Firm Faith

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/063018.cfm) inspires me to have firm faith in God. 

In the movie "Faith like Potatoes", Angus Buchan's faith is obvious when he said that "the condition for a miracle is difficulty. The condition for a great miracle is impossibility" and his faith enabled him to experience a great miracle. 

In the gospel, we see someone with great faith that Jesus himself commended. The centurion had great faith in Jesus. He did not need him to physically go to his house. He knew that just the mere word of Jesus is enough. Not only that, he asked for healing not for himself or his family, but for his servant! What a great person. What a great leader. A good person full of faith in God. Inspiring. 

Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith

In fact, this faith is so great and inspiring that we remember it every time we celebrate the holy mass. 

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant (soul) will be healed

Of course, Jesus honored this man's faith, and let him witness a miracle. Jesus never disappoints. He rewarded the centurion’s faith in Him. 

“You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour his servant was healed. 

Nowadays, we are faced with situations that will test our faith. We have a lot of questions. Will politics and corruption in our country improve? Will peace and order be stabilized?  Does God really have a great plan for me? Will I be healed of this sickness? Will I be able to get out of debt? When will my career improve? These are things that we worry about. Things that test our faith. However, we are reminded in the gospel of the love and power of Jesus. He healed the man's servant by his mere word. He healed peter's mother in law. He healed all the sick and those possessed who were brought to him. Nothing is impossible for the power of God. 

Do I have faith in God, especially during difficult situations? How do I react when seemingly trapped and hopeless? Do I get strength and take refuge in other things and other people, or do I have firm faith in God? What seemingly impossible situation did God take me out of? When did I experience God’s great power and love? What challenging or impossible situation am I faced with now? What is he telling me today? 

May we be inspired by the centurion’s great and firm faith, and be assured of Jesus' love and power. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, I am sorry for doubting your love and power, especially when the situation seems to be impossible to get out of. Sorry for being inpatient with your plans for me. Sorry for losing my faith when situations are tough. Sorry for not having firm faith. Help me, Lord. Increase my faith in and love for you. May I have faith like the centurion, especially with the concerns I have in life. May I have faith like the centurion especially when the situations are against me. Use my faith and enable great things to happen for your purpose and glory. Amen. 

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

June 30, 2018

Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 376

Reading 1 LAM 2:2, 10-14, 18-19

The Lord has consumed without pity
all the dwellings of Jacob;
He has torn down in his anger
the fortresses of daughter Judah;
He has brought to the ground in dishonor
her king and her princes.

On the ground in silence sit
the old men of daughter Zion;
They strew dust on their heads
and gird themselves with sackcloth;
The maidens of Jerusalem
bow their heads to the ground.

Worn out from weeping are my eyes,
within me all is in ferment;
My gall is poured out on the ground
because of the downfall of the daughter of my people,
As child and infant faint away
in the open spaces of the town.

In vain they ask their mothers,
"Where is the grain?"
As they faint away like the wounded
in the streets of the city,
And breathe their last
in their mothers' arms.

To what can I liken or compare you,
O daughter Jerusalem?
What example can I show you for your comfort,
virgin daughter Zion?
For great as the sea is your downfall;
who can heal you?

Your prophets had for you
false and specious visions;
They did not lay bare your guilt,
to avert your fate;
They beheld for you in vision
false and misleading portents.

Cry out to the Lord;
moan, O daughter Zion!
Let your tears flow like a torrent
day and night;
Let there be no respite for you,
no repose for your eyes.

Rise up, shrill in the night,
at the beginning of every watch;
Pour out your heart like water
in the presence of the Lord;
Lift up your hands to him
for the lives of your little ones
Who faint from hunger
at the corner of every street.

Responsorial Psalm PS 74:1B-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21

R. (19b) Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
Why, O God, have you cast us off forever?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
Remember your flock which you built up of old,
the tribe you redeemed as your inheritance,
Mount Zion, where you took up your abode.
R. Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
Turn your steps toward the utter ruins;
toward all the damage the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
Your foes roar triumphantly in your shrine;
they have set up their tokens of victory.
They are like men coming up with axes to a clump of trees.
R. Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
With chisel and hammer they hack at all the paneling of the sanctuary.
They set your sanctuary on fire;
the place where your name abides they have razed and profaned.
R. Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.
Look to your covenant,
for the hiding places in the land and the plains are full of violence.
May the humble not retire in confusion;
may the afflicted and the poor praise your name.
R. Lord, forget not the souls of your poor ones.

