Away From The Crowd

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020918.cfm) reminds me how important and powerful time alone with God is. 

They say that the environment has a big influence on what you become. Behavior is affected by the environment you are in. if you are in a conducive environment and are always with intelligent and diligent people, you tend to be like them. You get and learn their attitude and behavior. If you are always with church friends who take their faith and spiritual growth seriously, you will most probably put a premium on your faith. You would be influenced by them. However, this can also affect in a negative way. when you are with people who don’t give importance to their faith, you may also become affected. This is probably the reason why in the gospel, Jesus took the man by himself away from the people before healing him.

Alone time with God is important, and powerful.

Probably there were people in the crowd who were doubting Jesus. Probably they did not believe in his love and power. Probably their intention from bringing him the man was not for his healing, but to see if Jesus has power. Probably the man’s faith would be affected if he stayed with the people. Or probably, what's important to Jesus is not what others think, but what the man thinks. so Jesus took him by himself away from them. 

Others can influence us in a negative way. In the first reading, we see that ten tribes rebelled against God. They influenced each other. This is why our relationship with God should be stronger than our external influences. 

Personal relationship with God is very important.

No matter what other people may say or think, no matter what the situation may be, it is important to have faith in God. And this can be strengthened if we have a deep and personal relationship with him. and this relationship will be developed just like any other relationship – if we spend time alone, if we give importance, if we get to know him better. 

In life, people will have different opinion. Some will encourage you, and some will dishearten you. it is because of this that it is important to have our own personal relationship with God. No matter what other people may say, we should be firm in faith, focusing on Him and his love and trusting his plans.

May we be encouraged to work on our personal relationship with God, and regularly spend time alone with 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 the reminder on the importance of having a personal relationship with you. Sorry for the times I ignore the importance of this. Sorry for the times I am too lazy to work on and develop my personal relationship with you. I want a deep personal relationship with you. help me work on it. I promise to make the effort to build  and strengthen it, and I ask you to bless my effort. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

February 9, 2018

Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 333

Reading 1 1 KGS 11:29-32; 12:19

Jeroboam left Jerusalem,
and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.
The two were alone in the area,
and the prophet was wearing a new cloak.
Ahijah took off his new cloak,
tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam:

“Take ten pieces for yourself;
the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp
and will give you ten of the tribes.
One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant,
and of Jerusalem,
the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’”

Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:10-11AB, 12-13, 14-15

R. (11a and 9a) I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
"There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt."
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
"My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels."
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand."
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.

Alleluia SEE ACTS 16:14B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 7:31-37

Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man's ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!")
And immediately the man's ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
"He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."