Storing Treasures

Storing Treasures

“Do not store treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and woodworm destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourself in heaven where neither moth nor woodworm destroys them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be too.” (Matthew 6: 19-21)

A millionaire who had worked hard for years to acquire his millions now sits and contemplates his most cherished desires. At last, he can live his dream life: large estate with exquisitely furnished rooms, fleet of top cars, etc. But he realizes that one tornado and hurricane strike could destroy everything in minutes. What does he do to protect his assets? He takes a first class insurance policy. If any mishap takes place, he recovers most of his asset.

Another millionaire has acquired his riches in spiritual treasures. How does he protect his assets which are priceless?

Christ answers the question in Matthew 6: 19-21. Heavenly treasures must be stored “in heaven where neither moth or woodworm destroys them and thieves cannot break in and steal.”

What are my heavenly treasures?

• · Jesus Christ
• · Holy Spirit
• · Eucharist
• · Mary

I say to Mary: “Mother, keep these treasures for me.” Then she tells me the premium to be paid on the policy: the 7-Way Plan.

Prepare the way of the Lord

“A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the Lord!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!” (Isaiah 40: 3)

In the second Sunday of Advent, the Church prays:
“God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory…”

What are the things that hinder me today from receiving Christ with joy? At one time in my life, I was hindered by the following from receiving Christ with joy:
Family
Job
Money
Health
Tools
Food

Although I still struggle with some of the above points from time to time, understanding and accepting Christ’s point of view on them helped me to surrender them to him. My situation today can be described as knowing the mind of Christ a little more everyday. I am more fully aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit and his activities in my life than before. I fear complacency.

By identifying what hinders me from receiving Christ with joy and having them removed by the Father can I “share Christ’s wisdom and become one with him.” Father, remove the insecurity in me that makes me cling to things. Remove from me all forms of conceit O Father.

When we are wise in Christ, we see how God provides for us in every situation. We see the Father’s loving providence where the world sees lack and want. When the Father removes the elements in our lives that darken us to Christ’s wisdom, we enter into the mind of Christ with regard to creatures. One thing that could darken the mind to Christ’s wisdom is greed. When we are greedy, we seek more than we need. We acquire and accumulate. We become insatiable. We feel insecure.

The theme of the second Sunday in Advent seems to be: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” We prepare by asking for the grace to remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy.

Recognizing Jesus

Recognizing Jesus

“He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.” (Mark 1: 34)

How was Christ recognized in the Gospel by people and by evil spirits?

We recognize people by clues. Which clues helped John the Baptist to recognize Jesus? The clues about Jesus were revealed in the Old Testament. Any Jew who knew the Hebrew scriptures and had longed for the coming of the Messiah would have recognized Jesus. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus quoted from Prophet Isaiah:

“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, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4: 18 – 19)

Jesus did everything the scriptures said he would do. He healed, he taught and he fed the people. How do we recognize Jesus today. Those who behave like Jesus remind us of him.

Time, Time

Time, Time

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

Advent and Lent are both periods of waiting. In Advent, we wait for the birth of Christ and in Lent we wait for the passion, death and most resurrection of the Lord. Christian people are a waiting people. We spend time waiting. The concept of time is very important in salvation history.

There are two kinds of time in the economy of salvation: chronos and kairos.

Chronos deals with the human measurement of time: seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years. Chronos time involves an element of predictability. We measure and calculate this time with accuracy.

The economy of salvation introduces a new understanding of time. Kairos time. This is God’s concept of time, where to wait is to stop. The bible describes this time as: the hour, the appointed time, the right time, the fixed time, the preordained time.

“Stay awake, you do not know when the time will come.” This is God’s time.

A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

“It is not with your sacrifices that I find fault; these burnt offerings are constantly before me; I will not accept any bull from your homes, nor a single goat from your folds.” (Psalm 50: 8)

O Lord, what then do you want?

