Bold and Empowered

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/083115.cfm) reminds me that we should be bold when proclaiming God’s word, and have faith that as we do so, we are empowered.

Not a lot of people are confrontational. Some are vocal on certain issues, but decide to be tame when having a face to face confrontation. They are vocal on social media or when talking to others, but no so on face to face discussions. However, we see in the gospel that Jesus is not like that. He is bold in proclaiming God’s word, despite the opposition and negative reaction of people with it.

One should be bold in proclaiming God’s word.

Jesus did not mind the opinion or reaction of other people on what he was saying. His focus was not on getting their approval, but on proclaiming God’s word. he was focused not on their acceptance, but on God’s approval. Thus, God rewarded him by empowering him. in the gospel, we also see him passing through people when they were trying to kill him. Just as God empowered him as he was proclaiming God’s word, Jesus was also empowered and protected from harm that is not approved or part of God’s plans.

As we do God’s work and proclaim his kingdom, may we be inspired by Jesus. He set a very good example of doing God’s work. He too was human like us, and experienced the same things we experience today. May we find the courage and boldness to proclaim God’s kingdom, knowing in faith that as we do so, God will continue to empower and protect 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 another day to rest. Lord, as I start this week, give me the boldness to proclaim your kingdom not just with my words, but more importantly with my actions through my life. Help me be brave and focus on you, not on others. may I desire to get your approval, not others. as I do these, I know you will continue to empower and to protect me from anything that is not part of your plans. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 31, 2015

Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 431

 

Reading 1 1 Thes 4:13-18

 

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus,
bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,
will come down from heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13

 

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

 

 

Alleluia See Lk 4:18

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Lk 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll,
he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said,
“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Lips and Heart

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/083015.cfm) reminds me that words and actions should always go hand in hand.

Politics in our country is very dirty. There are a lot of corrupt officials. There are a lot of liars. There are people who say one thing but do otherwise. They court a politician to join them in their party, say good things about the person, but secretly destroy the character of the person, just in case the politician decides not to run with their party. This is similar to what Jesus said in the gospel.

The leaders at that time, the scribes and Pharisees, were diligently following the rules and commandments. however, their hearts are far from Jesus  -the culmination of the old testament, the very person their early church fathers was prophesying about. They were stuck with blind obedience to the law, and to their own personal interests, and did not want to welcome Jesus in their hearts.

The lips and the heart should always go hand in hand.

It is easy to say we love God. It is easy to say good things about God. It is easy to proclaim him with words. However, God wants more. God wants concrete steps taken. God wants actions to go with our words. We cannot say we love God, but refuse to do good and help others because we feel they are responsible for their state. We cannot say we thank God for the blessings but refuse to share what we have.

May we be awakened by Jesus’ words, and do our best to make our lips and heart agree with one another.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for another day to rest and reflect. Thank you for your word. sorry for the times I act like the scribes and Pharisees. Sorry for the times I get contented with just praising you with my lips. Sorry for the times I make up a lot of excuses for not actually doing your work. Help me get on my feet and act. Help me live my faith. Help me proclaim you with my actions, with my life, and not just with my lips. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/08/from-inside.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/10/clean-inside.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/02/double-lives.html

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August 30, 2015

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 125

 

 

Reading 1 Dt 4:1-2, 6-8

 

Moses said to the people:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin upon you,
you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?”

 

 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5

 

R. (1a) One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

 

 

Reading 2 Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27

 

Dearest brothers and sisters:
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

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 Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
—For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. —
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.

“From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”

Passion

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082715.cfm) reminds me that we should expect suffering as we do God’s work.

Today, we commemorate the Passion of St John the Baptist. Jesus himself told his disciples that they should expect suffering just as He, their master, suffered on earth for doing God’s work. John the Baptist experienced this, and faced this head on. He did not shy away from doing God’s work, even if he knew he offended powerful people in the course of doing it. He continued to do God’s work, despite the opposition and challenges he faced.

