Inspirations at your Fingertips!

restoredministriesblog.com Thursday of week 12 in Ordinary Time Matthew 7:21-29 it is not enough that we call God "Lord, Lord". If we don't do his will it all accounts to nothing. The author of the Book of Kings narrated this story to point out that even Israel was not exempted from the punishment just because they were the chosen people of God.  Even they were exiled to Babylon like Adam and Eve who were removed from paradise  simply because they disobeyed God and have turned to gods. Matthew recalled the image of the house built on rock.  We should know the solid rock to base our faith on.  We need to anticipate the trials our faith would undergo. And third, we need to act of them. What is that rock?  Jesus; God himself.  The tests to faith? Temptation and the world's persecutions.  They will do everything to veer us away from God. Acts of faith?  Faithfulness, obedience to God, compassion to others.  Faith manifested in concrete ...

Saturday of the 6th week of Eastertide John 16:23-28 The gospel today offers us a lively faith far than we can ever imagine.  It is faith just as Jesus says, "Anything you ask from the Father he will grant in my name." It's been two months since we've been praying that God may remove the virus from the world.  It also has happened in our lives that though we prayed, our prayers were not granted.  But we never faltered in that faith.  We may have doubted sometimes, but the faith was never removed from our hearts.  Instead, we were taught to be steadfast in our faith, forever trusting the Lord that things would always turn out better in the end.  The faith that God has given us through Jesus in the Spirit call us: First, to continue being steadfast in the faith amidst trials as if it is being purged in fire or pruned to perfection.  Faith itself is the gift that no one can take away from. Second, even in the midst of trials, that f...

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...

Thursday of week 6 in Ordinary Time Mark 8:27-33 Faith in Jesus entails knowing him, loving him, and serving him. Know Jesus - Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say I am?" Then he asked, "But you?  Who do you say I am?" If we know the heart and mind of Jesus and everything about him, our outlook of ourselves would be affected; we would see the world as God sees. Loving Jesus - search the heart; what do we feel about Jesus?  What do we feel about others as well?  Do we see them simply as the world sees them?  Do we judge people by classes as St. James hinted?  Care and compassion lie in the very heart of Jesus. Serve Jesus - Jesus reprimanded Peter for not following him to the cross.  Serving as Jesus wants to be served is the deepest aspiration of faith, to be one with him and cause the salvation of others. Bibliarasal, Taon A Available in all St. Pauls Bookstore

Saturday of week 3 in Ordinary Time Mark 4:35-41 Jesus reprimanded the apostles for having a weak faith.  He nevertheless showed his power to contain the sea. In the first reading, David realized the story of Nathan was about him.  He deserved just punishemnt.  On the other hand, God accepted his repentance and forgave him. David is just like us, faltering in our faith. Let's explore the fruits of a weak and faltering faith.   First, it's prone to sin.   Second, it affects another, more so, the innocent. Third, it blames others and not the self. Let's be more concerned with pleasing the Lord with a livelier faith, a faith that takes responsibility for one's life and vocation, a faith that propagates grace, and a faith that invluences others for good.

Thursday of the 1st week of Advent Matthew 7:21,24-27 What constitutes a strong city?  What constitutes a strong house? First, it is built on rock - the firm foundation of faith; weak faith is built on sand.  If we cannot distinguish between tradition and Tradition, of faith passed on to the apostles till today, we have a weak faith.  If we think we can buy the faith or rely on our own actions, our faith is weak; second, it is built on  ramparts ; security walls on the sides; it means we are on a lookout against all evils and enemies; a city is set on a hill to watch out for incoming enemies.  If we give in easily to temptations and immediately say, "We're just humans," we have a weak faith; third, fortifying whatever is weak; act of repairing those wounded by sin like going to confession.  We are aware of any weakness in our faith and do omething to strengthen it.  We may be strong in devotion but we are weak in charity, our faith is weak. ...

Easter Thursday Luke 24:35-48 In this Easter Week let's turn our attention to Peter who gave witness to Jesus in an authoritative and compelling way.  The popes, filled with the Holy Spirit, also attested in this way. What is in the very heart of Peter may also be in the hearts that Jesus wants from all of us.  It's not simply the length of our days in the Church as Catholics that marks of our name as Catholics but in the following ways: 1. In our intense knowledge of Jesus - by allotting a significant portion of our lives to knowing him and the truths of our faith which are deeply grounded in him.  2. In the love that is planted in our hearts - the things that lie in the heart should be the same as Jesus' heart.   They manifest in our priorities in life, either for God or against him. 3. In our capacity to discern the scheme of things - coupled with our life's choices, we are faced with the truth of our being whether our knowledge of God or lac...

