' to God. Through Mary's 'fiat' or yes, Jesus became physically formed in her womb. The Annunciation is the celebration of the robust faith of Mary. Mary becomes the model for our true vocation in life. Whoever hears the word of God and ponders it in his heart everyday becomes disposed for God's action. Of the incarnation, St Augustine and St Leo said that Mary conceived the word of God first in her heart and then in her body.

"In the faith of his humble handmaid, the Gift of God found the acceptance he had awaited from the beginning of time. She whom the Almighty made 'full of grace' responds by offering her whole being: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2617)

Pope Leo XIII in Encyclical, Octobri Mense wrote: "The eternal Son of God, about to take upon himself our nature for the saving and ennobling of man, and about to consummate thus a mystical union between himself and all mankind, did not accomplish his design without obtaining the free consent of her who was to become his Mother. She was the representative of all mankind, according to the illustrious and learned opinion of St Thomas, who says that 'in the annunciation was awaited the consent of the Virgin standing in the place of humanity.'"

"The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries" on the Annunciation

Books on Mary

The Eucharist - Great Mystery of Faith

“Take it and eat;’ he said ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them. ‘Drink all of you from this,’ he said ‘for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26: 26 – 28)

The blood of Christ seals the new covenant between God and man. The new agreement between God and man is this: Jesus agrees to die for the sin of man on the cross. Man agrees to accept the sacrifice of Jesus for his salvation. To seal this agreement, man eats the flesh of Jesus and drinks his blood. Whenever we eat his body and drink his blood, this covenant is renewed.

The Church calls the Eucharist, a great mystery of faith. We can never fully understand this mystery. But then understanding is not important, believing is everything. In dying on the cross, Jesus saved us. In giving us his body and blood as the sign of this wonderful covenant, he saves us today.

Thank you Jesus for your precious Body and Blood.

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

"But what were once my assets I now through Christ Jesus count as losses"(Phillipians 3:7)

I stood near the historic Arc de Triomphe in downtown Paris, dazzled by the brilliant lights and savory smells of the French capital. Well-dressed men strode liesurely and women in the latest fashion walked in the famous Parisian catwalk. BMWs and Mercedes whirled the huge roundabout. What a spectacle!

I couldn't help myself. I indulged in reverie. This is great life and I wanted it. Great family, big salary, nice homes, fast cars and overseas vacations. For many years, I went the extra mile in search of the good life.

Then I met Christ. Before St. Paul met Jesus, he boasted about his many 'physical qualifications'(Philippians 3:3): He was a Jew, a Pharisee and educated by Gamaliel. After his conversion, Paul wanted only one thing in life: to know Jesus and to serve Him.

What do you value as your greatest asset? Jesus said: "You cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24). An encounter with Jesus causes metanoia, a Greek word signifying a radical change of direction. Commitment to Christ changes our values and removes our longing for wealth. He shows us true riches: Faith, hope, love, simplicity and joy.

Knowledge of Christ opens the door to trustworthy fortune. Our happiness no longer depends on material things. We become aware that Jesus who loves us, knows our real needs and provides adequately for us. Moths, rust and robbers threaten worldly riches but cannot touch spiritual wealth. Our fortune is stored in heaven.

Loving Jesus

“What she has done for m e is one of the good works indeed! You have the poor with you always, but you will not always have me.” (Matthew 26: 10)

A street woman shows lavish affection to Jesus. The host who noticed it murmured inwardly. Jesus did not hesitate to claim his right to be loved and for fair treatment. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” There should be not conflict between and our love and service to the poor and what we owe to God. We owe Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving and love. How do we discharge this duty? “If you do it to one of the least of my brethren, you do it to me.” Jesus is present in our neighbors especially the marginalized and the weakest.

Lord, help us to recognize you in our brothers and sisters.

The Good Faithful Servant

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.” (Matthew 25: 21)

The good and faithful servant is praised not for the achievement of great projects but for accomplishing small tasks in a faithful manner. This means that everybody can be a good and faithful servant. Even a child can perform a small task. It is relatively easy to accomplish a small task once. It is much more challenging to do it for one week or one month. But to do that small thing always and everywhere demands a cut above the average. This is the quality of faithfulness.

God has given everyone the ability to do something well. This is our talent or opportunity. God wants us to be faithful in the use of this talent. Many writers have pointed out that what is most encouraging in the above scripture is that the servant is praised not for performing the task in an excellent manner but just by being constant in his line of work. It is comforting to see that I too can be faithful in one thing. What is the one thing I can be faithful in? Perhaps prayer or the study of the word of God. I find a natural attraction to both.

