Moving Forward

“ Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21

Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

Psalm: Psalm 126:1-6

Second Reading: Philippians 3:8-14

Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Gospel: John 8:1-11

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again."
 

Reflection

By Fely Santiago

 

“Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!... Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.”

The reason why we are never happy is because we always think of the past. “If only….”. I am guilty of this as well. But the Lord has assured us, remember not the events of the past, I am doing something NEW! What a great assurance. If we only put our TRUST in God!

I remember in one Feast I attended with Bro Bo Sanchez, he shared a story of how he failed in many businesses while starting his journey to become an entrepreneur. And there was one time he lost his life savings to a bad deal with a friend! But instead of giving up, he continued and prayed to God to return what was lost to him 10 times!! And God did! Now he is earning much much more and all that was lost from him was given back more than 10 times! This really struck me! Asking the Lord to return what was lost 10 times! I never prayed like this before. Yes I do that now! I also pray to God if I lose something to return and give it back to me 10 times more!

When I retired from Intel and got my retirement money, one the biggest mistake I committed was to lend some money and earn interest from them. I got paid for some but there was some who did not pay me until now! When I remember that I really felt bad! How could people be so irresponsible! They come to you begging to help them with their financial problems then forget to pay your back! But I have learned to let go and just like Bro Bo, I just prayed that God bless them and return to me in other ways what I lost 10 times more. And God did!!!

So I encourage you to pray the same! Do not keep on looking back at what you have lost, but have hope that the BEST is yet to come! Learn to LET GO. Claim a floodgate of blessings is coming your way! Pray that all that you lose will be given back by God 10x times more! Whether it’s a failed business, loss from robbery or theft, bad investments, borrowed money that was never returned or paid back, etc. Our God is a BIG GOD! He is super rich! And super generous. Just obey Him, love Him and serve Him and TRUST in Him.

In Jeremiah 29.11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

Prayer

 

Dear Lord, thank You for Your encouraging words. Help me to always enjoy the present filled with so much hope for the future despite what happened in the past. The BEST is yet to come! Help me to move forward, never giving up until I am with You in eternity. Thank You Lord. Amen.