Persevere with Purpose

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052016.cfm) reminds me that I should persevere amidst the challenges, because God always has a purpose for everything. 

The story of Job is one of my favorite stories in the bible. Not because it is fun and nice, and nit because I want it to happen to me as well. His story is a very challenging one. Challenging but very inspiring. And in the first reading, they referred to Job as an example of persevering in faith. He struggled but overcame the challenges and hardships. In the end, we saw the glory of God. We saw the goodness of God. We saw the purpose of God. 

God has a purpose for everything, so we should always persevere in faith. 

There are times we are faced with a lot of problems and challenges. We may feel like Job. Pushed against the wall. Cannot do anything anymore. Almost at the point of breaking down snd surrender. But Job persevered. Job remained faithful to God. It may not have been all smooth sailing, but Job's faith in and love for God persisted. And in the end, God blessed him with more than he can imagine. 

We should persevere like Job. 

There may be easy ways out. There may be worldly ways of getting out of the problems and tough situations. We may have temptations that would require us to lose our values and turn our backs on our faith. But we should persevere and stick with God. We should trust in God. Just as he always watched over Job, just as he was protecting Job, he too is doing that to us. He will not give us what we cannot handle. He will not give us too much. We just need to have faith in Him and expect blessings as we remain loyal to Him. 

May we be inspired to persevere in faith, to walk in faith despite all the pain and challenges around us. 

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 the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I give up on my faith. Sorry for the times I turn my back on you. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Help me be like Job. Help me have faith in you. Help me persevere and remain in you. I know that you are kind, compassionate and merciful, and you will always be there to watch over me as I do my best to prepare myself for your great plans. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 20, 2016
Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 345

Reading 1 Jas 5:9-12

Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of the perseverance of Job,
and you have seen the purpose of the Lord,
because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear,
either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath,
but let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,”
that you may not incur condemnation.

Responsorial Psalm PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 11-12

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Alleluia See Jn 17:17b, 17a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan.
Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom,
he again taught them.
The Pharisees approached him and asked,
“Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?”
They replied,
“Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her.”
But Jesus told them,
“Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate.”
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.
He said to them,
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery.”