The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121216.cfm)
reminds me that we should be ready to serve no matter what situation we
are in.
When we look at the players in
the NBA, we are amazed at their skills and talents. We feel that they are
superior. However, I was struck when I saw the article about an NBA superstar,
and he mentioned that it is very rare that he is 100% coming into the
game. There will always be injuries, pain
and difficulties coming into
the game, but he just focuses on the game, gives it all he has, and when he
plays, you will not think that he is playing hurt. That’s how God wants us to
serve.
We should serve God no matter what situation we are in.
In the gospel, Mama Mary just
found out she was pregnant. Things were not clear yet. she did not know what
will happen, and who will be the “earthly father” of the child she’s bearing.
She did not know the details. And she is already pregnant, so she could have
just rested since she’s carrying God’s son. However, she did not.
Instead, despite her situation, she still
served God as she travelled
to serve her cousin Elizabeth. That’s the kind of service God wants.
We will never be 100% okay in life.
There
will always be challenges. There
will always be problems. This is
why we should not wait for these things to
be over before we serve God. We should not wait until work settles
down, or that we are financially stable before we serve God. There will always
be something that will prohibit you from being 100% okay. We should serve God
right now.
God is not asking that we reach
a certain level in work or in life achievement before we serve him. what he
wants is for us to simply serve him, to simply do his work and do what we can –
no matter how simple we think it may be. As we serve Him, He will use us and
our actions and magnify them to give glory to his name.
May
we never wait for the perfect situation to serve God, but serve him where we
are right now.
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 reminder. Thank you for Mama Mary who
constantly inspires me. Lord, I am sorry for the many times I give a lot of
excuses for not serving you. Sorry for focusing on my challenges and the
imperfections instead of on you. Sorry for letting myself be distracted. Sorry
for being weak. I ask that you give me a heart like Mama Mary. Give me a heart
that would always want to serve you no matter what situation I may be in. give
me a heart that would love you more than I love myself. As I do my best to
serve you where I am now, I ask that you bless my actions and glorify your name
through it. Amen.
Blessed
week!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
December 12, 2016
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lectionary: 690A
Reading 1 Zec 2:14-17
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people,
and he will dwell among you,
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,
and he will again choose Jerusalem.
Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!
For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.”
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people,
and he will dwell among you,
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,
and he will again choose Jerusalem.
Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!
For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
Or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.”
Responsorial Psalm Jdt 13:18bcde, 19
R. (15:9d) You are the highest honor of our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Alleluia
Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 1:39-47
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
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