Servant Leader

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022818.cfm) reminds me that God wants me to be a servant leader. 

Most of us want to be successful. We want to be rich and powerful. We want to be achievers. We want to be leaders. However, As followers of Christ, we should imitate him. We should imitate how he lived his life. We should not be contented with just being a leader. 

In the gospel, we see that Jesus told his disciples that those who want to be great should serve first. He knows what he was saying. He lived it. Jesus, the Son of God, came down to our level and became human. Not only that, he came not as a strong and mighty king, but as a baby in a manger in a small town of Bethlehem. No fuss, no attention to himself.

Christ’s life was of pure obedience to God the Father. It was pure surrender to God’s will, even when it is difficult to. It was pure service to God through human beings, even the unlovable ones. This is a result of Christ’s pure love to God the Father – willing to empty himself and allow God to fill him, to control him, to use him. This is how Christ wants us to live.

Christ came to serve us. He could have asked his disciples or the angels to do all the work. Preaching. Proclaiming. Miracles. Praying. But he did not. He did things himself. Instead of asking others to serve him, the son of God, he came to serve us to the point of death. Napaka baliktad sa mundo natin where  powerful people are being served by those who have less.

What is my definition of greatness? In what way am I a leader? More than a leader, am I a servant leader? What do I want to do or accomplish with my life? Am I humble enough to let God control my life or do I want things to happen my own way?

Christ was not just a leader, he was a servant leader. In that regard, being a servant comes first before being a leader. Thus being a great leader requires being a great servant as well. 

May this inspire us as we live our lives and build our dreams. This is what God wants us to be as well. 

Father God,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you Lord for reminding me that your ways are not the same as the way of this world we are currently living in. Lord, sorry for the times I seek greatness in the ways of the world, not yours. Sorry for not having the willingness and desire to serve you through others. help me have the desire to strive for greatness, not in terms of this world, but in yours. Help me use my life on earth to prepare for eternity with you. May I desire to serve other people, for in serving them, I serve you Lord. Use me and fill me with everything that is of you as you take away everything that is not of you. Fill me to the overflowing so I can share this to others. This I ask in faith in Jesus name, Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

February 28, 2018

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
Lectionary: 232

Reading 1 JER 18:18-20

The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said,
"Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah.
It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests,
nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.
And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue;
let us carefully note his every word."

Heed me, O LORD,
and listen to what my adversaries say.
Must good be repaid with evil
that they should dig a pit to take my life?
Remember that I stood before you
to speak in their behalf,
to turn away your wrath from them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 31:5-6, 14, 15-16

R. (17b) Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side,
as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

Verse Before The Gospel JN 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Gospel MT 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day."

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, "What do you wish?"
She answered him,
"Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."
Jesus said in reply,
"You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,i
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Double Life

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022718.cfm) reminds me that I should not live a double life.

In the movie “The Amazing Spider Man”, there was a line by Aunt May to Peter Parker. “Secrets have a cost. They’re not free.” We know how applicable it was in the movie, but I believe this is true as well even to us, normal human beings. Secrets have a cost. Spider man was living a double life. He is Peter Parker and Spider Man. Some of us, too, have double lives. We may not have a different identity, we may not be a superhero, but we are living double lives if we are not living consistently with what we say.

In the gospel, the scribes and Pharisees know what they should do. Even Jesus acknowledges this. “Do and observe whatever they tell you” These Pharisees and scribes know how we should behave, how God wants us to behave. But they are not living it. Jesus further says – “but do not follow their example” Yes, double lives.. What you say is different from what you actually do.

Words and actions go hand in hand. They should be in agreement with each other. 

Sometimes, we may not realize, but we may already be living double lives. We know what God wants. We know the 10 commandments, we know we should be good people, we know the importance of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. However, we may not necessarily do these things. We may say these, but we may not do these things, especially when no one is watching us, when no one can see what we are doing. It is easy to be good when you’re with good people, with church friends, with people who have the same values as you. However, when we are with other people, people who do not necessarily value these things, we may get carried away and act differently from what we say, from what we know, from how we act when we’re with church friends. Double lives.

In what ways am I living double lives? Do I have secrets? What are the bad habits and vices I cannot let go? What is keeping me from letting go of these things? Am I willing to let God control my life?

May we be conscious of how God wants us to live, and strive to live right and pleasing to God. May we live our faith and knowledge of God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me to live a life consistent with your ways all the time. Thank you for challenging me not to live a double life. I am sorry Lord for living a double life sometimes. Sometimes I act differently or behave differently when I am with other people, when no one can see me. I forget that you Lord always see what I do. Help me live right. Help me live pleasing to you. Help me live my faith. I pray that you give me the strength to submit to you and follow you all the time. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

February 27, 2018

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
Lectionary: 231

Reading 1 IS 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the LORD,
princes of Sodom!
Listen to the instruction of our God,
people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;
But if you refuse and resist,
the sword shall consume you:
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Verse Before The Gospel  EZ 18:31

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Gospel MT 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
"The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people's shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called 'Master';
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Siksik, Liglig at Umaapaw

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022618.cfm) reminds me to be a generous giver. 

They say that the more you give, the more you will have. Does not make sense, right? The more you give, the less there will be for you - at least in the worldly sense. But today's gospel tells us otherwise.

Give and gifts will be given to you; 

a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, 

will be poured into your lap

There are some things better expressed and more heartfelt when said in the native language. And this is one of them. The Filipino translation of the verse says:

Magbigay kayo at kayo'y bibigyan ng Diyos; 

hustong takal, siksik, liglig, at umaapaw pa 

ang ibibigay sa inyo.

The more you give, the more you will receive. This does not just relate with financial blessings. As we see in the gospel, God wants us to be generous in giving mercy, love, and forgiveness as well. If you want to have more of these things, you should learn how to give and let go. We should be generous in giving love. In giving our forgiveness to others. The first reading and the psalm remind us how sinful we are, yet God continues to love and forgive us anyway. So we should pass this to others. When God sees you are generous in giving away, he will give you more - not just so you can have more, but so that you can give away more. 

God cannot be outgiven. 

This is just how he is. He will not let you give him more than he gives you. Whatever we give him will surely be returned back to us. We all sin. We all hurt God. But he continues to love us. To bless us.  And the more we give, the more he can give us back, because God can only fill us up when we are empty.

What am I giving to God? How do i give - do i give the best, the first fruits, or just my surplus? Looking back in my life, what situations have I given to God - my time, talent and treasure? In what ways has he rewarded me?

May we be generous to give and share what we have to others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord I thank you for being generous. Indeed you cannot be outgiven. Lord, sorry for not being like this. Sorry for keeping things to myself. Sorry for not having the desire to share to others. I pray that you give me a heart like yours. Give me a heart that will always be ready and willing to give you my best, not because I want something in return, but because I am just full of your love and blessings, and the natural reaction is to share you to others. Let me be generous as well in giving love and forgiveness, as I get these from you even if I do not deserve them. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

February 26, 2018

Monday of the Second Week in Lent
Lectionary: 230

Reading 1 DN 9:4B-10

"Lord, great and awesome God,
you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you
and observe your commandments!
We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
We have not obeyed your servants the prophets,
who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,
our fathers, and all the people of the land.
Justice, O Lord, is on your side;
we are shamefaced even to this day:
we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem,
and all Israel, near and far,
in all the countries to which you have scattered them
because of their treachery toward you.
O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers,
for having sinned against you.
But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!
Yet we rebelled against you
and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God,
to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets."

Responsorial Psalm PS 79:8, 9, 11 AND 13

R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
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. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Let the prisoners' sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Verse Before The Gospel SEE JN 6:63C, 68C

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel LK 6:36-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

"Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you."

Real Offering

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022518.cfm) reminds me how an offering to God should be like. 

 

In one way or another, we offer things to God. During Sunday mass, we give our love offering. When we pray and when we serve him, we offer our time. However, we do not always give God the best, the first fruits as we offer him. Sometimes, we just offer our surplus – extra money on Sunday, extra time in service, or we pray just when we are about to sleep and tired from the day’s work. This is not how we should offer to God. 

God deserves the best we can offer Him.

