Immediate

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090215.cfm) inspires me to immediately respond to God’s call.

I was talking to some friends from church and they mentioned their reaction when they were called to serve God in different positions/roles in community. Majority felt inadequate or unprepared, and asked for time to think and pray over it. While it is normal to be like this, the gospel today just inspires me to be like Simon’s mother in law who served Jesus immediately when she had the chance.

A grateful heart will always give an immediate yes to serving.

When she got well, Simon’s mother in law immediately served Jesus. She did not wait for a few moments to be sure she’s okay to serve, but immediately got up and served Jesus. She knew her previous state, she knew she was sick, and when she felt she got well, she was moved to immediately serving Jesus. She had a grateful heart for experiencing Jesus love and healing, and that brought her to immediately serve Jesus when she can.

Having a grateful heart is the result of our awareness of who we are, of where we are, and of what God has done for us. and one way to have this is to do what Jesus did. After healing people, he went to a deserted place. In other translations, it says he went to a deserted place to pray. Prayer makes him aligned with God. Prayer makes him aware of who he is, and who God is. Prayer makes him aware and realize all that God has done for him. and prayer can do this for us too.

In our lives, we will always have opportunities to serve God. He will call us in different ways, and sometimes we will feel inadequate or unprepared to serve him. when it happens, may we be inspired by Simon’s mother in law and immediately serve God when we have the opportunity to. And while we are waiting, may we immerse ourselves in prayer so we can be more aware of how great God is, and be more inspired to serve him.

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 loving me. thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I say no to serving you. sorry for being scared or for feeling I am not equipped enough to do your task. Help me be like Simon’s mother in law and immediately serve you when I have the chance. No matter how small my service to you, I know you will be pleased. May the little things I do for you make you happy. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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September 2, 2015
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 433

 

 

Reading 1 Col 1:1-8

 

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother,
to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:
grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you,
for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and the love that you have for all the holy ones
because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.
Of this you have already heard
through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.
Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,
so also among you,
from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth,
as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave,
who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf
and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 52:10, 11

 

R. (10) I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.

 

 

Alleluia Lk 4:18

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Lk 4:38-44

 

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea