Perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding

"….We ask that through perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding, you should reach the fullest knowledge of his will and so be able to lead a life worthy of the Lord, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects." (Colossians 1: 9 – 10)

The fruit of perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding is discernment of God's will for our life. Perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding come from regular reading and reflection of God's word and prayer. This leads to a clear understanding that God's will for us is not arbitrary or tyrannical but the best policy. When we live by discernment of spirits, our decisions are guided by the question – "What is God's will for me here and now?"

Without the gift of discernment of spirits, it is impossible "to lead a life worthy of the Lord, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects."

Good News Everywhere

"I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do." (Luke 4: 43)

Christ came to proclaim the good news of the kingdom everywhere.

Every Christian has the obligation to proclaim the good news everywhere. The Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of mission will enable us to accomplish this.

"I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last." (John 15: 16, 19)

"I will be a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia!" (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

Surprised like a thief

"But you, brothers, do not live in the dark, that the Day should not take you unaware like a thief." (1 Thessalonians 5:4)

About times and seasons, be always prepared.

The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Opportunity will come like a thief in the night. Disaster will come like a thief in the night.

Prepare yourself always through prayer, word of God and the sacraments. And nothing can take you unaware. The Psalmist says that those who trust in God fear no bad news. They fear no bad news because they are always prepared for anything.

The Missionary Spirit

"The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted." (Luke 4: 18)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of mission. He anoints us for a specific mission.

"I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last." (John 15: 16, 19)

"I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia!" (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

The Big Hope

"We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, to make sure that you do not grieve for them, as others do who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4: 13)

Those who died in Christ shall rise again. This is the central truth of Christianity. This is the end of religion. This is the entire objective. This is the big hope.

The Eucharist strengthens us in love

"Lord, you renew us at your table with the bread of life. May this food strengthen us in love and help us to serve you in each other." (Communion Prayer on the 22^nd Sunday)

Means of renewal of mind and body:

• The Eucharist
  
• Word of God
  

The Eucharist also strengthens us in love.

Depth of Kindness

"O Lord, how great is the depth of kindness which you have shown to those who love you." (Psalm 31: 20)

God loves everyone. When we respond to His love, we experience the depth of His kindness.

Daily Cross

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." (From Matthew 16: 21 – 27)

Christian walk with Christ is taking up the cross everyday and following Jesus. The cross of yesterday is laid to rest. Focus on the cross of today. Do not waste a moment of the cross of tomorrow.

Renew your mind

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12: 1 – 2)

Be transformed by the renewal of your mind. God's word transforms and renews our mind. But it is a gradual process.

The world is desperately trying to transform and control our minds through the following:

• Mass media
  
• Marketing and advertising gimmicks
  
• False ideas circulated through books and blogs
  
• Pseudo sciences
  
• Pseudo statistics
  

For example: The word of man screams – "Control population because the earth's resources are depleting. There won't be enough for everybody."

The word of God says: "God's resources are infinite. He supplies all living things with food in due season. God is a compassionate and responsible Father."

What you believe depends on what you consume most. If you consume more the word of man, you tend to believe it. If you consume more the word of God, your faith in God and His ways grow.

Word of man is aggressive. It shouts the message through every media, using all resources. Word of God is like the gentle soft sound that is heard in deep silence.

Servant of the word

 

"You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.

Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; The word of the LORD has brought me derision and reproach all the day.

I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it." (Jeremiah 20: 7 – 9)

 

Being a servant of the word of God is not easy. Expect derision and reproach. Expect to be unpopular. The good news is that the Holy Spirit is there to always help us. We shall never be alone.

Lord, may your word triumph in or life. Overcome us by your word.

Lord of power and might

"Lord of power and might, nothing is good which is against your will, and all is of value which comes from your hand. Place in our hearts a desire to please you and fill our minds with insight into love, so that every thought may grow in wisdom and all our efforts may be filled with your peace….." (Alternate Prayer on the 22^nd Sunday)

Our Father is Lord of power and might. Nothing is good which is against the will of God. In His will is our peace, health, success and prosperity.

All is of value which comes from His hands. Our delays, disappointments and obstacles are formative when they are permitted by God. Examples are the trials of Joseph in Egypt. God used it for the utmost value not only for Joseph but for his race.

We also ask in this great prayer for the gift of desire to please God. The prayer concludes by asking that all our efforts be filled with peace. How would I feel if all my effort this Tuesday is filled with peace? Joyful, cheerful and very happy!

God is the source of every good thing

"Almighty God, every good thing comes from you. Fill our hearts with love for you, increase our faith, and by your constant care protect the good you have given us…." (Mass Prayer on the 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Every good thing comes from God:

• Casa
  
• SFW
  
• Msable
  
• Health
  
• Books
  
• Todo
  

Help us to love you, the giver of the gift. Increase our faith to trust you to provide us what we need. Protect all the good that you have given us.

Persistent Plea

"I call to you all day long, have mercy on me, O Lord. You are good and forgiving, full of love for all who call to you." (Psalm 86:3,5)

In crisis and distress, we should call on God all day long. God is good and merciful. He is full of love to anyone who calls on Him. This truth delights my heart. I will call on God in all my distress. I will trust His word that He will hear and answer me.

Two more talents

"You entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made." (Matthew 25: 22)

Lord, help us to use well the talents you have given to us.

Brotherly love

"As for brotherly love, there is no need to write to you about that, since you have yourselves learnt from God to love one another." (1 Thessalonians 4: 9)

God Himself through the Holy Spirit living in us teaches us how to love. The Holy Spirit is the source of genuine love. The love of the world is counterfeit love.

Spirit of St. Augustine

"Lord, renew in your Church the spirit you gave St. Augustine. Filled with this spirit, may we thirst for you alone as the fountain of wisdom and seek you as the source of eternal love." (Prayer on the feast of St. Augustine, August 28)

Like Saints Stephen and Paul, St. Augustine was filled with the spirit of wisdom and knowledge. Cooperating with this spirit, he was able to bear fruit that lasted up to now.

"I have chosen you from the world to go and dear fruit that will last." (John 15: 16, 19)

• "I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers." (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)
  

  
   

St. Augustine

"The Lord opened his mouth in the assembly and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and clothed him in a robe of glory." (Sirach 15: 5)

I captured the above scripture on the feast of St. Augustine – 082899. It is the Lord who made St. Augustine great.

Be Prepared2

"Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. …..So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour." (Matthew 25: 10, 13)

Be prepared. Be always prepared. You will not be warned when the Master will come. He will arrive suddenly. When the Master arrives, let Him meet you at your duty.

Holiness is the best policy

"God wills you all to be holy. He wants you to keep away from sexual immorality." (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

If God wills me to be holy, it means that He knows that holiness is possible for me. I accept the word of God that I can be holy. If God wills me to be holy, it also means that holiness is the best policy.

What does the word of man say about holiness? Holiness is impossible for man. Holiness is only for the weak and the unsuccessful.

Keep away from sexual immorality. Keep away from anything that could excite sexual immorality.

Eternal Vigilance 2

"So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your Master is coming." (Matthew 24: 42)

The wise and trustworthy servant stays awake, vigilant and doing his work. His master came back suddenly without warning and found him at his task. The Goodnews calls us again and again to eternal vigilance.

We exercise vigilance in faithfulness to our purpose.