I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE CRUCIFIED

⏰Monday of the Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time 2 (03 September 2018 – Memorial of St. Gregory the Great)

📖1 Cor 2:1-5; Ps 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 (R.v.97a); Luke 4:16-30

My dear, may I once more thank you for your spiritual support yesterday as we kept watch with our sick mother. Not only did she make it through the surgery, I have spoken with her. There is so much joy in me now that is really choking. Thank you for being there for me.

At least, from my experience yesterday, you can now see better that we, priests, are also human and in need of your prayers. Keep praying for us that our faith will never fail us. In 1 Cor 2:1-5, St Paul tells us that our success in life and salvation do not depend on our power or achievement. It is rather dependent upon our faith in our crucified Lord, Jesus Christ.

How true is that? The evangelist Luke tells us that right at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus read out his manifesto (Luke 4:18-19), and you are part of that. Listen to what he tells you today, my dear;

👉The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to YOU!
👉He has sent me proclaim liberty to YOU!
👉And sight (vision) to YOU!
👉To free YOU from oppression, and;
👉To announce the Lord’s year of mercy to YOU!

Hope you said amen to those. See! Jesus did not speak from the blues. Listen to him saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt 28:18). He demonstrated that authority when he SAT DOWN to teach in the synagogue (Luke 4:20), a prerogative of teachers.

Let me ask you, “Are your eyes fixed upon him as that of other people (cf. Luke 4:20)?” If only we can all do that, we can always hear him again saying to us, “Today these words of Scripture [Luke 4:18-19] have come true even as you listen” (Luke 4:21).

It does not mean that all will always be smooth for you. Insofar as you follow Christ, you must have your rough edges. But even at this, you would have gained your soul, which is the most important.

May you be granted open doors, protection and more friendship with Jesus in this new working week and beyond. Peace be with you.