When You Forget

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/093016.cfm) reminds me of the things I forget about God. 

In the first reading, God reminded Job of who God is. God reminded Job of the things we sometimes, or oftentimes, we take for granted, things we think are normal or things we don’t even think about.  It is God who created everything and tells everything what to do. The sun – how it rises and sets, the sky – how it behaves and how the clouds form, the sea – how deep it is, how dark the depths of the sea is, these are just some of the things God created and arranges. These things, which we overlook, or oftentimes do not understand, are all God’s work. Even these things we take for granted are under the supervision of God. He is the almighty and ever powerful God. Something we usually forget. 

God created everything, but we are his best creation. 

We are made under the image and likeness of God. That is why if God takes care of other things, what more of us! He knows us by heart. He knows what will make us happy, and what our concerns are. Just as God was watching over Job and protecting him in his trials, he too is doing the same thing to us. He makes sure we are not subjected to more than we can handle. 

In the busyness of life, we sometimes forget these things. We forget how great God is. We forget how powerful he is. We forget how loving he is. We forget how protective he is. When we don’t get what we want, we get angry at him. We feel that he doesn’t love us, or he doesn’t know how to make us happy. We sometimes feel entitled to blessings. Worse, we sometimes feel he has no power over our concerns, we think that God doesn’t have power over the natural things in life, over the things logic tells us are not possible. Sometimes we get worried about worldly things and don’t know if God can and will help us. We forget how powerful he is, and we forget that he always has his eyes on us. We forget our place, that we cannot and should not demand anything from him, because our very being is because of him. 

May we always remember how powerful God is, and how he loves us, knows everything about us, and always has his eyes on us. 

Do I sometimes forget what great things God has done? Do I sometimes belittle his power or his love for me? How has he made his love alive in my life? What great things has he done that I take for granted? What can I do to always be reminded of his power and love for me?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for a weekend coming up. Thank you for loving me, an unworthy and little person. Lord, you don’t need to love me. I don’t make your being God mightier or greater. You don’t need me Lord, but you love me just because you are love. In fact, it is I who needs you. I know that I am nothing without you, that I cannot accomplish anything without you. Sorry for the times I forget your love and power. Sorry for the times I feel entitled to receive blessings from you. May I always remember to stay close to you and trust that you always have the best plan for me, and that with you, nothing is impossible. May I have faith in you always, and may I always be grateful for everything. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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

September 30, 2016
Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 459

Reading 1 Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:

Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered.

Have you entered into the sources of the sea,
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great!

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab

R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Alleluia Ps 95:8

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

Gospel Lk 10:13-16

Jesus said to them,
“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,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Confident in Battle

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092916.cfm) reminds me that I should be confident in battle against the evil one. 

Culture depicts the devil/satan as a powerful and scary creature, and it depicts God as a peaceful and loving creature. We also associate angels with cute babies and kids. This sometimes make us think that the devil is more powerful than God. However, this is not true. As they say, angels are not cute babies, but mighty beings. They are soldiers of God. That's why they defeated Satan in the first reading. We tend to forget that though God is peaceful and loving God, He is also powerful - more powerful than the devil. As such, as long as we are on God's side, we need not be afraid of anything or anyone.

The first reading shows us three saints whose feast we are celebrating today. Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael bravely and confidently fought the devil. They have a reason to do so, because they are on God's side.

War broke out in heaven;

Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.

The dragon and its angels fought back,

but they did not prevail

and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,

who is called the Devil and Satan,

who deceived the whole world,

was thrown down to earth,

and its angels were thrown down with it

In the gospel, we again see a glimpse of how powerful God through Jesus is. He is not bound by time and space. He may be in this world, but he is definitely not of this world.

Sometimes, when problems overwhelm us, we feel helpless. When the world seems to crush on us, we feel hopeless. When situations seem too strong for us, we feel afraid and insecure. We fear the power of the devil and what he can do to us. Today, we are reminded to be strong and confident as we fight for and with God.

God is powerful and strong. His angels watching over us are powerful and strong as well. We are in good hands as long as we are in God's hands. We should be confident in battle, especially as we face challenges because of our faith in and love for God. 

