Month: August 2020

LUKE 4: 31-37 “IF GOD IS WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

LUKE 4: 31-37 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION

Jesus went down the Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and began teaching the people at the Sabbaths meetings. They were astonished at the way the taught them, for his word was spoken with authority.

In the synagogue, there was a man possessed by an evil spirit, who shouted in a loud voice, “ What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come  to destroy us?  I recognize you:   you are  the Holy one of God.”

The Jesus said to them sharply, “ Be silent and leave this man!”  The evil spirit them throw the man down  in front of  them,  and came out of him without doing any harm.

Amazement seized all these  people,  and they said to one another, “ What does this mean?”  He commands the evil spirits with authority and power.  He orders, and you see how they come out!”  And news about  Jesus spread throughout the surrounding area.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Since the beginning  of Biblical creation, God has never leave man alone yesterday, today and never would be tomorrow. God appeared in many ways  through representations of the anointed one.

Throughout  the ages, Jesus does not come as a representation but as the Son of the Father who have all the powers and authorities of the father above earth. Jesus is God in the human flesh to make us realize that human is really  created in His image and likeness  whom the Father love the most.

Jesus words and teaching in this gospel reading came out with all the authorities and powers that people have felt and recognized  in his presence. There is no way for anyone to do against his will.

As Jesus commanded the the evil spirit to come out from the man of their possession, there is no way for them to disobey him. This shown us that there is no single power on earth who could do against Jesus.

A true Christian community is a community of all freedom from the dominion of the  evil spirit. And that the  presence of evil to torment anyone of our brethren could not be taken as a way of life but an issue to be resolved with due diligence  and vigilance by assuming as army of God.

We should not be contented of being just unaffected but need  to do one share for the promotion of the kingdom of God.

Remember brethren, if God is with us   then  who can be against us!

 

 

Views: 132

Luke 4: 16-30 God’s Work on Us is Dependent on the Quality of Faith

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Luke 4:16-30 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION. (August 31 2020)

When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the book of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus when unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written “The spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has annointed me, to bring good news to the poor; to proclaim liberty to captives; and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed; and announce the Lord’s year of mercy.” Jesus then rolled up the scroll, give it to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.Then he said to them. ” Today, this prophetic words come true. Even as you listen.” All agreed with him, and were lost in wonder, while he spoke of the grace of God.

Nevertheless they ask, “Who is this but Joseph’s son?” So he said, “Doubtless you will quote me the saying : Doctor, heal yourself! Do here, in your town, what they say you did in Capernaum.” Jesus added, ” No prophet is honored in his own country.

Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet, Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet; and no one was healed except Naaman. the Syrian.”

On hearing this words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went away.

POINT OF REFLECTION

Before coming to his home land, Nazareth, Jesus did his preaching and shown miracles to the people off of his country men. What was done by him was not kept in secret instead, the news spread across all countries so that Jesus was almost known by everyone.

His popularity was more than that of the many prophets who heals ahead of him. So that when it is time for him to be back to Nazareth many were curious about listening to him while doing his teaching in front of them and expected him to show up miracles like what they had heard from the miracles he did in the other lands. Upon reading what was written on the unrolled scroll, all acknowledge about the greatness of the good news and wonder about the quality of their faith.

But one had questioned Jesus in his person as being the Son of Joseph, the carpenter. This created on them some doubts which in turns became a blockage of fixing their eyes unto Jesus as the son of Joseph, the carpenter, rather than being the son of God.

Let us remember that the people of Nazareth was seen in two social personalities. The group of the recognized one, the good and the group of the unrecognized one, the bad.

Unfortunately, Jesus was seen to them as bad by looking at the social classification of his parents who heals from the poor family. Jesus gave to them the saying of the “Doctor heals yourself!” Highlighting the fact that the possibility of doing the same miracles heard off lands would be  remote.

But their mind were made dull so that their understanding were irrelevant looking Jesus as an ordinary person having the privilege of a prophet of the prior days. So, they decided to throw him down the cliff but Jesus passed on their midst unnoticed and unharmed.

