Thought this was something that we all go through and wanted to share. This is taken from the 28 July Meditation from Word Among Us.
Surely each of us has had tough days. Maybe even tough weeks or months. One problem after another seems to pile up—sometimes relatively inconsequential things: We oversleep and are late for work or school, we misplace something valuable, or someone else gets the attention we want. We may face much more serious setbacks: We lose our job, our health fails, or we feel alone or isolated. We may even suffer when we see those we love undergoing hardships. Our faith can be shaken to the point where we begin to question whether God really is with us.
Jeremiah has important words for us at times like these: God has not abandoned us! As a prophet of the Lord, he went through difficulty himself. Just think of how it felt when he was arrested and almost killed for speaking the word of the Lord. Or imagine what it cost him to experience in his own heart the pain that God feels when his people turn from him. In the midst of these hardships, Jeremiah cried out to God, and God comforted him. Did Jeremiah have to face his own failings and repent? Yes. Did he have to continue on despite the difficulty? Yes. But God affirmed that he would always be with Jeremiah and would deliver and rescue him.
Do you feel burdened? Do you feel that your relationship with God is not what it once was? Don’t give up! It’s precisely at those times when you don’t feel God’s presence that you need to exercise your faith all the more. Go ahead and repent if you need to. Take a deep breath, offer a silent prayer of trust, and take up your cross again. Choose to keep going, even if you are apprehensive. You will find the Lord walking with you, even if it’s in unexpected ways.
It is beyond question that God loves you. Today, take hold of opportunities to put your faith into practice. When your hope begins to waver, reread God’s promises to Jeremiah. Let the Holy Spirit comfort you so that you can walk on in confidence. God is walking right next to you. He is faithful. He will bring about his purposes in you!
“Father, help me to see that you are always with me. I believe that you have not abandoned me. I trust in your unfailing love.”
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Do you know if you're going to reach heaven?
Many say that while they hope so, they're not sure. They're afraid they will ruin their salvation between now and the day they die. (I used to think that I had to keep doing good out of fear of going to hell, but I know better now) Jesus says in Matt 13:36-43, "The righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom." This is a promise we can count on.
God isn't going to remove all the weeds from the earth just yet, but he certainly wants to remove their influence on us. This is why He has given us his own Holy Spirit. We must seek to do good, and seek God with a pure heart. I believe that God sends us angels to help us sort right from wrong, truth from deception, good seed from bad seed. We may not recognize their presence but they are capable of protecting us from the infections of evildoers as long as we remain humbly correctable.
This was also the realization over the weekend,the Gospel text of Luke 11:1-13; I have always walked away with this message "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find;knock and the door will be opened to you." but I just realized a important message at the very end of the passage;
"If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
God isn't going to remove all the weeds from the earth just yet, but he certainly wants to remove their influence on us. This is why He has given us his own Holy Spirit. We must seek to do good, and seek God with a pure heart. I believe that God sends us angels to help us sort right from wrong, truth from deception, good seed from bad seed. We may not recognize their presence but they are capable of protecting us from the infections of evildoers as long as we remain humbly correctable.
This was also the realization over the weekend,the Gospel text of Luke 11:1-13; I have always walked away with this message "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find;knock and the door will be opened to you." but I just realized a important message at the very end of the passage;
"If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
Saturday, July 17, 2010
results of my review
No matter how hopeless or weak we may be Jesus is ever ready to bring His healing love, hope, and encouragement to us and to all peoples. Pray for the grace to increase your trust in God’s Compassionate Justice.
I went for my Bi-monthly blood test, together with a CT scan of the lungs and liver and a MRI of my brain yesterday morning. The doctor's review wasn't scheduled till Tuesday but since the results was ready and the doctor's schedule wasn't pack I managed to see him in the late morning.
He listened to the lungs and it was clear.
The CT scan results compared against the scan done more than 6 months ago was very positive. There were clear visible signs of reductions. He estimates it to be about 70%.
The MRI of the brain, showed that the original 2 spots had reduced and there were no signs of inflammation, but the radiologist hilited some new not well defined spots in the frontal lobe. Not to worry about them since I an not having any headaches or loss of balance. We will continue to watch and monitor.
