Temporary or Permanent Residence?

"Rabbi, how good it is for us to be here. Let us erect three booths on this site, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Mark 9: 5)

Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to the mountaintop to experience his Transfiguration. They experienced joy and comfort and wanted the incident to be permanent. But there is work for them elsewhere. The Enterprise has been marked by immense spiritual and material favors. Am I tempted like Peter to cling to this at all cost? Is there work for me elsewhere?

Offering Everything

"I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing – all this because you obeyed my command." (Genesis 22: 15 – 18)

God is faithful. We can never outdo him in generosity. Trust him at all times. He rewards faith. He rewards obedience. In his recompense, he goes further than our desires and hopes.

Behold the Lamb

"But the Lord's messenger called to him from heaven, 'Abraham, Abraham!' 'Yes, Lord,' he answered. 'Do not lay your hand on the boy,' said the messenger. 'Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son." As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son." (Genesis 22: 9 – 13)

Isaac said to the Abraham, his father: We have the priest, the altar and everything for the sacrifice. But where is the lamb? Abraham answered him: God will provide the lamb at the appropriate time.

When John the Baptizer saw Jesus, he said to the crowd: Behold the Lamb of God, who is the true sacrifice for our sin.

The Church teaches that Jesus is not only the Lamb for the sacrifice, he is also the priest and the altar.

Readiness for Test

"God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, 'Abraham!' 'Ready!' he replied. Then God said: 'Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you." (Genesis 22: 1-2)

God tested Abraham's faith and his readiness to obey. It was a severe test but Abraham was ready for the test. He believed in God's goodness, wisdom and power. And because of this, it was easy for him to obey. In the Annunciation story, Mary's faith and readiness to obey were also tested. We know from Mary's Magnificat that she knew her God very well. Faith that is firm is born from experiential knowledge of God's goodness, wisdom and power.

Am I prepared to undergo a severe test in my life if it comes now? What do I fear most to lose in life? Family, health, money, job, property or tools, daily food? Jesus says: we find our life only when we are ready to lose it. The more detached we are from things, the more free we are.

Easter Monday 2007

"My heart has prompted me to seek your face; I seek it, Lord; do not hide your face from me." (Psalm 27: 8 – 9)

Ten years ago, I confided to my journal this reflection on the above scripture:

"My heart has prompted me to seek God with a singleness of purpose this Lent. I know he will not hide his face from me. I can never forget the Lent of 1988. I had not observed Lent for a very long time. My heart prompted me to give up smoking just on Ash Wednesday. After Ash Wednesday, the desire to smoke dried up. God healed me of smoking addiction. Praise God!"

Today is Easter Monday. Since the miraculous healing I experienced at the beginning of Lent 1988, Lent has become my favorite season in the liturgical calendar. Today, my manner of living before and after Lent has synchronized. Thank you Jesus.

Peter the Rock

"Peter said: you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered: You are Peter, the rock on which I will build my Church." (Matthew 16: 16 – 18)

Just before Easter 2007, I ordered the 2000 Years of Papal History from Peter to Pope Benedict XVI. Recorded by an eminent Harvard trained historian, Fr. John O'Malley, S.J., the precious gem came to me in 12 CDs. As I listened with awe to this incredible story, at times it did not seem to me that the papacy was the rock on which Christ built his Church. But certainly rock it was, rock it had been and rock it is still today. How do I know this? Build a house on rock and it stands. Build it on sand and it is washed away in a fierce storm.

Thank you Jesus for your wisdom and power.

A Promise fulfilled

"The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." (Psalm 23: 1)

Ten years ago, I confided to my journal the reflection below on the above scripture:

"How true this is in my life today. Everything I need I have. Those things the Lord in his wisdom and goodness sees that I do not need, he does not provide. This is the way it is supposed to be. I trust the Lord in all things and at all times.