Truly, it is very hard to the one like him to speak out the defects of the community most specially those who belong to the lower class, like Jesus in those time, because of their pre-processed beliefs.

In essence, the real roadblock to our journey of quality faith is our irrelevant pre-processed beliefs that was just accepted from our ancestors through out generations without the merit of assessment. What is more painful is hearing someone from the folk the limitation and defects of the group boldly presented on their face. As if giving them an insult.

Brothers and sisters, social classification do not have any impact unto Jesus. What matters most  is the profile level of one’s faith illustrated by the package of spiritual person. Being poor, is not about the material possessions but about the quality of faith we might have unto Jesus. It is this faith that would make Jesus perform the miracles in his home land.

In general, all of us would love to experience Jesus miracles in our lives. But are we investing so much in growing our  faith and in work to become worthy of these requested miracles from Jesus? A worthy faith is all needed for Jesus to perform miracles in our lives.

Views: 61

Matthew 16: 13-20 “Jesus Is The Perfect Model Of A Perfect Life”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Matthew 16: 13-20 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (August 23, 2020)

After that, Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, “ Who do people  say the Son of Man  is? “

They said, “For some of them, you are John the Baptist; for others Elijah, or Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.”

Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?”

Peter answered you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Barjona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And no I say to you:  You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my church; and never will the powers of death overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven. “Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Many of us, if not all, wanted to have a perfect life. That is why many end up idolizing someone whom he/she admires even if they do not really know them personally.  In other words, in the efforts of perfecting life, no one could avoid picking up a life’s model. A model that would suffice the kind of character and personality that is appreciable. And tell you, only few would normally choose Jesus as their model because they do not really know Him personally.

A perfect life is possible with a perfect model.  A model that is carefully chosen borne out of personal knowledge, personal encounter and deeper long lasting relationship. When Jesus asked Peter “Who do people say the Son of Man is? “  This was not a message of sourcing out information like ordinary research do, but to tell us that only few have knowledge about the Son of Man duly represented by Peter in the given scenario.

Let it be known that God is our creator and that the Holy Bible is the manual of life whom God has created. Should anyone want to make use of his life and unleash its full potential? Then better for him to carefully read and understand the instructional usage of life contained in the Holy Bible. There, he would understand that the perfect model of a perfect life is none other than Jesus himself.

Noticed that only Peter had claimed for the first time to know Jesus. No doubt for he is always in the company of Jesus allowing him to have a closer and deeper relationship with Jesus with the blessing of the Father, who is in heaven. It was when Jesus had expressed his full trust to Peter evidently as he said “You are Peter; and on this Rock I will build my church; and never will the powers of death overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”

Jesus blessed Peter with all the knowledge and understanding about heaven trusting him the power to pre-qualify man’s soul and the keeper of the keys in the kingdom of heaven. The quality of this trust unto Peter was very   high considering Peter is one of our kind and given the authority to bind and unbind  what could be bound and unbound in heaven.

Finally brothers and sisters in Christ, a perfect life can be possible with the perfect model. The manual of life (The Holy Bible) revealed that Jesus is the perfect model of a perfect life.

Views: 82

Matthew 23:1:12 “God Is The Personality Maker”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Matthew 23:1:12 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (August 22, 2020)

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to this disciples, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say; but do not do us they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even lift a finger to move them.

They do everything in order to be seen by people: they wear very wide bands of the law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first places at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and they like being greeted in the marketplace, and being called ‘Master’ by the people.

But you, do not let yourselves be called Master because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven.  Nor should you be called Leader, because Christ is the only Leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

This bible reading told us that no one could be somebody by his own. A man could not call himself a master, a father or a leader different from what we usually hear from the different known organizations of today recognizing extra ordinary leadership skills of their leaders resulted to dramatic uplift of their company to a certain level.

Man could not be credited as the maker of his own, for if he does become perfectly self-conceited and righteous looking and considering no one but only himself. This would be a greatest disaster of oneself for only God is the master, the Father and the leader. The most one could be, is to become closer or less like him for no man worthy to become like God. Having a mind of becoming God is like Satan. Who is now in great trouble contaminating the whole world.

Valuing so much of one’s accomplishment without acknowledging the works of God in the person puts the person into the trouble of losing a good sense of the goodness of God.  No one has the ability to see himself without a mirror. No one could be guided by himself alone regardless of how good he may be. God, in the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, is an able guide and should therefore be given the highest recognition and consideration as the maker of the person’s whole package of personality.  Doing this is simply humbling oneself into the eyes of the Lord. It is then, the beginning of becoming great and an able servants of all for God says “those who humbled themselves shall become the greatest in his eyes”

Brothers and sisters, God is the personality maker. Whatever one may become, is not about counting all personal efforts, but reflecting on how great is the Lord in you throughout the years.

Views: 79

Matthew 22:34:40 “The How’s and What’s of God’s Laws”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Matthew 22:34:40 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (August 21, 2020)

When the Pharisees saw how Jesus had silenced the Sadducee’s, they assembled together. One of them, a lawyer, questioned him to test him, “Teacher, which commandment of the law is the greatest?” Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and the most important of the commandments. The second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets are founded on these two commandments.

 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

When we talk about laws among experts, it is more about looking into the “how’s” of it rather than the “what’s” that makes a person obey or follow the laws.  In fact, many lawyers win their cases not because they are fortunate of their innocent clients but because of some questions of technicalities  on the procedural processes that seem to create some material doubts which in the final judgment opted the judge to get away from the loop of reasonable doubts.

A very important thing to remember that the first six books of the Bible called “Torah” contains more or less 613 laws for the followers to follow as forced to them by the law experts before Jesus time, so that the people was bombarded with so much burden and difficulty that led them to think of the impossibility of following because of the how’s or the technical specification. What looks improper and unrightfully inviting gesture of law experts modelling, were their inability to enjoin not even a finger to lift up the burden of these laws.  This caused many to be more sinful and went away from the ways of God.

When Jesus came, he only highlighted the two greatest commandments: First, loving God with all our hearts, soul and mind. Second, loving thy neighbor as one loved thyself. These two greatest commandments, as being told, clarifies and summarizes all the laws and lightens   the burden of the followers. It is about the “what’s” that is; deepening one’s personal relationship to the Father as yourself into your neighbor. The greatest commandments serve as the gateway for us to be able to follow all the laws stipulated in the first six books in the Bible.  Doing the two greatest commandments does not necessitate  so much technicalities but needs only the bigger picture that is  the “what’s of our faith to the Father, who is in heaven.

Finally brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus teaches us to follow God’s commandments by looking into the “what’s”. Jesus bank on the question, what would make us follow God’s laws? All are encouraged to start it by going into an extra serious relationship with God and to the people around them perfected with commitment, responsibilities and acts of mercy and compassion.

Views: 67

MATTHEW 22: 1-14 “Fitness Into God’s Home”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 22: 1-14 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (AUGUST 20, 2020)

Jesus continued speaking to them in parables: “This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven: A king gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the banquet, but the guest refused to come. Again, he sent other servants, instructing them to say to the invited guest, I have prepared the banquet, slaughtered my flattened calves and other animals, and now, everything is ready. Come to the wedding!’  But they paid no attention and went away, some to their farms, and some to their work. Others seized the servants of the king, insulted them and killed them. The king was furious. He sent His troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city. Then He said to the servants, the wedding banquet was prepared, but the invited guests were not worthy. Go instead to the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding feast. The servants went out into the street and gathered all they found, good and bad alike, so that the hall was filled with guests, and he noticed a man not wearing a wedding garment. So he said to him, Friend, how did you get in without the wedding clothes?’ But the man remained silent. So the king said to his servants, bind his hand and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The Bible reading, captures the kingdom in heaven as a wedding celebration inviting guests to partake the banquet.  The king hosted the celebration in due preparation hoping all would come and take their share of the banquet.

