Twenty years ago, I drove Dad’s car. One day, I brought it to the repair shop. The mechanic opened the hood, shook his head, and said, “Bo, your car needs an overhaul.”

       When I heard the word “overhaul,” I wanted to faint. Because I knew that meant a gigantic amount of money. (I was not yet an entrepreneur at that time — just a poor missionary living on other people’s generosity.) I closed my eyes, said a quick prayer for provision, and told him to do it.

       One month later, when I picked up the car, it was like brand new. And I drove it for a few more years and thousands of miles.

      Friend, is there an area of your life you want fixed or repaired? Today, I encourage you to do a massive overhaul in your life. I’m praying that God will make you brand new!

       Specifically, I want to help you get rid of bad habits from your life.

are destroying your peace of mind.

     Friend, life is short. Act now. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life that you want to overhaul?

Lord, empower me to make a life-changing decision — to stop my (mention the habit that you want to break) now.

The lures of the world --– materialism, secularism and pleasure — dull our spiritual senses. We need to be vigilant as we live in the midst of these temptations. We need the grace of God in order to prevail in this challenge. If we rely on our own strength, we will fail. The attraction of the world’s temptations  is too great for us. We see the damage being done to society when it strays from the guidance of the Gospel. Ethics and morality go out the window in favor of emotive principles. We need to stand in the breach and faithfully live the Gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11

1 Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. 3 When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. 5 For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. 6 Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. 9 For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

R: I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 4 One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek: To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)

One of the first miracles of Jesus’ ministry is to drive out demons from one who is possessed. Jesus demonstrates His power right from the start so that no mistakes can be made, and so that we are left in no doubt as to who has the power. Demonic possession is not as common as it used to be but it still is a reality. We must be careful that we avoid all practices that open the doors for demons to enter our lives – tarot cards, Ouija boards, palm reading, astrology and other New Age practices. We do not need any of these when we have Jesus in our hearts.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

31 Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, 34 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” 35 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

think: The lures of the world — materialism, secularism and pleasure — dull our spiritual senses.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 36-40

WHAT ASTONISHES YOU?

I am sure we have all listened to someone preach — a priest or lay person — and we were not convinced by his or her words. Something was missing from what was being said.

       When Scripture tells us that the people who listen to Jesus are astonished at His teaching because He teaches with authority, we ask what it is that makes Jesus’ teaching authoritative. What do people experience in the person of Jesus that makes Him different from so many others?

         As I reflect upon the Gospels — and I have read them dozens of times — one of the first things that stands out about Jesus is His integrity. He always acts upon what He says — a man whose life truly reflects all that it should be — both to Himself and to everyone who meets or gets to know Him. This is what Jesus’ mission is all about — revealing to the world the love of God the Father and inviting us to receive that love and allow it to transform our lives.

         As Hamlet would say, “Aye, there’s the rub!” The Gospel is about God’s promises for us, but these promises will never be fulfilled unless we surrender our lives to Him. The immensity of God’s grace is unleashed in our lives only when we give Him the permission to transform our lives with His love.

       Is this what you want for your life? Think about it before you answer. Being a disciple of Jesus comes with a price, namely, that we place our lives in the service of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Are you willing to go where Jesus leads you? Are you willing to surrender all to His will and embrace it as your own? This is part and parcel of what it means to follow Jesus. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What do you want to do with your life? Do you want to remain in control or will you surrender your whole life to Jesus?

Jesus, You have obediently followed the will of God, Your Father. Help me to do the same.