Bring God to Others

As we celebrate the feast of Mama Mary's visitation to Elizabeth today, the WORD (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/053117.cfm) reminds me that we should bring God to others. 

When we have problems, we usually don't have the will to help others. We focus on ourselves and our situation. Helping others is the least of our concerns. In fact, it is the opposite. We want others to help us. However, we see today Mama Mary doing the opposite. 

After being told by the angel Gabriel that she would be the earthly mother of Jesus, the Son of God, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Imagine how simple, humble and selfless Mama Mary is! Instead of taking care of her own needs or asking others to take care of her because she’s carrying inside her the Son of God, she herself travelled to visit her cousin Elizabeth.

Our concerns should not be our excuses for not bringing God to others. 

Elizabeth recognized how blessed Mama Mary is. John, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb recognized it too! They recognized God visiting them, not as a glorious and powerful king, but as a simple woman in Mary.

We should bring God to others!

Just as Mama Mary's visitation brought God to Elizabeth and her baby John, our presence and visitation to others should bring God to them as well. I believe it is not that hard to do it. Like Mama Mary, she did not come prepared with an exhortation or a preaching about God. She just came as she was with the intent of serving others. Simple as that. I believe this is what we should do as well. We can bring God to others by doing simple things out of love. Genuinely serve others. Being willing to step out of our comfort zone and reach out to others. Treat others right. Simple things, but these could be used by God to reach out to others.

Do I believe that God visits me everyday? Am I ready and willing to be used by God to visit other people as well? What concrete actions can I do to bring God to others? 

May we be sensitive of God’s visitation to us today, and allow him to use us to visit others as well.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the beautiful reminder. I thank you for choosing Mama Mary to be the mother of Jesus. Thank you that you chose a simple and humble woman from a simple place to be the earthly mother of your Son. Thank you because I know that just as you chose and used her, you can also choose me, a simple servant of yours, to accomplish your work and use me in a great way to proclaim your kingdom. Sorry for the times I don't act like her. Sorry for focusing on my concerns and problems, instead of focusing on you and on serving you. I ask that I be more aware of your presence as you visit me today through other people and the circumstances surrounding me. And as I become sensitive to you visiting me, may I also be sensitive and cooperative to allow you to use me to visit others as well. Fill me with your love and presence, so I may bring you to others through the things that I do. Use me and my life to bring and proclaim you to others.  Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 31, 2017
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 572

Reading 1ZEP 3:14-18A

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart, 
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.

OrROM 12:9-16

Brothers and sisters:
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation.

Responsorial PsalmISAIAH 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6

R. (6) Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst 
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

AlleluiaSEE LK 1:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 1:39-56

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."

And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever."

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.

Give It All

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/053017.cfm) reminds me that if I give it all to God, there would be no regrets. 

My uncle tells me of a picture he keeps with him. it’s not a fancy picture taken by an artist using the state of the art camera, but by a normal camera taken by a normal person. It is a picture of me taking free throw while playing basketball in grade school. He does not even remember if the shot went in, but what stuck to him was what I told him – “I gave this my best shot”

I believe God is like this as well. He wont care about the result as much as he does with the process of us obtaining the result. God cares if we give him our best shot, in whatever we do, and not just with the output of the game.

Why? Because God deserves our best. God deserves our all. 

This is what Paul did. In the first reading, we see that he is being called to go somewhere else and he probably would not see the people again. But he has confidence as he is about to leave them. He knows that he gave his all. He knows that he gave his best shot. He gave all his strong and effort to proclaim God to them, so he is leaving with confidence and without regrets. 

Giving God our best, our all, should give us the confidence in the results. 

God expects only our best. He does not compare us with others – with what others give, with the service of others, with what others say. God looks at our heart and checks if what we give him is our best. He is not concerned if the amount we give is just a fraction of what others give. What is important to him is if we give our first fruits, if we give until it hurts, if we give from what we have and need, not just out of our surplus. God does not care of we cannot preach and teach as great preachers do. IF we live our lives in a way pleasing to him, if we teach others the best way we can, then that is more than enough for God. He does not care if we give up a lot for lent or when we sacrifice. What is more important to him is our heart and our intentions as we give these things up. If we give him our best, that is more than enough for Him.

May we be moved and challenged to give God our best shot, our all, and not just to give him out of our surplus or what is comfortable for us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this chance to ponder upon your Word. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not give you my all. Sorry for the times I do not give you my best. Lord, I ask that you help me have a heart that will give my best to you. Help me not to compare myself with other people, and not just to give you what is surplus, what is comfortable for me to give to you. May I give my best to you – the first fruits of my labor, the best of my time, my service, my resources. Remind me that you are not just concerned on the outcome, but rather on me giving my best every step of the way. May I always give you and offer you my all, my best shot in life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 30, 2017
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Lectionary: 298

Reading 1ACTS 20:17-27

From Miletus Paul had the presbyters
of the Church at Ephesus summoned. 
When they came to him, he addressed them,
"You know how I lived among you
the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia.
I served the Lord with all humility
and with the tears and trials that came to me
because of the plots of the Jews,
and I did not at all shrink from telling you
what was for your benefit,
or from teaching you in public or in your homes.
I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks
to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus.
But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.
What will happen to me there I do not know,
except that in one city after another
the Holy Spirit has been warning me
that imprisonment and hardships await me.
Yet I consider life of no importance to me,
if only I may finish my course
and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,
to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace.

"But now I know that none of you
to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels
will ever see my face again.
And so I solemnly declare to you this day
that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,
for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God."