Just as God is loving and peaceful, he also is very powerful. May this calm us and remind us who we should fight for. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the encouraging reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I forget how powerful you are. Sorry for the times I forget how powerful your angels are. Remind me of your great love and power. May we always be ready and willing to bravely and confidently fight for you, the way the archangels did. May I defend your kingdom with the way I live. Lord, I thank you for the gift of life. I ask you to bless all those celebrating their birthdays today especially my uncle Miguel. Bless, protect and defend him. May he always be a blessing to others. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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

September 29, 2016
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels
Lectionary: 647

Reading 1 Rev 12:7-12ab

War broke out in heaven;
Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.
The dragon and its angels fought back,
but they did not prevail
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan,
who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth,
and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
who accuses them before our God day and night.
They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5

R. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD:
“Great is the glory of the LORD.”
R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Alleluia Ps 103:21

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Bless the LORD, all you angels,
you ministers, who do his will.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 1:47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened

and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

You and God

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092816.cfm) reminds me of the greatness of God. 

They say that history repeats itself. Things happen over and over again because as they say, the test will not end until the lesson is learned. This is because people can be forgetful. We forget experiences and lessons of the past and just focus on the present. That is why things are bound to happen again if we do not remember the lesson and repeat the same mistakes over again. This is why it is good to be reminded from time to time. 

God is a great and powerful God, just in case we forget. 

In the first reading, Job reminds us who God is. We see the things we sometimes, or oftentimes,  take for granted, things we think are normal or things we don’t even think about.  It is God who created everything and tells everything what to do. The sun – how it rises and sets, the sky – how it behaves and how the clouds form, the sea – how deep it is, how dark the depths of the sea is, these are just some of the things God created and arranges. These things, which we overlook, or oftentimes do not understand, are all God’s work. Even these things we take for granted are under the supervision of God.

God created everything. And he is powerful. 

We see that no one and nothing can match God's power and might. He can do anything. He can do as he pleases. And we as human beings are his creation. We may feel we deserve things, but we should not impose on God. We should not feel entitled. Just as Job reminds us how special we should feel if God hears us, listens to us, and gives us what we ask. God, the almighty and powerful being, listens to us. Wow. 

In the busyness of life, we sometimes forget these things. We forget how great God is. We forget how powerful he is. We forget how loving he is. When we don’t get what we want, we get angry at him. We feel that he doesn’t love us, or he doesn’t know how to make us happy. Worse, we sometimes feel he has no power over our concerns, we think that God doesn’t have power over the natural things in life, over the things logic tells us are not possible. Sometimes we get worried about worldly things and don’t know if God can and will help us. We forget how powerful he is, and we forget that he always has his eyes on us. Yes, his eye is always on you.

May we always remember how powerful God is, and how he loves us, knows everything about us, and always has his eyes on us. And may it lead us to remember how little we are in this universe, yet in God's infinite goodness, loves us so much. 

Do I sometimes forget what great things God has done? Do I sometimes belittle his power or his love for me? How has he made his love alive in my life? What great things has he done that I take for granted? What can I do to always be reminded of his power and love for me?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for loving me, an unworthy and little person. Lord, you don’t need to love me. I don’t make your being God mightier or greater. You don’t need me Lord, but you love me just because you are love. In fact, it is I who need you. I know that I am nothing without you, that I cannot accomplish anything without you. Sorry for the times I forget this. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Sorry for feeling entitled to receive blessings from you. Help me remember who you are and who I am, especially without you. May I always remember to stay close to you and trust that you always have the best plan for me, and that with you, nothing is impossible. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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

September 28, 2016
Lectionary: 457
Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jb 9:1-12, 14-16

Job answered his friends and said:

I know well that it is so;
but how can a man be justified before God?
Should one wish to contend with him,
he could not answer him once in a thousand times.
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength;
who has withstood him and remained unscathed?

He removes the mountains before they know it;
he overturns them in his anger.
He shakes the earth out of its place,
and the pillars beneath it tremble.
He commands the sun, and it rises not;
he seals up the stars.

He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads upon the crests of the sea.
He made the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south;
He does great things past finding out,
marvelous things beyond reckoning.

