"Indi Kamo Magkahadlok Sa Mga Tawo Nga Makapatay Lang Sang Inyo Lawas"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 11:47-54)

Sang nagdugok ang linibo-libo nga mga tawo kay Jesus kag nagaginutok sila, nagsiling si Jesus sa iya mga sumulunod, "Mag-andam kamo, kay basi malatnan kamo sang batasan sang mga Pariseo nga pulos pakita-kita lang.

Pero wala sang tinago nga indi mahibaluan sa ulihi.

Gani, bisan ano ang inyo ginahambal sa madulom, mabatian sa masanag, kag ang inyo ginahutik sa sirado nga kuwarto, mahibaluan sang tanan."

"Mga abyan, indi kamo magkahadlok sa mga tawo nga makapatay lang sang inyo lawas, kag pagkatapos wala na sila sing mahimo pa sa inyo.

Sugiran ko kamo kon sin-o ang inyo kahadlukan: kahadlukan ninyo ang Dios, kay pagkatapos nga mapatay niya ang lawas sang tawo may gahom pa gid siya sa paghaboy sang iya kalag sa impiyerno. Amo gani nga ginapaandaman ko kamo nga ang Dios dapat ninyo kahadlukan.

Indi bala nga barato lang ang gamay nga pispis? Pero wala sang isa sa ila nga ginakalimtan sang Dios.

Gani labi pa gid kamo, kay bisan ang inyo mga buhok naisip niya tanan. Gani indi kamo magkahadlok, kay mas mahal pa kamo sang sa mga pispis."

***

Meditation: 

What does leaven have to do with hypocrisy? To the Jews leaven was a sign of evil. It was a piece of dough from left-over bread which fermented.  Fermentation was associated with decay and rotting – the state of foul-smelling decomposition. Why did Jesus warn his disciples to avoid the ways of the Pharisees? The Pharisees wanted everyone to recognize that they were pious and good Jews because they meticulously and scrupulously performed their religious duties. Jesus turned the table on them by declaring that outward appearace doesn't always match the inward intentions of the heart. Anyone can display outward signs of goodness while inwardly harboring evil thoughts and intentions. The word hypocrite means actor – someone who pretends to be what he or she is not. But who can truly be good, but God alone? Hypocrisy thrives on making a good appearance and masking what they don't want others to see. The good news is that God's light exposes the darkness of evil and sin in our hearts, even the sin which is unknown to us. And God's light transforms our hearts and minds and enables us to overcome hatred with love, pride with humility, and pretense with integrity and truthfulness. God gives grace to the humble and contrite of heart to enable us to overcome the leaven of insincerity and hypocrisy in our lives. 

What does fear have to do with the kingdom of God? Fear is a powerful force. It can lead us to panic and flight or it can spur us to faith and action. The fear of God is the antidote to the fear of losing one's life. "I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. ..O fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want! ..Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord." (Psalm 34:4,9,11) What is godly fear? It is reverence for the One who made us in love and who sustains us in mercy and kindness. The greatest injury or loss which we can experience is not physical but spiritual – the loss of one's soul to the power of hell. A healthy fear of God leads to spiritual maturity, wisdom and right judgment and it frees us from the tyranny of sinful pride, deceit and cowardice – especially in the face of evil and spiritual deception. Do you trust in God's grace and mercy and do you submit to his word? 

"Lord Jesus, may the light of your word free my heart from the deception of sin and consume me with a burning love for your truth and righteousness."