“Sacrifices give you no pleasure, burnt offering you do not desire.” (Psalm 51: 16)

“A little thing indeed is a sweetly smelling sacrifice, still less the fat burned for you in burnt offering; but whoever fears the Lord is great forever.” (Judith 16:16)

“What I want is love, not sacrifices; a knowledge of God, not holocausts.” (Hosea 6:6)

“Let thanksgiving be your sacrifice to God, fulfill the vows you make to the most high.” (Psalm 50:14)

“Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken, contrite heart you will never scorn.” (Ps 51: 17)

To summarize, God wants:

Thanksgiving

Faithfulness

Humility

Obedience

Love

Knowledge of God

A Proven Help

“God is both refuge and strength for us, a help always ready in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Can I apply my faith in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament to the above scripture? That is to believe that in every trouble, delay, disappointment and obstacle that God is a truly present and ready to help. This belief empowers and transforms the situation completely.

Once upon a time, I went to bed at night for the usual night rest. At the middle of the night, a thief broke into my home. I saw him from the bedroom window upstairs walking to my front door. In spite of my knowing the Jesus prayer, that is, simply repeating the name of Jesus, I did not think of God as a present help in time of trouble. What did I do? I started shouting for human help and I was disappointed. I forgot completely that “God is both refuge and strength for us, a help always ready in trouble.” Several hours after the crisis, I remembered the correct thing to do.: to ask God who is a proven source of help before I shout for human help.

Lord, grant me the grace never to forget this lesson. Help me in crisis to seek your help first of all and then to do whatever you tell me.

I waited; I waited

I waited; I waited.

“I waited, I waited for Yahweh, then he stooped to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)

In 1996, I confided the following reflection in my journal.

“Today, I am waiting for Yahweh to intervene in my circumstances, that is, to help me to get something doing. Something that will be of service to him; something that will give him glory. I see volunteer service as a good start but I am not sure that MAS is a good place for me. I called CRA and obtained an appointment for interview for volunteer work.

In a chat with Isaiah at the library yesterday, he said that all that I need in my situation is patience. He repeated the same idea many times. I saw his words to me as an inspiration.

This morning, Psalm 40, my scripture par excellence confirmed my need for patience. Psalm 40:1 indicates that at times, it may be necessary to wait for a longtime for Yahweh’s intervention. “I waited, I waited for Yahweh.” The good news is that one day he will stoop down to me and answer my prayer. I look at all the answered prayers in my life in the past two years and my heart is filled with joy and hope. I achieved a major breakthrough in the Enterprise in October. With this marvelous act, God “put a fresh song in my mouth.” (Psalm 40: 3) Those who knew of what God did for me were “awestruck at the sight and will put their trust in Yahweh.” It is wonderful. I am resolved with the help of God’s grace to keep steadfast in my winning way, that is, “put my trust in Yahweh.” (Psalm 40: 4)

O Lord my God, may my delight be to do your will. Amen. (Psalm 40:4; Psalm 119:57)

The Vision

The Vision

“Write down the vision

Clearly upon the tablets,

So that one can read it readily.

For the vision still has its time,

Presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;

If it delays, wait for it,

It will surely come, it will not be late.”

(Habakkuk 2: 2 – 3)

Where does risk-taking begin? You take the first risk when you accept a vision in your life. The road that leads to the fulfillment of a vision could be as long as that from Egypt to the Promised Land. Without faith, the attainment of the promised land of our vision is almost impossible.

What is my vision today? I borrow the words of St. Ignatius Loyola to express my vision:

To know the heart of Christ intimately

To love him passionately

To follow him everywhere.

It occurs to me at this moment that if I am to follow Christ everywhere, I must be light and free from baggage.

Correction and Discipline

Correction and Discipline

“Yahweh, do not correct me in anger, do not discipline me in wrath.” (Psalm 38: 1)

During my Desert Experience, Yahweh corrected, disciplined and pruned me. But praise my Eternal Father, I was not corrected in anger or disciplined in his wrath. A full three years before the beginning of the Desert Experience, I had returned to Yahweh. Some months before the start of the Experience, I had read and signed this covenant:

“Yahweh your God commands you today to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

‘Today you have obtained this declaration from Yahweh: that he will be your God, but only if you follow his ways, keep his statutes, his commandments, his customs and listen to his voice.” (Deuteronomy 26: 16 – 17)

The above declaration was signed on 10/30/94. When I started experiencing the discipline of Yahweh that I call the Desert Experience in 1995, I knew Yahweh was doing it out of love.