Should he come near me, I see him not;
should he pass by, I am not aware of him;
Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay?
Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

How much less shall I give him any answer,
or choose out arguments against him!
Even though I were right, I could not answer him,
but should rather beg for what was due me.
If I appealed to him and he answered my call,
I could not believe that he would hearken to my words.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88:10bc-11, 12-13, 14-15

R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Daily I call upon you, O LORD;
to you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work wonders for the dead?
Will the shades arise to give you thanks?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Do they declare your mercy in the grave,
your faithfulness among those who have perished?
Are your wonders made known in the darkness,
or your justice in the land of oblivion?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
But I, O LORD, cry out to you;
with my morning prayer I wait upon you.
Why, O LORD, do you reject me;
why hide from me your face?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Alleluia Phil 3:8-9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding
on their journey, someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
And to another he said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Hang On

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092716.cfm) reminds me to hang on and have faith in God, especially when times are extremely tough. 

We may have all experienced times when we just wanted to give up. Problems are so overwhelming. There are a lot of issues and concerns. People are not helpful. They sometimes bring you down even more. It is so tempting to just quit. However, we are reminded that during these times, the more we should hold on to God and his love. 

In the first reading, we see Job frustrated. Job was tired. He wanted to end it all. He wanted to give up. Good thing he did not. For we know what happened to Job, how God rewarded his faithfulness with more than what he lost. God will also do this to us. 

The darker the night, the brighter the star. 

When we feel like giving up, we should focus not on the pain snd difficulty that we are feeling, but on God. We should hold on to God's words. We should hold on to his love. We should hold on to our faith, that God is protecting us and guiding us every step of the way.  And the more we focus on his love, the more we focus on his power, the more we will realize how bright he is amidst the darkness of the night. The more we will realize we are not alone, and that God has always been there with us. 

May we be inspired to hold on and have great faith, especially when times are extremely tough. 

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 let my problems overwhelm me. Sorry for the times I let the world weigh me down. Help me be like Job. Help me be resilient and just focus in you. May I see your light and love shine brightly especially during the darkest of night. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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

September 27, 2016
Memorial of Saint Vincet de Paul, Priest
Lectionary: 456

Reading 1 Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23

Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.
Job spoke out and said:

Perish the day on which I was born,
the night when they said, “The child is a boy!”

Why did I not perish at birth,
come forth from the womb and expire?
Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth,
like babes that have never seen the light?
Wherefore did the knees receive me?
or why did I suck at the breasts?

For then I should have lain down and been tranquil;
had I slept, I should then have been at rest
With kings and counselors of the earth
who built where now there are ruins
Or with princes who had gold
and filled their houses with silver.

There the wicked cease from troubling,
there the weary are at rest.

Why is light given to the toilers,
and life to the bitter in spirit?
They wait for death and it comes not;
they search for it rather than for hidden treasures,
Rejoice in it exultingly,
and are glad when they reach the grave:
Those whose path is hidden from them,
and whom God has hemmed in!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8

R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
For my soul is surfeited with troubles
and my life draws near to the nether world.
I am numbered with those who go down into the pit;
I am a man without strength.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
My couch is among the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom you remember no longer
and who are cut off from your care.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit,
into the dark abyss.
Upon me your wrath lies heavy,
and with all your billows you overwhelm me.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Alleluia Mk 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 9:51-56

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.

Faithful, despite Of

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092616.cfm) reminds me that I should remain faithful to God, especially despite of problems and challenges. 

One of my favourite stories in the bible is the life of Job. He has such great faith in God, and a great perspective on life. He knows that everything he has is from God, and just as we should be thankful and grateful for what God has given us, so should we be thankful for the opportunity to have them when God takes them away. We should not hold on to these things, because God is the owner, not us, and it is up to him until when he will lend us these things in life. We should not get mad at God when he takes away someone or something.  Job knows that he came into the world with nothing and he will leave this world with nothing as well. And regardless of what happens, we should always be faithful to God. 

“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!”

Only a man of great faith in and love for God can mean this. And this gives us a different perspective on things. On people. On possessions. It reminds us that we have nothing when we entered this life. And we cannot take anything. Anything. So we should make the best use of these things while we have them, and not be too attached to them. 

In the gospel, we are again told of the importance of being a child, of having a childlike attitude. Like a child, we should be totally dependent on God, our Father. Material things should not be a concern to us. We should just keep our focus on God, and have faith that even if he does not give us everything we want, he has the best intentions in his heart, and will give us what we need, what will be good for us.

