Wait patiently for your turn

"A furnace for silver, a foundry for gold, but Yahweh for the testing of hearts!" (Proverbs 17: 3)

How is Yahweh testing me today?

I recall pre-1195, I was sorely tested by money problems and job. At the inception of the Enterprise in 1096, I was tested by money, shelter and little needs. I learned through all these tests that Yahweh wants me to trust him in everything. One area that is a big testing ground for me today is the need to develop patience in every situation, every time and every place. The message for me every day is "wait patiently for your turn."

School of Wisdom

School of Wisdom

“The fear of Yahweh is a school of wisdom, before there can be glory, there must be humility.” (Proverbs 15: 33)

Fear Yahweh – obey Yahweh.

Obedience to the word of God is what opens our personality fully to wisdom. God humbles us before he raises us up to whatever glory he has destined us.

Some of the too many examples attesting to this truth are:

• · Jesus Christ
• · Blessed Virgin Mary
• · Saints Peter and Paul

Discipleship

Discipleship

“If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 31)

“Discipleship involves constancy as learners and [constancy] gains the promise of knowledge of the truth and freedom. Real discipleship leads to real freedom.

“The truth shall make you free.’ The truth which Christ teaches tends to make men free, (Isaiah 61: 1). It makes us free from our spiritual enemies, free in the service of God, free from all fears, free to the privileges of sons.

Secondly, the knowing, entertaining, and believing of this truth does actually make us free, free from prejudices, mistakes and false notions, free from the dominion of lust and passion; and restores the soul to the government of itself. The mind, by admitting the truth of Christ is vastly enlarged, and has scope and compass given it and never acts with so true a liberty as when it acts under divine command.” (2 Corinthians 3: 17)

(The Pulpit Commentary)

Keeping Watch

Keeping Watch

“Blessed, whoever listens to me, who day after day keeps watch at my gates to guard my portals. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of Yahweh.” (Proverbs 8: 34 – 35)

I am encouraged by the above scripture. Day after day, I keep watch at God’s gates waiting for his word on the Enterprise. I am reassured that at the fullness of time, he will answer me with life and his favors. Thank you Lord.

“Fear of Yahweh means hatred of evil.” (Proverbs 8: 13)

Love of truth means hatred of lies, dishonesty.

Give and there will be gifts for you

Give and there will be gifts for you

“Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you.” (Luke 6: 38)

Give what? Your –

· Time

· Treasure

· Talent

· Prayers

· Thoughts

· Counsels

Give to whom?

· Family

· Fellow Christians

· Neighbors

· Children in need

Why give?

· God has given us everything we have

· He gives us that we may give others

· Giving is divine

· It makes us rich in spirit

· When we give, we receive more

When give?

· Every time we confront human need.

“Give and it shall be given to you. Men shall return it into our bosom; for God often makes use of men as instruments, not only for his avenging, but of his rewarding justice. God will incline the hearts of others to give to us when we need, and to give liberally, ‘good measure pressed down and shaken together.’ Whom God recompenses he recompenses abundantly.

We must expect to be dealt with ourselves as we dealt with others. “With the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again.” Those that deal harshly with others may expect to be paid in their own coin; but they that deal kindly with others have reason to hope that God will raise them up friends who will deal kindly with them.”

Scope of Prayer

"Whatever you ask in my name I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." (John 14: 13 – 14)

"Whatever: the scope of prayer.

Ask: The condition of prayer.

In my name: The ground of prayer. This involves at least two things:

1. Praying in the authority Christ gives (Cf Matthew 28: 19, Acts 3: 6)
   
2. Praying in union with him, so that one does not pray outside his will.
   

That the Father may be glorified in the Son: The purpose of prayer."

(The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

Confidence in Prayer 3

Confidence in Prayer 3

“We can approach God with confidence in this: if we make our requests which accord with his will, he listens to us; and if we know that our requests are heard, we know that the things we ask for are ours.” (1 John 5: 14 – 15)

“A privilege belonging to faith in Christ. The Lord Christ emboldens us to come to God in all circumstances. Through him our petitions are accepted of God. The matter of our prayer must be acceptable to the declared will of God. We may have confidence that the prayer of faith shall be heard in heaven.

