"And then he says: Here I am! I am coming to do your will: He is abolishing the first sort to establish the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ made once and for all" (Hebrews 10: 9-10)
God's will is for us to be made holy through Christ's sacrifice on the cross which is commemorated everyday at Mass.
"The young woman is with child and will give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel." (Isaiah 7: 14)
Immanuel: God is with us
Christ – Sign of God's presence with us
The Church – Sign of Christ's presence in the world
Only through faith can we see Christ in His Church.
"Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have revealed the beauty of your power by exalting the lowly virgin of Nazareth and making her the mother of our Savior. May the prayers of this woman bring Jesus to the waiting world and fill the void of incompletion with the presence of her child …." (Opening Prayer in the Mass of Annunciation)
How God reveals the beauty of His power:
It amazes me how desperate we try to be strong and powerful. Yet, in Sacred Scripture, God again and again shows His predilection for the weak and the lowly. By lifting the weak and the lowly, it shows the beauty of God's power. This insight bashes the self-development philosophy. This philosophy promises to make us strong, rich and powerful. When we become strong, rich and powerful, we forego the privileges of the anawin.
"God our Father, your Word became man and was born of the Virgin Mary. May we become more like Jesus Christ, whom we acknowledge as our Redeemer, God and man …." (Prayer at Mass)
How do we become more like Christ?
"As Christ came into the world, he said: Behold! I have come to do your will, O God." (Hebrews 10: 5,7)
Lord Jesus, grant me the intense desire to do your will in everything. Amen.
"Lord, may the mysteries we receive heal us, remove sin from our hearts, and make us grow strong under your constant protection….." (Mass Prayer)
The Eucharist heals us spiritually and physically. The Eucharist makes us grow strong spiritually. When we are strong spiritually, we shall have physical strength to do whatever God wants us to do.
"Lord, you have given us these gifts to honor your name. bless them, let them become a source of health and strength …" (Prayer at Mass)
The Eucharist is the source of health and strength. Thank you, Jesus.
"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: 31-32)
Principles of discipleship:
Those are the words of Christ. Those are the three key principles of discipleship.
"Blessed be the God of Sharach, Meshach and Abed-Nego: has sent his angels to rescue his servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their God." (Daniel 3: 28/95)
When we find ourselves in a similar situation as Daniel and his companions, how do we win? The scripture above gives the answer. The same idea is also expressed in Revelation:
"They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love of life did not deter them from death." (Revelation 12: 11)
"Father of mercy, hear the prayers of your repentant children who call on you in love. Enlighten our minds and sanctify our hearts….." (Mass Prayer)
Enlighten our minds through your word. Sanctify our hearts through your sacraments.
Jesus Christ comes to us in word and in sacrament to strengthen us in holiness.
"But their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses." (Numbers 21: 4-5)
The Enterprise is a journey. It is a long journey. Beware of complaining, criticizing and condemning.
What are the things God provides to sustain my spirit in this journey? I think of the 7-Way plan. Yesterday was the feast of Corpus Christi. For a couple of times now, I have celebrated this feast which includes a procession after Mass at the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral. I go the Cathedral to "do" thanks for the gift of the Eucharist which is a great food for this journey.
"When you have lifted up the Son of man then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of my own accord." (John 8: 28)
No cross, no crown.
No crucifixion, no resurrection.
The crucifixion would prove the divinity of Christ. Our sufferings and triumph over them will glorify God.
"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself, says the Lord." (John 32: 32)
The power of the cross.
Christ saves us through His cross.
"O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily." (Psalm 102: 2-3)
I do not complain, criticize or condemn. Instead my response to distress is: "O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily." (Psalm 102: 2-3)
"They left Mount Hor by the road to the sea of Suph, to skirt round Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses." (Numbers 21: 4-5)
The Enterprise is journey with Christ. The Enterprise is the extension of Desert-95 experience. The journey may be long and at times very hard. Do not complain. Do not criticize. Do not condemn.
Rather, "Put your hope in the Lord. Take courage and be strong." (Psalm 27: 14)
"Lord, through the apostolic work of St. Turibius and his unwavering love of the truth, you helped your Church to grow in faith and holiness…." (Mass Prayer)
Father, grant me an unwavering love of truth. Lead me, guide me and use me in your Church.
The reformers of the 16th century lacked the unwavering love of truth. After about five centuries of multiple reformations, many of the churches that broke away from the Catholic Church have gone so far away from the Truth. They failed to perceive the wisdom of God in making the Church the bulwark of the truth. It is God's will that truth in the Church be maintained in a relationship of inter-dependent synergies of Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium. These trio functions like nature's ecosystem.
