Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Liberation Luke 21:20-28  I would like to focus on what is to come: liberation.  What is liberation? First, liberation is the triumph of good over evil The trials are nothing as compared with what is to come, the sure triumph of God over evil. Second, liberation demands personal conversion Liberation starts with us as we accept the freedom Jesus offers: freedom from sin. Third, liberation is societal Here, social conversion and heaven become one and the same.  Let us think of our involvement in the societal change in its quest for true liberation.

Secularism vs. Secularity Luke 16:1-8  It's significant that the Lord will not make an accounting based solely on how we prayed and did our religious practices. We will have an accounting of our lives on how we've used all gifts given to us, whether spiritual or material. Too much preoccupation in material things is called materialism or secularism.  This ideology says that only material things matter. In the gospel, the lesson is not in the corruption of the corrupt steward; it's how effectively he used his expertise of transacting businesses. The Christian should also know how to deal with the world without being eaten by the affairs of this world.   This is called "secularity". Secularity is recognizing the good of this world, because they come from God. Secondly, the goods of this world are to be used for the good of peoples and not for selves.  We will always come to know that accumulation of things has no value in themselves.  They are wast...

Where is heaven? Matthew 5:1-12 There seems to be a dichotomy between heaven and earth.  People on earth are concerned with earthly cares while people of heaven enjoy eternal bliss. It may be true that there is a dichotomy like for example, people are still struggling to be holy while those in heaven have already reached eternal life.   But the readings seem to point otherwise.  Heaven is here on earth among people struggling to live saintly lives.  The vision of John regarding the 144,000 was before the angels destroy the earth.  St. Paul also mentioned that we are already children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed.  And in the gospel, Jesus narrated those who are truly blessed; all they are all in the world. Friends, we are still in the world.  We are saints in process. The things we say and do now account for our entrance to heaven.  Why must we continue to be lost in the daily affairs of life...

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),...