Rejoice and welcome a person from being lost

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 15:1-10

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."So to them he addressed this parable."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?And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Reflection:

whatever we have lost we always tend to find it. Jesus in this Gospel tells us the comparison of lost person to a lost coin and a lost sheep. He compared the lost person to the lost coin and sheep because almost everyone would be happy if you loose and find a coin and a sheep. A lost coin will give value to a million peso because if you loose one it is no longer a million peso. That is why you will rejoice if you loose and find the lost one. We will never get envy if we will welcome a lost person from our community or our family who happens to have lost himself to sinfulness. We must be happy to welcome them and rejoice so our family and community would be complete.

Never give an excuse of God's invitation

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 14:15-24

One of those at table with Jesus said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God."He replied to him, "A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, 'Come, everything is now ready.'But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, 'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.'And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.'And another said, 'I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.'The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.'The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.'The master then ordered the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled.For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

Reflection:

Sometimes we are so busy doing something not to go to the church anymore. Even if what we have done is not so important. Nowadays, even watching tv is already an excused of our obligation to go to the church. We always wanted to have an excuse of God's invitation to eat dinner with Him. Jesus gave us the warning that whoever will not accept God's invitation to his dinner will never taste His dinner anymore. Be sure to have an honest excuse for whatever God invitation, otherwise, we will no longer be invited by God.

The secrets to be blessed

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.He began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. "

Reflection:

The gospel of Jesus teaches us on how to be blessed. Everyone of us are longing to be blessed by God. Jesus simply told us that in order to be blessed, we have to follow the Eight Beatitudes which are mentioned above.