A Scrutatio for the 15th
Sunday of the CHRISTIAN SEASON OF ORDINARY TIME/TIME OF THE CHURCH
Readings from the Anglican Book of
Common Prayer
Ecclesiasticus
(Sirach) 10:7-18 / Psalm 112 / Hebrews 13:1-8 / Luke
14:1 and 7-14
Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II
Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Ecclesiasticus
(Sirach) 3:17-18, 20 and 28-29 / Psalm 68:4-5, 5-6, 12-13, and
17+19. / Hebrews 12:18-19 and 22-24a / Luke 14:1 and 7-14
Readings for the Tridentine Rite of the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Introit: Psalm 86:1-4
Epistle: Galatians 5:25-6:10
Gradual
and Alleluia: Psalm 92:1-2 and 95:3
Gospel
Luke 7:11-16
Offertory:
Psalm 40:1-3
Communion
Antiphon: John 6:52
How do we view our brothers and sisters who are less fortunate as far as financial status is concerned?
“Another mouth to be fed?”
“A mere useless parasite?”
“An added problem to our society?”
What does our HOLY MOTHER CHURCH see in them...
SHE WHO ALWAYS LOOK AT THE WORLD WITH THE EYES OF JESUS?
They are HER MOST PRECIOUS TREASURE...
HER CROWN JEWELS...
HER FINE LINEN...
That is why, even if society falls deaf to HER invitation to ERADICATE THE SOURCES OF POVERTY, which is CORRUPTION, UN-EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH AND UNJUST RESTRICTION OF PROGRESS TO A CHOSEN FEW, SHE shows us how to EMPOWER these, HER BELOVED ONES:
And not to mention the VARIOUS RELIGIOUS ORDERS, RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS AND SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE that TIRELESSLY ASSIST OUR HOLY MOTHER CHURCH through silent but CONCRETE ACTS OF CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY THAT BEARS FRUIT IN PRO-GROWTH REFORMS!
The poor is THE ECONOMIC FORCE of our society, for they are the very hands that toil our lands and yield our crops, the very hands that work in our factories, the very hands that has and will still MAKE OUR NATION GREAT AGAIN!
The Most Reverend Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines D.D.
Archbishop of Manila
and
Primate
of the
National Church in the Philippines
and
the Territorial Church of Asia
International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
The Scriptures for today could bring anxiety and fear into some hearts. Many times, when we read Scriptures, we only read the words; we do not understand the context, and neither do we understand the culture from which they came. The Scriptures were all written many hundreds of years ago. The culture at that time was much different than it is today.
If we read the Scriptures according to today’s culture, we will not understand God. Neither will we understand His ways. Sometimes, what is written in our language brings condemnation. When in reality, that is not God. God is a God of love, of compassion, and who operates under His covenant.
We have lost sight of covenant. We do not understand covenant today. Marriage is a covenant, and yet in many societies today, if not all societies today, marriage is just a limited experience. One legislator wanted to make it like a driver’s license that you have to renew it every so many years. We have devaluated the things of God. We pulled them down to common ordinary nothings. Then, we wonder why we have the problems around us today. Why do we have the turmoil, the pain, the sorrow? This is because we belittled or denied the things that God has given to us.
I would want us to understand right from the very beginning that God is a God of compassion and love. He would not have made this universe, the world, and all that it contains if He wasn’t a God of love. He wanted a companion. He was not just going to create an individual, but He was going to prepare everything for this one which was to be like Him. Created in His image and likeness, He placed His blessings upon us.
From the very beginning, we operated under a covenant with God. A covenant that made us in His image and likeness; a covenant that never will be rescinded and never will be changed. Covenants are not those things that are changeable; they are permanent. God's covenants are there to help us understand His commitment, His loyalty, and His love for us. God understood the weakness of man. He understood the problems that man was facing. When man disobeyed God, when he broke the covenant that God had given to him, man died a spiritual death. Over the years, God saw how man struggled and how that he could not rise up to be what God intended him to be.
In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah, God spoke to man and said, “I am giving to you a hope. The prophet speaks as God’s voice, “I am going to lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a foundation firmly planted.” For many of us, we look at this wording and say, “Okay, that is nice. It is going to be strong.” He is talking about Christ. He is talking about that very essence of what the kingdom is all about. His covenant with us; His commitment to us – a stone tested. It is one that can be easily destroyed or done away with. It is has been tested and proven. It will not grow weak; it is a costly cornerstone.
