Immediately Follow

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/113016.cfm) reminds me that I should immediately follow God when he calls me. 

People react differently when being summoned. Whatever the situation is, wether it is a superior calling regarding work, or your parents telling you to do something, the reaction differs. Some would take their time and wait until the person is mad before heeding the call. Others wait two to three times of being called before following. While others follow and respond to at once. This is similar to how we react with our faith. And God reminds us to respond and follow immediately. 

As we celebrate the Feast of St Andrew, we see how he was. We should be inspired and encouraged with how he reacted when Jesus called him. They left whatever they were doing and immediately followed Jesus. No questions. No planning. They just left everything and followed him. They had faith in Him. And they held on to that faith. 

We should immediately respond and follow when God calls us. 

We should not ignore his call. We should not wait multiple times before we respond. We should immediately follow Him. We should respond to Him. We should learn how to trust in Him. Things may not be perfect. The situation may be ugly. We may still be doing and taking care of things. But we should be ready to follow Him. We should be ready to leave everything behind for him. 

May we be inspired by St Andrew and be ready and willing to immediately respond and follow God as he calls us. 

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 the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not immediately follow you. Sorry for the times I prioritize doing my things over following you. Sorry for waiting until I have free time before I do things for you. Help me be like St Andrew. Help me have that faith in you that would be willing to drop everything for you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 30, 2016
Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
Lectionary: 684

Reading 1 Rom 10:9-18

Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for

Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Alleluia Mt 4:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.

Childlike

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112916.cfm) reminds me that I should have childlike faith in God. 

Young children usually obey their parents. When they are asked to be quiet, to do or not to do something, they don't usually ask why. Sometimes they do, but even if they don't fully understand the explanation of their parents, they still obey. They still follow. They respect their parents. Hindi sila pasaway na gagawin ang gusto nila. This attitude is what God wants us to have. This is what God wants us to be - childlike. 

In the gospel, Jesus said that God did not reveal things to the wise and learned of the world. Instead, he revealed them to the childlike. 

What is being childlike? A childlike attitude puts full faith and trust in the parents  

Kapag bata, walang choice eh. The child needs to rely on the parents to walk, stand up, eat, etc. Ganun nalang yung dependency nya sa magulang. Ganun nalang yung tiwala nya sa magulang. Complete faith.

A childish attitude is the opposite. 

It is when a person wants to have things their way. Kapag hindi nakuha ang gusto, magdadabog o magagalit. Gusto laging masunod. The focus is on the self.

This is why God blessed the childlike. He blessed those who relied on Him, instead of relying on their own personal achievements. He blessed those who know that they are nothing and everything that they have is from God, not those who think highly of themselves because of their accomplishments and credentials. And in the gospel, Jesus said that God revealed himself to the childlike and not to the learned. Because the childlike have open hearts ready to welcome Him and will not argue with him or push him away. 

God wants us to have that childlike faith – faith that will humble ourselves and totally rely on and trust in Him, knowing that He is the only one who loves us enough to die for us and save us from our sin, and that everything happening will lead to a full life in Him.

Are you childlike or childish? Are you proud of your own accomplishments and credentials that you forget the source of all those? Do you get mad at God when things don’t go your way, or when you don’t understand everything that is happening? Do you have full faith in God, confidently walking with him even if you can only see until the next step, knowing that He will be there every step of the way? Do you believe the psalmist when he says that God will not abandon his people, including you?

May we be sensitive to how we react to God, and work on having and pray for a childlike faith and attitude towards God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live and to experience your love. Thank you for reminding me the importance of being childlike and not childish. Lord, sorry for the many times I act childish. Sorry for getting mad at you when things do not go my way. Sorry for wanting things my way. Sorry for not having faith in you. Increase my faith. May I always trust in you, especially when things are challenging. A lot of times, I do not understand what is happening and how all these could turn into something great. But Lord, i have faith that you can see, and that as long as I cooperate in your plan, things will turn out great. May I develop that childlike faith as I live my life in service of you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.jp/2013/12/be-child.html

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November 29, 2016
Tuesday of the First Week in Advent
Lectionary: 176

Reading 1 Is 11:1-10

On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.

