Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Friday of week 1 in Ordinary Time, II Mark 2:1-12  In the First Reading, the people demanded Samuel to give them a king.  Samuel warned them of the abuses of a king.  Nevertheless they held on to their demand. In the Gospel, Jesus saw how strong the faith of those who brought the paralytic; thus, he cured him by forgiving his sins. Let's reflect about kingship.  God doesn't subscribe to giving Israel a king.  He only succumbed to their pressures but he warned them about the abuses of the earthly king.  But in the Gospel, Jesus reiterated what true authority is:  "But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...", Jesus is setting himself as the model of authentic kingship based on three aspects: First, he is doing his Father's will and not his own.  The people's king is king by himself.  His power overwhelms him.  Jesus' power stems from doing his Father's will.  God commissioned him to be ...

Kingship of God Matthew 6:19-23 We need to make clear which king we are following: the earthly king or the heavenly king? The earthly king would stress on acquiring all power and wealth of this world but eventually, he accounts to nothing. Jesus said, "Do not store for yourselves treasures on earth, where the moths and woodworms destroy them." God's heavenly kingship on the other hand, lasts forever.  He also grants his followers everlasting life.  His kingship is based on love. In the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, we are invited to imagine ourselves following the divine King and not be swayed by the lures of the earthly king. In summary, be clear on the kind of king we are following.  Second, discover the heart of the divine king.  Third, don't lose sight of the banner of the divine king.