God's @ MindSay 
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Every now and then God reminds me that I need to walk one day at a time. Today He did that as I was considering the scriptures that say: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Or, another version: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is it’s own trouble.”) And also the prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
So apparently, each day has its problems, its troubles, its evils. They are “sufficient’. They are enough. What’s that mean? Enough for what? Sufficient for what? Sufficient to keep us busy? Is that all we are to do – keep busy? Each day has enough for us to worry about? Is that all we’re supposed to do – worry? Sufficient for us to “get through”? Is that our goal -- to get through, to make it through, each day? We just need to get through today, and then tomorrow we’ll have other things to worry about and we can concentrate on getting through that day? “Getting through”, surviving – is that our aim, our task? For some people throughout the world, that is their task, and it’s a huge task.
But that doesn’t seem to be all that these verses are talking about. These are, of course, the words of Jesus – as He is calling us to follow Him. Jesus isn’t calling us just to survive. We’re called to more than that. We’re called to overcome. Not to be survivalists, but to be overcomers.
Every day, these verses tell us, there is enough – enough trouble, enough evil, to occupy us in this task of overcoming. So what is all this evil that we confront every day? What’s the problem? Some days, yes, there are some big problems. The rent is due and I don’t have it. My spouse is mad at me. The car won’t start. A term paper is due and I don’t have it done. I’m not well. Those are troubles, alright. But evils? I wouldn’t really call them evils. We think of evils as great big, monstrous things – like robbers at the door or screams in the night or maybe learning that we have cancer in our body. We don’t face those kinds of things every day.
Well, every day there is, as they say, the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world is continually holding out it’s enticements to me (loud and clear – and persistent). The devil is tempting me, whispering in my ear. And my flesh is saying “Yes! Yes! I want it! Give me more! More! God didn’t really mean what He said, anyway.”
Yeah, that’s enough to overcome, that’s sufficient. For we’ve been called, as I mentioned, to follow Jesus. To follow Him in walking in unity with the Father, to follow Him in walking according to the Spirit, instead of according to our flesh. Doing whatever is necessary to fulfill the will of the Father, instead of our own will – today. Yeah, that’s enough, I’d say. That’s sufficient. Today – that’s when we need to do it. Not later on when I get stronger. Not on Sunday when I’m in the midst of worship. Not tomorrow, because that never comes. Today. “Today”, it says, “if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” “Today, while it is called today.”
Ouch – that doesn’t leave any wiggle room!
No wonder we need to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Man can’t live on bread alone, Jesus said, but by “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” That’s the daily bread we need – and it doesn’t just mean that we need to read some scripture every day, but more than that: we need to hear God’s voice. Wow – every day. And not shut it out, but receive it and walk in it. Yeah, that’s enough.
I think I’ll need some help.
REFLECTION John 6:41-51 >From the beginning of time, people have dreamed of immortality. They have dreamed about eternal life. And with each death of a loved one, that dream became more and more of an obsession with people. The 16th century explorer Ponce de Leon sailed to America in search for the legendary fountain of youth. Today, people still strive to be immortal. Just count the number of TV ads offering products that will help make you stay young, feel and look younger. People in positions of power will build monuments to perpetrate at least the memory of their name. We always hear people speak of "the untimely death of someone...." People always look at death as "untimely," because they aspire to live on and on. When Jesus appeared in Palestine and began talking about eternal life, people flocked to hear what he had to say. Jews were especially interested in the after life. Since the time of Abraham and Moses, they were in the dark about what happened to the dead. They believed there was a "world of the dead," but they had no idea what that world was like. And so any light Jesus could throw on the mystery was welcome. And one of the most remarkable things Jesus said about eternal life is what he says in today's Gospel. Listen to his remarkable words: "I am the bread of life... that comes down from heaven... If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live." (John 6: 48-51) Jesus reveals that life in this world isn't the end of things. There's another life to come. And that life will never end. It is eternal life. It is everlasting life The Second Vatican Council in its document, "The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy," declares: "Christ is always present in the Church, especially in the actions of the liturgy. He is present in the Sacrifice of the Mass, in the person of the minister... and most of all under the Eucharistic species." The Council continues: "Christ is present in the sacrament by his power, in such a way that when someone baptizes, Christ himself baptizes." Christ is "present in his word, for it is he himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in the Church." Jesus is with his Word. What he said more than 2,000 years ago to the people is what he said to us a few minutes ago in today's Gospel. Jesus is with us in his representative, the priest. Speaking to the representatives, Jesus said, "Whoever listens to you listens to me." (Luke 10:16) Finally, he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he himself promised: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst." (Matthew 18:20) Of all the ways Jesus is present among us, his presence in the Eucharist has always been special to us Catholics. Jesus is with us in the Sacrament of Eternal Life. It was concerning this sacrament that he says in today's Gospel, "I am the bread of life.... If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever." In the light of all this, is it any wonder that Jesus says to us: "How blest you are to see the things you see! I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, but they could not, and to hear what you hear, but they did not." (Luke 10:23-24) All we can do in the face of such a great mystery is pray: "God our Father, you have given us so much. Forgive us if we ask for one more thing. Give us the faith to recognize the Spirit of Your Son in the hearts of our brothers and sisters. Give us the faith to recognize the voice of your Son in the words we have just read and heard explained to us. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, through whom, and in whom, we will one day live with You and the Holy Spirit Forever and ever. Amen."
