Grown ups

Facing the consequences of one's choices sets apart the grown ups from the children. But it is the paradox of life that once in a while we see children who act more as grown ups and a lot of so-called grown ups engaging in tantrums like spoiled brats.
We are usually forgiving when people make mistakes. But it's the gall to twist the story, to beat around the bush, to engage in name-calling and dramatics, in short, everything to put the blame on others that really turns us off.

Peace

Our contribution to peace begins from God.
Let us ask God to grant us peace, peace from within.
Let us ask God to free us from unnecessary needs and clinging, because these are the walls that we create in our hearts. Where there are walls, there is a need to defend, and often we do so by force.
Let us ask God to give us eyes that see the beauty of the variety of colors and sounds that come from encountering other people. When we meet others, we build bridges. Where there are bridges there are wider possibilities, greater horizons.
Let us do our part in creating a world of peace especially for the future generations.
Peace be with you.

Authority

"Jesus' teaching made a deep impression on them because his word carried authority." (Lk 4:32)

Jesus' authority comes from His being, from within. It comes from His identity as Son of God and of living a life coherent to that identity.
For in reality, authority is not in loudness, nor is it in power, influence or popularity. The seed of authority, or better still of authoritativeness is already within us because we are children of God. But we must make the necessary step, and that is to be coherent to that identity.

Changes

 

There are experiences in life that totally change us. The price to pay is higher when we think that up until that moment our life has been going well or was nearly perfect. So we resist change.
We ask ourselves so many "whys".
Why can't things stay forever the same?
Why did this happen to me?
Why is life unfair?
We may repeat these questions again and again. Well-meaning people may try to give us the answers. But in reality there are no easy and clear-cut answers.
It is then that we are called to just stay and live with the questions.
And when we reach the point of having even a little opening in our hearts to welcome the new, little by little we will realize that the "new" has something to offer us.
We may not arrive at the answers to our whys, but they won't matter anymore because something new has sprouted and is growing in our lives. We are at peace.