It’s a new day, it’s a new year! We’re now on the first day of 2013, and it’s so inspiring and comforting to know the message of God. There were two things that struck me in the WORD (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010113.cfm) today – Blessing and Faith.
A few days ago, some people were expecting the world to end because of the Mayan prediction that the world will end at December 21, 2012. Also a few days ago here in the Philippines, the RH bill was signed into a law. A few more days back, we again experienced a strong typhoon that hit our country. Challenging way to end the year, huh? However, it is so assuring that as we start the year, and the readings are full of reminders of blessings! In the first reading, God tells Moses that he wants to, and will bless the Israelites. The psalm is us asking for God’s blessings. The second reading is the story of a great blessing – God sending his only son to save us from our sins, to make us children, heirs of God. The gospel also recounts this birth of Jesus, and it’s just great to think how blessed we really are to have a great God who sent his one and only son for us. Astig din siguro yung naramdaman nung mga nandun, especially nung mga shepherds – to have the once in a lifetime privilege of being physically there when Jesus was born. These readings remind me that God had been blessing me, and will continue to bless me this 2013, despite the challenges I have experienced and the challenges that will come my way.
Second thing that struck me was in the gospel. When the shepherds told them what has been told to them about the child, “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” She did not understand yet everything that is happening. She said “yes” to God’s plan without fully understanding it. Now there are testimonies about how special her child is. Pero di pa nya naiintindihan gaano ka special, hindi nya naiintindihan lahat. It must have been weird, being told by an angel that you will bear God’s son, and seeing your old cousin being pregnant, pero nung ikaw yung nanganak, sa stable… God’s son ba talaga yun? Then these shepherds come and tell them what has been told to them. Parang ang labo siguro for Mary. However, she did not question, she did not doubt, even if God’s ways are not what she was expecting. She kept all these things in her heart… She prayed and reflected, especially when she did not understand.
As I start the year, there are a lot of things I don’t understand yet. There are a lot of unanswered questions. There are a lot of concerns. However, I pray that I be like Mary, trusting fully in God and his great, perfect plan for me. It is important to continue to reflect, pray and seek answers, knowing that God has the best in store for me, Plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a future full of hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Minsan, kahit iba yung plano ni God, kahit iba yung paraan nya, kailangan lang talaga ang tiwala sa kanya. I just need to have complete faith in Him – something I pray for and will work for this 2013.
Father God,
Thank you for 2012. And I thank you for today, the start of 2013! Lord, the past year have been a good year. Yes, ang daming challenges, ang daming unanswered questions, but mas madaming blessings na galing sa inyo, Lord. The blessings outweigh the challenges. I thank you Lord so much for everything, for every blessing, for every challenge. Lord, I pray that you continue to be with me this 2013. I know there will be more challenges, but I am sure there will be greater blessings as well. I am excited, Lord! Increase my faith, make me like Mary, who would continue to love and serve you even if I don’t understand everything. All this I ask in full faith in the mighty name of your Son Jesus, through the intercession of Mama Mary, whose solemnity we celebrate today. Amen.
Happy New Year! Have a blessed, faith filled 2013
In Christ,
-g-
PS
This story reminds me that even if God’s ways are not our ways, it is still the best, it is still better than what we have imagined, better than what we want for ourselves.
The Parable of the Three Trees
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.
The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."
Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.
"Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.
But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.
The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."
Many many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.
But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.
"I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful" she said.
And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.
The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun.
And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beam were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her.
She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything.
It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
So next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you ........... Author Unkown
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