Have Faith

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/063015.cfm) reminds me that we should always have faith in God.

We all experience troubles. They say that you will only be without problems when you’re dead. However, how we handle problems differ. Some cannot handle it well, so they get stressed, get sick and even commit suicide. However, some are calm and relaxed which shows faith in God.

Being still in times of trouble is a sign of great faith in God.

In the gospel, Jesus was on a boat with his disciples when they encountered a violent storm. It must be so strong, since the disciples were mostly fishermen, yet they were so afraid they woke up Jesus. They may have lacked faith, but they had faith in him, since they knew Jesus can help them in the situation they are in. and eventually, Jesus calmed the storm.

Jesus is asking us the same question he asked his disciples – why are you terrified? Do you not have faith?

Sometimes, we get overwhelmed by problems in this life. Sometimes we get stressed with the things happening around us. Jesus is telling us to be still and have faith in him. If we have faith, we will not have time to be terrified or troubled. If we know how much God loves us, and how powerful he is, then no storm in life can bother us. The first reading should strengthen our faith, when we see not only God’s power, but also his goodness and mercy toward us.

May we be inspired by the gospel, and be challenged and moved to build and strengthen our relationship with Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus directly affects our faith. As we get to know him more, as we experience his love and power, then our faith will be stronger. May we do our part, and seek him in prayer, bible reading and the sacraments to solidify our faith and relationship with him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me of your great love and power. Sorry for the times I act like the disciples. Sorry for the times I get so stressed and scared of what is happening around me. sorry for the times that I know you are there beside me, but I still feel scared and stressed. Sorry for not having enough faith in you. help me strengthen my faith and relationship with you. I will do my part and read the bible, pray more, and take the sacraments, and I ask you to help me. strengthen my faith in you. may I always be still in times of trouble, knowing that you are always there protecting me. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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June 30, 2015

Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 378

Reading 1 Gn 19:15-29

As dawn was breaking, the angels urged Lot on, saying, “On your way!

Take with you your wife and your two daughters who are here,

or you will be swept away in the punishment of Sodom.”

When he hesitated, the men, by the LORD’s mercy,

seized his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters

and led them to safety outside the city.

As soon as they had been brought outside, he was told:

“Flee for your life!

Don’t look back or stop anywhere on the Plain.

Get off to the hills at once, or you will be swept away.”

“Oh, no, my lord!” Lot replied,

“You have already thought enough of your servant

to do me the great kindness of intervening to save my life.

But I cannot flee to the hills to keep the disaster from overtaking me,

and so I shall die.

Look, this town ahead is near enough to escape to.

It’s only a small place.

Let me flee there–it’s a small place, is it not?–

that my life may be saved.”

“Well, then,” he replied,

“I will also grant you the favor you now ask.

I will not overthrow the town you speak of.

Hurry, escape there!

I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”

That is why the town is called Zoar.

The sun was just rising over the earth as Lot arrived in Zoar;

at the same time the LORD rained down sulphurous fire

upon Sodom and Gomorrah

from the LORD out of heaven.

He overthrew those cities and the whole Plain,

together with the inhabitants of the cities

and the produce of the soil.

But Lot’s wife looked back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.

Early the next morning Abraham went to the place

where he had stood in the LORD’s presence.

As he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah

and the whole region of the Plain,

he saw dense smoke over the land rising like fumes from a furnace.

Thus it came to pass: when God destroyed the Cities of the Plain,

he was mindful of Abraham by sending Lot away from the upheaval

by which God overthrew the cities where Lot had been living.

Responsorial Psalm PS 26:2-3, 9-10, 11-12

R. (3a) O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.

Search me, O LORD, and try me;

test my soul and my heart.

For your mercy is before my eyes,

and I walk in your truth.

R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.

Gather not my soul with those of sinners,

nor with men of blood my life.

On their hands are crimes,

and their right hands are full of bribes.

R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.

But I walk in integrity;

redeem me, and have mercy on me.

My foot stands on level ground;

in the assemblies I will bless the LORD.

R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.

Alleluia Ps 130:5

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I trust in the LORD;

my soul trusts in his word.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.

Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,

so that the boat was being swamped by waves;

but he was asleep.

They came and woke him, saying,

“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”

Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,

and there was great calm.

The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,

whom even the winds and the sea obey?”