Saturday, October 13, 2012

God is sovereign Ruler of the world


"He the LORD, is our God
whose judgments reach through all the earth."  (Psalm 105 : 7)

"Father in heaven, the hand of your loving kindness powerfully yet gently guides all the moments of our day.  Go before us in our pilgrimage of life, anticipate our needs and prevent our falling.  (Opening Prayer, 28 Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Divine Providence gives us step by step direction and moment by moment protection.
God is sovereign Ruler of the world He created.  He gives everything its place.  Nobody can make it otherwise.

Friday, October 12, 2012

And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself


"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."  (John 12: 32)

When Christ was lifted up on the cross, He drew back first the disciples who had fled at the moment of His trial.  His passion and death were only the prelude to His Resurrection.  By the time of the Last Supper, His disciples had known that with more or less degree of certainty that He is the Messiah.  That conviction was shattered by the gruesome event of the crucifixion and death.

When Christ rose on the third day as He predicted, the faith of the disciples were born again.
"While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak."  (Acts 1: 4).
The coming of the Holy Spirit launched the mustard seed to become the giant tree that draw everyone to Christ.  Today, the Church is over 2 billion people strong.  The Church has not completed its mission until everyone is drawn to Christ.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Asking and keep asking and you shall receive


"And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."  (Luke 11: 9 - 10)

What a great promise from the mouth of God. Man does not live on bread alone.  There is life for man in every promise from the word of God.

Lord Jesus, I believe you.  I am a beggar.  Help me to persevere and to learn how to wait for your time.  I know you keep your promise come what may.

"I sought the LORD, and he answered me,
delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him and be radiant,
and your faces may not blush for shame."  (Psalm 34: 5 - 6)

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Give us each day our daily bread


"Give us each day our daily bread."  (Luke 11: 3)

"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 6 - 7)

"Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.”
Thus we may say with confidence:
“The Lord is my helper,
[and] I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?"  (Hebrews 13: 5 - 6)

Lord, help me to trust  you completely to provide for all my needs everyday as you promised.

"But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."  

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

There is need of only one thing


"The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Like Martha, we are anxious and worried about many things:  health, family, money, job, tools/property, food and future.
But Jesus says:  Only one thing is necessary.
What is the one thing that is necessary?
"But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."  (Matthew 6: 33)

The kingdom of God is the reign and authority of Jesus Christ.  Mary, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit understood that where Jesus is, there is the kingdom.

"LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you have made my destiny secure.
Pleasant places were measured out for me;
fair to me indeed is my inheritance."  (Psalm 16: 5 - 6)

Mary chose Jesus and His kingdom as her allotted portion and cup.

Monday, October 08, 2012

The Gospel came to me through a revelation of Jesus Christ


" Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin.
For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ."  (Galatians 1: 11 - 12)

The entire Gospel was revealed to Paul by Jesus Christ.  We learn the faith by catechesis starting from home, in school and especially in the Liturgy all our life long.  Not Paul.  Paul did not make any effort to learn the Gospel.  Christ delivered the message to him as a gift.

Christ promises the revelation of the mysteries of the Kingdom to the childlike.  Although we learn the faith, there are many mysteries we cannot understand.  But if we become childlike, Jesus Christ will reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom to us.  St. Therese, the Little Flower is an example of this truth.  She died at the age of 24.  She never attended high school but she is one of the 35 doctors of the Church.  She was taught by Christ Himself.

Sunday, October 07, 2012

He is not ashamed to call them "brothers"


"He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” (Hebrews 2: 11)

Thank you Jesus for not being ashamed to call me your brother.  Help me always to remember this.
"I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers."  (Psalm 17: 50;22: 23)