Point to Him

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011015.cfm) reminds me that we should always be pointing our lives to Christ.

Everyone loves God. Everyone wants to be successful. Everyone wants to be accomplished. Everyone wants to be respected and looked upon highly. We pray to God for worldly success and accomplishments, however, when we actually get these, some forget who gave us these things in the first place. Some get too engrossed by their achievements or by the praises of other people that they forget who got them there in the first place.

God loves us and wants the best for us, but we should not forget him when things are going so well in our lives.

In the gospel we see who did not forget God. John had a lot of followers already. He got respect. But he did not let these things get on his head. He did not forget his mission in life and why he was doing things in the first place. And when told about a man who might be challenging his popularity and followers, he responded in a humble way – “He must increase, I must decrease”

IT is good to be reminded of this humility and focus on God despite all the worldly achievements. May we never be too proud of what we have accomplished, and remember to point to God when we get praises for good work or achievements, may our live always be about pleasing God, doing his work, his will, and glorifying him – just like John.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for being with me through the first working week of the year. Lord, help me to not lose sight of you. As I pray for blessings and guidance in life, I also pray that you keep my eyes on you. May I not forget who gave me these blessings and who allowed success to come in my life. May my work, my success, and my life glorify you. May I reflect your greatness and show people how great and loving you are. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

----------------------------

January 10, 2015

Saturday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 217

Reading 1 1 Jn 5:14-21

Beloved:

We have this confidence in him

that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,

we know that what we have asked him for is ours.

If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,

he should pray to God and he will give him life.

This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.

There is such a thing as deadly sin,

about which I do not say that you should pray.

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;

but the one begotten by God he protects,

and the Evil One cannot touch him.

We know that we belong to God,

and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.

We also know that the Son of God has come

and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.

And we are in the one who is true,

in his Son Jesus Christ.

He is the true God and eternal life.

Children, be on your guard against idols.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9bR. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song

of praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel be glad in their maker,

let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

For the LORD loves his people,

and he adorns the lowly with victory.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let the faithful exult in glory;

let them sing for joy upon their couches;

Let the high praises of God be in their throats.

This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia

Mt 4:16R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,

on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death

light has arisen.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea,

where he spent some time with them baptizing.

John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,

because there was an abundance of water there,

and people came to be baptized,

for John had not yet been imprisoned.

Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew

about ceremonial washings.

So they came to John and said to him,

“Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,

to whom you testified,

here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.”

John answered and said,

“No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.

You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,

but that I was sent before him.

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;

the best man, who stands and listens for him,

rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.

So this joy of mine has been made complete.

He must increase; I must decrease.”