God of the living

"He is God, not of the dead, but of the living." (Mark 12: 27)

God created man for eternal life. He is God of the living and not God of the dead.

I will not be put to shame

"To you, O Lord I lift of my eyes. In you I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. No one who waits for you shall be put to shame; ……" (Psalm 25: 2-3)

I read the above scripture and I identify completely with the sentiments of the Psalmist. No wonder the Psalter is the prayer book of Israel and the prayer of the Church. The Psalms provide us with ready words in which to express our prayer. We can identify with much of the feelings and aspirations of the Psalmist.

I trust God for everything and I know that I will not be put to shame. He has been faithful every one of the almost 4700 days of the Enterprise. Surely my enemies cannot exult over me or ask: "where is your God?"

Caleb’s encouragement

Reading 1
Nm 13:1-2, 25–14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35

The LORD said to Moses [in the desert of Paran,]
"Send men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan,
which I am giving the children of Israel.
You shall send one man from each ancestral tribe,
all of them princes."

After reconnoitering the land for forty days they returned,
met Moses and Aaron and the whole congregation of the children of Israel
in the desert of Paran at Kadesh,
made a report to them all,
and showed the fruit of the country
to the whole congregation.
They told Moses:  "We went into the land to which you sent us.
It does indeed flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit.
However, the people who are living in the land are fierce,
and the towns are fortified and very strong.
Besides, we saw descendants of the Anakim there.
Amalekites live in the region of the Negeb;
Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites dwell in the highlands,
and Canaanites along the seacoast and the banks of the Jordan."

Caleb, however, to quiet the people toward Moses, said,
"We ought to go up and seize the land, for we can certainly do so."
But the men who had gone up with him said,
"We cannot attack these people; they are too strong for us."
So they spread discouraging reports among the children of Israel
about the land they had scouted, saying,
"The land that we explored is a country that consumes its inhabitants.
And all the people we saw there are huge, veritable giants
(the Anakim were a race of giants);
we felt like mere grasshoppers, and so we must have seemed to them."

At this, the whole community broke out with loud cries,
and even in the night the people wailed.

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:
"How long will this wicked assembly grumble against me?
I have heard the grumblings of the children of Israel against me.
Tell them: By my life, says the LORD,
I will do to you just what I have heard you say.
Here in the desert shall your dead bodies fall.
Forty days you spent in scouting the land;
forty years shall you suffer for your crimes:
one year for each day.
Thus you will realize what it means to oppose me.
I, the LORD, have sworn to do this
to all this wicked assembly that conspired against me:
here in the desert they shall die to the last man."

The above scripture was the first reading in today's Mass all over the world. I was fascinated by the lessons. For me the greatest lesson is that every challenge and every trial is a test of faith. Whom do you trust? It is clear that the Israelite scouts who gave the negative and discouraging report on the expedition never put God into the equation. They demoralized the people by their human-based wisdom. On the other hand, Caleb gave a report full of faith and hope because he knew that one with God is always a majority. As I reflected on this, I thought of the Enterprise and all my impediments. I took encouragement from the lesson that one with God is always a majority.

Food for the journey

3

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life, going to Beer-sheba of Judah. He left his servant there

4

and went a day's journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers."

5

He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat.

6

He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again,

7

but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!"

8

He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb. (1 Kings 19: 3 – 8)

 

"There is no surer pledge or dearer sign of this great hope in the new heavens and new earth "in which righteousness dwells,' than he Eucharist. Every time the mystery is celebrated, 'the work of our redemption is carried on' and 'we break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1405)

 

I came today to the unshakeable conviction that frequent Eucharist is a major reason for maintaining me on course in this Journey. Thank you Jesus.

Prayer is the key

"This time the prayer of each of them (Tobit and Sarah) found favor before the glory of God, and Raphael was sent to bring remedy to them both." (Tobit 3: 16)

Prayer is the key to God's heart. Do not hang up on God. Hang in there. Persevere in prayer. Be assured that the time of answer will come.

