Intense Love

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052716.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to love intensely. 

Intense. 

It is a strong word. Something that defines something so strongly. So exciting. Intense sports game. Intense concert. Intense competition. Intense exchange of words and ideas. We do not usually use it in everyday conversation but we know what it means. This strong word should describe how we love. 

Our love for God and others should be intense. 

We all know that God wants us to love one another. It is a given. However, in today's first reading, Peter reminds us that we should not be contented with just loving. We should love with intensity. We should love others with intensity. Love is powerful, and the more intense we love, the more intense we serve, the more intense and strong the power of that love. 

We see Jesus live this in the gospel. His love for God was so intense that he got mad when people were disrespecting his Father's house. His faith was also intense, that as he cursed the tree, he believed it and they saw it come to fruition the next day. That's how powerful the effects of intense love and intense faith. 

The first reading also reminds us that we will experience trials and challenges. As Christ's followers, we may experience these in intense levels as well. But we should take comfort in the fact that we are suffering just as Christ suffered. God's love for us is intense as well. His love is more intense than the challenges and pain. And just as we are tested by fire,our reward will also be intense. We just have to stay firm so we can glorify God in everything. 

May we be inspired and challenged to love in an intense way. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know you more. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for loving me intensely. Thank you for guiding and protecting me. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, help me love you in an intense manner. Help me love others this way. May my love for and faith in you be intense, so you may use me mightily as well. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 27, 2016
Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 351

Reading 1 1 Pt 4:7-13

Beloved:
The end of all things is at hand.
Therefore be serious and sober-minded
so that you will be able to pray.
Above all, let your love for one another be intense,
because love covers a multitude of sins.
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another
as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God;
whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies,
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you,
as if something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,
so that when his glory is revealed
you may also rejoice exultantly.

Responsorial Psalm PS 96:10, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Alleluia See Jn 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 11:11-26

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.
He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,
went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.
Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,
he went over to see if he could find anything on it.
When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;
it was not the time for figs.
And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”
And his disciples heard it.

They came to Jerusalem,
and on entering the temple area
he began to drive out those selling and buying there.
He overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who were selling doves.
He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.
Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?
But you have made it a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it
and were seeking a way to put him to death,
yet they feared him
because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.
When evening came, they went out of the city.

Early in the morning, as they were walking along,
they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.
Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look!
The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.
Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’
and does not doubt in his heart
but believes that what he says will happen,
it shall be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.
When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,
so that your heavenly Father may in turn
forgive you your transgressions.”