Daily Bible Reflections- March 04, 2012

CHALLENGE!

 

If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31

 

We were young. We shared the same dreams — freedom, social justice — for our country. We marched on the streets. But somewhere along the way, we parted ways. He began to believe in the use of force in meeting our goals. I believed there’s a peaceful way — God’s way.

He was talking of going up the mountains. He even showed me a picture of him holding a gun. How do I get him to see things God’s way? For some time, I thought I was crazy thinking I could change him — until I learned about Romans 8:31, today’s reading.

So I visited him and his family regularly to talk him out of his plans. Before I would enter their house, I would take a deep breath and whisper: “If God is for me, who can be against me? If God is for me, who can be against me?” Soon, he and his wife and their children joined a faith community.

So until now, every time I face a challenge, I take a deep breath and whisper: If God is for me, who can be against me? If God is for me, who can be against me? Cynthia Santiago (cusantiago@gmail.com)

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REFLECTION:

Who is against you? Who is for you?

 

Lord, thank You that You are for me —always!

 

St. Casimir, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections- March 03, 2012

ROAD RAGE “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” - Matthew 5:44 One of my pet peeves are reckless drivers. They turn left or right as they please. They stop at places that would inconvenience other motorists. When you honk at them, they hurl words at you and get angry as if they have done no wrong. I used to try to get even, to “teach them a lesson,” to show them that they cannot be bullies. But that doesn’t change the situation. Until I followed another driver’s advice to pray for them. Whenever a jeepney cuts into my lane or a bus hogs the road to get more passengers, I pray for safety for everyone and a change of heart for these drivers. I keep my cool and practice defensive driving. I’ve not encountered really bad drivers ever since. I agree that it’s also a matter of perspective, and I may not fully know the effect of praying for them. But I am sure that God hears my prayer and honors it. I also have become better because of my attitude change. Praying for those who wrong you benefits both the “prayed for” and the “pray-er.”Jun Asis (mabuting.balita@gmail.com) 3 REFLECTION: Do I respond with God’s grace in the face of people who do me wrong? Lord, I pray for those who are unkind to me, those who put me down or malign me. Let Your Spirit dwell in them and grant them peace in their hearts. Amen. St. Katharine Drexel,pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections- March 02, 2012

the key word

 

When someone evil stops sinning and does what is right and good, he saves his life. – Ezekiel 18:27

 

As I write this, it is exactly one year since 57 people were mercilessly slaughtered in Maguindanao. The accused are detained but newspapers say they still have communication access and are living pampered lives. Their clan remains in control of the province and people continue to fear them. TV grabs of the principal suspects show smug unrepentance. If they are indeed guilty, how tortured their souls must be.

Can the people responsible for the Maguindanao massacre still be redeemed? Ezekiel 18 says the Lord does not enjoy seeing evil people die. He would rather see them live. If they sincerely repent, they will be saved. But the key word here is repentance.

This thought gives me hope that no matter how bad I’ve been, no matter how many times I stumble, the Lord waits with open arms. “While I have breath, while I have life,” as the song goes, I can still do what is right and good.  Lella Santiago (mirellasantiago@

yahoo.com)

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REFLECTION:

Do you think you are beyond salvation? You can never be too evil or your past too dirty for the Lord to grant His forgiveness.

 

May Your image on the cross dying for my sins be my beacon of light when I lose my way.

 

St. Agnes of Bohemia, pray for us.

 

Daily Bible Reflections- March 01, 2012

WISHES POWERFUL?

“Ask and it will be given to you.” – Matthew 7:7

The hilarious Fr. Erick Santos is a good friend of mine. One day, he told me that he grew up in a poor family and, sometimes, they had nothing to eat. But his mother taught him the power of wishing.

Once, on his birthday, his mother told him, “Erick, make a wish before you blow the candle.” So little Erick closed his eyes, made a wish and blew out his candle.

Later on, his mother asked him, “What wish did you make?” Erick replied, “Mommy, I wished that next year, my birthday candle will have a birthday cake with it!”

Friends, there are two kinds of wishes in the world: secular and sacred. When little Erick made a wish before blowing his birthday candle, that’s a secular wish. Sacred wishes are wishes directed to God. And that’s what we’re more familiar with — wishes as prayers.

I believe both secular and sacred wishes are powerful, and God responds to both. Wishing is powerful because it gives you ope. In the same way that a man cannot live without food, without water, without breath, so a man cannot live without hope. Without hope, your spirit dies. And when your spirit dies, everything in you dies.

Only a person with hope will act!Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

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REFLECTION:

Don’t just wish — act!

Lord, You know my heart’s desire. And I believe Your answer is on its way.

St. David of Wales, bishop, pray for us.