For God

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051215.cfm) reminds me that God saves and blesses us so we can glorify his name.

The bible says that we as Christ’s followers will experience persecutions and challenges. We see that in the first reading when Paul and Silas were imprisoned. However, we also see that God’s power is greater than anything in this world. no situation is too hopeless for him. Even when Paul and Silas were in prison, God made a way. God saved them, and they used that opportunity not to condemn non-believers, but to save and convert them.

God’s blessings and provisions should be used to glorify his name and spread his kingdom.

God’s saving Paul and Silas was not only to show his power, but more importantly, to save others. A lot of people were saved because of what happened. This is God’s call to us. We all experience God’s love and provisions. We all experience God’s blessings. However, these are not just for us to enjoy. In the same way Paul and Silas used it to glorify God and save people, we should also do the same. God gives us opportunities and saves us so we can proclaim God’s goodness and power. he gives us material blessings so we can share and bless others as well.

May we be generous with what God has given us, and always seek to glorify God.

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 all the blessings. Thank you for all the provisions, and for all the times you saved me. Lord, I pray that I always be sensitive to you. as I experience these things, may I be reminded that the best form of thanksgiving is to spread these to others. May I glorify you, and use my blessings to bring others closer to you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 12, 2015

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 292

Reading 1 Acts 16:22-34

The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas,

and the magistrates had them stripped

and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

After inflicting many blows on them,

they threw them into prison

and instructed the jailer to guard them securely.

When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell

and secured their feet to a stake.

About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying

and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,

there was suddenly such a severe earthquake

that the foundations of the jail shook;

all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.

When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open,

he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,

thinking that the prisoners had escaped.

But Paul shouted out in a loud voice,

“Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.”

He asked for a light and rushed in and,

trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.

Then he brought them out and said,

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus

and you and your household will be saved.”

So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.

He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds;

then he and all his family were baptized at once.

He brought them up into his house and provided a meal

and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.

Responsorial Psalm PS 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

R. (7c) Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,

for you have heard the words of my mouth;

in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;

I will worship at your holy temple,

and give thanks to your name.

R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Because of your kindness and your truth,

you have made great above all things

your name and your promise.

When I called, you answered me;

you built up strength within me.

R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Your right hand saves me.

The LORD will complete what he has done for me;

your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;

forsake not the work of your hands.

R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Jn 16:7, 13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;

he will guide you to all truth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 16:5-11J

esus said to his disciples:

“Now I am going to the one who sent me,

and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.

But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.

For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.

But if I go, I will send him to you.

And when he comes he will convict the world

in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:

sin, because they do not believe in me;

righteousness, because I am going to the Father

and you will no longer see me;

condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”