The Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 11

MATTHEW

 CHAPTER 

11

1. Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.

(Matthew chapter 11 verse 1)


Oh Jesus you love us so much. You are always on the go. On sending Your disciples on the assignment of proclaiming your message You did not take the day of, but continued to spread Your message of salvation. Thanks for never taking a day off, for if You ever do so we would end up in the chaos of our sins, for I cannot live one second without You oh Jesus, let alone one day.


2. When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3. and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"

(Matthew chapter 11 verse 2 to 3)


Even though John the baptist who was related to Jesus, was aware of the nature of Your mission of the worlds salvation, John questioned the fatal issue concerning this mission. At times during moments of crisis we do the same thing. Although we strongly believe in You oh Jesus during some moments we start doubting if You are really and truly our Saviour, if we were and are ever saved at all among other questions. Due to our lack of understanding of why such situations are actually taking place we start doubting and questioning many issues of our lives including that of our belief in You.


4. Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5. the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

(Matthew chapter 11 verses 4 to 6)


During our moments of crisis, You oh Jesus make us aware of the facts, those positive peak moments in our lives when we made a critical experience of God's love. The situations could be many, such as our deliverance from a situation that meant either life or death, our baptism, or maybe an uplifting situation with You during a retreat or any other situation. God urges us to refer to such moments in order to boost us out of our moments of depression or doubts.


7. As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8. What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

(Matthew chapter 11 verses 7 to 9)


Today oh Jesus you pose the same questions to me and You also expect an an answer! What are You expecting out of all your prayers and meditations on my Word, a free ticket to heaven, or maybe a life without tribulations or persecutions? When you come to Church who do you expect to see a triumphant revolutionary king who will terrify his followers into believing and giving worship? Indeed this is not me says Jesus! Why do you come to visit me, do you really come and visit me because you believe in me or has it become a ritual? However if you believe in me as a loving father who cares for you and is always there for you in the presence of the Eucharist and even active in your life, yes you have made a wise decision to follow me, because I am your loving Father and you are my sons and daughters!


10. This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'

(Matthew chapter 11 verse 10)


Just as John the Baptist was sent a messenger to prepare the people for Your coming into the world, in our own circles and in other areas of our environment whether on line or offline, we are the new messengers of Jesus, thus having the role of never stopping proclaiming Your Word oh Jesus especially in circumstances where You are not held as the God of the person's life. You oh Jesus are still sending us today to continue this mission. Today you are sending me, and not only sending me but have also prepared me and are still preparing me with Your Word and experiences from my life to share with others so that others may listen to Your Word (and not mine) and believe in You and follow in Your Ways and be 'Your Followers' (and not mine) on Twitter, Face book and other social medias and in the world at large.


11. Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

(Matthew chapter 11 verse 11)


Although John the Baptist was aware of who You were and are oh Jesus, he still questioned if You were the redeemer that they had long been waiting for. However You still had praise for this humble person, who was chosen by you to prepare others for your coming and public ministry. I pray for your praise and benediction on all those who prepare themselves and others daily privately and publicly for your second visit, so that when this takes place we will all be found worthy to appear before You.


12. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; 14. and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15. Let anyone with ears listen!

(Matthew chapter 11 verses 12 to 15)


The kingdom of God is You oh Jesus. Indeed You have been suffering and are still suffering because even during our times there are still of your sons and daughters who are experiencing persecution and death for what and who they believe in that is You oh Jesus. Even though in Malta we still do not have this type of persecution, we still have others such as anti-Christian legislation such as divorce and marriage of same gender partners that are rocking the very foundations and values of our society. Indeed may we all listen to 'Your Word of Good News'. May our eyes and ears be focused and tuned on Your word, so that we will not forsake our souls for the sinful ways of the world.


16. "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another. 17. 'We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we wailed and you did not mourn.

(Matthew chapter 11 verse 16 to 17) 


On reflecting oh Jesus I wonder what your comments would be if You were to comment on our society. You might comment, that You promised us life everlasting but we chose suicide, abortion, murder and or euthanasia as means to terminate life. I gave you natural love and joy in my presence and you find your love and pleasure in natural and unnatural sexual pleasure that are not based on the model that I gave you. I set You a perfect model of a married couple and you changed it to a union between two men and or two women. I sent my only Son to save you from the traps of the Devil and you chose the world with all its artificial glory and pagan wisdom.


18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; 19. the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

(Matthew chapter 11 verses 18 to 19)


Oh Jesus these verses are a great consolation to my soul, for if the Master was called that he had a demon and accused of being a glutton why should I complain of being called a heretic and for spreading false and pagan views in my blog. However as You proclaimed oh Jesus the truth speaks for itself. Thus instead of feeling discouraged I feel proud to be labelled in such a negative way for sharing my prayers on line. I hold that there is no salvation without persecution and thus these accusations are music to my ears instead of false and slanderous accusations. If the Master was not treated well, how can I an unworthy servant be treated better than my Master.


20. Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent.

(Matthew chapter 11 verse 20)


On reflecting You oh God would find much to reproach in us, however Your love is as great as Your justice and mercy.Moreover if it was not for this quality of love and mercy I would surely have no chance of being saved by You.


21.  "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

(Matthew chapter 11 verse 21)


Oh Jesus may You not count it against me, for you have also given me gifts and qualities that at present I am not using for the good of others. You permitted me to graduate as a social worker, however due to the hurts and emotional abuse that I received at the time of my childhood and adolescence where my self-esteem was battered and bruised I experienced problems in the undertaking of this role when working in a particular agency. Instead of receiving compensation and support for my past wounds I was sacked because I was honest and sincere and admitted the truth of my childhood in a private session after my first care-order. I believe oh Jesus that if it is Your will, when you consider that the time is right You will prepare me for my return to the world of social work, so that the good works that You permitted me to receive will not go to waste. Moreover, I thank You for this on line experience to interact with others and proclaim Your name and even encounter particular situations for in this way your are the continuing the process of my formation both on a spiritual and even social level.


22. But I tell you, on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades for if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would would have remained until this day. 24. But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you."

(Matthew chapter 11 verses 22 to 24)


Oh Jesus may we all remain in a state of humility because in essence as humans we are all vessels made of earthenware. Even those made of noble material are not free from sin and error, therefore we are all rowing the same boat. Therefore let us not judge others but focus our lives on Your word and be ready to analyse and judge our own lives before that of others, if we all had to evaluate our own lives with the intention of improving our spiritual, social and psychological well being our lives on earth would be in a better state, and our world would be more peaceful and secure.


25. At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26. yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

(Matthew chapter 11 verses 25 to 27)


On reflecting oh Jesus I would like to ask You the following question. Why do wise and intelligent people decide not to believe in You?. If their intelligence is worldly based solely on logic and on scientific method without any reference to You and Your 'Good News' the person's logic and intelligence is not complete because it is not open to the intervention of the Holy Spirit of God.


28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

(Matthew chapter 11 verse 28)


Oh Jesus I thank You for making me a person of basic intelligence and not one of a superior knowledge. Although I have respect for such people and have dwelt among them throughout my course at University I still admire people of little intelligence who are open to You oh Jesus! May we put aside our concepts, theories and hypotheses, about You and the World, and may we all find our security and comfort in You my God. At times life is hard, water starts finding a way into our boats. It seems as if we are sinking under the waves of our tribulations, however You and our faith in You are our 'safety net' which saves us at the right time that You choose of our deliverance. Thanks for being such a loving and caring Father.


