God is training you.

"Remember how for these forty years the Lord, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, so as to test you by affliction, to know what was in your heart: to keep his commandments, or not.  He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger."  (Deuteronomy 8: 2-3 NABRE).

God is training us as His children.

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  (James 1: 2-3).

" You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons:
“My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”  (Hebrews 12: 5 - 6).

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Have you had a heart replacement?

"So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come."  (2 Corinthians 5: 17 NABRE).

Do you feel like a new creation?
There are two creations.  The first is from below, from nature.  The natural woman or man who has not been born again belongs to this group. The second creation is from above, from the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls this man or woman a new creation. What makes this person new? This person has a new heart, a new mind and a totally new outlook on life.  Let us consider the qualities of this new person:

1. Charity
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Generosity
8. Gentleness
9. Faithfulness
10. Modesty
11. Self-control
12. Chastity

O Holy Spirit of Light and Love, may our lives faithfully imitate the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him with the Father and You, Divine Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

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We have this treasure in clay vessel.

"But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves."  (2 Corinthians 4: 7 AMP).

We are chosen, called and qualified by God as messengers of the Gospel not because of our pedigree, education, wealth or any earthly attribute but exactly because of the opposite.  God chose to use the weak in order to protect His glory.

O Lord our God, be always our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer and our saving Strength.  Amen.

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How are you aware of the love of Jesus? A little or great?

"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 5: 20 NABRE).

Are you a minimalist or one who lives Magis in everything. Magis simply means More. It an attitude of the heart and mind that goes for More in everything and never for the least or minimum.  This is a core principle of St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

In Matthew 5: 20, Jesus says that the Minimum will never get you into Heaven.  A Church law states that you must receive Holy Communion "at least" once a year. The minimalist rejoices and says to himself:  "This is great. I can do this."

"Dearest Lord, 
teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will."  (St Ignatius Loyola).

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God Himself chose, called and qualified us. Therefore No fear. No worry. No doubt.

"Our qualification comes from God,  who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3: 5 - 6 NABRE).

By our Baptism, we are chosen, called and qualified as messengers of God's mighty word. "If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8 : 31).

"O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may at your prompting discern what is right, and by your guidance do it.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son."  (Collect: Wednesday, June 14, 10th Week in Ordinary Time).

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Jesus Christ is our Yes and Amen.

"As God is faithful,  our word to you is not “yes” and “no.”  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him." (2 Corinthians 1: 18 - 19 NABRE).

The Scripture teaches that faithfulness is the very essence God.  If you are still a Christian today, it is thanks to this truth. Because of your faithfulness O Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, the One Holy, Triune and Undivided Unity, the children whom You redeemed through the precious Blood of Your Son will worship You forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ is our Yes and Amen.
How about us?
"Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one."  (Matthew 5: 37 NLT).

Lord Jesus, help us to shine our lights before others that they may see the good deeds you inspire and glorify Your heavenly Father. Amen.
(Cf Matthew 5: 16).

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Our Father is God of compassion and all encouragement.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."  (2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 5 NABRE).

If you seek consolation in the Scriptures, the above is one of the best.  To reap 100% of the fruit, read the entire gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church today:  2 Corinthians 1: 1 - 7.

Note and understand that in God's grand plan for our salvation, consolation alternates with desolation or suffering.  Do not panic.  Remember this word of encouragement:
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  (Jeremiah 29: 11).

May we always trust and rejoice in Your Divine Providence for us, for it Never Fails. Amen.

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Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

"The Lord, the Lord, a God gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity."  (Exodus 34:  6 NABRE).

Who is God?  Above Scripture verse is the self-revelation of God.

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity:  the eternal, holy and undivided Unity.  Three Persons in One God. A most profound mystery. Although I do not understand a bit of this, I believe  it absolutely because Jesus Christ revealed it and the Church teaches it as truth.

"Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come."  (Cf Revelation 1: 8)

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you."  (2 Corinthians 13: 13).

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This poor widow has experienced God's faithfulness.

"He [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”  (Mark 12: 41 - 44 RM)

"What return shall I make to the Lord for all that He has done for me?"  (Psalm 116: 12)

Who can outdo God in generosity?

This poor widow has experienced God’s faithfulness in provision and protection all the years of her widowhood.

We offer You this, O Lord our God from all that you have given us.

"O God, whose providence never fails in its design, keep from us, we humbly beseech you, all that might harm us and grant all that works for our good.  Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

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Do you know the power of praise?

"Praise the LORD, O my soul;
I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live."

Do you know the power of praise?

"The LORD keeps faith forever secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free."

Do you use the power of praise?

"The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers."

Are you blessed by the power of praise? 

"The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever,
your God, O Zion, through all generations! Alleluia."  (Psalm 146:1-2, 6-7, 8-9, 9-10 RM)

Do you share the power of praise?

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O God, Your providence never fails in its design.

"Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’    The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  (Mark 12: 29 - 31 NABRE).

How do we fulfill these two greatest commandments?

"For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith."  (1 John 5: 3 - 4).

The Spirit that dwells in us is the guarantee that we are begotten by God.

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Lord I am coming quickly to talk with You.

"Turn to me and have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am alone and poor.
See my lowliness and suffering
and take away all my sins, my God."  (Psalm 25:  16, 18 RM).

