"Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you." (1 Timothy 4: 16)
Tend to your garden every day. Do everything for the sake of God. Do and say everything as if God is watching you. Persevere in doing good. Salvation comes not by tending you garden one day but through persevering in tending it every day.
"He learned obedience, Son though he was, through his suffering." (Hebrews 5: 7 – 9)
If we unite our sufferings with those of Christ, we too can learn obedience through our sufferings: pains, sickness, poverty, humiliations, delays, disappointments, obstacles or whatever suffering. Christ was perfected through suffering. We too can be perfected through suffering.
"As Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up so that everyone who believes may have eternal life." (John 3: 14 – 15)
Scripture tells us that there is a divine necessity that Christ must be "lifted up", that means, suffering. His cross and death became a grave obstacle to belief for many people. But His cross is the ordained means of salvation. He who believes in Jesus must also believe in His cross. This is the means of salvation. No cross, no crown. No suffering, no salvation. Period!
"Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross." (Philippians 2: 8)
Jesus Christ submitted Himself willingly to suffering on the cross. He triumphed over death and suffering by His willing acceptance of the cross.
On the way to the Promised Land, "the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses." (Numbers 21: 4 – 5)
The Church uses these two scriptures on the feast of the Holy Cross to teach us that without the cross, there can be not crown. The cross is the sign and the means of salvation. Accept the cross.
"On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses. (Numbers 21: 4 – 5)
Why did the people lose patience? They lost patience because the journey had become longer than expected and the perceived suffering more acute. God did not excuse their impatience and punished them for it. He teaches us a lesson in this event. If God is in control, then all is well. No complaint, no criticism, no condemnation will be tolerated.
"But say the word and let my servant be healed." (Luke 7: 7)
The above scripture captures the amazing faith of the Roman centurion. Lord Jesus, I want the same faith. Give me the same faith. The centurion recognizes that Jesus' word is sufficient. O that I can come by such a faith!
"God wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2: 14)
God desires not just the salvation of every human being. He wants every human being to enjoy the full knowledge of the truth.
The Catholic Church is "the pillar and foundation of truth." (1 Timothy 3: 15) The Church possesses in its entirety the whole body of truth necessary for our salvation and for living here and now the victorious life earned for us by Jesus Christ.
"So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart." (Matthew 18: 35)
Lord Jesus, grant us forgiving hearts. Teach us to forgive completely and immediately no matter the injury.
Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." (Romans 14: 8)
What does it mean to live and die for Christ? Jesus Christ becomes the raison d'être of every thought, word or deed. Is this possible? Humanly speaking no but with God all things are possible. St. Paul and other saints reached this level of spiritual development.
"Forgive your neighbors' injustice, then when you pray your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins." (Sirach 28 : 2 – 4)
Forgiveness of the other is one of the keys to answered prayers.
In life, expect to suffer injustice and offences. These could be at times grievous. They can come from family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and strangers. Plan ahead for unconditional forgiveness no matter the injury. Forgiveness of the neighbor is the divine instruction from the above scripture from Sirach. It is also the teaching of Jesus Christ. It is pure divine wisdom.
"Father in heaven, creator of all, look down upon your people in their moments of need, for you alone is the source of our peace. Bring us to the dignity which distinguishes the poor in spirit and show us how great is the call to serve, that we may share in the peace of Christ who offered his life in service of all……" (Liturgical Prayer)
The Church is our mother and teacher. Our prayer life can improve enormously by watching the Church pray and imitating her words. Children learn language by looking at their mother form words and sentences.
The above prayer reminds us that God is the creator of all. All means things visible to us and also those things that are invisible. Technology has revealed the solar system in a way that nobody could have imagined. The same technology gives us an incredible view of life at the bottom of the ocean. Yet all these are less than 1% of creation. How about dominions, principalities and powers created by God which may never be captured by technology? We are certainly proud to call God, Father and Creator of all.
The above prayer also encourages us to call upon God at the moments of need. Jesus taught us to call God, our Father with confidence. We should not hesitate to do so always.
"Give peace, Lord, to those who wait for you and your prophets will proclaim you as you deserve. Hear the prayers of your servant and your people Israel." (Sirach 36: 8)
All good things come from God. We wait on God for the fulfillment of all our desires.
What am I waiting for today? I am waiting for the answer to the question: What is the purpose of my life? I know for sure that in the fullness of time, God will answer me.
Prayer is a mysterious encounter with God; prayer is a reciprocal call; prayer is a covenant drama. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2567)
"I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry." (1 Timothy 1: 12)
Jesus Christ is the source of ministry. He is the one who calls. Before He calls us, He knew very well our resume. He will give us all that we need to succeed.
"Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate." (Luke 6:36)
Compassion and mercy are key attributes of God. Jesus says to us: "Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate." Is it possible for us to be compassionate as God? It is possible if we give compassion in the same measure as we receive it. As we experience the mercy and love of God, we are to give the same for other.
"Always be thankful." (Colossians 3: 15)
Why should I be thankful here and now?
The 7-Wy plan is on course.
"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8: 28)
Great scripture! Great word of knowledge! Tremendous word of comfort!
What are the "all things" working for good for me here and now? My mind thinks immediately of the 6 war zones:
If only I can exercise my faith in the God's word of promise in Romans 8: 28! O that I may hear His voice speaking to me now through Romans 8: 28 and not harden my heart.
"Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm." (Isaiah 7:9) Lord, grant me a faith that is firm, firm enough to believe always that all is well, all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.
"When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them apostles." (Luke 6: 13)
The twelve men chosen by Christ stayed with Him the whole time till His passion and death. They listened to His teaching and saw His miracles. They ate with Him and relaxed with Him. After the resurrection, He instructed the now eleven men to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Before the descent of the Holy Spirit, they elected a man to take the place of Judas. After the Holy Spirit descended on them, they were ready to perform the work of Apostles. They were now sent forth to take the good news to the whole world.
We have the same Holy Spirit as the apostles. Lord Jesus, where do you want to send us today? Grant us a hearing heart and a docile spirit to respond fully to you tofsy.
"So then, as you received Jesus, as Lord and Christ, now live your lives in him, be rooted in him and built up on him, held firm by the faith you have been taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2: 6 – 7)
The essence of Christianity is Christ Himself. The experience of Christianity is Christ in us, the hope of victory. To experience the victorious living that Christ living inside us makes possible, we must live in Him, be rooted in Him and built up on Him by means of prayer, daily reading of the word of God and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. The Eucharist is the Sacrament of holy exchange whereby we live in Christ and Christ lives in us.
"I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1: 6)
God knows the best and has seen the whole pattern of weaving of my life. I trust Him to make a strategic match between my:
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18: 20)
I believe in prayer. I believe in the word of God. I believe in miracle. I leave the rest to God.
I believe in prayer of agreement. I believe in prayer partnership. I believe in the Communion of the saints. I enjoy the support of my prayer partners in my struggles in life.
