WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? Endure your trials as “discipline;” God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? – Hebrews 12:7 My good friend and radio program co-host, Tita Jovie, lives a life that is full of trials. If I thought my life was a soap opera, hers is the longest running prime time teleserye. Her journey from childhood to grandmotherhood has been a nasty roller coaster ride. I wish I could narrate her entire life story here, but trust me when I say that it’s one big tearjerker. Tita Jovie always says there’s a hidden blessing in every trial that comes her way, so much so that she accepts them with open arms. Her saintly ways inspire me to search for the blessings in my own share of trials. What’s in it for me, Lord? I would find myself asking. And I guess my burdens grow lighter when I acknowledge that God is teaching me a good lesson, or that He’s molding me into a stronger and better person. If you’re carrying a heavy burden today, trust that there is something to learn from it. When the tears in your eyes have dried, you will clearly see the blessing. Besides, He never gives us something we cannot handle, right? Nova Arias-Sevilla (nova.svp@gmail) Reflection: Look back at the past trials that you have overcome. What did you learn from them? Lord Jesus, help me to see the blessing in every difficulty and the lesson in every activity under the heavens. St. Louis of France, pray for us. Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top COMPANION 1ST READING The latter part of the Book of Isaiah is written in the context of the restoration of Jerusalem as the Holy City of the world. It anticipates both the coming of the Messiah and, perhaps, even heaven itself in its imagery and hope. As we read a text, such as the one before us today, we need to be mindful that the intention of the writer is to encourage the people to trust — that God will see them through to a life of ultimate glory, no matter how hard things may seem at the moment. Isaiah 66:18-21 18 Thus says the Lord: I know their works and their thoughts, and I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. 19 I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fugitives to the nations to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their offering to the house of the Lord in clean vessels. 21 Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the Lord. P S A L M Psalm 117:1, 2 R: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. 1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R) 2ND READING Spare the rod and spoil the child — it is an old saying and one that is true despite the fact that in many countries today such punishments are illegal. Discipline is essential to every life of success ever known in history. Nobody will achieve success without it. This is true of the spiritual life as well. We have to be willing to embrace suffering when it comes our way, or else we will make the mistake of believing that nothing can go wrong if we just trust in the Lord. The martyrs are the most obvious examples of such a belief being blatantly incorrect. Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 5 Brothers and sisters, You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; 6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” 7 Endure your trials as “discipline;” God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? 11 At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. 12 So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed. GOSPEL There is a common hymn that says the road to salvation is broad and wide. I do not know where the writer got that idea from. We hear today that the road to salvation is narrow and that few willingly choose to take it. Let us make sure that we are some of those few, in that we will not allow ourselves to be led astray by thoughts that salvation is something easy and cheap to achieve — after all Jesus died on the cross to make it happen. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me. Luke 13:22-30 22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 25 After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ 27 Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” think: The road to salvation is narrow and few willingly choose to take it. T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: __________________ ____________________________________ God’s special verse/thought for me today_ _____________________________________ READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 41-44 SABBATH PAUSE My weekly time with God THANK YOU LIST Things to be grateful for from the past week ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ SPECIAL NEEDS Things to ask God for in the coming week ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ HIDDEN TREASURE Most important word God told me this week ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top SABBATH IT IS THE “HOW” “Are you saved?” This is a question that other sects often ask. I do not know how people usually answer the question. These sects believe that guaranteeing salvation is their foremost concern. And they are on the right track. However, in the Gospel today, Jesus was asked a different question. On His way to Jerusalem, someone asked Him, “Lord, is it true that few people will be saved?” I encourage you to reflect on this question. The concern is more on one’s chances of attaining salvation. So what if many or few will be saved? If many will be saved, would it change the situation? If few will be saved, how much change will there be? The problem with the question is its focus on chance. If the Lord said that many will be saved, we are more confident of attaining it. If our chances are slim, then we have a lot to worry about. If you notice, Jesus did not answer the question; rather, He ignored it. He stressed the need to do everything in our capacity to attain it. He said that many will try to enter God’s Kingdom but will not be able to or will find great difficulty in doing so. The key here is not about chances or the stringent requirements of the Kingdom. If we know God, He wants us all to be saved. It was Jesus’ marching order. Jesus said that Himself, “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given me; and I guarded them and not one perished, but the son of perdition; that Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). But Jesus was being honest in that it would not be easy to be saved. We have to contend with a lot of temptations and challenges in life and faith. The teachings of Jesus will lead us to the Way, the Truth and the Life. Outside and against Jesus’ Word, salvation cannot be attained, no matter how many or few will be saved. Therefore, the right question is not about whether a few or many will be saved, but how one can be saved. Knowing that, and having the will to apply them, and actually doing them, guarantee one’s salvation. This is the sure way to salvation. Fr. Benny Tuazon REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you still more concerned if you’ll be saved? Why not focus on doing what Jesus said will lead you to heaven? Lord Jesus, help me to have a perfect change of heart so that I will focus only on things that will make me attain heaven.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 05:21:47 +0000
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