Yes, it cost God a lot to give up His Son. Not only to give up His relationship with the Son on a temporal basis, but also to give up His Son to take upon Himself the sin of all mankind. It was to be a foundation – something very solid, firmly placed, firmly planted. It will not waver and be shaken.
In today’s world, we question the things of God. We question God’s truth and commitment. We wonder where He is. We blame Him for so many things, and yet God is stable. God is unmovable. God does not waver. He does not change. Scriptures says, “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.” If there is ever a hope, if there is ever a security, it can only come in Him because everything else changes. Everything else is subject to change, but God does not change. God does not waver. His words spoken in the beginning are still the same today.
When God spoke to man, when He blessed man to be fruitful and to multiply, He meant that. That blessing, as covenantal prayers, is still in existence over our lives today if we will receive and believe. God does not change. He says, “He who believes will not be disturbed and will not be shaken.” We know our God; we know His ways. He demonstrates this through Christ. He sent Christ to show us how powerful and how diligent to make certain things were right as it would be.
The evidence of this relationship is justice. Justice will be the main line of His relationship with us. He will not condemn us, but instead He restores and brings to us new life. Having sent Christ to take away the sin and the iniquity, now, we have this new life in Him. “Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies…and your covenant with death shall be canceled.” This is what He has done in our behalf. This is the security of that which we have.
In Hebrews, it says that they are coming to a mountain not to be stoned as it was in the early times. When Moses went up to the mountain, nobody could come near. Even an animal that would come to the mountain would die. “You are not coming to that kind of a mountain. You are coming to Mt. Zion, the city of the living God.” We are brought into a hope, an assurance, and an elite situation. This is what He has prepared for us – the heavenly Jerusalem, the spirit of the saints, the righteous men made perfect, and a kingdom that cannot be shaken. This is the evidence of what He has prepared for each of us. He has prepared that which is awesome and great. His provision is unfailing and unlimited.
The gospel talks about a door being closed and people banging on the door trying to get in. God denies that He knows them. For many of us, we would look at this and we would say, “What is this? I thought that God was a God of love, compassion, mercy and grace? Why would He close the door and not accept those wanting to come in? Why would He not allow that?” If we go through culture and history, we get a different picture of this. We see that God has set a course for mankind. He tells us, “We are changing from glory to glory into His image.” It is a progression that we go through. It is a step by step walk with Him. We don’t instantly enter into the fullness of our gifts from Him or the kingdom that He has prepared for us. It is a journey that we are on. It is a journey that takes time and effort, but God wants us to understand that the door is open to us. He has provided; He has made it available.
If you look carefully at Luke 13, it says, "He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. Someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter by the narrow door.” It wasn’t important how many. That was not what Christ wanted the people to think about. He wanted them to understand “how”. How would people enter in to this kingdom? How would they come to this point? He says, “Come, strive to enter the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us!” then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’”
See what they are saying to Him. These are not unbelievers, but people who were following Christ. If we would compare this to the Church today, these are the ones who take the Eucharist; the one who sits in Church and listen to the teachings. These were not strangers, outsiders, but people who were working toward a relationship with Christ. Very obviously, they did not take the relationship very seriously. The door has been closed because they were not ready to take that last step. That last step was a relationship with Christ. It was the banquet of the bride and the groom. They were not ready to give off themselves to such an intensity of being the bride.
Ephesians talks about husband and wife relationship. It talks about the responsibilities that are in that relationship – the love that is necessary and the respect that has to be between the two. Then, it completes that statement by saying, “I am not talking about husband and wife, but Christ and the Church.” This door was the door that entered into that relationship that allowed mankind to set the feast of the bride and groom and to be a part of it. They were not willing to take the price. They were not willing to give of their all to come there. Remember, the door was narrow. You cannot bring in all your interests. You can’t bring in all the things that you want. There are things that are required.
Christ is the door. He sets the principles. He sets the way. The way is narrow; it is not broad. We think that is so old-fashioned that we have to be so confined in our thoughts and in our beliefs. Yet, it is not that it is cruel, not that it is difficult. Remember, Jesus said, “My ways are easy. My yoke is light.” We have made it difficult because we lived in a society wherein everything is an open door. We don’t have to limit ourselves to anyone thing. We can believe what we want. We can do what we want. There is very little that is banned and forbidden in today’s societies.
