The needs are many and the economies are increasingly smaller and smaller. And, in the face of scarcity of all kinds, the temptation is to make one's needs prevail over those of our neighbor. The Word that we are reading today warns us that we as Christians have a precise duty towards those who are part of our home and of those around us, even before turning our attention to something else. The term used in this case is idion, which properly means those who belong to you, who are around you. Probably today's reflection will strike someone, but we are commenting on the Word of God. And the Word is NOT disputed. And it is neither our intention to bump anyone but to clarify something in the light of the Word, in order not to run into certain errors. God wants everyone to be helped and this is beyond doubt, but our Lord has put a list of priorities. There is undoubtedly a priority scale to which we must obey if we are obedient. Some people instead of others have been entrusted to you to take care of them and you CANNOT avoid your task without running the risk of being considered by the Word itself as an unbeliever. I can therefore understand, for example, who has the heart to help foreign missions and make continuous journeys to reach places at the limits of survival. I can understand. But I cannot justify that this happens without BEFORE helping those close to you, or those in the Church dying of starvation. But most do not dedicate themselves to those in their hinterland who are in disadvantaged conditions if not worse than those who try to help out. If God has given you to work in a place, why are you not working to help in all the ways you can those who are in the place where God sent you to work? Why is your heart always looking for something else to be able to work in the Lord? Be careful because by doing so you are contravening the Word of God.

Pastor Gabriele

Someone once wrote that "none of us can change our yesterday but we can all change our tomorrow". This statement turns out to be true only for the aspect concerning personal choices and actions, but not for what tomorrow offers a one-way sense to us. There are two parts involved. One, that of the personal sphere that I decide; the other, that of the impersonal sphere that I have to suffer rightly or wrongly. The Word of God today warns us not to let our part, that is, the personal sphere, be undermined by thought and or by the belief that I can change my tomorrow. I can only decide what I want to do, but tomorrow belongs to the Lord of heaven and earth. I can't brag about my tomorrow or rely on what I should theoretically do. But today I can choose to make my life available to God and let Him take care of my destiny. And then, let's take a second saying, which seems much more appropriate than the first: in our today our tomorrow already walks. Indicate God was, is and always will be, every day, your God.

Pastor Gabriele

Proverbs 27:1 - Do not boast of tomorrow, for you do not know what one day can produce.

Reading a similar statement creates bewilderment and repulsion. Who dares to trample on the poor? anyone who is reading could think that he who tramples on the poor is an abomination and someone to marginalize completely, that it is not right to do so. And, dear readers, the consideration is perfectly correct. What we lack, however, is to look at the face of WHO crushes the poor. perhaps, better looking, we will be able to glimpse ALSO our face. And here the problem arises. We are ready to judge and judge the mistakes of others, but we are almost ready to backtrack and admit our mistakes. And let's not go back NOT because we don't have the courage to do it but because we DON'T realize that we ourselves are part of those who trample the poor. The verse of today uses a very unique term to indicate poverty, ..., from, which properly means poor but not so much in the sense of economic deprivation as to find oneself in a lower state than those who are observing it. And here we can begin to realize that all of us, more or less, have trampled on the poor. We do it when in a discussion where we are right we do not exitate to gloat over our reasons without having pity and compassion of those who made a mistake. We do this when we see a brother or sister sinning and we feel ourselves above having not made that same mistake. We do this when we proudly tell of the school prowess of our children, or of the abilities of our husband or our wife, or of our own abilities not thinking that many others would like but cannot. We do this when we see our own parents making mistakes due to a mentality different from ours and kicking against them not bearing their words. We always do it, however and everywhere. We continually trample on those we can trample just because we have them under us. When instead someone finds above us we begin to flatter and to seek support and support but not to change, but in order to be able to determine to trample in our turn those who trample us talking about it badly or trying to assert our reasons. We expect from those who are weaker to make his offer but we do not do ours. And rather we use our energies to build our home, our family. If the others eat or do not eat, it is important that my family and I ... Do you know where an attitude of apathy towards our neighbor ends? it ends in the fact that we will never enjoy the blessings we desire. Amos clearly emphasizes how we will not inhabit the houses we built we will eat or drink from the fruit of the vineyards. As long as we are dear friends in time, let us retrace our steps, let us not seek our reasons but rather seek the reason of God to save souls from sin. As long as God's judgment does not break down and we still have time, we love our neighbor as ourselves. Giò there is a table in the sky ready, prepared, and will not miss the shelter or the food. The Lord will know us and the name of the Lord.

