Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Friday of the 2nd week of Eastertide John 6:1-15

Wednesday of the Week 5 Mark 7:14-23 Is wisdom today a scarce commodity?  All people can have the gift of wisdom as Solomon has. Let's start with the the conventional definitions of wisdom.  It is knowledge gained by experience.  Life itself is a school where we learn the lessons of life.  We need the grace of the Lord to show us the way. Wisdom is also the natural ability to understand. In order to gain wisdom we need the following: knowledge, the heart to discern, and the right judgement untainted by evil intentions. In St. Ignatius' spirituality, he recommends that our decisions should be for the common good, for the salvation of others and for greater glory of God.  All these tie up harmoniously to produce good works on earth, the fruits of wisdom of God. *** Jesus teaches us the nothing from the outside makes us unclean; but rather what comes inside, for inside, there are 'fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, ind...

Fruitfulness Mark 8:14-21 We have seen fruits in the letter of St. James, by our actions pleasing to God, we are like first fruits of God's creation. Jesus in the gospel reminds the apostles of the fruits of the Pharisees in contrast with his fruits as reflected in the multiplication of the loaves. You will know a tree by its fruits.  There are two fruits, the fruits of life and the fruits of sin.  Let us focus on the fruitfulness of being servants of God.  These are: 1. Holy actions - God's son's and daughters reflect God's holiness in thought, word, and deed; this is in contrast with the open admittance of man's fallenness that he doesn't have any intention of rising from the state of fallenness. 2. many are saved - define salvation wholistically and integrally; not just spiritual salvation; and 3. the glory of God is revealed - every action, thought, or word gives testimony to the glorified Lord.

The one killing us is our notion of ordinariness.  We think we are just ordinary human beings with ordinary needs and wants just like any other.  Meanwhile, we let others control our destiny. Our lives are not ordinary; we are living witnesses of our world today.  Either we do what we are supposed to do or rue it all. Our children our growing, the clock is ticking, and we have only one life to live. If we are to decide to act accordingly, pray, that it be fruitful - not only do our families benefit but all people; not only do we think of our own generation but the next; and finally, not only do we think about our stay in this world but what is to come - eternity in heaven with God.  It is God whom we should reflect.  It is Him whom we should serve.

What constitutes a fruitful life? Everyone wants a fruitful life. But what kind? In order to attain a fruitful life, one must be clear - what kind of fruitfulness do we want? How long will it last? Where will the fruitfulness go? Will it reach unto everlasting life? Will it reach out to a greater majority of people? Will it make us more human? The really fruitful life can only be found in God.