In the kingdom of God, there is one way and Christ is that way. Our faith and our confidence in Him is so valuable and so important that we have to set all other things aside. Christ has to be the center, the very foundation of our lives if we are going to be able to enter that door. That door is closed because the ones on the outside were not willing to pay the price. They were not willing to be what God wanted them to be. They were not willing to take the responsibilities, wanting to do things their own way.
Someone told me once, “I come to the Cathedral and I listen to the teachings. I end up with oppression because I have so many responsibilities, so much obligations that I am expected to make. I can’t handle all of that. I just want to be given the ability to just do whatever. Everything is fine.” The person added, “I like the gospel of grace because in grace, God’s grace is sufficient for me.” Grace is good. God’s grace is excellent, but that grace won’t work if you are not working toward the kingdom of God. If you are not assuming your responsibilities, the grace is not going to help. The grace of God is there for those who are striving, who are not making it, and who are falling short.
We are so deceived today in the world that we want no responsibilities. We want no cares; we want no obligations. We think, “Okay, I believe in God. I believe in Christ. I take my Eucharist. God will take care of me, and then, I go and do my own thing.” How many times, when we leave the Church, can we even remember what the homily was about? Can we remember the challenges that were brought to us or do we see them too difficult or too heavy? Do we not see the love and the compassion of God bringing us away from the ways of destruction? The way that is broad leads to end. The narrow way leads us into the kingdom of God.
Not ‘how’, but it is ‘how Christ’ has set the course and the direction. These, who were knocking at the door, were part of the Church. They were part of the believers. They had listened to the homilies. They had taken of the Eucharist. They thought, “This was going to be enough for me. I don’t need to live it out. I don’t need to change my lifestyle. I don’t need to care for others. I don’t need to love as God said we need to love.”
John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” It doesn't matter how many social activities we have. It doesn’t matter how much money we make. It doesn't matter how big our house is. It doesn’t matter how many people we have helped. The only way to the Father is through Christ. Christ is the center of all things.
Ephesians 2:20, “Christ Jesus, the Cornerstone.” St. Ignatius of Antioch said, “This is the medicine of immortality. It is the Eucharist.” It is getting to know Him; understanding when we partake of the Eucharist; what its purpose is. Understanding the sacrifice that was given in our behalf so that we can be set free from the sin, be set free from the condemnation and the guilt and have the joy and the peace that comes in knowing God and knowing the greatness of God.
Ezekiel 37 is the story of the valley of dry bones. The prophet said to those bones, “Oh dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord.” Are we listening to God? Are we really paying attention to His greatness? We judge things so difficult and so impossible because we haven’t really taken time to study and understand what it is all about. We don’t realize how much He is reaching out to drive us, to bring us in. We don’t realize what He has done inside of us to open the door for our lives to be changed.
The hunger, the desires that God has placed within us are evidences that He is with us. We want to know more of Him. We want to make certain that we are ready for all that He has given to us. It is only then that we can come through that door into that banquet hall where we will sit down at that table that He has prepared for His bride. It doesn’t mean that those who were left on the outside of the door are lost. He just says, “They were evil.” He doesn’t send them into hell, but it just says, “You were wicked. You weren’t willing to pay the price. My Son gave His all for you. Will you not do the same? Will you not set aside the other interests that you have and let them be in second place rather than in first place in your lives?”
John 10:9 says, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved.” Verse 10, “I came that you might have life, and might have it abundantly.” Many of us are not walking in the fullness of life. We are still walking with one foot in the grave and one foot in life. We are not certain that we can survive if we give our all to Christ. We’ve got so much training and so much indoctrination into our lives that the world can bring us hope and provision. We don’t realize the deception.
It is much like Adam and Eve in the Garden. The deception of the enemy saying, “Oh, yes, what God has promised you, but you can be greater than God. You can be like Him.” They were already like Him. Christ has already given to us that which fulfills the principles of God’s creation. And yet, we are still trying to improve ourselves. We are still trying to be something greater, still trying to do more than what He has given to us to do.
