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.”