Reflections

  Remember the Poor Leviticus 19: 9-16 Key Verse: “…  you shall leave them for the poor and the alien; I am the LORD your God.” (Lev. 19: 10b) Devotion: This passage is part of the ‘Holiness Code’ in the book of Leviticus with instructions to the community to keep holiness as a fitting response to the Lord their God who is holy. The well-known ethical mandate is loud and clear: “…but love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19: 18b). The neighbor is the poor and the marginalized ‘other’ in society, meaning any fellow human. This entails not just refraining from hurt but to ensure the well-being of the ‘other.’ At a closer look, the passage reveals the prohibitions, the commandments, and a few admonitions as an expanded version of the Ten Commandments. One should take guard against transgressions on the neighbor, but again, take care and protect the vulnerable. This is very much integral to one’s obligations towards God and the other. Mahatma Gandhi’s aphorism, “The world has enou...

  Remember The Poor Ecclesiastes 9:1-10  “So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands...”  Ecclesiastes 9:1 Devotion King Solomon had everything in the world - fame, family, fortune, wisdom, wealth and slaves. However, he was still despondent. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon describes his observation and attitude towards life. In chapter 9, he talks about the unfairness of life. Good men suffer while wicked men prosper. Life is short so it is important to make the most of it. So enjoy life. Many people experience pessimism and hopelessness like King Solomon did. He doubted the existence of the afterlife.  In the new testament, we have solid belief in the afterlife. True happiness of life comes from God when we center our lives to God. God will bring every deed into judgment whether it is good or bad. He would ultimately judge all people with fairness.  Everyone who claims to be Christian has t...

  Marriage call and commission God's Blueprint for Marriage Psalms 128 There are several blessings that the word of God promises to those who fear God. One of the blessings is about their family life. The Home of a person whose walk is in obedience to God’s Word is the sacred space in which God works His plans to the world When God created Adam and Eve, the very first command he gave them is found  in Gen  1:28 , God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number;  till the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” This commission of God to  human beings had to do with filling the world with godly generation who will be good  stewards and managers of all what God had created and put under the human care.  But the blessing of God was messed up and affected by the fall of humankind. The  reality of sin  and disobedience made Adam and ...

  Marriage - Call and Commission Mathew 19: 1 – 12   Theme verse:  “and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two  shall become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together,  let no one separate.” – Verse 5 – 6   Devotion:  Marriage embodies a divine union orchestrated by the Triune God. It signifies a profound unity where  two individuals become one flesh. However, the challenges arise when this unity is not fully embraced by all,  particularly by parents or relatives who struggle to accept this reality. This resistance oen leads to tragic  situations that captivate society's attention.  In the teachings of Jesus, there's a poignant reminder that divorce should only be considered in cases  of sexual immorality to avoid the grave sin of adultery. Yet, contemporary divorces often stem from issues  such as domestic vi...

  Marriage - Call and Commission 1 Corinthians 13 Devotion:  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud .It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it  keeps truth. It always protects record of wrongs wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” Vs 4-8 Marriage is very clearly part of God’s design and calls for Mankind. God created woman as a response to what God saw as man’s loneliness in Gen  2:18 , though God himself was coming in the cool of the evening to have fellowship with Adam. When we look at the Old Testament’s implication of the Call of God , it was intended to help the one  who was called to reach a place of what they are not yet, but fulfilled only when they  pursue the call. So, when we choose to walk into the call of God in marriage, there is a transform...

  Marriage call and commission God's Blueprint for Marriage  Eph 5:21-30 When I was preparing for marriage many years back as a seminary student, I did not realize I was answering a call of God to fulfill His mandate in this world through the covenant of marriage. As we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this year, I realize it has indeed been a Godly call to be a husband and wife to fulfill His great commission. in His world Someone said marriage goes through various stages. It    starts  with a romantic stage then comes the reality stage, followed by the retaliation stage and then the rejection stage. But these stages are often true when we don’t understand the call and the commission of God for marriage. But the more one understands the call of a husband is to be  Christ like , by which he is willing to even give up his life for his wife, marriage then  moves from the reality stage to a refreshing stage of love and oneness. Such deep  devot...