Saturday of week 18 in Ordinary Time  Matthew 17:14-20  There is something from Habbakuk that talks about the prophets seemingly in doubt as to the ways of the Lord.  Why does it seem that the Lord is fully in control, yet, the evil persons continue their wicked ways. The good prophet stated that he would wait patiently on the Lord for the answer.  The Lord indeed answered, "See how he flags, he whose soul is not at rights, but the upright man will live by his faithfulness." In today's gospel, it was Jesus who seemed impatient for the weakness of men, "How long must I keep up with you?"  in exorcising the sick son.  Then he gave a beautiful discourse on faith: "I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you." What we need are patience and faith.  These two go together.  Nothing is impossible with God....

Easter Thursday Luke 24:35-48  We are exposed to forty days of Jesus' presence to the disciples after the Resurrection.  This is the fourth day. Peter gave a discourse after he and John cured a lame man.  He helped deepen their understanding about Jesus and the work of salvation.  He needed to explain all these to open the eyes of their faith. In the Gospel, Jesus appeared to the apostles.  He even proved to them that he is present in body and spirit through the eating of the food.  But like the first reading, he wanted to open the eyes of their faith to greater realities: the reality of God's love and salvation through him. We are in need of salvation.  But existence in this world means we have to have the resources to feed our bodies with food.  Some of our brethren get stuck in the world of materialism, others hinge on power, fame, and persons for their happiness. How do we open the eyes of faith then to the realities of Jesus? Fi...

Thursday of week 1 in Ordinary Time, II Mark 1:40-45 In spite of carrying the Ark of the Covenant as they used to do it in times of war, the Israelites lost to the Philistines heavily. In the Gospel, after curing the leper, Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone; the man nevertheless told everyone. The readings orient us to the proper way of serving the Lord.  First, let us respect the holy things of the Lord.  They are not for superstitious display; they are meant for us to be open to God's presence. Second, Jesus wasn't prohibiting the leper just because he didn't want to announce the miracle; he invites the man to enter into a deeper reality of his healing - not just the curing of the disease but open to God's saving grace. Third,  offering. What Jesus wants is offering as a fruit of healing.  Offering is the manifestation of a concrete faith by which we can declare that we are true Christians.

Saturday of week 34 in Ordinary Time Luke 21:34-36  After Daniel was revealed the meaning of the four animals as signifying the powers during those times - Greeks, Persians, Romans, and Chaldeans, he was specially drawn to the fourth animal that is truly worse, hideous, and powerful enough to kill.  There is something in this animal that has 10 horns which symbolizes evil.  What he does is entirely opposite the compassion of Christ yet he declares himself as God.  We should do well to take care not to be subjected to his destructive reign. How do we guard ourselves so that our hearts remain pure, steadfastly waiting for the Son of Man to come? First, we need to equip ourselves with the proper arsenal - prayer, faith, and sacraments, never wallowing in a lax show of faith; Second, we need to constantly live our our faith - practice, practice, practice that faith to perfection.  Practice makes perfect.  There's no short cut to perfection except thr...

Saturday of week 32, I Lk. 18: 1 - 18 The book of Wisdom talks about a a night of silence and the leaping of the Word.  This is likened to the Christmas night, when in its silence, the Savior is born into the world for all to see.  He will bring us salvation; his reign is one of justice and peace.  He is Jesus who already came to our world to heal us. In today's gospel, Jesus told a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.  He described a powerful judge whose image projects the overwhelming authority of God but who, at the same time, is also filled with mercy and generosity. In these two accounts, the power of God is unquestionable; we just need to affirm his power in our lives as he provides for us each day. This calls us to deeper and trusting faith.  He may not answer in the way we expect; but expect that his response would always be better. May we also be instrumental in realizing the almost desperate prayers of our need...

Saturday of week 18 in Ordinary Time Matthew 17:14-20 The Lord commanded, "Love with all your hearts and minds.  He further reminded them, "I gave you everything you did not plant."  It is God who is all powerful. The reason why our prayers are not answered is because we haven't loved the Lord enough.  We are more interested in the gifts, not the giver.  And when the Lord doesn't grant the things that we ask for, we doubt him. In the gospel, Jesus reprimanded his disciples.  "‘Faithless and perverse generation!’ Jesus said in reply ‘How much longer must I be with you? ... ‘Because you have little faith. I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you.’" What does it mean to have faith? First, it means to rely totally on God.  There a quote that says, "When you pray, treat as if everything depended on God....

