Not Yet Time

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/033117.cfm) reminds me that God's time will always prevail. 

I recently met a lady who worked for Development Organizations. She used to work for an International Agency and got assignments in different parts of the country, dangerous parts of the country. She told me she escaped several harmful events such as bombings, shootings, and even kidnapping. Some of her colleagues were affected, but not her. I was just reminded how powerful God's timing is. 

No matter what situation you are in, God's plans and his time will still prevail. 

In the gospel today, we see that the Jews were already trying to arrest Jesus. However, Jesus was still speaking openly snd can be seen in public but no one arrested him. Why? Because it was not yet time. 

So they tried to arrest him, 

but no one laid a hand upon him, 

because his hour had not yet come.

Before, I used to think why Judas had to lead them to Jesus. They all knew who Jesus was, no one needed to tell them. They could have easily arrested him as he was speaking and preaching openly. But now I am reminded of the answer. It was not yet time. God has not yet allowed it. 

In our lives, we want a lot of things to happen. Career promotion, booming business, financial independence, a good love-life. Sometimes, or oftentimes, the timing is different from what we want. Today, we are reminded that it might not yet be God's appointed time for our prayers to be answered the way we want it to. So let us just have faith and continue to love and serve God. 

What things am I praying for? How do I react when I do not get them? Am I willing to wait for God's time to come or do i force things myself?

May we continue to have faith in God - his plans, his power, and his timing, especially when they do not coincide with ours. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love. Thank you for another Friday. Thank you for the gift of life. Lord, sorry for the times I get impatient. Sorry for wanting things done my way, my time. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Lord, grant me patience and faith to wait for your perfect time, and humility to keep on serving you as I wait. I know you have great plans for me, and I will wait in faith. I also ask that you use me mightily for your purpose and your glory. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 31, 2017
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 248

Reading 1 Wis 2:1a, 12-22

The wicked said among themselves,
thinking not aright:
"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.
He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.
He calls blest the destiny of the just
and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
These were their thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness blinded them,
and they knew not the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count on a recompense of holiness
nor discern the innocent souls' reward.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23

R. (19a) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:4b

One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
"Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
"You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,

because his hour had not yet come.

Pray for Others

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/033017.cfm) reminds me how powerful praying for others is. 

There are people who request prayers from others. Some feel that other people are more mature in faith. Others feel that the prayers of others are stronger. Others simply ask for help in praying. We may think this is unnecessary or useless, but the first reading tells us otherwise. 

Praying for others can be powerful. 

In the first reading, we see how great an intercessor Moses is. God relented of the punishment he wanted to inflict on the stubborn people. The people most probably did not know what God was planning to do, and how Moses interceed, or came in between God and them. Moses prayed to God on their behalf, and because of God’s good relationship with Moses, God changed his mind. 

Yes, it may be because Moses was special. It may be because Moses had a great and personal relationship with God, that's why God listened. But I believe that in our own little way, we can do this for others too. 

It is important to have a good relationship with God as we pray for others, as we intercede for others. And one way of having this is to love right. To live pleasing to God. In the bible it says that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16)”  we should live this and do our best to have this, so in our own little way, we can have more confidence when we pray to God for others. 

May we never forget to pray for others, and live a life pleasing to God as we do so. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love you and to build my relationship with you. Sorry for the times I take this for granted. Sorry for not having the will and the desire to work on my relationship with you. Sorry for not praying for others. Help me have faith in you. Help me believe in the power of prayer. And help me do my best to have a strong and intimate relationship with you as I pray for others...and I have faith that you will hear me. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 30, 2017
Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 247

Reading 1 Ex 32:7-14

The LORD said to Moses,
"Go down at once to your people
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
'This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!'"
The LORD said to Moses,
"I see how stiff-necked this people is.
Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.
Then I will make of you a great nation."

But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying,
"Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt
with such great power and with so strong a hand?
Why should the Egyptians say,
'With evil intent he brought them out,
that he might kill them in the mountains
and exterminate them from the face of the earth'?
Let your blazing wrath die down;
relent in punishing your people.
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,
'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky;
and all this land that I promised,
I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'"
So the LORD relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23

R. (4a) Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Verse Before the Gospel Jn 3:16

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

Gospel Jn 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews:
"If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.
But there is another who testifies on my behalf,
and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept human testimony,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John's.
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,
these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.
But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
and you do not have his word remaining in you,
because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.
You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.