The blood test results was marginal, the CEA markers had gone up a little, 10.2 from 8.8 two months ago. besides this all results are positive and the Iressa tablets is doing it's work. This 10.2 is a far cry from the 40.9 and 31.3 the chemo and Alimta days.
He shared that studies on Iressa statistically works for about 7 to 10 months and it's effectiveness was be reduced. However he had patients that been on it for more than 2 years. He would like to continue to monitor more closely over the next few months, the cancer markers and probably MRI. Next visit will be on 17 August.
As for the cough; it is much better with the Fluimucil, only small bits of phlegm get lodged in the throat which causes me to cough and clear the throat.
I still believe that God will show me the way and that I will trust in Him. Don't want to tell God what to do or prescribe to Him what I expect. Jo asked me a tough question couple of times this week; 'How do you Feel?' My answer has been neutral, I am not sad or disappointed, I don't feel any particular reaction. Should I bee feeling happy or joyous? maybe I should. But I do know that My Father in heaven loves me and I keep my faith in Him. However I should work on it harder like the prompting I have shared lately in this blog from Matthew's gospel. I ask that you keep Jo, Gerard, Brian, Nicole and myself in your prayers and that we will be steadfast, strongly trust and rejoice in Him Promise.
like to share this reflection that I received;
Do you need proof that God is helping you?
"Jesus, we want to see a sign from you."
The scribes and Pharisees in today's Gospel reading(Matt 12:38-42) wanted proof that God's power was at work in their world. We want it, too. We ask God to do something and then start looking for evidence that our prayers are being answered. When we intercede for others, we hope that soon we'll hear good news from them. Our prayer requests are usually accompanied by a desire for proof that God has heard us and cares and is doing something to make life better.
But Jesus said, "An evil and unfaithful age is eager for a sign!" He's not implying that it's a sin to want signs. Often, God does give us signs; it's one of the ways he communicates his will to us. The sin occurs when we distrust him, eager for a sign that would give proof that he loves us and cares – instead of trusting in his goodness and compassion.
How many times do we entrust a person or situation over to God and then nothing happens? The problem often seems to get worse, right? Remember this: God never ignores us nor abandons us. The answer to prayer is usually a process. While we wait, God invites us to trust him more. He wants us to choose to remember that he does truly care and that he is turning everything into an ultimate good in which we – and others – will benefit.
The only proof we need of God's love is that Jesus died for us. The only proof we need that God has the power and the desire to redeem even the worst situations of our lives is the resurrection of Jesus. This is what Jesus meant when he referred to the sign of Jonah.
When you ask God for help and then don't see evidence that anything has changed for the better, does your asking become more intense? Do you start begging and pleading? Yeah, I often feel that way, too. And when God still doesn't provide proof, we get frustrated, and then we get angry.
However, we're not really angry at God. What we're angry at is our limited idea of who God is. The "God" we're mad at is a false god, an incomplete god, a distorted image of the true God.
We need to learn more about who God really is. We need to look at the crucifix and recall what he did for us. If Jesus was willing to suffer so painfully and die for us, will he not do everything else that we need from him? If the Father loves us so much that he resurrected Jesus from death so that we could go with him to heaven, will he not also give us every blessing that we need here on earth?
Think of how you feel when you're pleading with God. This is how God feels, too! Look at today's first reading. Here, God is the one who's doing the begging. What is he yearning to receive from us? Only that we do what is right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with him. Will you answer HIS prayer today?
© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
I went for my Bi-monthly blood test, together with a CT scan of the lungs and liver and a MRI of my brain yesterday morning. The doctor's review wasn't scheduled till Tuesday but since the results was ready and the doctor's schedule wasn't pack I managed to see him in the late morning.
He listened to the lungs and it was clear.
The CT scan results compared against the scan done more than 6 months ago was very positive. There were clear visible signs of reductions. He estimates it to be about 70%.
