God Whispers - March 15, 2012

Open your life to My grace today. Just as I healed the leper and commanded him to take up his mat and walk, I want you to put My grace to work and take the initiative to follow and obey Me. Then will you experience the answer to your prayers.

Your Wonderworker,
God

P.S. Sometimes, what stands in the way between you and your miracle is your first step.

Daily Bible Reflections- March 14, 2012

BREAKING THE RULES

 

“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments…” – Matthew 5:19

 

I was 10 or 11 years old when this happened. And until now, nobody in my family knew about this. It was summer and early afternoons were supposed to be naptime for us unless my sisters and I had a scheduled activity.

One day, I escaped our naptime to play with some cousins in the house next door. I don’t remember now what game we were playing but what I vividly recall is that I was walking atop the hollow block fence of my aunt’s house, like an acrobat walking on a tightrope. Then suddenly I fell off the fence and a protruding steel bar hit my thigh. Blood oozed out, but fearing that my parents would reprimand me, I hid the wound from them and administered first aid. Fortunately, the wound healed by itself after a couple of weeks but the scar remained until many, many years later.

The same is true when we break God’s commandments. We get hurt in the process. We fear the priest’s reprimand in the confessional box, and unless we are truly repentant, the wounds of our sinfulness stay with us.

Breaking rules has consequences, whether they are rules of God or of man, so it’s best to be ready to make amends whenever we do. Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com)

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REFLECTION:

What rules do you love to break? Why?

 

Lord, help me to follow Your rules every moment of my life.

 

St. Maximillian, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections- March 13, 2012

God of New Beginnings

 

“Forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” – Mathew 18:35

 

I believe that our God is a God of new beginnings and second chances. Every time I avail of His mercy in the Sacrament of Confession, I feel an overwhelming sense of freshness in spirit. Because everything and everyone deserves a fresh start.

New beginnings. New life. New hope. New dreams. New endeavors. New friends. New adventures. New challenges. New undertakings. New programs. New victories. Everything must start somewhere, somehow.

The first tinge of sunlight starts the day. The first raindrop starts the drizzle.The first sprout starts the spring. The first seed starts the orchard. The first grain starts the rice field. The first note starts the music. The first call starts the mission.

One of the greatest fears (and therefore failures) of all is the fear to start — the fear of beginnings.

God had the courage to begin. So must we. Go and start the momentum of blessings.  Begin. Initiate. Commence. Switch on. Fire up. Set off. Get going.

The God of New Beginnings is ever ready to bless you. Then pass on this grace to jump-start someone else by choosing to forgive. Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

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REFLECTION:

One can’t hold a grudge forever. One-give, two-give, three-give, fourgive. At the count of four, forgiveness starts.

 

Lord, I need Your mercy and grace as much as I need to give it to others.

 

St. Leander of Seville, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections- March 12, 2012

TWISTED FAITH 

 

When he read the letter, the king of Israel tore his garments and exclaimed: “Am I a god with power over life and death, that this man should send someone to me to be cured of leprosy?” – 2 Kings 5:7

 

My friend’s sister was dying. Her so-called brothers and sister in faith took her away from her family and confined her in a cramped room in their kingdom hall where they prayed over her. The religious cult made her believe that the Father would come down to their kingdom hall and perform a miracle to cure her.

One day, they called for my friend and told him that his sister was going to die on a specific day at a specific hour. Naturally, my friend got angry with them for playing God. He took his sister to a hospital where she was given proper care. She was apparently dying of dehydration because they didn’t give her water to drink! My friend’s sister eventually died.

I admire the king of Israel for his angry reaction upon reading the letter about Naaman. He was king yet he knew that his powers would never equal God’s. Neither he nor any of us have power over life and death. That is why whenever I recall that sister’s story, I get dismayed. One life wasted because of some twisted faith. Let us not forget that God reigns supreme over all creation.  Nova Arias (nova.svp@gmail.com)

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REFLECTION:

There are circumstances in life beyond our control. Do you let go of the reins?

 

Almighty God, You are the Master Architect of life. Teach us to surrender our lives to You.

 

Blessed Angela Salawa, pray for us.