Saturday, August 8, 2015

Generous


The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/080815.cfm) reminds me how generous God is.

When someone applies for a position either in a company or in an organization, there are standards or expectations that the person should meet. Otherwise, he or she will not be selected. However, we see that with God, this is not always the case.

In the gospel, we see that the disciples were not able to heal one child. After Jesus healed the boy, he told the disciples that it was because of their lack of faith that they were not able to do it. Probably they really lack faith, because it was even smaller than a mustard seed. However, it is interesting to note that despite that situation, despite their lack of faith, God still used them to heal other people, to cure other people. Though they were not able to heal this boy, they were able to do other great things for God – despite their lack of faith. How generous God is in using us!

God does not need perfect individuals serving Him. He needs willing ones.

God used the disciples, however small their faith may have been, because they heed God’s call to serve. They follow Jesus command to proclaim God’s kingdom. They were not equipped, or ready, but nonetheless they did the task. And God used them mightily.

There are times in life we feel we do not have enough. While it may be true in the eyes of man, it does not necessarily be true in the eyes of God. He sees us not just for what we were or what we are, but for what we can become. And as long as we allow him to use us, he will.

May we be inspired to continue serving God, and challenged to improve our faith.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the inspiring reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I don’t respond to your call because I don’t feel I am ready. Sorry for the times I don’t allow you to work in me and through me. Help me to be like the disciples who are willing to go and do your work, no matter how lacking they may be. I know that as I work for you, you will continue to work in me and through me. I know that you will continue to improve me. And as I work for you, I ask that you help me strengthen my faith in you so I can do greater things for you. amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,
-g-

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August 8, 2015
Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest
Lectionary: 412


Reading 1 Dt 6:4-13
Moses said to the people:
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.
Drill them into your children.
Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.
Bind them at your wrist as a sign
and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.
Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

“When the LORD, your God, brings you into the land which he swore
to your fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
that he would give you,
a land with fine, large cities that you did not build,
with houses full of goods of all sorts that you did not garner,
with cisterns that you did not dig,
with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant;
and when, therefore, you eat your fill,
take care not to forget the LORD,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
The LORD, your God, shall you fear;
him shall you serve, and by his name shall you swear.”


Responsorial Psalm PS 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 47 and 51
R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim!
And I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!
Extolled be God my savior!
You who gave great victories to your king,
and showed kindness to your anointed,
to David and his posterity forever.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.


Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel Mt 17:14-20
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said,
“Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely;
often he falls into fire, and often into water.
I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
Jesus said in reply,
“O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you?
Bring the boy here to me.”
Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him,
and from that hour the boy was cured.
Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said,
“Why could we not drive it out?”
He said to them, “Because of your little faith.
Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.

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