Alleluia MT 8:17

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 8:5-17

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."
He said to him, "I will come and cure him."
The centurion said in reply,
"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes;
and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes;
and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
"Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven,
but the children of the Kingdom
will be driven out into the outer darkness,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."
And Jesus said to the centurion,
"You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you."
And at that very hour his servant was healed.

Jesus entered the house of Peter,
and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.
He touched her hand, the fever left her,
and she rose and waited on him.

When it was evening, they brought him many
who were possessed by demons,
and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick,
to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet:

He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

Peter and Paul

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062918-day-mass.cfm) reminds me that I should be like Sts Peter and Paul who continued to serve God no matter what situation they were in. 

As we celebrate the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, I am inspired to be like them. 

The first reading shows us what great things God has done to Peter. He was captured, chained and was set to die. A lot of guards were guarding him to be sure he cannot escape. Then we see that nothing really is impossible with God! God hears the prayers of his people! God sent an angel to take Peter away from a seemingly impossible situation. God turned the hopeless situation into one which shows his great love, power and glory! Peter continued to serve God even if he was in prison, even if times were tough. 

Another great servant of God, Paul’s final moments was recalled in the second reading. Yes, he gave his all for God. He was tired, yet very happy and satisfied with how he lived his life in service of God. Until the end, he had complete and full faith in God, something we can aspire to have, something we can work to have.

God appreciates hard work done for Him.

The gospel shows us Jesus asking the disciples the question: Who am I to you? Who do you say that I am? It does not matter who Jesus is for other people. What matters is who Jesus is to them. Peter proclaimed that Jesus is the messiah. Jesus then affirmed that it was God who revealed this to Peter, and he said his blessings on Peter as the head of his Church.

Today, God is asking us the same question: Who am I to you? It does not matter what other people say Jesus is. It does not matter what sins we have committed in the past. It does not matter what we intend to do in our lives. What matters for Christ is our answer to his question, and if like Saints Peter and Paul, we are willing to walk the talk – to live what our answer to what God is in our lives. We should be willing to serve God no matter what situation we are in. 

Who is God to me? Who is God in my life? Do I put him first in my life? Do I believe that he is all loving, all merciful, all powerful? Do I believe that he can work great things to and through me? Do I serve him? Do I continue to serve him when times are tough? 

May we find it in our hearts to answer him like Peter did – that he is the Messiah, that he is God in our lives. Let us be inspired by saints Peter and Paul, and live our lives the way these two servants of God did – working tirelessly to proclaim God’s kingdom wherever they are, having full faith in God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love and live my faith. Thank you for the reminder and challenge. Lord, I praise and adore you for who you are. I am so blessed that you are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and that no matter what I do, you will not love me less. I am so grateful to be worshipping the same God that Peter and Paul worshipped. Sorry for the times I do not act like Sts Peter and Paul. Sorry for being afraid to proclaim my faith. Sorry for losing hope and faith. Increase my faith. I believe that you will use me in a mighty way the same way you used Peter and Paul for your glory. Lord, I ask that you help me live my life proclaiming that you are the Messiah, that you are my God, so that I can bring people to you and glorify you. Help me be like them who tirelessly served you, especially when times are tough. May I live my love for you through service. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

June 29, 2018 - Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles - Mass during the Day

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles - Mass during the Day
Lectionary: 591

Reading 1 ACTS 12:1-11

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
“Get up quickly.”
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”
He did so.
Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
“Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (5) The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

Reading 2 2 TM 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia MT 16:18

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

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." 

Not Just Words

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062818.cfm) reminds me that God wants more than lip service from me. 

Knowing is different from doing. Knowing the law is different from following the law. Knowing God and his commands is different from following and doing God’s commands. Knowing God is not enough, for even the devil knows God! God calls us to further our faith and prove our love to Him by not being contented in knowing Him, but doing his commands us well.

It is wise not just to know, but more importantly to obey God's commandments. 

God plays no favourites. Although there were chosen people, they were not saved simply because they were chosen. God still needs us to act and do our part. In the first reading, the people did not do their part so they experienced how it is to love without God. In the gospel we see Jesus validating this, when he said that the man who hear God’s word and act on it is wise, compared to someone who simply hears but does not act. 

