Inspirations at your Fingertips!

The kingdom of God Matthew 13:47-53 We have been reflecting on the Kingdom of God; better yet, the kingship of God. We may have our definitions and concepts about the Kingdom of God, but there is nothing like it when we allow God himself to define His own Kingship.  Our role is simply to discern and adhere to God's kingship over our lives. In the gospel, the fisherman gets all sorts of things in his net.  He collects those that are of use while throws away those that are useless to him.  Likewise, the kingdom is likened to a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both old and new. What is common to these two images is the owner - the fisherman and householder who is in full control of all things they choose. Such is the Kingship of God.  He is in full control over all things including us.  What makes the difference is our uselessness or usefulness to him. Are our lives a series of our usefulness to the Lord?  Do we always say "y...

Election Matthew 9:32-37  Election of God is different from man's election.  God's election springs from his knowledge of the person's heart.  Man only relies on externalities. Second, election means God elects us to do his mission on earth.  It simply means doing what God wants and not what we want.  If we respond favorably to being God's servants, then the "rich harvest" would be fully realized. Pray that we respond to the election of God and become his trusted servants.

Discerning our mission Luke 1:57-66,80  The readings speak of John's call or mission.  From the Old Testament, Jeremiah mentioned one who would prepare the way of the Lord: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.’ The gospel verifies this with the announcement of Angel Gabriel to Zechariah. The Eucharist enables us to fulfill our mission.  Our regular reception develops in us the gift to discern the mission God wants us to do in this world.  Discernment entails the following processes: First, accepting the basic orientation to live good lives through the reception of the sacraments.  St. John lived in a disciplined way and urged the people to repent in preparation for the coming of the Savior. Second, going farther by imitating Christ.  St. John preached to the people the ways of Christ even if he hadn't seen him.  This is brought about by h...

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.

The way to perfection Matthew 6:7-15 The reading from Ecclesiastes presents a song attributed to Elijah, a great prophet of his time who was taken up to heaven, like Jesus who ascended to heaven.  His deeds pleased the Father. In the gospel, Jesus taught us how to pray to the Father.  This is the prayer that helps us to attain perfection as sons and daughters of the Lord. This is how we should pray: Take the relationship with our Lord to the deepest level possible, between Father and son; Take adoration to the deepest level possible, towards fulfilling his will on earth; Ask just what is needed with fullest trust in him, knowing that the Lord provides for all our needs; Seek perfection through humility and asking for forgiveness and to forgive in return; Deliver us towards the ultimate goodness of our lives, heaven itself. We do not exult ourselves; it is Jesus who exults us and leads us to Himself.  That is heaven.  That is perfection.

Our task on earth Matthew 5:43-48  Jesus is the one atoning for our sins.  He also gives us human hearts so that we might have compassion even for those who have wronged us. Today's gospel talks about loving one's enemies.  It is a way of atoning for our sins by cutting off all cycles of violence. We can cut off all tendencies to sin by being faithful to Jesus, learning from his ways, and possessing his own heart. Just as Jesus' task is saving, not condemning, so too should our mission be on earth.

Recognizing God's presence Matthew 5:27-32 God's power is not manifested in big things, but in the most unexpected places.  The more important thing is that we recognize His presence and follow him. Maybe we have missed a lot of opportunities that God is communicating with us. First, we might be entertaining this world's values and not God's.  We have succumbed to materialism, fleeting pleasures, and even power instead of being faithful to Him.  Let us recognize what belongs to God and what belongs to this world. Second, we have failed to look deeply into the heart of Jesus.  We haven't seen what goes deeper in God's law.  Probably we have compromised God's laws with what we want.  Learn to see the wisdom of God's laws. Finally, we might not have oriented ourselves to follow His divine will.  We have our own lifestyles, forgetting that eventually, it is God's will that we should be living out. Learn that the only essence of life is one th...