Go and Proclaim

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042217.cfm) reminds me that God asks us to go and proclaim him, no matter how imperfect we are. 

People usually train to prepare for something. Contest in school. Athletic meets and competitions. Tests. We do our best to train, prepare, and be better - so we would be more confident in what we are supposed to do. Being unprepared do not give confidence. You usually fail or don't do good when you are not prepared. Good thing God does not act this way. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene and instructing her to tell the others. He appeared to others and told them to tell the disciples. However, the disciples did not believe. Yes, you can't blame them. It is hard to think Jesus will really rise from the dead, they saw him die. So when Jesus appeared to them, he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart. Makulit, ayaw maniwala. May trust issues. But Jesus did not stop there. He saw more in them. Despite their unbelief, he still had faith in them. He saw what they are capable of. And he will make that happen. 

Kahit may trust issues ka, hindi ka titigilan mg Diyos hanggang maniwala ka sa kanya. 

Jesus told his disciples in the gospel to go and proclaim the gospel to every creature. They did. And In the first reading, we see Peter and John doing this, despite threats from church leaders at that time. From unbelievers, they became firm in faith, proclaiming God to others despite the danger in their lives. Jesus believed in them and did not stop until they believed in Him and realized what they are capable of. 

In the same way God told his disciples to proclaim him, he too is telling this to us today.

God does not need us to be like his disciples and become full time missionaries. They say that actions speak louder than words, and the best way to proclaim Jesus and the gospel is by how we live our lives. We proclaim him where we are, whatever we do, by the way we live our lives.

They say that we have different mission fields in life. We need not go to other countries to proclaim Jesus. We proclaim him in our families, in our workplace, in our school, and in the different people we meet and encounter. We proclaim him not just by telling people about him and the gospel, but by how we live our lives. If we live honest – treating people right, respecting the rules and the leaders, being good to others in need, being joyful despite all the problems, then people will see Jesus. They will experience Jesus love, peace, hope and faithfulness, which is just as powerful, if not more powerful, than telling them of the life of Jesus and the love of God.

May we be willing to be living proofs of God in this world. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for not doing this. Sorry for not proclaiming you through my life. Sorry for being hard headed and for having a hard heart. Sorry for not believing in you.  Lord, help me live for you. Help me live right. Help me live in a way pleasing to you. As I try to do so, I ask that you move in me and through me, so that people would know and experience you through me. Change me and transform me so I can make you more real and more alive in this world. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 22, 2017
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Lectionary: 266

Reading 1 Acts 4:13-21

Observing the boldness of Peter and John
and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,
and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.
Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them,
they could say nothing in reply.
So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin,
and conferred with one another, saying,
"What are we to do with these men?
Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign
was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
But so that it may not be spread any further among the people,
let us give them a stern warning
never again to speak to anyone in this name."

So they called them back
and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John, however, said to them in reply,
"Whether it is right in the sight of God
for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."
After threatening them further,
they released them,
finding no way to punish them,
on account of the people who were all praising God
for what had happened.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21

R. (21a) I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
"The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power."
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Ps 118:24

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, "Go into the whole world

and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."