29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

(Matthew chapter 11 verses 29 to 30)

Oh Jesus I will inscribe this verse in my heart forever! I can never ever have a better role model than You. You are my counsellor, carer, Father and friend. I pray that You help me in basing my life on Your Word. Thanks for teaching me every day of my life, especially during these moments of prayer and reflection on the 'Good News'. Every morning and every evening You guide me during these precious and blessed moments and always give me a teaching or insight to adopt as my own and to share with many others on line and offline. May the seeds of Your Word be planted in the hearts of all people so that the World will be a better and peaceful place to live in.

I would like to end this chapter by referring to your loving Mother. In the name of all Roman Catholics and Christians and all who believe in You even though You are not Yet there God I would like to thank You for giving us Your Mother. On the cross at the most crucial moment of Your life on earth You generously gave us Your Mother the virgin Mary. May we also refer to her as our Mother and refer to You as our Father. Thanks for being the best parents to me and others. I wish to wish her and all Mothers;


"Happy Mother's Day! you are doing a great Job as women and as parents, the world would not be the same without you, love and take care!

I would also like to include the following prayer by means of this link:-

Mothers Day Prayer

The Gospel according to Matthew chapter 10

MATTHEW

 CHAPTER

 10

1. Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.

(Matthew chapter 10 verse 1)

Instead of sending the apostles to graduate school  or university in philosophy and theology, Jesus gave his apostles all the tools that they needed in order to proclaim Your message of love and repentance and a radical change in our lifestyle based on Your Word. According to Mr Pawar the author of this chapter, on calling Your disciples You gave them the authority to help others. As Christians we are also bound by the moral obligation to be of help and service to others. Apart from helping others or empower others to seek medical help, we are in a never ending war against the forces of evil that have the capacity of even inflicting physical harm and illness and even psychological disorders on us. 

2. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, also known as Peter; and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; 4. Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 2 to 4)


On reflecting You chose twelve men with different personalities and characteristics, of which some were extroverts having an outgoing personality as in the case of Peter who later on became the leader, while others such as his brother Andrew the somewhat introvert type who chose to follow under the protection of his brother. On the other hand there was James who formed part of Your inner circle who was nicknamed as being one of the 'Sons of thunder". John who was the other 'Son of thunder' is said to have a fiery temperament, while Philip is described as being a very practical and task oriented person who on being assigned the task of spreading the 'Word of God' set his heart and soul on fulfilling the task to the point of giving himself up as a martyr. On the other hand there were those such as Nathanael or Bartholomew who was rather cautious and sceptical in his first encounter with you oh Jesus. In this group of personality types we also find Thomas who did not believe that You rose from the dead before he was presented with the evidence. There also apostles such as James the less and Simon the Zealot who were sort of less popular when compared with Peter and Matthew the dishonest tax collector who although having such a shrewd character was still chosen to be an apostle.


Among the twelve apostles there are you and me who are praying on this scripture. We are the extended Church of today. As in the case of the twelve we also have the task of spreading the 'good news' of our salvation based on the 'Word of God'. As in the mentioned selection personality types everyone has a place in the body of Christ. God is welcoming new members and is still calling us even today. We are all sinners and therefore we are all in need of salvation even if we are fervent Christians, protestants, homosexuals, bishops or cardinals among others. God is God of all or none of all. Even if you are a member of a terrorist group and are not yet aware of God as your God He is still your God and is patiently waiting for You in heaven to welcome You in His arms. God is our creator, He knows human nature and is aware why some people become abusers, murderers, ninjas, thrill seekers, explorers while others become Popes, Cardinals, leaders of Protestant groups or Churches. God has all under control and loves us for whom and what we are. So if You ever feel that You are not part of the body of Christ, if you ever feel that you are an outcast refer to the twelve apostles and consider yourself as being one of the group.


5. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,

(Matthew chapter 10 verse 5)


According to Mr. Pawar the apostles were so obedient to You oh Jesus that they were ready to venture to foreign lands where nobody knew them, like wise we must also be ready to venture beyond our safety zones in order to proclaim the good news of God. Even today we are called and requested to obey in proclaiming the good news. As the great master mind God is aware of the great benefit that will benefited by all who receive and accept to live according to the way of life that You planned for us.


Oh Jesus in Your infinite wisdom You were aware that there would be people and nations who would not accept the apostles and their message and therefore You gave them strict instructions not to go to such places. You love us so much that You do not want us to endure unnecessary hardship in any thing we undertake especially in the proclamation of Your good news. You do not want us to take unnecessary risks.


6. but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Matthew chapter 10 verse 6)


Jesus seems to be telling his apostles that He wanted to give priority to Hebrews who for some reason had left Jerusalem. Oh Jesus those people who form part of Your inner circle seem to be precious to You. As Christians may we all form part of this inner circle! May we always be candidates to receive the graces of the good news. Even though Malta is a small island in the middle of nowhere You still wanted us to receive the 'good news' of the Gospel marking our salvation.


According to Mr. Pawar with whom  I totally agree We are all lost sheep in our life. At times we also go astray especially when we are determined to go our way instead of following yours. As humans we may not have any particular motive in life but You oh Jesus are always there as master of the cattle in order to keep us united as one herd under one shepherd even those sheep that are in different churches and religions that are not yet part of the Roman Catholic church..


7. As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near. 8.Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment

(Matthew chapter 10 verse 7 to 8)


According to verses 7 to 8 it is a fact that there will always be people who are in need of help, therefore as followers of Jesus, we are bound to give a helping hand according to our abilities. Moreover as stated by Mr Devain Ajit Pawar  the author of this chapter, if we all contributed positively to the needs of others society would be a paradise.


 Moreover when sending Your apostles You did not give them a pastoral dogmatic decree or theology. We already had the ten commandments as a point of reference. What was lacking was the awareness of the need of repentance, the going against the sinful ways of the world and the beginning of a new  life, based on the love of God and our neighbours. You gave Your apostles the authority to banish Satan everywhere they went and to cure disease. Although our priests and pastors as far as I know have not been given the faculty of performing such miracles, the healing of sins as in the case of priests, gives a new boost of energy and a strong will to live that is able to cure any disease if it is according to the will of God.


9. Take no gold or silver, or copper in your belts, 10. no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for laborers deserve their food.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 9 to 10)


Oh Jesus You wanted your apostles to travel really light on their first mission. Their primary concern was that of spreading the 'Good News' and not of filling their stomachs or making material gain from their service to the people. Jesus did not want them to make provisions for themselves, because He would be making provisions for them Himself. You told them that the labourers, deserved their food and therefore those labouring in Your fields such as missions or other projects are all catered for by Your divine providence both spiritually and even physically. In some way either directly or by means of the generosity of others You provide your labourer's with the much needed resources.


As referred to by the author of this chapter God caters for our needs and is always ready to listen to our prayers that is when our requests are not a source of harm instead of good. Therefore we are to be great full for having such a caring and loving father.


11. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12. As you enter the house, greet it. 13. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 11 to 13)


Jesus instructed his apostles that on finding a person who is worthy of welcoming them and the presence of God in them, they were to dwell in that household during the time of their ministry. As a thanksgiving token they were to bless the house and all who dwell in it, however if on the contrary they were not accepted they were to move on and take back their blessings so that it would not be wasted among those who would not accept it. Oh Jesus may we all found worthy of receiving Your blessings in our dwelling places. May we always be ready to welcome You in our homes and in our hearts. May we never be denied of Your presence. During these times the evil one is causing divisions in our families by creating barriers between husbands and wives and even children to parents. We are living in a state of chaos because we are not accepting You as a member of our family. We are even changing the original model of a family that consisted of one man for one woman to a model consisting of two men or two women! Please oh Jesus Son of God do not hold this great sin against us for we know not what we are doing! Forgive us as You forgave us at the time of Your passion for we are greatly sinning by implementing laws such as divorce that all go against Your will. Please have mercy and forgiveness even though we do not deserve it as sinners, but only as Your loving children.


14. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 14 to 15)


Oh Jesus time is so precious! It is best to invest time in the spreading of Your Word to holding petty arguments in relation to social issues or dilemmas that often have no possibility of a solution. When giving the apostles these instructions You told them to avoid arguments with those who did not welcome Your 'Good News' and simply to move away permitting such people to fall under Your judgement instead of ours. You love us so much that You do not want our souls to be stimulated to a state of confusion or emotional involvement which in turn leads to to commit one sin after another. In our relations with others You wish us to show respect to others and not be harsh and irritable.


16. "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

(Matthew chapter 10 verse 16)


During our times oh Jesus we are still surrounded by serpents, people who are ready to twist the truth in order to try and persuade others that You and Your Word are not the truth, are old fashioned during these sinful times. There are those who are making use of social medias on line and even offline in order to spread negative messages that go directly against Your will and values. Give me the Spirit of Truth oh Jesus so that in such circumstances my testimony about You will be true and valid. Please help me not to get involved in petty arguments but testify with both words and moreover by means of positive actions. As Christians we are at risk and exposed to hazards concerning both the body and the soul. Even today our brothers and sisters are being beheaded and thrown into open sea left to die because they believe in You oh Jesus.


17. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18. and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20.  for it is not you who speak; but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 17 to 20)


According to Mr.Pawar during the times of Jesus superstition and corrupt practises were applied and whoever opposed this corrupt system would be strictly punished. Jesus was fully aware of this situation and of the persecutions that they would experience when proclaiming His Word, however oh Jesus You always encourage us and empower us by reassuring us that You will speak up for us and therefore we are not to be troubled or over concerned when enduring such situations.

With reference to persecution during our times please click on the following link:_

The experience of persecution


21. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22. and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 21 to 22)


We are living in world where sin has taken over our brains so much that we are living in a typical state of nature, where our egoistic self is getting the better of us. During situations where we are asked to make important decisions our focus is becoming simply on ourselves or according to what we feel more than what is right according to Your Word.


This has been reflected by the introduction of atrocious laws such as that of abortion and other laws such as divorce in Malta and recently that of spring hunting. We are approving death over life, so much that we are approving and supporting a legal framework that encourages and approves of such sinful acts. As You said anybody who stands up in favour of Your Word by proclaiming Your good news verbally or even on line is subject to ridicule and opposition. Oh Jesus I pray that you give me and others to continue and never be dissuaded by the negative power of those who do not approve of You and Your values.


23. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

(Matthew chapter 10 verse 23)


Oh Jesus today many Christians are being forced to flee from their hometown and nation in persecution. Many have already accepted to be beheaded instead of rejecting their faith in You. In a spirit of solidarity with our brothers and sisters whose life and death are a living testimony of what it means to be a true and totally convinced Christian I offer this prayer for their souls. I invite you to join in the following prayer by clicking on the following link:-

Prayer for 21 Coptic Christian Martyrs

Coptic Priest offers prayers for victims and even the killers


24. "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25. it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 24 to 25)


Oh Jesus You set us a good example by which to follow in your ways and be like You. As in the case of the mentioned 21 Coptic Christian martyrs and many more to come, we are to forsake our lives and not renounce our faith even at the point of death. As You said if You were called slanderous names and You forgave such people, we are also not to retaliate but pray for such people who trespass against us. During such an early stage of the formation of Your Church, you already envisaged persecution for those who believe, live and proclaim Your word. Therefore all is Your control. You know what is going on and when it is Your will You are able to bring these negative events to an end. You are our the whole truth and are the only person who is able to inflict justice on this situation that seems to be far away but can without warning be close to home. I pray oh Jesus that like the martyrs mentioned we are found ready to face such persecution for Your name.


26. "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.

(Matthew chapter 10 verse 26)


By means of the Holy Spirit the apostles would be given knowledge beyond knowledge that would outsmart and be able to silence that of their oppressors, therefore the apostles had no reason to fear the opposition. When in a tight corner, especially when speaking in the name of the truth and are confronted or opposed by non-believers, refer to the Holy Spirit of God instead of solely on logic and the Holy Spirit of God will enlighten you with the much needed details in your testimony.


27. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered proclaim from the housetops. 28. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 27 to 28)


According to Mr. Pawar the author of this chapter during these times we are more afraid of natural and  materialistic things than they are of those evil elements that can harm more the soul than the body. Today we are not realising that our real enemy is the Devil and not material sources such as illness and suffering, or capitalism.The sinful world that we live us causes us to worry about the future and installs in us a spirit of depression and fatality with the consequences that our focus shifts from God on to ourselves. The devil makes our world and our crisis appear more desperate and our lives more meaningless to the point of persuading us not to live this world and attempt suicide so that he can take our souls and deprive us of the chance of becoming aware of the love of God and turn to Him in a spirit of love, hope and repentance. When we give up to the snares of the devil our lives become more difficult and meaningless more than they were before because our hope is to be found only in You oh Jesus because it is only in You that our soul can ever experience true love peace and tranquillity.


29. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father. 30. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31. So do not be afraid; you are more of value than many sparrows.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 29 to 31)


According to the author of this chapter with whom I totally agree Jesus is assuring us that we are worth more than sparrows even though we might be people of low self-esteem, however as sons and daughters of God our esteem in His eyes is abundant, so much that even if we give up on ourselves and on life, You oh God will never give up on us.


32. "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 32 to 33)


When we accept You are as our God and Saviour, we are committing ourselves to You. On the other hand You are committing Yourself to our salvation, however if we profess that we deny You publicly or even in private we are like a soldier who is sent to battle without a sword or a shield are subject to be destroyed by the enemy, the evil one for in doing so we have denied the protection of the most high God and decided to wage ware according to our own sinful ways and devices.


34. "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36. and one's foes will be members of one's own household.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 34 to 36)


Oh Jesus I understand what you meant by divisions among us. This is due to the fact that among families, there are those who believe in You and there are others who simply have decided not to accept You as their God both by their words and more by their actions. Therefore this creates stress on the family system and indeed divisions may be created.


37. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38. and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 37 to 39)


Oh Jesus there is nobody but You who can ever love me as much as You do. Not even my mother who in the flesh gave me life. Life would have no meaning if I ever lost your presence and love in my life. Indeed it would not be worth living. Please help me oh Jesus to carry my cross as You did. Please help me to deny my sinful self, by placing other people's needs before that of my own in total humility. This is something I have tried, however my sinful nature at times rebels and gets the better of me. I pray for help in this area of my life.


40. 'Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

(Matthew chapter 10 verse 40)


On reflecting I can say the same thing. I share these reflections on line that God gives me in a spirit of prayer. Nobody is forced to receive them. Anybody who does not wish to receive these posts can either unsubscribe or send me an email. God does not force Himself on us and neither do I. However those who refuse to accept the Word of God (not my posts ok!) are refusing Him and those who really accept You oh God know whom they are loving and welcoming. Nothing but pure love in its purest form. I Thank You God for loving me so much that You prompted me to share these insights and prayers with others.


41. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

(Matthew chapter 10 verses 41 to 42)


Oh Jesus, may we never expect a reward from each other for what we do in our daily interactions among each other. However I prefer to receive the reward from You my Father. Among ourselves today we thank each other and tomorrow we argue and may even hate each other. Our thanksgiving is like the wind that is always on the go and unreliable! However Your thanksgiving is true and worthy of praise.



I would like to end this chapter by thanking You for all the support that You have been giving me throughout all these years of my life both online and offline. Thanks for giving me Your Word and the strength to reflect on Your Word even though at times I am tired especially in the mornings. Thanks for all the insights that You share with me. I would also like to thank You for all the people on G+ Facebook and even Twitter who are receiving these posts. They are gifts to me. I thanks both You and them for accepting You, Your Word and even the posts that I share online. Please excuse me all if I ever hurt anybody unintentionally by anything that is included in these posts.

Thank You Jesus

The Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 9

MATTHEW 

CHAPTER 

9

1. And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town.

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 1)

Oh Jesus you are so humble! Although You love us so much You do not force yourself upon us. You give us the opportunity either to believe in You or to choose the ways of the world. Instead of showing resistance or trying to use some form of persuasion You humbly obeyed the request of the people of Gadarene and went back to Your boat and headed for home. I pray oh God that You spare me from the moment of ever closing the doors of my heart to You in rejection. These people and others like them surely are not aware of whom they are rejecting. Even today many are choosing the ways of darkness instead of the ways of light. I pray for such people so that one day Your light will penetrate the darkness of their life and they will make an in depth experience of You and Your love to them as much and more than I have personally experienced to this very day.



2. And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 2)


Jesus you always amaze me! Your ways are so different from my ways. On seeing the paralytic You did not command the illness to leave, but You referred to the forgiveness of the persons sins. It is as if sickness is directly related to sin. However You are aware, that sin is far greater of a harm than physical illness. Moreover purity and sin do not mingle together. In order to physically heal us, Jesus needs to give us spiritual healing. This explains at times why we do not heal from long term illness. The problem is not with God but with us. If we decide to remain in our sinful ways, we can never receive Your healing, because our sins block the healing power of Jesus. In light of verse 2 from the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew I invite you to click on the following link:-


Relation of sin to illness



3. Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."4. But Jesus perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5. For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven, 'or to say, 'Stand up and walk'?.6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he then said to the paralytic-"Stand up, take your bed and go to your home,".7 And he stood up and went to his home.


(Matthew chapter 9 verses 3 to 7)


Our world has become a one of contrasts, belief versus unbelief. As in the case of the scribes at times we also do not understand Your ways, forgiveness and healing powers. We try to find a reason in order to make sense of situations but we do not always find an answer because our human intellect is limited. Therefore we end up raising questions and judge both You and Your Holy Word. Instead of letting You and Your Word judge us. However in order to protect us from losing our faith You still perform miracles in our lives in order to prove to us that You are the first and all the causes of our lives and that all is under your control.


In order to view the scenario that Jesus found himself in please click on the following link.


Jesus heals paralytic



8. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 8)


We can also be filled with awe my Jesus by seeing you simply as a healer or a magician, however when viewing You in this distorted way we see You only as a means to satisfy our ends, and not as a loving father as in truth You really are. Although they glorified You, oh Jesus they only saw You as a human being and not as the Son of God..


9. As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 9)


On reflecting we all can go back and remember that precious peak moment in our lives when You oh Jesus made a strong impact on our lives by attracting our attention so that our hearts may be drawn to You. Oh Jesus You have a particular way that You apply differently with each and every one of us. I would like to share my own experience of one of the peak moments of my life that were so strong that it changed my life forever. I do not mean that I am not a sinner any more, but that my relationship with You oh Jesus became more personal and intimate. Oh Jesus You call us every day, however as in the case of the drug addict who starts experimenting with hard drugs and who never forgets the first time he or she induced the drug the same applies to that sacred moment when You manifest Yourself to us.


When I was in my youth I had been brought up on sound Christian values, I was taught how to pray, and was also given ample knowledge of who You were oh Jesus, however this was never enough to satisfy my thoughts. I wanted more. When I was 17 and a half I joined a  group of people who also wished to know You better. During the first week I was taught about Abraham. When I went home that evening I kept on thinking about this person and how nice it would had been to have a strong relationship with You. During the night I felt a strong breeze in the room however I did not have a fan switched on. I had a vision of the sacred heart of Jesus on my left side and the sacred heart of Your mother Mary on my right. I heard a strong authoritative voice commanding me to leave all I had in order to follow Him.


On waking up I felt that You wanted me to join the priesthood or religious life. I felt my heart was going to burst in two. The dream was a trauma that left its mark to this very day. I spent two years in a convent and was about to start my novitiate as an Augustinian Friar. However You did not want me to give my life to You according to this way of life. During that same week that I had to submit my application I had an accident and ended up with a concussion that left me semi conscious in a dark room. The bump on the head or the whole circumstances made me aware that although I had left my family and my belongings I had become richer than I was before. I was far better than I was at home. On having opened my bible and meditated on the issue you showed me that this was not what You meant when You told me to leave all I had so I decided to leave the convent. On leaving the convent I was still wondering what Your call could have meant. On seeking the counsel of a friar in the convent I made contact with a community of brothers of Mother Theresa in Noto Sicily and planned to spend a month there in order to see if You wanted me to live a life of poverty in this community. You were with me all the time.


On arriving at Sicily the person who was to meet me never appeared at the meeting place. To make matters worse my Italian was terrible so I had a problem in communicating with the locals. I did not know where I actually was and where I was to go. I lifted up my eyes to You my God and prayed for Your help. I decided on praying that if I did not find the way till 12.00 am I would find my way back to the ferry and get the first ship for Malta. In the vicinity there was a vegetable vendor and in broken Italian I asked the customers if they knew where the convent of the brothers of Mother Theresa in Noto was but nobody answered me, (Probably nobody understood me). To make a long story short as I walked away with a heavy heart and luggage case I heard footsteps following me and a couple offered to take me to the convent. In good faith I accepted the invitation and about an hour and a half of travelling we arrived at the convent. After having spent a month in Sicily the vocation promoter told me that I was not strong enough to endure the harsh conditions that the brothers experienced. With a heavy heart I headed back for Malta.