Abraham had a lot of properties and resources, but the most important for him is his son Isaac. Is was probably the greatest gift God gave him. However, his love for God is greater than anything he has in this world. when God asked him to offer his own son, he did not bargain or think twice. He just followed – until the angel told him to stop, and he offered an animal instead.

IF we love God so much, we would offer him the best that we can. We will not be contented with offering him from our surplus – extra money, extra time, extra resources. We only want what’s best for the one we love, and we should always strive to give God our very best in everything we offer him – actions, time, talent and treasure.

 

May we be inspired by Abraham, and remember that when we offer God the best, God will give us back more than what we offer him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. thank you for another reminder. Thank you for your love. Sorry for the times I just give you my surplus. Sorry for not giving you the first fruits, the best I can. sorry for the times I get contented with just offering you what I have. Lord, help me build my faith. Help me increase my love for you. May I always feel and remember your love. May I love you more and more, so that I would always strive to give you the very best I can. Amen.

 

Blessed Sunday!

 

In Christ,

-g-

 

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/02/filled-to-give.html

 

 

February 25, 2018

Second Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 26

 

Reading 1 GN 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18

God put Abraham to the test.
He called to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am!" he replied.
Then God said:
"Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah.
There you shall offer him up as a holocaust
on a height that I will point out to you."

When they came to the place of which God had told him,
Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.
Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven,
"Abraham, Abraham!"
"Here I am!" he answered.
"Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger.
"Do not do the least thing to him.
I know now how devoted you are to God,
since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."
As Abraham looked about,
he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.
So he went and took the ram
and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.

Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:
"I swear by myself, declares the LORD,
that because you acted as you did
in not withholding from me your beloved son,
I will bless you abundantly
and make your descendants as countless
as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;
your descendants shall take possession
of the gates of their enemies,
and in your descendants all the nations of the earth
shall find blessing—
all this because you obeyed my command."

Responsorial Psalm PS 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19

R. (116:9) I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
I believed, even when I said,
"I am greatly afflicted."
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

Reading 2 ROM 8:31B-34

Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?

Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us, who will condemn?
Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised—
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.

Verse Before The Gospel CF. MT 17:5

From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard:
This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

Gospel MK 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Love Now

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022418.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to love now. 

 

In the reading, we see the time God wants us to act, and do it now. Today. As human beings, we always say that we are waiting for the perfect time. That we are waiting for the perfect opportunity. We wait for a perfect time before we ask someone out. We wait for a perfect time before we tell someone our feelings. We wait for a perfect time before we make that career move. We wait for a perfect time before we apologize to someone. We wait for a perfect time, when we have more, before we give to others. However, when we wait for the perfect time and perfect opportunity, we just might not get it. There will always be something that could be improved. It will almost always never be perfect. So we should make the most of what we have, especially with God. 

 

In doing God’s work, now is the perfect time to act.

 

We should not delay serving God through different things, different people, and different ministries. We should not delay helping out others – regardless of our social status in life. We should not delay apologizing to others, and receiving these apologies. We should not delay bringing others to Christ and Christ to others. We should not delay praising God and glorifying and magnifying him in our lives. We should not delay loving And serving God. We should not delay loving others. 

Now is the time to love.

God is not waiting for a perfect time. God expects us to create the perfect time – and that time is now.

What aspects in your life are you waiting for “the perfect time” before you act on it? What things in your life are in your “to do” list? What things have you been putting off, giving yourself “valid” excuses for doing so? What things in your life do God want you to start doing now?

May we heed God’s call to love now. 

 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for giving me another day to live. And thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I pray that you give me courage and enable me to do things for you now. Give me the will to start serving you and start loving you through others now. Today. Sorry for making all the excuses. May I not wait for the perfect time to do your will and to serve you. May I not delay doing what you are asking me to do. Lord, may I make the most out of today. Amen.

 

Blessed weekend!

 

In Christ,

-g-

 

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2017/06/perfect-love.html

 

 

February 24, 2018

Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 229

 

Reading 1 DT 26:16-19

Moses spoke to the people, saying:
"This day the LORD, your God,
commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.
Be careful, then,
to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:
he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways
and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,
and to hearken to his voice.
And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:
you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;
and provided you keep all his commandments,
he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory
above all other nations he has made,
and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,
as he promised."

