Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Leadership Luke 7:1-10 In today's reading, St. Paul asks Timothy to pray for leaders and those in authority so that people may live a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.  He also sets himself as an example of a leader who gives witness to God in Jesus Christ. Leadership is also the theme of today's gospel where a person of authority respects the dignity of Jesus as the Messiah and that instead of Jesus going to his home, only the power of his word can cure his servant. What is a leader then?  In summary, a leader should have fear of the Lord.  Second, he should take the responsibility to be God's steward and put order into creation.  Third, her should take up the mission of responsible leadership and bring his subjects to a greater knowledge of Jesus, the source of leadership and salvation.

Cross John 3:13-17 As we celebrate the exultation of the cross, remember the serpent that caused the downfall of man becoming the symbol of healing for God's people during the time of Moses.  Now, the course of the world reached its full cycle, not in sin and downfall, but in the passion and death of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection. We need to appreciate the crosses of our lives, offer them to Jesus, and look for ways to use them specially for the salvation of people.

Who is a minister? Luke 6:39-42 From the Google dictionary, a minister is either a member of the clergy or someone who attends to. The word being taught by the Church refers to the ministry that is passed on by the Apostles and by which persons safeguard and continue the work of salvation coming from Jesus Christ.  The ones who safeguard and continue the saving work of Jesus passed on by the apostles are ministers. Perhaps, the gospel can provide us with the light to know the minister in the level of the heart. First, the minister himself is a student; a follower of his teacher.  Second, the minister never intends to harm or fall into destruction the one is ministering.  And third, the minister also ministers himself before he can minister to others. If we allow ourselves to be touched by the Lord, definitely, we shall be ministering our brothers and sisters with the very heart of Jesus.

Comunio Luke 6:27-38  I would like to focus on "comunio".  It simply means "one heart and mind". Comunio is the communion that we receive during communion; our Lord and we become one.  His mind become our mind; his heart, our hearts as well. Comunio is heaven itself when we become one heart and one mind with one another and with God. It's about time we evaluate the kind of Christians we are; the ultimate test being, "Could we really feel the anguish and sufferings as well as the joys of neighbors?  Could we really say that we are one with God and with one another? To our brothers and sisters, Jesus commands us to love even our enemies.  That is comunio.  To our brothers and sisters, let justice and mercy be two sides on one coin; justice being the minimum requirement of mercy; and mercy being the fullness of justice.  This is the world of comunio - justice and mercy with God as our supreme Lord.

Fruitful faith Luke 4:38-44 Inspiring thought: How do we know if our faith is fruitful?  We should know if our faith is fruitful if the Good News is being preached to all. Learn from the gospel for today:  The moment Peter's mother-in-law got well, she starting "serving" immediately. From Jesus' end, a fruitful day of healing is complemented by a time for active prayer and communion with God. Finally, we will know if our faith is fruitful if we allow ourselves to "be sent to proclaim the Good News", in being totally available to do God's work here on earth in freeing others from the shackles of sinfulness and leading them to a life totally dedicated to God.