 On praying You showed me that the married life was a possible option. I told God that I would only marry a woman who would lead me to him. He found me a woman who took her spiritual life seriously and we got married. Today I realize that my call is to leave my past that had scarred me so much and start a new life walking in the ways of God. This blog is the fruit of that call. My new call is that of sharing my prayers online and spreading the Word of God. The other part of my call is that of being a good husband and father to my seven year old daughter and being an instrument in God's hands to whom I pledge full obedience love and respect.



10. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples.

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 10)


Oh Jesus what a lesson You give us. You do not wait for us sinners to come to You. On the contrary You come to us in order to save us. If we want to catch fish we go to the areas where there is a high possibility of catching fish. Thanks Jesus for humbling yourself and venturing into areas that may have been considered as negative by others in order to save us. I pray that You give me the strength and courage to work with people of different walks of life in order to be of service to others.



11. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 11)


At times we do good acts to others as in Your case oh Jesus, however we are misunderstood. We might help others who may have a strong bias on their heads such as illegal immigrants, or people having a negative reputation, and because of our help we may be judged by others and spoken negatively of. However You never stopped doing good acts and was never discouraged by the opposition made by others and neither should we.


12. But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. ' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

(Matthew chapter 9 verses 12 to 13)


As a sinner oh Jesus I am greatly in need of You. Throughout my life as a physician You have cured me of 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome' a condition that is considered as being non curable, as a counselor or psychologist you are still treating me in order to help me fully recover from all my past hurts from people who have and at times are still hurting me. You are every thing to me. This is why I love You so much because I have received alot from You and You are still loving and caring for me.


14. Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 14)


The difference between the God that the Pharisees and the disciples of John worshiped was the God of the old Testament, however the disciples of Jesus were in the presence of the Son of God who came to update the teachings and commandments of the Old Testament. At times as humans we tend to get stuck in our past, and even though we are exposed to something new, we still cannot accept the current times, because we may still be living in the past. Oh Jesus, there was a time when my hurts were so strong that they blocked me in experiencing You as a loving Father. Thanks for healing me of these hurts and offering me a better future as your loving son.


15. And Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 15)


This verse explains why we fast only during the time of Easter, because during this time, we re-enact or celebrate the most important time of our Christian life, that is the binding stone of our faith, the death and resurrection of You oh Jesus! During the beginning of your ministry You are already referring to Your death. During our every life while we are still alive we are always to keep in mind that our home is not on earth but in heaven.



16. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloth, for the patch pulls away from the cloak and a worse tear is made. 17. Neither is new wine put into old wine skins, otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the wine is destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins and so both are preserved."

(Matthew chapter 9 verses 16 to 17)


Oh Jesus indeed You are the 'New Wine' and therefore one cannot stop and judge You or considered you only as being the God as portrayed in the 'Old Testament', although even during these times You were loving kind and merciful with Your people and also with us. However You came in order to update the teachings of the Old Testament and make the wine and the skins more refined and of better taste. Therefore the two 'Testaments' are to be viewed in their own individual contexts and are not to be used to contradict each other because as in the case of fruit, they are more appreciated during their harvesting season, however, Your fruit oh Jesus remains forever. Your Word both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament are valid for all times, because the Holy Spirit enlightens my mind and that of others in order to unfold the message of the text which is then applied in my life and then shared with others as in the case of this blog and the ministry of the Church who preaches Your Word till the farthest regions of the earth, so that nobody can say that he or she has never heard of Your name.



18. While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying. "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 18)



Oh how beautiful are the people who believe in you oh Jesus. In humility they come before You and in faith they lay their prayers before you. In good faith the leader of the synagogue believed in Your healing power and even risked being thrown out of the synagogue administration in order to receive Your healing. On reflecting we can ask our selves if we are ready to take risks for You oh Father.


19. And Jesus got up and followed him with his disciples. 20. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21. for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well." 22. Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.

(Matthew chapter 9 verses 19 to 22)


This is a situation oh Jesus that as humans we call a dilemma. On the one hand you have the priority of going to the house of the leader of the synagogue however, on the other hand comes this woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years and who had the courage to approach you and in faith touch the helm of your cloak. You acted on the here and now and chose the lady over the so called dead daughter who in her situation could wait for You the giver of life. This is a perfect lesson in decision making oh Jesus. Help me to always turn to You when making my decisions You are the perfect model.


23. When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24. he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. 25. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

(Matthew chapter 9 verses 23 to 26)


Oh Jesus how gentle and calm You are. You do not like commotion and disorder. Where there is Your presence there is no room for chaos and disorder. You make fun of the ways of the world especially death, because You have power over it and it is powerless against You. Thanks oh Jesus for being as You are, may I always refer to You in both the good times and the not so good times, for You are my only healer. In relation to my Irritable bowel Syndrome the world did not prove successful but You did and You healed me.


27. As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David! 28. When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord" 29. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." 30. And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." 31. But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

(Matthew chapter 9 verses 27 to 31)


On reflecting on Jesus I wonder whether the blind men where spiritually or physically blind. It seems that even You viewed them with an attitude of suspicion for You did not respond immediately to their request for healing. Another thing that makes me doubt their sincerity is the fact that You told them that their faith healed them. It is as in the case of the woman who had touched Your cloak. The healing power was sort of stolen of You in the sense that You did not give it freely. Oh Jesus may I never be misguided and interpret the dark as being light.


32. After they had gone away a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. 33. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said. "Never has anything like this been seen in Israel." 34. But the Pharisees said, "By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons."

(Matthew chapter 9 verses 32 to 34)


According to human logic, the Pharisees statement is correct and valid, however Your logic oh Jesus Son of God the Most High is totally different from human logic. It seems that when You started your public ministry all hell broke loose. Many people started harassing You from all angles with their issues. However You always catered for the genuine sinners and did not even deny Your healing powers to people such as the two blind men who one being healed did You more harm than good. Thanks oh Jesus for being so kind and generous to us sinners.


35. Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom; and curing every disease and every sickness.

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 35)


Oh Jesus even to this very day You are still in the process of visiting persons, villages, countries and even nations. Anybody who is open to Your healing grace will receive Your healing. I pray oh Jesus that nobody will harden their hearts in Your presence and miss out on this great and healing opportunity. I pray that You will never stop giving us Your healing grace. In a spirit of prayer I invite you to join me in this prayer that is for me and for you who happen to be meditating on the Word of God. Please click on the following link:-

God's healing grace


36.When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38. therefore ask the LORD of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest

(Matthew chapter 9 verse 36 to 38)


Oh Jesus thanks for having compassion for us humans. This is exactly our condition harassed by the evil one from all sides, however we have You and Your Church to guide us along the crooked pathways of life. Thanks for being our shepherd.