What are my heart's desires?

What do you desire?

“Put your trust in Yahweh and do right; make your home in the land and live secure. Make Yahweh your joy and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37: 3 – 4)

If I make Yahweh my joy, he gives me my heart’s desires. How do I make Yahweh my joy? I remember Matthew 6: 33 which says “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” I make Yahweh my joy by desiring what Yahweh desires, that is, the establishment of his kingdom. Yahweh is my joy if I know his mind and do what he requires of me today.

To make Yahweh my joy is to make his will my food. Psalm 37 promises that if I do this, Yahweh will grant my heart’s desires

· To know the mind of Christ

· To love Jesus with all my heart

· To serve him with all my time, talent and treasure.

· To enjoy his peace, provision and protection

“Put your trust in Yahweh and do right; make your home in the land and live secure. Make Yahweh your joy and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37: 3 – 4)

“Commit your destiny to Yahweh, be confident in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37: 5)

“Stay quiet before Yahweh, wait longingly for him.” (Psalm 37: 7)

“The lives of the just are in Yahweh’s care, their birthright will endure forever.” (Ps 37: 18)

“Now I am old, but ever since my youth I never saw an upright person abandoned, or the descendants of the upright forced to beg their bread.” (Psalm 37: 25)

“Put your hope in Yahweh, keep to his path, he will raise you up to make the land your own.” (Psalm 37: 34)

Taking Risk

Taking Risk

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” (Matthew 6: 33)

Jesus promises us fulfillment if we take the risk to put the kingdom of God first in our life. Isn’t it true that our lives improve only when we take chances? Learning to take risks is learning to operate from higher grounds.

We find security, peace and prosperity in proportion to the risk we take. And the best risk is to seek first the kingdom of God and his justice.

God's Strength

God’s Strength

“Seek the Lord and his strength.” (Ps 104: 3 – 4)

Concentrate on God’s strength and not your weakness.

Do not say: “I do not have this; I do not have that.” Remember that the Lord has everything. If he is my shepherd, I also have everything I need.

Do not say: “I can’t do this; I can’t do that.” Remember that if the Lord is with you, you can do anything he wants you to accomplish.”

Never say: “This is impossible; that is impossible.” For God everything is possible.

Seek the Lord and his strength. Always seek his face.

My Portion and My Heritage

My Portion and My Heritage

“My birthright, my cup is Yahweh; you, you alone, hold my lot secure. The measuring line marks for me a delightful place, my birthright is all I could wish.” (Psalm 16: 5 – 6)

“For the laborer deserves his keep.” (Matthew 10: 10)

“You will have no heritage in their country, you will not have a portion like them; I shall be your portion and your heritage among the Israelites.” (Number 18: 20)

“Put avarice out of your lives and be content with what you have; God himself has said: I shall not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: with the Lord on my side, I fear nothing. What can human beings do to me?” (Hebrew 13: 5)

In these four scriptures, God speaks about money, property and possessions.

I depend on God for everything. Christ is my boss. I fix my eyes on him for my rewards. I do not doubt at all that it will come and it will be generous.

Time

Time

“You do not know when the appointed time will come.” (Mark 13: 33)

This means that we must learn to wait. We must wait and be prepared like the servant waiting for the return of his master. The appointed time may come suddenly like a thief in the night. Since we know that the thief is coming but do not know the time of his arrival, we must keep awake and be alert all night. Eternal vigilance is the price of success. Life can be described as a period of waiting for things to happen. A woman waits for her child to be born. Then she waits for him to be weaned. She waits for him to go to school and waits for the time when he finishes school.

The bible teaches us that there are two ways of looking at time: time of grace called kairos and measurable time called chronos. Waiting can also be of two types:

Waiting that is connected with kairos, for example: “Watch and pray for you do not know the time.” In this type of waiting, there is nothing you can do to speed up matters. You depend on your faith. In this type of waiting, Isaiah says that “Faith that is firm is also patient.” You know by faith that the event will happen even if you do not know the time or the precise outcome.

The second type of waiting, associated with chronos is more predictable and measurable. The term for pregnancy is normally nine months.