The king (God) uses his servants (disciples of Jesus) to call upon the invited guest (the chosen people of God) for whom the banquet was prepared but they refused to come for their personal concerns like farms, works and numerous earthly concerns. Some of them gravely harmed and even killed the servants (persecution) behind divine efforts of reaching all. No doubt God would be furious, knowing invited guests were not worthy.

As the king commanded his servants to invite everyone in the street, the door of heaven is widely open to all of us not just the perceived good but included as will those who are bad and sinners.

As the king came to notice a man not in a wedding garment, teaches us that the banquet in heaven does require changing of oneself fitting for the occasion. Brothers and sisters, if we turn into deaf ears about the call of salvation and do not change, will be thrown into a fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for eternity.

Finally, let us be reminded that heaven is preparing a banquet for all of us, God’s chosen people. The gate of heaven is about to be opened for those who are renewed befitting to the theme of the celebration for salvation and redemption. Befitting one through change is the toughest requirement in the banquet in heaven.

Views: 49

MATTHEW 20: 1-16 “A Family Like Relationship with God”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 20: 1-16 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (AUGUST 19, 2020)

This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven: A land-owner went out early in the morning, to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay each worker the usual daily wage, and sent them to his vineyard.

He went out again, at about nine in the morning, and, seeing others idle in the town square, he said to them. “You also go to my vineyard, and I will pay you what is just. So they went. 

The owner went out at midday, and, again at three in the afternoon, and he made the same offer. Again he went out, at the last working hour- the eleventh and he saw others standing around.  So he said to them, ‘why do you stand idle the whole day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ The master said, ‘Go, and work in my vineyard.“

When evening came the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wage, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ Those who had gone to work at the eleventh hour came up, and were each given a silver coin. When it was the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more. But they, too, received one silver coin. On receiving it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 

They said, ‘These last, hardly worked an hour; yet, you have treated them the same as us, who have endured the heavy work of the day and the heat. ‘The owner said to one of them, ’Friend, I have not been unjust to you.  Did you not agree on one silver coin per day? So, take what is yours and go. I want to give to the last the same as I give to you. Don’t have the right to as I please with what is mine? Why are you envious when I am kind?’

So will lit be: the last will be first, the first will be last.”

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The vineyard in this gospel reading resembles the kingdom in heaven from which all are part of. The Landowner is the Father Almighty. This passage is not telling us that the Father is the boss, instead a father of the family treating all as siblings.

When the evening came for the landowner to give the worker’s pay, all received the same amount, “a silver coin”, regardless of the time of actual work done.  The scenario is not to be understood in the relationship between the boss and an ordinary worker but more of being the Father (God) and the Son (workers) relationship. The Father always gives enough food for His siblings regardless of the nature and amount of work he is doing in a single day. Being the son of the Father who is in heaven, all are assured of His everlasting bounty.

An invitation by the landowner at varying times reminded us that today is enough for one to be saved on judgement day. Invited may happen to be the first, just now  and the last but regardless of when all  will receive the same and equal reward in the Father’s house in heaven. Just do not mind how others became Christians by way of comparison, after all, God knows what everyone really deserves towards the end of time.

Let us be reminded, that our response to God has nothing to do with our human feelings and understanding of others but instead it is about our godly feeling and consideration to others as all enjoin the cause of salvation in union with Christ and to the Father in heaven.   

Brothers and sisters, God is always on his way looking for all of us. He is not mindful of the time for us to respond but today really matters. Now is the right time to respond to God’s calling. Think about this. God is just a prayer away.

 

Views: 73

MATTHEW 19: 23-30 “God Says: Today is The Right Time To Re-evaluate One’s Heart”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 19: 23-30 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (AUGUST 18, 2020)

Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you:  It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe me: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

On hearing this, the disciples were astonished and said, “Who, then, can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and answered, “For human beings it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter spoke up and said, “You see, we have given up everything to follow you. What, then, will there be for us?”

