Not Us

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050415.cfm) reminds me that we should always give credit to God.

A good manager knows not just how to manage, but to develop and improve his or her team. He should also know how to give credit where credit is due. A good team performance reflects on the manager as the head, but he should know that it would not be achieved without the people doing their work well. No single manager can take credit for the success of his team, because a lot of people are involved. In the same way that managers should give credit to his team, the more we should give credit to God.

We cannot achieve anything without God’s blessings.

In the first reading, we see Paul and Barnabas doing great works in the name of God. However, people gave them credit for them and treated them as gods. They did not let this get into their heads, and instead pointed to God as the source and the reason for all their works. In the gospel Jesus reminded the apostles that the Holy Spirit will cause them to remember his teachings – not themselves and their memory.

In our lives, we strive for greatness. We want to be achievers. We want to be respected and accomplished. And sometimes, we get it, and even accomplish greater than what we wanted. However, we should not let these things get in our heads. It is God who allowed these things to happen. God gave us the intelligence, the right opportunities and connections, the breaks that allowed these things to happen. We may have worked hard, but we should always remember that God is the one ultimately responsible for everything – thus we should always remember not just to thank him, but also to point to him and acknowledge all his works in our lives. We should always give him back the credit, and give back to others a portion of what we have received from Him.

As we start another week, may we be one with the psalmist in praying “Not to us, Lord, but to your name give the glory”

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another week. thank you for another chance to experience your love and blessings. Lord, I thank you for helping me achieve things in life. Thank you for your provisions. I give you back all the praise and honor that come with them. I also pledge to give back to others and in my own little way, help them experience your love and blessings on earth. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 4, 2015

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 285

Reading 1 Acts 14:5-18

There was an attempt in Iconium

by both the Gentiles and the Jews,

together with their leaders,

to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.

They realized it,

and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe

and to the surrounding countryside,

where they continued to proclaim the Good News.

At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,

who had never walked.

He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,

saw that he had the faith to be healed,

and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.”

He jumped up and began to walk about.

When the crowds saw what Paul had done,

they cried out in Lycaonian,

“The gods have come down to us in human form.”

They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,”

because he was the chief speaker.

And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,

brought oxen and garlands to the gates,

for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.

The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments

when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,

“Men, why are you doing this?

We are of the same nature as you, human beings.

We proclaim to you good news

that you should turn from these idols to the living God,

who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.

In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;

yet, in bestowing his goodness,

he did not leave himself without witness,

for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,

and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”

Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds

from offering sacrifice to them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16

R. (1ab) Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us

but to your name give glory

because of your mercy, because of your truth.

Why should the pagans say,

“Where is their God?”

R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven;

whatever he wills, he does.

Their idols are silver and gold,

the handiwork of men.

R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

or:

R. Alleluia.

May you be blessed by the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,

but the earth he has given to the children of men.

R. Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 14:26

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything

and remind you of all I told you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Whoever has my commandments and observes them

is the one who loves me.

Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,

and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,

“Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us

and not to the world?”

Jesus answered and said to him,

“Whoever loves me will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;

yet the word you hear is not mine

but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit

whom the Father will send in my name—

he will teach you everything

and remind you of all that I told you.”