Actions

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010417.cfm) reminds me that my actions tell God who I love. 

Words are important and powerful. However, sometimes It’s true that actions speak louder than words. Cliche, but true. What we say is important, but it should be backed up by what we do. This is important not only as we relate to others, but to God as well. 

God puts a premium on our actions. 

It is important to walk the talk. Lip service is not enough. In the first reading, we see that those who act in righteousness are righteous, and those who sin belong to the Devil. Actions, not words. You can say good things, but if you sin and not mean your words, you are not of God's flock. 

In the gospel, we see examples of this. Jesus' first apostles just obeyed him when he called them. They just followed. No questions, just actions. And God honors that. He used them mightily. 

As we serve, it is important to have a mixture of both – speaking and acting. It is not enough to pray and sing praises to God, we should also get up and act as another way of worshiping and serving God. It is not enough to just do good works, we should also do so for love of God, for his glory.

May today be another day we can start worshiping, serving and loving Him with our words and actions.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not love my faith. Sorry for the times I do not live my love for you. Sorry for lip service worship and love. Help me live in a way pleasing to you. Help me love right. Help me act right and tell you how much I love you, that I choose you over the enemy, over the things of this world, over my own pleasures. May my actions, may my life, tell you how much I love you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 4, 2017
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
Lectionary: 207

Reading 1 1 Jn 3:7-10

Children, let no one deceive you.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God's seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 7-8, 9

R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of 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. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of 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 before the LORD.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
The LORD comes;
he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Alleluia Heb 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets:
in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 1:35-42

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher),
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
"We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
"You are Simon the son of John;

you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.