In our lives, it is easy to be distracted. There are a lot of things people hold on to right now, especially with the  age of technology. We tend to make life complicated. We have mobile devices. We have all these kinds of gadgets. We have all these attachments to things of the world – people, possessions, places, etc. We are reminded to be like Job, to thank God not only for giving us these things, but even if when he takes it away. We should remember that we were born naked and no matter how much we have in this world, we cannot bring any of these things when we die, so instead of being busy accumulating all the things of the world, we are asked to have a childlike faith and prepare for eternity with God, knowing that he will provide us what we need in this world.

What is my greatest possession? What will I feel if someone steals it, or if I lose it? Do I realize that God can give anything, and can take away anything anytime? Do I remember that life on earth is temporary? Do I realize that I cannot bring anything when I die? Do I prepare for eternity?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another week. Thank you for your faithful servant Job. Thank you for giving us an example of how to live a life fully surrendered to you. Lord, sorry for the times I don't act and live like Job. Sorry for being too attached on material things. Sorry for being too concerned with them. Sorry for losing sight on you. Lord, help me focus on you. Help me stay away from distractions in life. Help me put things in perspective. Help me praise and glorify you whatever situation I may be in. May I live my life preparing for eternity and not focused on accumulating worldly possessions, because I know that as I came to this world with nothing, so will I leave this world. Help me use your gifts to bless others as well. Amen. 

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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

September 26, 2016
Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 455

Reading 1 Jb 1:6-22

One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD,
Satan also came among them.
And the LORD said to Satan, “Whence do you come?”
Then Satan answered the LORD and said,
“From roaming the earth and patrolling it.”
And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job,
and that there is no one on earth like him,
blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?”
But Satan answered the LORD and said,
“Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him and his family
and all that he has with your protection?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
and his livestock are spread over the land.
But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has,
and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.”
And the LORD said to Satan,
“Behold, all that he has is in your power;
only do not lay a hand upon his person.”
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

And so one day, while his sons and his daughters
were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
a messenger came to Job and said,
“The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them,
and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid.
They put the herdsmen to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
“Lightning has fallen from heaven
and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them;
and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said,
“The Chaldeans formed three columns,
seized the camels, carried them off,
and put those tending them to the sword,
and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
While he was yet speaking, another came and said,
“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest brother,
when suddenly a great wind came across the desert
and smote the four corners of the house.
It fell upon the young people and they are dead;
and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair.
He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,

“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!”

In all this Job did not sin,
nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1bcd, 2-3, 6-7

R. (6) Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.

Alleluia Mk 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”

Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him,
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Do Good to Others

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092516.cfm) reminds me that I should not be indifferent towards others, but do good to them instead. 

There is a saying that the “ only way for evil to succeed in this world is for good men to do nothing.” I believe this is true. Evil will only succeed if good people do not do anything about it. Evil work will prosper only if good people stay silent and let evil things happen. God is all powerful, and nothing is above his power, that is why evil will only triumph if people of God remain silent, sit on the sidelines, and let evil things happen.

We should not be passive, instead be active in fighting evil and doing good.

In the gospel we see a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. There was no mention that the rich man was a bad person, or if he got his wealth by doing evil things. However, they say that what got him into hell was his indifference towards Lazarus. 

Dapat lagi tayong may paki alam sa kapakanan ng iba. 

Why was he indifferent? Taking a look at the gospel, we see that the rich man knew Lazarus. He knew his name. And he knew he was a beggar. However, he did not care about Lazarus. Probably he was not explicitly doing bad, but his lack of concern towards others is what got him in trouble. He was too focused on himself, enjoying his wealth, without regard for others who need help as well. Probably the rich man was greedy, not giving the scraps to Lazarus - scraps he did not even need anymore. 

God not only expects use to avoid evil, but we should actively do good as well.

God has blessed us with different things. Most probably, no one will admit that he or she is rich, or have more than enough. We will always find ourselves wanting more, other that those we already have. But taking a closer look at our lives, we are sure to find that we have what we need to survive. Probably not as much as others, or not as much that will enable us to live lavishly, but we have more than what we need. With this, God expects that we also share what we have with others – might be a tiny portion, might not be a lot, but what is important is we have a heart that gives cheerfully. 

