"Lord if you are willing, you can cleanse me.' Jesus said to him, 'I am willing. Be cleansed." (Matthew 8: 1-4)
Jesus is always willing to cleanse us from our sins. Thank you Jesus. Oh that we will always remember this. Help us Lord to share this good news with people in most need of your mercy.
"This is your covenant which you must keep between myself and you and your descendants after you: everyone of your males must be circumcised." (Genesis 17: 10)
Circumcision is the sign of the old covenant. This is a visible indelible mark. The Eucharist is the sign of the new covenant. It is also a visible concrete sign. Genesis 17:10 reminds me that I am covenanted to God.
"Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day he appeared openly to Israel." (Luke 1: 80)
The desert is a place of formation, temptations and trials. This is the abode of John the Baptist during his hidden life. He was prepared for his ministry in the desert. Great saints are also formed in the desert. I loved my desert experience.
"Before John ended his course he said, "I am not one you imagined me to be; there is someone coming after me whose sandals I am not fit to undo." (Acts 13: 25)
John finished his course. He prepared the way for Jesus. He was the coming attraction before the main movie. He did his job very well. How well are we doing our job? Do we know what that job is?
"The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm
He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me." (Isaiah 49: 1 -2)
Yahweh called John the Baptist. He made John the Baptist what he was. Yahweh calls and makes saints and martyrs.
Yahweh called me. Yahweh will make me into what I will be. I will be docile and pliant so that Yahweh will form me into His design and purpose.
"Live in me and let me live in you; my branches bear much fruit." (John 15: 4, 5)
Live in Christ through His word and sacraments. This is the first principle of productivity in the Kingdom.
The branch lives through the sap it draws from the tree trunk. To be a healthy branch, it draws this sap constantly. When we attach ourselves to Christ through His word and sacraments, we draw on His life incessantly. With time, we begin to produce the same kind of fruits as Jesus. Fruits of faith, hope and love. Fruits of peace and joy.
"Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits." (Matthew 7: 15 – 16)
Lord, help me to produce fruits of peace, love, faith and hope wherever I go.
"The Lord remembers his covenant forever." (Psalm 105: 8)
One of the attributes of God that I love most is His faithfulness. God is faithful forever. I like to reflect from time to time on all the promises from the Bible that I have claimed for myself. If do not think of them for some time, I forget them. How wonderful to know that even if I forget them, the Lord remembers every one of them.
"The Lord remembers his covenant forever." (Psalm 105: 8)
"Do not be afraid, Abram! I am your shield and shall give you a great reward." (Genesis 15: 1)
"Abram put his faith on Yahweh and this was reckoned to him as uprightness." (Genesis 15: 6)
Yes, I trust in God's word. I am not afraid. God is my shield. He will take care of me in every circumstance.
"Blessed is she who believed that God's promise to her will be fulfilled." Mary believed the word of God and she is blessed.
"Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7: 6)
We must be enthusiastic for evangelization. The enthusiasm however must be moderated by wisdom. Let the Holy Spirit lead and we follow.
St. Ignatius Loyola counseled three essentials in any worker in God's vineyard:
With these three essentials under our belt, it will be difficult to throw pearls in front of dogs.
"Look all round from where you are, to north and south, to east and west, for all the land within sight I shall give to you and your descendants forever." (Genesis 13: 14-15)
The promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. He is the King of the universe. Where the kingdom is, there is the king. Where the king is, there is the kingdom.
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the standard used for you." (Matthew 7: 2)
Do not judge.
Do not criticize.
Do not condemn.
"Leave your country, your kindred and your father's house for a country which I shall show you." (Genesis 12: 1)
The Enterprise is a journey to a country which God has indicated.
Abraham is the father of faith. He heard God's word, believed it and obeyed it.
The Enterprise is a journey with Christ. Christ Jesus is our mighty champion.
Father, may we never doubt your word.
"Lord receive our offering, and may this sacrifice of praise purify us in mind and heart and make us always eager to serve you….." (Prayer over the Gifts)
The Eucharist is a sacrifice of praise par excellence. It purifies our hearts and minds from sin. The Eucharist renews the life of grace within us.
"Therefore do not be afraid of them…So do not be afraid" (Matthew 10: 26, 31)
Do not fear your persecutor.
Those not to fear:
Circumstances not to fear:
"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27: 1-2)
Fear cripples the mind. The fruit of the First Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary is freedom from fear of suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ prayed and overcame the fear of suffering. We can do the same in intimidating circumstances and overcome the fear of suffering.
"The Spirit of truth will testify to me, and you also will testify." (John 15: 26, 27)
Yes Lord, I will testify to you. Lead me, guide me and use me.
When we bear witness to the truth, we expose ourselves to persecution. The spirit of the world hates the truth and resists it at all cost. Deliberate and transparent falsehood should not be permitted in the Household of God. The end never justifies the means. Falsehood and lies are the tools of the devil which we must reject vigorously.
"But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many." (Romans 5: 2 – 15)
Adam sinned. Christ redeemed.
The gift of redemption surpasses the transgression. O felix culpa!
The restoration of man to God's favor accomplished through Christ's redemptive work went beyond the attributes of the old man. The new man is now an adopted child of God.
"Lord, in your great love, answer me….. I pray to you, O Lord, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O Lord, for bounteous is your kindness; in your great mercy turn toward me." (Psalm 69 …)
This is the cry of a desperate man. This is the cry of a man who knows the God whose favor he is seeking. Look at how he appeals to God: great love, great kindness, bounteous kindness, great mercy. Our problem is that we are like children who do not know their father. If we know God as our Father who has great love, great kindness, bounteous kindness and great mercy for us, what a difference that would make in our prayer. We approach Him with greater confidence.
"For the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph." (Jeremiah 20: 10 – 13)
How will you feel if you know for certain that the Lord is with you in that special project? First, you will not be afraid of the outcome. Then you will be certain that you will succeed. Rejoice for God is indeed with you.
"God of the universe, we worship you as Lord. God, ever close to us, we rejoice to call you Father. From this world's uncertainty we look to your covenant. Keep us one in your peace, secure in your love….."
God our Father is ever close to us. We rejoice to call Him Father. He is indeed our Father. We are His kids. Abba Father!
Nothing is certain in this world. But the word of God stands firm forever. The certainty of God's word is a covenant.