 I pray in name of all Roman Catholics and even Christians of all churches to keep on sending shepherds that help us in keeping on track according to Your ways. I invite you to join me in the following prayer for vocations;-


Prayer for vocations


As Christians we all have a role to fulfill. On hearing the word 'Vocation' we may associate it with becoming a Priest, Friar or living in a community. However the connotations are much wider than we may possibly think. Wherever we may go, in what environment You oh God may be sending us, we have the opportunity of spreading Your Word and being fishers of people who on following our way of life based on Your Word and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and even the teachings of other Churches may make a U turn in one's life and experience Your love in their lives. We are all given the role of missionaries with the God given task of helping but not convincing others to change their ways. Although we may use many nice words and cite scriptures from both the New and Old Testaments the best way to transmit our faiths is to live according to what we believe so that others will see Jesus in us in a more concrete and credible way. Our way of life based on the Word of God and on the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church is enough to set a good example even if we do not utter one word. The saying actions speak louder than words is very meaningful but Jesus told us that if we remained silent the stones could be given voices to spread Your Word. I pray oh Jesus that You keep on giving me insights to share in a spirit of prayer so that Your word will continue spreading throughout the World. Amen



I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer.


Oh God we are living hard times. The enemy is attacking from all sides both inside Your Church and outside. Non believers are launching one attack after another. Christians are being beheaded for whom they believe. Cancer and other fatal conditions are on the increase. We are living a culture that is pro death instead of pro life. Please may Your light shine brighter so that it can penetrate more the darkness of our heart. Please send more vocations because if not our spiritual lives are at stake. Life without You is meaningless oh God. I would have no reason to live if You no longer had a place in my life. Thanks for being my God and my Father.










   

The Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 8

MATTHEW 

CHAPTER

 8

1. When Jesus had come down from the mountain great crowds followed him;

(Matthew Chapter 8 verse 1)

On witnessing your teachings on the mountain oh God I also feel the craving for more of You and Your Word. The more I reflect on Your word, the more I feel urged to follow in Your ways, however try as I might I still manage to put my foot in it and mess up. Although I have Your presence in me, by nature I am still flesh and blood and subject to sin and therefore I am still i need of your grace and mercy and the guidance of Your Word.

2. and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean."

(Matthew chapter 8 verse 2)

Oh God on reflecting I am also that leper. That is why the leper did not have a name because my name and that of all who are sinners fits the description of this person who did not wait for Jesus to come to him but on having seen Jesus, broke the rules that forbid him from interacting with 'clean' people and went to Jesus.

If you are separated, divorced or in some way excluded by some law in society Jesus can give you hope, if you are a sinner like me, sick with irritable bowel syndrome, stress and anxiety, Jesus is your and my healer. He is our only hope. He cured me from Irritable some say the symptoms may reappear but I have faith in You my God that I have been healed by You forever.

If you and I feel unworthy to appear before Jesus because people know you as being gay or lesbian or homosexual do not fear because if the world fears, hates and sticks a label of stigma on You Jesus loves you and has carried the stigma in his body and crucified it on the cross for you and me. Jesus did not criticise the leper for violating the laws concerning lepers. The Leper made the leap of faith that superseded the risks of fear, humiliation and even risk of life if he were to be judged by the Pharisees of his time. So do not be afraid to risk with Jesus. Place your and my present and previous life in the custody of Jesus and go before him and ask Jesus the same question of the Leper; "Jesus if you want you can heal me"


3. He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, "I do choose. Be made clean! "Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

(Matthew chapter 8 verse 3)


Thanks Jesus for always answering our acts of faith. When you see that like the leper we do what is possible for us to do as humans within the parameters of our limitations, you add the finishing touch that even the science or medicine can ever do. Thank you Jesus for having healed me of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I know that if you want you can heal me from my chest pains, that nobody seems to know what is causing them. I pray to You not to take away the pain if this leads to my salvation, however my greatest illness is my sins a condition that only You can cure.


4. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

(Matthew chapter 8 verse 4)


Oh Jesus how humble You are, not like the ways of the world. Instead of craving for popularity You preferred that your acts remain in secret. On the other hand You want us to be obedient both to you and also to our superiors and the authorities. You order the Leper to offer the sacrificial offering as a thanksgiving for his healing. Oh God all healing comes from You. I also for having healed me from my symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome. Thanks Jesus You indeed are my healer.


5. When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." 7. And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." 8. The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant be healed. 9. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one , 'Go,' and he goes and to another 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it."

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 5 to 9)


Oh Jesus what a manifestation of humility versus authority! A high rank official of the Mighty Roman Empire comes to you for help. The powers of the world although appear strong mighty and advanced in technology and science as in the medical world, come before You in humility and seek Your help. As humans we do not have all the answers. We are to admit to our selves that try as we might, we are not self-sufficient and we depend on your healing grace mercy and power and not simply on our own weak devices


In response to such a humble act oh God, you humbly respond to our request. You are moved by our prayers, when the objective is appropriate and according to Your will. You love us so much that You will not deny us of yourself. The powers of the world admit that they are not worthy to welcome the pure presence of God in our lives, because we are all sinners contaminated by our sin. It is a sin to use a white towel to wipe an engine that is leaking oil. It is better to use one that is already stained. The centurion acknowledges the authority of Jesus and respects it. He says to Jesus that they were both under authority and both had power over others. However the power of the world cannot be compared to yours oh God. The centurion dwells on the fact, that as much as he pledged his obedience to his superiors in the mighty Roman Empire Jesus pledged his obedience towards God His father.


At times we end up caught in a dilemma between the ways of the world and the ways of God. This is an important moment in our lives, for by means of such moments we can make the leap of faith and in humility admit that there is none like You oh God and that our well physical, spiritual, psychological and social well being as even our financial well being depends totally on You my father.


10. When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.

(Matthew chapter 8 verse 10)


It is nice of You oh God to make such a positive comment on the faith of the centurion. I hope that when I appear before You oh God You have the same positive outlook on my accomplishments and also speak positively of me. In the eyes of the people of this world, I may not be spoken positively, however what matters most is how I am viewed by You.


11. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12. while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."13. And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you according to your faith,". And the servant was healed in that hour.

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 11 to 13)


Oh Jesus you praise the centurion for his faith and have harsh words for those of us who consider themselves making part of your inner circle, but are not living according to their faith. Oh Jesus may it never be that we are accounted for as hypocrites. Have mercy oh Jesus and permit us to change our ways before we come before You.


14. When Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; 15. he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 14 to 15)


In the case of the centurion, You just spoke the word and your healing power was in effect and a person was healed. In the case of verses 14 to 15 you touched the hand of the sick person and she was healed. Therefore oh Jesus you used your word to heal the servant of the centurion, and the laying of You hands in the case of Peter's mother-in-law.Oh Jesus all healing comes from You. In times of tribulations we are to place the problem before You and I am to rest assured that in time You will give Your healing, or solve the problem at hand. Help me oh Jesus to place my trust in You and not in the ways of the world.


16. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. 17. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our disasters."

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 16 to 17)


In the name of all sinners such as myself I thank You oh Jesus for never stopping to cure our illness and help us in our problems. Day and night Your phone is always ringing and patiently but lovingly You answer our queries, giving healing, blessings and solving our problems. Thanks for never going out on shutdown or working on an 8.00 to 5.00 office hours shift basis. You are always there for us.


18. Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.

(Matthew chapter 8 verse 18)


It seems that you were surrounded by so many people that the situation became unhealthy and people could be harmed due to the lack of space. At times it is good to retreat to our comfort zone with You oh Jesus. Due to the time involved in work and family life, at times life becomes suffocating and there is the need to go to the other side for some time of personal freedom and space. I pray oh God that this time of prayer will always be available. You are my comfort zone. This time of prayer is so precious that I do not imagine how I can live without it and You. Thank You Jesus for giving me this opportunity to be with you.


