Unrecognized

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111716.cfm) reminds me what can happen if I don't recognize God. 

I used to watch a television show called “Undercover Boss”, wherein the top executive of a big company disguises as a new employee of the company. The people do not know it, so they treat the boss in different ways. Some are very nice, patiently teaching and guiding a new member while others give a harsh treatment. In the course of the stay, employees tell stories of themselves to the new comer. Then at the end, the boss reveals himself. OF course people were shocked. Those who are very nice and who are grateful for the company and do their best at work were rewarded, and those who are harsh, full of complaints and who badmouth the company were dealt with accordingly as well. This is similar to what will happen to us when God comes again. 

The real character of a person is seen during unguarded moments.

The employees who tell different things and treat the “new employee” differently, do so because they did not recognize the boss. If they knew it was the boss, they would have put their best foot forward. This is true to us as well. We probably don’t realize God visiting us daily, so we live the way we want to – be it good or bad. However, we are reminded by Jesus in today’s gospel to not only recognize Jesus visitation, but do something about it as well. Even if we recognize Jesus visiting our lives, but we don’t change and improve ourselves, we are not in a good situation.

They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation

Jesus is patient with us. He visits us everyday in the hopes of us recognizing him, and allowing him to change us. However, there will come a day when there will be no more chance. There will come a day when he will take our current state as our answer to him. There will come a day that we will either be crushed and punished for the way we treat him through others, or be rewarded because of the way we live our lives.

May we recognize him as he visits us, and allow him to work in 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, i am sorry for not recognizing you when you visit me. Sorry for the times that even if I do recognize you, I do not act.  Lord, I pray that I may be sensitive to you. May I recognize you as you visit me in my life, and may I allow you to change me and make me a better person. I allow you to work in me and transform me to be more like you, so I can share you to others as well.  Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 17, 2016
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Lectionary: 500

Reading 1 Rv 5:1-10

I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.
It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice,
“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll or to examine it.
I shed many tears because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll or to examine it.
One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.
The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,
enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne
and the four living creatures and the elders
a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.
He had seven horns and seven eyes;
these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.
He came and received the scroll from the right hand
of the one who sat on the throne.
When he took it,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.
They sang a new hymn:

“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

R. (Rev. 5:10) The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Ps 95:8

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

Gospel Lk 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you

because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”