The just man fears no bad news

"The heart of the just man is secure trusting in the Lord…… An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm trusting in the Lord." (Psalm 112:7)

Who is the just man? The man whose righteousness comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christ in us is our hope of glory.

About ten years, I confided the reflection below on Psalm 112: 7 to my diary:

The just man fears no bad news. When RD told me six weeks ago that he had bad news for me about casa, my heart did not fear. I trusted in the Lord to deliver me. And He did.

Our faith is supported by reason which in this case is evidence of experience. I have reason or experience to believe that God will deliver me from any crisis if I trust Him.

The Cross

"The message of the cross is folly for those who are on the way to ruin, but for those of us who are on the road to salvation it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1: 18)

God's folly is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1: 25)

The message of the cross comes to us through God's providential designs for our lives every day. The cross and all it represents is God's wisdom. Trust in it completely.

St. Justin Martyr

"Father, through the folly of the cross you taught St. Justin the sublime wisdom of Jesus Christ. May we too reject falsehood and remain loyal to the faith…" (Mass Prayer on the feast of St. Justin Martyr)

St. Paul writing to the Corinthians on the paradox of the cross says: "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:17-18)

The cause of Christ is served more through faith and prayer than any other means. "I promise to be your strength in proportion to the trust you place on me."

The Fables of the Wicked

"The wicked tempted me with their fables against your law, but I proclaimed your decrees before kings without fear or shame." (Psalm 119: 85, 46)

What are some of the fables of the wicked?

• Quick prosperity schemes
  
• Eternal youth drugs
  
• Peace and happiness without responsibility
  
• Money can buy anything
  

How does one stand his ground against such fables?

• By asking for the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit everyday
  
• By reading and meditating on the word of God day and night
  
• By prayer
  

 

Miracle of faith

"Lord, let the Church praise you for the great things you have done for your people. May we always recognize with joy the presence of Christ in the Eucharist we celebrate, as John the Baptist hailed the presence of our Savior in the womb of Mary…" (Mass Prayer on the feast of Visitation)

In this prayer, the Church recognizes the miracle of the recognition of Jesus still in the womb of Mary by John the Baptist who was in the womb of Elizabeth, the mother. Jesus Christ is truly present to us in every Eucharist. How do we recognize Him in the Eucharist? We recognize Him through the miracle of faith. Through faith, we see more than the physical eye is able to see. Faith enables us to see with the eye of the spirit.

Firm Belief

"Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, for your firm believing, that the promises of the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1: 45, Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

The angel of the Lord declared to Mary that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God. Although, eye had never seen nor ear heard of such a thing, Mary believed firmly in God's promise. She knew that He who made the promise is faithful. It became done unto her according to her belief.

How do I emulate Mary's firm belief? What are God's promises to me here and now?

• The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23)
  
• If God is with me, who can be against me? (Romans 8: 31)
  
• God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. (Isaiah 12: 2-3)
  
• Yahweh will do the fighting for me. (Exodus 14: 14)
  
• "Fear is useless; what is needed is trust." (Luke 8:50)
  

Isaiah says that faith that is firm is also patient. Like Mary I believe that God who made the above promises is faithful. He is not a man to lie nor is His hand too short to perform. God accomplishes whatever He wills come what may.

Fountain of Salvation

"God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation …." (Isaiah 12: 2-3)

What is the fountain of salvation?

It is the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, Christ Jesus speaks to us through His word. We answer Him through our prayers. Then He offers us His flesh and His blood as food and drink.

The Church teaches that the Eucharist is the source, the center and the summit of our Christian life.

Emmanuel 2

"Yahweh your God is there with you, the warrior-savior. He will rejoice over you with happy song, as on a day of festival. I have taken away your misfortune, no longer need you bear the disgrace of it." (Zephaniah 3: 17)

This is a happy prophecy. I rejoice whenever I see the promise of "God is with you." I respond: "If God is with me, then it is accomplished." All is well if God is with me; all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.

In the Old Testament, one of the greatest blessings comes from the promise "God is with you." The incarnation of this promise is the very person of Jesus Christ, who is Emmanuel, "God with us." Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the one who stands at the door and knocks. He has promised to be with anybody who opens the door for Him and welcomes Him into His house.

Lord Jesus, come in! The house is yours!

The Holy Spirit and Inspiration

"Father, you inspired the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your Son to visit Elizabeth and assist her in her need. Keep us open to the working of your Spirit, and with Mary may we praise you forever…." (Mass Prayer)

The Holy Spirit inspired Mary to visit Elizabeth. God is the source of all inspiration and power.

How would you feel if the Holy Spirit were to inspire you today on what to do on your job and give you the courage to do it? You will succeed in everything you do today. The one thing I need, the one thing I pray for with tenacity is for inspiration and power. The best things I have done in my life have all come through inspirations.