To pray is to work

"Pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar and God what belongs to God." (Mark 12: 7)

To Caesar belongs taxes and civil obedience. To God belongs adoration, worship, love and service.

Through my taxes and work, I help to build up the city of man. When I build up the city of man in the spirit of Jesus Christ, I build up at the same time the city of God. Orare est laborare and laborare est orare.

The just man fears no bad news

"The heart of the just man is secure trusting in the Lord…… An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm trusting in the Lord." (Psalm 112:7)

Who is the just man? The man whose righteousness comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christ in us is our hope of glory.

About ten years, I confided the reflection below on Psalm 112: 7 to my diary:

The just man fears no bad news. When RD told me six weeks ago that he had bad news for me about casa, my heart did not fear. I trusted in the Lord to deliver me. And He did.

Our faith is supported by reason which in this case is evidence of experience. I have reason or experience to believe that God will deliver me from any crisis if I trust Him.

The Cross

"The message of the cross is folly for those who are on the way to ruin, but for those of us who are on the road to salvation it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1: 18)

God's folly is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1: 25)

The message of the cross comes to us through God's providential designs for our lives every day. The cross and all it represents is God's wisdom. Trust in it completely.

St. Justin Martyr

"Father, through the folly of the cross you taught St. Justin the sublime wisdom of Jesus Christ. May we too reject falsehood and remain loyal to the faith…" (Mass Prayer on the feast of St. Justin Martyr)

St. Paul writing to the Corinthians on the paradox of the cross says: "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:17-18)

The cause of Christ is served more through faith and prayer than any other means. "I promise to be your strength in proportion to the trust you place on me."

The Fables of the Wicked

"The wicked tempted me with their fables against your law, but I proclaimed your decrees before kings without fear or shame." (Psalm 119: 85, 46)

What are some of the fables of the wicked?

• Quick prosperity schemes
  
• Eternal youth drugs
  
• Peace and happiness without responsibility
  
• Money can buy anything
  

How does one stand his ground against such fables?

• By asking for the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit everyday
  
• By reading and meditating on the word of God day and night
  
• By prayer
  

 

Miracle of faith

"Lord, let the Church praise you for the great things you have done for your people. May we always recognize with joy the presence of Christ in the Eucharist we celebrate, as John the Baptist hailed the presence of our Savior in the womb of Mary…" (Mass Prayer on the feast of Visitation)

In this prayer, the Church recognizes the miracle of the recognition of Jesus still in the womb of Mary by John the Baptist who was in the womb of Elizabeth, the mother. Jesus Christ is truly present to us in every Eucharist. How do we recognize Him in the Eucharist? We recognize Him through the miracle of faith. Through faith, we see more than the physical eye is able to see. Faith enables us to see with the eye of the spirit.

Firm Belief

"Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, for your firm believing, that the promises of the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1: 45, Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

The angel of the Lord declared to Mary that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God. Although, eye had never seen nor ear heard of such a thing, Mary believed firmly in God's promise. She knew that He who made the promise is faithful. It became done unto her according to her belief.

How do I emulate Mary's firm belief? What are God's promises to me here and now?

• The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23)
  
• If God is with me, who can be against me? (Romans 8: 31)
  
• God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. (Isaiah 12: 2-3)
  
• Yahweh will do the fighting for me. (Exodus 14: 14)
  
• "Fear is useless; what is needed is trust." (Luke 8:50)
  

Isaiah says that faith that is firm is also patient. Like Mary I believe that God who made the above promises is faithful. He is not a man to lie nor is His hand too short to perform. God accomplishes whatever He wills come what may.

Fountain of Salvation

"God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation …." (Isaiah 12: 2-3)

What is the fountain of salvation?

It is the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, Christ Jesus speaks to us through His word. We answer Him through our prayers. Then He offers us His flesh and His blood as food and drink.

The Church teaches that the Eucharist is the source, the center and the summit of our Christian life.

