"Father, even today we see the wonders of the miracles you worked long ago. You once saved a single nation from slavery, and now you offer that salvation to all through baptism. May the peoples of the world become true sons of Abraham and prove worthy of the heritage of Israel…." (Prayer at Mass on Holy Saturday)
The passage through the Red Sea is a type and shadow of Baptism through which God saves us.
"God and Father of all who believe in you, you promised Abraham that he will become the father of all nations, and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ you fulfill that promise. Everywhere throughout the world you increase your chosen people. May we respond to your call by joyfully accepting your invitation to the new life of grace ….." (Prayer at the Mass of Easter Vigil)
At the Easter Vigil everywhere in the world, new members are added to the Church through the baptism of catechumens and the welcoming of candidates into the Church.
Jesus Christ is the means through which the promise to Abraham is fulfilled.
"Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." (Hebrew 5: 8-9)
What does it mean to obey Christ?
Christ becomes the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. Salvation here and now means freedom from sin and the consequences of sin.
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit ….. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say 'You are my God. In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and persecutors." (Psalm 31: 6, 15-16)
What would I do if I know for certain that my destiny is in the hands of my Father?
Psalm 31:15 is an example of healing truth. That is, the type of truth that heals us from worry and fear.
My life is solidly in God's hands! Hurrah!
"Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the Lord."
Since my destiny is in God's hands, I take courage and I am stouthearted as I entrust every aspect of the Enterprise to God. I trust Him to press all the buttons and open all the doors.
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit ….. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say 'You are my God. In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and persecutors." (Psalm 31: 6, 15-16)
What would I do if I know for certain that my destiny is in the hands of my Father?
Psalm 31:15 is an example of healing truth. That is, the type of truth that heals us from worry and fear.
My life is solidly in God's hands! Hurrah!
"Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53: 4-5)
Christ reconciled us to the Father through His passion. We become the adopted children of God. The truth of our new enhanced status should make us free from the tyranny of physical limitations and disabilities. We can and must now triumph over these conditions.
"If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." (John 13: 14-15)
As Christ does for me, He wants me to do for others. What does Christ do for me here and now?
Jesus wants me to touch the lives of others with these gifts.
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11: 26)
Proclaim the death of the Lord – "Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again."
Maranatha!
"This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the Lord, as a perpetual institution." (Exodus 12: 14)
"Do this in memory of me."
The Passover foreshadows both the Last Supper and Calvary.
"This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
You shall be saved through the blood of the Lamb.
"God our Father, we are gathered here to share in the supper which your only Son left to his Church to reveal his love. He gave it to us when he was about to die and commanded us to celebrate it as the new and eternal sacrifice. We pray that in this Eucharist, we may find the fullness of love and life…." (Prayer at Mass)
The Eucharist reveals Christ's love for His Church. We see why the Church has guarded the Eucharist jealously for the past 2000 years. Not to do so would be much more grievous than being flippant with a wedding ring given by a much beloved spouse.
Jesus Christ invites us to the Eucharist but some people hear this invitation every day. The invitation and the answer prove Christ's immense love for them.
"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." The Eucharist promises fullness of love and life. May I find both in the Eucharist, O Jesus. The Eucharist is a celebration of love and thanks.
"We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ for he is our salvation, our life and our resurrection; through him we are saved and made free." (Galatians 6: 14)
Glory in the cross of Jesus Christ. Do not be ashamed of it. The cross is the means of our salvation. But it is Jesus who is our salvation and life. Glory in your personal crosses. Do not be ashamed of them or reject them. Your personal crosses are also the means through which Jesus is saving you here and now. In your crosses, remember: "My grace is sufficient for you. For my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9)
"All-powerful God, the Eucharist proclaims the death of your Son. Increase our faith in its saving power and strengthen our hope in the life it promises." (Prayer at Mass)
Christ commanded us to do the Eucharist in memory of Him. The Eucharist is not just the wish of Christ to be fulfilled by His followers. It is the greatest gift He left us. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." It is in the Eucharist that we eat this bread and appropriate the promise of life it makes. Have faith in the Eucharist and have life.
