Saturday, August 18, 2012

You revealed to mere children the mysteries of the Kingdom


" At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike."  (Matthew 11: 25)

What has our dear Abba Father hidden from the wise of this world and revealed to mere children?  Our Father has given the gift of faith to the childlike.  He revealed to them the mysteries hidden in the seven Sacraments:  Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick.  The childlike accept that Jesus Christ is in these Sacraments and work through these Sacraments.

The childlike are distinguished from the learned from having the gift of faith.  Faith gives us access to the mysteries of the Kingdom.

Friday, August 17, 2012

I believe in the word of God


"And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe."  (I Thessalonians 2: 13)

  • I believe in Prayer.
  • I believe in the word of God.
  • I believe in Miracle.
  • I leave the rest to God.

"God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid."  (Isaiah 12: 2)

Thursday, August 16, 2012

I forgive you because you asked me


"At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan."  (Matthew 18: 26 - 27)

"His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?" (Matthew 18:  32 - 33)

The servant was forgiven all his debt "because you begged me to."  I was struck by this.  The size of his debt, duration of his debt, how and why he incurred the debt, do not appear to be factors in the forgiveness.  Only one thing matters:  the servant fell down and asked to be given time to repay the debt.  But the Lord was gracious and forgave the servant the entire huge debt.  When we take one step to the Lord, He takes ten steps towards us.

This parable should be a source of encouragement to anybody who has need of freedom from any debt.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

God is faithful to His word


"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."  (Luke 1: 45)

Lord, I am a glutton for your promises.  I cherish them all.  But do I believe that you will fulfill them all to me?  This is my prayer today, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

Grant me solid, rocky faith that I will witness the fulfillment of your promises to me.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart


"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves."  (Matthew 11: 29)

How do I understand the above?
Trust in me.  See how gentle and humble I am.  If you learn to be like me, you will find that you will be at peace at all times.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Jesus Christ Our Hope of Glory is Waiting for Us


"To this end he has [also] called you through our gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."  (2 Thessalonians 2: 14)

Jesus Christ calls us to fellowship and promotion to glory through the Gospel.  The means through which we work out our salvation is through daily sanctification by the Holy Spirit and consecration to the truth.

The daily work of sanctification entails pain but we already know the expected end:  glory.
Let us therefore persevere in the race because Jesus Christ our hope of glory is waiting for us.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

The Eucharist is the Food for the Journey


"But the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat or the journey will be too much for you!
He got up, ate, and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb."  (1 Kings 19: 7-8)

Elijah ate and drank and became strengthened by the food and was able to walk 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb.

The Christian life is a journey towards Heaven.  Elijah needed the food and drink provided by the angel to walk to Horeb.  So do Christians need the Eucharist in our walk to heaven.  The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ given to strengthen our journey to Heaven.