"Lord, help us to do your will that your Church may grow and become more faithful in your service……" (Prayer at Mass)
Jesus said, "Without me, you can do nothing." I believe this thoroughly. Therefore I pray, "Lord, help me to do your will."
When I do God's will, the Church grows.
"Put your hope in the Lord. Take courage and be strong." (Psalm 27:14)
Yes, I put all my hope in the Lord.
"Take courage and be strong." Let your hope not weaken. Let it grow stronger every day. Let challenges, delays, obstacles and disappointments strengthen it.
"Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8: 7)
It is mercy that I want and not sacrifice.
Be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate.
Do not criticize; do not condemn; do not complain.
"Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me." (Psalm 23: 4)
I believe this. No matter the situation, I will not fear. I will remember always that God is with me. He was with Susana. He was with Daniel in the lions' den. He shall be with me always. That is His promise.
"The Lord heard her cry, and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy called Daniel who began to shout, 'I am innocent of this woman's death." (13: 44-46)
"This woman" is Susana falsely accused of adultery. At the very last moment, God intervened through Daniel to save the life of Susana.
O God, take pity on me! My enemies are crushing me. (Psalm 56:2)
"Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the Savior of those who trust him." (Daniel 13: 60)
Yes, God saves those who trust in Him. He saved them as He saves Susana or He saves them as He saved St. Thomas More.
"Father of love, source of all blessings, help us to pass from our old life of sin to the new life of grace. Prepare us for the glory of your kingdom…" (Prayer at Mass)
God is the Father of love. He is also the source of all blessings. Redemption is passage from the old life of sin to the new life of grace.
Prepare us for the glory of your kingdom. God is saving us through everything. Our life here and now and everything we do prepare us for eternal life.
"God, take pity on me! My enemies are crushing me; all day long they wage war on me." (Psalm 56:2)
Lord, help me! I am drowning. Call on the Lord in the hour of distress and He will answer.
My enemies wage war on me all day long. How true! What do I do? Trust in the Lord at all times. Call on Him at the hour of confrontation.
"Almighty God, may the sacrifice we offer take away the sins of those whom you enlighten with the Christian faith…." (Prayer at Mass)
The Eucharist is a sacrifice that takes away our sins.
"He who lives and believes in me will not die forever." (John 11: 26)
He who believes in me and is alive in the Spirit will not die.
"For with the Lord is kindness and plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel from all its iniquities." (Psalm 130: 7-8)
I am Israel. The Lord will be kind to me. He will redeem me fully from all my iniquities. Thank you Father.
"With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption….. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord." (Psalm 130: 5-7)
God is merciful. He will have mercy on me and grant me full redemption from my sins. Thank you Father. No longer will the sins of my youth disrupt God's plan for my life. Thank you Father. For this, I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word. I wait for the Lord to fulfill His promises to me more than watchmen wait for daybreak. Surely the Lord will come just like the dawn never fails to come.
"I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord." (Ezekiel 37: 12 – 14)
The above scripture answers the question: How to embrace the world given to me without comprising myself? God promised to give me His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in me will anoint me for the work of my life and teach me how to embrace the world without any compromise.
Christ embraced the world without compromise. He ate with sinners. He embraced Mary Magdalene. He drank wine with sinners. When we surrender completely to the Holy Spirit, He will transform us to love like Christ.
"Father in heaven, the love of your Son led him to accept the suffering of the cross that his brothers might glory in new life. Change our selfishness into self-giving. Help us to embrace the world you have given us, that we may transform the darkness of its pain into the life and joy of Easter …." (Mass Prayer in Lent)
If we love Jesus and the salvation of our brothers and sisters, then we will share gladly in the cross of Christ so that our brethren may find new life.
Guide us Lord by the example of Christ. Change our selfishness into self-giving. May the discipline of Lent of prayer, fasting and almsgiving affect in us this attitude permanently.
"Father, help us to be like Christ your Son, who loved the world and died for our salvation. Inspire us by his love, guide us by his example…"
Help us to be like Christ. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ. Help us to be another Christ. Teach us to love the world that Christ loved and to be ready to die for its salvation if necessary.
May Christ's love for man inspire us in our thoughts, words and deeds.
Guide us by Christ's examples: faith, patience, wisdom, humility and courage.
"Give me justice, O God, and defend my cause against the wicked; rescue me from deceitful and unjust men. You, O God, are my refuge." (Psalm 43: 1-2)
God is my refuge.
When deceitful, unjust and wicked men confront me, God is my refuge and my strength. He is the guardian of my rights.
