Just Do It

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050317.cfm) reminds me that God is pleased with our obedience. 

The 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 to 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 of our actions 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 and how we obey him in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another Wednesday. Thank you for reminding me how I can glorify you. Sorry for the times I do not obey you. Sorry for having a lot of reasons and excuses not to do what you are asking of me. 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 day!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 3, 2017
Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
Lectionary: 561

Reading 11 COR 15:1-8

I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,
of the Gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more
than five hundred brothers and sisters at once,
most of whom are still living,
though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the Apostles.
Last of all, as to one born abnormally,
he appeared to me.

Responsorial PsalmPS 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day;
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.

AlleluiaJN 14:6B, 9C

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord;
Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, 
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. 
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."