WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE

WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE

 

“… where I am going you cannot come.” – John 8:21

 

Our son Jac loves playing with Lego toys. This is the toy which allows you to build cars, houses and other things by attaching plastic pieces to one another. A simple object like a car may require less than 20 pieces but the complex ones — like a castle with multiple towers — can have more than 100 pieces.

One of the reasons why he enjoys Lego is because I make it a point to ask him to build the simple items first, like a car, while I handle the more complex ones. When I see that he is already familiar in building cars, then I give him something which is a bit more challenging.

I believe our Heavenly Father also applies the same concept when He deals with us. He only allows trials in our life when He is sure that it’s something we can handle. He also allows us to undergo such trial because He knows it will help us grow more as a person. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

“God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 

Lord, thank You for allowing me to undergo trials which You know I can handle. I offer back to You the trials I face today for I know that Your love alone is more than enough for me to overcome them.

 

 FAITHFULNESS BEGETS GREATER FAITHFULNESS

 

With the superabundance of God’s grace, I have been sustained in my priesthood for a little over two decades now. I have been blessed to celebrate the Eucharist for couples who have spent 25 years and even 50 years of married life. I have also joined in celebrating the Eucharist for fellow priests who are thankful for 25 years of ministry. In all these, I kept telling myself: “You are fast growing old, Domie!” The landmark celebrations of priesthood and marriage that I have observed also brought me a wonderful lesson. Fidelity to commitment is not easy, especially in our world where a promiscuous lifestyle seems easily tolerated and “understood.” Fidelity to commitment also, even without the cultural burden and conditioning of our time, has its built-in demands and difficulties. Being married and staying happily married means the daily routine of looking after the upkeep of each member of the family, going to work to find ways and means to support the family, sacrificing one’s convenience and comforts for others. Similarly, perseverance in ministry entails waking up for daily Mass schedules, preparing homilies and talks, making oneself available for the celebration of the sacraments at all sorts of hours. It may mean forgoing some moments of rest and recreation for some real emergencies. Yes, one does not have to seek out martyrdom and danger at some distant frontiers. It is a great feat to be consistent and constant, and to survive just where one is!

Above all these demands and challenges of fidelity is this big word of Jesus from our Gospel: “He (the Father) who sent me is with me and has not left me alone; because I always do what pleases him.” God is Faithful, Faithful among the Faithful, Faithful of all the Faithful. He is Faithful, even for Israel who has been repeatedly unfaithful. Let not our faltering steps discourage us then. Let us lift up all our efforts, all our best intentions to God who is able to guard everything with His Great Faithfulness!Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

Reflection Question:

Confess in prayer before God your difficulties regarding your life commitment. Mention to Him your great resolve to be faithful. Renew in prayer today your marriage vows or religious vows.

 

Lord, I want to be faithful to my commitments until the end. I especially want to be faithful to You until I see You face to face. Help me to live out my resolve.

 

St. Fidelis, pray for us.