Posts tagged keep the faith

Is 40:1-5, 9-11
2Pt 3:8-14
Mk 1:1-8

This 2nd Sunday of Advent invites us to a much better life. In the 1st Reading, Isaiah comforts the Jews exiled in Babylon. God is coming to bring them home to Jerusalem, “He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.” (Is 40:11)

As we wait for Christmas, let us remember this beautiful mission of Christ. He came to bring us to a new heaven & a new earth, a beautiful world where everyone is right with God (2Pt 3:13).

This wonderful promise is ours if we cooperate. Whatever is wrong in our life today can be traced back to our exile from God’s ways. For Jesus to carry us in His arms, we have to stop struggling and admit that we have not been right with God.

The Gospel calls us to confess & repent our sins, not just to sin no more, but to love some more. May this Christmas be the start of a new life and a new adventure with Jesus.  

Is 26:1-6
Mt 7:21, 24-27

In the 1st Reading, Isaiah says, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an eternal ROCK.” (Is 26:4)

In the Gospel, Jesus says, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the ROCK.” (Mt 7:24)
Later Jesus would say to Simon, “You are Peter (Greek for ‘rock’), and upon this ROCK I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not overcome it.” (Mt16:18)

On what foundation is your life, your marriage & your family based? Is it on the rock-solid Wisdom that has guided the Church’s 2000 years of history & growth? Or is your foundation the shifting sands of unproven modern ideas and soulless technologies?

Advent is good time to check the condition of our house. If there be some cracks & leaks, let us strengthen our foundation with the Holy Eucharist before the gates of hell burst wide open.  

Is 11:1-10

Lk 10:21-24

When the 72 disciples He sent on a mission returned & reported success, Jesus exclaimed in joy, “Father, Lord of heaven & earth, thank you for hiding the truth from the wise & clever, and for revealing it to the childlike.” (Lk 10:21)

This Advent, Jesus may come to call you for a particular mission. You might object that others more educated & learned can do the job better than you. But Jesus is not always looking for the cleverest or the best educated. Many times He just needs a soul that’s willing to be an instrument in His plan of salvation.

Simplicity & humility are needed when chosen by God. The childlike entrusts the Big Picture to God. We may not see the entirety of God’s plan. He asks us to just plant seeds that may sprout years from now when other instruments add water.

Let’s be ready like our Mother and say, “Let it be done to me according to thy Word.”

Is 4:2-6
Mt 8:5-11

In the Gospel, a powerful Roman officer approached Jesus & asked Him to heal his sick servant.

Jesus offered to go to his house but the officer said Jesus did not have to. He said he was a link in a military chain of command where his superior issues a word & he obeys, period. Then those under him obey likewise. He believed Jesus need only say a word & the demon making his servant sick will depart.

Jesus was greatly impressed for the bottom line of Faith is obedience. Because of the officer’s great Faith, Jesus granted his prayer for healing.
In today’s culture of individualism, little faith is left in the authority & chain of command Jesus established. Everyone looks out for his own interest and so our society & families are sick.

Advent is preparing for the Word of God’s entry into human history. Let us pray for humility & obedience so Jesus can heal our sickness.  

Dan 7:15-27
Lk 21:34-36

In the 1st Reading, Prophet Daniel describes as terrible horned monsters the conquering kings from neighboring lands who are terrorizing the area around the Mediterranean Sea including Jerusalem.

Today our monsters are much more dangerous for they don’t have horns; they are disguised as helpful nations. They want to conquer our land first by making us worry that our “over-population” is making us poor; secondly they offer their
pleasure-seeking lifestyle as the solution.

But Jesus’ timeless wisdom warns us of this double deception. He tells us not live in endless partying, or be frozen by life’s worries (Lk 21:34).

Today is the last day in the Church year. Our True King wraps it up with a reminder that a healthy Christian lifestyle consists of regular talks with Him in prayer, trusting in His providential love, and recognizing Him return in every person we meet.  

11/25/11
Dn 7:2-14
Lk 21:29-33

Today’s readings speak of end-of-time events, hard to understand and easy to misinterpret. But their core message is clear & unarguable: God has given His Son dominion over all people of all nations of all time (Dn 7:13-14), and the universe will pass away but His Words will remain forever (Lk 21:33).

Jesus’ teaching is for all time. His Words guide every generation and His wisdom is eternal. Not a single statement of Jesus can be put aside as outdated and no longer relevant.

Love God, love our neighbor as ourselves, forgive & pray for those who hurt us, be peacemakers, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the sorrowing, trust in God rather than possessions, work for justice, bring others to God and at all times, do not be a hypocrite. These divine guidelines may be difficult but they are timeless…

Lord Jesus, my Christ and my King, I kneel and I obey.  