Jesus says, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Not just “life” but life in abundance. He says, “I am the good Shepherd.” The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The good shepherd doesn’t give the orders, the commands. The good shepherd gives his life. The good shepherd leads by his example. The good shepherd leads by the provision of his own life being seen as an example to others. It is the hireling who gives the orders and doesn’t follow. It is the hireling who pretends that he knows what he is doing, but he is never there when the test is made.
We must be ready to give of ourselves to be the witness. We are the witness of what Christ’s provision is in our lives. We are the provision for mankind so that they can know how great God is. The challenge for us: are we putting our faith in Him completely? When we take of the Eucharist, do we understand what we are taking? Or is it just something that we take because we are supposed to? Do we recognize the life that was given in order that we could eat of the body and drink of the blood? Do we understand the power of it and how that it strengthens us to be like Him? That we can stand in the midst of the tests and the trials, giving honor and glory to the greatness of our God? In Matthew 7, “Enter the narrow gate.” The wide gate and the broad way lead to destruction; the gate that is small, the way that is narrow, that leads to life.
I have come from a family that was relatively poor. Christmas for us was an apple and an orange. Those were treats. I had made up my mind as I grew up that I did not want my family to be raised that way. I did everything I could to make certain that my family had more than I had. One Christmas, we made up our mind, “This is what we are going to let them have – much.” We provided under the Christmas tree many, many gifts. I can’t tell you how many but it was many.
We watched them open. We were so proud to be able to give them so many things. When everything was opened, we were enjoying the situation until we realized that the boys were not playing with the toys. They were playing with the boxes. There was too much confusion because of all of the variety of gifts. They would go from one to another and finally give up and get something that was simple.
I believe that even today, in our lives, we’ve gotten so much given to us. We are so confused about what life is all about that we end up wasting our time and our efforts. We are wasting our talents and our abilities rather than focusing upon the gifts that God has given to us and accomplishing maybe only one thing that would be great. Putting our whole focus on one direction. It has been a fad for a number of years to just let children do whatever they want because you don’t want to destroy their creativity. Many times, children are so confused by things around them that instead of accomplishing things, they become frustrated, hard to please, and demanding of more.
We have much responsibility that God has given to us. Are we ready to take the responsibility? Are we ready to fulfill it? In the Old Testament, sin was so rampant. God told Noah to build the ark. For hundred years, they mocked Noah. They have never seen rain. They don’t know what rain was. They thought he was crazy. When God told Noah to get into the ark, he and the animals got into the ark and God closed the door.
When it began to rain, the people started knocking at the door and saying, “Open, open.” The door was closed. They could not open it. This is an Old Testament example of what the kingdom of God is – the salvation of God, the provision of God; but yet there comes a time when we have to make our decision. You can’t wait until the last minute.
God’s response is desiring for us to follow Him. We see this in this example today. Don't look at this and see it as fatal. This is not fatal; this is a challenge for us. This is God sharing with us so that we are not caught unaware. So that we understand and we know that He is looking to us to make a choice. “Are you going to follow Me or are you going to follow the ways of man?” “Are you going to be deceived thinking you have security in these things when in reality the only truth is in Christ?” The only truth that will last is in Him.
The challenge to us, as we are here in Ordinary Time: how are we walking this journey? How are we living out this life that He has given to us? Are we giving our best to Him or are we giving our best to ourselves? We are more concerned what affects us than what affects Christ. Do we embarrass Him? Do we bring shame to Him because we claim to be one of His, and yet we are not living it in the sight of others?
It is a challenge to us. These Scriptures have much for us today, but they are not meant for fear. They are not meant for anxiety. They are meant to guide us. This is the love of God. The love challenges us. The love corrects us. The love disciplines us. Scriptures says that without discipline, you are an illegitimate child. You are not loved because love wants to make certain that you are getting things right; that you know the difference between right and wrong.
This is what God wants for us. He shares with us that which is required for us. Make a choice; make a decision. Don’t be left on the outside. In Revelation, it tells how that when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, on the outside is the dogs. They will be able to look in; they will be able to see what is going on inside, but they will not be able to enjoy it because they have not made that final decision. They are not lost, but just that they are not in the height of that which Christ has intended for all – the bride.
