The Grace of Mercy

The Prodigal Son is born into a prosperous family and receives all good things from his father.  But rather than waiting for his dad to die, he demands his inheritance now, thumbs his nose at his father, takes the money and runs. 

 

The food sated him.  The wine exhilarated him.  The carousing titillated him.  But after it was all over, he found himself empty, lonely, and broke.

 

This is the grand illusion of sin.  It is dangled before our eyes as the key to fulfillment and happiness.  It is all about enjoying the gifts of creation in defiance of the Creator, in a way contrary to his wise and loving design.

 

There is a very important point in the Prodigal story that should not escape our attention.  The motivation of the son is not sincere sorrow at how badly he has offended his father.  It is not even that he misses his father.  It comes back because he is hungry.  He admits his sin and wants pardon, yes, but it is to save his skin.

 

Does the Father care?  Does his insist that the son’s contrition be pure or perfect?  Does he even pay attention to the son’s rehearsed speech?  No.  He is overjoyed that the son has begun the journey home, for whatever reason.  He lavishes gifts upon him before he even gets to the house.  The elder brother insists that he does not deserve them.  The Father does not contest this.  The Prodigal deserves nothing.   But the Father gives him everything.

 

God’s freely given, unmerited grace precedes even our expression of sorrow.  In fact, without God’s grace, we can’t make the first step on the road back to him.  He loves us when we were yet sinners, and seems to lavish the greatest graces on the most undeserving.

 

Ask St. Paul about this.  Perhaps he writes more about grace than any other biblical author because he needed it so much more.   Was it Benjamin Franklin who said that God helps those who help themselves?  Paul, the foremost of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), understood that it is quite the opposite: God helps those who can’t help themselves.  That’s what grace is all about.

 

Edited from: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/236/The_Prodigal_Son_and_the_Golden_Calf.html

No Day but Today

Believing that they (Jesus’ listeners) had already responded to God’s call, they “shut the door” and were content that they had done enough. In their contentment, they cast a critical eye on those around them, whom they thought had not yet “arrived”. After all, they reasoned, if misfortune had come to those Galileans killed by Pilate, and to the eighteen killed in Siloam, God must have allowed it because they were so sinful. Without correcting the popular, but erroneous notion, that tragedy was a deserved punishment for sin, Jesus warned his listeners against comparing themselves with others, and of growing lax concerning their own need for reform. Rather than interpret their own escape from personal tragedy as a divine comment on their perfection, Jesus suggested that their time and energies would be better spent in preparing to meet their Maker.

Jesus clarified his point through the parable of the fig tree. A well-known symbol for Israel (see Hosea 9:10; Micah 7:1; Jeremiah 8:13, 24:1-10), the fig tree provided both fruit and shade for humanity, and a place for birds to nest. After planting, the fig tree was expected to produce fruit after three years; if it did not, it was cut down and replaced with another. In Jesus’ parable the vinedresser gave the barren tree another year and extra care in order that it might produce fruit. Through this parable, Jesus implied that the divine vinedresser was about to come in search of fruit in Israel. Would there be any to be found? Like the tree left for yet another year to grow, Israel had been blessed with many chances and opportunities for conversion. Those who chose to ignore these would find themselves liable to the same fate as the barren fig tree.

Contemporary Christians, still awaiting Jesus’ return, might appreciate this parable as an impetus toward growth and conversion. A special season of growth, the six weeks of Lent provide an annual opportunity for turning again to God and in that turning to bear fruit in faithful service. Indeed Lent is such an important opportunity that one spiritual director once said, “A Lent missed is a year lost from the spiritual life.” However the fact remains that this could be the last Lent or even the last day we spend on earth. Because tomorrow may never come, the gift, which is today, must be used as well and as wisely as possible.

Based on: http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/sanchez/locked/cyclec/lentc/lent398c.htm

A Glimpse of Heaven

When the time came, Jesus revealed the plan of the Father to His apostles, which included all His sufferings and His death in Calvary for the redemption of men. It was very difficult for them to accept that they would soon be left without their master.

Jesus invited His three closest apostles to come with Him to pray, however they were tired and sleepy, so they missed out on His prayers.

