Lakas Mo

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/103017.cfm) reminds me how much God loves me and what He would do for me. 

There are people who we know are in very good terms with others. If we need something with parents, we tend to ask someone who's in very good terms with them. A favorite child, or family member. Someone they can or won't say no to. Same at work, we tend to go through or include someone who we know is in very good terms with the boss so we can get support as well. Malakas. This is how we are with God. 

Malakas ka sa Diyos. 

God will go out of his way for us. That’s how special we are to him.

In the gospel, Jesus could have ignored the woman. Or he could have just cured her by his words. However, Jesus loved her so much that he wanted her to feel a personal connection. After telling her she is free and cured, Jesus laid her hands on her. Jesus went out of his way to personally make her feel his love and healing. And when other people questioned him, Jesus defended his actions and the importance of the woman. He went out of his way for the woman. He was willing to go through to all the trouble for the woman, just so the woman would feel his personal connection and concern for her. This is also how God sees each one of us. Indeed, he goes out of his way for us.

There are times in life we feel our concerns are too shallow, or too complex for God. We may also feel God is too busy for us. Today, we are reminded that He will go out of his way for us. that’s how much he loves us. That is how special we are to Him. 

May we always remember how special we are to God, be inspired to repay him with our love and service, just like the woman in the gospel who glorified God after being healed.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for having issues. Sorry for being dramatic and not coming to you for whatever reason. Sorry for not having faith in you. Sorry for thinking you cannot do anything about my problems. Lord, as you went out of your way for the woman, I know you are telling me that you will also go out of your way for me. Thank you for loving me that much. I come to you in humility and faith bringing my concerns, and I have faith that you will take care of them. And as I come to you, as I experience your love, I will praise and glorify you with me life. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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October 30, 2017
Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 479

Reading 1ROM 8:12-17

Brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a spirit of adoption,
through which we cry, "Abba, Father!"
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

Responsorial PsalmPS 68:2 AND 4, 6-7AB, 20-21

R. (21a) Our God is the God of salvation.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
R. Our God is the God of salvation.
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. Our God is the God of salvation.
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. Our God is the God of salvation.

AlleluiaJN 17:17B, 17A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
"Woman, you are set free of your infirmity."
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
"There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day."
The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?"
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.