Marriage is an institution which much honor. God created marriage. God intended marriage to be held high with great respect. The world has belittled marriage. Same sex marriage is mocking God, making fun of Him like He doesn’t know what He is doing. Marriage was God’s kingdom brought into reality. It is His way of propagating life. In our being, we want to be what God wants us to be.
We are challenged to see the picture. Make the choice. Do not be left on the outside knocking at the last minute. He is asking, “Who are you? I don’t know you.” This is because we didn’t put to action into our lives what He taught, what we ate and drank.
May we not be those on the outside, but may we be those who will find a place within, seated at the banquet of God. We are seated where He intends us to be and where He has prepared a place. Will that nameplate be left vacant at the banquet? Or will you be there to fulfill the place? It is up to us. Are we willing to pay the price? Are we willing to give our all to Him?
This is what He has given to us. This is the challenge today. He has prepared this for us. Tremendous preparation – stable; tested stone; permanent foundation; unwavering. He has made it sure and secure that it will not change. The rest will change in the world but not the kingdom of God. May we be alert and may we be aware of it.
LET US CONTINUE OUR REFLECTION
WITH
HIS EMINENCE, THE MOST REVEREND LUIS ANTONIO "CHITO" GOKIM TAGLED.D. ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA,
A Scrutatio for the 14th Sunday of the CHRISTIAN SEASON OF ORDINARY TIME/TIME OF THE CHURCH
Readings from the Anglican Book of Common
Prayer
Isaiah 28:14-22 / Psalm 46
/ Hebrews 12:18-19 and 22-29 / Luke 13:22-30
Readings for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite
of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Isaiah 66:18-22 / Psalm 117:1, and 2. /
Hebrews 12:5-7 and 11-13 / Luke 13:22-30
Readings
for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Introit: Psalm 74:20,19, 23 and 1
Epistle: Galatians 3:16-22
Gradual and Alleluia: Psalm 74:20,19, 23 and 90:1
Gospel
Luke 17:11-19
Offertory:
Psalm 31:14-15
Communion Antiphon: Wisdom of King Solomon 16:20
There are times that we can be COMPLACENT when it comes to our FAITH.
We could make up EXCUSES, UNREASONABLE REASONS for not going to the SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION (where the "leprosy" of sin is CLEANSED AND OUR "WORN OUT" LIVES MADE NEW) OR EVEN TO THE MOST SUBLIME SACRIFICE OF THE MASS (THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF OUR LIVES).
But for this YEAR OF FAITH, we are called to STRIVE for a VIVIDUS FIDEI, AN ACTIVE, LIVING FAITH!
We are CALLED to FOLLOW JESUS every second, minute, hour, day, month, year, decade, century and even every millennium of our lives!
Our being COMPLACENT, being LETHARGIC is OUTGROWN when we LIVE OUR LIVES IN UNION WITH JESUS AND LET HIM CHANGE US FROM GLORY TO GLORY.
Do we want to BEHOLD THE FACE OF OUR BLESSED REDEEMER?
The Most Reverend Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines D.D.
Archbishop of Manila
and
Primate
of the
National Church in the Philippines
and
the Territorial Church of Asia
International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
Our lives are controlled by times.
We arise at a certain time. We
have calculated the amount of time we need to prepare ourselves so that we are
in our office, in our school, or in a place wherever we need to be at a proper
time. We regulate our lives by this
time. Even though in some cases people
don’t pay a lot of attention to time, it is still the international standard of
regulation of discipline in life.
Jesus was
also regulated by time. In the gospel,
Jesus was speaking of something that was very important to us, and yet, most do
not comprehend the time. Therefore, we don’t comprehend what Christ is doing.
The gospel shares, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it
were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am
until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I
tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one
household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will
be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter
and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
And He
was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west,
immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. And when you
see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out
that way. You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth
and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time? And why do you not
even on your own initiative judge what is right?”
This
portion of this gospel perhaps would be confusing to some because it looks like
Christ did not come to bring peace; but He came to bring peace. In His birth, the angels proclaimed, “Peace
to men upon earth.” This portion of
Scriptures would seem as though it was saying the opposite. This is not true. When it says that He came to cast fire upon
the earth, many will say, “He is going to destroy the earth with fire.” This is not what fire is for. Fire, out of control and out of discipline
destroys; but fire controlled properly does good. It brings warmth; it cooks food; it separates
the bad from the good in metal wherein the purity is brought out, that which is
valuable. It is not destructive, and yet
some people would look at this and say, “Oh, He is going to destroy the earth
by fire. He is going to purify the earth
by fire.”
