Tag Archives: God’s promises

HOLDING ON TO GOD’S PROMISES

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Saturday 17th October – Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr

Reflection: Romans 4:13, 16-18

HOLDING ON TO GOD’S PROMISES

Our catechism teaches us that faith is the supernatural gift of God which enables us to believe without doubting whatever God has revealed. Faith makes us certain that whatever we ask of God will be granted to us according to His will. It gives us the assurance that we will always have answers to our prayers. All the promises of God to us his children are realized though faith hence scripture tells us: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)

Faith propels us to move even when the obvious situation around us asks us to stop. Faith tells you that you are a success when all around you is written failure. This is amazing! Yet, all too often we get worried and impatient when things do not go as planned and God seems not to be answering our prayers. If you have moments of waiting on God, do not be discouraged. You are in good company and you have the assurance that you will not be disappointed. Dear friend what are the promises of God concerning you and your family? Only believe! God is ever faithful.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to hold onto your promises with faith and trust just as Abraham did. May my trust in you never be disappointed. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 2611 – The prayer of faith consists not only in saying “Lord, Lord,” but in disposing the heart to do the will of the Father. Jesus calls his disciples to bring into their prayer this concern for cooperating with the divine plan.

HIDE A TREASURE: “No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Romans 4: 13, 16-18; Psalm 105: 6-9, 42-43; Luke 12:8-12

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DO NOT ABANDON HOPE

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Thursday 19th March – Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reflection: 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16

DO NOT ABANDON HOPE

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin and foster father of Jesus. The genealogy of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 1:1-17, shows that St. Joseph was of the line of King David whom the Lord promised in today’s first reading: ”Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever”. This promise was fulfilled in Christ Jesus, as the prophet Isaiah said, “He will reign on David’s throne and over all his kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forever” (Isaiah 9:6).  Though it took hundreds of years, God was faithful to His promise just as He was to our father Abraham.

Dear friends, our God can do much more than we can ask or imagine and He’s more willing to help us than we want to be helped. Though some of God’s promises may seem delayed from our perspective, we must not abandon hope. Though the tunnel may seem very dark and long, there will surely be light at its end; though our tears may persist all the night, we shall surely rejoice at dawn. Beloved in Christ, God’s delays are never His denials; He alone knows the best time is for us. Our Hope in God should lead us to understand that there is nothing impossible for God who is more than able to fulfill His promises.

Let us remember our fathers in the faith; has there been anyone who trusted the Lord and being confounded? Not one! Then, we too can be sure that our hope in God can never fail us. So keep hope alive.

PRAYER: Lord, increase my faith in you and give me the grace to know that in all things you always work for my good. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 308 – What is hope?

Hope is the power by which we firmly and constantly long for what we were placed on earth to do: to praise God and to serve him; and for our true happiness, which is finding our fulfillment in God; and for our final home: in God.

HIDE A TREASURE: “This is a vision for an appointed time; it will not fail but will be fulfilled in due time. If it delays, wait for it, for it will come and will not be deferred.” Habakkuk 2:3 CCB

Today’s Readings: 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16, Psalm 89: 2-5, 27, 29, Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22, Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

NEW THINGS HAVE COME

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Monday, 16th March – Monday of the 4th week of Lent

Reflection: Isaiah 65:17-21

NEW THINGS HAVE COME

Today, the Lord gives us a promise of newness. Newness signifies a fresh start, a blank page on which there are no memories of past errors or experiences. He promises a renewal to the people called by His name; replacing their grief with joy, lengthening their days on earth and blessing their hard work with fulfilment.

Dear friend, has life been tough on you? Have you been miserably battered by your past and find yourself dwelling on memories that bring you deep hurt? You do not have to continue living this way. God calls out to you, ready to give you a new beginning if only you would allow Him. Jesus is saying to you: “come unto me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest…and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:28).

Beloved, do you wish to be a partaker of these blessings? What is keeping you back? Take it all to the Lord with all humility and faith in Him and new testimonies shall be yours.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I submit myself to you. Please renew me; take away all past hurts and grant me a new life in you. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 221 – How does Holy Communion change me?

Every Holy Communion unites me more deeply with Christ, makes me a living member of the Body of Christ, renews the graces that I received in Baptism and Confirmation, and fortifies me for the battle against sin.

 HIDE A TREASURE: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:18-19 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 65:17-21; Psalm 30: 2-6, 11-13; John 4:23-54

STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

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Thursday 10th April – Thursday of the 5th week of Lent

Reflection: Genesis 17:3-9

STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

Patience is not passivity, but a strong endurance in the face of seeming defeat and disappointment; it is a refusal to be crushed by the blows of circumstances. “He, who believes, does not hasten,” and “In your patience possess your souls”. The possession of the soul describes the state in which a person has full command and undisturbed enjoyment of himself in opposition to outside influences, which disturb and decompose his peace of mind. Patience then is a submissive waiting, a frame of mind which is willing to wait because it knows whom it serves.

God called Abram when he was 75 years old to leave his homeland to a strange land and promised to make him father of all nations and to bless him greatly. Abram left for Canaan, and after years of staying in the land and the promises yet unfulfilled; Abram questioned the promises and God reaffirmed them (Genesis 15:2-7).  After 25 years of staying in the land, God gave him a son. Through his trials God taught him patience, and through patience and hope in God against all odds, came his merit; the fulfillment of God’s promises for him.

Dear Friends, our faith in God should lead us to trust Him even in the midst of adversity. We must not allow our trials and crosses to possess our souls; rather we should possess our souls with patience and hope in God. Let us stand on the promises that cannot fail, even when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, let us persevere and hope in God who is more than able, that we may receive our reward; the fulfilment of God’s promises for us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help me when I get impatient and too weak to carry on, help me to remain faithful to you. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 22 – How does one go about believing?

Someone who believes is seeking a personal union with God and is ready to believe God in everything that he shows (reveals) about himself.

HIDE A TREASURE: “He did not doubt nor did he distrust the promise of God, and by being strong in Faith, he gave glory to God: he was convinced that He who had given the promise had power to fulfil it” Romans 4:20-21 CCB

Readings for today: Genesis 17:3-9; Psalm105: 4-9; John 8:51-59