The advantage accruing to us by our privilege, verse 15. To know that his petitions are heard or accepted is as good as to know that they are answered.”

(Matthew Henry’s Commentary in One Volume)

“When believers are so responsive to the guidance of the Spirit of truth that their prayers accord with God’s will, God hears their prayers and grants their requests.” (Harpers Bible Commentary)

“Earlier, the Apostle referred to confidence in prayer and to how we can be sure of receiving what we pray for: that confidence comes from the fact that “we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:22). Now he stresses that God always listens to us, if we ask “according to his will”. This condition can be taken in two ways, as St. Bede briefly explains: “In so far as we ask for things he desires, in so far as those of us who approach him are as he desires us to be.” The asker therefore needs to strive to live in accordance with God’s will, and to identify himself in advance with God’s plan. If he does not try to live in keeping with God’s commandments, one cannot expect him to listen to one’s prayers.

When prayers meet those requirements, “we know that we have obtained the requests made of him,” as our Lord himself assured us; “if you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14: 14).” (Navarre Bible Commentary)

Confidence in Prayer 2

“We can approach God with confidence in this: if we make our requests which accord with his will, he listens to us; and if we know that our requests are heard, we know that the things we ask for are ours.” (1 John 5: 14 – 15)

“John sees prayer as having a wide scope for he speaks of asking for anything, but he immediately qualifies this “according to his will.” Prayer is not a device for inducing God to change his mind and do whatever we want. It must be offered in accordance with his will if it is to be effective. When it is offered in this way God hears us. Elsewhere we learn that prayer must be in faith (Mark 11: 24), in the name of Jesus (John 14: 14), offered by those who abide in Christ (John 15: 7), who have forgiven those who offend them (Mark 11:25); it must be accompanied by obedience (1 John3: 22), and it must not be for the gratification of one’s passions (James 4: 3). All this is involved in praying according to the will of God. From the thought that God hears us we move to the consequences, namely that he grants our requests.” (New Bible Commentary)

Confidence in Prayer

Confidence in Prayer

"We can approach God with confidence in this: if we make our requests which accord with his will, he listens to us; and if we know that our requests are heard, we know that the things we ask for are ours." (1 John 5: 14 – 15)

This seems utterly reasonable to me. If somebody asks me for something which agrees with my plan for the person, I give it. So it is important that our prayers accord with God's will for us. How do we know God's will?

"The believer who is in fellowship with God will not ask anything that is contrary to God's will. (The Holy Spirit will ensure that this does not happen."

"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it." (John 14: 13 – 14, Matthew 7: 7, 18: 9), so Jesus promised his disciples. To pray in his name, to pray as he prayed, is to offer perfect prayer, for it is prayer that is always in accordance to his will. Such prayer is always answered, though the answer may be different from our expectations. The assurance that God hears and answers our prayer is for the Christian the final confidence in victory that he is guided by God; and no power of sin or of the devil can ultimately claim him." (The Interpreters One Volume Commentary of the Bible.)

You save me on day of my distress

"I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;

Before the gods to you I sing.

I bow low toward your holy temple;

I praise your name for your fidelity and love.

For you have exalted over all your name and your promise.

When I cried out, you answered;

You strengthened my spirit."

(Psalm 138: 1 – 3)

Yahweh heard my cry of distress in 1995. Therefore, I give him great thanks. I recall your faithful love and constancy and I praise you for it, my God.

On that day when I was surrounded by trouble on every side, I called on you and you gave new strength to my heart. You gave me your Holy Spirit to live within me.

When I think of your so many promises, I feel glad.

Although you are great and sublime, you condescended to take care of me.

When I think of how you saved me from my many troubles and give me life, I rejoice.

I know you will do great things for me because your faithful love endures forever. Amen

Spiritual Laws

Spiritual Laws

“Blessed the upright, for he will feed on the fruit of his deeds.” (Isaiah 3: 10)

The word of God promises in several places that he will bless the labors of the person who believes and obeys him. God’s promises are spiritual laws governing everyone and everything. I ought to see my promised land scriptures as spiritual laws.