"And while they were eating he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." (Matthew 26: 21)
Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. May your grace protect me so that I do not betray you again. Look at my weakness and have pity on me.
"Answer me Lord in your generous love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; in my distress hasten to answer me. Come and ransom my life; because of my enemies redeem me. You know my reproach, my shame, my disgrace; before you stand all my foes. Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak; I looked for compassion, but there was none, for comforters, but found none. Instead they put gall in my food; for my thirst they gave me vinegar." (Psalm 69: 17-22)
A cry of anguish in great distress.
If you want to be my disciple, take up your cross everyday and follow me.
"The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear…." (Isaiah 50: 4)
Before you speak, you must learn what to say. You sit at the feet of Jesus and the Holy Spirit instructs you by means of the word. When you have mastered the lessons, all the lessons, the Spirit of truth sends you to the "weary."
Thank you Father for this word. I believe it. Consecrate me in the truth. Your word is truth. Consecrate my tongue, my hands, all of men.
"Consecrate me in the truth." Set me apart exclusively for the work of the truth.
"A word that will rouse them (the weary)" - Rouse them to conversion; strengthen the discouraged; warn the complacent.
"Father, in your plan of salvation your Son Jesus Christ accepted the cross and freed us from the power of the enemy. May we come to share the glory of his resurrection….." (Prayer at Mass)
Note the power of acceptance. When we accept God's will in our life, we become free to enjoy God's power in every circumstance. In dying, we find life. In accepting tribulations, we overcome the fear of suffering and become free. Jesus achieved freedom for us through the acceptance of His Father's will to suffer and die.
"At the name of Jesus, every knee must bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; … Jesus Christ is Lord." (Philippians 2: 10-11)
Jesus is Lord!
Jesus Prayer
Come Lord Jesus!
Jesus' name is one of my greatest gifts.
"Lord, look at mercy on our offerings. May we who share the holy gifts receive the life they promise….." (Prayer at Mass)
Look at mercy on our offerings – We are weak and inadequate. So are our offerings. Instead of looking at our miserable offerings, look rather on your Son who offers Himself for us.
The Eucharist promises life to those who receive it worthily.
"You will lay down your life for me, will you?' Jesus answered. 'I tell you truly, the cock will not crow before you have three times disowned me!" (John 13: 38)
Dearest Jesus, you are right. I can betray you and I will betray you unless you help me. Help me for I am weak. Help me for I do not want to betray you.
"I will sing of your salvation… For you are my hope, O Lord, my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from my mother's womb; you are my strength." (Psalm 71: 8, 5-6)
God is my hope. I trust in Him in everything. He has taught me from my youth and till the present I proclaim His wondrous deeds.
"The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name. He made me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm." (Isaiah 49: 1-2)
The Lord called me from birth and gave me the name Emmanuel. He is training me today, forming me into a sharp-edged sword.
Father, let your plan for me life be fully accomplished.
"Father, may we receive your forgiveness and mercy as we celebrate the passion and death of the Lord…." (Prayer at Mass)
The life of the individual Christian is a microcosm of the life of the Body of Christ, of which the individual is a small stone in the building. The Church again and again asks for forgiveness and mercy from God because she needs it. The Church is holy and at the same time prone to sin, just like the individual Christian is holy because of the indwelling Spirit and at the same time prone to sin.
"False witnesses have stood up against me, and my enemies threaten violence; Lord, do not surrender me into their power!" (Psalm 26: 12)
If you want to be my disciple, take up your cross everyday and follow me. Prepare yourself for the action of false witnesses and evil men who will threaten violence.
Lord, grant me deep faith; grant me courage, especially at the moment of crisis.
"Lord, look with mercy on our offerings. May the sacrifice of Christ, your Son, bring us to eternal life …" (Prayer at Mass)
"Many brought a pound of costly perfume made from genuine aromatic nard, with which she anointed Jesus' feet." (John 12: 3)
Mary gave her first fruits to Jesus. She gave Him the very best.