If you
know God, He is not one for destruction. He is one for restoration. He is one for purification. This is why He sent Christ to come to
us. He came to bring peace, but His truth
will cause division.
The
gospel says that the young people will be against the older people. Father against son; son against father;
mother against daughter; daughter against mother; mother-in-law against
daughter in-law. In every case, it was
the elders against the younger ones because in too many cases, the elders have
not prepared their children properly. No
discipline; no training. Scriptures says to train up a child in the way that he
will go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. But it also says that if we are not
disciplined, we are not legal children.
Today,
many children are not disciplined so therefore, we will find eventually the
division in the family. It is not Christ
who came to bring division because the elders are morally trained and inclined
than the younger ones. The young ones
think everything is okay, so we have the division.
The home
is vital in preparing a child. The
things around us will not affect the child if he has been prepared properly in
the home. The home is important; the
home is that core that makes the family what it is supposed to be. The family need not be afraid of what is
going around in the world or in the culture.
If the family is trained properly, the culture will not affect them. Too
sad, in many families, the father doesn’t train his children. The mother doesn’t do her part; and so
therefore, when the children are older, they divide from their parents. They don’t agree. They say, “My parents are too old to
understand.”
This is
what Jesus is saying: the necessity of preparation; of knowing and recognizing
what is going on and addressing it. It is not just throwing up our hands and
saying, “Culture is so terrible. Society
is going wild.” Yes, it may be, but it
doesn’t have to affect. It doesn’t have
to affect your family if you have been trained in the things of God and in the
provision of God.
In Jeremiah,
he was warning Judah of what was taking place.
He was speaking loudly about the principles of God, sharing with them
that they have left those principles.
Scriptures says, “They forgot My way because of Baal.” Baal, in the Hebrew language, is symbolic of
demons. Having a capital letter on it
would mean that it is probably the chief of the source of deception, false
truth.” This was what Jeremiah was
fighting against. Again, God said, “My
Name is like fire purifying like a hammer that it crushes so that the
purification can come out and that which God has given to us can be made
manifest.” In Hebrews, it says, “Lay
aside all encumbrances which so easily entangle you. Run the race.
Eyes fixed on Jesus."
A moment
ago, the dance, the music was “Jesus With Skin On.” This was the incarnation of God. God became
flesh and dwelt among us for a purpose.
There was a reason for His coming.
There was a reason He was speaking to us so loudly and so importantly
about and yet, in most of our lives, we have not listened to what He would care
to share with us.
I would
pray that you hear God speak to us. In
John 1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning.” Here, we find the very essence of all that
God has ever done. It is tied into the
coming of Christ, into the identification of His Word. The value of that which
He has given to us and that is provided for us.
John
1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Christ coming, becoming flesh, being what we
are, identifying with us for a purpose.
More than just a purpose, He was setting a standard for our lives. He was encouraging us to realize the love of
God, the grace of God, and the mercy of God.
How that God intended us to rise victoriously. It is not to be subject to the things around
us.
Genesis 1
says that He gave to us dominion and authority over all things on the
earth. It was not that we would be
subject to the things around us. The
things around us were to be subject to us.
They were to be under our dominion; they were to be under our control;
but we have pulled back not understanding the provision of God, not
understanding the work of God, not understanding the plan of God.
The Word
became flesh and dwelt among us. Christ
is pouring His divinity into all human nature. In Peter’s writing, “By His
stripes, we were healed.” This
relationship that was established in the creation, when God breathed His breath
into the dust, and became a living soul, that relationship was restored by
Christ. His stripes healed us. It brought us back into the relationship with
the Father, into the oneness with the Father.
He ‘tabernacled’ with us; He dwells in us.
“Full of
grace and truth.” Here is where we are
going to find the truth. Here is where
we are going to know the times because when Christ is dwelling within us, when
His provision and His life is in us, we will know what is going on around
us. We will be alert to the
circumstances. We will not be deceived,
but we will be aware of and be enlightened by.
