How long, O Lord? I cry for help but You do not answer!

“For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time.
It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail.
Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it,
Because it will certainly come; it will not delay."  (Habakkuk 2: 3 AMP)

The above promise from the Prophet Habakkuk should make your heart leap for joy if you are waiting on God for any favors.
You should do well to anticipate delays.  Do not act like Saul, the first king of Israel.  He waited for seven days and quit.  David waited until the Lord came.  Waiting is the normal.  But God promises that no matter how long it takes, your answer will surely come.  It will be punctual.  Not a moment late.

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

"All things serve you."  (Psalm 119 : 91 NIV)

"I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be hindered."  (Job 42: 2 NABRE)

The two scriptures above express the most profound insight into who God is and how He works in the world He created.
Note that everything serves Him in some mysterious way. (Psalm 119 : 91) There is no exception to this.  God is all powerful, so powerful that He can do anything He wants.  Nobody can say to Him, "What are You doing?  Why are You doing this?"  He is not accountable to anybody.
Inspite of His incredible might and power, God prefers to be known for His weakness, that is His Mercy and tender love.
Jesus revealed to St Maria Faustina the image of His Divine Mercy.  He instructed her to have written at the bottom of the image:
"JESUS I TRUST IN YOU."

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O Lord, You read all my thoughts!

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me."  (Psalm 139: 1 NLT)

Does the thought that God knows everything about you make you uncomfortable?  Do you feel like some dark force is standing behind you watching every move you make?  I felt this way in the days of my shame.  Now my best scriptures are those which reveal how intimately God knows me.  (Cf Revelation 3: 8).  God is familiar with all our ways.  (Psalm 139 : 3)

"Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding."  (Proverbs 3: 5 AMP)

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Bless the Lord, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will.

"Bless the Lord, all you his angels, mighty in power, fulfilling his word and heeding his voice."  (Cf Psalm 103: 20 RM)

We celebrate today the feast of the Archangels: Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

PRAYER TO
SAINT MICHAEL
THE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael the Archangel, 
defend us in battle. 
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. 
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, 
and do thou, 
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, 
by the power of God, 
thrust into hell Satan, 
and all the evil spirits, 
who prowl about the world 
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

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Whoever wishes to come after Me, must deny himself.

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9: 62 NIV)

What do you depend on security in life?  Spouse, family, money, job, etc?   Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is a pearl of greatest price.  (Matthew 13: 46)  Seek first the kingdom with all your heart, mind, will and strength, then ask for anything and it shall be given you abundantly.  (Matthew 6 : 33)

“Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9: 60)

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Trials produce perseverance and hope of glory.

“Why did I not perish at birth,
and die as I came from the womb?"  (Job 3: 11 NIV)

These are words of Job, a man who experienced terrible suffering. 
Have you ever wondered why there is so much suffering in the world? Job was a good godly man who nevertheless tasted the bitter waters of tribulations.   Jesus, the sinless Son of God cried from the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  (Matthew 27: 46)

God wants us to consider all trials as discipline.  (Hebrews 12: 7)  God is training you as a son,  preparing you for glory like Job and Jesus.

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Watch out for those who are against you in the Journey to eternal life.

"Whoever is not against you is for you.”  (Luke 9: 50)

Who are those people who may be against you?
Anyone keeping you away from Jesus, from His grace and mercy is against you.  That person may be the boss who schedules you to work on Sunday.  The spouse who keeps you from Eucharistic celebration on Sunday to go shopping, watching games, fishing or some other frivolity.  Devious friends who show little respect for Jesus and indulge much in gossiping.  They are against you and your eternal salvation.   Some places that are against you include casinos and night clubs.

Many who are for you are to be found in the Household of God, the foundation and pillar of truth.   (1 Timothy 3: 15)

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The Lord protects strangers and immigrants - Psalm 146

"If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead."  (Luke 6: 31 NLT)

Who are the Moses and the prophets of today?  Jesus founded the Church as the Sacrament of Salvation to continue His saving work which is not finished.

 “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,  baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.   Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28: 18 -  20 NLT)

He also assured them that whoever listens to them listens to Him.  (Luke 10: 16)

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Pay attention to what I am telling you.

"They were afraid to ask him about this saying."  (Luke 9: 45 NABRE)

When Jesus spoke about His passion and death, the apostles did not understand but at same time were afraid to ask Him for clarification.  Are you afraid when you hear phrases like "no cross, no crown; no thorns, no triumph?"
Don’t be afraid to ask Jesus about anything.  He is waiting to give you understanding into any perplexing situation.  Ask and you shall receive.  (Matthew 7: 7, Luke 11: 9)

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart."  (Psalm 90: 12)

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Lord send the time to laugh and dance.