Do I give my very best to Jesus?
Lord Jesus, I offer you through the Immaculate Heart of Mary all my prayers, desires, hopes, sufferings, temptations, delays, obstacles and disappointments.
Lord Jesus, help me to give you always my very best. I want to give you not Magis but Maximus.
"Many brought a pound of costly perfume made from genuine aromatic nard, with which she anointed Jesus' feet." (John 12: 3)
Mary gave her first fruits to Jesus. She gave Him the very best.
Do I give my very best to Jesus?
Lord Jesus, help me to give you always my very best. I want to give you not Magis but Maximus.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? / The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid? ………./I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. / Wait for the Lord with courage; be stout-hearted and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27 ..)
If God is with me, who can be against me? If God is with me, I shall triumph over my foes. If God is with me, it is accomplished.
Yes, I shall see the bounty of the Lord in this land. I wait for the Lord with courage. I wait for the Lord until He answers me.
"I, the Lord, has called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness." (Isaiah 42: 6-7)
The Lord has called me for the victory of justice. God grasped me by the hand as I grasped JR the day he was lost. God is forming me; He is training me. He will set me as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations. God is calling me to open the eyes of the blind; to bring out prisoners from confinement and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
I can do all these things because I am His servant whom He upholds, His chosen one with whom He is pleased. He has put His Spirit in me. If God is with me, then it is accomplished.
"All-powerful God, by the suffering and death of your Son, strengthen and protect us in our weakness…" (Prayer at Mass)
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Blood of Jesus, protect me.
"Lord, may the suffering and death of Jesus, your only Son, make us pleasing to you. Alone we can do nothing, but may this perfect sacrifice win us your mercy and love…." (Mass Prayer)
Jesus Christ reconciled us to the Father through His passion and death. It is the perfect sacrifice sought by God. We commemorate this in the Mass. This is why the Mass has the power to win us the mercy and love of God.
"Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself…." (Philippians 2: 6-11)
Christ was humble. God raised Him up high.
Mary was humble. God raised her.
David was humble. God promoted him.
If I am humble, God will surely raise me.
"The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning by morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back." (Isaiah 50: 4-7)
Father, give me a well-trained tongue. Bless me also with a well-trained hand. Lead me, guide me and use me.
God blessed these people with a well-trained tongue:
"Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your Son to be born of a woman and die on a cross, so that through the obedience of one man estrangement may be dissolved for all men. Guide our minds by his truth and strengthen our lives by the example of his death, that we may live in union with you in the kingdom of your promise." (Prayer at Mass)
Our sins caused our estrangement from God. Christ's obedience reconciles us to God.
Guide our minds by His truth: Truth as found in the Gospel and in the Bible.
"Almighty, ever-living God, you have given the human race Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility. He fulfilled your will by becoming man and giving his life on the cross. Help us to bear witness to you by following the example of suffering and make us worthy to share in his resurrection…." (Prayer at Mass)
"By his stripes, we are healed." (1 Peter 2: 24)
Christ suffered and conquered death. He destroyed the fear of death and suffering for all of us. He suffered and overcame. If I accept the sufferings in my life that I cannot prevent, I too will triumph over the fear of sufferings.
Lord Jesus, help us to overcome the fear of suffering.
"Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden." (Matthew 21: 1-11)
What a King we have in Jesus. Our King is meek and humble. It is thus Jesus presents Himself to us in the Blessed Sacrament – meek and humble. He comes to us in the Eucharist as a meek and humble King. This is the King who washes the feet of His servants.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours.
"Ever-living God, in Baptism, the sacrament of our faith, you restore us to life. Accept the prayers and gifts of your people; forgive our sins and fulfill our hopes and desires…." (Prayers at Mass)
Through Baptism, we are given new life. The bread and wine we offer in the offertory symbolize the gifts of ourselves to God.
Inspite of Baptism restoring us to new life, sins continue to dog our footsteps.
