Send Me

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/043015.cfm) reminds me how important being sent by God is.

Ambassadors are very important diplomats. They are acting in behalf of the president, they are representing their country. In the same way, when we do God’s work, in essence we are being ambassadors for Christ. We are acting in for God. We are representing God. That is why it is a very important role. The prophet Isaiah knows this, and we can see his willingness and readiness to serve God. In Isaiah 6:8, when God asked whom he shall send, Isaiah readily volunteered himself  - Here I am! Send me!

God needs human ambassadors to do his work.

In the gospel, Jesus said that whoever receives the one he sent, receives him. And whoever receives him receieves the one who sent him – God the Father. In the first reading, we see how Paul actively worked as Jesus’ ambassador when he proclaimed the good news of salvation. God needs human beings to spread his love and proclaim his kingdom to others. Actually, this is for us humans – that we may feel God’s love become alive through others.

We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ. In our simple ways, in the way we live and treat others, we become his ambassadors. We need not explicitly preach the gospel and tell the people about God. Sometimesm or a lot of times, a more powerful testimony is how we live our lives. As St Francis of Assissi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” May we be inspired by the psalmist in saying and actually doing it – for ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Sharing a quote from Corey Brooker. May it inspire and challenge us:

Don't speak to me about your religion;
first show it to me in how you treat other people. 

Don't tell me how much you love your God;
show me in how much you love all God's children. 

Don't preach to me your passion for your faith;
teach me through your compassion for your neighbors. 

In the end, I'm not as interested in what you have  to tell or sell

as I am in how you choose to live and give

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another chance to share your love. Lord, thank you for the reminder. Thank you for telling me that you need me to be an ambassador for you. help me live up to it, Lord. I will do my best to live a good life for you. I will do my best to live right, so people can see how great and loving the God I am serving is. Magnify my actions so that It may glorify you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 30, 2015

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 282

Reading 1 Acts 13:13-25

From Paphos, Paul and his companions

set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.

But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.

On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.

After the reading of the law and the prophets,

the synagogue officials sent word to them,

“My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation

for the people, please speak.”

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,

“Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.

The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors

and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.

With uplifted arm he led them out,

and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.

When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,

he gave them their land as an inheritance

at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.

After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.

Then they asked for a king.

God gave them Saul, son of Kish,

a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;

of him he testified,

I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;

he will carry out my every wish.

From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,

has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.

John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance

to all the people of Israel;

and as John was completing his course, he would say,

‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.

Behold, one is coming after me;

I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”

Responsorial Psalm PS 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27

R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;

through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.

For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;

in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

“I have found David, my servant;

with my holy oil I have anointed him,

That my hand may be always with him,

and that my arm may make him strong.”

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,

and through my name shall his horn be exalted.

He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,

my God, the Rock, my savior.’”

R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Rv 1:5ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness,

the firstborn of the dead,

you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 13:16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master

nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.

If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

I am not speaking of all of you.

I know those whom I have chosen.

But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,

The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.

From now on I am telling you before it happens,

so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send

receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me

Focus on Good

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042915.cfm) reminds me that we should focus on the good rather than bad.

They say that it is a better use of your time and energy to just improve on things you are already good at, rather than spending it learning or improving something youre not good at. It will be more efficient and more productive to strengthen what you’re already good at, because spending the same amount of time and effort in learning something new will not guarantee that you will indeed learn something and improve on something.

It is always better to focus on the positive.

Jesus put this in practice when he said in the gospel that he came to save the world, not to condemn it. He would rather focus on the conversion of sinners, than in the punishment of the wicked. He focused on the good, on the really important thing. He did not let wicked, evil people distract him from his task.

We too are faced with similar situations in life. There are setbacks and challenging things that happen to us. There are negative people in our lives. Maybe we can learn from Jesus, to focus on the good. Focus on God’s word and promises to us. Focus on God’s great plans. And focus on doing what we are supposed to do – become disciples and witness for God. We should not spend our time and energy getting mad at others, being irritated, or feeling depressed on tough times. We should instead use this energy to focus on God, to pray more, to develop a deeper relationship with him that will enable us to just brush away the negativity of life.

