THE TABLE IS READY

I was praying this morning but I got stuck in this verse.

"You set a table before me in front of my enemies” - Psalm 23:5a

I read it again & again. It reminded me that we can play different roles whenever there is a meal.
1. You can prepare the meal
2. You can handle the cleanup & dishwashing or
3. You can simply be there to eat. You can be the VIP guest.

I prefer role #3. The one where you just have to sit down & enjoy the meal.

Then I read the verse again. I realized that the verse is more than just enjoying a meal.

1. GOD PREPARES THE MEAL FOR YOU. That alone makes the meal super special.
2. THERE IS PEACE. Imagine if you were a soldier & you had to eat in the presence of your enemies. You would hurry up, finish the meal & get back to the battle. But I see no sign of panic in the verse. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion. The enemy is there, God prepares the table & you will eat in peace.

"You set a table before me in front of my enemies” is reminding us something during this difficult time.

That verse is ALL ABOUT HOPE.

It’s telling us that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4) NOW, we will be like VIP guests of God in His special banquet LATER. There will be peace, no more worries. What should we do then?

Let’s continue to walk with God during this difficult time. God call us personally. He wants to guide us.

Remember, “the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ [Jesus] will Himself RESTORE, CONFIRM, STRENGTHEN & ESTABLISH you after you have suffered a little” - 1 Peter 5:10

Stay safe, stay blessed!- alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#ShareAboutJesus
#aimtobeaSaint #LENT2020

THINK ABOUT IT

I smiled at her as she handed me the receipt. I bought some necessities at the grocery yesterday. 

She smiled back & said, "God bless po!"

I asked her, "Paano ka pumapasok dito?"
"Naglalakad po"
She mentioned that it takes her an hour to report for work. That's two hours of walking each day! Plus the risk of getting infected.

"Salamat, God bless you too!" 

Those were my parting words to her.

Her story made me sad. It made me think what could be the purpose of this pandemic.

When Mary heard from the angel that she would be pregnant "she was greatly troubled at what was said & pondered" (Luke 1:29). Maybe she also asked herself, "what could be the purpose of this?" Maybe it was not so clear for her at the start.

The first reading tells us the purpose.

".....a virgin shall conceive, & bear a son, & shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!” - Isaiah 7:14; 8:10

The announcement of the angel may sound like bad news at first for the 14 year old Mary. She eventually said YES & that brought about a greater good for all of us. Her "yes" made "God with us" a reality for everyone.

I don't think we will know easily what this pandemic is for. Maybe we won't even know in our lifetime. We can only ponder what's the purpose of this. But if you look closely you will see some hints.

1. Big corporations donating millions or even billions of Pesos to help out

2. Doctors, nurses & other frontliners risking their lives beyond the call of duty.

3. Ordinary people giving up their hard earned cash

4. Countries helping out one another

5. An elderly priest with Covid-19 refusing the ventilator so that a younger patient may survive. This priest eventually dies.

There are more wonderful stories of love in the midst of this pandemic. Things around us now may not look good. We are bombarded with bad news that makes us anxious & afraid. But there's one thing we can hold on to.

That GOD's PURPOSE will be fulfilled THROUGH the PAIN.

God will always bring out something good from whatever bad situation we are in.

Romans 8:28 says "We know that in everything God works for good..."

I know it's hard. I personally struggle when things become extra difficult. But we have to avoid the trap of trying to control the un-controllable.

So what should we do? Just Obey. Kapit lang. Manalig. Trust God. Keep the faith! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

#ShareAboutJesus #LENT2020

IS MY FEAR A SIGN THAT I HAVE NO FAITH?

Natatakot ka ba? Well, if you’re fearful be happy. Because that means you’re still alive 🙂

Faith is the instrument by which God saves His people. Our faith is God’s gift to us.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the GIFT of God” - Ephesians 2:8

God gives us this gift freely because He loves us. Pag may nag-regalo sa iyo tapos humingi ng bayad e hindi na regalo yun? It has to be FREELY GIVEN.

So if God gives us this GIFT, why am I still FEARFUL? Does that mean I lack FAITH?

NOPE.

First, we become fearful because we tend to focus on the fear. Our world tends to present to us more bad things than good things. Whatever you focus on grows on you. The first step is to re-focus.