Staying Power

‘They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed……….. So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25: 10 – 13)

: This is the parable of the foolish virgins. The parable teaches perseverance and staying power. Sometime ago, I had a horrible dream. I was in a large Church with many people waiting to receive certificates from the bishop. When the bishop delayed his arrival for over an hour, I left the Church to go to my apartment across the Church to comb my unkempt hair. I have a clean shaven head but in the dream, I had a full head of hair. When I arrived in my apartment, I met unexpected distractions. When I came back to the Church, the ceremony was over and I missed my certificate. I wept like a child in the dream.
The Lord teaches that only those who stay in their post when he calls will be rewarded. “Therefore, stay awake, for you do know neither the day nor the hour.”

The Promotion of the Servant

“What sort of servant, then, is faithful wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at his employment. I tell you solemnly, he will place him over everything he owns.” (Matthew 24: 45 – 48)

The faithful and wise servant is constant at his post, unwavering in his duty. He knows what is expected of him and he does it come what may. He has his job description and work plan and he understands what is expected of him. His is not a man of eye service.

The wise and faithful servant is confident of his master’s reward. He places his full trust in the promises of his master. After a long period and suddenly, his master arrives. He rewards him with promotion. “He will place him over everything he owns.”

To be a faithful and wise steward, we need three graces:

1. To understand the job that the Lord has for us.


2. To be faithful and constant in doing this job.


3. To believe in the promise of the Lord to reward our diligence.

Lord, grant us the above graces. Amen!

Seek First the Kingdom

“So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your Master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar will come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24: 42-44)

The message is simple and clear: stay awake and stand ready at all times for the coming of Christ. Do not take chances. Do not take any risks at all. Avoid unnecessary distractions. You may be tempted to think: but I must work to put bread on the table. I must get married or give my daughter in marriage. I have responsibilities that cannot wait.

But Jesus replies to the above argument: “That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat…. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Set your heart on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well.” (Matthew 6: 25 – 34)

Signs of the times

“Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see all these things; know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But as for that day and hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, no one but the Father only.” (Matthew 24: 32-36)

What are the signs of the tines today? Wars and rumors of wars. Acceptance of gay culture everywhere. Challenge of Church authority. Few vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Diminishing Mass attendance on Sundays. Failure to keep the Lord’s Day holy. Increasing number of divorces and breakdown in family life. Failure to keep sacred vows made to God. These are some of the signs of the times. These are signs that the hearts of men are growing cold. The word of God helps us to match its prophecies and predictions with what we observe around us. We pray and are vigilant so that we can recognize these signs.

Lord, explain your words to us and grant us faith in your word.

Watch and Pray

“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven; then too all the people of the earth will beat their breasts; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet to gather his chosen from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24: 30 – 31)

When Christ came the first time, it was in a humble and dependent state. When he comes the second time, it will be in great glory and power. When will Christ come to gather the chosen from the four corners of the earth? Nobody knows. When will he come to gather me up? It may happen sooner rather than later.

My life today should be a preparation for the coming of Christ to take me home. How do I prepare for this imminent event? I prepare by prayer. “Watch and pray for you do not know the hour.” I prepare also by the study of the word of God. I prepare by doing the work that Christ has given me to do today.

Lord Jesus, I thank you for your word today. As I wait for your coming to take me home, teach me to listen to your word today and obey it.

False Prophets

“If anyone says to you then, ‘Look, here is the Christ’ or, ‘He is there, do not believe it; for false Christs and false prophets will arise and produce great signs and portents, enough to deceive even the chosen, if that were possible.” (Matthew 24: 23 – 25)

This is a bleak warning about the end-time period. When the world starts to unravel, people will be desperate looking for any means to save themselves. This period of uncertainty and desperation will be favorable in producing false prophets. What is most astonishing about this warning by Jesus is that he foretells that the false prophets will work great signs and miracles. Many will be deceived by this. Even the chosen will be disconcerted by this phenomenon. But because the chosen had long been anchored on God’s word, they will not be deceived.

How will the faithful be able to undress the false prophets? Christ taught that “By their fruits we shall know them.” The true Christians will look for the fruits of the Spirit among the false prophets. Are they patient? How do they handle delays, disappointments and obstacles? How do they cope with suffering? The false prophets will fail these tests.

Lord Jesus, grant your people the gift of discernment of spirits, so that we can discern the false and the genuine.

