Luke 21: 12-19 (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)

Jesus does not delude his followers that their life would be easy. It would be a challenging life. They will be persecuted because they have chosen to follow him. The evil people would seem to be the ones that are succeeding and they will Lord it over the Christians. When you begin to live a radical Christian life, people are going to think of you as being weird; your family members may even laugh at you. Your persecution may even come from family members who would say nasty things about you, just because you do not want to cooperate with them in cheating and lying. That is the cost of discipleship and Jesus Christ would not let you go unrewarded. All Christians need to do is endure and persevere. If they endure and persevere, they would be victorious. The Cross is Christian victory. Why would Jesus say some of us would be killed because of his name and at the same time say, not even a hair of our head would be destroyed? This is not a contradiction. Jesus Christ is telling us that we shall live forever unhurt in a new life that we shall receive by virtue of the testimony of our faith. It is in that new kingdom that Christians belong and not the present kingdom that would pass away.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you persevered and joyfully carried your heavy Cross because you knew that the Cross was going to bring us redemption. Help us also to carry our crosses every day of our lives.

Luke 17: 20-25 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)

In the Lords prayer we pray, “thy kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven.” What do we pray for? We pray that the glory of the Lord shine upon this earth, as it is in heaven; we pray that the peace of the Lord reign upon this earth, as it is in heaven; we pray that the joy of the Lord radiate this earth, earth as it is in heaven. Jesus tells us in the gospel of today that the kingdom of God is among us. God’s kingdom is here, but we are not seeing it. It is here in the Eucharist we share; it is here in our brothers and sisters, members of the ecclesia. In fact, we are the kingdom of God today. We should not look at the kingdom of God as an ideological concept; as something out there. We should look at it as something here with us. We all have the responsibility of bringing that kingdom to other people. Whatever Christian thing that we do furthers the realization of that kingdom here on earth.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, through our lives and work, may your kingdom come upon this earth, as it is in heaven.

Romans 12: 5-16ab (Tuesday, November 6, 2007)

In today’s reading, we see Paul’s theology of the Church and how members of the Church should live. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 he uses the analogy of the human body to explain the body of Christ. We all are one body in Christ. Anyone who is baptized in Christ is baptized into his body. It doesn’t matter whether you are black, white, Asian, African, Indian, etc. Your baptism gives you a new identity, a new passport – you are now a citizen of God’s body. Every citizen of Christ’s body has received a gift and this gift is to be used in building God’s kingdom here on earth. It is important that you know what gift you have and to appreciate the gift. It is only when you that, that you are able to use that gift to build God’s kingdom on earth. No one gift is more superior to another for you to be jealous of another person’s gift; and the gift is not for your own glory for you to want to have another person’s gift. You must accept joyfully whatever gift God has given to you and use it to build up God’s kingdom. When every one of us does this, then we are making God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to know and appreciate the gifts that you have given to us. Holy Spirit of the living God, come to our assistance.

Matthew 14: 1-12 (Saturday, August 4, 2007)

In the gospel of today, we see both the witness of Jesus and John. Herod is thinking that John the Baptist has come back to life because of the radical nature of Jesus’ witness. Herod did not understand that something greater than John the Baptist was present. Herod recalled the witness of John the Baptist whom he had beheaded. John was not afraid to say to Herod, it is unlawful to take the wife of your brother. He knew this bold prophecy was going to bring about some consequences.

We are all called to be like John. Being bold in our witnessing. Christianity was never intended to be a secret religion. It is a religion that is radically prophetic. We need to go out and begin to prophecy to our leaders. Sometimes they act as if there is no God. If you see our leaders enacting policies that are unchristian, you have the responsibility to write to them or give them a call and tell them what they are saying or doing is unlawful. Don’t be passive. You can only bring about the kingdom of God on this earth if you actively participate in the processes that will lead to change in our society.