Emmanuel 2

"Yahweh your God is there with you, the warrior-savior. He will rejoice over you with happy song, as on a day of festival. I have taken away your misfortune, no longer need you bear the disgrace of it." (Zephaniah 3: 17)

This is a happy prophecy. I rejoice whenever I see the promise of "God is with you." I respond: "If God is with me, then it is accomplished." All is well if God is with me; all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.

In the Old Testament, one of the greatest blessings comes from the promise "God is with you." The incarnation of this promise is the very person of Jesus Christ, who is Emmanuel, "God with us." Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the one who stands at the door and knocks. He has promised to be with anybody who opens the door for Him and welcomes Him into His house.

Lord Jesus, come in! The house is yours!

The Holy Spirit and Inspiration

"Father, you inspired the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your Son to visit Elizabeth and assist her in her need. Keep us open to the working of your Spirit, and with Mary may we praise you forever…." (Mass Prayer)

The Holy Spirit inspired Mary to visit Elizabeth. God is the source of all inspiration and power.

How would you feel if the Holy Spirit were to inspire you today on what to do on your job and give you the courage to do it? You will succeed in everything you do today. The one thing I need, the one thing I pray for with tenacity is for inspiration and power. The best things I have done in my life have all come through inspirations.

Father, keep me open to the working of your Holy Spirit and grant that I may praise you forever with Mary.

Great things the Lord has done for me

"Come, all you who fear God, and hear the great things the Lord has done for me." (Psalm 66: 16)

What great things has the Lord done for me recently?

• The Eucharist
  
• Study of His word
  
• Two clients who renewed their annual contract
  

When I meet the Lord in prayer every Monday morning, I review the blessings of the past week. One constant blessing I thank Him week after week is the blessing of enjoying the weekend particularly Sunday. Sunday has become my favorite day of the week. I enjoy the full Sabbath rest. I have come to realize the wisdom and love of God in granting us the Sabbath rest. The Sabbath rest is for me a time of physical, mental and spiritual renewal. It is amazing how much inspiration I receive for my job on Sundays. The mind is relaxed and the strength of the mind seems to come to full power when it is relaxed and under no pressure of time and space.

The Egyptians

"Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still." (Exodus 14: 13-14)

About fifteen years ago, I was in deep crisis with regard to my job and my future. I was in a hotel room and I could not sleep. I took up the Bible on the night stand, flipped it open and it fell on the above passage. I read it and was gripped by the message. I saw clearly my dire circumstances as the "Egyptians." I believed what I read. The "Egyptians" could be overcome with the help of God. I prayed and my conviction increased that God could help me to overcome the Egyptians. The critical moment of test arrived and God helped me to overcome the "Egyptians."

Since then, I had learned that prayer is the efficient cause for answer to our needs. I have also learned what faith means. It is the conviction that what God says is true. And growth in faith? It is the deepening of the conviction through experience that as God had acted previously in a crisis, He could act similarly in the present emergency.

Prayer is the efficient cause of answer

"Lord God, we worship you, a Trinity of Persons, one eternal God. May our faith and the sacrament we receive bring us health of mind and body." (Mass Prayer)

Faith is the efficient cause of access to God's promises of:

• Peace
  
• Provision
  
• Protection
  
• Power
  
• Purpose
  
• Pardon
  

This is because God is the first cause of all things. Prayer is the efficient cause of answer which comes in form of the above blessings. Prayer and answer form a loop in the divine plan of communication. When you prayer, expect an answer. I am often irked that some people send me an email without checking back for the reply. What do they expect? No reply?

Abba Father

"As a proof that you are children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (Galatians 4:6)

As often as I am able to cry out from heart, "Abba, Father" I am reassured of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I should remember this each time I say the Lord's Prayer. Jesus Christ taught us to pray confidently to the Father. The Holy Spirit helps us to do so.

Believe in Jesus

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 3: 16)

Thank you Father.

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

To believe in Jesus means to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him.