Father, keep me open to the working of your Holy Spirit and grant that I may praise you forever with Mary.

Great things the Lord has done for me

"Come, all you who fear God, and hear the great things the Lord has done for me." (Psalm 66: 16)

What great things has the Lord done for me recently?

• The Eucharist
  
• Study of His word
  
• Two clients who renewed their annual contract
  

When I meet the Lord in prayer every Monday morning, I review the blessings of the past week. One constant blessing I thank Him week after week is the blessing of enjoying the weekend particularly Sunday. Sunday has become my favorite day of the week. I enjoy the full Sabbath rest. I have come to realize the wisdom and love of God in granting us the Sabbath rest. The Sabbath rest is for me a time of physical, mental and spiritual renewal. It is amazing how much inspiration I receive for my job on Sundays. The mind is relaxed and the strength of the mind seems to come to full power when it is relaxed and under no pressure of time and space.

The Egyptians

"Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still." (Exodus 14: 13-14)

About fifteen years ago, I was in deep crisis with regard to my job and my future. I was in a hotel room and I could not sleep. I took up the Bible on the night stand, flipped it open and it fell on the above passage. I read it and was gripped by the message. I saw clearly my dire circumstances as the "Egyptians." I believed what I read. The "Egyptians" could be overcome with the help of God. I prayed and my conviction increased that God could help me to overcome the Egyptians. The critical moment of test arrived and God helped me to overcome the "Egyptians."

Since then, I had learned that prayer is the efficient cause for answer to our needs. I have also learned what faith means. It is the conviction that what God says is true. And growth in faith? It is the deepening of the conviction through experience that as God had acted previously in a crisis, He could act similarly in the present emergency.

Prayer is the efficient cause of answer

"Lord God, we worship you, a Trinity of Persons, one eternal God. May our faith and the sacrament we receive bring us health of mind and body." (Mass Prayer)

Faith is the efficient cause of access to God's promises of:

• Peace
  
• Provision
  
• Protection
  
• Power
  
• Purpose
  
• Pardon
  

This is because God is the first cause of all things. Prayer is the efficient cause of answer which comes in form of the above blessings. Prayer and answer form a loop in the divine plan of communication. When you prayer, expect an answer. I am often irked that some people send me an email without checking back for the reply. What do they expect? No reply?

Abba Father

"As a proof that you are children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (Galatians 4:6)

As often as I am able to cry out from heart, "Abba, Father" I am reassured of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I should remember this each time I say the Lord's Prayer. Jesus Christ taught us to pray confidently to the Father. The Holy Spirit helps us to do so.

Believe in Jesus

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 3: 16)

Thank you Father.

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

To believe in Jesus means to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him.

Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you." (2 Corinthians 13: 13)

Amen!

If the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is with me today, then everything will be fine.

"Perfect love drives out fear." With the perfect love of God for me on my mind, I will fear nothing.

Self-revelation

"Thus the Lord passed before him and cried out, 'The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." (Exodus 34: 6)

God's self-revelation:

• A merciful and gracious God
  
• Slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity
  

How reassuring! How comforting! I find my strength today in your self-definition, O God.

Holy Trinity

"God, we praise you: Father all-powerful, Christ Lord and Savior, Spirit of love. You reveal yourself in the depths of our being, drawing us to share in your life and your love. One God, three Persons, be near to the people formed in your image, close to the world your love brings to life….." (Opening Prayer on Holy Trinity Sunday)

God reveals Himself in the depths of our being. God draws us to share in His life and His love.

Gospel Truths

"Father, you sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us to worship you, one God in three Persons, by proclaiming and living our faith in you …." (Prayer in Mass)

Jesus Christ, the Word of God brought us the truth about God. The Holy Spirit makes us holy through the sacraments and the word of God.

The mystery of God's life could not be known without the gospel truths revealed by Christ. We worship God by proclaiming and living our faith in Him.

The Reason for the Choice

"I have chosen you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last." (John 15: 16)

The choice, the call and the anointing.

God's choice of Israel is a mystery. God choice of everyone of us also a mystery. But the reason for the choice is not mysterious: to go and bear fruit that will last.

In order to achieve this purpose, there are two steps that must be taken:

First, to be with Jesus.

Then, to be like Jesus.

Being precedes doing.

Help me to believe

"I tell you, therefore, everything you ask and pray for, believe that you have it already, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)

What do I pray for today?

• Inspiration and power
  
• Blessing and prosperity for the work of my hands
  
• Protection from all evil and all anxiety
  

Jesus promises that if I believe they are mine already, they are mine. Lord, help me to believe.