What is the nature of a spiritual law?

• · Spiritual law depends on certain conditions for fulfillment.
• · They are precise and immutable.

The only conditions necessary for God’s spiritual laws to operate in our lives are faith and prayer. St. Augustine says that these are the two things that conquer God.

“I have strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4: 13). This is a spiritual law that governs me.

Properous will you be

Prosperous will you be

“How blessed are all who fear Yahweh, who walk in his ways! Your own labors will yield you a living, happy and prosperous will you be.” (Psalm 128: 1 – 2)

When I reflected on the above scripture ten years ago, I was unemployed and unsalaried but considered myself employed in the vineyard of the Lord. I appropriated the blessings. I confided this in my journal below:

“I fear the Lord and I believe that I am walking in his ways. And God is saying to me now: my labors will yield me a living.

What are my labors today?

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and I consider my labors to be:

· Prayer of praise, petition and intercession.

· Study of the word of God.

· Study of tools, e.g. writing and the Internet.

· SAM volunteer work.

· Lector

· Apostolate of friendship.

God is saying to me right here and right now that these labors will yield me a living. He is also promising that I will be happy and prosperous. I am certainly very happy today but what does prosperity mean to me? It means the gift of simplicity and contentment. It means that my real needs will be provided for adequately. How has God been providing for me since the inception of the Enterprise?

Peace, happiness and confidence

Food

Medication

Shelter

Clothing

Mass

Word of God

Prayer time

Books

Computer and Internet

Sam

I am eating bread without money. (Isaiah 55: 1 – 3)

For Nothing is Impossible for God

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

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

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

God himself will provide a place for me.

God will plant me there and make me secure.

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

Definition of Revelation

Definition of Revelation

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

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

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

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

Shalom

Shalom!

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

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

God himself will provide a place for me.

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

Nobody will disturb me.

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

God will grant me rest from all my enemies.

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

The Scroll of the Book

The Scroll of the Book

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unless God supports me (Psalm 119: 116)

This Cup

This cup

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

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

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

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

Holy Scripture

Holy Scripture

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Call to Service

The Call to Service

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

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

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

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

The Call to Service includes:

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

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

Scholarship

Scholarship

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

In 1996, I confided the following to my journal:

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

I proceeded to interpret it thus:

What is a scholarship? An educational grant for study.

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

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

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

God is faithful.

Our Identity 2

Our Identity 2

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

“Turn it, turn it round and round

In it all things can be found.”

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

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

I desire to learn about Jesus and to communicate Jesus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our Identity 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our Identity

Our Identity

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

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

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

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

This is what scripture says about my mission:

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

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

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

What does scripture say of my mission?

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

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

Anointing

Anointing

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

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

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

Prosper the Work of our Hands

Prosper the Work of our Hands

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

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

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

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

The Appointed Time

The Appointed Time

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

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

Those who wait on Yahweh

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

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

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

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

Promise of Provision 2

Promise of Provision 2

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

(Matthew 4: 4)

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

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

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

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

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

Dependence

Dependence

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

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

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

Storing Treasures

Storing Treasures

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

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

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

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

What are my heavenly treasures?

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

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

Prepare the way of the Lord

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recognizing Jesus

Recognizing Jesus

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

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

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

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

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

Time, Time

Time, Time

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

Advent and Lent are both periods of waiting. In Advent, we wait for the birth of Christ and in Lent we wait for the passion, death and most resurrection of the Lord. Christian people are a waiting people. We spend time waiting. The concept of time is very important in salvation history.

There are two kinds of time in the economy of salvation: chronos and kairos.

Chronos deals with the human measurement of time: seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years. Chronos time involves an element of predictability. We measure and calculate this time with accuracy.

The economy of salvation introduces a new understanding of time. Kairos time. This is God’s concept of time, where to wait is to stop. The bible describes this time as: the hour, the appointed time, the right time, the fixed time, the preordained time.

