The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021717.cfm)
reminds me that I should take up my cross as I follow Jesus.
There
are a lot of organizations in school that students can choose from. These
organizations recruit members and organize activities for them. However, not
all those who sign up and register as members become active and participate.
Some would just sign up for the sake of signing up but not become involved with
the org. Technically, they can declare that they are members of the org, even
if they are not involved. This works in the world, but not with God.
Real followers of God are very involved. They experience pain
for Him.
In
the gospel, Jesus said that whoever wants to follow God must deny himself and
take up his cross. Hindi lang basta basta sumunod sa Diyos. Merely Saying that
you are a follower of God is not enough. We should be ready to walk the talk.
We should be ready to suffer for God. Not because cause he wants us to suffer
or he enjoys seeing us in pain, but because we should be ready to experience
what he experienced in this world. Taking up our cross. Bearing our share of
pain and suffering for Christ. He suffered in this world because he was not of
this world. As his followers, we should be ready to experience this as
well.
We
should also learn how to deny ourselves. Denying ourselves of what we want.
Denying ourselves of what is easy and enjoyable. Denying ourselves of our own
desires, of our own will...and submitting to God. Submitting to God our dreams.
Our desires. Our plans. Denying ourselves, humbling ourselves, and proclaiming
that God, his will, his plans, are high in our life.
May
we take time to reflect what it means for us to follow God, and may we be ready
and willing to do what it takes.
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, sorry for the times I am not
willing to suffer for you. Sorry for the times I am not willing to deny myself
for you. Help me humble myself. Help me always be ready and willing to deny
myself and carry my cross as I follow you. As I do sol use me to bring glory to
you. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
February 17, 2017
Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 339
Reading 1 Gn 11:1-9
While the people were migrating in the east,
they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.
They said to one another,
"Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire."
They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city
and a tower with its top in the sky,
and so make a name for ourselves;
otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth."
The LORD came down to see the city and the tower
that they had built.
Then the LORD said: "If now, while they are one people,
all speaking the same language,
they have started to do this,
nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do.
Let us then go down and there confuse their language,
so that one will not understand what another says."
Thus the LORD scattered them from there all over the earth,
and they stopped building the city.
That is why it was called Babel,
because there the LORD confused the speech of all the world.
It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Alleluia Jn 15:15b
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 8:34—9:1
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
He also said to them,
"Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power."
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