The Second Coming

When the second coming of our Lord is nigh, those who have lived a life worthy of rewards from the heaven will be joyful and hopeful. However, those who have lived a life which will bring judgement and maybe eternal punishment the feeling will be that of fear, trepidation and anxiety.

The gospels say that we should not be deceived by those who appear to preach the signs of the coming of the Lord, for only the Lord himself knows the time. We need to keep ourselves prepared for whenever that time is - so that we can joyfully and hopefully wait for the event of the coming.

Salvation is for all

During the time of Jesus, the people believed that salvation belonged only for the chosen ones. Jesus made it clear in Luke 13:22-30, that salvation and entrance into the Kingdom is universal and that it belongs to all people from all over the world.
Jesus preaches to strive to enter the Kingdom through the narrow door - which is the way of the cross. To enter into eternal life, it is not enough that we recognize Jesus, but it is more important that Jesus recognizes us. And Jesus recognizes by our love for one another.

Open Ourselves to God's Plans

Thoughts from the liturgy of the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)
Being passionate over worldly indulgences and being selfish leads to losing our true relationship with God. Our worldly passions and selfishness upset the plans that God has for the world through each one of us. The grace of god will not be with us, when we start following the orders of this world for own selfish gains.St.James tells us that we do not receive what we ask for, because we ask them for the wrong reasons, that is, for our own passions and selfishness.

Go Prophesize!

In the new testament, Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs granting them the authority to preach the word of God, to drive out demons and to cure the sick. Likewise in the old testament, Amos, who was an ordinary shepherd was chosen by God to be a prophet. He was sent out to prophesize in the King's sanctuary, despite being rebuked by the King and and the King's priests.
Let us ask for graces from God that we may understand the type of calling that he has set out for us. So that we may help spread the Kingdom of God in our neighborhoods and societies through our words and actions which befit a Catholic.

It is Finished!

Jesus drank the wine and said, "It is finished!". Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

Excavators had found a ledger in Jerusalem which belongs to the period during which Jesus was among us in this world. In it were the words "It is finished". These words are noted to indicate that a debtor has paid their debt in full and that the debt is finished.

"It is finished" were the last words of Lord Jesus on the cross. He had paid for all our debts of sin through his death on the cross and he has made us free from our debts.

The synonymous use of debts and sins can also be seen in the King James' version of the Lord's prayer, where we say "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors".

Offerings to the Lord

In many instances in the bible there are references to offering a tenth of our income to the Lord. In one's perspective, the offering could be channeled through many ways such as charity to the less fortunate and donations to organizations and the church which work for the good of the society and man.

There are Catholics who follow this teaching to the letter. They may even offer more than 10 per cent to the Lord in his name. However, what good is it, if an offering is made in the name of the Lord if we do not follow the teachings and do not engage with the Lord in prayers. This is similar to a child who is earning well, and pays their parents’ bills and gives money for their expenditures, but never speaks to them or visits their parents. If you were the parent, would you accept the money given by such a child who does not care for you?

In the same sense, we the children of God should not think that paying back with the monetary wealth is enough, but should spend more time with God. We need to try and get closer to God through prayers and reflections. This spiritual growth should be complemented with the thanksgivings to God for the many blessings that he has bestowed upon us.

Bearing Witness to God

All of us our missionaries in Christ. Like God called Prophet Isiah; like God called St.Paul; like God called St. John the Baptist; all of us are also called to bear witness to Jesus.

In the same way, Blessed Joseph Vaz - the 'Apostle of Ceylon' - was called by Lord to bear witness and make the Church grow strong in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), which was going through difficult times under the colonization of the Dutch. The tercentenary anniversary of Blessed Joseph Vaz was celebrated on the 16th of January in Sri Lanka, seeking a fast canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz. (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15317b.htm)

In these times where the harvest is large, but the reapers are very few; we need to pray to the Lord our God to strengthen our faith, so that we may realize the many ways that Lord Jesus reveals himself to us, and so that we are the given the courage to tell the world who Jesus is and what Jesus means to us.

(Thoughts from the readings from the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2011)