"I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father:
the one who will accuse you is Moses,
in whom you have placed your hope.
For if you had believed Moses,
you would have believed me,
because he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe his writings,

how will you believe my words?"

God Will Never Forget You

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032917.cfm) reminds me that God will never forget me. 

They say that a mother will really never forget her children. She carried the baby for 9 months, and had to go through tough times not just carrying the baby, but also bringing the baby into this world. They also say that a mother’s love for the child is so great, due of course to the fact that she carried the baby, brought her into this world, and because the baby is a reminder and a living proof of God’s love and blessing to them. Just as mothers love their children very much, God's love for us is greater. 

Mahal na mahal ka ng Diyos, kahit minsan parang hindi mo nararamdaman. 

God loves us so much, we know that. However, we do not always feel God’s love and presence in our lives. Minsan, parang ang daming problema, minsan ang bigat ng mga nangyayari, minsan parang lagi nalang nananalo yung masasama. During these times, we may feel that God has abandoned us, or that God is busy doing something else or taking care of someone else. However, today’s first reading says otherwise. Sabi ng Diyos: I will never forget you. Kahit na mahirap, kahit na mabigat ang dinadala natin, God is reminding us that He is there always, that he does not take his eyes off us. I believe sometimes God is just letting us grow. He wants to see how we handle things, and where we put him in our lives – kung sa kanya ba tayo lalapit sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, or sa iba.

Hindi ka kakalimutan ng Diyos. 

As we are assured of God’s presence and his watchful eyes always looking after us, the gospel reminds us to do our part as well. Jesus said that: “I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me” We are reminded to seek God’s will, especially when it does not coincide with ours. It may not always be easy, but seeking and doing God’s equips us more, makes it easier to fight the battle, because we know we are doing what He wants.

Are there times that I feel God is not watching over me? When? Do I believe God as he tells me today that He will never forget him? What can I do to make his presence more alive in my life? What can I do to make his presence more alive in this world? What can I do to have more faith in his word?

May we always remember that God will never forget us and his love is unchanging.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder that you will never forget me. Lord, sorry for the times I think and feel otherwise. Sorry for the times I turn by back on you because I feel you’re not there. Sorry for thinking that you do not love me or have forgotten about me just because life is challenging. Help me remain faithful and loyal to you, Lord. I will continue to hold on to you as I live and fight the battles in life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 29, 2017
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 246

Reading 1 Is 49:8-15

Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land
and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture,
on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst,
nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
and guides them beside springs of water.
I will cut a road through all my mountains,
and make my highways level.
See, some shall come from afar,
others from the north and the west,
and some from the land of Syene.
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people
and shows mercy to his afflicted.

But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me."
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Verse Before the Gospel Jn 11:25a, 26

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me will never die.

Gospel Jn 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews:
"My Father is at work until now, so I am at work."
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus answered and said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself,
so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.

"I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will

but the will of the one who sent me."

Not Hopeless

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032817.cfm) reminds me that with God in my life, there will never be a hopeless situation. 

There are times in life that we feel hopeless. Sometimes we feel we are trapped. We feel we cannot do anything with the situation. We feel that no matter how hard we try, we just cannot get out of it. This is probably how the man felt in the gospel. Good thing Jesus came to his life. 

The gospel shows that Jesus healed a man who has been suffering for thirty-eight years! How great his love for us is, as shown through the man. The man was helpless, even though he is trying his best, on his part, to be healed. During that time, It was believed that when the water in the pool stirs up, those who would be able to go there would be healed. Syempre madaming tao, and being ill for a long time, mahina sya. Kaya nauunahan sya lagi. He probably felt hopeless. He probably felt nothing can change. But he was wrong. 

Having Jesus in our life changes the situation. 

