Aug
08
2007
Matthew 16:13-23
Nm 20:1-13 / Ps 95:1-2,6-9
. . .you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. . .
(Matthew 16:18)
Who Jesus is in my life today
Reflects the things I do and say.
Lord, let me always display Your ways
That others too may give You praise.
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He [...]
Aug
07
2007
Matthew 15:21-28
Nm 13:1-2.25–14:1.26-29.34-35 / Ps 106
Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.
(Matthew 15:28)
God always tests our fidelity
Before our prayers are granted;
Those who pray in all humility
Will never be disappointed.
Jesus and His disciples came to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son [...]
Aug
06
2007
Matthew 14:22-36
Nm 12:1-13 / Ps 51
Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.
(Matthew 14:27)
We are but men of little faith
Who cannot see what life’s about;
Release us from this troubled state,
Lord, take away our fears and doubt.
Jesus made the disciples get into a boat to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed [...]
Aug
05
2007
Luke 9: 28-36
Dn 7:9-10.13-14 / Ps 97 / 2 Pt 1:16-19
While He was praying His face changed in appearance…
(Luke 9:29)
Lord God, we believe that all of us
Must undergo a transformation,
Endure the hardships, climb the heights, just
Like Jesus’ own transfiguration.
Jesus took Peter, John and James with Him, and went up on the mountain to pray. As [...]
Aug
03
2007
Matthew 14: 1-12
Lv 25:1.8-17 / Ps 67
On Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
(Matthew 14:6)
Beware of a dancing girl’s sway,
Her passion can burn like hot coal;
Take care her steps lead you astray,
Like Herod you might lose [...]
Aug
02
2007
Matthew 13: 54-58
Lv 23:1.4-11.15-16.27.34-37 / Ps 81
He did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.
(Matthew 13:58)
Success seems like some kind of disease
For people with crab mentality;
The chains of envy and prejudice
Can only lead to disunity.
Jesus came back to His hometown of Nazareth and began to teach the people in their [...]
Aug
01
2007
Matthew 13: 47-53
Ex 40:16-21.34-38 / Ps 84
…the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea.
(Matthew 13:47)
Ignore His Word and you will end
In anguish and tormenting fire;
There’s little time for us to mend
Our ways, God’s kingdom to acquire.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the [...]
Jul
31
2007
Matthew 13: 44-46
Ex 34:29-35/Ps 99:5,6,7,9
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
(Matthew 13:46)
There is but one pearl of great price,
Paid for at such great sacrifice.
Life’s greatest tragedy would be
If its value [...]
Jul
30
2007
Matthew 13: 36-43
Ex 33:7-11; 34:5-9.28 / Ps 103:6-13
The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom.
(Matthew 13:37-38)
May we be counted to belong
Among the good seeds God has sown;
To fight for justice, right the wrong,
And make His [...]
Jul
29
2007
Matthew 13: 31-35
Ex 32:15-24.30-34 / Ps 106:19-23
It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full grown it is the largest of shrubs.
(Matthew 13:32)
To make the bread of life expand,
With yeast of love a pinch will do;
Christ’s parables we’ll understand
If in His Word we are renewed.
He put another parable before them. ‘The kingdom of [...]
Jul
27
2007
Matthew 13:24-30
Ex 24:3-8 / Ps 50
First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.
(Matthew 13:30)
God sends the sun after the rain,
To let the weeds grow with the wheat.
Don’t be afraid of Satan’s gain,
Christ has prophesied his defeat.
Jesus told them another parable: “The [...]
Jul
26
2007
Matthew 13: 18-23
Ex 20:1-17 / Ps 19
The man who hears the word and understands it — he produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
(Matthew 13: 23)
The seed of God’s Word has been sown
And has taken root in my heart. . .
Christ’s teachings now that we have known
To others we [...]
Jul
25
2007
Mattthew 13:16-17
Sir 44:1.10-15 / Ps 132
Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
(Matthew 13:16)
We are more fortunate today,
The Word of God we hear and see,
While those who lived in Jesus’ day
Were blinded by hypocrisy.
Jesus said, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly, [...]
Jul
24
2007
Matthew 20: 20-28
2 Cor 4:7-15 / Ps 126
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
(Matthew 20: 28)
Without personal ambition,
Christ’s leaders just abide and wait;
Their hearts filled with pure intention,
Servanthood is their common trait.
The mother of James and John Zebedee came to [...]
Jul
23
2007
Matthew 12: 46-50
Ex 14:21–15:1 / Ex 15:8-17
Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.
(Matthew 12:50)
To be Christ’s brother or sister,
This we must follow willingly -
God’s will: to love one another,
To be one in God’s family.
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared [...]
Jul
22
2007
Matthew 12: 38-42
Ex 14:5-18 / Ex 15: 1-6
An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it…
(Matthew 12:39)
Jonah’s obedience to God’s command
Prevented Nineveh’s destruction.
We need no sign to understand:
Repentance is God’s instruction.
Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from [...]
Jul
20
2007
Matthew 12: 14-21
Ex 12:37-42 / Ps 136
He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick until he brings justice to victory.
(Matthew 12:20)
From bonds of hate He set us free,
His Good News now we must proclaim;
We claim with all humility:
We’ll overcome in Jesus’ Name.
The Pharisees conspired against Jesus, and planned on how to [...]
