Author: Roger

Doctor in Development Education ( Dev. Ed. D.), an all time educator as School Head and HEI Instructor.

MATTHEW 13:47-53 “The Way To Salvation and The Promise of Resurrection”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

 

MATTHEW 13:47-53 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION ( JULY 30, 2020)

Again,  the kingdom of heaven is like a big fishing net, let down into the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught. When the net is full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish into buckets, but throw the bad away. That is how it will be at the end of time; the angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just, and to throw the wicked into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth.”

Jesus asked, “Have you understood all these things?” “ yes,” They answered.

So he said to them, “ Therefore, every teacher of the law, who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder, who can produce from his store things both new and old.”

When Jesus had finished these parables he left that place. 

 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

This gospel reading depicts  what will happen to the ends of time. The net signifies no exemption. All are judged alike not on the values of our position in life but according to the individual value and quality of our soul on the duration of our stay here on earth. 

On the judgement day, the judge is the Father and the counsel is Jesus.   Jesus is the only way to salvation and the promise of resurrection to have an everlasting life with the Father in heaven. 

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JOHN 11: 19-27 “In God’s Perfect Timing”

by Roger, posted in Uncategorized

JOHN 11: 19-27 / LUKE 10:38-42 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 29, 2020) 

Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary, after the death of their brother, to comfort them. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, while Mary remained sitting in the house.

Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again. “ Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, on the last day.” But Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Martha then answered, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”

 POINTS OF REFLECTION

Historically speaking, upon learning what had happened to Lazarus and considering the evil plan of the Pharisees, Jesus decided to stay one more day before visiting the house of Martha, Maria and Lazarus. On His coming, He was informed that Lazarus had passed away for almost three days. And that Martha met Him and said “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

On this occasion my dear Brothers and Sisters, the event highlighted to us that God’s perfect timing is not man’s perfect timing. If  only Jesus had just come according to the time Maria and Martha wanted Him to come, then He could have healed Lazarus sickness without the need of experiencing death. As a consequence, Jesus could not have done the   miracle of bringing Lazarus to life to glorify the Father and further His kingdom to those who came to console Maria and Martha. As Christians, we could not have understood that in so much grieving ( as felt by Maria and Martha upon the loss of Lazarus) only Jesus has the power to appease us because on the final day all will live with him in heaven. 

When Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, on the last day.” This line reminded us to have a hope of faith like Martha in this life so that we can share Jesus’ act of resurrection on the last day. This is amazingly great my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

And in the scene that Jesus cried upon the death of Lazarus, His crying is not only to Lazarus but to all of us alive in blood and flesh but dead in spirit.  As Jesus willingly brings back Lazarus to life, He is very much willing for all of us to be alive in spirit as He had done to Lazarus some two thousand years ago. 

Brothers and Sisters, God’s love is truly amazing. It has impacted our lives not in our timing but in His perfect timing. To God be the Glory. Amen. 

Views: 112

MATTHEW 13: 36-43 “We Are The Army of The Lord”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 13: 36-43 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 28, 2020)

Then he sent the crowds away and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

Jesus answered them, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed are the people of the kingdom; the weeds are those who follow the evil one. The enemy who sows the weeds is the devil; the harvest is the end of time, and the workers are the angels.

Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of time. The Son of man will send angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom all that is scandalous and all who do evil. And there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the just will shine, like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, then hear.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

In this Bible reading, the disciples ask Jesus to clarify some technical terms about the parables of the weeds in the field.

Jesus was so kind and gentle to clarify what his disciples had requested. Not only that, but Jesus also highlighted that the world of goodness would be under the challenge and pressure of the devil with the presence of his advocates making life on earth full of problems, trials and struggles difficult to handle. In other words, the order of the world would be affected by their presence, but cautioned not to have so much worries on them for God in his chosen time will come to rescue us from the devil’s advocates and restore His godly orders.

With all these things, Christian followers are not to cross their arms on these matters, for before His coming, we are considered as God’s advance party to fight against those who are devil advocates to mitigate the impact of their presence. This is called faith in action as St. James Apostle said “Show me your faith without work and I’ll show you my faith with the work.”

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, life has its own trouble day after day and part of these troubles are attributed by its counterpart. Let us advance with Jesus, praise His holy name, in  hope and in faith for we are His army unbeaten by this battle till the end of time. Amen.

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MATTHEW 13:44-52 The Kingdom of God

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 13:44-52  GOSPEL READING  AND REFLECTION (JULY 26, 2020)

The  kingdom of  heaven is like the treasure hidden in the field. The one who finds it, buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader, who is looking for fine pearls. Once  he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is  like a big fishing net, let down into the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught. When the net is full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish into the buckets, but throw the bad away. That is how it will be at the end of time; the angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just, and to throw the wicked into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth.”