The MRI of the brain, showed that the original 2 spots had reduced and there were no signs of inflammation, but the radiologist hilited some new not well defined spots in the frontal lobe. Not to worry about them since I an not having any headaches or loss of balance. We will continue to watch and monitor.
The blood test results was marginal, the CEA markers had gone up a little, 10.2 from 8.8 two months ago. besides this all results are positive and the Iressa tablets is doing it's work. This 10.2 is a far cry from the 40.9 and 31.3 the chemo and Alimta days.
He shared that studies on Iressa statistically works for about 7 to 10 months and it's effectiveness was be reduced. However he had patients that been on it for more than 2 years. He would like to continue to monitor more closely over the next few months, the cancer markers and probably MRI. Next visit will be on 17 August.
As for the cough; it is much better with the Fluimucil, only small bits of phlegm get lodged in the throat which causes me to cough and clear the throat.
I still believe that God will show me the way and that I will trust in Him. Don't want to tell God what to do or prescribe to Him what I expect. Jo asked me a tough question couple of times this week; 'How do you Feel?' My answer has been neutral, I am not sad or disappointed, I don't feel any particular reaction. Should I bee feeling happy or joyous? maybe I should. But I do know that My Father in heaven loves me and I keep my faith in Him. However I should work on it harder like the prompting I have shared lately in this blog from Matthew's gospel. I ask that you keep Jo, Gerard, Brian, Nicole and myself in your prayers and that we will be steadfast, strongly trust and rejoice in Him Promise.
like to share this reflection that I received;
Do you need proof that God is helping you?
"Jesus, we want to see a sign from you."
The scribes and Pharisees in today's Gospel reading(Matt 12:38-42) wanted proof that God's power was at work in their world. We want it, too. We ask God to do something and then start looking for evidence that our prayers are being answered. When we intercede for others, we hope that soon we'll hear good news from them. Our prayer requests are usually accompanied by a desire for proof that God has heard us and cares and is doing something to make life better.
But Jesus said, "An evil and unfaithful age is eager for a sign!" He's not implying that it's a sin to want signs. Often, God does give us signs; it's one of the ways he communicates his will to us. The sin occurs when we distrust him, eager for a sign that would give proof that he loves us and cares – instead of trusting in his goodness and compassion.
How many times do we entrust a person or situation over to God and then nothing happens? The problem often seems to get worse, right? Remember this: God never ignores us nor abandons us. The answer to prayer is usually a process. While we wait, God invites us to trust him more. He wants us to choose to remember that he does truly care and that he is turning everything into an ultimate good in which we – and others – will benefit.
The only proof we need of God's love is that Jesus died for us. The only proof we need that God has the power and the desire to redeem even the worst situations of our lives is the resurrection of Jesus. This is what Jesus meant when he referred to the sign of Jonah.
When you ask God for help and then don't see evidence that anything has changed for the better, does your asking become more intense? Do you start begging and pleading? Yeah, I often feel that way, too. And when God still doesn't provide proof, we get frustrated, and then we get angry.
However, we're not really angry at God. What we're angry at is our limited idea of who God is. The "God" we're mad at is a false god, an incomplete god, a distorted image of the true God.
We need to learn more about who God really is. We need to look at the crucifix and recall what he did for us. If Jesus was willing to suffer so painfully and die for us, will he not do everything else that we need from him? If the Father loves us so much that he resurrected Jesus from death so that we could go with him to heaven, will he not also give us every blessing that we need here on earth?
Think of how you feel when you're pleading with God. This is how God feels, too! Look at today's first reading. Here, God is the one who's doing the begging. What is he yearning to receive from us? Only that we do what is right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with him. Will you answer HIS prayer today?
© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
How firm is your faith
"Unless your faith is firm, YOU shall not be firm!" That's the message of today's first(Isaiah 7:1-9)reading. How can our faith remain steady when we allow circumstances in our lives to take our eyes off of Jesus? Unless we focus on in him, we're weak and vulnerable and easily shaken by the struggles we face.
Trust is a choice. Fear tells us to distrust God and trust our own assumptions, which are based on limited evidence. Fear is a feeling, but trust is a decision. God eagerly helps us to make that decision. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, he gives us divine evidence that contradicts any discouraging evidence, although often it comes in ways that are, at first, easy to overlook.
