What the Lord requires of you?

July 21, 2014 11:05 am

“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow before God most high?… You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6: 6.8)

Three different requirements cover all our activities and attitudes: if you do something—do it right, your relationships should be based on goodness (Micah “chsd” has several meanings: goodness, kindness and even mercy) and wherever you go – walk with God. Humbly.

“Amen, I say to you: That you who have left all and followed me will receive a hundredfold and posses eternal life.” (Communion Antiphon)

Let them grow until harvest

July 20, 2014 1:44 am

“‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Mt 13: 28-30)

One of my favorite stories: Our Lord takes care of even the smallest part of the wheat. The wheat could be in danger—“you might uproot the wheat along with” the weed. His patience help us to grow, so that we experience how important we are for Him.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.” (Gospel Antiphon)

His name

July 19, 2014 5:00 am

“And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Mt 12: 21)

Sometimes we forget how strong His name is: it can fill us with courage, hope and love. How often have I met dying people whose only relief was repeating His name over and over again.

“He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Communion Antiphon)

I desire mercy

July 18, 2014 5:52 am

“If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Mt 12: 7).

The true name of God is mercy and He has always reveled this name to us. His only expectation is that we would follow His example.

“Greater love has no one, than to lay down his life for his friends” (Communion Antiphon).

I will give you rest

July 17, 2014 5:00 am

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).

God never gets bored with telling us how important we are for Him. His invitation and care for us bring a huge relief to us whenever we experience fatigue and being burdened. “Come to me” solves everything.

“The sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for her young: by your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise”. (Communion Antiphon)

Childlike

July 16, 2014 5:00 am

“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike” (Mt 11:25).

As ‘time management,’ also ‘human resources management’ is different in God’s world. Not the wise, not the learned, but the childlike are important. Little ones know the difference between God and themselves. Respecting God doesn’t limit our own dignity.

“Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the eternal Father” (Communion Antiphon).

Time management

July 15, 2014 5:00 am

“But within sixty years and five, Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation” (Is 7:9).

Our perspective for time and God’s perspective are different. God can patiently wait long enough for our conversion; when we wait for something, we expect it to happen immediately. Everyday readings give us an excellent opportunity to hear Our Lord’s voice and to change our expectations.

“I will look after my sheep, says the Lord, and I will appoint a shepherd to pasture them, and I, the Lord, will be their God” (Entrance Antiphon).

A cup of water

July 14, 2014 10:49 am

“And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple–amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward”. (Mt 10:42)

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Polish martyr of WW2, when his apostolic mission was totally unsuccessful, asked at the end of the visit for “a cup of cold water,” knowing that this person “will surely not lose his reward.” A gesture of kindness means so much to our Lord. Our smiles, a simple “thank you”, a glass of water can protect not only our relationships but also our salvation.

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Gospel Acclamation).

Fertile and fruitful

July 13, 2014 5:00 am

“Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it” (Is 55:10-11).

We are invited to be “fertile and fruitful.” In different ways, but still it is our vocation: for couples, the unmarried and the consecrated. When we open the daily readings to listen to Him, we change our life into fertile and fruitful. He only expects from us that we will open our hearts for Him and He will bring a word for me, which is able to change my life totally.

“The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will have life for ever” (Gospel Acclamation).

Seraphim

July 12, 2014 11:54 am

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” (Is 6:3)

When we celebrate the Holy Mass, we use Seraphim’s prayer. This prayer moves us close to “a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple,” just in front of the Holy One.

Everyday we are surrounded by Angels. All those beautiful creatures, created by God to His glory, support us to help us fulfill our vocation. With their presence, Heaven and Earth intertwine. When we pray together with our Guardian Angel and Our Lady, our prayer goes directly to the Heaven.

“Hail Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King who rules heaven and earth for ever” (Entrance Antiphon).