The gospel speaks about the difference between external observance of the law of God and the spirituality of the heart. Christianity tells us the state of the heart and the importance of the laws of love. Loving thy neighbor is the second most important commandment of God. If we show loving kindness to one another, we are following his commandments. Keeping the law at the expense of others is not following the law of God. Jesus said that the holiness, purity and wholeness of a person come from within. It is not just the external things that we do that makes us holy like fasting, alms giving and attending mass. It is necessary that we must show our love to others, care for them and do good things. If we disregard these things, we think only of ourselves and evil things will come out from us.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Feb. 6, 2012 – Mark 6:53-56 – Healing the Sick in Gennesaret
The gospel talks about Jesus’ tremendous compassion to those who are sick. Compassion means “to suffer with” so one who is compassionate is one who is sensitive to the needs of others. When we see children in distress, we are alarmed so we become compassionate. Everyone has the ability to compassion. But there are other people who are so pre-occupied with many things that they don’t know care about the agony of others. By following Christ, we can become compassionate and concerned of others than ourselves.
Compassion is not only knowing but feeling the sufferings of other people. By just knowing or noticing how people are being maltreated and tortured is not enough. We have to relive and to act something about the sufferings we see around. We must seek in our hearts what Christ wants us to do those who are being tormented. Christ will help us open our hearts to compassion and let people know that we care for them.
Feb. 4, 2012 – 1 King 3:7,9-13 - Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
The message of the reading is about an understanding mind and heart which is wisdom, the ability to discern between good and evil. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of wisdom. He gives not just knowledge or information but wisdom to those who ask and are entitled for it. Once we have the gift of wisdom, God wants us to share it with others thru evangelization. The gospel is a nursery of wisdom. It speaks about how to live, love and die in peace. So we have to share the gospel and use our wisdom to control our lives.
Feb. 3, 2012 – Sirach 47:7,811 - David
God chose sinners to lead the church like David, Peter, Paul, Isaac, Jeremiah and other prophets or saints. He used these people to accomplish His purpose. He picked ordinary persons as His instruments to do extraordinary things. God wants these persons to be something of value for the building of His realm. What God liked about David is his humility of being able to recognize that he is nothing without His Saviour. David knew that all the good things that happened in His life came from God. David realized his faults and asked for forgiveness.
In the present days, God also choses ordinary and extraordinary people to proclaim His kingdom. If we feel we are chosen by God thru our vocation, we just have to imitate these people in our biblical history to do what we are supposed to do. Our sins don’t hinder God’s plan for us if we realize that it is our faults. So what we need is to be humble and ask forgiveness from God.
Feb. 1, 2012 – 2 Samuel 24:10,14,15-17 - Judgement on David’s sin
The reading speaks about why is there suffering in our lives. Suffering reveals who we are; it pushes us to the limits as we try to break the bondage of slavery of sin. When we come to our senses we ask ourselves why this is happening. Just like Jesus who suffered as He carried His cross, we also have suffering in our lives, our own cross to bear. Suffering creates something like a vocation, a way of life or a calling from God. He sends messages thru our suffering what He wants us to do by following His footsteps. Once we understand what these suffering means to our lives, we can continue to live and keep going. It is not money or power that can remove suffering but prayer. We can prove to God that we can endure it despite the hardship and pains we are undergoing.
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