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-

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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.