Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent Luke 18:9-14 "God did not promise us an easy life, but he promised us a meaningful life." This came into mind when I was reflecting on how God chastises us as in the reading for today: "He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has struck us down, but he will bandage our wounds; after a day or two he will bring us back to life, on the third day he will raise us and we shall live in his presence." Mercy is what the Lord wants, not just sacrifice.  Search the heart on what it really loves.  If it's not the Lord, ask for forgiveness.  But if it's love that it loves above all things, then nothing is impossible.  We shall be giving to the Lord what is due him - total adoration, and to others, a pure sacrifice.

Tuesday of the 2nd week of Lent Matthew 23:1-12 Lent calls us to review our every outlook and attitude of life in relation to God.  God demands in the first reading utmost obedience to him.  Only then could we have real order in the world. Furthermore, in the gospel, Jesus called to transcend the ways of the pharisees.  We have to transcend from mere external observances to total dedication to serving the Lord from the inside if we want to be his disciple. What lies in the heart of a disciple?  Three things: Humility .  Humility marks the spot when we recognize our proper place in God's world.  We also know that our place in this world is to assist others rather than lord it over them. Obedience .  If we continue to rebel against God, we bring havoc to the world he created.  Then, the "sword shall eat us instead." Purity .  Purity of mind and heart enables us to be attuned with God.  It also enables us to love one another...

Good News at your Fingertips by Fr. Lito Jopson Wednesday of the 2nd week of Lent Matthew 20:17-28 Power.  How should it be used? Jesus taught James and John's mother: "Anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Meanwhile, there are those who seek the end of persons whom they hate like in the case of Jeremiah.  Their hearts and eyes were blinded by sin and evil, even violence they espouse. God is the author of power.  He used his power to create.  Sin destroys, but God's power renews all created things. God's power heals and saves.  Every action of Jesus, even his death on the cross, brings salvation to us. Third, God's power inspires and perfects.  The Church is gifted with charisms and ministries that enlivens our faith and perfects us in love....

Wednesday of the 1st week of Lent Luke 11:29-32 As we strive to know Jesus, Jesus explicated, "No sign shall be given." Then he quoted the story of Jonah and how he prophesied to the Ninevites.  The Ninevites repented in sackcloth and ashes, but the Jews did not repent because they didn't recognize the ultimate sign:  Jesus himself. Let's reflect on the every sign.  People for one.  Do we recognize Jesus in them enough not to judge them and instead, serve them? Secondly, do we recognize the signs of the times if we are going in the right or wrong direction?  We are going against God if the fruits of our actions lead us to desolation and sin; we are on the road to Jesus if the fruits of our actions are peace and love.

Monday of the 1st week of Lent  Matthew 25:31-46  Where are our lives going? The first reading speaks explicitly of the 10 commandments of God, meant to give order to the world.  In the Gospel, Jesus reveals where our obedience or disobedience will take us - heaven or hell. The 10 Commandments directly affects our moral lives.  We affect each other - either help one another or abuse another.  For Jesus, this has a direct bearing on our relationship with God, "As long as you did this to the least, you do it to me." Let us then be more aware of our dedication to serve our Lord through our service to one another.  Then we shall know where we are really going with our lives.

Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent Matthew 6:7-15 We would like to explore the love of God which goes deeper and deeper until we can see its destination - the perfection of love in God. God says, all of what he says will be fulfilled.  Let the words be proofs that indeed, they can be reach their completion. The prayer of the Our Father is a prayer of completion. It gives the entire essence of a follower and a disciple of the Lord. It speaks of one acknowledging the awesome presence and power of the Lord and his existence. It speaks of ones dependence on the Lord, even for the food. It speaks of the contents of the heart - love. It implores mercy at the last moment of life to lead us to heaven in God. May Lent be a fulfillment of all these - our destination in God.

Thursday of the 1st week of Lent Matthew 7:7-12 Esther's prayer is a prayer of oblation or total offering of self to God.  Her life was a prayer. I would like to focus on prayer as an act of love of God for us. Prayer is God's gift - we pray because it is grace planted into our hearts prayer is a covenant - God's promise that he will stay always with us. Prayer is communion - a picture of heaven in our love for God and one another.