The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/090318.cfm) reminds
me that I am not entitled to God’s blessings.
Some
children feel that they are entitled to receive from their parents whatever
they want, at whatever cost. Some people feel entitled to receive blessings
from their family members that are more financially capable than them. Some
breadwinners feel that they should always have their way just because they are
the ones who contribute the most. Some people feel they should be getting the
promotion at work because they are working so hard. Some people think that
because they do good and serve God, they are entitled to receive more
blessings, that they will receive whatever they ask from God. We should not
have this attitude towards God.
No
matter what we do, we are not entitled to God's blessings.
In the
gospel we see the people expecting their town-mate Jesus do amazing things and
miracles there. They did not ask, they expected. Not because they had faith,
but they believed they deserved it since Jesus was from their town. Clearly,
Jesus tells us that our relationship or affinity do not entitle us to such
things.
We
are blessed because of one thing - God's love.
God
loves us so much that he blesses us. He protects us. He gives us a lot. We
sometimes take these blessings for granted, and we want more. We expect more
for whatever reasons. We are reminded today not to be like this. We are
reminded to be aware and thankful.
Even
if we so good and follow him, even if we serve others and obey his
commandments, we should not feel entitled to God’s blessings. In another
parable, Jesus said that servants who do their master’s wishes should not be
rewarded, because they are just doing what they are supposed to do. They should
not be praised and be recognized. Just like doing good work in the office, you
are paid and expected to do just that. It does not give you the right to expect
and demand blessings and favors. God, our creator, master and Father, gave us
everything we have. It is just right to give him what we have and to serve him.
We should not feel entitled, even if we are living better lives serving him
than others.
In
what ways do I have a sense of entitlement? Am I expecting to be treated a
certain way just because of what I do, give or say? Do I feel I deserve all the
blessings i have because of what I do? What is God telling me today?
May we remember that no
matter what we do, we are not entitled to God's blessings, and we should never
act as is we deserve these things. His love is the only reason we have so much.
May we realize it and show our gratitude by sharing these things to others.
Father
God,
Thank you
for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Thank
you for another week to love and serve you. Lord, sorry for the times I feel
entitled to your blessings. Sorry for the times I act entitled, that I deserve these
things. Lord, I do not. I know it is only because of your love that I have
these things. Help me always be aware, and show you my gratitude by loving
others and by generously sharing to others what You gave me. May I give all I
can for you, happily and not expecting anything in return, but full of
gratitude for everything you have been giving me. All these I ask in your
mighty name, Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
September 3, 2018
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of
the Church
Lectionary: 431
Lectionary: 431
Reading
1 1 COR 2:1-5
When I
came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.
R.
(97) Lord, I love your commands.
How I love your law, O LORD!
It is my meditation all the day.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Your command has made me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
I have more understanding than all my teachers
when your decrees are my meditation.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
I have more discernment than the elders,
because I observe your precepts.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
From your ordinances I turn not away,
for you have instructed me.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
How I love your law, O LORD!
It is my meditation all the day.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Your command has made me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
I have more understanding than all my teachers
when your decrees are my meditation.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
I have more discernment than the elders,
because I observe your precepts.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
From your ordinances I turn not away,
for you have instructed me.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Alleluia SEE LK 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;
he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 4:16-30
Jesus
came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll,
he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?"
He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb,
'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'"
And he said,
"Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll,
he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?"
He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb,
'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'"
And he said,
"Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
No comments:
Post a Comment