Pastor Gabriele

What will I do when I grow up? It's the classic question we all asked ourselves. And, each of us gave an answer. Who continues to dream, who has succeeded in their intent, who has stopped thinking about it, who has been depressed. But in fact ... we reflected on the fact that what we wanted to be when we grew up when we were little, almost never coincides with what we would do if we could choose when we were adults what to do "when we were grown up"? Every time I reread something written a few years earlier, it makes me smile for my naivety, and I wonder why I didn't understand and why I made those mistakes ... But it is natural that it should be. We are all on a path of growth. We CANNOT stop because of our past mistakes, we need to learn from them and move forward with all our strength and courage. Now that you are old enough you need to know what God's purpose really is in your life. No or always to make meaningless speeches, but it is to focus on that love that comes from a pure heart. And, we know, what comes from the heart is NEVER WRONG. Very often our heart is not supported by our conscience that would like us to do something else, but if we are old enough we are able to understand our own conscience in order to bend it towards what our heart desires to do. And do you know why? Because we have faith in the one who has risen and can do everything. Here, we have now understood the true purpose of God in our lives: to have a commission from God that is nothing other than loving unconsciously as He first loved us. This love will have its origins in our heart, will be supported by our conscience and will rest on a solid pillar which is our faith.

Pastor Gabriele

Too many nowadays manage to give glory to God in times of peace and prosperity. But what is the difference between the faithful and the unfaithful? Even the unfaithful knows well to be with a cheerful heart when he is satisfied with all good. The point, the real one, is how we are without anything and nothing seems to help us. In these moments one can really see who is the Son of God and who is not. Jesus, in the proposed passage, was trying to talk to Peter about his task of feeding the sheep. And, repeating three times the question of whether Peter loved him, he almost found in the apostle the despair of those who think they are not believed. Peter did not understand well what Jesus wanted to support but his saying was that we cannot stop loving God with our lips, in a superficial way. We really need to be ready to die for Christ where necessary, with all the consequences that derive from it. Pietro didn't know yet, but he who spoke yes. God knows everything about you. Love it and serve it by giving it glory on every occasion.

Pastor Gabriele

John 21: 18-19 - 18 Verily, verily, I say to you, when you were younger, you encircled yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and lead you where you would not want ». 19 He said this to indicate with what death he would glorify God. And, after having spoken thus, he said to him: "Follow me" ...

This morning there are two big questions for us Christians. Having enemies is the first, ... how to behave with them is the second. Most people who are in the world live to see their enemies fall. Nor can we hide the thought that King David begged the Lord to silence his enemies. And so this double question arises in us spontaneously, to which we want to answer through Scripture itself.
God calls us to be ambassadors of peace. To be this means to proclaim peace always, wherever and in any case. It does not mean to discuss, or to highlight one's reasons, but rather to put everything back in God's hands to give his judgment on this matter over time. But as far as we Christians are concerned, we are obliged to pray for everyone, including our enemies... One might wonder why then Christians have enemies if they bring about peace. And the answer is not as obvious as it seems. You have to distinguish well. There are enemies of Christians only because those Christians were NOT Christians: it is the case of people scandalized by our behavior in church and in life. There are enemies who have not been scandalized but who are moved to jealousy or envy or hatred by any other nature. They must be approached and cared for as much as we can. We can only bring about peace with everyone, as Parola says, for WHAT IS possible. BUT, admitted and granted that we have done our part, (but who really does what has been written?), in any case if some enemies still remain in our own, we cannot pray for their destruction or their annihilation. But rather pray for their re-emergence and rethinking. If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he's thirsty for drink. Moli think about eating material ... but reflect well that an enemy today is not such because he is hungry, but only because he lacks the PArola of God and the Holy Spirit of God. And yes, the enemy is not such because he comes from the desert and is hungry, but because not being in Christ sees only your mistakes or worse, being taken by the devil is jealous of you.... then from him or from her the Word (eating), pray for water to be given to him from heaven, (Holy Spirit) and then my dear, you will have conquered the heart of your enemy. and the prefix NE- will become a beautiful A- and your NE-mico, (enemy), it will become your A-mico, (Friend).