Secondly, we become fearful because we see fear easily over faith. Because “faith is the realization of what is hoped for & evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1)

We cannot see FAITH because our situation can be so dark. And darkness makes us FEARFUL.

What should we do then?

LOOK FOR THE LIGHT.

"Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

Look for the LIGHT & FOLLOW IT. Do simple things to search for the light.

1. Say short prayers throughout the day
2. Read the bible. Start with short stories of miracles
3. Check inspiring miracles or testimonies of real people over the Internet
4. Hear mass online
5. Look for people to help whether in small or big ways
6. Post good news over bad or fake news

The light we follow will give us HOPE.

FEAR only makes us think that we have NO FAITH. It's natural to feel fear. Being FAITHFUL means you still have fear but you focus on the LIGHT!

Stay safe, stay blessed! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com
#lent2020

IS THAT IT?

Naaman was a very brave & determined army commander. His experience in the battlefield was impressive. Kung Pinoy sya malamang ang bati sa kanya ng mga tao, “Galing mo Idol!” But despite his impressive credentials he had one limitation. He was a leper.

The good thing is God sends us people along the way to bless us. For the case of Namaan it was a simple servant girl from Israel. This servant tells Namaan’s wife, “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria” (2 Kings 5:3). So, Namaan took the trip to meet the prophet. He brought along "ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, & ten festal garments” (2 Kings 5:5). Leprosy was not an ordinary illness so he was ready to payoff the prophet extraordinarily well. He also got an endorsement letter from his King. He was really determined to be healed.

Then the big day came & Namaan meets up the prophet Elisha. Maybe Namaan was expecting something grand. He travelled a long way & brought a lot of gifts. Maybe the prophet would give him extraordinary instructions. Maybe it’s something out of this world. But the prophet simply said,

“Go & wash seven times in the Jordan, & your flesh will heal, & you will be clean” - 2 Kings 5:10

“Is that it?”, “Yun na ba yun?” Namaan was both furious & confused. He travelled a long way, brought a lot of gifts & even got a letter from his king. Then all he had to do was dip himself in the river? He could do that too in the rivers of his hometown. What a waste of time! He was about to leave but his servants pleaded that he try it out.

“so Naaman went down & plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, & he was clean” - 2 Kings 5:14

God’s miracles can come in BIG or small ways. But it all starts with our OBEDIENCE.

Let’s apply this also to our current situation. The instructions to fight off Covid-19 are also simple.

1. Wash your hands regularl

2. Stay home if you can

3. Practice proper hygiene

4. Follow your local government

Nothing grand, nothing extraordinary. I know these will not result to a quick solution to the problem. The sick will continue to rise. But it’s only when we follow with faith that MIRACLES will happen.

How obedient are you to God?

Let’s pray for the world. Let’s pray for healing. Stay safe, stay blessed!- alvinfabella@yahoo.com

TRANSFORM YOUR BAD SITUATION TO A BLESSING

Masakit ma-reject di ba?

It's more painful when the people who rejects you are very close to you. It's extra painful when they do more things to hurt you on top of the rejection.

Today's reading follows that theme.

Joseph was Jacob’s favorite child. However, this BLESSING became a BURDEN for Joseph because it made his brothers hate him. They hated him so much that they plotted to kill him. Their plan was to "kill him & throw him into one of the cisterns” (Genesis 37:20) Then they change their mind. So instead of killing him “they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver” (Genesis 37:28)

Think about that story again. Imagine your own sibling, your own flesh & blood. You beat him up to the point of death & then sell him or her. Sarili mong kapatid yan ha. Sinaktan mo na, iniwan at pinagkakitaan mo pa. That doesn't only sound bad. It sounds sooooo evil.

Then the story gets interesting. God allows Joseph to survive this terrible ordeal. He ends up in Egypt & becomes a high ranking official. Wow, talk about making a comeback! Joseph shows us that no matter how bad your situation is you need trust God. God will allow you to #RiseUp if you remain faithful to Him.

Joseph was beaten, thrown out to die, abandoned & sold. Then God turns his BURDEN into a MAJOR BLESSING! Joseph was able to serve & feed his family later on. That’s another wonderful story to share but for now focus on this message - DON’T QUIT. BECAUSE GOD WON’T QUIT ON YOU.

If you feel that your world is collapsing & there is no sign of light, never give up. The failures & trials of this world are nothing compared to the God who loves you unconditionally.

