?they know not the hidden counsels of God. ? Wisdom 2:22

I once heard a story about a successful architect. He worked in this large company and spent most of his productive years designing and building houses and structures. He was the pride of the company, but he wanted to retire early and expressed that intention to the owner.
      The owner granted his wishes but made one last request. ?I want you to build a house. You are free to make your own design, according to what you want. You can choose the best materials, whatever the cost.? The architect accepted. Considering this  was his last project, he thought of building a house out of substandard quality materials and padding the expenses. The owner wouldn?t know anyway, he thought.
     When the project was finished, the owner looked at his work then handed him an envelope. It was a Transfer Certificate of Title. He said, ?I?m giving you the house which you have just built in appreciation for your dedication to your work and the company.? In life, if we really know our God, we would know that if we shortchange Him, we end up shortchanging ourselves. Let us be wise. Let us give to God that which He deserves. We will not be sorry.   Judith C.

REFLECTION:
  If we really know our God, we would know that if we shortchange Him, we end up shortchanging ourselves.

Grant us Wisdom, Lord. Grant us Love.

Wisdom 2:1, 12-22

The key word here is ?godless.? It is the godless person who jeopardizes his or her salvation in following their own or some other misguided intentions for their lives. The godly person will seek to know God?s mind for their life and to live by it. It is obvious that this is true: God has created us, therefore He knows what is best for us. He has redeemed us demonstrating His level of commitment to our happiness. What more do we need to know to be convinced that this is true?

1 They who said among themselves, thinking not aright: 12 Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. 13 He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. 14 To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, 15 because his life is not like other men?s, and different are his ways. 16 He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. 17 Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. 18 For if the just one be the Son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. 19 With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. 20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.? 21 These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, 22 and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls? reward.

P S A L M

Psalm 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23

R: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

16 [17] The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. 17 [18] When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. (R) 18 [19] The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. 19 [20] Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the LORD delivers him. (R) 20 [21] He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. 22 [23] The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. (R)

G O S P E L

John 7:1-2,10,25-30

It is interesting to reflect upon the statement of Jesus at the end of the Gospel, ??but His time had not yet come.? This has an ominous sort of a ring to it and indeed it was to prove so. The ?time? that Jesus refers to is the ?time? of His passion, death and resurrection. This is the reason for which He has become a man ? to bring salvation to the whole human race and all creation.

1 After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. 2 But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but [as it were] in secret. 25 So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, ?Is he not the one they are trying to kill? 26 And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.? 28 So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, ?You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the One who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.? 30 So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

my reflections
think: God has created us, therefore He knows what is best for us.

________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

God?s special verse/thought for me today_______________________

_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ? S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ______________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1Kings 20-22

We see in today?s Gospel that the people were wondering whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. The authorities were holding out. They insisted that Jesus was not the Messiah and were conspiring to rid themselves of this troublesome, self-proclaimed prophet and preacher.
      Sometimes, maybe even most of the time, it can be difficult to be absolutely sure about what God is saying to us and asking us to do. If we wait for certainty before we act, we might never get around to doing anything! I like to work on the supposition that if I start down a certain path and it is the wrong one, God will somehow show me that this is the case.
      This may seem an overly simplistic way of discerning God?s will. However, I think it has a lot going for it primarily because we are always trying to move forward. I believe that God is especially willing to honor this attempt at faithfulness to His will. Secondly, I think the simpler the methods of discernment, the better and more effective they are. I love mathematics and there is an unwritten law in it that the simplest way to solve a problem is the best way to do it! We human beings are prone to error and thus it is wise to keep  things as simple as possible.
       Jesus lived a very uncomplicated sort of life. We do not find Him performing all sorts of tricks and contortions in order to discover His Father?s will. He simply goes to the Father in prayer and, on hearing what His will is, immediately seeks to put it into practice in the simplest and most effective way possible. Jesus provides a good example for us in this regard that we would do well to imitate. I have met many Christians whose confusion was largely a result of complicating their lives unnecessarily when it comes to trying to  discern God?s will.
       I think we can work on the principle that God does not want to hide His will rom us. Thus He will reveal it to us in the simplest and most effective way possible ? if we are willing to listen to His word and put it into practice in our lives. Fr. Steve T.

REFLECTION QUESTION:
How faithful am I in seeking God?s will for my life? Do I give God the opportunity to reveal His will to me or do I just do what I want to do?

Lord Jesus, I know that you have a plan for my life. Help me to discover what it is so that I can do my best to follow it. I pray for the grace to be able to hear you speak to me and to then be obedient to your will.

St. Daniel of Murano, hermit, pray for us.