GOD'S MESSAGE FOR ME TODAY

Dear lois,

Happy, happy Birthday!
On this same day some years ago, God brought into the world a wonderful child destined to love and be loved and do great things. Never forget your destiny. Never forget who you are!

Conquer this new week with God's Word in your heart!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez

26

May
Monday

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

“…all things are possible with God.” – Mark 10:27

Mom only had P20 in her wallet. Aside from lunch, she prayed that God provide a way for her to pay my youngest brother’s tuition. She was about to leave when a long-time friend came, treated her to lunch and gave her an envelope. She said, “I sensed the Lord wanted me to help you.” In the envelope was money, more than enough for what she prayed for.

Vannie had to undergo surgery that would cost more than P100,000. She was a full-time servant in community and only received an allowance. But great was her faith in the Lord’s provision. People came not just to pray but also to contribute to her surgery fund. In just two days, Vannie received much more than what she needed.

My brother Sio suffered from extreme pain in his abdomen. In the hospital, doctors required him to undergo some tests to find out what was ailing him. While he was having an ultrasound, Mom prayed the Rosary in the corridor. A stranger, a woman wearing a pink blouse, approached Mom and said, “You’re son’s going to be OK.” When Sio was brought back to the room, he no longer felt any pain and the doctors couldn’t explain how he was healed.

Indeed, all things are possible with God! Dina Pecaña

REFLECTION:

God will always come to your aid at the exact moment you need to receive His help.

Lord God, Provider of all I need, thank You for Your generous and faithful provision.

St. Philip Neri, priest, pray for us.

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1st READING

During economic turmoil the price of gold rises as investors seek a safe haven for their money. This captures the materialistic ethic so prevalent in today’s world. There’s so much talk of interest rates, bond rates, exchange rates, stock prices and so on. But how much do we talk about turning back to God and other matters such as virtue, holiness and eternal life? I am not advocating a sort of unthinking fideism as the solution to the world’s economic woes. However, I am questioning if we have the right focus.

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you 5 who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. 6 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls.

P S A L M

Psalm 111:1-2, 5-6, 9 and 10c

R: The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. 2 Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights. (R) 5 He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. 6 He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations. (R) 9 He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name. 10 His praise endures forever. (R)

G O S P E L

Riches have nothing to do with the guarantee of eternal life. Wealth is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing. Too many fortunes are made with little or no regard for the dignity human persons who are downtrodden in the name of economic progress and success. The only guarantee that a rich person has is that he/she will be held accountable for the use of all their riches. Perhaps this is not such an attractive prospect any more?

Mark 10:17-27

17 As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20 He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

my reflections

think:

What worldy possessions am I attached to?

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SPIRITUAL WALK LEADS TO SPIRITUAL THIRST

People on the go always bring bottled drinking water with them. First, this is a sign of our times indicating that good, clean drinking water is now a priced commodity. This is how much we have abused Mother Nature. Gone are the days when clean water was easily obtained. Second, this makes us realize that traveling exhausts us and makes us thirsty.

In our spiritual walk, we also become thirsty. Once we launch into a living relationship with God, we are never the same. The nature of the thirst, however, is quite different. We thirst not because we are exhausted spiritually; we thirst because our exposure to prayer and spirituality whets our appetite for more. Our living relationship with God transforms us, and deepens our appreciation for transcendence. This is what the rich man in the Gospel experienced. After years of journeying through faithfulness in the commandments, he was asking Jesus’ directions on how to experience a deeper spirituality. Meditating on the response of Jesus, we see that:

ü SPIRITUAL DEEPENING MEANS SIMPLIFICATION. While we try to fill our lives with many things, and we feel material advancement through the accumulation of material possessions, spiritual deepening makes us realize the emptiness amidst material affluence. We are never really satisfied. In fact, we realize that more material possessions means more anxiety for their maintenance and upkeep. We become possessed by our possessions. So, spiritual deepening calls us to let go of the extras and live with the basics.

ü SPIRITUAL DEEPENING INVOLVES “GOING OUT.” The more we touch base with our inner human core – with the goodness inside us — the more we realize that we cannot but live in solidarity with the rest of our fellowmen. Pity turns into compassion; service become s apostolate; dole-out becomes true “giving to the poor” with the heart, and from the heart.Fr. Domie Guzman

Reflection Question:

The rich man was frightened by the demand of spiritual deepening, and he walked away. Are you ready to take on the demands of spiritual maturity?

Jesus, I desire to deepen my personal relationship with You. I pray for the grace to enrich and enliven this by living a simple life of prayer and service.

St. Philip Neri, priest, pray for us.