Happy weekend. Stay safe, stay blessed! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

WHAT IS YOUR FOUNDATION?

Your reaction to a crisis reveals your true foundation. You may put your trust on earthly things like the rich man in today’s Gospel.

“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments & fine linen & dined sumptuously each day” - Luke 16:19

You read that verse & you might be saying, “I’m not materialistic!”, “I’m not even rich” or “That’s not me!”

This verse is not only about being rich. It’s about holding on to things. Actually, HOLDING ON TOO MUCH ON THINGS.

Nag-panic buying ka na ba? Did you buy boxes of hand sanitizers or alcohol for your small family of 3? How many face masks or surgical gloves do you have?

There is nothing wrong in having these items. But keep it to what’s appropriate only. There are others who need them too. Be safe. Practice proper hygiene. Do what you can do.

But more importantly, did you PRAY first? During times of crisis, prayer should take priority over things. Don’t be desperate instead pray desperately. Pray like you have nothing. Think that you’re as empty handed as the poor man in the Gospel.

"And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores” - Luke 16:20

Your foundation should be Jesus.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit” - Jeremiah 17:7-8

Hold on to God. Trust God. God will see you through the crisis.

"Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” - Isaiah 41:10

Lent is a time for prayer. A crisis during the time of #lent means it's time to pray more.

Stay safe, stay blessed!- alvinfabella@yahoo.com

MORE DEADLY THAN COVID-19

Today’s reading says, "Wash yourselves clean!” (Isaiah 1:16) That’s so apt given our current situation with Covid-19. That might be God speaking to us directly.

But there's something more terrifying than any virus this world has known - SIN.

Sin has existed longer than any other sickness. The problem is we tend to take sin lightly. It's not in the news or social media. We don't talk about it & even hide it. But we need to be reminded that sin is more dangerous. It separates us from God, it harms us, it makes us harm others & most of all SIN KILLS! Romans 6:23 says that, “the wages of sin is death.” This Covid-19 will be gone one day but the consequences of sin is for eternity.

What’s the right approach towards sin?

The first step is to be humble. We need to accept the fact that we cannot overcome sin by our own strength.

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” - Matthew 23:12

We need to be humble & ask God to heal us. God is all powerful but HE won’t force us to return to Him. God needs us to be willing & open to accept HIS love.

"If you are willing, & obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; but if you refuse & resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken!" - Isaiah 1:19-20

God is always ready to take us back. Repent. Take advantage of this season of grace called #lent. If you’re Catholic go to confession. Remember, no matter how big your sin is, God's love for you will always be bigger.

"Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool" - Isaiah 1:18

Be aware of the virus but be more afraid of sin. May God bless your week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

This world offers a lot of distractions. Good things, bad things. Good things that may make us happy. Bad things that makes us worry.

The problem is bad news tends to spread faster. Just look around you to see what's happening. Covid-19, stock markets going down, countries firing missiles to other countries & other global concerns.

Let's make it more personal. What worries you now? Maybe it's your annual checkup that showed you have a health concern. Is it a friend who betrayed you? Or your company suddenly had to let you go. Is it your cash balance that dwindles each day?

God wants you to do one thing amidst all your troubles. God call you to #RiseUp !

"Jesus came & touched then, saying 'RISE, & have no fear" - Matthew 17:7

Today's Gospel has one big message for you - "DON'T WORRY COZ ONLY GOD MATTERS."

That's the truth! At the end of time, the dark fog of troubles will disappear. Then you will only see Jesus standing up before you.

"And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only" - Matthew 17:8

There will be no more hurts. No more sickness. No more pain. No more war, complete serenity. No more brokenness.

This world today will always have troubles. But this is the promise of God.

"I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Remember, at the end of the time, ONLY JESUS MATTERS.

Have a powerfully blessed Sunday!- alvinfabella@yahoo.com

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL

Some prayers can be a struggle.

Today was one of them. Because in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a tough instruction on prayer.

"But I say to you, love your enemies, & pray for those who persecute you” - Matthew 5:44

Lord, isn’t that asking too much? Ang taas naman ng standard. Baka pwede mo ibaba ng konti?

Then, instead of giving in to my request, Jesus issues a bigger challenge.

"So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” - Matthew 5:48

Ok Lord, i’ll pray for my parents. I owe them a lot.

I’ll pray for my children. I love them a lot.

