"Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6: 3)
Consequence of our Baptism: "You too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus."
Am I dead to sin? I believe so even though I do not feel so. Have I rejected Satan with all his promises and gifts? Absolutely!
"The promises of the Lord I will sing forever, through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness." (Psalm 89: 2)
I want to be an apostle of God's faithfulness. I will proclaim God's faithfulness at every opportunity I have.
"Father in heaven, the light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin. Called to the light we ask for your guidance. Form our lives in your truth, our hearts in your love….." (Mass Prayer)
The light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin in our hearts. We are now people of the light. We ask the Father to form our lives in the truth of the Gospel and our hearts in His love.
"Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of your truth…." (Mass Prayer on 13th Sunday or Ordinary Time)
God our Father wants us to walk in the light of Christ, that is, in the light of the Gospel. God wants us to imitate Christ and obey His teaching.
We ask the Father to free us from darkness, that is, darkness with regard to God's will and plan. Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. He who believes in me shall never walk in darkness." Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ, says St. Jerome.
"Go back, then; let this be done for you, as your faith demands.' And the servant was cured at that moment." (Matthew 8: 13)
The centurion's faith demanded certain precise action. He believed in Jesus and that Jesus could make the object of his faith a reality. His faith produced a miracle.
What does my faith demand here and now? What should my faith demand?
My faith should demand the one thing that is necessary for me. That one thing is the filling of the Holy Spirit. This is the only thing that I need. If I have this, everything else will fall into place.
Lord strengthen my faith so that it becomes strong enough to demand the filling of the Holy Spirit here and now.
"My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior." (Luke 1: 46 – 47)
When the Lord visited Abraham and Sarah, their spirit was filled with joy and they proclaimed the greatness of the Lord. Mary's spirit was also filled with joy in God her savior. She expressed her gratitude with the magnificent Magnificat.
The Lord remembered His mercy to Hannah and to David. David after singing his Magnificat, backslided and the Lord lifted him up. The Lord has also remembered His mercy to me. Like David, I backslided. The Lord will lift me up.
"I shall come back to you next year, and then your wife Sarah will have a son." (Genesis 10)
Abraham and the wife prayed for a son for many years. And when it appears that they had given up on this hope, God visited them and promised: "I shall come back to you next year, and then your wife Sarah will have a son." (Genesis 10)
What have I stopped praying for and why? God remembers His covenant forever. Even if I forget the prayer and the promise, God remembers.
"Nothing is impossible for Yahweh." (Genesis 18: 14)
Thank you Father for being so faithful. Behold I am your child. Let your plan for my life be fully accomplished.
"Lord if you are willing, you can cleanse me.' Jesus said to him, 'I am willing. Be cleansed." (Matthew 8: 1-4)
Jesus is always willing to cleanse us from our sins. Thank you Jesus. Oh that we will always remember this. Help us Lord to share this good news with people in most need of your mercy.
"This is your covenant which you must keep between myself and you and your descendants after you: everyone of your males must be circumcised." (Genesis 17: 10)
Circumcision is the sign of the old covenant. This is a visible indelible mark. The Eucharist is the sign of the new covenant. It is also a visible concrete sign. Genesis 17:10 reminds me that I am covenanted to God.
"Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day he appeared openly to Israel." (Luke 1: 80)
The desert is a place of formation, temptations and trials. This is the abode of John the Baptist during his hidden life. He was prepared for his ministry in the desert. Great saints are also formed in the desert. I loved my desert experience.
"Before John ended his course he said, "I am not one you imagined me to be; there is someone coming after me whose sandals I am not fit to undo." (Acts 13: 25)
John finished his course. He prepared the way for Jesus. He was the coming attraction before the main movie. He did his job very well. How well are we doing our job? Do we know what that job is?
"The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm
He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me." (Isaiah 49: 1 -2)
Yahweh called John the Baptist. He made John the Baptist what he was. Yahweh calls and makes saints and martyrs.
Yahweh called me. Yahweh will make me into what I will be. I will be docile and pliant so that Yahweh will form me into His design and purpose.
"Live in me and let me live in you; my branches bear much fruit." (John 15: 4, 5)
Live in Christ through His word and sacraments. This is the first principle of productivity in the Kingdom.
The branch lives through the sap it draws from the tree trunk. To be a healthy branch, it draws this sap constantly. When we attach ourselves to Christ through His word and sacraments, we draw on His life incessantly. With time, we begin to produce the same kind of fruits as Jesus. Fruits of faith, hope and love. Fruits of peace and joy.
"Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits." (Matthew 7: 15 – 16)
Lord, help me to produce fruits of peace, love, faith and hope wherever I go.
"The Lord remembers his covenant forever." (Psalm 105: 8)
One of the attributes of God that I love most is His faithfulness. God is faithful forever. I like to reflect from time to time on all the promises from the Bible that I have claimed for myself. If do not think of them for some time, I forget them. How wonderful to know that even if I forget them, the Lord remembers every one of them.
"The Lord remembers his covenant forever." (Psalm 105: 8)
"Do not be afraid, Abram! I am your shield and shall give you a great reward." (Genesis 15: 1)
"Abram put his faith on Yahweh and this was reckoned to him as uprightness." (Genesis 15: 6)
Yes, I trust in God's word. I am not afraid. God is my shield. He will take care of me in every circumstance.
"Blessed is she who believed that God's promise to her will be fulfilled." Mary believed the word of God and she is blessed.
"Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7: 6)
We must be enthusiastic for evangelization. The enthusiasm however must be moderated by wisdom. Let the Holy Spirit lead and we follow.
St. Ignatius Loyola counseled three essentials in any worker in God's vineyard:
With these three essentials under our belt, it will be difficult to throw pearls in front of dogs.
"Look all round from where you are, to north and south, to east and west, for all the land within sight I shall give to you and your descendants forever." (Genesis 13: 14-15)
The promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. He is the King of the universe. Where the kingdom is, there is the king. Where the king is, there is the kingdom.
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the standard used for you." (Matthew 7: 2)
Do not judge.
Do not criticize.
Do not condemn.
"Leave your country, your kindred and your father's house for a country which I shall show you." (Genesis 12: 1)
The Enterprise is a journey to a country which God has indicated.
Abraham is the father of faith. He heard God's word, believed it and obeyed it.
The Enterprise is a journey with Christ. Christ Jesus is our mighty champion.
Father, may we never doubt your word.