For it is better to suffer doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17)

In one way or another, we all suffer. We all experience problems and challenges. But we are also reminded that it is better to suffer for doing good, than suffer as a consequence of your actions and decisions. Doing God’s work, like St John the Baptist, caused him to suffer in the hands of powerful people at that time. We too can experience this in the form of oppression from others, mockery, among other things. These are sufferings, but because of doing good, and are temporary. St John the Baptist’s suffering was the end of his hardships here on earth and the beginning of his life eternal with God in heaven. However, some can also suffer for doing bad. A drug addict can suffer from addiction, torn family, financial problems, etc. these are also sufferings, but not caused by doing God’s work, but by our own decisions.

May we be inspired by St John the Baptist’s focus on God, courage and strength as he experienced suffering in doing God’s work.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for the inspiration. Lord, I ask that you help me be like St John the Baptist. May I always find courage from and strength in you, especially as I experience challenges and suffering in doing your work. Help me be brave and strong in doing your work. Use me for your kingdom wherever I may be. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 29, 2015

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Lectionary: 430/634

 

 

Reading 1 1 Thes 4:9-11

 

Brothers and sisters:
On the subject of fraternal charity
you have no need for anyone to write you,
for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia.
Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more,
and to aspire to live a tranquil life,
to mind your own affairs,
and to work with your own hands,
as we instructed you.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 7-8, 9

 

R. (9) The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

 

 

Alleluia Mt 5:10

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mk 6:17-29

 

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb

Stay Awake

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082715.cfm) reminds me that we should stay awake as we wait for God’s coming.

The gospel today is a continuation of yesterday’s. we again see Jesus telling us something about preparing for God’s coming. We see the story of the ten virgins – half were wise, half were foolish.

During those times, it is customary to meet the bridegrooms. And they know that it usually takes time, that is why the five wise ones brought with them extra oil. The five foolish ones were not just foolish, but lazy as well. They probably thought that the bridegroom will arrive early, or that they can ask anyway from others who brought oil. They did not make an effort to prepare.

This is the same with God’s coming. We all know that we will all face God. We all know what we need to do. Like the virgins who knew they just need to bring oil but were lazy and just depended on others, we too know what we need to do to be prepared when God comes. He has been telling us what we need to do to prepare – read his word, pray, love him, do good to others, live right. All of us know it, it’s just that like the virgins, not all of us are willing to do it. Some are lazy and just think that others may help them, or that they will still have time to prepare when the time is near. However, this may not be the case.

May we make the most out of what God is giving us. He tells us what we need to do, and he gives us the opportunities to do these things. May we be like the wise virgins who prepared to meet the bridegroom, so we can like them celebrate with God forever.

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, I am sorry for the times I get lazy. Sorry for not doing my best to prepare to meet you. sorry for being complacent in my preparations, thinking that you will not come soon, or that there will always be time to prepare in the future. Help me live right. Help me live like the wise virgins, who diligently prepared what they need. As I do so, I know that when you come in your glory, I will be able to celebrate with you forever. Amen.

Blessed Friday!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 28, 2015

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 429

 

 

Reading 1 1 Thes 4:1-8

 

Brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God–
and as you are conducting yourselves–
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

This is the will of God, your holiness:
that you refrain from immorality,
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself
in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion
as do the Gentiles who do not know God;
not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,
for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not a human being but God,
who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1 and 2b, 5-6, 10, 11-12

 

R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

 

Alleluia Lk 21:36

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that yo umay have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mt 25:1-13

 

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Be Prepared

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082715.cfm) reminds me that we should always be prepared for God’s coming.

There are a lot of things we are busy with in this life. Family, career or business, relationships and social responsibilities. Others are also busy planning and taking trips and vacations. It is easy to be distracted and to lose focus. We only have 24 hours in a day, and it is not enough if we think about all these things. This can lead us to forget the important things in life – like preparing for eternity.

The gospel today reminds us that God will come like a thief in the night – when we least expect it. I believe this is not just true for the second coming, but also, our face to face meeting with God. Death comes when we least expect it, and when it does, we should always be ready to meet our creator.