 Jesus answered“ You , who have followed me, listen to my words: on the Day of Renewal, when the Son of Man sits on his throne in glory, you, also will sit, on twelve thrones, to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. As for those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or property for my Name’s sake, they will receive a hundredfold, and be given eternal life. Many who are now first, will be last, and many who are now last, will be first.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The Bible reading of today clarifies where a heart should belong, for most likely one’s heart belongs to where one’s possessions belong.

Jesus warned us by saying “Truly I say to you:  It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe me: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Why this? It is because in most cases one’s possession enslaved their hearts and it is perceived to be earthly rather than being heavenly.  There is a need for all of us to be extra careful of keeping our possessions which this bible passage strongly suggests not on this life on earth but in life in heaven with the father.  When Jesus ordered the young and wealthy man to sell all he have and give it to the poor to become perfect in the eyes of God having claimed to obey God’s commandments (MATTHEW 19: 16-22), He mean that those who are less around could be the conduit of earthly possessions into heavenly possessions.

What Jesus had ordered to the young man (which could be any of us) might be very hard but if he will surrender everything in his heart to the Father it would easier for him to give up earthly possession in exchange for the heavenly one. All this would be the same to all of us who desire God.

Brother and sister, God is worth more than anything of this life. Get ready to lose earthly nature and gain all the magnificence in heaven.

Views: 67

JOHN 12:24-26 “Love is Leaving Nothing for Oneself”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

JOHN 12:24-26 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (August 10,2020)

Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls  to the earth and dies,  it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Those who love their life destroy it,  and those who despise their life in this world save it even to everlasting life. Whoever wants to serve me, let him follow me;  and wherever I am,  there shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me,  the Father will honor him. 

 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

A saying goes that “The only way to prove your love to someone is to leave nothing for yourself.” Yes! God needs this kind of love from us as Jesus simulated the same in his crucifixion  on the cross at the mount Calvary. 

The way to love is giving. If you ask me, how much? It is equal to or more than this life had offered since.  The cost of everlasting life is more than this earthly life. And  to be with Jesus is simply  giving off life for Jesus. 

Views: 61

MATTHEW 15:21-28 “GLORIFY JESUS AND RADIATE UNTO OTHERS”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 15:21-28 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (August 6, 2020)

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. Jesus’ appearance was changed before them his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as snow. Then suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will make three tents: one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Peter was still speaking, when a bright cloud covered them with its shadow; and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my son, the beloved, my chosen one. Listen to him.” On hearing the voice, the disciples fell on the ground, full of fear. But Jesus came, touched them, and said, “Stand up, do not be afraid!” when they raised their eyes, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus. And as they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man was raised from the dead.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The transfiguration of Jesus and sudden appearance of Moses and Elijah, the two most authoritative figures of God’s past covenant, alongside with Jesus was a confirmation of His authority. It is also the unpacking of Jesus personality and the pronouncement as the son of God. In fact, the unidentified mountain is considered as the meeting place of man and God through Jesus, His beloved son.

What is our take away in this Bible reading? And how we are going to process this into our personal consumption? The key point in here is the ocassion of transfiguration. This was the glorification of Jesus as the son of God and the confirmation of full authority. He was a package figure of divinity enjoining the human flesh.

Being His disciples, we could share His transfiguration by doing the discipleship in our lives. Doing his well glorifies him and Jesus aura of transfiguration permeate us to be like him in our human version. It is from there that God came closer to us as He did with the three of Jesus disciples in the mountain. As Jesus shine, we could also shine through him unto the Father.

Brothers and sisters, we let our life shine by welcoming Jesus. His transfiguration in us makes us radiate in a way he radiated upon the declaration of the Father in heaven as His beloved Son. And we will also radiate in the same when we repond positively to God’s calling and get united in Him till eternity.

Finally, glorifying Jesus is recharging oneself. The power of the Holy Spirit ,as our virtual companion, glow and radiate to those who open their hearts to Jesus.

Views: 80