There is a disturbing verse in the Bible that says, “Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” Psalm 137:9. If you run that through the Internet, you’ll find that many people debate over it. There are some pro-choice people who even use it as Scriptural basis to prove that the Bible supports abortion. That is perhaps taking it too far. If you take it literally, maybe you can even get some Christians to think twice about it but I doubt that it’s convincing.
There is this Baptist preacher named Paul Washer who says, “If you want to know what Paul said, read the verse. If you want to know what he meant, read the whole book.” That’s a good guideline. Too many people today in many Christian sects, misquote and misconstrue what the Bible says and what it means. For them, it is a tool they can use to justify their own ideals. And they’re not shy to change some of the words to their advantage. There is a punishment in store for those people.
Psalm 137 though, speaks about the Jewish exile in Babylon. Here, their captors mock them and treat their religion as entertainment. The culture that they are suddenly in, is sinful. And they are forced to embrace it. But the ones in exile are aware of this sinfulness and fight against it. So for them to say “Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” is to talk about sin. When sin is yet an infant, perhaps a temptation or a small inviting indiscretion, “happy shall he be” when he does not succumb.
Are there temptations and small inviting indiscretions in your life? Maybe there are. You know them full well. They are the ones you keep secret from the people closest to you; secret from your best friend, from you wife, from your parents, and even from yourself… You even try to keep them from God and sometimes justify that they are just small and negligible. But these are the ones that exactly bring us down.
Every good Christian understands that they need to change. The big sins are sometimes the easiest to reform. It’s the little secret ones that are a challenge. And they are difficult to change alone. But God made you a promise to help. He said, “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Mat 7:8, Lk 11:10). In faith, let us ask to be completely changed because God never forgets a promise.
“Lord, I have this small habitual sin. Many times I’ve confessed it. I am even sometimes ashamed to confess it again for fear the priest might recognize me. And often, I don’t even admit it to you because I’m afraid. But I know there is nothing I can hide from You; You know all things. I want to change, Lord; I’m ready now. Because I don’t like being ashamed. I don’t like being afraid. And most of all, I don’t like being far from You. Speak to me, Lord in ways I can clearly understand, that I may truly be changed. Heal my relationship with you because it is the most important one in my life. With all my heart, I ask, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Popularity: 1% [?]
Related Entries
Priests in Concert - “Pagtawag at Pagtugon”
A Childlike Faith
Postcard from Paradise
Zacchaeus’s PERSEVERANCE
Who Are We?
Something happened during mass yesterday. One of the girls disobeyed me. It was probably the first direct disobedience. I was fuming inside while the offertory song was being sung.
“You disobeyed me,” I whispered when she came back. As soon as I said it, I knew that I would regret it.
And then I remembered (morel like God refreshing my memory) about Bo Sanchez’s piece below.
I think you can deduce what happened in the end.
———-
It’s Not About You
By Bo Sanchez
The Boss Kerygma Magazine July 2004
I just came from Mass.
And I had Benedict with me. My little bundle of rocket-powered energy.
My cartoon character come to life. (think Superman, midget size.)
After singing the entrance song, I could barely contain him.
First, he grabbed my glasses, telling me, “I’ll clean them for you, Daddy.” He blew on them with full force, complete with specimens of his afternoon snack.
And while I wanted him to sit on my lap, he wanted to conquer the world. Do cartwheels, rescue mankind, kiss every Mama Mary statue, light all 59 votive candles and rebuild the Kingdom of God.
I wanted to ask, “Son, do you mix shabu with your milk?”
I was so distracted at Mass, I didn’t even remember the readings and homily.
I was too busy answering the most complex questions from the theologian beside me. Doctoral queries like. “Daddy, who created God?” and “Why is Jesus stronger than Superman?” and “Why did God take my little brother to heaven?” (My wife suffered a miscarriage a year ago.)
And I didn’t remember if there was a consecration!
All I remember was that somewhere after the Offertory, my little tyke said in his usual nice, nuclear-powered, super-booming voice, “I WANT TO PEE! IT WANTS TO COME OUT NOW!”