John 1:4,
"In Him was life, and that life was the light of man." Light means things are no longer hidden from
you, but wisdom and understanding and knowledge are being revealed to us. When Christ comes into our lives, when He
is there with us, we are no longer deceived.
We are no longer held in darkness.
We are no longer in bondage, but that light shines into us and it brings
new hope and provision to us.
John 1:9
says that light enlightens every man.
This is the provision of God in our lives. This is the gift of God. This is the grace of God. This is His mercy in each of us. No longer lost, no longer confused, no longer
deceived. This light dwells within
us. “For in Him, the fullness we have
received and grace and upon grace.”
How does
this become ours? How does this become
alive in us? How does this become like
“Jesus with skin on”? When our thoughts
are of Jesus and our mind is set on the ways and the principles of Christ and
the very essence of all that He is, John
8:31 says, “If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and
you shall know the truth, and the truth will shall make you free.”
The Word,
the provision of God, this is Christ Himself. When He comes into our lives, He
becomes a living reality to us. It sets our course and our direction. It helps us understand what is going on
around us. We can identify the times. We can identify the circumstances, the
situations, and with the wisdom that it brings to us, we know how to correct
things that are not what they are to be.
We understand because of His Word coming into our lives. As we meditate on it, as we allow it to
become what we are, we, then, become what He is. We become like Him because we have brought
into our being what He has set and what He is in His own life. He brings this
to us.
John 15:7
says, “Abide in My Word. If My Word is
in you, and My Word has become flesh through you, you can ask what you will and
it shall be done for you.” Sometimes,
we wonder why our prayers are not answered.
Sometimes, we wonder why are pleads are not met. Why?
Is the Word abiding in us? Has it
become what we are? Are we living it
out? Can we literally say that, “As
Christ was, so am I in this world?”
This is
what Scriptures says to us, “As He is, so are we in this world.” It comes only because we spend time
meditating upon His Word. Letting that
Word become alive in us. So alive in us
that it brings forth, through us, the very essence of Christ, the very being of
Christ. We will not be Christ, but we
will be like Him. We will be in His image before the world. The world will see
Him like much they saw Christ when He was incarnate in the flesh. They will see that through our lives, there
comes forth that ability to bring answers, to bring peace, to bring joy, and to
bring hope instead of despair.
Are we
looking for this? Are we spending our
time bringing into our lives the very principles of Christ so that we can live
them out? So that we think them? So that we know the very place we are
now? That we understand the times and we
understand how to prepare for the times?
We spend
time looking for other things. We spend
time trying to find about problems. We
want gossip about people. We go through all these things rather than being
Christ in the flesh. We have become deceptive; almost in the realm of evil
because in our hearts, we judge, we condemn, we put people down rather than
reaching out as Christ did lifting them up, bringing healing and restoration
because that was what He was. This was
His life and this was the very essence of His whole being.
Christ
came not to judge, but to save, to redeem, to restore, and to forgive. This is
what Christianity is. This is what we
are to be – abiding in Him and His Word abiding in us. Do we know His Word? Do we spend time studying His Word? Do we
spend as much time studying His Word as we do studying in the Internet or in
Facebook, putting those things in our hearts that we find ourselves
discouraged, depressed, anxious, jealous or angry because of what we put in?
If we put
the words of Christ, out of our very being will flow rivers of living
water. As we drink of that water which
He gives to us, He says, “Out of us will spring forth rivers of water.” Not just trickles, but rivers, water that
brings hope and cleansing and life to mankind.
Colossians
1:27 says, "Christ in you the hope of glory.” The Word in you. Christ and the Word are synonymous. They are the same because the Word represents
Christ, and as we assimilate that into our flesh, into our minds, into our
being, we, then, begin to live it out.
As we begin to live it out, we change from glory to glory into His
image. We begin to see things as Christ
would see them. We begin to act as
Christ would act in situations. We would
be bringing peace; we would be bringing joy; we would be bringing forgiveness;
we would be bringing restoration to mankind because Christ is alive in us.
This is
what it is to be. This is what the
Eucharist is all about. The body and
blood of Christ is being brought to us that we become like Him. What we eat, we become. We are to be this; we
can no longer find ourselves focusing upon the things around us. Those things don’t control us. Those things don’t hold us down. All of creation was created by God for our
benefit. It was not created to control
us or to put us down or to limit us. It
was there to strengthen us. It was there
to lift us up, to bless us, to feed us and to strengthen us to do the work that
God has given to us.
