Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Choices Luke 12:49-53 In today's gospel, Jesus wants us to choose between evil and good, activity and passivity, life and death. He wants us to choose goodness which is the very quality of God.  He wants that all of our actions are based on God's goodness and not our own concept of goodness. In desiring to do good, he wants us to choose the better part, like St. Ignatius, "for the greater glory of God."  Passivity has no place in the Catholic faith. Finally, he wants us to choose the best portion.  For there are no other choices except life or death.  Choose the least, the easiest, and the most comfortable and we still die.  The only life is found in carrying the cross, dying, and rising with Him.

Formula for life Luke 11:47-54 The greeting of St. Paul to the community of Ephesus reveals an inspiring overview of world of Christianity - our lives before, during, and after Christ.  "God chose us in Christ before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight."  At the end, "he would bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth."  and in the middle, how Jesus "through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins." The gospel however gives us a sharp contrast of how Jesus reprimands the pharisees for killing the apostles and prophets. One path leads us to Christ; another path leads us away from him. The things that lead us away from Christ are: sin, the self, and the lures of this world.  We have to watch out for them.  We cannot know, love, adore, and serve God if we are filled with selfishness, if the world entices us, and most of all, sin overwhelms us.  We close our...

An familiar mix Luke 11:37-41 The first reading calls us not in excessive observance of the external law but in following Christ.  In the gospel, Jesus also reprimands the Pharisees not because of their external practices, but what lies in their hearts. Then Jesus focuses of alms as manifestations of what lies in the heart.  No one can give alms unless there is mercy and compassion.  And no one elicits mercy and compassion unless his or her heart is filled with the presence of God who is love. For everything starts with interior conversion brought about by an authentic encounter of love. This is faith.  It opens us to God's world. Second, we cannot give to others what we don't have.  If we don't have love, we can never share it to others.  Faith converted to action is love.  God gives us his love.  Love is the measure of faith. Love is converted to many forms - service, compassion, generosity. Faith, love, service - in a welcome, fam...

The readings tell about an image of the great war by which God would emerge triumphant: the man as white as snow will triumph, and the story of Jesus ascending and descending with his angels. The Archangels give an image of the ultimate battle between good and evil.  But they will never be destroyed. This has a direct implication in our lives  As we allow evil to thrive; and we even make it a lifestyle; we have to anticipate that evil will come to an end and in a definitive way we will Jesus, triumphant, ascending and descending between heaven and earth. At this point, let's clarify: are we instruments of good or evil?  Why is it so hard for us to follow Jesus?  We need to make a decision: first, to follow good and avoid evil; second, to follow Jesus, not Satan; and third, for God to triumph and we come his instruments, not us becoming the enemies of God. The Archangels personifies the triumph of God: the medicine of God (Raphael), the image of God (Michael),...

The face of the resurrection Luke 8:1-3 The issue raised by St. Paul is about the resurrection of Jesus which is central to the faith, "If Christ had not been raised from the dead our faith is useless." In the gospel, there were women who assisted Jesus from their own resources.  If they hadn't believed in Jesus, why would they spend from their resources?  Would we also do the same for Jesus? We need to reflect if all our actions result from Christ's resurrection.  If an action is selfish, there is no resurrection. An action inspired by the resurrection is overwhelmingly generous; it seeks the life of another and it is worth spending every time, talent, and treasure for the sake of the conversion of others. Second, a resurrection-inspired action is marked by hope that there will be change and new life. Third, a resurrection-inspired action reveals the face of heaven even in our smallest action.  Be it in the secular world, if in our actions and decision...

Unity in diversity Luke 7:11-17 St. Paul oriented the Church of Corinth as having different parts but consisting of one body of Christ. In the gospel, Jesus gave back the son to the widow Nain. Our lack is always filled with others.  Know that our lives are always meant for others and not ourselves.  For through us, others live. And how do we live?  Through unity and diversity. We all need one another.  That is unity.  We are all important in God's eyes. In diversity, we contribute our share so others may live. We all have a role to do in the work of salvation.  Our mission in this world is to fulfill what God wishes us to do in this world. How do we know our mission?  This needs discernment. Discernment is being open to the Holy Spirit.  It means reorienting our lives to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to respond appropriately to the Holy Spirit.  This is the particularity of who we are.  This is our co...

Firm foundation Luke 6:43-49 A disciple is built on a firm foundation.  What makes a firm foundation?  Communion with Christ, strengthened by the teachings and life of Jesus, and fruitful in his works. Right this early, we need to regard ourselves as disciples of Jesus and not just simple churchgoers.  A disciple is not simply moved by the miracles of healing or spectacle of the faith but on a lively charity. St. Paul talks about an authentic disciple: he is in communion with Jesus just as we partake of His body and blood instead of being in communion with idols. In the gospel, Jesus reminds us to build our faith on a firm foundation.  Jesus is that firm foundation, both his life and teachings.   We need to root ourselves in this. Finally, the disciple becomes fruitful or barren based on what lies in his heart. On St. Nicolas of Tolentino Nicolas of Tolentino at a young age of 18 became a monk.  He became a priest seven years later.  ...