"The Jewish Passover was drawing near….." (John 11: 55)
Times and seasons are ordained by God. In 1999, I confided the following on the above scripture to my journal:
"It was ordained that Jesus, the Lamb of God would be sacrificed during the Jewish Passover. The sacrifice of Jesus marked the end of the old covenant and the beginning of a new one. Our God uses the symbolisms of timings to teach us about His plans. Now I know that my prayers for the Vital Information Systems this year, my Jubilee year will have the sympathetic ears of God."
Reflecting on the above today in June of 2008, I am amazed to see how God answered the prayer: Seekfirstweb.Com.
"I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console and gladden them after their sorrows." (Jeremiah 31: 13)
Those who sow in tears shall laugh when they reap. This is the word of the Lord.
"I shall save them from the acts of infidelity which they have committed and shall cleanse them; they will be my people and I shall be their God." (Ezekiel 37: 23)
God our Father is continually working to save us. The sacraments are the means through which God is saving us, cleansing us of our acts of infidelity.
"God our Father, you always work to save us, and now we rejoice in the great love you give to your chosen people. Protect all who are about to become your children, and continue to bless those who are already baptized." (Prayer at Mass in the Period of Lent)
God our Father is always working to save us. What a consoling thought! As Easter approaches, the Church intensifies its preparation and prayer for those who will be received into the Church at Easter. These catechumens and candidates need the prayers of the Church to be steadfast in their determination to join the Chosen People. The Church is aware that this is the period of greatest temptation to some of them. We help them with our prayers to overcome the obstacles of the evil one.
"Lord, may we always receive the protection of this sacrifice. May it keep us safe from all harm." (Prayer at Mass)
The Eucharist confers sanctifying grace to us. It protects us from what harms our soul. As it nourishes our soul with the best of spiritual food, it starves our carnal appetite. How do we receive the fullest blessings of the Eucharist? By coming to the Eucharist in a state of grace, we show our desire for the blessings. Then we ask for the blessings we desire.
"Jesus carried our sins in his own body on the cross so that we could die to sin and live in holiness; by his wounds we have been healed." (1 Peter 2: 24)
By his wounds, we have been healed of our enslavement to sin and all consequences of sin. We become free as sons. We enjoy the perquisites of sons. We understand and accept God's sovereignty and plan for our lives. Physical healing becomes secondary.
Commenting on the above scripture, St. Bernard wrote: "I have come to see that true wisdom lies in meditating on these things […]. Some have provided me with wholesome, if bitter, drink, and I have used others as gentle and soothing unction. This gives me strength in adversity and helps me to be humble in prosperity; it allows me to walk with a sure step on the royal road of salvation, through the good things and the evil things of this present life, free from the dangers which threaten to right and left." (Sermons on the Song of Songs, 43, 4).
"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.
"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:
"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.
"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.
"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)
"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:
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:
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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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:
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.
"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?
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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:
Those are the words of Christ. Those are the three key principles of discipleship.
"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)
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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)
"They left Mount Hor by the road to the sea of Suph, to skirt round Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses." (Numbers 21: 4-5)
The Enterprise is journey with Christ. The Enterprise is the extension of Desert-95 experience. The journey may be long and at times very hard. Do not complain. Do not criticize. Do not condemn.
Rather, "Put your hope in the Lord. Take courage and be strong." (Psalm 27: 14)
"Lord, through the apostolic work of St. Turibius and his unwavering love of the truth, you helped your Church to grow in faith and holiness…." (Mass Prayer)
Father, grant me an unwavering love of truth. Lead me, guide me and use me in your Church.
The reformers of the 16th century lacked the unwavering love of truth. After about five centuries of multiple reformations, many of the churches that broke away from the Catholic Church have gone so far away from the Truth. They failed to perceive the wisdom of God in making the Church the bulwark of the truth. It is God's will that truth in the Church be maintained in a relationship of inter-dependent synergies of Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium. These trio functions like nature's ecosystem.
