Jerusalem

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Spirit Moments

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
~ Luke 13:34-35

Jerusalem is a holy city, a sacred sanctuary to the world’s three great religions. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim the city to be the earthly portal to the one true God. And yet, the city is forever wracked with tension and division. From afar, it seems to me to be always on the edge of blowing up and exploding because of all the hostility and enmity between and among its residents. It is all so ironic. And Christ even wept over the city. How the city God had chosen to be His on earth could be afflicted with so much dissensions?

Still, God in His infinite goodness and omnipotence, will set things right and there will be a new Jerusalem. Nothing is more comforting, consoling and so full of hope than this vision from Revelation:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

We seem to be on the verge of another major global conflict, with the big countries mobilizing and arming for war. Hatred and anger seem to be so powerful we hardly hear the voices of reason, compassion and of love. But people of faith will continue believing that live is stronger that death, that light will drive away the darkness, that love will conquer anger and hatred. One only needs to look and learn from nature that even in the midst of death and destruction new and better life eventually emerges.

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The Paradox And The Conundrum

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Spirit Moments

Jesus said to them,
“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.
For behold, some are last who will be first,
and some are first who will be last.”
~ Luke 13:29-30

It is sad to see how secular most European nations have become. As they have become more affluent and developed, they have also become more agnostic and atheistic, not feeling any more need for religion, spirituality and a relationship with the sacred. The same thing seems to be happening in the USA. Although there are still many church-goers, the Nones (those without any religious affiliation) must be now be the largest religious group if they were to be considered as such.

In contrast, there is a strong flourishing of religion and spirituality on many poor countries of the global south, like  Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. Poor and needy people turn to religion and spirituality for comfort, hope and encouragement.

Is this the natural unfolding of things? That we see less and less need for the numinous because we have come to trust and rely only on phenomenon. That in having split the atom and mastered nature, we have thought ourselves masters of the universe and forgot the maker and the creator. That in having harnessed the power of nature and exploited her bounty, we have thought ourselves to be totally independent and able to stand on our own.

And yet, there has never been more misery and sadness than in the midst of all this plenty, no more loneliness and helplessness than in this midst of all this power and achievements, no more tears and anger than in the midst of all these victories and achievements. And there has never been more joy to be seen than in the midst of those who are poor and oppressed, no more hope and anticipation that in the hearts of those abandoned and destitute, and no more love and caring than in those who have so much less in life.

Such is the paradox of life. Such is the conundrum that living is. In such manner have we been blessed by God.

Open my eyes, Lord
Help me to see your face
Open my eyes, Lord
Help me to see

Open my ears, Lord
Help me to hear your voice
Open my ears, Lord
Help me to hear

Open my heart, Lord
Help me to love like you
Open my heart, Lord
Help me to love

And the last shall be first
And our eyes are opened
And we’ll hear like never before
And we’ll speak in new ways
And we’ll see God’s face in places we’ve never known

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A Redeemed Life

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Spirit Moments

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
~ Luke 13:18-19

Mine is a redeemed life. What is a redeemed life like? How can I describe it?

Mine is a redeemed life because I live out of my faith and not out of my doubts and fears. I live my life filled with the certainty that there is a loving God who made me, looks after me and abides with me in my journey. This faith gives me strength, courage and joy every step I make.

Mine is a redeemed life because I live out of my hope and not out of my anxieties and worries. I life my life full of happy anticipation that only goodness awaits me; that things will get better and become more; that, in spite of all the goodness and blessings that come my way, the best is yet to come.  This hope gives color to my days and affirms the presence of a loving Spirit who fills my life.

Mine is a redeemed life because I live out of love and not our of my anger and hatred. I live my life wanting to share the goodness and blessings I have received, desirous to be as compassionate as I have experienced Christ’s love and compassion, willing and ready to serve the least, the lost and the last as Jesus has taught us. This love gives me gladness and joy realizing that I have been loved first and I can only respond in love.

All this has been possible because of God’s Amazing Grace.

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Rediscovering And Recovering Our Basic Goodness

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Spirit Moments

When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.
~ Luke 13:12-13,17

There is deep within every man a desire to make things right and beautiful, to do good and make everyone happy, to speak the truth and to proclaim the basic goodness and righteousness in all persons. One only needs to look at children to realize that we were all born good and loving. We learn anger, hatred, pride and all the other vices when we grow up and become expose to the so-called realities of life.

Christ came to show us how to rediscover and recover our basic goodness and righteousness. he makes a sick woman whole and heals her. On a Sabbath. Most everyone rejoices. But not the priests and the leaders. Because He did the good work on the Sabbath. How many such occasions we encounter in our world today?

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Here’s To A New Day

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Spirit Moments

The tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
~ Luke 18:13

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The sun rose up again this morning
Another beautiful and brand new day
I’m grateful for there is no telling
If tomorrow would even come our way.
The wind and skies and clouds and seas awake
Bringing the sight and smell of minty freshness
A blessing undeserved yet given with much love.
In humble gratitude, a silent pray’r I make
For sharing with me all of His fullness
And all His bountiful graces from above

‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

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Metanoia and Metamorphosis

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Spirit Moments

“But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”
~ Luke 13:3

Change is the part of the natural flow of life. A year is measured by the changing of the seasons. Changes make life possible, as in the metamorphosis of an ungainly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Evolution has been been achieved by the mutation and transmutation of and within species over millions of years. To live is to be constantly changing.