19. A scribe then approached and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20. And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 19 to 20)


Oh Jesus many people accept you on different terms. Some acknowledge You as a healer, or a miracle maker, others as a philosopher or problem solver, I acknowledge You as my loving father who loves me beyond all measures of the world, so much that You decided to die for my sins in order to claim my salvation.


21. Another of his disciples said to him,, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 22. But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 21 to 22)


In order to follow You my father I am to be so committed that You become my number one priority Moreover as in verse 20 of this same chapter, following You means moving in areas where I never ever considered before.


23. And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25. And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 26. And he said to them, "Why are you afraid you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27. They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 23 to 27)


On reflecting the situation of Matthew Chapter 8 verses 23 to 27, is our situations. There are moments when the waves as in the following link which I invite you to click on, start beating upon our lives. Our lives start as if to be falling apart in the sense that one situation, a family crisis, separation, accident happen in a way that leave us breathless! In such situations we also turn on You oh Jesus and ask if You care that we are experiencing such harsh trials and tribulations. We question Your presence as in the case of the 'Twin Towers' or the current situation re this Islamic terrorist group. We ask You to wake up and help us battle this wave of onslaught that is threatening to eradicate Christianity and life as we have come to know it to the present day. However You oh Jesus are in control of all these situations and therefore we do not need to worry for our well being or that of our family. When You want to You can take control and speak the ultimate word 'Stop' or 'Enough bloodshed' and the waves will calm down again, for both the human and the natural world are under Your control.


Jesus and storm during lake crossing



28. When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 28 to 29)

In order to picture such a situation when Jesus came face to face with evil impersonated in the person of the demoniac please click on the following link:-

Jesus and the demoniac


Strangely enough the demoniac makes a profession of faith when defending himself from the might presence of Jesus. On the one hand the demoniac or possessed person fears the presence of God. The man is in a position of no escape. Its either fight or flight. We also end up in similar situations where we end up having to face our reality that although we try our best to take control over our life we end up messing up. Jesus you try to help us many times but we try to have our own ways. However you never give up on us and keep on trying to attract our attention in order to cleanse us from the presence of evil dwelling in us due to our sinful nature. You look us in the eye either directly or by means of people who are close to You, and in those eyes we see Your eyes and experience Your loving kindness and we break down and let our defences down, so that as in the case of the possessed man You can overcome the negative presence that is controlling our lives.

30. Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31. The demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine." 32. And he said to them, "Go" So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water.

(Matthew chapter 8 verses 30 to 32)


Oh Jesus how merciful You are! You had mercy on the evil demons and even more You have mercy on us Your sinful creatures. Even though You knew that like the demons we repay Your kindness with evil and negative acts, You still love us and have mercy on us. Thanks for being so loving, caring and merciful.


33. The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs.

(Matthew chapter 8 verse 33)


The swineherds and the pigs had been far away from the demoniacs and therefore it had been very difficult to grasp a complete perception of the situation and the state of events that led to the destruction of the herds. In life the same thing happens. We follow a theory or hearsay that we may not understand fully or even a teaching about You oh Jesus, and we spread the false or misunderstood interpretation to others and do more harm than good, so much that others will be discouraged from following You. Oh Jesus I pray that You protect us from such misunderstandings so that You are Your Word are praised and not criticised or ridiculed.


34. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.

(Matthew chapter 8 verse 34)

On reflecting I understand why the person became a demoniac. The Gadarenes where more focused on material gain than on their spiritual lives. On assessing the situation they cared  more for the loss of their herds than for the healing of the demoniac. There priorities were messed up and on experiencing the light of God they could not perceive it from the darkness that they were living in and therefore they refused You oh Jesus. In truth they did not know what they were doing. I pray that as you showed mercy on the demons, You show mercy on those who reject You, on those as in the case of this Islamic terrorist group and forgive them for the negative acts that they are committing. As humans they think that what they are doing is right like many of us, however in truth it is totally wrong. May Your light shine oh God so strong in their lives that it destroys the darkness that is present in the hearts of these people and even that of our own.

I would like to end this chapter with a prayer kindly given to us by Mary Geveetha who for reasons that I respect has decided not to contribute to this blog any more prayers. I wish to thank her for her contributions and tell her that in Your name when she is ready she is more than welcome to continue contributing as before, however either way I still respect her courageous decision.

 I would like to invite anybody who wishes to share a prayer in relation to Matthew Chapter 9 to send it on the following email address:- needforspeedvkm@gmail.com.

Heavenly Father, We thank You greatly for Your beloved Son Lord Jesus Christ, one clothed in Divine power, a great Physician who walked upon the earth, curing the sick, delivering the many tormented by evil spirits, making the lame walk and the blind to see. What great authority He had over the demons and what great power He had over those who needed His healing.

Lord Jesus Christ, You bore our sufferings and carried our sorrows, and to You was revealed the powers of heaven and might, we call upon Your blessed name to come upon with power on our bodily diseases and heal them in Your spirits. Like You made clean the leper,  heal those with diseases that affect the body and make them clean and whole again. Heal us too from our spiritual leprosy as we humble ourselves under Your feet and seek forgiveness for all we have done against the word of the Father and His will.  

We pray and we believe that no guilt is so great, that which Your precious blood cannot  atone, no corruption so strong, that Your grace cannot subdue, no illness that is incurable in Your blessed name Lord Jesus.

Help us Lord Jesus to have great faith like the centurion. Help our unbelief and our excuse to sin. Help us humble ourselves before You at all times in all circumstances, bringing our supplications and prayers,  bringing before You those who need Your power of healing and recovery. Lord Jesus, like You cast out the demons, pour out Your spirits on those who minister in the ministry of deliverance. May Your power of deliverance work through their hands as they bring those affected by demons and captivation of evil spirits and relieve them of Satan's trap and antagonism.

Lord Jesus, may nothing come in the way of following Your will and way. May our earthly duties and cares never take over the call of You to follow You in service and to do Your will.  In the times we are away on our feet, may no harm or tragedies scare us away from Your comfort and saving strength.  Help us Lord to always rely on Your strength and Your saving grace as we remember that even the waves and winds obey Your  orders. 

May we keep the light of faith burning in all the troubles and afflictions that we face. May we always remember and have great faith in Your words, "Believe, and ye shall receive, only believe". In our faith and belief, we will see Your power Lord Jesus Christ healing our souls and may we rejoice and give God all glory in Your blessed name,  Amen!

The Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 7

MATTHEW

 CHAPTER 

7

1. "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.

(Matthew Chapter 7 verse 1)

Oh Father you made us in such a majestic way. You gave us the faculty of making an assessment on people and situations, however as humans we tend to pass negative judgement on others and at times we create labels to place on others that are hard to remove once they are attached. We do it on ourselves and even on others. The funny things is that once we become aware or somebody makes us aware of our weaknesses instead of praying to God to help us overcome that weakness in order to improve our spiritual, social and psychological being we project our weaknesses on to others by calling them names and projecting our weakness as a label. Some people are called slow coaches, dumb, silly and many other negative words. In other cases we place labels people whom we might fear such as illegal immigrants or people of different skin or race and we create a social bias that is sure to spread like a disease with negative consequences, however at heart we do so because such groups raise our fears and therefore we use labelling and judgement as negative means of 'self-defense' which is not Christian or Catholic at all.