"Lord, help us to do your will that your Church may grow and become more faithful in your service……" (Prayer at Mass)
Jesus said, "Without me, you can do nothing." I believe this thoroughly. Therefore I pray, "Lord, help me to do your will."
When I do God's will, the Church grows.
"Put your hope in the Lord. Take courage and be strong." (Psalm 27:14)
Yes, I put all my hope in the Lord.
"Take courage and be strong." Let your hope not weaken. Let it grow stronger every day. Let challenges, delays, obstacles and disappointments strengthen it.
"Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8: 7)
It is mercy that I want and not sacrifice.
Be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate.
Do not criticize; do not condemn; do not complain.
"Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me." (Psalm 23: 4)
I believe this. No matter the situation, I will not fear. I will remember always that God is with me. He was with Susana. He was with Daniel in the lions' den. He shall be with me always. That is His promise.
"The Lord heard her cry, and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy called Daniel who began to shout, 'I am innocent of this woman's death." (13: 44-46)
"This woman" is Susana falsely accused of adultery. At the very last moment, God intervened through Daniel to save the life of Susana.
O God, take pity on me! My enemies are crushing me. (Psalm 56:2)
"Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the Savior of those who trust him." (Daniel 13: 60)
Yes, God saves those who trust in Him. He saved them as He saves Susana or He saves them as He saved St. Thomas More.
"Father of love, source of all blessings, help us to pass from our old life of sin to the new life of grace. Prepare us for the glory of your kingdom…" (Prayer at Mass)
God is the Father of love. He is also the source of all blessings. Redemption is passage from the old life of sin to the new life of grace.
Prepare us for the glory of your kingdom. God is saving us through everything. Our life here and now and everything we do prepare us for eternal life.
"God, take pity on me! My enemies are crushing me; all day long they wage war on me." (Psalm 56:2)
Lord, help me! I am drowning. Call on the Lord in the hour of distress and He will answer.
My enemies wage war on me all day long. How true! What do I do? Trust in the Lord at all times. Call on Him at the hour of confrontation.
"Almighty God, may the sacrifice we offer take away the sins of those whom you enlighten with the Christian faith…." (Prayer at Mass)
The Eucharist is a sacrifice that takes away our sins.
"He who lives and believes in me will not die forever." (John 11: 26)
He who believes in me and is alive in the Spirit will not die.
"For with the Lord is kindness and plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel from all its iniquities." (Psalm 130: 7-8)
I am Israel. The Lord will be kind to me. He will redeem me fully from all my iniquities. Thank you Father.
"With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption….. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord." (Psalm 130: 5-7)
God is merciful. He will have mercy on me and grant me full redemption from my sins. Thank you Father. No longer will the sins of my youth disrupt God's plan for my life. Thank you Father. For this, I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word. I wait for the Lord to fulfill His promises to me more than watchmen wait for daybreak. Surely the Lord will come just like the dawn never fails to come.
"I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord." (Ezekiel 37: 12 – 14)
The above scripture answers the question: How to embrace the world given to me without comprising myself? God promised to give me His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in me will anoint me for the work of my life and teach me how to embrace the world without any compromise.
Christ embraced the world without compromise. He ate with sinners. He embraced Mary Magdalene. He drank wine with sinners. When we surrender completely to the Holy Spirit, He will transform us to love like Christ.
"Father in heaven, the love of your Son led him to accept the suffering of the cross that his brothers might glory in new life. Change our selfishness into self-giving. Help us to embrace the world you have given us, that we may transform the darkness of its pain into the life and joy of Easter …." (Mass Prayer in Lent)
If we love Jesus and the salvation of our brothers and sisters, then we will share gladly in the cross of Christ so that our brethren may find new life.
Guide us Lord by the example of Christ. Change our selfishness into self-giving. May the discipline of Lent of prayer, fasting and almsgiving affect in us this attitude permanently.
"Father, help us to be like Christ your Son, who loved the world and died for our salvation. Inspire us by his love, guide us by his example…"
Help us to be like Christ. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ. Help us to be another Christ. Teach us to love the world that Christ loved and to be ready to die for its salvation if necessary.
