The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022117.cfm)
reminds me how to be great in God's eyes.
A few years back, there was a
movie about the life of Muhammad Ali, whom many considered one of, if not the
world’s greatest boxer, although today Floyd Mayweather insists he is the
greatest. The theme song of the Ali movie is titled “The World’s
Greatest”. He won many fights, he was a well-respected boxer in the ring, and
his skills are superior… that’s why he is a great fighter.
God’s
standards are usually opposite as those of the world’s. The greatest in God’s eyes are not the strong and mighty,
but the dependent and childlike.
In
the gospel, Jesus told his disciples how to be first, how to be great, in God's
eyes. He told them that a child is great in God’s eyes, and they should welcome
and be like children. That they should humble
themselves like the
children. Back then, children together with women were the least in the
society, so women and of course children are naturally humble because of their
situation.
Why
is a child great? Because of his humility and nothingness.
He knows he cannot do anything on his own,
so he is fully dependent on his parents.
Children do not only rely, but also obey their parents – even when they do not
understand what the parents are asking them to do. The same way, God wants us
to be like that, to know and remember that we really cannot do anything on our
own… that we should be fully dependent
and obedient on God, our father. This is something difficult,
especially for successful and independent people who think they can do anything
and can exist on their own.
If
we know and accept our nothingness, and fully depend on God, then we are great.
For it is when we humbly ask for His
grace and guidance that we can be filled with everything God wants to give us.
And when we are filled with God, then we
are certainly great, for God is in us.
In the first
reading, we are reminded why we should humble ourselves before God. We are
reminded why we should trust God. No one who has hoped in the Lord has been
disappointed. God does not forsake people who obey Him. God is compassionate
and merciful and powerful. That is why we should humble ourselves before him,
following the psalmist that reminds us to commit ourselves to the Lord, and he
will help us.
May we be reminded of what it
takes to be great in God’s eyes, and do our best to be one.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Thank
you for sending people in my life who remind me how much you love me and how
special I am to you. Lord, I am sorry for the times I put you out of the
picture, when I just rely on myself and do things on my own. Sorry for the
times I focus too much on myself, how I can be great in the eyes of the world.
Help me have the childlike attitude and faith that will always rely on you as I
live. Help me submit to your will all the time. Help me humble myself. Help me
live like your child so I can be pleasing and great in your eyes. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
February 21, 2017
Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 342
Reading 1 Sir 2:1-11
stand in justice and fear,
prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
incline your ear and receive the word of understanding,
undisturbed in time of adversity.
Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not;
thus will you be wise in all your ways.
Accept whatever befalls you,
when sorrowful, be steadfast,
and in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold and silver are tested,
and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and God will help you;
trust in him, and he will direct your way;
keep his fear and grow old therein.
You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,
turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the LORD, trust him,
and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the LORD, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the LORD, love him,
and your hearts will be enlightened.
Study the generations long past and understand;
has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?
has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;
he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble
and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever.
They are not put to shame in an evil time;
in days of famine they have plenty.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
Alleluia Gal 6:14
May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 9:30-37
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise."
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
"What were you arguing about on the way?"
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
"If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me."
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