Hearing and acting on God’s word means to build our foundation on Jesus. Building on Jesus may not seem interesting at first. He may not give us the desires of this world. He may not give us money, power or fame. However, he gives us much more than that. He gives us something we can take into eternity. He gives us something to hold on to when things around us crumble and fall. He gives us life to the fullest through his redeeming love.

Indeed it is true what Saint Augustine said, “God who created us without us, cannot save us without us.” We need to want being saved, and out of that desire and that love, stems our action of following God’s word, doing his will, and being his ambassadors here on earth.

Do I know God? How? What do I do, or can I do, so that I can know God more? Am I contented with knowing God, or am I moved to act on it as well? What can I do today so I can prove to God that I love him?

May we always remember to love our faith and build our foundation on God. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for loving me, even if I don’t deserve your love. I know that you don’t need me, you don’t need my love, but you love me because you are loving, because you are love. Lord, Sorry for the times I do not love you back. Sorry for the times I am hard headed. Sorry for putting my trust on others. Lord, I ask that you give me the heart that would desire to know you more. May I have a passion to get to know you more, and do my part so I can know you more. And out of that, may I always be willing to act and do your will and be your ambassador here on earth. Help me prepare for eternity by doing your work and following your commandments. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2017/12/house-on-rock.html

Daily Readings

June 28, 2018

Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 374

Reading 1 2 KGS 24:8-17

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
His mother's name was Nehushta,
daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
He did evil in the sight of the LORD,
just as his forebears had done.

At that time the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
himself arrived at the city
while his servants were besieging it.
Then Jehoiachin, king of Judah, together with his mother,
his ministers, officers, and functionaries,
surrendered to the king of Babylon, who,
in the eighth year of his reign, took him captive.
And he carried off all the treasures
of the temple of the LORD and those of the palace,
and broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, king of Israel,
had provided in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had foretold.
He deported all Jerusalem:
all the officers and men of the army, ten thousand in number,
and all the craftsmen and smiths.
None were left among the people of the land except the poor.
He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon,
and also led captive from Jerusalem to Babylon
the king's mother and wives,
his functionaries, and the chief men of the land.
The king of Babylon also led captive to Babylon
all seven thousand men of the army,
and a thousand craftsmen and smiths,
all of them trained soldiers.
In place of Jehoiachin,
the king of Babylon appointed his uncle Mattaniah king,
and changed his name to Zedekiah.

Responsorial Psalm PS 79:1B-2, 3-5, 8, 9

R. (9) For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the corpses of your servants
as food to the birds of heaven,
the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
They have poured out their blood like water
round about Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury them.
We have become the reproach of our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
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. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Alleluia JN 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 7:21-29

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

When Jesus finished these words,
the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes.

Ano Ang Bunga

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062718.cfm) reminds me that I should be conscious of the fruits I bear. 

A mango tree bears mango, a buko tree bears buko. Looking at a tree will not only give you what fruit it will bear, but also what quality. A strong, mighty and leafy mango tree would usually give good fruit. A good tree bears good fruit, a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

A fruit gets its quality from what's inside the tree. 

Jesus warns us to look past the superficial level – to look beyond the seemingly harmless appearance and see what is inside. Jesus wants is to look deep into our hearts and see beyond what other people see, beyond what we project, beyond what we say. Jesus is asking us to examine our lives and see what is inside of us, because eventually it will come out and bear fruit.

We all bear fruit.

Jesus sees what is inside of us. He sees way past our actions, our image and reputation and what we say or project to other people. Kahit sabihin mo, or ipakita mo sa ibang tao, alam ni God ano yung nasa loob ng puso mo. Minsan, kahit hindi mo alam, kahit hindi ka aware, alam ni God. That’s why it is important to always pray and ask his guidance as he reveal what is really in our hearts.

However, as with life, there’s always an exception. The people in the first reading did not know they were already disobeying God. They did not know they were not honouring the covenant and were not doing their part. When they learned of it, they quickly repented and went back to God. Bad tree yung ancestors nila, but they became good fruits. I believe that there will always be opportunities for us to change and go back to God, we just have to be open to him and sensitive. When we fall, when we make mistakes, we will always have a chance to repent and get back with God. 