May Christ's love for man inspire us in our thoughts, words and deeds.
Guide us by Christ's examples: faith, patience, wisdom, humility and courage.
"Give me justice, O God, and defend my cause against the wicked; rescue me from deceitful and unjust men. You, O God, are my refuge." (Psalm 43: 1-2)
God is my refuge.
When deceitful, unjust and wicked men confront me, God is my refuge and my strength. He is the guardian of my rights.
With God, justice delayed is not justice denied. In UEF86, God is my refuge and my strength. In CNUA94, he stood by my side.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 19 – 20)
"Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22: 19)
At the Last Supper, Jesus instructed the disciples to observe the Sacred Meal in remembrance of Him. Before ascending into heaven, He gave the great commission to His disciples and asked them to observe everything He taught them. It was not enough to believe what He taught them but they must observe and do as well.
Reading leads to forgetfulness. Practice leads to remembrance. The disciples were to teach their new converts to practice the faith. Practice leads to tradition.
"I glorify you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do." (John 17: 4)
"Lord, may the power of your holy gifts free us from sin and help us to please you in our daily lives….." (Prayer at Mass)
The Eucharist is powerful enough to free us from sins. In fact, our venial sins are forgiven during the Eucharist. The Eucharist also helps us to please God in our daily lives.
"So the people could not agree about him." (John 7: 43)
"Who do men say that I am?" This is the question that divides Christianity. Different denominations and different answers to this question. Since correct thought is the key to correct action, the answer to this question directly impacts on our understanding of the teaching of Christ.
"Who do you say that I am?"
"Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Luke 10: 16)
"Lord, my God, I take shelter in you…. Save me from my pursuers and rescue me, lest I become like the lion's prey, to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me." (Psalm 7: 2-3)
Unless I take shelter all the time in the Lord, I will become exposed and a prey to the hungry lion, to be torn to pieces. There will be none to rescue me.
I will make the Lord my refuge and my shield.
"I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, 'Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may no longer be remembered." (Jeremiah 11: 19-20)
Christ is the Lamb of God. He was the tree his enemies plotted to destroy in His vigor. They planned a total solution to the Jesus problem. God allowed their wicked schemes to succeed for a time.
"Yahweh informed me and I knew it; you then revealed their scheming to me." (Jeremiah 11: 18)
Has God ever revealed to you the source and the meaning of the persecution you are experiencing? This is what happened to Jeremiah here. It is has also happened to me. This revelation comes with great strength and patience to endure whatever you are facing. You simply know that God is in control and you are in good hands.
"Lord, guide us in your gentle mercy, for left to ourselves we cannot do your will …." (Opening Mass Prayer)
Lead me, guide me in your gentle mercy. Without you, I can do nothing.
"The snares of death overtook me, the ropes of hell tightened around me; in my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice." (Psalm 18: 5-7)
The snares of death – sin
The ropes of hell – sin
Call upon the Lord in your distress and He will answer you.
"Father, with unselfish love St. Joseph cared for your son, born of the Virgin Mary. May we also serve you at the altar with pure hearts …." (Prayer on the feast of St. Joseph – March 19)
St. Joseph cared for the holy family with unselfish love. St. Joseph, pray for me that I may serve God with a pure heart.
"When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home." (Matthew 1:24)
Joseph was an upright man. He was obedient to God's will.
"For the promise to Abraham and his descendants that he should inherit the world was not through the Law, but through the uprightness of faith." (Romans 4: 13)
The promises of God are made independent of the work that is required to keep the Law. We appropriate God's promises through our faith. We know that God has the integrity and power to fulfill His promises. We believe He will keep His word. By making the promises, God is treating us as sons and daughters. By believing, we are acting as sons and daughters.
Abraham believed in God's promises. We believe in the promise of salvation through Jesus. I believe in God's promises on the Enterprise. Because I believe, God is blessing me and treating me as a son.
