Priority

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012818.cfm) reminds me who should be our first in life. 

People usually give time, or lack of it, as an excuse. If only I had time, I would do this. Or do that. Or go here. We always blame the lack of time for not being able to do things. However, I believe that we have enough time - enough for the things we value. Its a matter of prioritizing things. We have time, and we will make time, for our priorities. 

The second reading, at first glance, seems like it goes against marriage. However, if we take a closer look, we will see that it is not a literal sermon that it is better to be unmarried rather than to be married. This is obviously not the case, especially since matrimony is one of the sacraments. What God means by unmarried here is being unattached to anything or anyone, especially if they come in before God in our lives.

Nothing should be more important than God. 

In life, there are a lot of distractions. For parents, they think of their children, their education and being able to provide for their family. A married couple thinks of being able to pay the bills, to be able to support each other, and prepare themselves to start a family. Older people think about their health and finances. Young professionals think of their careers and business, how they can succeed and improve their quality of life. Of course, there are hobbies, vices, and other things that keep us busy. With all of these, it is very easy to lose focus, to lose sight of God, to forget him.

When we have a lot of things on our head, we have less space in our heart for God.

When we have a lot of things on our head, when we have a lot of plans, when we have a lot of problems, when we worry too much, we wont be able to give God what’s due him. It will take time away from God, from worshipping him and working for him. It takes away time and energy for prayer, and even if we pray, it will all be supplications, asking God what we need – and we wont be able to thank and listen to Him. These things can easily take God’s place in our lives. We should learn how to prioritize, and put God on top of that list. 

May we be sensitive to these things, and may we do our best not to let anything and anyone take God’s place in our lives. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times you are not first in my life. Sorry for the times I let my emotions, my worries, my fears, my plans, and other things take your place. Sorry for losing focus on you. Help me be unmarried to anything In this world. Help me to always put you first, because that’s what you deserve in my life. You know how much I love you and how much I want you to be first in my life, and I ask you help me live it consistently. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

January 28, 2018

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 71

Reading 1 DT 18:15-20

Moses spoke to all the people, saying:
"A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you
from among your own kin;
to him you shall listen.
This is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb
on the day of the assembly, when you said,
'Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God,
nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.'
And the LORD said to me, 'This was well said.
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin,
and will put my words into his mouth;
he shall tell them all that I command him.
Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name,
I myself will make him answer for it.
But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name
an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak,
or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.'"

Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2 1 COR 7:32-35

Brothers and sisters:
I should like you to be free of anxieties.
An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord,
how he may please the Lord.
But a married man is anxious about the things of the world,
how he may please his wife, and he is divided.
An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord,
so that she may be holy in both body and spirit.
A married woman, on the other hand,
is anxious about the things of the world,
how she may please her husband.
I am telling you this for your own benefit,
not to impose a restraint upon you,
but for the sake of propriety
and adherence to the Lord without distraction.

Alleluia MT 4:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light;
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death,
light has arisen.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 1:21-28

Then they came to Capernaum,
and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said,
"Quiet! Come out of him!"
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another,
"What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.