“You do not know when the appointed time will come.” (Mark 13: 33) The appointed time is the time of grace, kairos time. We prepare for it through faith and prayer.

The Clay

“We are the clay and you are the porter; we the work of your hands.” (Isaiah 64: 7)

You either mold yourself and your life or you allow God to mold you and fashion your existence.

Who is molding your life today?

God / Word of God

Man / Word of man

Yourself / Your scripts

“Woe to him who contends with his Maker; a potsherd among potsherds of earth! Dare the clay say to its modeler, ‘What are you doing?’ or, ‘What you are making has no hands’?

Woe to him who asks a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or a woman, ‘What are you giving birth to?” (Isaiah 45: 9 – 10)

Eternal Vigilance

Eternal Vigilance

“How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked and does not take a stand in the path that sinners tread, nor sit in company with cynics, but who delights in the law of Yahweh and murmurs his law day and night.

Such a one is like a tree planted near streams; it bears fruit in season and its leaves never wither, and every project succeeds.” (Psalm 1: 1 – 3)

The promise: “Bear fruit in season”, that is, at the appointed time, at the fixed time.

What does “bear fruit’ mean to me? “Bear fruit” will relate to my special charism, my gift, that is, to learn and to communicate. This promise says that if I fulfill the conditions, at God’s appointed time, I will start communicating his word effectively to his people. In the meantime, what do I do? Two things:

1. Delight in God’s word and study it day and night.

2. Wait for the appointed time.

The 2^nd Promise: “And every project succeeds.” For example, the Enterprise. The Enterprise is made up of many projects, all of them connected with my mission and charism: I learn and I communicate. God promises that if I fulfill the conditions, the Enterprise will succeed.

What are the conditions laid down in Psalm 1?

· Reject the advice of the ungodly with regard to the Enterprise.

· Don’t mix with them; don’t frequent their spot.

· Delight in the word of God.

· Meditate God’s word day and night.

Meditating on God’s word day and night will give no room for the devil to get in. it is like having a vigilant guard on patrol for 24 hours. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. The price of success of the Enterprise is eternal vigilance.

Almighty King

Almighty King

“Lord, Lord, Almighty King, everything is subject to your power, and there is no one who can withstand your determination to save Israel. You have made heaven and earth, and all the marvels that are under heaven. You are the master of the universe and no one can resist you, Lord. You know all things.” (Esther 4: 17)

The attributes of God from the above scripture:

· Almighty King, therefore sovereign and all powerful.

· Everything is subject to his power, therefore all powerful

· No one can withstand his determination to save me.

· He made heaven and earth and everything in it.

· He is the master of the universe.

· No one can resist him.

· He knows all things.

We need to remind ourselves constantly of the attributes of God to imbue us with filial confidence.

“I have not neglected the commandment of his lips, in my heart I have cherished the words of his mouth. But once he has made up his mind, who can change it? Whatever he plans, that he carries out.” (Job 23: 12 – 13)

I cherish God’s word.

Therefore I obey his commands.

When God makes up his mind on an issue, it is final. “If God is with me, who can be against me?” (Romans 8: 31)

When God endorses a plan, it is accomplished. All God’s enterprises succeed.

“But God saves the afflicted by his affliction, warning him in his misery.” (Job 36: 15)

Our afflictions are part of God’s saving justice. God teaches us through our miseries.

Defeat

Defeat

“If your people Israel are defeated by the enemy because they have sinned against you, but then return to acknowledge your name, and pray and seek your favor in this temple, then listen from heaven; forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the country which you gave to them and their ancestors.” (2 Chronicles 6: 24 – 25)

What brings about defeat in life? Does the following bring about defeat in life?

· Health problems?

· Money problems?

· Job?

· No tools?

· No food?

· No friends?

· No rest?

Defeat in life is only brought about by sin, that is, disobedience to God. In every other circumstance in our life, we can say with St. Paul:

“I have learned the secret ….. There is nothing I cannot master with the help of Christ who gives me strength.” Jesus Christ gives us the know-how to turn cross into crown.

Sin causes the defeat in our life not so much because of the punishment attached to sin but because sin causes us to lose our status as sons and daughters of God and the confidence that goes with that relationship. We feel bewildered, terrified and helpless.

