SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

        Today is the beginning of Lent. It is Ash Wednesday. We are called by the Church to a supreme act of obedience to God the way Jesus did. This is the time of fulfillment to repent and believe in the gospel. We have to do it now and everyday. Lent brings that message at the forefront. We are called by the Church as Catholics to take advantage of this Lenten season to receive God's grace and mercy. Our first conversion is in baptism when we are made into a new creature. Our 2 nd   conversion should take place daily, the act of having to turn from sin and turn to God everyday. This is why we practice abstinence and fasting as part of our penitential practices that express our change of heart and conversion during this season. The Liturgical seasons bring into focus the different mysteries especially the need for penance and repentance. We are always in need of purification. We should constantly follow the path of penance and renewal. This is the sign of...

   The message has been very consistent since yesterday through the 1st reading also taken from the Book of James. We have often heard people say, "If it's nice and beautiful then it must be good." We have to make a clear distinction of this because it's like we're in a masquerade ball. We're in for a lot of excitement because everyone is all dressed up in a costume and mask. Let us not be carried away and stick to the perfect rather than the imperfect gift in disguise. The reality of temptation is something we all experience. Its sources are the world, the flesh and the devil. We should be aware of it and not take for granted. It is so powerful that if it goes unchecked could lead us to sin. Sometimes we are fooled into believing that God causes all the things that happen in our lives even the bad ones. We are being corrected by James from this wrong mindset and made to realize that we have a loving God who wills all good things for us. We have our free will ...

   We all have the capacity to know what is right and wrong so it is up to us to take our pick. God never imposes for He is a Perfect Gentleman. He allows us to decide for ourselves despite the heartache it causes Him to see us not choose life over death. It is God's greatest desire to see us all live and be saved but as today's 1st reading tells us whichever we choose shall be given to us. Amen. Hallelujah! Sirach 15:15-20 15 If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; 16 he has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. 17 Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him. “ Don't trust too much, don't love too much, don't care too much because that "too much" wiil hurt you so much...” This is a quotation I came across on Facebook. It somehow  answers the part where we have to hurt so much. We use our mind to sort out what is true. God...

   King Solomon blew it and so did Jeroboam. We, too one time or another had our chances or golden moments. These are the times when God puts us on the line and we should not forfeit this golden moment to prove ourselves worthy. Jeroboam after being entrusted with wealth, power and glory could have promoted praise and worship to the one true God but he didn't. He was consumed by his greed for power that he failed to get a hold of himself. These worldly things can sometimes or most of the time the source of our distractions and if not properly checked and balanced might lead us to the way of perdition. We should not be sidetracked and lose focus because of the lure of wealth and power. Let us not be fooled by it and remain loyal to the true riches and glory that only God can offer. Amen. Hallelujah! 1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34 ...This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth... We should always keep in mind that i...

   We could very well understand why people let go of a gasp, a sigh in disbelief or even exclaim and react strongly whenever we hear of stories which started out well but ended up in disappointment. A good storyline, is something that builds its peak as it goes along and sustains it as it reaches the climax in the end. Today's 1st reading as far as this principle is concerned is a flop based on how King Solomon's life started as a well celebrated and famous king of Israel whose wisdom was well known for all time but ended up in failure because he did not sustain and live up to the great inheritance and legacy that was handed down to him by his father, King David. Though, we could all learn a lesson from his story and pick up the good example from his life. We can all identify with King Solomon because we also have all been handed down an inheritance, legacy and royalty much greater than any wealth and power known to this world that is the love of God which crucified our ...