How can they hear without someone to preach?

Saint Peter's statue, holding the key at Saint Peter's Basilica.
Image from http://oursurprisingworld.com

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? Romans 10:13-14 NAB

Click this to read the full text of the gospel today.

Just the Word and I Shall be Healed

Pope Benedict XVI lifts the Eucharist. Before receiving it from the priest, faithfuls say, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but just say the Word and I shall be healed."
(Image from http://whycatholicsdothat.com)

The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8:8 NAB

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At an Hour We Don't Expect, the Son of Man Will Come

"Jesus Christ - Christus Statue" from flickr.com/photos/midiman

Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. Matthew 24:43-44 NAB

Click this to read the full text of the gospel today.

Be vigilant at all times

Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14 NAB.
Image from http://www.handofgod.com.au

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:34 NAB
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The gospel today is not about paranoia. This is about beingness with God.

My Words Will Not Pass Away -- Jesus

"The secret movement of the world" by Camil Tulcan

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Luke 21:33 NAB
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I salute the man or woman who asks the question, "oh, really?" after reading that verse. That reaction, when pursued well, would lead to divine wisdom.

Fear is Worthless, Faith pays dividends

Fear used to grip me when I read this passage. Not anymore.

People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:26 NAB
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"Eclipsed Moon Flood" by Evan Leeson
It is fear that kills us more than anything. What God is telling us, "Do not be afraid. It is I." Indeed, if God is with us, who can be against us?

The Dream, the Struggle and the Prize

The classic tale of the dream, the struggle and the prize happened to the apostles. When they were at the state of dreaming for Heavenly rewards, Jesus had to remind them of the struggle and how such struggle will lead them to testify.

It will lead to your giving testimony. Luke 21:13 NAB


Click this to read the full text of the gospel today.

'Pope' from http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoids/

Reality Check -- All Things Pass Away

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, "All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." Luke 21:5-6 NAB

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After reading the gospel today, I was slightly infuriated. There was nothing that man did that lasted. Indeed, just look at the Roman Empire. It did not last! All other great kingdoms did not last too!

Giver's Mindset Pays Dividends

He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood. Luke 21:3-4 NAB
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'sweetheart' by YoungDoo Moon

In HIM All Things Hold Together

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 NAB
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"Hubble Captures Spectacular "Landscape" in the Carina Nebula"
by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Today is the feast of Christ the King. His Kingdom is not of this world. Indeed, his Kingdom is the Universe with all its beauty and mystery.

If God were the Creator of everything seen and unseen, wouldn't it be a smart idea to know how He thinks and what He thinks of right now for your life?

May Christ be the King of your heart.

May Christ be the King of your home.

May Christ be the King of your dreams.

Ad Maiorem de Gloriam!

- - -

P.S. #1 Get enriched by God's Word on email everyday. Be a member of the Kerygma Family virtual community or subscribe to the Daily Gospel.

P.S. #2 Join me in Facebook and help spread the gospel to your friends simply by clicking the "Like" button at the Live a Life of Prosperity and Compassion Facebook Page.

P.S. #3 Do you have a testimony of God's grace today? I welcome sharings from brothers and sisters around the world in this blog. Send it to me at marvin.macatol [at] gmail [dot] com

Will You Rise With the Saints?

Will you rise with the saints? Think about it for a moment, no matter how silly that question may sound.

They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. Luke 20:36 NAB
Click this to read the full text of the gospel today.

"Gloria" by Kate Andrews
If God says to me today, "That's it!" these are the beings I would like to see around me. How about you?

It is easy to dismiss this question with a quip, "What's this thing about rising with the saints? I'm not a saint! Who are you kidding?" 

My only problem with that quip is this: do we really think the alternative is acceptable?

I don't know with you, but the alternative frightens me. Doesn't it frighten you? If so, we need to rethink that quip. We also need to rethink about how "cool" we really are.

Going to hell is not cool! Is it?

Ad Maiorem de Gloriam!



