Chances

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071216.cfm) reminds me that God gives us chances to repent. 

There was a time that there were a lot of game shows in the Philippines. And one of the usual highlight of these shows is the host making the contestant choose between cash and the contents of a chosen box. Content could range from zero to one million. And in most cases, the host knows what is inside the box. That is why sometimes the amount of cash offered is proportionate to the amount in the box. Some contestants are insistent of choosing the box , and when the host knows amount in the box is zero, he usually gives opportunities for the contestant to change his mind and choose the cash. However, the show needs to end. And no matter how the host tries to persuade the contestant to change his mins, final answer will come from the contestant. This is similar to how God deals with us. 

God gives us opportunities ti change our ways and choose him. 

In the gospel, Jesus reminds us that not all towns and people chose him. Not all repented. But he gave it all he can. He performed mighty deeds and actions in the hope of the people changing their ways and realizing who he is. He gave them a lot of opportunities to change and repent. But it does not last forever. Time will come that God will take what they really want to happen. If they want to follow God or not. And those who choose to ignore him will be punished. 

God gives us opportunities as well. He sends us reminders. He sends us people. He uses different ways and different things to reminds us of who he is, to remind us of how we should act. However, he cannot force us. He cannot make us do something we don't want. He cannot save us if we don't want to be saved. He will honor our choice and will reward or punish us accordingly. 

May we be sensitive to God's reminders. And be moved into changing for him and following 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 another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for the times I choose to love myself more, to do my desires, even if they are not what you want. Help me be humble. Help me be sensitive. Help me choose you snd live for you. Because I want to spend eternity with you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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

July 12, 2016
Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 390

Reading 1 Is 7:1-9

In the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah,
Rezin, king of Aram,
and Pekah, king of Israel, son of Remaliah,
went up to attack Jerusalem,
but they were not able to conquer it.
When word came to the house of David that Aram
was encamped in Ephraim,
the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled,
as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.

Then the LORD said to Isaiah: Go out to meet Ahaz,
you and your son Shear-jashub,
at the end of the conduit of the upper pool,
on the highway of the fuller’s field, and say to him:
Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear;
let not your courage fail
before these two stumps of smoldering brands
the blazing anger of Rezin and the Arameans,
and of the son Remaliah,
because of the mischief that
Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah,
plots against you, saying,
“Let us go up and tear Judah asunder, make it our own by force,
and appoint the son of Tabeel king there.”

Thus says the LORD:
This shall not stand, it shall not be!
Damascus is the capital of Aram,
and Rezin is the head of Damascus;
Samaria is the capital of Ephraim,
and Remaliah’s son the head of Samaria.

But within sixty years and five,
Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation.
Unless your faith is firm
you shall not be firm!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 48:2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (see 9d) God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Mount Zion, “the recesses of the North,”
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
For lo! the kings assemble,
they come on together;
They also see, and at once are stunned,
terrified, routed.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Quaking seizes them there;
anguish, like a woman’s in labor,
As though a wind from the east
were shattering ships of Tarshish.
R. God upholds his city for ever.

Alleluia Ps 95:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 11:20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum:

Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the nether world.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”