Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Thursday of week 34 in Ordinary Time Luke 21:20-28  We are interested in endings.  What makes a meaningful story?  The ending Mankind's history may may have started with creation, it may have been tainted with sin and destruction, and we may be suffering due to the effects of sin.  But notice the ending: Jesus will come.  In the first reading, Daniel was spared from the attacks of the lions while his enemies were eaten.  Good will triumph over evil, and God will emerge triumphant. In the Creed, we believe in the end of life which is life everlasting.  What does this mean? First, we believe in the Beatific vision: we shall see God face-to-face for all eternity. Second, we will receive the crown of everlasting life.  That everlasting life may be eternity in heaven or hell.  We rely totally on God for our salvation. Third, we will have a new heaven and a new earth; and death will have no power over us for all eternity. It is Go...

Thursday of week 31 in Ordinary Time Luke 15:1-10 The common theme on the end of time is judgment.  Only God knows how he will judge us.  The question is: Where did passing judgment to other come from? Whatever the sources are, we admit that we pass judgment to others more than we do to ourselves.  We simply are playing gods in the process. It's clear to St. Paul in the first reading:  "This is also why you should never pass judgement on a brother or treat him with contempt, as some of you have done."  We simply don't have the right! In the Gospel, God rejoices in one repentant sinner.  What must we do then? First, there is a colloquial in the business world that says, "Mind your own business!"  This statement is not derogatory at all.  It simply means we have to take care of our affairs more than we belittle others or pass judgments to others while remaining fruitless in all our endeavors. Second, possess the heart of God.  ...

Tuesday of week 31 in Ordinary Time Luke 14:15-24 There is a particular task God's wants us to do in this world.  This is unity in diversity.  Unfortunately, we don't give too much understanding on spiritual matters.  We treat as if life is our own. Even with those who don't believe, doing one's task in relation to a greater community is of paramount importance.  Imagine if a member of the community does nothing but wants to receive the gains worked hard by the community; or a member of the family who lazily looked at everyone and still gets his own piece of the pie.  The Lord says in the Gospel, "They shall not have a taste of my dinner." Translated, they shall not have a share of the life I want them to have.  So, let us do the tasks God assigned us to do in ths world.   Do them with diligence, accountability, and faithfulness.  At the end of the day, we are accountable to the Lord for all the things that we do in this world.