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, sometimes we are timid and fail to actively bring the gospel to our political leaders who are secular instruments of Change. Give us the boldness we deserve to confront and make our leaders change policies that are unlawful in your eyes. Give us the perseverance to be steadfast in this work of bringing your kingdom on earth, so that at the end, our earth would truly be the way you want it to be.

Matthew 14: 1-12 (Saturday, August 4, 2007)

In the gospel of today, we see both the witness of Jesus and John. Herod is thinking that John the Baptist has come back to life because of the radical nature of Jesus’ witness. Herod did not understand that something greater than John the Baptist was present. Herod recalled the witness of John the Baptist whom he had beheaded. John was not afraid to say to Herod, it is unlawful to take the wife of your brother. He knew this bold prophecy was going to bring about some consequences.

We are all called to be like John. Being bold in our witnessing. Christianity was never intended to be a secret religion. It is a religion that is radically prophetic. We need to go out and begin to prophecy to our leaders. Sometimes they act as if there is no God. If you see our leaders enacting policies that are unchristian, you have the responsibility to write to them or give them a call and tell them what they are saying or doing is unlawful. Don’t be passive. You can only bring about the kingdom of God on this earth if you actively participate in the processes that will lead to change in our society.

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, sometimes we are timid and fail to actively bring the gospel to our political leaders who are secular instruments of Change. Give us the boldness we deserve to confront and make our leaders change policies that are unlawful in your eyes. Give us the perseverance to be steadfast in this work of bringing your kingdom on earth, so that at the end, our earth would truly be the way you want it to be.

Matthew 13: 44-46 (Wednesday, August 1, 2007)

The kingdom of God is like a treasure; a great treasure; more precious than silver and gold. There is nothing in value compared with the kingdom of God. Your job, your home, your car and any possession you have is not more valuable than the kingdom of God. If these things are on the way of your realization of the kingdom of God, you need to cut them off. Jesus tells us in the scriptures, what shall it profit you if you gain the whole world and lost your soul.

In a week, we spend about 40 hours to work, yet, we grudgingly work only an hour for the kingdom of God. God wants us to spend more time working for the kingdom. One hour on Sunday for Mass, at least twenty minutes daily for prayers, another hour daily for our greatest Christian obligation of Love. It is when we begin to do these things that we are beginning to acquire this great treasure that is worth selling every other thing.

Prayer
Lord, many times we fail to possess your kingdom because we are busy acquiring the treasures of this world. Give us the knowledge to know that your kingdom is more precious than every other thing and the strength to work for your kingdom.

Matthew 13: 31-35 (Monday, July 30, 2007)

In the parable of today, Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed which is the smallest seed, yet when it grows, it is a big tree. We know that the mustard seed was not the smallest seed even at the time. It was a common proverbial expression at the time that the mustard seed was the smallest seed. Jesus is not trying to show that the mustard seed is the smallest seed but his interest is on how when this small seed grow, it becomes a big tree. Yesterday at Mass, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and he explicitly prayed that the kingdom of God come. When we always pray for the kingdom of God, when we pray for the reign of God, we sometimes have the tendency to think of a dramatic event in which suddenly God will reign over the whole earth. This is not the intention of Jesus. This kingdom grows gradually like the mustard seed beginning first from our hearts and then gradually extending to others in the world. We are partakers in making this kingdom come upon the earth by the way we live our lives radically in the world. Imagine if the 1 billion Catholics in the world each tried to change some one and bring the kingdom of God to that person! The kingdom of God would soon come upon the earth.

We are invited this week to work to bring about the kingdom of God to the earth. The best way we can do this is to be Christ’s love and presence to the people we encounter this week. Look at them as another Christ and treat them as such. In this way, the kingdom of God would soon reign upon the earth.

Prayer:
Lord God, let your kingdom come upon the earth as it is in heaven. Give us the courage to live radically your kingdom in our hearts and in the world. Use as instruments to bring about this kingdom upon the earth.