Jesus asked,” Have you understood all these things?’ “Yes,” they answered.

So He said to them, “ Therefore, every teacher of the law, who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder, who can produce from his store things both new and old.”

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Life  is offered with a lot of choices from everywhere. It is in fact a continuous search  for  something that is worthy for this life. It is something satisfying. It is something  amazing. It is something wonderful. It is something that could offer all out satisfaction for happiness and securities of life. But what is sad, there is nothing in this world that could  satisfy every man’s wants, not even owning the whole world.

According to St, Thomas Aquinas, “ The ultimate goal of man is to return to his creator.”  in saying this he added that man could  attain total satisfaction in life even to the point of owning the whole world until he would find his way to the Father, his creator.

Worldly choice may cause a delay of man’s  final search for the kingdom of heaven  but this could not hinder his desire if  he has little faith in Him. God from that little faith would do more in the person’s heart and bless him with the needed understanding about the kingdom of heaven.

And by the grace of God, He would be able to figure out all the hidden treasures in heaven. He would be very happy and willing to give up everything he has in this life in exchange for what he has just found amazing in the kingdom of heaven.

Brothers and sisters in Christ do not be too much into something of this world. This will gradually take us away from the real purpose and course of life that all of us are supposed to be into. Let us all go and look for  the kingdom of God for in the final day His angels in heaven will come and separate those who really have it and those who do not have it and throw those who do not have into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth.” 

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MATTHEW 13:31-35 “God Wants Our Little Faith”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 13:31-35 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION ( JULY 27, 2020)

Jesus  offered them another parable: “ The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is smaller than all other seeds, but once it is fully grown, it is bigger than any garden plant; like a tree, the birds come and rest in its branches.” 

He then made another parable, “ The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast that a woman took, and hid in  three measures of flour, until the whole mass of dough began to rise.”

Jesus taught a;; these things to the crowds by means of parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. This fulfilled what was spoken by the Prophet:  I will speak in parables. I will proclaim things kept secret since the beginning of the world. 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The  power of God is beyond man’s quantification. Even his very simple language would be enough for man to become a fool.  

In 1Corinthian 1:25 “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weaknesses of God is stronger than man’s strength.” This is the very reason why Jesus always uses parables in his daily teaching during his time.  There exists no direct communication means for us to understand God unless God makes his way unto us. The use of the parable is the only way allowing us to weigh things according to the human perspective. God also uses parables because He does not want us to be dull. He wanted us to think of Him  as He always thinks of us by providing us with all our needs in this life.  

The first of these two parables is the parable of the mustard seed. A mustard seed is very small to be inviting to the human eye. But Jesus uses it as an object of man’s hope of having this faith to the Lord. God in this semblance of minuteness, seems to be less demanding to us. He only needs a little of our faith and then there after He will make it bloom within us like the largest tree in the garden.  Once a man will be blessed with the necessary maturity of  this faith, he will be dependable providing rest and shelter to those who needed him most.

The second parable is the yeast of the woman. An act of accepting God  in one’s life is a milestone of faith. It is the gateway of many blessings from which man can fully enjoy the goodness of God’s manifold blessings. Growing in God’s presence is very significant that even a mere presence in a community inspires others to be God’s followers. Such maturity is holistic which may come in character, wisdom, faith, hope and resilience to the worldly issues and concerns. 

In conclusion my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what God wants from us is our little faith for Him to effectively work within us. Amen.

Views: 63

MATTHEW 20:20-28 Jesus is the Leading Figure of Servant Leadership

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 20:20-28 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION ( JULY 25, 2020)

Then the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down,  to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, “What do you want?” And she answered, “ Here,  you have my sons. Grants, that they may sit, one at your right hand and  one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said to the brothers, “ You do  not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink? They answered, “ We can.” 

Jesus replied, “ You will indeed drink my cup;  but to sit at my right and at my left is not for me to grant. That will be for those, for whom my Father has prepared it.”

The other ten heard all this,  and were angry with the two brothers.

Then Jesus called them to Him and said, “You know that the rulers of nations behave like tyrants, and the powerful oppress them. It shall not be so among you: whoever wants to be great in your community, let him minister to the community. And if you want to be the first of all, make yourself the servant of all. Be like the Son of Man, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many.” 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

While it is harder to set aside the disguise of personal interest in this life than the genuine motive of  a quality service to all ranging from the nameless to the famous and known personalities, this Bible reading reminded us to serve not just for promotion but rather for the satisfaction of those whom the services are intended for. 

Leadership is not tyranny. It is not oppressive. It is not being served but rather a servant of all. Leadership commences within oneself by guiding the whole being to do what is rightfully to be done. Leading a few is the next level of leadership where some people choose to follow not because they are forced to follow but because they have the same advocacy that is  to serve for the greater good.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus is an all out figure of a true leader. He employs servant leadership. His disciples were  chosen not because they are knowledgeable but because they are hard workers, they were taken  by Jesus from the shore  doing fishing the whole night without a single catch till daybreak. 

Finally Jesus is considered as the leading figure of leadership and his disciples are the leading figure of a true follower. 

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MATTHEW 13:18-23 The Field is The Heart of Man

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 13:18-23 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION ( JULY 24, 2020)

Now listen to the parable of the sower. When a person hears  the message of the kingdom but does not take it seriously the devil comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed that fell along the foot-path. The seed fell on the rocky ground stands for the one who hears the word, and accepts it at once with joy. But such a person had no roots, and endures only for a while. No sooner is  he harassed or persecuted because of  the word, then he gives up. The seed that fell among the thistles is the one who hears the words; but then, the worries of this life and the love of money choke the word;  and it does not bear fruit. As for the seed that fell on the good soil, it is the one who hears the word and understands it; this seed bears fruit and produces a hundred. or sixty, or thirty times more.” 

 

POINTS  OF REFLECTION 

Human hearts do not have the same disposition when hearing the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. In this Bible reading the heart of man is likened to a field from which the sower in the parable had sown the seeds.

The heart of man could be like a foot-path; it does not accommodate the word of the Lord seriously so that the devil can easily take it away by the tendencies of the worldly lures. The heart of man could be like a rocky ground; it hears the word and accepts it with joy but his faith does not endure within the challenge of time. The heart of man could be like a thistles ground: it hears the word but his faith is shaky and easily affected by the worries of life, love of material things and love of money. The heart of man could be like a ground in a good soil; it hears and understands the word, bears fruits and multiplies even up to more than  thirty  times.  This is represented by the person who has fully grown in faith and a bold witness of God’s presence. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, now is the time for us to assess the kind of heart we have and be able to reconfigure it in such a way that this heart would become  a kind of heart fully grown in faith and stand as a bold witness of the Father in heaven. 

 

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MATTHEW 13;10-17 ” ACCEPTANCE, CHOICE AND TALK ARE EXTRAORDINARY VIRTUES TO UNCOVER THE HIDDEN TREASURE IN HEAVEN”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 13;10-17 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION ( JULY 23, 2020)

Then his disciples came to him and said, “ Why do you speak to them in parables?”

Jesus answered, “ To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but not to these people. For the one who has will be given more;  and he will have in abundance. But the one who does not have will be deprived of even what he has. That is why I speak to them in parables; because they look and  do not see; they hear; but they do not listen or understand. In them, the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled: However much you hear, you do not perceive. For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears hardly hear and their eyes dare not see. If they were to see with their eyes, hear with their ears and understand with their heart, they would turn back, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For I tell you, many prophets and righteous people have longed to see the things you see, but they did not hear them. 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

There are virtues that seem ordinary but if considered in a deeper sense would guide us into the hidden treasure in heaven. These virtues that I am referring to are: Acceptance, Choice and Talk. 

This Bible  reading started the question  of  why Jesus is speaking in parables.  The wisdom of God is very difficult for us humans to understand. Jesus practically teaches humans by contextualizing his divine message for us to be able to understand its breadth and deepness. Teaching by parable is coined to a real life situation from which men are virtually in a state of simulation. It is the scenario that learning does not appear to be abstract but rather concrete. 

The dullness of the human senses so described in this bible passage, points out  man’s denial of accepting the presence of God in them. Godliness in us pertains to our willingness to accept God. Noticed that towards the end of the Bible reading Jesus told his disciple that “ if they will see, hear and understand, I will heal them.” God is just waiting for the right timing and that timing my dear brothers and sisters is on the occasion of  acceptance.  From there, God will heal the dullness in the eyes, ears and in the heart. 

Upon the act of acceptance, comes the choice. Upon acceptance with the healing of the Father, personal choice would be noticeably different. Your daily tendencies would not be the same as it was before when you were not yet with Jesus. Significant change of personal preferences would be visible. What was usually okay, would appear to be not okay. Things in life change not by fate but by choice with the blessing of the Almighty Father.