We all bear fruit. Fruits that are lasting. Fruits that are real. Not just superficial. We should be conscious of what fruits we bear, for it testifies to the life we live and ultimately to our faith. We should aim to be one with God, rooted in God, so we can bear good fruit always. 

Am I seeking God’s will in my actions? Do I constantly try to make an effort to examine my life and change my ways, as I pray that God help me discern what’s in my heart? What fruits am I bearing in my life?  Do I bear good fruit?

May we be inspired and do our best to bear good fruit for God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Thank you for reminding me that I should bear good fruit. Sorry for the times I don't give it much thought. Sorry for the times I get contented with a good reputation and image, and not a good fruit. Lord, I ask that as I live my life, You help me to be always aware of my intentions, of what is inside my heart. I pray that I always seek your guidance and seek and obey your will above all so that I can glorify you. May my life bear good fruit for your glory. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

June 27, 2018

Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 373

Reading 1 2 KGS 22:8-13; 23:1-3

The high priest Hilkiah informed the scribe Shaphan,
"I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD."
Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.
Then the scribe Shaphan went to the king and reported,
"Your servants have smelted down the metals available in the temple
and have consigned them to the master workmen
in the temple of the LORD."
The scribe Shaphan also informed the king
that the priest Hilkiah had given him a book,
and then read it aloud to the king.
When the king heard the contents of the book of the law,
he tore his garments and issued this command to Hilkiah the priest,
Ahikam, son of Shaphan,
Achbor, son of Micaiah, the scribe Shaphan,
and the king's servant Asaiah:
"Go, consult the LORD for me, for the people, for all Judah,
about the stipulations of this book that has been found,
for the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us,
because our fathers did not obey the stipulations of this book,
nor fulfill our written obligations."

The king then had all the elders of Judah
and of Jerusalem summoned together before him.
The king went up to the temple of the LORD with all the men of Judah
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
priests, prophets, and all the people, small and great.
He had the entire contents of the book of the covenant
that had been found in the temple of the LORD, read out to them.
Standing by the column, the king made a covenant before the LORD
that they would follow him
and observe his ordinances, statutes and decrees
with their whole hearts and souls,
thus reviving the terms of the covenant
which were written in this book.
And all the people stood as participants in the covenant.

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40

R. (33a) Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,
that I may exactly observe them.
R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
Lead me in the path of your commands,
for in it I delight.
R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
Incline my heart to your decrees
and not to gain.
R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
Turn away my eyes from seeing what is vain:
by your way give me life.
R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your justice give me life.
R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Alleluia JN 15:4A, 5B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing,
but underneath are ravenous wolves.
By their fruits you will know them.
Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,
and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down
and thrown into the fire.
So by their fruits you will know them."

Narrow Gate

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062618.cfm) reminds me that I should continue to trust God, especially when I feel it may not be wise to do so. 

A lot of people go with the bandwagon. New restaurant. New product. New favorite basketball team. New political party. New fad. They want to belong and be part of the majority. Super majority for some. That's okay. But not necessarily okay when it comes to our faith. 

God wants us to stick with Him especially when others don't. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples as he is telling us today to stick to the narrow gate. The narrow gate - difficult, not a popular choice, but will lead to life with him. Not a lot of people are willing to do this. Not a lot of people want this. People want easy things with easy rewards, not thinking of the long term reward God will give us. 

In the first reading, we see why we should choose the narrow gate. Hezekiah was threatened by the powerful king of Assyria, Sennacherib. He already destroyed a lot of countries. And when Hezekiah was told that he would be attacked, he did not let go of his faith. He did not ally himself with the powerful king. Instead, he turned to God. Even if others fell. Even if it would have been easier to surrender. He trusted in God. And God rewarded his faith by disposing of 185,000 men in the powerful camp, that the king decided to turn back. That's how God rewards those who choose the narrow gate and remain faithful to him. 

God is powerful. God is faithful, especially to those who are faithful to him. We should not look at the obvious or the majority, especially when it comes to faith. We should just trust God and have faith that he will take care if everything according to his great plans. We may be faced with challenges. We may have problems. And there may be easy ways out. But God reminds us to stick to him and choose him. To choose the narrow gate. And he will continue to take care of us. 

