"You have heard how it was said: eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked." (Matthew 5: 38 – 39)
The Lord defends my life. He is the guardian of my rights. He knows how to defend me from the wicked. I offered no resistance when I was deprived of my rights in ncau.
"In an acceptable time I heard you; on the day of salvation I helped you." (2 Corinthians 6:2)
There is a time for everything. A time to pray and a time to answer prayers.
"Working together, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain." (2 Corinthians 6: 1)
Do not receive the word of God in vain.
Do not receive the Eucharist in vain.
Do not receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in vain.
How can we be sure that we do not receive these graces in vain? We can only be sure if we are open to the Holy Spirit residing in us.
"Yes, I know what plans I have in mind for you, Yahweh declares, plans for peace, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
God knows the best and has seen the whole pattern of the weaving. He makes a strategic match between my:
Trust in Him to arrange the best.
"One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." (Psalm 27:4)
From earliest memory, casa is always proximate to the house of the Lord. Is this a coincidence? Not at all. Thank you Lord.
"Lord God, in this bread and wine, you give us food for body and spirit. May the Eucharist renew our strength and bring us health of mind and body….." (Prayer after Holy Communion)
The Eucharist is a great mystery. We bring to the altar bread and wine made by human hands. It is transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Now it becomes not just the food for the body but food for the soul, mind and body. This divine food renews our strength as we march to eternal life. It also brings us health of mind and body. As we receive this food with good and generous spirit, we become little by little like him whom we receive. We become little by little like Jesus Christ.
Come Lord Jesus!
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." (Matthew 9: 37 – 38)
The work in the kingdom is more than the available human resources to do it. Can this possibly be the way that God has configured development in the kingdom? I think of Jesus' word: "My grace is sufficient for you. For power is at full stretch in weakness." The weakness here is the few resources to accomplish the work of the kingdom. St. Paul says, "I rejoice in my weaknesses. For when I am weak and I am strong." The Church can say the same with regard to resources for the kingdom. The Church affirms through liturgical prayers that God provides His flock whatever they need. God is our Shepherd, we have everything we need. We also ask God everyday to "Give us this day our daily bread."
