THE PROMISE

On my first day working at the 23rd Street, we were asked to put up modulars. Our first assignment was putting up glass doors and panels for the electronics area. Two of the shelves were messed up that we had to unscrew the top so that the glass door would stay in place. We needed a phillips screwdriver in order to do the job.

I noticed the electrical people working near us and I knew they always carry tools with them. I approached one and asked to borrow a phillips screwdriver. I promised him I would return it as soon as I can.

They changed location so I was not able to return the screwdriver. I set it down on one of the shelves. I was already busy working in another area when I saw the man again. I quickly went to retrieve the screwdriver but it was not there anymore. I asked around but no one seemed to know where it was. I did all I can and stopped at nothing to find the missing screwdriver.

Everybody kept on telling me it was just a screwdriver and perhaps they have more than one so I should not bother with it. I knew what they were saying made sense, but I couldn’t back out of my promise.

I believe I was in High School when I came across this phrase: “Promises are made to be broken”. Honestly, that made me sad. A broken promise is what made our society what it is today. Most politicians promise a lot of things that they couldn’t keep.

To me, a promise is a promise and it speaks volume about a person’s integrity.

That is why I came back to the Philippines after a 10-day visit here in 2005. Because I made a promise to my boss that I would finish our project, the 1st Gaming Expo in Manila in February of 2006. I left 3 days after the event.

But you know what? My boss did not pay me for the last 2 weeks that I worked. My officemates were all saying “I told you so”.

My friends, I may not be rich but I would like to say my words are reliable. If I tell someone I am coming, come hell or high water, I would. There is no stopping me.

Today’s reading talks about THE PROMISE God made in the Old Testament. The Prophet Isaiah recorded it in a scroll. Jesus read the scripture to the people: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. That scripture has been read a lot of times, but Jesus reading them brought a whole new meaning. He was the fulfillment of that scripture.

Brothers and sisters, THE PROMISE of God is none other than His Only Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was the Annointed One. He was the promised Messiah. He would deliver all from death that results from sin. No one is worthy to save us but Him alone.

Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we were freed from slavery to sin. He covered all our sins – past, present and future. Because He rose from the dead, we have that hope that we would rise with Him on the last day. Because He lives, we can face every trial and pain that would come our way and be assured that we would live eternally with our Father in heaven.

But you know what? God has made another promise. He said “I would never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). You feel abandoned and all alone? Cheer up! You’ll never walk alone. God is with you at all times.

“O most loving Father, we thank you for the Promise of your Son, Jesus. We were freed from the bondage of sin and death. Thank you also for being always at our side. All glory, honor and praise be to you, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Meditation: Luke 4:14-20

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

-that in all things God may be glorified