Once upon a time, when I was down and out, the Holy Spirit gave me the above verses for prayer.  I repeated the verses several times a day with loud cries. I cried aloud to God to relieve my illness and poverty.  God saw my tears and heard my loud weeping.  He had pity on me and put a smile on my face.  I went to Church and worshipped Him with a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

"My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”  (Psalm 27: 8 NLT)

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Render to Caesar what belongs to him. Do not neglect to render to God His.

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  (Mark 12: 17 NKJV).

What belongs to Caesar?
Work: Monday to Saturday, taxes, civil obedience, etc.

What belongs to God?
Sunday worship and rest, the Ten Commandments, etc.

What does God promise to those who render to Him what belongs to Him?
Pardon, peace, power, purpose, presence, protection, provision.

The express road to abundant life:
"But strive first for the kingdom of God  and HIS  righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  (Matthew 6: 33 NRSV).

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The stone the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

"He [the landlord] sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son."  But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours."  (Mark 12: 6 - 7 NABRE)

This is one of the saddest parables in the Gospel.  Read the whole story in Mark 12: 1 - 12.  The ungrateful and grasping tenants had killed and thoroughly abused other messengers before the landlord sent his own Son.

What is the point of the whole story?  The incredible and longsuffering nature of God. No human king or landlord could tolerate a fraction of what these malevolent tenants did. While we are thankful for God's patience with our sins, it will be a mistake to think that this time of grace and mercy will last forever.

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Happy Birthday dear Mother Church.

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”   And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,“Receive the holy Spirit."  (John 20: 21 - 22 NABRE).

Today is the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Birthday of Mother Church.  Happy Birthday dear Mother, ancient and ever young. Mother of billions of children but yet a virgin.

"O God, who by the mystery of today’s great feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."   (Collect on the Feast of Pentecost).

Happy Pentecost dear friends.

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My Spirit will lead, guide, inspire and guard you.

"When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him."  (Acts 28: 16 RM)

Every step of Paul's ministry was planned from A to Z by the LORD and executed by the Holy Spirit.   We may call this, the working of Divine Providence in the life of Paul.  The protection and provision of Divine Providence operates similarly for everyone who serves the Lord.  Nothing is left to chance.

"I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."  (Acts 18:  10).

"But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death."  (2 Timothy 4:17)

The Acts of the Apostles, a factual history of the early Church ended thus:
"He [Paul] received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."  (Acts 28: 22).  Paul was under house arrest.  All things are possible for God.

The Holy Spirit led, guided, and inspired Paul. The Spirit gave him power and wisdom.  The same Spirit is available to you and me in the work of Evangelization.

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6-3

"When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him."  (Acts 28: 16 RM)

Every step of Paul's ministry was planned from A to Z by the LORD and executed by the Holy Spirit.   We may call this, the working of Divine Providence in the life of Paul.  The protection and provision of Divine Providence operates similarly for everyone who serves the Lord.  Nothing is left to chance.

"I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."  (Acts 18:  10).

"But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death."  (2 Timothy 4:17)

The Acts of the Apostles, a factual history of the early Church ended thus:
"He [Paul] received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."  (Acts 28: 22).  Paul was under house arrest.  All things are possible for God.

The Holy Spirit led, guided, and inspired Paul. The Spirit gave him power and wisdom.  The same Spirit is available to you and me in the work of Evangelization.

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The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

Psalm 103 in my opinion is one of the most powerful psalms in the Psalter.  In the above verses 1-2, we are asked to bless the holy name of God.  The name of God is holy and therefore must not be used in vain.  (Exodus 20: 7).  This is because the Name of God represents the Person, Power and Presence of God.

"For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us."
(Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12,  RM)

Abba Father has indeed blotted out completely our records of sins?
 
"The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you."  (John 14: 26).

Pentecost is Sunday.  Be prepared.  Renew your Baptismal commitment to Jesus.

Friday, June 2nd is the First Friday in June. The Heart of Jesus gushes with springs of Salvation.

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The Holy Spirit is the Master of Prayer.

"Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot."
(Psalm 16: 1-2).

Psalm 16 is one of the Messianic Psalm.  The above verses give us an insight into the prayer of Jesus. Do you sense the tenderness and complete dependence in the tone?  A clue to how we should pray. The Holy Spirit is the Master of Prayer and invites us into the School of Prayer.

"I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed."  (Psalm 16: 5,7-8 RM)

A common experience of people is the inspiration and guidance they receive at some wakeful times during the night. Don’t waste such opportunity.  Seek counsel from the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the Source of inspiration and power.

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Most blessed are you among women.

"During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,  where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth."  (Luke 1: 39 - 40 NABRE)

“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.   And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"  (Luke 1: 42 - 43)

We celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth today.  Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit called Mary "the mother of my Lord."

"Almighty, ever-living God,
who, while the Blessed Virgin Mary was carrying your Son in her womb,
inspired her to visit Elizabeth,
grant us, we pray, that, faithful to the promptings of the Spirit,
we may magnify your greatness
with the Virgin Mary at all times."  (Collect in the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

We know from the prayer above that Mary was inspired by the Holy Spirit to visit Elizabeth.  You may ask:  How does the Church know her articles of Faith about Mary? The Holy Spirit leads, inspires and teaches the Church.  (John 16: 13).

"Blessed are you who believed  that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  (Luke 1: 45).

The faith of Mary reminds us of that of Abraham who believed against hope. (Romans 4: 18)

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