God Looks Upon Us With Favor

I just got to Vancouver and went straight for a two-hour drive to Whistler for the CFC Conference. My Visa was delivered just hours before my trip.  I almost didn't make it to the weekend's activity. Praise God, with all the prayers I got my visa just in the nick of time.  The visa processing usually takes about 3 weeks but it got done in a week and a half.

How many times have we experienced God's favor upon us?  For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).  God looks upon us with favor. We are His children and God as our Father is a perfect father.  When we pray fervently, God answers us often in ways we do not expect, for he knows what is perfect for us.  Our imagination of an answered prayer is often different from what God intends. God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding (Job 37:5).

If God favors us, what should we avoid doing? We should avoid having tantrums before the Lord. "How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites (Numbers 14:27)."   I have a 3 year old son, Sev, who occassionally goes into his tantrums.  He likes to each chocolates, lots of it. We give him one or two, but at times he wants more. So when we say no, he cries and cries demanding that he should have more. As parents, knowing that too much would be bad for him, we stand firm with our no.  Just like the favors we ask from God, we cannot go into tantrums, for we fully know that He will give what is best for us at the right time.

What then should we do, if indeed God favors us? Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer (Romans 12:12)." The Lord hears us His children, but our posture should be joyful, patient, and persistent.  I believe I got that visa at the last moment because God wanted me to put my trust in Him that He will grant was is best for me.  Our Lord looks upon us with favor. In other words, we are all His favorite.  May we pray to God in complete abandonment to His holy and mighty will. Amen. 
 
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:11-13).”

The Need to be Persistent

In my reflection of today's readings, one word echoed loudly to me: Persistence. In the gospel it says, "Then He told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary (Luke 18:1)." In the second reading it says, "proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient... (2 Tim 4:2)." The 1st reading talks about Moses and the Israelites' battle against the Amalek, "Moses' hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands, remained steady till sunset (Exodus 17:12)." As long as Moses' hands were raised, the Israelites had the better of the fight.

Through the readings, I am reminded to be persistent in three things. First is to be persistent in prayer. When we ask God of something very important in prayer, how many times do we come before Him and ask for it? When someone is sick, how many times do we pray over the person? I believe the value of persistence in prayer is that we are brought to a point of humility and a complete surrender to God's power.

Second is to be persistent in preaching and witnessing. These two come as a packaged deal. One without the other just won't work. Lately within this decade, preaching has become a less popular word. It is usually associated by long sermons and hard sell convincing to believe in God's word. But as I reflect on it, it is still very important to boldly proclaim God's word. But preaching will never work if our lives don't reflect what we speak about. Witnessing is very powerful, but if it reaches the peak of it's effectiveness and we are still shy to evangelize, then we have lost much of the opportunity to share our faith. Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words (St. Francis of Assisi).

Third is to be persistent in pastoring. Most of us have people who need our support, whether they are our children, friends, prayer group members, or office employees. In the First reading, Aaron and Hur supported Moses' arms so that the Israelites will continue to win the battle against the Amalek. If we persist in our support to those entrusted to us, surely God will win for us our battle against life's challenges. Even if we grow weary because they seem unmoved by our efforts, it is God who will change them, encourage them, and bring victory over their lives as well as ours.

Persistence in tagalog may sometimes pertain to being 'makulit.' But like teaching a child, repetition is key. "Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily... (Luke 18:8).

May we persist until we are brought to the point of genuine love and humility.