The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/080715.cfm) reminds me that we should always deny ourselves and follow God.
Following God is a daily decision.
Just because you attended or served in a retreat or just because you volunteered for an outreach activity, you're doing very good already. That's a good act, but God wants more from us. God wants consistency. God wants everyday actions and decisions to follow him in little and big ways. Big in terms of doing good, choosing what is right, surrendering to his will, and even small, often neglected things like throwing trash in the proper disposal, obeying traffic and pedestrian rules, and just being patient with others around us.
Everyday decisions, everyday actions - big and small, all for God's glory. All as different ways of taking up our cross and following God.
How do we follow God? How do we deny ourselves?
Denying oneself is surrendering to the will of God.
Sometimes, what we want is not what God wants. Sometimes, what makes us happy is not the right thing. Sometimes, God’s time and ways are very different from ours, and what we want to happen. During times like this, it is especially important to deny ourselves. Denying ourselves means to take a back seat and not let what we want rule our decisions, instead, submit to God and follow His will, his ways, and his time.
May we be inspired and challenged to everyday deny ourselves and follow God.
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 do what I want. Sorry for the times I do not follow you. Sorry for the times I ignore you and hurt you. Lord, help me become more sensitive and more humble. May my will always be subordinate to your will. May my actions always be your actions. May my heart always seek and surrender to your will. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
August 7, 2015
Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 411
Reading 1 Dt 4:32-40
Moses said to the people:
“Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
All this you were allowed to see
that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other.
Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you;
on earth he let you see his great fire,
and you heard him speaking out of the fire.
For love of your fathers he chose their descendants
and personally led you out of Egypt by his great power,
driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you,
so as to bring you in
and to make their land your heritage, as it is today.
This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21
R. (12a) I remember the deeds of the Lord.
I remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I remember your wonders of old.
And I meditate on your works;
your exploits I ponder.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
O God, your way is holy;
what great god is there like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
among the peoples you have made known your power.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
You led your people like a flock
under the care of Moses and Aaron.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
Alleluia Mt 5:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 16:24-28
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
No comments:
Post a Comment