No Faith

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/073115.cfm) reminds me of the effects of not having faith in God.

In today’s gospel, we see the power and importance of faith, ironically through the lack of it.

Jesus went to his hometown and instead of being proud that Jesus came from there, the people belittled him and took offense at him. They did not believe that someone from their own could really be God’s Child. This lack of belief, this lack of faith, was the reason why Jesus did not do a lot of miracles. Yes, Jesus needs our faith. His love and power does not change, but our faith affect it.

Our lack of faith limits God’s power over us.

I believe we are challenged by God. We are asked to look at ourselves and see what our heart says. Is our faith strong, or are we like the people who do not trust in God? When we pray, do we really have complete faith in God and his love and power, or do we just pray just in case God hears us? Is our faith strong enough to be willing to suffer for God? When God does not seem to hear us, do we have a humble heart and will still continue to serve Him, or do we walk away from him when we don’t get what we want?

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another weekend coming.  Thank you for the gift of faith. Lord, I ask that you help me strengthen my faith. I know faith is such a powerful and important aspect of my life, and I ask that you help me develop it. Kahit maliit, kahit mala mustard seed, I know it is enough, that it is a good start. May I have faith and may I be willing to suffer and still serve you because of that faith, knowing that your name will be glorified in everything. Amen

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/07/lack-of-faith.html

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July 31, 2015

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Lectionary: 405

Reading 1 Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37

 The LORD said to Moses,

“These are the festivals of the LORD which you shall celebrate

at their proper time with a sacred assembly.

The Passover of the LORD falls on the fourteenth day of the first month,

at the evening twilight.

The fifteenth day of this month is the LORD’s feast of Unleavened Bread.

For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.

On the first of these days you shall hold a sacred assembly

and do no sort of work.

On each of the seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD.

Then on the seventh day you shall again hold a sacred assembly

and do no sort of work.”

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the children of Israel and tell them:

When you come into the land which I am giving you,

and reap your harvest,

you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest

to the priest, who shall wave the sheaf before the LORD

that it may be acceptable for you.

On the day after the sabbath the priest shall do this.

“Beginning with the day after the sabbath,

the day on which you bring the wave-offering sheaf,

you shall count seven full weeks,

and then on the day after the seventh week, the fiftieth day,

you shall present the new cereal offering to the LORD.

“The tenth of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement,

when you shall hold a sacred assembly and mortify yourselves

and offer an oblation to the LORD.

“The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the LORD’s feast of Booths,

which shall continue for seven days.

On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly,

and you shall do no sort of work.

For seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD,

and on the eighth day you shall again hold a sacred assembly

and offer an oblation to the LORD.

On that solemn closing you shall do no sort of work.

“These, therefore, are the festivals of the LORD

on which you shall proclaim a sacred assembly,

and offer as an oblation to the LORD burnt offerings and cereal offerings,

sacrifices and libations, as prescribed for each day.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab

R. (2a) Sing with joy to God our help.

Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,

the pleasant harp and the lyre.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

at the full moon, on our solemn feast.

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

For it is a statute in Israel,

an ordinance of the God of Jacob,

Who made it a decree for Joseph

when he came forth from the land of Egypt.

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

There shall be no strange god among you

nor shall you worship any alien god.

I, the LORD, am your God

who led you forth from the land of Egypt.

R. Sing with joy to God our help.

Alleluia 1 Pt 1:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The word of the Lord remains forever;

this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.

They were astonished and said,

“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?

Is he not the carpenter’s son?

Is not his mother named Mary

and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

Are not his sisters all with us?

Where did this man get all this?”

And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them,

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place

and in his own house.”

And he did not work many mighty deeds there

because of their lack of faith.

God’s Lead

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/073015.cfm) inspires me to always follow God’s leading in my life.

I was talking to a good friend the other week and she mentioned that some people, especially those who have strong characters or are leaders, have a natural aversion to being subjected to authority or anointing of others. They feel that they should not be instructed or they know the right thing to do, or the right way to do things. I believe we as human beings a lot of times feel this way towards God.

Impatience prevents God from leading our lives.

In the first reading, we see that the people during this time let God lead them. They probably did not always agree with what God wanted them to do. Probably a lot of times they would rather go on their pace – to continue walking or to stop walking. However, they let God lead them. They followed what God wanted them to do – to walk or to stop. As a result, God was with them and they were blessed and protected.