I’ll pray for my friends. They are fun to be with.

I’ll pray for my co-workers. I spend a lot of time with them.

But my enemies? My bashers? Do you really want me to pray for people who hate me?

Then it hit me. What is an enemy?The simple definition is a person who is actively opposed to someone or something. Isn’t that me?

Moses preached to the Israelites that "your God, commands you to observe these statutes and decrees. Be careful, then, to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 26:16)

I am an enemy of God because I don’t follow His commands always. God could have given up on me. God could end our relationship anytime. That action would be justified. Yet, what does God do?

• God LOVES ME. "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19)
• God FORGIVES ME. "He is faithful & just and will forgive our sins & cleanse us from every wrongdoing" (1 John 1:9 )
• God KEEPS ME SAFE. "Even to your old age I am he, even when your hair is gray I will carry you; I have done this, and I will lift you up, I will carry you to safety" (Isaiah 46:4)

I am God’s enemy whenever I sin but God continues to pursue me. How then can I not forgive & pray for those who persecute me?

This looks impossible Lord. But I pray, that by your Holy Spirit, I’ll give it a try & do it.

This #lent2020, pray not only for those who love you. Pray more for those who hate you. Yes, it will be a struggle but think about the struggle of Jesus as HE carried that cross for you.

Have a blessed Saturday!- alvinfabella@yahoo.com

WHY DO WE PRAY?

If Jesus says that “..your Father knows what you need before you ask HIM” (Matthew 6:8)

Then why do we need to "Ask & it will be given to you; seek & you will find; knock & the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7)

Isn’t that confusing? Not really.

First, just because you have to ask doesn’t mean God does not know what you need. Secondly, this act of ASKING, SEEKING & KNOCKING reminds us WHO WE ARE & WHO GOD IS.

• ASKING means there is a GIVER. And God is the ultimate giver. St. Paul tells us that God is HE “..who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17)
• SEEKING means we are LOST. We need to find THE WAY & Jesus says “I am the way.."(John 14:6)
• KNOCKING means there is a DOOR. Jesus says that "I am the door (gate). Whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:7)

That’s what prayer does! It puts us in our place. It reminds us that God is God & we are mere humans. Let’s be humble to accept this truth. Prayer allows us, despite our brokenness, to approach God freely. What a blessing!

So, don’t pray just to ASK.

Don’t pray just because you’re SEEKING something.

Don’t pray because the door of opportunities are not OPENING up.

PRAY because you know that you NEED GOD. Jesus says that "without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)

This #lent2020, pray more. May our prayers remind us that God is all we need. Nothing else, no one else.

May God bless your Thursday!- alvinfabella@yahoo.com

I AM SORRY

I prayed this morning...

I asked You to keep my family safe throughout the day.

I asked that You bless my work today.

I asked for Your guidance on a lot of complex things.

I prayed for a solution to the global virus Covid-19.

I prayed that our leaders may be filled with Your wisdom

I prayed & then ……

I realize that I did not ask You what You want me to do today.

I was too focused on what I need.

I asked for what the world needs. I am sorry.

I forgot that Jesus said that “..Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8)

This #lent2020, may my prayers be filled more with WHAT YOU WANT rather than WHAT I NEED. I don’t need to worry about what I need because God is my Father. And a good father always provides what his child needs.

May God bless your Tuesday!- alvinfabella@yahoo.com

NO ID, NO ENTRY

God made us in his own image. "Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26)

What is one characteristic of this Godly image? LOVE. We are taught that "God is love” (1 John 4:8)

Therefore, our goal is to LIVE out that image as best as we can. Our goal is to LOVE all the time. That's our identity, "This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

LOVE IS OUR I.D.

And at the end of our lives, God will ask us, "Did you love?"

"For I was hungry & you gave me food, I was thirsty & you gave me drink, a stranger & you welcomed me, naked & you clothed me, ill & you cared for me, in prison & you visited me" - Matthew 25:35-36

If you want to enter heaven one day then be ready to present your ID. LOVE as you LIVE out each day. Be a loving person to as many as possible. Jesus says, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:45).

Love is our ID. Carry your ID all the time. Love all the time. Because in heaven the rule is also NO ID, NO ENTRY.

This Lent, hate LESS & LOVE MORE so that you may live up your true image. Have a blessed week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

JUDGMENTAL KA BA?