  Marriage call and commission God's Blueprint for Marriage Gen 2:18-25 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Gen  2:24 ) In the beginning when God created the Heavens and the earth, it was  without form and void. But in all divine splendor He created the sun, moon, stars, and seas. As well as the birds, fish, and other animals. Finally, on the sixth day, he created man. Out of the ground, he created Adam. In Genesis 1:26, we read that God created m man after his own likeness and to have dominion over all the earth. In Chapter 2, we also read that all of the animals were brought to Adam to see what he would call them, and that whatever he called the living creatures, that was its name.   However, a suitable partner was not found for Adam. God could have created a companion for Adam from the dust, but instead He chose to make his companion, the woman, from Adam’s own flesh and b...

  Marriage call and commission Isaiah : 62 Vs 4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you, And your land shall be married. Marriage is a social institution implemented by God in the beginning of creation intended to establish a companionship for man. Later this symbol of union between a man and a woman becomes the utmost reflection of love. In turn, the love bond between the universal church and Jesus . In the above passage, God speaks about the restoration of Israel by calling them Hephzibah and Beulah, a state of blessedness.  God wants to remind us marriage is a calling from God to enter into a mission. The mission is restoring generations to God the father.  Through marriage God wants us to be blessed and to be a blessing to others. Marriage is a garden , which requires effort  if we want to enjoy the fruits and the bloom.Just like ...

  Marriage - Call and Commission  Ecc 4 : 9-10 Theme verse:  ”If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬  Devotion:  The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”“Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬. God instituted marriage with a purpose to help one another, respect one another as both are created in His image. Above all, Christian couples are to honor God with their lifestyle, being a blessing to others. God was the celebrant of the first wedding, of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Man is a social being and need companionship for his potential to bloom. Through Christian marriage, we must have fellowship with a believer, who will help us and correct us, when we go astray. We assist one another, as we have a common purpose in life, to glorify God. We love one another as Christ loved the church. Everything is done in love an...

  The Resurrected Christ who Encourages the Dispirited (Marks of a True Christian)   Romans 12: 9-21   As we continue in the Lenten season, we are called to reflect on what it means to follow Christ.  The world teaches us to be self-seeking and focus on what we want. However, in Romans  Chapter 12, Paul describes the marks of a true Christians. He teaches us to love each other and  honor others (vs 10), to be generous to others (vs 13), and to live in peace with others (vs 16).  Paul specifically instructs us to not be vengeful, that we are to place our angry desire for payback  in God's hands. This is the key to overcoming evil and breaking out of the cycle of evil for evil –  giving the agenda of justice or payback over to God. He can fight for us and judge our enemies  according to His will.   It is easy for us to become bitter and upset when someone wrongs us, whether it's when someone  cuts us off when we are driving or wh...

  The Resurrected Christ Who Encourages the Dispirited  St. Luke 24:13-35 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them. (St. Luke 24:15)   Devotion:   The selected passage begins with two of Jesus’ disciples leaving Jerusalem and walking back to their home in  Emmaus. They are both saddened and confused as they travel along. They are filled with sorrow having witnessed  the cruel and unjust death of their beloved leader, and they are puzzled that there are now reports that Jesus’ tomb  was found empty. We can only imagine the intensity of their conversation as they journeyed back to their home. And  while they were discussing all these things, Jesus Himself joined them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing  Him.   The first thing that Jesus did when He joined them on their journey was to listen to them. He asked them a simple,  open-ended question and then listened to their answer. Cleopas ...

  The Resurrected Christ who Encourages the Dispirited  2 Corinthians 4:7-15  Theme verse:  “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9  Devotion:  As we age at a certain point, we begin to see gradual greater decay in the external world. Our forefathers mostly used jars of clay, affordable but brittle. The Jars of clay indicate our perishing mortal bodies. The image of Jesus Christ we represent is eternal. The treasure inside helps us deal with the journey outside. Pressure on an empty jar of clay will shatter. But if a jar is filled with a powerful treasure, it cannot break. We may feel perplexed, persecuted, struck down by the world. Have faith in him and his timing. God will never ever forsake us in any circumstances as long as we surrender ourselves completely to the Lord Almighty. To apprehend tension being lived out, have a loo...