Jesus saw his faith and healed him by his word. As the man responded and did what Jesus told him, he was healed. This is how great God is! This is how powerful yet merciful He is. If we have him in oir life, nothing is hopeless. If we have him, we should not be afraid. We should have faith that he will be with us and equip us with everything that we need.  

As we are healed, we should also remember to do our part and stay in Him. God is merciful, but he is also a God of justice. Kapag pasaway tayo, yari tayo. Jesus told the man in the gospel ”Look, you are well, do not sin no more, so that nothing worse may happen to you” we should continue living right. We should continue doing what he wants us to do. 

What situation am I in right now? Do I feel helpless and hopeless? How many times have God saved me from a seemingly impossible situation? What is he reminding me today?

May we always remember how powerful and loving God is, and that having him in our life changes everything. May this lead us to have more faith in Him. 

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 feel hopeless. Sorry for the times I forget you. Sorry for the times I am overwhelmed by the situation. Help me remember your love. Help me remember your goodness. Help me remember your power. I know that having you in my life changes everything. May I live having this in mind. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/03/stay-clean.html

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March 28, 2017
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 245

Reading 1 Ez 47:1-9, 12

The angel brought me, Ezekiel,
back to the entrance of the temple of the LORD,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the right side of the temple,
south of the altar.
He led me outside by the north gate,
and around to the outer gate facing the east,
where I saw water trickling from the right side.
Then when he had walked off to the east
with a measuring cord in his hand,
he measured off a thousand cubits
and had me wade through the water,
which was ankle-deep.
He measured off another thousand
and once more had me wade through the water,
which was now knee-deep.
Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade;
the water was up to my waist.
Once more he measured off a thousand,
but there was now a river through which I could not wade;
for the water had risen so high it had become a river
that could not be crossed except by swimming.
He asked me, "Have you seen this, son of man?"
Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit.
Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides.
He said to me,
"This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;
their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.
Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,
for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.
Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R. (8) The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

Verse Before the Gospel Ps 51:12a, 14a

A clean heart create for me, O God;
give me back the joy of your salvation.

Gospel Jn 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate
a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.
In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.
One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there
and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him,
"Do you want to be well?"
The sick man answered him,
"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool
when the water is stirred up;
while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me."
Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."
Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Now that day was a sabbath.
So the Jews said to the man who was cured,
"It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat."
He answered them, "The man who made me well told me,
'Take up your mat and walk.'"
They asked him,
"Who is the man who told you, 'Take it up and walk'?"
The man who was healed did not know who it was,
for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there.
After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him,
"Look, you are well; do not sin any more,
so that nothing worse may happen to you."
The man went and told the Jews
that Jesus was the one who had made him well.
Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus
because he did this on a sabbath.

Faith

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032717.cfm) reminds me that I should have faith in God. 

They say that success can drown people. People who have achieved much, who are important in society, often think so highly of themselves. They want things done their way, their time. They are used to being the boss, the one in command, the one people follow. And it is irritating to see people drowning in success and power. Good thing the royal official in the gospel was not like this. 

In the gospel we see the story of the royal official asking Jesus to come to his house to heal his son. We already see his faith, traveling just to see Jesus and asking him to heal his son. We also see his humility. He wanted Jesus to come with him and heal his son. But he did not get this. Instead, Jesus just told him to go home and his son will live. He was humble enough to accept it. Also, we see how great his faith is when he believed Jesus who told him to go home because his son will live. 

Wow. What a faith! So Inspiring. 

Nowadays, it's hard to believe someone just on the basis of words spoken. We want a written document. We want proof. We want to be sure. 

That's something we do not need with Jesus. We can count on his word. When he says he has great plans for us, he definitely has. When he says he will heal us, he definitely will. When he says his love endures forever, it definitely does. When he says we can do anything through him, we definitely can. 

We can trust God's word. 

We may be in a similar situation with the royal official. There is probably something we are praying for. Situation may be tough. Let us come to God in faith, and believe him when he answers us, especially when, like the royal official, we do not get the answer we want, or we do not see yet the confirmation of our prayers. 

What am I praying for right now? What is God's answer to me? Do I believe his word - the bible? Or do I first want to see or experience a proof or sign from him before I believe?

