The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121418.cfm)
reminds me that it
is both wise and rewarding to follow God.
In
the movie Dr Strange, he found his way to the Ancient One who told him that if
he would follow her and her ways, he could learn a lot of things. This is
somehow similar to what God reminds us in the first reading today.
I,
the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.
The
psalmist also reminds us this - Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
God
is willing to lead us. And following him has great rewards.
However, more than the earthly rewards of following God,
what we should look forward to are the eternal rewards. Rewards that no moth
can destroy. God is willing to lead us, but it is not very easy to follow him. It
is more fun staying in this world, living by this world. The world loves its
own. But rewards here are temporary. In the gospel we are reminded that wisdom
is vindicated by her works. The rewards and ways of God may not be attractive
in the sense of the world, but in his time, we will be vindicated by choosing
Him.
We can only know where God leads us if we take
time to know him. If we take time to recognize his voice through prayer,
reading the bible, and reading about him. Then if we are dedicated enough to
submit and surrender to his will, if we are dedicated enough to
follow him, then we will be rewarded. Not because we deserve it, but because as
we pray and submit to his will, as we surrender, he can change us to be
more like him. And we will be ready to receive and handle blessings from
Him.
Do I take time to know God more? Do I recognize his
guiding voice in my life? Am I willing to do what he asks me to? Do I live my
life following his ways?
May we take time to know God's voice and his will, and
decide to follow Him.
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, for the many time I
do not follow your will. Sorry for not spending enough time knowing you. Worse,
sorry for the times I know what you want but still decide to go against your
will and do what I want. Help me surrender always. Help me focus on you. Help
me submit to your will always, not to mine, no matter how hard it is to submit
to you. No matter how earthly-rewarding doing my will is. Transform me and make
me more and more like you. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
December 14, 2018
Memorial of Saint John of the
Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 185
Lectionary: 185
Reading 1 IS
48:17-19
Thus
says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.
Responsorial Psalm PS
1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
R.
(see John 8:12) Those who
follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord will come; go out to meet him!
He is the prince of peace.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord will come; go out to meet him!
He is the prince of peace.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 11:16-19
Jesus
said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by her works."
"To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by her works."
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