The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120716.cfm)
reminds me of the importance of coming and surrendering to God.
In
this world, a lot of things can weigh us down.
Focusing too much on studies, career, business and worldly achievements and
accomplishments will weigh us down. The quest for fame, power and fortune will
burn us out. These things of the world are temporary, and as long as long as we
focus on these, we will never be satisfied and will just be tired, because
thirst for worldly things will never be quenched. There will always be someone
more beautiful, more successful, more intelligent, more powerful, and more
famous than you. IF we will focus on these things, no matter how hard we work,
we will never attain the fullness of life, and it will only weigh us down.
What can we do then?
Come to Jesus.
"Come to me,
all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find
rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is
easy, and my burden light."
In
the gospel, He says that all who are tired and burdened come to him. He will
give us rest. How can we rest? Will he give us what we want? Money, fame,
power, achievements. Will we have all that when we come to Jesus? No – but we
will have something much more than those.
Coming
to Him is not the only thing he is asking from us. With coming to him comes the
need to surrender to him.
Take my yoke and
learn from me.
It is not enough to come to
him. We should also submit ourselves to him. We should also surrender to Him.
Yes, the famous saying, Let go and let
God. As we come to him, as we submit our self to him, we will
slowly be transformed to be more and more like him.
As
we surrender our personal desires, we allow God
to empty us, only then will he be able to fill up with everything that is of
his. Then as we are transformed, we see that all the material things
in the world should not be the focus of our lives, thus not be burdened with
these things anymore.
What
is weighing me down right now? What is my biggest concern? Am I willing to come
to God for help? Am I willing to submit myself, including all my desires, to Him?
Am I willing to empty myself out so he can fill me with everything that is of
his? Am i ready to let go and let God?
May we learn not just to come
to Jesus, but surrender to Him as well.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you Lord for consistently
reminding me that you are always thinking of me and my concerns. Thank you for
always calling me to you, and for always being ready to accept me with open
arms. Lord, sorry for the times I do things my way. Sorry for not coming to you
and for not surrendering to you. Sorry for seeking rest in other things and
people instead of on you. I ask that You help me build my faith in you. I know
Lord that as I surrender to your will, I will be transformed and that you will take
care of everything. You always do, Lord. You have never failed to bless me with
things more than I need and more than I deserve. May I always seek your will in
my life, and have faith that you will continue to provide and take care of me.
Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
December 7, 2016
Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 183
Reading 1 Is 40:25-31
To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10
R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
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