May we always have faith in God, no matter how he answers us, especially if his answer is different from what we are expecting. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, sorry for the times I do not trust in you enough. Sorry for wanting things answered my way. Sorry for not having a strong faith in you. I pray that you help me have faith like the royal official. May I always have faith in you and your Word and your plans for me, even if I may not yet see or feel it in my life. Continue to surprise me, and use me to build your kingdom. Amen. 

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 27, 2017
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 244

Reading 1 Is 65:17-21

Thus says the LORD:
Lo, I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
The things of the past shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create;
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight;
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and exult in my people.
No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;
No longer shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime;
He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years,
and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.
They shall live in the houses they build,
and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b

R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
"Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper."
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Verse Before the Gospel Am 5:14

Seek good and not evil so that you may live,
and the LORD will be with you.

Gospel Jn 4:43-54

At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee.
For Jesus himself testified
that a prophet has no honor in his native place.
When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him,
since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast;
for they themselves had gone to the feast.

Then he returned to Cana in Galilee,
where he had made the water wine.
Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,
he went to him and asked him to come down
and heal his son, who was near death.
Jesus said to him,
"Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe."
The royal official said to him,
"Sir, come down before my child dies."
Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son will live."
The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
While the man was on his way back,
his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.
He asked them when he began to recover.
They told him,
"The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon."
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him,
"Your son will live,"
and he and his whole household came to believe.
Now this was the second sign Jesus did
when he came to Galilee from Judea.

He Looks Inside

 The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032617.cfm) reminds me that God sees and looks at my heart, not on my worldly, superficial characteristics. 

A lot of people get influenced by appearance. They get impressed or intimidated based on what the eyes see. Rich and powerful people show off their money and influence with their appearance. In the same way, it is easy to judge the weak and poor by appearance. However, what is real is not always seen by the eyes. Similar to what the little prince said, "what is essential is invisible to the eye". God looks at us this way. 

God does not judge by the appearance, but looks at our heart. 

It is easy to appear good to other people. It is easy to make and maintain a reputation - of confidence, power, success, or goodness. However, God sees more than what we show. God sees our hearts and what really are in there. God sees if our actions are superficial, or if they are manifestations of the goodness in our hearts. 

We see this in the first reading. Samuel thought Eliab was the anointed one. He was the eldest. He was strong and mighty - a leader in the worldly sense.  But God did not choose him. God did not choose the others who were mighty. God chose David, a young shepherd. He chose David not because of his worldly characteristics, but because of his heart. And David did great things with God's guidance and blessings. 

We do not need a lot of credentials to serve God and do good. Unlike in corporations where further education and accomplishments are very important to be at the top, God's ladder is climbed differently. He does not need these accomplishments. He just needs a heart willing to serve Him and sees Him as the God he is. Then like David, he will use and equip, and make great things through us - no matter how simple we may seem in the eyes of the world. 

May we remember that God sees our hearts, and work to have not a good image, but a good heart. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times i get contented with superficial level service. Sorry for the times i focus on how I would appear good to other people. Sorry for the times I work to get the approval of other people and not you. And I am sorry for underestimating you, for thinking that because I am simple and have no credentials the world recognizes, I cannot serve you well. Help me have a heart like David. Help me have a heart that focuses on you, that loves you. Help me have a heart that surrenders to you. As I work to have that, I Ask that you use me however unworthy I may seem. Use me for your purpose. Use me for your kingdom. Use me to glorify your name. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/01/gods-eyes.html

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March 26, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 31

Reading 1 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

The LORD said to Samuel:
"Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons."

As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,
Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,
"Surely the LORD's anointed is here before him."
But the LORD said to Samuel:
"Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart."
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
"The LORD has not chosen any one of these."
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
"Are these all the sons you have?"
Jesse replied,
"There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep."
Samuel said to Jesse,
"Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here."
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
"There—anoint him, for this is the one!"
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed David in the presence of his brothers;
and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2 Eph 5:8-14

Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:
"Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light."