With God, justice delayed is not justice denied. In UEF86, God is my refuge and my strength. In CNUA94, he stood by my side.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 19 – 20)
"Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22: 19)
At the Last Supper, Jesus instructed the disciples to observe the Sacred Meal in remembrance of Him. Before ascending into heaven, He gave the great commission to His disciples and asked them to observe everything He taught them. It was not enough to believe what He taught them but they must observe and do as well.
Reading leads to forgetfulness. Practice leads to remembrance. The disciples were to teach their new converts to practice the faith. Practice leads to tradition.
"I glorify you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do." (John 17: 4)
"Lord, may the power of your holy gifts free us from sin and help us to please you in our daily lives….." (Prayer at Mass)
The Eucharist is powerful enough to free us from sins. In fact, our venial sins are forgiven during the Eucharist. The Eucharist also helps us to please God in our daily lives.
"So the people could not agree about him." (John 7: 43)
"Who do men say that I am?" This is the question that divides Christianity. Different denominations and different answers to this question. Since correct thought is the key to correct action, the answer to this question directly impacts on our understanding of the teaching of Christ.
"Who do you say that I am?"
"Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Luke 10: 16)
"Lord, my God, I take shelter in you…. Save me from my pursuers and rescue me, lest I become like the lion's prey, to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me." (Psalm 7: 2-3)
Unless I take shelter all the time in the Lord, I will become exposed and a prey to the hungry lion, to be torn to pieces. There will be none to rescue me.
I will make the Lord my refuge and my shield.
"I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, 'Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may no longer be remembered." (Jeremiah 11: 19-20)
Christ is the Lamb of God. He was the tree his enemies plotted to destroy in His vigor. They planned a total solution to the Jesus problem. God allowed their wicked schemes to succeed for a time.
"Yahweh informed me and I knew it; you then revealed their scheming to me." (Jeremiah 11: 18)
Has God ever revealed to you the source and the meaning of the persecution you are experiencing? This is what happened to Jeremiah here. It is has also happened to me. This revelation comes with great strength and patience to endure whatever you are facing. You simply know that God is in control and you are in good hands.
"Lord, guide us in your gentle mercy, for left to ourselves we cannot do your will …." (Opening Mass Prayer)
Lead me, guide me in your gentle mercy. Without you, I can do nothing.
"The snares of death overtook me, the ropes of hell tightened around me; in my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice." (Psalm 18: 5-7)
The snares of death – sin
The ropes of hell – sin
Call upon the Lord in your distress and He will answer you.
"Father, with unselfish love St. Joseph cared for your son, born of the Virgin Mary. May we also serve you at the altar with pure hearts …." (Prayer on the feast of St. Joseph – March 19)
St. Joseph cared for the holy family with unselfish love. St. Joseph, pray for me that I may serve God with a pure heart.
"When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home." (Matthew 1:24)
Joseph was an upright man. He was obedient to God's will.
"For the promise to Abraham and his descendants that he should inherit the world was not through the Law, but through the uprightness of faith." (Romans 4: 13)
The promises of God are made independent of the work that is required to keep the Law. We appropriate God's promises through our faith. We know that God has the integrity and power to fulfill His promises. We believe He will keep His word. By making the promises, God is treating us as sons and daughters. By believing, we are acting as sons and daughters.
Abraham believed in God's promises. We believe in the promise of salvation through Jesus. I believe in God's promises on the Enterprise. Because I believe, God is blessing me and treating me as a son.
"And when your days are over and you fall asleep with your ancestors, I shall appoint your heir, your own son to succeed you…… Your dynasty and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be forever secure." (2 Samuel 7: 12, 16)
Jesus Christ is the Son of David, the promised Messiah.
"The Lord has put his faithful servant in charge of his house-hold." (Luke 12: 42)
Joseph, the husband of Mary is the model of the faithful servant. The Lord put him in charge of His holy family.
"Lord, may the sacraments we receive cleanse us of sin and free us from guilt, for our sins bring us sorrow, but your promise of salvation bring us joy…"
The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance cleanse us of sins and free us from guilt.
Our sins bring us sorrow. How true! God's promise of salvation brings us joy.
"I will put my law within them, I will write it on their hearts; then I shall be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31: 33)
It is the Holy Spirit within us that makes us to be God's people. He enables the divine filiation. Without His presence, we are unable to walk in God's ways.
"All you need is the Holy Spirit." - 0595
"John was a lamp lit and shining and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave." (John 5: 35)
Lord Jesus, make me a lamp in your Church. Light me that I may shine for you. Sow your word in my heart. Grant me the grace to expose your word with simplicity and courage.