The kind of faith God wants Matthew 9:1-8 Abraham's faith was tested severly.  God commanded him to kill Isaac.  In the end, God did not allow it.  He further blessed Abraham for his faith. In the gospel, people brought a paralytic to Jesus.  He saw their faith and cured the paralytic. Let's reflect on the kind of faith given to us. First, it is a trusting faith that relies heavily on God.  In the end, let's trust the Lord because his will is absolutely right. Second, it is a communal faith that relies on the support of the community.  This is how the Church is born.  It is a community of faith. Third, it is a concrete faith, seen through action and not just prayer. Reflect:  What kind of faith have I manifested in my life - a trusting faith, a communal faith, or a concrete faith?

It seems to me that the urgent message you want to give to the parishioners of San Guillermo as you are to celebrate 25 years of being a parish is about faith: "masiglang nagkakaisa sa pananampalataya" Our readings for today reflect a responsible steward.  A man of faith knows how to take care of his faith to make it fruitful. In the gospel, Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees for being too overzealous with rules that they forgot the roots of the law: it is in God.  Same is true with a man with a responsible faith should be deeply rooted in God. As we celebrate the Year of the Parish and as you celebrate the forthcoming 25th anniversary of the parish, let us check the following: First, as responsible stewards of faith Without God there is no faith.  God is the source of a lively faith.  Faith comes in our sincere efforts to get to know God and live out his ways.  Is there a deep commitment to root oneself in God as a parish? Second, as instruments of co...

Faces of faith Mark 5:21-43 Jesus not only performed miracles of healing and raising the dead; he manifested his mercy. Mercy would be manifested to whom?  As the readings today emphasize: "Never lose sight of Jesus;" "Don't be afraid; only have faith."  He brought Peter, James and John.  Other than these, what we have are crowds, unruly, ridiculing, unmerciful.  How is faith related to mercy? First, if faith is enveloped with humility, the Lord's mercy would be manifest;  "If I could just touch event he tassel of his cloak, I would get well."  It is never bossy or imposing.  It relies totally on the mercy and generosity of God. Second, faith should never flaunt: "Don't tell it to anyone."  Rather, it rejoices in a quiet but sure communion with God, savoring each moment that Jesus manifests his love. Third, faith converts into mercy itself: "Give her something to eat."  It should be concerned at how others live a...

That we have heard and seen John 20:2-8  There are many themes that St. John proposed in his writings.  But all these are to strengthen develop the faith given to us by Jesus.  I would like to mention three of them: First, love Jesus said, "I give you a new command: "Love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13: 34)  and in John 15: 3: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." Love is the most supreme virtue one can live out.  And in 1 John 4: 9: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." Second, dichotomies St. John presents images as light and darkness, faith and unbelief, grace and sin.  There is a choice that he wants us to contemplate on based on the words and actions of Jesus, "And they believed."  May we sin ourselves confronting these choices and choosing the better one. Third, the Church ...

Destroy that weak faith Luke 1:5-25 After having been exposed to the lineage of Jesus and Joseph's strong faith, in our desire to celebrate the mystery of our salvation and God's love that it is also important to learn a thing or two about the consequences of a weak faith like Zechariah's so we may not imitate him, rather, do exactly the opposite.  What are the signs of a weak faith? First, doubting Doubting leads us nowhere.  It is the exact opposite of faith.  Doubting in things unseen can only lead us to believing in material and tried and tested things.  But life is faith.  The only thing that helps us survive is our faith in God. Second, despair For Zechariah, things are too late.  He is too old and Elizabeth is both old and barren.  Hope is what keeps us going - for an OFW to hope that he would go home and realize a better life for the family; for us to hope that this world will not end in violence but there would be a better future ahe...

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...

Metanoia Matthew 22:34-40  What is a life of conversion?  Also known as "metanoia", it entails a commitment to change our life's paradigm to another one. In the case of our faith, it is a movement from self to God.  This is the core of today's gospel when Jesus explained the greatest commandment: to love God above all things and to love neighbor as oneself. A life of conversion is directly related to our faith in God because it is impossible to have a metanoia if we don't have God in our hearts. A shift to a life of faith means that we develop more time, attention, and passion to knowing the faith, loving the faith and living the faith. Secondly, it also entails "entrusting" our lives to Him whom we have faith. Thirdly, it also connotes "being faithful" all our lives to Him. We know that after our Lord, our lives will never be the same again.