So I haul him off to some potted plant outside the church. (Father, forgive me for I have sinned….)
When we finally come home, I sighed, “So, did I or didn’t I go to Mass?”
And I heard a familiar voice like that of a gentle wind.
“You did son. And I loved every minute of it.”
“Uh…Did Youo attend the same church? OR did You visit another parish?”
“I was right beside you and the midget superman.”
“Why did you love every minute of it? I was harassed!”
“You loved me enough to go to Mass. I’m honored by your struggle to love Me. And remember, no matter how distracted you were, I wasn’t. Get this straight: Mass isn’t about you Bo. It’s about Me. You go there not to have good feelings. You go there to love me.”
I looked at superman beside me.
“Hey God said He enjoyed you at Mass.”
He smiled. “I know.”
Popularity: 2% [?]
Related Entries
No related posts
My wife and I exchanged worried glances even as we try to keep calm.
After nearly 10 minutes of fruitless effort to find Zek, who wandered away towards the stage area where Bo Sanchez is preaching, I was starting to wish that he’d simply recognize that he is lost and start to cry out loud to direct me to where he is. It did not help a bit that it was only my second time to attend the weekly Kerygma Feast at Valle Verde Country Club and I am still quite unfamiliar with the venue. Aisle after aisle after aisle and nary a sign of our 4 year old son.
I paused and pray for help.
It was at that instant that I remember one particular spot that Zek fondly played at the first time we came there. He was running up and down the access ramp for the disabled at the lobby entrance. “If he strayed far enough to go outside of the hall, then he should stop there and wait for us”, I tried to convince myself as I squeezed through the throng of audience blocking my way. My chest was pounding hard.
And from afar I saw our son holding and embracing the chrome-plated hand rail post. He was gazing towards the entrance which is just a few steps away from him.
I called him and what I saw melted my heart.
He was misty-eyed already, almost sobbing and frightful of the thought that he can not find us.
Without taking another breath, I embraced him and assured him that everything is fine now.
I shared to him how worried his mommy and I have been looking for him.
I praised him for not totally going out of the venue but I also reminded him to stay near us because he can easily get lost within the crowd.
We went back inside and my wife was finally relieved as well.
In Luke Chapter 15, Jesus spoke about the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and finally the lost son, which is more commonly known as the story of the prodigal son.
Whereas we are assured of God’s all-loving plan to find every single lost soul, it should come clear to our mind as well that He alone can not find us if we ourselves do not want to be found. Truth be re-told over again, God finds us only when we present ourselves to be found.
The lost sheep, with its naturally strong herd instinct, tries to keep its way on their usual routes and tracks after wandering off. So the shepherd’s chance of finding him along the places they normally go or stay is quite good. The old coin was lost inside the house so the woman knows where to look for it and her efforts paid off after sweeping the whole house under a lighted lamp. Finally, the prodigal son, realizing his grievous mistake, made his way back to his waiting father who “caught sight” of him from afar, ran to meet him, embraced and kissed him.
We are no different at all.
Like a sheep, an old coin or the squandering son, we have at one time or another been lost and needed to be found.
Do you feel lost?
What must you do?
Stay Quiet
The noises left and right tends to drown the voice of God that lovingly calls us back to Him. These noises vary from your troubled mind or feelings of unworthiness to doubts of His mercy or hopelessness to get up from the deep sinking hole of your sinfulness. Clatters and clanging sounds may comes in the form of people who, instead of supporting us to get up, will join in jeering chorus that we hit rock bottom without any way out. So the right way is to stay away from the crowd that drowns His presence and dampens our spirit of repentance. Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Stay Put
There is no use in moving farther and farther in detour spirit-constricting directions if you know the way will only lead to further self-destruction. Stop and look around. If you are now in a very unfamiliar position or situation where God’s presence is the least you can feel, then chances are you are really lost. So if you are not sure which is the way back home, then just stay put and wait for the Lord. Trust Him as He commences His effective life-changing ways to find you to re-direct your paths towards Him.
