The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/060815.cfm) reminds me that God never fails to encourage us
In the first reading, Paul tells the Corinthians that God always encourages us. He uses different ways and different people to encourage us. He knows what we are going through, and he never fails to encourage us. God’s encouragement should be enough to keep us going, to enable us to remain faithful, and eventually to encourage others as well.
In the gospel, we see Jesus encouraging us. We see Jesus explaining the Beatitudes or what others call the “Be-Attitudes.” This is how God wants us to be. It reminds me that as we live this life on earth, everything will not be easy. We will experience challenges and persecutions, we will be frustrated with what is happening around us. However, Christ exhorts us to be faithful and to continue trusting in Him despite everything that is happening to us and around us. He continues to encourage us to remain in faith and just trust in Him.
What is happening on our lives here on earth is not the end. This is not everything. God reminds us that there is a greater life after our life here on earth. All his promises in the beatitudes does not necessarily mean comfort will come in this life. Actually, if we examine the promises, all of those will come in the next life. However, we need to be faithful and remain living in God’s light as we live on earth to realize and experience those promises.
May we be encouraged by Jesus words, and be more sensitive to the different ways God is encouraging us as we fight the battles in life.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another week. Thank you for another day to live and love. Thank you for your promises and encouragement. Thank you for taking care of us and knowing and providing what we need to get by. Lord, I pray that i be sensitive to you and your encouragement. And may your encouragement help me remain faithful to you. Help me be firm in faith and focus on you as I live this life on earth, having faith that I will claim and receive your promises in your perfect time. Amen.
Blessed week!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
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June 8, 2015
Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 359
Reading 1 2 Cor1:1-7
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother,
to the Church of God that is at Corinth,
with all the holy ones throughout Achaia:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement,
who encourages us in our every affliction,
so that we may be able to encourage
those who are in any affliction
with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.
For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us,
so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.
If we are afflicted,
it is for your encouragement and salvation;
if we are encouraged,
it is for your encouragement,
which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
Our hope for you is firm,
for we know that as you share in the sufferings,
you also share in the encouragement.
Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Alleluia Mt 5:12a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad;
for your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
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