  THE RESURRECTED CHRIST WHO ENCOURAGES THE DISPIRITED   Acts 27:27-37  Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair  from his head.” (Acts 27:34)   Devotion   Have you ever been caught in a severe storm, one in which the winds were strong and rain  poured down forcefully?   Paul was caught in a similar storm while a prisoner aboard a ship heading for trial. For fourteen  days, this ship was tossed around in a powerful sea. Fear, uncertainty, and chaos filled that boat,  but Paul remained at peace. Unfortunately, Paul's words could not calm the others, as their fear  was already much bigger than their faith.   Paul then encourages his fellow travelers to pause, eat, and take a moment of rest. By supporting  their physical need (food), he helped meet their spiritual need (trust in God). After blessing the  bread, all 276 people on board were satisfied and at peace. Th...

  The Resurrected Christ who Encourages the Dispirited   Isaiah 41:8-20 “I  said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.”  (Isaiah 41:9b)   Devotion:  We often have this belief as Christians that if we entrust everything we have to God, we will  have an easy life. The truth, however, is that God still allows His most faithful servants to  experience difficult circumstances. In the scriptures of Isaiah, we see that God allows the  Israelites, His chosen people, to fall into exile. However, we must remember that God follows  the Israelites into their exile. He walks with them, He struggles with them, He suffers with them.  Most importantly, God still loves them. It is easy for our minds to be plagued by thoughts  convincing ourselves that our current suffering is a result of God’s rejection. We may consider  our past sins, the ways we have failed to love others as God loves, and say, “We are no lo...

  The Resurrected Christ who Encourages the Dispirited  Psalm 142: 1-3  “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way.” Psalm 142: 3a   Devotion   Psalm 142 is believed to be David’s prayer while he was in a cave as mentioned in its title given in the  Bible. This is most likely not a scheduled daily prayer or prayer during the liturgical hours of the day but  likely an unscheduled prayer, a prayer for immediate help, more specifically, a desperate cry for help in  the most unexpected time of trouble. David is running away from King Saul to save his life and hides in  two different caves during this run (1 Samuel 22 – 24). We can see a dispirited David who experiences  loneliness in the cave with no one to help him, no one who understands him and no one who cares for his  life (verse 4). David is desperate for help as his enemies are too strong for him (verse 6). David clearly  knows God is his only ref...

  Christ, the Resurrected One: Encouragement for the Dispirited   Joshua 1:1-9   "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for  the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)  In the portion of Joshua 1:1-9, we witness a change of leadership from Moses to Joshua. God entrusts  Joshua with the task of leading the Israelites into the promised land, despite the many challenges and  immense pressure. Yet, in the face of uncertainty, God's message to Joshua echoes through the ages:  "Be strong and courageous." This command is not merely an encouragement but a divine assurance of  God's presence amidst challenges.   My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in our lives there are times when we feel dispirited and  overwhelmed by life's challenges, at those times we must remember the fact that just as God assured  Joshua of His presence, Jesus promises to be with us ...

  Willing Suffering Isaiah 53 JESUS CHRIST WHO RESTORES V10a “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,” What does it mean to be in  the will of God?   Is His will always  benevolent and a blessing? As children of God, we want to believe that we are living within His will.  But we never think that the bad things that happen to us… the failed marriage, the broken arm, the destroyed relationship, the terminal illness, the earthquake… are part of God’s plan. In Isaiah 53, Isaiah describes this person, commonly believed to be the Messiah, in very stark terms.  He “had no beauty or majesty” (v.2) and “was despised and rejected by mankind” (v. 3), “(taking) up our pain and (bearing) our suffering” (v. 4).  But the people saw these negatives and “considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted” (v. 4).   We do the same thing.  We equate ugliness, rejection and suffering with being outside the will of God. ...

  Jesus Christ who Restores John 21:1-14 In a world filled with turmoil and chaos, the act of Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 women inmates at Rome prison from his wheelchair during Passover serves as a powerful reminder of forgiveness and restoration. This historic gesture mirrors the humility and love Jesus showed when washing his disciples' feet, emphasizing the importance of empathy, compassion , and service in our lives.     A deeper understanding of John 21:1-14 reveals Jesus' unwavering presence in moments of frustration and failure. The disciples, feeling defeated after an unsuccessful morning on the sea, receive guidance from an unfamiliar voice. Following this guidance leads to a miraculous catch, prompting them to recognize Jesus in their midst. This experience teaches us that even in our darkest moments, the risen Lord is there to guide and restore us, transforming our struggles into blessings. The story of Mary not recognizing Jesus on the ...

