Prosper the Work of our Hands

Prosper the Work of our Hands

“May the favor of the Lord our God be ours,
Prosper the work of our hands!
Prosper the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90: 17)

As I mentioned once in this Blog, many years ago I read from time to time Christian Science literature for the sheer beauty of their expression of faith. Here is something I culled from their literature in 1996.

“God’s plan for man includes full employment. Employment is meaningful and fruitful activity. The disciple who is preparing for his life’s work is fully employed. God is omni-active. And so should man who reflects God’s image. He is employed in the business of expressing love and reflecting the divine understanding which are always fruitful. We can begin to prove this right now and bring healing to every aspect of our work.

Our understanding of and trust in these truths result in tangible provision for our needs, and enable us to help others as well. Our prayers and proofs of God’s healing care bless us, our Church and everyone.”

The Appointed Time

The Appointed Time

“At the appointed time, I myself will dispense justice.” (Isaiah 75: 2)
“For the vision is for its appointed time, it hastens towards its end and will not lie; although it may take sometime, wait for it, for come it certainly will before too long.” (Habakkuk 2: 3)
“There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3: 1)

There are two kinds of time: God’s time kairos and man’s time chronos.
The Enterprise today is in a period of kairos. The promises are many. They will be fulfilled at the appointed time.

Those who wait on Yahweh

“Youths grow tired and weary,
the young stumbles and falls
but those who hope in Yahweh
will regain their strength,
they will sprout wings like eagles,
though they run
they will not grow weary,
though they walk they will never tire.’
(1saiah 40: 30 – 31)

I see here God’s great reversals. Youths grow tired and weary. They stumble and fall. The old and the weak regain their strength. They do so because they put their trust in Yahweh an wait for his saving grace. Yahweh never disappoints them.

As I reflect on Isaiah 40: 30 – 31, I think of Psalm 1: 2-3: “…but who delights in the law of Yahweh and murmurs his law day and night. Such a one is like trees planted near streams; it bears fruit in season and its leaves never wither, and every project succeeds.”

What are the conditions for regaining strength, for succeeding in every project?
· Hope in Yahweh and wait on him.
· Read his words, dwell on it.

Promise of Provision 2

Promise of Provision 2

“Man does not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

(Matthew 4: 4)

Some ten years ago, I read Christian Science literature from time to time. I was deeply impressed by their strong expression of faith. At this time too, I was contemplating self-employment and was obviously feeling insecure about the prospects. I was encouraged by the ideas below from a Christian Science literature.

“Sometime ago I changed professions. My new vocation was aimed at helping others. It meant that I will be self-employed and would not have any secured salaried position. More than ever, our family would have to trust in God, divine love to provide our food, shelter, healthcare, etc.

Can I rely on God, divine love, as a source of supply if I am called to minister to mankind fulltime, without benefit of a regular salary? Yes, love is always the genuine source of our provision, so I can and should want to rely wholly on God.

Was it foolish for me to think that I could support my family by serving God and loving my neighbor? Not according to biblical record, including Jesus Christ’s teachings. The Book of Proverbs promises, “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack.” (Proverbs 28: 27)

Jesus taught that knowing and serving God, and helping our fellowman, are our number one priority. Divine love blesses this work. The Gospel of Mark reports Jesus as stating: “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters or father, or mother, or wife or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s, but he should receive a hundred fold, now in this time, houses and brethren, and sisters and mothers and children, and lands with persecution; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10: 29 – 30)

Dependence

Dependence

“Then the Lord said to Aaron, ‘You shall not have any heritage in the land of the Israelites nor hold any portion among them; I will be your portion or your heritage among them.” (Numbers 18: 20)

Humility can be defined as dependence on others for our needs. To let ourselves be loved and be given gifts by others without thinking of our unworthiness. To depend on others to supply our needs even when the others are not rich.

Jesus depended on women for his needs. He accepted it willingly. What is God asking me to do in the Enterprise with regard to my needs? Who does he want me to depend on? What attitude does he want me to have on this? What does Numbers 18:20 mean to me today?

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)