They shall call him Emmanuel

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us."  (Matthew 1: 23)

Jesus is Emmanuel.  Emmanuel means God is with us here and now.  God is always with us.  Lord, I want to be soaked completely in this truth.  Oh, if I can wake up with this idea!  If I can always remember this truth, I will be completely free from fear, worry or doubt.  If Jesus is with me, then all is well; all is accomplished.

Find your delight in the Lord

"Find your delight in the LORD
who will give you your heart’s desire"  Psalm 37: 4)

Yes my Lord and my God, I delight in you.  I delight in all your attributes.  I delight in your great mercy, kindness, longsuffering.  I delight so much in your faithfulness.

I delight in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  I find a great deal of consolation in the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Son.

I delight in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.  I delight in the Sacraments of the Church.  I delight especially in the Eucharist and Reconciliation.  I delight in all the teachings of the Church.

I delight in the beauty of nature.

Thank you Father for giving me a great delight in you and in what you love.  I thank you too for giving me my heart's desire.  I want nothing more.

We have toiled all night and caught nothing

"After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing."  (Luke 5: 4 - 6)

Every self- employed businessman should read the above scripture often in order to draw the lessons and consolations from the incident.  I was able to get the following from it this morning:
Jesus Christ understands our business.
He knows exactly where we are.
As Savior, He has the absolute power to save us from any situation.
Nothing is too difficult for Him.
His reward is superabundant.
Just as Jesus sat with Peter and Andrew in the boat during this fishing expedition, so He is willing to be with us in our business if we invite Him.

What should be our attitude when the Lord gives us a "bizarre command?"

"His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you."  (John 2: 5)
Just do it!

"For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building" (1 Corinthians 3: 9)

"For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building"  (1 Corinthians 3: 9)

Am I truly a co-worker with God?

"God created mankind in his image;
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.  Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth."  (Genesis 1: 27 - 28)

Yes, I am a co-worker with God not just to subdue the world and have dominion over the physical universe but empowered with the Holy Spirit to build up the Kingdom of God which will last forever.

O God, fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we can fulfill this mission.

We have received the Spirit of God

"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God."  (1 Corinthians 2: 12)

The spirit of the world is marked by:
" Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. " (Galatians 5: 19 - 21)

But these are the signs of the Spirit of God:
"In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."  (Galatians 5: 22 - 23)

Lord Jesus thank you for the precious gifts of your Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,"  (Luke 4: 18)

Lord Jesus, may your Holy Spirit lead me, guide me and use me.  Amen!

God is the source of every gift

"All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change."  (James 1: 17)

My God, I know that you are the source of every inspiration and power.  This is a comforting truth.  Grant me the grace to submit always and everywhere to your providential designs for my life.  Amen.

Deliver my soul from all distress

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him,
upon those who count on his mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
and to keep them alive through famine.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
he is our help and shield.j
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust."  (Psalm 33: 18-21)

My God, I count on your mercy.  Deliver my soul from all distress and provide all my needs even in time of deep economic depression.  Everyday I wake up, I look forward to enjoying your favors.

Answer me when I cry to you

"Incline your ear, LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and oppressed.
Preserve my life, for I am devoted;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God;
be gracious to me, Lord;
to you I call all the day."  (Psalm 86: 1 - 3)

Answer me O God when I call to you.  You hear the cry of the poor.  Be merciful and answer my prayer.  I have nothing but you.  I have nobody but you.  O merciful and faithful God.  I know you will answer my prayer.  Thank you Father.

I will declare your greatness

"One generation praises your deeds to the next
and proclaims your mighty works.
They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,
tell of your wonderful deeds.
They speak of the power of your awesome acts
and recount your great deeds.
They celebrate your abounding goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice."  (Psalm 145: 4 - 7)

I will declare your greatness.
"I will bear witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers."  (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

Blessed are those who fear the Lord

"Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
and who walk in his ways.
What your hands provide you will enjoy;
you will be blessed and prosper"  (Psalm 128: 1 - 2)

The Church celebrates today the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist.  Jesus praised John as the greatest of all born of woman.  John the Baptist, the privileged and only child of a priest was anointed in the womb.  John would rank high among those that are blessed.