May we have genuine concern for others, and have the heart who would share what we have to others may live and feel God in this world. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live and learn about you. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I act like the rich man. Sorry for being indifferent to the needs of others. Sorry for focusing only on my own needs and concerns. Lord, I pray that you give me a giving heart. May I develop a heart that would always be sensitive with others, and be ready and willing to help others in whatever way we can. I know that not doing evil is enough – you also want me to actively do good to others as well. I pray that in my own little way, I may be always able to help others and make them feel your love and concern. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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

September 25, 2016
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 138

Reading 1 Am 6:1a, 4-7

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
Woe to the complacent in Zion!
Lying upon beds of ivory,
stretched comfortably on their couches,
they eat lambs taken from the flock,
and calves from the stall!
Improvising to the music of the harp,
like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
They drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the best oils;
yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,
and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed he who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 Tm 6:11-16

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness,
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

Alleluia Cf. 2 Cor 8:9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied,
‘My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Of Not Understanding

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092416.cfm0 reminds me that there are times when we will not immediately understand God's wisdom. 

We were trained to understand things. In school, even if you don’t necessarily memorize the formulas, if you understand its application, you’ll most probably be able to solve problems. After reading chapters and books, there are questions to see if we understood what was just read. We expect to understand immediately for us to pass tests. However, in life, this is not always the case. 

Minsan hindi mo talaga agad mauunawaan ang karunungan ng Diyos. 

In the gospel, we see that even the disciples did not understand everytime what Jesus tells them. Even if they have been spending time with him and it was Jesus directly talking to them, they did not understand. Yes, it says that it’s meaning is hidden from them, but they did not even ask Jesus what he meant. We do not know if Jesus will explain it to them had they asked, but the fact is they did not ask.

How about us? What do we do when we don’t understand things that are happening to us?

We should have faith. God’s wisdom is different from ours. We may not understand things, but we just need to have faith in God, knowing he has the best intentions for us. Even if they did not understand what Jesus meant, he continued to guide and protect them. 

We should also not be frustrated because we do not know or do not understand. Ganun talaga, may mga bagay na hindi natin ma iintindihan no matter hard we try to understand it or make sense of it. What is important is we pray for an open heart and continue having faith. Like the disciples, we should wait on God’s perfect timing when he will reveal these things to us. The disciples did not understand these things, but when God sent the holy Spirit on Pentecost, their hearts and minds were opened and understood everything. All in God's perfect time and perfect way. 

May we never be frustrated when we don't understand God's plans and his wisdom, and have faith that in God’s perfect time and way, we will understand too.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Lord, I pray that I be able to give you glory with the things I will do this weekend. Sorry for the times I get angry or sad when I don't understand what is happening. Sorry for always wanting to know and be aware of your plans and your wisdom. Help me have faith. More faith. Lord, give me a heart that will continue to pray and trust you even if I do not understand a lot of things that are happening in my life. I know that in your perfect time and perfect way, I will understand these things. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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

September 24, 2016
Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 454

Reading 1 Eccl 11:9—12:8

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart,
the vision of your eyes;
Yet understand that as regards all this
God will bring you to judgment.
Ward off grief from your heart
and put away trouble from your presence,
though the dawn of youth is fleeting.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the evil days come
And the years approach of which you will say,
I have no pleasure in them;
Before the sun is darkened,
and the light, and the moon, and the stars,
while the clouds return after the rain;
When the guardians of the house tremble,
and the strong men are bent,
And the grinders are idle because they are few,
and they who look through the windows grow blind;
When the doors to the street are shut,
and the sound of the mill is low;
When one waits for the chirp of a bird,
but all the daughters of song are suppressed;
And one fears heights,
and perils in the street;
When the almond tree blooms,
and the locust grows sluggish
and the caper berry is without effect,
Because man goes to his lasting home,
and mourners go about the streets;
Before the silver cord is snapped
and the golden bowl is broken,
And the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
and the broken pulley falls into the well,
And the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
and the life breath returns to God who gave it.

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
all things are vanity!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17

R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 9:43b-45

While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it,

and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. 

Time for Everything

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092316.cfm) reminds me that There is a time for everything, including challenges and victories. 

There is a time for everything. Time to be serious and time to relax and be funny. Time to work and time to play. The first reading reminds us of this.

There is an appointed time for everything,

and a time for every thing under the heavens.

A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to tear down, and a time to build.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;

a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

A time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate;

a time of war, and a time of peace.

This being said, it will not always be happy in life. There will also be challenges. And in the gospel, in as much as Jesus validated that He indeed is the Christ of God, he quickly told them that he will experience challenges despite of who he is.

Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”

He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly

and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,

and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Challenges are not the end, but rather, the prelude to victory.