Trust is a choice. Fear tells us to distrust God and trust our own assumptions, which are based on limited evidence. Fear is a feeling, but trust is a decision. God eagerly helps us to make that decision. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, he gives us divine evidence that contradicts any discouraging evidence, although often it comes in ways that are, at first, easy to overlook.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
more from Matthew
as i read more, the king noticed a man was not wearing a wedding garment in the parable of the Wedding feast. This message again reaffirms the input I posted yesterday.
'A wedding garment: the repentance, change of heart and mind, that is the condition for entrance into the kingdom must be continued in a life of good deeds'
Matt 22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."
Footnote: A wedding garment: the repentance, change of heart and mind, that is the condition for entrance into the kingdom (⇒ Matthew 3:2; ⇒ 4:17) must be continued in a life of good deeds (⇒ Matthew 7:21-23)
Thank You Father, grant me the grace to be a disciple and enjoy the banquet in your presence.
'A wedding garment: the repentance, change of heart and mind, that is the condition for entrance into the kingdom must be continued in a life of good deeds'
Matt 22:1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."
Footnote: A wedding garment: the repentance, change of heart and mind, that is the condition for entrance into the kingdom (⇒ Matthew 3:2; ⇒ 4:17) must be continued in a life of good deeds (⇒ Matthew 7:21-23)
Thank You Father, grant me the grace to be a disciple and enjoy the banquet in your presence.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
reflection from Gospel of Matthew
Last Weekend Jo attended a prayer retreat, at the Sunday mass homily at the close of the retreat, Fr. William Goh spoke about the importance of prayer and the need to nourish the gift that God has given us. Jo asked that we restart praying together as a family. I decided to spend lunch time this week reading the Gospel from Matthew instead of doing something else; over these few days couple of phrases caught hold of my attention and seem to be linking together, with a consistent message.
Matt 9:17 'Nor do people put new wine into old wineskin; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out and the skins are lost. No;put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.'
Matt 13:5 ' Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away.'
Matt 17:20 'He answered, "Because you have so little faith. In truth I tell you; if your faith is the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain,"Move from here to there" and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you."'
My thoughts so far; I have become aware of the Gifts that God has given us through the pilgrimage, sharing, retreat, faith community and trial. Having been made aware of these gifts I cannot continue to think, live etc the way I had in the past or the new wine in the old wineskin will be lost. Need a new wineskin to preserve this new wine. Cannot continue living and doing things the way I had in the past or this gift from God will diminish and be lost unless I change to grow and strengthen this gift in a new disposition. Similar the message about the sower dropping seed on patches of rock, again speak to me the same: that initial energy on finding the gift again, do a lot initially but then because lack roots dry-up when the sun comes out. Besides having a new disposition and roots, need to keep trust and hope with the faith that the Father has given me. Over this year I have become lazy and it is time now to renew my prayer life and continue to grow & appreciate the gift I have.
Praise the Lord for his patience, persistence and sending reminders.
Matt 9:17 'Nor do people put new wine into old wineskin; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out and the skins are lost. No;put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.'
Matt 13:5 ' Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away.'
Matt 17:20 'He answered, "Because you have so little faith. In truth I tell you; if your faith is the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain,"Move from here to there" and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you."'
My thoughts so far; I have become aware of the Gifts that God has given us through the pilgrimage, sharing, retreat, faith community and trial. Having been made aware of these gifts I cannot continue to think, live etc the way I had in the past or the new wine in the old wineskin will be lost. Need a new wineskin to preserve this new wine. Cannot continue living and doing things the way I had in the past or this gift from God will diminish and be lost unless I change to grow and strengthen this gift in a new disposition. Similar the message about the sower dropping seed on patches of rock, again speak to me the same: that initial energy on finding the gift again, do a lot initially but then because lack roots dry-up when the sun comes out. Besides having a new disposition and roots, need to keep trust and hope with the faith that the Father has given me. Over this year I have become lazy and it is time now to renew my prayer life and continue to grow & appreciate the gift I have.
