Work and Reward

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030115.cfm) reminds me that we should work first before getting our reward from God.

I personally believe in earning your reward. I would rather work hard first then rest and enjoy after the work is done, rather than what others do which is to mix work and fun - Some reward themselves or take breaks while working.

The first reading shows us Abraham. He had to work for God ad patiently wait for a very long time before God gave them Isaac. Then we see today that God asked him to sacrifice Isaac which he would have obeyed. Then when God saw his heart, he told him not to do it, and promised him numerous descendants. He had to work before getting his reward from God.

In the gospel we see Jesus bringing his closest apostles to the mountain to witness his transfiguration. However, Jesus did not allow them to stay there. He told them that they should all go back down the mountain first, in essence telling them that they should work first for God's kingdom before enjoying the reward of being forever with Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

God loves us and had great plans for us. Surely he has rewards in store for us. However, we need to do our part first and work for his kingdom. We need to show him how much we really love him and how much we are willing to sacrifice to please and obey him - even if to us it doesn't make sense. Then when our hearts are full of love for him, and when we continuously live that, then we will enjoy our reward - eternal life with him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for your reminder that I need to work hard for you first. Lord, you know I love you and I ask that you help me live it. Help me be faithful to you. May I do my best for you, and I have faith that when the perfect time comes, you will give me your reward. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 1, 2015

Second Sunday of Lent

Lectionary: 26

Reading 1 Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

God put Abraham to the test.

He called to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am!” he replied.

Then God said:

“Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,

and go to the land of Moriah.

There you shall offer him up as a holocaust

on a height that I will point out to you.”

When they came to the place of which God had told him,

Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.

Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

But the LORD’s messenger called to him from heaven,

“Abraham, Abraham!”

“Here I am!” he answered.

“Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger.

“Do not do the least thing to him.

I know now how devoted you are to God,

since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.”

As Abraham looked about,

he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.

So he went and took the ram

and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.

Again the LORD’s messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:

“I swear by myself, declares the LORD,

that because you acted as you did

in not withholding from me your beloved son,

I will bless you abundantly

and make your descendants as countless

as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;

your descendants shall take possession

of the gates of their enemies,

and in your descendants all the nations of the earth

shall find blessing—

all this because you obeyed my command.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19

R. (116:9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

I believed, even when I said,

“I am greatly afflicted.”

Precious in the eyes of the LORD

is the death of his faithful ones.

R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

O LORD, I am your servant;

I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;

you have loosed my bonds.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

My vows to the LORD I will pay

in the presence of all his people,

In the courts of the house of the LORD,

in your midst, O Jerusalem.

R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

Reading 2 Rom 8:31b-34

Brothers and sisters:

If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son

but handed him over for us all,

how will he not also give us everything else along with him?

Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?

It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?

Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised—

who also is at the right hand of God,

who indeed intercedes for us.

Verse Before the Gospel cf. Mt 17:5

From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard:

This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

Gospel Mk 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and John

and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them,

and his clothes became dazzling white,

such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,

and they were conversing with Jesus.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,

“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!

Let us make three tents:

one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;

from the cloud came a voice,

“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone

but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,

he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,

except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

So they kept the matter to themselves,

questioning what rising from the dead meant.