Psalm 23 which I repeated and visualized for two years (1995 and 1996) is now fulfilled in my life. God has indeed given me repose in green pastures. Originally, I saw the promise of a green pasturage as a successful information systems company. But God has better plans for me – the Enterprise. He has restored my spirits through the tranquil streams by which he leads me.

I know for certain that nothing now frightens me: no support or security issues intimidate me. This is because his goodness and faithful love will pursue me every day of my life. One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given me in the Enterprise is the fulfillment of unexpected promise:

"I make my home in the house of Yahweh for all time to come" (Psalm 23: 6)

I am in the house of Yahweh every day.

Strengthen your brothers

"The Lord said to Simon Peter: I have prayed that your faith may not fail; and you in your turn must strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22: 23)

"…. And the gates of the underworld can never overcome you." (Matthew 6: 18)

 

How I love to claim the above scriptures. But why not? Jesus Christ has prayed for me too. I may be tempted, the storms may rage, the underworld may unleash it most severe fury, the assurance of the protection of Christ is my bulwark. A thousand may line up behind me and ten thousand face me, I will not be afraid.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear?

The lord is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid?" (Psalm 27: 1)

My Good Shepherd

"Who do people say the Son of Man is? …… But you, who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16: 13, 15)

• You are my Lord and my God.
  
• You are my Savior and my Redeemer
  
• You are my King and my Boss
  
• You are my best Friend and my Companion
  
• You are my Good Shepherd.
  
• You are my Security and my Doctor.
  

Thank you Jesus for being all these to me and much more.

My flock

"Give a shepherd's care to the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, as God wants; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it." (1 Peter 5: 2)

God has made me my brother's keeper. He has also entrusted everybody with a flock. Who is my flock today?

• Family
  
• Ministry
  
• Friends
  
• People I intercede for
  
• Clients
  

These are people I meet every day in thought, word or person.

God instructed man to be his brother's keeper. Since the Christian is called to a higher standard, we are commanded to do it not as a "duty but gladly."

Higher Standard

"For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5: 20)

• Do not be angry with your brother.
  
• Forgive your brother completely from the heart.
  

The new standard is higher than the old. For a friend and companion of Jesus, this standard will still be higher.

Knowledge of God 2

"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." (Esther 4: 17c)

Esther's knowledge of God reminds me of two other biblical characters: Hannah, mother of Samuel and Mary, Mother of Jesus. In a prayer of thanksgiving, these two women poured forth their knowledge of God and faith in him. How empowering it is to know God. To know that God our Father is almighty, all wise, all loving and to act on this knowledge everyday is to live a truly victorious life.

How can we come by this knowledge of God?

The word of God, the Bible is the source of true knowledge of God.

Sovereign God

"Lord, Lord, Almighty King, everything is subject to your power, and there is no one who can withstand you in your determination to save Israel." (Esther 4: 17b)

"For in putting all things under him he made no exceptions." (Hebrews 2: 8)

God made no exceptions to the law that "All things serve him." (Psalm 119:91)

He made no exceptions to the law that "All things work together for good to them that love him." (Romans 8: 28)

Jesus Christ has absolute power to save us. There are no exceptions in this. Everyone is included.

 

"It follows, then, that his power to save those who come to God through him is absolute, since he lives forever to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7: 25)

Christ's power to save is absolute. The power of Jesus is not bound by the limitations of geography or time. He has absolute power in the truest sense of the word. He is therefore worthy of absolute trust.

Example of Jonah

"The word of Yahweh was addressed to Jonah a second time. 'Up!' he said, 'Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to it as I shall tell you.' Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of Yahweh." (Jonah 3: 1 – 3)

Jonah had learned his lesson after the experience of disobeying God the first time he heard God's command. His trying to escape God was futile. Because the gifts and call of God are irrevocable (Romans 11: 29), the call came a second time. This time, Jonah was ready to do what he was commanded. He set out in obedience to Yahweh to preach 'what Yahweh shall tell him,' no more, no less. The Ninevites were also ready for God's word and responded to the call for conversion.

