"I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst." (John 6: 35)
Jesus is the bread of life. The Bread of life destroys hunger and thirst for material things. This is a promise that can be trusted.
"Into your hands, O Lord, I entrust my spirit…. You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake, you will lead me and guide me." (Psalm 31: 6, 4)
God is my rock and my refuge. For the sake of your name, Jesus, lead me, guide me and use me.
"But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand." (Acts 7: 55)
Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. How does one come to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the source of apostolic excellence and productivity. Stephen's success is attributed to the Holy Spirit. Simeon's presence in the temple during the presentation of the Child Jesus has the Holy Spirit as the cause.
How much control do I wish to give the Holy Spirit in my life? If according to the locution, the Holy Spirit is the only thing I need in life, then it will be ridiculous not to give him complete control. O Holy Spirit, I surrender everything to You. Lead me, guide me and use me.
"If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will be unable to destroy them. Take care not to find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5: 38)
This scripture occurred to me early in the Obama campaign for the presidency of the United States of America. What I will call as from today 538 seems to be utterly vindicated today, November 5, 2008. Obama won the presidency last night November 4, 2008 with a convincing margin. I decided last night to offer the Eucharist and my prayers this morning for his intentions. My plan seemed to have been confirmed when Fr. Hugh who had led us in a Novena of prayer to elect a Prolife President offered the 6.30 am Mass this morning for the new President-elect. He started the Mass by saying that God new from eternity that Obama would be elected the President of United States at this hour.
Scripture urges us to pray for our leaders constantly so that we can enjoy peace and stability. I had prayed for President Bush every day and will continue to do so till the 22nd of January 2009.
On the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the first reading from Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6 is as follows:
1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, Subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, Opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred:
2 I will go before you and level the mountains; Bronze doors I will shatter, and iron bars I will snap.
I will give you treasures out of the darkness, and riches that have been hidden away, That you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
3 so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun men may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other;
The Gospel reading on this Sunday is equally relevant. Matthew 22: 15-21
8 Then the Pharisees 9 went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, 10 saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.
11 Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
12 Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's." 13 At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
What are we to make of these convergence of scriptures?
"Father, you open the kingdom of heaven to those born again by water and the Spirit. Increase your gift of love in us. May all who have been freed from sins in baptism receive all that you have promised…." (Prayer at Mass)
The Holy Spirit is the highest promise of Jesus Christ. It is also the greatest gift of the resurrection. The Holy Spirit makes us new beings, children of God and opens the kingdom of heaven to us. The power of the Spirit frees us from the compulsion of sin.
Lord, may we receive all that you have promised to us.
"Almighty and everlasting Lord, you restored us to life by raising Christ from death. Strengthen us by this Easter Sacrament; may we feel its saving power in our daily life….." (Mass Prayer in Easter Season)
The Eucharist strengthens God's hold on our life. How do we feel the saving power of the Eucharist every day? How do we form the habit of thinking of Christ's real presence in the Eucharist and in us?
Sow a thought and you reap a word.
Sow a word and you reap an action.
Sow an action and you reap a habit.
Sow a habit and you reap a character.
Sow a character and you reap a destiny.
"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." (Matthew 25: 35 – 36 RSV)
When we give food to the hungry, we give it to Jesus.
When we give drink to the thirsty, we give it to Jesus.
When we speak on behalf of the immigrant, we speak for Jesus.
When we clothe the naked, we clothe Jesus.
When we visit the sick, we visit Jesus.
When we visit the prisoner, we visit Jesus.