When was the last time I was faced with the choice between choosing God or others? What did I do? Who did I choose? When was the last time God surprised me by taking care of me especially when the situation seemed to be impossible to get away from? What is he telling me today?

May we always choose God, especially when others do not. Let us have faith in him, his love and his power. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for the times I choose the easy way out. Sorry for the times I let go of my faith. Help me choose the narrow gate, especially when it is not the most popular choice. Help me stick to you always. Increase my faith and my resolve to follow and choose you always. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps 

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2017/06/narrow-road.html

Daily Readings

June 26, 2018

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 372

Reading 1 2 KGS 19:9B-11, 14-21, 31-35A, 36

Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah
with this message:
"Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah:
'Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you
by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over
to the king of Assyria.
You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done
to all other countries: they doomed them!
Will you, then, be saved?'"

Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;
then he went up to the temple of the LORD,
and spreading it out before him,
he prayed in the LORD's presence:
"O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim!
You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!
Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations
and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire;
they destroyed them because they were not gods,
but the work of human hands, wood and stone.
Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man,
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, O LORD, are God."

Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah:
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria:
I have listened!
This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:

"'She despises you, laughs you to scorn,
the virgin daughter Zion!
Behind you she wags her head,
daughter Jerusalem.

"'For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant,
and from Mount Zion, survivors.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.'

"Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
'He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it,
nor come before it with a shield,
nor cast up siege-works against it.
He shall return by the same way he came,
without entering the city, says the LORD.
I will shield and save this city for my own sake,
and for the sake of my servant David.'"

That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down
one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.
So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp,
and went back home to Nineveh.

Responsorial Psalm PS 48:2-3AB, 3CD-4, 10-11

R. (see 9d) God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North,"
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
O God, we ponder your mercy
within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R. God upholds his city for ever.

Alleluia JN 8:12

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

Gospel MT 7:6, 12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.

"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.

Not A Judge

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062518.cfm) reminds me that I am not in a position to judge others. 

There is a saying that you should not judge a book by its cover. And some make fun of it by saying that you should not judge a book if you're not a judge! Funny, but it has some sense into it. It is something we can relate the gospel to.  We should not be judging others. We are not judges. God is. 

It is easy to judge others. It is easy to tell what is wrong with others. It is easy to talk about the sins or imperfections of others. Sometimes, when the person is annoying, it can even be fun to talk about these things. However, Jesus in the gospel tells us we should not.

Judging others is usually a sign of our own insecurities.

We sometimes see and focus on the wrong of others instead of improving ourselves because it is easier to. Improving ourselves is painful and difficult, and it is easy to just focus and magnify the imperfections of others to prevent the attention be on us. We want to hide our own imperfections. We want to escape and forget that we have things to fix ourselves. When we talk about others, we feel that we can shun away the criticism that our own shortcomings bring.

We should just focus on and improve ourselves. 

We do not know what others are going through. We do not know the real story. And regardless if we do, we are not in a position to judge. Only God is. And what he wants us to do is focus on ourselves. What he wants us to do is improve ourselves. What he wants us to do is help ourselves, change ourselves so we can be more and more like him. And if we are full of him, then we can help, not judge, others and improve them. 

When was the last time I judge others? When was the last time I judged others based on what I see, and end up feeling sorry or embarrassed after knowing the real situation? When was the last time I was judged by others? How did I feel? How can I improve my dealings with others?

May we remember to look at ourselves and not judge others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know you and experience your love. Thank you for another week. Lord, I am sorry for the times i judge others, knowingly or unknowingly. Sorry for focusing on the faults and imperfections of others. Sorry for being pressured to talk ill about others, and for judging others instead of helping them. Help me see with your eyes. Help me focus first on myself, on my sins and imperfections. Fill me and make me more like you, so that I would see others the way you see them. And would treat others as you would - helping and not judging them. Amen. 

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

June 25, 2018

Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 371 

Reading 1 2 KGS 17:5-8, 13-15A, 18

Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, occupied the whole land
and attacked Samaria, which he besieged for three years.
In the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel
the king of Assyria took Samaria,
and deported the children of Israel to Assyria,
setting them in Halah, at the Habor, a river of Gozan,
and the cities of the Medes.