There was a moment then when His humanity was overwhelmed by His divinity. Moses and Elijah came to see me and to talk with Him. In the middle of this consolation the apostles woke up to see me transfigured in the light of His divinity, then they saw His heavenly visitors and at that moment they heard the voice of The Father saying “This is my beloved, listen to him”. The participation in these divine moments caused them great amazement. For a start they had a glance at my divinity, something that would strengthen their faith for the future sufferings they had to endure. They were very fortunate to also hear the voice of The Father who confirms my mission as his Word, who urges men to take advantage of the heavenly gift that has been sent from heaven, the Son of God.

The transfiguration is also the great hope of man. When we come face to face with Him after the resurrection, this is what we will become like, Sons and Daughters of God, whose humanity will be divinized by the grace of Salvation.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Adapted from: http://www.theworkofgod.org/devotns/euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=57

Resisting the Seemingly Irresistible

Adapted from: http://www.theworkofgod.org/devotns/euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=47

Jesus is the Eternal Word, the Son of God. In His spiritual nature He is pure Spirit. He was also the Son of Mary, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of my Virgin Mother, therefore He has shared our human nature and for the sake of our salvation He became man.

Jesus represented the whole human race in His spiritual struggle with the powerful enemy of souls so that we all would learn a lesson and always draw our wisdom and strength from Him. The three enemies of the soul are the flesh, the world and the devil. He tempted me as he tempts everyone but I overcame his temptations. You can also overcome the same way I did.

To the weakness of the flesh, the devil tempted me with bread in order to interrupt my self-denial, my reply to him was “Human beings live not on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” I have taught you everything you need to know, my word will be your wisdom and your strength. Deny yourselves and you will have total self-control against temptation.

The devil tempted Jesus to worship him in exchange for power, glory and riches, Jesus replied, “You must do homage to the Lord, Him alone must you serve.” The first commandment calls to worship God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, but many people neglect God and worship the false gods of the world, thus becoming victims of the devil.

The devil tempted Jesus to throw Himself from a pinnacle of the temple, to which, He replied, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”. Every time we sin, we are doing just that. We are forgetting the damage we are doing to our own souls, we are putting the Lord to the test. Let us not put Our Lord to the test, avoid sin, do what is good and we will be given the necessary graces to conquer temptations when they come.

Blessedness

The world has always been a very rich place, abundant in natural resources, a place that was created lavishly in order to provide all human beings with plenty of food and shelter.

For those who have more than what they need, there is a constant opportunity to help the poor and all those in need. It is good to have, but don’t be too happy if you have more than you need and do nothing about your brother who is in need. The quest for riches blinds man with materialism. The reward for the poor will be the riches of Heaven; however in contrast, those who neglect charity won’t have a treasure in their future life.
Blessed are those who hunger now, they shall be filled. The world is full of riches but so blind to the poor who are starving, we do nothing and let them die. How great is the injustice of man! Jesus prepared the reward for those who are generous and care for their brothers.
Blessed are those who suffer and weep. They shall be consoled. Blessed are those who are rejected for following Jesus.
There are those who suffer in their spiritual poverty, they hunger for God, they suffer for this unwise humanity. They are persecuted because they want a better world, a world where God’s laws are obeyed. They are truly blessed.
If we want to be Jesus’ disciple, we will have to take up our crosses daily and follow Him. The road we trod is narrow and difficult to travel, it is full of temptation and suffering, it is very similar to His ascent to Calvary. The soul must travel this spiritual road and overcome all the obstacles in order to purify itself by humility and obedience. While human beings are subject to bodily sufferings because of the struggles of life, there is a parallel in the unseen part of humanity, that of the soul, which must constantly struggle to attain perfection while in the physical body.
Blessed are the pure of heart who listen to Jesus’ voice and need Jesus’ spiritual food more than the body needs physical food, Blessed are those who believe in Jesus, and accept the Will of God as the power that rules their lives.