Jul
19
2007
Matthew 12: 1-8
Ex 11:10–12:14 / Ps 116
If you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
(Matthew 12:7)
We are like chaff apart from grain
If we preach but do not practice…
Laws that we craft burden and pain,
Charity weighs more than justice.
At that time, Jesus was going through [...]
Jul
18
2007
Matthew 11: 28-30
Ex 3:11-20 / Ps 105
Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:30)
No burden is too heavy,
No task too hard to serve the Lord,
God makes the job seem easy
With His Kingdom as its reward.
Jesus knew the yoke that the religious leaders and teachers of the Judaic [...]
Jul
17
2007
Matthew 11:25-27
Ex 3:1-6.9-12 / Ps 103
You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
(Matthew 11:25)
May you be blessed in words and deed,
In trust and faith be reconciled,
From prejudice be truly freed,
As you aspire to be God’s child.
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven [...]
Jul
16
2007
Matthew 11:20-24
Ex 2:1-15 / Ps 69
. . . if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
(Matthew 11: 23)
Let us heed the words of Jesus:
The worse will come without remorse;
We know that there is no excuse,
Repentance is our sole recourse.
Then Jesus began to criticize openly the [...]
Jul
15
2007
Matthew 10:34 –11:1
Ex 1:8-14.22 / Ps 124
Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
(Matthew 10:38)
As we have been shown by Jesus,
May God’s love be our life’s mission.
For the poor, live out the Good News;
This should be our prime profession.
Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to [...]
Jul
13
2007
Matthew 10: 24-33
Gn 49:29-33; 50:15-24 / Ps 105
Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Matthew 10:31)
When trials come, and strifes won’t cease,
We sometimes doubt if God is near;
It’s simply faith that brings us peace,
Restores our hope and conquers fear!
Jesus said, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above [...]
Jul
12
2007
Matthew 10: 16-23
Gn 46:1-7.28-30 / Ps 37
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
(Matthew 10:22-23)
It’s not for glory or men’s praise
We struggle to proclaim God’s Word;
We’re driven by the Spirit’s grace,
To serve God is [...]
Jul
11
2007
Matthew 10: 7-15
Gn 44:18-21.23-29; 45:1-5 / Ps 105
Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.
(Matthew 10:
We shall not lack for provision
In our mission to serve the Lord;
Nor should we seek compensation,
Being chosen is enough reward.
“As you go, make this proclamation: `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, [...]
Jul
10
2007
Matthew 10: 1-7
Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7.17-24 / Ps 33
. . . go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
(Matthew 10:7)
Being sent, it is our duty
To share what we have been given;
That in this we may be worthy
To receive the [...]
Jul
09
2007
Matthew 9: 32-38
Gn 32:23-33 / Psa 17
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
(Matthew 9:38)
The grains in the fields are golden,
The grapes are heavy on the vine,
The chains of sin will be broken
To save the world by God’s design.
As they [...]
Jul
08
2007
Matthew 9: 18-26
Gen 28:10-22 / Ps 91
She said to herself, ‘If only I can touch his cloak, I will be healed.’
(Matthew 9:21)
I only touched Your cloak, my Lord,
And from my sins You’ve set me free;
My health and vigor You’ve restored,
Now I shall serve You faithfully.
While Jesus was teaching, a ruler came and knelt before Him [...]
Jul
06
2007
Matthew 9: 14-17
Gn 27:1-5.15-29 / Ps 135
The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then, they will fast.
(Matthew 9:15)
Death on the cross was the price
That Jesus paid for our sins . . .
Now that we’re renewed in Christ
Why put ‘old wine’ into ‘new wineskins’?
The disciples of John came and [...]
Jul
05
2007
Matthew 9: 9-13
Gn 23:1-4.19; 24:1-8.62-67 / Ps 106
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
It’s just our availability
That warrants God’s invitation;
When we hear Jesus’ words, “Follow Me”,
May there be no hesitation.
Jesus was walking one day when He saw a man called Matthew sitting at his customs booth. He [...]
Jul
04
2007
Matthew 9: 1-8
Gn 22:1-9 / Ps 115
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.’
(Matthew 9:2)
Repentance comes before we’re healed;
With sin, miracles won’t happen.
Our faith can help, but not until
All our sins have been forgiven.
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some [...]
Jul
03
2007
Matthew 8: 28-34
Gen. 21:5,8-20 / Ps 34
The whole town set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave their district.
(Matthew 8:34)
Guard against earthly obsessions
Strive only for the things divine;
Desire for worldly possessions
Drives men to the level of swine.
When Jesus reached the district of Gadara, two demoniacs confronted [...]
Jul
02
2007
John 20: 24-29
Eph 2:19-22 / Ps 117:1,2
These are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in His name.
(John 20:31)
Like St.Thomas we often doubt
Till God takes the initiative.
But we are more blessed, we found out:
When only with His [...]
Jul
02
2007
Matthew 8:18-22
Gn 18:16-33 / Ps 103:1-4,8-11
Follow Me, and let the dead bury their dead.
(Matthew 8:22)
Not all of us are called to serve;
Others stay to “bury their dead”.
Some follow but merely observe.
We live who follow Christ our Head.
When Jesus saw a crowd growing in numbers around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side. [...]
Jun
30
2007
Matthew 8: 5-17
Gn 18:1-15 / Lk 1:46-55
Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me.
(Matthew 8:8-9)
What does it take to be Christ’s soldier?
Intelligence? Strength? Courage? Honor?
No, it just [...]
