The WORD
today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042716.cfm)
reminds me how important and powerful remaining in God is.
Greatness is
never achieved inside your comfort zone.
This
is true in most aspects of life. Athletes train and push themselves to the
limit to improve themselves, to imrpove their endurance, their performance,
their game. People who push themselves to the limit at work, in school or in
business are often the ones achieve greatness. This is true in the bible as
well. Those who are willing to step out of their comfort zones were used mightily
by God. – David, Abraham, Moses, Paul, Elijah – to name a few great people.
Leaving your comfort zone causes pain.
You know you’re in your comfort
zone when you have that – comfort. There is no new thing being learned, no new
realizations, no new improvements, no growth. Growth is often accompanied by pain.
And only when we leave our comfort zone, only when we welcome transforming
pain, will we grow and improve. Only then can we achieve greatness.
This
is what Jesus tells us in the gospel. God will prune
us so we can bear much fruit. It may entail pain, but it will be for
a good cause. It will be for greatness. However, there is one thing we should
remember all throughout – that we should remain
in Jesus, just like the great people in the bible did. They
experienced a lot of pain, but they did not give up. Instead, they remained in
God and trusted in Him. Thus, God used them mightily.
May we continue to be faithful
and remain In Chrsit, especially when faced with challenges. Let us have faith
that as we allow him to lead us, as we step our of our comfort zones for him,
he will use us in great ways.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for the reminder. Lord, I
thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for all the challenges that improve
me. thank you for all the opportunities for growth. Help me remain in you as I
live. I know that without you, I am nothing, so I will just stick to you and
trust in you. Lord, I am willing to step out of my comfort zone for you. I am
willing to experience pruning, to experience pain, so I can be better, so I can
love you more, so I can serve you more. Do to me as you please, and use me
mightily for your glory. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
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April 27, 2016
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 287
Reading 1 Acts 15:1-6
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”
The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”
The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
Responsorial Psalm PS 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Jn 15:4a, 5b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Jn 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
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