Today is the feast of St. Anslem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. This is a man who shone for Christ.
"Lord, remember us for the love you bear your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea." (Psalm 106: 4, 21-2)
It is not that God does not perform wondrous deeds in our lives. We either do not make effort to remember or just choose to forget.
How easily I forgot what God did for me in:
From Swd91, I started taking note of God's wondrous deeds in my life.
Jesus gave us the Eucharist in order never to forget what He did for us in the Paschal Mystery. It is something to give thanks for that the Church has celebrated the Eucharist everyday for the past 2000 years.
"Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Go down at once, for your people whom you brought here from Egypt have become corrupt. They have quickly left the way which I ordered them to follow. They have cast themselves a metal calf, worshipped it and offered sacrifice to it, shouting, 'Israel, here is your God who brought you here from Egypt." (Exodus 32: 7-8)
The people have become quickly corrupt. The Exodus is the 'Enterprise' of the Israelites. They became corrupt even before they reached the Promised Land. They quickly left the way mapped out for them by God. Derailment in our journey of faith can come quickly and easily.
"They have cast themselves metal calf, worshipped it and offered sacrifice to it." What metal calf is tempting me today? Family, health, money, job, tools or food?
The Enterprise is journey with Christ. There are dangers on the way.
Lord Jesus, you have led me this far. Help me to persevere to the end. Amen!
"Father, through St. Cyril of Jerusalem you lead your Church to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of salvation. Let his prayers help us to know your Son better and to have eternal life in all its fullness …." (Memorial Mass of St. Cyril of Jerusalem)
St. Cyril of Jerusalem is known as Doctor of Catechesis. Concerning chastity, he wrote:
"….Let us not for a short pleasure defile so great, so noble a body: for short and momentary is the sin, but the shame for many years and forever. Angels working upon earth are they who practice chastity: the virgins have their portion with Mary the Virgin. Let all vain ornament be banished, and every hurtful glance, and all wanton gait, and every flowing robe, and perfume enticing to pleasure. But in all, for perfume let there be the prayer of sweet odor, and the practice of good works and the sanctification of our bodies: that the Virgin-born Lord may say even of us, both men who live in chastity and women who wear the crown, "I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
"Lord, may we never misuse your healing gifts, but always find in them a source of life and salvation…." (Mass Prayer)
The Eucharist is the healing gift par excellence. The Eucharist heals us of our ills of mind and body and at the same time renewing us.
"Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses." (John 5: 21)
The Son gives life to anyone He chooses. Lord Jesus, grant me life. Fill me with your life. Grant me the power to communicate this life to others.
"The Lord is kind and merciful. The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works." (Psalm 145: 8, 13)
Yes, I can trust God.
Faith – hearing God's word and believing it
Faithing – putting this belief into action
"Can a woman forget her baby at the breast, feel no pity for the child she has born? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you." (Isaiah 49: 15)
God will not forget me. I am constantly in his presence.
"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. In green pastures he gives me rest; he leads me beside the waters of peace." (Psalm 23:1)
This Christ's word on my situation today. I believe it.
Christ is my shepherd, I lack nothing here and now. My pastures shall be green and abundant. I shall also enjoy rest in my labors. I shall be filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen! Amen! Amen!
"Do you want to be well again? 'Sir,' replied the sick man, 'I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; …' Jesus said, 'Get up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk around." (John 5: 7-8)
Jesus seemed to say to the sick man: 'With me present, there is no need for you to go into the pool. I dispense the step for you. All things serve me. My word is enough.'
Lord Jesus, I believe. Say but a word and heal me. Lord, say but a word and grant my heart's desires. Say a word and heal my circumstances.
All that I need is a word from Jesus on my situation and everything is alright.
"Father, may our Lenten observance prepare us to embrace the paschal mystery and to proclaim your salvation with joyful praise ……." (Mass Prayer in Lent)
Our Lenten Observance:
When we pray, fast and give alms during Lent, we prepare ourselves to embrace more fully the paschal mystery. The paschal mystery is the mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without adequate preparation, we cannot enter fully into this mystery. With good preparation, we come to identify more closely with Christ. If we die with Christ, we rise with Christ. We come step by step to appreciate the power of the cross in our daily lives.
"Come to the waters, all who thirst; though you have no money, come and drink with joy." (Isaiah 55:1)
Come and drink your fill of the Holy Spirit. It is free. I am thirsty. I ask for this water every day. When can I drink my fill of this water?
Do not ask for signs. Look for the fruits:
Who is invited to drink? Everybody is invited. Anybody who is thirsty should come and drink. Many are thirsty but instead of coming to the water, they go to personal development philosophy hoping to fill their thirst with its muddied water.