On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Faith in Words

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112816.cfm) reminds me that I should have faith in God's words. 

A lot of people lie. A lot, if not all. There are also a lot of people who cannot keep their words. They are unable to fulfill their promises in one way or another. Some have valid excuses, some lie or do not intend to keep their word right from the start. This is why people do not easily believe words. We are afraid that others cannot and will not keep their word. Good thing this does not apply to God. 

God keeps his word. Always. 

The bible says that God is not a man, that he should lie. God keeps his word always. No matter what the situation looks like, he keeps his word. His word can and will be done. This is why we should have faith in his words, like the centurion in the gospel. The centurion who had such strong faith in the mere words of Jesus. Strong, genuine faith that we repeat his words every mass - Lord. i am not worthy to have you enter my roof, but only say the word and my servant (soul) will be healed. This is how much he trusts God and his word. 

There are times we do not feel the same. When situations are tough, we do not believe that nothing is impossible for God. When our problems are overwhelming and there is seemingly no way of our situation improving, we forget that God has great plans for us. We sometimes let how we feel or how the world makes us feel dictate our faith in God. We forget that he created everything and has power over anything and everything. 

May we learn to have faith in God and his words, no matter what the situation or others make us feel. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder to have faith in your words. Lord, sorry for the times I don't have faith in you. Sorry for the times I let the situation get the better of me. Sorry for letting my problems and how others make me feel make me doubt your love, your power, your word. Help me have faith in your words like the centurion. Help me believe in the power of your words, no matter what I may feel. Increase my faith in you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 28, 2016
Monday of the First Week in Advent
Lectionary: 175

Reading 1 Is 4:2-6

On that day,
The branch of the LORD will be luster and glory,
and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor
for the survivors of Israel.
He who remains in Zion
and he who is left in Jerusalem
Will be called holy:
every one marked down for life in Jerusalem.
When the LORD washes away
the filth of the daughters of Zion,
And purges Jerusalem’s blood from her midst
with a blast of searing judgment,
Then will the LORD create,
over the whole site of Mount Zion
and over her place of assembly,
A smoking cloud by day
and a light of flaming fire by night.
For over all, the LORD’s glory will be shelter and protection:
shade from the parching heat of day,
refuge and cover from storm and rain.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Alleluia See Ps 80:4

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come and save us, LORD our God;
let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Ready and Prepare

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112716.cfm) reminds me that I should always be ready and prepared. 

The readings for the past few days have been talking about the judgment, about Christ’s second coming. Today, we are again reminded to be ready and prepared - not just for the second coming that we do not know when will come, but for something we know when – Christmas. As we usher in the happiest season of the year, as we usher in advent, we are reminded to prepare to commemorate Christ’s birth.

We should prepare our hearts for Christmas.

We now officially start the advent season, and this first Sunday of advent should set us in the mood  not of Christmas as the world sees  – with all the lights, parties, gifts and food, but to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming that we commemorate on Christmas day.

Some say that this season, Christmas season, is not just happy, but a very busy, and sometimes can be stressful. There are a lot of things going on – from the yearend reports and quotas, the get together and parties, relatives and friends coming home to and from the province or abroad, the bazaars and gift shopping, and of course, the extra special traffic we expect even during the wee hours of the morning. Yes, it can be stressful. It can be busy. And unfortunately sometimes with all of these, we forget the reason for the season. We forget what Christmas is all about. 

Christmas is about Christ. It is about God's love for us made concrete through Jesus. 

Looking at our lives and at our hearts, a lot of us can say that we are not ready to welcome Jesus. We are not yet prepared. There are a lot of issues, concerns and even sins that make our hearts unworthy of God’s visitation. There are a lot of things going on in our lives. Good thing is that we have 4 weeks to prepare. We have 4 weeks to clean our hearts. We have 4 weeks to remember him and focus on him. We are reminded to hear mass more often, to partake of the sacraments, to pray more, read the bible more, and to love others more as we prepare our hearts for Christ.