Pastor Gabriele

Many believe that their know-how or intelligence can change the state of things. In reality, at most, you will only suffer more for what you will never achieve when the will of the Lord is lacking. Many had opposed him so that Solomon succeeded David with the King of Israel, but as we read in the verse of today, he sat on that throne. In other words, even when people plot against you and want to stop you, they will never succeed in blocking the hand of God. It always remains eternally powerful to free your every path. But be careful! When Solomon saw the fulfillment of God's promise, he did not have a thrill of pride or pride, but rather continued in the construction of the House of the Lord. In the same way, build your house, build your heart with the Word and then you will see fulfilled every promise of God in your life

Pastor Gabriele

II chronicles 6:10 - And the LORD has fulfilled the word which he spoke; and I took over the place of my father David, and sat on the throne of Israel, as the LORD had announced, and I built the house in the name of the LORD God of Israel.

The purpose of the ploughshare is to carry out, with the advancement, a horizontal cut in the ground, allowing the raising and the overturning of the slice by the moldboard. In short, to simplify, it serves to engrave the earth and allow the sowing to arrive more at the bottom on soft and not hardened ground from the rains and from the sun that beats mercilessly. The verse of today commands to modify the plowshares in swords. It would seem an absurd, useless, unprofitable warning actually obey the word for you to have life! And yes because the sword, in the spiritual field, is the Word of God and serves precisely to separate the marrow from the bones, to move the hostile and hardened earth that is your heart and allow the seed to reach its destination and bear fruit. If you don't leave the Word its freedom to bear fruit you will be very disappointed. Furthermore, the verse goes on and recommends a further move: turn your pruning hooks into lances. The roncola is an agricultural tool formed by a metal blade curved in the shape of a question mark, sharpened on the concave side and provided with a handle. Served and used for clearing, just like the machete, especially the longer versions, to cut the minor branches or the undergrowth, before starting to cut the big branches and the trunks with the axes and axes. This term used for lance, has an unknown etymologist but indicates and rests on the verb scagliare, throw away. And, as the billhook was used to remove those annoying branches that obstruct the view and the advance of the farmer, today the Word warns you to throw throw away your burdens, what prevents you from loving away from you .... throws on Lord your burdens and you will be able to run and fight the good fight. You will be so successful.Only then will you be "strong".

Pastor Gabriele

Joel 3:10 - Make swords with your plowshares, and spears with your pruning knives! The weak man says: "I'm strong!"

We cannot fail to be irritated. Very often we control our reactions, our instincts, we do not react by force on ourselves ... but we must necessarily admit that certain things and certain attitudes cause trouble. If you are right, especially, seeing evil deeds take you to the point of exasperation and you would like to react with all your heart to being right. But the Word of God today invites us to calm. Many things are said and done with the mouth, but who really is in Christ is a new creature and old things have passed. We remain then in waiting and in the most absolute calm, God will reveal the fool and his actions even before you can give an account of them. By the grace of the Lord we resist certain situations by not bringing any kind of envy to those who do evil and plot it continuously. Here is where the difference is between a son of God and a son of the devil, ... the former are and remain in the peace of the Lord, the others are continually agitated and cannot control themselves nor keep calm. Reflect well and you will see the glory of God.

Pastor Gabriele

Proverbs 24:19 -- Do not irritate yourself because of those who do evil, and do not envy the wicked;

God's plan is always God's plan. Men can discuss it, work around it, but it does not change. And each floor has its cost. And we're not talking about money or just money. There are so many things that need to be done. In a community, tasks and duties cannot be counted and very often from the outside one only knows how to judge every debacle without considering all that is done every day. King David had to make it clear to the people that God's plan was to rebuild the temple, and that this had to be done through the future King Solomon. Whether you like it or not, God's plans escape the minds of men. As soon as the people felt that the thing proceeded from God it began to make voluntary offers WITHOUT anyone imposing something. This is the offer that God likes. Offer yourself to God, every day and without a pout. Without arguing and without questioning if you can or can't. Just do it. Just do it. And then you will see how things will change for you and your family.

