What's your treasure?

Real treasures.

19 [a]“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
[b] 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.-Matthew6:19-23

Jesus is not saying we should get rid of material things in our life. We need to pay our bills, we need to buy things for our daily living, we need communication, we need things to accomplish work. Jesus is teaching us to be responsible stewards. And as responsible stewards, we have to be aware that material things are temporary and passing only, and that it is supposed to be used responsibly. We cannot bring them when we die anyway. The purpose of these earthly and material things is to help us be a better version of our self so that we can truly store real treasures in Heaven.

Jesus is inviting us to be very mature in mind and heart, and discerning in the many things we see each day.

Image courtesy: God's Not Dead (movie)

Saltiness

Daily discipleship.

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.[a] 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. 16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.-Matthew5:13-16

We are called to live out our discipleship everyday. Yes, it is more for the clergy and religious, but it is also an invitation for all. A police officer must live out his/her discipleship everyday especially on duty. A doctor must live out his/her discipleship everyday especially when administering to patients. A teacher must live our his/her discipleship everyday especially when teaching students. If we forget the essence of why we are doing our job or what the job is all about, we lose our saltiness. And when we lose our saltiness, chances of committing sin are high. And when we sin, we lose our identity as a disciple of Jesus. Jesus' invitation for us is to show Him to the world through our everyday existence even through our work. We do not have to be showy about it. All it takes is a little kindness, respect, love, service and concern for others.

Image courtesy: artist

An Endless River

There is no fear in a life of Godliness, goodness and righteousness. There is no fear in Love.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave[a] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[b] the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 [c]And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.-John3:16-21

As I read the Gospel reading, I remember Judas Iscariot and Peter. Because of Judas' betrayal, he fell into extreme guilt and possibly believed that he would never be forgiven no matter what. Perhaps he really blamed himself as he witnessed the brutality done to Jesus. Peter, a good friend of Jesus, denied Him before the cock crowed. Talk about dying with Jesus! Perhaps Peter also felt guilt for adding misery to Jesus by deserting and denying his master at the time that He needed His 'Rock' the most. Their stories are somewhat the same to me because each turned away from Jesus. The difference is, Peter believed that he would be forgiven and be shown mercy, whereas Judas despaired and believed that he would be condemned for all eternity. For me, Judas condemned and judged himself, and refused to believe in Jesus' mercy.

We are sometimes slaves of our imaginary fears. Sometimes we don't believe in second chances. Sometimes we think, 'I failed once, I'll fail again' or 'I was hurt once, I will never love again.' But Jesus is a river of overflowing love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. 'Come to the water, you who are thirsty,' He says (as in Is55:1). No matter how much or how little we drink, Jesus' water never runs dry and never fails to comfort. We need not be afraid to try and try again. We need not be afraid to love again, to start again, to stand again. For every adventure, Jesus will always be there to accompany and help us. Though we stumble, we will never fall because He is there for us.

Image courtesy: Mitchell Tolle

A brand new life

Bright morning has come at last.

1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. 2 Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. 5 On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. 6 He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him. 7 But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’”-Mark16:1-7

If the past days are marked by anticipation and sobriety as we relive Jesus' Passion, Crucifixion and Death, now is the beginning of a series of Celebrations as we relive Jesus' Resurrection and Triumph over death and sin. Darkness will give way to Light. Sadness and sorrow will give way to Happiness and Joy. Death will give way to Life. But take note, despite Peter's denial, the white-robed young man (assumed to be a messenger of God) specifically mentioned the name of Peter as one of those who must go to Galilee to meet Jesus. Yes, despite what happened, indeed God remains faithful to us. God does not want us to be disheartened and discouraged if ever we have committed mistakes in life because He will always forgive us and show us His infinite mercy and compassion. The question is, are we willing to ask forgiveness? Are we willing to return to Him?

Image courtesy: artist

Children of Light

"For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed."

14 And just as Moses lifted up[a] the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 [b]so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”16 For God so loved the world that he gave[c] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[d] the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 [e]And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.-John3:14-21

Those who engage themselves in embezzlement of funds would do it in secret or behind closed doors. The men who enter into extra-marital affairs would do it in secret or in faraway places where they are not known at all. Even cheating during exams are done in secret or in a furtive way. Aren't we tired of secrets? Aren't we tired of constantly looking behind our backs? Aren't we tired of fear of being discovered? Aren't we tired of hiding? Aren't we tired of always explaining? Aren't we tired of lies? Aren't we tired of the heaviness in our hearts because we are guilty? Jesus does not condemn but He is inviting us to step into the light. Our actions may say we are evil or wicked, but the Light - that is Jesus - can purify us and make us brand new and whole once more. Jesus is full of mercy and compassion; He will wash us clean and free of the stains of sins. It is never too late to change and repent. Jesus is inviting us to be children of Light today! Now, let us put on the New Skin - the armor of Jesus.

Image courtesy: artist 

Pay Attention

... with the measure you use, it will be measured to you...

21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”-Mark4:21-25

Each person has a purpose and it will always be made known. Even if s/he hides it or makes it a secret, it will always be made known. Several times did Jesus prevent people (and even evil spirits) from saying who He really was, yet it cannot remain a secret. We all have flaws, shortcomings and moments of sinfulness. But it is not who we really are and it is not the purpose of our creation. We are created for one purpose and that is to LOVE - to love God and our neighbor. From love comes fear of the Lord, forgiveness, humility, gratitude, mercy, compassion and so much more.

"The measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you." The love that we give will return back to us, much more even. The evil that we do to others will return back to us, much more even. That's why it is better to live our lives according to the light and guidance of God.

Image courtesy: D.Lambert