The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071316.cfm)
reminds me that God wants us to be child like and have faith in
Him.
Young
children usually obey their parents. When they are asked to be quiet, to do or
not to do something, they don't usually ask why. Sometimes they do, but even if
they don't fully understand the explanation of their parents, they obey. They
follow. They respect their parents. Hindi sila pasaway na gagawin ang gusto
nila. This attitude is what God wants us to have. This is what God wants us to
be - childlike.
What
is being childlike? A childlike attitude
puts full faith and trust in the parents
Kapag bata, walang choice eh. The child needs to rely
on the parents to walk, stand up, eat, etc. Ganun nalang yung dependency nya sa
magulang. Ganun nalang yung tiwala nya sa magulang. Complete faith.
A
childish attitude is the opposite.
It is when a person
wants to have things their way. Kapag hindi nakuha ang gusto,
magdadabog o magagalit. Gusto laging masunod. The focus is on the self.
This is why God blessed the childlike. He blessed
those who relied on Him,
instead of relying on their own personal achievements. He blessed those who
know that they are nothing and everything that they have is from God, not those
who think highly of themselves because of their accomplishments and
credentials. And in the gospel, Jesus said that God revealed himself to the
childlike and not to the learned. Because the childlike have open hearts ready
to welcome Him and will not argue with him or push him away.
God wants us to have that childlike
faith – faith that will humble ourselves and totally rely on and trust in Him, knowing that He is the only one who loves us enough to die for us and
save us from our sin, and that everything happening will lead to a full life in
Him.
Are
you childlike or childish? Are you proud of your own accomplishments and
credentials that you forget the source of all those? Do you get mad at God when
things don’t go your way, or when you don’t understand everything that is
happening? Do you have full faith in God, confidently walking with him even if
you can only see until the next step, knowing that He will be there every step
of the way? Do you believe the psalmist when he says that God will not abandon
his people, including you?
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live
and to experience your love. Thank you for reminding me the importance of being
childlike and not childish. Lord, sorry for the many times I act childish.
Sorry for getting mad at you when things do not go my way. Sorry for wanting
things my way. Sorry for not having faith in you. Increase my faith. May I
always trust in you, especially when things are challenging. A lot of times, I
do not understand what is happening and how all these could turn into something
great. But Lord, i have faith that you can see, and that as long as I cooperate
in your plan, things will turn out great. May I develop that childlike faith as
I live my life in service of you. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
July 13, 2016
Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 391
Reading 1 Is 10:5-7, 13b-16
Thus says the LORD:
Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,
my staff in wrath.
Against an impious nation I send him,
and against a people under my wrath I order him
To seize plunder, carry off loot,
and tread them down like the mud of the streets.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind;
Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,
to make an end of nations not a few.
For he says:
“By my own power I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.
I have moved the boundaries of peoples,
their treasures I have pillaged,
and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned.
My hand has seized like a nest
the riches of nations;
As one takes eggs left alone,
so I took in all the earth;
No one fluttered a wing,
or opened a mouth, or chirped!”
Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?
Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it?
As if a rod could sway him who lifts it,
or a staff him who is not wood!
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts,
will send among his fat ones leanness,
And instead of his glory there will be kindling
like the kindling of fire.
Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger,
my staff in wrath.
Against an impious nation I send him,
and against a people under my wrath I order him
To seize plunder, carry off loot,
and tread them down like the mud of the streets.
But this is not what he intends,
nor does he have this in mind;
Rather, it is in his heart to destroy,
to make an end of nations not a few.
For he says:
“By my own power I have done it,
and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd.
I have moved the boundaries of peoples,
their treasures I have pillaged,
and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned.
My hand has seized like a nest
the riches of nations;
As one takes eggs left alone,
so I took in all the earth;
No one fluttered a wing,
or opened a mouth, or chirped!”
Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?
Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it?
As if a rod could sway him who lifts it,
or a staff him who is not wood!
Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts,
will send among his fat ones leanness,
And instead of his glory there will be kindling
like the kindling of fire.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15
R. (14a) The Lord will not abandon his people.
Your people, O LORD, they trample down,
your inheritance they afflict.
Widow and stranger they slay,
the fatherless they murder.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
And they say, “The LORD sees not;
the God of Jacob perceives not.”
Understand, you senseless ones among the people;
and, you fools, when will you be wise?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?
or he who formed the eye not see?
Shall he who instructs nations not chastise,
he who teaches men knowledge?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Your people, O LORD, they trample down,
your inheritance they afflict.
Widow and stranger they slay,
the fatherless they murder.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
And they say, “The LORD sees not;
the God of Jacob perceives not.”
Understand, you senseless ones among the people;
and, you fools, when will you be wise?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?
or he who formed the eye not see?
Shall he who instructs nations not chastise,
he who teaches men knowledge?
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. The Lord will not abandon his people.
Alleluia Mt 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 11:25-27
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
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