Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Tuesday of week 7 in Ordinary Time Mark 9:30-37 The readings point to a practical realization that conflicts in the Christian community are borne out of selfishness and corruption.  At the very heart of these conflicts is the self waiting to be exulted above all others. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, among others.  They can only be attained if hearts are oriented to search for the truth that comes from God.  We need humility to do this. In the Gospel, Jesus exulted a little child to correct the arrogance and envy among his apostles.  He said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all." Humility helps us to realize the power of the Lord and our littleness.  We begin to have full trust in him. Humility helps us to realize that people are as valuable as we are. Third, humility helps us to place ourselves at the se...

22 December Luke 1:46-56 Continuing from yesterday's Gospel, Mary sang her "Magnificat", a song-prayer filled with love and joy for God, our Savior. In the First Reading, Hannah presented her new-born son Samuel humbly to Eli in the temple.  From the very start, she acknowledged that her son was already made, destined to serve in the temple. In these two personages, Hannah and Mary, is reflected utmost humility as condition experiencing the true meaning of Christmas. As we await the immediate coming of the Lord this Christmas, today's readings inspire us to respond through the words of Magnificat or even Hannah's generosity of offering her son, Samuel.  How should we respond to the Lord's gift of himself this Christmas? First, adore the Lord.   Mary adored the Lord, even though she was regarded as "blessed among all women", she said, "My spirit finds joy in God, my Savior, for he has looked kindly on his lowly servant; all generatio...

Humility marks the Church Mark 9:30-37  The mark of a true Church is humility among its members. Just as Jesus humbled himself by taking the form of bread and wine, he also converts the humble into his own body and blood. The proud have no Jesus in their hearts.  They think they own this world, the Church, and their lives.  Humility eradicates all these.  Through humility, we realize we are not the beginning of this Church; Jesus is. Through humility, we realize we are not the end of this Church; Jesus is. Finally, we realize we don't own this Church; Jesus owns us.  May our Church be a humble Church that always looks up at Jesus and serves Him as He pleases.

Luke 14:15-24 Why did God exult his Son when he humbled himself?  Because he became like all of us and carried all of us.  Most of all, notice these words, " every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord,to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:11) How many of us are conscious that what we do glorifies the Father and not ourselves?  If we are to define what life really means, it can only be in the context of serving God to the Glory of his name. The gospel underscores the importance of responding to God's invitation.  This too is a humbling act like Jesus.  But remember, to those who offend God by not humbling themselves and serving him, " not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet." (Lk. 14, 24)