Short Season

Short Season

“Do not be afraid of the sufferings that are coming to you. Look, the devil will send some of you to prison to put you to the test, and you must face hardship for ten days.” (Revelation 2: 10)

How long did my desert experience last? Only two years. I can say “Only” today; but at the time, it seemed to go on forever. The Bible is right in saying that our tribulations and trials last for a short season. The fact that the trial is for a short period is often given as an encouragement for endurance. The following scriptures attest to this:

“Go, my people, go to your private room, shut yourselves in. Hide yourselves a little while until the retribution has passed.” (Isaiah 26: 20)

“In a flood of anger, for a moment I hid my face from you. But in everlasting love I have taken pity on you, says Yahweh, your redeemer. (Isaiah 5: 8)

“And if time had not been shortened, no human being would have survived; but shortened that time shall be, for the sake of those who are chosen.” (Matthew 24: 22)

“The temporary, light burden of our hardships is earning for us forever an utterly incomparable, eternal weight of glory, since what we aim for is not visible but invisible. Visible things are transitory, but invisible things are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4: 17)

“This is a great joy to you, even though for a short time yet you must bear all sorts of trials; so that the worth of your faith, more valuable than gold, which is perishable even though it has been tested by fire, may be proved.” (1 Peter 1: 6 – 7)

“The night is nearly over, daylight is on the way; so let us throw off everything that belongs to the darkness and equip ourselves for the light.” (Revelations 13: 12)

Naaman the Leper

Naaman the Leper

“Go and bathe in the Jordan, and your flesh will become clean once more. But Naaman was indignant and went off, saying, ‘Here was I, thinking he would be sure to come out to me, and stand there, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the spot and cure the part that was diseased.” (2 Kings 5: 10)

Naaman had his own ideas about how he would be healed. His preconception and programming nearly deprived him of his cure. Naaman did not know that:

· For God everything is possible. “All things serve you.” (Psalm 119: 91)

· God’s ways are not our ways.

· God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.

· God is master of means.

· God is the Lord of times and seasons.

When I compare Naaman’s behavior with that of the Centurion in Matthew 8: 5 – 13, I understand that faith is a simple and childlike trust in God’s word. The centurion knew that the power of God can work through words and through space. Naaman wanted something more tangible as in pagan practices, for example: incantations, rituals, etc.

God’s word is always sufficient.

Intuition

Intuition

“Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no good like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, as loyal to the covenant and faithful in love to your servants as long as they walk wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept the promise you made to your servant, my father David, as you promised him you would. Today you have carried it out by your power. And now, Yahweh, God of Israel, keep the promise you have made to your servant David….” (1 Kings 8: 23 – 25)

The attributes of Yahweh from the above prayers of Solomon are:

· Loyal

· Faithful

· Loving

As long as I walk wholeheartedly in his way, Yahweh will keep his promises to me. What are these promises?

· Success of the Enterprise

· Health

· Famille

What does walking wholeheartedly in the way of Yahweh mean to me today?

· Total surrender to Yahweh

· Openness to the Holy Spirit

· Knowing God’s word

· Confessing God’s word

· Holding firmly to God’s word

How strong is my faith in:

· Christ

· Prayer

· Eucharist

· Word of God

· God’s wisdom

· God’s power

· The Enterprise

How do I strengthen my faith in the Enterprise?

· Prayer

· Eucharist

· Word of God

· Writing

· Patience

· Affirmative action

I believe strongly that God is an excellent communicator.

How do I know that the Enterprise will succeed?

· Word of God

· My own intuition (Sirach 37: 13 – 15)[i]

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[i] “Then, too, heed your own heart’s counsel; for what have you that you can depend on more? A man’s conscience can tell him his situation better than seven watchmen in a lofty tower. Most important of all, pray to God to set your feet in the path of truth.” (Sirach 37: 13 – 15)

Ask and keep Asking

Ask and Keep Asking

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; anyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, would hand him a snake? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11: 9-13)

I recall the event of 060195. I desired strongly for the Holy Spirit. At the end of nine day novena, I knelt down at 11 am and pleaded for the Holy Spirit. God answered my prayer. The event of 060195 at 11.26 am changed my life completely. That event still drives my life. My personal experience confirms Christ’s words in Luke 11: 9 – 13.