“Stay awake, you do not know when the time will come.” This is God’s time.

A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

“It is not with your sacrifices that I find fault; these burnt offerings are constantly before me; I will not accept any bull from your homes, nor a single goat from your folds.” (Psalm 50: 8)

O Lord, what then do you want?

“Sacrifices give you no pleasure, burnt offering you do not desire.” (Psalm 51: 16)

“A little thing indeed is a sweetly smelling sacrifice, still less the fat burned for you in burnt offering; but whoever fears the Lord is great forever.” (Judith 16:16)

“What I want is love, not sacrifices; a knowledge of God, not holocausts.” (Hosea 6:6)

“Let thanksgiving be your sacrifice to God, fulfill the vows you make to the most high.” (Psalm 50:14)

“Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken, contrite heart you will never scorn.” (Ps 51: 17)

To summarize, God wants:

Thanksgiving

Faithfulness

Humility

Obedience

Love

Knowledge of God

A Proven Help

“God is both refuge and strength for us, a help always ready in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Can I apply my faith in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament to the above scripture? That is to believe that in every trouble, delay, disappointment and obstacle that God is a truly present and ready to help. This belief empowers and transforms the situation completely.

Once upon a time, I went to bed at night for the usual night rest. At the middle of the night, a thief broke into my home. I saw him from the bedroom window upstairs walking to my front door. In spite of my knowing the Jesus prayer, that is, simply repeating the name of Jesus, I did not think of God as a present help in time of trouble. What did I do? I started shouting for human help and I was disappointed. I forgot completely that “God is both refuge and strength for us, a help always ready in trouble.” Several hours after the crisis, I remembered the correct thing to do.: to ask God who is a proven source of help before I shout for human help.

Lord, grant me the grace never to forget this lesson. Help me in crisis to seek your help first of all and then to do whatever you tell me.

I waited; I waited

I waited; I waited.

“I waited, I waited for Yahweh, then he stooped to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)

In 1996, I confided the following reflection in my journal.

“Today, I am waiting for Yahweh to intervene in my circumstances, that is, to help me to get something doing. Something that will be of service to him; something that will give him glory. I see volunteer service as a good start but I am not sure that MAS is a good place for me. I called CRA and obtained an appointment for interview for volunteer work.

In a chat with Isaiah at the library yesterday, he said that all that I need in my situation is patience. He repeated the same idea many times. I saw his words to me as an inspiration.

This morning, Psalm 40, my scripture par excellence confirmed my need for patience. Psalm 40:1 indicates that at times, it may be necessary to wait for a longtime for Yahweh’s intervention. “I waited, I waited for Yahweh.” The good news is that one day he will stoop down to me and answer my prayer. I look at all the answered prayers in my life in the past two years and my heart is filled with joy and hope. I achieved a major breakthrough in the Enterprise in October. With this marvelous act, God “put a fresh song in my mouth.” (Psalm 40: 3) Those who knew of what God did for me were “awestruck at the sight and will put their trust in Yahweh.” It is wonderful. I am resolved with the help of God’s grace to keep steadfast in my winning way, that is, “put my trust in Yahweh.” (Psalm 40: 4)

O Lord my God, may my delight be to do your will. Amen. (Psalm 40:4; Psalm 119:57)

The Vision

The Vision

“Write down the vision

Clearly upon the tablets,

So that one can read it readily.

For the vision still has its time,

Presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;

If it delays, wait for it,

It will surely come, it will not be late.”

(Habakkuk 2: 2 – 3)

Where does risk-taking begin? You take the first risk when you accept a vision in your life. The road that leads to the fulfillment of a vision could be as long as that from Egypt to the Promised Land. Without faith, the attainment of the promised land of our vision is almost impossible.

What is my vision today? I borrow the words of St. Ignatius Loyola to express my vision:

To know the heart of Christ intimately

To love him passionately

To follow him everywhere.

It occurs to me at this moment that if I am to follow Christ everywhere, I must be light and free from baggage.

