God First

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081416.cfm) reminds me that God should always be first. 

Jesus is the price of peace, but the gospel seems to contradict that at first glance. But looking at it closely, it is not an intentional division, but rather, he reminds us that he wants us to put him first in everything. 

Nothing should come between you and God.

Family is very important, especially to us Filipinos. Unlike with other cultures, we give so much importance to family, and we take care of our family, especially in their old age. However, we are reminded in today’s gospel that nothing should come in between us and God. Nothing should be more important that God in our lives. Nothing should hinder us from loving and worshipping God. 

The second reading also tells us what we should do. We should be ready to rid ourselves of every burden and sin. This includes people and relationship that are not helping our faith. This includes people close and dear to us. No one should take God's place in our lives. 

A division may occur among friends, among those we love, and even among family members, as we try to follow God. However, this should not matter as much as God matters to us. This is just a reminder that we should not let attachment come in between our faith, and nothing should separate us from God.

God’s ways are not always easy, but it always worth it. May we be encouraged to stand firm, and avoid division by doing our best to bring our loved ones to Christ as well.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another opportunity to love and to experience you. Thank you for another Sunday. Sorry for the times I let other things or other people come before you. sorry for giving importance to others instead of putting you first in my life all the time. Lord, as I consume you today, I ask that you consume me. I pray for strength to stand firm, to stand for you no matter what happens. May I also bring others, those whom I love in live, closer to you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 14, 2016
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 120

Reading 1 Jer 38:4-6, 8-10

In those days, the princes said to the king:
“Jeremiah ought to be put to death;
he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city,
and all the people, by speaking such things to them;
he is not interested in the welfare of our people,
but in their ruin.”
King Zedekiah answered: “He is in your power”;
for the king could do nothing with them.
And so they took Jeremiah
and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah,
which was in the quarters of the guard,
letting him down with ropes.
There was no water in the cistern, only mud,
and Jeremiah sank into the mud.

Ebed-melech, a court official,
went there from the palace and said to him:
“My lord king,
these men have been at fault
in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah,
casting him into the cistern.
He will die of famine on the spot,
for there is no more food in the city.”
Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite
to take three men along with him,
and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before
he should die.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18

R. (14b) Lord, come to my aid!
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
The LORD heard my cry.
He drew me out of the pit of destruction,
out of the mud of the swamp;
he set my feet upon a crag;
he made firm my steps.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in awe
and trust in the LORD.
R. Lord, come to my aid!
Though I am afflicted and poor,
yet the LORD thinks of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, hold not back!
R. Lord, come to my aid!

Reading 2 Heb 12:1-4

Brothers and sisters:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
he endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

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.

Gospel Lk 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”