May we take this opportunity and make the most out of the time we have to prepare for Christ’s visitation, so that when he comes, we will be ready.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for forgetting you. Sorry for being distracted. Help me do it right this hear. Lord, my heart is not clean. I am not ready for you. There are a lot of things distracting me. There are a lot of things on my mind. I have a lot of excuses. But i will do my best to prepare for you in this season of advent. Be with me in this journey. May this be a special one, a memorable one. May I get to know you more and experience you more as I prepare. May this be about you. Only you. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 27, 2016
Lectionary: 1
First Sunday of Advent

Reading 1 Is 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come,
the mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my brothers and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Reading 2 Rom 13:11-14

Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Alleluia Cf. Ps 85:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Not Too Focused

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112616.cfm) reminds me that I should not be too focused on the world. 

Being focused is good. It is important. When students are studying for an exam, they should be focused. When athletes train, they should be focused. When we want to achieve things in life, we should be focused. We should learn how to prioritize what is important to attain our goal. However, as with anything, being overly focused is bad. 

In the gospel, Jesus reminds us that we should not be too focused on the concerns of this world. We should not be too focused on our problems. We should not be too focused on enjoying this world as well. There is something more than what is here and now. There is eternity. And we should prepare for that as well. 

It is foolish to be too focused on the temporary instead of the permanent. 

Everything in this world is temporary. Both good and bad. Our time on earth is very little compared to eternity. However, because we are living in the world, because this is what we experience right now, we focus on this world. We give it importance. But we should not overdo it. We should remember that there is eternity that we should prepare for as well. We should work on that as well. 

May we do our best in this life, but remember that this is only temporary. May we not be too focused on this world and ignore our preparations for eternity. 

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 weekend. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I am too focused on things and concerns of this world. Sorry for the times I ignore you, I ignore preparations for eternity. Help me live right. Help me live pleasing to you. Help me prepare for eternity as I love in this earth. Amen. 

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 26, 2016
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 508

Reading 1 Rv 22:1-7

John said:
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found anymore.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true,
and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,
sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”
“Behold, I am coming soon.”
Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab

R. (1 Cor 16: 22b, see Rev. 22: 20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great king above all gods;
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
and the tops of the mountains are his.
His is the sea, for he has made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Alleluia Lk 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Know the WORD

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112516.cfm) reminds me of the importance of knowing God's WORD. 

For a few days now, the readings have all been about judgment, about Christ’s second coming. We may initially feel scared or afraid while reading them. That is how some people see the book of Revelation - something scary. However, as Christ's followers, this is not something we should be afraid of. Rather, it should get us inspired and motivated to live life according to God’s ways. And in today’s readings, we are also reminded of something we should take joy in - that God’s words will not pass away.

His words will be fulfilled. 

God did not only tell us about judgment time, he also has promises for us as we live here on earth. He has promises of provision, of great plans, of love, of protection. And we are reminded to trust in his words, all of it. However, we will not know his words if we do not read up on it.

You will not know God's promises if you will not make the effort to know Him. 

One of my favorite praise rap artist, Lecrae, writes this in his song: “when he gets home, I pray he'll open up the sixty-six book love letter you wrote and soak it up “ Makes sense. Sometimes we feel so down and low, but we are not doing anything about it. We won’t improve if we will just wait for things to get better. Reading God’s word, his promises, and soaking up ourselves on them will help us be better.  His love letter, the bible, will remind us of his promises and his love for us.

God’s words will not pass away. May we soak ourselves on his word and live life by it.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend coming up. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your word, for your love letter to me. Sorry for the times I am too lazy to read up on it. Sorry for not giving it the importance it deserves. Sorry for not being hungry enough for you. I pray that I may have the desire to just soak it up and bask in your word. May I always remember how much you love me and the promises you have for me. I will do my best to get to know you more by reading your word. As I do this, I humbly ask that you fill me, inspire me, and assure me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/11/he-will-come.html 

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November 25, 2016
Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 507

Reading 1 Rv 20:1-4, 11—21:2

I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven,
holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.
He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent,
which is the Devil or Satan,
and tied it up for a thousand years and threw it into the abyss,
which he locked over it and sealed,
so that it could no longer lead the nations astray
until the thousand years are completed.
After this, it is to be released for a short time.

Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment.
I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,
and who had not worshiped the beast or its image
nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands.
They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence
and there was no place for them.
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne,
and scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds,
by what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead;
then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds.
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.
(This pool of fire is the second death.)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life
was thrown into the pool of fire.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a

R. (Rev. 21:3b) Here God lives among his people.
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
R. Here God lives among his people.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
R. Here God lives among his people.
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
R. Here God lives among his people.

Alleluia Lk 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,

but my words will not pass away.”

Ready and Excited

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112416-memorial.cfm) reminds me that I should be ready and prepared for God's coming. 

In school, students have different reactions to surprise tests. Students who constantly prepared are usually excited because they are ready. They have been preparing for surprise tests that is why they are excited take such tests. However, students who lack preparation are usually scared because they are not ready to take the test and they might fail. This is similar to what would happen with God's second coming. 

In the gospel, Jesus told the people what would happen. Scary things. He even said that people would die of fright. However, he ended by telling them that when he comes again, even if other people would be scared, they should stand firm and raise their hands, because their redemption is at hand. They should be excited to see the Son of Man come again. 

We would only be excited to see Jesus coming again if we are ready to meet him. 

If we live right and pleasing to God, if we stay firm and live our faith despite all the opposition from powerful people of the world, if we constantly pray and strengthen our relationship with God, then we would be ready. Then we would be excited to meet him again. Then we would be confident. 

May we constantly love right and prepare for God's coming so we would be excited and ready to meet him when he comes. 

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 the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I forget you. Sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for living my life on earth as if you will not come back. Sorry for not preparing myself to meet you. Help me do my part. Help me live right and pleasing to you. I will do my best to be ready and prepare myself to meet you. I will do my best to be faithful to you. So when you come again, I will be excited to meet you and spend eternity with you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 24, 2016 - Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Lectionary: 506

Reading 1 Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a

I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven,
having great authority,
and the earth became illumined by his splendor.
He cried out in a mighty voice:

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.
She has become a haunt for demons.
She is a cage for every unclean spirit,
a cage for every unclean bird,
a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast.”

A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone
and threw it into the sea and said:

“With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down,
and will never be found again.
No melodies of harpists and musicians,
flutists and trumpeters,
will ever be heard in you again.
No craftsmen in any trade
will ever be found in you again.
No sound of the millstone
will ever be heard in you again.
No light from a lamp
will ever be seen in you again.
No voices of bride and groom
will ever be heard in you again.
Because your merchants were the great ones of the world,
all nations were led astray by your magic potion.”

After this I heard what sounded like
the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:

“Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

They said a second time:

“Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.”

Then the angel said to me, “Write this:
Blessed are those who have been called
to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

R. (Rev. 19: 9a) Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him; bless his name.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
For he is good:
the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Alleluia Lk 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples:
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
know that its desolation is at hand.
Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Let those within the city escape from it,
and let those in the countryside not enter the city,
for these days are the time of punishment
when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,
for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth
and a wrathful judgment upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword
and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles;
and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”

Protected

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112316.cfm) reminds me that God will always be there to protect us. 

I used to watch a TV series called “The Blacklist”  , where the main character is a powerful and well-connected criminal who for some reason wanted to work with the FBI to catch other criminals. On one episode, the person he cares for doesn’t know that he sent someone to follow her and keep her safe. She only knew about it when the person actually saved her from danger.

God is more powerful and more loving than that.

In the gospel, we see that he is speaking to us, his followers. People may try to harm us or hurt us or humiliate us. But he promises us help and assistance.

It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speakingthat all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

We need to trust in Him, even if it may seem that it doesn’t make sense. We need to trust him even if we would rather do our way. 

Jesus asked them not to prepare beforehand. This should not be an excuse not to do our part and just hope God will come to our rescue. That’s laziness. Jesus told them not to prepare because he wanted them to trust in Him rather than trust in themselves. Rather than preparing and exerting human effort, God wants us to prepare by having a good relationship with him. And having a good relationship with him takes more time and effort than a one time preparation for something. We need to be consistent in exerting effort and time to build a relationship with God. That is why he wants that. 