Solomon had a similar experience:

“So give your servant a heart to understand how to govern your people, how to discern between good and evil, for how could one otherwise govern such a great people as yours?’ It pleased Yahweh that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this,’ God said, ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies but have asked for a discerning judgment for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as no one has had before and none will have after you….” (1 Kings 3: 9 – 12)

Solomon asked for wisdom and it pleased God. He did not ask for long life, riches or power. Some prayers are more pleasing to God than others. Prayers that ask for spiritual favors are absolutely certain to be answered. Christ taught “how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Ask for anything that is good for you and God will give it to you. Ask for the Holy Spirit and you shall receive it at once.

What am I asking for today?

· Deep faith

· Patience

· Wisdom

· Humility

I ask also for strong desire to see God’s will accomplished in every detail of my life. Luke 11: 9 – 13 and 1 Kings 3: 9 – 12 are a big encouragement to all who ask.

Ask and keep asking; seek and keep seeking.

This is Success

This is Success

“Be strong and show yourself a man. Observe the injunctions of Yahweh your God, following his ways and keeping his laws, his commandments, and his ordinances and his decrees, as stands written in the Laws of Moses, so that you may be successful in everything you do and undertake, and that Yahweh may fulfill the promise which he made to me.” (1 Kings 2:2)

Ten years ago, when I was obsessed with success, I wrote the following reflection on the above scripture:

“Here, I am given once again the secret of success: This is to be found in the word of God. What is the word of God? It is:

• The injunctions of God


• His ways and his laws


• His commandments, ordinances and decrees.

Everything I need to be successful in everything I do and in all my undertakings is in the word. Today, I seek for success in the Enterprise and the Holy Spirit is pointing to me where and how this success is to be achieved.

Where is the secret of success? The word of God.
How can I get this power from the word of God?

• Read the word and understand it spiritually


• Confess the word


• Stand firm on the promise of the word


• Exercise faith in the word of promise and be patient

In my situation today, this is what it means to, “observe the injunctions of Yahweh, my God, following his ways and keeping his laws, his commandments and ordinances and decrees.”
Christ has given us his Body and Blood as a seal to this relationship. Jesus Christ is the faithful witness.”

Fast forward ten years to 2006. I see success entirely in a different light. Success today means to me: understanding who I am and my mission; growing in this understanding everyday and accomplishing my mission one step at a time.

Lately, I have learned different tools for success from the Liturgy of the Church. The catechumens and candidates received into the Church are asked this question:
“What do you ask of God’s Church?”
The candidate may answer in these words:
Faith, joy, peace, knowledge, success, etc.
The celebrant presents the candidate with a cross and calls his name as says something like:
“Mary, this is faith….” Or joy, peace or success. In order words, the cross is the fulfillment to all our aspirations. The Paschal Mystery satisfies everything we shall ever desire in this life.

Today, the secret of success is not just knowing and keeping the word of God. It is something much more sublime: embracing the paschal mystery of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who am I?

Who am I?

“Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my lineage, for you to have led me as far as this? Yet, to you, Lord Yahweh, this seems too little.” (2 Samuel 7: 18)

When I think of the Enterprise and how far I have gone, I praise and thank God. I have the strong belief that more goodness and kindness await me. Like David, I have the feeling that Yahweh is saying to me: “But this is too little.”

Who am I and what is my lineage for Yahweh to have led me as far as this?

“How rich and deep are the wisdom and knowledge of God! We cannot reach to the root of his decisions or his ways. Who has ever known the mind of the Lord?” (Romans 11: 33-34)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways, declares Yahweh. For the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

“Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my lineage, for you to have led me as far as this?”

The answer is hidden in the mind of God, in his “wisdom and knowledge”, in his “thoughts and ways.” Praise the Lord!

“Such is human destiny, Lord Yahweh. What more can David say to you, since you, Lord Yahweh, know all about your servant? Because of your promise and since you were so inclined, you have had the generosity to reveal this to your servant.” (2 Samuel 7: 19-21)

Yahweh knows everything about me.

He has made many promises to me.

