REAL INSURANCE

Real Insurance

 

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” – Mark 6:50

 

  The picture on the front page of the business section said it all: a stock market staff holding his head in disbelief at the precipitous plunge of the stock market indices. It was happening across the globe, sparked by the bankruptcy of a number of financial institutions in the US. So eroded was the confidence on financial markets that some Americans were buying precious metal bullions like gold, platinum and silver.

When this happened, my employees consulted me whether they should continue paying their insurance premiums to a giant insurance company that was being sold because its principal based in the US had also gone bankrupt.

I shared with them that long ago, I discovered a better kind of insurance. That’s why I stopped getting personal and car insurances. I figure you pay good money today for an amount that will not really amount to something significant in the future.

  Instead, I learned to put my trust in God for my real insurance. By putting my money and investing my time in the service of the Father’s business, He rewards me with financial stability . Rolly España (rolly@homeliving.com.ph)           

 

REFLECTION:

“The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.” (Haggai 2:8)

 

Father in heaven, teach me to trust You more, especially in times of crisis.

 

TO BE COMPLETELY FREE FROM FEAR

               

Let us reflect upon today’s First Reading from the first letter of St.John and ask ourselves, “Am I free from all fear in my life?” If we cannot answer this question with a resounding “No!” then we can be sure that we have not yet opened our lives to, and fully received, the love that God wants to pour into our hearts.

The reason that Jesus was freely and joyfully able to embrace God’s will for His life was that He knew and fully experienced the love of the Father. If only we could come to know the Father’s love to the extent Jesus knew it, we would be transformed people.

When we are firmly based in the infinite love of God we will not fear anything because we know that whatever happens God is by our side to see us through it. Sometimes when I read the accounts of the martyrs of the Church I wonder at their seeming indifference to the suffering they were about to face or were in the middle of experiencing. How did they do it? They simply entrusted themselves to the love and mercy of God and that was that.

Jesus’ entire life is a testimony to the power of knowing God’s love in order to overcome all obstacles — even death brought by sin. It is God’s love that redeemed us as Jesus died on the cross; it is God’s love that raises us to eternal glory to share in the resurrection of Jesus His Son. It is love that transforms human beings into more than instinctual animals. It is our ability to know, receive, give and  reflect upon love’s nature that makes us different from the rest of creation.

St. John tells us that perfect love casts out all fear; it does so because love and fear are opposites. A love born of fear is imperfect. We must therefore seek to respond to God’s love out of love for Him rather than out of fear of the consequences if we do not. Let us seek to learn to love one another and God so that we will always be motivated by love and the desire for unity, and not just by fear of hell if we remain in our sins.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

Reflection Question:

When I say I love God, what motivates me to believe and say this? Do I love God out of fear of Him, or simply because He is good?

 

Lord Jesus, help me to overcome any fear of God I may have in my life so that I will be motivated by His goodness and blessings.

 

St. Melanie, pray for us.