God is our sure defense

“For you are a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in distress; shelter from the rain, shade from the heat. As with the cold rain, as with the desert heat, even so you quell the uproar of the wanton.” (Isaiah 25: 4-5)

God is the same today, yesterday and forever. He is always the God of hope, mercy and deliverance. What Isaiah recorded many centuries ago remain true today. God is very close to us in all our trials, troubles and temptations. “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.” (Psalm 46:1)

Why does the love o f God allow us to pass through so much distress and affliction?
“My son, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great. Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; for in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.” (Sirach 2: 1 -5) God’s adorable and loving providence trains us and saves us through suffering. Without Good Friday, there would be no joy of Easter. Without tests, no material for testimony.

God allows his beloved to go through suffering, distress and crisis because these have redemptive value for his us. Our salvation is secured through suffering. We become strong and courageous like real sons. Christ Jesus gave us the example.

We know that God’s love is embracing us moment by moment even in the midst of distress and affliction. Because God is with us every moment, loving and protecting us, nothing can go wrong, appearances notwithstanding. This is a basic and formidable truth. But how can we prove it? God’s word says so. Romans 8:28.

The Error of Appearances

“My God, my God, why have you deserted me?” (Matthew 27: 47)

On Good Friday, Christ gave up himself freely to die on the cross for us. In the above scripture, he uses Psalm 22 to pray. Many of the bystanders looking at him believed him deserted by God. But that is the illusion. That is the evidence of the senses, the error of appearances.

Jesus prepared adequately in the Garden of Gethsemane for this ordeal. He left the garden assured that God was on his side.

We learn from this to prepare for our own hour of ordeal through constant prayer. Prayer helps us not to doubt God’s constant protection by looking at appearances. God is always there protecting us moment by moment.

Like Job, we too can understand the meaning of suffering through faith. For the carnal man, suffering is disaster, pure catastrophe. But for the faithful, the cross is the route to supreme victory. God is always a good God.

The Warning is for Now!

“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and be put to death; and you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name. And many will fall away; men will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise; they will deceive many, and with the increase of lawlessness, love in most men will grow cold; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24: 9 – 14)

This is a grim warning to the apostles of what will come. Much hardship, falsehood and lawlessness will put faith to a severe test. Only the solidly prepared can survive. It is the word of God which is alive in the heart of the heart of the Christian that will give him the strength to stand firm. “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

We have heard the warning. We have received the encouragement. Prepare therefore yourself and be always ready. Arm yourself with the word of God, the sword of the spirit. Look at the condition in society today and you will see for yourself that the warning is for Now. Pray at all times so that events will not take you unawares.

Everything will be destroyed!

“You see all these? I tell you solemnly, not a single stone here will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.” (Matthew 24:2)

Scripture teaches us through instruction, encouragement and warning. In the above passage, we see a clear warning on how to look upon the things that the world consider awesome and irreplaceable. Jesus says that these things will not last. This word of Christ has been vindicated throughout history. The great temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD as predicted here. The Roman Empire disappeared. The twin towers in New York disappeared. Some other wonders of the world saw their demise at the appointed time and were consigned into oblivion.

If these great structures of humanity do not last, what then is durable? The Bible teaches that what is durable and eternal is not seen by human eyes. The word of God will last forever. Love will last forever.

We have listened to the warning, what is the encouragement from the above scripture? We can see the world from a supernatural perspective. The encouragement is joy in the thought of everlasting life promised us by God. Freed from the valley of tears, we will live forever in happiness with God.

So be it!

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often had I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you refused! So be it!” (Matthew 23: 37 – 38)

When Jesus founded his Church, he created the positions of bishops and priests to pasture his people as a shepherd pastures his flock. They are to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. We refuse to be gathered and nurtured if we reject our leaders, if we mock and tear them down constantly through criticisms. If we persist in this attitude, Jesus may say to us: ‘You refused what I have provided. So be it!” What a terrible sentence!

Love Justice & Mercy

“Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law – justice, mercy, good faith. These you should have practiced, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23: 23-24)

What are the instructions, encouragement and warnings in the above passage?
There is a clear warning against the spirit of religion; the spirit of external works which is opposed to real piety. The focus of this spirit is to get the attention and admiration of the world, not the obedience of God. The warning is clear: Avoid these things.

“What would you have us do, Lord?” - Love justice and practice mercy and good faith. Go for interior devotion.

Lord, help us to understand the difference between grace and works.

The Crown of Wisdom

“The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom; it makes peace and health to flourish.” (Sirach 1: 18)

“If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will convey her to you. For wisdom and instruction mean the fear of the Lord, and what pleases him is faithfulness and gentleness.” (Sirach 1: 26)

“Those who fear the Lord do not disdain his words, and those who love him keep his ways.” (Sirach 2: 18)

Be Steadfast in faith & Joyful in hope

“My son, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal. Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes. Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honored at the end of your days.
Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient, since gold is tested in the fire, and chosen men in the furnace of humiliation.” (Sirach 2: 1 – 5).

