Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary time Mark 9: 14 - 29 Real wisdom is found in one's conduct or actions.  Wisdom with jealousy is demonic.  It should produce peace and love. Jesus exorcised a man with a mute spirit.  First, he reprimanded the apostles for having a weak faith.  Secondly, he acknowledged the humility of the father, "Help me in my unbelief." And finally, he revealed the secret of exorcising this kind of demon, "Only through the power of prayer." Grant we may see the signs of wisdom in these three things: coming from a pure heart, a humble heart, and a prayerful heart.

Thursday of week 22 in Ordinary Time Luke 5:1-11 Which is wiser: to serve or not to serve? Post-modern situation priorities the ways of the world more than God's work.  Serving God may seem noble, but we don't have the time to do it. But look at what happened to Peter.  Logic tells him that it's not the time of day to catch fish. And yet, Jesus told him, " Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch ." Reluctantly, he followed Jesus. It may be a defiance of the rules of nature, but could God be pushed in favor of science and logic?  After all, God is the author of nature. Besides, could it be that God is much more concerned with giving these burnt out fishermen and their families who may be on the verge of death simply because they don't have any catch of fish.  Much more than miracles, the very nature of God is to give life.  What's wrong with that? Now, here we are, deciding not to follow the Lord because we think we can sur...

Wednesday of week 5 in Ordinary Time Mark 7:14-23 Today's readings focus on wisdom; more particularly, that of Solomon and how he impressed the Queen of Sheba.  She was moved to bless Solomon for his wisdom; her gifts were nothing as compared with Solomon's wealth of wisdom.  Eventually, Solomon's wisdom is an offshoot of God's wisdom. We admit that we gain wisdom in the length of days.  Unless we share to the next generation our mistakes and frailties, they risk committing the same mistakes we've committed.  This is wisdom. Wisdom is what Jesus explained in the Gospel: "Listen to me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean; it is the things that come out of a man that make him unclean."  What comes out of man's heart renders him clean or unclean.  To search the real motives of the heart is what constitutes wisdom.  It is aligned with following God's will and not one's own. For a Par...

Wisdom  Luke 16:1-8 Let us reflect on being astute, clever or wise. Paul's pride is Jesus and not himself, and the gift and opportunity of serving him and being close to him. He bases his work not on his glory but of the glory of his Master. In the gospel the steward became wise when he was able to exhibit justice and correct his mistakes.  Thus, he received the adulation not only of the debtors but of the owner himself.  And the most beautiful saying for day is worth our reflection:  "For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light." (Lk. 16, 8) What constitutes wisdom?  First, "humility is the mother of all virtues."  It definitely refers to wisdom when we humble ourselves and submit ourselves to the source of wisdom: God himself. Second, we gain wisdom when in our every action, our brothers and sisters would be saved.  It is not only in giving them alms that would save them, b...

Wisdom 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.