Verse Before the Gospel Jn 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Gospel Jn 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him,
"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?"
Jesus answered,
"Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
"Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
"Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?"
Some said, "It is, "
but others said, "No, he just looks like him."
He said, "I am."
So they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?"
He replied,
"The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.'
So I went there and washed and was able to see."
And they said to him, "Where is he?"
He said, "I don't know."

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
"He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see."
So some of the Pharisees said,
"This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath."
But others said,
"How can a sinful man do such signs?"
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
"What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?"
He said, "He is a prophet."

Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
"Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?"
His parents answered and said,
"We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself."
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews,
for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
"He is of age; question him."

So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, "Give God the praise!
We know that this man is a sinner."
He replied,
"If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see."
So they said to him,
"What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?"
He answered them,
"I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?
Do you want to become his disciples, too?"
They ridiculed him and said,
"You are that man's disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from."
The man answered and said to them,
"This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything."
They answered and said to him,
"You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?"
Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
He answered and said,
"Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"
Jesus said to him,
"You have seen him,
the one speaking with you is he."
He said,
"I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
"I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind."

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, "Surely we are not also blind, are we?"
Jesus said to them,
"If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains.

Annunciation 2017

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032517.cfm) reminds me how powerful saying Yes! to God is. 

Just a few months ago, we celebrated Christmas. Today, 9 months before December 25, we commemorate Jesus' Annunciation - when the Angel announced that Mary would bear a child, and when Mary said yes. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, we see that the readings focus on the joyful feast. The first reading gives prophecy on what will happen – that a virgin will bear a Son from God. The gospel fulfills that prophecy as Mama Mary said yes to being the earthly mother of God’s Son. Then in the second reading, we see that animal sacrifices cannot take away our sins, so God had to send his Son as a living sacrifice to save us. And we see how Jesus lived and quoted the psalm – “here I am Lord, I come to do your will”

Mama Mary’s simple yet powerful yes to God started great things.

Mary was visited by the angel in today’s gospel. She was told she would be the mother of God. How frightening it must have been for a young girl to be told this. She was also told that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and God’s power will overshadow her and make her pregnant. There were a lot of concerns, especially as she did not understand everything that will happen and how things will happen. However, she still said yes. She did not let her concerns or worries get in the way of her saying yes to God, to serving God.

It is not easy serving God. Almost always, we are taken out of our comfort zones. Our schedules and plans will change. That’s why it is not always an immediate yes when God calls us. We have a lot of reasons. Sometimes of excuses. However, we see that Mama Mary’s yes caused great things, and it enabled her to play a great part in God’s plan.

Walang magagawa ang Diyos kung tatanggihan mo Siya... at walang mawawala sa kanya. Sa'yo, meron. 

God calls us to do different things. Different and oftentimes, hard. These things may not be within our schedules and plans, but we should be inspired by Mama Mary’s faith filled Yes to God! We do not know everything. We may not understand God's wisdom. We may not even know his wil or his plans. But we just have to trust him.

In what ways am I being called by God to serve him? How do I respond? Am I ready to give my yes to God? What hinders me from giving my yes to Him? Do I have faith that as I give my yes, God will use me mightily for his purpose, and equip me with the things that I need to serve him? Do I believe that as I die of myself and embrace his will, nothing is really impossible?

May we be encouraged and inspired to always say yes to God. May we echo the words: “May it be done to me according to your word” and Jesus’ “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for your reminder. Thank you for your love. Thank you for seeing the greatness in me, that no matter how simple and normal I am, like Mama Mary, you give me opportunities to serve you and become part of your great plans. Sorry for the many times I do not cooperate with you. Sorry for saying no. Sorry for letting my fears, questions and concerns get the best of me. Lord, give me a heart like Mama Mary. Help me to always surrender to you and abandon my concerns and worries and just say yes to you. I have faith that as I respond to your call, you will equip me to do your work. I have faith that as I say yes, you would use me mightily. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 25, 2017
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Lectionary: 545

Reading 1 Is 7:10-14; 8:10

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
"I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us!"

Responsorial Psalm Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11

R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Reading 2 Heb 10:4-10

Brothers and sisters:
It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats
take away sins.
For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said:

"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.
Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll,
behold, I come to do your will, O God.'"