Lord, through your word, you grant us the consolation of the truth. You teach us through your word that to serve you is not a constant party. There will be ordeals and disaster will come. You encourage us to be steadfast and patient. It is true that life is full of uncertainties. You know all about these and ask us to abandon ourselves to your loving providence. This message of hope could not have come to me at a better time. Thank you for it, Lord. Grant me the grace to be steadfast in faith and joyful in hope.

Our Opinion of the Christ

“What is your opinion about the Christ?” (Matthew 22: 42)

Christ is the Son of God. He is the second person of the Blessed Trinity. According to God’s plan, he became man for our sake. One of his missions is to reveal further the nature of God to us. Christ is the Emmanuel, that is, ‘God-with-us.” He demonstrated the godly qualities that had been revealed in the Bible: goodness, mercy, compassion, holiness, purity, longsuffering, omnipotence, omni-science and truth.

The Christ suffered and was crucified on the cross so that he would free us from the dominion of Satan and make us children of God. Christ founded a Church through which he continues to save men. Today, he is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

This is the opinion of believers about the Christ. What is the implication of our faith? If the Christ is truly what we believe him to be, then we owe him adoration, love, obedience and service.

2 Commandments

“Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbor as your self. On these 2 commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.” (Matthew 22: 37 – 40)

What are the things that the Lord commands us to love him above? Some of them are: money, job, family, tools, food and health. These are God’s generous gifts to us. How do we demonstrate that we love God more than these things? We follow God’s will for us in each of these things. What does God expect of us vis-à-vis money, job, family, tools, food and health? God expects us to depend on him totally for the provision of these needs. We show our love for God through a spirit of dependence, trust and obedience.

We must also love our neighbor as ourselves. We do to others as we would like them to do to us. Our neighbor needs family, money job, tools, food and good health just as ourselves. Since God is the supreme provider of these gifts, we trust him to provide enough for everyone. We hold in check our natural tendency for ‘dog eat dog’ type of competition.

Dont be Ignorant!

“Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you understand neither the scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22: 29)

God is all powerful. He is also faithful all the time. These are two attributes of him that we learn from Sacred Scripture. The knowledge that God is all powerful and all faithful can transform our weak faith into a strong living faith. But the ignorance of this truth can keep us in the place of fear and servitude.

This is the point that Christ makes when he said that some are wrong in the way they think of God. At the root of this ignorance is ignorance of scripture. St. Jerome said that “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

In scripture, God reveals himself to us. How do we understand scriptures? We can only understand scripture through the light of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes scripture a lamp that illuminates our path and a joy to our heart.

God and Caesar

“Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” (Matthew 22:21)

Caesar represents earthly powers and governments. Christ says that we recognize the rights of earthly powers and governments. Scripture teaches that God installs governments. We are not only to obey them but we are urged to pray for them.

We offer to God what is properly his. This includes adoration, worship, love, obedience and service.

Is there a conflict? When Caesar wants what belongs to God, the Christian must say no. We must obey God rather than man, St. Peter said. Jesus Christ foreseeing the conflict urges his follower not to fear the person who can destroy the body and can do nothing more. The person to fear is God, who can destroy body and soul in hell.

The martyrs of the Church never tried to deprive Caesar of what belongs to him. It was always Caesar who keeps what belongs to him and wants to deprive his creator of what belongs to God.

I will not come to your party

“The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.”
(Matthew 22: 8 -9)

The excuses for rejecting the wedding invitation are: ‘I am busy going to my farm; I am busy tending my business. Don’t you understand that these have greater priority than your wedding?” The whole point of farming and business is to create wealth in order to have a good life. The king is offering this good life during the wedding party to the invitees. There will be rich food and wine. There will be good music, dancing and very good company. There will be a lot of fun for everybody. This is an opportunity that does not come everyday.

Every Sunday, the Lord invites us to the Eucharistic celebration. Many excuses are given for not accepting the invitation. The attitudes of those who refuse the invitation are not different from those in the parable of Jesus. They mean: ‘whatever my reason for not coming, understand that it is more important than your Eucharist.”

It is the mystery of the human situation that a man can say no to the invitation of his king, boss and Lord to a beautiful and bountiful wedding. The king and Lord who invites you to his party is the owner of the land for the farm, the capital for your business and your time.

The king is determined to go ahead with his party and so he invites everybody at the crossroads in the town. Man cannot derail God’s plan.

