My Mercies are New Every Morning

 The Message: Stop revisiting the chapters I have already closed. Your past mistakes do not define your future favor. I have washed you clean, and I am calling you forward. Shake off the guilt of yesterday; I have already forgiven what you are still dwelling on.

Key Thought: My grace is bigger than your biggest mistake.

Call to Action: Forgive yourself today, just as I have forgiven you.

I Am Pruning You for Greatness

 he Message: You might feel like you are in a season of "waiting" or "hiding," but I am actually planting you. Do not despise small beginnings or quiet moments. Just as a seed must be in the dark before it breaks through the soil, I am working on your roots so you can sustain the fruit that is coming.

Key Thought: Growth is happening even when you can’t see it yet.

Call to Action: Trust the process today. What is one small thing you can be grateful for?

When the Waves Rise, Look to Me

 The Message: Life often brings unexpected storms financial stress, health scares, or emotional burdens. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, but remember that the wind and the waves still know My voice. You are never alone in the boat.

Key Thought: Peace isn't the absence of a storm; it’s My presence within it.

Call to Action: Take five minutes today to sit in silence and hand Me your heaviest burden.

FRATERNAL CORRECTION - By: Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

In the Bible, we sometimes come across passages that are as relevant and practical in our lives today as they were thousands of years ago when they were first written. Today’s readings (Matthew 18:15-20) are good examples of such passages. They remind us that, as faithful Christians, it is our responsibility to reach out to our not-so-faithful brothers and sisters and bring them back into the fold. They even recommend practical steps on how to go about doing this.

       Broken relationships are common everywhere. Gossiping, telling the sins and faults of others behind their backs, is even more common. It is obvious that this destroys relationships. Jesus knows this only too well and so tells us what to do when we see somebody making mistakes — to confront the wrongdoer in an open and face-to-face dialogue.

       I know that is not part of the Philippine culture. In Europe, this is common and it is not taken personally, while here, every word that sounds critical is taken personally. And yet, we cannot say, “Lord, sorry, what You teach us today does not apply in our culture.”

       Some people correct others because they are busybodies. Others, like the Pharisees, do so in order to exalt themselves as they put others down. The disciple, however, intervenes out of love — love for God and His children, but especially for the sinner who is damaged the most by his own sin.

       “But,” you may say, “they won’t listen, so why bother?” Simple —because God says so!

         In baptism and confirmation, you were anointed priest, prophet and king; you share in Christ’s priestly, royal and prophetic roles. It is easy and pleasant to participate in Christ’s priesthood and royalty, but we tend to avoid the prophetic role. The bottom line is, we owe a debt of love to our brothers and sisters, as St. Paul writes in today’s Second Reading (Romans 13:8-10). If we proceed in a spirit of love, with God’s help we have a good chance of bringing back a child of His gone astray. It is well worth trying.

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you correct others? And if you do, what is your motive — pride or love?

GOSPEL READING TODAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014 - MATTHEW 18:15-20

Matthew 18:15-20

15 Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. 16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. 18 Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

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