Source:
http://www.theworkofgod.org/devotns/euchrist/HolyMass/gospel_yearc.htm

Contempt of the Familiar

When the people of Nazareth heard Jesus speak at the Synagogue, they were amazed. At first they approved of His wisdom, but then they started asking questions about His person.
Surely this is just the son of a carpenter, how can he speak with such wisdom, how can he be the man who has performed miracles if he is just an ordinary person from this town? How can he claim that he has the Spirit of God upon Him and that He can give sight to the blind, heal the sick, free those possessed by evil spirits and bring forth the Grace of God upon us?
Jesus replied to them that no man is a prophet in his own land; that God preferred to bring healing to the pagans in the past instead of granting his favor to his chosen people. The reason is that they took the Kingdom of Heaven for granted and neglected the commandments of God.
After that, they decided to get rid of Jesus, although I knew their plans and escaped from the menacing crowd.
In baptism, we are anointed with the Spirit of God and we become sons and daughters of the Most High. How come we don’t enjoy the privileges and gifts of the rightful inheritance that is ours? The reason is our lack of faith.
Ah, if we only gave credit to God, if we acknowledged with appropriate reverence the gift that God has given us. You are temples of the Holy Spirit, God is with us, the Lord is One with us, His Spirit moves us to come to him and to know him, love him and serve him, to become One with him.
Stop underestimating yourselves, stop denying the power of the Spirit of God within you, stop alienating yourselves from God through sinfulness and lack of faith. Come closer, enter the temple of the Presence of God within you, accept that God has come to save you, that his flesh and blood is a part of you now and that you belong to Him.
I am calling everyone to accept my Holy Spirit as the power that will act in you, think in you and will in you. Surrender your lives to the action of God who wants to make you saints. Repent of your sins and forget who you are now, accept what I can make of you through my mercy, and you will be transformed. I accept you as you are; I desire your sanctification in the power of my burning Love.

Source:
http://www.theworkofgod.org/devotns/euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=46

Imagine Jesus Saying…

By: Joseph of Jesus & Mary

After my Baptism I returned to Galilee filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. I went to the temple on the Sabbath and started to read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. At the end I told them that the passage of Scripture was fulfilled as I read it.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me.”
In Baptism I received the fullness of the Holy Spirit, I had the power, the wisdom and the love of God in me. I was the God Man empowered to carry out the work of Salvation.
I came to announce the Good News; that the Kingdom of Heaven is very near to those who repent. I came to free the captives of sin by making my Mercy available to all sinners who acknowledge their guilt and ask for pardon. I came to heal the sick not only in their bodies but also in their souls. I came to open the eyes of the blind not just physically but spiritually, to bring them from darkness into the light. I came to free those oppressed by the evil one, those who are totally lost except for my intervention. I came to proclaim the goodness, the mercy and the grace of God.
I came to change the world for good. I am still here to transform the hearts of all those who listen to my word and believe that I am the same: yesterday, today and forever. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of every thing, the One with the power to save what is lost, to give life to what is dead, the One who paid the ransom for your Salvation.
I am the Lord your God, I am Spirit. I have come to offer you my Holy Spirit so that you partake of my gifts, that you may open your eyes and see what I am offering you. I give you everything in proportion to your faith. You see it is by believing in me that you acknowledge who I am. It is by trusting in me, that you come to enjoy the physical and spiritual healing that I give. My miracles are still available to the believers. I am the Son of God, the only way to Him, sent to give testimony of His Power, Wisdom and Love.
Everyone who is baptised is anointed with the Holy Spirit, he is a living temple of the Presence of God, he is invited to grow in the faith, to achieve knowledge of God and to become like Him.

Source:
http://www.theworkofgod.org/devotns/euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=45

Wedding at Cana

By: Fr. George Vargas

http://www.quezon.gov.ph/dailybread/WeddingAtCana.html

1. There were 6 big jars of water (about 30 gallons each) which were prepared for the purification rituals set for the visitors. A visitor might pass through a gentile soil so the dusts on their feet were unclean, so they have to wash them before entering the reception hall. Water is always associated with Baptism and wine into the suffering of Christ. Baptism of John was good but the blood of Christ that takes away our sins is far better. Sacrament of Baptism is good because it cleanses our souls from sins but sharing the fruits of our sweat and blood to the poor is better. In the waters of baptism we confess our faith, but just believing in God is not enough. We need to turn our own “waters of faith” into our “wine of charity” to the poor and the needy.

2. When something went wrong during the wedding, Christ gave them what they need (the wine) just to sustain the celebrations. He produced whatever is missing to sustain the relationship. Same is true when something went wrong in our relationship (wedding) with God because of our sinfulness. Even though failure in on our side, it is always God who will always take the initiative to sustain our relationship with him. He will supply us enough “wine of forgiveness and mercy” to keep our marriage him alive, forever.          

3. Jesus turned 6 jars of water into wine. Can you imagine a big amount of wine that Christ supplied to them (6jarsx30 gallons=180 gallons of wine) towards the end  of the party. I think is far more than what they need, in fact they might need only 1 jar just to finish up the celebration. He gives them more than what they needed. Christ’s blood is more than enough for our salvation. His grace is far more than our sins. We need only forgiveness but God did not only forgive us but he goes as far as loving us until the cross. So be it, with our lives. We should not only simply forgive persons who wronged us, we should learn how to give even more that. Let’s offer them our sweetest love that’s coming from within.

4. The best wine should be offered at the beginning but it was offered at the end. Wine represent the covenant of God with man. The “wine of New Testament” tastes better that the first one (the wine of  Old Testament covenant), because it is “fermented” by Christ’s blood. Same is true with marriage. You might have the “sweetest wine” during your wedding, but good weddings do not guarantee a perfect married life. The best taste of “wine” in marriage is best tasted towards the end, when you are celebrating your 25th or 50th anniversary of marriage. Let us keep working and be patient with our dreams, remember that the best wine of God’s blessings are well served at the end.            

And it is Here Where it all Began

Reflection     
10 January 2010     
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord  
Gospel:  Lk. 3:15-16, 21-22

By: Grace Ponce

Jesus’ baptism thus leads us to consider the meaning of “vocation,” or in simple terms “calling” a word that has lost much of its significance through repetitive use. Vocations are the way we make our livings, and avocations — the things we don’t have to do — provide our recreation.

We do not have just one “calling”, and we are challenged to balance different responsibilities and relationships. But we have to consider this: as to the gospel of Luke the calling of Jesus is not just about a job or a career. It is not a word of mission, sending him into the future. Not at the beginning. The word of baptism is first of all about the delight of God in this beloved, this chosen, this child called by name. Not a call to do, but a calling that names.

As for Jesus, so for us. Our first calling, the baptismal call, is the one that simply loves and names: You are my child. I delight in you. The words embrace us and promise to hold us. This is where it begins, and this is also, we dare claim, the last word, the one that holds our future.

Nevertheless in linking that beginning and that end, this baptismal call will often become a call to ACTION. It will mean mission and ministry and all kinds of tasks. Anointing is a sign of blessing, but it is also a commissioning.

And not so long ago after my welcoming into the world, I learned to listen to my mother’s voice calling me home from play to meals, homework and chores. If love is unconditional at its root, it entails the desire and expectation of life true to its vision, living up to the good that was seen. My parents and teachers and keep counts of others called me and propelled me to the “callings” of my life. These “callings” have come through human voices and relationships, organizations and communities; they call to me as mother, daughter, citizen, colleague, friend. The calls are many, but their beginning is one.

Not every shed tear can be answered and not every call is from God. So it is a blessing when we can thank God for the joy of purpose in our lives and for times when the call to a certain task seems clear. Yet even when our callings seem hard to sort out or beyond our ability to fulfill, even in the day of failure and betrayal, I pray to remember again the calling that comes first and last. The tasks and duties do matter, but what stand for — our identity, our belonging, our hope — is heard here by the waters. You are my child, beloved, delight.