Correction and Discipline

Correction and Discipline

“Yahweh, do not correct me in anger, do not discipline me in wrath.” (Psalm 38: 1)

During my Desert Experience, Yahweh corrected, disciplined and pruned me. But praise my Eternal Father, I was not corrected in anger or disciplined in his wrath. A full three years before the beginning of the Desert Experience, I had returned to Yahweh. Some months before the start of the Experience, I had read and signed this covenant:

“Yahweh your God commands you today to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

‘Today you have obtained this declaration from Yahweh: that he will be your God, but only if you follow his ways, keep his statutes, his commandments, his customs and listen to his voice.” (Deuteronomy 26: 16 – 17)

The above declaration was signed on 10/30/94. When I started experiencing the discipline of Yahweh that I call the Desert Experience in 1995, I knew Yahweh was doing it out of love.

What are my heart's desires?

What do you desire?

“Put your trust in Yahweh and do right; make your home in the land and live secure. Make Yahweh your joy and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37: 3 – 4)

If I make Yahweh my joy, he gives me my heart’s desires. How do I make Yahweh my joy? I remember Matthew 6: 33 which says “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” I make Yahweh my joy by desiring what Yahweh desires, that is, the establishment of his kingdom. Yahweh is my joy if I know his mind and do what he requires of me today.

To make Yahweh my joy is to make his will my food. Psalm 37 promises that if I do this, Yahweh will grant my heart’s desires

· To know the mind of Christ

· To love Jesus with all my heart

· To serve him with all my time, talent and treasure.

· To enjoy his peace, provision and protection

“Put your trust in Yahweh and do right; make your home in the land and live secure. Make Yahweh your joy and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37: 3 – 4)

“Commit your destiny to Yahweh, be confident in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37: 5)

“Stay quiet before Yahweh, wait longingly for him.” (Psalm 37: 7)

“The lives of the just are in Yahweh’s care, their birthright will endure forever.” (Ps 37: 18)

“Now I am old, but ever since my youth I never saw an upright person abandoned, or the descendants of the upright forced to beg their bread.” (Psalm 37: 25)

“Put your hope in Yahweh, keep to his path, he will raise you up to make the land your own.” (Psalm 37: 34)

Taking Risk

Taking Risk

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6: 33)

Jesus promises us fulfillment if we take the risk to put the kingdom of God first in our life. Isn’t it true that our lives improve only when we take chances? Learning to take risks is learning to operate from higher grounds.

We find security, peace and prosperity in proportion to the risk we take. And the best risk is to seek first the kingdom of God and his justice.

God's Strength

God’s Strength

“Seek the Lord and his strength.” (Ps 104: 3 – 4)

Concentrate on God’s strength and not your weakness.

Do not say: “I do not have this; I do not have that.” Remember that the Lord has everything. If he is my shepherd, I also have everything I need.

Do not say: “I can’t do this; I can’t do that.” Remember that if the Lord is with you, you can do anything he wants you to accomplish.”

Never say: “This is impossible; that is impossible.” For God everything is possible.

Seek the Lord and his strength. Always seek his face.

My Portion and My Heritage

My Portion and My Heritage

“My birthright, my cup is Yahweh; you, you alone, hold my lot secure. The measuring line marks for me a delightful place, my birthright is all I could wish.” (Psalm 16: 5 – 6)

“For the laborer deserves his keep.” (Matthew 10: 10)

“You will have no heritage in their country, you will not have a portion like them; I shall be your portion and your heritage among the Israelites.” (Number 18: 20)

“Put avarice out of your lives and be content with what you have; God himself has said: I shall not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: with the Lord on my side, I fear nothing. What can human beings do to me?” (Hebrew 13: 5)

In these four scriptures, God speaks about money, property and possessions.

I depend on God for everything. Christ is my boss. I fix my eyes on him for my rewards. I do not doubt at all that it will come and it will be generous.

Time

Time

“You do not know when the appointed time will come.” (Mark 13: 33)

This means that we must learn to wait. We must wait and be prepared like the servant waiting for the return of his master. The appointed time may come suddenly like a thief in the night. Since we know that the thief is coming but do not know the time of his arrival, we must keep awake and be alert all night. Eternal vigilance is the price of success. Life can be described as a period of waiting for things to happen. A woman waits for her child to be born. Then she waits for him to be weaned. She waits for him to go to school and waits for the time when he finishes school.

