The
WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/113018.cfm)
reminds me how I can increase my faith.
They say that a good way to
study Is to read aloud. They say it is similar to studying twice, because if
you read aloud, you not only read it, but hear it as well. Hearing something,
aside from reading it, has a great impact on the memory retention and on
understanding things. This is similar to what God is telling me today in the
readings.
A lot of us ask for faith. We
want our faith to increase. However, we say we do not know how to increase iur
faith. Today, we see one concrete action how we can have faith. How we can
improve and strengthen our faith.
Faith comes from hearing the
WORD of God.
In the first reading, we see
the importance of responding to God’s call to preach his word. No one will be
saved if no one responds to God’s call to preach. We need to do our part to
build God’s kingdom. Someone should preach, should talk about God, for people
to hear about God. Hearing about God eventually leads to believe in him, and
call on him. in the latter part of the reading, we see how faith is attained –
from hearing the WORD of God. This goes for both the doer and receiver. OF
course, the receiver hears the word of God which can be the entry point of God
in his life. Then the doer actually hears what he is saying, so he is doubly
blessed as well.
Another
way to increase our faith, aside from hearing and talkinh about God, is to read
up on him. Read the bible. And talk about it with others. It makes God’s love
and power more concrete in our lives, and would eventually increase our
faith.
In the gospel, we see people
who were saved because of hearing God’s word. Jesus called them, they heard his
voice, and followed his call. This is how powerful hearing God’s word is. This
is why we are all sent to spread his word.
We need not be missionaries to
do this. Wherever God placed us, we can proclaim him. We can preach about him
by the words we speak, by the way we live our lives, by the way we treat
others, and by how well we do our work.
How
is my faith? Do I have faith in God? Do I want my faith to improve? What do I
do to improve my faith? Am I preaching God’s kingdom? Am I talking about him
with others?
May we be reminded of the
importance of talking about God, and the power of hearing about it. May not
only our faith increase, but that of 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 another day off. Thank you for the reminder. Sorry
for not talking about you. Sorry for not working on my faith. Sorry for not
doing my part to build your kingdom. Lord, help me remember this. Help me
remember the importance of talking about you and of hearing you. May I be
willing to proclaim you to others. and I ask that you use me and my words to
brings faith to myself and others. Amen.
Blessed
Day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
November 30,
2018
Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
Lectionary: 684
Lectionary: 684
Reading 1 ROM 10:9-18
Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for
Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for
Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are
true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Alleluia MT 4:19
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 4:18-22
As Jesus was walking by the Sea
of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.
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