Day 22 – The Father's Covenant vs. The World's Empty Promises
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"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Jesus shows us the way back to the Father's House. Jesus is the WAY.
While Satan leads us astray to our distant country, Jesus, the Good Shepherd brings us back home. As Satan tries to attack us along the way, Jesus offers His own life to save us. This is the Lord that we have!
His mercy should subdue the doubting Thomas in us. He is the Light, that is, the TRUTH, that shines on our path, and He gave us His very own LIFE to restore ours! What else should we yearn for in our lives except for this sweet Jesus? What is worth more in our lives than this Saviour? Who else can we count on as we make our way home to our Father in heaven?
Our distant country is also our comfort zone. We dare not leave our comfort zone for fear of facing challenges in an unknown territory.
What this world can offer us will eventually dry up. On the other hand, endless joy awaits us in our Father's House. Let us not sacrifice heaven for hell.
The hardships in returning home are much easier to bear than the perpetual emptiness in our distant country and eternal separation from the source of all goodness, our Heavenly Father!
As you can see in the last couple of days, the short verse in Luke 15:20, “So, he got up and went back to his father” involves much more than we thought. We need to take heart as we embark on this journey home. The earlier we set off, the sooner we will return home safe to enjoy the festive celebration the Father has already prepared for us.
REFLECTION
Do you believe what Jesus said is true, that He is preparing a place for us in our Father's House? Does this make you more determined to return to your Father's House?
Are you still clinging to your comfort zone and holding back from returning home to the Father?
TODAY'S PRAYER
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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The Pharisee in today’s Gospel reminds me that devil are crafty. I sometimes consider myself a not~too~bad, or even a righteous person. I have been attending mass, reading Bible everyday, fasting, donating and saying a few prayers. Thinking that by doing all the above, I am on the ‘right’ direction back Home. If I see myself as good enough, I would not be vigilant in reflecting my motive behind all these acts.I will easily fall into the traps of Satan and be just another Pharisee. Oh. Lord, please help me to walk in the Light and be humble enough to let the Holy Spirit lead me the way!
I believe that Jesus said is true, that He is preparing a place for us in our Father’s House. This make me more determine to return to my Father’s House.