Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Investing in God's work Matthew 25:14-30 It seems odd that Jesus would consider putting the money in the bank rather than entrust the talent to the lazy lout.  Even Jesus has a financial sense. Let's look at the faith in terms of investment and utilize financial sense to enrich the spiritual sense. There are three components to this: Capital - what we have that we can give Gain - what we want to attain in the future Time - how much time we spend It is simply the offering of our time, talent, and treasure that can make up for this.  And if we are truly intent on leading our children to heaven (gain), we would invest our time, talents, and treasure (capital) in doing God's work, not our own. When do we start? Future is already too late.  Past is long gone. What we have is now and invest our lives in doing God's work.

Assumption and discipleship Luke 11:27-28 What was described in the the book of Chronicles was how the people revered the Ark of the Covenant which contains the eternal relationship between God and man.  "You will be my people and I will be your God" is the core message of the relationship and all the duties and responsibilities that it implies.  This is the blueprint of our salvation now sealed in the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel talks about being blessed, not because of the principle attribute of physical motherhood, but in discipleship, "Happy are those who heed the Word of God and keep it." All these are geared towards the perfection of that relationship between God and man.  It is who we are, where we have been, and where we are going. The Assumption prefigures what will also happen to us given the conditions of discipleship.  As Mary was assumed into heaven because she received the gift of the Immaculate Conception, so too we...

God's power Matthew 14:22-36 God's power is manifest in fulfilling his promise to save Israel and restore its lost glory. In the Gospel, Jesus manifested his power over the storm and back on land, he cured the sick. Never doubt God's power.  He has power over all creation.  He even has power over our lives.  God's power is manifest in his desire to save us, forgive us, and bring us to everlasting life.  We cannot produce all these by ourselves.  But God can do them for us.  We just need to believe in God's power.

The kingdom of God Matthew 13:47-53 We have been reflecting on the Kingdom of God; better yet, the kingship of God. We may have our definitions and concepts about the Kingdom of God, but there is nothing like it when we allow God himself to define His own Kingship.  Our role is simply to discern and adhere to God's kingship over our lives. In the gospel, the fisherman gets all sorts of things in his net.  He collects those that are of use while throws away those that are useless to him.  Likewise, the kingdom is likened to a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both old and new. What is common to these two images is the owner - the fisherman and householder who is in full control of all things they choose. Such is the Kingship of God.  He is in full control over all things including us.  What makes the difference is our uselessness or usefulness to him. Are our lives a series of our usefulness to the Lord?  Do we always say "y...

Election Matthew 9:32-37  Election of God is different from man's election.  God's election springs from his knowledge of the person's heart.  Man only relies on externalities. Second, election means God elects us to do his mission on earth.  It simply means doing what God wants and not what we want.  If we respond favorably to being God's servants, then the "rich harvest" would be fully realized. Pray that we respond to the election of God and become his trusted servants.

Discerning our mission Luke 1:57-66,80  The readings speak of John's call or mission.  From the Old Testament, Jeremiah mentioned one who would prepare the way of the Lord: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.’ The gospel verifies this with the announcement of Angel Gabriel to Zechariah. The Eucharist enables us to fulfill our mission.  Our regular reception develops in us the gift to discern the mission God wants us to do in this world.  Discernment entails the following processes: First, accepting the basic orientation to live good lives through the reception of the sacraments.  St. John lived in a disciplined way and urged the people to repent in preparation for the coming of the Savior. Second, going farther by imitating Christ.  St. John preached to the people the ways of Christ even if he hadn't seen him.  This is brought about by h...

Kingship of God Matthew 6:19-23 We need to make clear which king we are following: the earthly king or the heavenly king? The earthly king would stress on acquiring all power and wealth of this world but eventually, he accounts to nothing. Jesus said, "Do not store for yourselves treasures on earth, where the moths and woodworms destroy them." God's heavenly kingship on the other hand, lasts forever.  He also grants his followers everlasting life.  His kingship is based on love. In the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, we are invited to imagine ourselves following the divine King and not be swayed by the lures of the earthly king. In summary, be clear on the kind of king we are following.  Second, discover the heart of the divine king.  Third, don't lose sight of the banner of the divine king.