He has revealed to me my destiny. To be a friend and companion of his Son, Jesus. To be with Jesus, learn about him and communicate this lesson to others.

“Is there another people on earth like your people, like Israel, whom a god proceeded to redeem, to make them his people and to make a name for himself by performing great and terrible things on their behalf, by driving out nations and their gods before his people? For you constituted your people Israel your own people forever and you, Yahweh, became their God.” (2 Samuel 7: 23-24)

In my days of oppression, Yahweh proceeded to redeem me.

He made me his own: his portion and inheritance.

He did great things on my behalf: the Enterprise.

“Now, Yahweh God, may the promise which you have made for your servant and for his family stand firm forever as you have said, so that your name will be exalted forever and people will say, ”Israel’s God is Yahweh Sabaoth.” (2 Samuel 7: 25-26)

Yahweh’s Promises to me:

· Genesis 12: 1-4

· Exodus 14:14

· Deuteronomy 8: 1-10

· Deuteronomy 30: 19-20

· Deuteronomy 31: 3

· Deuteronomy 31: 6

· Joshua 1:9

· Psalm 23

· Isaiah 12:3

· Isaiah 45: 2-5

· Jeremiah 29:11

· Malachi 3: 10

· Romans 8: 28

· Revelation 3:8

The Armor of God

The Armor of God

“Saul dressed David in his own armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head, dressed him in a breastplate and buckled his own sword over David’s armor. David tried to walk but, not being used to them, said to Saul, ‘I cannot walk in these; I am not used to them.’ So they took them off again.” (1 Samuel 17:38)

What are the big fights facing me at the moment? Which Goliath am I facing? Which armor am I putting on for the battle? How does God see my situation today? Which armor is God offering?

“That is why you must take up all God’s armor, or you will not be able to put up any resistance on the evil day, or stand your ground even though you exert yourselves to the full.

So stand your ground, with truth a belt round your waist, and uprightness a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to quench the burning arrows of the Evil One. And then you must take salvation as your helmet and the sword of the Spirit, that is, the word of God.” (Ephesians 6: 13 – 17)

Which armor are you putting on in your struggles today? God’s armor or man’s? To fight Goliath, David rejected man’s armor and put on God’s armor.

Do I have instances in my life where the choice between God’s armor and man’s mad a critical difference?

These scripture passages are a few of the many scriptures that represent God’s armor when I faced Goliath in the areas of job, finance, health, etc in my life:

“Yahweh your God himself will lead you across.” (Deuteronomy 31: 3)

“The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I want.” (Psalm 23:1)

Finally, David answered Goliath defiantly:

“But I come to you in the name of Yahweh Sabaoth, God of the armies of Israel, whom you have challenged …. So that the whole world may know that there is a God in Israel, and this whole assembly know that Yahweh does not give victory by means of sword and spear – for Yahweh is Lord of the battle and he will deliver you into our power.” (1 Samuel 17: 45 – 47)

Appearances

Appearances

“But Yahweh said to Samuel, ‘Take no notice of his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him; God does not see as human beings see; they look at appearances but Yahweh looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Appearances can be deceptive. The tiny Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem was certainly an appearance that was deceptive. The bloodied Jesus on the cross was another. The bread and wine transformed at Mass into the Body and Blood of Jesus retain their accidents and deceive many. But note that those who walk by faith and not by sight are not deceived by appearances. Jesus was recognized by his parents, the shepherds, the magi, Simeon and Anna as the Son of God. As bloodied as he was on the cross, the Good Thief still recognized Jesus as divine. Millions everywhere recognize the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. What all these people have in common is faith.

How do I see people, institutions and events? Am I influenced by appearances? Is it possible for me to see as God sees, that is, “look at the heart?”

O Jesus, help me to see myself as you see me. Help me to see my neighbor as you see him. Let me see the world as you see it.

What do I need to see today as God sees it?

• The Enterprise


• Family


• Money


• Health


• Food

Where can I look for answer? In the word of God.

The Choice, the Call, the Anointing

The Choice, the Call, the Anointing

“I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness. I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42: 6-7)

Lord, if you call me, I answer and say: “Here I am Lord, I will go.”