In this respect I would like to share with you a very sweet story by Max Lucado that is very appropriate with the message of Matthew Chapter 7 verse 1. I invite you to click on the following link.

Max Lucado and labelling story


3. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4. Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? 5. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.

(Matthew Chapter 7 verses 3 to 5)


At times we tend to put aside our own weaknesses and put on a mask of superiority on those who happen to be in a weaker position than us, and adopt the role of God, by saying what should be done from a human point of view in the situation and never leading the person to God who has all the answers to our problems.


6. "Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

(Matthew chapter 7 verse 6)


God is telling us to be very cautious about what we may share with unbelievers. We are to be very careful in what is precious to us as Christians. Many sects are taking verses from your Word oh God and try to disprove the authenticity of Your Word. Others are making films  and writing books that also distort the message of Your Word. In this respect we are to protest against such measures in order to protect what is Holy and precious and protect it from ending up in the possession of those who do not believe in You and Your Word. The current greatest threat is this terrorist group that is threatening to destroy all traces of Christianity. We are to unite in prayer in order to preserve the Pope and all that is Christian while there is still available time.


7. "Ask, and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9. Is there anyone among you who if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10. Or if the child asks for a fish will give a snake? 11. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

(Matthew Chapter 7 verses 7 to 11)


Oh God how loving you are and how generous and considerate You are to humanity. Yo not only gave us instructions on how to lead a life that gives you pleasure but You also gave us the means of reaching that end. When we have questions in life about both spiritual and material issues You told us to ask. Today more than before knowledge is at our finger tips, a click away. On the other hand God and His Word are always available to answer all the issues of our life. In order to find what we want we need to ask questions that God will surely answer when He considers as being the proper time.


When You oh God father of all love and knowledge has the right answer in Your own good time You will give us the answer by means of Your Word, people of God and other means and situations that You consider as being appropriate to the given situation.


12. "In everything do to others as you would have them to to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

(Matthew chapter 7 verse 12)


Indeed oh God this is the law of laws. If we reflect on the consequences of the actions that we plan to inflict on others or even wish to in our hearts we may think twice on that action especially when considering the consequences that we would endure if the same action was done to us. In the same way from a more positive point of view we can conclude oh God, that we have a great wish to be loved by You and by others, therefore likewise in the light of this dictum that is verse 12 of chapter 7 of the Gospel of Matthew we are to love others beforehand. If we always thought on this structure we would never even think of hurting others or doing a negative action. Our lives would be totally the reflection of You our Father and Master Creator.

13. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

(Matthew chapter 7 verses 13 to 14)

Jesus instructs us that if we want to follow Him we are to go on a diet of the ways of the world. We are to renounce values and practises that are held as a must or a rule or a value, that in substance in in contrary to Your Word oh God. In light of verses 13 to 14 I would like to share with you the following insights. I invite you to click on the following link:-

Insights on Wide and Narrow Road


15. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 

(Matthew chapter 7 verse 15)


The world offers us many situations that appear to be good but in truth they, may have evil connotations. Mother technology promises an easy click and push button way of life which if used in a correct manner is priceless, however, these same means can be easily used wrongly.


16. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17. In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20. Thus you will now them by their fruits.

(Matthew chapter 7 verses 16 to 20)

Jesus is advising us to analyse the actions of those persons who come to us under the disguise of holiness or goodness, for in truth they may not be as genuine as they appear. The criteria that Jesus gives us in order to carry out this task is the person's actions. Mother Theresa would never have been involved in a multimillionaire dollar fraud in Calcutta, St.Francis of Assisi would never have been involved in a scam that would destroy any living creature, or a scam that would drain the rich from their resources in order to feed the poor. However on reflecting on God we can easily turn the focus on ourselves and reflect if our actions match what we say and what we believe.

I can easily start from myself oh God. You explain to us that we need not worry, however when I was informed that our 7 year old daughter needed glasses, I was worried sick. I started blaming myself of having produced a defective child, instead of accepting the fact that I also have glasses and that this is surely the will of God and that I would have had better given thanks to You oh God that by means of competent people you illuminated us in time to take the necessary action. On reflecting even though I reflect on Your Word oh Jesus my action of worry still did not reflect Your presence in my life. Although the tree appears to be good, the fruit produced was sour and bad.

I pray for Your forgiveness oh Jesus because my actions did not reflect my belief. If You were to reap my produce You would not have found good fruit, and you may even have decided to throw my tree into the fire. However it seems that You have had mercy on me and still love me, because although I am a weak and sinful person You are still giving me the chance of placing my trust in You and changing my sinful ways.

21. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name? 23. Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'

(Matthew chapter 7 verse 21 to 23)


This is one of my greatest fears oh Jesus. Although I sincerely love You, I always fear that I do not love You enough. I am aware of why I have this great concern oh Jesus. This is because I have lived circumstances as You well know that although I have loved people such as my father but in time he has rejected me as his son by means of the annulment that he has applied and is about to get. I understand that as a loving father You stand in the same boots. Not all who profess their love for you are genuinely believers in You, even though they may have taken vows in order to dedicate their life to You. I pray oh Jesus that You have mercy on me and the world, so that our lives will not be better than that of those who profess to love and believe in You and then go against Your Word and the faith that You have given to us.


It is better oh Jesus for me not to have been born at all, if at the time of my leaving this world I will not merit your grace of after being exposed to the state of purification of my sins will not be allowed to spend the rest of my life in Your presence. It would truly be a waste of a life and time on earth. However oh Jesus I am in no position to make such a gross statement me who am only the dust of the earth. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.


24. "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock. 26. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell-and great was its fall.

(Matthew chapter 7 verses 24 to 27)


On reflecting Jesus is plain and simple. Your statements are so true and down to earth. You never promised us a life without tribulations just because we pray on Your Word or because we are regular Church goers. Tribulations may still befall us, however the major difference between those who have their lives built on the Rock that is the 'Word of God' and those who have built their lives on the world, and its teachings, is that the attitude of those who have built their lives on God is more positive. Therefore even when the strong winds blow on their situations and although some walls or ceilings may cave in or are completely destroyed people of God simply accept all that has happened as being according to the Will of God and adopt an attitude of thanksgiving instead of one of depression, anger or condemnation of God.


28. Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29. for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

(Matthew chapter 7 verse 28 to 29)

Oh Jesus you have a special way of delivering Your message. When speaking Yo do not need to cite other people's prayers or speeches or philosophical or theological arguments, because all knowledge has its roots in you. You are an authority in Yourself unlike the scribes of your time and therefore You do not need to cite other sources or authorities.

I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-

Thanks Jesus for all the messages that you have given me throughout these seven chapters of the book of Matthew and even in the chapters of the 'Old Testament' I pray that you help me to live each and every word and insight that You shared with me and put it into practise. I pray that my fruits reflect the type of person who I am and that when my time is up You will reap good fruit from my tree. Thanks Jesus.

 .