The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101917.cfm)
reminds me that we all sin, and as we experience God's goodness and
forgiveness, we should also pass it on to others.
There are times when we have
dinner in restaurants and I am not very happy with the service. The staff were
not friendly and were not readily available to help. During these times, before
paying the bill, I initially thought of not leaving the usual tip because of
their bad service. However, for some reason, I was reminded that God is
generous, and that I myself do not deserve all the blessings I have been
receiving, but God blesses me anyway…so eventually I decided to pass God’s
goodness and blessings to others even if I felt they did not deserve it.
God is generous.
In the first reading, we see
that all of us sin and are deprived of the glory of God. This is true. No
matter how good we appear to be, or how good we think we are, we still sin. All
of us. and because of that, we fall short of God’s glory. However, God is
generous. It is by God’s grace that we are justified. It is by God’s generosity
and goodness that we still experience his abundant blessings – even if we do
not deserve it.
We should pay
it forward.
We should do our best to live
right, to live pleasing to God. And I believe one of the best ways of thanking
God is by paying it forward – of blessing others with his blessings, of being
good to others, of making his love more real and more alive through our life
and our works.
May
we realize how generous God is, and may it move us to pass God’s goodness to
others.
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 many times I sin
and hurt you. Sorry for the many times I do things my way. Help me live right.
Help me live pleasing to you. I promise to do my best to pay your goodness
forward. I promise to do my best to share your blessings and your love to
others – especially to those whom I feel do not deserve it. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
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October 19, 2017
Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
Lectionary: 470
Reading 1ROM 3:21-30
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God–
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
Responsorial PsalmPS 130:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6AB
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
R. With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
AlleluiaJN 14:6
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 11:47-54
"Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
'I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute'
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
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