"There is an appointed time for everything,  and a time for every affair under the heavens."  (Ecclesiastes 3: 1 NABRE)

Are you waiting on God for any special favors?  Perhaps on health, family, finances, job, home, car, etc.
Do not be frustrated because it may not be the right time.  God does nothing except in the fullness of time.  Now may be a time to weep.  But the time to laugh is round the corner. (Ecclesiastes 3: 4)

Open your heart to Jesus in faith.  He knows exactly what you need and when you need it.  (Matthew 6: 8)

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If you seek Me with all your heart you will find me.

”And he kept trying to see him." (Luke 9: 9 NABRE)

Herod the Tetrach who beheaded John the Baptist kept trying to see Jesus.  Do you have a burning desire to encounter Jesus?  In spite of disappointments, obstacles and delays, do you still keep trying to see Jesus?

Jesus promises that those who seek Him will find Him.   (Matthew 7: 7-8, Jeremiah 29: 13, Proverbs 8: 17)

What do you seek most in your life?  Money, fame, pleasure, health?
Seek first Jesus and His Kingdom and you will have everything you need.   (Matthew 6: 33 - 34)

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I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

[Jesus] said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him."  (Matthew 9: 9 NABRE)

Was Matthew qualified to be an apostle?  He was chosen and qualified by Jesus.  We have hope.

"And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified."  (Romans 8 : 30 NABRE)

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Hear the word and do the word. Know the word and do the word.

“My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”  (Luke 8: 21 NKJV)

What is it that produces change/transformation in us?  It is not what we know that produces transformation.  It is what you do every day.

Sow a thought and you reap an act.  Sow an act and you reap a habit.  Sow a habit and you reap a character.  Sow a character and you reap your destiny. 
Watch out!  Your character is your Destiny.

Everyone who hears the word of Christ and does it is a wise man. (Matthew 7: 24)

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They shall live in peace who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe from the innocent.

"To anyone who has, more will be given."  (Luke 8: 18 NABRE)

Two types of riches:  Dishonest riches and Genuine riches of faith, hope and charity.   If you grow and exercise your faith, hope and love, you become richer in these virtues.   It is said and it is true that the greatest gift on earth is faith.  He who has faith has everything.  The most slippery thing is dishonest riches.  Filthy lucre and filthy lust go together.  Both lead to perdition.

"From the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”  (Luke 8: 18)

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9-19

"To anyone who has, more will be given."  (Luke 8: 18 NABRE)

Two types of riches:  Dishonest riches and Genuine riches of faith, hope and charity.   If you grow and exercise your faith, hope and love, you become richer in these virtues.   It is said and it is true that the greatest gift on earth is faith.  He who has faith has everything.  The most slippery thing is dishonest riches.  Filthy lucre and filthy lust go together.  Both lead to perdition.

"From the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”  (Luke 8: 18)

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No servant can serve two masters.

"You cannot serve both God and money.”  (Luke 16: 13 NIV)

Are you tempted to do this to see if you can defy Jesus Christ?
Dishonest wealth also called filthy lucre is tempting.  Like the apple in the Garden of Eden.

Bible teachers instruct that filthy lucre follow filthy lust as night follows day.

God gives us this incredible promise:

"Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13: 5 NABRE)

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Blessed is the servant, whom his Lord finds awake when he comes and knocks at the door.

"Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance."  (Cf Luke 8: 15 RM)

If you embrace the word of God with a generous heart and bear fruit through perseverance, all thanks to Jesus who is the Evergreen Cypress Tree.  It is because of Him that we are faithful and fruitful.   (Hosea 14: 8)

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It is you who have stood by me in my trials, and now I confer a kingdom on you.

"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."  (1 Corinthians 15: 19 NIV)

Do you believe in the Resurrection of the dead?  Have you considered the truth that God never requires us to believe in anything that is unreasonable?  God always provides the grounds for belief.  In the case of the certainty of our Resurrection, God reminds us that we are surrounded by clouds of witnesses.  (Hebrews 12 : 1)  Then there is the inward testimony to the truth: Do you seriously think that your departed loved ones have vanished forever?

Our faith is not in vain. Christ is risen.  We shall rise.

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Standing by the cross of Jesus was His Mother.

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother."  (John 19: 25 NIV)

Some of us have watched on  television the execution of a criminal by lethal injection or by some other means.  I have never identified a mother among the small crowd watching the most gruesome sight ever.

When the prophet Simeon said to Mary, "your own soul a sword will pierce," (Luke 2: 35),  did Mary take this literally?
Her destiny in the plan of our salvation was to stand close by the cross of Jesus, hear His very last words and share intimately His suffering.  After 3 hours on the cross, Jesus said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son." Then to the disciple, John, "Behold, your mother."  (John 19: 27)

With this great example of Mary, may we accept with serenity the sufferings we can not avoid.

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Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave.

"With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses."  (Numbers 21: 4-5 RM)

Our life is a Journey of Faith from earth to our true Homeland.  How do you sustain your spirit so that your patience is not worn out by the inevitable problems on the Road?
Christ Jesus has given us great and effective tools:  Prayer, Word of God, Holy Communion, Sacrament of Reconciliation, etc.

Happy Journeying!

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