“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Love abounding more and more with knowledge and discernment – we are talking about the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit pours love into our hearts and teaches us how to love with the love of Jesus Christ. For love to abound in our hearts, we must grow in the Holy Spirit. St. Paul is praying for the Philippians to abound in love with knowledge and discernment. This prayer is also for me and for you. If I abound in love with knowledge and discernment, then I am equipped for my ministry.
“I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last.” (John 15: 16, 19)
“I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, Alleluia.” (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)
The 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit are:(CCC #1831)
Wisdom
Understanding
Counsel
Fortitude
Knowledge
Piety
Fear of the Lord
What are the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit? (CCC #1832)
Charity
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Generosity
Gentleness
Faithfulness
Modesty
Self-control
Chastity
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
New Service and Old Service
“But now we are released from the law, having died to what was binding us, and so we are in a new service, that of the Spirit, and not in the old service of a written code.” (Romans 7:6)
The Spirit of God leads us into freedom. He leads us too into a new type of ministry – a ministry that depends entirely on Him and not on our might and power. The old service depends on the energy of the flesh. The new service depends on the power of the Holy Spirit. For one who is in the Spirit, He is a new creation. He sees life from a different perspective, the supernatural perspective.
The Spirit of God leads us into freedom. He leads us too into a new type of ministry – a ministry that depends entirely on Him and not on our might and power. The old service depends on the energy of the flesh. The new service depends on the power of the Holy Spirit. For one who is in the Spirit, He is a new creation. He sees life from a different perspective, the supernatural perspective.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Be Strong and show yourself a man
Be Strong and show yourself a man
"1 When the time of David's death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: 2 "I am going the way of all mankind. Take courage and be a man. 3 Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, 4 and the LORD may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, 'If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.' " (1 Kings 2: 1 -4)
When I read the above scripture in late 1994, I was excited about it. I wanted to be productive and to succeed in whatever I do and wherever I go. I saw the key in this passage. “Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses.” Today, after many years, I am as excited by the promises in this scripture as I was at the time I came to reflect on this passage. Our Blessed Mother told me to do whatever the Son tells me.
“Blessed the upright, for he will feed on the fruit of his deeds.” (Isaiah 3: 10)
The word of God promises in several places that he will bless the labors of the person who believes and obeys him. God’s promises are spiritual laws governing everyone and everything. I ought to see my Promised Land scriptures as spiritual laws.
What is the nature of a spiritual law?
• Spiritual law depends on certain conditions for fulfillment.
• They are precise and immutable.
The only conditions necessary for God’s spiritual laws to operate in our lives are faith and prayer. St. Augustine says that these are the two things that conquer God.
“I have strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4: 13). This is a spiritual law that governs me.
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Ten years ago, I confided to my journal the reflection below. Ten years after, I am amazed as to how things have turned out. I now have a teaching ministry in my parish. Ten years ago, I saw it as a tiny speck in the future horizon. God is faithful.
God knows the best for me. He has seen the whole pattern of the weaving of my life. He has seen the finished product. He will make a strategic match between my:
• Purpose
• Personality
• Position (environment)
1. What is my purpose? To learn and to communicate Jesus
Sources of learning:
• Mass
• Prayer
• WOG
• Bible Study
• Promised Land Scriptures
• Christian Radio
• TBN
• Teaching
2. Personality: Jesus Christ describes Himself as the Truth, the Way and the Life. Who am I? A friend and companion of Jesus.
3. Position: Tx-06, STM, SFJ
I trust God to arrange the very best for me.
"1 When the time of David's death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: 2 "I am going the way of all mankind. Take courage and be a man. 3 Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, 4 and the LORD may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, 'If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.' " (1 Kings 2: 1 -4)
When I read the above scripture in late 1994, I was excited about it. I wanted to be productive and to succeed in whatever I do and wherever I go. I saw the key in this passage. “Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses.” Today, after many years, I am as excited by the promises in this scripture as I was at the time I came to reflect on this passage. Our Blessed Mother told me to do whatever the Son tells me.
“Blessed the upright, for he will feed on the fruit of his deeds.” (Isaiah 3: 10)
The word of God promises in several places that he will bless the labors of the person who believes and obeys him. God’s promises are spiritual laws governing everyone and everything. I ought to see my Promised Land scriptures as spiritual laws.
What is the nature of a spiritual law?
• Spiritual law depends on certain conditions for fulfillment.
• They are precise and immutable.
The only conditions necessary for God’s spiritual laws to operate in our lives are faith and prayer. St. Augustine says that these are the two things that conquer God.
“I have strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4: 13). This is a spiritual law that governs me.
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Ten years ago, I confided to my journal the reflection below. Ten years after, I am amazed as to how things have turned out. I now have a teaching ministry in my parish. Ten years ago, I saw it as a tiny speck in the future horizon. God is faithful.
God knows the best for me. He has seen the whole pattern of the weaving of my life. He has seen the finished product. He will make a strategic match between my:
• Purpose
• Personality
• Position (environment)
1. What is my purpose? To learn and to communicate Jesus
Sources of learning:
• Mass
• Prayer
• WOG
• Bible Study
• Promised Land Scriptures
• Christian Radio
• TBN
• Teaching
2. Personality: Jesus Christ describes Himself as the Truth, the Way and the Life. Who am I? A friend and companion of Jesus.
3. Position: Tx-06, STM, SFJ
I trust God to arrange the very best for me.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Perfect Love
“Not only that; let us exult too, in our hardships, understanding that hardship develops perseverance and perseverance develops a tested character and a hope which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” (Romans 5: 3 -5)
Exult in my hardships? This seems a tough advice to take. Yet, it is worthy to note how many times in the Bible we find such advice. This passage goes on to teach that if we endure our hardship, we develop perseverance. When we practice perseverance day after day in our trial, the result is a tested character and a hope that will not disappoint. If all this seems impossible for man, the last sentence in the above scripture states why it is true. The Holy Spirit has poured the love of God into our hearts. Perfect love not only drives out fear but makes all things possible.
Spirit and love
Spirit and patience
Spirit and hope
Exult in my hardships? This seems a tough advice to take. Yet, it is worthy to note how many times in the Bible we find such advice. This passage goes on to teach that if we endure our hardship, we develop perseverance. When we practice perseverance day after day in our trial, the result is a tested character and a hope that will not disappoint. If all this seems impossible for man, the last sentence in the above scripture states why it is true. The Holy Spirit has poured the love of God into our hearts. Perfect love not only drives out fear but makes all things possible.
Spirit and love
Spirit and patience
Spirit and hope
Monday, May 23, 2011
Faithful in little things
“And he said to him, “Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.” (Luke 19: 17)
Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
One dictionary defines faithfulness as:
• Full of faith: Ready to believe especially in the promises of God and His declarations.
• True and constant in affection and allegiance; loyal
• Firm in adherence to promises, oaths and undertakings. Firm and thorough in the observe of duty
The Holy Spirit enables us to be faithful to our calling.
Lord, show me what little thing I can be faithful today.
• Prayer
• Eucharist
• Word of God
Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
One dictionary defines faithfulness as:
• Full of faith: Ready to believe especially in the promises of God and His declarations.
• True and constant in affection and allegiance; loyal
• Firm in adherence to promises, oaths and undertakings. Firm and thorough in the observe of duty
The Holy Spirit enables us to be faithful to our calling.
Lord, show me what little thing I can be faithful today.
• Prayer
• Eucharist
• Word of God
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