Inspirations at your Fingertips!

25th Friday in Ordinary time One thing we don’t really want to have a share at is suffering.  We want to take the easier path, the path of comfort. We want to be served more than serve.  Pain is alien from us. But God in his majesty chose the path of sacrifice to fulfill his will.  Through it, he renews his covenant with man, though sinners, have a share in his glory.  Moreover, Jesus showed us the way to really eradicate sin and selfishness, through the power of the cross. Reflect on the moment we partook in the sufferings of Jesus and of our brothers and sisters.  Reflect on the moment when it is not the comfortable life that united families and communities but partaking in the sufferings of one another.  Finally, reflect on the path Jesus took to cause our forgiveness, through the Offering of his life for love of us.  Then we shall see how the world teems with life from those who are ready to serve and give.

Thursday of week 25 in Ordinary Time Luke 9:7-9 In the Book of Haggai, the Lord God contested the people's claim that it's not time to rebuild the temple of the Lord.  He revealed to them their sin of selfishness and urged them to build the temple. The Gospel talks about the king of Israel who was curious about Jesus; but he too was riddled with sin that he couldn't recognize who Jesus was. We need to free ourselves of the sins that enslave us.  We kept on saying we don't have the time to serve the Lord, but we do have the time.  It's just that we're not using it for him but for ourselves. The readings challenge us to really clarify our priorities.  Is it God on top of our priorities or not?  If not God, then ask for forgiveness. Second, pray to utilize everything to serve God.  Everything, people and things are utilized for the greater glory God. To see everything in God is our ultimate vision.

Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist Matthew 9:9-13 The Feast of St. Matthew opens us to the world of healing ourselves, realizing our vocation, and healing others. Healing of self No amount of sin can take us away from the Lord.  Jesus said, "I have come to call not the righteous, but the sinners." In this context, Matthew's life turned around for good when he followed the Lord.  Vocation Vocation is not calling exclusively to priesthood.  The point is in the One who is calling and our ability to be sensitive to his call and respond to follow him.  We are all called to do specific tasks; we have been given with a grace from the Holy Spirit called charism; let's realize this.  Let's place our whole lives in God's hands. Healing of others With Matthew's call to conversion comes a more important call from Jesus, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." Live in mercy and compassion, contributing to the healing of the wounded each day.  So...

Friday of week 24 in Ordinary Time Luke 8:1-3 As simple as it gets, both readings give a well-pointed message: proclaim Jesus! We can't seem to proclaim because we're too preoccupied with a lot of things.  Though these are important - issues of family, work, health, financial stability and others, St. Paul still gives us a timely reminder - "there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds." Jesus and his Good News are still of paramount importance in our lives;  the Good News capable of touching people's hearts; of driving away evil spirits and bringing healing to people; the Good News that enables each one to be a follower of Christ.  The Good News is way above our preoccupation in life.  True enough, St. Paul warns: "The love of money is the root of all evil."  Have the courage to be detached from worldly concerns so we may focue on the things of heaven.

Thursday of week 24 in Ordinary Time Luke 7:36-50  Be an example to the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity.  What we see is not what God sees.  We see through our eyes, but God looks through the heart. The readings stress on God's realities rather than men's: the young disciple as a model for others and the woman who bathed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her her. And Jesus said, "Go, you faith has saved you." We are accustomed to seeing people with our eyes.  It's easy to judge them based on what they have. Second, we think we know the person whom we judge. There's no way we can enter into their hearts.  Only God can. We believe that we are all created equally - in the image and likeness of God.  No one is created better or lesser than God himself.  Have we seen God lately in others? Second, we believe that we are all meant for heaven.  There, we shal...