In the old testament, children and women did not have legal personality, so they didn’t witness or bring out charges in court. But a widow persisted in bringing her case to a judge and was awarded her request.
Fr. Mar related that his group planned a Light in the Spirit Seminar (LSS) at the Meralco Theater. To recover their cost, they should be able to have 200 participants at least. Initially, they only had two registrants. So, he asked the priest to pray that God send more participants. Their petition was granted. four hundred plus attended the LSS.
We have to pray unceasingly. When we pray, it teaches us to be humble.
Sept 5
On this day’s Sunday reading of the Gospel, Jesus said that to be His disciple, hatred should be absent in one’s heart and that the would be disciple should renounce his possessions.
Luke 14:25-33
… great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “if any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”
In this connection, Fr Mar related this story:
A a well off Frenchman and a professor , was married, with two grown-up children was appointed as an ambassador to the Vatican. During the course of his work as an ambassador, he met the Filino priests and was subsequently invited to the Philippines. During his stay in the Philippines, he decided to renounce his possessions and follow Jesus, He is now a seminarian in the Philippines and nearing his ordination as a priest.
If you were in his shoes, would you be able to do the same?
August 29
On Sunday’s, August 29 Gospel, Fr. Mar touched on humility and about inviting people to a feast. Invite ones who cannot repay you back.
He related a true story which happened in an airline. A white person was seated beside a black passenger. The white passenger created a scene. In a loud voice which could be heard by the other passengers, she demanded that she be transferred to another seat. The steward said that all seats were occupied. However, there was a vacant seat in the business class. “Then, transfer me there” said the white passenger. But the steward said that the black passenger would be transferred to the business class. Upon hearing this, the passengers clapped.
Humility pays off.
Below is the Gospel of August 29:
Luke 14:1, 7-14
1 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. 7 He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, 9 and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. 10 Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. 13 Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14 blessed indeed
will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