Insight of our immersion
Missionary life is always part of a human person who follows Christ. I was deeply moved during the entire immersion. The barangays where I was assigned allowed me to experience God’s loving providence. I realized that in spite of difficult life experienced during the immersion, God remained with us. He provided the necessary things that I needed. I remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “Courage… Do not be afraid!” God’s providence was greatly and concretely made visible through the people I met. I see Jesus in each one of them.
With the immersion, I experienced an inspiring journey in which my trust and love with the Lord became strong. To love God, therefore, is to trust Him unceasingly.
Time of the year is Fall....I think because everything is dying...I know it sounds morbid but it isn't...It is hopeful...It is lovely...To be fully born, you must die to something...Most religions teach that it is in death that our rewards come...and there is something quite beautiful about the maturity of Fall..the ripeness of Fall..the fullness of Fall..
My second favourite time of year is Springtime...when everything is born anew and hope and life begin all over...The sights of leaves unfurling towards the sun...and the smell of soil once the heat has begged it release it's fragrance .Black Humus is one of my favourite smells...It's true....A couple of days ago ..during a sunny afternoon in my back yard, I lifted the piece of wood from the pile....I noticed the life beneath it...worms and small critters moving and wriggling under the wood . Then I started to dig in my soil and I saw that I had many many earthworms....It reminded me of the newness of life...It was such a small observation but I realized that I was watching Life begin...I was seeing Hope in my Soil.....
I feel as though I am in the Spring of my life...I don't know why....I may feel sad days...lonely days...days of longing for a wonderful life's partner ....yet...even in those days...I can't help but feel a feeling of new life ...of Springtime...welling up in my soul....
It is good..
First, I am not your typical healer; like, I am not spooky, goofy, or weird. At least no one has ever mentioned my third eye! You'd be pleasantly surprised to learn how ordinary I am. I am not a Bible-thumper, fire and brimstone preacher either. I believe that God, or Divine Presence, or He or She, or however you refer to Him; is compassionate and merciful. I cannot explain all the suffering in the world, although I can say that that is one mystery that I spend a lot time thinking of, and praying about.
Secondly, I am not an M.D. nor any other kind of physician. However, thankfully, that is only one type of healer. I am a spiritual healer; only because of God's choosing. Believe me, I have tried many times to get out of it, one reason is because I feel so unfitting and unworthy. Only because I am such an unlikely candidate do I continue. I am completely certain of Who is doing the healing, and that I am only the messenger. I do not profess that Western medicine, or doctors are useless. Far from the truth. If you need to go to a doctor, by all means go and follow his/her prescriptions and suggestions.
Thirdly, this does not rule out other valid means of healing. In fact, Western medicine is every so slowly moving toward accepting this and even in some areas beginning to incorporate other methods into a blended type of healing. So, what I do is what in Spanish is called, "curanderismo", and spiritual healing. I highly believe in herbal healing and alternative healing methods. Interestingly, "Western medicine" often does not, although most medicines have a botanical basis. It's just that the pharmaceutical companies have found ways to patent these medicines in order to sell them for profit. If you've been to your pharmacy lately, you will have noticed the astrononmically high prices you are paying. Am I right??? So, if they cannot patent a remedy, they will say that it isn't effective. They have said exactly this for echinacea, if you will recall.
Thirdly, I believe in healing energy and that in some way or another, every one of us is a healer. It only stands to reason because we are made in the image of our Maker. If we are living as one may be another case, but this healing power comes from God, and is to be used only for good. One spectacular form of healing is laughter, and boy, does our world need a good dose of that. The pessimism, murderous hatred, and materialism is killing us.
Fourthly, for many, many years, people have been asking me to pray for them, or to pray for a particular intention. So, I have and every day I continue to add another person to what I call the "Prayer Circle". No person is ever dropped, and I only ask that person to pray for others in the Prayer Circle as well as in the world. So, that prayer is multiplied on and on. I consider this a very sacred and pleasant obligation. All of you are invited to join, and again, all you need to do, is pray for others. You may let me know your intention, you may keep it private, or e-mail me.
I believe totally in the power of prayer. Prayer is always answered, in one way or another; but is never wasted. I look forward to meeting you!
Blessings and greetings to you and to your family.
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