Matthew 4: 18-22 (Friday, November 30, 2007 – Feast of St. Andrew)

When God calls Andrew to change his profession from that of a fisherman to that of an evangelizer, Andrew does not hesitate before he abandons everything to follow Jesus. There is a conviction that comes with his openness to Jesus. That moment that Christ called him, he knew he has encountered his true vocation in life and that would be the only thing that will give him joy and happiness. Being a fisherman was a very strenuous and skilful job. Andrew could have told himself, why change my profession after the many years I have invested in mastering the profession of a fisherman. Yet, he knew that what he needs to do is to follow the call that he has received from God. Sometimes we think that it is too late to change our professions, but with God, it is never too late. A teacher who feels convinced God is calling him to be a doctor should not feel that it is too late. God has a purpose when he calls. It is always important that we follow God’s plan rather than ours.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for calling us to different professions. Help us to continue to discern every day your will for our lives so that we may not derail from the plan and purpose you have for us.

Romans 14: 7-12 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)

So often, I run into Christians who say things such as: “it is my life, let me live it the way I want to;” or they will say, “I have the freedom to live my life as I want to.” These statements do not reflect a Christian understanding of freedom. Christian freedom is not being free from God, but it is being free for God. Our lives St. Paul tells us today, are not to be lived in isolation but should be lived in, with and for God. God is the source of our lives and we belong to him. Our membership in the body of Christ calls us to live in relation with other people who are part of this body. This means that we must show concern for each other. The way you live your life affects other members of the body of Christ. There is also an invitation here to be kind to other members of the body of Christ. Rather than pass judgments on the weak ones, pray that they may be strong and live fully their Christian vocation; rather than looking down on other members of the body who are not as graceful as you are, pray that God showers them with his graces so that they may become the people that God has called them to be.

Prayer:
God our Father, thank you for the gift of our brothers and sisters in the Christian family. Help us to appreciate who they are and to help them realize their full potentials.

Romans 13: 8-10 (Wednesday, November 7, 2007)

St. Paul tells us in today’s reading that the only debt we should owe as Christians is that of love. For every other debt, we can finish paying and we do have the responsibility to pay, but the debt of love, we can never finish paying. The reason is because love is the foundation of our Christian lives. Every moment in a Christian’s life should be marked by love. Love is the substructure, the structure and supra-structure of our Christian faith. All the commandments are subsumed in love. To say we have paid the debt of love is to say, I can now stop loving. Christians should not stop loving. The moment you stop loving as Jesus did, you have let go of your Christian vocation. Our Christian calling is a call to the love of Jesus Christ. It is when we embrace Christ’s love that we are able to shame the same love with other people. The one law guiding us as Christians is the law of love, if you keep to this law, you can live your life anyway you want to live because your whole life will reflect this law.

Prayer:
Jesus I love you, all I have is yours, yours I am and yours I want to be, do with me whatever you will.

John 22: 1-14 (Thursday, August 23, 2007)

Just because you have been baptized in the Christian church is not a guarantee that you would be saved. In the gospel of today, Jesus tells us that “many are called, few are chosen.” By virtue of our baptism, all Christians are called to be members of the family of Christ. In baptism, we are called to be priests, prophet and king like Jesus. St. Paul has an election theology which reflects those called to the Christian Church. One thing is to be called, and another thing is to do what you are called to do. If you fail to do what you are called to do, then you will not be among the chosen. We are called to be Christians through our baptism, but we are only chosen if we truly become christ-like, living the radical vocation of Christian love.

Prayer:
Jesus Christ, we are members of your Christian family. We recognize that we have been specially called to this vocation. Help us to live out radically our Christian vocation, so that we will be counted among your chosen ones.

Matthew 19: 13-12 (Friday, August 17, 2007)

Today’s gospel affirms the sacredness of the married life and a life of celibacy. The teaching does not diminish any of the vocations. Married life is as good as celibacy. Both vocations are a gift from the Lord. You do not become a priest or nun because married life is difficult but you embrace this life because you have been called to do so.

Marriage as with any vocation is not something you try and if it does not work out, you abandon it, but it is a vocation you embrace with love. As Christians, marriage is a permanent life long commitment that must be lived in charity and love. It is a union in which two persons (male and female) become one. It is the two in oneness. This oneness is never to be broken. That was the divine plan and Jesus reaffirms this teaching. Christians are called upon to uphold this teaching in a world that attacks the institution of marriage and family life. As we go out today, let us continue to pray that God strengthen married couples to live their vocation in a radically Christian way.

Prayer
Lord, bless all married couples. Strengthen them in their marital union. Deepen their love each day for their spouses and may you keep far away all things that will lead them to divorce and help them to be patient, understanding and charitable to each other.