People may try to hurt us or humiliate us, but we are reminded by Jesus that not a hair on our head will be destroyed. He is more powerful than the enemy, and he will continue to protect us from all harm. This should reassure us.

May we always remember that as God’s children doing his will, we will always be protected. And may we work on our relationship with God. 

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 all the blessings and for always protecting me. I may not always see it, and I may not always feel it, but I know that it is precisely the reason why I don’t feel it – because you keep me safe. Lord, sorry for the times I do not recognize it. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Sorry for not working hard enough to build and strengthen my relationship with you. Help me continue to work on my relationship in you and do your will in my life. May my life be pleasing to you all the time.  Amen

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 23, 2016
Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 505

Reading 1 Rv 15:1-4

I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring:
seven angels with the seven last plagues,
for through them God’s fury is accomplished.

Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.
On the sea of glass were standing those
who had won the victory over the beast
and its image and the number that signified its name.
They were holding God’s harps,
and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and wonderful are your works,
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O king of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
or glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9

R. (Rev. 15: 3b) Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Alleluia Rv 2:10c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 21:12-19

Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.

By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Temporary Riches

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112216.cfm) reminds me that everything on this earth is temporary. 

Decorations can practically turn any venue unto a grand place. We see normal places such as basketball courts, plain halls/tents and even parking lots be transformed into grand and majestic venues for events because of decorations. However, after the event, they take the decorations down and it becomes normal again. The beauty and grandeur is temporary. This is similar to worldly riches, fame, and power. 

Nothing in this world is permanent. 

In the gospel, we see people talking about the beautiful and grand decorations of the temple. However, Jesus told them that there will be a time when everything in the temple will be destroyed. Everything. No matter how costly or beautiful they may be, they will be destroyed. Jesus is reminding us of this as well, especially as we become busy with life. 

It is easy to get lost in the busyness of life. As we work, as we grow our business, it is easy to focus on worldly things. Money. Fame. Success. Power. These things are not inherently bad, but they are when they take God's place in our lives. These become bad when we compromise our values and do bad things just to have them. 

We should not trade our soul for temporary things. 

If we focus too much on worldly things and on attaining them no matter what the cost, we may unwillingly be setting ourselves for eternal damnation. When we constantly disregard God and his teachings, when we compromise our values and do bad things to win in this world, then we are basically trading our eternity with God for temporary worldly things. This is something we should avoid. 

May we always be aware and know what is important, not only in this life, but in eternity. 

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 the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for the times I compromise my values for worldly things. Help me be aware. Remind me when I am losing my way. Help me live right and pleasing to you all the time. May this life be my love letter for you and my preparation to spend eternity with you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 22, 2016
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 504

Reading 1 Rv 14:14-19

I, John, looked and there was a white cloud,
and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man,
with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Another angel came out of the temple,
crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud,
“Use your sickle and reap the harvest,
for the time to reap has come,
because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”
So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth,
and the earth was harvested.

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven
who also had a sharp sickle.
Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire,
and cried out in a loud voice
to the one who had the sharp sickle,
“Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines,
for its grapes are ripe.”
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage.
He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:10, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Alleluia Rv 2:10c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 21:5-11

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

Two Small Coins

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112116.cfm) reminds me that God sees the value of what we give him, even if the world does not.

There are a lot of people who have their favorite sleepwear. They always use old and oversized shirts for sleeping. It makes them feel comfortable and relaxed. They could easily buy new and expensive sleepwear, but choose to use their old ones. These may not be worth a lot, since they are old and worn out, but to the owners, their value is high. Same is true for people who keep old or damaged toys, whose worth may be minimal, but who value these things a lot. God looks at our giving the same way.

God looks at the value of what we give him, not  the worldly worth.

In the gospel, what the widow gave may not have much worth in the world. Two cents may not be able to help the poor that much. It may be practically useless. But its value for the woman is high because it was all she had. Good thing God is not man, and he does not see things the way we do. He does not need money from us to be able to do great things, to buy new things, and to help the poor. What he needs from us is a heart surrendered, a heart ready to give him what we value most, and a heart who trusts in him to make use of whatever we give and multiply it.