Pastor Gabriele

One of the evils of modern society is the so-called compulsive shopping. This problem arises with consumerism, and previously could not be known. The industrial era, in order to grow and establish itself, needed to satisfy people's needs and, once they were exhausted, it had to create new ones in order to obtain other market faults. How to do? Advertising messages, mental conditioning, subliminal messages and so on and so forth. To increase the desire to possess, to have, ... Apparently this still seems a harmless economic policy but I hide something terrible: it forces potential buyers to feel the need to buy. An ever greater slice of these people are today suffering from this compulsive shopping, and that is the irrepressible desire to buy goods and services that are not absolutely necessary. And then, once we get home, our closet full of stuff, the cafeteria full of things that will go bad because we can't consume them, and our narcissistic pleasure of seeing so much stuff without asking ourselves the problem if we actually have it need. One of the key ingredients of advertising is deception. Although today the law prohibits and sanctions false messages, yet companies study at night to circumvent the laws and present certain things that on TV appear in a certain way but that at home disappoint us greatly by not responding to our expectations. But in our desperations, a fundamental ingredient is missing: the truth. The verse of today tells us to buy the truth. Buy because the truth has its cost. Very often we have to suffer to tell the truth, since it can hurt, but the Word advises us not only to buy it, but not to resell it, that is, not to compromise with the lie. The truth is the truth and should not be forged. When I know the truth, then, and only then, will I discover that in the purchase package I will also have other very desirable ingredients. I will have acted wisely, without creating slander or deception. I will also have acted in a way to better understand the things around me and this will only be a great benefit. Finally, I will discover that I have behaved as an intelligent person. Friend you read, the store that sells truth is always open 24h. It is called the Word of God. It is called Jesus Christ the Lord. Go! Buy! and when you have placed your purchase at your home, it will look much nicer to you.

Pastor Gabriele

Proverbs 23:23 -- Buy the truth and do not sell it, buy wisdom, knowledge and intelligence.

We cannot fail to envy. It is man's nature to look for something that he does not have and, when he sees it, he envies it. Perhaps he does not actually consider that what he has got it is worth better than what he would like to have. But unfortunately, what we possess we do not appreciate. Because it is already ours and therefore we know it well, it does not offer us anything new. Man always wants to know something new. Envy, however, my dear friend who is reading this, is never alone, She always chooses a great ally: contention. Envying unknowingly leads you to contend if not the object of desire with all the rest ... and contention generates division. If you watch a flock of birds in flight you will realize that, even if they do not have a guide or an orchestra director, they are also able to create wonderful formations and no one bumps anyone else. They change direction together, without thinking differently. And, although they are a multitude, they seem to be one thing. On the contrary, where there is contention and therefore division, confusion reigns. And, as the Word reminds us, confusion does not come from God.

Pastor Gabriele

James 3:16 - For where there is envy and contention, there is disorder and every evil deed.

How many secrets we would like to hold in our hearts, but very often we find ourselves in the condition of having to find someone to trust. And, in our experience, we have seen many who have clearly offered themselves to to be trusted, to listen; many others, on the other hand, were reluctant but they finally listened to us: others who have openly refused. We have not always used prudence in trusting others what was secret or precious in our heart. And we have not always been rewarded for our trust. Indeed, let's face it, most of the time our confidence has been misplaced. And we were disappointed. And in a vicious circle in which we all fall easily, we begin to think of return the evil received. Or, at best, we imitate the foolish behavior of those who have betrayed our trust by feeling a diabolical pleasure in seeing what we ourselves have received firstly. There is no secret recipe or secret ingredient, and making mistakes is part of our life. But the Word of God teaches us to be careful because not everyone is a child of God and not everyone knows what it means to take care of one's brother. But, if we can never be sure of who is in front of us and therefore if our secret is well placed, we can however better understand ourselves and discipline our attitude. The verse of today clearly tells us that if we are wise we are not always and continually telling and showing what we have in our hearts. But let us reflect, ponder, put everything before God, so that the Holy Spirit can advise us and guide us in every way. Only then we will see IN TIME, who will be deserving of our trust, and we will be able to store it well. On the contrary, if every individual I meet should be made aware of my own affairs, of what I have in my heart, I do nothing but declare openly that I am a fool. Lack of caution. And then I can't complain if they are on everyone's lips, or if they talk and get wasted. It was I myself who put out situations that should have remained in my heart and confessed to God rather than flaunted to the four winds. Also because it is not only the evil I bring to myself, but for those around me. Be careful. And let your words be FEW. Because, in a multitude of words, there is sin.

