Prepare for Action

"As for you, prepare yourself for action." (Jeremiah 1: 17)

Preparing for action:

That the man of God may be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3: 17)

The equipping of saints for service (Ephesians 4: 12)

Be dressed in readiness with your lamps burning (Luke 12: 35)

Be ready in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2)

Be ready, for he is coming when you least expect (Matthew 24:44)

Be ready (Luke 12: 40)

I am ready to go to prison and death (Luke 22: 33)

I am ready to die for the Lord Jesus (Acts 21: 13)

 

Gird up your loins like a man (Job 38: 3; 40:7)

Gird up your loins (2 Kings 4: 29; 9:1)

Gird up your loins and speak to them (Jeremiah 1: 17)

Gird up your minds (1 Peter 1: 13)

Feet shod with preparation for the gospel (Ephesians 6: 15)

(Roget's Thesaurus of the Bible)

The Open Door

"On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the gentiles." (Acts 14: 27)

Apostolic work is God's work. God opens the door.

"I have opened a door before you which no man will be able to close." (Revelation 3:8)

God opened the door for Paul and Barnabas to evangelize the gentiles. The door opened by God will remain open come what may.

Sure Hope

"Father, you restored your people to eternal life by raising Christ your Son from death. Make our faith strong and our hope sure. May we never doubt that you will fulfill the promises you have made…" (Prayer at Mass)

When man fell from grace and lost eternal life, God restored it to us through Jesus Christ.

We ask the Father to strengthen our faith in His word. Father, give us also sure hope.

When the Father asked me to wait on 122108, I have sure hope that I am waiting for something. May I never doubt that God will fulfill the promises made to me.

What are the causes of doubt?

• Experience of past hopes that were deferred
  
• Negative testimonies of others about unfilled hopes
  
• Listening to man instead of to God
  

What is the remedy to the problems of doubt?

• Realizing that everyman is unique and irrepeatable.
  
• Every experience is unique and irrepeatable.
  
• Which merits more credence? Word of God or word of man?

St. Philip and St. James

"Father, by the holy gifts we have received, free our minds and hearts from sin. With the apostles Philip and James, may we see you in your Son and be found worthy to have eternal life…." (Mass on the feast of Apostles Saints Philip and James)

Although we strive for holiness, we still struggle against sins. Hence the prayer to the Father to free our minds and hearts from sin.

The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sins.

"May we see you in your Son…." May we see your goodness, mercy, compassion, long-suffering, gentleness and all your attributes in your Son, Jesus.

Let us see the Father

"Lord, let us see the Father, and we shall be content. And Jesus said: Philip, he who sees me, sees the Father." (John 14: 8,9)

Jesus is the image of the invisible Father. He shares all the attributes of the Father:

• Omnipotence
  
• Omniscience
  
• Omnipresence
  
• Faithfulness
  
• Mercifulness
  
• Compassion
  
• Love
  
• Purity
  
• Long-suffering, etc
  

God is spirit. When you see the attributes of Jesus at work, you see those of the Father. When you hear the words of Jesus, you hear those of the Father.

Asking in the Name of Jesus

"Whatever you ask in my name I will do, 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)

Reading my journal entry on the above scripture of ten years ago, I am amazed to see a dramatic change in the things I ask for today. In 1999, I asked for a place, financial security, a job and protection from evil. Today, I still have all these needs. But what I ask for is different. It is also short-term. At the beginning of everyday, I ask for inspiration and power that I need to meet the blessings and challenges of the day. I can date this shift from preoccupation from daily bread to spiritual bread to the third quarter of 2004 after the Men's ACTS Retreat in Dickinson. I learned from that retreat to live one day at a time. I hope that lesson is irreversible. That lesson has brought much happiness and stability to my life.

Jesus Christ answers our prayers in His name. He answers them in the fullness of His wisdom and love.

 

Times and Seasons 2

"All times and seasons obey your laws." (Eucharistic Prayer)

All Times:

• Beginning and end
  
• Alpha and omega
  
• East and West
  
• North and South
  

All Seasons:

• Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn
  
• Day and Night
  
• Health and Sickness
  
• Riches and Poverty
  
• Light and Darkness
  

God governs the world through laws: natural laws as well as supernatural laws.

Because all times and seasons obey God, we see how "all things work together for good to those who love God." (Romans 8: 28). Because "all things serve you" (Psalm 119:91), we see how ordinary and extraordinary providence work together for good for God's children.

The Essence

"Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried; and that on the third day, he was raised to life, in accordance with the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:4)

Christ's death on the cross was not an accident. It was ordained from eternity that Christ was to die for our sins.

The core of the apostolic preaching was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This message has a saving value. How are we saved by this message? What is the implication of this truth for our live today?

Avoid sin. Live for Christ.