It has been said that what makes a man unclean is not what he has taken in, but those that come out from the body emanating from the heart. The words that come out from the mouth makes him unclean much more the verbal implications of his bodily gestures and expressions that sometimes create a sensation of hair standing feeling. But once a person accepts God by virtue of his personal choice with the grace of the Father, His words would be like the words from the mouth of the Father that send a message to  the chosen with the sense and feeling of a redeeming love.  The way a person talks is not like the way before but in the way   the Holy Spirit  teams the tongue in the tone of the Father in heaven. 

In conclusion, acceptance, choice and talk are considered extraordinary virtues that would allow a person to unfold the mystery of faith and discover the hidden treasure in heaven.  To God be the glory. Amen.

Views: 79

JOHN 20, 1-2, 11-18 “YOU ARE DEAD AWAY FROM JESUS”

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

JOHN 20, 1-2, 11-18 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 22, 2020)

Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, she saw that  the stone blocking  the tomb had  been moved away. She ran to Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “ They had taken the Lord out  of the tomb and we don’t know where they had laid him.”weeping outside the tomb; and as she wept, she bent down to look inside. She saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other  at the feet. They said, “ Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they took the Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.” As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,  but she did not recognize him. Jesus said to her, “ woman, why are you weeping?  Who are you looking for ? She thought it was the gardener and answered him, “sir, if you have taken  him away, tell me where you have put him,  and I will go and take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned, and said to him, “Rabbone!” which means Master. Jesus said to her, “ Do not touch me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them;  I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God.” So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples. “ I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me. 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Life here on earth is temporary. It is a  cocoon  of transformation to fully  enjoy its  real goodness back  into  the womb of the Father in heaven. This transformation process is not easy because it would sum up all the problems, trials, struggles, etc  to overcome the world in our desire to be in heaven. Along the way each and everyone’s hope is extremely challenged that sometimes would nearly lead to absolute frustrations.

The scene narrated in this Bible passage was exemplified to best illustrate the snapshot  of the real message of resurrection. It was made clear that Jesus had risen from the dead. It was so clear that Jesus truly overcame death which in turn an object of our faith.

Resurrection comes after death and likewise death comes after life.  God sowed the seed of life, in fact a good seed of life. All became His people whom He loved in mysterious ways. But because of Satan, these good seeds of life were choked and became dead, I mean like Zombie, coexist as the counterpart of darkness in the face of this deceiving  world.  

Mary of Magdala, a sinner, was our exact representation in front of Jesus. Her moments with Jesus were great allowing herself to completely transform before Jesus is about to leave, returning  back to the Father. So that it is even  very difficult to figure out the frustration of Mary when Jesus was put into death on the cross. She could not help but rather be with Jesus even in His tomb until resurrection. However, sad because Mary , out of her frustration was not able to recognize Jesus standing on her side while she was weeping.  

Brothers and sisters in Christ, like Mary  we might be blinded with the presence of Jesus in our lives if  we will take in so much worries, insecurities, problems and all frustrations in life. We should not allow our worldly concerns, issues and worries to eye mask our sight unto Jesus for  we might lose our way unto him. 

The clear message of resurrection in this Bible reading clarifies that all of us away from Jesus is dead, I mean spiritually dead. Resurrection is having a new life through Jesus unto the Father. Resurrection is not the same as merely coming back to life like what had happened to Lazarus  and the daughter of Jairus from which Jesus brings them back to life. Lazarus’s accounts and many others who have given the privileges to continue their temporal lives do not exist nowadays, meaning they must be dead many years after, in fact  we could not hear them now. This is the meaning of coming back to life. But speaking of resurrection, it is a new and everlasting  life through Jesus unto the Father. This is the kind of life that we are hoping for, as Jesus resurrected himself after three days. 

Relatives in Christ, let us not be disguised by the tendencies of worldly concerns, issues, problems, trials and the likes for these might mask our eyes into seeing Jesus in this temporary life that we are living. God bless us all.

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MATTHEW 12:46-50 Professional Profile is Nothing Among Christians

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 12:46-50 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 21, 2020)

While Jesus was talking to the people, his mother and his brothers wanted to speak to him, and they waited outside. So someone said to Him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside; they want to speak with you.”

Jesus answered, “Who is my Mother? And who are my brothers?” Then He pointed to his disciples and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever those will be of the Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

POINTS OF REFLECTION

In the Christian community, personal and professional profile, social standing and rank in an organization does not count in any way. This is  what Jesus meant when He said who is my mother? And who are my brothers?  

When one becomes Christian, relationships cut across all levels of classification in no significant difference. All are called brothers and sisters as worthy heirs of the Father’s throne in heaven.

God drops all human classifications in the body and blood of Christ.

Views: 118