Decided

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090416.cfm) reminds me that following God is not easy, so we should be fully decided. 

There is an old, unfinished building right in the middle of Ayala Avenue, in the Central Business district of Makati City. I don't know what happened, but based on the outside, it was supposed to be a big building. But it was not completed. Sayang. Its purpose and potential was not reached. This is what God wants us to avoid. 

Following God is tough, so we should be sure of what we want to do, and be decided on doing it. Else, we will end up half baked - not reaching our full potential and purpose. 

In the gospel, Jesus told the disciples that those who cannot renounce possessions cannot be his disciples. Those who love worldly things and even their own family more than they love God cannot be his disciples. Yes, this is tough. That's why he compared it to constructing a tower or going into battle. You don't do these things instantly. Hindi ginagawa ito ng biglaan. Pinag pa planuhan. Sineseryoso. Like following God, it should be well thought of. It should be firm. Because it will be tough. 

In the second reading, we see someone who did this. Paul was old and tired, but he was still serving God. He was still doing work for God. He was endorsing Onesimus to continue God's work. It Was not easy, but Paul was decided and he lived it. He did not back down from challenges and served God the best way he knew how. 

As Christ's followers, we will experience challenges just like he did. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it. May we take time to think, prepare, and may it lead us to be decided to follow and serve Him no matter what. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I am not firm in my resolve to follow you. Sorry for making instant or instinctive decision to follow you. Help me do things right. Help me take my time and prepare. Help me be firm and decided to follow you wholeheartedly. Bless me and use me. In a special way, I lift up to you my mom who is celebrating her birthday today. Continue to bless her, protect her, and enable her to continue serving you. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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September 4, 2016
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 129

Reading 1 Wis 9:13-18b

Who can know God’s counsel,
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

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

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.

Reading 2 Phmn 9-10, 12-17

I, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment;
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave
but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.

Alleluia Ps 119:135

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
and teach me your laws.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”