The Holy Father’s Words for Christmas

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On Christmas Night we will pause, once again, before the crib and contemplate with wonder the “Word made flesh”. Sentiments of joy and gratitude will be renewed in our hearts, as they are every year, while we listen to the Christmas melodies that sing of the extraordinary event in so many languages.
It was out of love that the Creator of the universe came to dwell among us. In his Letter to the Philippians, St Paul says that Christ, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (2:6). He appeared in human form, adds the Apostle, humbling himself. At holy Christmas we will relive the fulfilment of this sublime mystery of grace and mercy.
St Paul says further, “When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5). In truth, the Chosen People had been waiting for the Messiah for many centuries but they imagined him as a powerful and victorious army leader who would free his followers from foreign oppression.
The Saviour, on the contrary, was born in silence and in absolute poverty. He came as “the light that enlightens every man”, St John notes, yet “his own people received him not” (Jn 1:9,11). “But”, the Apostle added, “to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (ibid., 1:12). The light promised was to illumine the hearts of those who had persevered in vigilant and active expectation.
The Advent liturgy also exhorts us to be sober and watchful in order not to let ourselves be burdened by sin and excessively worldly concerns. Indeed, it is by watching and praying that we will be able to recognize and accept the splendour of Christ’s birth. St Maximus of Turin, a Bishop of the fourth and fifth centuries, said in one of his homilies: “The time warns us that the Birth of Christ the Lord is at hand. The world with its own apprehensions speaks of something imminent that will renew it, and desires with impatient expectation that the splendour of a brighter sun may illumine its darkness…. This expectation of creation also persuades us to wait for Christ, the new Sun, to rise” (cf. Hom. 61a,1-3). Creation itself, therefore, leads us to discover and recognize the One who must come.
But the question is: is the humanity of our time still waiting for a Saviour? One has the feeling that many consider God as foreign to their own interests. Apparently, they do not need him. They live as though he did not exist and, worse still, as though he were an “obstacle” to remove in order to fulfil themselves. Even among believers - we are sure of it - some let themselves be attracted by enticing dreams and distracted by misleading doctrines that suggest deceptive shortcuts to happiness.
Yet, despite its contradictions, worries and tragedies, and perhaps precisely because of them, humanity today seeks a path of renewal, of salvation, it seeks a Saviour and awaits, sometimes unconsciously, the coming of the Saviour who renews the world and our life, the coming of Christ, the one true Redeemer of man and of the whole of man.
Of course, false prophets continue to propose a salvation “at a cheap price”, that always ends by producing searing disappointments.
The history of the past 50 years itself demonstrates this search for a Saviour “at a cheap price” and highlights all the disappointments that have derived from it. It is the task of us Christians, with the witness of our life, to spread the truth of Christmas which Christ brings to every man and woman of good will.
Born in the poverty of the manger, Jesus comes to offer to all that joy and that peace which alone can fulfil the expectations of the human soul.
But how should we prepare ourselves to open our hearts to the Lord who comes? The spiritual attitude of watchful and prayerful expectation remains the fundamental characteristic of the Christian in this Advent Season. It is this attitude that distinguishes the protagonists of that time: Zechariah and Elizabeth, the shepherds, the Magi, the humble, simple people, above all Mary and Joseph’s expectation! The latter, more than any of the others, felt in the first person the anxiety and trepidation for the Child who would be born.
It is not difficult to imagine how they spent the last days, waiting to hold the newborn Infant in their arms. May their attitude be our own, dear brothers and sisters! In this regard, let us listen to the exhortation of St Maximus, Bishop of Turin, cited above: “While we are waiting to welcome the Nativity of the Lord, let us clothe ourselves in clean garments, without a stain. I am speaking of clothing the soul, not the body. Let us not be clad in silk raiments but in holy works! Sumptuous clothing may cover the limbs but does not adorn the conscience” (ibid.).
In being born among us, may the Child Jesus not find us distracted or merely busy, beautifying our houses with decorative lights. Rather, let us deck our soul and make our families a worthy dwelling place where he feels welcomed with faith and love. May the Blessed Virgin and St Joseph help us to live the Mystery of Christmas with renewed wonder and peaceful serenity.
With these sentiments, I would like to offer my most fervent good wishes for a holy and happy Christmas to all of you present here and to your relatives, with a special remembrance for those who may be in difficulty or who are suffering in body and spirit. Happy Christmas to you all!

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