Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” – Matthew 19:27

       Peter’s question is close to my heart. It’s the same question I asked when I went full-time for the Light of Jesus Family.

         Before I said yes, I had a good career, good health benefits, the chance to work abroad, and many other opportunities. For me, that was everything.

       But when the Lord called me, I couldn’t help but say yes. As a missionary, God provided me with greater things in my life — like peace of mind that what I’m doing is what I’m called to do, being mentored by the best preachers, attending Christian conferences abroad, and more importantly, being used as God’s instrument to bless people. I feel that greater blessings are coming because I’m doing something I love.

       You may not be asked to resign from your job to follow God’s calling. You may never be called to go into full-time ministry. But whatever state you are in right now, do what you do best with greater purpose. You’ll be surprised that blessings will come chasing after you. Jan Carlo Silan (jan@makatifeast.com)

Reflection: Do you live your life with great joy or do you allow your day to pass by without giving your best?

Lord, give me the gift of wisdom to know my path. Bring me to greater heights as I carry out Your unique purpose for my life.

St. John Eudes, priest, pray for us.

The arrogance of humanity is what led to the sin of Adam and Eve. It is this arrogance, the belief that we can stand on our own without God’s help, that continues to lead us into sin today. How do we overcome this arrogance and mistaken independence? There is no easy answer to this question. The answer has to do with the individual’s willingness to repent of his or her sins and surrender everything to follow God’s will.

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord God: Because you are haughty of heart, you say, “A god am I! I occupy a godly throne in the heart of the sea!” — And yet you are a man, and not a god, however you may think yourself like a god. 3 Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel, there is no secret that is beyond you. 4 By your wisdom and your intelligence you have made riches for yourself; you have put gold and silver into your treasuries. 5 By your great wisdom applied to your trading you have heaped up your riches; your heart has grown haughty from your riches — 6 therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god, 7 therefore I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous of nations. They shall draw their swords against your beauteous wisdom, they shall run them through your splendid apparel. 8 They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea. 9 Will you then say, “I am a god!” when you face your murderers? No, you are a man, not a god, handed over to those who will slay you. 10 You shall die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners, for I have spoken, says the Lord God.

R: It is I who deal death and give life.

26 “I would have said, ‘I will make an end of them and blot out their name from men’s memories,’ 27 had I not feared the insolence of their enemies, feared that these foes would mistakenly boast, (R) ‘Our own hand won the victory; the Lord had nothing to do with it.’” 28 For they are a people devoid of reason, having no understanding. (R) 30 “How could one man rout a thousand, or two men put ten thousand to flight, unless it was because their Rock sold them and the Lord delivered them up?” (R) 35 Close at hand is the day of their disaster and their doom is rushing upon them! 36 Surely, the Lord shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity. (R)

Wealth, material belongings, and all the good things of life are blessings from God. However, blessings can become a curse if we allow them to take control of our lives. When they become distractions in doing the will of God, they are no longer helping us but hindering us. It is essential that we do not let this happen. It is up to us to ensure that our hearts do not get distracted by the things of the world and keep our focus on following the way of Christ.

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich.

23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

think:  Blessings can become a curse if we allow them to take control of our lives.

WHAT’S YOUR STUMBLING BLOCK?

Our weaknesses are the points where Satan will attack us. This is why we should be honest with ourselves so that we can be alert when our weaknesses are in play. This is also where being a member of a faith community can be a great advantage because we can share our weaknesses with others and they will help us be vigilant against the works of Satan in our lives. However, if we do not admit our weaknesses, then Satan is laughing as he will be able to attack us there. He can easily win us over to his side if we do not protect ourselves from him as we should.

       Jesus tells us that the first will be last and the last will be first. If we admit our weaknesses, we will more readily triumph in the long run. Those who insist on their own greatness, relying too much on their strength, will discover that eventually they will succumb to the wiles of Satan and the road back will be a long and winding one. The honest and humble person, while perhaps without a spectacular array of gifts in play, will be a better bet to make it through the trials and tribulations of his faith journey.

       Another aspect of strength and wealth is that they do not make us entrust our lives easily into the hands of God. People like this are self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency is the archenemy of holiness. The work of holiness, from the point of view of the individual, is the process of surrendering everything to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not we who make ourselves holy; we have to rely on God to do that. It is critical that we realize this. Until we surrender everything into God’s hands, we are crippled in our ability to achieve holiness. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTION: What are your weaknesses?

Jesus, help me to be honest with myself in identifying and accepting my weaknesses. May I more readily surrender them to You that You might be my strength in these areas of my life.