Reward of God

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021718.cfm ) reminds me that God will reward us when we are ready. 

 

At first glance, the first reading seems like God rewards those who follow Him. That we just need to do good and follow him, and we will be rewarded. And we will have good things in life. However, I believe this is not just the case. It goes deeper. 

 

God rewards and blesses those who are ready to accept these things. 

 

More than just following God, we need to be ready to receive God's rewards and blessings. Doing what the first reading says - help others, doing Good, serving God and stop doing evil, then we will slowly be more and more like Christ. As we start doing these good, and stop doing the evil, we will slowly be ready to receive blessings and rewards from God. 

 

The psalm, asking God to teach us his ways, is lived by the man in the gospel. In the gospel, we see that Levi was willing to learn God's ways. He humbly followed Jesus and he repented. And as reward, Jesus went to dine in his house. More than that, he is already on his way to be more and more like Christ, which is a greater reward. 

 

May we continue to pray and ask God to teach us his ways, and as we become more and more like Him, may we use our rewards and blessings to benefit others as well.

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. Lord, sorry for not thinking about these things. Sorry for just asking your rewards and blessings. Sorry for not wanting to do my part and prepare. Help me do what is right. Help me follow your ways. Help me live pleasing to you. As I do, make me more and more like you. And when my heart is in the right place, when I am ready, bless me so I can bless others as well. Amen. 

 

Blessed weekend!

 

In Christ,

-g-

 

 

February 17, 2018

Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 222

 

Reading 1 IS 58:9B-14

Thus says the LORD:
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.
The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake,
and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;
"Repairer of the breach," they shall call you,
"Restorer of ruined homesteads."

If you hold back your foot on the sabbath
from following your own pursuits on my holy day;
If you call the sabbath a delight,
and the LORD's holy day honorable;
If you honor it by not following your ways,
seeking your own interests, or speaking with maliceB
Then you shall delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Responsorial Psalm PS 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (11ab) Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,
for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Verse Before The Gospel EZ 33:11

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion, that he may live.

Gospel LK 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."