The Rejected Stone

“Jesus said to them, ‘have you never read in the scriptures: It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone. This was the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see.” (Matthew 21:42)

Jesus Christ was the stone rejected by the empire builders who became the keystone of an everlasting empire. Where is today the empire of Israel? Where is the Roman Empire? Where are other empires of history? All of them are in the dust bin of history.

Why was Christ rejected by the empire builders? The simple reason is because he was both a prophet and a teacher. Those who were threatened by the Truth believed that by rejecting and killing him, they can perpetuate an empire of falsehood. But they forgot that “If the Lord does not build the house, they labor in vain who builds it.” (Psalm 127: 1-2). But when the Lord builds the house and is the keystone, the house stands.

Working in the Vineyard

“What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, ‘My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, ‘I will not go,’ but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, ‘Certainly, sir’, but did not go. ‘Which of the two did the father’s will?” (Matthew 21: 28 – 31)

The Father speaks to us always. He says, ‘go and work in my vineyard today.’ Where is the vineyard? The vineyard is the home, the place of work, the car lot, the shopping center. It is any place where you can be a good neighbor.

When we work in the vineyard today, fulfilling one need or the other, we have the joy and happiness of knowing that we are where the Father wants us to be and doing what he wants us to do.

Help us Lord to work in your vineyard today with willingness and joy.

The Promise of Faith

“I tell you solemnly, if you have faith and do not doubt at all, not only will you do what I have done to the fig tree, but even if you say to the mountain, ‘Get up and throw yourself into the sea’, it will be done. And if you have faith, everything you ask for in prayer you will receive.” (Matthew 21:21)

Faith gives us access to all the promises of God. What are these promises? They cover every area of our life. I like to look at them as the 6 P’s:
Peace
Provision
Protection
Power
Purpose
Pardon

When I put my faith in God’s word and do not doubt it at all, nothing will be impossible to me.

What causes doubt, hesitation and unbelief? First, lack of spiritual understanding of God’s word. Then, when we look at the evidence of our senses which may contradict what the word of God is saying to us. When we do this, we weaken in our faith. Impatience or the desire to see things happen immediately is another culprit.

What then is the remedy against weak faith? Through the light of the Holy Spirit, develop a spiritual understanding of God’s word. Rely on this word, stand firm on it, season and out of season.

Children Praising God

Children Praising God

“By the mouths of children, babes in arms, you have made sure of your praise.” (Matthew 21: 16)

Children are made to praise God. This scripture reinforces Christ’s teaching on children:

• Children are very dear to God.


• We must love and respect them.


• They are pure.


• They praise God.

We thank you Lord for this teaching on children. Help us to love little children as you love them.

A House of Prayer

A House of Prayer

“According to scripture,’ he said ‘my house will be called a hose of prayer; but you are turning it into a robber’s den.” (Matthew 21:13)

What is your attitude to God’s house? Do you regard God’s house a place of worship, a place of prayer? Do you go to God’s house to seek the face of God? It is important to remember these at all times.

What is the Plan?

“This took place to fulfill a prophecy: ‘Say to the daughter of Zion: look, your king comes to you: he is humble, he rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” (Matthew 21:5)

Christ here fulfills a scripture about himself. God had long established a plan for Jesus. His life and mission is a faithful adherence to that plan, to the will of God for him. This plan was foretold by many prophecies.

This particular prophecy presents Christ as king. This is not a worldly king entering his city with a grand military procession. We see rather a humble, spiritual king. This view is consistent with most prophecies about Christ: humble and unassuming.

God has a plan for each of us. This plan is unfolding. No matter who we are, the plan of God for our life will have three common elements: knowing God more, loving him more and serving him with all our gifts.

Have Pity on Us

“Lord! Have pity on us, son of David.’ Jesus stopped, called them over and said, ‘what do you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, let us have our sight back’. Jesus felt pity for them and touched their eyes, and immediately their sight returned and they followed him.” (Matthew 20: 32 – 34)

“Have pity on us, son of David.” Jesus had pity on them and gave them back their sight. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He does not change. Just as he had pity on the blind men and gave them back their sight, so will he come to our aid today when we cry out to him for mercy. But before we can cry for pity, we must meet Jesus. That is the critical point. The only way to meet Jesus today is by faith. How can this be done? Jesus comes to meet us in prayer, in his word and the sacraments.

Truth and Renewal

“The truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)

God’s truth heals us gradually through the renewing of our mind. When we read the word of God, pray or receive the sacraments, our mind is renewed. Our strength is renewed like an eagle.

The Thesaurus has these synonyms for Renew: breathe new life into, recreate, refresh, refurbish, regenerate, rejuvenate, renovate, replenish, restore, revitalize, transform.

