Depends on You

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/080516.cfm) reminds me that how I will be repaid by God is dependent on me. 

The movie flywheel is about a man who, before his conversion, was a shrewd car salesman. In one of the scenes, a pastor was buying a car from him. Like he always does, he gave him a  “not-so-honest” deal, making money for himself and putting the buyer on a disadvantage, while making them think and feel otherwise! since the pastor did not know this, he was so happy with the deal and said a prayer: “Lord, I ask you that you treat Jay just like he treated me today in this deal”

What if God were to treat us this way?

God's goodness is not dependent on us, for he is love and good. However, he will never impose what he wants on us. So his reward for our eternity is based on us, not on him. 

In the gospel, it says that at the end of time, the Son of Man will come back with his angels and Gd's glory. Then as the king of kings and the mighty judge, he will repay and reward everyone according to his conduct. According to how we live on earth. According to our actions and decisions. According to what we want. According to where we want to spend eternity in. 

If we follow Jesus' teaching to take up our cross daily, then we will be rewarded with eternity with Him. Because that is what we want, based on our life. However, if we live away from God, if we constantly sin and choose to hurt God, if we constantly turn away from Him and choose the path of wickedness in this world, then that's what he will give us. Eternity away from Him.

God is good. God is love. And he wants us to be with him forever. That is why he tells us how we can have this. But he will never impose himself on us. And our life will tell him where we want to go. With him or away from Him. May we live wisely, telling God that we want to be with Him forever. 

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 do not live for you. Sorry for not wholeheartedly following and loving you. Help me live right. Help me choose wisely. Help me live saying that I love you and I want to be with you forever. May my actions and decisions tell you what is in my heart. That I love you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 5, 2016
Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 411

Reading 1 Na 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7

See, upon the mountains there advances
the bearer of good news,
announcing peace!
Celebrate your feasts, O Judah,
fulfill your vows!
For nevermore shall you be invaded
by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed.
The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob,
the pride of Israel,
Though ravagers have ravaged them
and ruined the tendrils.

Woe to the bloody city, all lies,
full of plunder, whose looting never stops!
The crack of the whip, the rumbling sounds of wheels;
horses a-gallop, chariots bounding,
Cavalry charging, the flame of the sword, the flash of the spear,
the many slain, the heaping corpses,
the endless bodies to stumble upon!
I will cast filth upon you,
disgrace you and put you to shame;
Till everyone who sees you runs from you, saying,
“Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her?
Where can one find any to console her?”

Responsorial Psalm Dt 32:35cd-36ab, 39abcd, 41

R. (39c) It is I who deal death and give life.
Close at hand is the day of their disaster,
and their doom is rushing upon them!
Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people;
on his servants he shall have pity.
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
“Learn then that I, I alone, am God,
and there is no god besides me.
It is I who bring both death and life,
I who inflict wounds and heal them.”
R. It is I who deal death and give life.
I will sharpen my flashing sword,
and my hand shall lay hold of my quiver,
“With vengeance I will repay my foes
and requite those who hate me.”
R. It is I who deal death and give life.

Alleluia Mt 5:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”