May we learn to focus on the positive, to focus on God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another morning. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I focus on the bad. Sorry for letting my fears, my concerns, my anger and the negativity around me get to me. sorry for the times I focus on these things instead of focusing on you. Help me put my priorities straight, hep me focus on the positive and to focus on you. Help me use my time and energy to know you more, to develop an intimate relationship with you, because I know that this will enable me to face whatever happens in life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 29, 2015

Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 281

Reading 1 Acts 12:24—13:5a

The word of God continued to spread and grow.

After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,

they returned to Jerusalem,

taking with them John, who is called Mark.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:

Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,

Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul

for the work to which I have called them.”

Then, completing their fasting and prayer,

they laid hands on them and sent them off.

So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,

went down to Seleucia

and from there sailed to Cyprus.

When they arrived in Salamis,

they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8

R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:

R. Alleluia.

May God have pity on us and bless us;

may he let his face shine upon us.

So may your way be known upon earth;

among all nations, your salvation.

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:

R. Alleluia.

May the nations be glad and exult

because you rule the peoples in equity;

the nations on the earth you guide.

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:

R. Alleluia.

May the peoples praise you, O God;

may all the peoples praise you!

May God bless us,

and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

whoever follows me will have the light of life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said,

“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me

but also in the one who sent me,

and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.

I came into the world as light,

so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,

I do not condemn him,

for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words

has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,

it will condemn him on the last day,

because I did not speak on my own,

but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.

And I know that his commandment is eternal life.

So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

Not Included

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042815.cfm) makes me think of how I see God’s word.

They say that to those who believe, no proof is necessary, but to those who don’t believe, no proof is sufficient. This is similar to what Jesus was saying in the gospel today. People want proof from Jesus. But Jesus already told them a lot of times who he is.

If you don’t hear God’s voice, maybe he is not your God.

Jesus said that if you do not believe, if you do not hear his voice, probably you are not part of his sheep. Probably he is not God in your life.

God’s love is for all, both jews and gentiles. He is not exclusive. Being in among his sheep is not a privilege given to a select few. In fact, we see in the first reading how the disciples proclaimed him to all nations. God welcomes all, but the decision to stay among God’s sheep is ours.

IF we do not listen to God’s voice. If we do not hear it. If we do not believe his words and his promises. If we do not believe that he has great plans for us, and instead do things our way. If we do not trust in Him and depend on other people and ourselves, then we are choosing to go out of his fold. Then maybe we are choosing to be away from him.

God wants all of us to be with him, but the decision to stay with him rests on us. May we choose wisely.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another reminder. Thank you for being welcoming and loving. Thank you for your promises. Lord, I ask that you help me be more aware of you in my life. May I be sensitive to listen to your voice in my life. Help me choose you always. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 28, 2015

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 280

Reading 1 Acts 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution

that arose because of Stephen

went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,

preaching the word to no one but Jews.

There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,

who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,

proclaiming the Lord Jesus.

The hand of the Lord was with them

and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,

and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.

When he arrived and saw the grace of God,

he rejoiced and encouraged them all

to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,

for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

And a large number of people was added to the Lord.

Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.

For a whole year they met with the Church

and taught a large number of people,

and it was in Antioch that the disciples

were first called Christians.

Responsorial Psalm PS 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (117:1a) All you nations, praise the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

His foundation upon the holy mountains

the LORD loves:

The gates of Zion,

more than any dwelling of Jacob.

Glorious things are said of you,

O city of God!

R. All you nations, praise the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

I tell of Egypt and Babylon

among those who know the LORD;

Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:

“This man was born there.”

And of Zion they shall say:

“One and all were born in her;

And he who has established her

is the Most High LORD.”

R. All you nations, praise the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:

“This man was born there.”

And all shall sing, in their festive dance:

“My home is within you.”