What is the result of renewal? We become new man, new creation.

Serving like Christ

“Anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20: 27 – 28)

To imitate Christ, we must serve people. But what does it mean to serve people? How did Christ serve people? Christ preached the goodnews to people; he taught them and healed the sick. He fed the hungry. When we do the work God has given us, we serve God and people through it. Service is fulfilling God’s will here and now. What is God’s will for us today? To know him more, love him and serve him through our work. We fulfill some of these through prayer, study of God’s word, and doing our share of our daily work.

Prepared for Opposition?

“Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man is about to be handed over the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.”
(Matthew 20: 17 – 19)

Today I hear Christ foretell about his passion. What does this say to me?

• Be prepared about what will surely happen. You are warned.


• Shocking events will take place. If you are prepared, it helps you to absorb the shock.


• I am the Master of events and in control of every situation. This is why I know of these events.


• I say to you: be prepared and have confidence in me.

As I answer the call to follow Christ, to renounce myself, pick up my cross and follow him, this prophecy of Christ about his passion applies to me as well. The world will oppose me. Am I prepared for this opposition?

The Invitation of the King

“Why have you been standing here idle all day? You go into my vineyard too.”
(Matthew 20: 6 – 7)

In this parable, Christ assures us that we have a place in his vineyard. Everybody who is prepared to work is welcome. So stop worrying about job. Christ says to you: “You go into my vineyard too.” He promises to pay you a fair wage. But first, you must go to the market place where workers are hired. Make yourself available through listening to God’s word and doing whatever he tells you.

Today, we recall two teachings of Jesus with regard to job:

• “Come and follow me and I will make you fisher of men.”


• “You go into my vineyard too.”

What is your response? This is the invitation of the King.

The Promise and the Fulfillment

“And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.”
(Matthew 19: 29)

Is it possible to leave all these things behind and follow Christ? Yes, of course. Throughout Church history, men and women, married and single have responded to Christ’s call to become missionaries. Many Christians who have not left home as missionaries, still respond to the call to evangelical simplicity and prove that the above challenge and promise are not in vain.

How does Christ fulfill this promise? Missionaries leave their country for the sake of Christ. Wherever they go, they find a new country, a new father, mother, brother, sister and home. When they die, many prefer to be buried in their new homes. Is this not fantastic? This is God’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Extra Baggage

“I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19: 23 – 24)

A rich man is one who possesses a lot of money and every type of property. He gets whatever he wants that money can buy. Christ says here that it will be difficult for him to enter the kingdom of heaven. Why? Because extraordinary wealth is most probably obtained outside God’s will. Such wealth becomes an alien god. The rich becomes attached to it and comes to rely on it instead of on God. Such wealth poses a grave danger to one’s salvation. What does it profit a man to have all the gold and silver in the world for the few years of life and lose his soul for all eternity?

What is your attitude to riches and wealth? Do you recognize God as the creator of all riches and wealth? Can you become a conduit for God’s riches for the development of God’s government and kingdom on earth? How much extra baggage are you carrying? Christ promises that the kingdom of God belongs to the poor in spirit. The poor in spirit are content because they have everything they need without carrying heavy extra baggage.

Called to Simplicity

“Jesus said, ‘if you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Matthew 19:21)

What is Christ saying to me in this scripture?
He calls me to a life of service, friendship and companionship. He calls me to a life of perfection. In order to benefit optimally from the call of Christ and enjoy it, I must renounce myself and all attachment to material things. I must have the mind of Christ in all things.

Lord Jesus, how do I obey the command to sell what I have and give the money to the poor? You keep only around you what you need, no extras, and no storage for tomorrow. Sell the extras and give the money to the poor.

Lord Jesus, I have heard your message. You invite me to evangelical simplicity, to poverty in spirit. I accept dear Lord. Grant me the grace to be totally detached from all material things so that I can be attached to you. Teach me to trust you as my ONLY supplier of everything. Lord if you truly call me to a life of evangelical simplicity, I say yes to you. Go ahead and finish the good work you have started.

Wrong Partner?

“This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the 2 become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.” (Matthew 19: 5 – 6).

Marriage is ordained by God for one man and one woman. When a man meets a woman and they get married, God’s unerring direction is at work. In God’s government, there are no accidents. Every action, every event is governed by his love and wisdom. “God is faithful in all his words and LOVING IN All HIS DEEDS,” the psalmist proclaimed. If all God’s deeds are wise, then there is no question of “wrong partner.” Through the apparently “wrong partner”, God is saving us and training us.

Help us Lord to see the truth in your divine providence.