Praise the Lord for his patience, persistence and sending reminders.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
today's gospel - the paralytic and the faith of his friends
The Gospel that tells of the paralytic being helped by the strength and faith of his friends to overcome obstacles to bring him to Jesus always will be special to me. This was the Sunday reading for 22 Feb 2009; I clearly recall the fellowship and Divine Mercy Novena at Michael Chua's house on the 21 Feb. I also recall the support and strength of friends, pilgrims, faith community, family throughout this period of time. Thank You and God Bless. I like to share this reflection I read with you;
(Source: Good News Ministry)
Look at the obstacles faced by the paralytic in today's Gospel reading (Matt 9:1-8). A more detailed description of this event is given in Luke 5:17-26. The crippled man needed a healing, but his first obstacle was his disease. He could not get to Jesus by himself. So, he accepted the help of his friends. He accepted their rather bizarre method of solving the problem. Was he worried about what others would think if he let his friends chop up a roof that didn't belong to them? No, all that mattered was getting to Jesus, regardless of any obstacles.
How often do we remain in misery because we don't feel comfortable accepting help from others? Or because we don't like their methods? How readily do we give up because the task seems impossible or the dream unrealistic? How stuck are we behind regulations and policies that in general are good but now they're hurting an individual?
If the task or the dream is a calling from God, no obstacle is insurmountable. It merely requires innovation and determination! The paralytic's friends thought "outside the box" of what's familiar and comfortable and acceptable. In doing this, they faced the most intimidating obstacle of all. It's the same obstacle that Amos faced. Jesus faced it, too, when he forgave the man of his sins in front of the critical eyes of the scribes. "What will people think of me? Will they disapprove?"
The paralytic's friends were about to damage someone else's property. Would they be stopped by people who were more concerned about the value of the house than the value of the man?
The real question is: What did God want them to do? When you face the disapproval of others, how does Jesus feel about you? Does he approve of what you're doing? That's all that really matters!
We cannot face obstacles alone, at least not well. We all need a support group of Holy Spirit-filled friends who will help us identify what's paralyzing us and will carry us forward when we're too weak to move on our own. We need friends who will help us discern God's will and find innovative ways around obstacles. We need prayer partners who are not afraid of the consequences of obedience. Do you belong to a community like this? If not, get over the obstacles that are keeping you from it.
(Source: Good News Ministry)
Look at the obstacles faced by the paralytic in today's Gospel reading (Matt 9:1-8). A more detailed description of this event is given in Luke 5:17-26. The crippled man needed a healing, but his first obstacle was his disease. He could not get to Jesus by himself. So, he accepted the help of his friends. He accepted their rather bizarre method of solving the problem. Was he worried about what others would think if he let his friends chop up a roof that didn't belong to them? No, all that mattered was getting to Jesus, regardless of any obstacles.
How often do we remain in misery because we don't feel comfortable accepting help from others? Or because we don't like their methods? How readily do we give up because the task seems impossible or the dream unrealistic? How stuck are we behind regulations and policies that in general are good but now they're hurting an individual?
If the task or the dream is a calling from God, no obstacle is insurmountable. It merely requires innovation and determination! The paralytic's friends thought "outside the box" of what's familiar and comfortable and acceptable. In doing this, they faced the most intimidating obstacle of all. It's the same obstacle that Amos faced. Jesus faced it, too, when he forgave the man of his sins in front of the critical eyes of the scribes. "What will people think of me? Will they disapprove?"
The paralytic's friends were about to damage someone else's property. Would they be stopped by people who were more concerned about the value of the house than the value of the man?
The real question is: What did God want them to do? When you face the disapproval of others, how does Jesus feel about you? Does he approve of what you're doing? That's all that really matters!
We cannot face obstacles alone, at least not well. We all need a support group of Holy Spirit-filled friends who will help us identify what's paralyzing us and will carry us forward when we're too weak to move on our own. We need friends who will help us discern God's will and find innovative ways around obstacles. We need prayer partners who are not afraid of the consequences of obedience. Do you belong to a community like this? If not, get over the obstacles that are keeping you from it.
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