The Almighty has done great things for me.

"Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.”  (Genesis 18: 14).

"And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;  for nothing will be impossible for God.”  (Luke 1: 36 - 37).

The Almighty has done great things for Sarah and Mary.  In every generation, God shows His mercy on those who revere and worship Him.

Thank you Abba Father for Your mercies and faithfulness.

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Yes I want to heal you. Be healed.

“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”  He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately." (Matthew 8: 2 - 3).

Notice here one of the key conditions for answered prayer in the Gospel. The supplicant [the leper in this case] approaches Jesus with humility, kneels and worships Him and then asks for the favor with faith. “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

Jesus' response was breathtaking. He could have said:  Ya, be healed. But  "He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately." (Matthew 8: 2 - 3).

Lord Jesus, grant us the faith that trust You in all our needs. Help us to approach You with humility knowing that you are Lord and God. We ask for this in Your Name Jesus. Amen.

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You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

June 29th, today, is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. This feast is of ancient origin. It is a public holiday in some countries.  Why honor Saints Peter and Paul with a Solemnity? Because the most important accomplishment of Jesus Christ in His mission on earth is the CHURCH! The Church is the Sacrament and Instrument of Salvation.   Scripture teaches that the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. (Cf Ephesians 2: 20). Peter and Paul are joint managing directors of the institution, (Church) in a manner of speaking.

"You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it."  (Matthew 16: 18)

Peter was made the head of the Church by Jesus Christ Himself.  At the same time, he was given the power of the keys.  (Matthew 16: 13-19)

"Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin.  For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ."  (Galatians 1: 11 - 12).

We may call Paul the 13th Apostle, even a super Apostle.

"O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul
give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son."  (Collect on the Solemnity of SS Peter and Paul).

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When you remain in Me and I remain in you, you bear much fruit.

"Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit."  (John 15: 14, 15 RM).

Jesus speaks constantly of bearing fruits: much fruits, abundant fruits, fruits that will last.
How do we bear rich and abiding fruits? The 2 people in the Bible who bore such fruits are Abraham and Mary.

What they did: "Abram put his faith in the Lord, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness."  (Genesis 15: 6).

"Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." (Luke 1: 38).

Fruitfulness is not addiction to activity.  It is believing God. It is knowing the will of God for you and doing it. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. He will accomplish the work.

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The Broadway leads to destruction.

"But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it."  (Matthew 7: 14 CEV).

What is the Narrow Way?
It the way of daily communion with God in Prayer and His Word.  It is the path of daily faithfulness to Jesus in everything.  The reward even in this life is huge:
Peace, assurance of mercy and pardon, a strong sense of your purpose in life.  You enjoy the presence of Jesus day and night. It is a taste of the goodness of God in lavish provision of what you need and step by step direction and moment to moment provisions.

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."  (Matthew 7: 13 - 14 MSG).

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God provides all our necessities.

"The eyes of all look to you, Lord,
and you give them their food in due season."  (Psalm 145: 15).

From the window of my bedroom, I often watch birds and squirrels feeding side by side on the grass in the yard.  The Scripture teaches that even the powerful young lion depends on God for its food. Amazing! You should have thought that since it is young and so powerful, catching its prey is no challenge.  (Psalm 104: 21). It is analogous to thinking that a young bright Ivy league MBA will have no problem getting whatever he wants. Not so, says Holy Scriptures.
"The eyes of all look to you, Lord,
and you give them their food in due season."  (Psalm 145: 15).

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths."  (Proverbs 3: 5-6).

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Jesus said to them: Fear no one.

"Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one."  (Matthew 10: 26 RM).

Who are you afraid of? Children fear strangers and anyone whom they do not know. Consider these three persons who feared no one: Jesus, John the Baptist and Paul. They told truth to power.  The reason why they feared no one is because they were conscious at all times of the presence of God with them.

God is with us. It is true. God is really with us. You need to practice the presence of God with you and before long, it becomes a habit. What peace and joy will be yours.

"Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."  (Isaiah 41: 10).

No fear. No worry. No doubt. 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧

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June 23rd: The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

June 23rd, 2017:  The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
How do you plan to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus today?

The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

2. I will give peace in their families.

3. I will console them in all their troubles.

4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.

5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.

9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored.

10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.

11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.

12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

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Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust You. We love You. Have mercy on us and the whole world.

The Church celebrates this Friday the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

"The designs of his Heart are from age to age, to rescue their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine."  (Psalm 33: 11, 19).

"One of the soldiers opened his side with a lance, and at once there came forth blood and water."  (John 19: 34).

"Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son
and recall the wonders of his love for us, may be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son."  (Collect in the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus).

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Holy Spirit, teach us how to pray.

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."  (Matthew 6: 8)

"Your will be done, on earth as in heaven." (Matthew 6: 10).

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

"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6: 12)

The above Scripture verses are lifted from Jesus' teaching on Prayer.  Jesus did not teach anywhere that hard work is a necessity. But He taught expressly that Prayer is a vital necessity.  (Cf Luke 18: 1).  Investing time and resources to learn how to pray is perhaps the most rewarding experience.

