"I shall bring them back to live in the heart of Jerusalem, and they will be my people and I shall be their God, faithful and just." (Zechariah 8: 8)
Lord, rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Yahweh shall build me up. "If Yahweh does not build the house, they labor in vain who builds it." Yahweh shall bring me back to live in the heart of Jerusalem. Yahweh shall restore me to His favors.
"Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you." (Matthew 21: 31)
The tax collectors and prostitutes heard the word of God and amended their lives. The members of the household of God heard the word of God and resisted conversion. Many are called but few are chosen.
"Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2: 5)
What specific attitude is Paul talking about in this scripture? Probably humility.
Christ set for us an inimitable example of humility in His life. Imagine the king washing the feet of his servants. Imagine the president serving the poor at table not just occasionally for the camera but for real. St. Louis of France whose feast is yesterday, 25th of August had in him the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus. He frequently served the poor at table.
"Father, you show your almighty power in your mercy and forgiveness. Continue to fill us with your gifts of love. Help us to hurry towards the eternal life you promise and come to share in the joys of your kingdom…." (Liturgical prayer on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
How does God show His all compassing, awesome power? Through mercy and forgiveness.
How does man show his miniscule power? Through violence and destruction.
"If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross everyday and follow me." (Luke 9: 23)
From the list below, which does God wants us to renounce?
Or some of everything?
The Holy Spirit will help us through the grace of the present moment to know what to renounce and to comply.
"For I Yahweh declares – shall be a wall of fire all round her and I shall be the glory within her." (Zechariah 2: 9)
Yahweh shall be a fire wall round his people to protect and to guide them. But if God is a wall of fire round his people, why does evil seem to penetrate sometimes?
Christ's life, death and resurrection completely changed the definition of suffering for the Christian.
"Do not fear those who can destroy the body. But fear rather he who has the power to destroy body and soul in hell." The ultimate evil is sin and hell.
"But you, who do you say that I am?" (Luke 9: 20)
Who is Jesus Christ to me?
He is my God, my Savior, my King, my Boss, my best Friend and my Companion.
"I am with you' declares Yahweh Sabaoth, 'and my spirit is present among you. Do not be afraid." ((Haggai 2: 4 – 5)
Yahweh is with me in this journey. And because Yahweh is with me, it is accomplished. I do not fear. Yahweh will rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He will arouse the spirit of men to help me.
"Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" I believe Lord. I will not fear. The spirit of Yahweh is with me. He is helping me.
"And he (Herod) was anxious to see him." (Luke 9: 9)
Why was Herod anxious to see Jesus?
Whatever motive Herod might have for wanting to see Jesus, won't be great if at the end of each day, we could say, "I was anxious to see Jesus today." The bible promises: Search for Him and you shall find Him. Another person who was anxious to see Jesus was Zachaeus.
"The wage earner gets his wages only to put them in a bag with a hole in it." (Haggai 1:6)
It is utter foolishness for a wage earner to put his hard earned money in a bag with holes in it. Yet, according to the word of God, this is what happens when we put our business first and God's business last.
The Lord says: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all these things will be given you besides." (Matthew 6:33)
When we invest our gifts of time, talent and treasure, when we promote God's business first and not the last in our priority, the return on investment is a 100 fold in this life and in the life to come, everlasting happiness.
"He called the 12 together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal." (Luke 9: 1-2)
We exercise power over devils when we reject evil in our life. When we help someone overcome the influence of evil in their life, we fulfill the injunction of Luke 9: 1 – 6. The word of God is the sword of the spirit. It is our weapon par excellence against the forces of darkness. Know the word, understand the word and use the word.
"And now, for a brief moment, the favor of Yahweh our God has allowed a remnant of us to escape and give us a stable home in his holy place, so that our God can raise our spirits and revive us a little in our slavery." (Ezra 9: 8-9)
Even in the midst of the most severe test and crisis, look for the finger of God ever ready to comfort and encourage us.
God punishes. He also revives. Our afflictions and punishment are temporary.
"On each one of us God's favor has been bestowed in whatever way Christ allotted it." (Ephesians 4:7) – Feast of St. Matthew
The choice! The call! The anointed!
What favor has God bestowed on Matthew, the tax collector? A tax recorder is now promoted to record the good news.
A marketing man now markets the good news.
"I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last."
"No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed." (Luke 8: 16)
How does the Lord light up the lamp that is us?
The lamp is lighted to be put on the table to give light to the whole room. That room is our ministry field. This could be:
Lord, lead us, guide us and use us.
"Yahweh roused the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia to issue a proclamation and to have it publicly displayed throughout his kingdom." (Ezra 1: 1)
Through the agency of Cyrus, God fulfilled His promise to end the exile of His people and send them home. God is the Lord of history. He is all powerful and all sovereign. Whatever He wants, He accomplishes. Nobody can stand in His way. It gives tremendous comfort to worship such a God. Through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we are confident to call such a God, our Father. Almighty God, I delight to call you Father.
"You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just." (From Matthew 20: 1 – 16)
There is no unemployment in the kingdom. Even for the worker who came to search for work very late in the day, there is work to be done. There is work for everybody at all times. I have found that this truth has helped me so much. God is the source of all inspiration and power. Jesus Christ is our Boss who says - "You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just." (Matthew 20: 7) If we look up to Him with trust, He will provide work even in very lean times. That work may be study time or volunteer work that helps to prepare us for paid employment.
"As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts." (Isaiah 55: 6 – 9)
God is all powerful, all wise and all sovereign. Is it surprising therefore to learn that we cannot grasp His thoughts nor wrap our mind around His providential designs? "Fear is useless; what is needed is trust." (Luke 8:50). Doubt is useless, what is needed is trust. Disputations, rationalizations are useless; what is needed is trust. Acceptance of this truth makes us receive with calmness all that happens in our life.
"Father, guide us as you guide creation according to your law of love. May we love one another and come to perfection in the eternal life prepared for use….." (Liturgical Prayer 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
God guides creation with love. What about the hurricanes, natural disasters, wars, hunger, poverty, disease, crimes? There is the finger of God in all these. The providential design of God expressly ordains or permits everything that happens in the world. God is in control of His world. God is almighty, all wise and completely sovereign. Not a hair falls from our head without His knowing and permitting it.
Father, I delight to call you Father. I am confident of your promise of protection, provision, peace, power, purpose and pardon. Watch over me like the apple of your eye.
"I am the Savior of all people, says the Lord. Whatever their troubles, I will answer their cry, and I will always be their Lord." (Entrance Antiphon, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
God Himself is our Savior. Every man's Savior. Whatever our trouble, He will answer our cry. Most troubles in life fall into one of these categories:
I have been in many troubles all my life but God has been always good to me. But what about the troubles I had cried to God and had not received the answer I expected? I can think of when I prayed for promotion and was fired. I think of another occasion when I asked for help from another organization and was asked to leave. Did God hear my prayer? Yes, of course He did. I know because of the peace I felt at the material time. I believe that God heard my prayer and provided the best answer. I saw this clearly some years after the event.
"A sower went out to sow his seed." (Luke 8: 5)
The sower is Christ and the seed is the word of God. Today I am the sower and the seed is still the word of God. In this parable, Jesus presents a model for apostolic activity. The sower sows the good seed. The seed now needs to interact with the soil in order to yield harvest. Paul sows, Apollo waters and God provides the growth.
Lesson: do your best; do what is right and have peace. Have no anxiety at all.
