When he comes

May 4, 2016 6:00 am

 

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.” (JN 16: 12-13)

Always protected by God’s presence, now we can expect that “the Spirit of truth, will guide us to all truth.” God is patient and knows that He has “much more to tell us, but we cannot bear it now,” so He comes at the right time “and will declare to us the things that are coming”—not a reference to new predictions about the future, but interpretations of what has already occurred or been said. We need to know what the Father expects from us—the Holy Spirit “will speak what he hears.”

“I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” 

Unprofitable servants

November 10, 2015 3:06 pm

“So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” (LK 17: 10)

Our Lord’s “commands” come from His heart, are dictated by love,and of course are “unprofitable” because they orient us to people, not to gain. When we are “not-for-profit,” we are person-oriented, and it helps us remember one act of love brings more profit for everybody than any other activity.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.” (Gospel Acclamation)

For thus says the LORD

July 26, 2015 7:43 am

“A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, ‘Give it to the people to eat.’ But his servant objected, ‘How can I set this before a hundred people?’  Elisha insisted, ‘Give it to the people to eat.’ ‘For thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’ And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the LORD had said.” (2 KGS 4: 42-44}

The power of God’s word and the power of faith. For Elisha,what God said was more important than the objection of his servant: “How can I set this before a hundred people?” The same miracle we will see in Jesus life. Now we have different bread, which is Our Lord’s body, and this is much more than just for living–it is for our eternal life. If our daily lives are so important to God, how much more will He take care of our spiritual lives.

“A great prophet has arisen in our midst. God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)

God’s messengers were going up and down

July 6, 2015 6:00 am

“Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s messengers were going up and down on it.” (GN 28: 12)

It was Jacob’s dream, but shows reality. We are surrounded by God’s messengers, who are always “going up and down” with our prayers, intentions and thanksgiving. We can’t see them, but they really protect us, guide us and help us. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and holy Mass are like “stairways rested on the ground, with the top reaching to the heavens.”

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation)

You are the members of the household of God

July 3, 2015 8:07 am

“You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God.” (EPH 2, 19)

No one likes to be a stranger, especially among people who are very familiar with each other. It is like being a foreigner at the border where “fellow citizens” can go without any complications and you have to wait in a long line for interrogation at the immigration office, where an officer, even in a nice way, asks you: “why are you here”? “Give me a real reason to accept you in my country”. Fortunately, in Heaven we are “members of the household of God.” We are expected and longed for.

“You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!” (Gospel Acclamation)

Do not worry about tomorrow

June 20, 2015 9:48 am

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” (MT 6: 34)

It is so natural for us—“to worry about tomorrow” and to fulfill our plans, projects (how often with tomorrow’s deadline) and so many other things. God’s grace comes to every single moment in our lives, not to our plans for the future. It is Important to be in the here and now, where we can meet God and His will.

“Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (Gospel Acclamation)

God loves a cheerful giver

June 17, 2015 5:34 am

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 COR 9: 6-7)

When God gives, He gives without any condition. His gift is always free, creative and joyful. Free, because it is a gift not a transaction, payment or reward. Creative, because He cares and loves us individually. Joyful, because God not only “loves a cheerful giver,” but also is a joyful giver.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.” (Gospel Acclamation)

He will give back to you sevenfold

May 26, 2015 7:00 am

“With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means. For the LORD is one who always repays, and he will give back to you sevenfold.” (SIR 35: 11-13)

One of the languages of love is giving gifts. We love to show our love in small gifts, signs of remembering or just to remind someone that we are always close. The same is with our relationship with Our Lord. Our gifts for Him are more spiritual or less material, like our time we dedicate for prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or all kinds of donations to support His Church. We should remember that there is a special competition in these areas—“He will give back to you sevenfold.” And sevenfold doesn’t mean just seven; in Bible language it means more like infinity. In His generosity He is unbeatable.

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

Ask and you will receive

May 16, 2015 7:00 am

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.’” (JN 16: 23-24)

“Ask the Father in my name” and “He will give you.” Every father loves to be asked by his children because when we ask, we show our love and trust and that we expect from him all the best and that we depend on him. The joy which is at the end of asking is connected with relationship; there is no greater joy than to be important to someone.

“I came from the Father and have come into the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” (Gospel Acclamation)

You and all your household

February 17, 2015 8:00 am

“Then the LORD said to Noah: ‘Go into the ark, you and all your household,
for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just.’” (Gn 7: 1)

We can repeat what Genesis said also in our age—there are not many like Noah “to be truly just.” Fortunately, the Bible is not publishing the results of a “competition” about which age is the worst but telling us that God is always protecting His believers. God knows the importance of the family and the importance of the father in the family. It was not only Noah who “found favor with the LORD,” but also his family: “Go into the ark, you and all your household.” When we have fathers who believe and respect God the Father, we also will have strong families.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him.” (Gospel Acclamation)