Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

          I was invited to be a guest in a radio program last year. I got excited when I was told that the topic would be hands-on parenting because the book I was writing then is titled How to Be a Hands-On Parent While Earning.

        I chose to embark on this new book project to share some of the lessons I learned about parenting and working smart. I do not claim to be a parenting expert. I simply want to help strengthen families in a way I know how. Thus, I was surprised when the hosts of the radio program introduced me as a parenting expert.

        The interview went well. A reporter from the same radio network even wrote about my interview in their website. I also got e-mails, both from people I know and I don’t know, giving me positive feedback for it. They said that I answered the questions well and confidently. I believe that it was God who granted me wisdom and confidence so I could help the program’s listeners. I may not feel qualified to be called an expert, but God made me qualified by His anointing. Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag (teresa@fulllifecube.com)

Reflection:When was the last time you felt unqualified to do something and God made you qualified? How did you feel?

Lord, thank You so much for qualifying those whom You have called to serve You. We are truly honored to respond positively to Your call.

We give glory to God when we follow His will. Christian deeds remain in the memory of those who witness them. A Christian gives all the glory to God through his acts of faith and humility. This is our challenge because the world influences us to claim glory for ourselves. However, a Christian believes he is able to do good works only by God’s grace.

4 Brothers and sisters: Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, 6 who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, 8 how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. 10 Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.

R: Holy is the Lord our God.

5 Extol the Lord, our God, and worship at his footstool;  holy is he! (R) 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, and Samuel, among those who called upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. (R) 7 From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them; they heard his decrees and the law he gave them. (R) 8 O Lord, our God, you answered them; a forgiving God you were to them, though requiting their misdeeds. (R) 9 Extol the Lord, our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for holy is the Lord, our God. (R)

The Gospel speaks about merciful forgiveness and unconditional love as the corrective to the interpretation of the Law of Moses. We will see our Christian calling and our relationship with others through the eyes of Christ. As Christians, we have to see God’s commandments to love Him and one another the way Christ does.

Teach me your paths, my God, and guide me in your truth.

17 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

think: In what ways can you teach others to follow God’s commandments?

Read the Bible in one year 1 Kings 21-22

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

IS PAUL EXAGGERATING?

Paul speaks very disparagingly of the Old Testament at times. He seems to classify the Old Covenant as defunct and probably not worth much attention. On the other hand, he also recognizes the need for a moral code against which one’s actions can be measured. Can he have it both ways? Yes, he can! We need to remember that Paul has had an extraordinary conversion experience

that has turned him from being a hater of the Gospel to arguably its greatest proponent. Anyone who has had such an experience will realize that it leads to speaking in extremes.

       Paul wants to affirm that it is the Gospel of Jesus, and in and through what Jesus has done, that salvation comes to us. We cannot achieve salvation apart from Jesus. This leaves Paul with a problem as to the point of the Law and the history of God’s work as contained in the Old Covenant. It could not have been a waste of time as this would mean that God is malicious — leading the Jews up a path that has no worthwhile destination. The only way we can look at God’s relationship with the Jews is to see it as preparation for the coming of Jesus, the advent of whom leaves all people, Jews included, with an important decision to make, which is whether to accept the Gospel or look elsewhere for salvation.

       Being a zealous Jew before his conversion to Christianity, Paul has been solidly grounded in both of these paths. Having toiled under the lesser grace of the Old Covenant, he wants to make it abundantly clear that the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus is the only worthwhile road to follow. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

What do you believe in? Are you utterly convinced that faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation?

Holy Spirit, form my mind and heart in the truth of the Gospel so that I will never be diverted by the lies of the enemy or the alluring nature of the world’s illicit pleasures. Amen.