Bible
Study: Revelations 1, 1 to 4 and 2, 1 to 5. Luke 18,
35 to 43.
As the
year ends, it is not surprising that we are taking our reading from the Last
book of the bible; the book of Revelations. This is one book that is not very
easy to understand even though its message is very clear. Today, we read from a
letter addressed to one the churches; the church of Ephesus.
In it, God
speaking through John tells the Ephesians: “I know your works…” Reading through
this, it sounds like God telling me personally: “Father, I know you, I know what
you are capable of doing, I know the things that even others do not know about
you, your secrets, your sins as well as your potentials.” It sounds scary, yet
it is just the plain truth. We cannot hide anything from God.
As much as
God praised the Ephesians for their good deeds; their patient endurance, their refusal
to tolerate evil men as well the hardships they put up with for the sake of God’s
name, God still points out their fault. “I have something against you; you have
abandoned the love you had at first!”
Can you
take your minds to the moment you became a Christian? Do you recall back in the
days when your love for God was hotter than fire? Perhaps, the days of your
catechism? Do you remember when you gave your life to Christ? I recall the day I
made up my mind to go to the seminary. Honestly, can I say that fire is still
burning today?
As God
speaks to the Ephesians today, God is pointing out to me today to revive the
old spirit; to return to the days of innocence; the days of firm determination;
the days I would rather have my head cut off than give in to sin. If this is
what we desire, then like the blind man who begged for his sight in today’s
Gospel passage, we must get down on our kneels and call upon Jesus.
Once upon
a time, back in the days of first love, we could see spiritual things, we never
let a day pass without the full rosary and some of us even read the whole bible
cover to cover, we were so eager for God. But what has happened today? we
allowed the pleasures of this world, the vanishing vanities blind our eyes. Now
we don’t even know how many books are in the bible or which comes before which,
we no longer see visions, we no longer pray in the spirit.
Let us
pray that our eyes would be open again. Let us pray that we may return to our
first love. Call on Jesus with faith that he who did not refuse sight to the
man sitting at the roadside will look with mercy and restore your sight in the spirit.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have
Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. Happy new week.
Fr. Abu
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