Live in the Light of Truth

 "What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; 

what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops."

MATTHEW 10 : 27

Lord Jesus, You are the light of my life. Be praised and glorified O Lord for making me see things as they are.

In You, nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. I humbly ask O Lord that You help me live in the light of Your truth. Put falsehood away from me and strengthen me to resist any form of wrongdoing. Let You love and goodness be my strongest weapon to fight the evils of the world.

My faith and trust is in you alone. Although I am surrounded by ravenous wolves who seeks to devour me, I stand strong and confident that for so long as I am with you, no harm can ever come to me. Thank You so much for Your Spirit that makes me deal with every situation in a manner that pleases You. 

You have given me so much peace even in times of troubles and have greatly increased my patience and endurance. Who else can I turn to except You who is my lone savior, protector, and master? You alone are the most valuable treasure that I have and I love you very much. 

With much love, gratitude, thanksgiving and praise I pray. Amen.

Published:

July 15, 2013, 11:21 AM

Speaking the Truth

From His side, a river flowed,

Blood and water, love bestowed.

Symbol of a sacrifice divine,

God's love for us, forever enshrined.

Son of God, yet humble in heart,

To the Father's will, He did impart.

Unto death, His obedience did span,

A lesson of humility for every woman and man.

In our journey, as we tread,

By His example, we are led.

Humility and obedience, our guide,

In His footsteps, we confide.

God's promises, a beacon bright,

Guiding us through the darkest night.

Faithful to fulfill, He stands,

Holding us in His mighty hands.

Even when adversity is nigh,

Our faith in Him, we amplify.

Bold and steadfast, we remain,

In His love, we are sustained.

Witness to the truth of Christ we bear,

His love and grace, we openly share.

In our lives, His truth resounds,

In His love, we are profoundly found.

REFLECTION:

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. (John 19:35)

The piercing of Jesus’ side, from which flowed blood and water, symbolizes the outpouring of God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus for humanity’s salvation. Despite being the Son of God, Jesus humbly submitted to the will of the Father, even unto death. This teaches us the importance of humility and obedience in our spiritual journey. 

Let us trust in God’s promises, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill them. Even in the face of adversity, we should be steadfast and bold in our faith, and bear witness to the truth of Christ in our own lives.

Dear Lord Jesus,

We come before You, acknowledging the symbol of Your love and sacrifice. The piercing of Your side, from which flowed blood and water, is a powerful reminder of the depth of Your love and the extent of Your sacrifice for our salvation.

Despite being the Son of God, You humbly submitted to the will of the Father, even unto death. This teaches us the importance of humility and obedience in our spiritual journey. Help us to follow Your example, to submit to the Father's will with a humble heart, and to obey His commandments faithfully.

We trust in Your promises, knowing that You are faithful to fulfill them. Even in the face of adversity, help us to be steadfast and bold in our faith. May we bear witness to the truth of Your love and sacrifice in our own lives.

In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Pericope:

III: The Book of Glory

THE BLOOD AND WATER

John 19:31-37

Gospel | John 19:31-37

Gospel Acclamation

Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord; and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.

31 Since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, 34 but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. 36 For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: Not a bone of it will be broken. 37 And again another passage says: They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

Background:

John 19:31-37 is a passage from the New Testament of the Bible, specifically from the Gospel of John. This passage describes the events that took place after Jesus’ crucifixion.

On the day of Preparation for the Sabbath, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. Therefore, they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. This was in accordance with Jewish law, which prohibited bodies from remaining on the cross during the Sabbath.

The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who had been crucified with Jesus. However, when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.

These events fulfilled the Scriptures that said, “Not one of His bones shall be broken” and "They will look on Him whom they have pierced". The account of the piercing of Jesus’ side is unique to the Gospel of John.

This passage underscores the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the events of Jesus’ death and affirms the truth of Jesus’ messiahship. It also emphasizes the importance of witness and testimony in establishing faith.

Learning Lessons:

John 19:31-37 offers several spiritual lessons:

Fulfillment of Prophecy: The events surrounding Jesus’ death were not random, but fulfilled specific Old Testament prophecies. This teaches us about the sovereignty of God and the reliability of His Word.