First he says, "Sacrifices and offerings,
holocausts and sin offerings,
you neither desired nor delighted in."
These are offered according to the law.
Then he says, "Behold, I come to do your will."
He takes away the first to establish the second.
By this "will," we have been consecrated
through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Verse Before the Gospel Jn 1:14b

The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us;
and we saw his glory.

Gospel Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."

Then the angel departed from her.

With All

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032417.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to love Him with all we have. 

They say that if you won't do your best, don't do it at all. Just as important as what you do is how you do it. You should give your best. You should give your all - no matter how simple what you are doing is. Doing your best means you give your all - all you have, all you've got. You cannot control the outcome of everything, but you can control how you do it. You can control how much effort you give as you do it. This is true in different things in life, but especially in loving God. 

God deserves our best, and we should give him that. We should give God our everything. 

In the gospel, Jesus himself said that:

Hear, O Israel!

The Lord our God is Lord alone!

You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

He wants us to love God with everything - all our heart, soul, mind and strength. He wants our whole being. He wants all of us, including all our imperfections. He wants us to love him and offer him everything, because only then can we experience his great love and power. He wants us to love him and surrender to him everything. We need not be holy as we love him. He accepts us as we are. And as we love him and give him everything, he will fill us with everything of his. And as this happen, we will feel his love and power and we will be transformed to be more and more like him. 

Loving God with all we've got is not easy. But it surely is necessary for us to realize and experience all his love as well. May we be moved into action. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder of how I should love you.  Lord, i am sorry for the times i don't love and serve you with all I have. Sorry for holding back my actions for you. Sorry for giving excuses - that I'm busy, that i'm tired, that I do other good things anyway. Help me surrender to you. Help me love you, not the way i want to love you, but the way you want me to love you. As I surrender, as I love you, I ask that you make me more and more like you. May you be pleased with me, my actions, and how I love you.  Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 24, 2017
Lectionary: 241
Friday of the Third Week of Lent

Reading 1 Hos 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, 'Our god,'
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion."

I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
"I am like a verdant cypress tree"–
Because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17

R. (see 11 and 9a) I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
"I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?"
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel Mk 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourselfis worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

For or Against

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032317.cfm http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032317.cfm) reminds me that I should decide if i am for or against God. 

There are a lot of politicians who stay on the safe side. Sometimes you do not know what side they are on – opposition or administration. They criticize the administration, then say they are not part of the opposition. They stay where it will be politically safe and wise based on the situation and the administration. They do not make their own firm stand. This is something that would not work with God.

You are either for God or against him.

There is no middle ground. God does not want a middle ground. In revelation, he said that he will spit out of his mouth those like lukewarm water. We should either be hot or cold. Jesus says in the gospel that we are either for God or against him. We cannot be in the middle – choosing which commandments and laws to obey. We cannot choose what doctrines we are comfortable with and believe in just those. We cannot choose what commandments we want to obey and just do those. It’s all or nothing – for God or against God.

In the first reading, God himself said that we should listen and obey him. This should be a whole hearted decision, and not a half baked one. He untiringly sends people to wake us up, to make us come to our senses and follow him. But he cannot force us. The decision is ours. May we heed the psalmist’s call – to soften our hearts and obey God as we hear his voice today calling us.

Are there commandments I do not follow? Do I choose what I believe in? Do I just do and obey what is comfortable to me? What is God telling me today?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I ignore this. Sorry for the times I only choose what I believe in, what I want, what is comfortable and acceptable to me. Create in me a pure and clean heart, that I may wholeheartedly follow you as I live my life. May I choose you all the time. And may my actions, may my life tell you that I am for you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 23, 2017
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 240

Reading 1 Jer 7:23-28

Thus says the LORD:
This is what I commanded my people:
Listen to my voice;
then I will be your God and you shall be my people.
Walk in all the ways that I command you,
so that you may prosper.

But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.
They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts
and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,
I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;
they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.
When you speak all these words to them,
they will not listen to you either;
when you call to them, they will not answer you.
Say to them:
This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Verse Before the Gospel Jl 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel Lk 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons."
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters."