The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100617.cfm)
reminds me that God gives us opportunities to repent.
There was a time that there
were a lot of game shows in the Philippines. And one of the usual highlight of
these shows is the host making the contestant choose between cash and the
contents of a chosen box. Content could range from zero to one million. And in
most cases, the host knows what is inside the box. That is why sometimes the
amount of cash offered is proportionate to the amount in the box. Some
contestants insist on choosing the box , and when the host knows that the
amount in the box is zero, he usually gives opportunities for the contestant to
change his mind and choose the cash. However, the show needs to end. And no
matter how the host tries to persuade the contestant to change his mind, final
answer will come from the contestant. This is similar to how God deals with us.
God gives us opportunities to change our ways and choose him. He
can try to persuade us, but the final decision is ours.
In the gospel, Jesus reminds us
that not all towns and people chose him. Not all repented. But he gave it all
he can. He performed mighty deeds and actions in the hopes that the people will
change their ways and realize who he is. He gave them a lot of opportunities to
change and repent. But it does not last forever. Time will come that God will
take note what they really want to happen - If they want to follow God or not.
those who choose to ignore him will be punished.
God
gives us opportunities as well. He sends us reminders. He sends us people. He
uses different ways and different things to reminds us of who he is, to remind
us of how we should act. However, he cannot force us. He cannot make us do
something we don't want. He cannot save us if we don't want to be saved. He
will honor our choice and will reward or punish us accordingly.
May we be sensitive to God's
reminders. And be moved into changing for, following and serving him.
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 another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I
ignore you. Sorry for the times I choose to love myself more, to do my desires,
even if they are not what you want. Help me be humble. Help me be sensitive.
Help me choose you and live for you. Because I want to spend eternity with you.
Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 459
Reading 1BAR 1:15-22
"Justice is with the Lord, our God;
and we today are flushed with shame,
we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem,
that we, with our kings and rulers
and priests and prophets, and with our ancestors,
have sinned in the Lord's sight and disobeyed him.
We have neither heeded the voice of the Lord, our God,
nor followed the precepts which the Lord set before us.
From the time the Lord led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt
until the present day,
we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God,
and only too ready to disregard his voice.
And the evils and the curse that the Lord enjoined upon Moses, his servant,
at the time he led our ancestors forth from the land of Egypt
to give us the land flowing with milk and honey,
cling to us even today.
For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God,
in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us,
but each one of us went off
after the devices of his own wicked heart,
served other gods,
and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God."
Responsorial PsalmPS 79:1B-2, 3-5, 8, 9
O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the corpses of your servants
as food to the birds of heaven,
the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
They have poured out their blood like water
round about Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury them.
We have become the reproach of our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
AlleluiaPS 95:8
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 10:13-16
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.'
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
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