Rejoicing Heart

There is another morning for every evening.

20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.
22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.-John16:20-23

Nothing lasts forever. When a mother is in labor, the pain seems forever and almost 50% of her body is buried in the ground. Like her, though we find ourselves in deep trouble, in extreme suffering, or endless hopelessness and despair, yet one day, it will all end. And when it does end, there is only happiness, rejoicing and gratitude that we have surpassed the test and emerged as better persons and much stronger. Above all, we have learned and have grown closer to God.

Image courtesy: artist

Jesus is the Stronger and Peaceful Way

The power of Jesus is beyond our imagination.

14 He was driving out a demon [that was] mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. 15 Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” 16 Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. 17 But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 18 And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. 19 If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people[a] drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that [I] drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22 But when one stronger[b] than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.-Luke11:14-23

Sometimes no matter how good we are, no matter how much we have done as an act of charity for others, we are not appreciated. Some people think we have other motives i.e. selfishness. We cannot please all, but there will always be a few who would appreciate us. God appreciates all acts done out of charity and love for others, great or small it may be.

A house that is divided will never stand and will never last forever. One way or another, somebody will break away, somebody must leave. Strive, therefore, to live in harmony and peace with one another.

For the longest time, a dictator governed a country. He was powerful. He is the law, he is the police and the armed forces, all resources seem to belong to him and his family alone. His political opponents were imprisoned or killed without a judicial trial. There is no media coverage of his atrocities and illegal acts. Poverty is everywhere. The people are finally fed up. One day, each and every person joined forces for a peaceful revolution - armed only with prayers, rosary beads, goodness and faith in God - to oust the dictator. God has blessed the act because the dictator and his family left, and democracy was once more restored. The gospel rings true as I remember this historical event. Who would have thought that a powerful dictator who seems to own the police and armed forces, and the law, can be ousted peacefully? Who would have thought that something so powerful and formidable can be put to end without the use of weapons? It was a miracle. Jesus is the one described as, "one stronger." God can crush evil easily. Truly, God is more powerful than anything or anybody; His will will happen.

image courtesy: artist