The Truth Divides

               In the Gospel of today, Oct. 25, 2012, (Luke 12:49-53),  Jesus said: “I have come for division.”  My first reaction to this statement is that it is a contradiction to what Jesus had been telling.  In Matthew 6:44, He said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  In John 14:27 he said: “Peace I leave with you.  My Peace I give to you, not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”   In Isaiah 9:6- we read a prophecy about Jesus Christ: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us…His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”  Hence, I wondered on what Jesus Christ really meant when He said: “I have come for division.”

            In the Anawim Way Booklet I found an explanation which says: “The peace Jesus came to give is not that of simply getting along with everyone.  His peace comes with fire.  The truth often divides.  It is not enough to simply tolerate one another in peaceful co-existence.  Jesus came for division that is based on the purity of the truth and love of God.”

    “The Truth Divides!”   In John 14:6 Jesus said: “I am the Way, and the Truth,  and the Life;  no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” During the historical life of Jesus in Israel the Jews were divided on who He was and so they crucified Him.  Today there are those who question His divinity and even make fun of His personality.  However, there are millions from all nations who believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World, the Son of the Living God.  Just last Oct. 21, 2012, a Filipino, Pedro Calungsod, was canonized a Saint for giving up his life for his faith in Christ and died as a martyr. The world today is, indeed, divided on who Jesus is.

            The statement of Christ: “I have come for division”, therefore, refers to Him as the TRUTH which has divided the world into those who believe or do not believe in Him.  This for me must have been what Christ meant when He made that statement.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Oct. 25, 2012

The Lord Made Us

           “THE LORD MADE US, WE BELONG TO HIM.”  This is the response to the Responsorial Psalm in the Holy Mass today, Oct. 22, 2012.

            Reflecting on the said Responsorial Psalm,  I became more aware of the greatness of my being.  The fact that it is God Himself, the Supreme Being in this world, who created me and continues to sustain me in my existence through His creative power is, indeed, a great mystery for me.  Filled with awe at my own existence in this world, I asked myself the following questions:

1.    Why has God created me?

2.    How am I to relate to God, my Creator?

3.    Why am I now in this world?

4.    How shall thank God for creating me?

5.    For how long shall I be in existence?

After praying to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment,  I arrived at the following answers:

1.    God created me to manifest His LOVE.

2.    Since I am God’s creation, I should relate to Him as a creature that is fully dependent on Him.

3.    I am now in this world to become one of God’s instrument in Doing His Will.

4.    To thank God for creating me,  I can think of no other better way than to simply strive to DO HIS WILL every moment of my life with all the love that I can give.

5.    My existence is in the hands of God.  My faith, however, tells me that I shall live forever in union with God.

I still cannot fully comprehend the great mystery of my existence in this world, but my reflections serve as BASIC GUIDELINES for me to live a meaningful life in this world.  I trust that as in all sincerity,  I try to live according to these guidelines God in His infinite wisdom has countless blessings in store for me.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

October 22, 2012