Stay Visible
You may be near the Lord but if you keep on hiding yourself, then finding you will not be easy. Hiding usually comes in the form of shame on your past deeds. Look up to the Lord and with a contrite heart shout out to Him, “Lord here I am, have mercy on me a sinner.” Do not be discouraged. Take solace that Zachaeus has to climb up the sycamore tree just to show himself to Jesus who was passing by then. Believe that like the blind man Bartimaues who shouted and begged Jesus to heal him, your pious efforts to be heard will not go unnoticed with the Lord.
Dear friend, stop being lost, let yourself be found and come home now.
Jesus assured you that there will be rejoicing in Heaven for your much-awaited homecoming.
“Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. (Luke 15:22-24)
Popularity: 5% [?]
Related Entries
Bloggers Finding God
Truth or Consequence
The Lord of our Rings
How Can I Find You God?
God Wants to Throw You A Party
Even if they are a few years old, I still keep on listening to the downloaded talks in mp3 format by Bo Sanchez from Kerygmafamily.com.
To download his talks, sign up at Kerygmafamily.com and download the mp3’s. he also has videos there.
In one talk, he talks about the Truth of God’s Love for us, his Presence, His faithfulness – even if it “seems” He is not there. Bo continued with this striking line:
“Do not base your life on your feelings, circumstances and conditions. The truth is God love us and He cares for us.”
Then he told of this World War II story.
A captain in a battleship was traversing the seas one night and sees a light on the same path as they were. He signals “Please move to the left.” The replies came “You move to the left.” A bit ruffled, the Captain pulled rank, “I am a captain, please move to the left.” “I am just a sergeant, but please, you move to the left.” Angry, the captain insisted “We are a battleship! You move to the left!” Came back the response: “We are a lighthouse – on top of an island. You move to the left.”
Guess who move to the left?”
Sometimes we see only the darkness and gloom all around us and forget that God is there. The worries and concerns of this world may seem too much to bear and we often wonder why God does not come to rescue us.
We should be self-assured in faith, that like the lighthouse, on top of an island – God is there for us and we should put our faith in him.
You might be experiencing an all-time low in your life right now. With the world economy, everyone is feeling the crunch. Disaster strike and we ask “Where is Jesus?”
The Son replies: “I am here. Come.”
PS: Let us include all those who suffered, those who perished and were affected by Typhoon Frank. Let us help in any way we can. Be the face of Jesus.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Related Entries
Truth or Consequence
FREE LENTEN RECOLLECTION FOR SINGLE MEN
God’s Word: the Standard of Justice and Right Living
The Divine Mercy Devotion Goes Digital
SINGING AT MIDNIGHT
Our kids go to Cradle of Joy at 11th Jamboree St, QC. I really recommend it for many reasons which deserve a longer post.
You may have heard or experienced children having trauma when first brought to school for a variety of reasons. I think that most of these would have been prevented if the kids were properly oriented and prepared. Some of them were overwhelmed with the new surrounding. Others have difficulty with new people and routines. Whatever the reason, the first day of school should be one of the most joyful experiences in a child’s life. You just don’t take them out of the house and put them in a class.
If you have toddlers (aged 2 – 4) and want to prepare them for preschool here is a program tailor made just for this.
Cradle of Joy Center for Learning’s Monthly Specials:
July 2-28 My Healthy Body
Aug. 4-29 My Five Senses
Sept. 3-29 Nursery Rhymes & Fairytales
Oct. 1-27 Pets Parade
Nov. 10-Dec.5 Jesus is Born
Jan. 5-30 God made Plants and Flowers
Feb. 9-Mar.6 Hearts of Love
Each SPECIAL is a 12-day course, including a field trip and age-appropriate activities integrating Math, Reading, Science, Music and Movement, Art and Social Studies.
Classes are three times a week (MWF) from 2:30 – 4:30 PM.
Contact details:
Cradle of Joy at #14 11th Jamboree St.,
Brgy. Sacred Heart, Kamuning, QC
921-0602 or 494-6342
coj_foundation@yahoo.com
Popularity: 7% [?]
Related Entries
Christmas is about Saving, not Spending
Preparing for Christmas
Zig Ziglar’s Thoughts on Parenting
A Childlike Faith
On Prayers