Lord, your gifts and call are irrevocable. Thank you for your faithfulness and mercy. May your gifts and call to me not be in vain. Amen!

The Rain and the Snow

"For, as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return before having watered the earth, fertilizing it and making it germinate to provide seed for the sower and food to eat, so it is with the word that goes from my mouth: it will not return to me unfulfilled or before having carried out my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do." (Isaiah 55: 10 – 11)

As I write this, I look out of the window and gazed at the rain and thunder blasts. I thought to myself: "It is true that God himself sends the rain and snow." This something that no government or human can claim to do. God sends the rain and the snow to water the earth, fertilize it and make it provide the food we need. Human beings claim to produce the food. But they cannot claim to produce the land on which the food grows or the water that fertilizes the land.

God says to me in the above scripture: The rain and snow carry out the divine order faithfully. So does every word of God.

O God, grant me the grace never to doubt your word. May all your word to me come be fulfilled. Amen!

Corporate Works of Mercy

"Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me." (Matthew 25: 34 – 35)

Corporate works of mercy:

• Feed the hungry
  
• Give water to the thirsty
  
• Welcome the stranger
  
• Clothe the naked
  
• Visit the sick
  
• Visit the prisoner
  

Lord, help me to see you in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the prisoner. And when I have seen you in them, inspire me on what to do. Amen!

Enticing Promises

"Yahweh will always guide you, will satisfy your needs in the scorched land, he will give strength to your bones and you will be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never run dry." (Isaiah 58: 11)

• Continual guidance (Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 3:5)
  
• Total and sufficient support (Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 6:34)
  
• Healing (Matthew 8: 17; Psalm 103: 2)
  
• Fresh and renewed (Psalm 3: 5)
  

God promises continual guidance, total and sufficient provision even when resources are generally scarce. Good health and renewal of mind and body are also promised. My God, these are very generous and very enticing promises. Who am I not to fall for them? Bless me lavishly with all of them. Amen!

Time for Temptation

"The Spirit sent Jesus out toward the desert. He stayed in the wasteland 40 days, put to the test there by Satan. He was with wild beasts, and angels waited on him." (Mark 1: 12 – 15)

What does the temptation of Jesus teach me?

For forty days, Jesus was tempted by Satan. He overcame the temptation and angels ministered to him. There is a time for everything says the Book of Ecclesiastes:

• A time to be born and a time to die
  
• A time to kill and a time to heal
  
• A time to cry and a time to laugh
  

There is also a time for spiritual consolation and a time for temptation.

Lord, help me to realize the period of temptation and enable me to put on the full armor you gave me in Ephesians 6: 10 – 20.

The Blood of Christ

"See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you ….. " (Genesis 9: 8 – 15)

The blood of Jesus Christ is the sign of the new covenant.

The Eucharist recalls this deed. The Eucharist is the supreme promise of our salvation.

Awesome Promises for Lent

"Then you will cry for help and Yahweh will answer; you will call and he will say, 'I am here.'"(Isaiah 58:9)

I call the whole of Isaiah 58, the covenant statement for Lent.

God promises: If you truly turn to me with all your heart during this Lent, ask and I will give you anything. But first of all, listen to what I am asking of you:

• Do away with the yoke
  
• Do away with clenched fist
  
• Do away with malicious words
  
• Deprive yourself for the hungry
  
• Satisfy the needs of the afflicted
  

Now listen to my promises to you:

1. Your light will shine in the darkness
   
2. I will always guide you
   
3. I will satisfy your needs in the scorched land
   
4. I will give strength to your bones
   
5. You will be like a watered garden:
   
6. Like flowing spring whose waters never run dry
   
7. Your ruins will be rebuilt
   
8. You will build on age-old foundations
   
9. You will be called 'Breach-mender'
   
10. Restorer of streets to be lived in
    

Wow! Very powerful message for Lent.

Lord God, your promises are awesome and they delight my heart. I believe every one of them. Help me to live according to your word so that I can enjoy these promises.