- - -

P.S. #1 Get enriched by God's Word on email everyday. Be a member of the Kerygma Family virtual community or subscribe to the Daily Gospel.


P.S. #2 Join me in Facebook and help spread the gospel to your friends simply by clicking the "Like" button at the Live a Life of Prosperity and Compassion Facebook Page.


P.S. #3 Do you have a testimony of God's grace today? I welcome sharings from brothers and sisters around the world in this blog. Send it to me at marvin.macatol [at] gmail [dot] com

Sweet Like Honey

God's Words are sweet like honey, yet it can make your stomach turn sour.

I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Revelations 10:10 NAB
Click this to read the full text of the gospel today.

"Scroll" by Gabriel Jones

I didn't know what to make out of this verse at first. I have to draw inspiration from the reflection made by Fr. Rudy Horst.

Walk on the Water

Peter actually walked on the water. Stories and images portray only his act of drowning as Jesus stretched his arms to save him. But Peter actually walked on the water!

"St Peter Basilica - Vatican" by Desi

He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. Matthew 14:30 NAB

No one else outside of Jesus had walked on water, except Peter. That's a distinction.

Take Charge of Ten Cities

Take charge of ten cities! Many of us want to hear that from our own masters.

He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Luke 19:17 NAB
Click this to read the full text of the gospel today.

"Midtown Manhattan at Night, New York City" by Andrew Mace
Absolutely cool image, right? What can something ten times grander than this look like? That would be but a small glimpse of the glory one gets from God by simply being faithful in little matters.

But few of us take note of the sentence prior to that in the gospel today. It says, ' You have been faithful in this very small matter.' Man, this is the key!

I Must Stay at Your House - Jesus

A celebrity calls your name from out of the blue, and says, "I must stay at your house." All you have wanted is to get a personal glimpse of this person. Yet, this celebrity says, "I must stay at your house." Dig that?

Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house. Luke 19:5 NAB
Click this to read the full text of the gospel today.

"Zacchaeus Tree" by KOREphotos.
This photo was taken on March 16, 2008 in Jericho, West Bank, PS.

Highly Profitable Lessons from the Blind Man

The blind man in the gospel today has highly profitable lessons to teach us today. His tenacity in calling Jesus, and his clarity about what he wants is something worth emulating.

The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” . . . “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Luke 18:39, 41 NAB

"Global Player" by Daniela Hartmann
The realities around the life of the laity are different. We have a vow for prosperity -- to make money. It is an integral part of our path to holiness. Make no mistake about that.

I pray for you and me that may we be gifted with the tenacity and clarity of this blind man. Indeed, as we walk with purpose, people and situation appear to "rebuke" us. Things don't always go the way we want them. People can literally tell us to quiet down. But do we cry out louder instead?

By Your Perseverance You Will Secure Your Lives -- Luke 21:19

Your perseverance counts . . . a lot! Jesus said in the gospel today that it will secure your life.

By your perseverance you will secure your lives. Luke 21:19 NAB

"Sun-Yat-Sen" by Evan Leeson -- There's so much we can learn from the perseverance and resilience of the bamboo grass.

Indeed, Saint Paul himself followed that word from the very mouth of Jesus. In the second reading today, Saint Paul mentioned his own perseverance to sustain himself while spreading the Word of God.

Luke 18:7 -- Faith and Persistence Pay

Faith and persistence bring home the bacon, according to the gospel today.

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? Luke 18:7-8 NAB

"In Prayer" by Jeanette Runyon

Watch Where the Vultures Go

Spiritually, are you alive? or dead? You'll know it by watching where the vultures go in your life.

They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather. Luke 17:37 NAB

The vulture waited for the child to die. This photo was taken by Kelvin Carter, a South African photojournalist, during the Sudan famine in 1994. The photo won a Pulitzer prize (and they saved the child, of course). Source: Sej's Whirlpool

Jesus Shall Light Up the Sky End to End

Jesus said in the gospel today that, when he comes again, He shall light up the sky from one side to another.

