The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070216.cfm)
reminds me that there is a time for everything.
When I was new to corporate
life, I was blessed to be part of a good team. People were friendly - my
teammates and even our manager at that time. I felt at ease and comfortable
with my team. However, I was surprised when I attended my first team
meeting/conference call. I saw the other side of my teammates and my boss. They
were very serious and professional. They taught me that indeed, there is a time
for everything – a time to be friendly, casual and warm, and a time to be
serious, professional and to mean business.
This
is what Jesus is telling us in the gospel. When the disciples of John, who
always fast, asked why his disciples don’t fast, his reply was that there is a
time for his disciples to fast, but not yet now since Jesus is still with them.
There
is a time for everything. And he is reminding us that this applies until now.
There is a time to be happy, have fun, and celebrate God’s goodness and love,
but there is also a time to be serious, to be sorry for our sins and confess,
and to fast. There should be a time to spend time with family, work, self and
with loved ones, but also a time for God – of loving, praising and serving Him.
There is a time to pray and wait for God’s plans to come true in our lives, and
a time to enjoy it and thank him for it. There is a time for problems and
challenges, but a time to enjoy victory snd blessings from God as well. Too
much of one is not good. There should always be a balance.
May we remember how important
it is to know the proper time for everything.
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, I ask that you give me the
knowledge to know the right time for doing things. Always remind me that there
is a time for everything. Remind me that I should have a balanced life. I know
you hold everything at the palm of your hand, and I just trust in your great
plans for me. May I always strive to have a balanced life for you. May I never
forget you amidst the busyness of life. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
July 2, 2016
Lectionary: 382
Saturday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Am 9:11-15
Thus says the LORD:
On that day I will raise up
the fallen hut of David;
I will wall up its breaches,
raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
That they may conquer what is left of Edom
and all the nations that shall bear my name,
say I, the LORD, who will do this.
Yes, days are coming,
says the LORD,
When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
and the vintager, him who sows the seed;
The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains,
and all the hills shall run with it.
I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel;
they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities,
Plant vineyards and drink the wine,
set out gardens and eat the fruits.
I will plant them upon their own ground;
never again shall they be plucked
From the land I have given them,
say I, the LORD, your God.
On that day I will raise up
the fallen hut of David;
I will wall up its breaches,
raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
That they may conquer what is left of Edom
and all the nations that shall bear my name,
say I, the LORD, who will do this.
Yes, days are coming,
says the LORD,
When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
and the vintager, him who sows the seed;
The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains,
and all the hills shall run with it.
I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel;
they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities,
Plant vineyards and drink the wine,
set out gardens and eat the fruits.
I will plant them upon their own ground;
never again shall they be plucked
From the land I have given them,
say I, the LORD, your God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14
R. (see 9b) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Alleluia Jn 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.
No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth,
for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.
People do not put new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.
Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 9:14-17
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.
No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth,
for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.
People do not put new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.
Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
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