Robust Faith

"The Lord said to Simon Peter: I have prayed that your faith may not fail; and you in your turn must strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22: 32)

On the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, February 22, 1999, I confided the following reflection to my journal.

Jesus said to Emmanuel: I have prayed that your faith may not fail; and you in your turn must strengthen your brothers.

Jesus prayed that my faith will remain strong. Lord, since you prayed that my faith may not fail, I have the boldness and confidence to ask you to grant me a compound faith. Strengthen my faith and grant me the ministry of encouragement. Anoint me for this, dear Jesus. Lord, I dare to believe NOW that I have what I have asked for. Thank you Jesus. May you be completely glorified through this gift. Amen!

Lessons from the Desert

"If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.' He said in reply, 'It is written:

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 3-4)

 

The Temptation of Jesus was the proximate preparation for his ministry. Jesus was led into the desert by the devil to be tried. Jesus was tested on the following points:

• Food
  
• Use of power
  
• Possessions /prosperity
  

The three temptations of Jesus are types and shadows of our struggle. If the enemy were to tempt me today, what will he say to me? What have I learned from the Temptation of Jesus?

• Man does not live on bread alone.
  
• Man does not live on money alone.
  
• Man does not live on salary alone.
  
• Man does not live on job alone.
  

"Man lives on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

It is through faith that we appropriate God's promise of provision.

Accused and Acquitted

"One single offence brought condemnation, but now, after many offences, have come that free gift and so acquittal!" (Romans 5: 16)

In February, 1999, I confided the reflection below on the above text to my journal.

"Once upon a time, a certain big man was tried for many offences and was acquitted by the senate.

Jesus Christ is the Senate who through his passion and death and resurrection acquitted us of so many offences. This acquittal is a free gift. I experienced a joy in the acquittal of the man tried by the senate. Do I realize the significance of this incident to my own acquittal?

The devil, the accuser of man goes before the Senate, Jesus Christ and presents a list of all my sins with proofs. After he had carefully presented his case, my Advocate swings into action. He overcomes his argument one by one. Then comes my acquittal.

Thank you Jesus. Now that I am acquitted, I will no longer submit to the yoke of slavery."

A Prayer for healing

"Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me …. " (Psalm 51: 1-2)

How many times in my life have I used this Psalm of David to find healing and peace at a moment of brokenness? Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me to this effective prayer at the moment of great need. Yes, God is merciful and good. His compassion is great. He is always disposed to deploy his great compassion and love to meet our needs. The Church uses Psalm 51 a great deal in the holy season of Lent. Lent is a time of favor. When we show signs through our Lenten observances that we want God to act for us, he responds magnanimously.

Forbidden fruits

"We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die." (Genesis 3: 2-3)

• What are the fruits in my life that I am forbidden to eat under pain of death?
  
• What are the fruits that are tempting me today?
  

The word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. It reveals the secrets of the heart. Reading and reflecting on the word of God constantly leads us to self-knowledge.

Walking by faith

I heard a great question from the Christian Radio during my lunch.

"What area of my life do I need to walk in faith today?"

 

I surveyed the 6 war zones:

1. Family
   
2. Job
   
3. Money
   
4. Health
   
5. Tools
   
6. Food
   

 

Then I rephrased the question: "What is the most challenging area of my life today?"

At first, I thought the clear answer was job. Then I considered the answer closely. I am self-employed in 3 areas I consider myself competent and enjoy. These 3 areas of my endeavor are:

• JSP
  
• CLI
  
• SFJ
  

 

If I say that I am challenged in these businesses, does that not imply incompetency? After considering the question more deeply, I settled for the 2 interrelated areas of job and money. How do I walk in faith in these 2 areas?

Think of the October 07 gift: "God is the source of all inspiration and power." He is the source of all inspiration for job as well as money. All the good things I have done in my life has come from God's inspiration and power. I have recognized and articulated this truth as early as 1982. I therefore resolved to trust God today to inspire me. I remember too that God is a good communicator. He not only inspires but provides the power to act on his inspiration.

He answered me

"When he calls on me, I will answer; I will rescue him and give him honor. Long life and contentment will be his." (Psalm 90: 15-16)

God is the guardian of my rights. In 1994 when I called on him to defend my rights, he answered in a storm cloud. Although it appeared that my rights were trampled upon, I knew he was with me by the peace I enjoyed. He rescued me from NCAU and ZAN and through the Enterprise gave me honor.

Yes, long life and contentment will be mine.

Desert Feast

"Lord, receive our sacrifice of praise and reconciliation. Let it free us from sin and enable us to give you loving service…." Opening Prayer of the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is the bloodless sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God.

God said to Pharaoh, "Let my people go, that they may celebrate a feast to me in the desert." (Exodus 5: 1) Whatever prevents us from the Eucharist is the Pharaoh in our life. The desert feast, worship or service foreshadows the Eucharist. The Eucharist frees us from sin enables us to offer to God loving service. The Eucharist is the anointing that breaks the yoke of Pharaoh.