The Vine

"I am the vine and you are the branches, says the Lord; he who lives in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit." (John 15: 5)

Principle of productivity: Live in Christ.

We live in Christ through the Sacrament, particularly the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a holy exchange of gift. Through it, God shares with us His divine life. Another word for God's divine life in us is sanctifying grace.

We also live in Christ through his words. "If you remain in my word, you will know the truth and the truth will make you free."

Worry is useless

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling place." (John 14: 1)

Do not be troubled over the 7-War zones. Worry is useless. All that is necessary is trust.

Life-Changing Truth

The two scriptures which were read at Mass today as first reading and responsorial Psalm drastically changed my perspective during my Desert Experience. I came to understand through this 12^th chapter of Hebrews that in God's pedagogy, discipline equals training; trials equals discipline. I now understand more clearly the message of Father Jean-Pierre Caussade, S.J. in Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence. While God uses carrots in His training, sticks form the bedrock or meat of his curriculum. Very much like in the classroom: the tough homework shows the difference between a good student and a mediocre one.

Hebrews 12: 4-7, 11-15

 

4

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

5

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;

6

for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges."

7

Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?

They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.

11

At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

12

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.

13

Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.

14

Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

15

³ See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled,

 

Psalm 103: 1-2, 13-14, 17-18

 

¹ Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name!

2

Bless the LORD, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God,

13

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on the faithful.

14

For he knows how we are formed, remembers that we are dust.

17

But the LORD'S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age. He favors the children's children

18

of those who keep his covenant, who take care to fulfill its precepts.

 

02/04/09

Living Stones

"Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2: 5)

We are living stones in the house of God.

QOP is a type and shadow of God building me into a spiritual house. How is God building me up?

The Seven-Way Plan

Who in the Lord 2

"See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them inspite of famine." (Psalm 33: 18-19)

God shows mercy on those:

• Who fear Him
  
• Who trust Him
  
• Who hope for His kindness, that is, expect to receive His mercy
  

"Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you."

The Right Order

"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table….We shall devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word." (Acts 6: 2, 4)

A very important principle is established here.

First things first:

• Prayer
  
• Ministry of the word
  

In the life of the apostle, there must be priorities. The most important things must be done first and the lesser things left to others or not done at all. Whatever is the ministry, priority must always be given to prayer the word of God.

Fountain of Mercy

"Lord God, fountain of all mercy, look upon our gifts on this feast of St. Joseph. Let our sacrifice become the protection of all who call on you…." (Offertory Prayer on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker)

God our Father is the fountain of all mercy. O that I would remember this at the moment of need.

The gifts we bring up to the altar, bread and wine, fruits of our labor represent our sacrifice. We join this with the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ and ask the Father and fountain of all mercy for our protection from evil and all who call upon Him.

Staying in the word

"If you stay in my word, you will indeed be my disciples, and you will know the truth." (John 8: 31)

The truth here is a person, Jesus Christ Himself. Essential to knowing Him is a relationship that develops through daily communion with His word.

St. Jerome says: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Jesus Christ."

Jerusalem and the Church

1

¹ A psalm of the Korahites. A song. The LORD loves the city founded on holy mountains,

2

² Loves the gates of Zion more than any dwelling in Jacob.

3

Glorious things are said of you, O city of God! Selah

4

From Babylon and Egypt I count those who acknowledge the LORD. Philistia, Ethiopia, Tyre, of them it can be said: "This one was born there."

5

³ But of Zion it must be said: "They all were born here." The Most High confirms this;

6

the Lord notes in the register of the peoples: "This one was born here." Selah

7

So all sing in their festive dance: "Within you is my true home."

 

Psalm-Prayer:

Lord God, your only Son wept over ancient Jerusalem, soon to be destroyed for its lack of faith. He established the new Jerusalem firmly upon rock and made it the mother of the faithful. Make us rejoice in your Church, and grant that all people may be reborn into the freedom of your Spirit. (Lectio Divina 01/29/09)

The Carpenter’s Son

"This is the carpenter's son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude?" (Matthew 13: 55)

The people of Nazareth where Jesus grew up saw Him only as the carpenter's son and the son of Mary. But things are not always what they seem. His words and miracles are opportunities for them to probe deeper into the person of Jesus. They did not. Their minds were closed.

Be fruitful

"Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1: 28)

"Be fruitful" means be productive.

The Holy Spirit is the principle and source of fruitfulness. The Holy Spirit helps us abide in Christ as the branch abides in the tree.

St. Joseph the Worker

"God our Father, creator and ruler of the universe, in every age you call man to develop and use his gifts for the good of others. With Joseph as our example and guide, help us to do the work you have asked and come to the rewards you have promised….." (Prayer on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker May 1^st)

Help me to develop my talents, Lord. Lead and guide me to work you have called me to do.

St. Joseph pray for me.