In our lives, we do not always let God take the lead. We do not always follow God’s lead. We want to do things our way. we want things to happen in our time. We sometimes forget that we as human beings have limited capacity. We don’t know everything. That we should just surrender and let God take the lead. As we do so, we can be assured that we will always be protected and things will happen according to God’s perfect plan.

May we be inspired by the readings, and make the decision and have the will to give God control over our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I become impatient. Sorry for the times I let my emotions and desires have the best of me. Sorry for disrespecting and disobeying you. Lord, I come to you with a repentant heart. I ask that you forgive me, and that you help me to just trust in you. help me surrender to you. As I do so, as I take your lead, I know you will always be with me and my journey would be a better, safer one. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 30, 2015

Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 404

Reading 1 Ex 40:16-21, 34-38

Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him.

On the first day of the first month of the second year

the Dwelling was erected.

It was Moses who erected the Dwelling.

He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars,

and set up its columns.

He spread the tent over the Dwelling

and put the covering on top of the tent,

as the LORD had commanded him.

He took the commandments and put them in the ark;

he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it.

He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil,

thus screening off the ark of the commandments,

as the LORD had commanded him.

Then the cloud covered the meeting tent,

and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.

Moses could not enter the meeting tent,

because the cloud settled down upon it

and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.

Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling,

the children of Israel would set out on their journey.

But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward;

only when it lifted did they go forward.

In the daytime the cloud of the LORD was seen over the Dwelling;

whereas at night, fire was seen in the cloud

by the whole house of Israel

in all the stages of their journey.

Responsorial Psalm PS 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11

R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

My soul yearns and pines

for the courts of the LORD.

My heart and my flesh

cry out for the living God.

R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest

in which she puts her young–

Your altars, O LORD of hosts,

my king and my God!

R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

Blessed they who dwell in your house!

continually they praise you.

Blessed the men whose strength you are!

They go from strength to strength.

R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

I had rather one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

R. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

Alleluia See Acts 16:14b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Open our hearts, O Lord,

to listen to the words of your Son.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 13:47-53

Jesus said to the disciples:

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,

which collects fish of every kind.

When it is full they haul it ashore

and sit down to put what is good into buckets.

What is bad they throw away.

Thus it will be at the end of the age.

The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous

and throw them into the fiery furnace,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

“Do you understand all these things?”

They answered, “Yes.”

And he replied,

“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven

is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom

both the new and the old.”

When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there

Faith in Action

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072915.cfm) reminds me that we should always live our faith.

There is such a term as “Analysis Paralysis.” It is good to understand the situation and study before making a move. However, sometimes we get stuck understanding the situation and analyzing things. We over analyze things and take into consideration all the factors. We want to be overly prepared and want answers to all that can happen. However, this can lead to us not doing anything because we get caught up in analysis and preparation. IF we are in this state, we cannot accomplish anything.

In the spiritual sense, this is true as well. We should not over analyze or simple profess our faith. We should live it. In the bible, it says that “Faith without works is dead.” Yes, it is true. We should spread our faith. We should work for our faith.

The gospel shows us how action oriented Martha is, whose feast we are celebrating today. in one gospel option, we see her doing all the work, serving Jesus (though she lost her focus on Jesus and got stressed and carried away by the tasks). And in the other gospel, we see her maturing in faith. Although she again acted and welcomed Jesus as he was going on his way to their house, it did not stop there. We see not only her actions, but her profession of faith as well.

We see her faith that was translated into action. We see her action based on her faith. Perfect combination.

Martha did not have it all at once. In one story, we see her being action oriented but lacking faith and focus. But Jesus love and compassion eventually led her to improve her faith, thus in the second story, we see her action backed up by faith. We are not perfect, we may lack faith, God’s love will eventually transforms us. We just have to listen and allow him to do that in our lives – like he did in Martha’s.

May we be inspired by St Martha’s faith and action working in hand in hand as we do God’s work.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder and inspiration in St Martha. May I have her faith and action – faith that knows you and trusts in you, and that faith translated into action. Likewise, may my actions for you always be founded on your love, founded on my faith in you, that I may not be distracted with anything or anyone as I work for you. Lord, in a special way, I also lift up to you those celebrating their birthdays today, especially my wife Mady. Thank you for all the blessings and for making your presence alive in her. I pray that you continue to deepen and strengthen our faith and guide and bless all our actions so we can become like St Martha. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/07/powerful-action.html

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July 29, 2015

Memorial of Saint Martha

Lectionary: 403/607

Reading 1 Ex 34:29-35

 As Moses came down from Mount Sinai

with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,

he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant

while he conversed with the LORD.