Enough Money

“Keep your lives free from love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.’ Let us be bold, then, and say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” (Hebrews 13: 5)

I have never thought of faith as boldness. But the above scripture says: “Let us be bold…” which in the context means: Let us have faith. When I looked up the word bold in the Thesaurus, I saw among many words the following: audacious, courageous, daring, fearless, unafraid, etc. The opposite of bold is defined as: afraid, cowardly, fearful, timid, weak, etc.

To enjoy God’s promise on money, we must be fearless in claiming the gift. The love of money creates in us the condition for being fearful of the loss of money. But God’s word says:

Do not worry about money. Have no anxiety whatsoever about money.
Be content with whatever you have.
If you have much, be content with it. If you have little, be equally content.
God promises: I will always support you and be your sufficiency. You will never be embarrassed on account of money.
You will always have what you need.
Trust in Me at all times to provide.

Because God has made the promise and I know that God is true and faithful, I am very bold and confident as I say: “The Lord is my helper in all my financial needs. Why should I be afraid? Nobody can threaten me or embarrass me because of money. This is God’s word and it is true. If I believe it and do not doubt at all, everything becomes possible.” (Matthew 21: 21).

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.” (Psalm 23: 1)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one.” (Psalm 27:1)

“Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety. I say to the Lord, ‘you are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you.” (Psalm 16:1)

Your Debt is cancelled

“You wicked servant,” he said ‘I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” (Matthew 18: 32 – 33).

The wicked servant was handed over to be tortured until he could pay all his debt. And Jesus added that our heavenly Father will deal with us in similar manner if we do not forgive each other.

How will you feel if you receive a letter from your bank or Credit Card Company and the content reads like this: “We are happy to inform you that with immediate effect all your credit card debt, your mortgage and all your loans have been cancelled. You are now completely free of debt.” For many of us, the joy might be too much to bear. Yet this is what God has done with our debt of sin. He can also do this with all our debt. But God demands something in return. He demands that we do to others what he does for us. In this parable, we see that what others owe us is miniscule compared to what we have been forgiven.

Thank you Lord, for this lesson. You have forgiven me so much. I pledge to forgive anybody who has offended me in any way.

How to forgive

“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 7, I tell you, but 77 times.” (Matthew 18: 21 – 22)

In this text, Jesus gives us a new standard for forgiving those who wrong us. The standard is God himself. With him, there is no limit to forgiveness. He is infinitely merciful, compassionate and ever-forgiving. Jesus is inviting us to behave like himself, like God.

Whom do we need to forgive? Spouses, children, siblings, relatives, friends; those who cheat us; those who persecute us.

The theme of forgiveness is so important that it is a condition for getting God to grant our requests. Jesus included forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer.

We need the Holy Spirit to be able to forgive completely.

Jesus, I have heard your word today on forgiveness and I accept your teaching. I forgive anybody who might have offended me in any way. I pledge always to forgive. I need your grace to be able to do this well.

One Lost Sheep

“Tell me, suppose a man has a 100 sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the 99 on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the 99 that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18: 12 – 14)

Christ is the shepherd who has the 100 sheep. Once upon a time, I was the one lost sheep. Christ searched for me until he found me and brought me back. When he found me, he was very joyful.

I am called today to be a shepherd to one lost sheep. What Christ did for me I will do for the one lost sheep. Where will I search for the one lost sheep?

Lord Jesus, give me a burden for the one lost sheep. Equip me with a merciful, compassionate and patient heart until I find the one lost sheep.

Promise of Eternal Life

“God of power and mercy, only with your help can we offer you fitting service and praise. May we live the faith we profess and trust your promise of eternal life.” (Opening Prayer – 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time)


If we cannot trust God in little things, how can we trust his promise in bigger things? How can we trust his promise of eternal life? “The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in greater ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.” (Luke 16: 10).

St. Martin de Porres: Get Us to America

Saint Martin de Porres was born in Lima Peru in 1579 to a black mother and a Spanish gentleman. He first entered the Dominican Priory in Lima at the age of 11 as a servant. Later, he applied to be accepted as a lay brother since he could not apply for the priesthood because of his color. He was trained as a pharmacist and soon used his gifts and talents to heal both humans and animals. He lived such a life of heroic sanctity that even while he was alive, many miracles were attributed to him. After he died, he was famed as a miracle worker.

The legend of St. Martin de Porres came with the Dominican missionaries to Vietnam in 1527. The Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to arrive in Vietnam in 1516. As the Dominican missionaries evangelized the people of Vietnam, they introduced them to the cult of their confrere, Martin de Porres, whose fame as a helper in extreme cases had spread all over the world through the Dominican missionaries.