Dn 5:1-28
Lk 21:12-19

Jesus warns His followers that they will be persecuted because of His Name, but this will be their opportunity to be His witnesses. (Lk 21:12-13)

The secular world hates the Gospel. Living its values makes us unpopular, an uncomfortable reminder to those who do not. Classmates will giggle behind us for trying to be holy. Neighbors will frown on us for having many kids. We won’t be promoted at work for not joining the
corruption. They will all mock us and tell us to stop being a martyr.

That is exactly the point of Jesus. ‘Martyr’ is the Greek word for ‘witness’. A true follower of Jesus is a living witness to the sublime peace & joy of walking His way.

Praising God at church is necessary & good, but it does not make us true followers. It is when our life outside of church brings praise to God.

Lord Jesus, help me face the difficulties of practicing my faith today.  

Dn 2:31-45
Lk 21:5-11

In 600 BC, prophet Daniel predicted that “a stone cut out by no human hand” will shatter all earthly kingdoms, that this rock will grow to become a great mountain that will fill the whole earth (Dn 2: 34-35). It was to be a kingdom that will never be destroyed and will last forever (v. 44).

Then the Son of God came & chose a rock & said, “You are Peter (meaning rock), & on this rock I will build my church, & the gates of hell shall not defeat it.” (Mt 16:18)

History shows that no earthly empire, nation, ideology, corporation or bank lasts forever - not even the Jerusalem Temple (Lk 21:6).

But in 2000 yrs, the Rock of Peter, the Church grows bigger & stronger than ever, just as Jesus said… Heavenly Father, increase my faith, that I may stop seeking passing satisfactions, and head instead to the table where Christ my King waits to nourish me with His Body & Blood.  

Dn 1:1-20
Lk 21:1-4

In 605 BC, Jerusalem was conquered & many Jews taken captive to faraway Babylon, including Daniel & 3 friends. In spite this tragedy, the 4 friends remained faithful & obedient to the dietary prohibitions of their faith. They later became trusted & favored advisers to the king (1st Reading).

In the Gospel, a very poor widow donated her last money to the Temple. Jesus praised her greatly for giving everything in spite her poverty…

Faithfulness & obedience to God and to the disciplines He gives through His Church is ultimately for our own good. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1Cor 2:9)

If we put our abundance & nothingness, our laughter & tears, all that we are at the Lord’s disposal no matter how senseless & hard, Christ the King will make our lives beautiful in ways beyond our imagining.  

1Mac 4:36-37, 52-59

Lk 19:45-48

“My house shall be a house of prayer.” (Lk 19:45)

Jesus said this to show His devotion for the House of God, the Temple, teaching there daily. While it’s true that each of us is a temple of God, we are just individual parts of Christ’s One Body, the Church (1Cor 12:27).

We need to assemble at the church building to affirm our identity, strengthen our unity, and offer our collective thanksgiving. Thinking that we can do without the Church, can make us proud & rebellious mini-popes of our own mini-church, distorting the teachings of Jesus to fit our purpose. Our children of course will be as rebellious to us. Or worse.

In the 1st Reading, the faithful & united Maccabeus family has defeated their foreign enemy. They then went to the Temple to thank and worship the Lord for their victory.

Let us bring our family to church and win life’s battles under Jesus.

1Mac 2:15-29
Lk 19:41-44

In the time of the Maccabees (175 BC), Jerusalem was ruled by Greeks. In Jesus’ time (33 AD), by the Romans. The Maccabees rejected all orders of their conqueror to turn against God. Instead they left their homes, fled to the hills & led a revolt.

God & history sees them as mighty heroes. But the Pharisees in Jesus’ time played politics with the Romans to keep their hold on power. And they turned against the Son of God.

In the Gospel, Jesus wept upon seeing beautiful Jerusalem from afar - He knew Rome would totally destroy her (in 70 AD)…Sleeping with the enemy never works, most especially with Satan. Giving in to his small temptations always leads to worse ones & to final destruction. That is why the Church will not play with the RH bill for it will lead to the destruction of the family.

If you do not believe this, please try asking Jesus in prayer. 

2Mac 6:18-31
Lk 19:1-10

In the 1st Reading is Eleazar, an elderly & highly respected teacher of Jewish law. He was forced by an evil ruler to give up his Jewish faith & publicly eat pork. His friends told him to just pretend to eat so he would not be killed. Eleazar refused for this would still cause his fellow Jews to weaken & give up their faith too. He chose to give up his life & be with God forever.

In the Gospel is Zacchaeus, a very wealthy tax collector. As Jesus was passing by, Zacchaeus could not see from behind the crowd since he was very short, so he climbed a tree. To his great joy, Jesus saw him and went with him to his house. For this, Zacchaeus happily gave away half his wealth…

Faith demands from us to give up things in our lives in exchange for the company of God. Let’s be alert today for any opportunity to give up something and make more space for Jesus in our heart.