These are all natural changes and they happen spontaneously or in response to stimuli. There is change possible only in humans. Change that happens because we will it or in response to grace. it is called metanoia.

The apostles, including Saint Paul, all experienced it. They heard the call of the Lord and they left everything and decided to follow him. It is the story of many holy men and women. Saint Francis, Saint Clare, Saint Ignatius. They were touched by God’s grace and their lives were totally changed.

I have heard his call and have tried to follow. It has not been easy but I remember my most inspired and inspiring moments have been in response to that call. There is still a lot in me that needs changing. I feel like a caterpillar ever struggling to get out of my cocoon. I did not have have a Damascus experience like Paul, nor a Pamplona incident like Ignatius. For me, it has been a daily struggle with the ordinary and mundane within which to work out my metamorphosis into what God has meant me to be.

Lord,
You who are over us,
You who are one of us,
You who are also within us,
May all see you-in me also.
May I prepare the way for you,
May I thank you for all
that shall fall to my lot,
May I also not forget the needs of others.
Give me a pure heart that I may see you.
A humble heart that I may hear you,
A heart of love that I may serve you,
A heart of faith that I may abide in you.
Amen.

– Dag Hammarskjøld

 

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WYSIWYG

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Spirit Moments

Jesus said to the crowds,
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.”
~ Luke 12:54-55

WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) is a popular expression these days. It is the current rendition of the more traditional “To see is to believe.” People would believe only what is visible and tangible. And yet signs are everywhere that life is much richer than what is visible and tangible to the senses.

I may be one moment in time but I carry with me eternity. One of the trillion cells in my body is a particle from the original big bang. Since matter is enduring and energy is indestructible, I will also somehow live forever. It took eons to get to where I am but I did not arrive on the scene until the universe was ready to receive me. I am be but a tine speck compared to the stars and the galaxies. But even science acknowledges this all started with just one particle exploding.

I have signs that tell me the meaning of my life. The earth simply rotates around the sun but that motion looks to me the promise of a new day I can look forward to with hope. And when night comes the stars comes out simply because there no more sun to dim their light. But to me the coming out of the stars signal the end of another day I can be thankful and grateful for and relish with the twinkling of the stars.

I have capabilities that tell me that life is more than what is visible and tangible. I have an imagination that shows me more than what immediately around me. I have a memory by which I can bring back all that has been in my life. I have an intellect heart that enables me to read the signs in the universe teaching me there is a Great Someone who made all of this possible. I have a heart that beats with the pulse of the universe telling me that this Great Someone is infinitely in love with me.

Lord, give me a pure heart that I may see Thee.
A humble heart that I may hear Thee,
A heart of love that I may serve Thee,
A heart of faith that I may abide in Thee.
~ Dag Hammarskjold
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Setting The Earth On Fire

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Spirit Moments

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.”
~ Luke 12:49,51

I have tried to be optimistic and avoid all negativity in the past days. I have even been consciously scanning media for positive and good news to post and share. But things just seem to be crumbling to pieces as the bad news simply overwhelm the good. The evil one seems to be gaining the upper hand.

There are many thing happening that I do not understand. Not understanding, I get mad not really knowing the reason why. And being angry makes me easily predisposed to hatred and violence. And yet deep in my heart, I know this is all wrong but I don’t even know where to begin doing the right thing.

I can just keep quiet and go with the flow until the flow becomes a storm. I can just roll with the punches until the punches knock me out cold. Or I can hold on to the promise of Christ that love is stronger than hate, that life is stronger than death and that light is stronger than the darkness. I will want to see the earth on fire with the message of Christ.

Lord, inflame our spirits and burn our hearts with your love that we can heal all divisions.

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Great Responsibility

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Spirit Moments

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
~ Luke 12:48

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A bunch of blossoms
gently softens up the rocks.
No greater love than this.

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Bringing In The Harvest

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Spirit Moments

He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
~ Luke 10:2

There has never been more wealth and affluence in the world than today. And yet, there is still so much poverty. More than one billions people live on less than a dollar a day. And what is even more tragic is that beside the physical poverty there is also a lot of poverty in the values and principles of people. Gold and money are treasured more than golden hearts and precious hands than give and serve. And the irony of it all is that it is often those who have less in life and the ones even more willing to share and to serve.

There has never been more food and variety than we have today. And yet, there has never been more hunger in the hearts and soul of men. Billions still go to bed each night – if they even have a bed – on an empty stomach. And beyond the hunger in the stomach, people hunger for things of the spirit. They hunger for hope, peace and love. Those living in comfort have lapsed into the sofalarity of indifference and it is those who hunger who lead the drive to change the world for the better.

It is into these fields of harvests that we are being sent out by the Lord. Life on earth will never be totally free of poverty and of hunger. But if we but listen and live by God’s Word, there will be a lot less people to worry about and a lot more people who will care and share.

Lord, open our hearts and hands that we may help you in bringing in the harvest to fight poverty and hunger.

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