Pag hirap mag-park ang kotse, “babae siguro driver”

Pag magaling mag-english, “matalino yan!”

Pag may tattoo, “don’t hire them in your company, delikado”

Pag lalaking foreigner na maputi, “Si Joe yan at mayaman yan” :)

Pag Chinese looking at na-bahing, “naku, Covid-19!”

We love to generalize. We based it on nationality, gender, religion, body types & more. Sometimes, our generalization becomes too embarrassing or funny.

The disciples of John the Baptist also generalized. That’s why they asked Jesus “Why do we & the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” (Matthew 9:14)

Are generalizations are good or bad? Neither.

When you’re crossing the street, you can’t assume that all drivers are completely aware of pedestrians. That’s dangerous. On the other hand, if you assume that all drivers are reckless then you may be too afraid to cross any street. You may be too afraid to drive a car.

We need to be more open to learn about the person & their situation. Because prejudice can be dangerous to individuals or groups. We cannot make generalizations all the time. We should make decisions based on empathy. Try your best to understand where the other person is coming from.

"Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” That’s the reply of Jesus is Matthew 9:15.

The disciples of Jesus didn’t fast while Jesus was with them. But later on they did fast.

God’s simple message for us today is this - DON’T BE QUICK TO JUDGE. Our actions or reaction should depend on what’s right given the current situation. We must not let our prejudices blind us from the TRUTH.

This Lent, appreciate the beauty in every person that you know & meet. Appreciate the uniqueness of every person. Have a blessed Friday! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

SAPAT NA YAN

Do you worry when you forget things?

Like us, the apostles did. In today’s Gospel, it says that they "had forgotten to bring bread” (Mark 8:14) & they got worried. But when you read the full verse it says, "The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, & they HAD ONLY ONE loaf with them in the boat.”

Yes, they forgot to bring a lot of bread but they still had one loaf. They forgot another important thing. They forgot that Jesus was in the boat too. They forgot that God was with them.

Here’s the truth, AS LONG AS YOU'RE WITH JESUS then you don't have to worry. It does not matter if you have one or none, GOD will always PROVIDE.

1. With only five loaves, Jesus fed five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21). With only seven loaves, He fed four thousand (Mark 8:1-9)
2. David picks five stones but with God’s power he only needed one to slay the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40)
3. When Mary tells her Son that “They have no wine” (John 2:3). Jesus makes the best wine out water.
4. Lastly, we need to remember that out of nothing God created this world (Genesis 1:1)

Basta andyan si Kristo, sapat na yan!

What do you have now?

1. Two hours in traffic? Contact your friends to ask them if they have any concerns. Pray for them.
2. Extra coins or bills in your house or car? Give them to the poor.
3. Do you have too much clutter in the house? Have a garage sale & give the proceeds to an orphanage.
4. Clothes in your closet that you rarely wear? Give it to the needy.
5. A spare time of an hour every Sunday? Go to mass and receive God.

The world teaches us to collect. It tells us that our security lies on having plenty. Your true security should be on God. "Solo Dios basta", God alone is enough. Because no matter if you have one or none, as long as Jesus is there then you have more than enough!

Have a blessed Tuesday! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

WALA YAN SA LOLO KO!

There’s always this desire in us to compare ourselves with others.

"Bakit mas mayaman siya?"

"Siya ulit ang top performer sa office? Kelan kaya ako?"

"Why does she cook so well?" 

"How can I be a better singer than him?"

"I am good but why is that person always better?"

David, in the bible, is presented as the benchmark for what a king should be. Solomon was compared to his father David in today's reading.

"When Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to strange gods & his heart was not entirely with the Lord, his God, as the heart of his father David had been" - 1 Kings 11:4

Sometimes, we also have our own “Davids”. We measure our value based on others. We even do it several times. Solomon was compared to David in verse 4. Then he is compared to his father again in verse 6.

"Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not follow him unreservedly as his father David had done” - 1 Kings 11:6

Comparing ourselves to others leads to un-happiness. It’s not helpful at all. Today’s reading teaches us 3 things with regards to comparison.