The bible teaches us that there are two ways of looking at time: time of grace called kairos and measurable time called chronos. Waiting can also be of two types:

Waiting that is connected with kairos, for example: “Watch and pray for you do not know the time.” In this type of waiting, there is nothing you can do to speed up matters. You depend on your faith. In this type of waiting, Isaiah says that “Faith that is firm is also patient.” You know by faith that the event will happen even if you do not know the time or the precise outcome.

The second type of waiting, associated with chronos is more predictable and measurable. The term for pregnancy is normally nine months.

“You do not know when the appointed time will come.” (Mark 13: 33) The appointed time is the time of grace, kairos time. We prepare for it through faith and prayer.

The Clay

“We are the clay and you are the porter; we the work of your hands.” (Isaiah 64: 7)

You either mold yourself and your life or you allow God to mold you and fashion your existence.

Who is molding your life today?

God / Word of God

Man / Word of man

Yourself / Your scripts

“Woe to him who contends with his Maker; a potsherd among potsherds of earth! Dare the clay say to its modeler, ‘What are you doing?’ or, ‘What you are making has no hands’?

Woe to him who asks a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or a woman, ‘What are you giving birth to?” (Isaiah 45: 9 – 10)

Eternal Vigilance

Eternal Vigilance

“How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked and does not take a stand in the path that sinners tread, nor sit in company with cynics, but who delights in the law of Yahweh and murmurs his law day and night.

Such a one is like a tree planted near streams; it bears fruit in season and its leaves never wither, and every project succeeds.” (Psalm 1: 1 – 3)

The promise: “Bear fruit in season”, that is, at the appointed time, at the fixed time.

What does “bear fruit’ mean to me? “Bear fruit” will relate to my special charism, my gift, that is, to learn and to communicate. This promise says that if I fulfill the conditions, at God’s appointed time, I will start communicating his word effectively to his people. In the meantime, what do I do? Two things:

1. Delight in God’s word and study it day and night.

2. Wait for the appointed time.

The 2^nd Promise: “And every project succeeds.” For example, the Enterprise. The Enterprise is made up of many projects, all of them connected with my mission and charism: I learn and I communicate. God promises that if I fulfill the conditions, the Enterprise will succeed.

What are the conditions laid down in Psalm 1?

· Reject the advice of the ungodly with regard to the Enterprise.

· Don’t mix with them; don’t frequent their spot.

· Delight in the word of God.

· Meditate God’s word day and night.

Meditating on God’s word day and night will give no room for the devil to get in. it is like having a vigilant guard on patrol for 24 hours. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. The price of success of the Enterprise is eternal vigilance.

Almighty King

Almighty King

“Lord, Lord, Almighty King, everything is subject to your power, and there is no one who can withstand your determination to save Israel. You have made heaven and earth, and all the marvels that are under heaven. You are the master of the universe and no one can resist you, Lord. You know all things.” (Esther 4: 17)

The attributes of God from the above scripture:

· Almighty King, therefore sovereign and all powerful.

· Everything is subject to his power, therefore all powerful

· No one can withstand his determination to save me.

· He made heaven and earth and everything in it.

· He is the master of the universe.

· No one can resist him.

· He knows all things.

We need to remind ourselves constantly of the attributes of God to imbue us with filial confidence.

“I have not neglected the commandment of his lips, in my heart I have cherished the words of his mouth. But once he has made up his mind, who can change it? Whatever he plans, that he carries out.” (Job 23: 12 – 13)

I cherish God’s word.

Therefore I obey his commands.

When God makes up his mind on an issue, it is final. “If God is with me, who can be against me?” (Romans 8: 31)

When God endorses a plan, it is accomplished. All God’s enterprises succeed.

“But God saves the afflicted by his affliction, warning him in his misery.” (Job 36: 15)

Our afflictions are part of God’s saving justice. God teaches us through our miseries.