Influence

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061015.cfm reminds me how powerful influencing others is.

In this world, there are a lot of people who want influence. They want to know people in powerful places and positions. They want their voice and opinions to matter. They want to be influential. It Is powerful to be influential in the worldly sense, but even more powerful in the spiritual sense.

God wants us to do good. We all know that. But in today’s gospel, we are warned and inspired at the same time.

Influence is powerful, and important.

How we influence others affect us. If we break the law, we will be punished. But if we influence others to break God’s laws, then we will be punished more severely. On the other hand, if we follow God, and influence others to do the same, then we will be great in God’s eyes.

What we do to others affect them, and it affects us.

There are people in this life we influence. Officemates. Friends. Family. There may be people who look up to us, or at least watch what we are doing or how we live our lives. This is why it is important to always live right and to always choose God. What we do and how we life is important to God, but it is also important how we influence others – in a bad or hopefully a positive way.

May we be inspired and be more alert on how our lives influence others around us.

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 the reminder. Lord, help me live right all the time. Help me live consistent to your ways. May I always seek and do your will. Use me, Lord. In my own little way, may I influence others in a positive way. may I lead them closer to you. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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June 10, 2015

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 361

Reading 1 2 Cor 3:4-11

Brothers and sisters:

Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.

Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit

for anything as coming from us;

rather, our qualification comes from God,

who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant,

not of letter but of spirit;

for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious

that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses

because of its glory that was going to fade,

how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?

For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious,

the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory.

Indeed, what was endowed with glory

has come to have no glory in this respect

because of the glory that surpasses it.

For if what was going to fade was glorious,

how much more will what endures be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm PS 99:5, 6, 7, 8, 9

R. (see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,

and worship at his footstool;

holy is he!

R. Holy is the Lord our God.

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,

and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;

they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

R. Holy is the Lord our God.

From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;

they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.

R. Holy is the Lord our God.

O LORD, our God, you answered them;

a forgiving God you were to them,

though requiting their misdeeds.

R. Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,

and worship at his holy mountain;

for holy is the LORD, our God.

R. Holy is the Lord our God.

Alleluia Ps 25:4b, 5a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Teach me your paths, my God,

and guide me in your truth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,

not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter

will pass from the law,

until all things have taken place.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments

and teaches others to do so

will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments

will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”