Real Help

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110617.cfm) reminds me how God wants me to help others. 

There is a sad reality in the world – that there are very few people who really help for the sake of helping. We see a lot of people, politicians and the like, helping others on national television. However, many of these are not genuine. They want something in return. They want media exposure, they want marginalized votes on election, or they want others to owe them something so they can collect favors when the time comes. This is what Jesus wants us to avoid in the gospel:

“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

This is real helping. Not expecting anything in return from the people you help. A man I look up to once said that you help simply because you want to help. There should be no expectations that the person will be good to you after you help, and even a simple thank you from the person should not be necessary. You help because you want to help. You help out of the goodness and graces of God in your life.

Real helping is not an earthly investment. You help because yo want to. But as you help others,  God will be the one to repay you.

God is a fair God. He rewards us for what we do – be it good or bad. And as we help others, we will also be rewarded for it. God sees the intention of our hearts. IF we want worldly rewards from those who help us, we will get that. We will be acknowledged, we will get favors, and that’s it. However, if God sees that we really like to help others and do not expect anything in return,  God will be the one to repay us and bless us, not just because we help others, but because He wants us to continue to help others with his blessings.

May we always remember how God wants us to help, and do it to others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for another chance to love and experience your love and blessings. Lord, I thank you for all my blessings. Sorry for the times I am not willing to share them with others. Sorry for being selfish and having ulterior motives for helping. Gie me a pure heart. Purify me. I want to help others with my blessings. May I always be ready and willing to share your blessings with others, and as I do so, may I expect nothing in return, for I am only sharing what I got from you. Let your blessings flow through me. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 6, 2017
Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 485

Reading 1ROM 11:29-36

Brothers and sisters:
The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

Just as you once disobeyed God 
but have now received mercy
because of their disobedience,
so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.
For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given him anything
that he may be repaid?

For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To God be glory forever. Amen.

Responsorial PsalmPS 69:30-31, 33-34, 36

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
"See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not."
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
They shall dwell in the land and own it,
and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall inhabit it.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

AlleluiaJN 8:31B-32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 14:12-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."