R. All you nations, praise the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 10:22-30

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.

It was winter.

And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,

“How long are you going to keep us in suspense?

If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.

The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.

But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.

My sheep hear my voice;

I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

No one can take them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,

and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.

The Father and I are one.”

For All

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042715.cfm) reminds me that God’s love and forgiveness is for all.

They say that the church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners. I belive this is true. Even Jesus said that he did not call the righteous, but the sinners. This reminds us that in church, and in church groups, people are not perfect. People will never be perfect. There will always be annoying people. There will be sinners. However, we should accept that God wants them there, not because he tolerates it, but because he will use the church to transform these people. They need to be there.

God’s love and forgiveness is for all – especially sinners.

In the first reading, people initially did not want to be associated with gentiles – the non jews, unclean people at that time. Even peter. However, God reminded him that his love is for all, and that he wants them to be saved too. When people understood it, they became welcoming and accepted them.

We should too.

There are annoying people in church. There are annoying people in our church groups. However, God wants us to love them nonetheless. We should not see them as hypocrites, attending church despite their shortcomings. Instead, God wants us to love them, the way he loves them. God wants to use us to make them realize and feel how special they are in God’s eyes, that God’s love and forgiveness is greater than their sins and shortcomings.

God’s love can melt away all the evil in the heart.

May we be extra patient, extra welcoming and extra accomodating to those who need our love, patience and understanding the most. Let us ask God to use us to love and transform others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another week. thank you for the reminder. Thank you for not giving up on me. thank you for loving me despite all my sins, my shortcomings, my temper, my bad habits. Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you. Lord, I know I am not perfect, and I am sorry for the times I judge others on where they are right now. Sorry for being impatient with them, when I myself have experienced your patience and love. Use me to love them. Give me a heart like yours, that I may love others like you do. That I may love others the way they should be loved. That I may be extra patient with them the way you were extra patient with me. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 27, 2015

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 279

Reading 1 Acts 11:1-18

The Apostles and the brothers who were in Judea

heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God.

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem

the circumcised believers confronted him, saying,

‘You entered the house of uncircumcised people and ate with them.”

Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying,

“I was at prayer in the city of Joppa

when in a trance I had a vision,

something resembling a large sheet coming down,

lowered from the sky by its four corners, and it came to me.

Looking intently into it,

I observed and saw the four-legged animals of the earth,

the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky.

I also heard a voice say to me, ‘Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.’

But I said, ‘Certainly not, sir,

because nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

But a second time a voice from heaven answered,

‘What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.’

This happened three times,

and then everything was drawn up again into the sky.

Just then three men appeared at the house where we were,

who had been sent to me from Caesarea.

The Spirit told me to accompany them without discriminating.

These six brothers also went with me,

and we entered the man’s house.

He related to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, saying,

‘Send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter,

who will speak words to you

by which you and all your household will be saved.’

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them

as it had upon us at the beginning,

and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said,

‘John baptized with water

but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us

when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,

who was I to be able to hinder God?”

When they heard this,

they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying,

“God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 42:2-3; 43:3, 4

R. (see 3a) Athirst is my soul for the living God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

As the hind longs for the running waters,

so my soul longs for you, O God.

Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.

When shall I go and behold the face of God?

R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Send forth your light and your fidelity;

they shall lead me on

And bring me to your holy mountain,

to your dwelling-place.

R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Then will I go in to the altar of God,

the God of my gladness and joy;

Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,

O God, my God!

R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 10:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;

I know my sheep, and mine know me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 10:1-10

Jesus said:

“Amen, amen, I say to you,

whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate

but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.

But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,

as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has driven out all his own,

he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,

because they recognize his voice.

But they will not follow a stranger;

they will run away from him,

because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”

Although Jesus used this figure of speech,

they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you,

I am the gate for the sheep.

All who came before me are thieves and robbers,

but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the gate.

Whoever enters through me will be saved,

and will come in and go out and find pasture.

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;

I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”