The Importance of Witness: The account emphasizes the role of witness and testimony in establishing faith. It reminds us to bear witness to the truth of Christ in our own lives.

God’s Love and Sacrifice: The piercing of Jesus’ side, from which flowed blood and water, symbolizes the outpouring of God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus for humanity’s salvation.

Humility and Obedience: Despite being the Son of God, Jesus humbly submitted to the will of the Father, even unto death. This teaches us the importance of humility and obedience in our spiritual journey.

Trust in God’s Promises: Even in death, Jesus was protected by God, fulfilling the promise that not one of His bones would be broken. This encourages us to trust in God’s promises, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill them.

Boldness in Faith: Despite the circumstances, the disciples remained bold in their faith. This teaches us to be steadfast and bold in our faith, even in the face of adversity.

Let’s pray and seek God’s wisdom to apply these lessons in our daily lives.  (Conversation with Copilot)

Consecrate in the Truth

"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. 

As you sent me into world, so I sent them into the world. 

And I consecrate myself for them, 

so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

(John 17:17-19)

Jesus desires that we have the full measure of His joy within us as His disciples. The joy of the Lord is our strength. We need divine protection in a world filled with spiritual dangers. God’s word is truth. As believers, we have been sanctified to by the truth. We live in the world but not be of the world. Let us continue Jesus’ mission in the world and to pray for others, interceding on their behalf.

In the heart of every disciple, a joy does reside,

A joy from Jesus, in whom we confide.

The joy of the Lord, our strength, our song,

Guiding us, uplifting us, making us strong.

In a world of dangers, seen and unseen,

We need divine protection, a shield serene.

God's word is truth, a beacon so bright,

Guiding us through the darkest night.

As believers, by truth, we've been sanctified,

In God's love and grace, we have confided.

Though we live in the world, we're not of its mold,

In God's kingdom, we have a stronghold.

Jesus' mission in the world, we continue to uphold,

Spreading His love, a story to be told.

Praying for others, interceding in prayer,

Showing God's love, His mercy, His care.

Dear Lord Jesus,

We come before You, acknowledging Your desire for us to have the full measure of Your joy within us. We understand that the joy of the Lord is our strength, and we seek to experience this joy in our daily lives.

We recognize the spiritual dangers in the world and pray for Your divine protection. Guard us from harm and guide us in Your ways.

We affirm that Your word is truth. As believers, we have been sanctified by this truth. Help us to live out this sanctification in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Though we live in the world, we are not of the world. Help us to remember this as we navigate the challenges of life.

We are committed to continuing Your mission in the world. Empower us to spread Your love and truth to those around us.

Finally, we pray for others, interceding on their behalf. May Your grace and mercy touch their lives.

In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Background and Learning Lessons:

III: The Book of Glory

THE PRAYER OF JESUS

John 17:1-26

John 17:11-19 is part of a prayer that Jesus prayed for His disciples, often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer. This prayer is recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 17, and it marks the conclusion of the Last Discourse.

In this prayer, Jesus prays for the disciples the Father has given him. Here’s a brief background of these verses:

John 17:11-12: Jesus prays for the unity and protection of His disciples. He asks the Father to keep them true to His name, so that they may be one like the Father and the Son. He mentions that He guarded them while He was with them, and none of them was lost except the one destined to be lost (referring to Judas Iscariot), fulfilling the scriptures.

John 17:13-19: Jesus expresses His desire for His disciples to have the full measure of His joy within them. He acknowledges that He has given them God’s word, and because they do not belong to the world, the world has hated them. He prays not for them to be taken out of the world, but to be protected from the evil one. He emphasizes that they do not belong to the world, just as He does not belong to the world. He asks the Father to sanctify them by the truth, stating that God’s word is truth. He mentions that just as the Father sent Him into the world, He has sent them into the world. For their sakes, He sanctifies Himself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

This prayer underscores the themes of unity, protection, joy, sanctification, and truth. It reflects Jesus’ deep concern for His disciples and His desire for them to remain faithful and unified in the face of upcoming challenges.