Every day, God gives us a chance to prepare for our meeting with Him. he gives us opportunities to do good and live right. He reminds us of his love and what we can do to remain in Him. May we never lose focus on him, especially with the many things we do and the many things on our minds. Let us remember that just as we are in the middle of preparing and organizing things of this world,  he can come to meet us. and when he does, there will be no second chance. May we do our part to always be ready and prepare for that meeting.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another reminder. Thank you for being patient with me. Sorry Lord for the times I allow myself to be busy and distracted. Sorry for allowing myself to forget you and to disregard preparing for my meeting with you. I ask that you help me prepare. Give me the desire and the will to prepare my life for eternity with you. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 27, 2015

Memorial of Saint Monica
Lectionary: 428

 

 

Reading 1 1 Thes 3:7-13

 

We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,
in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,
for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?
Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person
and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus
direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 90:3-5a, 12-13, 14 and 17

 

R. (14) Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

 

 

Alleluia Mt 24:42a, 44

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mt 24:42-51

 

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

From Inside

 

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082615.cfm) reminds us that what makes a person unclean does not come from outside, rather, from the inside.

It is easy to appear good to other people. Superficial level. Surface level. Mukhang mabait, mukhang magalang. Mukhang matulungin. It is easy to organize and attend socio civic activities that alleviate poverty. It is easy to organize fundraising activities for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. It is easy to attend prayer gatherings and appear holy. However, doing these things does not necessarily mean that goodness is inside the person. God sees beyond the superficial level.

What makes us clean, or unclean, comes from the inside. Organizing and attending such activities with hidden agenda, may make no difference in the surface level. Probably money will still go to the poor even if the intention is not really to help them, but to build up your reputation. Seems the same, but

God sees what is in our hearts. God sees if our service to him is genuine or fake. God sees is our worship is pure or not. These things will make us clean or unclean in God’ eyes.

God is reminding us today to check our hearts. Check our reasons and intentions for doing good to others, for worshipping God. Is it really to give back to God, to share our blessings to others, or just for our personal hidden agenda? God sees what others cannot, so we always have to pray that we be guided and our intentions always be pure as we do things for God.

Do I always pray that my intentions be pure as I serve God? Do I even reflect to see what my intentions are, or am I satisfied with merely doing things? Do I judge others based on their actions, or do I pray for guidance to discern their intentions?

Father God,
Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me that what makes me unclean comes from inside. Lord, help me purify my intentions as I serve you, as I do things for you. I know it is easy to get distracted in this world. May I always put the focus on you, and may my reason for doing these things be to praise and glorify you, not myself. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-inside-out.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/08/from-inside.html

 

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August 26, 2015

Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 427

 

 

Reading 1 1 Thes 2:9-13

 

You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.
Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,
we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God.
You are witnesses, and so is God,
how devoutly and justly and blamelessly
we behaved toward you believers.
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,
exhorting and encouraging you and insisting
that you walk in a manner worthy of the God
who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.

And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly,
that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,
you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God,
which is now at work in you who believe.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab

 

R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall hide me,
and night shall be my light”–
For you darkness itself is not dark,
and night shines as the day.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

 

Alleluia 1 Jn 2:5

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mt 23:27-32

 

Jesus said,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

God Sees Inside

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082515.cfm) reminds me how important it is to have a clean heart.

Right now, I need to have the car washed. It is very dirty already. Rain and dust is not a good combination for automobiles. However, when I am driving it, everything’s normal. Everything’s fine. This is because even if the car is very dirty outside, the inside is very clean, organized and in the proper state. No matter how dirty the exterior is, the engine and the inside of the car is well taken care of, so the performance of the car is not affected.

God sees what is in our hearts.

In the gospel, Jesus warns us against hypocrites, who appear to be holy in the exterior. However, God knows and can see what’s in our hearts. God knows the real state of our hearts, and he can see behind the superficial actions that other people see. He can see beyond the good deeds we perform in front of others.

In the first reading, we see this lived by the disciples. St Paul wrote that they were working not to please men, but God. He knows that God can see what is their intention for doing these things. God knows what is in their hearts, and God will judge them by their hearts and not just their actions. The psalmist further emphasizes this when he proclaimed that God searched and knows him. Just like right now, God is searching us, and God knows us.