This came about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD,
their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt,
from under the domination of Pharaoh, king of Egypt,
and because they venerated other gods.
They followed the rites of the nations
whom the LORD had cleared out of the way of the children of Israel
and the kings of Israel whom they set up.

And though the LORD warned Israel and Judah
by every prophet and seer,
"Give up your evil ways and keep my commandments and statutes,
in accordance with the entire law which I enjoined on your fathers
and which I sent you by my servants the prophets,"
they did not listen, but were as stiff-necked as their fathers,
who had not believed in the LORD, their God.
They rejected his statutes,
the covenant which he had made with their fathers,
and the warnings which he had given them, till,
in his great anger against Israel,
the LORD put them away out of his sight.
Only the tribe of Judah was left.

Responsorial Psalm PS 60:3, 4-5, 12-13

R. (7b) Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.
O God, you have rejected us and broken our defenses;
you have been angry; rally us!
R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.
You have rocked the country and split it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.
You have made your people feel hardships;
you have given us stupefying wine.
R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.
Have not you, O God, rejected us,
so that you go not forth, O God, with our armies?
Give us aid against the foe,
for worthless is the help of men.
R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

Alleluia HEB 4:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 7:1-5

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother,
'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,'
while the wooden beam is in your eye?
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."

Wonderfully Made

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062418-day-mass.cfm) reminds me that God made me wonderful and has great plans for me. 

Cars are generally expensive. And premium cars, especially made abroad, are of course more expensive. I recently saw a documentary on how Rolls Royce are made. Buyers can fully customise their vehicle. A lot of items are manually done to be sure of the quality and precision. This reminds me that just as the value if the vehicle goes up depending on where and how they were made, our value as God's children is high as well. 

The psalmist echoes this thought. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. God made masterpieces, great human beings for a great purpose in life. We should always remember this and not question our value in life. 

Today, we celebrate the nativity of John the Baptist. Yes, he was a relative of Jesus. He did great things to prepare the way for Christ. And we see how wonderfully he was made. His mother Elizabeth conceived at an old age. His father Zechariah testified on how great John will be. In the second reading, we see David as the king. He was simple, but God chose him because of his heart. He was wonderfully made and was so special that God's Son Jesus came from his line. 

You are wonderfully made. And God has a special plan for you. 

We are wonderfully made. No matter what we feel. No matter how other people makes us feel. God created us wonderfully and fearfully. And it does not stop there. He has a special plan for each and everyone of us. However, if it will come to fruition is based not just on God's plan, but on us as well. We need to cooperate with God. We need to surrender to him. Just as David, John and Baptist and Jesus surrendered and cooperated with God in order for his plans to come to fruition. No matter how great God's plans for us are, if we will not cooperate, it will not happen. 

When we cooperate, when we surrender, we give God permission to do his plans. We give him permission to work in us. To work through us. When we obey God, slowly, every single day, we give him access to our hearts. We allow him to use us. To change us. To mold us to be more and more like him. And as we continue to do so, it will be easier for God to use us mightily and make his great plans for us become reality. 

How do I feel about myself? Do I know God made me special? Do I feel special? Or do I let problems or what other people say about me define or affect the way I feel about myself? Do I have faith that God has great plans for me, or do I doubt it because of the circumstances in my life? Do I cooperate with God and allow him to use me mightily? 

May we always remember that God made us wonderfully, and that he has great plans for us. And may we always submit to his will and cooperate with him for the completion of his plans. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for another day to love and serve you. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I question my worth. Sorry for the times I let others make me feel bad about myself. Sorry for forgetting that you made me wonderfully. Sorry for the times I feel that you do not have great plans for me, and sorry for not cooperating with you. Help me live right. Help me live in a way pleasing to you. Help me live cooperating with you for your plans to come into fruition. Use me for your purpose and your glory. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

June 24, 2018 - Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist - Mass during the Day

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist - Mass during the Day
Lectionary: 587

Reading 1 IS 49:1-6

Hear me, O coastlands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.

Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm PS 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 14C-15

R. (14) I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown to you
When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

Reading 2 ACTS 13:22-26

In those days, Paul said:
"God raised up David as king;
of him God testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'

"My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent."

Alleluia SEE LK 1:76

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
"No. He will be called John."
But they answered her,
"There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name,"
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
"What, then, will this child be?"
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.