1. YOUR ARE UNIQUE. Wala kang katulad. God made us unique. Even biological twins are not an exact replica of one another. The bible says that each one of us is "fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalms 139:14). Say this every morning, “God made me unique!” Make it a habit to declare that truth so that you may be reminded the next time you are tempted to compare yourself with others.
2. DON’T FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE. You have your weaknesses. But you also have your own strengths. That applies to every individual. Yes, Solomon had his flaws. But remember David also sinned. Read 2 Samuel 11-12 where David commits adultery, lies & murders the husband of Bathsheba. David & Solomon had their strengths too. David killed Goliath, was a great king, wrote wonderful songs in the book of Psalms & more. Solomon famous for his wisdom, he was an excellent writer & he built God’s temple. So focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses.
3. TURN TO GOD. David sinned but repented. He changed his ways & turned to God. That’s not the case with Solomon in today's reading. He sinned & turned his heart was turned away from God. He followed his wives into the worship of false gods. That’s idolatry. We also have our own "idols" but we call it achievements, assets or success. Don’t be too focused on your achievements. Don’t let your success takeover your life. We should only look at One Being & that is the Lord. Let God rule over your life.

Stop comparing. Start living!

Break the habit of comparing yourself with others. Instead, #RiseUP & make it a habit to ask yourself “will this action that I will do bring glory & honor to Jesus?”.

Have a blessed Thursday! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

NAGMAHAL, NABIGO, NAGWAGI

HE just came from a hectic “miracle" tour.

Jesus healed the man with a withered hand (Mark 3). He calmed the sea to keep the apostles safe (Mark 4). He drove out evil spirits from a man. He healed a woman who was afflicted with hemorrhages for 12 years. He cured the daughter of a synagogue official named Jarius (Mark 5).

HE must be excited to return home. Any athlete or sports team looks forward to the home court. Because home is where one feels loved. It's home sweet home. Well, that was not the case in today’s Gospel. They should have given Him the hero’s welcome like what we Pinoys gave to Pacquiao or Catriona. But instead of cheers, it was jeers. Instead of "congratulations", they welcomed Him with “questions”.

“Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, & the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? AND THEY TOOK OFFENSE AT HIM" - Mark 6:2-3

They questioned Him. They judged Him. They rejected Him. Sakit noh? That's sad. :( Aren't we like that too?

• Don’t we question Jesus when we asked, "I attend church regularly but why do I still suffer?"
• Don’t we judge God when we say, “God should not have allowed that baby to die of cancer”.
• Don’t we reject God when we decide that, “it’s ok to skip Mass. God will understand.

Here's the first point - We need to be extra careful of our reactions. We should not to allow our own personal biases, our family or friends to distract us from Jesus. He is the truth, the way & the life (John 14:6). There is no other way, truth or life.

Here’s the second point - We will experience rejections when we follow Jesus. It will be difficult. But don’t despair because Jesus was rejected too. He experienced rejection from strangers, followers & even from his own town.

The good news is that Jesus shows us that victory comes with rejection. At the end of His earthly life, Jesus rose up from the dead. HE was victorious! People may reject, question or judge you when you follow God. So what?

Tandaan, WALANG TAONG NAGTAGUMPAY ANG HINDI NABIGO.

Don't focus on the crowd that questions, judges & rejects you. Focus on God’s victory. Focus on His love. May God bless the rest of your week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com

PINAASA KA NA BA?

Simeon was holding on to God's promise. A divine promise that he will not die without meeting Jesus. He was waiting for the Savior, "the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25) He grew old waiting. Will he ever get this promise fulfilled? Pinaasa lang ba siya ng Diyos?

Then one day it happened. Simeon went to temple on the same day that Joseph & Mary brought the child Jesus there (Luke 2:27). Simeon finally meets the Saviour!

Call it chance. Call it coincidence. Tsamba, nagkataon.

I call it God's faithfulness. And here's the first point - HINDI PAASA ANG DIYOS. God will always fulfill His promise. Kapit lang kapatid. Kapit lang sa pagmamahal ng Diyos.

But wait, there's more. Simeon visits the temple & Jesus was there. God was there to meet Simeon. Here's the second point of today's Gospel - GOD WILL MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE!

That's God. Jesus won't wait for us to be saints. He won't wait for us to be perfect. He meets us where we are.

Romans 5:8 says that "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

What's your "temple"?

Is it your sickness? Is it your addiction to something? Is it your work? Is it a habitual sin that you can't overcome? Is it your personal goals & ambitions?

Regardless if your temple is a burden or a blessing trust that God will meet you there! Believe!

Friends, always remember that you are God's temple. Allow Him to enter your life today! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com