Jesus said this when he ended his discussion in the gospel "...and on the third day be raised." Challenges, hardships, and in his case, death is not the end. They just had to happen before the victory.

As children of God, there is a time for everything. A time to be happy and experience God's blessings, and a time to be tested and let our faith grow. During these challenging times, may we just remember that Jesus also went through this, and we just have to trust in Him. We just need to remain faithful to God, and expect that like Jesus, our challenges are just the prelude to victory, to a deeper and stronger faith and relationship with God. We should also remember that just as God as with Jesus all throughout, he too is with us when we are experiencing challenges. Even if we do not feel like it. 

May we have faith in God's plans, and remember that as we experience challenges, he is with us, until we attain victory in his name. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for Fridays! Lord, thank you for the reminder that there is a time for everything - that life is not only problems and challenges, and that after these come victory. Thank you also for reminding me that you are always there especially during tough times. Sorry for the times I forget it. Sorry for the times I forget that challenges are not forever.  Help me to be faithful and remain in you Lord especially as I face these in my life.  Help be have faith and continue to do good and serve you, despite the challenges I face. I know that in your perfect time, victory is at hand. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2016/07/time-for-everything.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2016/08/who-am-i-for-you.html

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

September 23, 2016
Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
Lectionary: 453

Reading 1 Eccl 3:1-11

There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every thing under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

What advantage has the worker from his toil?
I have considered the task that God has appointed
for the sons of men to be busied about.
He has made everything appropriate to its time,
and has put the timeless into their hearts,
without man’s ever discovering,
from beginning to end, the work which God has done.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 144:1b and 2abc, 3-4

R. (1) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
my mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
LORD, what is man, that you notice him;
the son of man, that you take thought of him?
Man is like a breath;
his days, like a passing shadow.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Alleluia Mk 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Right Reasons

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092216.cfm) reminds me that I should have right reasons in looking for God. 

There are a lot of church groups nowadays, which is very good. These groups and organizations help us know God more. They help us learn more about our faith and how we could live them. However, not all have the right reasons when attending these gatherings or joining these groups. some people who join and attend gatherings not because they are looking for God and want to improve their faith, but because they are looking for new friends, especially from the opposite sex who they can go on a date with. This is probably the same as Herod’s reasons in the gospel.

Herod kept trying to see Jesus. 

Why? Because he probably wanted to know who Jesus is, and what the fuss is all about. He probably wanted to know if what the people were saying are true. There could be many reasons why Herod was looking for Jesus. However, what’s more important is our reasons for looking for Jesus – if we are looking for Him in the first place.

Why should we look for Jesus? Jesus is anything and everything we need. He is the Son of God. He is able. He loves us. We just need to seek him and humbly come to him, surrendering ourselves to him. IF we seek him, we will find him, if we seek him with all of our heart (Jeremiah 29:13)

Finding Jesus is not enough. After finding Jesus, we should spread him to others

All of us have gifts, talents and skills given by God to be used for His purpose, to further his kingdom. Time spent in the internet, browsing social media sites and watching videos can be used to instead pray, read the bible, and strengthen our relationship with God. Skills used for work and business may also be used in medical missions, outreach, or fundraising activities to build God's kingdom. Connections in government and society may be used not just for our own benefit, but to benefit others who need to feel and be reminded of God's love on earth. 

May we do our part and look for Jesus, and when we find him, may we be generous enough to share him with others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I don't look for you. Sorry for the times I have the wrong reasons for searching for you. Help me look for your with all of my heart, Lord. May I take the time off to really look hard for you and search for you. and I know if I look for you with all of my heart, I will find you. As I find you and experience you, may I share you to others. Help me use my skills and talents for your kingdom. Help me be more aware and help me use them for your purpose and your glory. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/09/wrong-usage.html

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

September 22, 2016
Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 452

Reading 1 Eccl 1:2-11

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
What profit has man from all the labor
which he toils at under the sun?
One generation passes and another comes,
but the world forever stays.
The sun rises and the sun goes down;
then it presses on to the place where it rises.
Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,
the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
All rivers go to the sea,
yet never does the sea become full.
To the place where they go,
the rivers keep on going.
All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.

What has been, that will be;
what has been done, that will be done.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
There is no remembrance of the men of old;
nor of those to come will there be any remembrance
among those who come after them.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17bc

R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
Prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Alleluia Jn 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

And he kept trying to see him.