Abba Father promises to answer our prayers:  "If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”  (Luke 11: 13).

But why are our prayers sometimes not successful?

"You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."  (James 4: 3).

Father, give us Your Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray.

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We give to God from what we receive from Him.

Brethren, consider these truths about giving:
"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountiful.  (2 Corinthians 9: 6)

"Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  (2 Corinthians 9: 7)

"God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work."  (2 Corinthians 9: 8).

"The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9: 10).

"You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God."  (2 Corinthians 9:11).

To summarize,
#1.  We give from what we receive from God.
#2.  We can never outdo God in generosity.
#3.  God knows exactly what you need and when you need it.  So do not be afraid to give until it hurts.

Father, create in us a generous spirit.

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Be perfect according to God's unique design for your perfection.

 "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."  (Matthew 5: 48).

"I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you."   (John 13: 34).

We have above two seemingly impossible commands from our Lord in today's Liturgy.

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."  (Genesis 1: 31).

Everything God is perfect. God created every human person unique and irrepeatable. My own perfection is unique to me. The perfection of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a singular gift for her alone.
With this insight, it is not impossible to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.

"O God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously hear our pleas,
and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing, grant us always the help of your grace, that in following your commands we may please you by our resolve and our deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen."  (Collect:  Tuesday in the 11th Week).

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This is the acceptable time. This is the day of salvation to begin to use your gifts.

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

The grace you need to share the Gospel has already been given to you.  The Scripture above proves the point without doubt.

The question is:  what are you doing with your gifts, with the grace given to you?
Use it or lose it.

Grant us O Lord to follow the example of St Paul and the saints and begin to use our gifts.

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God is training you.

"Remember how for these forty years the Lord, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, so as to test you by affliction, to know what was in your heart: to keep his commandments, or not.  He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger."  (Deuteronomy 8: 2-3 NABRE).

God is training us as His children.

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  (James 1: 2-3).

" You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons:
“My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”  (Hebrews 12: 5 - 6).

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Have you had a heart replacement?

"So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come."  (2 Corinthians 5: 17 NABRE).

Do you feel like a new creation?
There are two creations.  The first is from below, from nature.  The natural woman or man who has not been born again belongs to this group. The second creation is from above, from the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls this man or woman a new creation. What makes this person new? This person has a new heart, a new mind and a totally new outlook on life.  Let us consider the qualities of this new person:

1. Charity
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Generosity
8. Gentleness
9. Faithfulness
10. Modesty
11. Self-control
12. Chastity

O Holy Spirit of Light and Love, may our lives faithfully imitate the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him with the Father and You, Divine Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

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We have this treasure in clay vessel.

"But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves."  (2 Corinthians 4: 7 AMP).

We are chosen, called and qualified by God as messengers of the Gospel not because of our pedigree, education, wealth or any earthly attribute but exactly because of the opposite.  God chose to use the weak in order to protect His glory.

O Lord our God, be always our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer and our saving Strength.  Amen.

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How are you aware of the love of Jesus? A little or great?

"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 5: 20 NABRE).

Are you a minimalist or one who lives Magis in everything. Magis simply means More. It an attitude of the heart and mind that goes for More in everything and never for the least or minimum.  This is a core principle of St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

In Matthew 5: 20, Jesus says that the Minimum will never get you into Heaven.  A Church law states that you must receive Holy Communion "at least" once a year. The minimalist rejoices and says to himself:  "This is great. I can do this."

"Dearest Lord, 
teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will."  (St Ignatius Loyola).

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God Himself chose, called and qualified us. Therefore No fear. No worry. No doubt.

"Our qualification comes from God,  who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3: 5 - 6 NABRE).

By our Baptism, we are chosen, called and qualified as messengers of God's mighty word. "If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8 : 31).

"O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may at your prompting discern what is right, and by your guidance do it.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son."  (Collect: Wednesday, June 14, 10th Week in Ordinary Time).

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Jesus Christ is our Yes and Amen.

"As God is faithful,  our word to you is not “yes” and “no.”  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him." (2 Corinthians 1: 18 - 19 NABRE).

The Scripture teaches that faithfulness is the very essence God.  If you are still a Christian today, it is thanks to this truth. Because of your faithfulness O Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the One Holy, Triune and Undivided Unity, the children whom You redeemed through the precious Blood of Your Son will worship You forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ is our Yes and Amen.
How about us?
"Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one."  (Matthew 5: 37 NLT).

Lord Jesus, help us to shine our lights before others that they may see the good deeds you inspire and glorify Your heavenly Father. Amen.
(Cf Matthew 5: 16).

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Our Father is God of compassion and all encouragement.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."  (2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 5 NABRE).

If you seek consolation in the Scriptures, the above is one of the best.  To reap 100% of the fruit, read the entire gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church today:  2 Corinthians 1: 1 - 7.

Note and understand that in God's grand plan for our salvation, consolation alternates with desolation or suffering.  Do not panic.  Remember this word of encouragement:
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  (Jeremiah 29: 11).

May we always trust and rejoice in Your Divine Providence for us, for it Never Fails. Amen.

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