The cult of St. Martin de Porres exploded after Martin was officially canonized a saint in 1963. As a young boy growing up in my native country Nigeria, I had chosen the name of Martin de Porres as my confirmation name.

Vietnam has a large number of Dominican institutions made up of convents, seminaries, schools and parishes. These institutions were a fertile soil for the cult to flourish. The masses of Vietnam saw in Martin one of their own and an ever present help in their seemingly stubborn social and economic problems.

The people of Vietnam suffered very much during the Vietnam War. They found comfort in devotions to the saint. Some years after the war in 1975, thousands of Vietnamese fled their home land for America. They prayed fervently to St. Martin to take them to America and many such prayers where answered. The Vietnamese never forgot this favor when they settled in the US.

What does St. George, St. Joan of Arc and St. Martin de Porres have in common? All are patron saints of three countries: England, France and Vietnam. Great legends have spun around their lives.

Carl Jung writing on mythology said, “Myth is the revelation of divine life in man. It is not we who invent myth; rather it speaks to us as a Word of God.” (Memories, Dreams, Reflections).

Although St. Martin was already popular in Dominican establishments in the United States, the coming of the Vietnamese brought fervor to the cult of the popular saint.

Many people in the US will be aware that the day after Halloween is All Saints Day. This is a solemn feast for Catholics all over the world. November 2 is All Souls Day, when the dead are remembered through Masses and liturgical prayers. When Sister Josephine invited me to attend a Mass in honor of St. Martin de Porres on November 2 at the Vietnamese Dominican Convent, I was certain that she made a mistake about the schedule. I did not believe that any feast other than that of All Souls will be permitted on that day. So I double checked to make sure that something was happening before I left home for the Dominican Convent.

It was a Saturday morning with breezy and cool wind. The crowd overflowed the large square in front of the convent with a huge statue of St. Martin de Porres. My experience in the two hour ceremony gave birth to this article idea. On that day, I experienced the transforming power of a legend in the life of a people.

November 3 is the feast of St. Martin de Porres.

Mere Children

“See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18: 10)

God loves the little ones, the “mere children.” What is Christ’s teaching on little children?

• Allow the little children to come to me, for it such as these that belong the kingdom of God.


• Unless you receive the kingdom of heaven as these little ones, you shall not see it.


• Whoever corrupts these little ones will suffer dearly for it.


• Do not despise any of these little ones.

It is clear that Jesus has a preferential option for little children. What is our attitude to little children? Is it marked by impatience, prejudice and even cruelty?

Lord teach us to love little children as you do.

What is in 10?

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten girls who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise “(Matthew 25: 1-2).

"Or suppose a woman who had ten silver coins loses one of them - what does she do?” (Luke 15:8)

"As Jesus made his way to Jerusalem, he went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. He was going into a village when he was met by ten men suffering from a dreaded skin disease " (Luke 17: 11-120.

The number Ten has always fascinated me. There are ten fingers and ten toes. There are Ten Commandments. Robert Schuller's , in his book, TOUGH TIMES DO NOT LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO teaches how to count to ten and win.

Teaching with Authority

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth.” (John 8: 31-32)

Divine truth is what doctrine is all about. Jesus Christ taught this truth with authority. Even his enemies acknowledged this.

I have seen teachers who compromise the truth and weaken their teaching authority. They bring in speculation into their teaching. Why do they do this? They want to appear erudite. They may also want to appear sympathetic to the point of view of their audience.

To teach the truth, you must know the Truth, Jesus Christ.

St Theresa

"The Lord nurtured and taught her; he guarded her as the apple of his eye. As the eagle spreads its wings to carry its young, he bore her on his shoulders. The Lord alone was her leader"(Deut 32: 10-12)

St Theresa of the Child Jesus was born in Alencon, France in 1873. As a young girl, she entered the Carmelite convent at Lisieux, where she developed rapidly into a spiritual adult. She burned these words of Jesus into her heart: "Unless you change and become like little children, says the Lord, you shall not enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 18:3) St Theresa of the Child Jesus modeled her life to that of the little child of Matthew 18:3. This explains her popularity and immense appeal to countless devotees all over the world. She died on September 30, 1897. Her feast day is the 1st of October.

Quotes from St Theresa
"The Doctor of doctors teaches us without the sound of words. I have never heard Him speak, and yet I know He is within my soul. Every moment He is guiding and inspiring me, and, just at the moment I need them, `lights' till then unseen are granted me. Most often it is not at prayer that they come but while I go about my daily duties" ("The Story of a Soul", Chapter 8).

BOOKS ON ST THERESA