You promise to be my strength in proportion to the trust I place on you. Lord, who would not like to place 100% trust in you so that he may enjoy your strength and your resources to the full? Lord, help me to trust you 100%.

Promise of Provision

Promise of Provision

“Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.’ Let us be bold, then, and say,

‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” (Hebrew 13:5)

The above scripture has brought me immense peace again and again with regard to money. My interpretation of it is as follows:

Do not worry about money. Have no anxiety whatsoever about money.

Whatever you find that you have at any material time, be content with it. It may be a large amount or a small amount, let not that bother you.

God promises: I will always provide for you and be your sufficiency and you will never be embarrassed by money. You will always have what you need.

Because God has made the above promise and I know that he is faithful, I am very bold and confident as I say: ‘The Lord is my helper in financial needs. Why should I be afraid? Nobody can threaten me or embarrass me because of money.’

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything I need.” (Psalm 23: 1)

“The Lord is my light and salvation; I will fear no one.” (Psalm 27: 1)

“Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you.” (Psalm 16:1)

Character is Destiny

Character is Destiny

“For the Lord, your God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes; who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him.” (Deuteronomy 10: 17 – 18)

God’s Character:

• · Omnipresence
• · Omnipotence
• · Omniscience
• · Grandeur
• 
  
• · Goodness
• · Love
• · Truth
• · Faithfulness
• · Mercy
• · Compassion
• · Holiness
• · Purity
• · Eternity
• · Longsuffering
• · Just

Man’s Character: this is how God sees the new man liberated by Jesus Christ. We are continually evolving into this.

• · Created in God’s image and likeness
• · Righteous
• · Son of God
• · Temple of the Holy Spirit
• · New creation
• · Reflection of God
• · Heir
• · Good
• · Strong
• · Rich
• · Beloved
• · Chosen
• · Holy

Trust God

Trust God

“For there is nothing that God cannot do.” (Luke 1: 37)

I believe in the Bible
I believe in prayer
I believe in miracle
I leave the rest to God.
I have faith in God’s disposal of events.

Your Word is my life

Your Word is my life

“Take all these words to heart; …..  You must not think of this as empty words, for the Law is your life, and by its means you will live long in the country which you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”  (Deuteronomy 32: 46 – 47)

“In the scroll of the book it is written of me, my delight is to do your will, your law, my God, is deep in my heart.” (Psalm 40: 7 – 8)

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

Your word O God is:

• My life


• My delight


• My joy


• My food


• My home


• My treasure


• My passport


• My freedom.

If I cling to the word, I will succeed in everything I do. (Psalm 1: 3)

The Word and Success

The Word and Success

“Have the book of this law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may carefully keep everything that is written in it.  Then your undertakings will prosper, then you will have success.  Have I not told you:  Be strong and stand firm?  Be fearless and undaunted, for go were you may, Yahweh your God is with you.”  (Joshua 1: 8 – 9)

How do I succeed in the Enterprise?

• By always confessing God’s word.  


• By meditating on the word of God

The word of God makes me strong and enables me to stand firm.  The word makes me fearless and undaunted by any delays, obstacles and disappointments.  It makes me realize that Yahweh is a true God who keeps his promises.  He has promised to be with me wherever I go.  I believe him.

Witness

Witness

“The Lord says, ‘I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last, alleluia.” (John 15: 16, 19)

I reply:  “I will be a witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia.”  (Psalm 18: 50; 21:23)
Liturgy of Wednesday of the 6th Week of Easter.

The Vine

The Vine

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15: 5)

Christ is the big tree trunk. I am the healthy branch at his side, sapping life and vitality from him with which I bear abundant fruits.

The Builder

The Builder

“Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.  Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain does the guard keep watch.”  (Psalm 127: 1)

The Lord is building the Enterprise step by step, one day at a time.  Thank you Jesus.

Consider it all joy

Consider it all joy

“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 – 4)

Show me O Lord, how the negative circumstances of my life are part of your  loving providence for me.

Through the negative circumstances of my life, God is training me.  Training me for what?
Training me to be a patient man.
Training me to have a mature faith.
Training me in obedience.
Training me to be merciful.
Training me to be complete and prepared for the work he has called me.

Thank you Lord.  Train me as you see fit.