The above brief biography makes me reflect on Psalm 128: 1 - 2 and ask myself, "What does it mean to be blessed?"  John lived an austere life in the desert.  He ended his life in death row and was beheaded.  Where is the blessing in the life of John?  Then I got the insight.  The blessed of God are not to be compared like the blessed of the world.  When the TV evangelist says that one is blessed, he probably means that one has lots of money, good family, good health and all creature comforts.

The blessed of God are those whom Jesus says possess genuine riches.  According to the Lord, there are two types of riches: riches that can rust or lost and riches that  cannot never rust and which no man can take from you.  John possesses the latter.  He is rich in faith, hope and love.  He is rich in patience, wisdom, humility, courage, peace and contentment.  He is rich in what matters most.  He is genuinely rich.

What type of riches do you prefer?

We are called to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ

"To this end he has [also] called you through our gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours."  (2 Thessalonians 2: 14 - 15)

The Choice, the Call and the Anointing.  We are called to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, we shall not fear, worry or doubt.  We believe in prayer; we believe in the word of God; we believe in miracle.  We trust God and leave the rest to Him.

It is the Spirit that gives life

"It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."  (John 6: 63)

Father, sealed with the Holy Spirit, may your love make me what you have chosen, called and destined me to be. Amen.

We will serve the Lord

"If it is displeasing to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve, the gods your ancestors served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24: 15)

As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.  So help me God.

My allotted portion and my cup

"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)

Thank you Lord.  I accept my destiny.

Anoint me fully for the Cause.

Who is this bride, the wife of the Lamb?

"One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." (Revelation 21: 9)

Who is this bride, the wife of the Lamb?

It is the Church in its exquisite splendor at the end of time.  This idea makes my heart leap for joy.  Come Lord Jesus!

A second time he sent out servants pleading to them to come to his feast

"A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them." (Matthew 22: 4 - 6)

What a sad story!  The king prepared a great feast and those invited refused to come.  Some of the invited added insult to injury by killing the son who was sent to persuade them.  Some of the teachings and parables of Jesus have been called hyperbole or exaggerations to make a point.  Nobody would call the Parable of the Wedding Feast a hyperbole.

Jesus Christ suffered, died and rose from the dead.  He sent the Holy Spirit to the Church as He promised.  Jesus Christ bequeathed the Church the august Eucharist as He promised at the Last Supper.  The Eucharist is the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

Jesus Christ is the Good News.  The Eucharist celebrates the life of Jesus, the Lamb of God.  He is the Bridegroom and the Church is His Bride.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.
It is the true spiritual food and drink.  The risen Jesus is adored in the Eucharist because He is truly present in the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is a profound mystery.
It is the medicine of immortality.
It is the antidote for death.
It is the pledge and sign of the great hope of our resurrection.

All are invited to come to this Feast that is abundant and free.  Very few accept the invitation.

My Good Shepherd makes me lie down in green pastures

"The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name."  (Psalm 23: 1 - 3)

My Good Shepherd makes me lie down in green pastures.  This is my destiny.

"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)

If God is with you, it is accomplished

"For they are a nation devoid of reason,
having no understanding.
If they had insight they would realize this,
they would understand their end:
“How could one rout a thousand,
or two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless it was because their Rock sold them,
the LORD delivered them up?" (Deuteronomy 32: 28 - 30)

When you see a miracle, do you know it for what it is?  When one man is able to overcome a thousand men is this an ordinary or an extraordinary feat?  From time to time, God allows the miraculous to happen in our life so that our faith in Him will be stronger.

Miracles come in various forms and sizes.  Not every miracle is necessarily an extraordinary happening.  One of the best advice I was given many years ago is "Expect a miracle everyday."  I do enjoy small, medium and large miracles frequently in my life.

If God is with you, it is accomplished.  One with God is a majority

“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19: 21)

"Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."  (Matthew 19: 21)

The rich young man considered Christ's offer and turned away.  Why did he reject this historic offer of Jesus?  Probably he did not believe that the promised treasures in heaven would be better than what he enjoys here and now through his wealth.  If we truly believe in the promised treasures of heaven, our values and life would be markedly different.

Jesus continues....

"And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."  (Matthew 19: 29)

The rich young man should have responded with this scripture:

"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)

Lord, without you, we are nothing.  Give us the gift to embrace your call and the grace to see the hope that your call holds for us.  Amen!