Just Because

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091614.cfm) reminds me that God does good to us even without us asking for it.

I am a believer or “just because” gifts. You don’t need an occasion to give gifts. It is actually what makes it more special. You don’t need an occasion to give flowers or simple gifts to your loved ones. Gifts should be given not out of duty for an occasion, but out of love. This is what Jesus did to the woman in the gospel.

a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Most probably, Jesus did not know who the woman was. The woman probably did not know who Jesus was, and did not ask him to help her. Jesus just knows she is a widow, and after losing her only son, she now is considered very little in society (because women at that time get their identity from their husbands and their sons). That’s why Jesus had pity on her. That is why Jesus healed the son and gave her back to her mother.

Just because.

God does to us as well. There are a lot of things we do not pray for. There are a lot of things we certainly do not deserve. Blessings abound, to the point that we don’t consider them blessings anymore. The mere fact we have work, can read and write, can eat – these are some blessings we sometimes take for granted, just because God has always given us these, and because we see these in others as well. But it is our of God’s love and goodness that we have these. Looking in our lives, we see other specific blessings – things we unexpectedly get, things we do not deserve, favors that go our way.. these things are reminders of God’s love and blessings, not because we ask for them or deserve them, but just because God loves us so much.

May we be more conscious and aware of God’s “just because” blessings and gifts in our lives. And may it lead us to thank him and love him more.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another Tuesday. Thank you for my work, Lord. I thank you for my everyday blessings, especially those I do not deserve and pray for. Thank you for your great love for me, Lord. I am sorry for not being grateful and not appreciating these things. May I always be sensitive and may these things make me love you more. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-