Depend on God

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020118.cfm) reminds me that I should always depend on God. 

When we travel, we usually bring a lot of things. We pack a lot in our luggages. We want to have extras so we can capture every moment and be connected on the web. However, this can lead to us being worried and and concerned about these things and not the trip. This is what Jesus wants us to avoid. 

In the gospel, Jesus instructed his disciples to bring just what is necessary, the very basics. He told them not to take anything except a walking stick

Why a walking stick…?

In those times, it was normal for people to have a walking stick. People, especially those advanced in age and those who often travel, have a walking stick. It helps them since they travel through far distances. It gives them additional strength by acting as their third leg, or something that would support their weary legs so as not to take all the weight of the body. It is also used to protect themselves from stray animals as they travel. Also, we see in the bible God using the walking stick or staff to perform great things - Moses parted the red sea, led Israelites to victories in wars, and drew water out of a stone all by using a staff or a stick.

How light the disciples must have felt in that trip. No extra things to weigh them down.

However, in today’s day and age, we sometimes feel that we need a lot of things to survive. There are a lot of gadgets, smartphones and power banks, that we feel we need with us every time. When we travel, we bring with us a lot of these things. That’s why sometimes, instead of enjoying our journey and focusing on it, our attention is diverted because we have to think of what we brought, making sure nothing gets lost or left behind. We need battery and internet signal so we can take pictures upload at once to social media, then we check how our friends would react to our posts. 

This is exactly what Jesus did not want to happen to his apostles. He wanted them to remain simple so they could focus on their task. More than that, they wanted them to have faith that God will provide as they stay focused on God. Divine Providence.

God wants us to depend on Him as we journey in life. 

In the first reading, this was what David told his son Solomon. He told him to live right, love, serve and depend on God as he reigns on the kingdom. He does not want Solomon to be proud of what he is and what he can do. He wants Solomon to always be dependent on God, especially as he governs as king. 

May we be challenged and see what things we do not really need, the things that are taking our focus away from God and the task he has in store for us. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding us the importance of staying light – to rid ourselves of anything and everything that prevents us from focusing on you and from doing what you want us to do. Thank you for Pope Francis who reminds us and who lives this. Lord, sorry for forgetting this. Sorry for being worried about a lot of things. Sorry for losing my focus on you. there are a lot of distractions in my life, and I ask that you help me keep my focus on you. I am sorry for allowing myself to be distracted, and for considering as necessary some of the extras in life. Help me have faith and travel light as I take this journey towards you. I have faith that you will always provide, so I just need to  focus on you and put you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

February 1, 2018

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 326

Reading 1 1 KGS 2:1-4, 10-12

When the time of David's death drew near,
he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:
"I am going the way of all flesh.
Take courage and be a man.
Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways
and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees
as they are written in the law of Moses,
that you may succeed in whatever you do,
wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfill
the promise he made on my behalf when he said,
'If your sons so conduct themselves
that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart
and with their whole soul,
you shall always have someone of your line
on the throne of Israel.'"

David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.
The length of David's reign over Israel was forty years:
he reigned seven years in Hebron
and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David,
with his sovereignty firmly established. 

Responsorial Psalm 1 CHRONICLES 29:10, 11AB, 11D-12A, 12BCD

R. (12b) Lord, you are exalted over all.
"Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"LORD, you are exalted over all.
Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
"In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

Alleluia MK 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.