For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. Luke 17:24 NAB

"Disney - Illimunations - Reflections of Earth" by Joe Penniston

Thank God for His Blessings with a Loud Voice!

The Samaritan glorified God with a loud voice! I am totally overwhelmed by this verse in the gospel today.

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice. Luke 17:15 NAB

"Celebrate the New Begining | 2009" by Ram Reddy

When was the last time I thanked God with a loud voice? The thought grips me. I have thanked God in silent prayers, in murmurs, in writing, in songs. But have I thanked the Lord in a loud voice? When have I openly proclaimed in a loud voice my gratitude for the goodness of God?

How to See That We are the Temple of God

Sometimes it's just so difficult to see God when we look at the mirror in the morning.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 NAB

'Dew Drop at Dawn' by Iris Shreve Garrott

What we see in the mirror in the morning is something else. Sometimes or oftentimes we see a loser. Just a day before we didn't get the deal we want, or there's a strain in our relationships with people, or we're struggling with resources.

Thank You Lord for the Leadership in the Christian Community

In the gospel today, Saint Paul required appointed leaders of the community to be blameless, married only once and with believing children.

... on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. Titus 1:6 NAB

"Pasqua, Easter" by Giulio Bernard

Indeed, how can you lead a community if you cannot even lead yourself and your own family? I see my own community, Couples for Christ, appointing leaders of this nature.

We shall be like angels?

Like angels -- this is how Jesus describe the future of those "deemed worthy to attain to the coming age" . . .

They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. Luke 20:36 NAB

What are angels?

"Your Guardian Angel" by Cornelia Kopp

Abundance Dedicated to God -- Philippians 4:12

To be able to build abundance and dedicate it to God, that is the purpose of the laity. That is what the Philippians did. That is what Saint Paul has profoundly thanked them for:

I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
Philippians 4:12-13 NAB

"Sign of Abundance" by Philippa Willitt

Prudence of the Shrewd Steward is Good?

Prudence exercised by the shrewd steward earned for him the renewed favor of his master.

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light." Luke 16:8 NAB

"Sign My Life Away" by Adam Ross

Of all the verses that I read in the Bible this one came as the most shocking. How could a master possibly reward a dishonest steward? I didn't understand it.

God Loves You Even At Your Worst - Luke 15:4

The gospel today says God's love is perpetual and unending, even when we are the worst person who ever lived:

What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? ~ Luke 15:4 NAB

"Lost little lamb" by Matt Blakemore

That's kind of hard to take in this compensation-oriented society, isn't it? I mean, God loves Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot too? How about Osama Bin Laden? God loves him too? Gosh, a site lists down the "Top 10 Most Evil Men." God loves them too?

Do everything without grumbling or questioning - Phil 2:14

Do we grumble about or question God's commandment to love? This is what Saint Paul has to say about it to us in the gospel today.

Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world. Philippians 2:14-15 NAB

"If we hold on together" by Riza Nugraha

I've been an officer in the Citizens Army Training in high school and a member of the elite honor company in the Citizens Military Training in college. In both trainings, this was drilled deeply into my mind: "Obey before you complain." It is taboo in the military to question an officer's order.

Resurrection -- Do you believe this?

John 11:26 can be pretty hard to swallow, isn't it?

"Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" - John 11:26 NAB

That's exactly what Jesus said.

db baileys purgatory @ garden of npirl delights by Kean Kelly

Today is All Soul's Day. This is the day when we pray for the dead that they may be purified and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This means we, Catholics, believe there is stage between earth and heaven. We call it the purgatory.

Matthew 5:8 -- Blessed are the clean of heart

This verse from Matthew 5:8 in the gospel today reminds me of a talk given by a priest to members of Couples for Christ in Cubao, Quezon City in June 2008:

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8 NAB

"Shadow of my heart" by Daniela Hartmann

It is a shame that I cannot recall the name of the priest at this time*. But I will post his name later as soon as I find his name. He is a well-known priest and an author of a book.