Believe and Be Blessed

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122118.cfm) reminds me that believing God's word will bless us. 

It is difficult to readily believe what others say. A lot of people lie, we have been hurt and disappointed a lot of times, and the situation seem so powerful that a lot of factors and a lot of things can happen that can prevent something from happening. However, this should not be our attitude when it comes to God's word. 

We should always believe in God. 

In the gospel, we again see Mama Mary visiting Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mama Mary's voice, the baby leaped in her womb. This is how blessed mama Mary is. And Elizabeth told her that she is blessed because she believed God's word would be fulfilled. 

Things were not easy for Mary. She was pregnant. She did not know what will happen to her. Yet she travelled to see and serve Elizabeth. She had faith that God's word would be fulfilled and that God will take care of her. And God did. 

God needs our faith in Him. 

Mama Mary showed great faith in God. She served him by serving others. She trusted in Him even if there were a lot of questions and concerns. And God rewarded her for that. We should also have this attitude. We should also believe and trust in God no matter what the situation may be. We should have faith in God. And we should continue loving and serving Him no matter what situation we may be in. God rewarded Mama Mary and she was used mightily because of this. Because she believed. Because she had faith. 

Do I have faith in God? Do I believe in God’s word, especially when things are tough? What prevents me from believing in God when things are tough and situations are challenging? How has God proven his love and provisions for me? 

May we learn to trust and have faith in God no matter what the situation may be. 

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 the times I doubt you. Sorry for the times I let the situation weigh me down. Sorry for the times I don't have enough faith in you. Help me be like Mama Mary who trusted in you no matter how tough the situation may be. May my faith be bigger than my fears. I have faith in you. I believe in you. Use me mightily for your kingdom. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

December 21, 2018

Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Lectionary: 197

Reading 1 SG 2:8-14

Hark! my lover–here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks; he says to me,
"Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come!
"For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!

"O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely."

Or ZEP 3:14-18A

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.

Responsorial Psalm PS 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

R. (1a; 3a) Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
R. Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."