“Follow Me”

"Follow me.' And leaving everything, Levi got up and followed him." (Luke 5: 27-28)

The Enterprise is a response to follow Jesus. Have I left everything to follow Jesus? Consider the things to leave behind?

• Family
  
• Job
  
• Money
  
• Health
  
• Tools
  
• Food
  

When I leave all these things behind and follow Jesus, I enjoy true peace, happiness and freedom.

True Happiness

"Then you will find true happiness in Yahweh, and I shall lead you in triumph over the heights of the land. I shall feed you on the heritage of your father Jacob, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken." (Isaiah 58: 14)

The Promises:

Our true happiness can only be found in God. The New Testament describes this as a state of being in Christ. "In you, O Lord, I have found my peace," is the response this morning to Psalm 131 in the Eucharistic Liturgy. God is the source of happiness and peace. Peace, Shalom represents the state of complete contentment. When we are in this state, we are docile to the Spirit who guides us triumphantly over the "heights of the land," over the valleys and hills in our pilgrimage to the City of God. When we are fed in Christ with Christ, we are fed with the best of "the heritage of Jacob."

Continuous Guidance

"Yahweh will always guide you, will satisfy your needs in the scorched land; he will give strength to your bones and you will be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never run dry. Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt; you will build on age-old foundations. You will be called 'Breach-mender', 'Restorer of streets to be lived in." (Isaiah 58: 11-12)

The Promises:

• Continuous guidance
  
• Your needs will be met even in severe depression
  
• You will enjoy good health
  
• Your work will prosper
  
• God will rebuild your life; put you back on track with regard to your purpose
  
• You will be productive for God
  
• God will use you mightily
  

The spirit is willing

"Father, look upon our weakness and reach out to help us with your loving power … " Opening Prayer in Mass in the time of Lent.

"Our weakness" – The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. In our struggle against evil, we need God's help. We draw down this help through prayer. There is a favorable time for prayer and conversion. This period is Lent.

The Power of the Eucharist

"Lord, may our sharing in this mystery free us from our sins and make us worthy of your healing …" (Prayer after Holy Communion)

The Eucharist is a mysterion/sacramentum. It has the power to free us from our sins and prepare us to receive God's healing.

The Covenant

"Then you will cry for help and Yahweh will answer; you will call and he will say, 'I am here." (Isaiah 58: 9)

The covenant: If I share my food with the hungry, if I shelter the homeless, if I clothe the naked, if I support my own kin, then when I cry out to God in distress, he will hear my cry for help.

Lord, this is a very attractive covenant. I agree to the terms. Help me by giving me the inspiration and the power to fulfill them. And glory will be your name.

Share your food with the hungry

"Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me: to break unjust fetters, to undo the thongs of the yoke. To let the oppressed go free, and to break all yokes? Is it not sharing your food with the hungry, and sheltering the homeless poor; if you see someone lacking clothes, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own kin?" (Isaiah 58: 6-7)

What does God want?

• Share your food with the hungry.
  
• Clothe the naked.
  
• Shelter the homeless poor.
  
• Support your kin.
  

God is our source of power and inspiration. God is almighty, all-wise and all-loving. He can intervene directly in the life of man. Nevertheless, God wants man to share in his benevolent work of creation and redemption.

He came to my help

"The Lord heard me and took pity on me. He came to my help." (Psalm 30: 11)

Lent is the season of spiritual abundance. It is the springtime of God's favor. We are assured of God's attentive ear during the season of Lent.

Cry out to Jesus

"Master! Master! We are lost!' Then he woke up and rebuked the wind and the rough water; and they subsided and it was calm again." (Luke 9: 24)

In any type of danger, cry out to Jesus.

"When I cry to the Lord, he hears my voice and saves me from the foes who threaten me." (Psalm 55: 17)

I choose life

"I am offering you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of Yahweh your God, obeying his voice, holding fast to him; for in this your life consists, and on this depends the length of time that you stay in the country which Yahweh swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that he would give them." (Deuteronomy 30: 19-20)

Father, I choose life. I love you my Father. I will obey your voice and hold fast to you.

Father, bless me and prosper the work of my hands. Amen.

Lead me and Guide me

"Lord, may everything we do begin with your inspiration, continue with your help, and reach perfection under your guidance …. " Another great Opening Prayer in the season of Lent.

The Enterprise:

• Began with God
  
• Continue with God
  
• Will end with God
  

Amen!

Unload your burden unto the Lord

"When I cry to the Lord, he hears my voice and saves me from the foes who threaten me. Unload your burden onto the Lord, and he will support you." (Psalm 55: 17, 19, 20, 23)

Ten years ago, I confided the reflection below to my journal on the above Psalm.

"The Lord hears me when I cry out to him.

God saves me from the foes who threaten me. Who are these foes? This is Satan appearing under one guise or the other.

Unload your burden onto the Lord and he will support you.

What are my burdens today?

• Project Casa
  
• Project Kinder
  
• Project Canisius"
  

Ten years later, these burdens have become lighter and completely manageable as they come under the authority of faith. Thank you Jesus.