Journey with the Bible – 11/10/2011

My journey with the Bible – 11/10/2011

Daily Readings

First Reading – Wisdom 7:22b-8:1

Psalm – Ps 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175

Gospel – Luke 17:20-25

Please read the readings first before you read my blog. I promise by the end of it, you will be floored!

I listened to the readings today 4 times before the Holy Spirit revealed to me what it was. Listened, because I use an app called “Catholic One” on Android phone, which has readings, rosary, prayers…etc. If you have an Android phone, it’s highly recommended, and it’s free. Anyway, today’s readings are just one of those days where I scratch my head and say “I absolutely did not understand that”. But thank God for the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to scratch our heads anymore. In many cases, when I pray and reflect on them, Jesus shows me how the readings are relevant to my life, by reminding me of my life. I love the First Reading on Wisdom; it talks about the characteristics of wisdom. It is truly something that we should desire as we walk in the Holy Spirit. We should never do anything anymore without walking with God and asking for His wisdom. Then I went listening to the Psalm, and then the Gospel. I was blank. So I listened to it again the second time…still blank. Then I said, let me listen the third time, surely I will get it this time, for the third time is in honor of the Trinity and the hour of great mercy…and then…blank. So I prayed again, and ask for help from the Holy Spirit...and this time…Voila! I cried while driving. I had tears in my eyes, I said “Lord, I am not worthy”…I must have repeated that sentence many times, the other drivers on the highway must have been thinking I am nuts, I had tears running down my face. How can I not share this gem, this is a gold mine from the Lord.

Reading the first reading again, I was shocked! I know that the chapter is talking about the characteristics of wisdom, but at the same time she was prophesying! Read and internalize every words and you will see a striking similarity to every characteristics of Jesus. Intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle…and list goes on and on. Could it be the she was talking about Jesus?!? Before we move on take note of the line “Compared to light, she takes precedence; for that indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom”. The Psalm is in conjunction with the First and Gospel, for indeed the Word of God is forever. Remember that the book of Wisdom was written years and years ago before Christ came. Now let’s move on to the Gospel, it’s not too hard to internalize for indeed Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Now let’s put it together, first, psalm and gospel readings. Wisdom prophesied Jesus way before He even came, and described his characteristics and the Kingdom of God; just internalize every word in the book of Wisdom…its Jesus!!! Now the Psalm proclaims that “Your word is forever”, indeed it is forever, it passes from the Old Testament to the New and to our days, and the gospel reading is the fulfillment of that prophecy. Remember that verse in Wisdom that I told you to take note of? Aside from the characteristics of Jesus, she was prophesying of his death and resurrection also! When she talks of “precedence”, “night supplants”, “wickedness” she was talking about the death of Jesus, but wickedness does not prevail over Him, and so she is talking about the resurrection! Isn’t this great! The words of the bible come alive!!!

Lastly, let’s look at the word “lightning” in the gospel. That word particularly strikes me. Remember, when Jesus said that we don’t know when the hour is coming, and that we should be ready at all times? When lightning strikes, we don’t know the time, but we do know that lightning comes when there are dark clouds, in the same manner we know that Jesus will come again, amen? But we don’t know when and what time. Should we be waiting then for the last minute before we start changing our lives and denounce worldly desires? Should we be waiting for the last minute before we extend helping hands to our brothers and sisters? Should we be waiting till we are old and weak before we start going to church more frequently and go to confession more frequently, or read the bible or stop living in the world? Should we be waiting for the Holy Spirit to kick our arse (excuse me for the word) to get ourselves moving and use our gifts? Though every morning is new, we do not know when our time will come.

Disclaimer: I am not a bible scholar, nor a theology expert. What I am writing here is my personal reflection and revelation as revealed to me by the Holy Spirit. I am writing this down so that others may benefit from it and to glorify God and allow the words of God to shine through and learn from it.