When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses

and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,

they were afraid to come near him.

Only after Moses called to them did Aaron

and all the rulers of the community come back to him.

Moses then spoke to them.

Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,

and he enjoined on them all that the LORD

had told him on Mount Sinai.

When he finished speaking with them,

he put a veil over his face.

Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,

he removed the veil until he came out again.

On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel

all that had been commanded.

Then the children of Israel would see

that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant;

so he would again put the veil over his face

until he went in to converse with the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm PS 99:5, 6, 7, 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.

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 Jn 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

whoever follows me will have the light of life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 11:19-27

Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary

to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,

she went to meet him;

but Mary sat at home.

Martha said to Jesus,

“Lord, if you had been here,

my brother would not have died.

But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,

God will give you.”

Jesus said to her,

“Your brother will rise.”

Martha said to him,

“I know he will rise,

in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus told her,

“I am the resurrection and the life;

whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,

and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?”

She said to him, “Yes, Lord.

I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,

the one who is coming into the world.”

Or Lk 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village

where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

She had a sister named Mary

who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,

“Lord, do you not care

that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?

Tell her to help me.”

The Lord said to her in reply,

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.

There is need of only one thing.

Mary has chosen the better part

and it will not be taken from her.”

Shine like the Sun

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072815.cfm) reminds me that God will reward his followers in his perfect time.

Life is not a bed of roses. Life is unfair. In the gospel we saw that the good seeds were mixed with the weeds, pretty much like life here on earth. Even if we try to live righteous lives, we will still be surrounded by evil people - which would try to convince us to give up living righteous lives and be like them. Sometimes the situation doesn't help.  We see them prosper and have a good life on earth. We may question why they seem to be blessed, or if what we are doing is really the way to go. We may question if it really is worth it.

God is not the ruler of the world. The devil is - that is why many times, Jesus tells his disciples to live in the world but not of the world. Naturally, the enemy loves his own, so he gives worldly things those who follow him. However, God still provides and protects us, so we should just continue to remain faithful to Him.

God’s followers will shine like the Sun.

Life is not easy, but we should continue to hang on to God and his word, knowing that he is true to his word. No matter how difficult or challenging life may be, he will still protect us and make sure we have everything we need to move forward. As we remain faithful to God, we are sure that when the proper time comes, we will shine bright like the sun.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for the reminder. Thank you for knowing me. Thank you for speaking to me through different ways. Lord, as I live my life, may I always be reminded to focus on you, to remain faithful to you. It may not be easy, it may be tempting to do otherwise, but I know that no matter what I experience, you are always there watching, guiding and protecting me. And I know that as i remain faithful to you, I will shine bright with you in your kingdom. Amen

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/07/shine-like-sun.html

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July 28, 2015

Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 402

Reading 1 Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28

The tent, which was called the meeting tent,

Moses used to pitch at some distance away, outside the camp.

Anyone who wished to consult the LORD

would go to this meeting tent outside the camp.

Whenever Moses went out to the tent, the people would all rise

and stand at the entrance of their own tents,

watching Moses until he entered the tent.

As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down

and stand at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.

On seeing the column of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent,

all the people would rise and worship

at the entrance of their own tents.

The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face,

as one man speaks to another.

Moses would then return to the camp,

but his young assistant, Joshua, son of Nun,

would not move out of the tent.

Moses stood there with the LORD and proclaimed his name, “LORD.”

Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,

“The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,

slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity,

continuing his kindness for a thousand generations,

and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin;

yet not declaring the guilty guiltless,

but punishing children and grandchildren

to the third and fourth generation for their fathers’ wickedness!”

Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.

Then he said, “If I find favor with you, O LORD,

do come along in our company.

This is indeed a stiff-necked people;

yet pardon our wickedness and sins,

and receive us as your own.”

So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights,

without eating any food or drinking any water,

and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant,

the ten commandments.

Responsorial Psalm PS 103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.

The LORD secures justice

and the rights of all the oppressed.

He has made known his ways to Moses,

and his deeds to the children of Israel.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,

slow to anger and abounding in kindness.

He will not always chide,

nor does he keep his wrath forever.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Not according to our sins does he deal with us,

nor does he requite us according to our crimes.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he put our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;

all who come to him will live for ever.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 13:36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.

His disciples approached him and said,

“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,

the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.

The weeds are the children of the Evil One,

and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.

