Temporary or Permanent Residence?

"Rabbi, how good it is for us to be here. Let us erect three booths on this site, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Mark 9: 5)

Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to the mountaintop to experience his Transfiguration. They experienced joy and comfort and wanted the incident to be permanent. But there is work for them elsewhere. The Enterprise has been marked by immense spiritual and material favors. Am I tempted like Peter to cling to this at all cost? Is there work for me elsewhere?

Offering Everything

"I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing – all this because you obeyed my command." (Genesis 22: 15 – 18)

God is faithful. We can never outdo him in generosity. Trust him at all times. He rewards faith. He rewards obedience. In his recompense, he goes further than our desires and hopes.

Behold the Lamb

"But the Lord's messenger called to him from heaven, 'Abraham, Abraham!' 'Yes, Lord,' he answered. 'Do not lay your hand on the boy,' said the messenger. 'Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son." As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son." (Genesis 22: 9 – 13)

Isaac said to the Abraham, his father: We have the priest, the altar and everything for the sacrifice. But where is the lamb? Abraham answered him: God will provide the lamb at the appropriate time.

When John the Baptizer saw Jesus, he said to the crowd: Behold the Lamb of God, who is the true sacrifice for our sin.

The Church teaches that Jesus is not only the Lamb for the sacrifice, he is also the priest and the altar.

Readiness for Test

"God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, 'Abraham!' 'Ready!' he replied. Then God said: 'Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you." (Genesis 22: 1-2)

God tested Abraham's faith and his readiness to obey. It was a severe test but Abraham was ready for the test. He believed in God's goodness, wisdom and power. And because of this, it was easy for him to obey. In the Annunciation story, Mary's faith and readiness to obey were also tested. We know from Mary's Magnificat that she knew her God very well. Faith that is firm is born from experiential knowledge of God's goodness, wisdom and power.

Am I prepared to undergo a severe test in my life if it comes now? What do I fear most to lose in life? Family, health, money, job, property or tools, daily food? Jesus says: we find our life only when we are ready to lose it. The more detached we are from things, the more free we are.

Easter Monday 2007

"My heart has prompted me to seek your face; I seek it, Lord; do not hide your face from me." (Psalm 27: 8 – 9)

Ten years ago, I confided to my journal this reflection on the above scripture:

"My heart has prompted me to seek God with a singleness of purpose this Lent. I know he will not hide his face from me. I can never forget the Lent of 1988. I had not observed Lent for a very long time. My heart prompted me to give up smoking just on Ash Wednesday. After Ash Wednesday, the desire to smoke dried up. God healed me of smoking addiction. Praise God!"

Today is Easter Monday. Since the miraculous healing I experienced at the beginning of Lent 1988, Lent has become my favorite season in the liturgical calendar. Today, my manner of living before and after Lent has synchronized. Thank you Jesus.

Peter the Rock

"Peter said: you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered: You are Peter, the rock on which I will build my Church." (Matthew 16: 16 – 18)

Just before Easter 2007, I ordered the 2000 Years of Papal History from Peter to Pope Benedict XVI. Recorded by an eminent Harvard trained historian, Fr. John O'Malley, S.J., the precious gem came to me in 12 CDs. As I listened with awe to this incredible story, at times it did not seem to me that the papacy was the rock on which Christ built his Church. But certainly rock it was, rock it had been and rock it is still today. How do I know this? Build a house on rock and it stands. Build it on sand and it is washed away in a fierce storm.

Thank you Jesus for your wisdom and power.

A Promise fulfilled

"The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." (Psalm 23: 1)

Ten years ago, I confided to my journal the reflection below on the above scripture:

"How true this is in my life today. Everything I need I have. Those things the Lord in his wisdom and goodness sees that I do not need, he does not provide. This is the way it is supposed to be. I trust the Lord in all things and at all times.

Psalm 23 which I repeated and visualized for two years (1995 and 1996) is now fulfilled in my life. God has indeed given me repose in green pastures. Originally, I saw the promise of a green pasturage as a successful information systems company. But God has better plans for me – the Enterprise. He has restored my spirits through the tranquil streams by which he leads me.

I know for certain that nothing now frightens me: no support or security issues intimidate me. This is because his goodness and faithful love will pursue me every day of my life. One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given me in the Enterprise is the fulfillment of unexpected promise:

"I make my home in the house of Yahweh for all time to come" (Psalm 23: 6)

I am in the house of Yahweh every day.