No matter what we do on the surface, no matter what image we project, no matter how well people think of us, God sees beyond all of these. God sees what is in our hearts. He knows the real motives and intentions for our actions. We may get human praise, but that doesn’t mean we get God’s.

May we always be conscious to check our motives for our actions, for God sees what is inside our hearts.

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 another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I get contented with merely doing good. Sorry for the times I lose my focus, and do good deeds to be praised and be affirmed by others. sorry for losing my focus on you. sorry for doing good for me to feel good. Help me put my heart in the right place, Lord. Help me always focus on you, on doing good and helping others because I see you in them. May my actions always be pleasing to you. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/10/clean-inside.html

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August 25, 2015
Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 426

 

 

Reading 1 1 Thes 2:1-8

 

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 139:1-3, 4-6

 

R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

 

 

Alleluia Heb 4:12

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mt 23:23-26

 

Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”

Come and See

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082415.cfm) reminds me that God comes to invite us to experience him.

In the gospel, Nathaniel was surprised when Philip told him that Jesus from Nazareth is the one whom Moses wrote about. Nazareth was a small and insignificant town, and he was surprised that anything good can come out from Nazareth. But Philip told him to come and see for himself who Jesus is. And he eventually believed.

There are times where we act like Nathaniel. When people tell us how great and loving God is, we are hesitant. When we are overwhelmed with problems with health,  finances or relationships and people tell us God is all powerful, we are hesitant and feel he cannot do anything with our situation. God invites us today like Philip invited Nathaniel – to come and see Jesus.

Only when we experience firsthand what God can do will we believe his love, goodness and power.

However, we cannot experience these, or at least get to acknowledge it, if we will not allow him to. If we will stay on our own and not be willing to come and see Him, we will not be able to experience him. if we will close ourselves to him, even if he comes to us unceasingly, we will not be aware that it is his love, his guidance, and his provisions that see us through.

May we find it in our hearts to open up ourselves and come to Jesus so we can experience firsthand his love, power and goodness.

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 another week. Lord, thank you for the reminder. Thank you for always coming after me. Thank you for chasing me. Help me open up my heart and myself to receive and experience you. help me take the first step to come to you and see all you have done and all you can still do in my life. As I experience you, may I be moved to always stay in you. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 24, 2015

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Lectionary: 629

 

 

Reading 1 Rv 21:9b-14

 

The angel spoke to me, saying,
“Come here.
I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

 

R. (12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

 

Alleluia Jn 1:49b

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Jn 1:45-51

 

Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

No Forcing

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082315.cfm) reminds me that God will never force us to follow Him.

God is all powerful, but he sent his son Jesus to come not as a mighty and powerful king, but as a simple and helpless baby born in a simple family. This reminds us that God will never force himself upon us. He will not be a strong and powerful ruler who would force us to accept him. He is a simple child, asking us to make our decision to accept him and follow him.

Worldly groups and organizations do their best not only to retain but more so to increase their members. They sometimes even adjust their policies and rules so as not to offend members and not make them leave. However, this is not the same with God. In the gospel, we see that he will not adjust his teachings to accommodate his followers. He will also not force people to follow him. He will stick to what God wants him to do and proclaim God’s message, and the way people would respond depends on them.

God’s message is constant and universal.

The message Jesus was proclaiming to his disciples is still the same message he is giving us today. His message and his love is constant. And until now, he never forces us to follow him. However, our decision affects what will happen to us. we can decide not to follow him and live a life that we want, no matter how much he reminds us and call us do come to him. however, when judgment day comes, we will be accountable for our actions. God will not force us to follow him, but he will also not tolerate our wrong doing, and when the time comes, we will be held accountable for the life we live.

