You are gods

"So it uses the word 'gods' of those to whom the word of God was addressed – and scripture cannot be set aside." (John 10: 35)

God addresses His word to His sons. Thank you Father.

Blessed are you who hear the word and keep it.

Struggle against Evil

"The breakers of death surged round me, the destroying floods overwhelmed me. The cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me." (Psalm 18: 5-6)

Breakers of death, destroying floods, cords of the nether world and snares of death are all figures of speech depicting the epic struggle with the forces of evil.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice." (Psalm 18:7)

In periods of temptation, cry out like Peter in the storm: "Lord, save me. I am drowning."

You shall overcome through:

• Blood of the lamb
  
• Your word of testimony – Cry out in your distress
  
• Be prepared to "cut off the hand or pluck out the eye" if necessary.

Mighty Hero

"For Yahweh is at my side like a mighty hero; my opponents will stumble, vanquished, confounded by their failure; everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs." (Jeremiah 20: 11)

Yahweh is at my side like a might hero: It is Yahweh is at my side, it is accomplished. One with God is a majority. If Yahweh is at my side, I will be victorious.

Enslavement to sin

"Lord, grant us your forgiveness, and set us free from our enslavement to sin…." (Mass Prayer)

Is it possible to be freed from enslavement to sin while we are alive? Spiritual writers believe that total freedom from the effects of concupiscence comes with death. The enslavement to sin that is referred to in the above prayer is enslavement to venial sins. While it is possible for the committed Christian to fall into mortal sin, such an isolated mishap cannot be described as enslavement. Most of us keep confessing the same venial sins year after year. This is a definition of enslavement to sin.

Rescue me

"Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress; rescue me from the hands of my enemies. Lord, keep me from shame, for I have called to you." (Psalm 31:10, 16, 18)

Actual grace is the grace that God provides us here and now to deal with any crisis. We tap into the flow of this grace through prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes Actual grace as "God's interventions, whether at the beginning of conversion or in the course of the work of sanctification." (CCC ##2000)

Our Own Annunciation

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow." (Luke 1: 35)

The Annunciation is the anointing of Mary for her mission.

Those who were called and anointed:

• Moses
  
• David
  
• Isaiah
  
• Jeremiah
  
• Jesus
  
• Paul
  

All the above depended on the Holy Spirit to fulfill their mission.

What mission am I anointed for? To learn and to communicate. When I wrote the above in 1999, I confided to my diary the following limitations:

• I have no qualification
  
• No ability
  
• No money
  

Today, the hesitation has vanished. I know for certain that I can do all things with the help of the Holy Spirit.

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow." (Luke 1: 35)

I am the Lord's servant. May it be done to me according to His word.

Each of us has a vocation. When we experience our annunciation, if we surrender to God like Mary, then the Holy Spirit will use us to achieve incredible things for the Kingdom of God.

Eating Christ

"Then I said, "Here I am, I am coming,' in the scroll of the book it is written of me, to do your will, God." (Hebrews 10: 7)

God's will for me is to be made holy through the Eucharist. This is a gradual process. Every day I eat Christ in the Eucharist, I become little by little like the One that I eat. I may not see the effect but through faith, I know that it is true.

Be Holy

"And then he says: Here I am! I am coming to do your will: He is abolishing the first sort to establish the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ made once and for all" (Hebrews 10: 9-10)

God's will is for us to be made holy through Christ's sacrifice on the cross which is commemorated everyday at Mass.

Immanuel

"The young woman is with child and will give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel." (Isaiah 7: 14)

Immanuel: God is with us

Christ – Sign of God's presence with us

The Church – Sign of Christ's presence in the world

Only through faith can we see Christ in His Church.

The Anawin

"Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have revealed the beauty of your power by exalting the lowly virgin of Nazareth and making her the mother of our Savior. May the prayers of this woman bring Jesus to the waiting world and fill the void of incompletion with the presence of her child …." (Opening Prayer in the Mass of Annunciation)

How God reveals the beauty of His power:

• Exaltation of Mary
  
• Triumph of David over Goliath
  
• Victory of the Cross
  
• Triumph of Daniel
  

It amazes me how desperate we try to be strong and powerful. Yet, in Sacred Scripture, God again and again shows His predilection for the weak and the lowly. By lifting the weak and the lowly, it shows the beauty of God's power. This insight bashes the self-development philosophy. This philosophy promises to make us strong, rich and powerful. When we become strong, rich and powerful, we forego the privileges of the anawin.

Becoming More Like Christ

"God our Father, your Word became man and was born of the Virgin Mary. May we become more like Jesus Christ, whom we acknowledge as our Redeemer, God and man …." (Prayer at Mass)

How do we become more like Christ?

• Simplicity
  
• Humility
  
• Meekness/Gentleness
  
• Faith
  
• Courage
  
• Wisdom
  
• Patience
  

Doing God’s Will

"As Christ came into the world, he said: Behold! I have come to do your will, O God." (Hebrews 10: 5,7)

Lord Jesus, grant me the intense desire to do your will in everything. Amen.

The Eucharist heals

"Lord, may the mysteries we receive heal us, remove sin from our hearts, and make us grow strong under your constant protection….." (Mass Prayer)

The Eucharist heals us spiritually and physically. The Eucharist makes us grow strong spiritually. When we are strong spiritually, we shall have physical strength to do whatever God wants us to do.

Source of Health and Strength

"Lord, you have given us these gifts to honor your name. bless them, let them become a source of health and strength …" (Prayer at Mass)

The Eucharist is the source of health and strength. Thank you, Jesus.

Discipleship Principles

"If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8: 31-32)

Principles of discipleship:

• Make my word your home
  
• Carry your cross everyday and follow me
  
• Be inserted in me as the branch lives in the vine
  

Those are the words of Christ. Those are the three key principles of discipleship.

Daniel and his companions

"Blessed be the God of Sharach, Meshach and Abed-Nego: has sent his angels to rescue his servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their God." (Daniel 3: 28/95)

When we find ourselves in a similar situation as Daniel and his companions, how do we win? The scripture above gives the answer. The same idea is also expressed in Revelation:

"They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love of life did not deter them from death." (Revelation 12: 11)

The Word and the Sacrament

"Father of mercy, hear the prayers of your repentant children who call on you in love. Enlighten our minds and sanctify our hearts….." (Mass Prayer)

Enlighten our minds through your word. Sanctify our hearts through your sacraments.

Jesus Christ comes to us in word and in sacrament to strengthen us in holiness.

Long Journey

"But their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses." (Numbers 21: 4-5)

The Enterprise is a journey. It is a long journey. Beware of complaining, criticizing and condemning.

What are the things God provides to sustain my spirit in this journey? I think of the 7-Way plan. Yesterday was the feast of Corpus Christi. For a couple of times now, I have celebrated this feast which includes a procession after Mass at the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral. I go the Cathedral to "do" thanks for the gift of the Eucharist which is a great food for this journey.

The Power of the Cross 2

"When you have lifted up the Son of man then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of my own accord." (John 8: 28)

No cross, no crown.

No crucifixion, no resurrection.

The crucifixion would prove the divinity of Christ. Our sufferings and triumph over them will glorify God.

"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself, says the Lord." (John 32: 32)

The power of the cross.

Christ saves us through His cross.

Response to Distress

"O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily." (Psalm 102: 2-3)

I do not complain, criticize or condemn. Instead my response to distress is: "O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily." (Psalm 102: 2-3)