Lost Focus

  

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010916.cfm) reminds me that we should not lose out focus on God.

It is very to be distracted in life. There are a lot of people, things and situations that take our focus away from important things. I know some people that were distracted by computer games during college that it affected their studies and eventually their employment. There were some that were distracted by more serious things such as illegal drugs and gambling, and these distractions gravely affected their lives. It is easy to lose focus, especially because these distractions are usually fun - more fun than the important things we should do. And the gospel today shows us we should not be distracted by these things.

We should never lose our focus on God, especially with the fun and tempting things in life.

John was preparing the way for Jesus. He was doing his stuff, telling people to prepare and baptizing them. And he got followers because of it. However when Jesus came, some of John's disciples followed Jesus. Why wouldn't they, Jesus was the one John was speaking about. When people told him about thus, he kept his focus on his mission. He did not enjoy fame and followers as much as doing God's mission for him. He knew that he should decrease and Jesus should increase. He did jot let worldly things distract him from his mission.

We should also not lose our focus on God. We are called to do different things. But we are all called to make disciples of nations. We are called to proclaim God wherever we are and whatever we do. We are called to follow God in the little and big decisions. However, a lot of things can distract us. There are fun things which are harmful to the soul. It is easy to enjoy the world, the money and all things it can buy - at the expense of forgetting Jesus. It is easy to focus on ourselves, working hard and rewarding ourselves, and forgetting that we need to praise God through our lives.

The first reading should inspire us. We are of God. And Satan cannot harm us. Cannot take us. We just need to remain in God and ask that we would be able to discern things, that we be aware when we are already falling to the distractions of the enemy.

May we always be aware and do our part to always focus on God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times i let myself be distracted by a lot of things. Sorry for allowing myself to lose my focus in you. I ask that you keep me close. Help me focus on you and remember you. Help me do my part, to pray, attend mass and partake of the sacraments, so my faith and my relationship with you will continue to remain strong and increase even more. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 9, 2016

Saturday after Epiphany
Lectionary: 217

 

 

Reading 1 1 Jn 5:14-21

 

Beloved:
We have this confidence in him
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,
we know that what we have asked him for is ours.
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;
but the one begotten by God he protects,
and the Evil One cannot touch him.
We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.
We also know that the Son of God has come
and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.
And we are in the one who is true,
in his Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life.
Children, be on your guard against idols.

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

 

R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

 

 

Alleluia Mt 4:16

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Jn 3:22-30

 

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea,
where he spent some time with them baptizing.
John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,
because there was an abundance of water there,
and people came to be baptized,
for John had not yet been imprisoned.
Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew
about ceremonial washings.
So they came to John and said to him,
“Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,
to whom you testified,
here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.”
John answered and said,
“No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,
but that I was sent before him.
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;
the best man, who stands and listens for him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.
So this joy of mine has been made complete.
He must increase; I must decrease.