  A Humble Life with Christian Principles JESUS CHRIST WHO RESTORES Galatians 6:1-5 Paul reminds the Galatians of a few important life principles. Our life in the community should be a model one and appropriate to the lifestyle of Jesus. In Galatians 6:1-5 Paul shares three exhortations for a humble life with Christian principles. A Gentle Life One of the qualities of Jesus mentioned in the epistle to the Hebrews is “dealing gently” with the ignorant and going astray (Hebrews 5:2). In Luke 17:3-5 Jesus says we must learn to forgive and show patience to the errors of others. Paul says the same here. We should not be hard and judgmental on others, but rather be sympathetic and kind to others (v.1). Human fallibility is a reality. There is an element of hardness in most good people. They usually share sharp criticism with others. Let’s try to avoid it and follow the model of Jesus. Paul says that, if a man does make a slip, the real Christian duty is to get him on his feet again....

  Jesus Christ who Restores Hebrews.6:9-12 Don’t be discouraged, continue in faith 1.   The writer admits he is a little harsher than he needs to be. (v9) a. We are confident of better things concerning you: Though he spoke so severely, the writer to the Hebrews was confident His readers would continue with Jesus. He thinks of their continuation in the faith as one of the things that accompany salvation. b. Though we speak in this manner: These encouraging words after the strong warning of Hebrews 6:4-8 should not be understood to mean that the warnings in the previous verses are not serious, or that the writer warned of impossible consequences. If anything, verse nine shows how badly these struggling Christians needed encouragement. Their spiritual danger was not so much out of a calculated rebellion, but more because of a depressing discouragement. They need warning, but also needed encouragement. 2.  Don’t be discouraged because God hasn’t forgotten about you. (V1...

  Only the One Who Made Us Can Remake and Restore Us JESUS CHRIST WHO RESTORES Hosea 14:1-9 The internet, we know now, is both a blessing and a curse. It has provided us an ocean of information that no person could exhaust, even over multiple lifetimes. That’s perhaps the blessing. But it has also flooded us with misinformation and disinformation—that’s the obvious curse.  One very negative consequence of ready access to the web is that many of us play at being our own physicians. We notice an oddly shaped spot on our skin, and our online medical sleuthing quickly sends us into a panic as we persuade ourselves that we have cancer. Diagnosing and then even treating ourselves with a handy peek at WebMD is likely to have, at best, mixed results. We are ill-equipped to be our own physicians.  The same is true for our psyche and spirit; we are ill-suited to be our own therapists nor can we cure ourselves of spiritual brokenness. The trouble with psychological or spiritual brok...

  Recognizing God's Gifts and Facing Challenges with Faith JESUS CHRIST WHO RESTORES. 1 Kings 17:17-24 V 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.” Have you ever felt like life isn't fair? You see others with more, and it can be easy to get discouraged. But the Bible teaches us that God is our provider, and He gives us what we need, not always what we want.  The story of the widow of Zarephath is a powerful example of both gratitude and facing challenges with faith. Despite God's provision of food during a famine, she questions His love when her son dies. It's easy to judge her from afar, but can we imagine the depths of her grief? Yet, she showed incredible faith by sharing it with the prophet Elijah, trusting God's promise to provide. God, in His infinite mercy, understands our limitations. Elijah, the prophet, even questioned God's actions on the widow's behalf. The ...

  Jesus Christ  Who Restores        1 Corinthians15:20-28        vs 22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ, all shall be made alive” 1st Corinthians 15 depicts the most detailed account of the resurrection. Paul explains the resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in the gospels and the resurrection of believers as promised  in the gospels The Sadducees who were known for denying supernatural things denied the resurrection of the dead. (Matt  22:23 ). Some people have non-saving faith, like the kind the demons have, as is written in James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!”  Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, liberate us from the bondage of sin and death. He restores the joy of salvation and eternal life in us.  In the book of Genesis, we read about the beginning of life, family, sin, and man’s separation from God. Though the Bible does not define sin, i...