The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,

so will it be at the end of the age.

The Son of Man will send his angels,

and they will collect out of his Kingdom

all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.

They will throw them into the fiery furnace,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun

in the Kingdom of their Father.

Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Forgetful

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072715.cfm) reminds me that as human beings, we tend to forget all the great things God has done for us.

They say that we only use a very small part of our brain. That is why our memory is very limited. As we grow older and as more things happen in life, we forget some things. However, we should not forget the essential and important things, because If we do, it can greatly affect our lives.

In the first reading, we see this in the Israelites. God has done a lot of great things for them – took them out of Egypt, spared their lives during Passover, parted the red sea, and even provided them with food in the dessert. However, they quickly forgot all these things and made a golden god to worship. OF course this made Moses angry with them, because he knows God is angry.

Sometimes we are like these people. God has done a lot of great things in our lives. He has provided for us, he has saved us and has healed us a lot of times in the past. However, as human beings, we will always tend to forget these things. However, sometimes even if we do not forget, we act as if we do. Sometimes, even if we know and remember all God has done, we just choose to love ourselves more than him. We just choose to give in to our desires, to our wants, and go against God.

Giving in to our desires and loving ourselves too much can lead us to forget God.

The Israelites probably did not forget all what God has done for them, but maybe they just gave in to their desires and needs. They gave in to their want of having a god to worship, that they made one. Sometimes we are like that as well. We know God and all he has done for us, but at that moment, we just seem to have a strong urge to sin or go against God, that we ignore him. However, God is forgiving and will always give us another chance. He allowed Moses to continue to lead the people, but we also see He is a God of justice and will punish us when the time is right.

May we remember all the things God has done for us, and may these things be enough for us to always surrender to God and put him first.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day, thank you for another week. Lord, I am sorry for the times I forget all you have done for me. But most especially, I am sorry for the times that I do not forget but I act as if I did. Sorry for putting myself first, for loving myself more than I love you, for giving in to my desires and wants even if I know it will hurt you. Help me Lord to be a faithful and loyal servant. You have done so much and have given me much, and I just want to live my life telling you that I love you and that I thank you. May my life always be pleasing to you. amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 27, 2015

Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 401

Reading 1 Ex 32:15-24, 30-34

Moses turned and came down the mountain

with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,

tablets that were written on both sides, front and back;

tablets that were made by God,

having inscriptions on them that were engraved by God himself.

Now, when Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting,

he said to Moses, “That sounds like a battle in the camp.”

But Moses answered, “It does not sound like cries of victory,

nor does it sound like cries of defeat;

the sounds that I hear are cries of revelry.”

As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing.

With that, Moses’ wrath flared up, so that he threw the tablets down

and broke them on the base of the mountain.

Taking the calf they had made, he fused it in the fire

and then ground it down to powder,

which he scattered on the water and made the children of Israel drink.

Moses asked Aaron, “What did this people ever do to you

that you should lead them into so grave a sin?”

Aaron replied, “Let not my lord be angry.

You know well enough how prone the people are to evil.

They said to me, ‘Make us a god to be our leader;

as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt,

we do not know what has happened to him.’

So I told them, ‘Let anyone who has gold jewelry take it off.’

They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.”

On the next day Moses said to the people,

“You have committed a grave sin.

I will go up to the LORD, then;

perhaps I may be able to make atonement for your sin.”

So Moses went back to the LORD and said,

“Ah, this people has indeed committed a grave sin

in making a god of gold for themselves!

If you would only forgive their sin!

If you will not, then strike me out of the book that you have written.”

The LORD answered, “Him only who has sinned against me

will I strike out of my book.

Now, go and lead the people to the place I have told you.

My angel will go before you.

When it is time for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 106:19-20, 21-22, 23

R. (1a) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Our fathers made a calf in Horeb

and adored a molten image;

They exchanged their glory

for the image of a grass-eating bullock.

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

They forgot the God who had saved them,

who had done great deeds in Egypt,

Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,

terrible things at the Red Sea.

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Then he spoke of exterminating them,

but Moses, his chosen one,

Withstood him in the breach

to turn back his destructive wrath.

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Alleluia Jas 1:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth

that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 13:31-35

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds.

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed

that a person took and sowed in a field.

It is the smallest of all the seeds,

yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.

It becomes a large bush,

and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”

He spoke to them another parable.

“The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast

that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour

until the whole batch was leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.

He spoke to them only in parables,

to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:

I will open my mouth in parables,

I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world