Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Becoming instruments of salvation John 17:20-26  From the first reading, Paul received Jesus' command to go to the center of the earth - Rome.  This is in contrast with the confusion of the Pharisees and the Sadducees over the issue of the resurrection.  The truth is not a matter of opinion.  On the contrary, it is an issue of discerning the Absolute truth that sets us all free - God himself. In the second reading, Jesus prays for all the children of God to be one as he and the Father are one and that we might be kept safe until we are totally united to the Father. These events all lead us to who we are: disciples molded according to the very heart of Jesus to lead all people to salvation.  We are the instruments of Jesus' salvation to the world. How do we become instruments of Jesus' salvation?  We become one by being catechized by the Eucharist, the Word, and the teachings of the apostles. Let, we are concerned with the good of others through...

Instruments of salvation Matthew 10:7-15 In the readings, God fulfills his promise to save Israel from famine.  In the gospel, Jesus instructs his apostles how to save people through the path of presence and dialogue with life. What is our response to God's action to save?  Let us follow God's action of salvation.  Remove all negative thoughts of judgment and condemnation that the world is hopeless and we can only save ourselves.  Our more important task is not to survive but to lead people to God. Remove all hindrances when we are to work for the salvation of others.  Let us go out of our homes and start serving.  Let our worldview be God's worldview.  The view of the world is saving its own. There people don't have time to save others. Third, fit all worlds to God's world.  God leads everyone in the world to serve others.  Whatever we can contribute, let's go for the greater good.  We would be able to see our role in the gre...

Salvation Matthew 9:32-37 Our reflection for today is how to possess God's intention to save.  Our behavior in this world should not merely be about surviving in this life but of saving others. There are two connotations of salvation I wish to share: First, salvation means out rightly, "to be saved from harm" which we obtained through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  We contribute to this cause by engaging in the forgiveness of Jesus. But the second connotation of salvation is "to bring to life" or to a state of being eternally alive.  We contribute by bringing life to others through service and sacrifice. In this way, we contribute to being workers of the Lord in the field of great harvest.

Love the sinner Matthew 8:28-34 "Hate the sin but love the sinner." In the gospel, even though Jesus exorcised the demons out of the two men, still the people wanted him out of their village.  They were not able to distinguish between what is good and evil. The intention of God himself is to save people and put an end to sin which He did through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  Let us share in this task by not judging or condemning people.  It is our duty to save others.  But let us also be resolved to put an end to the sin that lurks in people's hearts and find their way in communities and nations. This is what it means to "hate the sin but love the sinner."  We condemn the sin, but let us do everything to lead the sinner back to God.

Work out our salvation Luke 14:25-33 Modern-day Catholics should get a renewed outlook on "working out our salvation" as St. Paul says in the first reading.  This is in sharp contrast with toiling for food and family survival and thinking about spiritual things afterwards. We need a blueprint for salvation.  Already supplied by our Lord, we need to align our lives and every decision and action we undertake to the grand plan of salvation.   This thinking not only for the family, but for others most specially the poor; thinking not only for this generation but for next generations to come; and thinking not only for us but most importantly, for God.

29th Friday, year 1 "Gusto kong bumait, pero di ko magawa" are the attractive lines of a song sung by a rock band to say that there is something in us that prevents us from doing good. Actually, the statement may be right considering that there is something in us that desires almost everything, from food to luxury and power.  But there's also another saying that goes "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" to tell us that desires could be insatiable and they are there to bring havoc to us all. "Who will save me from all of these?" St. Paul asks; and here is the answer: "Jesus Christ!" Recall when Jesus was born that first Christmas and the angels sang their praise: "Peace on earth to men of good will!"  We are the people of good will.  Our spiritual side enables us to be oriented towards the Divine.  And the reason we are desiring these things is because truthfully, we desire for something that will grant us true and lasting ha...

This is a question posed by non-Catholic Christians to those who do not belong to their group. However threatening this question may seem to be, this also bears the Good news: with Christ all of us are saved!  He sacrificed his life so as to win reconciliation through faith.  God justified everyone who believes in Jesus" (Romans 3:21-30) This statement marks the universality of faith: God is a God of all and Jesus died for all.  Secondly, it stresses who we are: we are children united under one Lord.  We don't have to go on our own.  We need to insure that all others are receiving the very life we are receiving from God. So, instead of being anxious whether we would be saved or not, let us utilize all time, talent, and treasure gaining others for Christ until everyone experiences the gift of redemption!