Today, we
find all the things around us control us.
We find that they are our limitations and we can’t do things because of
this and that. We are bound and put in
slavery to these things, when in reality, God says, “No, all dominion is yours. All things upon the earth are under your
dominion.” This is how He created us.
For some
reason, we have lost the insight of that because the Word is not deeply
entrenched within us. When the Word is
deeply entrenched within us, when our thoughts reflect the thoughts of Christ,
when they are thoughts that reflect the ways of God, the whole imagery of that
which is around us will change. We will not see it as a threat; we will not see
it as intimidation; we will not see it as punishment. We will see it as that which brings us closer
to the kingdom of God and to the provision of God. His Word becoming one in us; we, becoming one
with Him, because of that. It will stop
the families from the divisions. It will
stop the problems of the world when the Church becomes to live out the life of
Christ.
Hebrews
tells us to set your eyes upon Him. Run the race. Keeping your eyes upon Him,
knowing Him, having His Word hidden within you, so deeply entrenched that it
brings out the provision and the hope that we look for that life can be a
blessing. Life can be joyful. Life can be filled with understanding.
1Timothy1:1
says, “Christ is our hope.” Hebrews 12
tells us that Christ is the Author and the Perfecter of faith. He has given to us faith. He is the One who created faith. He is the Author of that faith. He causes
that faith to be perfect. In our lives, that faith can rise when we have His
Word hidden within us. It will rise to a
place of perfection. It will rise to a
place wherein we are walking as God would want us to walk.
Ephesians
5:15, “Be careful how you walk.” Walking
in that Word that He has given to us; speaking of Christ and of the
Church. This is what it brings to us. We see this according to His guidance. We see things according to His
understanding. We see things according
to the way He has created them to function, so that when we find that we have
done the things the way of God, they work well in our lives. It causes our lives to bring forth greatness.
I had my
automobile checked, and they said to me, “The coils that you have in your car
are not the quality that should not be in your car. It is causing your automobile to have a
vibration. If we will put the proper coils in the care, you will have a smooth
operation of your automobile.” Putting the proper things into that which it was
created to bring forth brings forth perfection.
Faith in
your life, the Word of God in your life will bring out that which God intended
it to bring out. Like Adam, you will be
able to walk in the cool of the evening talking with God. The relationship will be so close; there will
not be a question in your mind. There will not be that lack of understanding
because His Word is deeply entrenched within you. His Word is given to us to
guide us.
His Word
is a manual of life. It shares with us
those things that He has created to be brought forth in us, and yet we ignore
them. We set them aside; we don’t pay
attention to them. We spend more time in
other things. We spend more time in the
universities, in the school, in our business and in other areas, but how much
time do we listen to Him? How much time
do we give Him time to speak to us? To
communicate with us? Have I hidden His
Word in my heart that I might not sin against Him?
This is
what the Scripture says to us. We are
members of His Body. Are we functioning
as He would? Are we living out who He
is? Is the world seeing Him in all that
we do? Is it speaking loudly in the
darkness? In the confusion? In the hurt and in the pain? In the midst of rebellion, is it coming forth
as to who is the Lord and Life in us?
We are to
be a witness to the greatness of God.
We are to bring forth His life.
Jesus with skin on – that is you; that is me. We are to be like Him. We are to open the doors. We are to bring back life to the world. As Mary gave birth to Christ, so are we to
give birth to Christ in our lives and to the things we live out every day. Our
words, our thoughts, our actions are to be like Him. When that is within us,
the world will see Christ in us, the hope of glory. They will want what we have.
May we
recognize Christ to us. As it becomes
alive, as it becomes flesh, now, it is the answer to the world. It is the answer to circumstances and
situations. May we give Him that attention
in our lives. May we focus upon
Him. May we allow Him to speak to
us. May His words become precious to us. May His principles guide us in everything
that we do. May His love, His
forgiveness be lived out in our lives.
May we give glory, praise, and honor to Him.
Christ,
His Word in you, the hope of glory!
LET US CONTINUE OUR REFLECTION
WITH
HIS EMINENCE, THE MOST REVEREND LUIS ANTONIO "CHITO" GOKIM TAGLED.D. ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA,