Pastor Gabriele

Proverbs 18:2 - Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

Whoever wants to enter a home have to look necessarily for the entrance door. Any other type of access becomes criminal and punishable. Jesus clearly said that He is the way, the truth and the life, and that to be saved we must be and abide in Him. And, in the Word, we find written that Jesus is the door of the Sheep. We must therefore try to enter that door. But be careful! only by seeing well around us will we find the right door. We therefore need suitable and open spiritual eyes. on the contrary, as the verse of today tells us, those who are blind will try to find something that they do not see and that, not finding, will get tired of searching. Lord open my eyes so that I see your glory.

Pastor Gabriel

Genesis 19:11 - The people at the door of the house, from the smallest to the biggest, struck blindness so that they tired of looking for the door.

You have been accused and very seriously offended. It seems that nobody understands all of your intentions. You are going to be crazy because you want to receive justice on your behalf once and for all. Yet what would you get back? If you manage evil with evil, what is the difference between you and those who are in the world? Jesus received offense without recalcitrating. If He had not endured, He would not have won on the cross. If there is a little bit of wisdom in all of us, we should be slow to anger. For two reasons. The first, because God himself advises us, (and therefore it is an excellent advice). Then, because every time we are taken by anger we are like that fish that it has been taken in the bait, but, in the sinister attempt to break away from the hook, it struggles, getting more and more imprisoned. Similarly, remember that if you let yourself get angry, you will solve nothing, you will understand nothing. You will only worsen the state of fact. Being able to look at your own slanderer in his eyes and pass over his words will fill you with peace and serenity, and when you will think back to that moment, instead of being upset you will smile.
We look forward, God will do justice for everything. We must serve the Lord.

Pastor Gabriele

Proverbs 19:11 - A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

Today the world runs. And we're all tired. We are all eager to stop and take a break. But, many do not realize that even when they stand still, they always want to be on the move. They are in continuous fibrillation. The spirit of this century has given us this. And if we move this problem into the spiritual field, it gets considerably worse. The most part of people arrive in the Church and immediately want to receive a prestigious position. To show oneself, to be seen, to perform. But we're not in a circus. There are no spectators. Souls are at stake that can be scandalized by our behavior which seems correct unto us but it is not. And, if we are in continuous fibrillation, we ourselves do not realize it. If the Pastor tells us to wait and grow, before putting our hands into the plow, we are in no hurry to burn the stages, otherwise we will burn ourselves. we will offer room to Satan and we will not see God's glory and His blessing upon us. A young man wanted to be a Pastor. After 12 months of attendance in the Church, his insistent request was to be a Pastor. But how can we counter the Word which, openly declares that pastors should NOT be neo-converted, (I Timothy 3)? The verse of today speaks to us of this. Zeal is a good thing, undoubtedly. Without zeal many actions cannot be undertaken, but we need to know and make experience. The same Word, through the apostle Paul, urges us to offer spiritual worship to God without compromise with the works of the flesh, (Romans 12). If we are in a hurry we will end up with the wrong way. And, I remind you that the Word tells us that there is only one way, one truth. His name is Jesus and He is the Word. Without it we can NOT do anything. Relax, stop, and look around. Become familiar with the Church where you are. Wait, learn in submission, listen to those who advise you for your own good rather than wanting to do your own thing .... but not to be manipulated but to be advised and educated.

Pastor Gabriele

Proverbs 19:2 - Zeal without knowledge is not good — how much more will hasty feet miss the way!