Responsorial PsalmPS 68:10-11, 20-21

R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
Your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed day by day be the Lord,
who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.
God is a saving God for us;
the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death. 
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

AlleluiaJN 14:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will ask the Father
and he will give you another Advocate
to be with you always.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 17:1-11A

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people,
so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth
by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

"I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.
They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them,
and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you,
and they have believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,
because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours
and everything of yours is mine,
and I have been glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world,

but they are in the world, while I am coming to you."

Take Courage

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052917.cfm) reminds me that as followers of Christ, we should take courage in Him. 

In school, upper class students are usually effective tutors and guides. This is because they themselves have experienced what the lower class students are going through. Not only have they experienced, they have overcome as well, so they have powerful stories to share about their experiences, and tips on how to win over the challenges. This is what Jesus has done. He experienced the things we are experiencing, so we can take inspiration from him and look up to him. 

Jesus knows what you are going through. And he knows how to get you through it. 

Jesus is not the ruler of the world. He has told his disciples a lot of times that the enemy is the ruler of the world. But Jesus has conquered the world. In the gospel we see Jesus reminding his disciples, as he is reminding us today, that He has conquered the world. 

"In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Jesus experienced a lot of challenges and troubles while doing God’s work on earth, but he did not lose his focus. Saints also experienced persecution and hardships for Jesus. However, they remained focused on Jesus, they remained focused on serving God.

We all have problems. We all have concerns. And as followers of Christ, we experience extra challenges in life, as we are not in the team of the king of the world. However, Jesus reminds us that we should just continue to trust in him, he may not be the ruler of the world, but he conquered, he is more powerful than the ruler of the world. 

Being on God's team may not exempt us from challenges, problems and persecutions of the world..but it gives us a very powerful support and protection as we face these things. 

May we always look to God and take courage and inspiration from Him, especially when faced with the challenges of the world. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another monday. Thank you for another week. Lord, thank you for the reminder that you have conquered the world. Sorry for the times I lose my faith and focus in you. Sorry for giving up. As I live for you, I just have faith that you will always be there, and I know I am safe because you are bigger and more powerful than my problems and the enemy. I take courage and look up to you for you know what I am going through and you know what to do. I trust in you. Guide me and lead the way. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 29, 2017
Monday of the Seventh Week of EasterLectionary: 297

Reading 1ACTS 19:1-8

While Apollos was in Corinth,
Paul traveled through the interior of the country
and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. 
He said to them,
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?"
They answered him,
"We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
He said, "How were you baptized?"
They replied, "With the baptism of John."
Paul then said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus."
When they heard this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Altogether there were about twelve men.

He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly
with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God. 

Responsorial PsalmPS 68:2-3AB, 4-5ACD, 6-7AB

R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire. 
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD. 
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

AlleluiaCOL 3:1

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 16:29-33

The disciples said to Jesus,
"Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God."
Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived
when each of you will be scattered to his own home
and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world." 

Glorify God

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052817-seventh-sunday-easter.cfm) reminds me that doing God's work glorifies him. 

We all say we love God. We all say we want to serve and glorify Him. However, sometimes we have different ideas of how to do these. Good thing in the gospel today, we are reminded of a concrete way to do it. 

Doing God's work glorifies Him, no matter what that work is. 

Some say that end justifies the means. Some say this is true, but this is not absolute. Sometimes, the results are not always as important as the process. In the gospel, Jesus said that he glorified God by doing what God wanted him to do. He did not say he glorified God by converting half of the world, or proclaiming the gospel in 100 countries. No, he glorified God by accomplishing the work God had for Him.

Obedience is important to God, not just results.

God wants us to obey him and not just focus on the outcome. God wants us to follow his commandments, and did not set a minimum number of people converted, or minimum number of places where we preach his word. the results are actually dependent on Him. He can make our actions effective and powerful, no matter how simple and normal it may be. What he needs from us is to trust him, to obey him, and do what he tells us.

Merely obedience is not what he wants. Obedience go deeper. Obeying him is a sign of trust. We will only obey him if we trust him. Obedience is a sign of belief. We will only obey him if we believe in him. Obedience is a sign of love. We will only obey him if we love him. So when Jesus told us he glorified God by obeying him, he means more than that. He means deeper than that. As we obey him, we will be taken out of our comfort zone, and we would need to trust, believe and love God for us to successfully do this. Then we will glorify Him.

May we take time to pause and reflect to see if we obey him in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for reminding me how I can glorify you. Thank you for knowing me and for giving me a chance to work for your kingdom. help me be like Jesus. May I be able to obey you as I live. may my life be a testament of my obedience, of my love, and of my faith in you. use me and my actions. May I bring people to you and glorify you with my simple actions done out of love and obedience to you. amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 28, 2017 - Seventh Sunday Of Easter
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Lectionary: 59

Reading 1ACTS 1:12-14

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles
returned to Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,
a sabbath day's journey away.

When they entered the city
they went to the upper room where they were staying,
Peter and John and James and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew,
James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot,
and Judas son of James.
All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,
together with some women,
and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Responsorial PsalmPS 27:1, 4, 7-8

R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek:
to dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 21 PT 4:13-16

Beloved:
Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,
so that when his glory is revealed
you may also rejoice exultantly.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you,
for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
But let no one among you be made to suffer
as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer.
But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed
but glorify God because of the name.

AlleluiaCF. JN 14:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord.
I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 17:1-11A

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people,
so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth
by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

"I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.
They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your word.
Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,
because the words you gave to me I have given to them,
and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you,
and they have believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,
because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours
and everything of yours is mine,
and I have been glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world,
but they are in the world, while I am coming to you."