"At night fall, weeping enters in but with dawn, rejoicing." (Psalm 30: 6)
I wept during my Desert Experience. Today, I am rejoicing in the Lord. The Lord "changed my mourning into dancing."
O Lord, forever will I give you thanks.
"I will extol you, O Lord, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, you brought me up from the nether world; you preserved me from among those going down into the pit." (Psalm 30: 1-4)
I was first rescued from NCAU and then from ZAN. God transferred me from Egypt into His glorious kingdom and gave my enemies zero opportunity to laugh at me.
Today, we have the funeral Mass of Ngozi. May God also transfer her from this valley of tears into His glorious kingdom. Amen.
"They will build houses and live in them, they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit." (Isaiah 65: 21)
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. This person can build a house and enjoy it. He will enjoy the fruits of his labor.
"Rather be joyful, be glad forever at what I am creating, for look, I am creating Jerusalem to be "joy" and my people to be gladness." (Isaiah 65: 18)
I will be joyful; I will be glad in the Lord.
Thank you, Father.
"Father, creator, you give the world new life by your sacraments. May we, your Church, grow in your life and continue to receive your help on earth …."
The sacraments give us new life. As the plant sheds its old leaves and sprout new buds, so the sacraments renews our lives.
Oh, that everyone would come to the sacraments to be renewed.
"Come to the waters, all who thirst; though you have no money, come and drink with joy." (Isaiah 55: 1)
Lord, fill me with this water. Use me to bring people to this water.
The sacraments are the ordained means of growth for the Church. Destroy the priesthood, you destroy the sacraments and the Church.
"Lord, I put my trust in you; I shall be glad and rejoice in your mercy, because you have seen my affliction." (Ps 31: 7-8)
The Lord will show me mercy. He has seen my pain and poverty. He sees me; He hears me; He loves me.
"Father, you enlighten all who come into the world. Fill our hearts with the light of your gospel, that our thoughts may please you, and our love be sincere…" (Mass Prayer)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a light to the world. When our hearts are filled with the light of the Gospel like the blind man in John 9: 1-41, our thoughts will be pleasing to God.
Blessed is the man who meditates on the word of God day and night.
"Lord, we offer you these gifts which bring us peace and joy. Increase our reverence by this Eucharist and bring salvation to the world …"
The Eucharist undoubtedly brings us peace and joy. I bear witness to this truth.
Reverence to God and sacred things increase our faith. I have experienced this.
"Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see." (John 9: 7)
Jesus gave back sight to the man born blind. He gave him much more besides. He gave him wisdom and the courage to be a witness to God's marvelous works. So the man became better off than those who were born with sight but in fact are blind spiritually. Every disadvantage is a blessing.
"Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them." (Ephesians 5: 10-11)
Blessed is the man who meditates on the work of God day and night.
The word of God is alive and active. It exposes the fruitless works of darkness. It shows the fine lines between truth and falsehood.
The Power of the Cross:
Accept God's will
Accept your cross
Obtain your crown
Accept your thorns
Receive your triumph
This is the power of the cross.
"I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face id did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame." (Isaiah 50: 6-7)
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul." (Psalm 23: 1-2)
I know for certain that the Lord is my Shepherd. He provides me everything I need:
He provides me what I need every day as and when I need them. He who is faithful in little things will be faithful in bigger things. My Shepherd will provide me with my ministry.
"in verdant pastures, he gives me repose." I have seen the verdant pastures as the field of my ministry. "Cast your net to the right of the boat." I cast as Christ bid me and the haul of fish was so large; yet the net was not broken because it was miraculously sustained. I pray for a ministry that will stretch my resources without breaking me.
"God our Father, your Word, Jesus Christ, spoke peace to a sinful world and brought mankind the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death he endured. Teach us, the people who bear his name to follow the example he gave us: may our faith, hope and charity turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, death to eternal life …" (Mass Opening Prayer)
Christ's message is peace to the soul; it is peace in the family. It is peace between men. It is peace to the world.
The Church opposes every kind of violence.
Christ reconciled us to His Father by His suffering and death. The power of the cross.
Teach us Father to use our faith, hope and charity to turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, death to eternal life. The power of the cross.
Believe and keep believing; hope and keep and keep hoping; love and keep loving until you turn hatred into love. Do not believe, hope and love for one day and expect the result the next day.
"Israel, come back to Yahweh your God. Your guilt was the cause of your downfall. Provide yourselves with words and come back to Yahweh. Say to him, take all guilt away and give us what is good, instead of bulls we will dedicate to you our lips." (Hosea 14: 2-3)
Sin causes one's downfall.
Only God can deliver us from our sins.
"A sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me."
"Merciful Father, fill our hearts with your love and keep us faithful to the gospel of Christ. Give us the grace to rise above our human weakness…." (Mass Prayer in Lent)
Our God is a merciful Father. We pray that He fills our hearts with the perfect love that drive out fear. At the Transfiguration, the Father urged us to listen to Jesus Christ. We ask here for the grace to be faithful to His gospel. Every action and every word of Jesus is part of His Gospel. But the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ is found in the Sermon on the Mount.
Finally in this prayer, we ask the merciful Father to give us the grace to rise above our human weakness. What are some of these human weaknesses?
St. John summarizes this beautifully in 1 John 2:16 –
"Lord, there is no god to compare with you; you are great and do wonderful things, you are the only God." (Psalm 86: 8, 10)
What god can be compared with our God?
These gods may have mouth but they do not speak. They may have ears but do not hear. They are powerless to save. Those who worship these gods bring much sorrow on themselves. These tiny gods are experts in taking advantage of their devotees. But our God saves. He provides all our needs in due season.
"Lord, take away our sinfulness and be pleased with our offerings. Help us to pursue the true gifts you promise and not become lost in false joys…." (Mass Prayer in Lent)
Take away our sinfulness = Take away our sinful tendencies
True gifts = Genuine gifts
The gifts that God promises are true and genuine. Some of them are:
"So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own home, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than himself attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil." (Luke 11: 21-22)
Satan is the strong man. Christ is the stronger man. Thank you Jesus for your word and your strength. I delight in your strength.
Jesus is stronger than Satan.
Satan guards his possession. When Jesus comes, He attacks, defeats Satan and frees the prisoner. He takes away all Satan's weapons and shares out his spoil.
"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works." (Psalm 95: 8-9)
Meribah and Massah are type and shadow of the desert; the place for testing and refining our character. It is God who tests the hearts and minds of men. Do not reverse the role and test God. I have often wondered why God allowed His people to almost die of thirst in the hot and inhospitable desert and got to the point of rebellion before providing them that basic and vital necessity of life.
This morning, the Gospel reading was the story of the Prodigal Son. At the end of the homily, the priest asked us a question: "Why did it take the Father of the Prodigal so long to communicate to his elder son that he appreciated him?" As I reflected on the question, I remembered the incident at Meribah and Massah. I saw a parallel in the two incidents. Scripture teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight. The disgruntled Israelites in Meribah and Massah were also required to walk by faith and not by sight. God saved them from slavery in Egypt. God provided and protected them every step of their journey till Meribah and Massah. Why did they think He would abandon them at this point?
Similarly, the elder son of the Father lived in the comfort of his Father's house where he enjoyed every prerogative and privilege. Why did he judge his Father's love and affection for him by the gift of a mere small lamb? To paraphrase his thought, "My Father did not give me a small lamb to feast with my friends. Therefore he does not love me."
It is God who tests the hearts and minds of men. Do not reverse the role and test God. Do not complain; do not criticize; do not condemn.
"My one command to them was this: Listen to my voice, then I will be your God and you shall be my people. In everything follow the way that I mark out for you, and you shall prosper." (Jeremiah 7: 23)
Father, I will obey. I will listen to your voice. In everything Daddy, I will follow the way you have marked out for me. Help me with your grace in my weakness dearest Father. Sustain me with your strength. Be always my God and my Father. Prosper the work of my hands. Grant me your prosperity and blessing in everything. Make me a blessing to others.
"Follow the way that I mark out for you."
Christ is the way, the truth and the life.
The 7-Way Plan
"Father, help us to be ready to celebrate the great Paschal Mystery. Make our love grow each day as we approach the feast of our salvation …. " (Mass Prayer in Lent)
We ask God to help us to be ready for Easter. How does God prepare us to celebrate the great Paschal Mystery? He encourages us to pray more, to fast more and give more alms to the needy. When we respond to His word, He blesses us with greater Easter joy and peace.
"I am the Savior of all people says the Lord. Whatever their troubles, I will answer their cry, and I will always be their Lord." (Mass Prayer)
Whatever their troubles:
God answered me when I cried to him to save me from the above troubles one time or the other in my life. He was indeed my Savior. He is always my Lord. Today, I am crying to Him to let me experience His perfect love that drives out fear. I promise Him that when He answers my prayer, I will ask for a powerful ministry to help my neighbors to experience this powerful and perfect love too. I know whom I trust. I know that at the right time He will answer this prayer as He had done in the past.
Praise, honor and glory to You, eternal Father.
"In truth, I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved." (Matthew 5: 18)
All God's purposes are to be accomplished through the law.
The law is sacrosanct.
The law is alive and active.
The law tends towards its fulfillment. (Habakkuk 2: 2-4)
The law, the word of God cannot be returned to God without accomplishing its purpose.
"And now, Israel, listen to the laws and customs which I am teaching you today, so that, by observing them, you may survive to enter and take possession of the country which Yahweh, God of your ancestors is giving you." (Deuteronomy 4:1)
We are pilgrims on earth. We journey towards our permanent homeland. God's laws and customs are the road map and the signs on this great journey.
"Lord, during this Lenten season nourish us with your word of life and make us one in love and prayer ….." (Mass Prayer in Lent)
God nourishes us with His word especially in Lent. The selection of readings is excellent, designed to excite faith and conversion. Note how the Holy Spirit guides the Church in the planning of the Liturgy. The Church urges the faithful to attend daily Mass during Lent so that they could be nourished with the rich scriptures of this joyful season.
"Lord, direct my steps as you have promised, and let no evil hold me in its power." (Psalm 119: 133)
Where God has promised to lead and guide me:
Step by step guidance
Moment by moment protection from evil
Thank you Father.
"Then Peter went up to him and said, 'Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as 7 times?' Jesus answered "Not seven, I tell you, but 77 times." (Matthew 18: 21-22)
If we forgive our debtors, God will forgive us our sins and answer all our prayers. Lord, teach me to forgive completely.
"Do not abandon us to shame but treat us in accordance with your gentleness, in accordance with the greatness of your mercy." (Daniel 3: 42)
God is supremely gentle and merciful.
"And now we put our whole heart into following you, into fearing you and seeking your face once more. " (Daniel 3: 41)
Lent is the time to put our whole heart into following God through:
In Lent, we demonstrate a greater keenness in observing the commandments.
"Lord, you call us to your service and continue your saving work among us. May your love never abandon us….." (Mass Opening Prayer)
It is the Father who called me to serve Christ Jesus.
Father, bring what you have initiated to a successful conclusion. Grant success to the Enterprise.
"I call upon you, God, for you will answer me; bend your ear and hear my prayer. Guard me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shade of your wings." (Psalm 17: 6,8)
Answer to prayer is certain.
Guard me as the apple of your eye: step by step guidance; moment by moment protection from all harms. Preserve me from every assault of the devil. Hide me in the shade of your wings.
If we open the eyes of our spirit, we see that we are engaged in continuous spiritual warfare. We need God's constant help in order to fight and keep standing. God promises us His guidance and protection. Faith gives us access to these promises.
"I hope in the Lord; I trust in his word; with him there is mercy and plenty of redemption." (Psalm 130: 5,7)
Yes, I trust in God's promise. I hope in the Lord. I wait on the Lord. Hope does not disappoint because it is built on faith in God's word. God honors his name and word/promise above all things.
Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
"And in the Prophet Elisha's time there were many suffering from virulent skin-diseases in Israel, but none of these were cured – only Naaman the Syrian." (Luke 4: 27)
The story of Naaman the leper is one of my favorites in the Old Testament. I gleaned a number of lessons from it. Some of the lessons are:
God's sovereignty is shown in His reaching outside Israel to show His mercy and power. I see also the loving providence of God in planting the Israelite slave girl in the household of Naaman. Naaman's servants persuaded him to act as Elisha the Prophet had instructed him to do. That is, to plunge seven times into the River Jordan. In the act of the servants, I perceive elements of sincere and loving evangelization. How this contrasts from what we see today where the servants might have said: "it is not our business to convince him. He is old enough to know what he wants. We do not want to appear intolerant or coercive. He is a free man; he should decide for himself.' Finally, I see the act of plunging into the water as a type and shadow of the Sacrament, especially Baptism. The Sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace that affects what it signifies. It is a small material sign that affects mighty works. The simple act of plunging into the River Jordan brought Naaman the healing that no other means was able to give him.
God favors those who trust in His ways.
"Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? All the more reason then, when he says to you, 'Bathe, and you will become clean." (2 Kings 5:13)
A Sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace, affecting what it signifies.
A sacramental can be described as a sacramentette, an external agent delivering the effects they promise.
Faith gives us the promise of God's peace, provision, protection, power, purpose and pardon. Faith also gives us the full effects promised by the Sacraments and sacramental.
Naaman's servants encouraged Naaman to have faith by their words.
God is pure spirit. He has left man some conditions and material agents through which we unleash his power on our behalf. Some of these are:
"The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, 'Set out at noon and go along the road that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road." (Acts 8: 26)
The Holy Spirit is the power behind the missionary activity of the Church. He is the main principle of apostolic productivity and fruitfulness.
Spirit and Mission
Spirit and Evangelization
"Father, you gave St. John of God love and compassion for others. Grant hat by doing good for others we may be counted among the saints in your Kingdom …." (Opening Prayer in the Mass of St. John of God)
St. John of God is one of my patron saints. He is my patron saint for book/pamphlet distribution ministry. St. John of God after his conversion spent his life doing good for others in book distribution and tending the sick.
"Jesus answered and said to her, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in heaven a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4: 13-14)
The water that Jesus gives is the Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for this incomparable gift. Grant me the grace to be totally open to the Holy Spirit during this coming Lent.
" 1 On that day, you will say: I give you thanks, O LORD; though you have been angry with me, your anger has abated, and you have consoled me.
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 you will draw water at the fountain of salvation,
and say on that day: Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!" (Isaiah 12)
"And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans5: 5)
The Navarre Bible Commentary has the following commentary on the above text:
"The love which St. Paul speaks of here, at one and the same time, God's love for us – manifested in his sending the Holy Spirit – and the love which God places in our soul to enable us to love him. The Second Council of Orange, quoting St. Augustine, explains this as follows: "To love God is entirely a gift of God. He, without being loved, loves us and enabled us to love him. We were loved when we were still displeasing to him, so that we might be given something whereby we might please him. So it is that the Spirit of the Father and the Son, whom we love with the Father and the Son, pours charity into our hearts"
"Oh that today you would hear his voice: 'Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works." (Psalm 95: 8-9)
Meribah and Massah are types and shadows of testing ground in the desert. Some spots in the desert are harsher than others. In your desert, transition experience, watch out for the Meribah and the Massah. No matter how tough the situation, listen to what God is saying to you. Harden not your heart.
"In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, 'Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?' ….'Is the Lord in our midst or not?'" (Exodus 17: 3-7)
Why did the Lord allow the people to be very thirsty without providing them water? God was testing them. The desert experience was essentially a period of training and testing for the people. But at Massah and Meribah, the people turned the table and tested God. If God was genuinely with them, he would surely have provided them with water. We too tend to equate God's presence in our lives with his gifts. If I have everything I need here and now, it means that God is with me. But when I experience delays, disappointments and obstacles, I ask: "Is the Lord with me or not?" The message of Exodus 17: 3-7 is that God is always with his people in thick or thin.
"God of all compassion, Father of all goodness, to heal the wounds our sins and selfishness bring upon us, you bid us turn to fasting, prayer and sharing with our brothers. We acknowledge our sinfulness, our guilt is ever before us; when our weakness causes discouragement, let your compassion fill us with hope and lead us thru a Lent of repentance to the beauty of Easter Joy." (Mass Prayer in Lent)
The Church always sees God as Father of all goodness and God of compassion. Whenever I read of God's infinite mercy and goodness, it brings joy to my heart. At a time of great challenges, these perennial and healing truths are refuge and stronghold for me. Today is one such occasion. I am in great need to know intimately God's perfect love for me. Scripture says that "Perfect love drives out fear." I want God's perfect love for me to drive out the fear I feel on a project.
The above prayer promises that God heals the wounds that our sins and selfishness bring upon us by bidding us turn to fasting, prayer and sharing our resources with our brothers. Lent is a favorable time for doing this. During this holy period of self-denial, we are guaranteed that our prayers will be heard. Finally, we are told that God does not want us to be discouraged by our weaknesses. Lent is a good time.
"Father, you have taught us to overcome our sins by prayer, fasting and works of mercy. When we are discouraged by our weakness, give us confidence in your love ….." (Mass Opening Prayer in Lent)
Lex orandi, lex credendi. We believe that we can overcome our sins by prayer, fasting and good works of mercy. Lord, teach me the truth of this.
"I will prove my holiness through you …. I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins. I will give you a new spirit within you, says the Lord." (Ezekiel 36: 23-26)
This is a great promise. Let it be done to me, Father, according to your word.
Through Baptism, God poured clean water over us and washed away our sins. Through the sacrament of Reconciliation, he continues to maintain us free from sin and the attachment to sin. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is like a house-cleaning agent.
God's promise to give us a new spirit was first fulfilled at Pentecost and then at our Confirmation.
"But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15: 32)
God our Father is a merciful, compassionate, long-suffering, faithful, omnipotent and great God who desires the lost to be found and the dead to sin to come to life of grace.