May we find it in our hearts to accept Christ as he comes to us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another Sunday. Thank you Lord for all your blessings. Thank you for who you are. Lord, I pray that I may have the heart to accept you in my life. Today, as I hear mass and as I take you in the Eucharist, I ask that you slowly work in me. slowly transform me. slowly consume me. that I may seek you and want you always. In a special way I lift up to you all those celebrating their birthday today, especially my sister Kat. May you always bless, guide and protect them. May you always open their hearts to receive you in their lives.  Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 23, 2015

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 122

 

 

Reading 1 Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b

 

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
summoning their elders, their leaders,
their judges, and their officers.
When they stood in ranks before God,
Joshua addressed all the people:
“If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
the gods your fathers served beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

But the people answered,
“Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
for the service of other gods.
For it was the LORD, our God,
who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
out of a state of slavery.
He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
and protected us along our entire journey
and among the peoples through whom we passed.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

 

 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

 

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.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Many are the troubles of the just one,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him;
he watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

 

 

Reading 2 Eph 5:21-32

 

Brothers and sisters:
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the church,
he himself the savior of the body.
As the church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

 

Alleluia Jn 6:63c, 68c

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Jn 6:60-69

 

Many of Jesus’disciples who were listening said,
“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, “Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending
to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe.”
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said,
“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father.”

As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Rewarded

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082215.cfm) reminds me how God rewards those loyal to him.

They say you will know who your real friends are when you are under fire. When life is easy, when you’re rich and successful, it is easy to have friends. Everyone wants to be close to you, to be associated with you. however, when life is tough, when your back is pushed against the wall, when you are left with nothing, then that’s the time you’ll know who your real friends are – people who will not leave you and be with you in your suffering and challenges. That’s how God saw Ruth.

The first reading is the continuation of yesterday’s reading. We see Ruth stay with her mother in law Naomi, even when her husband died. She could have gone back to her family, but she decided to stick to Naomi, who has nothing left. In the reading, we see how she eventually found favor with God and rewarded her faith and love. She got married to Boaz, and bore a son which would eventually be the grandfather of David!

God rewards those who are faithful to Him.

In the same way that Ruth did not leave her mother in law when she was left with nothing, and continued to love and serve her, we too should not leave God when life is tough and our backs are pushed against the wall. It is easy to love and serve God when things are great, when we are happy with life, when we have a lot of free time. However, doing it is a challenge when life is tough. However, it is during these challenges that we are defined, that we improve and become strengthened. As fire sharpens steel, these challenges in life should sharpen and strengthen our faith and love for God.

May we be inspired and challenged to stick to God, especially when life is tough, knowing that he is always watching and will continue to reward and take care of those loyal to him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for the reminder. Thank you for being perfect and for seeing everything. Lord, I ask that you hold my hand and never let me go. Help me remain faithful and loyal to you, especially when life is tough. May I always choose to love and serve you no matter what situation I may be in. amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 22, 2015

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 424

 

 

Reading 1 Ru 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17

 

Naomi had a prominent kinsman named Boaz,
of the clan of her husband Elimelech.
Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi,
“Let me go and glean ears of grain in the field
of anyone who will allow me that favor.”
Naomi said to her, “Go, my daughter,” and she went.
The field she entered to glean after the harvesters
happened to be the section belonging to Boaz
of the clan of Elimelech.

Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter!
Do not go to glean in anyone else’s field;
you are not to leave here.
Stay here with my women servants.
Watch to see which field is to be harvested, and follow them;
I have commanded the young men to do you no harm.
When you are thirsty, you may go and drink from the vessels
the young men have filled.”
Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth said to him,
“Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?”
Boaz answered her:
“I have had a complete account of what you have done
for your mother-in-law after your husband’s death;
you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth,
and have come to a people whom you did not know previously.”

Boaz took Ruth.
When they came together as man and wife,
the LORD enabled her to conceive and she bore a son.
Then the women said to Naomi,
“Blessed is the LORD who has not failed
to provide you today with an heir!
May he become famous in Israel!
He will be your comfort and the support of your old age,
for his mother is the daughter-in-law who loves you.
She is worth more to you than seven sons!”
Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nurse.
And the neighbor women gave him his name,
at the news that a grandson had been born to Naomi.
They called him Obed.
He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 128:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

 

R. (4) See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
You wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.

 

 

Alleluia Mt 23:9b, 10b

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have but one Father in heaven;
you have but one master, the Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

 

Gospel Mt 23:1-12

 

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”