SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES

  How would we feel if someone wants to get rid of us? Would we still find ourselves loving that person? Just like David in today's 1st reading we should not harbor any ill feelings in our hearts.    The love that he has in his heart triumphed over the hatred that should have risen from the evil plot of his son, Absalom to kill him. Just like King David we sometimes encounter people who say all bad things about us and in today's 1st reading we are urged to imitate David's kindness and self control despite the curses being hurled at him he decided not to fight back. He continued to trust in God's goodness and mercy who sees all things we are going through. We must find the love of God above all. Amen. Hallelujah! 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3 ...Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom; 3 and that day’s victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard that the king was grieving for his son. We have to be grateful to God...

 To utter a curse to someone and spread slanderous words against somebody much more to a king is never an acceptable thing and could definitely spell trouble. In fact, a person could be charged of slander and libel and go to jail for something like this. But in today's 1st reading, King David, the leader of his people allowed himself to be cursed. He could have easily silenced this man at his bidding but he did not. It was the deep remorse and awareness of his own sins that withheld his anger for this man (Shimei) who insulted him. We may have been to the same situation as King David's, though we are not royalty we may have reacted, retaliated and answered back in a very fierce way if we were told of the same curses that could ruin our reputation and hurt our ego. We could never deny the fact that at least once in our life if not many times, we were all guilty of getting back at somebody who may have hurt us in a certain way. There could be times too, when we could not lower ou...

  The Lord has spoken so many times about His everlasting love and devotion to us. If we are always focused on this then we will surely emerge victorious in all our battles in this life. God knows each one of us in a very special way even before we were born. This truth should make us realize that none of us came to life by accident or chance. We have all been called for a mission and a purpose in life. If we live life embracing this truth at all times then we can be assured that our Creator and God who is a loving Father to all of us would see us through whatever it is that we are going through right now. There are times when we wonder how we ever get to certain situations in our life and where we are right now. Sometimes we just couldn’t put it together or quite amazed how it all came to be. The bottom line here is the fact that God will never put us through something without seeing us through it. It is also a consolation to know that every step we make that we have consulted and...

  The most important thing that the Lord expects of us when we sin is true conversion. We can say all the sorry/s we like but if it's not coupled with a transformation of our hearts then we are no better than the snakes that shed off their skin but come out the same. We've got to be like those caterpillars after shedding off their chrysalis or silk coverings emerge into a beautiful butterfly. Just like in today's 1st reading when David asked God for forgiveness, truly repented and mend his ways. Amen. Hallelujah! 2 Samuel 12:1-7a, 10-17 ...Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David, “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin you shall not die.14 But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” 15 Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, reti...

God continues to bless us despite our offenses because we have a forgiving God who looks not on our sins but on our repentant hearts. A sin can never be undone by committing another sin. Nor can we set aside, hide and run away from it. There's nothing we can do to cover it up. Everything is known to Him. Today's 1st reading speaks of David's several attempts to get away from his sins but failed and ended up with a much greater sin, to cause the death of a dedicated and brave soldier, Uriah. Things can really get worse if we keep on setting aside or putting off what really needs to be done. When it comes to sin, there is nothing else we can do but to face it and accept the consequences of our actions. The solution can be found in the 3Rs, RECONCILE by REPENTING and REPAIRING the relationship we have broken. Amen. Hallelujah! 2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 ...David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent o...

  Is there a specific bible verse or passage in the bible that is very dear to your heart and which touches you the most? I do. Most of us have and whenever we encounter it there's something very special that we can associate with it. I guess, I have shared this favorite bible passage of mine many times already, the prophecy of Habakkuk in 2:2-3 which is: Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. This Word of God came to me as the 1st reading on that day of Oct 7, 2007 when I was about to make a major decision which made all the difference in my life from that day on. I am standing on the promises of God my Savior, standing on firm ground, I will not be moved. Things may still not be looking up and great at the present time but I am still firm in my faith...

  Today's 1st reading is a call for us to remain true to the faith which reminds me of charismatic seminars like LSS, (Life in the Spirit Seminar) LLS, (Living in the Light Seminar) CLP (Christian Life Program) or whatever they call it wherein people are laid hands on, get baptized and received God's gifts of the Holy Spirit. We all have to recall and not leave to be forgotten the good memories that strengthened our faith the way Paul is doing for Timothy and Titus whose feasts we are celebrating today. Paul one of the greatest apostles did not do everything by himself. He had these 2 greatest collaborators who helped him fulfill God's mission. Timothy and Titus served the church and carried out good deeds in whatever situation they were in, even in times of challenges. We are encouraged also to stir in into flame the same grace given to them, the laity and all the baptized to participate in the mission of the church. When Jesus called the first apostles who were mending th...