"Madamo Nga Mga Propeta Kag Mga Hari Sang Una Ang Naghandom Nga Makakita Kag Makabati Sang Inyo Nakita Kag Nabatian Karon"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 10:21-24)

Sa sadto nga tion ginlipay gid si Jesus sang Espiritu Santo. Nagsiling si Jesus, "Amay, nga tag-iya sang langit kag sang duta, ginadayaw ko ikaw tungod nga ang kamatuoran nga gintago mo sa mga tawo nga ginakabig nga mga maalam kag may mga tinun-an ginpaintiendi mo sa mga tawo nga pareho sang mga bata nga diutay ang kaalam. Amay, salamat gid nga amo ina ang imo kabubut-on."

Pagkatapos sadto, nagsiling si Jesus sa mga tawo, "Ang tanan nga mga butang gintugyan sa akon sang akon Amay. Ang Amay lang ang nakakilala sa akon nga iya Anak. Kag ang nakakilala sa Amay ako gid lang nga iya Anak kag ang mga tawo nga buot ko nga ipakilala sa Amay."

Dayon nag-atubang si Jesus sa iya mga sumulunod kag naghambal sa ila nga silahanon lang, "Bulahan kamo tungod nga nakita gid ninyo ang mga butang nga akon ginapanghimo.

Sa pagkamatuod, madamo nga mga propeta kag mga hari sang una ang naghandom nga makakita kag makabati sang inyo nakita kag nabatian karon, pero wala natabo ini sa ila tiyempo."

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Meditation:

How does God bring his kingdom to us? Jesus remarked that many prophets and kings before him longed to see and understand God's plan for establishing his kingdom. When King David’s throne was overthrown and vacant for centuries, God promised, nonetheless, to raise up a new king from the stump of Jesse, the father of David. This messianic king would rule forever because the Spirit of God would rest upon him and remain with him (Isaiah 11:1). Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be equipped with the gifts of the Spirit – with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2 – for an explanation of the gifts see this helpful article). This king would establish the kingdom of God, not by force of human will and military power, but by offering his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world. Through his death on the cross, Jesus, the true Messiah King, would defeat Satan, overcome death, and win pardon and reconcilliation for sinners. God's plan of redemption included not only the Jewish people but all the nations of the earth as well. Through his death and resurrection Jesus makes us citizens of heaven and friends of God. The Lord Jesus wants us to live in joyful hope and confident expectation that he will come again to fully establish his kingdom of righteousness and peace.

What does Jesus' prayer (Luke 10:21-22) tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is both Father and Lord of earth as well as heaven. He is both Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and at the same time, goodness and loving care for all his children. All fatherhood and motherhood are derived from him (Ephesians 3:14-15). Jesus' prayer also contains a warning that pride can keep us from the love and knowledge of God. Pride closes the mind to God's truth and wisdom for our lives. Jesus contrasts pride with child-like simplicity and humility. The simple of heart are like "babes" in the sense that they see purely without pretense and acknowledge their dependence and trust in God who is the source of all wisdom and strength. They seek one thing – the "summum bonum" or "greatest good" which is God himself. Simplicity of heart is wedded with humility, the queen of virtues, because humility inclines the heart towards grace and truth. Just as pride is the root of every sin and evil we can conceive, so humility is the only soil in which the grace of God can take root. It alone takes the right attitude before God and allows him as God to do all. "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (Prov. 3:34, James 4:6). The grace of Christ-like humility inclines us towards God and disposes us to receive God's wisdom, grace, and help. Nothing can give us greater joy than the knowledge that we are God's beloved and that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Do you seek God's wisdom and grace with humility and trust?

Jesus makes a claim which no one would have dared to make: He is the perfect revelation of God. Our knowledge of God is not simply limited to knowing something about God – who he is and what he is like. We can know God personally and be united with him in a relationship of love, trust, and friendship. Jesus makes it possible for each of us to personally know God as our Father. To see Jesus is to see what God is like. In Jesus we see the perfect love of God – a God who cares intensely and who yearns over men and women, loving them to the point of laying down his life for them upon the cross. Do you pray to your Father in heaven with joy and confidence in his love and care for you?

"Lord Jesus, give me the child-like simplicity and purity of faith to gaze upon your face with joy and confidence in your all-merciful love. Remove every doubt, fear, and proud thought which would hinder me from receiving your word with trust and humble submission."