John 17:11-19 offers several valuable lessons:

Unity: Jesus prays for the unity of His disciples. He asks the Father to keep them true to His name, so that they may be one like the Father and the Son. This teaches us the importance of unity among believers.

Protection: Jesus prays for the protection of His disciples. He asks the Father to protect them from the evil one12. This underscores the need for divine protection in a world filled with spiritual dangers.

Joy: Jesus expresses His desire for His disciples to have the full measure of His joy within them. This teaches us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Sanctification: Jesus asks the Father to sanctify His disciples by the truth. He states that God’s word is truth. This highlights the role of God’s word in our sanctification.

Mission: Jesus mentions that just as the Father sent Him into the world, He has sent His disciples into the world. This teaches us that as believers, we are called to continue Jesus’ mission in the world.

Intercession: Jesus’ prayer for His disciples shows us the importance of intercessory prayer. It teaches us to pray for others, interceding on their behalf.

Worldliness: Jesus acknowledges that His disciples do not belong to the world, just as He does not belong to the world. This teaches us to live in the world but not be of the world.

These lessons can guide us in our faith journey, helping us to live out our faith with integrity, joy, and perseverance. (Copilot)

Truth will Set you Free

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 

and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

(John 8:31-32)

Jesus’ is our Savior who can free us from the bondage of sin. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin that needs deliverance. If Jesus sets you free, you will be truly free. Spiritual freedom comes from knowing the truth. The liberating power of truth and the spiritual freedom comes from a relationship with Jesus. True disciples are those who abide in His word not just by hearing but living according to God’s teachings. These lessons encourage us to live out God’s teachings, seek the truth, understand the implications of sin, recognize Jesus as our Savior, let our actions reflect our spiritual lineage, and love Jesus as the Son of God.

In the bondage of sin, we're often caught,

But Jesus, our Savior, salvation has brought.

Everyone who sins, a slave they become,

Yet deliverance awaits under the holy kingdom.

"If Jesus sets you free, you will truly be free,"

A promise of liberation, for you and for me.

Spiritual freedom comes from truth's embrace,

A relationship with Jesus, a state of grace.

True disciples abide in His word, so divine,

Not just by hearing, but by design.

Living according to God's teachings, we strive,

In His love and wisdom, we thrive.

These lessons encourage us, in faith to be bold,

To seek the truth, His love to behold.

Understand sin's implications, recognize His grace,

See Jesus as our Savior, in every place.

Let our actions reflect our spiritual lineage clear,

In loving Jesus, the Son of God, we hold dear.

In every word, in every deed,

We plant His love, we sow His seed.

Dear Lord Jesus, You are our Savior, the One who frees us from the bondage of sin. We acknowledge that everyone who sins is a slave to sin, and we all need Your deliverance. If You, Jesus, set us free, we will be truly free.

We seek the spiritual freedom that comes from knowing the truth, the liberating power of truth that comes from a relationship with You. Help us to be true disciples, those who abide in Your word, not just by hearing, but by living according to Your teachings. These lessons encourage us to live out Your teachings, to seek the truth, and to understand the implications of sin.

We recognize You, Jesus, as our Savior, and we strive to let our actions reflect our spiritual lineage. Help us to love You, Jesus, as the Son of God, and to express that love in all that we do.

In Your holy name, we pray, Amen.

Live the Truth without Pretenses

 "Such pretense is not worthy of our time of life," he said, 

"lest many of the young should suppose 

that Eleazar in his ninetieth year 

has gone over to an alien religion."

2 MACABEES 6:24

In the twilight of existence, stand tall, a symphony of wisdom etched upon your soul. Make a high resolve, worthy of your years and the dignity of your old age. Let each heartbeat echo a noble call, for dignity and honor shall be your goal. No pretense, no shadows to obscure, but truth, unvarnished, as the ancient oak. Let courage guide you, steadfast and sure, as you pen your final chapter, bespoke.

Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in age and of noble presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh. But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh, as men ought to go who have the courage to refuse things that it is not right to taste, even for the natural love of life. Those who were in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man aside, because of their long acquaintance with him, and privately urged him to bring meat of his own providing, proper for him to use, and pretend that he was eating the flesh of the sacrificial meal which had been commanded by the king, so that by doing this he might be saved from death, and be treated kindly on account of his old friendship with them. But making a high resolve, worthy of his years and the dignity of his old age and the gray hairs which he had reached with distinction and his excellent life even from childhood, and moreover according to the holy God-given law, he declared himself quickly, telling them to send him to Hades. "Such pretense is not worthy of our time of life," he said, "lest many of the young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has gone over to an alien religion, and through my pretense, for the sake of living a brief moment longer, they should be led astray because of me, while I defile and disgrace my old age. For even if for the present I should avoid the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die I shall not escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws." When he had said this, he went at once to the rack. And those who a little before had acted toward him with good will now changed to ill will, because the words he had uttered were in their opinion sheer madness. When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned aloud and said: "It is clear to the Lord in his holy knowledge that, though I might have been saved from death, I am enduring terrible sufferings in my body under this beating, but in my soul I am glad to suffer these things because I fear him." So in this way he died, leaving in his death an example of nobility and a memorial of courage, not only to the young but to the great body of his nation. (2 Maccabees 6:18-31)

In the quiet chambers of your heart, where shadows dance and secrets play, unveil the layers, tear pretense apart, for truth alone can light your way. In truth's embrace, your spirit shines, a beacon for others in life's vast space. Walk unburdened, free from disguise, for pretense fades when honesty prevails. Live the truth, beneath sun-kissed skies, and let your heart's authenticity set sail.

So rise, O sage, with purpose unswayed, for your resolve shall echo through time. In the annals of honor, your name portrayed, a beacon for all, in prose and rhyme. May your resolve be a beacon of light, illuminating the path for generations to come.

Pericope:

IV: Profanation and Persecution

MARTYRDOM OF ELEAZAR

2 Maccabees 6:18-31

Reflection Source:

Microsoft Copilot

UNDERSTAND TRUTH

Those who trust in Him will understand truth, 

and the faithful will abide with Him in love, 

because grace and mercy are upon His elect, 

and He watches over His holy ones. 

Wisdom 3:9

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. -- James 3:13-18

Father in heaven, You are the one true giver of life. Only You can bring about lasting peace and remove all our fears. Thank You so much for Your love and care making our lives safe and secure. 

In Your love, my heart still cherishes the memories of my departed love ones most especially my mom and dad. Thank You so much for giving me the resources needed in order to do something good for them even if they are long gone. This is nothing as compared to the love and care that they have unselfishly given me from the time I was born until the last breath of their lives in this world. May You embrace them for me O Lord as a sign of my deep love and affection. 

Today, I humbly continue to place my full trust and dependence on You to take care of all our needs and wants. Hold me ever so close to Your heart making our love stronger than ever. As always, I completely surrender everything to your mighty hands. May you continue to work wonders over me each moment of my life.

In a very special way, I pray for all our departed love ones that they may forever be at peace with You. I pray for all the people who are currently facing the "storms" in their lives that they may be save and secured under Your love and embrace.

With much trust, hope, love and thanksgiving, I humbly pray in Jesus Name. Amen.

Published:

May 21, 2018, 8:04 AM
November 02, 2011, 8:13 AM

Walk in Truth and Integrity

Search me, O Lord, and try me; test my soul and my heart. 

For your mercy is before my eyes, and I walk in Your truth.

PSALM 26 : 2-3

Father in heaven, You have given me a heart to be more than content and satisfied with the love, graces, blessings, healing and miracles that You bring me each day. 

I can truly say that indeed, You have freed me from the clutches of those who takes advantage of their position in order to materially enrich themselves. Although I am no longer part of corrupt politics, I pray for them O Lord that You will give them your heart of love so that they may be true servants of Your people. 

Thank you for keeping my joy, hapiness and peace of just spending my life with my love ones and family. 

With much love I pray in Jesus Name. Amen.