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The Bible is known to be the best-selling book of all times. After the Bible, what is next in the best-selling list of books? It is cookbooks.
Cookbooks sell a lot because we all have to eat and eating has become an act, it is not only a meal. That is why in an economic crisis, it is the food chains that prosper the most because we can skip buying shoes or stop buying new clothes but we will always have to eat at least three times a day.
It is understandable that many of the lessons Jesus imparted to us took place within the context of a meal. We cannot have a party without food. In the same way, the message of Jesus will not reach us without a meal celebration. So, the Lord says to us, feast and fast. First we feast, and then we will fast. The rule is very simple. “When I am with you, you must feast. When I am not with you, you must fast.”
How does the Lord come to us so that we will know when to feast? Three P’s. First, the Lord comes to us when we pray. After we pray, we must celebrate. When we pray, we must lift up our hearts to the Lord. When we pray we must feast, so to speak. Therefore, hindi dapat nakasimangot kapag nagdarasal kahit mukhang cute kung tingnan sa picture kapag nakapikit at nakasimangot at talagang gusot na gusot yong mukha kapag nagdarasal. Every prayer must be a feast encounter with a loving God who belongs right here in our hearts. The Lord comes to us when we pray and when we pray, we must celebrate.
The second P, the Lord comes to us through people. Every time we see a person, that is a sign that God has not given up on the world. Every time we see ourselves in the mirror, it also means that God has not given up on us. When we look at that crucifix in front of the church, it is just as good as looking to our left and to our right and finding God beside us. The persons to our east and each of us is a feast and each celebration. Maniwala kayo sa akin, na ang katabi natin sa mga sandaling it ay larawan ng Diyos, kahit hindi kayo maniwala, larawan ng Diyos ‘yan.
The third P is poor. Every time we see the poor we must celebrate and when we celebrate we do not bring them sardines and pork and beans. When we celebrate we do not measure one-half kilo of sugar only and nothing more. When we celebrate we do not just put orange food coloring into the water. When we celebrate we must put out the best because the VIP is here in our midst. Sadly, when it comes to being with the poor or tendering a dinner or lunch for the poor, we sort of scrimp on our expenses. We do not lavish them with nice gifts as we do for our friends. Why is that? If we are brave enough to understand that when we face the poor, it is God we are facing, should we not celebrate and be lavish with the celebration? Let us feast together. We shall be together in this celebration, in prayer, with people, among the poor.
PRAYER, PEOPLE, POOR
Lk. 5:36-39
Love Like Jesus