"And when your days are over and you fall asleep with your ancestors, I shall appoint your heir, your own son to succeed you…… Your dynasty and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be forever secure." (2 Samuel 7: 12, 16)
Jesus Christ is the Son of David, the promised Messiah.
"The Lord has put his faithful servant in charge of his house-hold." (Luke 12: 42)
Joseph, the husband of Mary is the model of the faithful servant. The Lord put him in charge of His holy family.
"Lord, may the sacraments we receive cleanse us of sin and free us from guilt, for our sins bring us sorrow, but your promise of salvation bring us joy…"
The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance cleanse us of sins and free us from guilt.
Our sins bring us sorrow. How true! God's promise of salvation brings us joy.
"I will put my law within them, I will write it on their hearts; then I shall be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31: 33)
It is the Holy Spirit within us that makes us to be God's people. He enables the divine filiation. Without His presence, we are unable to walk in God's ways.
"All you need is the Holy Spirit." - 0595
"John was a lamp lit and shining and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave." (John 5: 35)
Lord Jesus, make me a lamp in your Church. Light me that I may shine for you. Sow your word in my heart. Grant me the grace to expose your word with simplicity and courage.
Today is the feast of St. Anslem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. This is a man who shone for Christ.
"Lord, remember us for the love you bear your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea." (Psalm 106: 4, 21-2)
It is not that God does not perform wondrous deeds in our lives. We either do not make effort to remember or just choose to forget.
How easily I forgot what God did for me in:
From Swd91, I started taking note of God's wondrous deeds in my life.
Jesus gave us the Eucharist in order never to forget what He did for us in the Paschal Mystery. It is something to give thanks for that the Church has celebrated the Eucharist everyday for the past 2000 years.
"Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Go down at once, for your people whom you brought here from Egypt have become corrupt. They have quickly left the way which I ordered them to follow. They have cast themselves a metal calf, worshipped it and offered sacrifice to it, shouting, 'Israel, here is your God who brought you here from Egypt." (Exodus 32: 7-8)
The people have become quickly corrupt. The Exodus is the 'Enterprise' of the Israelites. They became corrupt even before they reached the Promised Land. They quickly left the way mapped out for them by God. Derailment in our journey of faith can come quickly and easily.
"They have cast themselves metal calf, worshipped it and offered sacrifice to it." What metal calf is tempting me today? Family, health, money, job, tools or food?
The Enterprise is journey with Christ. There are dangers on the way.
Lord Jesus, you have led me this far. Help me to persevere to the end. Amen!
"Father, through St. Cyril of Jerusalem you lead your Church to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of salvation. Let his prayers help us to know your Son better and to have eternal life in all its fullness …." (Memorial Mass of St. Cyril of Jerusalem)
St. Cyril of Jerusalem is known as Doctor of Catechesis. Concerning chastity, he wrote:
"….Let us not for a short pleasure defile so great, so noble a body: for short and momentary is the sin, but the shame for many years and forever. Angels working upon earth are they who practice chastity: the virgins have their portion with Mary the Virgin. Let all vain ornament be banished, and every hurtful glance, and all wanton gait, and every flowing robe, and perfume enticing to pleasure. But in all, for perfume let there be the prayer of sweet odor, and the practice of good works and the sanctification of our bodies: that the Virgin-born Lord may say even of us, both men who live in chastity and women who wear the crown, "I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
"Lord, may we never misuse your healing gifts, but always find in them a source of life and salvation…." (Mass Prayer)
The Eucharist is the healing gift par excellence. The Eucharist heals us of our ills of mind and body and at the same time renewing us.
"Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses." (John 5: 21)
The Son gives life to anyone He chooses. Lord Jesus, grant me life. Fill me with your life. Grant me the power to communicate this life to others.
"The Lord is kind and merciful. The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works." (Psalm 145: 8, 13)
Yes, I can trust God.
Faith – hearing God's word and believing it
Faithing – putting this belief into action
"Can a woman forget her baby at the breast, feel no pity for the child she has born? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you." (Isaiah 49: 15)
God will not forget me. I am constantly in his presence.