Aside from her generosity, we also see the woman’s faith in God. Being a widow, she is practically worthless in society, because without her husband she is nothing. That being the case, she needs every money she has to survive. But her situation did not prevent her from sharing for God’s kingdom. Her situation did not prevent her from surrendering to God. She gave all she had because she had faith that God would continue to take care of her. She gave all she had, because she loves God and wants to share him with others.

The woman may not have given a lot in terms of amount, but she gave everything she had. That may not have much worth in the world’s eyes, but in God’s eyes, that is priceless.

God does not look at the worldly value of what we give. He looks at our hearts as we give. May we be inspired and encouraged to give until it hurts, not because we like pain or are crazy, but because we want to love like Jesus did – with pain, dying of one’s self, and putting others first.

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 week. Thank you for the very inspiring reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I put off giving because I feel that I cannot give a lot. Sorry for the times I give but only out of my surplus. Sorry for not having a giving heart.  Lord, I pray that you help me give you the kind of importance the woman in the gospel gave you. May I be generous, loving and faith filled as her. May  I be willing to give you whatever I have, no matter how painful it may be for me and no matter how insignificant it may seem for me. May I be willing and ready to give you my best. Help me be detached from the things of this world. Help me put importance on you, not on worldly things. And help me have faith to trust in you and surrender. Help me love and give like you do. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 21, 2016
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 503

Reading 1 Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5

I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand
who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
I heard a sound from heaven
like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder.
The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia Mt 24:42a, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

Saving King

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112016.cfm) reminds me that Christ is a saving king. 

When we hear the word king, what usually comes to mind are the kings of the world – with crown of gold, jewels, with a lot of servants and powerful in his kingdom. However, Christ our King is different.

Christ is a saving King. 

In the first reading, we see that God sent David to bring the people back to God. He wants us back into his kingdom, into his presence. Why? Not because he needs servants or knights to defend him but because he wants us to be saved, to be happy, to be prosperous. The only way we could have all these is if we are back in his arms, in his goodness, in his kingdom.

In the gospel, we see the repentant thief. During his last moments in this world, he recognized Christ, and made him king in his life. Talk about being saved by the bell. Jesus saw how sincere and repentant the sinner is, and immediately granted him salvation. We also see how powerful Jesus is to be able to say the words: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise”

In as much as we are reminded of Jesus’ kingship, he does not want us to end there. We should go beyond knowing that Jesus is king and that he loves us and wants to save us. We should not only know that Jesus is king, we should also proclaim and live it.

We can only proclaim and live Christ's kingship if he is king of our hearts. 

God is the king of the universe, but He also wants to be the king of our hearts. He is all powerful, but he does not have power over our hearts and our decisions. God wants to also be the king of our lives. That is what we should work on as well. our everyday decisions,  our everyday words and actions, we tell him who our king is. We tell him who we are – are we of this world, or of God. 

In our lives, a lot of people and things are trying to take away the place of Jesus as our king. A lot of temptations, and false kings. Like the repentant thief, may we recognize him amidst all these, and take it a step further to always recognize and make him king in our lives. Only then can we proclaim him.  

May we make Christ the king of our lives so we can proclaim and share him with others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this weekend. Thank you for all the lessons and realizations. Lord, sorry for the times I do not make you my king. Sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for the times I do not proclaim you. Lord, I pray that you help me to be sensitive to you. may I always recognize you and make you the only king in my life. Help me proclaim you. Help me bring you to others and spread your kingdom here on earth. Use me to make your kingdom and your saving love more real and more alive. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 20, 2016
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Lectionary: 162

Reading 1 2 Sm 5:1-3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:
“Here we are, your bone and your flesh.
In days past, when Saul was our king,
it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.
And the LORD said to you,
‘You shall shepherd my people Israel
and shall be commander of Israel.’”
When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,
King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,
and they anointed him king of Israel.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

R. (cf. 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Reading 2 Col 1:12-20

Brothers and sisters:
Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Alleluia Mk 11:9, 10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 23:35-43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,

today you will be with me in Paradise.”