GOD WILL SURPRISE YOU, IF YOU SOW FAITHFULLY

Once again, we begin to walk the path of the New Year ahead; a new stage of life opens up to the good wishes and our hopes to achieve our goals in the coming 12 months. Naturally, at the beginning of the New Year, every person has the wish of attaining a better life and improving their situation. I want to take this opportunity to humbly make some suggestions that will – and I guarantee this – yield good results and will certainly lay the foundation to continue to do so in the coming years. I have done this for a long time and as a result God has been good to me and my family.

The Apostle Paul reveals the secret of the good results “remember this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Sowing is a process that begins with the preparation of the soil so that the selected seed may be planted, cared for, fertilized and watered to obtain a good result. According to the scripture, the Lord promises to provide an abundance of blessings that allow us to even help others from our excess.

Let me share with you a real-life story that confirms that we should sow with our heart to obtain a good result as soon as we harvest, for God wows us whenever we least expect it. “One day, a poor boy, that sold products door to door to pay for school, felt hungry and realized that he only had one dime. So, he decided to ask for food at the next house he came to. He knocked, and immediately became nervous when a lovely girl opened the door. Instead of food, the boy asked for a glass of water. The girl thought that he might be hungry, so she gave him a big glass of milk. He drank slowly and then hesitantly asked, how much do I owe you? She said, “nothing” adding that her mother taught her not to ask anything in exchange for an act of kindness. The boy said, thank you from the bottom of his heart.

When Howard Kelly left that house that day, he not only felt more physically recovered, but with a stronger faith in God and humankind. Years later, that young girl became seriously ill. The doctors in her town were bewildered. She was finally sent to the nearest city, where a specialist was called to study her strange illness. The doctor on call was Dr. Howard Kelly. He immediately recognized the woman as the lovely girl who was merciful to him long ago and set to do his best to save her life. After a long fight for her life, she won the battle. Dr. Kelly asked the hospital administration to send him all her bills, he paid each one in full. The hospital sent the statement to the woman; the woman was afraid to open the envelope because she knew that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. But when she opened it and saw the balance was zero and the following handwritten note, “fully paid many years ago with a glass of milk. Dr. Howard Kelly”, tears of joy sprung from her eyes and she happily prayed, thank you, my Lord, for you are manifested in the hands and heart of humankind.

This story clearly describes the results of the law of sowing good seed. God manifests timely the results of all that we have sown throughout our life. God is so merciful that we receive abundantly what we have sown; press down, shaken and overflowing. The results of this real-life story confirms that investing in the Kingdom of God is worthwhile for it has a timely guarantee. This is why I invite you to be generous and sow in the Spirit so that you harvest; health, peace, love, patience, faith and hope now and forever.

For the New Year, we all should include in our resolutions devoting time to the Lord in daily prayer, sacramental life and encountering Christ in the Eucharist, not only on Sunday, but also during the week. I would add, also reading and meditating on the Word of God every day and to serve the Lord in our parishes.

Remember what Pope Francis said, “the Joy of the Gospel is for all people; no one can be excluded. It cannot be reserved for or delegated to a particular group. All the baptized are directly involved in it.” Therefore, the commitment to evangelization, acts of kindness and generosity should be part of our life for all the years to come so we may receive the good results promised by God and confirmed through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Divine Sower of the world. He has already sowed the good seed, His Life. And we must listen to and pay attention to His voice so that we can have an abundant harvest of good results in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Remember that just a few hours before His Passion, Jesus said to the disciples “you did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear good results—results that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My Name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16). Amen. Blessed be all the ones chosen by the Lord.

I want to thank all of you for your faithfulness, kindness and generosity, as you are all part of the ESNE family; and in this loving fellowship of believers, I feel the need to ask for two great favors. First, please pray to God for ESNE’s Mission to take Christ to all those in need of His infinite Love amidst this pandemic, but especially those who do not know Him. Second, please continue to contribute your monthly seed – to the extent it is possible – so that together we can continue taking the message of the Lord to tens of millions of people around the world through TV, Radio and Social Media. Please remember that if you sow joyfully, you will see the blessings promised by God. Let us sow together and harvest together on that day.

We continue to pray for the families who have experienced the pain of seeing their loved ones depart as a result of the pandemic; I encourage you to continue to take precautions and good care of yourselves. I pray to God for the sick and the poor in these difficult times. I know that with Faith and Hope we will prevail.

I pray to God for all of you, so that He may pour abundant blessings in health, peace, love, generosity, humility, mercy, faith, and hope during all the days of your lives. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022!!

Sincerely, in the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of Our Lady of Guadalupe, yours truly.