Responsorial PsalmPS 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8

R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Verse Before The Gospel 2 COR 6:2B

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel MT 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Final Decision

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022318.cfm) reminds me that I should choose God until the end. 

 

In the game who wants to be a millionaire, the contestant is given choices. After analyzing the choices and picking an answer, the host will ask if it is the final answer. If the contestant says yes, then thats the only time the choice will be checked if correct. The contestant can change the answer until he says it is final. The same is true with God. 

God looks at our final answer. Our final action and decision will be judged, not the initial one. 

In the first reading, they say the wicked men refer to the sinners and outcasts at that time, while righteous men are the scribes and pharisees. God gives chances to sinners, to wicked people to change their ways and follow God. Maybe they have not known who God really is. Maybe they're just waiting for someone to guide them to repentance. That is why God is waiting for them to repent and he will save them. However, the righteous already know what to do and how to act. So if they do evil, it is with the knowledge that it is indeed evil, and it shows they are choosing wickedness over good, so they will be punished even if they did good works before. 

We all sin. We all hurt God. And we all have the opportunity to choose God, or choose wickedness. God does not judge us by our sins, but by our heart. Our heart determines our final action, our final answer. The state of our heart will determine if we choose God or wickedness. Then when we make that choice, that's the time we will be judged. 

May we take comfort in the fact that God does not judge us by our initial actions, and make the most of every opportunity to repent and choose God consistently until the end. 

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 all the blessings. Thank you for your patience and love for me. Lord, sorry for my sins. Sorry for hurting you. Sorry for the times I choose wickedness over you. Help me live right. Help me live pleasing to you. I want to be with you. Help me see you and choose you in the little decisions in life, so that as I live, I will be consistently showing you what my final answer is. May my actions tell you how much I love and choose you.  Amen. 

 

Blessed Day!

 

In Christ,

-g-

 

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2017/02/higher-standards.html

 

 

February 23, 2018

Friday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 228

Reading 1 EZ 18:21-28

Thus says the Lord GOD:
If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,
if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD.
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,
the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,
can he do this and still live?
None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith and committed sin;
because of this, he shall die.
You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!"
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial Psalm PS 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8

R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
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. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Verse Before The Gospel EZ 18:31

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
And make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Gospel MT 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you,
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

Be Like Peter

The WORD today (see  http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022218.cfm) reminds me to be a servant leader like Peter.  

 

As we celebrate the feast of the Chair of St Peter, we are reminded of him in the readings. 

 

The first reading shows us how saint Peter, the Church’s leader, wants us to serve. He exhorts the church leaders to take care of those entrusted to their care and not abuse them – to be faithful to their task and be rewarded when Jesus, the chief shepherd, comes again. This is different from the world's view of leaders. Peter wants us to serve as we lead. 

The gospel reminds us that Peter was anointed and chosen by Jesus, how Jesus entrusted the Church to Peter.

And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven

Jesus loved us so much that He appointed and anointed Peter to take care of his church. God revealed to Peter who Jesus was. That is how anointed he is. Jesus trusts in us so much that he gave us one of our own to be our leader in faith. And I believe he is calling us to be like Peter, even if we are not church leaders, to serve Him and bring others to him as we take care of each other in following Christ. We are calling him to be like Peter and serve others as we lead them. To make his love more alive and more real in this world. 

 

May we look up to Peter and his love for God, and may we always allow God to lead and shepherd us as the psalmist says, us as we serve others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me how much you love me. Thank you for giving us saint Peter to take care of us. Thank you for continuing to guide us through the Pope which we consider as the successor of Saint Peter. We pray for the Pope, the servant of the servants of God.  Lord, I also ask that in my own little way, you use me as your servant and may I bring glory and happiness to you. Amen.

 

Blessed Day!

 

In Christ,

-g-

 

 

 

February 22, 2018

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
Lectionary: 535

 

Reading I 1 PT 5:1-4

Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1-3A, 4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Verse Before The Gospel MT 16:18

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

Gospel  MT 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."